Now that baseball season is getting ramped up again, I'm itching to play a baseball video game. I have a Nintendo Wii, and I've heard some very good things about MLB Power Pros, including from some people on this site. Just wondering what others had to say about it, and if I should buy the 2007 version or wait and see if a 2008 version gets made.

Also, what controller is best recommended for this game? I guess you can only use the Wii-mote for certain modes, and most people use a classic-type controller instead. Wondering which would provide the most bang for my buck.

http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20071101&content_id=2290 421&vkey=pr_det&fext=.jsp&c_id=det

Apparently he hurt his shoulder moving personal items due to the Southern California wildfires. This after hurting himself playing too much Guitar Hero. What's with the freak accidents? Looks like Todd Jones will stay the closer in Detroit after all.

The headline for the Boston Globe's sports section today:

"Almost Perfect
The Red Sox took the first step toward fulfilling expectations as Josh Beckett fired a four-hit shutout in a statement-making,
4-0 victory in Game 1 of their division series."

Really? We can't just enjoy the fact that not only are we AL East Division Champions for the first time since 1995, not only are we enjoying a home baseball playoff game, but we are leading a series against a phenomenal baseball club? It's just part of 'fulfilling expectations'? Way to suck all the fun out of being a fan of a contending team.

It's basically come to a head for me these last few days. It's at a point where I'm almost ashamed to be a Red Sox fan. There are so many ignorant bandwagon "fans" out there claiming to be "diehards" and parts of "Red Sox Nation" and all that junk. It just makes the rest of us who really are true fans look bad. I remember when getting to the playoffs was the victory in itself! How many Pittsburgh or Kansas City or even Milwaukee fans would kill right now to be in our shoes? And we can't just enjoy it for what it is? It's just part of fulfilling expectations? These so-called fans these days literally EXPECT to win a World Series now, and anything less is a huge disappointment.

People here in Boston wonder why the rest of the country now hates us, and the answer is it's things like this. I think I myself hate most Red Sox fans these days. So few people around here are remotely knowledgeable about the game or even the team itself, yet they run around bragging and boasting and dismissing other ballclubs and just generally making Red Sox fans the world over look bad. We really are the new Yankees.

I guess I don't have a point. I'm just frustrated and disappointed in my team, and wanted to apologize to the rest of baseball fans out there on behalf of the true Red Sox diehards who have been there since the beginning. Sorry.

At the beginning of the year I asked everyone who I should cut from my fantasy squad--Jeff Kent, Anthony Reyes, or Josh Barfield (http://minorleagueball.com/story/2007/3/8/11395/70073). The majority suggested cutting Kent, some Reyes, fewer Barfield.

Just posting this today because we've all been sadly proven wrong on that front. After cutting Reyes after his 10 straight losses and subsequent demotion, I'm going to have to cut Barfield today when Andrew Miller comes off the DL, on account of needing the roster spot and already having another 2B to fill in for the recently benched Barfield.

Just a sad day for me, wanted to share in my disappointment. Sometimes fantasy isn't as cut and dry as we think it is, I guess.

Jim and other Bandwagon readers,

Just wondering how many people on this site also frequent CelticsBlog? It seems to me that this site is very good, in addition to CelticsBlog, and I'm wondering if we can get some more flow from that blog to this one. There's room for two good Celtics Blogs out there, right?

What have you done to steer some overflow traffic from there to here, especially given their server problems lately?

I have a question for Indiansfan; what's going on with Josh Barfield? I thought this would be a great move for the tribe and was really excited about the impact that Barfield could have, even with a switch to the AL, but he's been really, really awful so far. Is there any obvious reason for it? Has he shown some signs of life at all, maybe just going through an adjustment on his first time through the league? I'm just really surprised with how much he's struggled and wondering if he'll be able to turn it around.

Sorry for posting fantasy related stuff, blah blah blah. What can I say? Most of us are here because of fantasy and I find these topics just as interested as anything else; besides, Reyes is not so far removed from being a prospect.

So here's my question. I'm in a deep keeper league (20 players) and I've narrowed my final cut down to 2 players. Basically, my question is who should I cut? Anthony Reyes or Jeff Kent?

I have plenty of good pitching (Kazmir, Cain, Peavy, Verlander, Olsen), but I've also got Josh Barfield to man second base. Right now I'm leaning towards keeping Reyes over Kent, but I'd hate to see Kent fall into the hands of one of my rivals (which would almost definitely happen in the draft if I were to cut him).

My team has a chance to win it this year, despite tight competition, and for that reason I'm hesitant to turn the keys to the car over to Barfield without having Kent as a safety net. However, I'd hate to miss out on the unfulfilled promise of Reyes, who I still think can be a very good pitcher.

So. What do you guys think?

I've got Ian Stewart in a dynasty league I'm in, but I've been rattled by reports that he'll be moving off of 3B and into the OF, where I'm already stacked. I need a young 3B for the future, and could potentially trade for either Andy LaRoche or Andy Marte. What should I do? Hold onto Stewart, trade for LaRoche, or trade for Marte, and why?