Breaking: Are the Fireballs for sale?

A source close to the Fireballs franchise say the team may be up for sale, and if sold, the MTL Keeper League could have new ownership as early as the 2012 season.

The source spoke to the MTL Keeper League blog on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the subject.


The Fireballs, owned and managed by Rick, are in the midst of one of the worst seasons in league history. At 1-9-2, they are the favorite to get last place and pay the fee. The Fireballs have been outscored an unbelievable 139-83 this season, including 62-31 during a current five-game losing streak.

Rick has been as dormant as the Mauna Loa volcano this season, leading fans and media to question what is going on. Why hasn't he tried to improve an absolutely dreadful keeper situation? Why wasn't he active in trades when he started out 1-4-1? Why has he only made 15 moves, second fewest in the league?

And, one of the most pressing questions... has Rick given up? Check out these two screenshots.

No league activity since last Friday - four days!

And, below, an unset lineup during a limited gameday!

We will have more on this story if and when it develops or we get comment from Rick.
Read more!

Hal, Rick already in major trouble

If I were Josh Johnson, I'd be demanding
a trade from Rick's putrid team.

Not the start that either Hal or Rick was hoping for.

Obviously. 0-3 is 0-3, no bones about it. Terrible start for both teams. Neither one has even come close to winning. Combined they have been outscored an incredible 84-28.

No team has made the playoffs after an 0-3 start, let alone 0-4. This week is crucial. Championships won't be won in April, but if Hal and Rick don't win this week, well...start prepping for the lottery.

I spoke with both of them. Here's what they had to say.


Rick: "Well it's tough mentally when you have a slow start so we just have to be sure to keep our heads in the game and stay focused. It's early so we've got plenty of time to make adjustments and still come out on top in this league. You might even see a name change..."

Hal: "We just haven't been able to put it together. Yahoo put out an article about players starting off horribly and three-fourths are on my team. The bottom line is, I am just as confident in my team now as I was after the draft. I'm not going to do anything rash, because i know this team will wake up and play to their potential."

Well, it's nice to see the managers remain confident, but I just don't see how they can say these comments with a straight face. If I start 0-3, I'm in major panic mode.

They have two of fantasy baseball's top pitchers (Halladay, J. Johnson), and are getting crushed each week.

I guess we'll have to wait and see.
Read more!

A tale of two divisions

Boy, would Joe, Jack and Dave like to switch divisions with Rick.

Why, you ask? Rick is in last place in the Elin Nordegren Division with a 5-8-2 record. He is only 2.5 games out of first place. Jack and Joe (6-8-1) and Dave (5-8-2) are in the Tiger Woods Division and 4 and 4.5 games out, respectively.


Amazingly, Rick still has a shot to win his division. And he said he thinks he still has a shot, as well.

"No matter what division we are in, we are going to play hard and try to make the playoffs," Rick said. "It's just a lucky break that we can be in last place in the division and still compete."

All six teams are packed together like riders during a Tour de France stage. No one at the top seems to want to take control. Andy and Hal can't seem to win anymore, Chris has more name changes than victories lately, and Shea has been too inconsistent. Even Ken couldn't take advantage of an opportunity last week.

"It's an extremely competitive and exciting division," Shea said. "It'll be a race to the end."

There's two ways to look at this. One - managers can feel like a loss is not so much a blown opportunity because everyone else in the division is just average. Or, two, managers can get frustrated that they're not taking advantage of other team's mediocrity.

The latter was how Shea felt after a bad week vs. Bob.

"My team cannot afford to flop and lose like we did (last) week," Shea said shortly after Sunday's matchups ended. "It was a pathetic performance, and we missed a key opportunity to take down one of the top teams in the league. We aren't looking to sneak into the playoffs. We should be in first place right now."

Meanwhile, in the other division, Bob and Adam are fighting it out for a title. Adding to the drama even further is that they play each other in Week 22, the final week. As long as there is no more than a one-game separation, that matchup will decide the division title.

Both Adam and Bob have 10 wins, and 11 is usually the benchmark to making the playoffs. Only three teams (Chris in 2009, Dave/Joe in 2007) have missed the playoffs with 11 wins.

It'd take a heck of a double-meltdown to have anyone other than one of these teams win the Tiger Woods Division. Joe, Jack, Dave, and even Mike certainly have as good a shot as anyone to make the playoffs as a wild-card team. But, unlike the other division, the division title is far away.

Last year was the only time four teams from one division have made the playoffs. There's a chance that could happen this year. But, of course, there's still seven weeks left and plenty of time for things to change.

Read more!

5 to watch: Weekend predictions

1. The U.S. will not lose to England.
Wait, wrong sport? Oops...

2. Interleague play will wreak havoc on complete games.
Either an 8 inning complete-game loss for an NL pitcher or a great AL pitcher's outing ruined because he had to be pinch hit for when he normally wouldn't.


3. There will be another name change by the time this week ends.
First Bob, then Chris. Something tells me we're not done quite yet.

4. Mike's four-game losing streak will easily come to an end.
Not a hard prediction to come true, in all likelihood, but one that's necessary to make.

5. Gavin Floyd and Ted Lilly will have a role in deciding matchups on Sunday night.
Cubs-White Sox is the late game, and Jack vs. Bob and Chris vs. Rick will be close.

Read more!

Salary Showcase: Fireballs Ten

Welcome to the blog's new feature, the Salary Showcase. Here, you will get a brief but informative breakdown of each team's salary.

Now, we get to see who is overachieving, underachieving, and who is getting the most bang for their buck. Unsuccessful managers with a high salary team are sure to be feeling the heat from their fan base.

I am going based off the current roster, not the drafted roster. Big ups to Chris for the idea and Shea for the headline.


Fireballs Ten
Manager: Rick
2010 salary: $156,926,000
Hitting salary: $84,912,000
Pitching salary: $72,014,000
Highest-paid hitter: Albert Pujols ($14,596,000)
Highest-paid pitcher: CC Sabathia ($24,285,000)
Lowest-paid hitter: Howie Kendrick ($1,750,000)
Lowest-paid pitcher: Clay Buchholz ($443,000)

Read more!

Demise of the Fireballs?

One thing that shocked us all last week was Rick's terrible loss to winless Ken. Now at 2-4, Rick has his back against the wall.

But, he's been in that position before and he's made it out OK. This year, though, things just seem different. These do not seem like the Fireballs of old.

Rick has made the playoffs every year, and he has a title. But after last week's 15-4 loss to Ken, what's going on?


"It was a great matchup and I'm proud of the way my guys played," Rick said. "No team in this league is an easy win. You've got to go out there every week and play your best - that's all you can do. I think my guys did that and as long as we keep doing that we'll be all right."

Albert Pujols has obviously been good, but Joe Mauer has been battling injury, and CC Sabathia gives up more runs than he should.

Rick is 11th out of 12th in home runs, 10th in RBIs, 12th in runs, 10th in total bases, and 10th in OPS.

Clearly lacking a power punch, though, Rick doesn't seem worried.

"If you look at our matchup last week, it was extremely close and was won on Sunday," Rick said. "Also, our team stats were each above average in most categories and average in others compared with the rest of the league. We were No. 1 and No. 2 in at least two categories as well."

Will Rick make any changes or hold a team meeting any time soon? A loss this week would really be damaging.

"very good team makes adjustments throughout the season," he said, "so don't expect the Fireballs to be any different."
Read more!

Reviewing the weekend predictions

Figures that Ken of all people stops me from having a perfect week.


1. Ken, despite strong words earlier this week, still won't win.
Incorrect. He blew out Rick, surprisingly.

2. Shea won't set his lineup at least once this weekend.
Correct, although it seems the audience thought this one would be wrong.

3. Luke Gregerson will allow a run (for the first time in his last 14 appearances).
Correct. And to make it even funnier, the guy Chris dropped (Affeldt) got a hold.

4. Bob vs. Mike won't be decided until after 10 p.m. on Sunday night.
Correct. It came down to the final innings.

5. There will be a tie!
Correct! Nailed it with my Dave vs. Jack prediction of a tie as well.
Read more!

Week 5 Preview

Back on track! My first above-.500 week of predictions. Thank you Hal and Bob for Sunday rallies.

Onto the Week 5 Preview.


Stats on predictions:
Last week: 4-2
Overall: 9-15
Upset special: 0-4
Mismatch: 1-3

Match of the week
Chris (4-0) vs. Joe (2-2)
Line: Chris -2
Info: Joe hit the crap out of the ball last week and looks to continue that against the lone undefeated team of the league. Chris hasn't beaten Joe since 2008.
All-time series: Joe 5-1
Prediction: Chris 11-9

Mismatch of the week
Andy (3-1) vs. Jack (1-3)
Line: Andy -4
Info: These offenses are completely on opposite ends. Andy leads the league in many offensive categories, while Jack has really struggled to hit.
All-time series: Tied 3-3
Prediction: Andy 12-7

Upset special of the week
Rick (2-2) vs. Adam (2-2)
Line: Rick -2
Info: We've seen Adam pull out some nice wins over the past couple years, and I'm taking the underdog in this matchup.
All-time series: Rick 5-1
Prediction: Adam 10-9

Rest of the week
Hal (3-1) vs. Dave (2-2)
Line: Hal -3
Info: Hal continues to impress, and he's made many of us believers. Dave is trying to climb above .500 for the first time since 2007 - a stunning statistic.
All-time series: N/A
Prediction: Hal 13-7

Ken (0-4) vs. Mike (1-3)
Line: Mike -1.5
Info: Yikes. Quite the matchup, eh? We've been told Albert Pujols has started looking at mansions in Ken's hometown, already preparing for the draft lottery.
All-time series: Tied 3-3
Prediction: Mike 11-7

Bob (2-2) vs. Shea (2-2)
Line: Bob -2.5
Info: Shea is entering busy season, and that does not bode well for his fantasy teams. Bob will try to take advantage and get back on track after a tough April.
All-time series: Bob 4-1-1
Prediction: Bob 13-5
Read more!

Week 4 Preview

It's gotten to the point where managers are hoping I don't pick them to win.

And with my track record, who can blame them?

Onto this week's preview.


Stats on predictions:
Last week: 2-4
Overall: 5-13
Upset special: 0-3
Mismatch: 0-3

Match of the week
Rick (2-1) vs. Bob (1-2)
Line: Rick -2
Info: This is a rematch from last year's thrilling playoff series in which Rick almost cost himself by inexplicably screwing up the weekend stiff process. Bob ended up winning, and our fans would only be so lucky to get a sniff of that this time around.
All-time series: Bob 3-2-1
Prediction: Bob 11-8

Mismatch of the week
Chris (3-0) vs. Mike (1-2)
Line: Chris -5
Info: Chris gets two starts from Zack Greinke and Francisco Liriano, and looks primed to send Mike into yet an early-season hole. Chris has declared this week "personal" after Mike's not-so-direct guarantee of a win.
All-time series: Chris 4-2
Prediction: Chris 13-6

Upset special of the week
Dave (1-2) vs. Ken (0-3)
Line: Dave -2.5
Info: You have to feel for Ken. He realizes his season is quickly spiraling out of control, yet there's just not much he can do about it. In fact, he's already thinking about next year and Albert Pujols. I say he gets a W this week.
All-time series: Ken 4-2
Prediction: Ken 11-9

The rest of the week
Hal (2-1) vs. Jack (1-2)
Line: Hal -3
Info: Since beginning the year as a +1200 to win the league title, Hal has moved up to a +450. Quite impressive. Jack, on the other hand, looks to put behind yet another slow start.
All-time series: N/A
Prediction: Hal 12-7

Shea (2-1) vs. Joe (1-2)
Line: Shea -1.5
Info: Shea is coming off a fantastic week, while Joe was the exact opposite. How much of a factor will that play? Could we see two complete reversals in Shea's team goes down as Joe's goes up?
All-time series: Joe 5-1
Prediction: Shea 12-8

Adam (2-1) vs. Andy (2-1)
Line: Pick 'em
Info: A match of the week candidate if both teams weren't coming off miserable weeks. One of these teams will have a two-game losing streak at this time next week after starting the season with such promise.
All-time series: Andy 4-2
Prediction: Andy 11-9

Read more!

Dynamic duos

One thing we've seen in fantasy baseball is that managers like to grab two big hitters from the same team.

Last year, Bob rode Prince Fielder and Ryan Bruan to a title. Ken had Adam Dunn and Ryan Zimmerman. Andy had Ryan Howard and Chase Utley. Both Andy and Ken made the playoffs.


This year, it's more of the same. Let's take a look at the teams with a power punch of dynamic duos.

Andy - Ryan Howard and Chase Utley; Adam Lind and Alex Gonzalez. So far, the Phillies' duo has carried Andy's league-leading offense.

Bob - Ryan Zimmerman and Adam Dunn; Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun. So far, both of these duos haven't lived up to expectations. Dunn and Fielder have been terrible.

Chris - Robbie Cano and Derek Jeter. Not the Yankees' two top sluggers, but these two have been New York's best two hitters so far. Chris is thriving because of it.

Dave - Raul Ibanez and Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino; Stephen Drew and Kelly Johnson. Not exactly the Fantastic Five..

Jack - Troy Tulowitzki and Ian Stewart. Stewart has outperformed Tulowitzki by a lot, something I'm sure Jack is not happy about.

Joe - Victor Martinez and Marco Scutaro; Carlos Lee and Lance Berkman; Juan Pierre and Alex Rios. Not the two Red Sox I'd want on my team - and he's a Yankees fan. Joe hopes Lee benefits from Berkman's return.

Mike - Placido Polanco and Jayson Werth; Ian Kinsler and Vlad Guerrero. Polanco turning into Ted Williams has kept Mike afloat with Ian Kinsler on the DL.

Rick - Hideki Matsui and Kendry Morales and Howie Kendrick. All three have had nice starts and likely will continue their steadiness.

Shea - Alex Rodriguez and Curtis Granderson; Geovany Soto and Alfonso Soriano. Nothing too special from A-Rod so far. Granderson has been nice. No comment about someone having two Cubs on his team...
Read more!

Week 3 Preview

So far, my predictions have been embarrassing. Flat out embarrassing.

Let's hope we change that around this week. And a new little curve to the weekly preview feature.

On we go.


Stats on predictions:
Last week: 1-5
Overall: 3-9
Upset special: 0-2
Mismatch: 0-2

Match of the week
Adam (2-0) vs. Hal (1-1)
Line: Adam -1.5
Info: This is quite an intriguing matchup, and one nobody would have predicted to be our featured match of the week. Can Adam keep the perfect record alive? Or will Hal move above .500 for the first time in his young career?
All-time series: N/A
Prediction: Adam 12-8

Mismatch of the week
Andy (2-0) vs. Bob (0-2)
Line: Andy -4
Info: It's the only matchup that features a two-game difference, so we have no choice but to make this the mismatch of the week.
All-time series: Tied 3-3
Prediction: Andy 10-8

Upset of the week
Shea (1-1) vs. Mike (1-1)
Line: Shea -1
Info: Both teams picked up much-needed confidence boosters last week, eking out close wins. Whomever wins this wouldn't necessarily be much of an upset, but there's not much out there this week.
All-time series: Mike 5-1
Prediction: Mike 12-7

The rest of the week
Jack (0-2) vs. Ken (0-2)
Line: Jack -2
Info: We might as well call this one the "Desperation match of the week," as whomever loses this one faces a huge hole that will be tough to crawl out of.
All-time series: Jack 4-2
Prediction: Jack 10-9

Chris (2-0) vs. Dave (1-1)
Line: Chris -3.5
Info: Chris appears to be the class of the league right now, clicking on most cylinders. If Dave can pull the upset, it'd be a huge boost.
All-time series: Chris 4-2
Prediction: Chris 13-5

Rick (1-1) vs. Joe (1-1)
Line: Pick 'em
Info: An enticing matchup and dare I call it a playoff preview? These two teams have become staples of our postseason, so what the hell?
All-time series: Tied 3-3
Prediction: Joe 11-7
Read more!

No time to panic...right?

A marathon, not a sprint.

That's the way six of the managers will treat the season after losing Week 1. But, let's face it, it's true, isn't it? I have the stats and I'll let you decide.


Last year, three of our playoff managers - including both championship managers - lost in Week 1.

In 2008, however, all five managers to start 0-1 missed the playoffs (there was a tie).

In 2007, Rick started 0-2 but went on to win the championship. Only one other manager - Bob - lost in Week 1 but still made the playoffs.

So, we've had a mixed bag of results. More times than not, however, the trend proves that a Week 1 loss equals missing the playoffs.
Read more!

Week 2 Preview

Some close matchups and some blowouts last week. Some expected wins, some unexpected.

This week, we get into the joys of Week 2. Like the 0-1 teams stressing over a potential 0-2 start.

One thing to note about this week is how lopsided most of these matchups have been in the past.

Onto the Week 2 preview we go.


Stats on predictions:
Last week: 2-4 (oof!)
Overall: 2-4
Upset special: 0-1
Mismatch: 0-1 (Currently writing a check to my bookie)

Match of the week
Andy (1-0) vs. Joe (1-0)
Info: The only one pitting two 1-0 teams vs. each other, we have to make this the match of the week by default. With the new playoff rules, it's especially important to pick up wins against potential playoff teams. Andy and Joe have both made the playoffs the past two seasons.
What to watch for: Ryan Howard and Vernon Wells carried these two teams last week. Can they keep it up for another one?
All-time series: Joe 4-2
Prediction: Joe 11-8

Mismatch of the week
Rick (1-0) vs. Mike (0-1)
Info: This was a tough one, as most weeks it wouldn't be a mismatch. In fact, Mike has won 5-of-6 career meetings against Rick. But, early in the season, we're going based on power rankings.
What to watch for: Neither team has a pitcher starting twice this week. So who is that an advantage for?
All-time series: Mike 5-1
Prediction: Rick 13-6

Upset of the week
Jack (0-1) vs. Chris (1-0)
Info: This would only be a mild upset at this point, based solely on records. Still, Jack's bad week plus Chris' great weeks leaves me thinking things could even out.
What to watch for: With Brian Roberts landing on the DL, does Jack make a move and cut ties with Bedard or Chapman?
All-time series: Chris 3-2-1
Prediction: Jack 10-8

The rest of the week
Hal (0-1) vs. Bob (0-1)
Info: Hal opened some eyes with a tough, but close, 10-9 loss last week, while Bob made fans want to close their eyes with an opening-week dud.
What to watch for: We respect Hal as a manager, but until the expansion team gets its first win, every veteran is going to be sweating being that person to lose and go in the history books.
All-time series: N/A
Prediction: Bob 12-7

Ken (0-1) vs. Adam (1-0)
Info: Adam was the surprise of Week 1, and he said all the right things afterward. Ken is regrouping after being blown out and having nothing to play for once the weekend came.
What to watch for: I want to see how Adam reacts to being the favorite and whether he can duplicate last week's success.
All-time series: Ken 5-0-1
Prediction: Adam 11-9

Shea (0-1) vs. Dave (1-0)
Info: Neither team had a great week, but Dave managed to pull out the win. Shea, on the other hand, is already facing questions about whether the expectations were too high.
What to watch for: Shea did not get what he wanted out of Alex Rodriguez last week. How long will he tolerate the ineptness?
All-time series: Shea 5-1
Prediction: Dave 10-9
Read more!

Week 1 Preview

Ahhh Opening Day! Don't you love it. Can't you feel the energy?

The weekly previews have returned, and on we go!


Match of the week
Bob (0-0) vs. Joe (0-0)
Info: A rematch of last season's championship, we the fans are treated to this entree in Week 1. The trash talk from Bob this week has made it all the more intense. Word on the street is Joe is not happy at all.
What to watch for: Will Bob's early-season injuries play a role, especially this week where games are staggered?
All-time series: Bob 4-2
Prediction: Bob 12-8

Mismatch of the week
Jack (0-0) vs. Adam (0-0)
Info: One of the highest-ranked teams in the preseason power rankings vs. one of the lowest. Plus, Jack has never lost to Adam in his career. Doesn't become more of a mismatch than that.
What to watch for: Can Adam get out to a good start? It's crucial, but it won't be easy with a first-week match against Jack.
All-time series: Jack 6-0
Prediction: Jack 14-5

Upset special of the week
Shea (0-0) vs. Rick (0-0)
Info: Hard to go balls to the wall with an upset pick for week 1, but what the hell. I'm buying into the hype of Shea's team. For now. I'll quickly jump off the bandwagon.
What to watch for: Rick has stacked the deck with pitching, but will that bite him this week where there's a lot of off days for hitters, and starting pitchers might only get one start?
All-time series: Rick 5-1
Prediction: Shea 11-9

The rest of the week
Andy (0-0) vs. Hal (0-0)
Info: Hal makes his debut to the league, taking over for the league's worst manager last season.
What to watch for: Will Hal catch on quickly? It's not your normal set of categories and strategy, so how long will it take for the newbie to adjust?
All-time series: N/A
Prediction: Andy 12-7

Chris (0-0) vs. Ken (0-0)
Info: Chris has set lofty expectations for himself this season, and he hasn't been this excited about a team in a long time. Ken, on the other hand, is staggering. He's been hit by a big injury and is second-guessing his draft.
What to watch for: If Chris gets in a hole, how quickly will we see a name change from Bronx Bombers to Bronx Bums? It seems like a staple of his each year.
All-time series: Chris 4-1-1
Prediction: Chris 11-6

Mike (0-0) vs. Dave (0-0)
Info: If this game were broadcast on FOX, about 2% of our viewing audience would see it. Two of the league's bottom-feeders last year.
What to watch for: Will Dave put one of his two injured guys on the DL at some point? Will he cut Jermaine Dye, who isn't on an active roster?
All-time series: Mike 4-2
Prediction: Mike 10-9

Read more!

The adversity begins already

It's been a busy offseason for the Cole Miners.

They've had their parade, gone on the banquet circuit, done the interviews, and all of the good stuff that comes with a championship.

The 2010 season is already starting with a bump.

Joe Blanton and Brad Lidge will begin the season on the disabled list, leaving the Miners with THREE inactive pitchers. Throw in Jair Jurrjens' spring-training soreness, and things aren't looking very promising.


"I'll be fine. There's nothing serious," Bob said. "It's only going to be like 4 or 5 starts with Blanton, and I knew what I was getting with Lidge when I took him. I got an easy first-week matchup against Joe, so I should be good. I just need my pitching to scrape by."

But it's not just Bob who is experiencing a world of pain. Several managers will already begin the season with a DL spot occupied.

Mike's keeper of Ian Kinsler is hurt, Joe has Lance Berkman, Andy has Carlos Beltran, Hal has Jose Reyes, Dave has Huston Street, Jack has Erik Bedard, Ken has Cliff Lee, Shea has Brandon Webb, and Chris has Ted Lilly.

"Ian's injury does put a small damper on things as we break from camp," Mike said. "But it's nothing that is getting us down. Going into the season we were well aware of Kinsler's past history, yet we still considered him one of our best options. We expect nothing serious from this injury and look forward to getting him back in mid-April."

So that leaves Rick and Adam as the only two managers without a DL guy to begin the year. Does this present an advantage?

"Well I think it's a significant advantage," Rick said. "Our guys have been active and practicing together all spring. They've got a chemistry that you just don't get if you've been sipping lemonade by the hotel pool. You always want to see your guys healthy - it allows us to get a great start right out of the gates. I'm looking forward to a great season."

How does Adam feel?

"No comment," Adam said after several minutes of thought.

Is he trying to avoid jinxing himself? Could be. An interesting tactical approach by the Phightin Sillies, if so.
Read more!

2010 Preseason Power Rankings

After days of waiting, they are finally here!

Remember, this is all in good fun, so don't get your damn panties bent out of shape. Send all feedback my way. If you don't like where you are, prove me wrong.

Without further ado, I present to you the much-anticipated 2010 preseason Power Rankings.


12. Charlie Murphy
What could go right: Hal sheds the label of expansion team and comes out firing, taking down Andy and Bob, respectively, in the first two weeks; Roy Halladay runs away with the Cy Young award, leading the Phillies to a 10-game division lead by the All-Star break; Justin Duchshcerer starts the season and pitches decent enough to avoid a quick trigger finger from Hal.
What could go wrong: Hal is overwhelmed and can't handle the pressure so he makes a deal to hand the team back to the defunct Richie; Jose Reyes injures his groin dancing to salsa music in the dugout (while he's already on the DL); Andre Ethier is busted for using steroids in May, leaving a huge hole in the Dodgers' lineup and, more importantly, Charlie Murphy's.
What will really happen: With no expectations, Hal fares OK. He treads around the .500 mark thanks to lousy keepers but good managing. Ultimately, though, he misses the playoffs in his inaugural year.

11. Phightin Sillies
What could go right: Adam does it again, making his second brilliant trade in as many years - this time, he sends Nick Swisher and Matt Holliday to Chris for Mark Reynolds and Franklin Gutierrez right before Holliday breaks a bone in his hand; A year away from TV commercials and magazine photo shoots, Dustin Pedroia reverts back to his MVP form; One of Adam's FIVE relief pitchers gets turned into a starter.
What could go wrong: Adam starts out in a big hole and finds himself in a race to avoid paying the last-place fee; Manny Ramirez calls it quits after he fails to homer in his first 15 games of the season; Right before the All-Star break, current AL MVP frontrunner Josh Hamilton is spotted snorting cocaine after purchasing it from manager Ron Washington and is suspended indefinitely.
What will really happen: Adam stays close most weeks but fails to pull out necessary wins. He misses out on the playoffs for the fourth straight year.

10. Time to Mo Vaughn
What could go right: Whenever Dave sees he has a trade proposal, he doesn't even bother opening it; Matt Kemp shines in the spotlight, belting 35 homers and 115 RBIs to go along with 30 SBs; Todd Helton, Aaron Hill, Raul Ibanez, Jason Kubel, Randy Wolf and Huston Street all prove last year weren't flukes.
What could go wrong: This time, Dave trades Adam Wainwright to Bob for Cole Hamels, who gets injured in his next start; Matt Kemp can't handle the spotlight that comes with dating Rihanna and turns to A-Rod for advice - A-Rod gives him a one-word answer: "Steroids"; The aforementioned slew of guys prove that yes, indeed, it was a fluke.
What will really happen: Dave still can't figure out how to get over the hump in this league, failing to make the playoffs yet again.

9. Turd in the punchbowl
What could go right: Ken never loses average, hits and stolen bases, and claws out 10-9 victories for the first four weeks; Hanley Ramirez tinkers with becoming the first guy to hit .400 since Ted Williams; Cliff Lee is traded to the Phillies at the trade deadline, duplicating what he did last season.
What could go wrong: Ken loses his first four games and hits a combined eight home runs; Tired of losing both in real life and fantasy life, Hanley Ramirez refuses to suit up and demands a trade; Cliff Lee cannot get over the fact that he is not playing in Philadelphia anymore and intentionally throws at every hitter's head.
What will really happen: Ken has an up-and-down season, but he's never able to blow out an opponent, leading to a lot of close calls on Sundays. He finishes two-to-three games below .500 and regroups for next year.

8. Manager of the Year
What could go right: Mike starts out 4-1, leading to some more strange comments and bizarre trash talk with Hal; Ian Kinsler thrives in the fifth spot of the batting order, turning into a legit power hitter; Jacoby Ellsbury justifies his status of being drafted so high, finishing with 110 runs and 80 stolen bases.
What could go wrong: Mike makes a bonehead move that costs him a W in Week 1, and he never recovers; The Jacoby Ellsbury pick is scrutinized all season long after the centerfielder has a down year; Jeff Francouer reveals himself to be Greek, not French, and he has to put up with the shame of that for the rest of the season.
What will really happen: Mike will complain that he's ranked too low and then he won't go out and back up his words.

7. Smutt Peddlers 5
What could go right: Despite a roster with a lot of "meh" players, Joe recaptures his Smutt magic and gets back to the title game yet again; Joe turns into a closet Red Sox fan after watching his three Boston players have incredible seasons; David Wright remembers how to hit home runs and increases his total from 10 to 15 this year.
What could go wrong: Joe's offense turns out to be miserable, as predicted, and he can't find ways to win; The Rays and Jays fight it out for first in the AL East; David Wright, wearing his Gazoo helmet, falls on his face running to first base and suffers a broken cheekbone that DLs him for 60 days.
What will really happen: Joe has a playoff spot all but locked up, needing just one win in the final three weeks. But a tumble in the stock market causes Joe to panic, and he loses all three games to miss the playoffs.

6. Rebuilding Year Ova!
What could go right: With gigantic expectations, Shea comes out firing on all cylinders and is the talk of the league through April; Playing without pressure and a different girlfriend every month, Alex Rodriguez wins the AL MVP; Carlos Zambrano meditates before games, helping him to be less psycho on the mound.
What could go wrong: Shea starts out 1-3, sees his season quickly sliding downhill and starts the rebuilding year again; A-Rod can't handle his new lifestyle of not being a choke artist and starts drinking before each game; Carlos Zambrano sees the commissioner of this league before a game in Philadelphia and attacks him for using the nickname "Big Z."
What will really happen: Shea joins managers such as Joe and Bob as ones who have actually lobbied for a high spot in the power rankings. He backs into the playoffs after forgetting to set his lineup in August and September.

5. Snooki Punch
What could go right: The fantasy Gods finally smile upon Andy for doubling as commissioner and they reward him with some success in this league; Ryan Howard learns how to hit a breaking ball, smashing 63 homers to become the single-season non-steroid leader; Matt Cain turns into a stud who contends for the Cy Young and becomes a valuable keeper.
What could go wrong: The blog becomes more important than managing the team and Andy has a disastrous year; Jason Heyward quickly learns that he needs another season in the minor leagues; Mark Buehrle pitches one imperfect game after another, choosing this season to be his last.
What will really happen: Andy will use the magic of Luke Gregerson to sneak into the playoffs down the stretch with a couple of late-season dramatic wins.

4. Bronx Bombers
What could go right: Chris does it again, drafting a catcher who turns into the team's star hitter. Last year, Sandoval, this year Montero; Grady Sizemore rebounds from a horrific season and reverts back to the player Chris has fallen in love with; Carlos Quentin makes me eat my words and lives up to Chris' 40 homer, 110 RBI prediction.
What could go wrong: Chris loses in Week 1 and puts everyone on the trading block, declaring this season over!; Grady Sizemore is more concerned with taking pictures of his junk in a mirror than he is playing baseball; Carlos Quentin gets arrested for tracking down Chris and taking a swing at him after Chris benches him.
What will really happen: Chris will contend for a division title and easily make the playoffs.

3. Billy Ball
What could go right: With no stiffing and limits on keeper trades, Jack tears through the league, tinkering with an undefeated season; Troy Tulowitzki follows up last season with another monster year; Jake Peavy and Chris Carpenter avoid injuries and start against each other in the All-Star Game.
What could go wrong: Jack announces his team's official color is red after seeing so many small red DLs next to his players' names; Jason Bay fills in nicely with the Mets, becoming another power hitter intimidated by the ballpark; Jonathan Broxton fails to convert a save every time he faces the Padres simply because Matt Stairs is in the ballpark.
What will really happen: Jack has another consistent season and wins the division, but loses in his first playoff game yet again.

2. Fireballs Ten
What could go right: Celebrating the team's 10th anniversary, Rick brings back some of the club's greats for moving ceremonies; With Pujols, Mauer, Bartlett and Ichiro, Rick threatens to set a record by hitting over .300 as a team; CC Sabathia wins the AL Cy Young, making Rick look smart for keeping him over Roy Halladay.
What could go wrong: Rick's team boycotts after he tells them that last year's semifinal finish wasn't good enough and puts them through preseason boot camp; Josh Johnson and Tim Hudson go down with injuries, leaving Rick desperate for some arms; Joe Mauer has a terrible season in Minnesota's new cold, outdoor stadium.
What will really happen: Rick wins the division, makes it to the finals and becomes the first manager to win two titles.

1. Cole Miners
What could go right: During a late-night Atlantic City fix, Bob and Dave agree to a trade by picking random numbers at the roulette table; Bob sets a league record for home runs in a season thanks to guys like Fielder, Braun, Dunn, Zimmerman and Cruz; Stephen Strasburg is called up in early May and dominates, immediately establishing himself as a top keeper.
What could go wrong: Bob starts off slow again, changing his name to the Cold Miners for the second straight season; Fielder accidentally clocks Bruan in the face during a post-home run celebration; Stephen Strasburg isn't called up until September.
What will really happen: Bob wins two games in the playoffs but can't capture that second straight title, losing in the finals.
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Assessing the draft: Fireballs Ten

(Editor's note: This is the start of a series of posts briefly breaking down each team's draft. It will culminate in the debut of the 2010 Power Rankings at the end.)

Rick is always a force in this league, and he took his fans on a roller-coaster ride at the end of last season. Apparently, he enjoys it, because the draft had some ups and downs for him.


Focus: Pitching, as usual. Like he does every year, Rick loaded up on pitching - starters and relievers. Why question him at this point? He simply gets it done year in and year out.

Storyline: Rick was the root of one of the most chaotic draft scenes of all time. Due to an autodrafter, we had to improvise with a strict set of rules. Rick chose to go all Jack Bauer on our asses, becoming a rogue drafter. He didn't follow rules and still got his way. Straight out of the TV show.

Headscratcher: Always meticulous about his moves, one has to wonder what Rick was thinking leaving an empty hitting spot. Did he forget Kendry Morales isn't OF-eligible? Check his roster if you don't believe me. He's missing an outfielder! Go ahead, click the little "boneheaded moves" label below and see who leads the count for posts about him.
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Familiarity breeds contempt

One of the things that really came into play this year was teams that had crucial keeper decisions to make.

Managers like Joe and Ricky, who had tough decisions to let Dan Haren and Josh Johnson go, respectively. Yet both of them got them back this year in the draft.

A job well done, I'm sure, in their minds.

But those weren't the only two managers who went back to players they liked having last year.


Not including keepers, a look at the (unofficial) count of rehashes. I only included it based on having a player for the majority of the season, not the draft.

Joe - 5
Rick - 4
Shea - 4 3
Mike - 3
Jack - 3
Bob - 3
Chris - 3
Andy - 2
Ken - 1
Dave - 1
Adam - 0
Hal - N/A

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Comparing keepers one year later, part 1

This is the first of a two-part post, analyzing each manager's preseason keepers and how the team stacks up compared to a year ago at this time.

We're looking at this from a short-term stance only, so years remaining will not be taken into account.

First, we look at the Elin Nordegren division.


Andy
Last year: Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Tim Lincecum
This year: Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Yovani Gallardo
Analysis: Clearly, Andy has gone backward in his preseason players. He went from having the top-drafted pitcher to a huge question mark.
Breakdown: Downgraded

Chris
Last year: Carlos Lee, Alex Rodriguez, Brandon Webb
This year: Adrian Gonzalez, Grady Sizemore, Zack Greinke
Analysis: Chris is only one of two managers with three brand new keepers, and I'm sure he's more encouraged about having this threesome.
Breakdown: Upgraded

Hal
Last year: Jose Reyes, Justin Upton, Roy Oswalt
This year: Jose Reyes, Justin Upton, Roy Oswalt
Analysis: Would Hal have been better off getting rid of one of these three? Probably not, since he might be in a rebuilding stage and doesn't want to lose draft picks. Still, having these three this year isn't quite like it was having them last year.
Breakdown: Downgraded

Ken
Last year: Hanley Ramirez, Robinson Cano, Johan Santana
This year: Hanley Ramirez, Cliff Lee, Johan Santana
Analysis: Even though Cano turned into a nice surprise, there's no doubt Ken is in a better position with two of the top pitchers in the game.
Breakdown: Upgraded

Rick
Last year: Albert Pujols, Roy Halladay, CC Sabathia
This year: Albert Pujols, Joe Mauer, CC Sabathia
Analysis: A very interesting decision to keep Sabathia and let Halladay go, although it's certainly hard to argue with keeping Mauer. However, is Ricky really in a better spot now than at this time a year ago? It's an extremely tough call.
Breakdown: Stayed the same

Shea
Last year: Alfonso Soriano, Vlad Guerrero, Ervin Santana
This year: Alex Rodriguez, Justin Morneau, Felix Hernandez
Analysis: Do I even need to say anything more?
Breakdown: Upgraded

Part 2 comes out tomorrow.
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End of season review: No. 4 Ricky

(Editor's note: This is the latest in a series of season evaluations based on power ranking trends. At the end, each manager will be given a final determination of overachiever, underachiever or expected achiever.)

Oh, Ricky, Ricky, Ricky. There's no denying you were a fan favorite by the end of the year. Absolutely no denying that.

Your run to the playoffs was both inspiring and enjoyable, as it provided us with one of the greatest breakdowns by another manager the night you beat Chris at the very end.

But you goofed in the playoffs, a move that had it cost you a win, would have been scrutinized for years to come.

Your complete evaluation after the jump


We had you as the No. 2 team going into the season, and for much of the year, you were just average. You trended along the 6-7-8 line for quite a while before the late-season surge.

Several weeks we simply didn't know what to make of your team. Win, lose, win, lose. It was often like that.

But of course you came through when it mattered most - until the semifinals.

So what do we make of your season? A success to most, but not to you. We've come to expect more consistency from you. You didn't win anything other than some fans. That's not good enough, and we're sure you'll agree.

Final evaluation: Underachiever
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