By JIMMY D / Fantasy conference and reality baseball trades | Jimmy's archive

Jimmy is picking the Anaheim Ducks to repeat as Stanley Cup champs, so it only makes sense that he scouts them properly for his fantasy team. So he went to Denver to watch tonight’s game against the Avs.

OK, so that’s not the main reason for Jimmy’s jaunt to the Mile High City. As a member of the Fantasy Sports Trade Association, he thought he should attend the annual conference to take in some of the seminars and see what’s new for 2008.

And of course to rub shoulders with some of the other fantasy writers who wish they were as talented and handsome as Jimmy D.

Jimmy will update you next week on some the legal discussion around pay-for-play games, the continued challenges by the sports leagues to own statistics (and to force all fantasy game providers to pay for the right to use stats) and other areas of innovation.

As for the hockey game, Jimmy just waived Duck Todd Bertuzzi in order to grab Joffrey Lupul off waivers. Lupul had been on fire, but got smucked by mistake by teammate Derian Hatcher last month and suffered head and neck injuries.

Jimmy also owns Milan Hejduk in his head-to-head league, but stupidly had him benched Saturday when he scored twice in a 6-2 win at Vancouver.

Trading places, raiding places

Hoops
Last week, Jimmy briefed NBA poolies on the fallout of the big Pau Gasol trade. That was followed by another rare, landscape-altering swap last week when Phoenix traded for Shaquille O’Neal.

The swap – fantasy basketball’s top performer Shawn Marion and guard Marcus Banks for seemingly has-been O’Neal – was criticized by many. The Suns moved Marion for a former MVP who has been slowed by hip injuries of late and doesn’t seem a good fit for Phoenix’s run-and-gun offense.

But Shaq says he can run. And pass. And lots of other great things. However, Phoenix needs him to do more on the floor and less with his entertaining mouth if this deal is to succeed. For certain, he gives the Suns the imposing defensive and rebounding presence they have always lacked and pushes Amare Stoudemire to his preferred power forward slot.

The Heat have little else left but Dwyane Wade and Marion, but that’s a pretty good start on a rebuilding program.

Baseball trades

Seattle
The Mariners made a bold step toward keeping pace with the Angels in the AL West when they acquired LHP Erik Bedard from Baltimore for OF Adam Jones, LHP George Sherrill, RHP Chris Tillman, RHP Kam Mickolio and LHP Tony Butler.

Bedard had a tremendous season in 2007 and few are better fantasy performers when he is ‘on.’ But at 29, he hasn’t been a reliable fantasy stud, but pairing him with Ramon Hernandez gives the M’s a devastating 1-2 starting pitching punch.
For the Orioles, this trade – and the dumping of Miguel Tejada for prospects – signals they have finally decided to start over after 10 years of sinking like a stone.

Adam Jones was a beast at AAA, clubbing 25 HRs and hitting .314. He is only 21 and could quickly mature into a fantasy beast. Oriole fans – and fantasy GMs – are gonna like this guy.

And it was a tall order securing three good pitching prospects, but if the three starters are as good as they are tall - 6-foot-9 Kam Mickolio, 6-foot-7 Tony Butler and 6-foot-5 Chris Tillman – the Orioles will be in good shape down the road.

Detroit
The Tigers continued their off-season of ‘statement’ moves by signing OF Curtis Granderson to a five-year contract with a club option for 2013. He hit .302, swatted 23 homers, drove in 74 runs, scored 122 and ripped off 26 bags.

Colorado
Oh yeah, I’m in Colorado, better mention them. The Rocks locked up Matt Holliday earlier and got super-rookie Troy Tulowitzi to sign a six-year deal. Now the team that enjoyed that miracle run to win the NL West and NL pennant before flaming out in the World Series will try to wring some consistency from RHP Josh Towers.

Blue Jay fans and GMs who picked him up during hit streaks and ditched him in disgust during his cold streaks, get to see what he can achieve with that stellar Rockie defense behind him.

Stay busy, stay lucky and check out the Sunday Herald to see what some silly jackass is trying to do – run a marathon!

Jimmy D

jpoole@herald.ca