The First Step to Recovery is Admitting There's a Problem
Many of us have vices.
Doughy and a bag (ummm or family pack) of Doritos.
Massatto and scantily clad women who work for singles.
Joe Money, a 12-pack and 12-teamers.
I'd mention Gekko's vices, but he'd rather I keep them anonymous.
I might even have a few vices of my own. Anyone in these contests who I've met in NYC or Vegas who've watched me go through a pack and a half of Marlboro's during a 10-minute draft break could attest to that.
However cowboy killers aside, for the most part my personal vices have been pretty harmless. For the most part.
One of my most painful addictions involves one of my most enjoyable ones, fantasy sports. For whatever reason, I seem unable to break the hold certain cataclysmic arms have had on my rosters. Year after year over my time playing this hobby, the Tim Lincecums, the Scott Bakers, the Brandon Morrows, the Josh Johnsons, etc. have found their way onto my fantasy staffs. Year after year, they disappoint and leave carnage in their wake.
The worst of these WHIP and ERA killers and the one with the greatest hold on my fantasy psyche is none other than the evil Erik Bedard. I'm not sure when my addiction to this spawn of Satan first occurred. Probably back during his one good season around 3000 years ago where he likely helped me to a good finish in my local league. It always starts so innocently. But like a heroin addict forever chasing that first high, I've chased those one time results from Bedard throughout my fantasy sports career, with the same detrimental results as that poor heroin addict.
Still, I thought I had finally kicked the Bedard habit. I drafted him nowhere this year. He was on NONE of my rosters. The monkey was finally off my back!!!
Ummmm, well... until last week.
Ya see, even though I had kept Bedard at bay, I couldn't help but watch from afar. I watched him grab a spot in the Tampa rotation. Yet I stayed strong. I watched him pitch well. Yet I resisted. Then it happened. Bedard coming off 5 straight great starts had a 2-start week on the horizon. My resolve broke. The monkey was back.
I picked him up everywhere. To show the depth of my addiction, I even picked him up for my at the time rising Diamond squad, at the expense of another hot 2-start pitcher, Chris Young.
Well the results were predictable.....
Chris Young - 2 starts, 12.1 innings, 10 baserunners, 3 earned runs, 11 K's, and 2 wins.
Erik Bedard - 2 starts, 8.2 innings, 22 baserunners, 11 earned runs, 6 K's, and 2 losses.
Addiction's a bitch.
No that isn't the fish you're smelling. Erik Bedard STINKS!!!