Time keeps on ticking...
Wow, it's been a long time since I posted...somewhat intentionally, because a daily review was just getting too obsessive. As of this posting, I'm now in 5th place with 40.5 points, a nice surge from the last time I wrote. My offense went insane for a few weeks, and some intentional managing with the pitching staff has helped get me out of last in K's with only moderate damage to WHIP and ERA. I think (since Prior went on the DL today for hamheld device, I can hold and stay out of last place in that category. Hard to even place when you are last in a category.
Interesting, I'm still waiting for Shawn Green to get untracked, as is everyone who owns that kid around the fantasy world. Traded Brian Giles a few weeks ago, in return for Wade Miller and Jose Jiminez. Literally hours after the trade, Jiminez got demoted from closer to unwanted set-up man. Makes no sense to me (his E.R.A. and W.H.I.P. are terrible, but he's converted 19/21 chances) but it's far from the last thing a big-league manager does that confounds me. I quickly grabbed Brian Fuentes (worst delivery in the majors) but little brother J-Hate (Statutory Hate) already had Justin Speier who seems to be more entrenched. I'm not waiving Jiminez, but wow that stung.
The good news is, Brian Giles may be headed to Oakland, so something is better than nothing. Hella Huck and FS shipped him to Right Said Ced for Millwood...so they essentially swapped Miller for Millwood which is probably an upgrade for them...but who knows? Not sure why they got involved in that trade, actually.
Some other trades I may not have mentioned earlier:
Traded Corey Patterson and Braden Looper to Right Said Ced for Jim Edmonds. Edmonds has essentially been an MVP candidate and while both guys I sent did well at first, Patterson's season-ending injury certainly made this a good move on my part, though I feel for the Ced.
Traded Chipper Jones to Statutory Hate for Derrek Lee and J.D. Drew. This is closer to a push. It seems to depend on timing who is doing better - I started out stronger, then Chipper apparently thought he was in a Hooters restaurant or something, going nuts all over the place. If Drew gets traded to the A.L., I lose in this trade but so far it's been pretty even.
Another thing to remember for future years is that I have some major contributors that were on the waiver wire: Jeromy Burnitz (now a Dodger, not slowing down); Morgan Ensberg (who everyone but Jimy Williams knows is the real dizzle); even Oliver Perez (who I'm hoping has some nice second-half starts). Losing Benitez will hurt my saves (still don't understand the Mets, but they're now my sworn enemies) but Izzy is coming around, and Fuentes, Jiminez and now some Pittsburgh scraps (who should grab a few with Williams gone) should help me stay out of last and even move up a slot or two. Should be an interesting second-half. Not sure I can pretend I can win this, but a money-spot is definitely within reach!