Contract-year players to watch in 2009

By Tristan H. Cockcroft

Money-money-money-money, muhhhhh-nay!

Even in these troubling economic times, the almighty dollar sure has a way of motivating players to take that extra step, go that extra mile, give that extra effort. Just ask Milton Bradley, A.J. Burnett, Ryan Dempster, Manny Ramirez and CC Sabathia, who parlayed huge 2008 campaigns into solid -- if not as monstrous as in winters past -- free-agent paydays. Every one of them scored a contract of $30-plus million; talk about a bailout!

In the fantasy realm, these are the guys we call "contract-year players," an extensive list of career-year performers that includes such...Cockcroft: Contract-year players

How do lineup spots affect steal attempts?

By Tristan H. Cockcroft

I have one word to ease the minds of people who worry that Hanley Ramirez will stop stealing bases now that he's slated to bat third for the Marlins:

Don't.

Traditional thinking has a way of tainting even the most knowledgeable baseball mind. It always has been assumed that players who bat atop the order are the ones who steal the bases, while the Nos. 3 and 4 hitters are the ones who knock 'em home, with no exceptions. Even those who casually browse the statistics might point out that among all major league teams in 2008, the average team produced 30...Cockcroft: How do lineup spots affect steal attempts?

The Talented Mr. Roto: Berry's Top 250

By Matthew Berry

The answer is almost always "No."

The question will go like this. "Hey TMR. I have pick five. Is it too early to take Chase Utley?" And I'll say no. Now, I wouldn't take him there. As you'll see below, I have five guys I like more than Utley.

But it's your team. If he's the guy you want, grab him. Because he won't be there when it swings back around to you in Round 2 so your only chance to roster him will be right now. And it's not like he's bad.

There are a lot of flaws with rankings,...Talented Mr. Roto: Berry's Top 250

NL Tout Wars: Believe in Wright, Reyes

By Tristan H. Cockcroft

I love it when a plan comes together … though I guess it's OK if it completely falls apart.

Such was the case in Tout Wars, as my strategy -- get "my guys," i.e., put my money where my mouth is (again) -- unraveled quicker than I could gulp down my first cup of coffee. Within 20 minutes I had already blown $112 -- 43 percent of my budget -- on three players, seemingly steering my roster toward adopting the uncomfortable strategy of "stars 'n' scrubs," the same one that led to my disastrous performance in my rookie year of 2001.

Fortunately, that's...Cockcroft: NL Tout Wars recap

AL Tout Wars: Expect Cabrera to lead way

By Matthew Berry

Mostly a crock.

When I am asked about experts' leagues, my standard answer is that they are mostly a crock. I'll let you fill in what you think that crock is full of while I tell you that this past weekend I finished another auction in the Tout Wars AL-only league.

It's a league that has become well-known in recent years because it was the subject of a book that sold well and in which I am a character. I finished 11th out of 12 last year as injuries ravaged my team. (Thanks for nothing, Erik Bedard and Fausto Carmona!) I...The Talented Mr. Roto: AL Tout Wars roster