Fantasy baseball frustrations are running at an all time high for me right now, as I’m sure it is the same for a lot of you out there. For a lot of head to head leagues out there, your fantasy playoffs have likely begun, so you’re either in it still or you’re not. If you are, then congratulations. If not, then you’re probably not even here reading….you’re off surfing the web lookin gfor some last minute fantasy football draft advice. Rotisserie leagues are a bit different. For some, they’ve been out of it for a long time and probably haven’t read a fantasy baseball advice column in weeks…okay, maybe months. But for those that are still near contention, you’re probably overanalyzing your standings, lookin gto see where you can hopefully steal a point or too. It’s that kind of scrutiny that leads you towards a little place I call CrazyTown. But no matter what style of league you are in, if you’re still active in baseball, then you’ve got your fair share of complaints, I’m sure. For me, I’m just glad the month of August is over. Without a doubt, it has been my most brutal month of the season, and the slumps, the bumps, and the player movement over the last 31 days has had my blood sitting at it’s boiling point. It’s time to get some of that out.
First off, let me just say that all of my complaints are coming from 2 leagues, both of which I am in contention for a top 4 finish (the last prize position), and in neither league is there a free agent waiver wire available to grab players. Our trade deadlines came at the All Star Break, so what we have come mid-July is supposed to take us through the end of the season. So when you’re dealing with injuries, if you haven’t built up your bench with quality players, you’re screwed. In one league, I have solid depth but it’s certainly being tested. In the other, good depth in the infield, nothing good left in the outfield. Aggravating? Most definitely. So let’s get going…
I knew Cliff Lee going to Texas was the worst possible scenario for him at the deadline, but this is just ridiculous. With Seattle, he was 8-3 with a sweet looking 2.34 ERA and an even sweeter 0.95 WHIP. With the move to Texas, he’s been pretty damn atrocious. Sure, he’s had his flashes here and there, but in 11 starts as a Ranger, Lee is 2-5 with a 4.69 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP. Now those numbers aren’t terrible if you’re Justin Masterson or Nick Blackburn, but for Lee, the current totals are completely unacceptable. Come on, Cliff! You’re single-handedly ::bleeping:: every fantasy owner that has tried to ride you in the second half. Learn how to ::bleepin’:: pitch in Texas and get your ::bleep:: together for this final month!
Have I mentioned that I traded for Andy Pettitte at the All Star Break?
I also trade for Geovany Soto who, as many of you already know, screwed me two weeks ago when his trip to the DL started on a Tuesday. Well, he’s douching me again with this latest knee problem and is sitting out way more often than he should….atleast for my selfish fantasy needs.
And let’s keep going with this ridiculous injury onslaught I’ve been deadling with in August…
I know I brought it up the last time, but I can’t help but curse myself for not going with a second bonafide closer and going cheap with Matt Lindstrom. Sure, his first half was money, but this second half is proving the old adage that you get what you pay for. Lindstrom went from being a sweet-ass sleeper pick to complete dogsh*t once the second half hit. His back started to act up, his ERA ballooned, he lost his job and then has been sitting on the DL for the last couple of weeks. They say he’s coming back this week, but I doubt he’s going to be the trusted guy for the ninth.
Ricky Nolasco? Torn meniscus? Since I didn’t want to insert stupid Paul Maholm into my lineup and figuring that Nolasco wouldn’t make his scheduled start, I left him in my lineup. In roto, getting no stats at all, at this point, is better than putting a guy in and have him get thumped. Well, what I should have done was just insert Pettitte, because, for some inane reason, Nolasco is suddenly pitching through the injury….the torn meniscus…and he got ass-raped by the Braves to the tune of 6 earned runs in just 2 innings of work. Oh yeah….with a 5.00 WHIP! Seriously??? He alone cost me 5 points in total between WHIP and ERA.
Jason Bay….there’s another one! Out since late July with little or no hope for a September return. I know he was having a down year, but I could have still used some of his contributions. Instead, I’ve got a bum on my bench and am forced to play around with some of my other guys like…
Derrek Lee — who would have thought that he could have been worse on the Braves than he was this year on the Cubs? Yet he still seems to be a better option than…
Troy Glaus — who’s always banged up and is looking like nothing but pinch-hitting, bench material from here on out, just like…
Jim Thome — who looks just fine for a week and then gets hit in the thigh and suddenly can’t play. Seriously? The thigh? A DH who can’t hit because he got plunked in the thigh? That’s the meatiest part of the body there pal!
And it’s not just the injuries either…
What the ::bleep:: happened to Ben Zobrist? I wasn’t expecting duplicate totals from last year, but how about something in the remote vicinity? .251 on the year, but an even more atrocious .160 for the month of August.
So much for Sean Rodriguez and the starting second base job. I still don’t get it. He went into a little mini-slump towards the end of July and Joe Maddon benches him? WTF?? He’s got maybe 30 at bats for the month of August?
And then there’s the fact that Chone Figgins still sucks, Raul Ibanez is too old, and Kelly Johnson’s most recent cold streak is lasting way longer than it should.
I think that’s going to have to do it for today. That vein in my temple is throbbing and I can already feel the migraine starting to develop. Time to go take 12 aspirin and go lay down….until the season ends. Yeesh! Got your own bitching to do? I’d like to hear it. I need to see that I’m not alone in this dog days of summer slump. Post ‘em here or email me at rotobuzzguy@gmail.com and we can commiserate together.
Good luck and I’ll (hopefully) see you all in the money this year!
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