CBS Sports Fantasy Baseball Commissioner

The Counselor is IN:

CBS Sports Fantasy Baseball Commissioner is a business partner of this blog. If you are looking for Commissioner services, I suggest you check out CBS' excellent site. Here are a few reasons to examine CBS before going with someone else:

• CBSSports.com Commissioner has won the FSTA “Best League Manager” award a record 7 times

• Commissioner allows for customization of virtually every feature: draft date and style (online or offline), rosters, transactions, rules, scoring system and much more
  
  
• Includes advanced keeper league functionality
  

• Supports live auction drafting

• One of the most popular league managers around with more than 12 years of proven dependability

The Counselor is OUT:

Cassel: Chiefs' Royalty or Jester?

The Counselor is IN:

Last year QB Matt Cassel made the most out of his opportunities when Brady went down for the season. He was rewarded with a big contract this off season in the form of the franchise tag. The Kansas City Chiefs, being led by former Patriot Director and new GM Pioli, traded away the 34th pick in the draft for Cassel and Vrabel.

No one in Missouri is surprised by this trade. There have been rumors of a trade for Matt since Scott Pioli's name was mentioned with the GM job. Just the thought of Cassel landing in Kansas City has their fans buzzing with excitement.

This move has essentially benched QB Tyler Thigpen, who was playing fairly well at the end of the season. Thigpen was a decent fantasy starter in the last half of the 2008 fantasy football season. Matt Cassel had not started a game since high school at the time he took over for the injured Brady but he had a sensational season when given the opportunity.

The Chiefs fans are hoping that Cassel is really the football stud that he appeared to be last year. They have penned all of their hopes for the future on this young man. Many Kansas City fan believe that he can lead them to the promise land of a Super Bowl.

I am wondering if Cassel is as good as he looked last year for the Patriots or if he was just a product of the Patriots system. Why did he not start one game in College if he is really this good? I believe Matt will soon realize that life will be different playing for the Chiefs rather than the Patriots. The Patriots are a top tier team with an offensive line that can protect their quarterback. The Chiefs' O-Line has been in flux and has their share of challenges for this next year.

At this point, I do not know if Cassel will be Kansas City Royalty and the stud they believe he will be or if he was only a product of the Patriots and becomes yet another court jester that has stepped behind center for the Chiefs.

The Counselor is OUT:

Fantasy Baseball- 2nd Base National League Only

The Counselor is IN:

Here are my fantasy rankings for Second Base in National League Only.

Rank	Player		Team
1	Chase Utley		Phillies
2	Brandon Phillips		Reds
3	Kelly Johnson		Braves
4	Dan Uggla		Marlins
5	Rickie Weeks		Brewers
6	Mark DeRosa		Cubs
7	Freddy Sanchez		Pirates
8	Kazuo Matsui		Astros
9	Ronnie Belliard		Nationals
10	Orlando Hudson		Dodgers
11	Blake Dewitt		Dodgers
12	Felipe Lopez		D Backs
13	Luis Castillo		Mets
14	Anderson Hernandez		Nationals
15	Eugenio Velez		Giants
16	Jeff Baker		Rookies
17	Ray Durham		F/A
18	Mark Grudzielanek		F/A
19	Emilo Bonifacio		Marlins
20	Edgar Gonzalez		Padres
21	Aaron Miles		Cubs
22	Alberto Gonzalez		Nationals
23	David Eckstein		Padres
24	Emmanuel Burris		Giants
25	Mike Fontenot		Cubs
26	Kevin Frandsen		Giants
27	Jim Negrych		Pirates
28	Adam Kennedy		Cardinals
29	Mark Loretta		Dodgers
30	Clint Barmes		Rockies

The Counselor is OUT:

Fantasy Baseball- 2nd Base American League Only

The Counselor is IN:

Here are my fantasy rankings for Second Base in American League Only.

Rank	Player		Team
1	Dustin Pedroia		Red Sox
2	Ian Kinsler		Rangers
3	Alexei Ramirez		W. Sox
4	Brian Roberts		Orioles
5	Jose Lopez		Mariners
6	Robinson Cano		Yankees
7	Howie Kendrick		Angels
8	Alexi Castilla		Twins
9	Aaron Hil		Blue Jays
10	Placido Polanco		Tigers
11	Akinori Iwamura		Rays
12	Mark Ellis		A's
13	Alberto Callaspo		Royals
14	Asdrubal Cabrera		Indians
15	Brendan Harris		Twins
16	Luis Valbuena		Indians
17	Ray Durham		F/A
18	Marco Scutaro		B Jays
19	Mark Grudzielanek		F/A
20	Eric Patterson		A's
21	Joe Inglett		B Jays
22	Chris Getz		W. Sox
24	Josh Barfield		Indians
25	Brent Lillibridge		W. Sox

The Counselor is OUT:

Fantasy Baseball- 2nd Base Mix

The Counselor is IN:

Here are my fantasy rankings for Second Base in a Mixed League.

Rank	Player		Team
1	Dustin Pedroia		Red Sox
2	Ian Kinsler		Rangers
3	Chase Utley		Phillies
4	Alexei Ramirez		W. Sox
5	Brian Roberts		Orioles
6	Brandon Phillips		Reds
7	Jose Lopez		Mariners
8	Robinson Cano		Yankees
9	Kelly Johnson		Braves
10	Dan Uggla		Marlins
11	Rickie Weeks		Brewers
12	Howie Kendrick		Angels
13	Mark DeRosa		Cubs
14	Alexi Casilla		Twins
15	Freddy Sanchez		Pirates
16	Aaron Hil		Blue Jays
17	Kazuo Matsui		Astros
18	Placido Polanco		Tigers
19	Ronnie Belliard		Nationals
20	Orlando Hudson		Dodgers
21	Akinori Iwamura		Rays
22	Blake Dewitt		Dodgers
23	Mark Ellis		A's
24	Felipe Lopez		D Backs
25	Luis Castillo		Mets
26	Alberto Callaspo		Royals
27	Asdrubal Cabrera		Indians
28	Anderson Hernandez		Nationals
29	Eugenio Velez	`	Giants
30	Jeff Baker		Rookies
31	Brendan Harris		Twins
32	Luis Valbuena		Indians
33	Ray Durham		F/A
34	Marco Scutaro		B Jays
35	Mark Grudzielanek		F/A
36	Emilo Bonifacio		Marlins
37	Eric Patterson		A's
38	Joe Inglett		B Jays
39	Edgar Gonzalez		Padres
40	Juan Uribe		Giants
41	Chris Getz		W. Sox
42	Aaron Miles		Cubs
43	Alberto Gonzalez		Nationals
44	David Eckstein		Padres
45	Emmanuel Burris		Giants
46	Mike Fontenot		Cubs
47	Kevin Frandsen		Giants
48	Josh Barfield		Indians
49	Jim Negrych		Pirates
50	Adam Kennedy		Cardinals
51	Brent Lillibridge		W. Sox
52	Mark Loretta		Dodgers
53	Clint Barmes		Rockies

The Counselor is OUT:

Crabtree's left foot.

The Counselor is IN:

WR Michael Crabtree, great college Wide Receiver out of Texas Tech and a top NFL prospect, has a stress fracture in his left foot. This was discovered at the NFL Combine's physical. Crabtree was not planning on running the 40 yard dash at the NFL Combine because of recovering from an ankle injury. Reports early on Saturday stated that Crabtree will need surgery on his foot with a screw being placed in it. The surgery would translate into Crabtree not being able work out for teams and Crabtree already faced questions on his speed. Later in the day, Michael disputed this report. He told the press that he is not planning on having surgery on his left foot and "It has been there for about a year and it's never caused me any pain. I can play with it the rest of my life. It won't stop me from running. I'm going to run." (ESPN) These reports could cause Crabtree to fall out of the top 5 picks but GM's should hold off judgment until his pro day.

The NFL Network is still reporting that Crabtree will need surgery on his foot but it is a matter of when will he get it. It will remain to be seen if he choses to get it sooner rather than later. Crabtree does want to have his pro day to put to rest some of the questions about his speed. But he also needs to be fully healthy for minicamps with the team that will draft him. He will have a tough decision to make on when he will have surgery.


The Counselor is OUT:

32 Team Mock Draft GM Contest

The Counselor is IN:

The Fine Folks over at Sports Jabber are holding a 32 Team Mock Draft GM Contest. You can sign up for the mock draft and act as the GM for your favorite team, well if they are left. If your favorite is already taken, go ahead and your hands at drafting for another team. It is a Fantasy Football Off Season game. If you are good enough, maybe the Lions will ask you to draft for them this year. Below is their Promo for for this contest.

If you haven't already, please consider taking a team in our 32 Team Mock Draft GM Contest. We have 7 teams unselected at this point. If your home team is taken we are hoping you can help us out and take another team. This is YOUR chance to show you are a better GM than Matt Millen ;-) (SJ)

Chiefs
Broncos
Buccaneers
Falcons
Ravens
Colts
Panthers

The draft starts next Wednesday. It would be great to have the grid filled out by Saturday.... (SJ)

The Counselor is OUT:

Bleacher Report likes the Vick column

The Counselor is IN:

On Saturday, I posted an article on this blog entitled "How About Vick?" where I discussed how the Cowboys could use Michael Vick and my thoughts. I posted this article on Sports Jabber. It was picked up from Sports Jabber by the fine folks at Bleacher Report. Since that time, it has 1085 read on Bleacher Report. I am both shocked and excited about the response.

The Counselor is OUT:

Radio in Double Dose

The Counselor is IN:

Most of my readers know that I have been the regular Co-Host on Cowboys Pride Radio for some time. This Thursday night at 9:30 pm CST, I will get the opportunity to be the full fledge host. I will be setting the agenda and will be leading the discussions for an hour. Yes I will be discussing the Cowboys but I will also discuss Fantasy Baseball, AROD, NBA All Star Game, College Basketball, NFL Free Agency and the Draft, and much more.

I will also be a special guest on tomorrow night's Sports Jabber Radio. Sports Jabber is another great sports site. I will be discussing the in and outs of Fantasy Baseball.

I would like any of my readers that are interested, please come and listen in or call in and discuss the issues with us.

The Counselor is OUT:

How about Vick?

The Counselor is IN:

The Cowboys priority during this off season needs to be a quality backup quarterback. It would best to pick up a QB with experience and that could push Tony Romo. Doyle and I discussed this on the radio a few weeks ago. The issue will be a lack of quality backup quarterbacks on the market. It is doubtful that Warner or Collins will be allowed to be true free agents and I also doubt either will be interested in riding the bench behind Romo. Garcia may be the best option but he is unlikely to come to Dallas with Owens still on the roster.

While watching ESPN tonight, I found an interesting candidate. The Atlanta Falcons are attempting to find a trade partner for Michael Vick. It is doubtful that any team will be willing to give up a draft pick for this felon. I anticipate that Vick will be released from the Falcons.

Vick is a former starter and should be willing to sit the bench after serving time for his federal dog fighting conviction. He is a player that could push Romo if Tony struggles. If Vick still possess his athleticism and speed, the Boys might even institute the Wild Cat formation.

Vick will be looking to reform his reputation and the Boys might be able to put the right people around him to assist in this process. Jerry is looking to prove to his critics and he still can rehab the problem children of the league after the Pacman fiasco. This kind of deal could get done.

I think Vick might be able to come to Valley Ranch and help the Boys while the Boys help Vick. It makes a lot of sense if Jerry can arrange a deal where Vick will not receive any guaranteed money. It makes business sense and fits a need, but as a fan that would like to see this team jell and play like a team. I think Vick would be the wrong answer.

The Counselor is OUT: