It's going to get ugly. I'm completely smitted with Chico.
All four of my Fantasy baseball teams have Chico in the name.
- Chico 2 Chico: Nats justice
- Chico in Charge
- Chico Tiempo
- Chico: Spanish for awesome
I'm going too fast again. Who is Matt Chico?
Matt Chico is the No. 2 starter for the Nationals. Of course, it didn't use to be this way. Matt Chico was the maybe-he'll-make-the-team starter in spring training. Last year he was the guy-who-Manny Acta-was-forced-to-turn-to-every-five-days-because-he-managed-to-stay-healthy starter. The year before that he was the maybe-a-mid-level-prospect-for-the-D-Backs guy.
He's also my favorite National. Case in point. Opening Night at Nationals Park emcee Donny Sutts was introducing the pitchers and mid-sentence, "He's the tallest player in baseball..." Matt Chico starts walking out. Chico is 6 feet in heels. Sutts was talking about mound monster Jon Rauch.
Chico is also durable -- he pitched 31 games as a rookie -- and relies on pitch placement, not strikeouts. Chicks dig pitch placement, I'm told. Of course, chicks also dig the Lifetime ("television for idiots").
Now, here's what really gets me gaga for Chico. He's still tinkering with his windup and mechanics, yet managed to hold the potently potable Phillies to just three runs over 5 1/3 inning.
Here's from the Washington Post's Barry (and I'm Barry) Svrluga:
"The Matt Chico experiment continues. The left-hander, who is trying to restore his old windup while simultaneously retiring major league hitters, lasted 5 1/3 innings and allowed three runs in Monday's 11-6 win over Philadelphia. Those are mixed results from a mixed delivery.
'I kind of got lost mechanics-wise, was going back and forth between the new and the old," Chico said. 'Couldn't really find it.'"
So as you can see, not only does Chico have the name (Chico), the look (pudgy), the cookiness (happening to walk out when Sutts is talking about the tallest guy in baseball) and the grit (how ya feel now, Phillies?), he's still a diamond in the rough. Or as CBSSports.com editor George Maselli says, "serviceable." I didn't look that word up, but I'm sure it means excellence of execution.
On to the best four blogs ... around! (Opening Day Edition)
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We always thought Fantasy writers have it rough, the Wonderful World of Gonos confirms our suspicions. (included is a one Johnny Roast Beef prediction)
Klick of the Day
What sort of accent do you have? Like our buddy (Insert Name Here), we're boring ol' Midland. I do have a good voice for TV, which is nice. Damn you Maryland and your lack of dialectical charm!
If you have a good link to share, post below or send a PM and I'll highlight it later in the week.