Fantasy Baseball: Coca Cola Kids "B Team" Baseball Club Weeks 13-18

Week 13: 

Kids (111-81-24) vs. Trot's Cardinals (104-83-29)  13-4  "Kids Handle Trot's in Week 13"  

(3rd League)

Week 14: 

Kids  vs.  Acuna Matada  

B Team Weeks 7-12

B Team Weeks 1-6

Entering Week 13, the Kids are still in good shape, but they have bounced around the standings from 1st place to as low as 6th place in the league with inconsistent play.  Other teams in the league have discovered if they can continually slot starting pitchers in throughout the week, and pile on the innings, they can beat the Kids.  I don't play that game.  I post the best team I can without dropping and picking up pitchers because they start that day.  

Enough complaining, the Kids offense is keeping them competitive each week and the front office hopes the pitching staff can win categories not dependent on massive amounts of innings like era, wins, holds and quality starts.  The Kids have gotten really steady work from their top 3 starters Schwellenbach, DeGrom, Luzardo with Imanaga coming off the IL supposedly this week.  

At the plate, Raleigh is the team's MVP so far with Tucker, Suzuki and Schwarber close behind.  Those four are solidly supported with numbers from Pena, Betts, Olson, and Kwan.  Front office is really looking forward to some exciting play and speed on the bases from Caballero.  

Team Leaders after 13 Weeks:

Runs: 57 - Kyle Schwarber 

1B: 71 - Jeremy Pena

2B: 19 - Seiya Suzuki

3B: 4 - Kyle Tucker

HR:  31 -  Cal Raleigh

RBI: 66 - Cal Raleigh

SB:  18 - Kyle Tucker

BB:  55 - Kyle Schwarber

OPS: 1.042  Cal Raleigh

IP: 976.2 - Spencer Schwellenbach

W:   - Tie  Jacob DeGrom, Jesus Luzardo and Nick Pivetta

CG: 1 - Spencer Schwellenbach

SV: 14 - Ryan Helsley

K: 104- Jesus Luzardo

HLD:  9 - Carlos Vargas

SP ERA:  2.24  Jacob DeGrom

RP ERA:  1.71  Luke Weaver

SP WHIP: 0.92 Jacob DeGrom

RP WHIP:  0.80 Luke Weaver

QS:  11 - Spencer Schwellenbach

Here is the team roster as of the beginning of Week 13: 

C: Cal Raleigh Mariners

1B: Matt Olson, Braves

2B: Mookie Betts, Dodgers

3B: Jose Caballero, Rays

SS: Jeremy Pena, Astros

OF: Kyle Schwarber, Phllies

OF: Seiya Suzuki, Cubs

OF: Steven Kwan, Guardians

Utility: Kyle Tucker, Cubs

Bench: Willi Castro, Twins

Bench: Spencer Torkelson, Tigers

SP: Spencer Schwellenbach, Braves

SP: Kevin Gausman, Blue Jays

SP: Jacob DeGrom, Rangers

RP: Ryan Helsley, Cardinals

RP: Daniel Palencia, Cubs

P: Carlos Vargas, Mariners

P  Jesus Luzardo, Phillies

P: Nick Pivetta, Padres

Bullpen: Bryan Woo, Mariners

IL:  Tylor Megill, Mets

IL: Shota Imanaga, Cubs

Players Added Weeks 7-12

Josh Jung, 3B Rangers

Daniel Palencia, RP Cubs

Carlos Vargas, RP Mariners

Jo Adel, OF Angels

Jose Caballero, Rays

This post will be updated at the beginning of each week through Week 18.  

 

Fantasy Baseball: Coca Cola Kids "A Team" Baseball Club Weeks 13-18

Week 13: 

Kids (122-90-28) vs. Brutes FBC (106-113-21) 9-8  "Kids Hold off the Brutes Rush"  

(1st Division, 1st League)

Week 14: 

Kids  vs. Fried Chicken Bucket 

 

A Team Weeks 7-12

A Team Weeks 1-6

The Coca Cola Kids "A Team" Baseball Club finds themselves in territory they haven't seen in quite some time, first place at the end of June.  The season has settled in and the blowouts have become more rare unlike the first six weeks.  At the end of twelve weeks, the season MVP is emerging to be Cal Raleigh with Pete Crow-Armstrong a close second.  The Kids manager is happy to see Marte return from the IL picking up where he left off, and the steady play of Josh Naylor.  Front office went to the waiver wire to get a couple reliable outfield bats as Crow-Armstrong and Rodriguez's bats have shown a steady cool down.  They picked up Adolis Garcia from the Rangers and Randy Arozarena from the Mariners.  Both got off to slow 

(starts this season, but have shown an uptick in stats recently.  

The starting pitchers have been steady.  The team is looking forward to having Shota Imanaga back, but relief pitching has been a struggle and revolving door all year.  The Kids are fine to target either saves or holds, but the relief staff is not accruing either.  Expect to see a relief pitching staff turn over in the next six weeks.  

Team Leaders after 12 Weeks:

Runs: 60 - Elly De La Cruz

1B: 59 - Josh Naylor 

2B: 17 - Tie, Josh Naylor and Pete Crow-Armstrong

3B: 3 - Tie, Julio Rodriguez, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Michael Busch

HR:  31 - Cal Raleigh

RBI: 66 - Cal Raleigh

SB:  23 - Pete Crow-Armstrong

BB:  45 - Cal Raleigh

K's: 87 -  Elly De La Cruz

Ave:  .310 - Ketel Marte

IP: 96 - Framber Valdez

W:  8 - Framber Valdez

L: 7  - MacKenzie Gore 

SV: 2 - Reed Garrett

Hits: 84 - MacKenzie Gore

BB: 34 - Freddie Peralta

K: 123 - MacKenzie Gore

HLD:  17 - Jason Adam

SP ERA:  2.76 Freddy Peralta

RP ERA:  0.79 - Randy Rodriguez

QS:  11 - Framber Valdez

Team roster as of the beginning of Week 13: 

C: Cal Raleigh Mariners

1B: Josh Naylor, Diamondbacks

2B: Ketel Marte, Diamondbacks

3B: Isaac Paredes, Astros

SS:  Elly De La Cruz, Reds

OF: Adolis Garcia, Rangers

OF: Pete Crow Armstrong, Cubs

OF: Teoscar Hernandez, Dodgers

Utility: Michael Busch, Cubs

Bench: Matt Shaw, Cubs

Bench: Bryson Stott, Phillies

Bench:  Spencer Torkelson, Tigers

Bench: Julio Rodriguez, Mariners

Bench: Randy Arozarena, Mariners

SP: Shota Imanaga, Cubs

SP: Michael Boyd, Cubs

SP: Framber Valdez, Astros

SP: Freddy Peralta, Brewers

RP: Randy Rodriguez, Giants

RP: Jason Adam, Padres

P: Steven Cruz, Royals

P: MacKenzie Gore, Nationals

Bullpen: Reed Garrett

Players Added Weeks 7-12

Patrick Meadows, OF Tigers

Randy Rodriguez, RP Giants

Reed Garrett, RP Mets

Steven Cruz, RP Royals

Chris Paddack, Twins

Randy Arozarena, Mariners

Adolis Garcia, Rangers

This post will be updated at the beginning of each week through week 13.  

Things I Love About Summer: Part 3

I am not one to sleep deep into the morning like 10:00 or 11:00, but sometimes it sounds really nice.  Often when getting up for work, I just wish I could go back to bed.  That is one of the things I love about summer, sleeping in or at least the idea that I could. 

There is something absolutely wonderful about the idea that, if I wanted to, I could just keep hitting
snooze and not get up on a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or even Friday.  I love that about summer.  Or, what's better, not even setting an alarm at all.  

As mentioned above, I don't typically sleep much past 6:00 am on most days (even summer), but recently I slept deep into a morning to where I debated if I should just hold off about 30 minutes and have lunch instead of breakfast.  I must say, when I have a day like that, it isn't as much fun as I think.  Yeah, I feel more rested, but the guilt and thought that I lost half a day normally tortures my mind that it doesn't end up feeling great.  I have to wonder if other people (adults) feel that way.  

I know my children don't!!  They have no problem on summer break or weekends for that matter sleeping in until noon.  Actually, I can't complain, I remember doing that myself.  I was notorious for staying up late in my bedroom as a teenager making Dungeons and Dragons characters and dreaming of their heroics if I actually got to play them in the game.  I know, that sounds weird, but if you play the game, you know that for some people, making the characters is a large part of the fun.  I made so many characters late at night that while I played the game all the time with friends, there was no way most of those characters would ever see a dice roll for them.  But, I would stay up to the wee hours of the night doing that or reading a book (most of the Lord of the Rings trilogy was read either in a canoe or in the overnight hours), and I would easily sleep until noon.  

Noon was actually an important wake-up time during my teen years, because I would start work at 12:45 pm at the town swimming pool as a concession stand worker and later as a lifeguard.  On days I didn't work, it was not an uncommon occurrence that my mom would let my friends in the house to wake me up around 10:00 am to go to lunch or garage sale shopping or whatever else it was kids did in the morning in the summer during the decade of the 1980s.  

Even thought sleeping in isn't something I often do and even thought when I do it is often followed by a certain guilt or FOMO, just the thought that I could if I wanted to is one of things I love about summer.  

Things I Love About Summer: Part 2

Every year, a week or two after school has closed out for the summer, a vacant lot on what we will call the "main drag" of our little town and towns across the Midwest is filled with a traveling amusement park for the annual town festival.  There is something about these town festivals that I love even though I rarely attend them any longer.  

Growing up in Oswego, Illinois just outside of Chicago, we had Oswego Days later to be called Prairie
Fest where the main street of town turned into an outdoor shopping, eating, drinking, festival in the evenings and summer nights.  Music filled the streets of downtown with the municipal band playing in the park and later a rock and roll or country music band on the street near the sponsoring tavern.  Downtown shops put racks of clothes and tables of summer merchandise on the sidewalks, the fire station held some kind of water hose and bucket on a wire contest that I remember but had no idea what was happening other than a lot of water spraying all over.  The water brigade was welcome as it was normally sunny and hot.  I attended those festivals for years and years.  During my high school years, I participated in the annual Oswego Days parade as a Cub Scout and later marching in the band.  I sang solos and duets at Ice Cream socials during the festival, and I attended and rode the rides of the traveling amusement park in a field near the elementary school.  

Today, in the town I call home, we have the Good Neighbor Days renamed from the Cherry Festival after a tornado decimated the town in 2013.  It was a well intended name as it symbolized the unity of the community after the tornado, but people continue to call it the Cherry Fest confusing those who are not in the know.  It is kind of amusing and around our house we call it both names without blinking an eye.  

Even though I don't attend the festival any longer, it is still one of the things I love about summer.  My kids go the festival at night to hang out with friends and ride the rides, but the idea of festival has really changed over the years.  There isn't a parade any longer.  I don't see any bands or music on a schedule to attend.  There are the rides, a 5K run, and a pancake breakfast, but that is about it.  This is no shade on any committee or chamber of commerce, it reflects the society in which we live.  Has it been shaped by social media?  Maybe the COVID pandemic forever changed festivals, or maybe the national political divide has something to do with it.  Nevertheless, I still love the small town festivals despite the notable changes and lack of umph.  They are throwback to community and excitement for something good.  They are a throwback to neighborhoods and the community coming together for fun.  Perhaps they are a thing of the past, but who knows, maybe as the pandemic fades from memory and the political pendulum swings and maybe even the negativity and criticism that social media creates will settle, these little town festivals will continue to do what they are intended to do, bring communities together.  Maybe the bands will return to spread their music.  Maybe the parades with classic cars, fire trucks, and floats will return and people will be happy and excited.  

I think this is what I love about the small town festival.  It is hope for community.  It is hope to showcase the towns in which we live.  It is symbolic of our shared community and love of place.  For these things and more, it is one of the things I love about summer.  

Things I Love About Summer: Part 1

Fifteen years ago, I dropped 4 very short posts about things I love about summer.  You can see the first one here in August of 2010.  See?  I mentioned, they are very short.  

I have been inspired again to revisit and reflect on things I love about summer.  The summer months are quite meaningful to me largely because I work in education and have these months off from the day-to-day of being with students.  I still work, but it is a completely different environment when the students aren't there and my schedule is much more flexible.  But, I recall before I went in to education, the summer months were still notable.  The long days of sunlight and warm to hot weather definitely create a Jimmy Buffet "changes in latitude, changes in attitude" sort of feel.  

Here I plan to share some of my favorite things about summer.  I hope it inspires you to stop and smell the roses of summer wherever you are.  Feel free to share your thoughts and experiences in the comments right here on Seeking Positivity in the Galaxy.  

To begin, one thing I love about summer are the gatherings of friends outdoors.  Just the other night here in late May, my family and I went to an annual gathering at a good friend's house to watch fireworks that are held during our town festival.  We gather in the driveway for drinks and snacks where we visit and catch up on things like how the high school softball team qualified for the sectional championships earlier that day, and how we all enjoyed or didn't enjoy the newest summer movie releases.  We join in the annual harassment of how the Cubs or Cardinals are great or terrible or in an intense race for first place early in the season.  It is always a good time to catch up. 

Then as the sun decides to retire around 9:00 pm, we all make it to our seats on the driveway for the annual fireworks show.  It isn't the greatest show on Earth, but it is our show in our small Midwest town.  It is just fine, because it isn't about the greatness of the fireworks themselves, but it is about the friendships and sharing this experience every summer.   For that, it is one of the things that I love about summer!  

Fantasy Baseball: Coca Cola Kids "B Team" Baseball Club Weeks 7-12

The Coca Cola Kids "B Team" ballclub has had a nice start to the season after six weeks with 10 wins above losses (54-44-10).  The ballclub is solid all around, but some holes have appeared.  The kids are having a hard time filling the third base position. Willi Castro is just not doing the heavy lifting management thought he would do.  They picked up Noelvi Marte who is off to a solid start for the Reds with decent numbers across the board, but he is currently sitting on the IL.  Castro is back in while the Kids continue to look for a way to fill the 3B hole.  

The Kids pitching staff is solid up and down the bullpen, but the good weeks are good, and the bad weeks are bad; there isn't much in between.  The starting staff all have ERA's below a 4.00 with the high ERA at 3.97 and the low at 2.72.  Relief pitching has been fair.  Management is looking for one more reliver to add to the team for holds.  One spot that hurts is the Kids lost a top starter to injury as Shota Imanaga went to the IL.  

Team Leaders after 7 Weeks:

Runs: 37 - Mookie Betts

1B: 38 - Jeremy Pena

2B: 12 - Spencer Torkelson

3B: 4 - Tie, Kyle Tucker

HR:  15 - Tie Kyle Schwarber and Cal Raleigh

RBI: 39 - Seiya Suzuki

SB:  12 - Kyle Tucker

BB:  33 - Kyle Tucker

OPS: .952  Kyle Schwarber

IP: 61.1 - Spencer Schwellenbach

W:  5 - Tie  Bryan Woo and Nick Pivetta

CG: 0

SV: 9 - Ryan Helsley

K: 57 - Jesus Luzardo

HLD:  6 - Luke Weaver

ERA:  2.00 - Jesus Luzardo

WHIP: 0.59 - Luke Weaver

QS:  7 - Tie, Spencer Schwellenbach and Bryan Woo

See Weeks 1-6 Here

Week 7: 

Kids vs. Gourmet by Gorman  6-9 (6th in League) "Kids Fall in Standing, Struggling to get Wins"  

Week 8: 

Kids vs. Anyone but the Cubs  13-3 (3rd in League) "Offense Comes to Play Against Anyone" 

Week 9: 

Kids vs. Splendid Splinters  12-2 (1st in League) "Kids Split the Splinters for Dominating Win"

Week: 10: 

Kids (85-58-19) vs. All Choked Up  (78-68-16)  5-12 (4th in League) "Kid's Pitching Choked Didn't Score a Point" 

Week 11: 

Kids (09-69-21) vs. Underdawgs  (39-121-20)  14-4 (2nd in League) "Kid's Show Up and Dominate" 

Week 12: 

Kids (104-73-21) vs. Release the Kimbrel (85-90-22)  

Fantasy Baseball: Coca Cola Kids "A Team" Baseball Club Weeks 7-12

The Kids are off to a great start in 2025.  Even after a blowout loss in Week 6, they are still 21 wins over losses (63-42-15).  Two key players on the team are currently on the IL, SP Shota Imanaga and OF Teoscar Hernandez.  Both of these players have been key in the Coca Cola Kids hot start.  The Kids are also waiting for OF Garrett Mitchell to come off the IL too.  

It seems that the top comeback player of the year candidate, Spencer Torkelson, is beginning to cool off after his hot start.  But Torkelson is tied in team lead in doubles (11) for the Kids, second on the team in both runs scored (28) and RBI (33) and among team leaders in home runs (10).  

The Kids management did well with their Keepers from last season.  Elly De La Cruz leads the team in stolen bases with 14 and is among team leaders in runs scored (26) and hits (29).  Cal Raleigh has been pounding the ball in April and May.  He leads the team in Home Runs (12) and walks (27) and is among the leaders in runs scored (26).  Julio Rodriguez is the most pedestrian from last year's keepers.  It didn't seem that he could have as dismal a season as last year, so it seemed worth the risk to keep him.  It isn't paying off quite as much as management had hoped, but his numbers are strong enough to call it a win so far.  He leads the team in triples (2) and is among team leaders in runs scored (27).  The team would like to see more in the power and speed categories, but we will take slow and steady in his performance.  

Pete Crow-Armstrong is the MVP and RoY for the team in the first six weeks.  He leads the team in runs scored (31), tied for first in doubles (11), and second on the team in stolen bases (13).  Additionally, Crow-Armstrong is among team leaders in home runs (10) and runs batted in (28). 

Here is the team roster as of the beginning of Week 7: 

C: Cal Raleigh Mariners

1B: Michael Busch, Cubs

2B: Ketel Marte, Diamondbacks

3B: Isaac Paredes, Astros

SS: Elly De La Cruz, Reds

OF: Julio Rodriguez, Mariners

OF: Pete Crow Armstrong, Cubs

OF: Kerry Carpenter, Tigers

Utility: Spencer Torkelson, Tigers

Bench: Josh Naylor, Diamondbacks

Bench: Bryson Stott, Phillies

Bench: Teoscar Hernandez, Dodgers (IL)

Bench: Pete Crow Armstrong, Cubs

Bench: Ozzie Albies, Braves

IL: Garrett Mitchell, Brewers

NA: Matt Shaw, Cubs

SP: Luis Severino, A's

SP: Michael Boyd, Cubs

SP: Framber Valdez, Astros

SP: Freddy Peralta, Brewers

RP: Luke Weaver, Yankees

RP: Jason Adam, Padres

P: Fernando Cruz, Yankees

P: MacKenzie Gore, Nationals

Bullpen: Kirby Yates, Dodgers

IL: Shota Imanaga, Cubs

Picked up in the first six weeks: 

Spencer Torkelson 1B

Ozzie Albies 2B

Michael Boyd  SP

Fernando Cruz RP

See Weeks 1-6 Here

Week 7: 

Kids vs. BrownTown  10-7 "A Balanced Offense and Pitching Attack brings Win for Kids"  

(1st Division, 1st League) 

Week 8: 

Kids (73-49-18) vs. Oxford Publicans (57-65-18) 12-5 "Publicans Offense Can't Keep Up with the Kids"

(1st Division, 1st League)

Week 9: 

Kids (85-54-21) vs. ACEsymptomatic (57-88-15) 10-9  "The Kids Squeak One Out Against ACE" 

(1st Division, 1st League)

Week 10: 

Kids (95-63-22) vs. Orange Drink (71-88-21)  9-11  "Kid's Pitching Can't Keep It Together for Loss"

(1st Division, 1st League)

Week 11:  

Kids (104-74-22) vs. Pacaya Chilitepes (88-90-22)  10-8  "Kid's Win with Balanced Attack"  

(1st Division, 1st League) 

Week 12:  

Kids (114-82-24) vs. Tuffy's Tamaskan Buddhas (101-88-31)  8-8 "Kids Come From Behind to Tie It Up"  

(1st Division, 1st League) 

Head over to Weeks 13-18

X-Cutioner's Song

I have been surfing through the 80's and 90's X-Factor comic books on Marvel Unlimited over the last 9-12 months.  I've been on again, off again, but I have stuck with it.  Back in the day, I did not start reading this title until 1992 when my friend Pete and I would go to the local comic shop at college in Charleston, Illinois.  We each bought titles we wanted, but then would go home and read our own books then pass them across the room and read each other's books.  It was a good arrangement for both of us.  We got to double our exposure to stories at half the cost.  

Anyway, I didn't realize the notable X-Men stories that actually happened in the X-Factor book.  Most of the animated series X-Men 97 comes from the pages of X-Factor.  Now that I have caught up to the books I read in college, I am remembering some of the good times my friend and I had discussing the storylines, enjoying the art and "comic style," and arguing over who was the best hero, (who is obviously Spider-man).  I have recently come across a classic X-Men crossover story that shaped my love for my favorite X-Man of all time, Cable.  The story I have come upon again is the X-Cutioner's Song.  

People may disagree with me (hey, that is what literary discussion is all about), but I feel that this is the best 1990's X-Men crossover, hands down.  All the X-teams get involved, there is a murder and the suspect is pretty clear...or is he?  You have classic villains like Mr. Sinister, Apocalypse, Cable (?), the
MLF, and others going against our heroes.  The difficult issue is that the X-Men don't only have villains to contend with, but they are also at odds with one another.  What else is new, right?  Well, to me it was all new, and it was all amazing.  One might say it is an Uncanny story.  

If you don't have Marvel Unlimited and you love Marvel comics, you must raise the money for a year's subscription.  You won't be disappointed!  However, pro tip here.  If you are my age and went to college in the late 80's or earlier, you might want to find a tablet to read these on.  The phone has gotten a wee bit small for me to be able to read for very long.  Just saying!  You want to enjoy this.  

Check out X-Cutioner's Song or for that matter, do what I did and start at the beginning of the X-Factor title in 1986.  This is a comic book that I can't believe I didn't pick up when I was younger.  

Artist Playthrough 2025?

It is April and I haven't released a single Artist Playthrough 2025 post.  What's up with that?  

I must say, I have had an incredibly difficult time getting hyped to focus on a single artist for a month.  I don't know if I burned out on the Album Playthrough Project in 2024 or what, but I will get to the Artist Playthrough 2025 sometime soon.  I also will still cover 12 artists, but I will have to double up on a few months.  

 

Up first: INXS

Free Comic Book Day 2025

The first weekend of May is always a good one because the first Saturday of May is always Free Comic Book Day!  It is a full weekend of fun, because I get the books on Saturday and read them on Sunday.  This year is is an extra special weekend, because Sunday is May the Fourth Be With You day!!  

Here are a few previews of books that I'm looking forward to with abridged summaries from the publishers.  For a full list of books coming to your Local Comic Shop (LCS), head on over to the Free Comic Book Day website:

Conan: Scourage of the Serpent by Jim Zub, Cover Art Roberto De La Torre

I have come to really enjoy Jim Zub's writing on the Conan francise.  I have no doubt that this will not
disappoint.  

The serpent god's influence tightens its coils around the Hyborian Age and every other age linked to it. Three stunning supernatural stories will spiral together to answer a chilling question framed in past and present-What is Set's grand plan for humanity and, now that it has begun, can it be stopped?

Energon Universe: Classified,  Image Comics

The Energon stories by Image have been a highlight of the last year for me.  I look forward to this book for a preview of what is to come in 3 of the Energon Universe books. 

The biggest names in comics bring you the biggest FCBD release of the year with three all new stories from the Energon Universe featuring G.I. Joe, Transformers, and Void Rivals!
A perfect jumping on point for new readers with huge revelations for long time fans!

Tower Dungeon & Issak by Shinji Makari  Art by Tsutomu Nihei

One of the best parts of FCBD is taking a look at books that you might not normally pick up. 
These previews just might lead to some of you future favorites like the Energon Universe discussed above.  I don't read much Manga, but this might be a first. 

Kodansha presents exclusive previews of two new action manga, before they arrive in stores! Manga master Tsutomu Nihei (BLAME!, Knights of Sidonia) brings his genius to bear on the fantasy genre for the first time in Tower Dungeon, which pits a precocious farmboy against a crumbling world of malformed creatures, wounded soldiers, and labyrinthine darkness. Issak follows a Japanese warrior's journey to Europe in search of vengeance, at the height of the Thirty Years' War. Vinland Saga meets Shogun in this American Manga Awards-nominated masterwork.

Champion  by Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Art by Edward Laroche  Ten Speed Press

A good story doesn't  have to have space ships, swords, and fantasy worlds.  This looks like a good story by a famous former NBA Star and Civil Rights advocate. 

A high school student whose promising basketball career is in jeopardy discovers the triumphs and hardships of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's life as a social justice advocate in this stunningly illustrated graphic novel.
Monk Travers is the star basketball player on his high school team. Confident about his future as an NBA player, he doesn't see the point in caring much about school, let alone his community. But his world is about to change-big time!

Be sure to head on over to your LCS on May 3, 2025 to find these and many more Free Comic Books on this very special day.  Hey, while you are there, take a look around and buy something cool for yourself.  Support that LCS with that purchase as a thank you for always being there offering something awesome for your community.  

Fantasy Baseball: Coca Cola Kids "B Team" Weeks 1-6

Okay, so "B Team" implies the second best.  That is not the case here.  It is simply the designation between one team and another.  Last week, I wrote about the Coca Cola Kids "A Team" fantasy baseball team that is part of the League of Gorgeous Rogues.  You can read that and keep up with the "A Team" weekly RIGHT HERE  

This week the focus is on the Coca Cola Kids "B Team."  The B is a part of the UPCbaseball league which has been in existence since 2010, and the Kids best league finish is 3rd place which they finished in 2011.  They have finished 4th in the league twice (2012 and 2017).  Like the "A Team," the kids are professors of mediocrity.  

This league is a high maintenance league as managers can make adjustments to the team daily.  Managing two clubs, as the owner, there just isn't the time to do daily changes.  Nonetheless, the Kids fight every day and thank the baseball gods for the opportunity to play ball!

Here is the 2025 Roster of the Coca Cola Kids "B Team"

C: Cal Raleigh, Mariners

1B:  Matt Olson, Braves

2B:  Andres Gimenez, Blue Jays

3B: Willi Castro, Twins

SS:  Mookie Betts, Dodgers

OF:  Kyle Tucker, Cubs

OF:  Kyle Schwarber, Phillies

OF:  Kerry Carpenter, Tigers

Utility: Seiya Suzuki, Cubs

Bench: Jeremy Pena, Astros

Bench: Jackson Merrill, Padres

Bench: Willy Adames, Giants

SP:  Jason DeGrom, Rangers

SP:  Shota Imanaga, Cubs

SP:  Spencer Schwellenbach, Braves

RP:  Ryan Helsley, Cardinals

RP:  Jordan Romano, Phillies

P:     Bryan Woo, Mariners

P:    Tylor Megill, Mets

P:     Nick Pivetta, Padres

Bullpen: Jesus Luzardo, Phillies

Bullpen:  Kevin Gausman, Blue Jays

The Kids B have gotten off to a hot start in the 2025 season.  Week 1 found them  cruising to a win 12-5 over the All Choked Up club.  That win placed the Kids B in 3rd place after week one behind the Splendid Splinters and Gourmet by Gorman.  

Follow this post as it will be updated weekly with each match-up Weeks 1-6.   

Week 1:

Kids vs All Choked Up 12-5 (3rd in League) "Kids Power Win with 22 HR in Week 1"

Week 2: 

Kids vs Unerdawgs  13-3  (1st in League)   "Kids Dominate" 

Week 3: 

Kids vs. Release the Kimbrel  8-7 (2nd in League) "Kids offence with .800 OPS in Win" 

Week 4: 

Trot's Cardinals vs. Kids  7-10 (3rd in League)  "Kids Offense Cools Off to Finish May" 

Week 5: 

Kids vs. Acuna Matada  9-7 (2nd in League)  "Offense Flexes Muscle with 17 HR, .932 OPS" 

Week 6: 

Kids vs. you have to C it  5-12 (3rd in League) "Kids Slip in Standings after Big Loss"  

See Weeks 6-12 Here

Fantasy Baseball 2025: The Coca Cola Kids "A Team" Weeks 1-6

Smell the Earth reawakening as winter begins to thaw!  That means only one thing...Baseball season is here!  As of this writing, both the Cubs and Tigers are playing well in April.  That just makes my day!  

Baseball season also means Fantasy Baseball is here too.  The Coca Cola Kids have been around since 1988 and the Kids have and A team and a B team in two different leagues.  The Kids A team has been in action since 2005 in the ball league, League of the Gorgeous Rogues.  In 20 years of playing fantasy ball in The League of the Gorgeous Rogues, the Kids have been Champions twice (2026, 2013) and third place twice (2007, 2021).  The rest of the seasons are mostly less than mediocre, but we have fun anyway.  

The Coca Cola Kids B team plays in the UPC Baseball league.  The UPC Baseball league has been in existence since 2010.  In that time the Kids have never won the league, but took a 3rd place finish in 2011. 

Both leagues are super competitive with active players, but the UPC league is high maintenance with daily team adjustments as options where as the Rogues league has weekly roster adjustments.  

So allow me to introduce, from the League of the Gorgeous Rogues, the 2025 Coca Cola Kids A team:

C: Cal Raleigh Mariners

1B: Josh Naylor, Diamondbacks

2B: Bryson Stott, Phillies

3B: Maikel Garcia, Royals

SS: Elly De La Cruz, Reds

OF: Julio Rodriguez, Mariners

OF: Teoscar Hernandez, Dodgers

OF: Kerry Carpenter, Tigers

Utility: Ketel Marte, Diamondbacks

Bench: Isaac Paredes, Astros

Bench: Pete Crow Armstrong, Cubs

Bench: Garrett Mitchell, Brewers

Bench: Michael Bush, Cubs

Bench: Zach Gelof, A's

SP: Dylan Cease, A's

SP: Shota Imanaga, Cubs

SP: Framber Valdez, Astros

SP: Freddy Peralta, Brewers

RP: Kirby Yates, Dodgers

RP: Jason Adam, Padres

P: Luis Severino, A's

P: MacKenzie Gore, Nationals

Bullpen: Luke Weaver, Yankees

After the first weekend of baseball, the Kids snatched up undrafted Tigers infielder, Spencer Torkleson, which, so far, has paid off really well. 

After week 1, The Kids are in first place of the North Division with a 12-4-4 record.  First place overall belongs to the Oxford Publicans with a 16-3-1 record. 

It is a great start to what The Kids are hoping to be a great season!  

Week 1: 

Kids vs. Tuffy's Tamaskan Buddhas 12-4 "Kids Offense Dominates with 17 HR, 56 RBI"

(1st Division, 2nd League)  

Week 2: 

Kids vs. Pacaya Chiltepes 9-9 "Kids Come from Behind to Secure Tie"  

(2nd Division, 3rd League) 

Week 3: 

Kids vs ACEsymptomatic 11-8 "Offense Comes Alive while the Kid's Pitching Holds the Wins"

Week 4: 

Kids vs. Fried Chicken Bucket  15-3 "Kids Dominate as De La Cruz and Crow-Armstrong Heat Up"

(1st Division, 1st League)

Week 5: 

Kids vs. Oxford Publicans  12-3 "Kids Pitchers post 5 Wins, 2.63 ERA to Dominate the Week"

(1st Division, 1st League)

Week 6: 

Kids vs. The Mecca of Red Necka  4-15 "Kids Suffer First Lost in Grand Style!"  

(1st Division, 1st League) 

See the new post for Weeks 6 - 12 here.  

 

Reading/Viewing Stats 1st Quarter 2025

I've been on quite a hiatus of sharing the positivity in the galaxy!  I hope it is reflected in my reading/viewing stats of the first quarter of 2025.  

Personally, it has been a fantastic 2025 so far; professionally, it  has been kinda meh.  So, I will focus on the personal side of things.  In January, STEAM into Star Wars was great with several new aspects to the event, but some of the people and activities that might be called "old standards" are some of my favorite things about hosting.  In the same month, our competitive speech team, of which I am assistant coach, won two tournaments and took second in conference. 

Then, moving into February, the team won our Regional tournament qualifying the entire team for sectionals!!  We hosted the sectional tournament which was exhausting but the kids made it totally worth it, as we qualified seven kids for state!  This is the most kids we have ever qualified for state in the history of our school's speech program.  I have to stop here to say, (proud dad moment coming) my senior daughter who I have coached for four years qualified for state for the first time after making it to sectionals the three previous years and sectional finals 2 of those years.  She didn't just qualify for state, but she won in her event! to qualify for the state tournament  One of the highlights of 20 years of marriage to my wife will be telling her this news privately before awards.  Lets just say, it was quite a celebration!  Things didn't quite go the way we would have liked at state, she gave amazing performances, while the competition was comparable, the judges were mixed.  Seeing her on the stage at state was absolutely sublime for me. 

In March, I attended and presented at IDEAcon in Schaumberg, Illinois with my friend and podcasting partner where we discussed the ins and outs of our RPG Summer Camp.  

It has been an eventful first quarter of 2025, and I am really excited to take a look at my Reading/Viewing Stats.  

1st Quarter 2025

Movies Watched: 3

Rewatch: 1
First Time: 2
In Theater:

T.V. shows streamed: 19
First time: 6
Rewatch: 13

Podcast Episodes: 22
Time Listened: 1533

Books Read: 5
Fiction: 1
Nonfiction: 2
Pages Read: 1,130

Audiobooks:
Fiction:
Nonfiction:
Hours Listened:

Books Abandoned:
Fiction:
Nonfiction:
Pages Read;

Short Stories Read:
Fiction:
Nonfiction:
Pages Read:

Comic Books Read: 39
Print: 18
Digital: 21

Book Titles:
Void Rivals: Vol. 1 More than Meets the Eye by Robert Kirkman Art by Lorenzo de Felicia (Graphic Novel)
The Salt Thief: Ghandi's Heroic March to Freedom by Neil Bascomb
The Library Mule of Cordoba by Wilfred Lupano and Leonard Chemineau, art by Christopher Bouchard (Graphic Novel)
Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk
I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetya

Movies Watched:
Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl
Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
Wicked

T.V. Series Watched:
Skeleton Crew
Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man
Music By John Williams
Andor season 1

Podcasts:
Rebel Base card Podcast (3)
60 Songs that Explain the 90's (2)
The Colbycast (3)
Teachers in the Dungeon (1)
Lost Ballparks (8)
Classic Baseball Radio (5)

One of my goals for 2025 was to listen to more podcasts.  I am on a great trajectory to far surpass my 2024 total (37) shows listened.  I found a magnificent baseball podcast, Lost Ballparks, which I would highly recommend to anyone who likes baseball.  Thanks to my friend Greg McLaughlin for introducing me to that show.  

I am on par with the number of books I have read to this point.  I read 21 books last year, and am at 5 for the year so far.  I am happy to report that I am meeting another goal I set for myself which is to read more nonfiction books.  Two of my titles are nonfiction and two of the fiction books fall under the historical fiction category.  

I am behind in comic book reading.  I am not disappointed in this necessarily because I am making really good progress keeping up with current books, and enjoying a readthrough of the 1990's X-Factor title. 

Album Playthrough Project December 2024 and the New 2025 Project

The year has come to a close and the Album Playthrough Project wraps up its current format.  Before moving on, I need to share my December albums, reflect on 2024, and give my specific plans for 2025. 

Being December and the holiday season, the album list is quite heavy and almost exclusive to Christmas music.  Here is the list: 

The Andy Williams Christmas Album (1963) Andy Williams 12/2/24

Christmas Portrait (1978) The Carpenters 12/2/24
Christmas Caravan (1998) Squirrel Nut Zippers 12/3/24
Everyday is Christmas (2018) Sia 12/3/24
Into the Christmas Spirit (1966) Booker T &the MGs 12/4/24
Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1965) Burl Ives 12/4/24
A Very Kacey Christmas (2016) Kacey Musgraves 12/4/24
A Very Special Christmas (1987) Various Artists 12/5/24
When My Heart Finds Christmas (1993) Harry Conick Jr. 12/6/248
The Beach Boys' Christmas Album (1964) The Beach Boys 12/7/24
Joy: A Holiday Collection (1999) Jewel 12/7/24
The Greatest Christmas Hits (2003) Pentatonix 12/8/24
Home For Christmas (1992) Amy Grant 12/8/24
Holiday Seasoning (2024) Jimmy Fallon (various artists) 12/8/24
Christmas in a Minor Key (2024) Milk Carton Kids 12/9/24
A Very Special Christmas vol.2 (1992) Various Artists 12/9/24
James Taylor Christmas (2006) James Taylor 12/9/24
A Charlie Brown Christmas (2012) Vince Guaraldi Trio 12/11/24
The Dean Martin Christmas.Album (1966) Dean Martin 12/11/24
A Crystal Christmas (1986) Crystal Gayle 12/15/24
Big Band Holidays III (2023) Jazz at the Lincoln Center, Wynton Marsalis 12/15/24
Big Bands Holidays II (2019) Jazz at the Lincoln Center Wynton Marsalis 12/16/24
Elvis' Christmas Album (1958) Elvis Presley 12/16/24
Johnny Mathis Sounds of Christmas (1963) 12/17/24
Today is Christmas (2015) Leanne Rimes 12/17/24
An Oscar Peterson Christmas (1995) Oscar Peterson 11/17/24
Achtung Baby (1991) U2 12/2824
DAMN (2017) Kendrick Lamar 12/28/24
fruitcake (2023) Sabrina Carpenter 12/28/24
F-1 Trillion (2024) Post Malone 12/29/24
Good Together (2024) Lake Street Dive 12/30/24
Tuesday Night Music Club (1993) Sheryl Crow 12/31/24
Celebrate! (1980) Cool and the Gang 12/31/24

Best Listen of the Month: A Very Kacey Christmas, Kacey Musgraves

This was a huge surprise (maybe should have been in the category below) and quite the discovery for me.

Biggest Surprise: Into the Christmas Spirit, Booker T &the MGs

Ya ever want to just chill during the Christmas Season? This is the album.

Biggest Disappointment: Today is Christmas, Leanne Rimes

Seriously, this almost took me right out of the Christmas Spirit. It was flat.

Best Concert Memory: The Greatest Christmas Hits, Pentatonix

Saw the concert the day before I listened to this album. So talented and fun to listen.

Best Christmas Spirit: The Andy Williams Christmas Album, Andy Williams

It is the most wonderful album of the season.

Most Fun: Christmas Caravan, Squirrel Nut Zippers

Best non-traditional collection of holiday songs. They need to stop playing Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer and the Christmas Donkey song and play (more) Squirrel Nut Zippers!

For a description of the Album Playthrough Project, click here

February

March

April  

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

This is the last post for the 2024 Album Playthrough Project.  In fact, it is the last post for the Album Playthrough Project; however from the Album Playthrough Project comes a new project for 2025: The Artist Playthrough 2025.  

As first heard on The Colby Cast, I have chosen 12 artists to focus on in 2025, one each month.  Below is the list of artists I have chosen, but I haven't necessarily assigned them to a month except for January and December which will be Cold War Kids and Bing Crosby respectively.  

Here are the rest of the artists I have chosen for the Artist Playthrough 2025: 

John Mellencamp
10,000 Maniacs
Taylor Swift
James Taylor
Hozier
Bonnie Raitt
The Doors
U2
Grateful Dead
Dave Matthews Band

I hope you join me in 2025 as I examine the albums of the above artists.