So I don't really understand this whole twitter thing, but I was over at mlbtraderumors a little bit ago and saw that Dierkes referenced someone affiliated with baseball and Dierkes knew about this because said person "tweeted" it. I dont want to get too involved into this tweeter thing but it would be nice to get updates on the cell about rumors and news going on. If anyone knows who would be a good person i can follow on tweeter to keep updated on such things, let me know. Rambling Al, Dierkes, etc ??

Well, here it is. I am no longer a fantasy virgin. I think my draft went pretty well, not great, for my first time. Please give me your feedback and tell me how it looks thus far. Also, any big sleepers that you think i should go for, shoot them along as well.

C - Joe Mauer                                                   P - Cole Hamels

1B - Joey Votto                                                  P - Brandon Webb

2B - Rickie Weeks                                           P - Cliff Lee

3B - Chipper Jones                                         P - Chad Billingsley

SS - JJ Hardy                                                    P - Bobby Jenks

OF - Ryan Braun                                              P - Scott Baker

OF - Grady Sizemore                                      P - Huston Street

OF - Jay Bruce                                                 P - Kevin Slowey

OF - Chris Young                                            P - Jose Arredondo

OF - Delmon Young                                       Bench - Tony Pena

2B/SS - Erick Aybar                                        Bench - Joe Saunders

1B/3B - Adam LaRoche

UTIL - Matt Wieters

Bench - Denard Span

Hey everyone. I decided that i would make my inaugural fantasy baseball start this year. Ive always played fantasy football but never baseball. So if anyone has any tips for me or what the best fantasy baseball websites are to join a league (cuz i dont think too many of my friends would be dedicated as they are in football), can you please let me know.

I got my fantasy baseball magazine and i read the thing, now i just need to know where the best place to join a league is. I want to get in a league where money is on the line, even though i aint planning on winning anything cuz im a virgin to this. But any info, tips, help, etc would be appreciated.

"Chico Harlan of the Washington Post spoke with an agent Monday who believes Adam Dunn "will get a max of $5MM per year" this offseason." - Courtesy of mlbtraderumors.com

I have been a fan of this guy for awhile now. His OBP and power numbers are enormous. He is also a much needed left-handed bat. 5 million per year might be a stretch, but i would absolutely love having this guy for say, 8 million per year. The problem is where would we play him? Guess it depends on the return we could get for Hart, though i think we will be selling him real low at this point. (or trading Cameron if Harts return is deemed unsuffice)  Tho trading Cameron would be the salary-savvy thing to do.

But this gets me thinking; what does everyone else think about adding a left-handed bat that will mash 40 bombs, get on base nearly 4 out of 10 times, and outweigh princey all at the same time? Dunn, Braun, and Fielder = geeez look-out........

As many of us are, i am anxiously waiting for this winter activity to start rolling. Arguably the most interesting time of year for alot of fans, November/December gets my juices flowing as well. Then i put myself in the position of Brewers GM and make decisions based on what i think is best for my team. But this offseason, it is hard for me to make decisions on who stays, goes, and comes in. The Brewers are now considered 'contenders' and not just building for the future. This in turn brings up issues for a medium-sized market team in the midst of contracts exceeding $150,000,000 on the market. If a team like the Brewers offer a contract of this monstrosity, then we have little money left over for other needs that may need to be addressed. Arguably the best pitcher in the game, who the brewers had for the last cpl months of the '08 season, will require this kind of money to be had. I love CC as much as the next guy, and i know the marketing revenue he will bring in will be huge, but me, as the GM of the mid-sized market Milwaukee Brewers, does not want to be the guy who gives this kind of money to one player.

The Brewers have holes to fill, and if we throw all of our eggs into one basket, we will go into the season with holes that are glaring in need of talent. So i want this post to be a place to discuss the options that the GM has this offseason.

In my opinion: Pitching staff

1. CC goes  2. We offer sheets arbitration, only one year is worth the risk  3. Forget all about guys like Burnett and Lowe. 4. I was going to talk about offering Mike Hampton a 1-yr contract, but apparently the Astros have beat me to the punch http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2008/12/astros-sign-mik.html 5. I would like to see a trade made to bring in a guy that can be a #2 starter for us.

So our rotation would take shape of:  YoGa, #2 starter, Parra, Bush, Suppan  (unless sheets accepts arbitration, then he is our numero uno until he breaks a nail and is gone for 2 mo's)

Shouse = gone, Gagne - i have this feeling that makes we want to give him another shot in the 8th inning role. (sorry gagne haters, but he still throws 95 and has nasty movement on his pitches)

Bullpen - Stetter, Swindle, Gagne, Villanueva, Riske, McClung, DiFelice/Dillard, one FA signing - this bullpen does not look as bad to me as i know it does to many other ppl out there.

I really dont want to get into specific trade talks (Prince, Hardy), because they would all be arbitrary at this point in time, but to tell u the truth, i would not mind seeing Hardy in another uniform. (if the return is right)

Prince, Weeks (it's his breakout year, we've all heard that one before, but it is what i believe), then some combo of Escobar/Hardy/Hall/FA signing/trade return to play SS, and 3B.

Kendall/Rivera

Outfield gets interesting for me. I would like to trade Cam for a young starter. (maybe team Cam up with a youngster n get that #2 starter i was talking about, or straight up for potential *phil hughes) then we can sign a FA CF, say Taveras (comeback player award year) or trade for DeJesus, and make them our leadoff hitter. LF is easy. Corey Hart on a short leash manning RF.

"My GM" Lineup Overview:

1-Taveras 2-Rickie Weeks (more of a power hitting approach) 3-Braun 4-Fielder 5-Hardy 6-Hart 7-Hall/FA 8-Kendall 9-Pitcher

1-Sheets 2-YoGa 3-Parra 4-Bush 5-Suppan/Hughes

I'd like to believe a team such as this can warrant 86-89 wins. Leave your thoughts and ideas on what the team should do over the course of the next cpl of months..

It has been said that Melvin will now turn his attention to offering CC a new contract now that he himself will be staying in Milwaukee. Im not sure of our chances, 25%, optimistically speaking, but what are your opinions on it? 4 yrs / 100 mil get it done? Or is he gonna be a dodger? What yall think about all of this?

Another hot name around baseball these days is Jake Peavy. He has named several teams that he would accept a trade to.  Milwaukee was not one of them, even though 3 other teams in our division were.  Seems like Milwaukee and the Padres would be good trade partners.  Maybe a JJ Hardy, Jeremy Jeffress, and TGJ get it done. Is there any chance that Peavy would include Milwaukee as a city that he would waive his no-trade clause to go to?

Now its time for me to really start dreaming. CC and Peavy are my two favorite pitchers in the game. How bout we resign CC for 4yrs/100mil and trade hardy, jeffress, and TGJ for Peavy and have a rotation of ;

CC, Peavy, Gallardo, Bush, Parra

Alright, maybe thats a little far-fetched but what do you all think about the brewers pitching situation next year?

just a quick question here .. i was stuck at work and unable to watch the game last night, just wondering how the brewers fans took to jenkins coming back home for the first time??   i really hope they gave him a good applause!! After all of the things that he has done for the city and all the years that he spent here, i would hate to hear any booos coming from the fans at Miller Park.  I suspect we gave him a nice ovation tho, am i right?