In-N-Out The 64/60 Week 18

In the early morning hours you can feel it. You can feel a certain coolness to the air. You can feel the seasons changing. Baseball refers to this time as the Dog Days of August. In a good year 10 teams or so may be in contention for a playoff spot while 20 are looking ahead to 2012. The In's N Out's of the NFL training camps/preseason games are now leading SportsCenter while the majority of MLB highlights are reserved for the back part of the hour show. As much as I would like to judge these fairweather fans and defend the game of baseball I can't. I consider myself a avid baseball fan yet each and every year at this time the pigskin comes a calling and more often than not my time is given to the NCAA on Saturday's and the NFL on Sundays. I still follow the game but what once was 45 minutes or so a day may now be 10 min max briefing the upcoming action and looking at yesterdays events.

This time of the year is difficult for fantasy owners as well. More often than not your fantasy duties are now split between baseball and football and if your baseball team hasn't played out the way you projected and the term playing for pride doesn't carry much weight for you, then your very tempted to go on auto pilot for the remaining 5 weeks or so and start breaking down 2nd string TE's. With this in mind let's say some goodbye's to those within the 64/60 whose draft day visions of Grandier haven't come to fruition. M.R.O.T.A if his early season dedication would have matched this late season push then 2011 could have scripted a different story but then again it could have just robbed Gilbert of his true desire of mirroring his squad to that of the Reds. tbd the name says it all. When you can't even decide of a name how can you be expected to manage a lineup let alone pick up valuable resources via the Waiver Wire. Majesticals the downward spiral began on draft day as James Hardy tried his best to create a winner but truth be told when it's not your team and the golden brown liquid hits your tongue it's easy to steer the train of the tracks. DL filled and illegitimate lineups essentially the whole seasons in combination with the lackluster draft should result in a miserable season the Majesticals 2011 fits the script. So as we say goodbye to those who have fallen let's also take a look at those who still have life left and what their big picture looks like.

Outside Looking In at the Moment and How many Games back with 3 to play.

Hendo Colonels 13 GB- He is going to need a 8 stat win and a little luck to have any shot. My best guess is the Colonels have closed up shop on the 2011 baseball season and have already cracked the books in his pursuit for back-to-back titles in football.

Tom Emanski 9GB- The hard luck loser based on the Butch Lemaster seal of approval Power Rankings. Each and every year one team is well below where they should be and in 2011 Fenney takes the honors. Given his overall production during the year I think he is the most likely of this group to shock the world here in August but you are still looking at two 6 or more stat wins during a three week stretch.

Komodo Dog 8.5- Though he may still be in position I would have to take a guess that Whitley and those pesky Dog's have waved the white flag on the 2011 campaign. Fantasy Football is big Todd's passion so I have little doubt that the two deep RB rotation around the league has become more important than this weeks SP matchups.




Playoff Teams at the Moment

9irons- Even though he finally ridded himself of the terrible Sheep team name GRC3 ownership hasn't been what you come to expect from the former champ. Some people are 10%ers when it comes to departmentalizing their lives. They can juggle work, family, friends, social time, fantasy, golf, gambling, facebook and whatever life throws at them. These people have the ability to take it all in without dropping the proverbial ball somewhere. GRC3 my friends isn't one of these guys so after about three or four intrest the other ventures tend to fall by the wayside. Golfing is always going to be high on GRC3's food chain so mark one down. Negotiating car deals to his advantage is another. And if Facebook Status updates are any indication it appears that once again Cupid has hacked GRC3weak defense system and took all that GRC3 has left. SO during this playoff push the 9irons ownership has already checked out making this the weakest link among the playoff teams as of now.

Militia- The only thing that stands in the way of a playoffs featuring Butch Lemaster is a 6 digit win and perhaps Butch's unhealthy infatuation with Vance Whorley which could lead to a lack of focus down the stretch.

Lads- After about two months of uneven play the Lads have changed their name and brought some stability to their squad. And although ownership may litteraly be limping down the stretch their team is once again playoff bound.

Walls- Hottest team in the 64/60 and one I certainly don't look forward to meeting come playoff time. Still in the hunt for a top two spot and first round bye.

Stars and BCFP- Both have dominated all year. Their playoff ticket has been punched seemingly since May. The only question is can they fight off the up and coming Walls for those final two spots and a first round with no worries? Just slightly over .500 ball should do it.

Pickup Of The Week- Paul Goldschmidt BCFP. Sure I may have overbid a smidgen but my reasoning is simple. CI has been a blackhole all season, I can't collect on the money at the end of the season, and I simply don't think anyone will drop the caliber of player I would want over Goldschmidt nor would I prefer anyone called up who isn't already in the database over him. So perhaps Goldschmidt could have been mine for $30 but to me it isn't worth the risk of losing him because I chose to go cheap. If it's week 5, I'm a idiot, it's week 18 I'm justified at least in my opinion.

Head Scratcher Of The Week- Jesus Montero Coalton Country Lads. First and foremost I'm just not sold on the player. Montero in his second full season at Triple A is a .280 hitter with 20HR power and marginal plate discipline. Sure he qualifies at C but certainly wouldn't be a upgrade over Mauer even during a terrible season nor would he be a improvement over Martin who is a middle of the road option at the position. Alonzo may not be a everyday player at the moment but given the Reds efforting at playing Alonzo at 3B along with OF he could easisly see 5-6 days per week making him in my opinion a much more relevant fantasy option in every category from this point forward and the margin continues to grow each and everyd day that Alonzo is in the Reds lineup while Montero is scuffling in Triple A.