By Darryl Houston Smith
League 4
League 10
Cory Schwartz often says that those of us who play fantasy baseball know more about the game than those who don’t - I’m paraphrasing a bit, admittedly.
And while I agree with him, pouring over stats and considering trades shouldn’t be our only focus. There are many stories behind the scenes that we need to keep an eye on … because their impact on our fantasy teams may be greater than we imagine. I bring you one such tale.
By Darryl Houston Smith
League 4
League 10
Despite major improvements made by both the Detroit Tigers and the Los Angeles Angels this off-season, the defending champions remain the team to beat in the American League.
Even without trading for Johan Santana, and the possible loss of Curt Schilling for the season, the Red Sox still have one of the deepest pitching staffs in the AL. Boston also returns intact its powerful batting order, several quality reserves, and a farm system rich with prospects.
The deep pockets of John Henry and company will also ensure that the Red Sox will remain among Major League Baseball’s royalty for years to come.
By Darryl Houston Smith
League 4
League 10
Editor’s Note: The Prospect Miner™, Darryl Houston Smith, winds up his Top 100 in this final edition. Here are his Top 81 – 100 Prospects. For earlier editions of this column, please check out the Archives. –Bob in Cleveland, Senior Editor
By Darryl Houston Smith
League 4
League 10
Editor’s Note: The Prospect Miner™, Darryl Houston Smith, is back at it in today’s edition with his Top 41 – 60 Prospects. For earlier editions of this column, please check out the Archives. –Bob in Cleveland, Senior Editor
By Darryl Houston Smith
League 10
By Darryl Houston Smith
League 10
One of baseball’s annual rites of winter includes going down to your local newsstand to pick up a few of the many fine magazines devoted to the upcoming fantasy baseball season. We all do it, but then we get home and start reading them only to find out that many of those publications were written months ago. In the end, they are already past their sell date and tell us little.
By Darryl Houston Smith
League 10
After witnessing the shocking collapse of Mike Mussina, the front office’s failure to land Johan Santana, and the Mitchell-report-fueled implosion of Roger Clemens, the Yankees will open the season with their staff clearly in transition.
Fortunately for the Bombers, they have a talented young trio that they can call on to fill those mighty big shoes. The best of the bunch is flamethrower Joba Chamberlain whom the Yankees will be moving into Clemens’ old spot. Look for Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy to take the remaining two spots if Mussina is unable to resuscitate his rapidly fading career.
I asked Baseball
List of 12 History:
The List of 12 is a list of pitchers that MLB.com’s Corey Schwartz nominates for breakout seasons before each season using a secret calculated formula. The theory of the List of 12 is that once pitchers reach a certain level of experience, usually around 500 innings pitched, they tend to improve significantly. The 2006 list included Brandon Webb, Jeremy Bonderman, Aaron Harang, and Bronson Arroyo.
However, when judging the List of 12, a fantasy player must use some subjectivity as the system that Schwartz uses does not always provide useful pitchers. A fantasy player can easily distinguish which pitchers in the List of 12 will be successful with a little research and mostly common sense.
By Darryl Houston Smith
2006 finish: 88-74, 2nd place in NL West by tie-breaker behind San Diego Padres; Lost division series to the New York Mets.
Manager: Grady Little (2nd year with Dodgers: 88-74; Overall: 276-210)
Notable Arrivals: RHP Jason Schmidt, CF Juan Pierre, LF Luis Gonzalez, LHP Randy Wolf, C Mike Lieberthal, RHP Rudy Seanez, RHP Chin-Hui Tsao. Dodger owner Frank McCourt put his money on the line this winter in an all out effort to bring a championship back to LA and should be commended for his boldness. He spent $109.5 Million for Pierre, Schmidt and Nomar alone.