Friday, December 22, 2006
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
TRADING BLOCK
I'm sure no one reads this anymore, but I'm currently shopping Zito for a bat, or maybe some picks, I don't know. Anyone want ZITO? I will e-mail this out too.
Monday, November 20, 2006
By the way
Can ANYBODY give me ONE GOOD REASON Ryan Howard had a better year than Albert Pujols???
ONE GOOD REASON????
ONE GOOD REASON????
This is no joke....
But it is fucking insane. Michael Richards going apeshit on stage in a racist tirade:
http://www.tmz.com/2006/11/20/kramers-racist-tirade-caught-on-tape/
Fucking unreal.
http://www.tmz.com/2006/11/20/kramers-racist-tirade-caught-on-tape/
Fucking unreal.
Saturday, November 11, 2006
What Do We Have Left to Believe In?
News Flash: Don't buy anything called "game-used". Turns out that term is COMPLETE BULLSHIT.
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
I Was Going to Comment, But Jeff Francoeur Sucks So Much It's Worth Its Own Post
Jeff Francoeur sucks. His On Base Percentage was .293. Now, for those of you averse to good scales of performance, OBP reads like BA when you subtract about 80 points.
People seem to like OPS. Frenchy's 2006 OPS? .742. League Average? LEAGUE AVERAGE? .775! When you said that a pool of 72 MLB players would be "kept", I for one did not anticipate any lower than average players.
If you like "made-up" stats (as opposed to stats that were handed down to Moses on Mt. Sinai), Jeff Francoeur's VORP (that's value over replacement player, or how many runs he is good for over the typical AAA guy) was NEGATIVE 1.0. (-1.0). His EqA, which takes into account most facets of offense and reads on the scale of BA? .244. League Average? LEAGUE AVERAGE?? .260.
Did I mention that Frenchy is also a below average fielder? It's true!
That's right folks, Jeff Francoeur managed to hit 29 home runs, and be a below average hitter; in fact, a hitter that doesn't even belong in the majors. And Wright Stuff wants me to trade "young pitching wealth" for him.
What does this all MEAN in terms of fantasy? Well, it means that you can get some home runs from him, but no more than are exepected from a good corner outfielder (or bench player Marcus Thames, who hit 26 in 50 fewer games), plus you will suffer DRAMATICALLY in every other category. Frenchy's 103 RBIs will likely not continue if he can't not make an out more than 30% of the time. Jeff Francoeur is someone to take a chance on late in the draft or on the waiver wire. If he makes the roster of six, I will start bleeding from the eyes.
Jeff Francoeur doesn't try to steal much, but he sucks at that too.
People seem to like OPS. Frenchy's 2006 OPS? .742. League Average? LEAGUE AVERAGE? .775! When you said that a pool of 72 MLB players would be "kept", I for one did not anticipate any lower than average players.
If you like "made-up" stats (as opposed to stats that were handed down to Moses on Mt. Sinai), Jeff Francoeur's VORP (that's value over replacement player, or how many runs he is good for over the typical AAA guy) was NEGATIVE 1.0. (-1.0). His EqA, which takes into account most facets of offense and reads on the scale of BA? .244. League Average? LEAGUE AVERAGE?? .260.
Did I mention that Frenchy is also a below average fielder? It's true!
That's right folks, Jeff Francoeur managed to hit 29 home runs, and be a below average hitter; in fact, a hitter that doesn't even belong in the majors. And Wright Stuff wants me to trade "young pitching wealth" for him.
What does this all MEAN in terms of fantasy? Well, it means that you can get some home runs from him, but no more than are exepected from a good corner outfielder (or bench player Marcus Thames, who hit 26 in 50 fewer games), plus you will suffer DRAMATICALLY in every other category. Frenchy's 103 RBIs will likely not continue if he can't not make an out more than 30% of the time. Jeff Francoeur is someone to take a chance on late in the draft or on the waiver wire. If he makes the roster of six, I will start bleeding from the eyes.
Jeff Francoeur doesn't try to steal much, but he sucks at that too.
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Ian, you're a terrible communist
Ian, you have way too much young pitching wealth, and you're hoarding it through the winter. Marx would be very disappointed in you. Luckily, I am willing to help alleviate you from some of your sinful riches. The potential transfer of Jeff Francoeur from my team to yours for pitching could be just the solution for your increasing capitalist trends.
Thursday, October 26, 2006
What a resource
I think every question we ever may have had regarding Seinfeld trivia may be solved....
http://www.seinfeldscripts.com/
http://www.seinfeldscripts.com/
Weekend
Cool little baseball note:
I went to Florida over the weekend for one of my cousins weddings. It was rather boring except for one cool occurance. One of my cousins and I were driving back from the wedding and we got to talking about her boyfriend. Turns out shes been dating one of the guys on the 40 man Tampa Bay roster (cathcher Shawn Riggens http://tampabay.devilrays.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060905&content_id=1647332&vkey=news_tb&fext=.jsp&c_id=tb) for three years and she was telling me and showing me pictures how shes been partying with delmon young and kasmir and all them. It was pretty sick cause on the way there she called delmon young up and talked to him. Aparantly he roomed with her boyfriend for a year or two.
I went to Florida over the weekend for one of my cousins weddings. It was rather boring except for one cool occurance. One of my cousins and I were driving back from the wedding and we got to talking about her boyfriend. Turns out shes been dating one of the guys on the 40 man Tampa Bay roster (cathcher Shawn Riggens http://tampabay.devilrays.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060905&content_id=1647332&vkey=news_tb&fext=.jsp&c_id=tb) for three years and she was telling me and showing me pictures how shes been partying with delmon young and kasmir and all them. It was pretty sick cause on the way there she called delmon young up and talked to him. Aparantly he roomed with her boyfriend for a year or two.
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Monday, October 23, 2006
Listen up, Tomaselli
I know you hate A-Rod and want him to be traded, but some sage advice from Prospectus' Joe Sheehan:
If Kenny can do it, why not Rodriguez? Although, Sheehan continues:
Now I turn to Mr. Walsh. Mr. Walsh, you have been Mr. Rules of late, stating that Barry Bonds "cheated" and is therefore a terrible ballplayer/human, ditto Jason Giambi. What about your boy, the ace of the Tigers' staff, the gambler?
I personally care about as much about Rogers cheating as I do about Bonds or Giambi. Yes, it should be illegal. Do I care when the rule is broken? Not really. (In the case of greasing the ball, I actually think it's pretty damn intriguing.)
I would like to think that Rogers’ performance this October would serve as a reminder to people that the sample sizes we work with in the postseason aren’t meaningful, that a major-league baseball player can do just about anything in a span of a few outings or a handful of at-bats. You can't evaluate a player, and you certainly can’t extrapolate conclusions about his character, based on what he does in a playoff series or three. Baseball is much, much harder than that.Some of you will write in to tell me that I’ve made this point, and I should stop harping on it. Objection noted, but until the message begins to take hold—and I see no evidence that it has—I will keep bringing it up.
Even I'm tired of typing the words "small sample size." But it seems the likeliest explanation for how notorious playoff choker Kenny Rogers is now clutch playoff hero Kenny Rogers. Up until this year, Kenny had been horrendous in the playoffs -- for exactly 20 and 1/3 innings. So we all knew he couldn't get it done under the bright lights of the postseason. Until now, right after he puts together a crazy 23-inning scoreless streak. Here's something, though -- the aggregate of the two Kennys? A total playoff ERA of 4.15. Kenny's career regular season ERA? 4.19.
If Kenny can do it, why not Rodriguez? Although, Sheehan continues:
Of course, this could all be moot if it turns out that Rogers is cheating.
Now I turn to Mr. Walsh. Mr. Walsh, you have been Mr. Rules of late, stating that Barry Bonds "cheated" and is therefore a terrible ballplayer/human, ditto Jason Giambi. What about your boy, the ace of the Tigers' staff, the gambler?
I personally care about as much about Rogers cheating as I do about Bonds or Giambi. Yes, it should be illegal. Do I care when the rule is broken? Not really. (In the case of greasing the ball, I actually think it's pretty damn intriguing.)
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
A voice of reason
from Prospectus, via FJM:
"At just about any point along the way, one of the two most visible Yankees—Joe Torre or Derek Jeter—could have come forward and said what should be obvious: Alex Rodriguez is a great, great player, and in the worst season of his career he’s a star. Defining his season by his lowest points is doing him a disservice, and the constant focus on his play is an insult to the other members of the team. Whatever Rodriguez’s performance issues, such as they were, his overall contributions were valuable. Beyond that, he’s one of the game’s model citizens, with barely a controversy to his name in a time when so many others have been tainted.
That statement, completely true, would have done more to alleviate the pressure on Rodriguez than anything else. They didn’t do so, instead allowing petty nonsense like his desire to please people (heaven forfend) and his performance is varied subsets (in Boston, in the playoffs, against a small handful of pitchers, in 20 at-bats in July) to substitute for real information. They didn’t defend their teammate, and by allowing, even stoking, the situation, they absolved themselves and every other Yankee of blame for their fortunes. If they lost, it would be Rodriguez’s fault, no matter how the rest of them played."
"At just about any point along the way, one of the two most visible Yankees—Joe Torre or Derek Jeter—could have come forward and said what should be obvious: Alex Rodriguez is a great, great player, and in the worst season of his career he’s a star. Defining his season by his lowest points is doing him a disservice, and the constant focus on his play is an insult to the other members of the team. Whatever Rodriguez’s performance issues, such as they were, his overall contributions were valuable. Beyond that, he’s one of the game’s model citizens, with barely a controversy to his name in a time when so many others have been tainted.
That statement, completely true, would have done more to alleviate the pressure on Rodriguez than anything else. They didn’t do so, instead allowing petty nonsense like his desire to please people (heaven forfend) and his performance is varied subsets (in Boston, in the playoffs, against a small handful of pitchers, in 20 at-bats in July) to substitute for real information. They didn’t defend their teammate, and by allowing, even stoking, the situation, they absolved themselves and every other Yankee of blame for their fortunes. If they lost, it would be Rodriguez’s fault, no matter how the rest of them played."
Monday, October 09, 2006
Block
The following are available for players and/or picks.
Defending Champs (Brian Walsh):
Garrett Atkins
Miguel Tejada
Manny Ramirez
Lance Berkman
Bobby Abreu
Jered Weaver
B.J. Ryan
AIM: Walsher3
email: bdwalsh9@excite.com
Defending Champs (Brian Walsh):
Garrett Atkins
Miguel Tejada
Manny Ramirez
Lance Berkman
Bobby Abreu
Jered Weaver
B.J. Ryan
AIM: Walsher3
email: bdwalsh9@excite.com
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Statistical Change Proposal
I mentioned this on the league board, but seeing as how we have a new member and all I thought I'd open the debate again.
The current statistical categories for the league are:
Hitting: Runs, RBI, HR, SB, AVG, OPS
Pitching: W, L, SV, K, ERA, WHIP
The change I am proposing is to remove both batting average and OPS, and replace them with On Base Percentage and Slugging Percentage, the two components of OPS.
To have both batting average and OPS makes no sense. On base percentage, simply put, is an improved version of batting average. Henry Chadwick would have used OBP if he had thought of it. For those who don't know, OBP is based on plate appearances rather than at bats, and counts walks and IBBs in its favor. The main purpose for a hitter is to get on base. Why should we include batting average, which punishes those who get on base via a walk?
The main criticisms of this method have been the following:
1) Since OBP counts IBBs, it rewards crappy eighth hitters in the NL who get walked for the pitcher.
This is a valid point, and hitters in the eight-hole generally do have a higher OBP than other... holes. My response to this is to ask what regular eight-hitter in the NL anyone would possibly want to draft. Is the slight increase in OBP worth the plunge in every other stat category?
2) People like Adam Dunn strike out an inordinate amount, but also draw a lot of walks, helping their OBP. Batting average levels the field for players like this.
This has been put to me by a few people, and I'm afraid I just don't get it. An out is an out. A hitter's objective is to not make outs. Who cares if it's a mighty whiff or a dribbler to short? Yes, there are situations where a ground out is more desirable, but there are also situations where a strikeout is more desirable.
The easier argument for this is that: strikeouts count against OBP too. ALL OBP DOES DIFFERENTLY IS COUNT WALKS IN PEOPLE'S FAVOR. So how the hell does it "not punish power hitters" enough for striking out? Seems to me it treats everyone the same. It acts exactly like batting average, but adds walks. This is my thesis. OBP is exactly the same, but it adds walks. What is the possible advantage of including batting average?
Seperating OBP and SLG from OPS is just another way of forcing owners to create a more nuanced team. Derek Jeter is a great OBP pickup, without great slugging. Vice versa for Johnny Damon, who for some reason is a leadoff hitter.
Batting average should be viewed as a specialty stat that evaluates how well hitters do when getting pitches to hit. But this is not even close to being all of hitting. All of hitting is not making outs, and OBP is a much better gauge of when your players don't make outs. Yes, this is shifting the focus away from drafting "good fantasy" players, but I suggest that the reason we all do this is that we wish we were real GMs anyway. Shouldn't we be striving to eliminate the differences between what makes a good GM and a good fantasy GM? Doesn't that make it more accurate and fun?
Ok, I'm totally rambling, but people should vote or something. Use comments for dialogue. Even if you're on my side and can articulate what I'm saying much better (Charlie).
The current statistical categories for the league are:
Hitting: Runs, RBI, HR, SB, AVG, OPS
Pitching: W, L, SV, K, ERA, WHIP
The change I am proposing is to remove both batting average and OPS, and replace them with On Base Percentage and Slugging Percentage, the two components of OPS.
To have both batting average and OPS makes no sense. On base percentage, simply put, is an improved version of batting average. Henry Chadwick would have used OBP if he had thought of it. For those who don't know, OBP is based on plate appearances rather than at bats, and counts walks and IBBs in its favor. The main purpose for a hitter is to get on base. Why should we include batting average, which punishes those who get on base via a walk?
The main criticisms of this method have been the following:
1) Since OBP counts IBBs, it rewards crappy eighth hitters in the NL who get walked for the pitcher.
This is a valid point, and hitters in the eight-hole generally do have a higher OBP than other... holes. My response to this is to ask what regular eight-hitter in the NL anyone would possibly want to draft. Is the slight increase in OBP worth the plunge in every other stat category?
2) People like Adam Dunn strike out an inordinate amount, but also draw a lot of walks, helping their OBP. Batting average levels the field for players like this.
This has been put to me by a few people, and I'm afraid I just don't get it. An out is an out. A hitter's objective is to not make outs. Who cares if it's a mighty whiff or a dribbler to short? Yes, there are situations where a ground out is more desirable, but there are also situations where a strikeout is more desirable.
The easier argument for this is that: strikeouts count against OBP too. ALL OBP DOES DIFFERENTLY IS COUNT WALKS IN PEOPLE'S FAVOR. So how the hell does it "not punish power hitters" enough for striking out? Seems to me it treats everyone the same. It acts exactly like batting average, but adds walks. This is my thesis. OBP is exactly the same, but it adds walks. What is the possible advantage of including batting average?
Seperating OBP and SLG from OPS is just another way of forcing owners to create a more nuanced team. Derek Jeter is a great OBP pickup, without great slugging. Vice versa for Johnny Damon, who for some reason is a leadoff hitter.
Batting average should be viewed as a specialty stat that evaluates how well hitters do when getting pitches to hit. But this is not even close to being all of hitting. All of hitting is not making outs, and OBP is a much better gauge of when your players don't make outs. Yes, this is shifting the focus away from drafting "good fantasy" players, but I suggest that the reason we all do this is that we wish we were real GMs anyway. Shouldn't we be striving to eliminate the differences between what makes a good GM and a good fantasy GM? Doesn't that make it more accurate and fun?
Ok, I'm totally rambling, but people should vote or something. Use comments for dialogue. Even if you're on my side and can articulate what I'm saying much better (Charlie).
Trade Update
All Dressed in Drag Gets: Derrek Lee, Johan Santana
Lovetank Gets: Aramis Ramirez, Hideki Matsui, Andruw Jones, Mark Buehrle
Lovetank Gets: Aramis Ramirez, Hideki Matsui, Andruw Jones, Mark Buehrle
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
Two words....
I hope everyone was watching the Yankees rain delay, because you then witnessed this exchange between Karl Ravech and Eric Byrnes:
I go into more detail over at The Ol' Ballfield. Suffice it to say, that is hilarious.
Ravech: "Eric, you offered a unique perspective this afternoon on Derek Jeter, do you think you could, do you think you could re-state what that was for those who may have missed it?"
Byrnes: "Man-love."
Ravech: "Man-love?"
Byrnes: "Man-love."
[At this point Vernon Wells is starting to look *really* weirded out, and Tim Kurkjian has nearly fallen under the desk laughing.]
Ravech: "Do you think you can define this concept of man-love?"
Byrnes: "He's my favorite player. He's my favorite athlete."
I go into more detail over at The Ol' Ballfield. Suffice it to say, that is hilarious.
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
Draft Order
Here is the 2007 draft order:
1)Mets
2)Mudcats
3)Wright Stuff
4)Charlie
5)Clippers
6)Lovetank
7)Yanks36
8)NYYDynasty
9)All Dressed in Drag
10)Cultural Proletariat
11)Bakers Dozen
12)Defending Champions
Keep in mind that draft picks can be traded. I will be emailing out an excel sheet with a complete draft list (rounds 1-15) that will show an update of each round.
1)Mets
2)Mudcats
3)Wright Stuff
4)Charlie
5)Clippers
6)Lovetank
7)Yanks36
8)NYYDynasty
9)All Dressed in Drag
10)Cultural Proletariat
11)Bakers Dozen
12)Defending Champions
Keep in mind that draft picks can be traded. I will be emailing out an excel sheet with a complete draft list (rounds 1-15) that will show an update of each round.
Monday, October 02, 2006
Are we all even?
Why does lovetank have 9 keepers?
on a side note, who does everythink will make it to the world series? I want your expert baseball predictions, excluding segerson, because I dont need him repeating espn quotes to me.
on a side note, who does everythink will make it to the world series? I want your expert baseball predictions, excluding segerson, because I dont need him repeating espn quotes to me.
Friday, September 29, 2006
Keeper List
NYYDynasty (Ben Segerson):
Alfonso Soriano
Jimmy Rollins
Vladimir Guerrero
Carlos Lee
Travis Hafner
Francisco Liriano
Justin Verlander
Paul Konerko
Mudcats (Joe Calvano):
Albert Pujols
Chase Utley
Derek Jeter
Prince Fielder
Jermaine Dye
Johnny Damon
Delmon Young
C.C. Sabathia
Yanks36 (Chris Carlin):
Joe Mauer
Justin Morneau
Chone Figgins
Felipe Lopez
Jason Bay
Chad Cordero
David Ortiz
Aaron Harang
Wright Stuff (Eric Callahan):
David Wright
Jose Reyes
Carlos Beltran
Jeff Francoeur
Felix Hernandez
Cole Hamels
Jeremy Bonderman
Billy Wagner
Cultural Proletariat (Ian Power):
Miguel Cabrera
Grady Sizemore
Brandon Webb
Roy Halladay
Barry Zito
Anibal Sanchez
Nick Swisher
Chien-Ming Wang
Lovetank (Craig Korth):
Robinson Cano
Edgar Renteria
Ichiro Suzuki
Chipper Jones
Jason Varitek
Torii Hunter
Hideki Matsui
Aramis Ramirez
Andruw Jones
Mark Buehrle
Charlie:
Bronson Arroyo
Carl Crawford
Troy Glaus
Mark Teixeira
Jonathan Papelbon
Juan Pierre
Jason Schmidt
Carlos Zambrano
Bakers Dozen (Justin Dittmar):
Chris Carpenter
Scott Kazmir
Adam Dunn
Matt Holliday
Hanley Ramirez
Ryan Zimmerman
Alex Rios
Brian McCann
Mets (Matt Whaley):
Roy Oswalt
Mike Pelfrey
Lastings Millidge
Jason Giambi
Rich Harden
Mariano Rivera
Eric Chavez
Ben Sheets
Clippers (Matt Eaton):
Vernon Wells
Victor Martinez
Michael Young
Dontrelle Willis
Josh Beckett
Nomah Garciaparra
Jim Thome
Francisco Rodriguez
Defending Champs (Brian Walsh):
Ryan Howard
Garrett Atkins
Miguel Tejada
Manny Ramirez
Lance Berkman
Bobby Abreu
Jered Weaver
B.J. Ryan
All Dressed in Drag (Mike Tomaselli):
Alex Rodriguez
Jake Peavy
Rafael Furcal
Dan Uggla
Derrek Lee
Johan Santana
Alfonso Soriano
Jimmy Rollins
Vladimir Guerrero
Carlos Lee
Travis Hafner
Francisco Liriano
Justin Verlander
Paul Konerko
Mudcats (Joe Calvano):
Albert Pujols
Chase Utley
Derek Jeter
Prince Fielder
Jermaine Dye
Johnny Damon
Delmon Young
C.C. Sabathia
Yanks36 (Chris Carlin):
Joe Mauer
Justin Morneau
Chone Figgins
Felipe Lopez
Jason Bay
Chad Cordero
David Ortiz
Aaron Harang
Wright Stuff (Eric Callahan):
David Wright
Jose Reyes
Carlos Beltran
Jeff Francoeur
Felix Hernandez
Cole Hamels
Jeremy Bonderman
Billy Wagner
Cultural Proletariat (Ian Power):
Miguel Cabrera
Grady Sizemore
Brandon Webb
Roy Halladay
Barry Zito
Anibal Sanchez
Nick Swisher
Chien-Ming Wang
Lovetank (Craig Korth):
Robinson Cano
Edgar Renteria
Ichiro Suzuki
Chipper Jones
Jason Varitek
Torii Hunter
Hideki Matsui
Aramis Ramirez
Andruw Jones
Mark Buehrle
Charlie:
Bronson Arroyo
Carl Crawford
Troy Glaus
Mark Teixeira
Jonathan Papelbon
Juan Pierre
Jason Schmidt
Carlos Zambrano
Bakers Dozen (Justin Dittmar):
Chris Carpenter
Scott Kazmir
Adam Dunn
Matt Holliday
Hanley Ramirez
Ryan Zimmerman
Alex Rios
Brian McCann
Mets (Matt Whaley):
Roy Oswalt
Mike Pelfrey
Lastings Millidge
Jason Giambi
Rich Harden
Mariano Rivera
Eric Chavez
Ben Sheets
Clippers (Matt Eaton):
Vernon Wells
Victor Martinez
Michael Young
Dontrelle Willis
Josh Beckett
Nomah Garciaparra
Jim Thome
Francisco Rodriguez
Defending Champs (Brian Walsh):
Ryan Howard
Garrett Atkins
Miguel Tejada
Manny Ramirez
Lance Berkman
Bobby Abreu
Jered Weaver
B.J. Ryan
All Dressed in Drag (Mike Tomaselli):
Alex Rodriguez
Jake Peavy
Rafael Furcal
Dan Uggla
Derrek Lee
Johan Santana
Thursday, September 28, 2006
Offseason
After everbody has their eight keepers set I will post them all on this site. I will also post the draft order for each round of the 2007 draft (including modifications for traded picks). Trades can be made until the first day of Spring Training, when everyone will cut their team down to six players and we will begin the draft. The draft will be done over email. Anyone besides Ian have any questions, comments, concerns?
Ben
Ben
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