The Wolf/Cotton team spent $148 on five high end bats that included:

1. $39 Joey Votto
2. $32 Andrew McCutchen
3. $30 Matt Holliday
4. $29 Hunter Pence
5. $18 Aramis Ramirez

For our draft, Hunter Pence and Andrew McCutchen were not available. I spent $145 for six primary bats:

1. $39 Joey Votto
2. $37 Justin Upton
3. $39 Matt Holliday
4. $10 Pedro Alvarez
5. $10 Cody Ross
6. $10 Logan Morrison

Like Wolf/Colton, I have both Votto and Holliday. For their Aramis Ramirez selection, I already had Pedro Alvarez for that slot. I considered Cory Hart for the Hunter Pence slot, but decided with his injury to move the money else where. Instead, I combined Cody Ross and Logan Morrison for $20.

On pitching, Wolf/Colton  went with three good starters who were nicely priced, and a high end closer:

1. $20 Brian Wilson
2. $16 Jonathan Sanchez
3. $13 Matt Garza
4. $13 Ricky Nolasco

For my pitching, I had a similar makeup but I went with two closers:

1. $20 J.J. Putz
2. $11 Matt Latos
3. $13 Tommy Hanson
4. $10 Kyle McClellan
5. $10 Travis Wood
6. $6 Craig Kimbrel

Here is my roster for opening day:

Pos Edit Active Batters Salary

C Hernandez, Ramon(C) CIN

4 C Thole, Josh(C) NYM 6

1B Votto, Joey(1B) CIN 39

2B Young, Eric(2B) COL  10

3B Alvarez, Pedro(3B) PIT 10

SS Renteria, Edgar(SS) CIN 2

MI DeWitt, Blake(2B) CHC 2

CI Overbay, Lyle(1B) PIT 9

OF Holliday, Matt(OF) STL 39

OF Morrison, Logan(OF) FLA

10 OF Ross, Cody(OF) SF

10 OF Upton, Justin(OF) ARI 37

OF Venable, Will(OF) SD  4

U Hairston, Scott(OF) NYM 5

Bench

Bench (3B) Baker, Jeff(2B,3B) CHC  3

Bench (SS) Emaus, Brad(SS) NYM 10

Bench (OF) Jackson, Brett(OF) CHC  10

Bench (U) Gibbons, Jay(OF) LA  2

Pos Edit Active Pitchers Salary

P Hammel, Jason(P) COL 7

P Hanson, Tommy(P) ATL 11

P Kimbrel, Craig(P) ATL  6

P Latos, Mat(P) SD 11

P Marquis, Jason(P) WAS  1

P McClellan, Kyle(P) STL  10

P Putz, J.J.(P) ARI 20

P Wood, Travis(P) CIN  10

P Young, Chris(P) NYM  1

Bench (P) Luebke, Cory(P) SD  6

Bench (P) Mejia, Jenrry(P) NYM  7

Bench (P) Rodriguez, Henry(P) WAS 5

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Ray Flowers on his web site is offering free fantasy information

1. PREAMBLE

We the people of the League of Alternate Baseball Reality (LABR), in order to promote the great game of fantasy baseball, prove all GMs idiots and obtain the biggest bragging rights in the nation do ordain and establish this constitution of the League of Alternate Baseball Reality.

2. OBJECT

To assemble a lineup of 24 National League or 23 American League baseball players whose cumulative statistics, compiled and measured by the methods described in these rules, exceed those of all other teams in the League.

3. SCORING

LABR uses a Ranked, Rotisserie Based Scoring System

The National League finished its auction draft (http://tinyurl.com/45ndqgt) which took place on Sunday March 6th. The American League draft finished up on Saturday.

The LABR is made up of professionals/ writers from the baseball publications industry. The LABR draft, when it takes place, is not open to the public. In years past they used web site  all-star stats to run the LABR leagues. Here is this years NL ownership:

Clay Davenport, Baseball Prospectus (6th year, 2 titles)
Greg Ambrosius/Shawn Childs, NFBC (18th year, @VuFantasyBBcom)
Steve Moyer, Baseball Info Solutions (12th year, 1 title)
Steve Gardner, USA TODAY (7th year, 1 title, @sgardnerUSAT)
Eric Karabell, ESPN (7th year, @karabellespn)
Dalton Del Don, Rotowire (4th year, @daltondeldon)
Brandon Funston, Yahoo (4th year @1befun)
Doug Dennis, Baseball HQ (10th year)
Bob Radomski, Sandlot Shrink (9th year, 1 title)
Rick Wolf/Glenn Colton, Rotoworld (10th year, 3 titles)
Tristan Cockcroft, ESPN (8th year, 2 titles, @SultanofStat)
Derek Carty, The Hardball Times (3rd year, 1 title, @THTFantasy)

The need for speed stole only 17 bags in 2010 but has stolen between 46 and 87 bags in each of his last four minor league seasons.  Ey Jr received a lot of playing time in the second half and stole 11 bases in only 140 AB.  If given a chance, he should steal 40.

Negative HR Splits Let’s take a look at which batters have been experiencing positive and negative trends since the break in the homerun department. Jose Lopez 107 – He’s usually a big second half guy.  Be patient.

1. PREAMBLE

We the people of the League of Alternate Baseball Reality (LABR), in order to promote the great game of fantasy baseball, prove all GMs idiots and obtain the biggest bragging rights in the nation do ordain and establish this constitution of the League of Alternate Baseball Reality.

2. OBJECT

To assemble a lineup of 24 National League or 23 American League baseball players whose cumulative statistics, compiled and measured by the methods described in these rules, exceed those of all other teams in the League.

3. SCORING

LABR uses a Ranked, Rotisserie Based Scoring System.

.

Yesterday, the American League branch of the LABR took place. Today, the National League does its auction draft.

The LABR is made up of professionals/ writers from the baseball publications industry. The LABR draft, when it takes place, is not open to the public. In years past they used web site  all-star stats to run the LABR leagues. Here is this years AL ownership:

Steve Gardner, USA TODAY (7th year, 1 title, @sgardnerUSAT)
Chris Liss, Rotowire (6th year, @Chris_Liss)
Brad Evans, Yahoo (3rd year @YahooNoise)
Dave Adler, Baseball HQ (5th year)
Larry Schechter, Sandlot Shrink (7th year)
Rick Wolf/Glenn Colton, Rotoworld (10th year, 3 titles)
Lawr Michaels, Mastersball (3rd year, @Masters_Ball)
Jason Grey, ESPN (8th year, 2 titles, @Jason_Grey)
Greg Ambrosius/Shawn Childs, NFBC (18th year, @VuFantasyBBcom)
Nick Minnix, KFFL (2nd year, @NicholasMinnix)
Perry Van Hook, Fantasybaseball.com (3rd year)
Tom Trudeau, Bloomberg Sports (1st year, @Tom_Trudeau)

Fantasy baseball’s field of dreams: 2011 #LABR draft weekend in Phoenix. Live coverage Sat/Sun on @SiriusXMFantasy

We have covered this event in the past:

LABR 2010 USA Today Sports Weekly Is Out

LABR 2009 USA Today Sports Weekly Is Out

Every now and then you hear the whispers that Howard is simply just a good platoon hitter.

So, lets take a look at Howard’s track record with the righty lefty splits.

So,  in the red columns we see Ryan Howard’s production against left handed pitching. In his three full seasons, in the rate categories against lefties he has continued his decline in batting average and slugging. His home run production against righties just about doubles his production against lefties.  To be fair, the Phillies are aware of the situation and he has received less at bats against lefties. The question remains though, would the Phillies be better off platooning him at first base.

I am certain they could find a right handed batter who could do better than a .224 batting average  against the southpaws.  Better yet, in fantasy leagues that allow for daily transactions, would you be better off sitting Howard against lefties.

• Elite pitcher status in Brandon Webb and Erick Bedard for $30
• Jayson Nix starter at 2B (hopefully) for Rockies $6
• Ty Wiggington qualifying at SS for $15

The Vegas win totals:
Tampa Bay 73.5
New York(AL&NL) 93.5
Chicago(NL) 87.5
Los Angeles(NL) 87.5
Baltimore 65.5
Washington 70.5

The one source I use each and every season is the LABR draft printed in USA Today’s Sports Weekly. The issue is not out yet, but here is a preview on some of the results. In the NL, Rotoscoop has Corey Hart $30, and Austin Kearns $18.  In the AL  FakeTeams , has the Rotowire covered.

Tape Measure Blast: If you saw my Greener interview early this week, here is more from the Greener Blog at disabledlist blog .

In fact, I happened to be visiting friends in New York and witnessed the Pine Tar Incident Game on the Yankee broadcast. Recently, I was thinking about a baseball related user name for some account I was creating. I gave it the name of The Pine Tar Incident since that game was one of the most memorable games that I ever watched.

More Blasts From Around the Web:

Piniella  predicted number of wins:  89 wins. Chone has the NL and AL predictions too. 89 wins for my Rays!

We’re Talking Squawking Baseball on  Cone for Ed Hearn

Brock for Broglio has PrOPS .

A great week of content at Greeny’s site. with DIPs, Contact Rate rate, Home / Road standouts.

If you own Hanley like I do, check out the Disabled Informer on HRam

Jason Stark covers the history making arbitration win for Ryan Howard. Will Phillies slugger ask them to “Show me the Money” with a  136 Million next?

I thought Heyman’s GM  list was ridiculous. Glad someone else does too.

I did not Know Topkin of Times wrote for Melnick and Greco?