Read an interesting piece in the Newsweek blog about how a person’s name affects their natural proclivity for certain items. Examples: Chris Carpenter rehabs while dining on caviar, Placido Polanco jogs while listening to Paula Poundstone, Tom Trebelhorn totes around his toddler in a Toyota. Alliteration in lieu of science, perhaps, but the article backs […]
Please, blog, may I have some more?
As we continue our ongoing series looking at low-priced alternatives, we turn our eyes to the catching position and Victor Martinez and Carlos Ruiz. Victor Martinez numbers last year were impressive for a catcher: 78/25/114/0/.301. Falling slightly above his seasonal average of 82/21/104/0/.301. Anyway you slice it, Victor Martinez’s numbers dwarfed the majority of catchers, […]
Please, blog, may I have some more?For years, Juan Pierre has given teams a boost in steals, a decent average and little else. Well, there’s going to be a new Juan Pierre and his name is Michael Bourn. Or maybe Willy Taveras was the new Juan Pierre and Michael Bourn will be the new Willy Taveras, or Michael Bourn will be […]
Please, blog, may I have some more?Can the Angels land Johan Santana? How about the Yankees? Yes and yes. Does either team really need him? No and yes. Let’s explore: The Angels are reportedly willing to deal a top pitching prospect, Nick Adenhart and Reggie Willits but somewhat reluctant to deal their uber-prospect SS/3B Brandon Wood, according to the LA Times. […]
Please, blog, may I have some more?It’s November. Oscar contenders hit theaters, Xmas shopping begins and baseball free agents wait by the phone to find out who’s overpaying for them. Picture: Andruw Jones sitting by his phone, waiting for it to ring, picking it up occasionally thinking it has rung. Here’s a breakdown of some free agents and why they matter […]
Please, blog, may I have some more?The Hot Stove heats up as the Cubs make room in their overcrowded outfield. Jacques Jones, reluctant underachiever of Fantasyland, was traded yesterday and, frankly, it’s two years too late. What this means for the teams involved: Cubs: Barring a trade for an outfielder, there might finally be room in the outfield for Matt Murton. […]
Please, blog, may I have some more?Just back from the Writer’s Strike picket line (Jesse Jackson shook my hand and said, “God Bless.” I said, “Fight the Power!”) when I heard Brad Lidge (and Eric Bruntlett) got traded to the Phillies for Michael Bourn, Geoff Geary and Michael Costanzo. Pujols made Lidge his bitch two seasons ago and Lidge has had […]
Please, blog, may I have some more?The Chicago Cubs closer, Ryan Dempster, announced today he no longer wants any part of the ninth inning unless, of course, he’s throwing a complete game (insert laugh track). The Dumpster was once a mediocre starter and I see no reason why he can’t return to his humble beginnings. The big story really is: WHO […]
Please, blog, may I have some more?Baseball Prospectus had some interesting things to about who may ultimately prevail in the win-your-division-but-lose-in-the-first-round-of-the-playoffs sweepstakes. Thoughts on the top two: McCourt’s Money: Since the Dodgers have six potential leadoff men and nary a cleanup hitter, I could see A-Rod going blue, but Joe Torre is managing them. The same Torre that batted A-Rod eighth […]
Please, blog, may I have some more?1. J.J. Putz 6-1/82/1.38/0.70, 40 saves The six wins really puts Putz (stutter much?) in first. Don’t get caught up in the rankings for the closers, because really any of the closers in the top ten would have done you just fine. Hate to shortchange Putz, but it’s something to chew on, perhaps. You’re really […]
Please, blog, may I have some more?1. Jake Peavy 19-6/240/2.54/1.06 Your pitching staff was in pretty good shape if Peavy was your number one starter as long as your number two starter wasn’t Kip Wells. Leading the majors in strikeouts (though Bedard might have made a claim for that if he was healthy at the end of the year), leading the […]
Please, blog, may I have some more?1. Jorge Posada .338/91/20/90/2 At 36, easily his best year since 2003. If you saw this year coming, kudos to you. Maybe you should start your own blog called, “I Lied About Knowing How Well Posada Was Going To Do This Year.” Sixty points above his career average spells one thing: F-L-U-K-E. But if you […]
Please, blog, may I have some more?