The Seattle Mariners called up Wladimir Balentien to replace Brad Wilkerson in right field.  In his first game this year, Balentien went 2 for 4 with a homer and three RBIs.  Balentien will be 24 this year, and is a solid power hitting prospect for the Mariners.  In 540 at bats at AAA between last season and this season, Balentien hit for a .287 average, stealing about 15 bases a year, and hitting a home run every 18 at bats.  The knock on Balentien has been his strikeout totals, averaging a strikeout once every five at bats.

From a fantasy perspective, Balentien

Hello Everyone,

Wow!! Totally wrong with the Utah pick. But the Spurs came through to make a 500. night. not bad at all.

Today's free pick I'm going with THE BOSTON CELTICS AT HOME. This series is a lot toughier then anyone expected. TAKE BOSTON TO WIN.

"GET SERIOUS ABOUT WINNING!"

The recent release of Matt Morris from the Pirates, forcing the team to eat about $11 M in the process, puts an end to the Dave Littlefield era of horrible roster moves.  As a Pirates fan, I celebrated last fall when Littlefield received the axe, relieving the Pirates from his 5+ years of horrible leadership.

While I don't believe in celebrating when people lose their jobs, I feel that when you were horrible at your job for over five years, a change is long overdue.  To give you an idea of how bad Littlefield was, and using the recent Morris release as a reason to post this

I hope all you fantasy owners weren't sitting and watching recently called-up Max Scherzer mow down Astro after Astro. Instead, I hope you were running to your computers and putting in claims for him in all your fantasy leagues (which is exactly what I did in everyone of my leagues). If for some reason he's still available, snap him up immediately. He's clearly worth any top waiver priority.

I've already gone over just how ridiculous Scherzer's minor league stats have been so far this season, and he showed that his stuff will play just fine in the

I spend a lot of time writing about the guys I like.  Between the waiver wire wonders, the trade market, and the need for speed articles, I write three times a week about players who I think should be added to your team.  But what about the players who you should ignore on the waiver wire?  How about the players you should either trade now while they are hot, or just refuse when they come your way in a trade?  There's a time and a place for that kind of article, and it is here and now.

Pitchers

Cliff Lee:  He has allowed one earned

Hello Everyone,

 Tuesday nights free picks..

First free pick I'm going with the San Antonio Spurs to end there first round series against the Phoenix Suns. Take the Spurs to win.

Second free pick I'm going with the Utah Jazz to win tonight against the Houston Rockets. I expect Houston to start off hot, but fizzle by the third quarter. Take Utah for the win.

"GET SERIOUS ABOUT WINNING BIG!"

Rookies can help your fantasy team, but taking them is always a gamble.  For every Adrian Peterson story, there are 15 stories like Wali Lundy.  The thing you need to know is that quarterbacks don't do much in their first year, unless they are surrounded by lots of talent.  Runningbacks can be successful, but chances are they play on a horrible team, which means their value is lower than a back with less talent on a better team.  Wide receivers are a crap shoot, but it's not entirely unlikely that a breakout guy can emerge from a horrible receiver situation (Dwayne

No sooner had I speculated about some top prospects that could help both their real and fantasy teams immediately two of them received the call to the majors.

- Max Scherzer, who has been utterly dominant so far this season, was brought up to bolster the Arizona bullpen.  No, he won't be taking over the closer role from Brandon Lyon or even the set-up role from Tony Pena.  And it also appears he won't be starting either.&

Hello Everyone,

Stick a fork in Phoenix their done!! After making what many people consider to be a blockbuster trade for Shaq, they will be shown the door most likely on there own court. I don't put the blame on Shaq, but I will put the blame on Steve Kerr for not recognizing that Shawn Marion was the main guy finishing all of the so-called MVP Steve Nash passes. (Shawn Marion the real MVP for Phoenix) So now your stuck with strong roll players trying to make 5 plus shots a game, and it's not happening. Besides Stoudemire who else

Usually the NFL draft is one of my favorite things in sports.  For the past two years I have taken the trip up to Pittsburgh to watch the draft at Heinz Field.  Leading up to the draft I would create countless mock drafts, trying to predict what would happen, only for that mock draft to fall to pieces by the sixth pick.  This year I haven't been as psyched for the draft, with no mock drafts, and no trip to Pittsburgh to watch the event.  That is not to say that I won't be watching.  There are still plenty of things I love about the draft, such as the trades,