Ethay Antasybay Osterbay





In February 1958, Clarence Bover escaped from the Murmansk prison with the help of other operatives with a dog sled. The heavy show falling hid their tracks long enough for them to cross the border into Finland. Even outside the Soviet Union, Bover still was not safe. Finland was no safer from Soviet surveillance than any other place in the world. Under an assumed name, Clarence Overbay was transported to Helsinki. A flight to Reykjavik, Iceland. Another to New York, New York. Finally, a train to Arlington, Virginia, where he met up with his wife, Gladys, and their young son, Eisenhower. Of course, they still were not safe. Details are sketchy on this, especially since web sites with information disappear seemingly moments after they are viewed, but the Overbays moved from town to town throughout the country, fearful of the Soviet spies searching for them. Even with the constant moves, Ike eventually fell in love with a woman named Ginny. With the Soviet Union collapsing, Ike and Ginny Overbay were able to finally settle down in a home in Centralia, Washington. Centralia had been one of their many stops on the run and was, in fact, where their son Lyle was born. They had liked the town and, now safe, could happily build their belated nest there. Lyle Overbay grew up to be a professional baseball player, now playing for the Toronto Blue Jays.

Oh the fun you can have when you read the "transactions" part of the sports section and notice that Lyle Overbay seems like a pig Latin name someone thought up while on the run. I decided to give ol’ Lyle a back story, even though I don’t even know his parents names much less his family's history. Special thanks go to Google maps.

Anyway, for this easonray, I’m planning to get Lyle Overbay on my fantasy baseball team. He’s number 12 on my "big board," which would be in my "war room" if I had a "war room." For those of you not into fantasy sports, a "big board" is the list of players in the order of value as determined by the big board owner(s). The "war room" is the room in which the big board is located and where the people in charge of the team rate players, discuss draft strategies, and plan. (This is more for real teams drafting real prospects, but we fantasy players like to fantasize.) Since there is only one of me, I don’t really need a room. Most of my work is done on a computer anyway.

So, for your viewing pleasure, I will post my big board here. This is very uncommon as this is typically top secret--which is why it is kept in a "war" room. If you’re one of the other owners in my league, please ignore this; you don’t see me reading your big board.

The team will start 7 pitchers. The line up will have 3 outfielders and one each of the following: catcher, first base, second base, third base, shortstop, designated hitter (which can be any hitter not already in the line up). The team will have 5 back ups for a total of 21 players. (As I recall.)

My Fantasy Baseball Big Board
1. Johann Santana, Pitcher: Always a favorite of mine. He’s ranked pretty high (6 to 12 on most boards), but I figure I have a 50-50 chance of getting him.
2. Albert Pujols, First base: The best Cardinal. He’s ranked in the top 2-3 on most boards, so I have almost no chance of getting him.
(With the rest, I’d be surprised if I didn’t get them.)
3. Chase Utley, Second base: I like the name, have relatives named Utley, and I am not familiar enough with many second baseman to displace him. So sue me.
4. Joe Mauer, Catcher: From Minnesota and plays for Minnesota. Plus, he’s supposed to be really good.
5. Huston Street, Pitcher: Another cool name (a theme may start) and I picked him up last year while he was still under the radar (I always feel a special bond with players when that happens).
6. Eddie Guardado, Pitcher: If you have to ask, you’re not a baseball fan from Minnesota. (Or you ARE a baseball fan from Minnesota, but don’t know why I’d pick Eddie Guardado.)
7. Jim Edmonds, Outfielder: He plays for the Cardinals and I’ve been drafting him for so many years I probably still will be drafting him four years after he retires.
8. Scott Rolen, Third base: I don’t actually know why I’m drafting him. I hope he does well.
9. John Lackey, Pitcher: My brother-in-law loves the word lackey and the interjection "Great lackey!" And John’s pretty good.
10. Jason Isringhausen, Pitcher: Izzy went from Oakland to St. Louis (two of my favorite teams. And he’s pretty good to boot. (Wait, booting a pitcher isn’t a good thing. Rats.)
11. Torii Hunter, Outfielder: A good Twin to right the ship in Minnesota. Ankles away!
12. Lyle Overbay, First base: Any grandson of a spy who kept the pig Latin surname is aces in my book.
13. Jacque Jones, Outfielder: Nothing to say here. I hope you caught the pretty good Lackey joke.
14. Brad Radke, Pitcher: He’s shown loyalty to Minnesota. I show loyalty to him.
15. Tim Wakefield, Pitcher: I can’t imagine my team without a knuckle baller.
16. Jae Seo, Pitcher: There’s a special place in my heart (and on my roster) for a South Korean.
17. Eric Milton, Pitcher: Yet another hold over from when I liked him when he was on the Twins. (Oh where have you gone, Scott Erickson?)
18. Corey Koskie, Third Base: There’s a special place in my heart (and on my roster) for Canadians who used to play for the Twins and now play for the Brewers and are named Corey Koskie.
19. Christian Guzmán, Shortstop: Wow! Enough with the former Twins already!
20. Grant Balfour, Pitcher: I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. How can you have a baseball roster without a pitcher named Grant Balfour (grant ball four)?
21. Termel Sledge, Outfield: Termel Sledge. He might be a back up, but he’s got an All Star name.

So, those are the folks I’m hoping will fill my roster. As you can see, I’m not exactly out for blood. I gave that up when I had a fantasy football team start 9-0 but then drop the last 8. That wasn’t fun. Besides, I can always change my mind and grab good free agents.

You see, I believe that, in any random league, you can pretty much skip the draft and still do very well. So many owners seem to abandon their teams and so many unknown players have great years that, if you pay attention, you can get the good players and have a contending roster. You probably won’t get first place because someone who took the draft seriously may also be watching the free agents, but you should be able to end up near the top.

The draft is just too much guess work. After the fantasy-football season ended, ESPN sent out a list of the players making up the best line up and at what pick they were taken, on average:
QB Carson Palmer, 76th pick [7th round for a 12 team league or 8th round for a 10 team league]
RB Shaun Alexander, 2nd [1st round]
RB Larry Johnson, 89th [8th-9th round]
WR Steve Smith, 82nd [7th–9th round]
WR Santana Moss, 91st [8th-10th round]
TE Antonio Gates, 35th [3rd-4th round]
K Neil Rackers, Undrafted
DEF Chicago Bears, 132nd [11th – 14th round]

If the scouting/drafting evaluations were accurate, there is no way any of the quarterback, running backs, or wide receivers should have made it out of the second round. Yet, only one of those 5 players was drafted in the first round. Now, if drafters were that far off on the top players, imagine where the second or third tier of players might be found.

My big board doesn’t stop at 21, though. I only listed the ones that I would have if I were able to draft my "dream" team. Since I’ll be fortunate to get Pujols or Santana, I can guarantee I won’t get both. (Or your money back.) So, I have other players to fall back on. One of the players filling out the big board is Jung Keun Bong, who was "designated for assignment" by the Cincinnati Reds. I assumed he had to do a book report or problems 1-25 (odd numbers only) or something. Maybe it’s a random thing. Some players are randomly tested for drugs. Some players are randomly given homework. (When you have Bong in your name, you’re praying for the homework.) Nope, it’s much worse. It means the team has 10 days to trade, release, or ask waivers on the player; which means that he probably won’t be playing for the Reds this season. Maybe I’ll take him off the big board.

Well, the team isn’t going to draft itself. (Actually, with these web-based leagues, it will.) So I’d better put the final touches on my big board and let the disappointment begin!

Offway otay ethay Arway Oomray!

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The opinions expressed here are solely those of the writer and do not neccessarily reflect those of the rest of the family.

© 2006, Mark Wentz