Allow Myself To Introduce ... Skillz That Killz

This is the first of (hopefully) twelve introductory posts about each of the twelve teams in the league. It is also the first running feature of this blog and is therefore extremely exciting.

Skillz That Killz

Owner: Tam O'Flannel

Favorite Baseball Squad: Red Sox

Another Squad He Likes in a Sport Other Than Baseball: Providence Friars' basketball

Interesting Factotum: After a Padres-Buccos game at PETCO last season, O'Flannel was making a beeline for the trolley when, as he attempted a 60 degree turn on wet concrete, he face planted on the trolley tracks. Geleaux and I were well ahead of O'Flannel at that point and did not see him fall but only heard another passerby yell out, "Yo! Man down!"

Uninteresting Factotum: He often brokers deals with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Opening Week Starters
C - A.J. "WWE" Pierzynski
1B - "Phat" Albert Pujols
2B - Ryan Freel
3B - Troy Glaus
SS - Michael "I Wish I Was On Bevormo's Squad" Young
OF - Lance "I Can't Believe O'Flannel Kept Me Over Derrek Lee" Berkman
OF - Carlos Lee
OF - Coco "Johnny Who?" Crisp
U - Jermaine Dye

SP - Dan Haren
SP - John Lackey
SP - Erik Bedard
SP - Jeremy Bonderman
SP - Jae Seo

RP - Derrick Turnbow
RP - Jon Papelbon
RP - Neil Cotts
RP - Bobby Jenks

Predicted Finish: 2

O'Flannel's squad is once again strong. Two years ago he won the league, and was close again last season. His core of Pujols, Young and Berkman is stellar, and, if early returns are accurate, Turnbow and Papelbon should be very effective out of the bullpen. He'll need some of his starters to throw well to win the whole shebang, but regardless, his hitting should keep him in the upper division all season. A key detail to watch is whether keeping Berkman instead of Derrek Lee will haunt him down the road, especially if Dye is out of the utility spot for an extended period.

Odds Of Hanging A Championship Banner Next Season: 6 to 1