Alex Rodriguez - he's like good and stuff. No, we've got nothing else we can really add to that...

I was born and raised a Red Sox fan.  I will raise my own children to be Red Sox fans.  I will ask my children to raise their children as Red Sox fans.  Saying what I am saying next hurts on a level that I can barely stomach.

Alex Rodriguez is the best offensive baseball player I have ever seen.

There I said it.  I have to go brush my teeth right now and spray some Lysol on my keyboard before I can continue.

…

OK, I am back.  You can make your case for the old time legends and talk about his lack of post season dominance, but when push comes to shove, the guy can flat out hit a ball.  Yankee fans the world over are getting a crash course right now in why George Steinbrenner went out and got him three years ago.  My only hope, as a Red Sox fan AND as a fantasy player unlucky enough not to have him on a single one of my eight teams is that I get to see why, in the end, Sox fans don’t really care.

Weekly Mojo: Fantasy Overload

How many leagues are too many leagues to play in?  As I mentioned above, I am in eight different leagues right now.

1. 1 AL only head to head league
2. 3 mixed head to head leagues
3. 4 mixed roto style leagues

I love them all.  Out of those eight leagues, I have the same mix of friends in only two of them.  The other six are dominated by guys that have no clue about the other leagues I am in.

Should Mojo be rooting for a homer or a K here? Or both? It gets confusing...

Here is the problem though, I have no idea who to cheer for anymore!  If I pray Ryan Howard heats up in my roto league, it might just cost me a win in my head to head league.  If I smile seeing Felix Hernandez leave early off my head to head league opponent’s team, I cringe to think about how to replace him on my AL only squad.  It is a vicious, never ending cycle.

So I put the question to you, how many teams is too many teams?  How many teams do you own and how do you handle the differences?  Let me hear about it and maybe we can sort this issue out together in my next article.  Send your stories to me at mojo@sportsgrumblings.com and I will get back to you.

Jocks & Jokes

Jocks

Travis Hafner (DH, CLE) – For some reason I remember being upset when he got picked right before I was going to grab him in my last draft of the year.  Then his name just kind of disappeared from my circle of names I watch in awe.  Well, it is back in the circle now and maybe even darn near close to the center of it.  Pronk, as his friends and a bunch of fantasy writers that like to pretend they are his friend call him, is on a roll right now and hitting the ball like it was moving in slow motion.  In his last 33 trips to the plate he has moved down to first base or beyond 23 times.

Jason Frasor (RP, TOR) – BJ Ryan is no on the 60-day DL and it looks like the closer job will be Frasor’s for a good long time this year.  He is already picking up Saves.  I had him here last week when he was just taking over and had to put him back here this week because with this news he is officially the first closer change of the year that really matters.  Oh sure, Brad Lidge losing his job hurt some folks, but really, if you didn’t see that one coming you may be in need of a visit to your local eye doctor.

Nick Swisher (1B, OAK) – Swisher is hitting hot and hitting bombs, just like he does in April.  He is without a doubt, a must have on the Jock list right now.  But head my warning, this is no the real Nick Swisher.  If there is a better sell high candidate out there right now, I sure don’t know who he is.  If you own Swisher, move him before the calendar hits May.  Move him for as much as you can get and don’t look back.  When the trade vaults you into first and you win your league while Swisher falls to a mid level player, you can send me a small thank you note.

Jokes

Not all rookies are going to be superstars right out of the gates. Alex Gordon is proving that, no matter how good he might eventually be.

Alex Gordan (3B, KC) – I saw his name tossed around a lot in drafts and all over fantasy sites and magazines.  Some talked about him like he was the second coming of George Brett.  Sorry, I didn’t see it then and I don’t see it now.  Could he be a good ball player?  Yes.  Could he become a great ball player?  Sure.  Will he do either as a Royal? My gut says no.

John Smoltz (SP, ATL) – Now, now, calm down.  Do not go out and dump or trade him away for nothing.  He is still a great pitcher; one that you should feel more than comfortable relying on.  With that said, however, he is another year older and starting to look like it.  He hasn’t been horrible yet.  But he hasn’t been great yet either.  All you can do is wait it out to see if he starts to click soon.  But for now, do not assume he will pitch lights out.

Gary Sheffield (OF, DET) – If Sheffield wanted to stick it in the Yankees face for not bringing him back this year, he sure is going about it all wrong.  While trying to settle in to the lineup in Detroit, Sheffield is hitting only .119 and has exactly one home run so far.  He was even given a day off from the team to help get his head in to the game.  If he doesn’t heat up soon, it is going to be a long season in Detroit.

Want to hit Mojo up for advice, mock his picks, or just tell him how great his column is? Send him an email at mojo@sportsgrumblings.com.