Before we get into the links, I wanted to mention the two new writers have joined the FanSided MLB team this week.  The first, if you read this site daily you already know about.  Michael Engel has joined me on staff here at Kings of Kauffman as a contributor.  The second new writer is Lawrence Barreca who is joining Michael Worley over on our Orioles site, Birds Watcher.

Birds Watcher:  Will Mazzone’s Philosophy Fix Guthrie’s Problems?

Blog Red Machine: No new posts.

BoSox Injection: Sox Sign Veteran Lefty

Call to the Pen update:  will the site be up by this time next week?  Will my life get even more crazy as a result?  Stay tuned …

Chicken Friars: Erik Davis – Sleeper Prospect or Non-Prospect?

Cubbies Crib:  Cubs Quick Hits – Colvin, Frasor, and the Rotation

Deep Left Field: So Who’s the Guy the Indians Got to Pitch for Fausto?

Frisco Fastball: Giants Lock Up Affeldt For Two Years

Halo Hangout: No New Posts.

Jays Journal: Top 5 Jays SP Prospects

Lasorda’s Lair: No new posts.

Marlin Maniac: No lefties, no difference for Fish

Motor City Bengals: Bonderman, Willis Make Final Push Today

Nolan Writin‘: Edwar Ramirez had a short stop with the Rangers before being traded …

Rayhawk Review: Wade Davis Takes the 5th Spot

Redbird Rants: McClellan, Hill, or Garcia for the Fifth Spot?

Reviewing the Brew is still in need of a lead,  email us if you are interested in covering the Milwaukee Brewers.

Rising Apple: My Take on the Ike Davis Demotion and Jenrry Mejia Going Back-to-Back

Rox Pile: No new posts.

Rum Bunter: Ten Positives for the 2010 Pirates Grapefruit League

SoDo Mojo:  Cliff Lee’s Injured, But Don’t Freak Out

Southside Showdown is our new Chicago White Sox site.  We have a lead writer lined up and content should be coming soon.

Swingin’ A’s: A‘s Analysis – Bullpen

That Balls Outta Here: Reunion with Phillies Costs Brett Myers a Groin.  I really enjoyed this tidbit from Justin’s story:

Anybody catch A-Rod starting a completely routine double play that somehow made it into the highlights of the Orioles-Yankees game? That the O’s won EIGHT TO FUCKING ZERO?! Way to make it subtle, ESPN.

Teddy Never Wins is still in need of a lead, email us if you are interested in covering the Washington Nationals.

Tomahawk Take: Jason Heyward Gets Nod For Braves

Twinkie Talk: Twins Sign Mauer

Venom Strikes: Getting to the Heart of the Order

Yanks Go Yard: A-Rod to meet with Feds today

(Wally Fish is the lead blogger for Kings of Kauffman and FanSided’s MLB Director.  Subscribe to his RSS feed and add him on Twitter to follow him daily.)

I’ve been anti Harry Potter from day one.  I’ve never read any of the books so my feelings are largely unjustified, but as a fan of the fantasy genre and the proud recipient of an English/Creative Writing degree the hype surrounding the books has caused me to bristle with frustration and anger.  There are so many truly great fantasy writers out there that are far more deserving of the hype than that which is heaped upon J.K. Rowling.  Three of my personal favorites are Terry Brooks, R.A. Salvatore, and Robert Jordan.  All three have published many bestsellers, but I never recall the release of any of their works being met with long lines and hysteria in book stores at the stroke of midnight, but I digress.

There was a Sunday afternoon awhile back, probably over a year ago, that I was waiting for the boys to wake up from their naps so we could head to a family gathering.  I had nothing to do really and was terribly unmotivated, so I was flipping channels.  I happened across Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and due to the lack of viable alternative options I started watching.  I made it about halfway through the movie when the kids woke up and we had to depart.  I never saw the second half of the movie, and despite not being a fan or finding it all that interesting it bothered me that I never saw the end.

That all changed last night after I successfully got the boys tucked into bed upon the conclusion of another “boys night” since my wife was working the evening shift again.  In case you are wondering, boys night did not go as smoothly as Wednesday’s edition.  There was no Christmas in March for me this time.  Zachary was very cooperative and in a very good mood, but our oldest Justin was a roller coaster of emotions due to a cold and general lack of sleep.  Anyway, with the house quiet, I sat down on the couch to write and watch some college basketball.  None of the games piqued my interest and none of them looked like they were going to be very close, so I started flipping channels.

Then on the ABC Family channel, I saw Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.  Drawn like a moth to a flame, I grabbed a pillow and a blanket and settled in.  That my friends is why I did not publish a second or third article last night as I had planned.  It’s all Harry Potter’s fault, but at least I know how the movie ends.

Only problem is that now I feel compelled to watch the next five movies in the series.  ABC Family is showing the next four between today and tomorrow, and yes I have set the DVR to record each and every one of them … Damn you Harry Potter.

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Now let’s move on to our weekly stroll around the MLB sites of the FanSided.com Sports Network.  A day late is better than never!  Before we get into the links, I want to mention a few new members to our MLB team here at FanSided.

Brett Miller has joined on as a contributing blogger to provide content for our Seattle Mariners site, SoDo Mojo.

Rayhawk Review, our Tampa Bay Rays site, is now led by Justin Klein.  Current staffer Dustin Staggers is staying on board as a contributor.

Andrew Carless is our new lead blogger on our Colorado Rockies site Rox Pile.

Birds Watcher: No posts this week, but we will have a new lead writer providing content for the site within the week!

Blog Red Machine: Meet the Reds Newest Addition

BoSox Injection: Beckett Struggles in Loss to Pirates

Call to the Pen update:  We’ve got our seven columnists ready to go and a schedule planned out.  Site should be launched by the end of next week!

Chicken Friars: Projecting Kevin Correia

Cubbies Crib: Put the Brakes on it – Cubs and Toyota Could soon be Partners

Deep Left Field: Indians Fantasy Primer – Pitchers (Read at Your Own Risk)

Frisco Fastball: Some Spring Updates

Halo Hangout: Rangers Decide to Stand By Their Man

Jays Journal: Sean Ochinko Gets a Look at 3B

Kings of Kauffman: You are here, but I wanted to take a moment to thank the people who have expressed interest in helping me provide content for this site.  In the next week or so I will be officially welcoming a new contributor so stay tuned.

Lasorda’s Lair: Dodgers Top 10 Prospect Report – 8. Trayvon Robinson

Marlin Maniac: Who is Clay Hensley?

Motor City Bengals: Miner Elbow Issues

Nolan Writin’:  Ron Washington tested positive for cocaine during the middle of last season

Rayhawk Review:  It’s About Time Pena

Redbird Rants:  Cards News and Notes – Pujols-Howard Trade Reaction

Reviewing the Brew is still in need of a lead,  email us if you are interested in covering the Milwaukee Brewers.

Rising Apple:  Looks Like Fernando Martinez is Ticketed for Triple A

Rox Pile:  Beer, Brothels and Baseball … and Huston Street may miss season

Rum Bunter:  Pirates Potential Milestones in 2010

SoDo Mojo: Suspicions Confirmed

Southside Showdown is our new Chicago White Sox site.  We have a lead writer lined up for the site and content should be coming soon.

Swingin’ A’s:  A’s Preview – Coco Crisp

That Balls Outta Here:  Philadelphia Sports Fans – 40+ Years of Being Total A-Holes

Teddy Never Wins is still in need of a lead, email us if you are interested in covering the Washington Nationals.

Tomahawk Take: No posts this week.

Twinkie Talk: Twins Sign Span

Venom Strikes:  Call it a Case of March Madness

Yanks Go Yard:  Jeter hurts hand, is fine

(Wally Fish is the lead blogger for Kings of Kauffman and FanSided’s MLB Director.  Subscribe to his RSS feed and add him on Twitter to follow him daily.)

First off, I promised a Greinke article a while back and it hasn’t happened.  The article is still in the works, but it has changed directions a number of times from my original intent.  This morphing has slowed my research and writing process, but the article will get published at some point before the start of the season.  I also mentioned a while back that I was going to write the second installment of my Draft Recall series.  Based on other Royals specific articles I have lined up to write, I’m probably going to move that series over to Call to the Pen when the site is launched.  A third research intensive article I have on my list to write is another edition of Central Processing that will examine what we might expect from the Royals this season, in relation to the AL Central.  I know that makes it sound like a season preview, but it’s not.  Once I get it published it will all make sense.

In the next two weeks I should finish revealing the top-9 Royals prospects in the 2010 KoK rankings.  The profile for prospect number nine should be published tomorrow night if all goes well.  In addition to the prospect profile tomorrow, I should have another edition of From the Fish Pond posted at some point this weekend.  By the time Monday morning rolls around, I hope that five new articles, not counting this one, will be up on the site for your enjoyment.

It is a lofty goal considering I have to head into the office for the entire day on Sunday and my writing time tomorrow will be mostly limited to the evening.  My wife has to work and I will be entertaining my sons during the morning and afternoon hours.

~~~~~

In addition to linking to some of the recent stories for each of the active MLB sites on our network, I thought I would include “help wanted” notes on the sites where we need help.  If you want to write for a team where we have an opening, please send an email to fansided@gmail.com.

Call to the Pen: Planning and preparation for the launch of our new general MLB site continues on.  We now have five of our seven featured contributors locked, loaded and raring to go as soon as the site is launched.  I’m hoping to get the other two in place in the very near future, but sadly spare time is in short supply right now.  As I mentioned above, the Draft Recall series will be moving from KoK to CttP because the focus of my weekly column will be the draft.

Birds Watcher: Michael W. is our current Baltimore Orioles lead but he needs help and wants to transition to contributor slot.  Therefore, we are looking for a lead writer for this site.  Please contact us at the above email address if you are interested.

Blog Red Machine: Aroldis Hits 100 on the Radar Gun

BoSox Injection: Nomar Garciaparra – A Member of the Red Sox Once Again

Chicken Friars: A Quick Scouting Report on Top Prospect Simon Castro

Cubbies Crib: 25 Man Roster Is Beginning to Shape Up

Deep Left Field: RIP Jeremy Sowers’ Career

Frisco Fastball: Giants Running Through Cactus League

Halo Hangout: The Fans Predict Our Playoff Chances

Jays Journal: Bryce Harper with the Jays?

Lasorda’s Lair: We are looking for help to cover the Los Angeles Dodgers for Lasorda’s Lair.

Marlin Maniac: Bullpen regression versus Nolasco regression

Motor City Bengals: Leyland Lays Down the Law

Nolan Writin’: Should the Rangers or will the Rangers keep Ron Washington as their skipper after the 2010 season?

Rayhawk Review: Could Hellickson Land Rotation Spot?

Redbird Rants: Penny, Craig star in St. Louis’ victory over Washington

Reviewing the Brew: Do you love the Milwaukee Brewers?  Do you love to write?  If so, why not contact us about becoming the lead writer on Reviewing the Brew?

Rising Apple: What Should the Mets Do with Ike Davis?

Rox Pile: We are looking for a new lead writer to cover the Colorado Rockies, contact us if interested.

Rum Bunter: Pirates Coach Hates Couches

Sodo Mojo: Another Jarrod Washburn Post

Swingin’ A’s: A’s Analysis – Starting Rotation

Teddy Never Wins: Teddy is lonely.  Teddy needs a lead blogger.  If you are interested in writing about the Washington Nationals please contact us and make Teddy happy in the process.

That Balls Outta Here: It’s a “Joe Blanton, Surprise Whiskey” Friday!

Tomahawk Take: Braves Preseason Review – Troy Glaus Feeling Healthy

Twinkie Talk: About the Joe Nathan Situation

Venom Strikes: Upton Goes Yard Again, Helps Dbacks Win

Yanks Go Yard: Nick Johnson’s back still hurts … from carrying the offense

(Wally Fish is the lead blogger for Kings of Kauffman and FanSided’s MLB Director.  Subscribe to his RSS feed and add him on Twitter to follow him daily.)