I hungered. I waited. Sat by the calender just begging for opening day. Gotta remember to be careful what I wish for. One of my leagues is a rather large 16 team, head to head salary cap keeper league with a unique scoring system that has been running for years. You can carry 7 bench guys and 7 minor leaguers. Before the season started I felt rather confident.
Anchored with a staff that included CC Sabathia, Josh Beckett, and Oliver Perez. I figured I was safe having a collection of Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez, Orlando Hernandez, Randy Wolf, John Danks, and Braden Looper for my 4th SP slot. Allowed 2 RP's. Mine are: Billy Wagner and Takashi Saito.
While this collection isn't exactly awe inspiring, I figured (like most people would) that since I only have to start 4 guys that having, CC, Josh, and Oli as my top 3 was a great start and that I had enough with the others for that 4th slot. We're into week 3 right now and lets just say I have had to keep sharp objects at a distance. Sabathia has been just dreadful. Beckett started on the DL along with Randy Johnson who was shortly followed by Pedro Martinez. I went from confidence to sheer terror. My relief was the one area I figured I wouldn't have to tool with all season. Through 2.5 weeks, Billy Wagner got his first save opportunity (and save) last night and Saito has only been good for 1 save (and a win).
I figured at the early part of week one that my bats would come to my rescue. They included: Geovany Soto, Carlos Delgado, Kelly Johnson, Michael Young, Garrett Atkins, Alfonso Soriano, Ichiro Suzuki, Andre Ethier, Richie Sexson, Angel Pagan, Jeff Keppinger, and Ryan Ludwick.
Needless to say, I dont think I need to go into the heartburn express my digestive track has gone through. Alfonso Soriano has been sickening. Ichiro got off to a very slow start. Delgado has been just OK but hasn't been [roducing anything (you can add Sexson to that same tag). The couple of bright spots on my roster have been sitting on my bench in faovr of others (who would bench Soriano over Ethier coming into the season? and I have no place to put Keppinger).
I have started the season on an 0-8 tear (we play 4 head to head matchups a week) and am looking at going into next week with an outfield that includes 2 backups (I have to flip a coin over Ludwick or Pagan for right field and Ethier is gonna have to man LF for Soriano's disabled butt). A slumpin Michael Young and the rest of my half asleep roster. Do I start the extremely horrible CC for the 2 starts next week? Hows about Beckett? The way this week is stacking up, I might be looking at going 2-2 if Im lucky which would put me at 2-10 on the season. There is absolutely nothing even halfway decent available on the free agent/waiver wire market (due to extremely knowledgable owners and 16 teams). My team has been a contender every year I've been in the league but nothing looks good on the horizon and I am stuck in the fantasy baseball blues.
