As legend goes, on May 30th, 1982, Orioles utility infielder, Lenn Sakata was so inspired by the hit film of the day, Conan the Barbarian, that he dressed in animal skin Jockey underwear “borrowed” from Jim Palmer and carried a cardboard sword into the locker room. Now whether Cal Ripken (then Cal Ripken Jr.) knew the power in that cardboard sword or if he was just patronizing Sakata no one knows, but Ripken knelt on the floor in front of Sakata and asked him to touch his shoulder with the cardboard sword. With a grand gesture, that was probably unnecessary, Sakata obliged. As we all know, May 30th, 1982 began The Streak. On the record, Ripken thanked his family and teammates for their support for making The Streak possible. Off the record, of course, Ripken knew it was Lenn Sakata that forever changed history. This year, Lenn Sakata returned to the Orioles locker room, dressed in only faux leather boots and a loincloth. Most of the Orioles thought Sakata was a homeless person that snuck past security… Some thought he was the Asian guy from The Hangover… But Matt Wieters knew different. Before security could escort Sakata out, Wieters knelt in front of him and asked Lenn to touch him with the cardboard sword. The same cardboard sword that once touched Ripken’s shoulder. (It also touched a young Jeffrey Hammonds’s shoulder. Nevertheless…) For the superstitious, this is enough for Matt Wieters to be a 2010 fantasy baseball keeper, but for the non-believers, let’s look at some other reasons.
In nearly 700 plate appearances in the minor leagues, Wieters had a line of .343/.438/.576. At 6 feet 5 inches, he had some saying he was “Mauer with power.” Turns out Mauer had power, which worked out for those who love to rhyme, and Wieters had rookie hiccups. It wasn’t until the tail end of the year when Wieters started to show some of his promise, hitting .362/.425/.511 in September. In 2010, Wieters could get to a line of 70/17/85/.300. If those numbers look familiar, you might be Pablo Sandoval. Check your midsection for confirmation. That was near my 2009 projections for Sandoval; Wieters isn’t far off. Those numbers are also a baseline. There’s definite upside. So there may just be magic in that cardboard sword of Lenn Sakata. Heaven knows there’s magic in his loincloth.
can you identify any more ballplayers who kneel before guys wearing loincloths and brandishing cardboard swords ?
i prefer not to draft any of those boys .
hell , i had to let moises alou go ,
when i found out he was pissing on his hands .
it wasn’t so much that the clubhouse smelled like a litterbox .
which it did ,
but no one knew how to congratulate him .
sucks for some odd reason in my league of cleveland fans therre’s one orioles fan and some rays fans…. weiters went in the 7th round this past year! It was funny then, but one of these years that guy is going to laugh, until then i’ll laugh at him while I take players that are actually worth a 7th round pick.
@Tony: Where do you rank Wieters on your catchers list? From July 28 to Sep 28, he ranked 5th (behind Mauer, Martinez, Suzuki, McCann) (ahead of Posada, Montero, Olivo) in my points league.
@Simply Fred: numbers from those two months project almost exactly to Grey’s line.
it ain’t easy being an A’s fan .
http://www.insidebayarea.com/athletics/ci_13005894?source=rss
@big o: Hehe
@big o: Yikes, he looks pretty defenseless.
@Simply Fred: IDK i wont be taking him, but if had to rank him it would def’ly be behind Mauer, vmart, and mccaan, after that its kind of a crapshoot. Basically i’d much rather take a Monterero type later or snag up a Monterero esque player during the season than spend a mid round pick on weiters hoping he returns its value. I’m very much in the PUNT THE CATCHER CAMP.
If its the 7th round and I have a choice between say Wainwright or Weiters? I’m going WAINY. (i dont know if wainy will be around then this next year, but cust kayin’)
*20-team, Dynasty, H2H-Points League*
Grey, yesterday you approved me trading Y. Gallardo (2012) & Mat Gamel (2011) FOR Ryan Zimmerman (2011). I am trying to get a little more out of Zimmerman’s owner because I know I can.
I need a catcher, what do you think of this revised offer?:
Gallardo (2012), Gamel (2011) and Carrasco (2012)
FOR
Zimmerman (2011) and Saltalamacchia (2011)
@Commish Cauda (formerly Mike): They have anything other than Salty?
@Grey:
No likey Salty? I thought he would be a great post-hype sleeper in 2010.
He doesn’t have much else to offer at catcher. But here are some other names that jump out at me:
Weeks (2011)
Conor Jackson (2011)
Matt Lindstrom (2010)
Andy Pettitte (2011)
Francisco Liriano (2011)
Drew Stubbs (tbd)*
*tbd=I could assign a 2010, 2011 or 2012 contract if I trade for him
I still have a need at 1B and 2B. I’ve always liked Conor Jackson, and he was out due to illness this year, not injury.
Does getting Salty and Jackson, or Weeks and Jackson, along with Zimmerman make it worth while, or should I just stand be satisfied with Gallardo/Gamel for Zimmerman alone?
@Commish Cauda (formerly Mike): No, I likey, but just wondering options. Well, I liked the deal originally. Not crazy about Conor, Weeks is very high risk/high reward and Stubbs is intriguing though I could see someone like him ending up on the bench by May. Since you’re playing with the house’s money, I’d go for Weeks and Salty. Though I would make sure next year to have a great backup at MI for when Weeks hurts himself.
EDIT: Word.
Slightly off topic, but our commish (and champion 3 yrs running) is trying everything he can to work out a trade to get Justin Upton from me. I am loathe to give him up but currently he’s offering my choice of any 3:
C. Kershaw
A. Lind
C. Carpenter
K. Morales
B. McCann
It’s a deep 12 team league with 8 keepers and as of now I probably only have 6 or 7 guys I’d want to keep. Worth it? How good will J-Up be next year? The year after?
@Grey:
as much as i’d like to see pee-dro get racked ,
he’ll prolly get thru the the line-up unscathed ,
the 1st time around .
that brings us to inning # 4 ,
and i’m wondering if that head-case , padilla ,
can keep up with him .
how do you see this game # 2 being played out ??
@big o: at least the other fans had plenty of empty seats to move to…don’t see that Fenway.
@Antrim Warriors:
yeah ,
it’s tough to fill the seats when you’re zapping the paying customers .
looked like the guy deserved it , though .
did you see how menacingly he thumbed his nose at that cop ?
@JaHerer: Upton will be great, but what’s your other keepers. In other words, do you need the depth if you were to get Lind, Morales and McCann for him?
@big o: Padilla’s not a good pitcher, will probably be another game decided by bullpens.
@Grey:
The plot thickens…
Before I could go at him about adding in Weeks, he countered with this:
Gallaro/Carrasco FOR Zimmerman/Salty
(compared to the original of Gallardo/Gamel FOR Zimmerman)
@Commish Cauda (formerly Mike): I’d take it.
@Grey: Thanks, as always, for the help.
@Grey:
these guys (torre and manuel) are freakin .
14 runs scored
13 pitchers used
and that’s just the 1st game !!
can’t remember how to use a bullpen ?
@big o:
If LA loses today its all over. Why worry about your pen.
4th best baseball card ever?
@cws05nuts: What’s the top 3?
Well in accords with Razzball, Oscar Gamble. The infamous Billy Ripken and Jim Nettles stunt. Wally Moon’s unibrow. Yaz has some good one’s too.
@cws05nuts: Which Nettles one?
someday i hope to play in a fantasy league
where you accumulate points for a hit batsman .
like :
1 pt if you hit a guy on the arm
3 pts if you catch him on the numbers .
and ,
5 pts for plunking him square in the ass .
He did the same thing Ripken did.
http://funnycards.bravehost.com/90nettles.jpg
@cws05nuts: Huh. Never heard of that one. Can’t see it in that picture and I couldn’t find a better one. I’m taking Sakata over that one though. Ripken’s the king:
http://razzball.com/billy-ripken-the-man-behind-fuck-faces/
@Grey: Ha! Never went back through the archives and read the intro to razzball got a good chuckle out of me. Is razz actually the preferred poker game in the back alleys of the razzball headquarters?
@cws05nuts: That and Uno.
@Grey: Stu Ungar taught me everything I know about Uno.
@cws05nuts: The Asian girl from this season’s Amazing Race taught me.
Pedro’s still got some juice.
@Elijah: Aw, sookie. J. Pizz-air!
Here come the shadows.
What a fortuitous error.
Was just gonna say, its gonna be real hard to get a hit now with the shadows coming across the infield, but the error solved that issue.
@Elijah: Yeah, not sure how he even threw it away that far.
eyre is human .
divine .
all these substitutions .
looking more and more like the nba , everyday .
@big o: Maybe if the Cardnials made a few more moves they’d still be in it.
Frenchies for the win!!!
@Andre Ethier’s Mom: Weren’t you at the game?
@Grey:
I got an iPhone dOOd.
Geez, are we watching baseball again?
I need to get a life.
@BigFatHippo: Yeah, I’m watching.
@Grey: The question is, are you rooting? Closet Yankee fan?
@BigFatHippo: I like whenever Buck says, “Tim, you and I were talking before the game…” I can’t imagine Buck would say anything to him even if he ran into him in a random bar in Thailand.
I was born and raised in Jersey. Been a Yanks fan my whole life. I just find it hard to root for them.
@BigFatHippo: Vald… Home run trot or his full speed? No one knows.
It’s Saturday in FutureBoy’s world, he won’t be around………
@Grey: Indeed, no one knows.
Yeah, I know where you grew up, I’m a stalker remember?
@BigFatHippo: Yes, that’s right. I’m waiting for Robinson Cano to magically appear on 3rd, 2nd and 1st base for an unassisted triple play to go along with his ninja costume.
@BigFatHippo: Or his post-game interview when it’s badly dubbed English.
@Grey: Think he’s packin throwing stars?
Is that Aybar or Elmer Fudd at short? Only the shadow knows.
@BigFatHippo: After the pop-up, punched a hole through Aybar’s chest.
@BigFatHippo: Aybar looks like a Teletubbie.
@Grey: Ha, you grew up watching them didn’t you? Now the truth comes out……………..
I refused to let Dash watch Teletubbies, he always had to pee when he saw the purple one………..
@BigFatHippo: Ha! I figured it would be the yellow one.
@Grey: Just read your header, did you know that Jim Palmer was born on another famous man’s birthday?
Hint, it was yesterday…………….
@BigFatHippo: I wouldn’t be so sure about that.
@BigFatHippo: ah,happy birthday you grey haired geaser
i proclaim a-rod’s hip surgery
a complete success .
@big o: now he might need lasix(eye surgery)ran threw the stop sign
@AL KOHOLIC: Let’s Drink!
@Steve: What’s my horoscope? “You will wake up with a hangover, eat burritos, work 12 hours and take three dumps?”
@BigFatHippo: Almost. I think there’s a hooker in there somewhere.
@BigFatHippo: i am,nelly had 4 beers and split a bottle of wine with me,she`s been out since the bottom of the 3rd
@Steve: I’ll make the call.
@AL KOHOLIC: You need to teach that woman how to man up! When you guys gonna come see my new pad?
Rutgers-Pitt on at my house if anyone’s interested.
You’d think ESPN’s international feed would be carrying the baseball.
@Steve: It’s on Fox, you can’t get that?
@BigFatHippo: Nope. Only one pay TV provider here (only 4 mill of us, remember) and we have to rely on the worldwide leader for our US sort.
It’s odd, because the Dodgers-Phils was on yesterday n this time slot.
@Steve: what?no baseball,ouch@BigFatHippo: probably in 2 or 4 weeks,i should be done with most of what i need done by then
@Steve: Ah, TBS had the other game, the worldwide leader is no affiliate of Fox. You should call Joe Buck, he’s got a lotta clout.
@AL KOHOLIC: Cool, let me know in advance, I make the schedule don’t ya know.
@BigFatHippo: @AL KOHOLIC: Pitt-Rutgers not the only thing going at my house.
Just starting to get the roast pork ready for tonight. Mmmmmmmm.
@Steve: Pork in New Zealand is just Kangaroo meat, don’t believe what you read on the package………
@BigFatHippo: Funny you should mention it – I’ve had kangaroo and it’s pretty good.
@Steve: Bet you had a helluva time knockin that thing out, I woulda paid good money to see that.
http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Kangaroo-Attack-Man-Fights-Off-Marsupial-Bedroom-Intruder-In-Canberra-Australia/Article/200903215237629
@Steve: better than a gator
@AL KOHOLIC: No argument there. Australia’s got them too – and some real big ones. None here fortunately.
@Steve: Ha!
It’s a conspiracy, animals hate us, I have proof……….
http://www.vaguebuttrue.com/
@Steve: those kangaroo`s can beat the hell out of you though,id need a lot of beer(not as much whiskey)to fight one them dudes
@BigFatHippo:
Ironically, I think more people die from Hippo attacks than just about anything else.
(brutal animal attack related type things that is)
@Steve:
New Zealand doesn’t even have snakes does it?
@Elijah: Exactly, we’re out to get you.
Watch your back and don’t veer off the beaten path…………..kinda like B
@Elijah: Nope. We’re pretty dangerous creature-free.
@AL KOHOLIC: I’d pay to see you fight a roo.
edit:
Kinda like Bourbon Street!
@Elijah: Always comes back to the Diamondbacks with you, huh?
@Grey: He’d do it if the Roo said somethin bout his Momma………….
@BigFatHippo: Or his beer.
@Grey: been drunk enough during a few scraps that i thought i was fighting 2 or 3 of those kicking bastards
@BigFatHippo: i remember asking you one time,which one is he,smart hippo told me ,the one in the middle,ha he tapped out soon afterwards
@Grey:
looks like the yanks are gonna sweep the angels .
Peavy and Jeter for Sizemore. Sizemore side wins right?
@AL KOHOLIC: Ha!
@big o: Didn’t you say the Phils were gonna sweep the Dodgers yesterday?
@Corey: Normally, yes. But I’m not sure how Sizemore’s recovery is gonna go. Seems like a steep price for that risk.
@Grey:
Lol. Snakes on a Plane.
I actually grew up a diehard Dodgers fan. When the team was sold to Fox and the dismal aftermath I lost interest. Dbacks were more of a recent thing based more on beating on the Yanks (always endorsed) and local availability of broadcasting combined with some players I enjoyed watching (Mini Donkey, Upton, Webby, Haren, etc) I’ve been rooting for the dbacks lately. When I hear Vin Scully tho, those long summer nights as a kid listening to Dodger baseball on the radio draw me back to the Blues. I guess I’m more with you now, a baseball fan who roots for players I like.
@Grey:
I think the first moment I was “a dbacks fan” was when I was living in New Mexico sitting at the bar watching the Yanks finish off the Mariners. Some stereotypical Yank fans (tourists) was there, and I was talking some baseball with em. I congratulated em and all, then talk went to the series and I opined that that the Dbacks had an outside chance since they had 2 superior starters in Johnson and Schilling. They were the epitome of arrogance, mocked me and guffawed at Yankee invincibility and I hated their guts. So on and so forth.
@Grey:
naw … i’ve been rootin’ for the dodgers .
this yankees stuff is serious shizz , though .
they may win out .
with these old guys blowing out their bullpens ,
whichever team represents the national league ,
has virtually little chance of extending the world series
past 5 games .
@big o:
edit*
sad , but true .
@big o:
I think you’re jumping the gun bird-lovah.
@Elijah: I enjoyed Diamondbacks a lot last year because I had a huge rooting interest in mini-Donkey. And I think sometimes people hate the Yankees more than their fans love them.
@big o: I agree with Elijah. Long series, anything can happen.
Wieters slugged 511 in September, not 407
@Mike: My bad, typo. Thanks for spotting it!
@Grey:
I got too cute. I made the offer, but the guy went and traded Zimmerman for draft picks and a 2010 David Wright.
I still need a 3B, and he still wants to deal. I’d rather have a 2011 Zimmerman than a 2010 Wright, but I’m all-in for 2010 anyway, so it’s not a big deal.
What do you think of the same deal for Wright instead of Zimmerman?
Gallado/Carrasco FOR Wright/Salty
Or should I try to give up less since Wright is devalued after a poor year and Zimmerman has a longer contract?
Like maybe just Gallardo for Wright straight up?
Thanks.
@Commish Cauda (formerly Mike): I’d do either deal for Wright. I’d try for the Salty combo first.
EDIT: Word.
@Grey:
my sleeper pick for 2010 , (if there is such a thing) ,
brett gardner .
clearly , he can do melky’s job .
but the key , i think , is the 38 year old damon’s contract ,
and the fact that the yanks are going to need a runner ,
at the top of the order .
cust opinin’ .
@big o: Yeah, I liked him last year, maybe I was a year early. He really just needs a job.
EDIT: Word
@Grey: Well I actually got offered that a few days ago, and was wondering if I should do it.
@Corey: Yeah, I don’t think it’s great. Feel like you can get someone that’s a bit safer.
@Grey:
The love/hate thing with the Yanks is something one can use in Fantasy I found out. Had a couple Mets fans and a Red Sox fan in my league, and no one wanted Jeter so I got him bargain basement. Then later someone just dropped Damon since they didnt like him and I got him on waivers for nothing. I don’t really like em either but its just fantasy, there’s no place for favoritism.
@Elijah: Yeah, agreed. I rarely own Yankees because I find them overrated usually, but if it goes the other way, I’d own them.
I should have mentioned I was getting Jeter and Peavy not Sizemore.
@Corey: Oh, then I’d do it. It really isn’t a slam dunk either way though. I’d much prefer a deal where you’re getting one guy, but it’s decent.
@Grey: Ha, Joe Buck just said Aybar was dressed like a teletubbie last night.
I think Joe reads our comments.
@BigFatHippo: Ha, I heard that. Waiting for him to say, Cust kayin’.
Think Joe’s Mr Baseball?
@BigFatHippo: Prolly.
@BigFatHippo:
@Grey:
that’s funny
has anyone ever seen them both
in the same place
and time ??
ergo ….
@big o: i thought i did one night while fighting a kangaroo in a bar at st. louis landing in 1984
re :
that last wild pitch , by burnett ,
that tied the game .
looked like a ceremonial 1st pitch !!
@big o: From Billy Crystal.
my 1st impression is that elvis is better defensively
than aybar .
could be wrong .
Best big game pitcher I’ve ever seen?
Mariano Rivera.
That guy seriously needs a nickname………..
what was with that “we want pie” sign ??
They want 3.14159 runs, but they’re not very smart……
This game will typically end with a rain delay at 12:43 CST, Mother Nature hates baseball………
serious ?
as a heart attack
hey joe
Mike Sciosia flying out of the dugout
takes as long as a hippo
flying to bangladesh
nimrod call
I know Damaso Marte got an out today but I can’t figure out where he should be in a CLOSER LOOK – he has to have his own category
omg
IBB to MACIER IZTURIS
how does ths happen ??
picture of the rain coming down in the yankee game
http://watersecretsblog.com/archives/SF%20Rain.jpg
I know we are still in the playoffs right now, but what do you think of Jeter going into next year? He was ranked at 10 in CBS’ final stat thing at the end of this year. Any way he repeats his killer year of three thirty average with nearly twenty homers and thirty steals?
“we will . we will rock you”
how pathetic .
what’s next ?
“we are the champions , my friend” ??
@Mr Baseball: Nice shot.
@Corey: Average is fickle, Jeter’s a .300 to .340 hitter. I also wouldn’t count on 30 steals. He hits 15 to 20 homers. So you get .340/20/30 if you’re lucky, or you get .300/15/15 and you’re bored.
come on , selig .
no more pitchers .
tie game .
cube shot
@Grey:
what position did you play ?
@big o: 2nd
best position on the field .
made me play 3b/rf .
Two nights, two key Teletubbie errors.
sucky end
@ Grey: It’s just that I’m in a situation where I have four OFs I could keep (Dunn, Soriano, Hunter, Sizemore) and could spare to lose one, and an offer was presented for Jeter/1st round pick/Snider for Sizemore. I just think Sizemore is too good to be traded for that.
@Corey: Jeter, Snider and a pick isn’t as good as Peavy and Jeter.
Hippos not the only animals that get thirsty, apparently.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/oddstuff/2976343/Bear-raids-beer-cooler
@Steve: The bear should’ve stood outside and asked someone else to buy it for him.
@Grey: Perhaps he was waiting for the waiter-monkey to take his order.
@Steve: Ha! Nice callback.
@Steve: Bears are pussies, he didn’t consume any alcohol…………….ppppttttttt, lightweight!
@BigFatHippo: Can’t have been his brand.
Apparently they didn’t have any Hamm’s.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/45/Hamm%27s_Beer_Bear.JPG
damn …. how is it that this game is over ,
before i get home from work ?
@BigFatHippo: Ha! Any bears in your ‘hood?
@Steve: Nope, just deer in the back yard…………..and beer in the fridge.
And of course Da Bears, up der in Chicago.
this guy has a plum-colored , crushed-velvet jacket ??
city of brotherly love , indeed .