We were both too tired to sleep

I’ve been a little wrapped up in politics the last 24 hours or so and don’t have much to say about the weekend of Sox games except this:

If one of your players has chronic migraines and either has one or just took meds because he felt one coming on, it’s probably not a good idea to let him pitch.

The only baseball-related thing I did this weekend was draft my fantasy baseball team.  Last year, if I recall, I finished second to last in my league!  This year I went a different way and changed my rules.  My fantasy baseball rules up to this year have been 1) No one from an AL East team except the Red Sox (I  hate the idea of rooting for a player to do well when that could directly affect the Red Sox) and 2) No players that I dislike (this means no Jason Giambi, pretty much none of the Yankees – save for one this year as you’ll soon see, no Johnny Damon, no Josh Hamilton, no Bobby Abreau, no Brett Myers…the list goes on).  These rules have made it tough to field a genuinely good all-around team.  So this year I promised myself I’d draft a Yankee if the opportunity came up and I really wanted him (I pretty much stayed away from players I don’t like, still, but it wasn’t as conscious a decision as it usually is).

I change the name of my team every year (hey none of the other names have done me any good so far).  Last year the team was “Kiss Me Kyle” and this year my team is the “Lackey-Lusters“!  I was beat up pretty good last year for my fantasy picks but that won’t stop me from sharing them here again.

C -   Matt Wieters (Orioles) I felt lucky to get him.   Don’t know how that worked out so well! (He was one of the main reasons I decided to give up my “no drafting from the AL East” rule!)

1B – Kevin Youkilis (Red Sox) Part of my whole supporting Youk movement that I started last year.

2B – Dustin Pedroia (Red Sox) Totally coveted him.  Was surprised to get him.  (I tend to be one of the few in the league who actively seeks out Red Sox players)

3B – Chipper Jones (Braves) A player who, by my standards, I should dislike but for some reason I just can’t.  Hey, Larry might have another good year in him!  (Plus, by the time I decided to draft a 3rd baseman, everyone else I wanted was gone!)

SS – Elvis Andrus (Rangers) His name is Elvis!!

OF – JD Drew (Red Sox) I half-joked that he was going to be the MVP this year.  You all won’t be laughing when he is!

OF – Vernon Wells (Blue Jays) He seems to always kill the Red Sox.  If that’s going to be the case again this year, why not benefit from it?

OF -  David DeJesus (Royals) Fond memories of yelling “THE Jesus!” when the Royals were beating the Sox once when I was at the game.

UT – Nick Swisher (Yankees) I know, I know.  But I needed a utility guy and he was available.  Hell, I have a Swisher ChiSox jersey.  No hate there (just a little bit of annoyance!)

BN – Hideki Matsui (Angels) No more pinstripes – yay!

BN – Jeremy Hermida (Red Sox) I have a good feeling about him.  Of course this might mean someone goes down in the outfield but I’m trying not to focus on that.

BN – Fernando Tatis (Mets) I originally picked Carlos Delgado, forgetting he didn’t even have a damn team yet.

BN – Tony Gwynn (Padres) Legacy pick.

BN – Jason Varitek (Red Sox) I wanted another catcher.  Tek won.

SP – Cliff Lee (Mariners) I was thrilled that I got Lee.  Until I realized he probably won’t be ready for the start of the season.  Oh well.  Still holding on to him.

SP – Mark Buehrle – (White Sox) I really am genuinely pleased with my starting pitchers.

RP – Francisco Rodriguez (Mets) There’s a soft spot in my heart for Frankie.  Plus, he doesn’t suck.

RP – David Aardsma (Mariners) It wasn’t my conscious decision to pick two closers but they were two I really wanted for the team so I took them both.

P – Bronson Arroyo (Reds) I’m fairly certain I’ve never had a fantasy baseball team that Bronson wasn’t on.

P – Clay Buchholz (Red Sox) It’s going to be a big year for Clay.  BIG!

P – Pedro Martinez (Phillies?) He was available…I had to choose him.  You never know!

So there’s the team.  I usually don’t go too crazy changing lineups during the season unless it becomes absolutely necessary (like, if Pedro Martinez never comes back this season).  Again, I almost never play to win.  For me it’s more like playing the Fisher Price Little People except using baseball players.  🙂

It occurs to me that Fantasy Baseball would be much more challenging if we did it with the minor league teams.  With all the personnel changes you’d really have to continually keep on top of your team.  We should work on that!

No worries, folks.  I won’t be regaling you with tales about my failing team.   We have thirteen more days to kill before Opening Night!  Can’t come soon enough!