It’s keeper time and I’ve submitted my list for what may very well be my weakest team this season.   The Fighting Sea Monkeys are in a 12 team, AL only, 5X5 league with a very interesting rule that has hamstrung me, emphasis on the hamstring, with a $37 Vernon Wells.  In this league any player signed to an extended contract can only be released by eating half of that player’s remaining contract.   I liked this rule up until the time when it came up and bit me where the beer and pizza gathers.

Vernon Wells took the Monkeys on a .303/.357/.542  joyride in ‘06, complete with 32 HRs, 106 RBIs and 17 steals;  a performance that helped propel the Monkeys to a finish in the money in our first year in this league.  Flush with success it was time to lock up the franchise and I spent like….well….a drunken Monkey.  Yep, three more years of V. Wells ultimately cresting at the ‘09 bargain price of $37.

2007 saw Vernon Wells perform more like Dawn Wells and his .245/.304/.402 line sunk the Monkeys below the MaryAnna Trench.  Last year brought a performance rebound of sorts but also a new development; he became delicate.  He breaks a wrist, comes back and then pulls a hamstring.   Fall down a well, eyes go crossed.  Get kicked by a mule, eyes go back.  I dunno.

So now my guy comes into ‘09 healthy and is looking strong in spring training when….SPROING…..pop goes the hamstring.  Yep, the same one as last year.  He’s back and playing again now but the early signs point to a season that will require generous doses of brown liquor.

So now when you see my keeper list, you’ll know.  Here’s what I have going into the season:

Keepers 1

So I’ve got $140 to spend going into the draft which may be enough to help me plug the gaping holes in my team.  I need to land an ace starter, a banger at one of the corners and then I need to cobble together some speed.  Lackey, CC, Halladay, and Beckett are all in the draft pool, but with league inflation, they’re going to cost at least $30.  The corners are an even bigger problem with only Miguel Cabrera and Teixeira available as elite options at 1B and only ARod and his hip at 3B.  I’m guessing that I’ll have to go over $40 to get Tex, (and I will) and I really need to get one of the four remaining aces.

I’m feeling good about my closer situation as both guys looked good when they got their chances at the end of last year.  Devine will be pushed by Ziegler in Oakland, but he profiles much better for the job and he put up absolutely obscene numbers last year.  In 45+ innings in Oakland he recorded an ERA of 0.59 and a 0.83 WHIP.  Toss in a K/9 of 9.66 and a K/BB of 3.3 and you’ve got the guy that Ziegler will be setting up.  Francisco put up a respectable ERA of 3.13 with a 1.15 WHIP and he had an eye-popping K/9 of 11.8 and a K/BB of 3.2.

Granderson at $10 helps to absorb the Wells effect and if  Travis Snider can stay up all year and if Verlander can somehow become reaquainted with the plate, the Monkeys could be swinging from a level branch going into the draft.

On the downside, Duran was sent down and although he was just a placeholder, I now have clogged artery in my lineup for the draft.  And I’m not sure what my blood alchohol content was when I kept Gavin Floyd because I’m not sold on his success last year.   Don’t get me wrong, the 17 wins were sweet last year as was the surprise ERA under 4, but his peripherals weren’t all that impressive and many of the 30, yes 30 bombs that Floyd served up landed on the dark side of the moon.

I’ve got an NL only keeper list due tomorrow and that task will be a pleasure as I’ve got more low cost studs than the cast of Supernatural.  Sorry, that comparison is the wife’s idea, but it’s Saturday night and she’s into the Cosmos so I’m rolling with it.