Week 22 waivers

Garrett might have gotten kinda sorta hazed.  At least his girlfriend
still likes him.

Here's a shout out to all the new visitors to the blog with the addition of the folks from Commish Kyler's Fantasy Extravaganza (there might even be some football involved in that fantasy) of Spectacularly Awesome Gentlemen.  Already today there have been 84 page views, which is one of the most heavily visited days (and only 1 to 3 of those page views are from Poland) which has us creeping up on 4000 total views (and about 13 different countries).  Not bad for 6 months on our small, not so lonely corner of the blogosphere.  And to those of you who arent playing football with us, I still like you, dont ever change, and I'll pour one out for both you and your homies this weekend (crap - am I going to incite a yearbook signing fest in the comments again?  There are only so many longing letters that a man can write to Garrett Richards and only so many ways to say "I am sorry that your knee exploded. Keep in touch. BFFAE! Have a great summer!")  For those of you who may be sad that you werent included in the football funtimes, I have two things to say to you: 1) suck it up Sally, the world isnt an inclusive place. and 2) Blame Kyler.  I am pretty sure that Kyler asked the people who were most active on the Blog (me (obvi -- DOUBLE PARENTHETICAL!!!!!), and the Ambiguously Gay duo of John and Tom.  We asked Uncle Jimmy, but he couldnt figure out why people would run into each other without skates on and why no one was carrying a stick, so he passed), so if you werent axed, you have no one to blame but yourself.

Anyways, on to the extremely paltry transactions from week 22.  There was a trade, but, since it was clearly the most exciting thing about the moves this week, it is going to wait for last.

SP, RP Carlos Carrasco - $5 - Les Moles - Drop RP Grant Balfour

Who knew they had press conferences where they players take the jersey off
when they are released?

I am not going to lie.  Not only did I have no idea that Grant Balfour was still owned in out league, I had no idea that he was still pitching in the Bigs.  He has fallen so far down the pecking order in the TB bullpen, that I am fairly certain that Joe Madden is calling on Dennis Quaid before he calls on Balfour in a close game.  Balfour's 5.07/1.56 ratios will be missed by exactly no one.  Carrasco, on the other hand, was missed by everyone.  There is a lot to love about a dual position pitcher who has 2.94/1.06 ratios and 96 punchouts in 95 innings.  His last start, while not great on the WHIP, was spectacular in its linescore.  5 1/3 innings pitched, 1 ER, 1BB 10K 10H.  Basically, he struck out 2 batters in every inning and gave up 2 hits in every inning...but somehow managed to escape with only 1 run allowed.  He wont be Houdini every start, and logic says that those hits will cluster better than they did on that day, but Carrasco is on a role right now, having given up 1 run or fewer in each of his 5 turns since returning to the starting rotation.  Just what Tom needed, another starter who he can slot into a RP spot.

C Yan Gomes - $2 - Bob's ATers - Drop OF Alex Rios

This is Yan's EDate profile picture.  Bob has it bookmarked.

I've posted before about how Kyler and I email back and forth often during the day and how we change the subject line for shits and giggles.  Well, lately the subject has been "willyoubemykatiecouric." And I will Kyler...I will.  After dropping Gomes last week for Stephen Vogt, Bob realized that Yan is his Katie Couric (the 10 hits in the last 6 games for Gomes probably didnt hurt) and that Bob really couldnt function without Yan Gomes on his roster som/where.  I am not really sure what to say about Alex Rios.  He has been perfectly blah this year.  A 280/313/402 slash line with 17 stolen bases will keep a player rostered, but not get him much playing time in fantasy circles.  He has been injured on and off and been terribly unreliable in weekly leagues.  I am honestly surprised that the best team in the league rostered him for this long.

TRADE!!!!!!!!
UCCMA gets RP Koji Uehara, SP Jose Filthnandez
BySs gets 2b, 3b Matt Carpenter, SP Doug Fister, SP, RP Wade Davis

Matt Carpenter approves this trade.

This trade is brought to you by the number 2 and the letter Holy Shit.  After having won the Jose Fernandez waiver auction, Kyler was poised to carry the big Cuban into next year until Daniel Murphy's injury left him with no alternative at 2b heading into the playoffs (and the oh so appealing wire options of Brian Dozier, Kolton Wong, and Scooter Gennett...I was hoping for a Scooter sighting).  The trade gives Kyler a reliable 2b in Carpenter (though he is no Daniel Murphy), a dominating RP in Davis and insurance in Fister against Sonny Gray continuing to struggle (you can substitute Gerrit Cole, Tim Hudson or Henderson Alvarez in that sentence and it is just as valid...man that rotation is in rough shape with Darvish out and the young guys hitting a wall, Hudson remember he is 39372 years old and Henderson Alvarez turning back into Henderson Alvarez).  Jimmy, with the newly promoted Javier Baez gaining 2b eligibility and Mookie Betts with SS eligibility and a solid starting spot in CF in Boston for the time being, pounced on the chance.  The relievers and Fister just kind of fell into place.  The whole thing took less than a couple hours to come together (they were both texting me about it).  It is a bit surprising that Jim would trade away his starting 2b and two pitchers that he uses every week for a badly fading Koji Uehara (6.97/1.84 ratios over the last 30 days) and a Jose Fernandez who wont be healthy until 2015...right as we head into the playoffs that he will almost assuredly be a part of, but the opportunity to acquire a true front line SP at a reduced cost proved to be to much of an allure.  The combination of Fernandez, Scherzer and Tyson Ross should provide an excellent base for the rotation in 2015 (and I am just guessing on who he will keep, but I cant imagine he would not keep a guy he just traded for, last years AL Cy Young winner and one of the biggest break out pitchers in the NL this year).  Sorry Jim, I understand the rationale, but for this year the carrots go to Kyler. UCCMA < BySs