April Owner Report Cards

Troy Balego
Activity: A-
Team Performance: C-
Message Board Contributions: D+
Health: B+
Luck: C-
MILB team: D
Troy has made his claim to fame in this league via trades. Troy has been a part of every trade in this league and is probably thinking about a potential trade right now. None of those trades were really that lopsided, but I do think Troy got the most value in all four. In my defense, I traded CC away and got great value since just about every owner is looking to acquire more hitting.
Troy’s team is just treading water right now despite Chase Utley, Andy Pettitte and Michael Bourn getting off to hot starts. On the flip side, Jason Bay, Brian McCann, and Adam Dunn are still waiting to have an impact.
Troy hasn’t been on the message board as much as I predicted, but I’m pretty sure that’s going to change from this moment forward.

Michael Carroll
Activity: B+
Team Performance: C
Message Board Contributions: A
Health: C
Luck: C
MILB team: C
I probably won’t disagree with anyone else more than Mike, but he is the unquestioned leader of the pack on the message board. Mike will let you know how he feels whether it is an idiotic point or not. Edwin Jackson?
Buchholz has been sticking it to AL lineups so far this year and has been the best pitcher on the Sox. Not to be outdone would be his AL East counter part, Matt Garza. Garza has been making Twins fans cringe every time he strikes out someone, or when Delmon Young even sets foot on the field. Carroll’s team has been scoring runs in bunches with guys like Braun, Pedoria, and Scott Podsednik touching plates more than Andruw Jones.
He’s going to need some of his high-upside guys to turn to come to fruition to have championship aspirations, but at least he will be on the message board saying they are going to breakout. Way to think positive!

Todd Chapman/Matt Russo
Activity: B
Team Performance: A
Message Board Contributions: B-
Health: A+
Luck: C+
MILB team: C
There’s really no argument that FWDL is the class of the league. That is until you look at the stats where they’re in the bottom third in two of the most highly coveted cats in the league: runs and bombs. They do lead the league in RBI and come in a second with wins and saves. T&M vaulted in the standings thanks largely in part to the 9-1 drubbing they put on Shane in week two.
Just imagine if Mark Teixeira could actually crack .200. As it stands right now, Big Tex is the biggest bust in the draft. He is currently riding the I-130 with a disgusting batting average (I-130 runs through Texas).
FWDL hasn’t really caught a snag, so it’s only a matter a time. This balanced team should be a force for the rest of the season.

Shane Cornelius
Activity: D
Team Performance: C-
Message Board Contributions: D
Health: D
Luck: C
MILB team: A
Shane was able to endure what seemed to be a crippling 9-1 blow a couple weeks ago by rebounding for a nice 8-2 W. I’m pretty sure Shane was blasting “Go Cubs Go” all Sunday night in celebration. He really hasn’t had much to celebrate by being in the lower half in all of the hitting categories outside of homers and a couple pitching cats. He is currently second in bombs (behind me) and he has the best pitcher on the planet. Tim Lincecum looks even better than last year and is poised to win the Cy Young for a third time.
Shane’s staff has been floundering a bit with guys like Lester and Baker yet to hit their strides. Unfortunately, Jorge De La Soula and Brett Anderson have hit the DL leaving Shane with a huge hole in his rotation. On the bright side, David Price looks to be a legit stud for him.
Shane’s AAA team has been improving thanks to the likes of Starlin Castro and Carlos Santana. Santana is probably the most valuable piece in all of the MILB teams, but what does that mean for a hot-hitting Doumit?
Shane hasn’t been as active as I thought, but he is starting to turn it on now that he has recognized a half-ass effort will get you a 1-9 loss.

Islam Elnaggar
Activity: B+
Team Performance: A-
Message Board Contributions: B-
Health: A-
Luck: A+
MILB team: A
Oh, Islam. I had to give you an A+ on luck since you essentially ignored pitching and you’re sitting at the top of the WHIP and ERA rankings. I hope your luck runs out this weekend so I can attempt to hand you an 8-2 beating. Todd aptly rubbed the V-Mart pick right in Islam’s face for taking a solid catcher over the best pitcher I’ve seen in the last 10 years. How many plus-pitches can one guy have?
Islam dodged a huge bullet by getting Jose Reyes back just after one week. Reyes was projected to miss about a month when we drafted. Colby Rasmus has arguably been the best hitter pick that took place late in the draft. Meanwhile, V-Mart has basically been a waste of space for him.
Islam has been cracking me up on the smack board all season and I can’t get enough of the Todd-Islam rivalry.

Dan Gallagher
Activity: F
Team Performance: D
Message Board Contributions: F
Health: B+
Luck: B
MILB team: B
I’m not even sure Dan is going to be able to read this since he has been the least active manager in our beloved fantasy league. Dan has made a whopping three moves this season (I have 77). He also hasn’t made any posts on the message board.
His team has been doing plenty of talking with guys like Miguel Cabrera and Robbie Cano absolutely murdering the baseball. Austin Jackson looks legit and he really doesn’t have one hitter than is underperforming.
His staff does need some work though. Josh Beckett is picking up where he left off with a 7.22 ERA, Vazquez is sporting a 9.00 ERA, and Matt Cain doesn’t have a win.
Much to the surprise of many, Dan had a pretty good draft. He just needs to do some work in order to compete in this league.

Matt Gallagher
Activity: B
Team Performance: C
Message Board Contributions: C+
Health: C
Luck: D
MILB team: A
There’s no doubt that Matt’s MILB team is the most stacked with upside. Everyone knows that Buster Posey is legit, but Matt’s two pitchers have been dealing in AAA. Jake Arrieta is the best pitcher down on the farm and Jeremy Hellikson is an injury away from becoming a part of the Tampa Bay rotation.
Matt went pitcher-heavy in the draft and none of those studs have really lived up to the billing. Ichrioson, Franklin Guttierez, and Jason Heyward have been off to hot starts for him. Matt’s early picks have panned out (Kemp and Wright).
Matt hasn’t been on the message board as much as everyone else, but he has been contributing enough to make a splash. Why oh why did I cut Mike Pelfrey?

Jamaal Gilbert
Activity: B-
Team Performance: F
Message Board Contributions: B
Health: D
Luck: D
MILB team: C
Poor Jamaal. There’s no doubt that his team is the caboose on the Chameleon fantasy train. Jamaal is last in ERA, WHIP, and stolen bases. He isn’t in the top-four for any category and clearly needs some help.
Of course it doesn’t help when his second round pick makes his season debut on April 30 and his top pick his scuffling a bit.
Jamaal’s staff has been dealing with more problems than Santonio Holmes. He has a couple big names, but those big names have even bigger ERA and WHIP numbers. Cole Hamels (5.28, 1.47), John Lackey (5.09, 1.65), Rich Harden (4.56, 1.86), and Carlos Zambrano (6.85, 1.79).
It’s not all bad news as it looks like the trade for Roy Oswalt was a step in the right direction and Max Scherzer has shown an ability to get outs in the AL. Dan Uggla, Bobby Abreu, and Justin Morneau have also gotten the out the gate rather quickly.
Jamaal really has to make another deal for a pitcher to contend, but he is far from out of it despite a disastrous start.

Sean Richards
Activity: D-
Team Performance: B
Message Board Contributions: F
Health: D
Luck: C
MILB team: B
Sean really took the safe approach all draft long and it didn’t really hurt him very much. Surprisingly, he has a few hitting breakout on his roster led by Paul Konerko. Konerko? I would have been surprised if Paulie hit 11 bombs by the break let alone through April. Chase Headley (It’s Headley!!!!) and Jorge Cantu have started off well, too. His pitching breakout appears to be John Danks. Danks is in a groove and has great command of all his pitches.
Sean, like Dan, doesn’t have any posts in the message board. He also only has seven transactions on the season. I loved the Hangin’ With Maholmies name, but it’s always a gamble when you name your team after a guy that shouldn’t be owned (Matusz is a stud). Sean has a nice group of guys, but it’s going to take more than seven transactions per month to move up in the standings.