Some thoughts on workplace issues, recent signings, and logical forthcoming moves:

We didn't receive enough poll responses to allow me to statistically analyze the responses, so I'm just going to explain the table and why I posted the poll. Here's the table from Tuesday:

		IP	BB	K	K/BB	K/9	BB/9
Pitcher A		309.2	67	182	2.72	5.29	1.95
Pitcher B		337	63	179	2.84	4.78	1.68
Pitcher A		309.2	67	182	2.72	5.29	1.95
Pitcher C		482.1	69	363	5.26	6.77	1.29

I had asked the following two questions:

Please take a minute to e-mail me with your answers to these two questions:

1. Based on these pitchers' combined statistics during their age 34 and 35 seasons, do you find either of these two comparisons valid?

2. If so, which one(s) do you find to be an appropriate comparison. If you find both to be good comps, which one do you find to be the better comparison?

Looking at some relevant indicators, we definitely believe that both these pitchers appear somewhat comparable statistically, but Pitcher A and Pitcher B are closer in all three metrics (BB/K, K/9, BB/9). Here's the table with the pitchers' names restored:

		IP	BB	K	K/BB	K/9	BB/9
Satoru Komiyama		309.2	67	182	2.72	5.29	1.95
Bob Tewksbury		337	63	179	2.84	4.78	1.68
Satoru Komiyama		309.2	67	182	2.72	5.29	1.95
Greg Maddux		482.1	69	363	5.26	6.77	1.29

A week ago today I wrote a few paragraphs on the Mets' signing of Komiyama while including my belief that Greg Maddux wasn't a great comparison despite every wire story referring to Steve Phillips' description of Komiyama as the "Japanese Greg Maddux." I opined that Komiyama's statistics reminded more of someone like Bob Tewksbury.

How did I decide on Tewksbury? I've certainly been following baseball since Tewksbury broke into the majors. I even own most of his first baseball cards. More significantly, I remember the trade that sent Steve Trout to the Yankees for Tewks and two prospects. He's definitely someone who I watched pitch many games on WGN.

Perhaps most importantly, publications like Baseball Prospectus have referred to him more than once over past seasons, and from everything we've read for years, many astute baseball analysts consider him an easily referenced extreme-control pitcher without many strikeouts. Playing for New York, Chicago, St. Louis, Texas, San Diego, and Minnesota, he covered enough geographical area where I really figured most everyone reading this would know Tewks' identity and career.

Imagine my surprise when we received an e-mail the next day accusing me of copying the reference from a website that we very rarely visit. Among the more relevant phrases: "Let's be frank...this was no concidence (sic). There is no way that obscure reference was thought of by two people a day after each other."

Wow. I tried to describe above why I referenced Tewksbury, so hopefully you can understand my shock at receiving this message. Jess can attest to my glee at coming up with the comparison in the first place. We were both rather surprised that 1) someone else published the exact same thought only hours before us, and 2) this e-mail assumed we stole it outright, questioning the originality of our work after a little over two weeks of publication. Fortunately, we've since resolved any misunderstanding with the site so I don't believe mentioning either the name or the author at this time is relevant for this brief discussion.

When you read a column, chances are that the columnist is advancing at least one or two ideas that might have been first mentioned elsewhere. The primary example that comes to mind is the huge number of (unfounded) trade rumors, many of which have been suggested by talk radio callers across the nation. Proliferation of media outlets, primarily with additional sports talk programs and egotistical baseball fans who think they know more than everyone else and should run their own websites (Hi, Mom!), forces additional opinions into the open to fill airtime and column inches. Columnists in Cincinnati probably won't hear the discussions on ESPN-1000's afternoon drivetime show in Chicago, but there's no reason that both sources can't suggest the same ridiculous Juan Cruz-for-Pokey Reese trade rumors.

We're new in this industry and don't know all the "rules of the game" per se, but we certainly know enough not to claim others' work as our own. Our primary roadblock is time limitations, as we directly control every aspect of the site from writing the columns, coding the HTML, designing the logo, etc. A few readers have requested a "recommended links" page of some sort, and we're hoping to tie that into the first update of our philosophy page since many of our ideas have been influenced by other popular fantasy sources, such as Prospectus and Baseball HQ.

As a small aside, HQ's Ron Shandler just released his yearly Baseball Forecaster, probably the most important book for a fantasy owner to purchase every off-season. It's an incredible source of information and recent player history that is a vital addition to your library if you haven't previously discovered it. We'll review our desktop roto library in a later column, but we figured you should know that probably the best 2002 fantasy book is available for your 2001 Christmas list.

Everyone's heard the line about how a couple (or hundred, or hundred thousand) monkeys pounding on typewriters will eventually produce the complete works of Shakespeare if given enough time. I'm apparently the monkey in this case for unintentionally echoing another's comparison, despite the complete originality of both references. We will start reading this other website and as many more as time allows. My (accidental) bad.

I wasn't able to make a separate point in last week's Komiyama comments about Mets' GM Steve Phillips. Many of you read the story a year or two ago about how Phillips was having marital problems because he had an affair with a Mets' employee in Florida, a mistake he blamed on his alcoholism, or some other problem for which he couldn't take responsibility. I'm not positive on all the details, but I think that covers the important parts.

We don't approve of the indiscretions of sports figures, since, Mr. Barkley's comments notwithstanding, athletes ARE role models because of their position in society. Team executives need to set a good example for the impressionable kids on their roster, and Phillips betrayed the New York organization with his error in judgement. To appropriately remember his role in the Mets' front office, we named one of our 2001 online teams "Steve Phillips Screwdrivers."

I could probably finish this article now but I've wanted to discuss a couple rosters for a few weeks now, and I keep forgetting to hold Jess's column hostage unless she discusses the Bluejays. The Koch-for-Hinske/Miller trade changes my thoughts slightly, although I viewed Koch as expendable and anything they received for him as a bonus. Hinske should be a .280/20/80/10 guy immediately with the potential for more, and I remember in the 2000 AFL where 8 or 10 scouts were holding radar guns on Miller's every pitch.

New GM J.P.Ricciardi is blessed with a wealth of riches. He has more catching prospects than anyone in the game, along with four potential starting outfielders, three top infield prospects, and several major league-ready arms. Here's what his lineup should look like by the end of the season:

Vs. RHP / Vs. LHP

1. Shannon Stewart, LF-R
2. Orlando Hudson, 2B-S
3. Carlos Delgado, 1B-L
4. Jose Cruz, Jr., CF-S
5. Eric Hinske, DH-L / Josh Phelps, DH-R
6. Felipe Lopez, 3B-S
7. Darren Fletcher, C-L / Jayson Werth, C-R
8. Cesar Izturis, SS-S
9. Vernon Wells, CF-R

Bench: Luis Lopez, 3B/1B-R; Chris Woodward, SS/2B-R; Chris Latham, OF-S.

I'd start Hudson, Hinske, Lopez, and Izturis in the minors until they all showed that their previous potential wasn't a fluke. Hinske will likely be up in a week or two, and everyone else by the end of July at the latest.

In the meantime, they can start Homer Bush at 2B, Alex S. Gonzalez at SS, Luis Lopez at 3B (Hinske can take over when he's ready), Brad Fullmer at DH (Hinske moves Lopez into a platoon here since Fullmer can't hit lefties), and Phelps can platoon at catcher with Fletcher.

Gonzalez can be dealt at the trade deadline since come team will be desperate for a shortstop, and perhaps both Fullmer and Bush can be moved for prospects.

The primary roadblock is Raul Mondesi's contract, a situation which perhaps some pitching moves can clear up.

Projected end-of-season pitching staff:

1. R-Chris Carpenter
2. L-Mike Sirotka
3. R-Roy Halladay
4. R-Brandon Lyon
5. R-Justin Miller

CL R-Kelvim Escobar
S1 R-Paul Quantrill
S2 L-Pedro Borbon
M1 R-Brian Bowles
M2 L-Dan Plesac
L1 L-Scott Eyre

I believe this is a playoff-ready staff with solid though young starters and a well-balanced bullpen. It lacks a lefty ace, but so does almost every other staff. Sirotka also might not be fully healed from Shouldergate until 2003, so I might be projecting too big a role for him.

Trade bait here includes Loaiza and Bob File, a righty reliever that several columnists like (although his numbers don't really impress me). Of course, I'm impressed by some of Eyre's minor league numbers while the scouting reports on him are fairly bad.

Contracts that Ricciardi needs to move include: Mondesi ($11M in 02 and $13M in 03), Loaiza ($6.05M in 2002), Gonzalez ($15M over the next three years), and Fullmer ($3.75 in 2002 for a 1B/DH only useful against RHP).

While this may be wishful thinking, I suspect that a Mondesi/Loaiza/Fullmer/File package might be enough for someone like Al Leiter. To elaborate on the feasibility of this move, I'll briefly review the Mets' situation.

Rob Leibowitz of Masters of Baseball suggested that New York could move Todd Zeile back across the diamond to 3B, an obvious possibility that we ignored when considering Mets' options. A 1B will be much easier to find than a 3B replacement for Ventura, Alfonzo is more valuable at 2B, and while Relaford should start, he should play over Ordonez at SS instead of at 2B. Piazza will stay at catcher for only another couple years, so they can't sign a long-term option like Tino. Matt Lawton, Dave Justice, and a Shinjo / Payton platoon give them three solid options in the outfield, but they still need more power especially the fragility of Justice and Payton.

With the above 3-for-1 deal, Leiter would take over as Toronto's ace, shifting everyone else down a slot and allowing all five young or injured pitchers as much rest as they need in perhaps a de facto six-man rotation. I think the Brewers would take Raul Mondesi straight up for Jeromy Burnitz, giving them a similarly-priced, more athletic, and better defensive right fielder.

They still need someone to platoon with Fullmer at 1B and that could possibly hit clean-up against LHP. I have a solution that my good friend Dan in New York probably won't like:

Former best player in basebrawl Jose Canseco, DH/OF(/1B?)-R.

Canseco managed a .843 OPB in 256 AB for the White Sox in 2001. He'll sign cheap since he just wants to keep playing. He's still a five-tool talent when healthy, and as platoon 1B (anyone can play first, right?) and benchwarmer, he won't see too much exercise while still receiving more at-bats than he might anywhere else.

A less interesting alternative might be Andres Galaragga, who shouldn't find full-time employment but could be a valuable veteran addition to this squad. While dozens of minor leaguers are available, as well as less attractive free agents like Ron Coomer, I suspect the Mets would prefer someone with more of a track record.

Finally, the Mets should have the resources to sign a new ace, leaving their team looking like:

Vs. RHP / Vs. LHP

1. Matt Lawton, CF-L
2. Edgardo Alfonzo, 2B-R
3. Jeromy Burnitz, RF-L / Mike Piazza, C-R
4. Mike Piazza, C-R / Canseco/Galaragga, 1B-R
5. David Justice, LF-L / Tsuyoshi Shinjo, RF-R
6. Todd Zeile, 3B-R
7. Brad Fullmer, 1B-L / Jay Payton, LF-R
8. Rey Ordonez, SS-R / Desi Relaford, SS-S

Bench: Lenny Harris, PH-L; Vance Wilson, C-R; Joe McEwing, UT-R.

1. R-Chan Ho Park
2. L-Bruce Chen
3. R-Kevin Appier
4. L-Glendon Rusch
5. R-Steve Trachsel

CL R-Armando Benitez
S1 L-John Franco
S2 R-Rick White
M1 R-Bob File
M2 L-Satoru Komiyama
L1 R-Esteban Loaiza

A low-impact solution might involve signing someone like Matt Stairs to help at 1B and LF, providing some left-handed balance to a somewhat righty-heavy team. Burnitz would be a better upgrade, but if the Mets don't want to deal Leiter and sign Park, Stairs might be an acceptable alternative even if he can't really hit high in the order.

You may have noticed that both the lineup and pitching staff are very balanced between righties and lefties on both teams. I believe strongly in alternating sides whenever possible on both offense and defense since it limits the strategies of opposing managers, forcing them to platoon usually inferior players on offense and reducing the effectiveness of specialist relievers. This belief is why I have Piazza hitting 4th if at all possible, breaking up the Mets' probable two best hitters at the top of the lineup. Alfonzo needs to hit high in the order if he's healthy, and while Barry Bonds would look great in the number 3 hole, I think there's a better chance he'll return to the Giants.

I know that much of this article wasn't directly fantasy-related, although I suspect few of you will mind given the statistic-heavy position analysis of most of my articles to this point. Please feel free to comment on any of these potential moves, and enjoy the frequent wire updates over the next few days. Despite the multitude of information that should become available on an hourly basis, we're limited to our daily updates because of time limitations. I sincerely hope that this won't inconvenience any of our readers.

Today's Fantasy Rx: Winter Meetings, Day One. Have your keeper rosters handy since you'll likely update the teams for several players. Keep track of the changes, and strongly consider offering a package that includes a potential league-jumper like Terry Adams if a fellow owner is willing to gamble. (Please make sure you inform said owner about the player's free agency, or at least make sure they don't blame us for the advice. Go Bears in Lambeau!)