Just Thoughts!
Just Thoughts!
You should follow through wit the thread of our thoughts. A) it will hep for next year B) it wasa good read c) It sucks to quit on something
schwanks.blogspot.com
Little Bits mostly non-related to fantasy sports...alright maybe a little
Little Bits mostly non-related to fantasy sports...alright maybe a little
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sportsbettingman
- Posts: 3038
- Joined: Sun Jan 23, 2005 6:00 pm
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Just Thoughts!
Here's a thought... 
I don't believe in the devil...BUT...
Francisco Liriano = the devil.
no offense.
I don't believe in the devil...BUT...
Francisco Liriano = the devil.
no offense.
"The only reason for time is so that everything doesn't happen at once."
~Albert Einstein
~Albert Einstein
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Edwards Kings
- Posts: 5909
- Joined: Sun Mar 14, 2004 6:00 pm
- Location: Duluth, Georgia
Just Thoughts!
Originally posted by sportsbettingman:
Here's a thought...
I don't believe in the devil...BUT...Clearly you never met my sisters-in-law...
Here's a thought...
I don't believe in the devil...BUT...Clearly you never met my sisters-in-law...
Baseball is a slow, boring, complex, cerebral game that doesn't lend itself to histrionics. You 'take in' a baseball game, something odd to say about a football or basketball game, with the clock running and the bodies flying.
Charles Krauthammer
Charles Krauthammer
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Edwards Kings
- Posts: 5909
- Joined: Sun Mar 14, 2004 6:00 pm
- Location: Duluth, Georgia
Just Thoughts!
Oh, I just love it. This week so far, three starts, 20.0 IP, 3 ER, 24 K's, ERA 1.350, WHIP 0.800. How many Wins? Zero. NADA. Zilch. What a season! 
Baseball is a slow, boring, complex, cerebral game that doesn't lend itself to histrionics. You 'take in' a baseball game, something odd to say about a football or basketball game, with the clock running and the bodies flying.
Charles Krauthammer
Charles Krauthammer
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sportsbettingman
- Posts: 3038
- Joined: Sun Jan 23, 2005 6:00 pm
- Contact:
Just Thoughts!
Kinda cool story from today...
I was chit chatting a bit with the homeowner of the house we were pumping concrete this morning, and the topic went to sports (who me? ). Talking about football, then baseball, then I was explaining to him how I can crush my local leagues, yet get squashed by the guys who play in the NFBC. He mentioned that he heard there was even an umpire fantasy league based on which ump tosses the most players/managers.
...anyway, to make a long story short it turns out I was speaking with the most senior ranked ump in MLB, Ed Montague! Apparently he'd been hit quite often (by foul tips I guess), and MLB shut him down for the season. He looked in great health and was very pleasant and open to chat with.
Thought it was pretty cool.
Pretty impressive resume.
I was chit chatting a bit with the homeowner of the house we were pumping concrete this morning, and the topic went to sports (who me?
). Talking about football, then baseball, then I was explaining to him how I can crush my local leagues, yet get squashed by the guys who play in the NFBC. He mentioned that he heard there was even an umpire fantasy league based on which ump tosses the most players/managers....anyway, to make a long story short it turns out I was speaking with the most senior ranked ump in MLB, Ed Montague! Apparently he'd been hit quite often (by foul tips I guess), and MLB shut him down for the season. He looked in great health and was very pleasant and open to chat with.
Thought it was pretty cool.
Pretty impressive resume.
"The only reason for time is so that everything doesn't happen at once."
~Albert Einstein
~Albert Einstein
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Edwards Kings
- Posts: 5909
- Joined: Sun Mar 14, 2004 6:00 pm
- Location: Duluth, Georgia
Just Thoughts!
End of Season Ramble –I left mid-season knowing I had to get hot to even sniff any money positions. I didn’t. At the mids, I was ahead of only one player, who had stopped managing his team, and I finished in the same place. Worst year for me (even considering my screwed up Chicago team I drafted in Year 2) in the NFBC. I was way behind in most categories and never clawed back. Rather the opposite. I regressed.
My mid-season targets for hitting were to hit 0.2953 with 47 R, 47 RBI, and 13 HR each week in the 2H. I had hopes of stealing bases at my 1H decent clip to climb up the rankings there and make up for some of the BA shortfall. Not even close. I left the 1H with a 0.2673 BA with 505 Runs, 113 HR, 480 RBI and 85 SB. I had 3,771 AB which was slightly ahead of my targeted 7,500. The second half ended up with regression all around with a 0.2612 BA, 484 Runs, 115 HR (ok, plus 2 compared to 1H but still stinks), 464 RBI and 67 SB with only 3,629 AB meaning I missed my AB total by 100. The average 2H week, rather than the lofty goals set above, was 37 Runs, 9 HR, 36 RBI and 5 SB. Just poor all the way around.
For pitching, I wanted to get 10 starts a week with a 3.1962, a 1.1756 with 4 to 5 wins per week. Saves were already totally out of reach. I expected to continue to wrack up K’s. I left the 1H with a 4.664 ERA, with 40 Wins, a 1.416 WHIP, 643 K’s and 30 Saves. In the second half, I had a 4.082 ERA, with 43 Wins, a 1.300 WHIP, 636 K’s and 34 Saves. Better, but still pedestrian. Certainly did not cause me to make up enough ground. An average 2H week for me was 3 to 4 wins, 2 to 3 Saves with 49 K’s.
I ended up with very anemic numbers in my League (all of whom I profusely apologize to as I made NO showing what so ever) with 21.0 batting points and 33.0 pitching points.
Here is my roster from Draft day. First comments are mine just after the draft, then I have added my Mid-Season assessment, and finally is my end of year self flagellation.
RD 1 Jimmy Rollins, SS – Seems if you do not get Hanley, Jose or Jimmy, you are at risk for this position. Should give me plus SB, R, and BA without killing HR/RBI. MIDSEASON: Known to have monster 2H but the hole he has dug in the 1H is deeper than any other year. My team results reek and I look here first for the reason. END: Counting stats were actually pretty much as projected, getting 100 runs and hitting 21 HR with 77 RBI, though he did not crack 40 SB (31). The 0.217 1H BA crawled all the way up to 0.250 as he hit 0.280 in the 2H. Still, not first round stats.
RD 2 Brandon Phillips, 2B – Good play and now I have SB and MI locked. Have less to have to concentrate on in the Draft. Good rebound candidate. Hitting 3rd and playing half of his games at Great American. MID SEASON: Horrible start that he made up partly by hot May. Cooled again. Still, has double digit HR and SB. If he gets the average up to 0.280+, worth the pick. END: Like Rollins, had a decent (0.282) BA in the 2H, but most other numbers slightly down from Mid-point (9 HR, 37 R, 45 RBI and 14 SB). A 20/20 guy with nearly 100 RBI is rare in the middle, but still I view this as only an OK 2nd round pick. Could have done much better. What if I had started out with Howard/Tex and Crawford (and I could have and almost did)? Damn.
RD 3 BJ Upton, OF – Steal. MIDSEASON: Came back quick and had horrible April and May but even so provided R and SB. Hot June. Power seems to be coming back. If I make a move in 2H, Upton will lead the way. With Pence and Phillips, five tool contributor (potentially). END: If this were my dog, I would have him shot. Rank first half and cooled in the second. Played his way into the dog house and I pulled him from my line-up, but too late. Only 195 2H AB for me with a 0.2215 BA, 2 HR, 12 SB, 17 R, and 10 RBI before I benched him in mid-September. My big steal of the draft!
RD 4 Hunter Pence, OF – Chose Pence over McLouth not so much to get Pence but to avoid McLouth. Best OF left available. MIDSEASON: Holding him back is batting 6th in the Astro line-up with Kaz Matsui hitting after him. Should finish the year in double digits for HR/SB and quite possibly a 20/20 guy. There is no way his swing will keep his average above 0.300 (0.388 May was insane), but 0.280 ok, so a little regression expected. Would love for him to have more RBI chances. Clutch hitter. END: Can only be viewed as a disappointment. Hit only 0.262 with 14 HR (OK), 6 SB, and only 38 RBI and 32 R in the 2H. Poorly managed on a poor team. I gambled on him and it did not pay off. Could rebound next year with Cecil gone, but I would not expect more than 0.280 with 25 HR, 80 RBI, 80 R and 10 SB.
RD 5 Brad Lidge, CL – Planned to take either Paplebon, Nathan or Lidge (only one left). MIDSEASON: Here in early July he has finally strung together a couple of quality outings. Clearly hurt early and this “solid” pick went south early. END: I wouldn’t shoot him even if he were my dog. The cost of the bullet is just not worth it. How in the world do you get 31 saves with a 7.210 ERA, a 1.807 WHIP and less than a 2:1 K to BB ratio. Some one will draft him next year and he can/will turn it around. I am burned.
RD 6 Scott Kazmir, SP – Wanted Shields. Chose Kazmir over King Felix. MIDSEASON: Was warned, but took Kaz anyway. Still has stuff, but predictably got hurt, pitched bad, then went on DL. If this were a trading league, I would target this guy big time, but his early season blow ups are one of the key reasons my ERA/WHIP are so bad. With a hot 2H, could still win 15 games this year. Wanted 20. END: His first half just crushed me but guess what. I the second half, Kazmir started 17 games, had a 3.63 ERA with a 1.18 WHIP. He had a K in just over 80% of IP and had a 2.6:1 K/BB ratio. Warning, Will Robinson. He has done this before and he barely averaged six innings per start. He will drop very far next year unless he has a hot spring. You can have him.
RD 7 Adrian Beltre, 3B – Wanted Corner. Beltre best of what was left. Contract year. MIDSEASON: Knew he was coming off injury, and gambled anyway. This one bit me. Mr. Consistency was anything but. No power and I was counting on 20-25. As of know, rehabbing from latest surgery. If I can glean any useful information from the reports and it looks like he will be out 4-6 weeks, may hold onto him. If not…??? END: Mr. Consistency my…eye. Managed only a total of 152 AB with a 0.2763 BA, 18 R, 3 HR, 13 RBI and 4 SB. You have to wonder just how far he will fall.
RD 8 Javier Vazquez, SP – Wanted him. 200+ K’s. MIDSEASON: From where it stands right now (knock on wood), I got this one right. That’s one! END: He never looked back. Lowered his ERA and WHIP. Racked up 10 Wins. Had 108 K’s. Dominate.
RD 9 Brad Hawpe, OF – Best of what was around. My first real “value” pick of the draft. Didn’t really want another OF, but too good to pass up. MIDSEASON: Showed 30+ HR power in May and June, but is not really. Good shot at 25, though. Love the clutch hitting and the .0320+ BA could be for real. END: If I had been in the running, the surprising Rockies and their push for playoff COULD have been good for this pick. As it is, Hawpe really fell off hitting 0.2395 with only 34 Runs and 30 RBI’s. He didn’t really help me, but he didn’t really hurt me over the entire season.
RD 10 Edwin Encarnacion, 3B – Reached, but I really like him. Best of CM left IMHO. MIDSEASON: Total and complete flop. No defense, no power, no durability, no hitting. Watch him have a good August and September just to tease me for next year. END: Cincy (and me) had it with this mug. Managed only 230 AB in all of second half with a 0.252 BA, 33 R, 12 HR, and 22 RBI. STINK, STANK, STUNK.
After my Top Ten picks, I ended up with on good pick (Vazquez), a couple of guys who were OK at best and a league leading six flops. There were certainly some value in the next ten, but these mooks dug too deep a whole. If I were a better manager, maybe, but I am a bit hamstrung by my methodology of leaving good players in to play through rough patches. Is an entire season just a rough patch?
I will stop here and I only put this out there for your light reading. Time to get ready for my 2010 contribution.
My mid-season targets for hitting were to hit 0.2953 with 47 R, 47 RBI, and 13 HR each week in the 2H. I had hopes of stealing bases at my 1H decent clip to climb up the rankings there and make up for some of the BA shortfall. Not even close. I left the 1H with a 0.2673 BA with 505 Runs, 113 HR, 480 RBI and 85 SB. I had 3,771 AB which was slightly ahead of my targeted 7,500. The second half ended up with regression all around with a 0.2612 BA, 484 Runs, 115 HR (ok, plus 2 compared to 1H but still stinks), 464 RBI and 67 SB with only 3,629 AB meaning I missed my AB total by 100. The average 2H week, rather than the lofty goals set above, was 37 Runs, 9 HR, 36 RBI and 5 SB. Just poor all the way around.
For pitching, I wanted to get 10 starts a week with a 3.1962, a 1.1756 with 4 to 5 wins per week. Saves were already totally out of reach. I expected to continue to wrack up K’s. I left the 1H with a 4.664 ERA, with 40 Wins, a 1.416 WHIP, 643 K’s and 30 Saves. In the second half, I had a 4.082 ERA, with 43 Wins, a 1.300 WHIP, 636 K’s and 34 Saves. Better, but still pedestrian. Certainly did not cause me to make up enough ground. An average 2H week for me was 3 to 4 wins, 2 to 3 Saves with 49 K’s.
I ended up with very anemic numbers in my League (all of whom I profusely apologize to as I made NO showing what so ever) with 21.0 batting points and 33.0 pitching points.
Here is my roster from Draft day. First comments are mine just after the draft, then I have added my Mid-Season assessment, and finally is my end of year self flagellation.
RD 1 Jimmy Rollins, SS – Seems if you do not get Hanley, Jose or Jimmy, you are at risk for this position. Should give me plus SB, R, and BA without killing HR/RBI. MIDSEASON: Known to have monster 2H but the hole he has dug in the 1H is deeper than any other year. My team results reek and I look here first for the reason. END: Counting stats were actually pretty much as projected, getting 100 runs and hitting 21 HR with 77 RBI, though he did not crack 40 SB (31). The 0.217 1H BA crawled all the way up to 0.250 as he hit 0.280 in the 2H. Still, not first round stats.
RD 2 Brandon Phillips, 2B – Good play and now I have SB and MI locked. Have less to have to concentrate on in the Draft. Good rebound candidate. Hitting 3rd and playing half of his games at Great American. MID SEASON: Horrible start that he made up partly by hot May. Cooled again. Still, has double digit HR and SB. If he gets the average up to 0.280+, worth the pick. END: Like Rollins, had a decent (0.282) BA in the 2H, but most other numbers slightly down from Mid-point (9 HR, 37 R, 45 RBI and 14 SB). A 20/20 guy with nearly 100 RBI is rare in the middle, but still I view this as only an OK 2nd round pick. Could have done much better. What if I had started out with Howard/Tex and Crawford (and I could have and almost did)? Damn.
RD 3 BJ Upton, OF – Steal. MIDSEASON: Came back quick and had horrible April and May but even so provided R and SB. Hot June. Power seems to be coming back. If I make a move in 2H, Upton will lead the way. With Pence and Phillips, five tool contributor (potentially). END: If this were my dog, I would have him shot. Rank first half and cooled in the second. Played his way into the dog house and I pulled him from my line-up, but too late. Only 195 2H AB for me with a 0.2215 BA, 2 HR, 12 SB, 17 R, and 10 RBI before I benched him in mid-September. My big steal of the draft!
RD 4 Hunter Pence, OF – Chose Pence over McLouth not so much to get Pence but to avoid McLouth. Best OF left available. MIDSEASON: Holding him back is batting 6th in the Astro line-up with Kaz Matsui hitting after him. Should finish the year in double digits for HR/SB and quite possibly a 20/20 guy. There is no way his swing will keep his average above 0.300 (0.388 May was insane), but 0.280 ok, so a little regression expected. Would love for him to have more RBI chances. Clutch hitter. END: Can only be viewed as a disappointment. Hit only 0.262 with 14 HR (OK), 6 SB, and only 38 RBI and 32 R in the 2H. Poorly managed on a poor team. I gambled on him and it did not pay off. Could rebound next year with Cecil gone, but I would not expect more than 0.280 with 25 HR, 80 RBI, 80 R and 10 SB.
RD 5 Brad Lidge, CL – Planned to take either Paplebon, Nathan or Lidge (only one left). MIDSEASON: Here in early July he has finally strung together a couple of quality outings. Clearly hurt early and this “solid” pick went south early. END: I wouldn’t shoot him even if he were my dog. The cost of the bullet is just not worth it. How in the world do you get 31 saves with a 7.210 ERA, a 1.807 WHIP and less than a 2:1 K to BB ratio. Some one will draft him next year and he can/will turn it around. I am burned.
RD 6 Scott Kazmir, SP – Wanted Shields. Chose Kazmir over King Felix. MIDSEASON: Was warned, but took Kaz anyway. Still has stuff, but predictably got hurt, pitched bad, then went on DL. If this were a trading league, I would target this guy big time, but his early season blow ups are one of the key reasons my ERA/WHIP are so bad. With a hot 2H, could still win 15 games this year. Wanted 20. END: His first half just crushed me but guess what. I the second half, Kazmir started 17 games, had a 3.63 ERA with a 1.18 WHIP. He had a K in just over 80% of IP and had a 2.6:1 K/BB ratio. Warning, Will Robinson. He has done this before and he barely averaged six innings per start. He will drop very far next year unless he has a hot spring. You can have him.
RD 7 Adrian Beltre, 3B – Wanted Corner. Beltre best of what was left. Contract year. MIDSEASON: Knew he was coming off injury, and gambled anyway. This one bit me. Mr. Consistency was anything but. No power and I was counting on 20-25. As of know, rehabbing from latest surgery. If I can glean any useful information from the reports and it looks like he will be out 4-6 weeks, may hold onto him. If not…??? END: Mr. Consistency my…eye. Managed only a total of 152 AB with a 0.2763 BA, 18 R, 3 HR, 13 RBI and 4 SB. You have to wonder just how far he will fall.
RD 8 Javier Vazquez, SP – Wanted him. 200+ K’s. MIDSEASON: From where it stands right now (knock on wood), I got this one right. That’s one! END: He never looked back. Lowered his ERA and WHIP. Racked up 10 Wins. Had 108 K’s. Dominate.
RD 9 Brad Hawpe, OF – Best of what was around. My first real “value” pick of the draft. Didn’t really want another OF, but too good to pass up. MIDSEASON: Showed 30+ HR power in May and June, but is not really. Good shot at 25, though. Love the clutch hitting and the .0320+ BA could be for real. END: If I had been in the running, the surprising Rockies and their push for playoff COULD have been good for this pick. As it is, Hawpe really fell off hitting 0.2395 with only 34 Runs and 30 RBI’s. He didn’t really help me, but he didn’t really hurt me over the entire season.
RD 10 Edwin Encarnacion, 3B – Reached, but I really like him. Best of CM left IMHO. MIDSEASON: Total and complete flop. No defense, no power, no durability, no hitting. Watch him have a good August and September just to tease me for next year. END: Cincy (and me) had it with this mug. Managed only 230 AB in all of second half with a 0.252 BA, 33 R, 12 HR, and 22 RBI. STINK, STANK, STUNK.
After my Top Ten picks, I ended up with on good pick (Vazquez), a couple of guys who were OK at best and a league leading six flops. There were certainly some value in the next ten, but these mooks dug too deep a whole. If I were a better manager, maybe, but I am a bit hamstrung by my methodology of leaving good players in to play through rough patches. Is an entire season just a rough patch?
I will stop here and I only put this out there for your light reading. Time to get ready for my 2010 contribution.
Baseball is a slow, boring, complex, cerebral game that doesn't lend itself to histrionics. You 'take in' a baseball game, something odd to say about a football or basketball game, with the clock running and the bodies flying.
Charles Krauthammer
Charles Krauthammer