Everyone has a vice.  If you’re like me, you have multiple vices.  My favorite vice, fantasy baseball, is right around the corner, so I just couldn’t help but look for some interesting angle to write on in January.  Analysis of off-season moves are done by, well everyone.  Rankings and season previews are more of a spring-training time piece.  Writing about the shittiness of any one of my Houston Astros’ players value (except Mr. Bourn and WayRod, duh) is pointless for so many reasons.  So what does that really leave a guy with in January?  How about a little head-to-head action…by position.  I’m not talking about looking at the top guys at each position, but rather the guys in those second – possibly third if you’re in a deep league – tier guys that can really make or break your draft and season.  Over the next week and a half, I will be releasing a new position each day.  I will take a look at a couple of guys from each position and see how they match up versus their higher drafted counterparts.  As per usual, any ideas, thoughts, or beliefs (both supporting and opposing) are welcomed.

First base is a rather deep position this year with Joey Votto emerging as the hitter many have seen coming, Adrian Gonzalez getting to trade Petco for Fenway, Prince Fielder heading into free agency after the season (I’m a sucker for a guy playing for a new, mega-sized contract), as well as your standards like Ryan Howard, Miguel Cabrera, and Mark Teixeira.  If you are not fortunate enough to secure one of those guys, then whom do you take a flier on?

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So much for it “being in the bag,” I guess.  As some of my readers may know (although most of you may not), I am a lifelong Houston Astros fan.  The first piece of sports memorabilia I ever had as a young child was a Colt .45’s jersey.  Having been born and raised in Houston for 10 years also helps.  I grew up watching baseball in the 8^th wonder of the modern world and learned quickly to despise the Cardinals.  More times than I can count I was fortunate enough to watch The Wizard himself perform on the Astroturf stage.

So what is the point of this rambling?  As an avid Astros fan, I feel that Jeff Bagwell should have been elected into the Hall of Fame.  As a matter of fact, I find it downright offensive to see that he only received 242, or 41.7% of the votes needed.  How could the writers not give one of the original Killer B’s his comeuppance?  I understand that some arguments will be made based on him playing in Houston, for a team that never seemed to find a way past the Braves.  But let’s just take a look at the stats and see what they have to say.

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The Golden Sombrero presents MLB Look-alikes: Adam Everett and DJ Qualls

The Golden Sombrero presents Rookie Card Corner: Bruce Bochy 1979 Topps

Fun Fact: Bochy is known for having one of the largest cap sizes in Major League Baseball at over size 8.  When he joined the Mets in 1982, they did not have a batting helmet that would fit him, and they had to send the ones he was using in the minors.

Classic Sports Illustrated Covers: 2005 Chicago White Sox

Happy 5th anniversary to the 2005 World Series Champions: Chicago White Sox .  As a White Sox fan, October 26, 2005 marks one of the greatest days in my life, and is all but a distant memory. I remember exactly where I was when I watched each game of the World Series against the Astros.  That includes being lucky enough to watch Game 1 from the upper-deck, down the right field line.  Despite the fact that I had knee surgery a few days before — I was even pushed around U.S. Cellular Field in a wheel chair — it was easily the greatest baseball game that I have ever attended.  To this day, I have never seen a third baseman play the position like Joe Crede did that night.

“Don’t stop now, boys!”