Fantasy Baseball All Stars week 22

The playoffs should be in full swing now, and the following players helped the middle-of-the-pack teams with their last second push.

Catcher: Miguel Montero, 3 runs, 8 hits, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 0 SB, .320 average, .346 on base
First Base: Eric Hosmer, 9 runs, 11 hits, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 1 SB, .440 average, .484 on base
Second Base: Ian Kinsler, 6 runs, 6 hits, 4 HR, 8 RBI, 1 SB, .250 average, .321 on base
Third Base: David Wright, 6 runs, 13 hits, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 0 SB, .500 average, .594 on base
Shortstop: Cliff Pennington, 3 runs, 10 hits, 1 HR, 8 RBI, 3 SB, .345 average, .406 on base
Outfield: Austin Jackson, 13 runs, 18 hits, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 2 SB, .529 average, .543 on base
Utility: Miguel Cabrera, 6 runs, 12 hits, 2 HR, 9 RBI, 1 SB, .414 average, .452 on base
Starter1: Brandon McCarthy, 17 IP, 1 win, 20 K, 1.06 ERA, 0.53 WHIP
Starter2: Daniel Hudson, 14 IP, 2 wins, 13 K, 0.64 ERA, 0.71 WHIP
Reliever: Craig Kimbrel, 5 IP, 1 win, 2 saves, 10 K, 0 holds, 0.00 ERA, 0.40 WHIP

Good luck to all of you in the playoffs, and look for Fantasy Football All-Stars next week on Tuesday.

Song of the Week XXXIV

This week, we have a new song to my collection, from Radiohead. The song comes off the highly regarded album OK Computer. It is the third track, entitled Subterranean Homesick Alien. The song has a soft, melodic feel covered by a nervousness in the lyrics about being away from home. It is a feeling expressed by many people who are in a strange place for the first time, or people who are stuck somewhere they'd rather not be. This is a very good song, on a masterpiece of an album. Check this column again next week.

Fantasy Baseball All-Stars week 21

This week marks the beginning of the playoffs in a select few leagues. Last week, many teams are feeling the pinch to reach the playoffs if the opportunity still presents itself. Here's the best players of last week's hurricane baseball:

Catcher: Matt Wieters, 5 runs, 6 hits, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 0 SB, .353 average, .476 on base
First Base: Adrian Gonzalez, 8 runs, 11 hits, 5 HR, 9 RBI, 0 SB, .393 average, .452 on base
Second Base: Howie Kendrick, 9 runs, 10 hits, 4 HR, 5 RBI, 1 SB, .500 average, .545 on base
Third Base: Mark Reynolds, 7 runs, 12 hits, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 0 SB, .429 average, .448 on base
Shortstop: Troy Tulowitzki, 6 runs, 9 hits, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 0 SB, .409 average, .536 on base
Left Field: Carlos Gonzalez, 9 runs, 13 hits, 3 HR, 10 RBI, 2 SB, .481 average, .533 on base
Center Field: Matt Kemp, 8 runs, 8 hits, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 1 SB, .296 average, .321 on base
Right Field: Corey Hart, 9 runs, 13 hits, 3 HR, 5 RBI, 2 SB, .500 average, .552 on base
Starter: Chris Capuano, 9 IP, 1 win, 13 K, 0.00 ERA, 0.22 WHIP
Reliever: Francisco Cordero, 4 IP, 1 win, 3 saves, 3 K, 0 holds, 2.25 ERA, 0.75 WHIP

Fantasy Baseball All-Stars week 20

Some second tier teams have probably locked up their bid to a playoff spot, while the last few teams fight for the remaining seeds. Here's who did well last week.

Catcher: Nick Hundley, 8 runs, 12 hits, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 0 SB, .500 average, .520 on base
First Base: Joey Votto, 6 runs, 8 hits, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 1 SB, .400 average, .556 on base
Second Base: Ben Zobrist, 4 runs, 11 hits, 0 HR, 4 RBI, 3 SB, .500 average, .520 on base
Third Base: Aramis Ramirez, 4 runs, 11 hits, 3 HR, 9 RBI, 0 SB, .500 average, .556 on base
Shortstop: Troy Tulowitzki, 6 runs, 8 hits, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 1 SB, .348 average, .385 on base
Outfield1: Peter Bourjos, 7 runs, 15 hits, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 2 SB, .500 average, .516 on base
Outfield2: Ryan Braun, 9 runs, 10 hits, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 4 SB, .400 average, .464 on base
Outfield3: Carlos Gonzalez, 6 runs, 8 hits, 3 HR, 11 RBI, 0 SB, .364 average, .462 on base
Utility: Ryan Zimmerman, 5 runs, 12 hits, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 0 SB, .500 average, .500 on base
Starter: Jon Lester, 13 IP, 2 wins, 11 K, 1.38 ERA, 0.85 WHIP
Reliever: Mariano Rivera, 3 IP, 3 saves, 5 K, 0 holds, 0.00 ERA, 0.00 WHIP

Good luck to everyone battling for a playoff position this week.

Sandwich Showdown XXXI

This week, we have a veteran against a rookie. The first sandwich was a Turkey on Italian. A rather simple sandwich enhanced with two sauces, it worked well with what it had. The bread helped keep the simplicity and also a nice variety of flavor. The opposing sandwich is the rookie Oven Crisp Chicken, currently featured for a limited time only. Also using two sauces, it turned out to be very flavorful. With toasted Herbs and Cheese bread, there was no lack of flavors. The edge here goes to the Turkey, but don't let that deter you from the Crisp Chicken, if it is available in your area.

Song of the Week XXXIII

This week, our song comes from Gavin Rossdale. The song is called This Is Happiness. The song is at a fairly fast-tempo to keep a good and strong rhythm. It possesses an aura of strength throughout, which in turn makes the message deeper. Throughout, it is mentioned what is positive to the singer, and ties into the title and theme of happiness. That's all for this week, and we'll run this again next week.

Fantasy Baseball All-Stars week 19

Another week of closing in on the playoffs. Here's the top players:

Catcher: A.J. Pierzynski, 1 run, 11 hits, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 0 SB, .611 average, .600 on base
First Base: Ryan Howard, 6 runs, 8 hits, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 0 SB, .400 average, .478 on base
Second Base: Dan Uggla, 6 runs, 10 hits, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 0 SB, .435 average, .483 on base
Third Base: Edwin Encarnacion, 4 runs, 9 hits, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 0 SB, .450 average, .560 on base
Shortstop: J.J. Hardy, 6 runs, 10 hits, 4 HR, 10 RBI, 0 SB, .323 average, .323 on base
Outfield1: Jay Bruce, 9 runs, 11 hits, 5 HR, 15 RBI, 0 SB, .440 average, .481 on base
Outfield2: Justin Upton, 8 runs, 13 hits, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 2 SB, .481 average, .517 on base
Outfield3: Curtis Granderson, 7 runs, 6 hits, 5 HR, 8 RBI, 0 SB, .300 average, .364 on base
Outfield4: Matt Kemp, 7 runs, 10 hits, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 3 SB, .385 average, .407 on base
Starter: Cliff Lee, 8 IP, 1 win, 10 K, 0.00 ERA, 0.75 WHIP
Reliever: Sergio Santos, 2.1 IP, 3 saves, 6 K, 0.00 ERA, 0.00 WHIP