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NASCAR's 10 Hottest Drivers - Week 19

richardginn — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 03:59:00 GMT

1) Jeff Gordon (Previous position: 2nd) - Squeezes into first place with his better finish than Carl Edwards at New Hampshire. He is showcasing that he rally wants to be in the chase.

2) Carl Edwards (Previous position: 1st) - Moves down one spot with his 17^th place finish at New Hmapshire. Never really had it going at all during the race.

3) Jeff Burton (Previous position: 5th) - Moves up a couple with his twelfth place finish at New Hampshire. He closes the gap the to the leader in the points as well. This guy never stinks this season.

4) Dale Earnhardt Jr. (Previous position: 3rd) - Moves down one spot with his 24th place finish at New Hampshire. He was really fast early on in the race and led a bunch of laps.

5) Jimmie Johnson (Previous position: 6th) Moves up one spot with his ninth place finish at New Hampshire. He has really improved as of late.

6) Kyle Busch (Previous position: 4th) - Finishing 25^th at New Hampshire moves him down two spots. Also getting involved with Juan Pablo Montoya late in the race is not good for your ranking.

7) Martin Truex Jr. (Previous position:8^th) - Moves up to seventh with a top ten finish at New Hampshire. He also made a huge jump to get real close to the 12^th place spot in the points.

8) Greg Biffle (Previous position: 7th) - Moves down one spot with his okay finish at New Hampshire. He also drops one spot in the Sprint Cup standings as well.

9) Matt Kenseth(Previous position: 10th) With David Ragan stinking up the join he moves up- one spot. His 18^th place finish at New Hampshire is not super, but he fell to 13^th place in the points.

10) Tony Stewart (Previous position: Off List) - He gets onto the list now with three top 15 place finishes in a row. He also moves up a couple spots in the Sprint Cup standings as well.

Biggest gainer: Jeff Burton - 2

Biggest loser: Kyle Busch - 2

Off List: David Ragan

New to list: Tony Stewart

PGA Who Is He: AT&T National – Congressional Country Club – Bethesda, MD

smurfette780 — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 20:37:00 GMT

Congressional is proving its worth so far, as the field is having as tough a time breaking par as predicted. Only Steve Marino's 65 caught any notice yesterday, and whether or not that will continue is debatable at best. In fact, the field is wide open, and with a projected cut (currently) at +2, this tournament should prove to be more inclusive than exclusive; allowing for a big charge on Sunday to happen. Tournament host Tiger Woods wouldn't have it any other way. And speaking of Tiger...(read more)

Fantasy Football Notes - Seattle Seahawks

Bruno Boys Whooley — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 06:08:00 GMT

The Seattle Seahawks found themselves in a familiar place at the end of the 2007 regular season, atop the NFC West standings, but the way they got there differed greatly from years past. In recent history, the Seahawks had been driven by their running game.That's what happens when you have an MVP type back lining up behind your quarterback. But, as Shaun Alexander's skills deteriorated, a change in philosophy was needed. And, in 2007, the Seahawks did a 180, deciding to hand the reins to quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and become a pass first team.

The change worked as the Seahawks jumped from the league's 19th ranked offense in 2006 to the 9th best in 2007. Hasselbeck, who put up the best numbers of his career, completing 62.6% of his passes for 3966 yards and 28 TDs to 12 INTs, had no trouble becoming the focal point of the offense. The change of philosophy also made Seattle's wide receivers viable fantasy football options throughout much of the season.Like Hasselbeck, Bobby Engram had the best year of his career, which is saying something at the tender age of 35. For the first time ever, Engram topped the 1,000 yard mark with 1,147 receiving yards to go along with 6 scores. Nate Burleson, may have come up a bit short on the yardage side of things with just 694 yards on the year, but his 9 TDs led to 7 double digit fantasy performances. Even Deion Branch and DJ Hackett, who both missed time due to injury, were solid fantasy options. Branch tallied 6 double digit games in 11 played, while Hackett had 3 in 6 games, though he left the first one rather early because of an ankle injury.

While the Seahawks' new offensive game plan aided the value of Hasselbeck and the team's wide receivers, it hindered that of the team's running backs as the team finished 20th in rushing offense on the year. Those low rushing totals led Maurice Morris (101 fantasy points) and Shaun Alexander (99 fantasy points) to combine for a total of just 200 fantasy points. Alexander had well above 300+ points on his own in his 2005 MVP Season.

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Key Departures

Shaun Alexander (RB) - Football is a fickle game, and one simply needs to look at Alexander for the case and point. Alexander had one of the best seasons by a running back ever in 2005 as he went for 1880 rushing yards and 28 total TDs. It was Alexanders' 5th straight season of 1100+ rushing yards and 14+ TDs. He was an elite back and considered a for sure top 3 pick in fantasy circles, but in the course of just two years, Alexander finds himself no longer wondering whether or not he'll be selected in fantasy drafts ahead of LaDainian Tomlinson, rather he's just worried as to whether or not he'll have a job in the NFL.

DJ Hackett (WR) - The Seahawks had 4 solid wideouts to turn to in 2007, and with two of those four missing substantial time, the depth proved necessary. Hackett's departure reduces that depth greatly, especially as Deion Branch recovers from knee surgery that will keep him out most of 2008. Despite Hackett missing the most time (10 games) among the Seahawks wide outs in 2007, he did haul in 3 scores and total 295 receiving yards in a 3-game stretch from week 9 to week 11, perhaps the only time of the season he was truly healthy.

Josh Brown (K) - In each of his 5 seasons with the Seahawks, Brown has racked up at least 109 points and has not missed one FG from 29 yards in. The Seahawks have gone out and gotten Olindo Mare to fill Brown's kicking shoe, but Mare's 58.8% accuracy means the Seahawks may see potential points left out on the field more often than they're use to.

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Key Additions

Julius Jones (RB) - From 2001 to 2005, the Seahawks could look in their backfield, see Shaun Alexander and know that they would get 1100+ yards and 14 TDs from the running back position. But, two down years from Alexander and now his release from the team, leaves the Seahawks wondering what they'll get in 2008 out of their backs. Jones is one of those backs the Seahawks hope can shoulder some of the load. A consistent underachiever, who's averaged less than four yards per carry in his career, Jones is looking to turn his career around in Seattle after all but losing his job to Marion Barber in Dallas. Jones has many of the assets a top back in the NFL needs, he's quick and can make defenders miss; however, those tools mean nothing if you aren't patient and able to read the holes. If Seattle's coaches can get Jones to do that, they may be ok at running back.

TJ Duckett (RB) - Another back looking to pick up some carries in the post-Shaun Alexander era, Duckett heads into camp as the team's third back; however, don't be surprised to see Mike Holmgren turn to Duckett over the likes of Jones and Maurice Morris when he needs to grind out some yards.

Jeb Putzier (TE) - Marcus Pollard wasn't anything special in Seattle, but he did catch 28 passes in 2007. His departure will lead to an interesting camp for the Seahawks tight ends as the job is wide open for anyone's taking, and on a pass first team, it's not a bad job to have. Putzier could be the sleeper that steals the job. He does, after all, have two seasons of 30+ receptions.

Olindo Mare (K) - When the Seahawks send their kicking unit out on the field this season, fans are rightfully going to be nervous. Mare, a member of the New Orleans Saints last season, a team that played in a Dome, connected on just 10 of 17 FGs for the year. Imagine the difficulties he'll have in that Pacific Northwest weather.

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2008 Bruno Boys Crystal Ball

Matt Hasselbeck (QB) - Remove his injury plagued 2006 season, in which he played in just 12 games, and Hasselbeck has gone for at least 3300 passing yards and 22 passing TDs in every season since 2003. That kind of consistency is nice to have from your fantasy QB. What makes Hasselbeck, the 8th best fantasy QB in 2007, even more appealing as we get set for the 2008 season is that for the first time in his career, he's entering a season as the focal point of the offense - a task he showed he can handle last season as the Seahawks moved away from being a run first team. Hasselbeck may not have a superstar wideout to rely on like other top QBs do, but he does have a solid corps to throw to in the likes of Deion Branch, Bobby Engram, and Nate Burleson. Still, there are some concerns. For one, the Seahawks run game will be less potent than in years' past. That will allow defenses to focus on stopping the pass. How Hasselbeck adjusts will determine how well his fantasy season goes. One last bit of advice, expect a few more INTs from the man with the best hair in the league, throwing more passes usually yields that outcome.

Maurice Morris (RB) - Since 2002, Morris has toiled in the shadow of Shaun Alexander (though he did have more fantasy points than Alexander last season). This year, though, there is daylight as Alexander no longer dawns the Seahawks colors. Morris has shown flashes in the past, including 5 double digit weeks in 2007, and could very well help some fantasy teams again in 2008, but we advise taking a wait and see approach as the daylight may fade with Morris once again finding himself in someone else's shadow (read Julius Jones).

Deion Branch (WR) - Since coming to the Seahawks in 2006, Branch has yet to play in a full slate of games, suiting up for just 14 in 2006 and 11 in 2007.It appears that Branch's streak will remain intact as he'll most likely start the season on the sidelines thanks to off-season knee surgery. Keep your eye on the progress of his recovery because Branch may be the mid to late season pick-up that can get your team over the hump. He did score 11+ fantasy points in 6 of the 11 games he was on the field for.

Bobby Engram (WR) - With Hackett heading to the Carolina Panthers and Branch healing up, Engram once more will find himself filling the role of the Seahawks number 1 wide receiver. Judging by his numbers last season (94 receptions, 1147 receiving yards, and 6 TDs), it's a role he relishes. Engram has developed a nice rapport with QB Matt Hasselbeck, perhaps it's the sure hands that Engram possesses that Hasselbeck likes so much after dealing with previous wide outs like Darrell "Drops" Jackson. However, it would be nice if Hasselbeck looked his way a bit more often within the opponent's 20 yard line. Hasselbeck connected with Engram just 7 times in that area in 2007, leading to 5 Engram scores. If Hasselbeck utilizes Engram even more in the redzone this season, the Seahawks wide out will make for a nice draft day steal.

Nate Burleson (WR) - After disappearing for two seasons after his 1000+ yard campaign in 2004, Burleson once again became relevant in fantasy circles in 2007, going for 694 yards and 11 total TDs (2 of which were of the return variety). The bad news however is that Burleson was really only a factor when his fellow wideouts were struck by injury, propelling him up the depth charts; otherwise, Burleson toiled in obscurity as the Seahawks 4th wide out option. The good news though as we look ahead towards 2008 is that the Seahawks wide receiving depth has already been struck two blows with DJ Hackett leaving via free agency and Deion Branch recovering for off-season surgery. That means opening the season, Burleson will be the Seahawks number 2 wideout, a spot in which he can put up fantasy numbers from.

Will Heller (TE) - At a position that has developed a lot of fantasy depth in recent years, it's wise to stay away from Heller, a career back-up tight end who has never had more than the 13 receptions he hauled in last season, despite his natural athletic ability. Even if Heller wins the starting job, it will take some time for the Seahawks to figure out how to best utilize him. However, if you see an early trend in the pre-season in which they turn to Heller often in the redzone, by all means take a gamble and stash him as your back-up TE.

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Rookies to Watch

Lawrence Jackson (DE) - With the Seahawks turning into a pass first team, many experts believed that come draft day, the Seahawks would use their first rounder on either a wide out or tight end. Instead, they went with Jackson, a defensive end out of USC. Jackson will spend much of 2008 as the team's thrid defensive end behind Patrick Kerny and Darryl Tapp, and with his excellent pass rushing ability should see many third downs. Still, we can't help but wonder why the Seahawks passed on all the wide outs still left on the board when they announced Jackson's name.

John Carlson (TE) - What does Carlson have in common with the likes of Antonio Gates and Tony Gonzalez? Like those super stud TEs, Carlson played some college basketball while at Notre Dame. That means you know the TE has hands, but does he have the speed needed to get open. After his 4.89 forty at the draft combine, that became a question on every team's mind. The Seahawks though took a gamble and Carlson could reward them with some solid outings if he gets the starting nod.

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Other Team Capsules

NFC WEST - ARI I STL I SF I SEA

NFC SOUTH - ATL I CAR I NO I TB

NFC NORTH - CHI I DET I GB I MIN

NFC EAST - DAL I NYG I PHI I WAS

AFC WEST - DEN I KC I OAK I SD

AFC SOUTH - HOU I IND I JAX I TEN

AFC NORTH - BAL I CIN I CLE I PIT

AFC EAST - BUF I MIA I NE I NYJ

Fantasy Football Notes - St. Louis Rams

Bruno Boys Ziza — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 01:31:00 GMT

The St. Louis Rams suffered through a rough 2007 season as they went 3-13, including a miserable 1-5 in their division. But, unlike most crappy teams, they have a very valid excuse as they suffered through a slew of injuries. Star running back, Steven Jackson, was out with a torn groin muscle for 4 weeks. Quarterback, Marc Bulger, missed 4 weeks with a long-list of nagging injuries. Wide receiver, Torry Holt, started all 16 games, but was clearly affected by his bum knee. Offensive tackle, Orlando Pace, played in just one game, and return specialist, Dante Hall, who played in only 7 games due to a high-ankle sprain, was also missed.

If the Rams can avoid the injury bug to key players, it would not surprise the Bruno Boys to see the team compete for the NFC West title and produce many fantasy football studs in 2008. That is a big if though as Holt, Pace and Bulger are not getting any younger, Hall is just a smidgen of what he used to be with the Chiefs, and Steven Jackson’s injury involves a muscle that men just clearly do not enjoy having hurt!

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Key Departures

Isaac Bruce (WR) – Bruce, who will turn 37 during the 2008 NFL season, signed a 2 year contract to go to the San Francisco 49ers after the Rams released him this winter. He is just a glimpse of what he used to be, so his on-the-field skills will not be sorely missed. What will be missed is his leadership, but with Torry Holt still at the front of the wide receiving corps, the departure of Bruce to San Francisco should not be a hard one to cope with.

Jeff Wilkins (K) – Wilkins ended his ll year stint with the Rams this winter, opting for retirement at age 35. He played in all but 5 games throughout that stint, having played in all 16 games each year since 2001. Don’t let the 75% accuracy from 2007 make you think that his skills had slipped a lot. The decrease in percentage is greatly due to the fact that almost half of his attempts came from 40 yards and beyond. A good, solid kicker does not come around too often, though the Rams were able to quickly replace Wilkins with another solid veteran in Josh Brown, so the affect on the kicking game should be minimal.

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Key Additions

Trent Green (QB) – Green signed a 3 year contract this winter, leaving Kansas City for St. Louis (not far of a move). He is expected to hold down the backup role at QB, as Bulger has the starting job on lock down, but one quick injury could put Green into a possibly promising role for the Rams. Green is possibly the only backup QB in the NFL that may be worth a roster spot on a fantasy team. Handcuffing him to Bulger in the late rounds is recommended if you have a deep enough bench and Bulger is your main QB.

Josh Brown (K) – Brown left Seattle to sign with the Rams for a reported 5 years and $14.2 million contract. He brings with him a strong, accurate leg, hitting a 80% clip throughout his career. Still young at age 28, Brown brings what could be a breath of fresh air in what was beginning to be an aging kicking game. Best known as (Ram Killer) in St. Louis, as he has beaten the Rams time and time again with field goals, Brown jokes that he is no longer called that, by teammates or fans.

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2008 Bruno Boys Crystal Ball

Marc Bulger (QB) – 2008 is a welcomed beginning for Bulger, as his 2007 season was spent mostly on the sidelines or on his back. A healthy Orlando Pace would help significantly to rectify that problem. In 2007 Bulger’s accuracy percentage dropped to 58.5, the lowest of his career, and it was also the first year in his career in which he threw for more INT than TD’s. If healthy, Bulger could be a steal in fantasy drafts around the world as before the season started he was a legitimate top-5 QB. A healthier OL, WR tandem and Steven Jackson should all help turn back the clock and bring back the Bulger of old.

Steven Jackson (RB) – Jackson suffered an injury last year that had every man in the nation bowled over and holding their crotches. Having to go through life with a torn-groin is one thing. Having to crash into an eagerly waiting defensive line with a torn-groin is clearly something else! Jackson has the talent to be one of the top 3 RBs this year, and if healthy there is no reason that he won’t produce at that level. Watch him in training camp, and if he is back to his old-self, don’t hesitate for a second to take him as high as the second RB off the draft board because with Al Saunders calling the plays, Jackson will be getting plenty of opportunities to put up fantasy points.

Torry Holt (WR) – Holt is struggling with a bum knee, which means he will never be the same as yesteryear, but he still has the skills to be a top 15 fantasy receiver. Holt played 16 games in 2007 and managed to catch 93 passes for 7 TD’s and 1189 yards, even with his top QB was hurt most of the year. That is pretty solid numbers in fantasy land, and although he most likely will never become a top-5 receiver again, he still has enough skills to where he could make a remarkable #2 on your team!

Drew Bennett (WR) – Bennett hit the lottery this winter! Isaac Bruce being released is the best thing that could have happened to him professionally and in his fantasy rankings. Bennett most likely will not produce anything more than a top bench receiver in fantasyland for a full season, but he should have weeks in which he will produce #2 numbers. If Holt for any reason were to go down with injuries, Bennett’s value could creep into starter range. Until then though expect to draft him in the later rounds with the possibility of reaping a much higher value than what you had to pay for him.

Randy McMichael (TE) – After Steven Jackson and Marc Bulger, Randy McMichael will benefit the most from Orlando Pace’s return. With Pace out last year, the Rams offensive line turned into a debacle, causing McMichael to become somewhat of a 6th linemen as the Rams kept him in to block to offer their quarterbacks a little more protection. A healthy pass means McMichael can go down the field and earn some fantasy points.

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Rookies to Watch

Chris Long (DE) - Chris, the son of former NFLer, Howie Long, is an outstanding DE prospect. At 6-4, 275 he excelled in his senior year. He tallied 14 sacks and an interception and almost had many more as he broke up several passes and put a ton of pressure on the opposing QB. Long has great physical attributes, with his long arms and big hands to go along with a good physically toned body. He needs to work on his off-the-snap skills as well as build up his quickness and speed some, but all-in-all he should become a star in the league for years to come.

Donnie Avery (WR)- With the departure of Isaac Bruce, the Rams were looking to add to the WR position by drafting Avery in the second round. Avery possesses incredible speed, break-away ability and can cut on a dime, but he has trouble getting going, a lot of which comes when he is bumped by his defender at the line. He has very large hands, so if he learns to be able to minimize his faults, he could turn into one of the best WR’s, if not the best WR in this years draft.

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Other Team Capsules

NFC WEST - ARI I STL I SF I SEA

NFC SOUTH - ATL I CAR I NO I TB

NFC NORTH - CHI I DET I GB I MIN

NFC EAST - DAL I NYG I PHI I WAS

AFC WEST - DEN I KC I OAK I SD

AFC SOUTH - HOU I IND I JAX I TEN

AFC NORTH - BAL I CIN I CLE I PIT

AFC EAST - BUF I MIA I NE I NYJ

MLB Status Check - Week 14

BillyS — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 18:40:00 GMT

Many fantasy owners praised the fantasy gods this week. There hadn't been too many really outstanding offenses performances. There have been some alright performances lately, but this week the crop of elite players is quite high and fantasy owners couldn't be any happier. This week's version of MLB Status Check will focus on nine total players. Those players are divided into three categories; lived up to the hype, didn't live up to the hype, and keep an eye on. The first two categories deal with players who were drafted very early and whether or not they performed like an early round draft pick. The final category focuses on players who weren't drafted early on, but they have opened eyes with their recent play. It's about time that a large group of elite players began to play like elite players at the same time.

Lived up to the hype:

Hanley Ramirez (SS - Florida Marlins) - It's really hard to find anything negative about Hanley. He is just flat-out amazing. He's one of the most consistent fantasy players, he's still young, and he keeps getting better and better. He was obviously named the NL Player of the Month June for a reason. Hanley's speed is great, but he hasn't been stealing quite as many bases. However, he is hitting the cover off of the ball and I highly doubt fantasy owners are that upset. He is on pace to have career highs in homeruns, RBI, and runs by the end of the season. He'll still wind up with a very large amount of stolen bases, but his power numbers are making him much more valuable now. Sadly, his average is dipping just a little bit. That isn't to say he's slumping or not hitting the ball well, quite the opposite. Basically Hanley has sacrificed about .20-.30 points of his average in order to hit more homeruns. He's already nine away from last year's high of 29. He is a true five-tool talent and has played an amazing week of baseball, including hitting a homerun in three straight days, two of which were in the ninth inning during consecutive comebacks. Not bad. Not bad at all.

10/30, 6 runs, 4 HR, 8 RBI, 1 SB, .333 AVG

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Grady Sizemore (CF - Cleveland Indians) - Grady Sizemore has always had a ton of talent. He's a great defensive player, he's fast, and he can hit. The only real problem with him is that he's a bit inconsistent and his average suffers a bit. However, this week he showed just how much potential he's still got. A few years ago fantasy owners were praying that his doubles would start to turn into homeruns. He's been a complete tease because he'll get around 22 to 28 homeruns and then that's it. Well it seems like he's finally showing he can hit the long ball. He's already hit 21, leading all centerfielders in that category. On top of that he's also stolen his 20^th base of the season which made him the first 20/20 player in the AL. Sizemore is really heating up and this week was a great example of how talented he is. One important thing I should note is that he's also been an unlucky player. His current average is below .270, but his average for balls in play is only .272, meaning he was robbed of quite a few hits. Hopefully he'll keep hitting the balls into the seats so he doesn't have to worry about a defender making a lucky catch.

9/28, 7 runs, 4 HR, 6 RBI, 2 SB, .321 AVG

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Ian Kinsler (2B - Texas Rangers) - Kinsler single handedly wore the Yankees out during the first two games of that series. He has been hitting the ball, stealing bases, and scoring runs. Texas has a very potent offense and Kinsler is the one who gets the ball rolling by leading off. His defense has been very shaky, and probably cost them the final game against the Yankees, but his offense is spectacular. He's currently got a 15-game hit streak and leads the AL in total hits. He's also got a solid amount of homeruns and will easily set a career high in that category as well. One very impressive stat that shows just how valuable he has been to the Rangers' offense is the fact that he's a few runs shy of the record of runs scored before the All-Star break. He's got a handful of games left before the break, therefore he'll be setting a record of that. He racks up hits, he's got power, he'll steal bases, and he'll score runs. Kinsler is a five-tool talent and could actually be a dark horse to win an MVP award if he can stay on his current pace.

15/29, 8 runs, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 4 SB, .517 AVG

Failed to live up to the hype:

Jeff Francoeur (RF - Atlanta Braves) - It is pretty unbelievable how a player can fall so fast. Francoeur has probably been the most inconsistent player in all of fantasy baseball. He is a complete tease. Early in the season he was hitting the ball well, including a game in which he hit seven RBI. However, he looks nothing like a guy who hit nearly .300 and drove in 100 runs last year. Things have gotten even worse for him though, if that was even possible. His average has fallen to a miniscule .236 and the Braves seem to be thinking about sending him down to the minors. He has driven 100+ RBI for two years in a row and all of a sudden he can't even get a single. Things are going as bad as they can for him. Fantasy owners should be a bit mad because several outfielders, who were surprises this year, were passed over because Francoeur was too enticing to pass up. This just goes to show how nothing is a given when it comes to fantasy sports. Francoeur had consecutive 100 RBI seasons and now he's on the verge of being a minor leaguer again.

1/19, 1 run, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB, .053 AVG

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Derek Jeter (SS - New York Yankees) - First off, Jeter is not the most overrated player ever. He brings a lot to his team, but lately he has looked a little slow. I honestly believe that he's got some nagging type of injury that he's too stubborn to reveal, but he's playing through it. His play has been harsh though. He's made some nice defensive plays, but his offense is basically non-existent now. It seems like he swings earlier in the count and doesn't make the pitcher work. Then when he finally gets a nice pitch he doesn't swing at it. Either way, Jeter just isn't performing lately. He did recently turn 34, which is getting up there for a baseball player, but he's surrounded by good players and usually hits better after the All-Star, even though his power numbers go down. Jeter hasn't shown much power so far this year, but hopefully that'll change soon. Fantasy owners have been waiting for his 200^th homerun for a while, although I'm sure they'd settle with him raising his average above .279 at this point.

5/25, 5 runs, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 0 SB, .200 AVG

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Brian Fuentes (RP - Colorado Rockies) - Fuentes is getting a lot of attention before the trade deadline. Some teams may be a bit reluctant to give anything of value for him after this week. Fuentes was absolutely horrible this week. In two games his ERA went from 2.01 up to 3.94. It wasn't entirely his fault, but he should be the one to blame. He had allowed a few runs in the ninth inning of a game, and then Luis Vizcaino gave up a homerun that allowed the inherited runners to score. Fuentes should never have allowed so many base runners in the first place. He has been pretty solid early on, especially after regaining closer duties, but lately he just hasn't been doing anything except losing games. He has looked very hittable and it's quite possible that his nerves are getting the best of him because of all the swirling trade rumors about him. A team is definitely going to offer something in order to add him to their bullpen, but if he keeps having weeks like this one then he's going to be searching the newspaper for a job. His numbers completely killed some owners' pitching categories for the week.

0 wins, 2 losses, 0.2 IP, 0 K, 94.50 ERA, 12.00 WHIP

Keep an eye on:

J.J. Hardy (SS - Milwaukee Brewers) - Hardy has had quite a turnaround. Earlier in the season he was extremely inconsistent and it looked like he had a hard time getting the ball out of the infield. Now he's hitting like the Hardy of last year, the one who hit nearly 30 homeruns. Chances are he won't get close to that this year, but he has been playing extremely well lately. His best play is coming when the Brewers have needed him the most. Ryan Braun is battling a sore hand and a big slump, plus Prince Fielder isn't hitting too well right now either. If it weren't for Hardy then the Brewers' offense would be completely non-existent right now. He's playing like an All-Star and deserves some recognition for his fine play. He's very inconsistent and most likely won't keep this up, but shortstops seem harder to come by this season so he could be a nice pick up, at least for a little while.

11/26, 6 runs, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 1 SB, .423 AVG

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Troy Glaus (3B - St. Louis Cardinals) - Glaus had a night that seemed like it was from a movie. He starts off with two runners on base in the first, facing a pitcher that he's only hit .154 off of, including 16 strikeouts. He gets a pitch and drives it deep for a three run homerun. Fast forward to the bottom of the ninth inning, two outs, with Glaus up. The game had already gone through a rain delay and the skies were dark as a big storm was closing in. Glaus knew he had to end it before the game was rained out, forcing a makeup game when there are two outs in the bottom of the ninth. He waited for the pitch, swung, and hit it deep for a walk off homerun. He had a terrific week that was topped off by a scene straight out of a movie. Glaus has been terrific when healthy, so if he can stay healthy then he could be a very nice, and affordable, third baseman. He at least deserves the chance after his Wednesday night performance against the Mets.

10/23, 5 runs, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 0 SB, .435 AVG

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Chris Davis (1B - Texas Rangers) - Players need to make the most of their opportunities. Sometimes that's the only way they'll ever get ahead. They need to make an impact. That's exactly what Chris Davis did this week. He was called up after Hank Blalock suffered a setback, and boy has Davis opened some eyes. He hit his first homer against the Phillies and the Rangers wound up winning by one run. Then he goes into Yankee Stadium, which could be a nerve racking experience for some, and he winds up driving in some runs. The Rangers won by one run in each of their first two games of the series. That's just the offense of Chris Davis, his defense has been great as well. He snagged a few line drives that would have easily been doubles, or even possibly triples. This kid really has done it all this week and he's opened some eyes. He is young, talented, and can hit for power. In other words, this is the absolute perfect type of player to pickup and hope they can keep making a name for themselves. You never know when you'll find the next Ryan Braun. Who knows, maybe Chris Davis will wind up being an early draft pick in next year's draft.

6/19, 4 runs, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 0 SB, .316 AVG

Fantasy Football Notes - New York Jets

Bruno Boys Cavigs — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 00:41:00 GMT

After coming off an impressive 10-6 campaign in 2006, everyone thought the New York Jets would compete with the New England Patriots for the AFC East title, but inconsistency on both sides of the football led to a disappointing 2007 season. The Jets finished with a 4--12 record, lost eight of their first 9 games and failed to win consecutive games. A big issues that led to the Jets downfall was the play at quarterback. Chad Pennington started the season under center, but battled injury as well as rocky play which eventually led to the Kellen Clemens era in New York. However, Clemens failed to find his groove and could manage just five touchdown passes in 10 games. Newly acquired running back Thomas Jones surpassed the 1,000 rushing yard mark, but it took him twelve games until he scored his first touchdown in a Jets uniform. As for the receivers, both Jerricho Cotchery and Laveraneus Coles had respectable seasons and can be considered the most consistent part of the offense. Cotchery hauled in 80+ receptions and had over 1,100 receiving yards but couldn't find pay dirt, while Coles receptions and yardage total were down from '06, but he matched his touchdown total (6).

The defense was led by David Harris, who had 127 tackles and 5 sacks, but they ranked towards the bottom in the NFL in points allowed and rush yards allowed per game. In fact, the only bright spot was the Jets pass defense, as they allowed just 197.1 passing yards per game.
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Key Departures

Jonathan Vilma (LB) – Unless you played in a league in which you start Individual Defensive Players (DIP), Vilma was of no use to you in 2007. But after missing nine games because of injury, the Jets decided it was time to cut ties with Vilma, and they traded him to the New Orleans Saints for a conditional 4th round pick. When healthy, Vilma is a middle of the road linebacker who is usually around the football and he should be considered as a second Linebacker in an IDP league.

Justin McCareins (WR) – In 2004 when McCareins came over to New York from the Tennessee Titans the Jets brass thought they had themselves a play making receiver. Unfortunately, after four seasons in New York, and just 42 receptions in his last 32 games, the Jets decided it was best to let McCareins go. Fittingly, he signed with his old squad (Tennessee) and he will compete with Roydell Williams, Brandon Jones and Justin Gage for playing time in a mediocre offense.

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Key Additions

Jesse Chatman (RB) – After signing a one-year contract with the New York Jets, this will be Chatman's fourth NFL franchise since the 2004 season. In 2007, as a member of the Miami Dolphins, Chatman took advantage of an injury to Ronnie Brown and saw career highs in carries (128), rushing yards (515) and receptions (27). Look for the Jets to use Chatman in short yardage situations and for him to compete with Leon Washington for receptions out of the backfield. Keep in mind that Chatman should only be considered fantasy worthy if starting running back Thomas Jones sustains an injury.

Alan Faneca (OT) – Considered one of the best offensive lineman in all of football, the Jets addressed an off season need by signing Faneca. With that came a big payout for the ex- Pittsburgh Steelers superstar and a vastly improved offensive line for the J-E-T-S. When the deal was all said and done, Faneca's five-year $40 million contract makes him the highest paid offensive lineman in all of football. What comes to mind when looking at the 300-pounders resume, is his durability. Faneca hasn't missed a game since the 2001 season, and should be able to help the value of Jets primary running back Thomas Jones.

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2008 Bruno Boys Crystal Ball

Kellen Clemens (QB) – If the 2007 season can be considered a big enough sample size to project what to expect of Clemens, the future is not looking bright for the New York Jets. When it was all said and done, Clemens completed 130 of his 250 passing attempts (52%), threw for just 1,529 yards and had a terrible 5:10 TD to INT ratio. His 60.9 passing rating was dead last amongst all quarterbacks who threw at least 14 passes per game. In the off season, the Jets bulked up their offensive line, which should help Clemens buy some time and find the open receiver, but to consider Clemens a fantasy football option is a stretch. In fact, he still has to beat out Chad Pennington in an open battle at training camp for the starting gig.

Chad Pennington (QB) – It's hard to believe that Pennington is entering his ninth season as a member of the New York Jets. It seems like just yesterday that Pennington started the trend of University of Marshall quarterbacks becoming NFL players. However, almost a decade later, time is running out for the seasoned veteran and this very well could be his last shot at being a starter in the league. All reports indicate that Pennington will be in an open battle with Kellen Clemens for the quarterback position, but the Bruno Boys believe it will be Clemens under helm come week 1.

Thomas Jones (RB) – No one could be happier this off season than Thomas Jones. While he was out relaxing and getting prepared for the season, the Jets brass was working hard to shore up a patchwork offensive line. With the additions of Alan Faneca and Damien Woody, Jones will be seeing alot of holes to run through once he gets his hands on the football. These holes could potentially lead to a big season out of the 9th year running back and should place Jones as a RB2 on all draft boards. When predicting his 2008 season, you can expect Jones to have an instant rise in his yard per carry (YPC) average as well as his touchdown totals.

Leon Washington (RB) – It's the little things that make Leon Washington worth mentioning. It seems that every time he gets his hands on the football something exciting happens, and this is evident by his three kick return touchdowns he had in 2007. Add those to his three rushing touchdowns and Washington totaled 6 on the season, which was four more than primary running back Thomas Jones. Washington is shifty with the football, low to the ground and has break away speed, but with durability being an issue, the Jets use him as a role player. Therefore, you should monitor his status, but if your leagues rewards kick return yardage points, target Washington early on.

Jerricho Cotchery (WR) – If you are looking for a consistent receiver that will get you between 4-10 fantasy football points each week, look no further than Cotchery. The true definition of possession receiver, Cotchery scored 5 or more fantasy points in 13 of the 15 games he played in 2007. Heading into 2008, the Bruno Boys believe that Cotchery has surpassed Laveranues Coles as the top target in New York, and you can expect a spike in his touchdown total. Look for Cotchery to haul in around 85 passes, for around 1,050-1,100 receiving yards and take it to the bank that his touchdown total will be closer to his 2006 total of six touchdowns.

Laveranues Coles (WR) – In 2007, Coles saw a major decline in receptions and receiving yards but he still matched his touchdown totals despite playing in just 12 games. Depending on who the quarterback is will play a large part on Coles value with 2008 approaching. If Coles can stay healthy and Pennington is the quarterback, Coles will act as a solid upper tier WR3 for your fantasy football squad. However, if Clemens is the go-to quarterback, it might take awhile for Coles to divorce Clemens and Cotchery from their marriage. Either way, health aside, Coles has upside and should be targeted as your third receiver in a 12 team league.

Chris Baker (TE) – Baker is one of those tight ends that the Bruno Boys have longed called a touchdown or bust option. You know one of those guys that will either get you six points because of a touchdown or the big fat goose egg. Well, in 2007 things changed for Baker, as he had a career year and hauled in 41 receptions for 409 receiving yards and three touchdowns. Plus, if you look at his game log, you will notice that he had at least 3 fantasy football points in nine of the 15 games he played in. These numbers are great, but they are serviceable for a backup tight end. With the Jets drafting receiving tight end Dustin Keller, we might see Baker being more of a blocker in 2008, limiting his potential for a repeat season.

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Rookies to Watch

Dustin Keller (TE) – With the 30th pick in the first round, the Jets decided it would be wise to take a pass catching tight end. With the tight end position starting to become a bigger part of offensive schemes around the league, the Jets felt Keller could join the party. The University of Purdoe graduate has all of the intangibles to put together a fine rookie season, but the question mark surrounding the Jets quarterback play could damper his chances. Plus, if you look at rookie tight ends, it usually takes them a few years to develop, unless you are Kellen Winslow. Keller should be targeted in leagues that play two tight ends, but his main value is in dynasty leagues.

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Other Team Capsules

NFC WEST - ARI I STL I SF I SEA

NFC SOUTH - ATL I CAR I NO I TB

NFC NORTH - CHI I DET I GB I MIN

NFC EAST - DAL I NYG I PHI I WAS

AFC WEST - DEN I KC I OAK I SD

AFC SOUTH - HOU I IND I JAX I TEN

AFC NORTH - BAL I CIN I CLE I PIT

AFC EAST - BUF I MIA I NE I NYJ

Giants Nominated For Six ESPY Awards

hkiswani — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 00:16:00 GMT

The nominees for the 2008 ESPY (Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly Awards) Awards have been released, and the New York Giants have an impressive six nominations. Don't forget to log on to www.ESPYs.TV and vote for your Giants over the next two weeks! The ESPYs will be broadcast on July 20th at 9 P.M .

Here's a list of the awards the G-Men (either as a team, or an individual Giant) have been nominated for:

BEST NFL PLAYER - Eli Manning

BEST COACH/MANAGER - Tom Coughlin

BEST GAME - Super Bowl XLII, Giants over Patriots

BEST PLAY - Super Bowl XLII: Eli Manning to David Tyree

BEST UPSET - New York Giants: Defeat New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII

BEST TEAM - New York Giants, Super Bowl Champions

Help get your Giants these awards! Go out and vote, Giants fans.

-- H.Kiswani

NASCAR Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola Expert Picks

richardginn — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 14:05:00 GMT

Well, I had picks last week that we not so hot, but most everyone else scored less this week with so many junk drivers in the top ten. A Kurt Busch, Michael Waltrip and J.J. Yeley top 3 was not really on anyone's wish list.

Yates drivers were a complete bust, but I thought they could do way better then the data showed.

A list active driver:

Tony Stewart - This is the third time on this list for Stewart. I like him since he does have two wins at this track in the past six races and that those wins are at the July race. I feel he is a solid A list driver pick.

B list active drivers:

David Ragan - This is Ragan's third appearance on this list. He is a bit of a gamble, but he does have one top five in three starts at this track. His last finish was 42^nd, but will rebound big time from that finish.

Bobby Labonte - This is the second time on this list for Labonte. He's also a gamble since he is not great at all at this track. Only two top 21 place finishes in the past six races. I think he avoids the big one and gets a solid finish.

C list active driver:

Boris Said - Said makes his second appearance on this list. He has two top fifteen finishes in three starts at this place over the past six races. He is going to have to get qualified on time though. All C level drivers are a gamble; none of them are super at this track.

Sleeper picks:

Jimmy Johnson - He has three top ten place finishes at this track over the past six races, but also has a couple of junky finishes. I think he will be up to top form at this track and get a top ten.

Casey Mears - He has two top tens in the past six races at this track, but his 2008 season has not been so great. I think he will get his second top 20 finish in a row.

David Reutimann - With every C level driver being a bit cold at this track you may want to go with this driver. He has improved his finishes every single time at this track which looks good data wise.