mark43's blog

Hello all,

I'm pinch-blogging for Chris this week. 

We have a new leader in the UK South this week and plenty of movement in the table. 

Week 19 Results

Wow!

In the past few days, I have read numerous reports about Manny Ramirez being unhappy in Boston and rumours of a three-team trade involving the Pirates and Marlins.

So imagine my surprise to log on to MLB.com after the trading deadline to see Manny had been traded - to the Dodgers!

I have a plan on how to help fix he Dodgers.

Wait, don't panic, this isn't one of those columns where a blinkered fan suggests acquiring A-Rod in return for a backup catcher and a bag of balls.

I think these proposed moves make sense and could well happen - qualities which are not often found together as the trading deadline approaches. 

So Clayton Kershaw returns to the minors after a winless start to his Major League career.

Not the start everyone thought he'd get off to, including Dodger fans (like me) and fantasy managers who have him on their team (like me!).

Reading some of the quotes attributed to him, Kershaw didn't seem too happy.

Hello all,

With Chris away on holiday this week, I'm pinch-blogging for him with the week seven update from H2H UK South division.

Once Frank Thomas publicly ripped the Toronto management after news of his greatly reduced playing time, the Big Hurt's stay with the team was never going to end happily.

Even so, I was surprised the Jays cut him loose so quickly, proving Thomas right when spoke of the benching as a way of avoiding the $10m option for next season kicking in after a certain number of plate appearances.

So here we are a week an a half into the season and it's been a fairly decent start to the season for my Dodgers, taking two out of three against the Giants and Padres before losing the first two in Arizona.

Penny is off to a good start, Lowe has been as solid as ever and Kuroda was magnificent in his debut against the Padres.

OK, it's time to make my predictions for the upcoming year.

I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on them. Which teams are overrated? Which team do you think will be a dark horse?

OK, here's my team, the Orpington Dodgers.

Despite picking 12th in a 16-team league, I finished the draft pretty happy with my team.

I was very happy to get Prince Fielder and Carlos Lee with my first two picks. I strongly considered taking Howard or Soriano in the first round, but I think Prince will hit for a better average than both and may end up stealing as many bases as Soriano if Piniella bats Alfonso lower in the order and tells him not to run as muich to avoid any more leg injuries.