What are my odds? I might take that bet

Do you really want to bet cash when you're 150 points behind?

I'm no bookmaker, but not for nothin', and no disrespect at all intended, ....but we all know I'm gonna end up in the Top 3 as always. But if you wanna bet money against that, sure...

You hear that JL?! Top three! That means you're number two... or four if I have anything to do with it.

That can be made up in a couple weeks. So, you're a wuss??

Ahh, 2 wusses... I see how it is...

Edit: Crap, top of page.

And BTW, I consulted w/ my accountant, Mr Smirnoff, and he says yes, I wanna bet cash...

If you want to know the truth, it's a no win situation for me because if I won, I wouldn't take you're money anyway.
BTW, I think you're channeling PL.

That's funny, my official consultant, Skyy, is telling me that DB is going to be injury plagued, and FC, AP and I will be top three at the end of the season. If you have a problem with that tell Smirnoff to take it up with Skyy.

You have a problem with blood money? You think I've had men killed for this?

No comment on that.

I would never feel secure taking The Don's money.

Mr Skyy seems VERY delusional!!

Skyy, has NEVER let me down before... at least not that I can remember...

But I think you missed the part where *I* plan to beat you. But you're right, I couldn't take it from you, either....

LMAO! Well, Mr Smirnoff and Mr Stoli have done the same to me... it's hard to remember their advice the next day!

I just had my very first professional massage, so I'm writing this from a very peaceful place.

Re: the trade... You guys know me. I want to make playing fantasy sports an enjoyable, fair and competitive time for everyone. It is one of my favorite things to do, especially because of the friendships I've made playing with all of you. I wouldn't risk that (and my reputation) by making shady trades and risk the integrity of the league. If I did, people wouldn't want to play with me (or trade with me, as BL jokingly suggested).

As for this trade, it is true that the points are imbalanced. But when we trade, we're not trading for historical points, we're paying for expectation for the future. I'm not going to speak for FC, but on my part, my trade thesis was simple. I wanted to shore up a weak position (2B). To do that, I had to give up the best player in the deal (expectation-wise), take a hit at my Util position, and give up one of my top-flight pitchers, who is now, in my opinion, the best pitcher on FC's pitching staff.

I apologize if this trade is making some of you feel uneasy and I truly hope that you don't feel uneasy playing with me (or "suspicious," like JG wrote). You all know I'm not a "sell, sell, sell" type of guy, so I hope the people whom I've traded with (which is pretty much everyone ) don't feel bamboozled. With that said, I'll follow whatever JG tells me - if he says, go back to the drawing board, then FC and I will go back to the drawing board.

Just let me know, Commish.

DB, If I was able to pull off that trade, I would do it too. I would probably expect the same response too. I don't think the trade is "shady". I just thinks it's crossed the line from bad, to unfair.
If it was May, I could see the "expectation" side of it. But it's mid-July, and we're at the point that for the most part, it's now "what you see, is what you get". There's no reason to think that Howard is all of a sudden going to be much better than Hafner, or Utley is going to fall off dramatically. Hamels is what he is. He's good, perhaps very good, but not great. Especially pitching in that ballpark in the late summer, where every fly ball is now a HR.

I still want to trade away some starting pitching if anyone is interested.

I want Derek Lowe.

I made you an offer including Lowe.

done

Trade Accepted

#8 AP trades:
Garrett Atkins (Col - 3B)
Daisuke Matsuzaka (Bos - SP)

#3 TM trades:
Kevin Youkilis (Bos - 1B,3B,LF)
Scot Shields (LAA - RP)

now, the trade I did for Maddux was a total waste. the only good thing is that Bell (0.1 IP 5 H 3 ER) did get smashed.

Trade Accepted

#6 BL trades:
Kelly Johnson (Atl - 2B)
Derek Lowe (LAD - SP)
Ian Snell (Pit - SP)

#3 TM trades:
Brian Roberts (Bal - 2B)

#3 TM to drop:
Yovani Gallardo (Mil - SP)

With complete respect to DB and FC, can we have a vote on this "Utley trade"? I admit I was trying to make offers to FC for Utley as well, but I don't hold any grudges for being turned down. I just want this trade to be fair and since I don't feel it is... could we please vote on it, or whatever we do in this situation?

I know you wouldn't try to screw us over DB, but I also know you want to win just like the rest of us, and if you can get away with a trade like this then you deserve it! But myself and JL, at least, have issues with it and I would like to bring it up before the trade goes through.

Again, it's nothing personal to either of you. I don't want to ruin any friendships here either because for the first time I'm in a league where everyone is civilized, friendly and still trying.

I'm against the Utley trade, but I'll let The Commish have the final word. If he decides that it isn't that unfair, then let it go through. Nobody else besides us seems to have an opinion.

Sucks that 2 days is all we get, cuz I haven't had much time the past 2 days to worry about other people's teams. But y'know what, I don't care. I'm convinced it wasn't collusion, so if they both agree to it, then so be it.

All these mid-season trades are blowing my mind away. I can't even begin to analyze them. But I do TRUST the group we current have here this season.

If you want to let it go through, then it's ok with me. I don't feel it was collusion. Just a horrible trade by a last place team.

Sat

Fine with me as well JG. If you think it's alright. We've joked around about this before, but I think it's officially become a fight for second place, if it wasn't already.