Not sure if anyone has brought this up (too lazy to hit back and check if Seth put it in the links. Sorry I'm so...eh too lazy to finish apologizing). Anyway apparently despite the fact that Tyson Chandler is the best NBA defensive player in all the land, he is not good enough to make a team of the best defensive players. Interesting. Does anyone know if the same voters do both awards? Even if it's different I find this rather silly and on behalf of humanity would like to apologize to Tyson and his whole super human race for this slight. We should probably start some petition, or maybe a nice little riot, appealing to the NBA to overturn this ridiculous award and kick Dwight Howard off in exchange for Tyson, although I don't think a riot would help my current (failing) effort to get a job with the NBA.

I hope the title doesn't make you think this will be a doom and gloom post about how I hat the Knicks and they suck and I don't want to be a fan. This post is simply an attempt to examine the concept of a sports fan, and how we root for the teams that we do. Clearly the first determining factor is hometown. Not necessarily your own, because we often inherit the teams of our parents' hometowns, but there is some kind of location pride that impacts your favorite teams. Growing up in New York the Knicks were simply the logical choice to follow and as a young kid I really loved basketball so my love for the Knicks naturally grew. However, around middle school and even more so in high school I found that I was growing more as a football and baseball fan and my interest in the Knicks had waned. I watched basketball still but with no particular vested interest, that is until my sophomore year of college. That year I roomed with a guy that was a huge Knicks fan and I began to re-develop my love of the Knicks. Gone were the players of my childhood and here was this totally new group of guys, I didn't even know what a "Danilo" looked like, let alone what it could do on a basketball court, and despite a down year, I fell lin love (typo) with that team.

Last year (my Junior year) had some shakeups at the beginning and even more with the Melo trade. In one day we had gotten rid of 3 of my 4 favorite Knicks (still had Landry though!). At least we still had this Amare guy and even though I didn't love Melo, I recognized his offensive talents. I hoped I could grow to love him.

The beginning of this year rolled around, and I was excited to see what the pringles guy could do with all of this talent in front of him. The answer? Squadoosh. But I didn't blame him, I still really liked D'Antoni and figured it was just a problem of meshing. And then of course Linsanity hit. I found another player to love, a great underdog story who actually had some solid NBA skills. I felt like nothing could stop us. Of course something did, some people say it was Melo, some say it's D'Antoni, I don't think either is fully to blame, or entirely blameless. But here we are. D'Antoni is fired and we wait for an uncertain future with guys that haven't been here for very long, and some that will be gone in just a few months. All we can do is hope that they can pull something together

I guess the point I'm trying to make is that I have seen some of my favorite players thrown out in a moment. I saw Donnie Walsh all but run out of the city by Dolan. And now the coach that I feel like everyone but me hated has resigned. Sure I have players I love on this team, Lin, Landry, Shumpalump, Tyson, and who could hate Steve "three pointers are like layups for me" Novak? But the only thing tying me to any of these guys to begin with is the colors they all happen to wear on the basketball court. It's amazing how much my mood can be impacted by sports when I look at it that way. The Knicks have gone against what I wanted in almost every way possible, but still I love the team.

Anyway sorry for that rant. I feel like I've just been broken up with by D'Antoni. He said it was him, not me and that he wants to stay friends but I don't know if I can be at this point. Plus I think part of the reason it happened was my parents didn't like him and he felt like he had to break up with me.

So no more #FireD'antoni. Lets start a new one #HireD'Antoni

One last thing. I can't decide whether naming your son Dan D'Antoni is a great or terrible decision. Thoughts?

The Dickefication.

Basically I saw "It's Dickey" on rec'd posts.  This is what I thought to do.  My first two posts have gotten to "red'd" this way so I figured why break the trend.  I don't mean to steal anything, but for the more hip-hop focused of us...

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Hey all, I'm sure that many of you have noticed that I haven't been very active on this blog lately.  (Crickets).  Nope?  No one?  C'mon pooptalica, I know you noticed I was gone.  C'mon... oh well.  Regardless the reason I haven't been around the last few weeks is that my summer internship ended a few weeks ago, and if I'm not spending 10 minutes each day organizing mail then I don't have as much of an opportunity to spend online.  It sucks that I've missed out on a lot of the fantasy football talk, and more importantly the insight that Ray is in fact LTTRLT (abbreviations work better in this case) but after I am back at college (friday) I'll be around more.  Being away from faketeams made me reflect about how much I've enjoyed being a check-once-every-10-minutes member of this site.  I was active on the mets blog (amazinavenue) and jets blog (ganggreennation) this summer, but at times it was tough to get involved in a discussion when I would have 20 people post before I responded (in particular in the Mets game threads and during the week of FA signing for football).  Basically all of this is to say thanks to Ray, the staff, and all of the other members for putting together such a fantastic blog and making such a great community.  This summer was just the beginning I look forward to many bored weekdays chatting with you folks.

I've mentioned my league before on this site, PPR, 2 QBs, 4 WR, 2 RB, 1 flex, TE, K, DST

My Starters are as follows:

QB: Matt Ryan
QB: Sam Bradford
WR: Roddy White
WR: Larry Fitzgerald
WR: Percy Harvin
WR: Santana Moss
RB: Peyton Hillis
RB: Mark Ingram
TE: Dallas Clark
Flex: Danny Amendola

My first RB on the bench is Daniel Thomas and my first WR is Davone Bess.  I have a deal in place right now where I will give up Fitz and CJ Spiller for Jamal Charles and either Braylon Edwards or Malcom Floyd.  Which WR do I take with Charles?  Also do I keep the lineup that I wind up with from there or do I try packaging the WR I get with Ingram for a WR?

Pick up Bobby Parnell

Haven't seen this anywhere else on the site so I'll post it here (would have made it a fan shot, but for some reason I can't find the "create fan shot" button) according to Terry Collins, now that Mets Closer Jason Isringhausen has gotten his 300th save he will no longer be exclusively used as the closer.  Mets set-up man Bobby Parnell will most likely get an opportunity to win the closer job for next year and since this season is already down the tubes he will probably have a long leash.  With his great K numbers and solid ratios he is an immediate add and has good potential to help your team down the stretch.  Add him ASAP.

Here is the link to the article by Adam Rubin.

As I said above.  Couldn't do fanshot.  Just trying to get to 150 words now.  two... more... Done.

Some of the comments on VikingsForever's article I saw some discussion of intentionally punting one week to improve the team as a whole and it made me think of a strategy that I have begun using this year, that is drafting a QB and WR (or for that matter TE) from the same team.  This is actually a pretty common strategy and people often justify it by saying "hey, now every touchdown that x throws to y counts twice!"  This argument really doesnt seem to make logical sense; just because I draft Aaron Rodgers it shouldnt change my overall projection for Greg Jennings.  Clearly I would have more invested in them, but just as every touchdown and yard counts twice, every bad game by one impacts the other. 

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I did a few player profiles earlier in the year before the baseball season on a few random guys that I liked for whatever reason.  The three I did were Alex Gordon, Michael Pineda, and Jake Fox.  I clearly was wrong on the Fox prediction, but by hopping on the Pineda and Gordon bandwagons early I have had a lot of success.  Clearly if you follow 2/3rds of my football recommendations you will win your league.  OK, while that may not be true take a look at what I say and if it floats your boat then go for it.

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I have a fantasy football draft today and was hoping for some help with my draft strategy.  My league is not standard settings.  We have 10 teams and TDs are normal (6 for Rushing/Recieving, 4 for passing) but yards are worth fewer points (20 rushing/recieving yards per point, 50 passing) and it is PPR.  In addition the positions are 2 QBs, 4 WRs, 2 RBs, TE, WR/RB flex, K, and Team Defense.  With this setup Recievers are especially valuable since the waiver wire is usually slot guys and non-factors on most teams, and QBs are similar since all but the worst starting QBs are snapped up in the draft.  Despite our settings most people draft as if it is a standard league, so in helping me assume normal ADP.  I have the last pick of the draft and was wondering what I should target (I had the same pick last year and took Manning and Brees back to back)

Kinda a slow day at work today, so I figured I would do another song parody like I did a few days ago.  This one is from the perspective of our favorite 3rd baseman to the tune of Snoop Dogg's Gin and Juice

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I know, I know.  There have been so many, Carlos Beltran tributes we should all just give it a rest, but I've got some time to kill waiting for my friend to get off of work so here goes.  To the tune of American Pie by Don McLean.  And I wish I could play guitar/sing so I could actually put together a video of this.

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Towards the beginning of the season I wrote an article on Alex Gordon.  I meant to do more of these player profiles (I also did one on Michael Pineda and one on Jake Fox) but finals kinda got in the way and then I started my internship.  Here is the original article.

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Not sure if there has been something similar to this on here (probably has) but I have been thinking a lot about how some of the current top prospects in baseball compare with what earlier prospects have done.  would a 2011 Matt Moore be ranked ahead of a 2007 Homer Bailey?  Would a 2006 Delmon Young be more hyped than Mike Trout is?  I feel like prospecting has become more of a science even in the last 3-4 years than it was earlier in the decade.  This could just be me but I feel like a lot more of the top prospects have actually panned out and I don't know if that is becasue we have simply had a wave of incredibly talented prospects in the last few years or because of better evaluation of young baseball talent.  Like I said above there may already be a post discussing this, but I haven't been visiting the site as much in the last year and a half or so, so I apologize if I have just wasted anyone's time.

So a topic I have been thinking a lot about lately is the seeming abundance of quality arms at the minor league level.  I wanted to know what you guys think of the big minor league arms so let me know how you would rank the top teir of minor league pitchers.  This ranking is on fantasy performance for the next 2-3 seasons so take into account who you expect to get the most playing time in that span.  I see it as follows (and I guarantee I'm forgetting someone but oh well)

Julio Teheran

Matt Moore

Shelby Miller

Martin Perez

I would include Jameson Taillon on this list in his overall potential, but his standing as a prospect is because of his long term potential, he most likely will not be playing in the majors until a season or so after the above guys (this is only his first season in professional ball)

If you think anyone else deserves to be in that top teir let me know in the comments

I notice that a lot of people come here for keeper advice, so I'm going to take a crack at doing some keeper league rankings by position.  I am assuming that this is a 12 team 5x5  league with 10 keeper spots, why?  Because 12 teams 5x5 is what I generally consider standard and 10 keepers is what I do in my league.  If your league is bigger then younger players might need to move up (and down if its smaller) and if you only have say 5 keepers then age is less of a factor, and older players should move up.  Jump with me.

(Note: I forgot that I'm leaving on vacation tomorrow and wont be back until monday so I probably wont be able to start the 1B rankings until then)

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No.  That's not true.  Its to discuss a trade that I am debating proposing in a keeper league what else is new.  I had mentioned an idea I had a few days ago for a post, it will happen eventually.  A little over a week ago I brought a trade idea to this site, so some of you may have read my league specs, 7x7 (OBP, SLG, K/9 and BBs) with 14 teams, positions are C, 1B, 2B, 3B, SS, INF, 4 OF, UTIL, 4 SP, 2 RP, 2 P.  We keep any 10 players, no budget so there is no value to keeping a guy that was acquired for less.  I am in a pretty good position to win now and have been debating trading with one of the last place teams to give him some young pieces.  My pitching staff has 4 closers and a few decent starters (Marcum, Hudson, Kennedy, Pineda).  My hitting is pretty stacked, as of now I have

C-Miguel Montero

1B-Hosmer

2B-Pedroia

3B-Alex Gordon

SS-Reyes

INF-Bautista

OF-Braun

OF-McCutchen

OF-Zobrist

OF-Stanton

Util-Angel Pagan

I also have Wright coming back from the DL soon which would bump Gordon to the outfield and either Zobrist to 1B and remove Hosmer, or remove pagan.  On my bench I have Anthony Rizzo and Desmond Jennings.  The offer I was going to try to make was Rizzo, Jennings, and Stanton for J-Ham and Michael Morse.  Morse would take over for Hosmer and J-Ham clearly takes over for Stanton.  Then when Wright is back I would be sitting with Hosmer and Pagan on my bench and I could pull some of my other players for the hot hand if they struggle at any point.  I have been trying to deal some hitters for pitching but have found basically no interest.  I am wondering what you guys think I should make as my next move with my team.  The way I see it my keepers for next year would be:

Bautista

Braun

Reyes

Wright

McCutchen

Stanton (or J-Ham if I make the trade)

Pineda

Pedroia

and then 2 of Hosmer, Gordon, Hudson, Zobrist, and Neftali Feliz (Adam Wainright is an option too, I've got him stashed on my DL for the season).

So I have an opportunity to execute a trade in a 7 x 7 (OBP, SLG are extra hitting stats, BB and K/9 are pitching) 14 team keeper league (keep any 10 players, counts as your first 10 picks).

I give up: Ryan Zimmerman, Jeremy Hellickson, Ian Kennedy, Desmond Jennings, and Anthony Rizzo

I get: McCutchen, Mike Morse, Ryan Madson, and Sergio Santos.

This would leave me with Dillon Gee, Michael Pineda, Daniel Hudson, and Shaun Marcum as my only starters, but my rationale is that since walks and k/9 count throwing a bunch of relievers (I would have 4 closers) is a good strategy, expecially if I can beef up my hitting.  Besides, I am in win now mode and would be slightly improving one keeper (Zimmerman to McCutchen) and not particularly downgrading the others (I can keep 3 of Kinsler, Zobrist, Wainright, Neftali Feliz, Hudson, and the other 4 in the deal after I take into account all of my definite guys)

Thoughts?

I assume that this post will not in any way shape or form help your team.  Most of these posts are requests for trade help, or some kind of advice on who to target in trades or free agency.  This post is not intended to do either of those things.  The purpose of this post is to chronicle the rise of Jose Bautista.

Jose Bautista, 3B/OF.  Toronto Blue Jays.  Jump.  Drafted 20th round, Pittsburgh Pirates.  Jump.

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So one of my major leagues is a 14 team keeper league (10 players kept, round drafted doesn't carry over so they basically take up the first 10 rounds) 7x7 with K/9, BBs, OBP, and SLG as the extra stats.  I have 2 quality second basemen in Kinsler and Zobrist and I have been trying to deal one of them for pitching (my best starter is Marcum).  I was thinking about offering Kinsler and Kevin Gregg (I am pretty set at closer) for Tabata and either Tommy Hanson or David Price.

1) Do you think it makes sense to trade one of my second basemen when I can just keep playing Zobrist in the outfield?

2) Am I getting good enough value out of the trade?

3) Should I go for Hanson or Price?

Alex Gordon.  3B/OF.  KC Royals.  Drafted 2nd overall in the 2005 MLB Draft

I tend to find that there are always a lot of players in baseball who are significantly younger than I expect.  It seems like the 25 year old Matt LaPorta has been around forever.  I can't believe that Fernando Martinez is only 22.  Alex Gordon is the rare opposite case.  I feel like the guy is still a rookie, but he's currently in his age 27 season.  It's been almost 6 years since the Royals made him the second overall pick in the 2005 MLB draft.  And yes, that 2005 MLB draft.  The one that has given us Justin Upton, Ryan Zimmerman, Ryan Braun, Troy Tulowitzki, Jay Bruce, the list just goes on and on with valuable fantasy contributors taken in the first round of that draft.  

More on Gordon after the jump:

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So I know everyone has already posted about how excited they are, but hey, I'm busy... with like Mortal Kombat and stuff.  Anyway, I'm sure the Heat would've been a better matchup, but I'm pretty stoked that we're playing the Celtics.  I go to school in Boston and for the first time I will get to see live Knicks playoff basketball on Tuesday.  So psyched.  I was wondering if anyone has anything they want me to look out for at the game.  You know with those damn re-play cameras they only focus on the "important" things.  Like a cool dunk, or important pass, or a close play.  I'm more interested in other things.  What is Pringles saying to players on the sideline?  Does Andy Rautnis have a mid-game energy bar to boost his stamina?  Can Ronny's beard speak?  This is what I'm going to focus on.  Also I'm going to this game with a number of Celtics fans.  I don't necessarily expect that we will win, but I am really hoping we do.  The ride home will be so much more enjoyable that way.  Not to mention I like it when the teams I support win.  Duh.  So yeah.  Just psyched.  And bored right now.  Figured I'd let y'all know how it is.  I haven't been around lately.  I've been a deadbeat poster and toaster.  this post could've ended a few sentences ago.  I guess the end of this is shit we should all work out in P&T counseling. Are you still reading?  Really?  Ok.  Cool.  What do you want to talk about now... hmmm.  Uh. I have to go.  I uh-  I have a thing.  Maybe we can like get lunch or something another time... yeah Monday's no good for me... we'll figure it out  

Jake Fox.  Utility man. Orioles.  Hop, skip, jump, whatever, just read on with me.

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Michael Pineda.  Starting Pitcher.  Seattle Mariners.  You can read about him here.

Jump with me for more than the above basic info

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I made a similar post to this over the summer asking how people became Knick fans, I figured since I have nothing better to do I figured I'd share a little bit.  It's kinda a long post, and I apologize for that, but hey, you don't want to read it? Doesn't bother me.... WHY WONT THEY READ IT!!! : ' (

Na.  Don't care

(Note: this is not a 2 AM rant by a college student, I unfortunately did not forsee the marketing potential of that franchise and sold the trademark)

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After writing the Landriest post of all time, here are some random thoughts.

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This is gonna be a short one guys, but I hope you enjoy it.

JuMp

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I like to find distractions for myself, and being a college student I have two things, lots of work to procrastinate for and lots of late nights that could've been avoided by starting my work slightly earlier.  I constantly find myself on this blog late at night on random weeknights looking for something to entertain myself with, so I'm going to try to start a semi-regular post at 2 AM a few times a week just generally getting my thoughts out there.  If I entertain y'all, awesome.  If not... at least I entertained myself.

As house of pain would tell you... JUMP JUMP JUMP

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