Happy New Year

It's 2:45 on the last, rainy business day of the year, and I'm at my desk with nothing to do. So, methinks, why not a blog post, to kick off the new year right?

First things first. I've mentionned PEFA here, my 25 year old fantasy football league which a few BABIites participate in. I'm happy to say I'm the 25th season champion. All I have to say is: 7th round - Larry Johnson. If you're in a fantasy football league, you'll understand. Anyway, I hadn't won the league in 14 years, so it is a pleasant surprise. And I've learned the basic tenet of winning fantasy football. You can write it down: the only skill in FFB is learning how to manage your luck.

Not like fantasy baseball, which is 100% skill, if your name is Mr. Leaguer. Well let's just see how he does with a stinky keeper list. Probably pretty good. Pretty pretty good.

The Doc and I haven't decided how much we're going to put out there preseason-wise for the world to see this season. We'll see. Maybe it will be interesting to do it all in the open.

The Giants have certainly made some moves for 2006. They finally dumped Alfonso, picking up an overpriced Steve Finley who they've been salivating over for half a decade. The outfield looks pretty good, if Finley can still hit. It looks like either Linden or Ellison won't make it, with Barry, Moises, Winn and Finley ahead of them both. Watch for a trade of one of them for a pitcher.

Pedro Feliz gets his full time chance at 3B. KNBR's slop hitter may make everyone wish they'd dump him too. He'll probably be locked into the 5th slot in a lineup that looks like: Winn, Vizquel, Durham, Bonds, Alou, Feliz, 1B (Sweeney/Niekro), Matheny, Pitcher. That 3 spot is looking pretty ugly, so we may see Durham dropped to 6 or 7 and the middle of the order moved up with Barry hitting 3rd. That is one old lineup. Even Feliz isn't that young.

Tomko out, Morris in. It's not that much of an improvement for a lot of millions. I'm still not trusting the Giants' rotation. Meanwhile, San Diego is selling out, Colorado stinks, Arizona is really young, and the Dodgers signed Tomko for not one but 2 years. We could see a sub 500 division winner, likely one that will play its home games at SBC Park.

Ken wanted the Giants to sign Junior Spivey, he of that one incredible season for something like $3. Instead, the Giants go more Senior, with retread Jose Viscaino. Did I already mention how old this team is?

Happy new year. Pitchers and catchers, only 6 weeks.