Tom

I need to activate Brian Matusz in my AL keeper league (traditional 5-category roto) by noon Saturday. Pitching is definitely NOT the weak point on this team, but someone's got to go. I have Ogando, E. Santana, Romero, Humber, Guthrie and Carrasco as other starters. Other pitchers are Valverde (my only source of saves), Crow and Sale, with the latter two at good prices for carrying over to next year, when they might actually be worth what we all thought they were THIS year. :(

I'm inclined to drop Crow, even though he's only going to cost me $5 to keep next spring, because Soria has a decent chance to still be in KC next year as well and they won't be likely to pay him $6 million to be a setup man. Sale will be a $9 player next year, but he should be worth that whether he closes or starts. Analysis, advice and opinions welcome!

AKA, head case vs. old geezer. I like Romo's chances to score more (especially considering the pitiful run defense that Carolina puts out there against AP), but Dallas is awful in December with him under center and Favre still hasn't completely drained that Fountain of Youth he found off-season. Completions and yards are the categories that seem to beg for Romo, TDs and INTs seem to be in Favre's favor.

I'm up against the best remaining team in the playoffs (because mine is the WORST remaining team) and my RBs suck (LT and Fargas, with only Chris Jennings and Chris Brown as alternatives). I'm going into the weekend in good shape because I have the incredible catching man, Dallas Clark, but I need a strong QB performance to have a chance to make our Super Bowl.

AKA, head case vs. old geezer. I like Romo's chances to score more (especially considering the pitiful run defense that Carolina puts out there against AP), but Dallas is awful in December with him under center and Favre still hasn't completely drained that Fountain of Youth he found off-season. Completions and yards are the categories that seem to beg for Romo, TDs and INTs seem to be in Favre's favor.

I'm up against the best remaining team in the playoffs (because mine is the WORST remaining team) and my RBs suck (LT and Fargas, with only Chris Jennings and Chris Brown as alternatives). I'm going into the weekend in good shape because I have the incredible catching man, Dallas Clark, but I need a strong QB performance to have a chance to make our Super Bowl.

the one made 44 years ago today: the Reds send Frank Robinson to the Orioles for Milt Pappas, Jack Baldschun, and Dick Simpson. Pappas was a decent starter for the Reds the next 2+ seasons (30 wins in 75 starts); Baldschun was a semi-disaster in the bullpen for 2 seasons (86 hits and 34 walks in 70.3 innings); and Simpson was invisible for 2 seasons (34 hits in 138 AB). All Robinson did in his 6 seasons in Baltimore was win a Triple Crown and MVP, finish in the top three in MVP voting two other times, hit 179 homers and drive in 545 runs. Oh, and he has two World Series rings.

The floor is open for nominations of deals that were even worse.

I've watched baseball for almost 50 years and I've never seen a second baseman consistently make the plays he does. No knock on Hudson, but ...