Hello??? Echo! Echo!

Edwards Kings · Post by **Edwards Kings** » Tue Jun 27, 2006 6:05 am

Is anybody out there? Or is all the action on the Junior Circuit (NFFC)?

There is a lot of baseball left, but the board seems to have dried up. C'mon! Don't just leave me with "work" to keep me going during the day. Unless they reinstate allowing me to bring a cooler of beer into work with me, I will be very bored!

How about this for a topic:

Which 1st half under achiever will rebound to form with a hot second half? From my team:

1) Mark "Where has all the power gone?" Teixeira

2) Aramis "Derek Lee's No. 1 Fan" Ramirez

3) Jeremy Reed - no nickname, but this guy has just sucked for three months!

Thoughts?

Joe Sambito · Post by **Joe Sambito** » Tue Jun 27, 2006 6:42 am

4.) Kahlil Greene - I expect his average to creep back to a respectable .275 level, while maintaining some pop.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Tue Jun 27, 2006 8:25 am

Originally posted by Edwards Kings:

Is anybody out there? Or is all the action on the Junior Circuit (NFFC)?

There is a lot of baseball left, but the board seems to have dried up. C'mon! Don't just leave me with "work" to keep me going during the day. Unless they reinstate allowing me to bring a cooler of beer into work with me, I will be very bored!

How about this for a topic:

Which 1st half under achiever will rebound to form with a hot second half? From my team:

1) Mark "Where has all the power gone?" Teixeira

2) Aramis "Derek Lee's No. 1 Fan" Ramirez

3) Jeremy Reed - no nickname, but this guy has just sucked for three months!

Thoughts? I hear ya Wayne as it's been too quiet and peaceful for too long. I actually enjoyed the quiet for awhile, but now it's time to get this board active again.

Good start with this thread and I'll see if I can get some other interesting topics going soon. Trust me, not everyone has gone over to the football boards, although I will say we have some interesting comrades over there who live and die football 12 months of the year. We have the same dedicated baseball participants here, but they don't smack talk like some of our NFFC guys (which can be a good thing).

From the LABR team that is suckin' big-time for Zaleski and me, here's a few more:

1) Erik Bedard: Was his incredible last start the sign of things to come or just a mirage?

2) Jon Garland: No chance of him turning this around, right?

3) Andy Pettitte: Maybe Roger can turn him around...or not.

4) Juan Uribe: I cut him in another league when he was hitting .205 and Alex Cintron was getting more playing time and then he had a monster week. Is it a turnaround or just a one week wonder? I pick the latter.

Let's get the boards talking about baseball again. I'm ready.

bjoak · Post by **bjoak** » Tue Jun 27, 2006 11:30 am

Originally posted by Greg Ambrosius:

quote:Originally posted by Edwards Kings:

Is anybody out there? Or is all the action on the Junior Circuit (NFFC)?

There is a lot of baseball left, but the board seems to have dried up. C'mon! Don't just leave me with "work" to keep me going during the day. Unless they reinstate allowing me to bring a cooler of beer into work with me, I will be very bored!

How about this for a topic:

Which 1st half under achiever will rebound to form with a hot second half? From my team:

1) Mark "Where has all the power gone?" Teixeira

2) Aramis "Derek Lee's No. 1 Fan" Ramirez

3) Jeremy Reed - no nickname, but this guy has just sucked for three months!

Thoughts? I hear ya Wayne as it's been too quiet and peaceful for too long. I actually enjoyed the quiet for awhile, but now it's time to get this board active again.

Good start with this thread and I'll see if I can get some other interesting topics going soon. Trust me, not everyone has gone over to the football boards, although I will say we have some interesting comrades over there who live and die football 12 months of the year. We have the same dedicated baseball participants here, but they don't smack talk like some of our NFFC guys (which can be a good thing).

From the LABR team that is suckin' big-time for Zaleski and me, here's a few more:

1) Erik Bedard: Was his incredible last start the sign of things to come or just a mirage?

2) Jon Garland: No chance of him turning this around, right?

3) Andy Pettitte: Maybe Roger can turn him around...or not.

4) Juan Uribe: I cut him in another league when he was hitting .205 and Alex Cintron was getting more playing time and then he had a monster week. Is it a turnaround or just a one week wonder? I pick the latter.

Let's get the boards talking about baseball again. I'm ready. [/QUOTE]I have to think rebound is in store for Tex. I doubt he just got weaker this year.

It seems that Ramirez is already starting to rebound. He has always been streaky--even for years at a time.

Did Jeremy Reed ever not suck?

Greene would have to hit .325 the rest of the way to get to .275 and I can't see that happening. He might hit .275 the rest of the way, however. Maybe.

Bedard: Even though the Marlins are inexperienced they were calling him 'unhittable' and that's an impressive complement. Especially since a month ago he looked to be one of the most hittable pitchers. Baltimore credits his new changeup, which along with giving him the ability to changee speeds effectively also seems to have given him more command--and that's really what he needed. I'll see if my faith looks misplaced later today.

Garland won't stay this bad, but he's never going to look like some kind of phenom again. His peripheral numbers just don't stack up.

Pettitte won't stay this bad, but...

Uribe's monster week was nature's way of reverting to the mean. He'll go back to looking like a decent fantasy option, nothing special.

Edwards Kings · Post by **Edwards Kings** » Wed Jun 28, 2006 12:39 am

Bjoak, you caught me in a little wishful thinking on Reed. Last year as a 24 year old OF, he hit .254 with 12 SB, 61 R in 488 AB. At the point in the draft which I took Reed, I knew I was OK in RBI and HR (which I have been right so far) and BA (which I have been wrong so far), I took a gamble on growth hoping for 80 R and 20+SB to shore up both those categories. He may still get hot in the second half (more wishful thinking).

I hope you are right about Ramirez and Tex. I am beginning to think I have a curse on 3B and 1B. Each year I have used a high (top 5) draft pick to get a solid perfomer in each and ended up with:

2004 C. Jones and J. Giambi (both had years so bad they looked like outliers)

2005 S. Rolen and S. Casey (ok...Casey was just plain stupid)

2006 Tex and Ramirez.

I like my chances of rebound this year better than the other two.

Joe, I hope you are right about Greene as I have him as well, but the BA is just killing me right now to the point I put Walker in his spot.

Greg, Bedard I think will be there though I am beginning to queston the Mazzone effect. I think he was working on the changeup before Mazzone showed.

Pettite is such a gamer that as long a Houston has a chance for the Division title during the August/September stretch run, he could slap some impressive numbers together.

Hey, COOPS! You out there? What are your thoughts?

[ June 28, 2006, 06:39 AM: Message edited by: Edwards Kings ]

Chest Rockwell · Post by **Chest Rockwell** » Wed Jun 28, 2006 2:34 am

Greg,

A business associate of mine is friends with one of the O's announcers. He came and sat with us a for about 30 minutes b4 the game. It is what he said that makes those useless facts relevant.

He said in the years he had been doing this he had not seen a player as uncoachable as Bedard. Said he just had a **** poor attitude and no one could teach him anything. He commented that Kris Benson was soaking up everything Mazzone was preaching but the complete opposite.

The 2 pitchers I really liked to step up this year who have disappointed are Bedard and Lowry.

Joe Sambito · Post by **Joe Sambito** » Wed Jun 28, 2006 3:06 am

I wonder if the O's are trying to re-visit the Bedard for Abreu rumor that was floating around this past off-season.

Nice tidbit Chest. Makes me feel a bit more fuzzy about Benson. Although the Phils might be a tough matchup for him tonight...

Dirt Dogs · Post by **Dirt Dogs** » Wed Jun 28, 2006 3:34 am

Joe,

Nice seeing you at the ballpark last nite representing the 86 World Series team!!! Best of luck in the NFBC!

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Wed Jun 28, 2006 3:51 am

Originally posted by Chest Rockwell:

Greg,

A business associate of mine is friends with one of the O's announcers. He came and sat with us a for about 30 minutes b4 the game. It is what he said that makes those useless facts relevant.

He said in the years he had been doing this he had not seen a player as uncoachable as Bedard. Said he just had a **** poor attitude and no one could teach him anything. He commented that Kris Benson was soaking up everything Mazzone was preaching but the complete opposite.

The 2 pitchers I really liked to step up this year who have disappointed are Bedard and Lowry. That's interesting. I think most people felt that Benson might go to Baltimore and be the tough one to coach. Bedard seems like a young kid who would soak up Mazzone-speak and take his game to the next level. No question he has the ability to do that, but so far he's killing every team I have him on and unfortunately I have him in most of my leagues. Good stuff Chest.

Dirt Dogs · Post by **Dirt Dogs** » Wed Jun 28, 2006 6:34 am

I also have Bedard but my biggest bust this year is Daniel Cabrera! Kid has electric stuff and he either walks 10 guys and throws 3 wild pitches a game or strikes out 10.

Chest Rockwell · Post by **Chest Rockwell** » Wed Jun 28, 2006 7:05 am

I find it interesting the Phils are apparently willing to pick up some of his contract. I know it is a big contract but if he became a FA tommorow and was willing to sign a short term deal would he get much less.

On another note- hate to make 2 references to people I have met in the same thread. But have any of you ever met Peter Gammons?

I talked to him for about 20 minutes at Turner Field about 10 years ago, and again in spring training 2 years ago. He might possibly be outside of Greg the nicest guy you will ever meet. He treats fans with the utmost respect and commented to me that he never gets tired of talking baseball with people who love baseball. I sure do hope he turns out alright.

bjoak · Post by **bjoak** » Wed Jun 28, 2006 7:05 am

Yeah, I was never drinking the Kool-Aid on Mazzone. I know pitchers have improved their ERA under him in Atlanta, but how was that happening? I'm not sure, but ERA has too many factors outside of the pitcher's control and the fact that all of the subjects in our sample pitched for the same team is troubling. Part of his mystique seems to be that pitchers only did well under his tutelage, but shouldn't pitchers be taking what he teaches him off to other places? I don't see tangible evidence of huge gains in strikeout rate like I do under Mike Maddux or consistency in control like I do in the Minnesota system (why is Kevin Slowey still in A ball?

) I think he does teach some of the Kenny Rogers-type small things, but I don't think he was turning every pitcher's career around all on his own. Has anyone seen an article where a pitcher actually explained what he learned from Mazzone? Something more specific than the usual I-learned-a-lot-from-him speech?

Schilling isn't winning any Cy Young award. Sorry.

bjoak · Post by **bjoak** » Wed Jun 28, 2006 7:15 am

Originally posted by Chest Rockwell:

I find it interesting the Phils are apparently willing to pick up some of his contract. I know it is a big contract but if he became a FA tommorow and was willing to sign a short term deal would he get much less.

On another note- hate to make 2 references to people I have met in the same thread. But have any of you ever met Peter Gammons?

I talked to him for about 20 minutes at Turner Field about 10 years ago, and again in spring training 2 years ago. He might possibly be outside of Greg the nicest guy you will ever meet. He treats fans with the utmost respect and commented to me that he never gets tired of talking baseball with people who love baseball. I sure do hope he turns out alright. Oh, Chest, you're such a name dropper. Gammons is a good baseball guy. His recovery looks good.

If the Phils are so willing to make the trade, why isn't it done? I find it interesting that people talk about trade rumors as though both sides are interested in the trade. If they were, then they'd obviously have made it. It might take a day or two to figure out what random minor leaguer is going to change hands or for a player to get a physical, but if it's been swirling for more than a few days, then one side must not be interested. I've seen a lot more surprise trades than trades that have taken place after months of rumors.

[ June 28, 2006, 01:17 PM: Message edited by: bjoak ]

JohnZ · Post by **JohnZ** » Wed Jun 28, 2006 7:18 am

On another note- hate to make 2 references to people I have met in the same thread. But have any of you ever met Peter Gammons?

I talked to him for about 20 minutes at Turner Field about 10 years ago, and again in spring training 2 years ago. He might possibly be outside of Greg the nicest guy you will ever meet. He treats fans with the utmost respect and commented to me that he never gets tired of talking baseball with people who love baseball. I sure do hope he turns out alright. [/QB]I met him before Game 7 of the 02 WS. He talked to us for 10 minutes and felt bad he had to go. He made a greatd ay even better. I just read he's doing well.

What a suck up on Greg.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Wed Jun 28, 2006 7:48 am

Originally posted by UFS:

quote:

On another note- hate to make 2 references to people I have met in the same thread. But have any of you ever met Peter Gammons?

I talked to him for about 20 minutes at Turner Field about 10 years ago, and again in spring training 2 years ago. He might possibly be outside of Greg the nicest guy you will ever meet. He treats fans with the utmost respect and commented to me that he never gets tired of talking baseball with people who love baseball. I sure do hope he turns out alright. I met him before Game 7 of the 02 WS. He talked to us for 10 minutes and felt bad he had to go. He made a greatd ay even better. I just read he's doing well.

What a suck up on Greg.

[/QB][/QUOTE]I wish Gammons the best with this, too. He's done a lot for baseball and a lot for our industry, even though he probably doesn't realize it. Hopefully he can recover from this.

We held the LABR drafts at the ESPN Zone in Orlando around 1997 or '98 and did it before they taped Baseball Tonight. Gammons isn't a suit and tie kind of guy, so he showed up with his suit coat and tie on, jeans, no socks and light shoes. Since he was behind the desk, he looked dressed up, but of course he was casual all under. I'm sure now that he has to stand up for segments he can't get away with that, but being a jeans and T-shirt kind of guy, I liked that.

How many people remember the ESPN Pay-Per-View Fantasy Baseball show in 1994? Gammons was on it along with some of his old-timers and even though he wasn't a big fantasy baseball fan, he understood how it was taking off and how it was good for baseball. He was genuinely fun to work with that day, as was Keith Olbermann. Too bad the show didn't pan out, in many ways.

Edwards Kings · Post by **Edwards Kings** » Wed Jun 28, 2006 9:09 am

I never met Mr. Gammons but do wish him a full and speedy recovery. I used to play softball with Ernie Johnson, Jr. Does that count?

Spyhunter · Post by **Spyhunter** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 8:17 am

Can I add Felix Hernandez to the list? Every week he just taunts me. And Thome always makes sure to hit a HR the day he pitches to remind me that in the 5th round I should have picked him instead of Felix. My partner and I debated between both and finally fell into the hype and went with Felix. In every other satellite, I had taken Thome in the 5th... Argh.

I am just hoping that my getting pissed at Harden in my Auction team and dropping him wasn't premature. That is one guy I am hoping DOESNT recover in the 2nd half.

Oh, and WTF happend to Wily Mo's power? And Craig Wilson? Can you please just hit 14 more hr like you should?? I second the motion on Aramram, my 100k league team isn't going anywhere with out him

Spyhunter

Dirt Dogs · Post by **Dirt Dogs** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 8:28 am

Wily Mo and C.Wilson!!! well for starters Wily Mo has been hurt for most of the first half and C.Wilson dosent play every day. How can you complain about these guys. Craig Wilson once traded will put up the power numbers. He just needs the playing time.

Spyhunter · Post by **Spyhunter** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 9:58 am

I guess Uribe is looking more real:

3 for 4, 1hr 5rbi today.

As for Pena - he was plenty healthy for 100+ abs and got all of 4hr. I didn't draft him for .320 I drafted him for 1hr every 10-15 abs!!!

bjoak · Post by **bjoak** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 10:50 am

Originally posted by Spyhunter:

I guess Uribe is looking more real:

3 for 4, 1hr 5rbi today.

As for Pena - he was plenty healthy for 100+ abs and got all of 4hr. I didn't draft him for .320 I drafted him for 1hr every 10-15 abs!!! Yes, Uribe's average is still a very real .241. Maybe it's not time to start celebrating his .400 average for the second half. He's a .265 type hitter.

Some of the 'experts' are saying that Willy Mo's average has been 'lucky' according to how hard he hit the ball, K's, etc. I'm not sure about that. He's going to K a lot regardless of whether he hits for average or not--that's just part of the package. My highly subjective opinion that I have no evidence to back up is that he is learning to hit and that while focussing on that, he has to give up some power.

The BoSox are having him rehab at first base, which could mean a coup is in order upon his return. But his type of injury results in a loss of power in the short term (i.e., most of the rest of the season) and since that is what we rely on him for, red flags and long nights could be in store. I dropped him and am fine with that decision even though he's coming back quickly. Then again, I'm the guy who dropped Bronson Arroyo.

roundmann · Post by **roundmann** » Sun Jul 02, 2006 4:19 am

Rafael Palmeiro didn't do much in the first half.

BEF · Post by **BEF** » Fri Jul 07, 2006 7:40 am

Originally posted by Greg Ambrosius:

[QUOTE]Originally posted by UFS:

[QUOTE]

On another note- hate to make 2 references to people I have met in the same thread. But have any of you ever met Peter Gammons?

I talked to him for about 20 minutes at Turner Field about 10 years ago, and again in spring training 2 years ago. He might possibly be outside of Greg the nicest guy you will ever meet. He treats fans with the utmost respect and commented to me that he never gets tired of talking baseball with people who love baseball. I sure do hope he turns out alright. I met him before Game 7 of the 02 WS. He talked to us for 10 minutes and felt bad he had to go. He made a greatd ay even better. I just read he's doing well.

What a suck up on Greg.

My brother-in-law was his producer on Baseball Tonight for 3 years, accompanying him for six weeks during Florida spring training. I was able to puppy-dog them around one day in Jupiter, and Gammons was fascinating to watch. All the stories about him being wed to his cell phone are absolutely true; he never put it down other than to do his actual interviews (that day was an extended one with LaRussa, along with a live talking head shot).

My BIL reports that he would often get calls in the middle of the night, as Gammons doesn't follow the clock like normal people. He's also not as laid back as you'd believe; he's a perfectionist who can be oblivious to the niceties in life when he's focused on work, which is most of the time. He's actually got a pretty hot temper but obviously never lets go in public. Still, he's a real icon in the world of modern baseball, and here's hoping for a speedy recovery.