The Internet is a great thing - but sometimes it's a bit too informative. Real-time scoring, for one, is a double-edged sword. Sure, it's great to be up to speed on how your team is doing, especially if it's doing well. But it's too easy to get addicted to, and it takes the fun out of reading box scores – one of the very best things about baseball. Putting aside the fact that constantly checking live scoring isn't the best way to get your actual job done, the other real downside is the stark realization your team has gone 2-for-25 for the day without any legwork.
That's not good for anybody.

Statistics are a funny thing – you already know that or you wouldn’t be playing fantasy sports. Case in point – there are some very funky names on top of some statistical leader boards. Miguel Tejada is leading the National League in batting, Raul Ibanez and Adrian Gonzalez are your NL homerun leaders, and Edwin Jackson is second in the AL in E.R.A.

Ibanez is a particularly interesting story; he was on so many pundits “sleepers” lists before the season began that it’s doubtful he really went that cheaply in most informed leagues. But nobody expected that as of Tuesday, he’d be hitting .340 with 19 HR, 43 R and 51 RBI. In those respective categories, he’s fifth, second, first and first in the National League.
Ibanez did hit 33 HR back in 2006, but he’s never hit more than 24 in any other. He’s a sleeper pick that’s exceeded even the loftiest fantasy hopes.
 

It’s been an interesting week. Memorial Day Weekend is certainly an appropriate time to do some good thinking, reflecting and paying respect to those who have earned it. Of course, I’m talking about all of our troops, both those who sacrificed their lives for our country and those who continue to serve.

While there’s really no easy transition from something so serious, there are also plenty of sports figures worth spending some time thinking about.

First off is Mike Tyson, who lost his four-year-old daughter in a horrific accident over the weekend. Seriously, even before this misfortune I’m not sure there was a more tragic personality in all of sports. Tyson earned a lot of contempt in his life, but he deserves some positive thoughts now, as this is something nobody should ever go through.

Often, a lot of baseball news doesn’t seem to have a fantasy impact. Other times, lessons are right there in front of us; you just have to know where to look.
As an example, the Nationals recently played the Giants in a series in San Francisco, and while he was in town, outfielder Adam Dunn thought to mention that he'd assumed that the Giants would have reached out to him this past off-season, as a power-hitting free agent. He stated that he wouldn't have let a “pitcher-friendly” park dissuade him, and that he was surprised that they seemingly weren’t interested at all. The Giants, in turn, responded to the press that there were concerns about Dunn’s defense, and noted he didn’t hit very well in Pac Bell/AT&T/SBC Park, or whatever the phone company is called these days. So, instead, they went with Fred Lewis and Travis Ishikawa. 
Soak on that for a second, and then wonder, with me, how does Brian Sabean still have a job?

Not pursuing Dunn was an egregious error. Here’s the fantasy lesson: If you managed your fantasy baseball team the way Sabean did, you’d make decisions like leaving Brandon Inge on the waiver wire because you think your team could benefit more from a middle reliever. But, you protest, “That makes no sense!” And we're finally on the same page.