The Tampa Bay Lightning is finally getting some offense from someone besides Steven Stamkos.

It’s difficult to knock a guy for having 18 points in 19 games, but there have been plenty of people criticizing the play of Vincent Lecavalier. When you’re looked upon to pop in 50 goals each season, having just three at the quarter pole isn’t exactly going to justify a bazillion dollar contract. Still, Lecavalier’s Fantasy owners should take some solace in the fact that three of his last four goals came in the last two weeks (okay, that’s still a stretch). However, Tampa’s scoring is starting to spread around — it’s not just the Steven Stamkos show anymore. With more scoring depth coming through, that can only make things better for Lecavalier. Yes, you can put your first-round pick back in the lineup.

As for teammate Alex Tanguay, he was dead and buried not too long ago. Maybe he thought the season started in November because he’s a point-per-game so far this month. Hey, that’s kind of how he used to be all those years in Colorado, right? Since the Fantasy hockey world has pretty much forgotten Tanguay, he’s worth a gamble as he’s out of Rick Tocchet’s doghouse and back in top-six and power-play duty.

Let’s move even further south with a quick look at the Panthers. While Steven Reinprecht is leading Florida (3-2-1 in its last five) in scoring, he’s not the reason why the Panthers are putting up strong goal totals. Even with David Booth on the shelf, the Panthers are putting the puck in the net. The big catalyst for that? Check out old man Cory Stillman, who has 10 points in his last eight games. Oh, and he’s only got 13 points total — that’s a hot run.

Kristian Huselius missed about two weeks due to injury, but he’s come back strong. In three games since his return, he’s got three goals and three assists — and he’s pushed the Blue Jackets to wins in all of those games. Perhaps more importantly, Columbus tallied three or more goals in each of those, something the Jackets struggled mightily to do last year.

The Buffalo Sabres are one of the surprise stories early on this season, and Tim Connolly is a big reason why. The crafty centre has played all 18 games and is averaging close to a point-per-game. You may think that this means it’s safe to hold onto him for the long term, but the savvy thing to do is to move him while his value is at an all-time high. He’s the perfect support player for a major trade.

Sticking in Buffalo, maybe Thomas Vanek finally woke up. The $7-million man was beyond awful in October (just five points, or about $1.4 million per point) but has kicked things up in the past week, putting up five points in the past four games. Unfortunately, only one of those were goals, but any tally on the score sheet is better than none.

Speaking of hot weeks, it looks like ex-Sabre Maxim Afinogenov decided he was happy in Atlanta. Since last Friday’s tilt against Los Angeles, the man named after a men’s magazine has put up seven points in just three games. Toss in the game prior to the LA matchup, and Maxim’s riding a four-game goal streak.

Didn’t we tell you that Ryane Clowe was incredibly streaky? In October, Clowe put up four total points. So far in November, he’s had eight points in nine games. Not to get all mathematical on you, but Clowe’s had a history of performing like a sine wave — equal parts up and down. Look for him to hit one of his usual cold streaks soon, but you can move him while his value is up.

Looking to get points by osmosis? Phil Kessel’s had a successful start to his Maple Leaf career. Matt Stajan, he of the career-high 55 points last year, has been in on more than half of Kessel’s goals or assists. Gotta love it when a pure goal scorer elevates a career checker, huh?

No one’s really scoring much in Phoenix, but if you’re looking at riding a hot hand, streaky Radim Vrbata’s got four points in his past four games. That’s a lot for Phoenix’s standards. Vrbata’s one of the few Coyote forwards that offers some Fantasy value, but not in the way you might think. While the entire Phoenix team is struggling to put up goals, at least Vrbata’s trying as he’s in the top 20 in shots on goal.

News & Notes

For all those people who drafted Booth, you’re gonna have to wait a little longer as his concussion issues have forced him to stop exercising for the moment. Marc Savard is close to coming back to the lineup, and Atlanta sleeper pick Bryan Little returned this week. Who’s out? Brian Gionta, Ryan Smyth, Alex Goligoski, and Alexander Semin.

Even when he’s starting, Keith Bogans isn’t offering any Fantasy value.

Have you seen what’s going on in San Antonio with the perennial contender Spurs? Thursday night the Spurs dropped their third straight game to slip to 4-6 – the first time they’ve had a losing record through 10 games since 1996. But stranger yet, it was Utah that walked into the AT&T Center and emerged victorious, the first win for the Jazz in San Antonio in a decade – snapping a run of 20 straight losses.

In the second game of a back-to-back, San Antonio was missing both Manu Ginobili, who started at shooting guard Wednesday, and Tony Parker, who’s been out four of the past five games because of his nagging ankle injury.

With Ginobili out of action for another week or so because of his groin, it was Keith Bogans getting the start at the two guard. Uh, ya. May I suggest you do not stop reading this and go pick him up? Don’t do it. Please. Bogans has shown flurries of minimal value over the years, most recently coming off the Buck bench last season, but even as a starter in San Antonio, he’s just not getting it done.

Bogans did manage a season-high seven boards and three assists while adding a block despite playing in foul trouble, but he wasn’t exactly lighting it up. He’s actually shooting very well this season (50 per cent from the field), but simply isn’t getting enough touches for anyone to care. Besides, as a career 39.5 per cent shooter, his numbers can only go down from here, and he’s never been a rebounder. The Spurs really struggled with their perimeter game on Thursday, sinking just 4-of-20 from downtown, and Bogans did manage to play a big part in that, missing all three of his attempts from beyond the arc. There….see? He did do something after all.

Meanwhile, George Hill has been starting for Parker, but he’s struggling with his shot, sinking just 13-of-32 the past two games. Richard Jefferson shot better on Thursday, sinking 6-of-12, but with just 16 points, he didn’t exactly pick up the slack. How about getting a little aggressive, RJ? Eight trips to the line in the past three games? No wonder he’s struggling to put up points since arriving in San Antonio. This isn’t what the Spurs paid for, is it?

Another big free agent acquisition that hasn’t exactly paid dividends yet is Antonio McDyess. He’s shot the ball well this year, but is getting so few touches that no one has noticed. For instance, he’s drained 10-of-15 over the past three games. Obviously, five shots a game isn’t going to offer any Fantasy value.

Off the bench, Roger Mason is finally getting a bit of burn the past two games, and he showed some life Thursday, sinking 2-of-5 from 3-point range. It’s about time, dude. The normally excellent source of 3-balls has been ice cold this season, sinking just 23.5 per cent from downtown.

I’m sure no one is panicking in San Antonio. This team spun its wheels at the start of last season, yet still wound up winning 54 games and finishing first in their division.

Still, it is kind of weird to look at the Western Conference standings and see the Spurs sitting in 10th place, looking up at…the Thunder?

After bombing in Atlanta, could free agent Garret Anderson wind up with the Marlins?

With free agency beckoning, Garret Anderson didn’t do himself any favours with a substandard 2009 campaign. Then again, how much did we expect him to do? Other than a big July in which he looked like the Anderson of old, the veteran outfielder didn’t do much.

We already discussed his poor August performance, but compared to what he did in September, Anderson looked like a Silver Slugger in August. In the season’s final month he hit just .216 with a 571 OPS and only one homer, a showing that likely sealed his fate in Atlanta – if that wasn’t already decided anyways, with the Braves needing to clear up some space for uber rookie Jason Heyward.

After staying relatively healthy in 2008, Anderson missed time this year with a quad problem, and his extra-base pop has been waning for a couple of seasons now.

He’s 37 and, coming off a down year, will be a fairly cheap option for some team, although you’d think with his deteriorating range in the outfield, he’d be best served working as a DH back in the American League.

However, one NL club that might come calling is the Florida Marlins, who would love to shift ROY Chris Coughlan back to his natural position at second base. Anderson might be a good match there, providing a veteran presence to a young club without the usual high price that is associated with that kind of player.

From a Fantasy perspective, Anderson is at best an NL-only option, and even then, he’d likely be a fourth outfielder type for your team. At this point, that’s not likely to improve.

Intensity in Tent City… well, actually it’s more of a shanty town.

Before 2007, the Call of Duty series had always been grounded in pseudo-historic World War II lore, using the weapons and locales of that time period. But then, developer Infinity Ward went outside the box and brought things into the present with Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. Along with a superb and varied campaign, it also brought a new level of customization to the multiplayer experience. Even with the release of Call of Duty: World at War last year, Infinity Ward’s masterpiece still managed to remain among the most played online games week in and week out.

Amid incredible hype and anticipation, Activision and Infinity Ward released Modern Warfare 2 last week and, amazingly, it has managed to deliver a three-pronged assault on the gaming world that not only meets the lofty expectations that have been heaped on the sequel, but exceeds them.

Controls (5/5)

There haven’t been many changes to the Call of Duty control scheme over the years, and Modern Warfare 2 doesn’t see fit to rock the boat. Holding down the left trigger still looks down the sights and pressing the right trigger pops the caps. Your right bumper will throw frag grenades, while the left throws secondary ones (such as flash bangs). If you’re close enough to an enemy, you can click down on the right stick that you use to look around to unleash a fatal melee attack with your knife.

You’ll also be switching weapons (Y), reloading (X), jumping (A) and changing your position from standing to kneeling to prone (B). At times you will also have access to secondary functions of your weapon, gadgets like night vision or explosives. These will be mapped to the d-pad and accessed by pressing in the corresponding direction. There is also a couple of vehicular sequences, and while they don’t handle that great, the controls themselves are very straight forward.

It’s all standard fare for anyone that has any experience with first-person shooters, and it shouldn’t take long for things to become second nature even for newcomers.

Graphics/Sound (5/5)

Considering how strong the original offering was from a graphical standpoint, it’s pretty stunning just how much better things look in Modern Warfare 2. The settings feel more varied this time as you travel from the deserts of Afghanistan to snow covered mountains in Kazakhstan. You’ll fight through a crowded slum in an exhilarating urban warfare setting and find yourself under siege at a fast food joint in a typical American suburb. All of these areas are beautifully rendered with a ton of destructible objects that really help immerse you in your surroundings.

As good as the graphics look throughout the game, the post-EMP bomb level is simply jaw dropping. The basic setup is that during some heavy fighting, an electromagnetic pulse is detonated, knocking out all power and sending vehicles crashing to the ground. Making matters worse, you and your squad are advancing through a torrential downpour. Seeing the embers and smoldering debris floating through the air and mixing with the rainfall is quite a sight, and when the lightning cracks to illuminate previously unseen terrain and enemies it’s an incredible effect.

In addition to the environments, the character models are above reproach. Modern Warfare 2 never misses a chance to impress with all the cool gadgetry you, your squad mates and adversaries have in their possession. Not to mention the sweet body armour and camouflage everyone seems to be decked out in. The movements are also extremely natural as enemies dive to the ground and duck behind cover in a very fluid manner. It all works together so that you’re never taken out of the moment, which really serves to help ramp up the intensity.

Last, but certainly not least, are the guns. They have clearly been painstakingly recreated and look absolutely amazing. When you compare the detail work on every single gun in this game to what we’ve seen out of the relatively modest Halo 3 arsenal, it’s no contest. Particularly when you take into account the amount of online customization that can be done, which allows for literally hundreds of different combinations. With so many cool weapons available to wield, Modern Warfare 2 just makes you feel like a bad ass.

While the graphical enhancements may be more immediately noticeable, things have also been improved dramatically on the audio side. Where this is most evident is with the in-game chatter from your squad, who now call out actual enemy locations. For instance, you might be in a firefight and hear someone shout out, “Tango on the roof of the second story building!” You quickly check that location and there’s a hostile firing on you. The amount and variety of the chatter is impressive and legitimately useful, which is another new item that adds to the game’s immersive feel.

Modern Warfare 2 also features a great musical score that accompanies the action perfectly. The sound effects are spot on as well, lending a lot of satisfaction with the different types of gunfire and plenty of huge explosions. About the only area this game doesn’t shine is in the voice acting, which, while perfectly passable, just doesn’t feel like it’s been upgraded from the original. Of course, there isn’t really a fully realized story being told through cut scenes anyway so it’s a minor complaint.

There are two other items worth noting: First, the improvements aren’t limited to the campaign, as Modern Warfare 2 also offers an excellent looking and sounding multiplayer mode. Second, despite having areas that were crawling with enemies, gunfire, explosions, smoke billowing through the air and much more, I never detected any slow down. That’s pretty impressive.

Gameplay (4.75/5)

Anyone searching for the proverbial chink in the body armour of Modern Warfare 2 will find it in the campaign mode for two reasons. The biggest drawback for most gamers will likely be the length as the story; while encompassing three acts and 18 missions, it can be comfortably finished in five-to-six hours on the default difficulty setting. Those that adopt a highly aggressive approach and advance quickly through the levels should be able to come in under the five-hour mark. By current standards that isn’t particularly meaty, though upping the difficulty to hardened or veteran will stretch the experience a good couple of hours by virtue of the need to adopt a more deliberate pace to avoid constant death.

While complaints about the duration of the campaign may be justified, I would suggest that part of the reason for the abbreviated length is the sheer intensity of the fighting. Outside of the initial tutorial, Modern Warfare 2 careens along full-speed ahead and drops you into one white knuckle firefight after another. The stealth elements from the original haven’t been removed completely, but the majority of the game is all about extreme action sequences with no shortage of bullets whizzing by and explosions going off. Given that kind of sustained adrenaline kick, I think shorter actually works better.

The other gripe is the one I personally found a little disappointing, which is the limited amount of plot development or storytelling going on. The only way the story really advances is during the loading screens in between levels where you’re given pseudo briefings or dialogue to get you set for the next round. Plus, what storylines there are in the game seem pretty farfetched and poorly fleshed out. Instead it’s more about creating isolated surprise moments and finding ways to incorporate the cast of characters from Call of Duty 4 in the mix. While I would’ve loved to see a more cohesive and plausible back story in place, it ultimately doesn’t detract too much because of the heavy focus on action.

Even with a couple shortcomings, I found the single-player story to be a lot of fun. The story jumping around allows for a lot of interesting and diverse areas to fight in, and the improved squad and enemy A.I. is the best I’ve seen in the series. The developers also did me a huge personal favour and removed one of my biggest pet peeves — the infinitely re-spawning enemies. In past Call of Duty games you’d need to push forward or they’d just keeping coming, eliminating the option to methodically pick off adversaries before advancing. It wasn’t a big deal on lower difficulties, but it made veteran mode an exercise in frustration at times given how quickly you die. The addition of a waypoint that shows exactly where you need to go next is another nice feature as it keeps you moving forward.

In addition to the campaign, Modern Warfare 2 also offers a brand new game type called Special Ops, which is a series of 23 self-contained missions. Each one has three different difficulty levels to complete, which will earn you stars. Most of the missions can be played solo (a few are co-op only), but this new mode was obviously designed with two players in mind. This may not sound like much on the surface, but Special Ops is surprisingly addictive and adds a lot of replay value for those that like to team up rather than compete in traditional adversarial multiplayer.

You’ll start off with access to just a handful of missions and as you earn stars you’ll unlock more with each set getting progressively more difficult. There are a lot of different mission types incorporated, including being asked to do things like defend a position, sneak past patrolling guards en route to an extraction point or race on snowmobiles. Many of the locations are directly from the campaign, but there are some unique ones, and fans of Call of Duty 4 will even find a familiar favourite recreated. I found the ones that required one player to advance on foot while the other covered from the air to be among the most enjoyable, as they really promoted teamwork and communication.

Amazingly enough, the campaign and Special Ops modes are reduced to undercard performers in the overall package Modern Warfare 2 delivers with online multiplayer earning main event status. It has raised the bar in virtually every respect from Call of Duty 4, featuring vastly improved graphics, larger and better designed maps, enhanced balancing and an insane amount of customizable options.

Of the improvements, the balancing is the most welcome as it helps make the game accessible to any level of gamer, which is something I’ve disliked about the past two Call of Duty releases. In those games, all the best weapons belonged to those who had played the longest, creating a virtual mismatch for newcomers. This time around the default classes pack a serious punch, and the maps are designed to dissuade some of the cheaper tactics. It’s made a huge difference.

In terms of customization, the sky is the limit. You start with a small number of guns and then by completing challenges and increasing your rank you unlock more. Each weapon has its own set of goals to meet, such as getting a certain number of headshots. Once you reach that number you’ll unlock a new camouflage pattern for that gun. Killing will also unlock attachments, such as a grenade launcher or silencer. Equip these items to complete their challenge and open up even more options. When you consider there are 23 primary weapons and 19 secondary weapons, each with multiple levels of these various challenges, you get a feel for how much your arsenal can be tailored to your style of play.

The game also features perks, which operate as passive abilities such as deeper bullet penetration or faster reloading, and this time around they’ve got their own challenges. Complete these and you’ll be rewarded with a more effective version of that perk. Modern Warfare 2 even allows players to change when and what they earn for consecutive kills (called kill streaks), by giving the ability to pick three options. For example, you can choose to have your kill streak rewards give you a supply drop at four kills in a row, a Harrier strike at seven and an EMP blast at 15. It’s just another way the strategy and customization levels have been ramped up. Given all the improvements, this is arguably the finest multiplayer shooter I’ve ever played.

For those exceedingly passionate about the game, Modern Warfare 2 is also available in both Hardened and Prestige editions. The Hardened version comes with a limited edition case, art book and download token for Call of Duty Classic, which is a full game featuring 24 missions and online multiplayer. The Prestige edition comes with all those things plus a sweet pair of actual working night vision goggles and a plastic bust of in-game character Soap McTavish.

Overall (5/5)

While you can nitpick about an issue here or there in Modern Warfare 2, the overall package undeniably delivers the goods with an intense single-player campaign, a great co-operative experience in Special Ops and a truly inspired online multiplayer. If you enjoy shooters in the slightest, this is a game you absolutely must own.

Too many Fred Lewis types doomed the Giants in 2009.

We’re back with more of our look at the 2009 San Francisco Giants. You find our previous segments here: Part I and Part II.

In our previous parts, we focused on the pathetic nature of the Giants’ offense, and yet another reason for the weak attack was outfielder Fred Lewis, who all played his way out of being an everyday player. Lewis enjoyed a fine 2008 campaign – his first as a full-time big leaguer. But after a strong April, things went downhill quickly for Lewis, and by July, Nate Schierholtz more or less took his PT away.

Overall, Lewis was incredibly unproductive this season, and what modest pop he flashed last year disappeared. The big problem was he simply couldn’t hit lefties (.164 BA), so he was better down the stretch (786 OPS after the break) as a part-time player when he was not exposed to southpaws. And he put up that decent second half despite an absolutely crap September. The Giants are expected to try to lure a free agent outfielder this winter, and that could leave Lewis out in the cold. He may still bounce back, but so far, he’s been a big disappointment.

Speaking of disappointments, if you’re a Giants’ fan, it’s hard not to be upset at the relative lack of return the team has received from the ridiculously ill-conceived seven-year, $126-million contract that they gave Barry Zito in December 2006 – at the time, the largest deal ever doled out to a pitcher. Obviously, given that he’s the team’s highest paid player on a mid-market team, it’s reasonable to expect some pretty amazing results, the type of which have yet to transpire. However, let’s be fair here: after bottoming out in 2008, Zito actually did make a lot of progress this season.

On July 12, he suffered his worst bitchslapping of the season, and in fact, the worst since he’s arrived in San Francisco – eliciting plenty of well-deserved boos as he departed after surrendering 10 hits and nine earned runs in just 4 1/3 IP. It was just the third time in Zito’s career he had given up nine runs or more in a game.

The thing is, from that moment on, Zito was a different pitcher. Check out his game log for the final 15 starts of the season to see what I mean. He managed to trim his ERA by almost a full run over this stretch – the most consistent run he’s had as a Giant yet. Could he be ready to return to ace status, or at least be a top-of-the-rotation type in 2010? A revitalized Zito would give the already busting-at-the-seams-with-talent Giant rotation yet another weapon.

If this team’s hitting improves by even 20 or 30 points of OPS – look out. They’ll be almost assured of reaching the postseason for the first time since 2003.

In previous parts, we’ve already mentioned how this team’s offense would have been completely lost without Pablo Sandoval, but it’s worth discussing his 2009 a bit more, especially considering he was pretty much the only must-own hitter on the team, from a Fantasy perspective. The 25 dingers were impressive, but when you combine that with the NL’s second-highest batting average, sixth-best slugging percentage and seventh-highest OPS, you’ve got yourself a monster. Just 23, Sandoval has plenty of upside – which is a scary thought for opposing NL pitchers.

On the flipside, the progress that Kevin Frandsen showed back in 2007 has completely gone by the wayside. Sure, he lost virtually the entire 2008 season to injury, but it’s hard to believe that as recently as Spring Training 2009, he was still very much in competition for a starting job. Not only did Frandsen not win the job, but he didn’t even make the team out of Spring Training. Well, at least he stayed healthy, because there’s not much else you can say about his 2009.

In multiple stints with the Giants, Frandsen couldn’t hit his way out of a paper bag, batting .140 with a 384 OPS for 50 at bats. And down at Triple-A, it wasn’t as if he was crushing the ball. He was somewhat productive in the minors, but he only hit .295 – not bad by any means, but the first time he’s been under .307 in any Triple-A stint (keep in mind that we’re talking about a player who has a career BA in the minors of almost .320). Again, the 790 OPS was decent, but didn’t exactly scream “bring me up, I’m ready to bitch slap major league pitchers.” Frandsen is still just 27 and he’s headed to Puerto Rico this winter to improve his game, so he still may settle in as a utility infield type, but I suspect his days of being an intriguing Fantasy option have disappeared ever since his injury.

Clearly, the offense needs addressing this offseason. But with that overabundance of pitching, there are plenty of trade chips here for the team to lure a big stick from someone. Jonathan Sanchez, for instance, with three more years to go before he can become a free agent, would be an ideal part of a package to help land a masher. Currently penciled in as the No. 4 starter in the rotation, Sanchez could be a lot more valuable to a pitching-weak club. How about trying to pry Shin-Soo Choo away from the Indians using Sanchez as the bait? What about Josh Willingham from Washington? He’s a player rumoured to be on the market. Surely, Sanchez could bring in a hitter who can make a difference in this lineup, either in a one-for-one deal, of if San Francisco is feeling very ambitious, as part of a package for a really big fish.

But it’s probably going to take more than adding a big hitter to turn the Giants into an offensive force, or even a middling attack – which would be a massive improvement. This team needs to count on some organic growth from some of their young hitters, a few of which are on the cusp this season as far as finding out if they’re legitimate major leaguers or Quad-A types.

One of those is first baseman Travis Ishikawa. He’s 26 and coming off his first full-time season in the bigs, but we’re not seeing the offensive development we had hoped for. He got hot in mid-summer, earning a Wire Troll recommendation in early July, and that proved to be a good call as Ishikawa continued to hit well in July, batting .300. Unfortunately, he slumped in August before bouncing back somewhat in September. Still, it was a disappointing year for this defensively lauded fielder, as his extra-base pop was unacceptable for a corner infielder. Ishikawa’s walk rate dipped as well, but while his lefty-righty platoon splits weren’t bad, perhaps the Giants should have been employing a home-road platoon on this dude. He hit .349 with a 935 OPS at AT&T Park, but the Mr. Hyde act on the road was shocking as he managed just a .162 BA and 471 OPS away from home.

More telling, Ishikawa’s 659 OPS after the break suggests to me that his job shouldn’t be guaranteed in 2010 by any stretch of the imagination. New hitting coach Hensley Meulens has already started working with Ishikawa, among others, as he looks to help some of these bubble big leaguers achieve their potential. A big step forward from Ishikawa in 2010 would be a huge bonus for the Giants.

Josh Karp topped out at Triple-A for the Expos/Nats, making him a colossal bust as the sixth overall pick in 2001.

It’s been a couple of years since we’ve done an edition of our MLB Draft Review series. When we last left off, RotoRob had started previewing the 2001 draft, the first part of which you can find here. Over the next few parts of this series, I’ll be previewing the rest of this draft through the first round as well as looking at some other notables that came out of that class.

We’ll pick right up where we left off at the sixth pick in the draft.

6. Josh Karp, RHP, Montreal Expos

The Skinny: Karp was a hard-throwing righty who left his mark on the UCLA record book ranking fifth in wins and sixth in strikeouts after three seasons with the Bruins. Sporting a fastball that consistently reached the mid-90s, along with a plus curveball and changeup, Karp looked like a nice pick at six. Unfortunately, his stuff never translated into professional success. His first year of pro ball was solid as he split time between High-A and Double-A and looked to be on the fast track to the Expo rotation. However, Karp never again experienced professional success after that first year. He struggled with his control and never learned to use his three-pitch arsenal to his advantage. By 2006, he was out of baseball because of arm problems.

Strengths: Three plus pitches, including a fastball consistently in the mid-90s.

Weaknesses: Pitch location and selection and over reliance on his change up. Scouts also questioned his mental toughness and makeup.

Final Analysis: Karp’s failure became even more painful after then-General Manager Omar Minaya gutted the Expos system of Cliff Lee, Grady Sizemore and Brandon Phillips to obtain Bartolo Colon. The Expos soon became the Nationals and have suffered from bad drafts and poor management to become the Major League’s worst team in 2009.

7. Chris Smith, LHP, Baltimore Orioles

The Skinny: Smith signed with the Orioles almost immediately after they drafted him out of Cumberland University, but he didn’t make his professional debut until several weeks later. In 2006, Smith claimed that an Oriole trainer injured him during a workout, pretty much derailing his career before had a chance to get started. Before the injury, Smith sported a 90 mph fastball. Afterwards, he was wild, walking 21 batters in 11 innings in 2002 before being shut down. Smith missed 2003 and most of 2004 with a shoulder injury. In 2005, he was released by the Os and tried his hand at Independent ball with no success. By 2006, his career was over.

Strengths: Smith was a lefty with a 90 mph fastball, always a coveted commodity.

Weaknesses: Wildness. This may have been a result of his injury, but nevertheless, Smith had trouble finding the plate during his pro career.

Final Analysis: After it became evident that local boys Mark Teixeira and Gavin Floyd wouldn’t be around for the Orioles at number seven, the team more than likely agreed to a pre-draft deal with Smith. It was money they might as well have flushed down the toilet as Smith gave them absolutely no return on their investment. The Smith pick was just another in a long line of first round failures for the Orioles and part of the reason they have failed to keep pace with division rivals, New York, Boston and Tampa, teams that have drafted well. Having said that, the Orioles have shown some improvement in this area in the later part of this decade, so we’ll see how that plays out.

8. John VanBenchoten, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates

The Skinny: The Pirates shocked everyone when they selected VanBenchoten as a pitcher out of Kent State. The righty was the Golden Eagles’ closer, but was more highly regarded for hit bat. He led Division I with 31 homers in his junior year and most teams viewed him as a prototypical right fielder. VanBenchoten made the Pirates look good early though as he rose steadily through the minor league system, pitching in the 2003 Futures Game, before making his big league debut in 2004. Unfortunately, his career was derailed in 2005 when he went under the knife to repair torn labrums in both arms and a torn rotator cuff in his left (non-pitching) arm. In limited chances in 2007 and 2008, VanBenchoten couldn’t duplicate his minor league success with the major league club, recording a 9.20 ERA in 26 games, 19 of them starts. He became a free agent after the 2008 season and signed with the Chicago White Sox, for whom he was ineffective in a swingman role for their Triple-A club.

Strengths: A 90 MPH fastball and a plus curve. He also has a change up and slider in his arsenal.

Weaknesses: VanBenchoten mostly pitched as a reliever at Kent State, so stamina was a big deal as the Pirates tried to make him a starter. His delivery had a tendency to be inconsistent.

Final Analysis: VanBenchoten might eventually make it as a long reliever in the majors, but more than likely he’ll just be organizational depth. He follows a long line of Pirate first rounders that haven’t made a big league impact. Pittsburgh hasn’t had a winning season since Barry Bonds left town years ago and the farm system hasn’t produced an impact player since. One might wonder, however, how VanBenchoten’s career might have gone if he had been selected as a position player. Rick Ankiel, anyone?

9. Colt Griffin, RHP, Kansas City Royals

The Skinny: Scouts were mesmerized by Griffin when he became the first high school pitcher to hit 100 mph. Blinded by the velocity, scouts ignored the other factors in Griffin’s game, most notably that he couldn’t pitch worth a lick. It didn’t matter as the Royals grabbed him with the ninth pick hoping they could tame this wild Colt. Despite his blazing fastball and a plus slider, Griffin couldn’t find the strike zone. He led the minors in walks in 2003 while uncorking 23 wild pitches. Coaches worked to tone down his violent delivery and Griffin dialed down his velocity in order to gain more control. He topped out at Double-A in 2005 and underwent major shoulder surgery. Griffin decided to retire rather than try to come back.

Strengths: Duh! A 100 mph fastball. He also had a good slider.

Weaknesses: Control. The kid had none, averaging a shocking 6.9 walks per nine innings in his five seasons in the minors.

Final Analysis: Griffin was the ultimate boom or bust player. Salivating over his heater, teams ignored every other aspect of his game and hoped to catch lightning in a bottle. Griffin’s unwillingness to attempt a comeback from shoulder surgery says much about his desire. He just took his $1.85 million signing bonus and went home. Griffin was the fifth straight pitcher the Royals picked in the first round, none of whom ever fulfilled their promise. Not a single one made it as starters and thus crippled the low-budget Royals’ chance to assemble a talented homegrown rotation. It’s worth noting from a timely perspective, that Baseball America writer Jim Callis, in a recent chat, uttered Griffin’s name when making a comparison of the skill set of current hyped prospect Aroldis Chapman. Just some food for thought for you when considering the Cuban this spring.

10. Chris Burke, ss, Houston Astros

The Skinny: An All-American out of Tennessee, Burke looked like he was going to be a future table setter for a long time for the Astros. In the minors, he showed the ability to get on base and steal one if necessary. Although he started out as a shortstop, Burke lacked the arm to stay there and moved over to second. He made the Astros’ Opening Day roster in 2005, but got demoted after a month. Burke was recalled in June and split time between 2B and the outfield, hitting only .248. The highlight of Burke’s career came in the divisional playoff series against the Atlanta Braves when he hit a series ending home run in the 18th inning to propel the Astros into the next round against the St. Louis Cardinals. Burke received a little more than 300 at bats in each of the next two seasons, but failed to win consistent playing time. He was eventually traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2008 in the deal the netted the Astros Jose Valverde. Burke was little more than a utility player with the D-Backs and was non-tendered after the season. He wound up in the Padre system, but was traded to Seattle in Spring Training earlier this year. Less than a month later, San Diego reacquired Burke, but he was completely ineffective in a part-time role and outrighted to Triple-A in June. He refused the assignment and wound up signing a minor league deal with the Braves and spent the rest of 2009 toiling for their Triple-A team, putting up a .285/.351/.401 line in 274 at bats.

Strengths: Burke is a good athlete with speed. He showed a solid bat in the minors, with a career OPS of 786.

Weaknesses: Burke lacked the arm strength to stick at shortstop. He was also unable to adapt to major league pitching, recording a career OPS of 674 in parts of six seasons.

Final Analysis: Now 29, Burke is little more than a backup utility player at this stage in his career. He can play 2B and SS as well as in the outfield if needed. Burke can offer some speed off a Major League bench, but has really done nothing to show he has much value with the bat. His early minor league career suggested he could be a solid MLB lead-off hitter (at Triple-A in 2004, for instance, he had a . 396 OBP with 37 steals), but that never happened. Whether it was a lack of ability or lack of consistent at bats, we’ll probably never know. What we do know is that when Burke has been giving opportunities, he hasn’t taken advantage of them. As the Astros have long drafted near the bottom of the first round, failing with a top 10 pick hurts, especially considering Houston hasn’t drafted well at all. Their lack of minor league talent is evident as the Astros sink into second division status.

We can’t recommend Marco Sturm for your Fantasy ping pong team, but for your hockey squad? Go for it.

There are only 10 days until American Thanksgiving (well at Press Time, anyway). This week’s Wire Troll is a shortened, flu-ridden edition. I promise that what I type will not make you sick. Typing words from a keyboard here will not get you sick there. However, if you do not start picking up some of these guys to help overcome your injuries, you may feel more and more ill as time goes on.

You can think of it this way: there are always the glue guys or the “stuffing.” With mounting injuries this season, the waiver wires are now getting harder and harder to troll. So we found four players that could be worth taking a look at in your league. Our finds are based on Fantrax, Yahoo!, and ESPN leagues this week.

Our Stuffers

Marco Sturm, LW, Boston Bruins: He is available in most Yahoo! leagues, but not Fantrax or ESPN, however, the key is he is getting more and more ice time with each game. Sturm has averaged nearly 18 minutes a night in the last six games and that alone helps in the ATOI (Average Time On Ice) category that plagues so many. The points will come for Sturm, who is still finding his way a bit. Do not be alarmed by the mere two points he’s managed in the last five games either. The key is looking ahead and Boston plays a “meatier” schedule in the next month chalk full of Fantasy opportunity for a guy like Sturm. So far he has been healthy and — knock on wood — hopefully he stays that way.

Niklas Hagman, LW, Toronto Maple Leafs: I know some owners are dropping him, but keep the faith. Four of his six goals are on the Power Play, so when Toronto gets PP chances, Hagman should start converting them. Also, the shots are definitely there at 49. I understand that other than the hat trick against Anaheim. he has not done much. But Hagman has potential and with guys like Phil Kessel as teammates, that potential could quickly turn into reality. Do you really want to miss the boat? I sure don’t. In some leagues, I learned that the hard way with guys like Dustin Penner and Tomas Kaberle that you do not wait around when the opportunity presents itself even if you go wrong with it.

Andy Greene, D, New Jersey Devils: Is this a homer alert type pick? No. Greene is only owned in 8-10 per cent in most leagues, yet he gets No. 1 or 2 type ice time for defensemen. That in itself is a stuffer you can use on your roster to rack up some points here and there plus some big ATOI numbers. It’s a no brainer. Add in the nine points he has, which leads Devil defensemen, and you really do have the makings of a feel good Fantasy hockey story from New Jersey not involving Patrik Elias, Zach Parise or Rob Niedermayer. Greene plays the game right and is a class act. He really has come a long way from his earlier stints with New Jersey. Pick him up today while you can.

Marek Svatos, RW, Colorado Avalanche: On the surface, Colorado was due for a bit of a reality check. After a shockingly good start, the team has struggled to a 2-4-1 mark over its past seven games. But the strange thing is that during this stretch, Svatos has finally woken up. Three goals and one assist in his last five games has Fantasy owners hoping for a season like he had when he potted 32 goals in 2005-06. That season wasn’t a fluke (don’t forget he also scored 26 times in 2007-08). The simple reality is that if Svatos shoots, he can score (one goal for every seven shots on goal). The two keys for him will always be shot selection and health. The talent is there and the fact that he’s owned in less than 5 per cent of leagues screams pick him up. Do it now before Colorado starts turning it around again.

Next week we will bring the turkey and all the trimmings with a special Thanksgiving themed edition of The Wire Troll. Until then, may all your Fantasy hockey ventures be successful this coming week.

You need to keep an eye on Ersan Ilyasova (right).

All the talk today is on what rookie Brandon Jennings did Saturday as Milwaukee rebounded to outlast Golden State in a good old fashioned shootout.

But one Buck I’ve had my eye on all year is Ersan Ilyasova. He didn’t get a lot of burn Saturday as the Bucks went small against the run-and-gun Warriors, yet he still managed to go a perfect 5-for-5 from the line while scoring nine points with four boards and a block off the bench. Not bad considering how little he played.

Ilyasova is battling starter Richard Luc Mbah a Moute for minutes at SF, with Carlos Delfino and Joe Alexander also in the mix. Alexander, of course, is out for several more weeks with a hamstring injury, while Delfino took a DNP-CD Saturday.

I really think Ilyasova could be a serious producer given more PT. On Wednesday, he put up 17 points, eight boards and two blocks off the bench. The game before that, he pulled down 13 rebounds.

I’m not recommending picking him up yet, unless your league is quite deep, but Ilyasova should be on your watch list. There’s tremendous upside here.

Game of the Night

Toronto @ Phoenix

If that Buck-Warrior game was a shootout, what the hell will this one be? Bring out your marginal Fantasy players for this game…there’s going to be some serious fireworks.

Consider that the Raptors are 5-4 yet have one of the worst defenses in the league, having surrendered 106.4 PPG. That tells you how much they’re scoring this year. And we all know that the Suns can light it up every night.

If Toronto is going to avoid dropping back to .500, however, it will have to end a seriously sick skid against Phoenix. The Raps have dropped 10 straight against the Suns, a fact that must make current Toronto GM (and ex-Sun head man) Bryan Colangelo fly into a rage. Come to think of it, he sort of always looks like he’s about to lose it.

Chris Bosh is again da man for the Dinos. He’s making an early case for a fifth All-Star appearance with 28 points and 11.8 RPG per game, both career highs. Uh, can you say contract year? On Friday, Bosh only got to the line eight times – the first time all season that he hasn’t reached double digits in trips to the charity stripe, a fantastic indication that he’s being extremely aggressive in the early going.

How about that 6-for-6 performance from beyond the arc so far? Bosh tied his career high with a dozen treys last season, and he’s already halfway there. If this truly is becoming a bigger part of his arsenal, Bosh may be ready to take the next step and join the truly elite players of the game.

Even though he’s just a smidgen taller than the commish, Darren Collison needs to be picked up with CP3 ailing.

Welcome to Week Four of The Wire Troll, our weekly look at the ins and outs of working your Fantasy league waiver wire. This week, those ins and outs abound: Let’s look at who’s in, who’s out and who’s back.

The big news of the week concerns Fantasy uber-guard Chris Paul, who sprained his ankle Friday night and is expected to miss at least a week of action – though I’ve seen estimates of up to a month. There’s no way to know for sure at this point, but stop reading right now and go pick up Darren Collison, who figures to take over at point guard while CP3 is sidelined. Go ahead, do it…I’ll wait.

In other news, Golden State coach Don Nelson is rumoured to be on his way out, and the axe could reportedly fall as early as this week. Nellie’s lineup Tilt-A-Whirl has long been the bane of Fantasy owners everywhere, and if he departs many things stand to change in Golden State. Stay tuned.

Orlando Magic forward Rashard Lewis returns from his 10-game suspension on Monday, so it should be safe to activate him in weekly leagues. Coach Stan Van Gundy has made no secret of the fact that Lewis will step right back into the starting lineup when he returns. Washington Wizards Antawn Jamison and Mike Miller are scheduled to return from shoulder injuries, but both should be expected to show signs of rust, making them riskier plays in weekly leagues.

Four game weeks: ATL, CHA, CLE, DET, HOU, IND, MIA, MIL, NO, OKC, ORL, POR, TOR

Two-game week: MIN

CENTRES

Brendan Haywood, Washington Wizards: We recommended Haywood two weeks ago, but he’s still available in roughly one-third of all Yahoo! leagues and about three-quarters of ESPN groups. His numbers might slip slightly when Jamison returns, but he was still averaging a double-double and over two blocks per game as of November 14. Grab him if he’s still available.

Marreese Speights, Philadelphia 76ers: Elton Brand continues to struggle with adapting to the Philly offense, and Speights has been the beneficiary of that saga. Through nine games, Speights’ average line stood at 13.8/6.9 with 1.0 block in 24 minutes per game, while Brand has posted 9.7/5.2/0.7 in 26-plus minutes. Speights’ play should have him on your roster in larger leagues, and at least on the radar screen in medium-sized formats.

Ben Wallace, Detroit Pistons: No, this isn’t the NBA Seniors Division Report — Wallace has awakened the echoes of bygone days this season, averaging 9.5 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 1.5 steals through eight games. He looks like the Big Ben of old (minus the hair), but just like Old School Ben, New School Ben can’t score a lick (only 3.1 PPG). If you’re set with points but lacking for boards, blocks and steals, turn back the clock and look to Big Ben in your hour of need.

FORWARDS

Carl Landry, Houston Rockets: Landry was featured in our first Wire Troll of the season, but despite averaging 14.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.1 blocks through nine games he is owned in only about half of Yahoo! leagues. He has picked it up a bit in November, posting 15.3/5.3/1.3 through his first six games.

Kelenna Azubuike, Golden State Warriors: With all the tumult in Golden State, Azubuike just keeps rolling along, averaging 15.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.2 treys and 1.2 blocks through six games in November. He generally stays on the court through most of Nellie’s line-up tinkering, making him a rare “safe” Warrior option for Fantasy owners.

Mike Miller, Washington Wizards: Before going down with a shoulder sprain November 4, Miller was averaging 8.4 points, 8.2 boards, 3.2 assists, 1.2 treys and 1.4 steals per game. Talk about filling up the box score. Many owners panicked when Double M hit the shelf, and he’s currently owned in about half of Yahoo! leagues. Miller is scheduled to return this week, and his skill as a facilitator should make Washington’s scorers even more effective, Don’t look for big points from Miller, but he’ll provide at least modest help in just about every other category.

GUARDS

Toney Douglas, New York Knicks: The 29th pick in the 2009 draft earned his first start of the season November 11, and responded with 23 points, four rebounds and one assist. Coming on the heels of his 21-2-1 line off the bench the previous game, the effort has thrust Douglas onto Fantasy radars all across the land. Though it’s tempting to say Douglas will supplant the struggling Chris Duhon at point guard, the fact is that the rook is more of a two-guard than a point. He averaged only 2.9 dimes per game at FSU, so running an offense is not his strong suit. That doesn’t mean that deep leaguers shouldn’t be all over this kid for his points and treys – just keep an eye on how the backcourt minutes sort out now that Nate Robinson is back on the court.

Darren Collison, New Orleans Hornets: If you heeded my advice above, hopefully by now you own Collison in at least a few leagues. The injury to CP3 creates an enormous opportunity for the rookie, and he cashed in that chance by throwing in 18 points, dishing out two assists and posting two steals in 26 minutes the night Paul went down. Reports vary on how long Paul will be out of action, but Collison’s value will skyrocket while the superstar is sidelined…and if the youngster delivers, he should see increased run even after CP3 returns. Don’t forget: Collison was a rock-solid point guard at UCLA, so the kid can run an offense. Weekly leaguers take note: New Orleans plays four games this week, but only twice in Weeks Five and Six.

Anthony Morrow, Golden State Warriors: Morrow has averaged 14.2 points and 2.5 treys through his first six games in November. He and the aforementioned Azubuike are about as consistent an option as can be found in Golden State right now, so if you’re in a league with 12 or more teams, Morrow is definitely worth a roster spot; just be prepared to cut bait depending on how Nellie’s situation plays out.

Nate Robinson, New York Knicks: Little Nate played almost 23 minutes in his first game back from an ankle injury that had sidelined him for six contests. The diminutive backcourt man amassed nine points, four assists and one steal; let the Duhon bench-watch begin. Robinson and Douglas figure to cut into Duhon’s minutes, but Nate is more of a true point than Douglas is. Little Nate is available in about half of Yahoo! leagues, so grab him if you needs threes or steals – with the upside for considerably more if he supplants Duhon.

Trading away Phil Kessel isn’t the main reason Boston’s offense is sucking.

This week, we asked our panel: “We’ve seen a lot of serious injuries so far this season. Who’s absence is going to most negatively affect his teammates’ statistics?” Here’s what the panel had to say on the matter:

Last season, the Boston Bruins held the best record in the Eastern Conference. They were the second-highest scoring team and owned the fourth-ranked Power Play. This season, they are 26th in offensive and their PP ranks 27th.

At quick glance the loss of Phil Kessel via trade and Milan Lucic to injury appears to be the issue, but it’s the injury to Marc Savard that has hurt Boston and his teammates’ stats the most.

The leading scorer on the Bruins is Patrice Bergeron with 10 points in 16 games. At that pace, he would end the season with 51 points. The other top scorers on the team aren’t exactly on pace for banner years, either: Michael Ryder (31 points) and Blake Wheeler (41 points). Zdeno Chara has had a slow start but is on pace for 46 which is not far behind his 50 from last season. The biggest area of concern is the +/- as Bruins led the league last season in this category.

Upon Savard’s return, I would expect to see the Bruin offense pick up dramatically as the team was only able to pick find the back of the net four times in five games last week. Savard is the driving force behind their offense and if the Bruins are unable to sign him this offseason I would be looking to quietly shop anyone in a Bruin jersey in your keeper leagues not named Chara or Tuukka Rask.

Marcus Schalle, dobberhockey.com

The plus/minus was already a disaster before Ward was accidentally cut in the leg by Rick Nash’s skate. But any savvy Fantasy owner should know that Manny Legace is not an upgrade in net, meaning that the frigid plus/minuses of Joe Corvo (-9), Joni Pitkanen (-10), Aaron Ward (-12), and even former Selke Trophy winner Rod Brind’Amour (-13) will not improve anytime soon.

Staal’s absence means that oft-injured regular linemate Erik Cole is practically worthless in Fantasy leagues this season (one point in seven games). Heck, if Jussi Jokinen (10 points in 17 games) is your leading scorer, you know that your team is in big trouble.

Ian Gooding, fantasyhockey.com

Andrei Markov’s injury will also have severe implications on his team, as we have already seen.

Kevin Orris, FantasyPros911.com

I think Marian Hossa’s absence is really hurting the Blackhawks.

How can his absence have impact if he’s never played a game for them?

No one on the team has more than six goals. Jonathan Toews has just two. This is a team that’s lost a little bit of its swagger. Hossa in the lineup will equal almost instant confidence.

On a more strategic level, Hossa in the lineup draws attention from opposing defenses. And that lack of attention on Toews and Patrick Kane should translate into more goals.

Plus, when he wants to be, Hossa can be quite a playmaker. We didn’t see it too much in Detroit last season, but he put up two 50+ assist seasons in Atlanta and there’s no reason to think he can’t revert to that dishing style in Chicago.

Steven Ovadia, RotoRob

Will Angel Villalona be wearing orange for the San Francisco Giants or the federal penitentiary system?

Since we published Part I of our San Francisco Giants season review, a couple of their players have been in the headlines for the wrong reasons.

Angel Villalona, considered one of the team’s top prospects and the first baseman of the future, is the prime suspect in a shooting death in the Dominican Republic, but earlier this week the victim’s family – who received a cash settlement from Villalona – has asked the a judge to drop the case. Amazing what a throwing few dollars around will do to a murder charge. However, the prosecutor still plans to pursue the charges against Villanlona, so he hasn’t exactly bought himself a free pass quite yet.

Giant ace Tim Lincecum, meanwhile, was nabbed while speeding and carrying 3.3 grams of pot. He’s going to get off with a slap on the wrist, and it’s not as if this is some kind of performance-enhancing drug that would improve his play on the field. Sure, Doritos and Twinkies sales are up all around San Francisco, but this is hardly something that will require an asterisk beside his Cy Young award.

Speaking of Giant hurlers, we need to talk about Randy Johnson’s 2009 campaign, which very well could be the final season of his tremendous career. He became the 24th pitcher to reach 300 wins, but then wound up missing over two months with a shoulder injury. When the Big Unit returned, he pitched out of the bullpen and wasn’t very effective. You know he’s going to want to start again should he decide to return for another season, and it’s hard to imagine the Giants having room for him.

Johnson will take some time over the winter to mull his options, but after compiling a 303-166 record for six teams and racking up a ridiculous 4,875 strikeouts – second only to the great Nolan Ryan and the most ever by a lefty – it’s probably time for him to call it a day. After five Cy Young awards, you’ve got to figure Johnson is a slam dunk first ballot Hall of Famer. So go home, Randy and sit by the phone until Cooperstown comes calling.

While the Unit’s 300th win was a definite highlight in San Francisco, how about the no-hitter Jonathan Sanchez tossed on July 10? Better yet, how about the progress the young lefty made in his second full season as part of the Giant rotation? His K/9 bounced back, he was much harder to hit and Sanchez became a different pitcher after the no-no, making huge strides in the second half. If there were any questions whether he’s a fixture in the rotation, they have been answered by Sanchez’s post-break performance.

In the bullpen, Brian Wilson solidified his role as closer, nailing down 38-of-45 chances and doing so in much less shaky fashion than he did in his first season as the closer. He’s quickly morphing into one of the more dominant firemen in the game, so feel free to draft him with great confidence next spring.

Now, as we discussed in Part I, the Giant offense was quite pathetic, but imagine how bad it would have been without Pablo Sandoval, the team’s hefty third baseman. In his first full season, this switch hitter hit .330, smacked a crapload of tape-measure home runs and drove in 90 runs.

In the outfield, Nate Schierholtz got super hot in June and early July, prompting a Wire Troll recommendation, but we missed the boat on this one as he struggled down the stretch, hitting a mere .240 after the break. This 25-year-old finally stuck as a big leaguer this season, but given his struggles against righties, all he managed to prove was that he could be a decent power bat off the bench against lefties. The fact is that this kid has serious power potential, but you wouldn’t have known it this year as he managed a mere five dingers.

The weak side of a RF platoon? That doesn’t sound very Fantasy-worthy to me, but with Randy Winn on his way out of town, Schierholtz will be given a chance to win more PT in right, but he’ll need to fend off Andres Torres, Fred Lewis, John Bowker and perhaps even Eugenio Velez. He has upside potential, but I don’t like Schierholtz’s chances of holding Fantasy value in any standard sized leagues, even NL-only ones, unless he starts hitting righties better.

Speaking of Velez, perhaps he and Schierholtz make perfect platoon partners as Velez struggles against lefties. He has tremendous potential as a top-of-the-order hitter, but he’ll need to work on his patience and his baserunning. New hitting coach Hensley Meulens should make this a priority – turning Velez into a Major League quality hitter.

Catcher Bengie Molina – in his walk year just in time for the arrival of Buster Posey — slipped a bit after an excellent 2008, and he’s almost assuredly gone as the Giants aren’t expected to try to re-sign him. And why would they? Block the best catching prospect in the game? Uh, maybe not. Molina flashed more power last year, smacking 25 doubles, a triple (how the hell did that happen?) and a career-best 20 homers, but he wasn’t as productive as he was the season before. The fact that he had his worst OBP since 2002 didn’t help matters. The Mets may make a play for Molina, but it’s worth noting that the sluggish catcher hit much better at home (.309 BA, 856 OPS) than he did on the road (.225 BA, 610 OPS). This is definitely some food for thought for those of you in keeper leagues or for Fantasy owners trying to get an early fix on what Molina might be worth in 2010.

This was definitely a season of progress for the Giants, one that earned manager Bruce Bochy and general manager Brian Sabean well deserved contract extensions. Bochy’s fate might be tied to how well Meulens does as far as developing a more patient approach for the Giant hitters; as for Sabean, he’ll be judged by his ability to land an impact bat either through free agency or trade this winter.

We’ll take a look at a few more of the Giant hitters and discuss early hot stove activity in Part III, coming soon.

Allen Iverson has left the Grizzlies and no one knows when and if he’ll be back.

There hasn’t been much to be overjoyed about so far this season if you’re a Memphis Grizzlies fan. This team has dropped six straight, Allen Iverson is already a major distraction and they have to play Wednesday in Houston, a place where Memphis has lost six straight times.

I wondered about how much better – if at all – Memphis would be with the addition of volume shooters Iverson and Zach Randolph, and the early answer is not at all, as the team is off to its worst start since 2005-06.

Iverson started the year on the sidelines with a torn hammy, missing the first three games. He came back and was unimpressive in three games off the bench and the whining about being a reserve started almost immediately. Now, AI has left the team for personal reasons and is apparently at home in Atlanta. And the way the team is talking, it’s not a sure bet that he’ll be back.

“If we get to that place, and it’s good, then if Allen does come back, then obviously, he has to fit into that place,” said Coach Lionel Hollins. Note the key phrase in this sentence: “if Allen does come back.”

Hell, if his own freaking coach doesn’t know if he’s coming back or not, what’s a Fantasy owner to think?

Iverson is only owned now in just over half of Yahoo! leagues, and I can see that number falling rapidly as his leave of absence extends.

Meanwhile, the defense in Memphis has been a joke. The Grizz are giving up 112 points per game after showing progress in that area last year. Of course, The Answer isn’t the answer to that problem whether he’s there or not.

This team has such a great young core, but the mistakes they made this offseason that everyone seemed able to spot except them are coming back to haunt them already. No, obviously it’s not too late to salvage this season, but Memphis has serious work to do to get off the schneid. And it’s going to have to start with some good old fashioned D.

The Pirates have surprisingly taken on Akinori Iwamura’s (left) contract.

Congratulations to the New York Yankees on winning the World Series last week. After nine long years of suffering, the Bronx Bombers have again proved that grossly out-spending everyone in the game does in fact work. Well done! Moving on, let’s not disappoint our loyal Kansas City and Pittsburgh readers and take a quick look at some of the recent goings-on in the world of baseball.

The Tampa Rays sent Akinori Iwamura to the Pirates for Jesse Chavez. I’m a bit surprised that the Pirates would take on Iwamura’s $4.85 million salary for 2010, but don’t expect his stay to be long in the Steel City. The 30-year-old is looking at free agency in 2011 and is sure to be shopped to a contender in mid-summer of next year. The Rays now resolve what once was a congested middle-infield situation and can pencil in Ben Zobrist full-time at second base for 2010.

Aroldis Chapman, the 21-year-old southpaw flame thrower, is still making his rounds in an attempt to secure a deal that would make him both the highest paid MLB player — and for that matter the only player — from the Principality of Andorra. Is he ready for the majors? Question marks abound concerning his control, or lack thereof, but the allure of that 100 mph heat from a lefty is going to earn the top prospect a huge payday this winter.

Kenji Johjima exercised his opt-out clause and is returning to Japan for 2010. This lets the Mariners off the hook for that much-criticized April 2008 contract extension. He has since signed on with the Hanshin Tigers for a reported $22.2 million over four years plus performance-related bonuses. Ultimately, Johjima’s desire to play in a full-time capacity — something that was probably not going to occur in the majors — prompted his decision. Johjima was a class act during his time with the Mariners and we wish him nothing but good fortune as he attempts to lead Hanshin to victory in the Japan Series in 2010.

The Twins exercised the $10.5 million option for 2011 on Michael Cuddyer’s contract. Yes, you read that correct, 2011. The Twins had five days to make a decision and after his monster year in 2009 it is a solid move. Injury free in 2009, Cuddyer posted the numbers that many expected after his breakout campaign in 2006. The Twins are going to need a big season out of him in 2010 if they hope to repeat as AL-Central champions, but bear in mind that Target Field is supposed to play more neutral than the Metrodome, a place that really helped Cuddyer this season (910 OPS at home).

Bobby Abreu has reportedly re-signed with the Angels, penning a two-year deal worth $19 million plus an option year. The Halos’ signing of Abreu for $5 million in the 2008 offseason was a huge steal as he enjoyed a great year in 2009 with his seventh consecutive season of 100+ RBI and 11th straight season of 20+ stolen bases. He maintained his great strike zone judgment this year and looks to be a perfect fit for the Angels looking to 2010.

The Twins and Brewers completed a deal in which Carlos Gomez and J.J. Hardy changed teams. This deal is a win-win for both parties with the Brewers filling a hole at the top of their lineup with the young speedster Gomez, and the Twins acquiring a solid defensive shortstop to replace free agent Orlando Cabrera.

The White Sox have sent Chris Getz and Josh Fields to the Royals for Mark Teahen. The interesting news here is that Gordon Beckham, the converted shortstop, now looks to be a converted corner infielder, as the ChiSox are planning on moving him to second base for 2010. From the Royals’ perspective, this deal makes absolutely no sense at all. Getz moves to an already crowded infield with Alberto Callaspo, Yuniesky Betancourt and Mike Aviles currently on the roster. Alex Gordon is currently penciled in at third base so why add Fields? There is a reason the Royals consistently finish at or near the bottom in the AL Central and this deal doesn’t improve their chances for moving up in 2010. The White Sox, on the other hand, buy themselves some time while waiting for 20-year-old Dayan Viciedo to be Major League ready, but Teahen, with just 27 homers and a .263 mark over the last two seasons combined, is far from being all that much of an improvement over Fields.

The Marlins are rumoured to be working towards a $36 million total payroll heading into 2010. In New York, they call that A-Rod and a middle reliever. Florida has already moved Jeremy Hermida to the Red Sox for a pair of pitching prospects, but look for more moves in the coming weeks. If the Fish can find a home for Dan Uggla, outstanding rookie Chris Coghlan could return to his natural position at second base. Fantasy fans should be drooling over the possibility of Coghlan qualifying at second base in 2010.

Cameron Maybin is scheduled for surgery to repair a partially torn labrum in his left shoulder, but after his strong September is penciled in as the starting centrefielder for Florida in 2010. The 22-year-old is definitely on my “sleeper” list heading into 2010.

To wrap things up, let’s take a quick look at some of the option moves that have occurred over the past several days. In what is probably the biggest no-brainer to date, the Nationals declined the $10 million option on Austin “Lack of Powers Kearns. I guess that .195 BA and three big flies just wasn’t what the Nats were looking for. Kearns walks away with a $1 million buyout, so probably won’t be standing in line for food stamps any time soon. Some of the other player option moves in the past week are as follows:

• Alan Embree, RP: The Rockies declined his $4 million option for 2010, making him a free agent.
• Yorvit Torrealba, C: The Rockies declined the $4 million option for 2010 and are committing to Chris Ianetta for 2010.
• Ross Gload, 1B: The Marlins declined the $2.6 million option for 2010. He could wind up in Houston.
• Mike Pelfrey, SP: The Mets exercised the $500,000 option on Pelfrey for 2010. The 25-year-old is a bargain at that salary.
• J.J. Putz, RP: The Mets declined the $9.1 million option for 2010. An incentive-laden deal is probably in the works, but if he’s healthy, Putz could be a very valuable player in 2010.
• David Weathers, RP: The Brewers declined the $3.7 million option for 2010. Milwaukee is not expected to try to bring the veteran back.
• Coco Crisp, OF: The Royals declined the $8 million option for 2010. Despite his great batting eye, it was a lost year for Crisp.
• Yasuhiko Yabuta, RP: The Royals declined the $4 million option for 2010. A return to Japan in 2010 is a possibility for Yabuta.
• Miguel Olivo, C: The Royals declined the $3.3 million option for 2010. After he swatted 23 homers this year, he should be guaranteed a decent contract this offseason.
• Cliff Lee, SP: The Phillies exercised the $9 million option for 2010. This was another no-brainer as Philly looks to secure a long-term deal with its new ace.
• Brandon Webb, SP: The Diamondbacks exercised the $8.5 million option for 2010. For Zona, it was either roll the dice or lose Webb to free agency. If he’s healthy, he’ll be a bargain at that price.
• Jermaine Dye, OF: The White Sox declined the $12 million option for 2010. Could the Tigers make a play for him?
• Chad Tracy, 1B – The Diamondbacks declined the $7 million option for 2010. With the free agent market for frst basemen thin, Tracy shouldn’t have trouble finding work.
• Jon Garland, SP: The Dodgers declined the $10 million option for 2010. Had a nice little run in September for the Dodgers and will secure a good payday as a free agent.
• Pedro Feliz, 3B: The Phillies declined the $5.5 million option for 2010. Philadelphia appears to be looking for more offense out of third base. Is Adrian Beltre on the off-season shopping list?
• Alex Gonzalez, SS: The Red Sox declined the $6 million option for 2010. Apparently, Boston will be shopping for a new shortstop this winter.

While you try to figure out who’s scarier — Oleksiy Pecherov or his skanky douchebag — maybe Ryan Hollins will get a chance to start.

With Minnesota continuing to struggle, especially defensively (Sunday the T-Wolves let Portland shoot 50 per cent from the field and were outrebounded 49-39), isn’t it time to give someone else a chance to fill in for the injured Kevin Love? Sure, Oleksiy Pecherov had that one big game last week, but he’s disappeared since. And on Sunday, Ryan Hollins saw more action than Pecherov. Might Minny give the young big a chance to start? I’m not suggesting you run out and pick up Hollins, who is clearly still a project, but I’m keeping my eye on this situation. We expected Hollins to be a key bench player for the Wolves, but perhaps he’ll emerge with some value if he gets a chance to start. Deep sleeper alert.

Speaking of the Blazers, coach Nate McMillan has refused to send Steve Blake to the bench, so instead, he’s shifted two-guard Brandon Roy to SF (sending Martell Webster to the bench) so he can finally insert Andre Miller into what is now a three-guard starting lineup. Well, it’s weird, but it’s working as the Blazers have won both games since the change. Roy isn’t off to a great start, and not surprisingly — given all the PG turmoil — he’s struggled with his shot. Sunday, he sunk just 1-of-6 in his worst offensive game of the young season. He didn’t even get to the line once, which really sucks considering he’s been superb from the charity stripe so far, draining a career best 85 per cent. On the plus side, Roy was able to pitch in despite the offensive stinker. He matched his season high with six boards and set a new season high with seven assists. Yes, it’s been a somewhat sluggish start for the hugely popular Roy, but don’t worry – you’ll get a great return on your first round investment soon enough.

Game of the Night

New Orleans, surprising many with their struggles in the early going, visits the Clippers, who are surprising no one with their losing record. However, this is a chance for the Clippers to get back to .500 against a team that is floundering. And they come in to this game hot, having won three straight games to shake off an 0-4 start. Unbelievably, this matches the longest winning streak LA had all of last season. Yes, the Clips are pathetic. But how about some love for Chris Kaman? I grabbed him in the ninth round this year, and so far am loving the results. He is LA’s leading scorer and rebounder and, with Blake Griffin still MIA, Kaman is getting as much PT as he can handle and he’s making the most of it. I’m sort of torn here…I keep cringing when I see the workload he’s tackling, knowing full well that he’s among the most injury-prone men in the game. But how can I help but be overjoyed at all those minutes when Kaman is suddenly the go-to guy in the Clip offense? He’s averaging 16 FGAs per game, a huge boost considering his previous high was 12.5. His FT shooting has even improved (career-best 79.5 per cent) and the big mountain man is scoring a shocking 23 PPG. I’m loving the production, but am wondering if I should sell high. The Hornet D has been pretty sad so far, so Kaman could be in for another big night Monday.

He’s back now, but Jason Spezza is just one of many stars who has missed time this season.

Seeing strange players and a ton of callups that have you looking at your program like WTF is this? Well, you are not alone. A rash of injuries has plagued the NHL the likes of which I have not seen in a decade or two. Usually when you see injuries coming in succession you see it affect the second-, third- and even fourth-line players. However, this year the star is definitely feeling the injury bug and several are either currently hurt or have missed time this season. Guys like Evgeni Malkin, Alex Ovechkin, Jason Spezza and Roberto Luongo are all nursing the dreaded ouchies, although Spezza returned a few days ago. 

In all, there are now approximately 115 players in the NHL with some kind of injury that is keeping them out of the lineup. That is hair less than four players per team.

So what can you do to combat the crazy bug (bad pun)? Well for one, just hope your player also does not get the swine flu (right, David Krejci?). This is just nuts seeing all these players out of the lineup. Literally whole Fantasy rosters decimated by injuries.  I have seen cases of teams with six, seven, or even eight players on the IR, DTD, or out (O) of the lineup. Compounding the problem, this does not seem to be getting better but only worse. I have seen more AHL callups than I can count.

There was an estimate that roster moves are up almost 20 per cent from this time last year. Talk about insanity for the fans of teams…but for the Fantasy hockey fan, it is maddening.

For example, the Devils are already without guys like Patrik Elias, Jay Pandolfo and Johnny Oduya. Now you can add Rob Niedermayer and Colin White to the list as both are listed day to day. Even the innocent hit can be harmful. Just falling awkwardly is cause for panic. The hysteria has not even reached its apex.

No one knows what is next, but here are three players that you can get (one forward, one defenseman and one goalie) that may just help and they are likely on your waiver wire.

Niclas Bergfors, RW, New Jersey Devils: : He has slumped mightily and that has caused a lot of owners to cut bait and run. However, not so fast everyone! Bergfors has 43 shots in 13 games and three PPGs including two on Wednesday. He has a deceptively fast windup similar to Ranger star Marian Gaborik and eventually he was bound to start getting it behind the goalie and that happened Wednesday in a big way. As Bergfors finds his role with New Jersey a bit easier expect his scoring to go up. Honestly, you could do worse at this point. What? Wait for Olli Jokinen to break out? Yeah, that’s a good one!

Filip Kuba, D, Ottawa Senators: When Kuba is 100 per cent, he can get you 40-to-50 points. That is gold in these days and right now he is healthy. Defensemen usually do not score a point a game anyway these days (except for Mike Green last year). Kuba is the type of player who is ideal on the power play. His low, hard shot can set up easy rebounds for forwards and be an instant boost to your Fantasy team. Most leagues still have Kuba listed as quite available. Grab him now before any more defensemen get injured and not only will you not regret it but at the very least you will have a back-up plan in place in case any more guys go down. By the way, do not expect Anton Volchenkov to continue to lead the Sens in scoring from the blue line.

Ondrej Pavelec, G, Atlanta Thrashers: We’ve been saying for a while that if Pavelec could ever get over his “monthly,” he could be a starter. Now he gets his chance as Kari Lehtonen is out an additional 6-to-8 weeks after having back surgery. Pavelec can turn in 50-save stunners like he did against Ottawa, but he can also implode like an explosive cocktail we all know. However, with options dwindling fast and the fact that he is available in most leagues (at least for now) he’s a viable pickup. I firmly expect Pavelec to be the starter for most of the rest of the season. Get him now! Literally read this and see if he is available. If not, try to trade for him ASAP.

Next week we will have some fun and salute the vets…literally. Thanks again and enjoy the hockey-like weather.

After Craig Anderson played so well as a backup for the Panthers, perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised about what he’s done this season.

This week’s Fantasy Hockey Roundtable asked “Is Craig Anderson Vezina Trophy material, or is he nothing more than fool’s gold for the rest of the season?”

Find out what what the panel had to say about this issue.

Honestly? I’m a little in love with Anderson, a player featured prominently in Friday’s edition of Ice Chips.

Thanks to a wonky back, normally durable Tayshaun Prince could be out a long time, and surgery is a possibility.

Welcome to the Week Three edition of The Wire Troll, our weekly look at players who may be available on your league waiver wire but could see a spike in their Fantasy value in the immediate future.
This past week, injury news ruled the landscape, and the players involved ranged from the shocking (Tayshaun Prince of Detroit saw his streak of 496 consecutive games come to an end) to the utterly predictable (Kevin Martin of Sacramento, Devin Harris of New Jersey and Michael Redd of Milwaukee…you didn’t really blow a high draft pick on any of the Gossamer Guards, did you?)

Redd will be reportedly miss two weeks with a strained patellar tendon in his knee, while Harris may miss another three weeks with his groin injury. K-Mart underwent surgery on his wrist and will be out 6-to-8 weeks, but at least there’s a reasonably good chance he won’t get hurt off the court.

The same cannot be said for Chicago’s Tyrus Thomas, who fractured his arm while weightlifting and is down for 4-to-6 weeks. Another notable injured star is Troy Murphy of Indiana, whose back injury was reportedly so bad he couldn’t tie his shoes (guess they wouldn’t let Murph play barefoot). Meanwhile, Vince Carter of Orlando is still trying to get back in the lineup after suffering a sprained ankle back on October 30.

Murphy, Carter, Prince and the Knicks’ Nate Robinson are all expected back this week – though all are risky plays in weekly lineup leagues. Bench Murphy, whose Pacers only play twice anyway. Weekly leaguers will again have to muddle through without Orlando’s Rashard Lewis (suspension), but they will have access to the long-range bombing (and maddening inconsistency) that is Denver’s J.R. Smith, who should be back in action following his seven-game ban. Smith is not a recommended play until he shakes off the inevitable rust.

Though we have a whole new slate of potential waiver wire grabs for you this week, don’t forget to review our picks from the first Wire Troll of the season, as many of those players could provide some value if they’re still languishing on the wire.

Four game weeks: DAL, GS, HOU, LAC, MIN, NO, OKC, PHI, PHO, POR, TOR, UTA

Two-game weeks: IND, MIL, SAC, WAS

CENTRES

Roy Hibbert, Indiana Pacers: Hibbert was a popular sleeper pick after his stellar pre-season performance, but the seven-footer was slow out of the gate when the games started to count. Many Fantasy owners were quick – too quick – to cut bait, and now you can take advantage. Hibbert racked up three straight double-doubles – along with 11 blocks – November 3, 4 and 6, and could be poised to deliver on the promise he showed back in late October. He is owned in roughly half of Yahoo! leagues, but that number is sure to grow if he continues scoring, boarding and blocking at his current rate. Add the big fellow immediately; he looks like he has found his comfort zone and should be helpful in just about every Fantasy league at this point.

Oleksiy Pecherov, Minnesota Timberwolves: Pecherov has stepped into Kevin Love’s big shoes and is faring quite nicely, thank you – averaging 15 points and 6.3 rebounds through his first three starts of the season. Don’t over-invest here: Love is talking about returning from his broken hand November 20, and Pecherov’s NBA track record is not impressive. However, if you’re in a deeper league you could do a lot worse than Pecherov in the short term.

Erick Dampier, Dallas Mavericks: Yes, you read that right; the man once referred to as the best pick-setter in the NBA (yee-haw!) has actually become Fantasy-relevant. With Drew Gooden nursing a strained rib cage muscle, ED is seeing big minutes and putting up strong numbers. Dampier has always been a good shot blocker, but he was averaging nearly a double-double through his first five games of the season – to go with 14 blocks. It remains to be see how long Dampier’s body can withstand 30-plus minutes per night, and he’s sure to lose playing time when Gooden returns – but for now Dampier is a good short-term add if you’re in need of boards and blocks (or picks).

FORWARDS

Chris Douglas-Roberts, New Jersey Nets:  Douglas-Roberts looks to have taken over as the top scoring threat in Jersey now that Harris is on the shelf. Harris may be out for as long as three more weeks, so the time is definitely right to grab CDR. He tossed in 25, 20 and 19 points in consecutive games after Harris went down, so it’s clear that the Nets will look to their swingman to be Mr. Outside to Brook Lopez’s Mr. Inside. Douglas-Roberts is worth rostering in just about every Fantasy league while Harris is sidelined, and he has enough upside to possibly be a season-long member of your squad. He’s battling a case of the flu at the moment, so weekly lineup players may want to stay their hand until CDR is confirmed healthy.

Andres Nocioni, Sacramento Kings: Oops – Just a few hours after logging 14 points and six rebounds in his first start of the season, Nocioni was busted for suspicion of DUI. It’s doubtful that he’ll miss much – if any – time, though, and the fact remains that he’s now the Kings’ starter at small forward. The injury to Martin (Martin? Injured? Wow – who knew?) opens the door for someone to take over as the top scorer in Sac Town, and Nocioni has never been shy about taking a shot. Add Nocioni in deeper leagues, and be prepared to add him in all formats if he goes on a hot streak.

Matt Barnes, Orlando Magic: Barnes’ Fantasy value is directly tied to the absence of Lewis, who will return from his league suspension November 16. For now, Barnes is knocking out some solid Fantasy lines, but the party figures to end for both he and Ryan Anderson when Lewis makes it back onto the court. Either Barnes or Anderson makes a nice filler for the back end of your roster this week, but be ready to cut bait (or sell high) on both these players come the end of next week.

Taj Gibson, Chicago Bulls: With Thomas out of the lineup for 4-to-6 weeks with a broken arm, Gibson becomes the undisputed starter at power forward for the Bulls. Don’t look for big-time blocks or steals (a la Thomas) from Gibson, but the rookie should be a decent source of points and rebounds as long as he’s playing starter’s minutes. Gibson is worth adding in deeper leagues right away, and all Fantasy managers should have him on their radar screens in case he has a breakout game.

GUARDS

Larry Hughes, New York Knicks: Hughes will remain in the Knicks’ starting lineup for the immediate future, at least according to head coach Mike D’Antoni. Hughes has stepped into the void created by the absence of Robinson, who’s expected to miss up to two weeks with a sprained ankle, but the veteran should retain some Fantasy value even after little Nate returns. Hughes can be inconsistent, but he should be good for at least a dozen points per night.

Corey Brewer, Minnesota Timberwolves: Brewer has quietly (which is the way basketball-related things happen in Minnesota) cobbled together a pretty decent stat line over the first six games of the 2009-10 campaign (12.8/4.8/2.8). His 6′9″ frame creates match-up problems aplenty in the backcourt, and he has cashed in by averaging over two steals and one block per game. Brewer should not be available in leagues with more than 12 teams, and some mid-size league managers should take a hard look at the one-time hot prospect that finally seems to be delivering on that promise.

Randy Foye, Washington Wizards: Mike Miller looks to be out for at least another week, and while he’s gone Foye should be in line for increased minutes. Nick Young is the starter at the two for now, but Foye’s ability to score the ball makes him a much more palatable Fantasy option. Add Foye if you’re in a deep league and in need of points, assists and threes, but his role as a reserve makes him not yet ready for widespread Fantasy relevance.

Dahntay Jones, Indiana Pacers: Jones has outperformed former starter Brandon Rush this season, and earned his first start of the season November 4. Thirty-eight minutes, 19 points and 12 rebounds later, a change could be in the offing in Indy. Jones does not have Rush’s outside shot (only 44 treys in 329 lifetime games), but appears to have found a home in the Pacer offense. Don’t over-invest in Jones, but he makes a fine short-term pickup in larger leagues – especially while Murphy is on the mend.

Beno Udrih, Sacramento Kings: Udrih was thoroughly underwhelming as the Kings’ starting point guard last season, but the injury to K-Mart means a chance at redemption. Former starting point guard Tyreke Evans will likely slide over to Martin’s two-guard spot, with Udrih once again manning the point. Don’t set the bar too high – this is Beno Udrih, after all – but he could be a serviceable Fantasy option for those managers in dire need of backcourt help.

J.J. Redick, Orlando Magic: A quick word on Redick, who has been a popular waiver target this week: His numbers have been solid, but his value is directly tied to the absence of Carter. Once Vinsanity returns (and that looks like it could be very soon), Redick’s minutes will plummet. Proceed with caution and be prepared to cut bait.

John Madden once said that winning is a great deodorant. Fans bathe in it.

Bear with me through our latest voyage. Thanks to the Phils’ World Series loss, I’m in a bit of an ornery mood these days. My email box and Facebook account has been swamped with arrogant and cocksure emails from Yankee fans celebrating title 27. And most of them I can’t even put in print.

On Thursday, I estimated I had roughly five congratulations in me towards Yankees fans. I work around them all day, teach them, and call some of them friend. Nonetheless, I’m rationing out the kudos like it’s a small supply of Ramen noodles on a deserted island. In fact, I only dished out two. Somehow, I don’t think the other three are leaving my mouth anytime soon.

One of the reasons for my anger is the multi-layered facade of Yankee fans and fans of the Dallas Cowboys. Individuals use their team preferences as a bully pulpit to make themselves feel better about their otherwise somewhat questionable lives. Can you blame them, though? As John Madden once said, winning is a great deodorant. Fans bathe in it.

Tired of waiting around for the local team to win or to spite their dad or to look cool for the girls in high school, we have become a nation of front runners. If you read TMW from two weeks ago, you know that I’ve crafted a plan to eliminate such nonsense.

In honour of the Eagles playing the Cowboys this weekend, it’s time to call into question perhaps the biggest set of frontrunning fans that don’t sport the interlocking NY on top of their heads.

I’m willing to bet most Cowboy fans under the age of 30 can’t answer 60 per cent of these questions accurately without checking out Wikipedia.

Without further ado, let’s fire up a sample of the first ever TMW Fan Certification Test:

1 . Which of these future NFL head coaches never played for the Dallas Cowboys?

A. Mike Ditka
B. Dan Reeves
C. John Madden

2. What player said that Terry Bradshaw could not spell cat if you spotted him the c and the t?

A. Thomas “Hollywood” Henderson
B. Larry Cole
C. Mike Hegman
D. Dixon Edwards

3. How many times has Dallas appeared in the Super Bowl?

A. 5
B. 6
C. 7
D. 8

4. The only player in NFL history to win a Super Bowl MVP as a member of the losing team is:

A. Bob Lilly
B. Mel Renfro
C. Darren Woodson
D. Chuck Howley

5. Dallas lost three straight NFC title games during the 1980-82 seasons. Who was the starting quarterback for the Cowboys in all three?

A. Steve Pelluer
B. Gary Hogeboom
C. Danny White
D. Roger Staubach

6. The first time the Cowboys reached the playoffs in the Jimmy Johnson era was 1991. Who started the team’s playoff game at Chicago for the injured Troy Aikman?

A. Babe Laufenberg
B. Steve Walsh
C. Steve Beuerlein
D. Danny White

7. Who scored the go-ahead touchdown in the famous Ice Bowl?

A. Jim Taylor
B. Max McGee
C. Bob Hayes
D. Bart Starr

8. Dallas acquired what Pro Bowl defensive end from the San Francisco 49ers prior to the start of the ’92 season?

A. Fred Dean
B. Pierce Holt
C. Charles Haley
D. Tim Harris

9. In Super Bowl XII, Robert Newhouse fired a touchdown pass on a halfback option to which receiver:

A. Butch Johnson
B. Drew Pearson
C. Golden Richards
D. Alvin Harper

10. On its way to Super Bowl X against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Dallas defeated Minnesota in the divisional round. Which player caught a Hail Mary for the go-ahead touchdown?

A. Drew Pearson
B. Tony Dorsett
C. Butch Johnson
D. Preston Pearson

See answers at bottom of column.

The Culverhouse Index

Last week’s rankings in parenthesis.

1. Detroit Lions, 1-6 (8): Detroit showed some limited promise this season, but then the Rams came into town and showed otherwise. A bad loss for the Lions.

2. St. Louis Rams, 1-7 (1): They were holding steady at the top spot until they finally came up with a win.

3. Kansas City Chiefs, 1-6 (4): Can’t the Chiefs stay on bye?

4. Washington Redskins, 2-5 (3): Can’t the Redskins stay on bye?

5. Tennessee Titans, 1-6 (2): Finally, there is life. I’m not sure Vince Young is the answer at quarterback, but with Chris Johnson running the ball it doesn’t matter at the moment.

6. Oakland Raiders, 2-5 (6): At least they played well against the Chargers this season.

7. Cleveland Browns, 1-7 (5): They’ve scored six points or fewer in five of eight games this season.

8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 0-7 (7): First win? Maybe December 6 at Carolina.

9. Buffalo Bills, 3-5 (9): Terrell Owens is on pace for 46 catches this season. Ouch.

10. Carolina Panthers, 3-4 (10): Incredibly, the Panthers are one win away from being 4-4. The league is a bit down in ’09.

Ten Things We Learned in Week Eight

1. The Owen Daniels injury is going to slow the Texan passing game: Destined for a Pro Bowl this season, Daniels went down with a season-ending torn ACL injury. The timing could not be worse for the Texans. Quarterback Matt Schaub is playing the best football of his career while the team plays a huge game against the Colts on Sunday.

2. Perhaps the Giant defense just isn’t that good: Over their last three games, the Giants have surrendered 112 points, allowing 37 points per game over the same stretch. That’s what happens when C.C. Brown is covering people.

3. Percy Harvin is secretly one of the NFL’s most valuable players in 2009: Anytime the Vikings are reeling this season, Harvin finds a way to dig them out of trouble. The rookie from Florida leads the league in yards per touch at 19.8.

4. DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart pack a mean punch, as long as Jake Delhomme isn’t killing them: If Delhomme doesn’t turn the ball over, it makes things far easier for Williams and Stewart. Over the last three weeks, the Panthers have rushed for at least 250 yards twice.

5. The Jets = overrated: The bandwagon started to fill up after the Week Two win over New England. However, the Jets’ fourth loss in the last fifth games has made the bandwagon quite a bit lighter. New York’s special teams turned Ted Ginn into a combination of Dante Hall and Devin Hester. How else do you explain the Dolphins scoring 30 points despite gaining just 104 yards?

6. Steve Slaton is killing your Fantasy team one week at a time: Benched by Texan head coach Gary Kubiak last week in Buffalo, Slaton appears to be in great danger of losing playing time to backup Ryan Moats. Slaton has lost five fumbles and is averaging 3.1 yards per carry. Sounds like a benching to me.

7. Anquan Boldin may never actually get his money: Boldin did not pose as a model teammate over the past year in part due to a lack of financial security. Now, Arizona’s star receiver has been unable to stay healthy for much of the season. After being hounded by a hamstring ailment, he is now battling ankle problems.

8. Part 1 of Operation 2006 has begun: Whenever you have a quarterback on the wrong side of 30, it is not a good thing in the long run. Arizona and Tennessee got away with it 2008. At least for Tennessee, the story turned differently this season as Vince Young finally made his way into the starting lineup. With the Cards in first, Kurt Warner is not in danger in Arizona…as long as he stops having those five-interception performances.

9. Don’t look now, but outside of Minnesota and New Orleans the NFC is a mess: Eliminate Detroit, St. Louis and Tampa Bay. What else do we know about the NFC? Everyone else hovers between two and five wins. Looks like December should be a mess for tiebreakers.

10. Bob Sanders is out for the year…adjust your Fantasy lineups accordingly: Surprise, surprise. Sanders is out for the year with a torn bicep. Further compounding matters is a season-ending injury to Marlin Jackson, who hurt himself in practice earlier this week. When backs get into the Indy secondary (which Frank Gore did last week), look out.

Week Eight BPITW Poll

Last week’s rankings in parenthesis.

1. Adrian Peterson (1): It seems like the Vikings run at least 50 plays per game inside of the 10 yard line, making it all the more easier for Peterson to score.

2. Peyton Manning (2): Joseph Addai had more touchdown passes than Manning last week.

3. Drew Brees (3): He doesn’t have many tough matchups left on the schedule, but a big battle versus New England in the Superdome looms in a few weeks.

4. Chris Johnson (NR): Watch this video. Now. Do it.

5. Cedric Benson (4): The Ravens will keep Benson under 100 yards rushing on Sunday. Take it to the bank.

6. Ronnie Brown (5): He will a key figure in Sunday’s matchup against New England.

7. Ray Rice (6): The Bengal defense should be a bit softer this time around without Antwan Odom.

8. Tom Brady (10): His productivity this week will be tied to his defense’s ability to get the Dolphins off the field.

9. Andre Johnson (5): The Colts have only allowed three touchdown passes thus far. Johnson could have a good day though against an injury-depleted secondary.

10. Maurice Jones-Drew (7): Too bad he was outdone by Johnson…Chris and Gus.

Video of the Week

It’s one thing to lose a World Series. Losing a World Series to the Yankees hits another stratosphere of misery. It’s time to drown my sorrows in a sad song…and football.

Answers to Cowboys quiz: 1. c. 2. a. 3. d. 4. d. 5. c. 6. c. 7. d. 8. c. 9. c. 10. a.

If you’ve answered between eight and 10 correctly, you’re in great shape and more than likely over 30 years old.

Don’t worry, Cowboy fans. Your fans aren’t the only ones with frauds placed within…and yes, I’m looking at you, Steeler Nation.

Episodes from Liberty City makes sure the GTAIV series goes out with a BANG!

When Grand Theft Auto IV came out in early 2008, Microsoft gave gamers some incentive to purchase it on the Xbox 360 instead of the PS3 by offering two exclusive downloadable expansions to be released at a later date. The first of those, The Lost and Damned, came out back in February, while the second, The Ballad of Gay Tony, arrived last week. In conjunction with that second offering, Rockstar also released a retail version entitled Episodes from Liberty City, which combines both of the Xbox 360 exclusives in disc format and does not require a copy of Grand Theft Auto IV to play.

Both titles expand on the story told in Grand Theft Auto IV, with The Lost and Damned putting you in the midst of a biker gang and The Ballad of Gay Tony taking players uptown to try their hands at being a paid killer moonlighting as a club manager. All three titles intersect at various points and help flesh out details that were skipped over in the original to paint a more complete picture. The question remains, however, does Rockstar deliver a compelling enough experience for those that may have finished Grand Theft Auto IV over a year ago to return? Let’s take a look.

Controls (4/5)

Both episodes control identically to Grand Theft Auto IV, which can be both good and bad. Things are pretty straightforward when you’re on foot: you can run (A), sprint (tap A), jump (X) and enter/jack vehicles (Y) with ease. The only really tricky part comes with the auto-aim function, which is activated by holding down the left trigger. Do this and you’ll lock on to a nearby person. Nine times out of 10 it’ll be someone you want to shoot, but occasionally you’ll find yourself targeting a civilian instead of a drug dealer or someone hiding behind a car rather than the guy above him firing at you. In theory you can switch targets by flicking the right stick in the direction of the desired target, but in practice it doesn’t always seem to work.

In these instances you can utilize free aim, which is done by pressing down the left trigger only half way and then moving the right stick around to fire wherever you want. As you might guess from the description, only partially depressing a trigger can be a bit temperamental, particularly when you’re in the heat of a firefight. Of course, you’re able to turn off auto-aim at any time, but most will still find it easier to deal with the sporadically wonky auto-aim than doing all the work themselves.

The cover system, which is vital to successful combat, will also frustrate once in a while, but for the most part it works well. You enter and leave cover with the right bumper, then pop up to bring the pain with your vast arsenal when pressing the right trigger. My only issue is that sometimes you’ll think you’re in the right position only to end up on hugging a pillar with your back to the enemy instead of hiding on the other side of it. Again, though, this is a minor issue.

When you’re not traveling on foot you’ll have access to all sorts of transportation alternatives, including cars, motorcycles, helicopters and even a tank. The basic control scheme is the same for all ground-based vehicles and it works well. Those who rode a motorcycle in Grand Theft Auto IV but did not purchase The Lost and Damned when it came out will be in for a pleasant surprise as Rockstar went back in and totally revamped the experience. You’ll no longer get tossed by every bump, and the whole thing just feels infinitely more responsive.

Where the controls become a struggle for me is when piloting helicopters. For starters, there’s a lot going on with the left/right triggers controlling lift, the bumpers rotating you left and right and the left stick tilting your helicopter to move forward/back and to the sides. When piloting an attack chopper, you can add in face buttons to fire your machine guns (A) and rockets (X). Even factoring in a learning curve, the act of flying a helicopter is never as fun as it should be. It simply isn’t responsive enough and at times feels like you’re piloting a brick. Plus, you’re not given lock-on capabilities or even a targeting reticule, which makes aiming a pain. The controls weren’t so bad that I couldn’t pass helicopter-based missions, but a quick scan of the message boards will turn up plenty of complaints about them. I’d like to see this area get some added attention before the next release to make raining death from above the fun time it should be.

Graphics/Sound (5/5)

Let’s just get this out of the way. When traversing Liberty City you’ll clip through objects, see things suddenly appear as you approach and details filling in on distant buildings. Yes, there are a number of graphical hiccups to be found in all three chapters of the game. However, even a year and a half after the initial release of Grand Theft Auto IV, I’ve still yet to see another title on the market that can match what Rockstar has done in creating Liberty City as a vibrant, breathing world that feels completely organic and lived in.

Graffiti litters buildings and subway cars, trash cans are on the corners to be picked up, pedestrians cover their heads with newspaper when it rains and so much more. It’s all these little touches that make you feel that you’re traveling through a place where life is happening whether you’re there or not. The animations are smooth and the explosions…oh, such explosions.

Although both downloadable episodes are being released together here, you’ll almost certainly notice that The Ballad of Gay Tony is the better looking of the two. Coming out eight months later and without the grain effect used to give The Lost and Damned a grittier feel that drained Liberty City of some of its vibrancy, The Ballad of Gay Tony makes a lot of subtle improvements to the overall graphics, though the character models look basically unchanged and are starting to show their age. Still, this is truly one of those titles where visually the whole is greater than the sum of its individual parts.

When it comes to voice acting, there’s Mass Effect, the Grand Theft Auto series and then everybody else. Both halves of Episodes from Liberty City feature a wide range of characters, all of whom are voiced effectively and force you to become invested in the story. The dialogue is natural and unforgiving, pulling no punches in the usage of racial slurs, profanity and bravado that permeate your dealings with Liberty City’s underbelly.

It’s impossible to oversell what a phenomenal job Rockstar does with that aspect of the series. Every character has personality, and I always looked forward to the next mission in both games to delve deeper into the stories. While everyone does a superior job, I have to recognize the wildly entertaining work of Omid Djalili as Yusuf Amir, whose outlandish missions in The Ballad of Gay Tony represent a steep departure from the more realistic ones seen in the two earlier releases.

Beyond the excellent voice acting, Rockstar once again provides a deep and memorable soundtrack as well, including numerous radio stations to choose from as you race around Liberty City. The sound effects are spot on, and the ambient noise of the city more than holds its own in making it feel like it’s teeming with life.

One last item to pass along is that you owe it to yourself to watch the in-game TV show Princess Robot Bubblegum (you can do so in Luis’ apartment). It’s unquestionably one of the funniest things I’ve seen in any medium in recent memory. Major kudos to whoever pulled that off.

Gameplay (4.75/5)

The first half of the package, The Lost and Damned, casts you in the role of Johnny Klebitz, who is the Vice President of a biker gang called The Lost. Johnny has been in charge since Billy Grey entered rehab, but with Billy being released he wants to immediately resume his place as leader. This leads to the central conflict of the story with Billy and Johnny clashing over how The Lost should operate. Billy wants them to be knee deep in the drug game and essentially throw caution to the wind when dealing with their enemies, while Johnny prefers a smarter, less reckless approach. That’s not to say Johnny plays the role of a saint. On the contrary, Johnny does more than his fair share of loathsome acts and is by far the least likable main character in the three installments.

Thankfully, the absence of a truly affable protagonist doesn’t mean the story isn’t compelling. It’s all vintage Grand Theft Auto stuff with a solid variety of missions and some added gameplay elements like the ability to summon members of your gang to assist you on missions. This can be invaluable when the odds are stacked against you, and there are some RPG elements to be found as well as the more you summon backup the most proficient they become under fire…assuming they survive.

Belonging to a gang has some added benefits as well, such as being able to have guns or bikes delivered to you with a phone call. Whereas Niko Bellic was an immigrant looking to make connections, Johnny already has them. In that same vein, the entire map is opened from the start in both downloadable stories since they’re established residents. However, despite all three games taking place in Liberty City, they’re all focused in different sections. The Lost and Damned is primarily in Alderney, which is a poorer and more rundown area than anywhere else in the game.

In addition to a new story and some gameplay adjustments, The Lost and Damned also brings brand new social activities to take part in, such as arm wrestling and playing cards. None of them are particularly memorable, but they can serve as fun little distractions. Also debuting here are several new weapons, including an assault shotgun (AKA the street sweeper), auto pistol and grenade launcher. Add all of that to 25 gang wars to take part in, bike races with an achievement for whacking people off and an all new seagull hunt and you should find plenty to do in Johnny’s shoes.

However, while The Lost and Damned was fun, it pales in comparison to the final piece of the trilogy, The Ballad of Gay Tony. This time around you’ll be rubbing elbows with Liberty City’s upper crust as Luis Lopez, right-hand man to pre-eminent club owner Anthony “Gay Tony” Prince. Unlike the first two installments where you had to work hard to move up in the world and afford the finer things (like top of the line weaponry), here you’ve already arrived financially and will have no trouble affording guns or anything else you may need. It’s a refreshing take that provides a much different perspective.

The basic story is that Tony’s clubs — Maisonette 9 and Hercules (you can guess which the gay one is) — aren’t holding up too well in today’s economy, and in an effort to get some financial relief he’s borrowed heavily from some unsavoury characters. That leaves Luis in a bind as he tries to do favours for Tony’s creditors to keep them from collecting on money Tony doesn’t have. It’s a tightly focused story that moves along at a brisk pace and does a good job of creating a relationship you wind up caring about (Tony and Luis), something The Lost and Damned did not.

As mentioned above, you’re going to be running errands from high-end clientele this time, and that gave Rockstar an excuse to go completely over the top with its missions. Those that played and enjoyed Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas will certainly like the direction The Ballad of Gay Tony takes as you’ll be doing all sorts of crazy things, like stealing and then flying a military helicopter or base jumping off the roof of the tallest building in Liberty City. Yeah, there are a few clunkers in the mix, but the vast majority of missions are really fun to play. One cool feature that was added is the ability to replay any mission as often as you’d like once you beat the game, which is something you’ll want to do.

Of course, what fun would a collection of fantastic missions be without an equally amazing arsenal of guns to complete them with? The Ballad of Gay Tony sees to it that you are armed to the teeth very early on and rearmament is never more than a phone call away. The explosive shotgun is one of the most bad ass weapons I’ve ever wielded in a video game. It turns cars, trucks and helicopters into smoldering piles of rubble in just a few shots, which is unendingly satisfying. There are also upgraded machine guns, sniper rifles and sticky bombs. And then, there’s the height of excess, a golden SMG.

Mini-games are a big part of the Grand Theft Auto open world experience, and The Ballad of Gay Tony features my favourite one to date, BASE jumping. Ironically, I didn’t think I’d enjoy jumping out of planes and off buildings in an effort to land on an exact point. However, it’s wonderfully executed and a lot of fun to do. Some of the others don’t hold up as well, namely club management (disappointingly dull) and drug wars (repetitive), but hey, when the ability to engage in underground cage fighting is included alongside doing elaborately choreographed dances in a gay club, how much can you really complain?

Both titles offer additional multiplayer modes, though trying to find a game on The Lost and Damned appears to be an exercise in futility these days. It’s unfortunate, as when it launched back in February it came with a cool mode called Witness Protection where one team played as NOOSE officers and tried to escort a witness to a safe location while the other team played as The Lost and tried to kill them. If you can scrape enough people together it’s definitely worth trying out.

Sticking with multiplayer, The Ballad of Gay Tony creates smaller environments for Deathmatch games, which really ratchets up the intensity. It also doesn’t hurt that all those wonderful new weapons are now fully accessible online. Team-oriented BASE jumping can also be done in Free Mode, but there weren’t a whole lot of new things added to online play.

Overall (4.75/5)

Episodes from Liberty City complements the original release and offers players two very different experiences while staying true to the formula that has made this franchise a success. With well over 20 hours of single-player gaming to be found here, picking this up is a no brainer for anyone that has enjoyed the Grand Theft Auto series.

Craig Anderson better get used to black tie affairs considering how well he’s playing this season.

An old wise man once told me that your Fantasy hockey team and real hockey team for that matter are only as good as your netminders. Laugh as you will, but this is something that is very true. October and November are often very nasty months when you think about it. This year is no exception. Add injuries and swine flu to the mix and one may have to dodge more minefields than they can handle in their quest to find good goaltending. Thankfully we have The Matrix in Craig Anderson. Obviously Neo is no relation, but Anderson best typifies the moves needed to play the net in this year’s NHL. Goals are going to go in. It is not your neutral zone trap early ’90s NHL anymore. Shots and goals are up by about 8 to 10 per cent this season. Sure, it is early, but expect this trend to continue to a point.

What I have listed below is not necessarily the best goalies in the league, but the ones that are going to make some saves that they not only have no business making but make them often enough in games to have a high save percentage. Here are their stories.

Craig Anderson, Colorado Avalanche: Imagine going from Florida to Colorado and realizing you are the starter on a team that absolutely stunk last year. Add in a few prospects and some aging players with no Joe Sakic and you have the recipe for disaster…right? Wrong! Now the 10 wins are great and the 2.11 GAA is nice too, but it is the .936 save percentage that jumps out. Even better is that Anderson has a .940 save percentage in the third period and beyond, and that figure leads the NHL. The OMG factor is the fact that Anderson faces about 35 shots a game in Colorado — about four less than he did in Florida. He had good practice and obviously has benefited well from the extraordinary high amount of activity.

Ryan Miller, Buffalo Sabres: The second best on this slightly unconventional list is where Miller ranks (now, that is if you really want to call this a ranking). When it’s Miller Time in Buffalo, opposing teams are really in trouble. Though slight in stature at about 173-to-175 pounds soaking wet if you will, Miller has an amazing ability to be flexible without looking flexible. I watched the game he had against the Devils last week pretty closely. He makes saves look quite easy, so it’s no wonder he has given up two goals or less against New Jersey in nine of his last 10 starts. Be aware that Miller has a tendency to get injured at times, but there are few better at his position when he is “on.”

Now for two more that could be on their way to this list…

Ilya Bryzgalov, Phoenix Coyotes: There is no question that he is a good goalie with quick reflexes, but sometimes that is what gets him in trouble. The “moody Russian” as he was called many times in Anaheim has gotten a second lease of life in Phoenix this year. He has three shutouts already and a sparkling .927 save percentage to go along with the 1.88 GAA. Bryzgalov may think a bit too much, but his moves are almost as fast as his thoughts. The key will be how Coach Dave Tippett’s system helps him in the second half, which is when he tired last year under “The Great One.” Obviously a coaching upgrade in Phoenix will aid Bryzgalov and his body (plus an Olympic break). Now, that is a blessing for Phoenix fans.

Marc-Andre Fleury, Pittsburgh Penguins: Yes, he has won a Stanley Cup so stop gushing, Penguin fans. Fleury is quietly putting together a nice early portion of the season. He has always had the acumen to play brilliant between the pipes, but this year he is showing the consistency with the amazing saves. The new focus is not unnoticed on me. Sure Fleury only has a .916 save percentage right now, but expect that to go up when Pittsburgh is fully healthy. The scary thing is he has 10 wins already and has made two or three “Save of the Year” type stops. Keep Fleury in mind when again looking for save percentage along with the spectacular.

Mike Chen, currently caring for his beloved dog, should be back for the next edition of Ice Chips. In the meantime, this is Chris Wassel escaping before he gets the swine flu. Aloha.