Look around the major leagues. There’s exciting pitching everywhere. The question is, did the pitching get that much better, or is the reduction in PED’s making pitchers look better? SF Giants Lincecum, Cain, Bumgardner, Sanchez and Surkamp. Granted Surkamp is unproven at the MLB level, but there’s not an easy game in that rotation Phillies [...]
Last year, I noted that Conner walked nearly twice as often as he struck out, in his debut at Vancouver. This year, at Kane Country, Conner walked 126 times. In 134 games. http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/C/Connor-Crumbliss.shtml That led to a 0.421 on base percentage. Conner also struck out 92 times, but I’ll take that ratio. Why do I [...]
Last October, I suggested the Giants do a whole lot of nothing in the off-season. Clearly, they wouldn’t be in the World Series if I was their GM. However, I did get a couple things right: – suggesting Posey start the season with the team. they would have won a game or two more with [...]
The top prospect in baseball hit a home run in his first at bat, with the anxious crowd chanting “Let’s go, Heyward!” before his home run – in his first at bat at the major league level. 3B Chipper Jones, winner of 15 or so division titles and a world series, said “I don’t know [...]
I still don’t like Johnny Damon. But Swisher makes up for Damon. I’m happy Arod had a good series, but his star has fallen. Howard ran into a lot of lefties. Utley I’m ok with. Don’t care for cocky little Rollins, who should never have won the MVP a couple years back. Don’t like Werth [...]
With my preferred underdogs (Minnesota and St. Louis) already beaten, baseball is down to the Yanks and Phils. Tim Brown over at Yahoo Sports has broken things down by position. However, he’s wrong on a number of those positional comparisons. At catcher, he’s got Posada and Ruiz as a tie. C’mon, that is silly despite [...]
UPDATE: There has been rumors that KC may attempt to trade high on Alberto Callaspo, who apparently likes to party. Nothing wrong with that, as long as he’s not driving. Callaspo was Kansas City’s most potent hitter last season, it terms of VORP (value over replacement player) and walked more often that he struck out [...]
Felix Hernandez, Seattle He was great this year. I think he can do better. Clay Bucholz, Boston Assuming he’s given a spot, of course. Phil Hughes, New York (AL) Same thing Max Scherzer, Arizona I expect an ERA below 3 with 200 K’s. Mat Latos, San Diego This guy strikes me as really good. And [...]
What should the giants do in the off-season? Running through the positions: C. Posey/Whiteside – let Posey take his lumps. He may not be ready. I’m fine with that. He’s a smart kid. Split time with the veteran. I would not put Posey in the middle of the lineup right away, despite how much I [...]
I’ve played Baseball Mogul off and on for 10 years. It is a very easy game to get into, provided you enjoy the sports management genre. Easier to get into traditionally for me, when compared with OOTP (out of the park) baseball. OOTP is much deeper, and certainly is more of a simulation. In the [...]
I’m using a google gadget below, with the daily standings. I’m hoping for a Cards vs Phillies NLCS. And a Yankees vs Angels ALCS Then a Cards vs Yankees WS. With the Cards winning in seven. MLB.com has some new toys. This is their postseason.tv offering: I might have to try that. Nah, no local [...]
The Twins won in extra innings of their extra game, against the Detroit Tigers. This pleases me, for several reasons: As an A’s fan, I have the small-market brotherhood feeling with the Twins. Although apparently their limits could be relaxed by a more generous owner. Joe Mauer – the best player in the AL, and [...]
None of these three prospects is likely to appear in the top 25 A’s prospect list this year. The A’s are fairly deep, and I look forward to the next few seasons. Ladendorf and Kaaihue both seem like big question marks, but neither cost much. Crumbliss is exciting to me, and I’ll be following his [...]
Predicted the day of a players first home run. And the inning (5th). And the pitch type (fastball) And the count (3-1). And the location (left field, second deck). It appears fairly amazing to me, but I bet if you ask Blowers he’d say its simple luck and educated guesses. 3-1 being a fairly typical [...]
Judging from yesterday’s results, don’t use my picks. September 30 Games: Chicago over Pittsburgh Mets over Washington Phillies over Houston Atlanta over Florida Cincinnati over St. Louis Chicago over Pittsburgh (zambrano) Colorado over Milwaukee San Diego over Los Angelos San Francisco over Arizona — american league — Cleveland over Chicago Chicago over Cleveland (Peavy starts) [...]
Judging from reactions even after a productive stint with the big club, you’d think Pennington will still be fighting for a spot next year, and that some even want Orlando Cabrera back. This from a supposedly objective, intelligent group of fans. Switch hitter Patient/good eye Doesn’t strike out much, so his outs are more likely [...]
I will be picking winners, to tally up in a week when the season ends Image comes from: baseball.about.com September 29 Games: Phillies over Houston Mets over Washington St. Louis over Cincinnati Atlanta over Florida Chicago over Pittsburgh Milwaukee over Colorado Los Angeles over San Diego San Francisco over Arizona — american league — Minnesota [...]
Oakland A’s, 2009 Offseason Do nothing. C – Kurt Suzuki / Landon Powell Suzuki is above average all around. Powell shows good pop. Prediction (combined): .270/340/420 (760 ops) 1b – Daric Barton Has had a great last month. I expect it will carry over to next season this time. Prediction: 270/380/435 (815 ops) 2b – [...]
Earlier this summer, J. Sanchez of the San Francisco Giants threw the first no-hitter in San Fran since the 70′s. Before that game, he was having a rough season, and in the offseason was rumored to be a trade subject. Today, he’s proving to be one of the toughest pitchers to hit in the national [...]
DeWayne Wise makes a great catch after coming in as a replacement in the 9th inning to save a perfect game by White Sox pitcher Mark Buehrle. [cnn-news name="Sports"]
Right wing lies