We're setting up the first Fantasy Factor Fan League. We'll ask YOU, the fans, to shoot us a quick email at matthewolsen81@yahoo.com if you'd like to be apart of the league and take on Ricky and myself (as long as you don't mind a little friendly trash talk).
Once a week we'll post the league's progress and standings, while having a little bit of fun along the way.
Here are the details...
- First and foremost, we're holding a live draft on Sunday, March 15 at 8 p.m. You can always auto-draft your team, but I'd advise you only sign up if you can be there.
- We're getting as many into in the league as we can - 20. That may sound like a lot but I'm playing in a 10 team AL-only league this year, so it's pretty much the same thing. It should be a fun challenge for everyone.
- It's a 5x5 rotisserie league. The categories are R, HR, RBI, SB, AVG, W, SV, K, ERA, WHIP.
- Following fantasy baseball the entire season is a challenge, even for supposed experts. Please only sign up if you plan on playing the entire season.
So get those emails in, it should make for an interesting season.
Just two games yesterday so lets make this quick...
Fantasy star of the Lakers-Suns game
F Lamar Odom - Lakers
Vs. Suns
23 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 blocks
Fantasy star of the Cavs-Rockets game
C Yao Ming - Rockets
Vs. Cavs
28 points, 8 rebounds
It's pretty shocking with the Lakers and Cavs in action last night, neither Kobe or LeBron could grab one of our top slots. Kobster was in 'spread the wealth' mode, finishing with a modest (for him) 22-8-4 line. LeBron didn't fair so well. Not only did his Cavs lose a key rotation cog with Ben Wallace (ha!) breaking his foot, but LBJ also finished assist-less for the first time in his career.
First and foremost, we're holding a live draft on Sunday, March 15 at 8 p.m. You can always auto-draft your team, but I'd advise you only sign up if you can be there.
- We're getting as many into in the league as we can - 20. That may sound like a lot but I'm playing in a 10 team AL-only league this year, so it's pretty much the same thing. It should be a fun challenge for everyone.
- It's a 5x5 rotisserie league. The categories are R, HR, RBI, SB, AVG, W, SV, K, ERA, WHIP.
- Following fantasy baseball the entire season is a challenge, even for supposed experts. Please only sign up if you plan on playing the entire season.
- Get those emails into matthewolsen81@yahoo.com! It should be a sweet time all summer long.
Tony Parker, San Antonio Spurs
vs. Portland Trailblazers
39 points, 9 dimes, 5 boards,
With Tim Duncan out of the lineup for the second straight game, the French import exploded for 39 points in a big win over the Trailblazers last night. Parker may be the best point guard in the league when it comes to playing in the paint. He's fearless driving to the basket and is one of the more under appreciated players in the Association.
Keep riding him until Timmy comes back because with Michael Finley and Matt Bonner the only other healthy options, TP will need to do some damage.
First and foremost, we're holding a live draft on Sunday, March 15 at 8 p.m. You can always auto-draft your team, but I'd advise you only sign up if you can be there.
- We're getting as many into in the league as we can - 20. That may sound like a lot but I'm playing in a 10 team AL-only league this year, so it's pretty much the same thing. It should be a fun challenge for everyone.
- It's a 5x5 rotisserie league. The categories are R, HR, RBI, SB, AVG, W, SV, K, ERA, WHIP.
- Following fantasy baseball the entire season is a challenge, even for supposed experts. Please only sign up if you plan on playing the entire season.
- Get those emails into matthewolsen81@yahoo.com! It should be a sweet time all summer long.
G Dwyane Wade - Heat
Vs. Magic
31 points, 16 assists, 7 rebounds
I feel like every time I do one of these posts, Wade's name tops the list. And sure, I do love me some D-Wade (and I have him in my big keeper league), but it's a testament to how awesome he has been all season. Detroit (hey, remember when they used to be good?) had no answer for him all night; Rodney Stuckey - often described as a poor man's Wade - had no chance in hell of slowing him down.
31 points is pretty much par for the course this season for Wade, but what really sticks out are the assists. 16 is a new career high. Throw in a healthy number of rebounds and an fairly efficient night shooting the ball (11-of-20 from the field, 8-of-9 from the line), and Tuesday was probably one of Wade's best all-around fantasy efforts of the season. And - hey! - his team even won. Good times all around.
First, a few quick facts on the league we set up yesterday.
- First and foremost, we're holding a live draft on Sunday, March 15 at 8 p.m. You can always auto-draft your team, but I'd advise you only sign up if you can be there.
- We're getting as many into in the league as we can - 20. That may sound like a lot but I'm playing in a 10 team AL-only league this year, so it's pretty much the same thing. It should be a fun challenge for everyone.
- It's a 5x5 rotisserie league. The categories are R, HR, RBI, SB, AVG, W, SV, K, ERA, WHIP.
- Following fantasy baseball the entire season is a challenge, even for supposed experts. Please only sign up if you plan on playing the entire season.
- Get those emails into Matt! It should be a sweet time all summer long.
Now onto business...
*
5. SP Jesse Litsch
Litsch made a strong debut in 2007, and followed it up with an even better 2008. The 23-year old pitcher is set to take an even bigger role this year with the Blue Jays, with starter Dustin McGowan continuing to battle injuries. McGowan may not be ready until June, so Toronto will be counting on Litsch to to stabilize the rotation behind ace Roy Halladay. Litsch struck out only 99 batters in 176 innings last year, but at least he doesn't walk a ton of guys. Litsch posted a very solid 1.23 ERA last year in his first full season as a starter.
Welcome to the 2009 fantasy baseball season here at The Fantasy Factor.
We're kicking off our coverage by taking a look at the 30 franchises around MLB and giving you the Top 5 fantasy prospects from each team. These are the names you'll hear on draft day as you construct the fantasy baseball roster you'll be stuck with until the end of Summer.
Along the way we'll provide player rankings, in-depth analysis, injury updates, and everything else you'll need to dominate in 2009.
Also, we're setting up the first Fantasy Factor Fan League. We'll ask YOU, the fans, to shoot us a quick email at matthewolsen81@yahoo.com if you'd like to be apart of the league and take on Ricky and myself.
Once a week we'll post the league's progress and standings, while having a little bit of fun along the way.
So, without further ado, here are the Top 5 Baltimore Orioles you'll want to know on draft day:
We had lots of worthy candidates for player of the night on an action-packed Sunday in the NBA, but D-Wade's career high takes the cake. Wade came up short in the Battle of Florida, but it's not his fault his teammates couldn't make a shot. Jermaine O'Neal finished 2-of-10, Mario Chalmers went 1-of-7, and our boy Michael Beasley missed nine shots.
The acquisition of O'Neal gives the Heat the post presence they've been sorely missing, but he's not going to help if he keeps missing shots. Still, JO was playing well in Toronto before being dealt so he still looks like a decent fantasy option. Wade, of course, is one of the three best fantasy players in the game today. Ride him as far as he can take you.
If you ever wanted to know how much Kevin Garnett means to the Celtics, look no further than the effect he's had on his coach and young point guard. Chicago's own Doc Rivers was seen as a punchline after leading Boston to one the worst records in the NBA two years ago without KG. Now? He's the ultimate player's coach, kind of like basketball's Dusty Baker, only affective.
And does anyone think Rondo would have turned into such a monster without Garnett? He's one of the three best points in the East right now (along with Derrick Rose and Devin Harris), and he's in a perfect position to make a bunch of easy plays and never worry about carrying his team. Rondo is a joy to watch and has been a stellar fantasy player all year.
Check out Thursday's other star (and an ultra shameless plug) after the jump...
Mo Williams, Cleveland Cavaliers
vs. Phoenix Suns
44 points, 2 boards, 7 dimes, 3 steals, 7-for-9 from deep
The Cavs have finally found a running mate for LeBron James and its paying dividends not only for them, but for fantasy hoops players everywhere as well.
Mo Williams is exactly what the Cavs needed to get over the hump and it's only going to get better from here.
Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs
vs. New Jersey Nets
27 points, 9 boards, 8 dimes, 4 blocks, 64% FG
In between his constant whining to officials and rolling eyes, Tim Duncan can still find ways to get it done. On a night when LeBron James goes off for 47 and Stephen Jackson chips in 35, how could Duncan possibly be deserving of the Player of the Night award?
What, exactly, has Charlotte been up to recently? I believe Fanhouse's Tom Ziller put it best after the Adam Morrison-for-Vlad Rad swap: (link)
For Charlotte ... well, I stopped trying to figure out Charlotte's basketball motives a long time ago. I suppose Radmanovic helps the perimeter play. But you'd think Morrison could have done that, or maybe Matt Carroll, a sharpshooter the 'Cats traded a couple weeks ago for a guy (DeSagana Diop) who has played a total of 130 minutes since arriving and is signed through 2013. Is there a big Serbian community in North Carolina?
Okafor has been the Bobcats' lone bright spot since the franchise's inception, but Monday's performance seems to be more an aberration than anything. His points and rebounds stats are the lowest they've been in three years, and he's stuck on a career low blocks per game.
G Deron Williams - Jazz
Vs. Dallas
34 points, 12 assists, 5 rebounds
His alma mater had a rough time on Thursday, but Deron Williams certainly did not. Williams absolutely abused Jason Kidd to the tune of a season-high 34 points, and mixed in enough assists and rebounds to finish with arguably his best game of the season.
Hey Mark Cuban, how's that Kidd-for-Devin Harris swap looking now?
Carmelo Anthony, Nuggets
vs. San Antonio Spurs
35 points, 9 boards, 1 dimes, 59% FG
Before I launch into an epic, 'welcome back Carmelo' rant, let's just make one thing clear: The Spurs played this game without Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili.
G Kobe Bryant - Lakers
@ Knicks
61 points, 20-for-20 on free throws, three three-pointers, three assists
Funny how the sports' greatest players always save their best for Madison Square Garden. Kobe broke MJ's record for most points by a visiting player last night in what should be the first of many big time scoring performances now that center Andrew Bynum is out again, this year for a reported eight to 12 weeks.
While Kobe's still third in the league in scoring, his 27.4 points per game is his lowest total since 03-04. Expect a big increase in points, and probably a dip in shooting percentage and assists, over the next few months.
Matt Wood is a web editor for 
