O’ What a Wonderful Time of the Year

Editors Note: Read Justin’s column below since we both posted on the same night!

By: Chad Ruter

Well folks, I apologize for the minimal posting. As Justin mentioned, my computer has been a serious problem for me, and I’m hoping I can suck a few more months out of it by having my buddy John wave his magic wand over it in a couple of weeks. This post is actually being typed on my computer, but loaded to the site by Justin – that’s how bad it is. The major pain of the whole thing is that I can’t surf the fantasy baseball pages fluidly, and to maintain my domination, I need a computer that is performing.

It’s not possible for me to stress my happiness level right now. Here’s ten reasons why:

1. I won J and mine’s bracket wager (requiring Justin to purchase and don a brand new Cubs hat – which I will reimburse him for later). That Cubbie blue and red is going to look real good covering that ol’ receding hairline J’s been working on. He has to wear it for one full day when I’m not there (with picture proof that he did so), and another full day when I’m back at home, or he’s into the city for a visit. The disappointing part about the tourney brackets is that I didn’t pick either Kansas or Memphis into the finals, and I have no chance at winning the monies. No worries though, winning the bet makes me smile.

(These colors look good on anyones cranium…)

2. After only a week, I sit in the driver’s seat in both fantasy baseball leagues!! I talked with Luke, my opponent in Terry’s Tire World IV during week one, on Sunday night, and it was the closest he’s ever come to crying on the phone! Ok, maybe he wasn’t on the verge of tears, but it sure was fun to win 9-0-1 and put my most feared opponent in a deep hole early. I didn’t get a huge week out of any one player. Everyone contributed. The Cincy pitching duo of Johnny Cueto and Edinson Volquez could be phenomenal late round and free agent pickup’s respectively. I grabbed Michael Bourn to get me a steal, and I traded Jeff Francis for Chris Young (the hitter) to play the bench role for me. He’s perfect. He may not hit for average, but I just want him in there once or twice a week to either grab me a steal, or hit me a homer.

I did have a few injury problems early this week that panicked me a bit. I put Randy Johnson on the DL in both leagues, and then had JJ Putz go down after his first appearance. Now I’ve used up both DL spots in Terry’s Tire World (TTW), and have to use a bench spot for the hurt Putz in my other league. Then I had Pedro Martinez and Mike Hampton go down in each league, and just decided to drop them both instead of shuffling pitchers. I’m playing Justin this week in TTW, and am hoping to go 5-5 at worst. If I can get through the first two weeks playing my two toughest competitors, and do no worse than 5-5 in either game, I’m golden. Maybe I can go wire-to-wire in both leagues?!?! I’m just joking Karma. No, I really am! I know better than to mess with you when things are rollin’!

(7IP, 1H, 1ER, 10K’s is a dream boxscore for your first Major League start)

3. The NCAA Championship is tonight, and I’ll be writing and watching the game simultaneously. I have Memphis winning this game (they are down 3 at the moment I typed my prediction). Derrick Rose is the best player in college basketball. I thought it was Michael Beasley, but being a forward, he can get lost in the midst of double-teams. Rose, on the other hand, gets doubled and proceeds to kick it to a teammate for a wide open jumper. You always have to know where Beasley is at on the court, but you always know where Rose is because nine times out of ten, he has the ball! That offense runs through him, and that’s why he a step above Beasley.

(If the Miami Heat’s tanking results in the No. 1 pick, they’ll have a tough choice to make)

4. After starting 0-2, the Cubs have bounced back to win three of four, with Derrek Lee proving that the 46 homer season he had a few years ago might have been no fluke. Kosuke Fukudome has been on a roll as well, but he’s still being misused as the No. 5 hitter in my opinion. They need to drop Soriano in the lineup. His prolonged slumps leading off can put strain the offense, and it has reared its ugly head in the first week. When he’s on, he’s on fire, but you have to get to that point first.

(.400 AVG, 3 HR, 4 RBI, that’s triple his production from last April)

5. I will be announcing and refereeing the second bi-annual Beerfest competition on Saturday at Western Illinois. Last semester, 27, 5-member teams competed. I don’t know how I made brackets for that, but I did. This year, the team restriction is set at 16, and the party should be just as fun. It’s always a great time when my buddy Doug is running the show.

(Once it hits your lips!)

6. My buddy Aaron turns 22, and we’re going to celebrate it Western style. His brother is coming, our buddy Metz is coming before he ships out for the Marines on Sunday. What can I say, we’re going to have a blast!

7. The Masters starts on Thursday, with the Par-3 challenge being shown on TV for the first time ever on Wednesday. Is there anything better than watching Tiger Woods pursuing the green jacket on a Sunday afternoon on the most beautiful course in the world? I don’t think so. Some added bonuses this year include the fact that Tiger is on a roll like no other golfer has been on since Sam Snead. Also, we get to see the famed Par-3 course that has been buried in the shadows of Augusta National for years. We always see the hole-in-one highlights, but we now get to see the course and all its beauty. Should be a fun watch on Wednesday.

(In my best British accent: Useful, useful shot.)

8. Did I mention I golfed outside yesterday?? Par-3 course across the street from my apartment is $12.50 on the weekends! Oh man is this going to be a good summer!

9. I’m going to buy an HDTV that I can’t afford at some point this week. Not sure what kind yet. Probably going to be a Sanyo or Vizio 42″ 720p. I just can’t buy into the extra $300 that 1080p would cost me when the quality isn’t any more stunning than HD is already.

vs

10. Our site now looks pretty cool! Thank Justin for that. He was sick of the bland look, and frankly, so was I. Plus, this makes it easier to see where the breaks in our posts are.

Before I go for the night, I must inform you of the exchange that just took place between Justin and myself.

Justin: Man, Matt Holliday is killing me.

Chad: Let me see what I can do for ya, my friend.

Justin: What, you’re going to call him up for me?

Chad: Nope. Brad Hawpe, Chris Young, and Edinson Volquez for Mr. Holliday.

Justin: Not so fast my friend….you’re evil.

—-Of course I am, and remember kids, it’s never too early to ask!!