Yes the mystery of my current Waiver Priority man crush is revealed!

As I said in my previous post - I believe Clayton Kershaw will be taken next, or wait to be selected by the #1 waiver priority owner in my Fantasy League whenever he gets the call to join the LA Club scene.

So I have some pretty enticing offerings to mull over.

David Price would be an interesting pick, but the Tampa Bay Rays can be slow on the rookie draw - just look at the Evan Longoria hiccup.

Rick Porcello appears to have ace type stuff – but he’s not even old enough to legally drink – so I’m not certain he’ll join the Detroit Tiger’s this season – although I thought the same last year regarding Andrew Miller, and he made it to the show last summer – albeit he was sent down soon after his debut and never appeared to be quite ready for prime time.

So I’ve decided to focus my attention on right hander - Max Scherzer. He currently plays for the D-backs minor league farm club – the Tucson Sidewinders. In his last outing he struck out 11, while throwing five scoreless innings.

He currently carries an ERA of ZIP – ZILCH – NATA, and through 17 innings of work Scherzer has struck out a total of 29 batters while walking only 3 and limiting opposing Triple-A batters to a puny .121 batting average.

Shcerzer also has a rather distinguishing physical characteristic. His right eye is blue and his left eye is brown. Okay. Interesting.

I suppose that’s not really relevant to whether or not a player is worth using a high waiver priority or not. But sometimes the interesting back stories, or strange characteristics of a player or even an original sounding name can all add to a certain allure that can entice me just enough to snag a guy up over the more mundane choices.

Let’s face it - players can all start looking rather similar when comparing countless numbers data - So when I hear about a guy like “Boof” Bonser when he enters the league I tend to give him some “cool” points! C’mon FANTASY can’t just be about STATS right! So I give bumped Scherzer up a notch or two when I heard about the multi-colored eyeballs!

“Mad Max” does suffer somewhat from the “Joba” syndrome in that, there doesn’t yet appear to be a clear cut decision on whether he will eventually become a starting pitcher or be relegated to the bullpen where he would presumably become a potential dominant closer. I don’t really have an opinion on whether he belongs in the rotation or the bullpen. I just know this kids stuff is worth me considering relinquishing my #2 pick.

I am actually torn between wanting to see him get called up, and having him stay down in Triple-A because I am heading to Las Vegas in June, and have bought some tickets to check out a Las Vegas 51’s game when they play Scherzer’s Sidewinders. In a perfect world he’ll be slated to pitch the day I’m in town for the game - and than get called up to the Bigs the following week – yeah – not likely it will work out that neatly – but c’mon – this is after all “Fantasy” baseball right?

How many pitchers can throw a 98 MPH fastball and have 2 different colored eyes? Answer – Just Mad Max!

Currently I have Waiver Priority #2 in my main competitive Fantasy League.

The league has a rather unique set up wherein 10 players are kept each year while the remaining 15 other players you roster are drafted.

The league is very heavily laden with pitchers - 4 SP spots, 3 RP spots and 3 P spots. So anytime a new desirable Starting Pitching prospect is added to our league, there is a bit of a buzz, and inevitably he lasts about as long as a McDonalds French fry tossed to a pack of seagulls.

Up until a few weeks backs I was kind of bummed out about the fact that the #1 waiver priority pick was jumped on by the addition of Johnny Cueto.

Since I began the season with the #3 pick, I did move up one, and currently I am playing the waiting game with Dr. Evil’s trusty #2 pick.

I figure that Clayton Kershaw will be next to go if he is called up. And I will assuredly put in for him, but have relegated to the idea that the current owner of the #1 pick will utilize his priority - and land the Dodger Southpaw without batting an eyelash.

Most believe that Dodgers lefty  Clayton Kershaw will be the next big SP call up– but surely there must be other tantalizing offerings down on the farm?

So where does that leave me, you ask?

Hmmm…Well - Again, there likely will be some premiere batters added along the way that may tantalize me, but in this league - as I mentioned – Starting Pitching is the most sought after, high end prospect.

Which brings me to the player I am gaining interest by the day in…

Is it David Price? Hmmm. No he was hurt to start the year.

Is it Matt LaPorta? No. Think pitching!

Anyways WaiverSharks – I’ll fill you in tomorrow. 

But I’ll leave you with a clue – enjoy - you 80’s slappy!

If you carry a solid nickname you just might have a better baseball career.

Given this theory, we have decided to annoint the Detroit Tigers fill in starter Armando Galarraga with a good one!

Since the similar named former power hitting Andres Galarraga was known best through out his illustrious career as “The Big Cat”

WaiverSharks has decided to dub Armando Galarraga with the nickname:

GATO GRANDE !

We hope it catches on with the Comerica Park announcer.  Imagine an intro in sort of a “Let’s get ready to rumble” fashion:

“Hailing from parts unknown (actually he’s Venezuelan – but work with us.)

And starting on the hill today for your Detroit Tigers *dramatic pause for effect*

 Armandoooo… Gaaato Graaaaande!!!…Galarragaaaaaa!!!

                               (Insert robust crowd cheer here!)

NOTE: If Galarraga wins his third game this coming week-end against the Angels Dustin Moseley -who has been pretty awful thus far, WaiverSharks will be left with no choice but to enter the unknown pitcher into THE CAGE!