Several years back, I joined Jim Vaughn on a charity walk. As I helped pull his kids in a wagon, I explained the rules of the JLB to him.
He was looking to join the League and wanted to know what it was all about.
There was great interest when the walk started, but when it finished, it had quickly turned into love.
There was a spark in JV’s eye — a spark similar to the one his awesome wife saw the day they met, I assume — and had I known that it would lead to three World Series titles in four years, perhaps I would have run away and never spoke to him again.
Of course, I’m kidding.
Asking Jim Vaughn to join the League was one of the greatest things I did in the JLB.
In video games, I always play on All-Star mode, a considerably hard setting that is frustrating beyond belief. I’ve lost numerous Stanley Cups due to the fact that the computer is Jim Vaughn-like.
So why wouldn’t I want my fantasy league to present the same challenge?
Winning the first JLB World Series in 2008 was a cake-walk. Winning my next two were much harder, though current JLB members completely talk it down.
But I tell you what. The next time I do win, it is going to be one hell of a celebration in my house. This league is extremely hard to win and what JV is doing is absolutely impressive.
That said, now the pressure is on for the Cheese Steaks to keep it going — especially now that his dynasty picture is plastered along highways all around the Lehigh Valley?
Based on what I see here, there’s no reason why he shouldn’t.
FOOL’S GOLD
Pitching, pitching, pitching.
With names like Scherzer, Kershaw, Nola, Syndergaard and Greinke, we’ve come to just assume the Steaks are all about pitching.
But last year, he didn’t boast the JLB’s top pitching staff.
It was the offense that was ranked No. 1.
One would expect that to continue in 2019 with five bats projected at .285 or better and four projected with 90 or more RBIs. Speed is a bit low but the rest of the categories should take care of themselves.
The only thing to worry about would be injury as seven of his bats, including five penciled in for daily contribution are over 30. Add in the fact that he’s starting the year without Scooter Gennett and Francisco Lindor due to injuries, and there’s a slight concern that the numbers may take a hit this year.
THE FIFTH STARTERS
For the lack of a better term, the fifth starters on this team — and by that, I mean the guys who are supporting the aces of the staff — are really strong.
Anibal Sanchez was stellar last year and moving to the Nationals should only help his win totals. Collin McHugh is moving back into the rotation in Houston and Steven Matz had a strong September which can give Cheese some hope for 2019.
Even if only one of those guys meets the expectations, guys like Miles Mikolas and Mike Clevinger provide the punch that the Cheese needs to absolutely dominate the starting stats each week.
If he loses strikeouts more than once this year it will be because one of two things happened: Either he had horrific injuries or he matched up against Crox for a second time this season in the World Series.
AS IF HE NEEDED HELP
The universe is balancing out, though, as injuries have started to hit a bit hard. First Scooter Gennett, then Senzel, now Francisco Lindor again. Clayton Kershaw is down, too, which makes him seem more human.
As Major "Dutch" Schaefer once said, "If it bleeds, we can kill it."
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