Key Matchup
Thursday afternoon’s pitching matchup between Red Sox starting pitcher Jon Lester and New York Yankees starting pitcher Mike Mussina should be interesting. On the year, Lester is 12-5 with 116 strikeouts and a 3.49 ERA. In two starts against the Yankees this season, he’s 2-0 with a 1.13 ERA and a .241 opponents’ batting average in 16 innings. His last start at Yankee Stadium was a five-hit complete game shutout.

On the year, Mussina is 16-7 with 109 whiffs and a 3.45 ERA. In three starts against the Red Sox this season, he’s 1-2 with a 5.52 ERA and a .333 opponents’ batting average in 14 2/3 innings of work. Inside Yankee Stadium this season, Mussina is 10-6 in 17 starts with a 3.51 ERA.

Hottest Hitter
Over his last 10 contests, Sox outfielder Jason Bay has gone 14-for-40 (.350) with three dingers, nine RBIs, seven runs scored and two stolen bases. In 25 career Yankee Stadium at-bats, Bay has hit .200 with one home run, two RBIs and one run scored. It should be interesting to see how Bay embraces baseball’s greatest rivalry, especially as a member of the Red Sox.

1.)   San Diego Chargers (DEF)
The Chargers finished fifth amongst National Football League defenses last year in points allowed per game (17.8) and sacks (42). Plus, they were first in interceptions (30) and tied for third with five defensive touchdowns. The dominant presence of linebackers Shawne Merriman and Shaun Phillips will resonate a feeling of cold fear through the bellies of opposing offenses all season. The Chargers should once again be one of the fiercest defensive units in the game.

2.)   Minnesota Vikings (DEF)
Minnesota sported the league’s stingiest run defense last year while allowing a paltry 74.1 yards per game to opposing ground attacks. Plus, they forced 21 fumbles, which placed them tied for second amongst NFL squads. In addition, they scored a league leading eight defensive touchdowns. The presence of newly acquired defensive end Jared Allen and his 15.5 sacks from last year with the potent mixture of defensive linemen Kevin Williams and Pat Williams pits Minnesota’s defense in an esteemed seat amongst NFL teams. They are one of the safest grabs in fantasy.

3.)   New England Patriots (DEF)
The Patriots finished fourth amongst NFL squads last season in points conceded per game (17.1) and total yards allowed per game (288.3). Plus, they were tied for second in defensive scores (six) and finished second in sacks (47). They are anchored by the likes of defensive lineman Richard Seymour and linebackers Mike Vrabel and Adalius Thomas. The addition of rookie linebacker Jerod Mayo will prove to be vitally important and the mixture of safeties Rodney Harrison and John Lynch should be electric. Expect the Patriots to be atop the league in all defensive categories once again this season.

1.) Nick Folk (K) – Dallas Cowboys
I’m a huge fan of Folk, his bionic leg was the deciding factor in two of my leagues last season, which gives proof to the fact that kickers do matter. Last season, Folk nailed 26-of-31 field goal attempts and hit 9-of-12 from 40-plus yards. The 23-year-old University of Arizona alum is a mentally sound athlete, which is a crucial trait for a kicker on a team that scores at the pace the Cowboys do. Also keep in mind that he converted 53-of-53 PATs, which is a testament to his accuracy, consistency and demeanor.

2.) Stephen Gostkowski (K) – New England Patriots
The key to garnishing your roster with the perfect kicker is to draft a guy on a team that either scores a ton or consistently gets stopped in the red zone. Last year, Gostkowski converted 21-of-24 field goal attempts and was 3-of-5 from 40-49 yards. He nailed 74-of-74 PATs and was second amongst National Football League kickers with 137 points. He has sufficiently replaced former Patriots kicker Adam Vinatieri admirably and should continue to mature under a system that will continue to utilize his leg on a regular basis.

3.) Adam Vinatieri (K) – Indianapolis Colts
With his 118-point showing in 2007, Vinatieri ran his streak of 100 or more points to 12 consecutive seasons. Last year, he converted 23-of-29 field goal attempts and nailed 49-of-51 PATs. However, in three attempts from 40 or more yards, Vinatieri laid a fat goose egg, which is worrisome since he was 9-of-11 from 40 or more yards during the 2006 campaign. Vinatieri is once again one of the safest bets in the kicking industry; draft him with utmost confidence even though he’s a traitor to the hometown garb.

Key Matchup
Starting pitcher Charlie Zink’s Red Sox debut pits him against Texas Rangers starting pitcher Scott Feldman. On the year for the Pawtucket Red Sox, Zink was 13-4 with a 2.89 ERA in 25 starts. Zink is a 28-year-old knuckleballer that has worked his tail off over his career to get to this point. He provides a bit more velocity on all of his pitches than resident knuckleballer Tim Wakefield exhibits and sports a slightly different knuckleball trajectory.

Feldman is a 25-year-old right-hander who has four years of major league experience, but just began starting this season. In 20 appearances (18 starts) this year, he is 4-5 with a 4.82 ERA. Over his last four starts, he’s 1-2 with a 4.07 ERA in 24 1/3 innings. In four career appearances against the Sox, he sports a 1.35 ERA in 6 2/3 innings.

It will be interesting to see how the mashing offense of the Rangers does against Zink’s dancing knuckleball. On the flip side, I’ll be quite surprised if the Sox don’t crank at least two dingers off Feldman, he has allowed 16 on the year.

Hottest Hitter
I can’t help but glimmer with elation over outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury’s recent success. Over his last five games, the 24-year-old speedster has gone 10-for-19 (.526) with two home runs, six RBIs, five runs scored and three stolen bases. In 24 career at-bats against the Rangers, he’s 9-for-24 (.375) with nine runs scored and five stolen bases. Expect to see Ellsbury continue his success, he has hit .359 in 128 career August and September at-bats combined.

Key Matchup:
Saturday night’s tilt between Red Sox starting pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka and White Sox starting pitcher Jose Contreras (elbow) should be an epic battle of control or lack thereof. In one career start against Chicago, “Dice-K” got roughed up for three earned runs on two hits in five innings of work. He also walked six batters en route to the loss. But as evidenced by his 12-2 record this season, the past is the past and Dice-K is maturing. On the road this season, Matsuzaka is 5-0 with a 2.20 ERA and a .158 opponents’ batting average in 45 innings of work. Matsuzaka has finally adopted the form that saw him garner so much praise upon his arrival in the United States. His only flaw is his inability to realize that this isn’t Japan anymore and players here aren’t going to swing at the stuff that made him look like a god overseas. The Sox are on a roll as of late and Matsuzaka has been one of their main catalysts. He’s a great pitcher that is only scratching the surface of what he could do in Major League Baseball.

1.) Jason Witten (TE) – Dallas Cowboys
In 2007, Witten finished second amongst National Football League tight ends with career highs in receptions (96) and receiving yards (1,145). He also added a career-high seven touchdown grabs. Witten is a determined pass-catcher that isn’t afraid to play smashmouth football, and opposing secondaries know it. Last season, Witten caught six or more passes 10 times and notched 100-plus receiving yards on four occasions. In my mind, he has officially taken the crown from tight end king Antonio Gates, so to expect anything less than a stellar year from Witten would be foolish on your part. Draft the 6-foot-5, 265-pound bruiser with confidence, because Dallas quarterback Tony Romo loves him and won’t hesitate to throw his way 15-20 times a game if he has to.

2.) Antonio Gates (TE) – San Diego Chargers
Unfortunately for Gates, the surgery he had on his toe in late February will likely keep him off the practice field for most of training camp. However, word out of San Diego is that Gates is adamant about playing in the season opener against the Carolina Panthers. There is no doubt that Gates will slip in drafts this season due to his ailing toe, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use an early draft pick on the 6-foot-4, 260-pound superstar. In four consecutive seasons, Gates has recorded 900-plus receiving yards and at least nine touchdown grabs. Although Gates’ reception totals have been down over his last two campaigns, his presence in the red zone is still legendary. Plus, with quarterback Philip Rivers feeling better, a healthy LaDainian Tomlinson and wide receiver Chris Chambers in the mix, Gates’ presence on the field and on fantasy rosters should loom larger than ever.

Key Matchup:
Friday night’s matchup between Red Sox starting pitcher Tim Wakefield and Oakland starting pitcher Justin Duchscherer presents itself as a very intriguing clash. In 36 career appearances (25 starts) against the Athletics, Wakefield is 9-6 with a 4.32 ERA in 179 1/3 innings of work. This season, he conceded eight earned runs on eight hits in five innings to take the loss in his only start against them. However, over his last 10 starts this season, the crafty knuckleballer is 3-3 with a 3.19 ERA in 67 2/3 innings. The Sox must get back on track here, so hopefully the immortal Wakefield can steer them in the right direction.

On the year, Duchscherer is 10-7 with 76 strikeouts, 28 walks and a 2.37 ERA in 121 2/3 innings. In 10 career appearances inside Fenway Park, he’s 1-0 with 20 strikeouts, three walks and a 1.10 ERA in 16 1/3 innings. In one start against the Sox this season, albeit in Oakland, Duchscherer recorded the win while allowing no runs in eight innings of one-hit ball. Although the 6-foot-2, 201-pound right-hander surrendered eight earned runs on nine hits against the Texas Rangers during his last outing, he’s still 6-3 with a 2.43 ERA over his last 10 starts in 74 innings of work. This is a must-win game for the beleaguered Sox, so hopefully their sleeping bats can awake and recreate the turmoil that Texas put Duchscherer through during his last outing.

1.)    Randy Moss (WR) – New England Patriots
All I can say about Moss is that he’s the best wide receiver that I’ve ever seen in my entire life. During his record-setting 23-touchdown 2007 campaign, the 6-foot-4, 210-pound slinky more than doubled his touchdown total (11) from his two seasons with the lowly Oakland Raiders. He also registered two or more touchdown catches in eight games and notched seven or more receptions in six contests. Moss is an anomaly, a king amongst peasants, his game is superior and his skill set is supernatural. Although, I expect some serious adjustments on the part of opposing defenses, don’t be surprised if you see 90 catches for 1,300-plus yards and 20 touchdowns from the 31-year-old future Hall of Famer.
 
2.)    Terrell Owens (WR) – Dallas Cowboys
We saw a brighter side of the enigma that is Owens when he lent a helping hand to ESPN’s Page 2 scribe Sam Alipour who was hit by a car after ESPN’s ESPY Awards Show. Is Owens a different man? We shall see, at least we know he’ll shed a tear for quarterback Tony Romo when needed. At 34, it seems that Owens gets better with age. In 15 games last season, he caught 81 passes for 1,355 yards (a career-high 16.7 yards per catch) and 15 touchdowns. He recorded 125 or more receiving yards in five contests and caught seven or more passes on five occasions as well. Owens’ connection with Romo is what people base novels on, well maybe not, but you get my drift. Expect Owens to put up another big season in Dallas with at least 12-15 touchdown grabs for his gleefully grinning fantasy owners to chew on.

Matchup:

Friday night’s pitching matchup between Josh Beckett and Joba Chamberlain appears to be the most intriguing clash of the weekend. In 11 career starts against the Yankees, Beckett is 7-3 with an ugly 5.75 ERA in 67 1/3 innings of work. However, he’s 3-0 against New York in three starts this year with a solid 3.92 ERA in 20 2/3 innings. This is a big start for the 6-foot-5, 222-pound flamethrower, so be prepared to see a show.

In four career appearances (one start) against the Sox, Chamberlain is 1-0 with a 3.48 ERA in 10 1/3 innings. In his only start against Boston, which just so happened to be this season, he allowed three earned runs on four hits in six innings of work, which resulted in a no decision. Too bad there weren’t any tiny bugs flying around; maybe the Sox would have lit him up for 15 runs. However, both guys are fiery gun-slinging maniacs, so the heat should be turned all the way up once their destined collision at Fenway Park commences.

Hottest Hitter:

Red Sox outfielder Manny Ramirez is hitting .486 over his last 10 contests with three home runs, eight RBIs and 11 runs scored in 35 at-bats. Against the Yankees this season, he’s 12-for-27 (.444) with three home runs, eight RBIs and 11 runs scored. For his career, he has hit .321 against “The Bronx Bombers” with 55 long balls, 160 RBIs and 135 runs scored in 716 at-bats. If he doesn’t leave the bat on his shoulders, Ramirez should shine once again.

1.) LaDainian Tomlinson (RB) – San Diego Chargers
The 5-foot-10, 221-pound ball of fury is an easy choice here. How can’t you grab a man that has rushed for 1,200-plus yards in every single season of his seven-year career, which includes two seasons with 1,600-plus yards and one year with 1,800-plus yards? In addition, he has notched 360-plus receiving yards in every season as well. He is the ultimate fantasy player and has built a legend on his multi-faceted repertoire of disgustingly satisfying talent. He is clearly the No. 1 pick in all formats; you can’t screw this one up.

2.) Adrian Peterson (RB) – Minnesota Vikings
A rookie season with 1,341 rushing yards on 238 carries (5.6 yards per carry) with 12 touchdown scampers is enough to make a believer out of me. He also added 268 receiving yards on 19 receptions (14.1 yards per catch) with one touchdown grab. He only played in 14 games due to a knee injury, which likely resulted in him conceding the National Football League’s rushing title to Tomlinson. Although he notched a mere 144 combined rushing yards on 54 carries (2.7 yards per carry) over his last four contests, his potential for earth shattering bursts of speed and wrecking ball treks through the opposing defense is glaring. Expect to see Peterson go No. 2 overall in most drafts, he could be the next Tomlinson.

1.) Tom Brady (QB) – New England Patriots
In each of his last six seasons, Brady has been good for 3,500-plus passing yards and 23 or more touchdown passes. Last season, he notched a career-high 4,806 passing yards and set the National Football League record in touchdown passes with 50. He has never hurled more than 14 picks in a season and has the arm candy to prove his monumental stature in the game. Brady is undeniably up there with the greats at the position no matter what the buffoons in New York or anywhere else say. That’s why he’ll be drafted before Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning and his bum knee this year. Don’t forget, Brady has maintained his durability by playing in every single game since 2002. Plus, having wide receivers Randy Moss and Wes Welker can’t hurt his already supreme value.

2.) Peyton Manning (QB) – Indianapolis Colts
Although my hatred runs deep for Manning, he’s still one of the best signal callers to ever grace the field. However, his health this year will be worth monitoring since he had an infected bursa sac removed from his left knee Monday, July 14. Word out of Indianapolis is that the commercial star will be out four to six weeks, which likely means that there may be some significant rust for the University of Tennessee alum to shake off as the season commences. Other than some concern over his knee procedure, Manning is the quintessential stallion. Armed with the likes of wide receivers Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne, he has dominated the game for a decade. He has thrown for 4,000-plus yards in eight of his 10 NFL seasons and has never thrown less than 26 touchdown passes in any given year. He sports a lifetime 64.2 completion percentage and boasts a nasty 260.2 yards per game over his career. In addition, like Brady, he is a picturesque vision of durability in one of the toughest games on earth having played in every contest since his inaugural campaign with the Colts in 1998.

Matchup:

The intriguing matchup of this series pits Red Sox starting pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka against Orioles starting pitcher Daniel Cabrera. On the year, Matsuzaka is 9-1 with a 2.84 ERA. In two career starts against the Orioles, he’s 0-1 with an 8.38 ERA in a mere 9 2/3 innings.

On the season, Cabrera is 6-4 with a 4.40 ERA. His July 2 victory over the Kansas City Royals was his first win since May 20 against the New York Yankees. In five career starts inside Fenway Park, the 6-foot-9, 269-pound hurler is 0-3 with an 8.88 ERA in 25 1/3 innings. Not to mention, the Sox have hit .297 against him at home, hence the key matchup.

Hottest Hitter:

Going into the series, Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia is hitting .400 in the month of July with one home run, seven RBIs and 11 runs scored in 40 at-bats. However, in 112 career at-bats against the Orioles, he has hit at a pitiful .268 clip with one home run and seven RBIs. I expect him to turn that around in this series, because not even the Hoover Dam breaking on Pedroia could cool him off at this point.

Hottest Pitcher:

Starting pitcher Tim Wakefield is going up against Orioles starting pitcher Radhames Liz Saturday night. Over his last eight outings, Wakefield is 2-3 with a nasty 2.24 ERA in 56 1/3 innings of work. Plus, in 45 lifetime appearances (32 starts) against Baltimore, he sports a 14-13 record in 230 innings of work. In addition, he has maintained a 2.70 ERA with a 0.98 WHIP and has limited opponents to a .188 clip in the month of July thus far.

Shaky, shaky, shaky! What else can I say about the status of our beloved Boston Red Sox right now? Over their last 10 games, they have gone 3-7 with each and every loss being devastating to their once cushy lead atop the American League East.

Their last two losses against the New York Yankees were right out of a Hollywood screenplay. Watching Saturday’s ninth-inning squander with the bases juiced was detrimental to my health, and last night’s abysmal performance by the bullpen was a heinous crime.

Now, as we sit at our desks with a steaming cup of coffee or a keg full of water like myself, I can’t help but wonder about the future of this team. Will it be feast or famine? Currently, the Sox are five games behind the Tampa Bay Rays, yes folks, I said five!

On a bright note, second baseman and newly anointed All-Star starter Dustin Pedroia was 6-for-18 (.333) with two RBIs and three runs scored. He has gotten his average up to .312 on the season and is more than on pace to shatter last year’s numbers.

Third baseman Mike Lowell was 4-for-14 (.286) with one dinger, seven RBIs and one run scored. He now leads the team with 54 RBIs on the year.

First baseman and All-Star starter Kevin Youkilis was 6-for-14 (.429) with two RBIs and two runs scored. It’s becoming more and more apparent how important “Youk” is to this team. I mean, he has a .382 OBP and an awesome .916 OPS on the season.

Some of you geniuses probably caught on weeks ago. But now, the inevitable frenzy to snag Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Kevin Slowey is upon us like a medieval plague. Over his last four outings, the 6-foot-2, 205-pound right-hander is 3-0 with a 0.93 ERA and a 0.72 WHIP in 29 innings. On the season, he has consistently exhibited his pinpoint precision while whiffing 54 hitters and walking just nine. Another sign of his developing dominance is that he sports a lifetime WHIP of 1.21 and boasts a career total of 20 walks in 139 1/3 innings.  If for some odd reason you’re not sold yet, take into consideration that the 24-year-old control freak has two complete games this year with his most recent nine-inning rumba against the Milwaukee Brewers presenting itself in the shutout variety. Although his surname signifies his mound demeanor, don’t sleep on adding him, because he’s rapidly flying off waiver wire shelves at a discounted price.

I’m guessing that some of you are scared off by the fact that Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Evan Longoria is a rookie and could possibly be just another young and unpredictable hacker. If you think that, drop your whole team, because you should not be participating in the world of fantasy, you’re already living in one. On the year, Longoria is hitting a progressively ascending .267 with 15 dingers, 47 RBIs, 41 runs scored, four stolen bases and a gorgeous .864 OPS in 262 at-bats. Over his last 10 contests, the 22-year-old, Long Beach State alum is hitting a ridiculous .357 with four home runs, 12 RBIs and eight runs scored in 42 at-bats. Plus, in the month of June, he is cranking at a dastardly .300 clip with eight dingers, 19 RBIs, 19 runs scored and a gargantuan 1.024 OPS in 100 at-bats.  The only real knock the kid has against him is that versus left-handed hurlers he’s hitting a horrendous .224 and has a grand total of 69 strikeouts on the campaign. However, he is a developing stud on a nasty team, just ask the Sox. Not to mention, he shares a last name with one of America’s supreme beings.

After the weekend series with the Houston Astros, I can’t help but feel disappointment running through my veins like a riptide. How the heck did the Red Sox just drop two out of three games to the Astros, a team that sports a highly subpar 39-43 record on the year?

Well, the past is the past, and now we must focus on the Tampa Bay Rays, even with Boston’s bullpen resembling a derailed train headed for a destination unknown.

Albeit severely limited, there were some bright spots for the Sox over the weekend.

It didn’t take long for starting pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka to return to his usual dominant form. In five innings of work Friday night, the valuable import blanked the Astros in the run department while conceding two hits with four whiffs and his standard three free passes. He was routinely throwing in the low to mid-90s, and appeared to be healthy once again.

Third baseman Mike Lowell continued his solid campaign on the season. Against Houston, the 34-year-old veteran went 6-for-13 (.462) with one long ball, five RBIs and two runs scored. On the year, he’s mashing at a nice .296 clip with 12 home runs, 46 RBIs, 37 runs scored and a nasty .877 OPS in 243 at-bats.

Second baseman Dustin Pedroia tore the cover off the ball during the three-game set. The gritty 5-foot-9, 180-pound "Dirt Dog" went 9-for-14 (.643) with one home run, three RBIs, five runs scored and one swipe. On the season, he’s now hitting .304 (finally) with eight home runs, 37 RBIs, 53 runs scored and nine stolen bases in 339 at-bats. He’s back!