Alabama Hot Pockets as Annie Savoy

Who won't be on the Hot Pockets roster at some point during 2012? Three trades in a weeks span have totally changed the make-up of the team.

Mike Leake and Melky Cabrera were sent to the Jews in exchange for Brandon Beachy on the 22nd. Later that day, AJ Burnett and Mitchell Boggs were added as free agents as Sergio Romo was released. Jair Jurrjens, who had been shopped around the previous couple days, was then dropped on the 24th.

On the 29th, the Pockets acquired David Freese, Ian Desmond and Gio Gonzalez from HYFR for Martin Prado, Jamie Garcia and Jimmy Rollins. Yes, you read that correctly. Not an overly unbalanced trade but still very much in the favor of The Hot Pockets. Heath Bell was also added while Wade Miley was placed on waivers.

Then on Monday, the Pockets moved Andre Ethier, Wandy Rodriguez and Trevor Cahill to The Whiskey Chuggers for Matt Holliday, Stephen Drew and Ross Detwiler.

These moves should undoubtedly help push the Hot Pockets towards the league leaders as the season progresses but probably won't be enough to overcome the patience of Fabulous Flocculence.

Losses

• Mike Leake
• Melky Cabrera
• Sergio Romo
• Jair Jurrjens
• Martin Prado
• Jamie Garcia
• Jimmy Rollins
• Wade Miley
• Andre Ethier
• Wandy Rodriguez
• Trevor Cahill

Additions

• Brandon Beachy
• AJ Burnett
• Mitchell Boggs
• David Freese
• Ian Desmond
• Gio Gonzalez
• Heath Bell
• Matt Holliday
• Stephen Drew
• Ross Detwiler

UPDATE 5/1/12: Another jam-a-lam-a-ding-dong deal was agreed to just hours after we went to "press" on this story. Looks like Winman will receive Ian Desmond, Carlos Beltran, Brandon Beachy and Frank Francisco in exchange for Rickie Weeks, Shane Victorino, Adam Wainwright and Shawn Marcum. Everyone is having a ride on the Alabama Hot Pockets this season. Might as well change your team name to "Dean's Sister". As you can see from the days add/drops, Winman grew tired of his lackluster MI performance from Weeks and Ryan Roberts and is hoping to get some rejuVAGINAtion with Desmond. Once this trade is official, only six players originally drafted by the Bama Pockets will remain with the team.

Check It Out

Top Prospects

Don't Cut It Off

For Your Wine ...the FUN Continues!

Weekend Fun Continues with Mastodon

Astronomer Challenger Solved

A hearty congrats to Preston, our Astronomer challenge winner. Here is what you've won. To the rest of you, step up your game.

Emergency Clown Message

ENJOY!

Rumor Mill 4.20

Some think Jewish Marmaladers are getting a "steal" in acquiring Mike Leake.

Is Chris Heisey on the outs with the Jews?

I'm hearing whispers that the Cubs are going to call up their entire Triple-A team. Shawn? Did you hear that Shawn? Dude, I know exactly what you're thinking and I agree. You should totally add the entire Iowa Cubs roster.

Chase Headley and R.A. Dickey may not be the only two on the trading block for I Have The Runs! Psst! Ask about Daniel Murphy.

Could Cleveland Steamer possibly be dangling our Bryan LaHair?

By the way, look at ol' clever boy Whitey having Santiago Casilla stashed away. Added three days after news broke that Brian Wilson would go on the DL and possibly have season ending surgery. The rest of us totally screwed the Stacy Seimer on that one didn't we?

Antonio Bastardo was just that, going 2 IP with 1 loss and a blown save thus far in 2012.

Whiskey Chuggers and I Have The Runs! were outbid on Juan Nicasio.

The Cubs need to flip Marlon the Byrd.

Joke of the Day: Aaron Miles

This Contest May Dwarf Them All.

There is a current MLB Superstar who is a great-nephew to a fella who was a astronomer. Name the astronomer, the discovery and the player. If you can do that, I have a special treat for you, my friend. Please enjoy this picture as you try to solve the puzzle. 

2012 Topps Gypsy Queen

These Badd Ass 2012 Topps Gypsy Queen's just released yesterday. So I figured I could pass the awesomeness on to you. All I need from you is to tell me why you deserve them. Thats it! I will choose a winner next Tuesday Morning at, hmm...9AMCT. Good Luck.

HandyJ Song of the Day

Check Out This Preview of 2012 Allen & Ginter's

Following is a complete list of this year’s notable signers from outside the diamond.
 
Ara Parseghian - Notre Dame Head Coach - '66,'73 Nat'l Championships
Arnold Palmer - Golfer
Bob Hurley Sr - High School Basketball Coach
Bob Knight - Legendary College Basketball Coach
Colin Montgomerie - Golfer
Curly Neal - Harlem Globetrotters
Dale Webster - Surfer (Daily for 35 Straight Years)
Erin Andrews - ESPN Sports Analyst
Ewa Mataya - Billiards Player
Greg Gumbel - Broadcaster
Guy Bluford - First African American in Space
James Brown - Pro Football Analyst
Jerry Bailey - Jockey
Kate Upton - ROY, 2011 SI Swimsuit Issue
Keegan Bradley - Golfer, 2011 PGA Championship Winner
Kirk Herbstreit - College Football Analyst
Lefty Kreh - Fly Fishing Champion
Meadowlark Lemon - Harlem Globetrotters
Michael Phelps - Swimming Champion
Phil Pfister - Winner, World's Strongest Man Competition
Roger Federer - Men's Tennis Champion
Swin Cash - Champion Women's Basketball Forward
Don Denkinger - Baseball Umpire
Michael Buffer - Boxing Ring Announcer
John McEnroe - Men's Tennis Champion
Fatal1ty - Gaming Champion
Hank Haney - Legendary Golf Instructor
Annie Duke - Champion Poker Player
Al Unser, Sr - Auto Racing Champion
Bela Karolyi - Legendary Gymnastics Coach
Jackie Joyner-Kersee - Track & Field Champion
Marty Hogan- Racquetball Champion
Rulon Gardner - Greco-Roman Wrestling Champion
Richard Petty - Auto Racing Champion

New Page Heading

Over on the right side of the page under the "pages" section, there is a heading to find out what your winnings are for this season. Top o the list is big Dean-o.

Trivia 4-12-12

Question #1: Name the winning pitcher, losing pitcher and who got the save from game 4 of the 2009 World Series.

Question #2: Who is Nyjer Morgan's alter ego? AND why do some black folk find it necessary to have nick names, most of which have nothing to do with anything about them? Well, unless it's "Big" or "Fat" because usually they are. Anyway, thats a two parter and you don't have to answer the second part.

Question #3: What team drafted Adam Wainwright and what year did they do it?

Just be the first to leave correct answers in the comments section.

Jews Acquire Utley, Send Wilson Ramos to Arthritic Bowe

When the Jewish Marmaladers missed out on drafting Chase Utley, most figured it to only be a matter of time before a trade was proposed to acquire him. Probably only a matter of time before Dean starts calling on Clayton Kershaw.

There isn't a timetable set for Chase Utley's return from the DL. Also, Brandon Phillips is out until this weekend, forcing the full load of MI production to run through Ruben Tejada.

Devin Mesoraco wasn't seeing enough action to warrant starting everyday. Wilson Ramos should fill in nicely until Mesoraco takes over full time later this season...or next.

Holiday Weekend

Excuse Me?

Lords and Ladies,

Who voted for Paul Bako in the poll? Such an answer is as big of a joke as he is. My hopes of Mr. Bako seeing this poll with no votes in his favored have been dashed. Thanks. Thanks a lot.

Song of the Day

Dean is the Winner

High five to Dean who won the Opening Day Trivia Contest. Now, you must make some decisions.

I can mail you the cards very soon or I can give them to you at the Football Draft or even next season Baseball Draft. OR i can keep them here, i can keep them all together and safe and as we run other contests, you can trade certain cards from your collections you've won on HandyJ with other winners.

example: You can trade your 2010 Allen & Ginter's Miguel Montero card with another teams card from a winning contest.

So like fun, eh? Just let me know via comment, text, email, phone call, pony express, smoke signal, blood message, mind bullet... Just no tweets or facebook. I pay no mind to that jumble of competitive haves and have nots, pictures, purchases and other b.s. Good day and may the Winds of Victory give you prizes and me a Championship. Bazinga.

HandyJ Opening Day Trivia Giveaway!

In order to win this great prize pack (see scans below), you must correctly answer the following trivia.

Question 1: Played consecutive seasons for a Chicago team from 2003-2004. He is a part owner of a bat manufacturing company. His most successful season was his rookie year in 1998 when he hit .272-3-30. Made the last out of the 2003 NLCS by flying out to left field. *I had incorrectly put NLDS instead of NLCS. Many Apologies. It should be 2003 NLCS.

Question 2: This 2005 AL all-star retired in 2009 after pitching for the Padres, Marlins, Cubs and Red Sox. He currently coaches high school basketball for his alma mater, Butler Senior High School. 

Question 3: Now dead, this former NL MVP never played for the Cardinals. He did win a NL pennant and 3 gold gloves at third base. Must have been something about playing near the "lines" (hint hint), because he finished his career by playing 33 games at first base for Atlanta in 2001.

If you know the answers, be the first to post in the comment section below! You may guess as many times as you like!

HandyJ PreDICKtions

Best Draft Price - Edwin Jackson $11 and Ruben Tejada $1
Worst Draft Price - Mark Buehrle, Carlos Zambrano $16 and James Loney $8
Best Keeper from 2011 - Stephen Strasburg, Adam Wainwright $1
Worst Keeper from 2011 - David Freese $9
Best Potential Keeper for 2012 - Anthony Rizzo $1
1st Drafted Big Name to DL(in season, sorry Madsen and Utley) - Aramis Ramirez
1st Zambrano Meltdown Caused by - Zambrano's ineffective pitching

Now enjoy this tribute song to 2005 NL MVP Derrek Lee.

HandyJ song of the Day(Year)!!!