2009 HR Contest Champion is..........

After a slow start Team GT used an active trader mentality to get back in the race and eventually run away with the title by a score of 298 to 262.

The GT franchise is having a solid fantasy sports year. In addition to this championship they had a strong showing in fantasy Tour de France against tens of thousands of participants and have started the NFL fantasy season 4-1.

Looking forward to scouting out the next big HR hitters during next years spring training. Until then take care and good luck!

Market On Close Trade

With the season coming to an end I will use my last allowed trade. Dropping Justin Morneau who's season is over. He is at 30 HR's now and I picked him up when he had 12. Adding Jason Bay minus his 32.

Didn't take the time to add it all up, but it looks like a close one this year.

M-E-T-S, Mess mess mess! Wright cut, in come Teixiera

I am in a New York state of mind...Seems the cavern of Citi Field has sucked up all the home run production - the Mets need a stimulus plan (is Morgana the Kissing Bandit still around?) David "Mister" Wright not only is last on my squad with just 5 HR, his slugging percentage is awful. CUT.

Conversely, the new Yankee Stadium is giving up home runs faster than Goldman Sachs can make money appear from nowhere - I will pick up Mark "Que sera" Teixera (think of the Lisa Lisa with Full Force featuring Cult Jam pronunciation) and his 22 HR.

I will admit to being a "buy-and-forget" investor this season, and it kills me to cut a Met, but this isn't about fandom - it is about winning the HOME RUN CONTEST.

Active Vs. Passive Management - All-Star Break Standings

In our day jobs we constantly face the battle of active vs. passive management. Who would have guessed it would become the critical factor in this years HR Contest?

Well as of May 7 GT trailed 60-47. However, after using all but one of his allowed moves in the first two months of the year GT has moved ahead 166-156. VR seems to be asleep at the trading desk. Meanwhile GT is enjoying one of his favorite times of year........Tour de France. He is currently focused on winning his fantasy league for that. HR Contest will be as close over the dog days of summer as the Tour.

UPDATE: Here is the player-by-player standings a/o July 18. (Hat tip to GT for some prescient clutch free agent moves, esp. A-Roid)

GREG = 167 1. Greg - Ryan Howard, PHI - 23 4. Greg - Miguel Cabrera, DET - 18 5. Greg - Manny Ramirez, LAD 6 (CUT 5/7) 8. Greg - Prince Fielder, MIL - 23 9. Greg - Jim Thome, CLE - 16 12. Greg - Carlos Delgado, NYM - 4 (CUT 5/18 IR) 13. Greg - Josh Hamilton, TEX - 2 (CUT 5/7) 16. Greg - Ryan Ludwick, STL - 15 17. Greg - Evan Longoria, TB - 18 FA1. Greg - Alex Rodriguez, NYY 18 (0) (ADD 5/7) IR1. Greg - Adrian Gonzalez - 24 (-9) (ADD 5/7) FA2. Greg - Justin Morneau, MIN 21 (-12)(ADD 5/18) FA3. OPEN

VINCE = 157 2. Vince - Albert Pujols, STL - 34 3. Vince - Ryan Braun, MIL - 16 6. Vince - David Wright, NYM - 5 (CUT 7/18/09) 7. Vince - Adam Dunn, WAS - 23 10. Vince - Alfonso Soriano, CHC - 15 11. Vince - Grady Sizemore, CLE - 13 14. Vince - Carlos Pena, TB - 24 15. Vince - Chris Davis, TEX - 15 18. Vince - Joey Votto, CIN - 12 FA1. Vince - Mark Teixeira 22 (-22) (ADD 7/18/09) FA2. OPEN FA3. OPEN IR1. OPEN

Using My Injury Transaction

Delgado and his 4 HR's are about to have hip surgery, so he is gone. Picking up Justin Morneau minus 12 Homers. This leaves me with just one trade left and we aren't even to Memorial Day.

Not feeling like my year, but at least my Blue Jays have the best record in baseball!

Trading One Juicer For Another

Considering my formerly proud franchise once dominated this league with Barry Bonds, it is only fitting I am dropping the latest busted star for one making his comeback. Manny is out with 6 HR's and A-Roid is in with 0.

That isn't the only move being made though. Apparently something called a day job and following the NBA Playoffs have prevented me from following my team. Turns out Josh Hamilton went on the DL 2 weeks ago. I am dropping him with 2 big HR's and picking up Adrian Gonzalez -9. Feels like a buy at the top move, but I'm desperate trailing 60 to 47 this early in the season.

2009 Fantasy Baseball Draft - HR only

Everything about HR Contest is minimal.

Minimal Rosters (9), minimal transactions (3 FA + 1 IR allowed), Minimal rules (no position reqs, only scoring HR), and finally minimal preparation by the GMs.

In essence, we want to make this easy as possible as we try to save the world from financial Armageddon in our day jobs. We have no interest in Picasso-like impressions of baseball - can someone explain this video game to me?

As Vince is the returning champ, he chose to pick 2nd in the 2-team snake draft:

1. Greg - Ryan Howard, PHI
2. Vince - Albert Pujols, STL
3. Vince - Ryan Braun, MIL
4. Greg - Miguel Cabrera, DET
5. Greg - Manny Ramirez, LAD
6. Vince - David Wright, NYM
7. Vince - Adam Dunn, WAS
8. Greg - Prince Fielder, MIL
9. Greg - Jim Thome, CLE
10. Vince - Alfonso Soriano, CHC
11. Vince - Grady Sizemore, CLE
12. Greg - Carlos Delgado, NYM
13. Greg - Josh Hamilton, TEX
14. Vince - Carlos Pena, TB
15. Vince - Chris Davis, TEX
16. Greg - Ryan Ludwick, STL
17. Greg - Evan Longoria, TB
18. Vince - Joey Votto, CIN

And now sorted by team

2. Vince - Albert Pujols, STL
3. Vince - Ryan Braun, MIL
6. Vince - David Wright, NYM
7. Vince - Adam Dunn, WAS
10. Vince - Alfonso Soriano, CHC
11. Vince - Grady Sizemore, CLE
14. Vince - Carlos Pena, TB
15. Vince - Chris Davis, TEX
18. Vince - Joey Votto, CIN

1. Greg - Ryan Howard, PHI
4. Greg - Miguel Cabrera, DET
5. Greg - Manny Ramirez, LAD
8. Greg - Prince Fielder, MIL
9. Greg - Jim Thome, CLE
12. Greg - Carlos Delgado, NYM
13. Greg - Josh Hamilton, TEX
16. Greg - Ryan Ludwick, STL
17. Greg - Evan Longoria, TB

Tee them high, watch em fly!