WE'RE GONNA WIN, TWINKIES!: The starting lineup for my 2003 Fantasy Baseball Team, The Twinkie Defense, is as follows:
C: Jason Kendall, Pittsburgh Pirates
1B: Erubial Durazo, Oakland Athletics
2B: Craig Biggio, Houston Astros
SS: David Eckstein, Anaheim Angels
3B: Troy Glaus, Anaheim Angels
LF: Adam Dunn, Cincinnati Reds
CF: Ken Griffey, Jr., Cincinnati Reds
RF: Kevin Millar, Boston Red Sox
Rotation: Barry Zito (Oakland Athletics), Jarrod Washburn (Anaheim Angels), Brad Radke (Minnesota Twins), Jason Jennings (Colorado Rockies), Casey Fossum (Boston Red Sox)
Bullpen: Robb Nen (San Francisco Giants), Matt Mantei (Arizona Diamondbacks), Francisco "K-Rod" Rodriguez (Anaheim Angels), Joe Mays (Minnesota Twins), Kyle Lohse (Minnesota Twins), Chad Fox (Boston Red Sox), Jon Garland (Chicago White Sox).
Utilities/Bench: Jack Cust (Baltimore Orioles), Hank Blalock (Texas Rangers), Jeremy Giambi (Boston Red Sox), Mike Cuddyer (Minnesota Twins), and last but not least, Your Olympic Hero, Doug Mientkiewicz of the Minnesota Twins.
My draft rules were, as usual, no Yankees, no Braves, and no one who I had last year. Wish me luck, ladies and gentlemen, as the Twinkie Defense begins.