I should let everyone know that I have created a BBFL style league, called the Leftovers, which anyone is welcome to play in. Last year Moffatt created it specifically for people on the waiting list that didn't get a spot in the Barfield division, and has given me the OK to do the same this year. The rules are exactly the same as the BBFL, except it is not a keeper league, and has no affiliation to Batter's Box. Once Lucas has filled the Carter division, I will extend an invitation to all those on the waiting list, but people in the BBFL or not on the waiting list are also welcome to play. The draft is set for Tuesday, March 29, 9:00 EST. Email me at david.s.goodwin at gmail.com if you are interested and I will provide you with the information.

Maybe I've missed it, but have the leagues been set up yet?

Yes. Check your email as of Feb 18. If you can't find it, let me know.

In case anyone is so curious that they just can't wait to see who the Red Mosquitos-A are keeping, here's the list I sent to Scott:

SP Carl Pavano
SP AJ Burnett
RP Octavio Dotel
1B Travis Hafner
OF Scott Podsednik

All five are iffy. I likes a challenge.

Here are the Thunderbirds' (Alomar) keepers:

- Santana
- Beltran
- Halladay
- Chavez
- either Brian Giles or David Wright (I'll probably hold of confirming this until closer to the deadline).

As an addendum, I just want to confirm that we can trade players in the off-season following the 3rd year we own them. I remember this being discussed, but I can't find the discussion.

<i>As an addendum, I just want to confirm that we can trade players in the off-season following the 3rd year we own them</i>

True. "Third-year" players don't automatically become free agents when the season ends. Owners only lose them for nothing if they are unable to trade them during the following offseason trading window.

I must be a glutton for punishment. After getting pummelled last year by the lack of healthy and/or effective starting pitching, I traded away both Pedro Martinez and Mark Prior.

I've always favoured hitting in building my team but this will be the first time I go into a season with no pitchers among my top five picks. Keepers for this year are:

Pujols, Tejada, Drew, Blalock, Crawford

In 2003, I picked up Schilling in the first round of the draft, 7th overall. He went on to have a disappointing season showing flashes of his true self but otherwise playing hurt or not at all. I traded him mid-season and he went on to have a strong 2004 for Coach's wire-to-wire championship Walrus.

So 2004 rolls around and I figure I will go after a different "can't miss" pitcher in the off-season. So I trade for Mike Mussina. A pitcher who in the last 9 seasons had at least 29 starts and 203 innings pitched. Since joining the Yankees he won 17-18 games for three straight years with strong ERA and especially K/BB numbers.

So naturally that all fell apart in 2004, admittedly at the the age of 35. Which would have all been easier to swallow if Mussina hadn't returned closer to form after I traded him.

I traded a fair bit during the season to try and patch my pitching staff with the likes of Mark Prior and Pedro Martinez. Both were stellar down the stretch allowing me to move from near relegation to middle of the pack.

So why then have I traded them? Basically I give up. I admit that my luck completely sucks when it comes to pitchers. Especially those that I put a lot of stock in to lead my team. So at the risk of not having a dominant pitching staff, I'm putting all of my high eggs into the offence basket, rather than just 4 of the 5. Hey it can't turn out any worse than last year.

In 2004, 3 of my 5 keepers tanked. Mussina, Giambi, and Ordonez were all writeoffs for large stretches of the season. With a younger and possibly luckier group in 2005 I'm hoping to see no such repeat.

And if Pedro and Prior are battling each other for the Cy Young, I'll rest easy knowing I could have had them both. No wait...damn...

Chatsworth Halos (of Anaheim) keepers in the Alomar league:

such as they are....

Garrett Anderson
Jeremy Bonderman
Phil Nevin
Armando Benetiz
Jose Guillen

Spring approaches and life is renewed with baseball and hot dogs and warm Sundays at the ballpark...

The new Edmonton Decepticons will go into the Alomar draft with

Sheffield
Clemens
Greinke
Lowell
Sexson

Kaz Matsui (2b/ss!) will take over for one of these keepers should an injury cut down one of my keepers this spring. I'm lookin' at you Sexson!

The Moscow Rats will keep the following players:

Mike Mussina
Vernon Wells
Jason Bay
Keith Foulke
Melvin Mora

As always, beware the Rats.

Jay's Eh's, barring any unforeseen injuries in the next couple of weeks, will move into Barfield season two with the following five fellas:

Pedro Martinez
Roy Oswalt
Carl Crawford
Derek Jeter
Brian Giles

Mike Lowell and his agent will be on speed dial.

The Burlington Mazsters of the Barfield Division will be keeping these 5 players barring injury:

Carlos Beltran
Mark Teixeira
Aubrey Huff
Javvy Lopez
JD Drew

K-Town Mashers, Barfield

Curt Schilling
Eric Gagne
Johnny Damon
Jimmy Rollins
Victor Martinez

Pistol Nine protected players:

Varitek
Wagner
Abreu
Rolen
Pierre

AGF's keepers for the 2005 Alomar Division:

Randy Johnson
Barry Zito
Rich Harden
Hideki Matsui
Mariano Rivera

1-Tool Wonder's tentative keeper list is:

Mora (BAL)
Nevin (SD)
Rios (TOR)
Wood (CHC)
Wright (NYM)

Middleclass Elitists keepers:

Hank Blalock
Vernon Wells
Paul Konerko
Aaron Rowand
Javier Vazquez

Thanks to those of you who have listed their keepers. Keepers aren't locked until a week before the draft, but this is a courtesy so that everyone can get an idea of who's available. Once I get eveyone's, I'll list them at the website.

Incidentally, keepers for Austin Senators for the moment:

Pedro Martinez
Francisco Cordero
David Ortiz
Jeff Kent
Aaron Rowand

Also, not so incidentally, if an owner does not list his keepers by the deadline, I'll pick his top five players according to Yahoo rankings.

My tentative keepers (Hannibal's Cannibals, Alomar):
Edmonds
A. Beltre
J. Wright
J. Isringhausen
J. Lopez

One of those may change.

The Leftovers, a BBFL style fantasy baseball league, is in need of a few more managers. Our live draft is taking place on Tuesday, March 29, 9:00pm EST. Anyone is welcome to join, whether a fantasy veteran or a first time player.

If you'd like to take part, visit http://baseball.fantasysports.yahoo.com/b1, select "Join Custom League" and enter the following information:
League ID#: 59697
Password: battersbox

If you are uncertain as to the league's format, visit www.scottlucas.com/bbfl to read the constitution of the BBFL. The Leftovers follows all the same rules as the BBFL, save for not being a keeper league, and not costing any money to join.

Any questions please contact me at david.s.goodwin at gmail.com.