At 35-years old, has Alex Rodriguez finally gotten it? Has the three time AL MVP finally matured? Is the latest member of the 600 home run club now all grown up? One could certainly make that case because as reported first by the USA Today, A-Rod has dumped super agent Scott Boras and retained Pittsburgh sports attorney Jay Reisinger and Washington lawyer Jim Sharp.

Public relations have always been somewhat of a problem for Alex, even before the steroid issue was brought to the attention of the public.

Kurt Badenhausen of Forbes sums up A-Rod's dilemma as good as anyone.

"A-Rod is damaged goods as far as marketers go these days thanks to his admission last year of steroid use. But even before that he had trouble securing endorsement deals. A-Rod was always supposed to be a marketer's dream with the talent, looks and poise to potentially sell anything to fans. Every stop along the way in Seattle, Texas and New York endorsement deals were supposed to start pouring in. A few small deals trickled in over the years with Pepsi (worth around $300,000), Colgate-Palmolive (Speed Stick) and Kraft. But they didn't match the stature of a player with three MVP awards and 600+ home runs. In 2008 he signed on with Hollywood talent agency, the William Morris Agency to help secure new deals, but still nothing came."

Many attribute his lack of marketing popularity due to the backlash of his big contracts and his lack of winning before last year's World Series title. Whatever the reason, there has certainly been a "marketing boycott" against A-Rod over the years.

Taking a look at his income from endorsement deals, A-Rod makes a very small percentage of his income from endorsements and his income is derived mainly from his Yankees contract. He's been perhaps the game's most talented player with an unbelievably impressive list of accomplishments and stats, yet the player people seem to love to hate earns only about $2 million per year from memorabilia and sponsors like Rawlings, Nike, Oasys Mobile and Topps. Compare that to his infield neighbor, Derek Jeter, who makes about $9 million annually from endorsements and you can see his perceived unpopularity despite his on field accomplishments.

So does Alex's break away from Boras show a shift in philosophy for the Yankees slugger? Is he trying to put the stigma of being a selfish, money hungry player behind him? Maybe. Perhaps he's truly seen the light. But there may be another aspect to this.

Reisinger and Sharp have an existing relationship with Rodriguez as they have been handling his legal and government affairs since February of 2009. Reisenger represented Rodriguez during his admission to using steroids and is also noted for being part of the legal team that represented Sammy Sosa and Andy Pettitte in their dealings with Congress on performance-enhancing drugs.

Does A-Rod smell legal trouble brewing? Is he anticipating having legal issues with the government or FBI? Did he lie to the authorities regarding his steroid use? Did he lie to the FBI when he spoke to them about his relationship with Canadian Dr. Tony Galea and his involvement with the blood spinning technique? Did the Roger Clements indictment scare the crap out of him? Time will only tell.
Since the steroid admission, A-Rod certainly has done a much better job of dealing with the media and his public perception. The man who used to stick his foot in his mouth on a daily basis rarely does so these days. This PR improvement may be a result of maturity or it may be a result of the influence and advice given to him by his new legal team of advisors as his maturity seems to have coincided with Messers Reisinger and Sharp started advising him.

When the Angels dealt Brian Fuentes to the Minnesota Twins on Friday, the deal as completed with a condition that there would be a "player to be named later."

Angels General Manager Tony Reagins was quotes as saying that it would be "prospect with upside." Riggins wasn't kidding.

Yesterday the deal was completed Wednesday with the Angels acquiring pitcher Loek Van Mil, a 7-foot-1 right-hander; the tallest player in professional baseball.

Van Mil is a Netherlands native who consistently hits 94-95 on the radar gun, but has no real effective secondary pitches to speak of at the moment and has already had some elbow problems.

After beginning the 2010 season at Class-A Fort Myers, where he was 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA in three outings, the 7-foot-1 right hander was 1-2 with a 6.37 earned run average in 23 relief appearances for double-A New Britain.

I see where Torii Hunter made some comments reported by the AP.

"I went down to see him pitch in a rookie-league game in spring training about five years ago," said Angels right fielder Torii Hunter, a former Twins star. "He was 6-11 then and throwing about 88 mph. It seemed like he was slapping those kids in the batter's box every time he let go of the ball." - Blake Kearny

Blake is a retired baseball scout (34 years) from Los Angeles, California. He currently runs a baseball school for children in Los Angeles.

Roto-Rx

If your question was not answered this time, you can go directly to the source @ https://www.roto-rx.com/ where Dr. Roto will answer all your Fantasy Baseball and Football questions.

The Doctor is in...

Question #1: Yovani Gallardo has been getting CRUSHED! Is he tired? Hurt? Should I sit him? – Luis, Portland, ME

Luis: I hear you loud and clear. All Gallardo owners have been pulling their hair out recently watching him get lit up like a Christmas tree in his last few starts. You have two options as I see it: 1) stick with him and hope that talent prevails and he gets himself in order, or 2) take your chances and pick up different starters each week to help you down the stretch. Right now, I would choose #1, but I would stand ready to pull the plug with one or two more bad starts.

Question #2: Would you protect Jenrry Mejia $7? – Josh, Lancaster, CA

Josh: Probably not. I like Mejia and think he will be good one day, but I don't see him pitching 200 innings next year winning 14 games for the Mets. If I could get him for $3 or less at the draft, I would be much happier.

Question #3: At 34, Paul Konerko may be having the best year of his career. I drafted him for $4! Should I protect him for $9 or trade him? – Michael, Newark, DE

Michael: Congrats on being the wise man in your league that drafted Konerko this year. You are not Dr. Roto just yet, but I am impressed with your Jedi-like powers. Konerko's value is at its highest point in years. Try to find another owner in your league who likes him and see what you can get for him in an off-season deal. If you can get a good deal--Make it!

Question #4: Every time someone asks you about Edwin Jackson it seems that you rain on his parade. He’s now thrown 5 starts in a pennant race and is 3.0 with a 1.47 ERA. Those a valuable fantasy numbers down the stretch. The numbers are what they are. Am I looking at something different than you? – Brandon, Honolulu, HI

Brandon: Ok, here's the deal on Edwin Jackson. I like him--I do. But I don't trust him. He's kind of like that girlfriend that tells you she wants to grab a bite to eat with her ex-boyfriend. Are you happy she's going? No. Do you trust her? Not completely. For me to recommend a player to you, I need to feel that a player is worthy of my bestowing Dr. Roto's blessing on him. I just can't give you that blessing with Jackson. True, he has been nothing short of spectacular recently, but did you see his numbers at the beginning of the year? So, with that in mind, ride him like a beautiful wave on the Pacific Ocean, but just be careful that his surfboard doesn't flip over.

Question #5: What’s the deal with Phil Hughes and the 10 walks in his last two starts? Should I be concerned? – Travis, Olive Branch, MS

As has been widely reported, the Yankees were awarded a waiver claim Tuesday on Dodgers pitcher Ted Lilly.

The Dodgers have pulled him back which is what teams normally do when they then want to work out a trade or if they were just trying to gauge interest. Normally when a MLB team places a player on waivers, if they thought they could get something for him in addition to the relief of no longer having to pay his salary, they would pull him back and try to make the team that claimed him trade for him. They also have the option to pull him back and keep him as if the entire process never occurred. Lastly, they could simply let the player go and alleviate themselves of the obligation to pay any more of the player's contract. The latter is precisely how the White Sox just ended up with Manny Ramirez.

Dodgers GM Ned Colletti has told baseball insiders that he pulled Lilley back because he thinks that they are still in the race. Ned, did they make marijuana legal in California and only tell you? The Dodgers only have 29 games remaining, they just dumped Manny Ramirez and they are 9 games behind the Padres with the Giants and Rockies ahead of them too! And they are 6 1/2 games out of the Wild Card with 4 teams ahead of them there!

Even under the assumption that Ned's Utopia was reality, why would he have put Lilly on Waivers to begin with if he had no intentions of trading him our skipping out on his salary when Lilly is going to be a free agent next year and they Dodgers have no rights to him?

Colletti may or may not be smoking, but either way there isn't a snow ball's chance in hell that he actually thinks the Dodgers are still in it. He's just playing hardball because he knows the Yankees desperately want him and he's trying to get them to up the offer.

The interesting thing here is whether or not Lilly would be eligible for the playoffs on the Yankees roster.

MLB rules state that to be eligible for a team's playoff roster, as of August, 31st at midnight, a player must be on either;

a) the 25 man active roster
b) the disabled list
c) the bereavement list
d) the suspended list.

If this trade goes through, even though the deal could happen Wednesday or later, the Yankees believe there is a loophole. The Yankees believe that because they were awarded the claim before the first of the month, they could use Lilly on their postseason roster.

I'm confused. Cliff Lee failed to pitch through six innings last night against Kansas City for the third consecutive start (and only the third time all season) and that's a reason to panic? Please. Lee is going to be just fine and so will the Texas Rangers.

Why would this be a cause for concern? Pitchers are allowed to have off games. Pitchers are allowed to struggle a little bit this late in the season. Pitchers who have thrown a gem or two in the postseason and World Series are allowed to have off games. A couple of bad performances aren't signs that it's the end of the world. And it certainly doesn't mean the 2008 Cy Young winner isn't trying.

Last week, Colin Cowherd accused Lee of tanking it against bad teams like the Baltimore Orioles. He accused him of not caring about the Texas Rangers, not liking the heat and only showing off his talent against the elite teams in the majors.

"When he pitches against elite teams, he is showcasing his talent," Cowherd said. "Against the Orioles, he mails it in. That's a dude who gets out of town. The minute the season ends, he will go to the Yankees and jettison the Rangers."

The dumb radio host also pointed out how Lee's strikeout numbers are higher against better teams. I guess he forgot about his 13-K performance against Oakland.

Cowherd, of course, is a moron, plain and simple. Lee called him out and said whatever Cowherd heard and said was a lie.

Lee struggled in a couple starts with the Philadelphia Phillies last year at almost the same exact time of the season. On August 29 last year, he only pitched five innings and gave up three home runs, six earned runs off 10 hits and only struck out five. On September 4 pitching at Houston, he only threw for three innings, gave up six earned runs and struck out three batters. Both games resulted in losses for both the Phillies and Lee.

Did everyone panic? No. Did he struggle for the rest of the season? No. Did Philadelphia still make it to the World Series? Yes.

He hasn't even been struggling that badly. In Lee's debut against Baltimore, he gave up six earned runs, but still pitched a complete game and only got one measly run from a usually powerful offense. In his loss to Tampa Bay, the Rays scored four runs in the eighth after two Texas bad defensive lapses that extended the inning (it's not Lee's fault Rangers second baseman Joaquin Arias couldn't track down a pop-up).

After his last three bad starts, his WHIP is still 1.03 and he still leads the league in complete games with seven.

These things happen. It doesn't mean Lee is "mailing it in." It doesn't mean Texas fans should be worried. They have a guy who can go on the road and pitch a complete game in the World Series (Game 1 last year) without giving up an earned run.

The United States government has spoken. Clemens has now officially been charged by the government with six counts of making false statements, perjury and obstruction of Congress. A trial date has been set for April 5, just a few blocks from where Clemens testified before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee that he had never used performance-enhancing drugs.

Have you even seen someone so happy to take a mug shot?

Reporters tried as hard as they could to get Roger to comment, but the only words Clemens said yesterday was to Judge Reggie Walton, "Not guilty, your honor."

Here's a copy of the actual indictment.

One of the more interesting things that transpired yesterday is that after pleading "not guilty," the seemingly unconcerned Clemens, in an apparent attempt to avoid disqualification at the World Amateur Handicap Championship in Myrtle Beach, whisked himself from Washington D.C. to South Carolina where he managed to squeeze in 18 holes of golf....

For those keeping score Clemens finished with an 84. No word if he cheated.....

It remains to be seen how this will play out, but it seems obvious to this writer that Clemens genuinely believes that he will get off on a technicality and at this point he simply views this process as a nuisance. It's almost as if he's not taking anything seriously. At lunch in the courthouse's cafeteria, Clemens and his four-man legal team, led by Houston-based Rusty Hardin was seen signing autographs for the cafeteria staff....

Manny Ramirez will the going to the South Side of Chicago as the White Sox have completed their waiver claim. Chicago will pick up the remaining 2010 salary left on Ramirez' contract of $3,825,136.61.

Ramirez pinch hit in yesterday's game against the Rockies and was ejected by home plate umpire Gary Cederstrom after one pitch on an outside strike call. That wasn't exactly going out on top a la Ted Williams blasting his farewell homer for the Red Sox, but then again, this is Manny, and there are many who think his premature exit yesterday was akin to giving the finger to Dodgers management.

Almost everyone has written something trying to sum up Manny's time in LA, but I think that Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports put it best.

"Manny never has done breakups particularly well, from airing every last stinky jockstrap on his way out of Cleveland to forcing a trade from Boston in 2008, to his latest, and perhaps greatest, act of defiance. Getting thrown out of his final game in a Los Angeles Dodgers uniform Sunday after one pitch of a pinch-hitting appearance was Manny's one-fingered farewell to the team that embraced him when he was a leper everywhere else, to the city that deified him when he was outed as a steroid user, to everyone who engaged in the symbiotic ugliness. On Manny goes, dumped by the Dodgers and picked up by the Chicago White Sox, who are merely the latest Father Flanagan convinced they can tame him."

Manny gave the Dodgers an incredible two months for free in the stretch drive of 2008 when he got there, but once they signed him to a two year $45 million contract, the gift clearly stopped giving.

Most of the press is into Manny bashing these days, it seems the popular way to go. Mike Lupica of the New York Daily News had a typical comment that seems to represent be how Manny is being perceived at this point.

"Isn't it interesting, by the way, that the guy who got suspended for 50 games because of drugs is starting to break down this way. It must be another one of those crazy coincidences you get in sports sometimes. And Manny isn't the only one, is he?"

All I know is this; Manny Ramirez is in a contract year and likely has one last desperate chance at another decent payday coming to him. Any chance of obtaining that contract rests on his ability to carry the White Sox on his shoulders for the last month of the 2010 season, propelling them into the AL Playoffs.

I'm not saying that Manny will be able to duplicate what he did for the Dodgers in 2008, or perform like he did in his prime for the Red Sox, but maybe, just maybe, Manny can be Manny one more time and put on a typical show. I'll say this, with Manny Ramirez and Ozzie Guillen in the same uniform, ‘circus is coming to Cleveland' tonight, the city where it all started for Manny 18 years ago, as the White Sox play the Indians this evening and it should be one hell of a show. If that weren't fun enough, the White Sox travel to Boston for a three game set this coming weekend. Oh, Babay!

This Weeks Podcast Highlights

On this week's podcast, Dr. Roto covers the big news of the week including Brian Fuentes going to the Twins, as well as Manny Ramirez being claimed on waivers by the White Sox. In buy, sell, and hold, Dr, Roto gives you two closers to buy (Uehara and Broxton) as well as a young OF to keep your eye on. Finally, Dr. Roto goes to college this week in his mailbag, answering questions from college students about players such as: Josh Hamilton, Billy Butler, and Edwin Jackson.

Random Musings:

September 1st roster expansion is upon us this week. Keep your eyes fixed on those boxscores to make sure that your players are not losing playing time to guys you never heard of. Fewer pitchers pitch 2 start weeks down the stretch, so if you need a 2 start pitcher, look for the guy pitching on Monday.

The New York Yankees with a 2010 team payroll of over $206 million in are currently tied for the best record in baseball with the Tampa Bay Rays at 78-50.

You could look at this a few ways. You could say that they are in first place and getting their money's worth or you could say, "Hey wait a minute, the San Diego Padres have the second lowest payroll in all of baseball and they almost have the same record at 76-51!"

For all the Yankee haters out there, while that's true, if you are being honest, the San Diego Padres would not be playing .600 baseball if they were in the American League East. Sure you get to play the Orioles 18 times, but competing with the three headed monster being the best three teams in MLB, the Yankees, Rays and Red Sox, takes a toll on a teams record. Frankly, if the Blue Jays were in any other division in baseball they would probably be a playoff team as well and at 67-61 in the AL East, they have nothing to be ashamed of.

Yesterday I was reading an article talking about the Yankees and how they are plan on setting their rotation for the playoffs. With Javier Vasquez being banished to the bullpen and A. J. Burnett pitching like Bob Gibson one outing and Oliver Perez the next, the article suggested that the plan all along to move Phil Hughes to bullpen for the playoffs now has him pitching game 2 with CC Sabathia throwing game one and Andy Pettitte throwing game three. This would not only break up the two lefties but it would give Andy the potential pressure game possibly being down 0-2, tied 1-1, or to close it out. This of course all assumes that Pettitte is healthy.

Not so Fast!

Discussions of setting up the Yankee playoff pitching rotation may be a bit premature as they are currently tied with the Rays (only one of them can win the AL East) and only 4 ½ games up on the Boston Red Sox for the AL Wild Card. There is a lot of business that must to be taken care of before a playoff spot can be secured and the AL East division winner and AL Wild Card spot are not likely to be decided until the final days (perhaps the final day) of the season.

The Yankees have seven games left against the Rays and six games left against the Red Sox (including the last three of the year at Fenway Park.) With everyone in the AL East playing each other down the stretch this one could be interesting as everyone in contention has control of their own destiny.

Roto-Rx

If your question was not answered this time, you can go directly to the source @ https://www.roto-rx.com/ where Dr. Roto will answer all your Fantasy Baseball and Football questions.

The Doctor is in...

We have mixed bag of very similar questions from our readers this week, so we are going to alter the format and answer as many as possible. My apologies if I've missed someone.

Since you guys come from leagues of all shapes and sizes, I'm going to give you my recommendations based on a mixed league 5x5 with 12 teams and you can adapt my responses to your league's rules.