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.