The Morning Offering - May 19, 2005

Written by The Fool on May 19, 2005

Today, in a very special (mid) Morning Offering, you can print this out and read it in line for Star Wars.

Chop flop
Xach started an interesting thread yesterday touting the fantasy unworthiness of most of the players on the Atlanta Braves roster. I’m pretty sure he had the likes of Rafael Furcal in mind.

But take a look at what Dan Kolb has done in his short tenure as Braves closer. The former Brewer has already blown two saves this month and botched another in April. Oh, and Kolb has a 1-4 record with a robust 6.48 ERA and a real fantasy killer: a WHIP of 2.04. For a closer, that just won’t do for your “real life” team or your fantasy team.

Braves manager Bobby Cox has removed Kolb from the job and declared a “closer by committee” approach, but expect one of three guys to get most of the work: flamethrower Jorge Sosa, who the team heisted from the Devil Rays at the start of the season; journeyman lefty junkballer John Foster; or dependable reliever Kevin Gryboski, who should soon come off the disabled list after getting over a viral infection.

Sosa, though somewhat unproven in a late innings role, probably has the most potential from a fantasy perspective because of his strikeout rate. But, keep in mind that his WHIP in four seasons has never been lower than 1.43 and has settled around 1.55 over the last few years.

Feeling a draft
The Major League Baseball draft starts June 7, and . . . . what? You’re not excited?

While The Fool admits the MLB draft hasn’t become the spectator event the NFL and NBA drafts have morphed in to, it’s still worth your while to keep an eye on the first couple rounds. In deeper keeper leagues, you may be able to finger guys drafted who are only a year or two away from playing in the big leagues. (The Fool was lucky enough to pluck Mark Prior right after the Cubs selected the USC stud, and had a valuable commodity by the time the next season started) And, some players, college pitchers especially, can work their way onto a major league staff by August or September. If you’re paying attention, you can have a live young arm available down the stretch.

You’ll also want to make sure your league has rules governing when you can pick up players selected in the draft.

Horsing around
And finally, you don’t have to be a horse racing buff to enjoy the Triple Crown races by any means, but the Preakness Stakes, which runs Saturday in Baltimore, has another reason for you to watch. Unlike at the prim ‘n proper Kentucky Derby, they get wild at the Preakness, complete with binge beer drinking (forget that mint julep mess) and girls flashing their breasts. So take your eyes off the finish line and look for the fillies!

The Fool is off to watch the Brewers and Nationals in exciting GAY DAME action! So you be sure to enjoy your afternoon.

-- Written by The Fool on May 19, 2005