By JIMMY D / Rose Bowl betting | Jimmy's archive
You have to admit that half the fun in fantasy sports is name-dropping.
You own Bonds and Pujols. Maybe you own some guys with acronym names (Jimmy calls them acro-names) like A-Rod or C-Webb. Or T.O. or KG and AI.
Or dudes known simply by a nickname such as Vladdy, Shanny or Unit.
Jimmy enjoys the name game too, but usually in cheering for players who don’t even need a nickname.
I privately wish for the likes of Canadian Olympic baseballer Stubby Clapp to make it big. What a great name!
I confess to being heartbroken when Expos prospect Razor Shines never panned out back in the 1980s.
And even though, as a Phillies fan, I never liked the Expos, I always relished the presence of Marquis Grissom and Delino Deshields (two names that deserved to be in lights for sure).
Anyone named Speedy or Bubba or Skip or Sparky always had my full attention and I like Carlos Boozer as much for his name as for his rebounding prowess.
So spring training brings its own special Jimmy joy as he follows the early progress and failures of Yankee reliever Colter Bean, Marlin prospect pitcher Renyel Pinto (the second Jimmymobile was a 1974 Ford Pinto with racing stripe) and Seattle prospect J.J. Putz.
I will spend way too much time studying the mechanics of Boof Bonser as he tries to earn a shot at the fifth starter position for the Minnesota Twins.
And I hope that the power spike by SS Jhonny Peralta was no fluke, because I like the fact he misspells his own name.
Ditto teammate Grady Sizemore, because, well I always liked that Grady dude from Sanford & Son.
More logical fantasy GMs have already turned their attention to which name should be called first when baseball drafts begin in the next month or so.
This has been a source of continued debate, since the same two names that graced the top of player lists last year sit there again.
The consensus seems to be – and Jimmy concurs - that if you are drafting for your keeper pool, you call out Albert Pujols. If you are drafting to win a draft this year, you say A-Rod.
The burly Cardinals 1B led St. Louis in every major category last season, including stolen bases (where he hawked a surprising 16). He managed this while gimping around on a sore foot and without the protection afforded by Scott Rolen, who missed most of the season.
The question is whether he can rip off the same gaudy numbers - .330 BA, 41 HR, 117 RBI and 129 runs – with a depleted or aging cast of characters in the Cards batting order. Rolen has to prove he has overcome a labrum tear.
If you are a regular Jimmy reader, you have been regaled in several columns about the labours of labrums.
Talent-wise, big Albert may be a bit ahead. Stats-wise, they are a near dead heat. Team-wise, Rodriguez sees a lot more RBI and run-scoring opportunities surrounded by Johnny Damon, Derek Jeter, Jason Giambi, Gary Sheffield and Robinson Cano.
A-Rod is five years older, but hardly a relic at 30. After a bit of a slump in his first year in pinstripes (predicted by Jimmy by the way), he is back to numbers like .321 BA, 48 HR, 130 RBI and 124 runs.
As long as his Texas Holdem play doesn’t count (he got smoked in games in New York against poker pros like Phil Hellmuth), he will generate the most fantasy value in 2006.
And that hurts to say, harking back to the mockery I heaped upon him for that girly-glove-slap play up the first-base line against the Red Sox in the playoffs two years ago.
Names in the News
Mark Teixeira – 1B – Rangers.
If baseball players don’t hit their prime until 27 or 28 and if this guy’s number trend upwards this year like they have the past three, you have an absolute beast on your hands. The fifth overall pick in the 2001 draft banged 43 HRs and drove in 144 last year. He is only 25 and starting his fourth season.
Brian Lawrence – SP- Nationals.
That dreaded labrum. The Nats got him in a swap with San Diego and now his shoulder is toast, likely til the all-star break at least.
Kip Wells – SP- Pirates.
A blood clot threatens his season, watch the Pittsburgh papers in the next few days to see if he needs surgery. If he does, scratch him for 2006.
Rafael Furcal – SS – Dodgers.
Jimmy’s prediction for Bust of the Year. He took the money and ran from Atlanta to a field where he has been an abysmal hitter. His swipes spiked up last year, but we see that number sinking when he can’t get on base.
Send Jimmy your favourite names at Jimmy@ATS411.com and we will post them on the Jimmy D website.
In the meantime, stay busy and stay lucky. Jimmy D |
