Jose Reyes

Once the obvious first two rounds are drafted, the GM of your tiny team must begin to look deeper into your own knowledge of the sport.

Players begin to be less of stars and more of knowledge. The stats from previous years can often lie, you often try to stay away from losing records by pitchers and hitters that were injured or didn't hit more than 20 home runs or hit over .275.

Heres a hint for you. If the pitchers switch teams, the ERA will stay the same but the Win column will improve.

If the hitter is hurt, 75% of the time he will get better.

Here’s a look at some middle infielders that should return to form in 2010.

Akinori Iwamura, 2B, Pittsburgh Pirates
Iwamura was limited to just 69 games last year. He’s moved on to Pittsburgh where he should return to form. In 2007 & 2008 he averaged .279, 86.5 runs, 6.5 HRs, 41 RBIs, and 10 SBs. He’s only useful in the middle infielder slot.

What I’m Reading

• Just imagine a Mauer-less Twinky-Town. Through means of a trade, no less. My head hurts already.

• So Jose Reyes’ thyroid is due to keep him out anywhere from two weeks to two months. Great diagnosis, Doc.

Call him what you will, for Jose Reyes goes by many names.

Jose the Nuisance: A pest in the eyes of the Phillies, Marlins, and beyond.  It seems that teams don't like to see Jose be Jose on the field or in the dugout and hold some sort of grudge against the New York Mets when their teams meet on the field.  Is it jealousy, envy?  We're not sure, but he sure isn't Armando Benitez's favorite player.

And the debacle continues.

It was confirmed yesterday that Jose Reyes will be out for two to eight weeks with what the Mets are describing as a “hyperthyroid.”

Ok, fair enough.  No one wants to mess around with a thyroid problem.

The issue here is not Reyes’ ailment, but the way in which the Mets have yet again brought their fans on a bizarre seesaw ride over the past week and we are still left asking what in the world is going on with Jose Reyes.  

Jose Reyes’ thyroid problem throws a huge wrench into fantasy owners’ plans for their upcoming draft.  Not only does he have a known problem, but the time frame for his potential return is wide open. 

According to Adam Rubin of the New York Daily News (click here for the article), “Reyes cannot have any physical exertion for the next two to eight weeks."

As news of Jose Reyes thyroid issue hit the press this morning, the prognosis was the Mets shortstop would miss 2-8 weeks.  Fans who lived and died with this team over the past year knew it was going to be at least two months before Reyes played again.

Mets shortstop Jose Reyes could be sidelined until May or June, according to new reports coming out of spring training today.

He has not played since March 4, when he was sent back to New York for medical tests, and while it was initially thought his overactive thyroid wouldn't prove too much of a distraction, it has now emerged that he may not even resume playing baseball for eight weeks.

With Carlos Beltran out for the start of the year, it's a big loss to be without the speedy infielder for an extended period of time.

This continues my 2010 MLB preview. I intend to touch every team in the major leagues in installments by division. The lineups I provide will be what I predict will be the most productive for each team for the MAJORITY of the season (e.g., Jason Heyward will be listed as the Braves RF even though he may not begin the season as the starter).

I will also provide the stereotypical letter grade to each team's lineup, rotation, bullpen, and depth/bench. Though it is trite, I think all baseball fans can identify with the letter grade system.

Throw open the sashes of your windows and let the spring air in, grab yourself some tin foil wrapped hotdogs, and sit back and enjoy; baseball’s hibernation is officially over.

The first certified spring training game between two MLB clubs will commence today at 1:10 PM EST in Port St. Lucia, Florida, and it will feature the New York Mets against the Atlanta Braves.