that this World Series will be a ratings disappointment*
*via Mike Scioscia's Tragic Illness' tweet
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Sunday, October 24, 2010
The World Series I Wanted
Rangers and Giants! No Phillies - the Philly fans went home crying like they did from the Wachovia Center on June 9, 2010 when they lost a Game 6 to the Chicago Blackhawks in the Stanley Cup Finals. Stick that up your giggy, you fuckin jerks. The Yankees are out as well - maybe Joe Buck and Tim McCarver can still create a Jeter altar and worship him and ARod between innings.
Two teams that have World Series droughts that stretch back to the 50's won't be as popular as the Yankees-Phillies but, the way these playoff games are scheduled and ran, the MLB doesn't seem to care about ratings. For baseball purists, it doesn't get better than Lee-Lincecum in Game 1. It will have to wait until Wednesday because the MLB wants to give the teams a lot of time betweens series' but not enough time for the aforementioned starting pitchers to pitch Games 4 and 7.
Baseball purists will like that the weather should be nice. It may snow in the NE but Dallas and San Fran should remain temperate enough for passable baseball weather. It should be a good series and one that the Rangers should be favored in but the Giants have the home-field advantage. I will end by saying that I have enjoyed watching Brian Wilson pitch and his beard but him picking up a bat shows that the NL needs to adopt the DH rule. It is painfully obvious.
Two teams that have World Series droughts that stretch back to the 50's won't be as popular as the Yankees-Phillies but, the way these playoff games are scheduled and ran, the MLB doesn't seem to care about ratings. For baseball purists, it doesn't get better than Lee-Lincecum in Game 1. It will have to wait until Wednesday because the MLB wants to give the teams a lot of time betweens series' but not enough time for the aforementioned starting pitchers to pitch Games 4 and 7.
Baseball purists will like that the weather should be nice. It may snow in the NE but Dallas and San Fran should remain temperate enough for passable baseball weather. It should be a good series and one that the Rangers should be favored in but the Giants have the home-field advantage. I will end by saying that I have enjoyed watching Brian Wilson pitch and his beard but him picking up a bat shows that the NL needs to adopt the DH rule. It is painfully obvious.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Sacks of Cash With Dollar Signs and Dodger Logos
Alright, so contrary to what I thought wouldn't happen, Ned just handed Lilly large bags of money. It may be the case that Ned isn't finished. Judging by what Ned said, the payroll will be higher than $93 million before the new season will start.
I like Lilly but I would have liked to have received the compensatory picks from him because, as MSTI says, he is a good bet for 2011 but not so much after that. Lilly is a pitcher that could be successful in his later years in a pitcher's park given his pitching style. However, if he can't take the mound, the Dodgers don't get the returns and that isn't a risk the Dodgers should have taken. Yes, the Dodgers needed a pitcher but while they may not have been able to do "better" if they let him go, Ned is risking adding another veteran to his list of bad and expensive signings.
I like Lilly but not the risk. The fact remains that Hiroki Kuroda may even be worth more and Ned wants to pursue either him or Vicente Padilla. If the Dodgers had a farm system left, I would suggest they try to trade for an extraneous pitcher from the Rays, the Jays or some other team.
From Ned's mouth, we can expect at least one more starter, a reliever and a position player or two. Any guesses? I think the Dodgers will re-sign Hiroki Kuroda but after that, I will have to wait to make any guesses.
When I heard that the Dodgers were going to spend money, I felt relieved but also felt some empty joy. Yes, spending money brings talent onto the team but that talent has to perform and stay healthy. I don't think that the usual dynamic of Ned paying veterans to decline is a winning strategy but without a farm system or a capable GM, this is what the team is left with.
I like Lilly but I would have liked to have received the compensatory picks from him because, as MSTI says, he is a good bet for 2011 but not so much after that. Lilly is a pitcher that could be successful in his later years in a pitcher's park given his pitching style. However, if he can't take the mound, the Dodgers don't get the returns and that isn't a risk the Dodgers should have taken. Yes, the Dodgers needed a pitcher but while they may not have been able to do "better" if they let him go, Ned is risking adding another veteran to his list of bad and expensive signings.
I like Lilly but not the risk. The fact remains that Hiroki Kuroda may even be worth more and Ned wants to pursue either him or Vicente Padilla. If the Dodgers had a farm system left, I would suggest they try to trade for an extraneous pitcher from the Rays, the Jays or some other team.
From Ned's mouth, we can expect at least one more starter, a reliever and a position player or two. Any guesses? I think the Dodgers will re-sign Hiroki Kuroda but after that, I will have to wait to make any guesses.
When I heard that the Dodgers were going to spend money, I felt relieved but also felt some empty joy. Yes, spending money brings talent onto the team but that talent has to perform and stay healthy. I don't think that the usual dynamic of Ned paying veterans to decline is a winning strategy but without a farm system or a capable GM, this is what the team is left with.
On Cody Ross
Cody Ross is making a decent case for himself as NLCS MVP if the Giants end up winning the series. While his 3 HR's, 4 RBI's and slash line of .444/.545/1.444 will go a long way, I am not about to write a mandate on why he should have been a Dodger again. I won't even touch on why he shouldn't have been traded away in the first place. It's all irrelevant now. What I do want to discuss is the simple disparity between decent hitters with decent power and adequate hitters with little to no power.
List of the former available (or loosely available) at the trade deadline: Luke Scott, Cody Ross, Bengie Molina, Derrek Lee, Lance Berkman, Ryan Ludwick, Jose Guillen and Manny (though he was already a Dodger)
List of the latter available: Scott Podsednik, Ryan Theriot, Miguel Tejada (at this point in his career)...
I am not going to go any further. I hate Pods and Theriot as players and I didn't want them on the Dodgers. I am still miffed that the Dodgers obvious need for more runners on base and more power was not met and more grindy, slappy hitters were acquired instead.
In the end what would it have mattered if one of the players with more power were acquired. Not all that much considering the way the existing Dodgers played. What angers me and most Dodgers fans I read is that the utter myopia of Ned Colletti to value outdated and useless skills over ones that would improve this baseball team is glaring.
The Dodgers have a lot of problems that can be overcame with talent. This is a point in time where a shrewd GM that can evaluate league talent would come in handy. All Ned does is give large bags of money to the wrong players. That is outdated.
The Giants have overcame the poor management of Brian Sabean, the Rangers have overcame issues with Ron Washington. The Phillies endured major injuries to key players, the Yankees poor pitching and hitting from their expensive free-agents but are still standing (for now). For the Dodgers, they were in this situation last year. Still in the playoffs, still in their championship window and they did so in spite of Ned Colletti.
It seems that the Dodgers stand to lose Logan White at some point. Who knows whether or not he will do well as a GM but the amount of interest he is attracting shows that he has more to offer the league than Ned Colletti. I don't think Ned would be hired by another team if he were let go by the Dodgers. He can't be fired soon enough.
List of the former available (or loosely available) at the trade deadline: Luke Scott, Cody Ross, Bengie Molina, Derrek Lee, Lance Berkman, Ryan Ludwick, Jose Guillen and Manny (though he was already a Dodger)
List of the latter available: Scott Podsednik, Ryan Theriot, Miguel Tejada (at this point in his career)...
I am not going to go any further. I hate Pods and Theriot as players and I didn't want them on the Dodgers. I am still miffed that the Dodgers obvious need for more runners on base and more power was not met and more grindy, slappy hitters were acquired instead.
In the end what would it have mattered if one of the players with more power were acquired. Not all that much considering the way the existing Dodgers played. What angers me and most Dodgers fans I read is that the utter myopia of Ned Colletti to value outdated and useless skills over ones that would improve this baseball team is glaring.
The Dodgers have a lot of problems that can be overcame with talent. This is a point in time where a shrewd GM that can evaluate league talent would come in handy. All Ned does is give large bags of money to the wrong players. That is outdated.
The Giants have overcame the poor management of Brian Sabean, the Rangers have overcame issues with Ron Washington. The Phillies endured major injuries to key players, the Yankees poor pitching and hitting from their expensive free-agents but are still standing (for now). For the Dodgers, they were in this situation last year. Still in the playoffs, still in their championship window and they did so in spite of Ned Colletti.
It seems that the Dodgers stand to lose Logan White at some point. Who knows whether or not he will do well as a GM but the amount of interest he is attracting shows that he has more to offer the league than Ned Colletti. I don't think Ned would be hired by another team if he were let go by the Dodgers. He can't be fired soon enough.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
On to the League Championship Series'
With the Rays, Braves, Reds and Twins gone, that eliminates two teams I wanted to lose almost as bad as the Phillies, my strongest rooting interest and the Braves. The great part about the playoffs is that sometimes a team winning makes for a better series and when it isn't the Dodgers playing, better baseball should win out. The Phillies deserved to win their DS and so did the Giants. The Braves don't have what it takes to beat a team like the Phillies, so the Giants should get a crack at it.
I don't find myself cringing at the prospect of the Giants making the World Series. The Phillies would be worse. I would like for the Phillies' championship window to be closed on their proverbial dick. It will be difficult with the three-headed H20 monster but the Giants can hold their own. I find the Giants to be likable, mainly because a lot of the players they have on the roster have been recently acquired. They aren't the rival Giants but the Team that plays by the Bay that was bolstered to be a winner. I really only feel resentment against Tim Lincecum but I will still root for him over Halladay in Game 1.
On the AL side, I still find it hard to believe that the Rays were taken out and their championship window is certainly closed. The Rays will be alright because of their amazing farm system but alright in the AL East could land a team in 4th place. I think I will be rooting for the Rangers to win it all now. Cliff Lee has dazzled viewers all season and Tuesday night was no different. I regret not seeing one of his starts when he and I were in Seattle.
Rays-Yankees, in retrospect, wasn't a given and that is alright because the Rangers are capable of taking the Yankees on. The Rangers seem to have an affinity for playing on the road, which should come in handy. The Rangers seem capable of out-pitching the Yankees and may literally run away with a win or two like they did against the Rays. The running game is more fun to watch in the playoffs but a team has to be good at it if they are going to partially rely on it to get to the playoffs.
Right now, I would say that the Yankees and Phillies are going to be reunited in the World Series because that is how it works. I wouldn't bet money on it but since I find that series to be the least favorable match-up, then it will probably occur. A Giants-Rangers series would ensure that one team ends a 50+ year drought. It may not do well in the ratings but I will watch it. A Rangers-Phillies series might be regrettable for Ruben Amaro, who was content to let Cliff Lee walk.
Pitching should continue to dominate and that suits all of the remaining teams. As a Dodgers fan, it gives me a glimmer of hope that, even though the team is in dire straits, Kershaw should be a Dodger for a long time and I see him getting some playoff spots later if not sooner. To say one more thing in conjunction regarding the condition of the Dodgers, the most important move the Dodgers can make is to offer Lilly arbitration (Mike Scioscia's Tragic Illness is spot on with the rest of his pitching advice but I am in full aggreance on this particular move). He probably won't accept and in the 2011 draft, 2 compensatory picks are going to be worth a lot more than any given draft year.
I don't find myself cringing at the prospect of the Giants making the World Series. The Phillies would be worse. I would like for the Phillies' championship window to be closed on their proverbial dick. It will be difficult with the three-headed H20 monster but the Giants can hold their own. I find the Giants to be likable, mainly because a lot of the players they have on the roster have been recently acquired. They aren't the rival Giants but the Team that plays by the Bay that was bolstered to be a winner. I really only feel resentment against Tim Lincecum but I will still root for him over Halladay in Game 1.
On the AL side, I still find it hard to believe that the Rays were taken out and their championship window is certainly closed. The Rays will be alright because of their amazing farm system but alright in the AL East could land a team in 4th place. I think I will be rooting for the Rangers to win it all now. Cliff Lee has dazzled viewers all season and Tuesday night was no different. I regret not seeing one of his starts when he and I were in Seattle.
Rays-Yankees, in retrospect, wasn't a given and that is alright because the Rangers are capable of taking the Yankees on. The Rangers seem to have an affinity for playing on the road, which should come in handy. The Rangers seem capable of out-pitching the Yankees and may literally run away with a win or two like they did against the Rays. The running game is more fun to watch in the playoffs but a team has to be good at it if they are going to partially rely on it to get to the playoffs.
Right now, I would say that the Yankees and Phillies are going to be reunited in the World Series because that is how it works. I wouldn't bet money on it but since I find that series to be the least favorable match-up, then it will probably occur. A Giants-Rangers series would ensure that one team ends a 50+ year drought. It may not do well in the ratings but I will watch it. A Rangers-Phillies series might be regrettable for Ruben Amaro, who was content to let Cliff Lee walk.
Pitching should continue to dominate and that suits all of the remaining teams. As a Dodgers fan, it gives me a glimmer of hope that, even though the team is in dire straits, Kershaw should be a Dodger for a long time and I see him getting some playoff spots later if not sooner. To say one more thing in conjunction regarding the condition of the Dodgers, the most important move the Dodgers can make is to offer Lilly arbitration (Mike Scioscia's Tragic Illness is spot on with the rest of his pitching advice but I am in full aggreance on this particular move). He probably won't accept and in the 2011 draft, 2 compensatory picks are going to be worth a lot more than any given draft year.
On to the League Championship Series'
With the Rays, Braves, Reds and Twins gone, that eliminates two teams I wanted to lose almost as bad as the Phillies, my strongest rooting interest and the Braves. The great part about the playoffs is that sometimes a team winning makes for a better series and when it isn't the Dodgers playing, better baseball should win out. The Phillies deserved to win their DS and so did the Giants. The Braves don't have what it takes to beat a team like the Phillies, so the Giants should get a crack at it.
I don't find myself cringing at the prospect of the Giants making the World Series. The Phillies would be worse. I would like for the Phillies' championship window to be closed on their proverbial dick. It will be difficult with the three-headed H20 monster but the Giants can hold their own. I find the Giants to be likable, mainly because a lot of the players they have on the roster have been recently acquired. They aren't the rival Giants but the Team that plays by the Bay that was bolstered to be a winner. I really only feel resentment against Tim Lincecum but I will still root for him over Halladay in Game 1.
On the AL side, I still find it hard to believe that the Rays were taken out and their championship window is certainly closed. The Rays will be alright because of their amazing farm system but alright in the AL East could land a team in 4th place. I think I will be rooting for the Rangers to win it all now. Cliff Lee has dazzled viewers all season and Tuesday night was no different. I regret not seeing one of his starts when he and I were in Seattle.
Rays-Yankees, in retrospect, wasn't a given and that is alright because the Rangers are capable of taking the Yankees on. The Rangers seem to have an affinity for playing on the road, which should come in handy. The Rangers seem capable of out-pitching the Yankees and may literally run away with a win or two like they did against the Rays. The running game is more fun to watch in the playoffs but a team has to be good at it if they are going to partially rely on it to get to the playoffs.
Right now, I would say that the Yankees and Phillies are going to be reunited in the World Series because that is how it works. I wouldn't bet money on it but since I find that series to be the least favorable match-up, then it will probably occur. A Giants-Rangers series would ensure that one team ends a 50+ year drought. It may not do well in the ratings but I will watch it. A Rangers-Phillies series might be regrettable for Ruben Amaro, who was content to let Cliff Lee walk.
Pitching should continue to dominate and that suits all of the remaining teams. As a Dodgers fan, it gives me a glimmer of hope that, even though the team is in dire straits, Kershaw should be a Dodger for a long time and I see him getting some playoff spots later if not sooner. To say one more thing in conjunction regarding the condition of the Dodgers, the most important move the Dodgers can make is to offer Lilly arbitration (Mike Scioscia's Tragic Illness is spot on with the rest of his pitching advice but I am in full aggreance on this particular move). He probably won't accept and in the 2011 draft, 2 compensatory picks are going to be worth a lot more than any given draft year.
I don't find myself cringing at the prospect of the Giants making the World Series. The Phillies would be worse. I would like for the Phillies' championship window to be closed on their proverbial dick. It will be difficult with the three-headed H20 monster but the Giants can hold their own. I find the Giants to be likable, mainly because a lot of the players they have on the roster have been recently acquired. They aren't the rival Giants but the Team that plays by the Bay that was bolstered to be a winner. I really only feel resentment against Tim Lincecum but I will still root for him over Halladay in Game 1.
On the AL side, I still find it hard to believe that the Rays were taken out and their championship window is certainly closed. The Rays will be alright because of their amazing farm system but alright in the AL East could land a team in 4th place. I think I will be rooting for the Rangers to win it all now. Cliff Lee has dazzled viewers all season and Tuesday night was no different. I regret not seeing one of his starts when he and I were in Seattle.
Rays-Yankees, in retrospect, wasn't a given and that is alright because the Rangers are capable of taking the Yankees on. The Rangers seem to have an affinity for playing on the road, which should come in handy. The Rangers seem capable of out-pitching the Yankees and may literally run away with a win or two like they did against the Rays. The running game is more fun to watch in the playoffs but a team has to be good at it if they are going to partially rely on it to get to the playoffs.
Right now, I would say that the Yankees and Phillies are going to be reunited in the World Series because that is how it works. I wouldn't bet money on it but since I find that series to be the least favorable match-up, then it will probably occur. A Giants-Rangers series would ensure that one team ends a 50+ year drought. It may not do well in the ratings but I will watch it. A Rangers-Phillies series might be regrettable for Ruben Amaro, who was content to let Cliff Lee walk.
Pitching should continue to dominate and that suits all of the remaining teams. As a Dodgers fan, it gives me a glimmer of hope that, even though the team is in dire straits, Kershaw should be a Dodger for a long time and I see him getting some playoff spots later if not sooner. To say one more thing in conjunction regarding the condition of the Dodgers, the most important move the Dodgers can make is to offer Lilly arbitration (Mike Scioscia's Tragic Illness is spot on with the rest of his pitching advice but I am in full aggreance on this particular move). He probably won't accept and in the 2011 draft, 2 compensatory picks are going to be worth a lot more than any given draft year.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Meaningful Baseball Starts Today
As I have stated before, I would rather the Giants and Padres advance than the Red and the Phillies so I am hoping for the Padres and the Giants to win. I could accept the Braves making it but that would mean that the Phillies play the Reds and I would rather that the Phillies and Reds be eliminated in the Divisional Series.
Baseball Prospectus gives a good breakdown on the odds of all the possible outcomes in today's games. As much as I would like to see playoff games (and I could really use some entertainment to fill the gap between now and Wednesday), my hatred of the Phillies and Reds goes so far that I want the Giants and the Padres to have the best chance to beat the teams they will face. That means I want the Braves to lose and the Padres to win. That being said, I will enjoy any outcome that results in a playoff game (or two) but I would rather that the NL West teams be properly prepared for beating the villains in the NL.
In the AL, the Rays and the Yankees are all tied up. The Rays play at Kansas City and the Yanks at Fenway. Since I am pulling for the Rays, they have the best chance of winning the division, which is best because the division winner plays the Rangers.
I would still want to see a Rays-Padres World Series but the Padres seem the least likely team to advance. No matter what, if the Rays are in the Series, I will be rooting for them but, if not, I may have to make some tough choices.
Here is an absolute list of teams that I want to win the World Series from top to bottom:
Rays
Rangers
Padres
Braves
Yankees
Giants
Twins
Reds
Phillies
Former Dodgers to watch:
Jon Garland, P, SD
Orlando Hudson, 2B, MIN
Not too interesting. There should be some good baseball to watch this October. It will be lonely without the Blue Crew.
Baseball Prospectus gives a good breakdown on the odds of all the possible outcomes in today's games. As much as I would like to see playoff games (and I could really use some entertainment to fill the gap between now and Wednesday), my hatred of the Phillies and Reds goes so far that I want the Giants and the Padres to have the best chance to beat the teams they will face. That means I want the Braves to lose and the Padres to win. That being said, I will enjoy any outcome that results in a playoff game (or two) but I would rather that the NL West teams be properly prepared for beating the villains in the NL.
In the AL, the Rays and the Yankees are all tied up. The Rays play at Kansas City and the Yanks at Fenway. Since I am pulling for the Rays, they have the best chance of winning the division, which is best because the division winner plays the Rangers.
I would still want to see a Rays-Padres World Series but the Padres seem the least likely team to advance. No matter what, if the Rays are in the Series, I will be rooting for them but, if not, I may have to make some tough choices.
Here is an absolute list of teams that I want to win the World Series from top to bottom:
Rays
Rangers
Padres
Braves
Yankees
Giants
Twins
Reds
Phillies
Former Dodgers to watch:
Jon Garland, P, SD
Orlando Hudson, 2B, MIN
Not too interesting. There should be some good baseball to watch this October. It will be lonely without the Blue Crew.
Saturday, October 2, 2010
I won!!!
I won my head-to- head 14 team fantasy baseball league. It was my first year playing in this league and my fourth year playing fantasy baseball.
My roster is as follows:
| ANDERSON, Brett | (SP) | OAK | |
| BAKER, Scott | (SP) | MIN | |
| JACKSON, Edwin | (SP) | CHIW | |
| LEE, Cliff | (SP) | [2sv] | TEX |
| PADILLA, Vicente | (SP) | LAD | |
| SANCHEZ, Jonathan | (SP) | SF | |
| VERLANDER, Justin | (SP) | - TP | DET |
| SORIANO, Rafael | (RP) | TB | |
 | |||
| BRANYAN, Russell | (1B) | SEA | |
| KONERKO, Paul | (1B) | CHIW | |
| ALVAREZ, Pedro | (3B) | PIT | |
| BELTRE, Adrian | (3B) | BOS | |
| RAMIREZ, Hanley | (SS) | [1rd] | FLA |
| |||
| DAMON, Johnny | (OF) | DET | |
| JOYCE, Matthew | (OF) | TB | |
| MARKAKIS, Nick | (OF) | BAL | |
| STANTON, Michael | (OF) | - FP | FLA |
| |||
| BECKHAM, Gordon | (2B/3B) | CHIW | |
| POSEY, Buster | (C/1B) | - TP | SF |
| SCOTT, Luke | (1B/OF) | BAL | |
| URIBE, Juan | |||
| I would credit my winning to drafting well in pitching, Hanley Ramirez playing well, Paul Konerko having a career year. If I still have your attention, I thank you for reading! |
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