Two Games Down, 2,428 To Go

We are officially 0.08% through the 2008 season and my finger is on the panic button.

Two games have been played -- chances are, you've seen about two innings worth -- and already I'm doubting some of my draft strategy.

Manny Ramirez has been amazing. In the opening game, he wallopped two two-run doubles. This morning, he cracked a home run. Manny's on pace for a 81-405-0-.333 record breaking season! He went for $31 in Gabe Paul.

Meanwhile, Rich Harden looks like the pitcher that everybody knew he could be but didn't have the guts to put him on their fantasy team. Harden limited the Red Sox to three hits (with three walks) and one run over six innings -- and K'ed nine batters. Pretty strong. Really strong.

Harden went for $9 in our Gabe Paul auction, $14 in LABR, $10 in Tout Wars. I feel like an idiot for not bidding that extra dollar. What if this is the season that Harden finally stays healthy and puts it together? This is another perfect example of why keeper leagues rule. The Mud Hens invested $9 in a pitcher that could, reasonably, be a $25 earner for the next three seasons. (And if he blows out his elbow, the Hens could simply pickup a middle reliever and shave $4 off his roster.)

How many people will scramble to pickup Brandon Moss and Jack Hannahan. With JD Drew and Eric Chavez not exactly the models of resiliance, these two guys could get valuable playing time. Drew and Chavez owners are taking notice.

And we're not even .1% into the season.