The Days of Our Fantasy Baseball Lives - let the soap opera begin

With the fantasy baseball draft now in the rear view mirror it's time to advance to the next stage of the game. It's called Fantasy Baseball Days of Our Lives. It's the soap opera aspect of the sport. Every team has a narrative that unfolds as the season progresses. It has all the twists and turns of a daytime drama. You'll cheer as your players have hot streaks. You'll boo as they slum. And you'll hold your breath as they are escorted to the dugout by a trainer. We now raise the curtain on Act One.

Nikhil took a chance drafting Ryan Howard and it looks like he might have rolled snake eyes. The hard-hitting first baseman was expected to miss at least the first month of the season as he recovers from an Achilles injury that occurred in the playoffs last year. The suture became infected and now the earliest Howard will return is June but even that is doubtful. The Vicious Fishes have Prince Fielder and Paul Konerko on the roster but Howard's absence means Rafael Furcal, Dayan Viciedo, Bryan LaHair or Ian Stewart will need to step up. Obviously the site of an aging Furcal in the batters box doesn't strike fear into the heart of opposing fantasy managers like Howard does. Of course, the Vicious Fishes have a history of injury, dating back to the infamous Kendrys Morales home run celebration in 2010 that left Morales with a broken ankle and the Fishes pennant hopes in tatters.

Donna is trying to defend an East Division championship in 2012 but the loss of closer Joakim Soria will make that more difficult. Soria has been one of the top closers in the game over the past two seasons but he's had Tommy John surgery once on his pitching arm and now he's blown out the elbow again. Initial reports are that Soria will need surgery and The Machine will be in the market for another relief pitcher. Ryan Madson will close games in Cincinnati so not all is lost for Donna but Matt Thornton is in a tight battle with young Addison Reed for the closer gig on the South Side of Chicago. If Thornton does not win that job in Spring Training The Machine will have just one closer, Madson, and winning the saves category on a weekly basis will be difficult.

The Bulls planned on Chris Carpenter combining with Roy Halladay for a strong 1-2 punch at the top of the rotation in 2012. Now it looks like Carpenter won't be ready for the beginning of the season. Carpenter has had a setback in his attempt to pitch through a bulging disc in his neck. The injury occurred early in Spring Training. Carpenter threw batting practice on Sunday and felt pain on Monday and left camp to return to St. Louis to have the injury assessed. Carolyn, who is defending the North Division championship, does not have a starting pitcher on the bench so will need to turn to the free-agent market before opening day. Joe Saunders, Rick Porcello, and Jason Vargas are all available but none can match the strikeout potential provided by Carpenter.

Giancarlo Stanton was hit on the wrist during a Spring Training game last week but it's his aching knee that has Robert worried. Stanton, considered to be one of the best young power hitters in the game, is projected to hit 30+ home runs and provide the power for the defending champion Lower Haighters. Stanton was cleared to begin light running on Tuesday but if the knee doesn't respond and the young slugger lands on the DL, Robert will need to move Angel Pagan into the OF position and Adam Dunn into the Utility slot. If, at any point during the season, the Lower Haighters need to play both Stanton and Dunn in the same lineup, a new record could be set for most strikeouts by one fantasy team during a weekly series.


News & Notes - With Soria's injury, Kansas City is turning to Jonathan Broxton to close out games. Broxton is currently a fantasy league free agent and could be a valuable source for hard-to-find saves...The Royals have also moved Aaron Crow from the starting rotation back to the bullpen. Crow will likely join Greg Holland as a setup man which should provide Brian with a source for holds...Elizabeth has to be ecstatic over the Spring Training progress of starting pitcher Johan Santana. One of the premier left handers in the game three years ago, Santana is trying to return from a shoulder injury that has sidelined him for 18 months. Santana struck out six in six innings Wednesday and looks like the Opening Day starter for the Mets.