LAST MONDAY - Benched Herges last week for Nathan so of course Herges wastes no time getting an easy save. Shawn Chacon's still (off-color comment deleted) in every single game that he has been a member of my roster. Looks like doing the right thing and being patient with Rhodes and Dotel was not the right thing to do. I guess I'll just go out and buy Graves for Dotel, bench Rhodes for Herges, and cut Chacon so they can all have a complete reversal of fortune. BLAH!!!!!

TUESDAY � Herges gets another save, what�s the odds of him saving games two days in a row??? BLAH!!!!!

WEDNESDAY � LMFAO!!!, as I�m eating breakfast Herges gets a save, when I go to lunch I notice that Herges got two more saves, I hit the shower, turn on my computer and see Herges got another save. Herges has eight saves on the day, and the Giants game doesn�t even start till 10:00 PM ET!!! I wake up at 1 AM turn on the computer, and find that the Giants are leading 4-3 in the top of the ninth, but that the opposition has the bases loaded with none out. So what happens??? Strikeout, game-ending double play. Herges now has 23 saves in the last three days while Dotel, Rhodes, Chacon, and Kolb only have 11 saves in the last month combined � BLAH!!!!!

FRIDAY � I�m heading out of town for the weekend, so I have to make my moves today, which is just asking for trouble. Chacon has a 15.19 ERA when I play him, but has a 1.35 ERA with 25 strikeouts in 15 IP when I bench him. I don�t care, I�m dropping Chacon the Chicada for the fifth time this year, because I must have Ben Sheets and Roy Halladay for their two-start weeks. BLAH!!!!!

THIS TUESDAY - This just keeps getting better. I buy Sheets and sure enough, he suddenly gets sick while Halladay comes up with a sore arm. Then I make another burn for Rolen just in case he does drive in 180 runs this year, and he�s beaned in the head!!! Yup. But again, I made my moves on Friday � I�m surprised that half my team didn�t get killed by Sunday night. I guess some people STILL think this is all just a coincidence (Editors note: There are no coincidences.) And the best part about it all is that I saw it coming yet couldn't do anything to stop it. Once again my team is as good as any on the leaderboard, but for reasons beyond explanation, things don't work out. I really thought things would be different this year, I thought that I was finally going to end my 28-year losing streak, but I guess not. Poor me. BLAH!!!

Herges is one of the wierder fantasy situations in quite some time, there was even a week when Herges nearly made the top add AND drop lists this month. His ERA and ratio are an absolute disaster, but comes a great price and racked up saves like crazy during the Giants 10-game winning streak. At this point I say reluctantly stay with Herges, at least if he gets shelled you won't be alone.

Now for the pitching injuries...

Ben Sheets � Actually started to have dizzy spells on Saturday, two days following his last start (where he sparkled on got the win). Sheets problem was not disclosed until Monday, when it was discussed during the Brewers radio broadcast, where by that time Sheets was barely able to lift himself off the clubhouse couch. Sheets was examined the next day by an ear specialist, where he was diagnosed with a nerve inflammation brought on by a virus. As of this writing, it is hopeful that Sheets will only miss one turn, but the optimism may be guarded. There is really no timetable on the recovery time, and the symptoms could continue for an extended time. A vertigo-like condition ended the career of Nick Esasky in its tracks back in 1990, and more recently derailed the career of golfer David Duval. This will be a tough situation to read, last word has Sheets feeling 'much better' and could possibly start next Tuesday in Anaheim, although he could also be retroactively DL'd and still return next weekend v. Houston. I would taxi for the coming week, if there is a silver lining the extra rest could be a blessing in disguise for his arm.

Roy Halladay � After pitching 266 innings last year, this shouldn�t come as too much as a surprise as a sore shoulder scuttled his scheduled start Tuesday in Seattle. The team is hopeful that Roy will miss only one start but manager Carlos Tosca noted that the doctor noticed �something going on� in the shoulder and that he wanted to take a �closer look at it�. The company line is that they will let the shoulder �quiet down� for a couple days then get a second opinion. The words �second opinion� and �there�s something going on� doesn�t seem to bode well. As with Sheets we should get a better read on this by the weekend. Mark this as yet more evidence on why starters should not be overworked.

Josh Beckett - It's back!!! Just when you thought it was no longer a concern Beckett comes down with a relapse of his 2002 blister problems. Becks immediately went on the DL while paving the way for the return of A.J. Burnett. As is the case with Sheets, Beckett's arm could probably use some time off anyways. Since the pickle juice didn't work this time perhaps Becks can take a cue from Moises Alou and soak his hand in something even more disgusting for the next two weeks.

In football the anticipation lasts for weeks and actually months, as hundreds of NFL hopefuls are scrutinized literally from head to toe. Baseball�s annual amateur draft occurs each June with much less fanfare, but is even more of a crapshoot than what we see from NFL first round draft choices.

In recent years there have been more hits than misses with the #1 overall choice, but there are even spectacular failures with the top pick. Recent #1 selections over the past 20 years include the following�

• Shawn Abner (1984) � The Mets could instead had selected Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine or Mark McGwire, OUCH!!!
• B.J Surhoff (1985) � Approaching 2,200 lifetime hits in an 18 year big-league career. However Surhoff was considered a bust in some circles compared to the picks that followed which included Barry Larkin, Will Clark, Rafael Palmeiro, and Barry Bonds.
• Ken Griffey Jr. (1987) � For the most part that one worked out.
• Ben McDonald (1989) � LSU product was the Oriole�s ace for a while before blowing out his shoulder in the mid-�90�s.
• Chipper Jones (1990) � The prize that year was supposed to be high school pitcher Todd Van Poppel, who swore he was going to pitch for the University of Texas. The Braves lucked out with Chipper while Van Poppel ultimately signed with Oakland, who selected him mid-first round.
• Brien Taylor (1991) � Left-handed prep pitcher threw near 100 MPH and was selected by the Yankees, but ruined his pitching arm in an off-field fight long before getting to the Bronx.
• Phil Nevin (1992) � After a couple of false starts, Nevin's career finally flourished but the Astros did not reap the benefits.
• Alex Rodriguez (1993) � That one worked.
• Paul Wilson (1994) � Shoulder problems turned him from superstar potential to being a career journeyman, but is having a sensational 2004 with the Reds (7-0, 3.34).
• Darin Erstad (1995) � Best all-around athlete available that year, has not disappointed the Angels.
• Kris Benson (1996) � Another pitcher that has been derailed by arm problems.
• Matt Anderson (1997) � Had 100 MPH stuff but likewise has been setback by injuries.
• Pat Burrell (1998) � Has bounced back strong from a subpar 2003.
• Josh Hamilton (1999) � Considered at the time a cant-miss prospect and the face of the Tampa Bay farm system, Hamilton�s career appears all but ruined due to off-the-field problems.
• Joe Mauer (2001) � The monetary demands on Mark Prior were too high on the Twins, so the organization gambled on the local product, which seemed risky since he already had a Florida State football scholarship to fall back on. But Mauer signed and has already won the starting catcher�s job with the big club.

Whether to take the high-schooler with eye-popping credentials or the more-seasoned college player is a dilemma that major league organizations have been wrestling with even longer than the NBA. There is also the matter of agents along with a players �signability�. Some of the higher profiled-choices in recent years have been able to have their agents manipulate where their clients go (see J.D Drew, Mark Prior, Travis Lee). Alias, some of the smaller market teams look at the most affordable player rather than the best.

Some of the top choices available include�

Jared Weaver (RHP � Long Beach St.) � How�s this for coincidence, San Diego picks first while the Mets draft third. Is there any chance that Weaver will hold a press conference along with his older brother and dad suggesting that he would really like to pitch in New York and that he just might return to Long Beach for a senior season if the Padres have the nerve to draft him??? Weaver goes 6�7� Is 14-1 on the year with a 1.68 ERA and 193 K�s in 128 IP. Jeff Weaver went #14 to the Tigers in 1998, Detroit would consider themselves fortunate if they get Jared with the #2 pick.

Stephen Drew (SS � Florida St.) � The best five-category player available, hitting .359 on the year with 14 HR/50 RBI. Has also been successful on 55 of 61 steal attempts in his Seminole career. Coach says Drew has a firm grasp on the game, but some are concerned about previous injuries (broken foot in 2002) along with his commitment. Haven�t we heard this about someone else in that family???

Jeff Niemann/Wade Townsend/Phil Humber � College baseball�s version of Zito/Mulder/Hudson, this right-handed trio has put Rice University on the map as something else rather than the school Tommy Kramer played quarterback for before racking up DUI charges with the Vikings. Townsend (11-0, 1.68, 141 K�s in 112 innings) and Humber (13-2, 1,80, 141 K�s/105 IP) have the best numbers this year, but Niemann may be the most attractive prospect of all, going 6�9� with a 98 MPH heater and a nasty slider. A Roy Oswalt-like groin has curtailed this years #�s (5-3, 3.34).

Justin Verlander (RHP � Old Dominion) � Pre-Season All-American has struggled this year with a wild arm, resulting in a so-so 7-6 record along with a 3.49 ERA. Still ranked third in the nation with nearly 13 K�s per 9 IP. Still thought of as a top-five selection but may slide.

Homer Bailey (RHP � La Grange, TX) � Considered the best high-school pitcher available, Homer pitched 66 innings this past year. That means (barring dropped third-strikes) 198 strikeouts is the maximum possible, Homer struck out 156 while allowing only two earned runs. Has three pitches with a fastball topping out at 94. First gained notice by out-dueling Ryan Wagner (Reds 2003 first-round pick) as a freshman.

Matt Bush (SS � San Diego, CA) � The best position player among preps who also has a 94 MPH fastball, recording 15 K�s in a 7-inning one-hitter this year. However scouts like him more at shortstop where he possesses tremendous defensive skills.

Chris Nelson (SS � Decatur, GA) � Has tools comparable to Devil Ray prospect B.J Upton, but made two critical errors in his team�s playoff loss. Bounced back from Tommy John surgery last year.

Josh Fields (3B � Oklahoma St) � The best corner-power prospect available, you may know Fields better from being OSU�s starting quarterback the past two years, throwing to the likes of NFL draft pick Raushan Woods. Fields sparked a dramatic rally from seven runs down in the conference tourney with a late game double and home run.

This weeks CDM pick-up/drop list is one of the wierder ones in recent memory, as the majority of the top adds have already been smashing dissapointments this week...

Interleague play begins with all games held in American League parks with the exception of a four-game series between the Cubs and Cards at Wrigley, a three-game weekend set with Houston visiting Milwaukee, and the final game of a San Francisco/Colorado series on Monday. The series that will get the most attention nationally on �Spiderman� weekend will probably be the Dodgers visiting Boston, but keep on eye on the Cubs visiting Anaheim, which could very well be a World Series preview. All week 11 games will be in National League parks, and I will declare that weekend to promoting I,Robot � where a scientist gone mad produces hundreds of Barry Bonds robots, complete with metal armor.