Tuesday, May 31, 2011
R.I.P. Atlanta Thrashers
Off to Winnipeg. I cannot name a single player in the history of the Atlanta Thrashers. Maybe that is a reason they are gone.
Five Reasons to Watch the NBA Finals
I know my audience (literally, I know each and every person who visits this blog. All twelve, okay four, of you) and I know it is not an NBA crowd. I live in a city that puts the NBA behind college football, professional football, NASCAR, college basketball, MLB, professional wrestling, the PGA tour, and probably high school sports in terms of interest level. For that reason, I feel obligated to sell this year's NBA Finals to my skeptical audience.
Here are five good reasons to tune in to Game 1 tonight:
1) Good vs. Evil - The Mavericks aren't good as much as Miami is evil. There are few villains in the world like the Miami Heat. They represent what is wrong with professional sports. Everyone remembers the horribly self-important "Decision" where LeBron broke an entire state's heart by taking his talents to South Beach (it hasn't been a good year for Ohio, huh?). The collusion of Wade, Bosh and LeBron rubbed everyone outside of Miami wrong. Instead of battling against one another, they decided to take the easy way out and join forces. They had a victory celebration for sighing together. And who was Chris Bosh to be hanging with these two? He is a thinner Horace Grant. Every bit of it was lame, insulting and the opposite of what we want from our athletic heroes.
Which is what is going to make pulling against them so much fun. Pulling against the Yankees is fun, but there are plenty of reasons to like them. Jeter, Rivera, Posada are all good guys who came up through the system. Pulling against the Lakers is fun, but there is no getting around Kobe & Phil's greatness and the Laker lore. Pulling against the Patriots is fun, but Tom Brady is a machine and their ability to get something out of guys discarded by other teams makes it hard to hate them.
The Heat are hate-able. LeBron turned his back on his hometown...on national television. Bosh is an overrated wannabe. Wade is a warrior, but it is hard to forget how he pinballed himself into Maverick defenders in 2006 to get free throw attempt after free throw attempt in a pitiful display of basketball savvy. The rest of the team are opportunists hoping to get a ring on the Big 2 + Bosh's back. Mike Miller? Eddie House? Mike Bibby? Juwon Howard? These guys weren't in Miami last year. The only guy I have a hard time disliking is Udonis Haslem, but he is a Florida Gator. They are all hate-able. To swipe Bill Simmons's idea, they are the NWO of the NBA. If Pat Riley pulled Dirk's leg out from under him on an inbounds play, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised.
2) Dirk - In the last month, Dirk Nowitzki has gone from a choker, a fraud, an overrated European jump shooter into a Top 10 all-time professional basketball player. It is not because of his play in the last month that he is earning such accolades, but his play in the last month is validating a career that has been overlooked because of two colossal failures (the 2006 Finals and the first-round upset to Golden State in 2007).
Here is what Dirk has done in these playoffs: 28.4 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 52% FG%, 93% FT%, 52% 3P%.
He is having one of the greatest post-seasons in NBA history. And it isn't just statistics-driven: he led the Mavs to a win over the Blazers when everyone was picking Portland in an upset (and remember the monumental Dallas collapse in Game 4 of that series that is now a forgotten bit of playoff history). Dirk then orchestrated a sweep of the two-time defending champion Lakers by making big shot after big shot before burying the Thunder in the conference finals.
When you look at this Mavericks roster, it isn't easy to figure out how they are in the finals. Jason Kidd is past his prime. Same for Shawn Marion. Tyson Chandler has been terrific this year, but there is no history of greatness there. Jason Terry is a good player, but not a superstar. They are missing their second best offensive option in the injured Caron Butler. How are they doing this?
Simple: Dirk.
3) 2006 Rematch - The 2006 NBA Finals featured these same two organizations. It was Dirk vs. Shaq & D-Wade. The Mavericks seemed to have a hammerlock on the series, up 2-0 and ahead in Game 3. Then it all fell apart. Dirk missed a free throw to clinch it, the Heat got phantom call after phantom call and the series ended in six games with a Miami banner. It felt a little like robbery to most of the nation; it felt a whole lot like robbery to Mark Cuban, Avery Johnson and the city of Dallas, TX. So the Mavericks get a second chance not only at the NBA title, but also the Miami Heat. That makes for an interesting storyline.
4) Jason Kidd - the 38-year old point guard is clearly at the end of a great NBA career and this is probably his last shot at a championship. After taking New Jersey to the finals multiple times but losing to the superior Spurs and Lakers, J-Kidd has looked like his young self in these playoffs. If he adds a championship to his resume, he enters into the "second greatest point guard of all-time behind Magic Johnson" conversation with guys like Isiah Thomas, John Stockton, Oscar Robertson and Steve Nash. Kidd is one of the greatest rebounding point guards to ever play the game, runs a crisp fast-break even today and makes 2-3 heady plays per game to help his team. This series could cement his legacy if he can help lead the Mavericks to a victory.
5) LeBron vs. Dirk - LeBron won't guard Dirk for most of the series, but he definitely will in crunch time - the same way he guarded Derrick Rose of the Bulls. When he does, will he be able to lock down Dirk the same way he locked down Rose? LeBron is an amazing defensive player - big enough to block shots, but quick enough to guard the perimeter. You cannot back him down because he is too strong. And, yet, Dirk has been unguardable in these playoffs. He gets off his one-legged fade-away whenever he wants (it helps to be seven feet tall). What will happen when there are three minutes left in a tight game and LeBron gets the Dirk assignment (which he will)?
Prediction: My heart says Dallas, but my head cannot picture LeBron & Wade losing four times in seven games. Miami in six.
Here are five good reasons to tune in to Game 1 tonight:
1) Good vs. Evil - The Mavericks aren't good as much as Miami is evil. There are few villains in the world like the Miami Heat. They represent what is wrong with professional sports. Everyone remembers the horribly self-important "Decision" where LeBron broke an entire state's heart by taking his talents to South Beach (it hasn't been a good year for Ohio, huh?). The collusion of Wade, Bosh and LeBron rubbed everyone outside of Miami wrong. Instead of battling against one another, they decided to take the easy way out and join forces. They had a victory celebration for sighing together. And who was Chris Bosh to be hanging with these two? He is a thinner Horace Grant. Every bit of it was lame, insulting and the opposite of what we want from our athletic heroes.
Which is what is going to make pulling against them so much fun. Pulling against the Yankees is fun, but there are plenty of reasons to like them. Jeter, Rivera, Posada are all good guys who came up through the system. Pulling against the Lakers is fun, but there is no getting around Kobe & Phil's greatness and the Laker lore. Pulling against the Patriots is fun, but Tom Brady is a machine and their ability to get something out of guys discarded by other teams makes it hard to hate them.
The Heat are hate-able. LeBron turned his back on his hometown...on national television. Bosh is an overrated wannabe. Wade is a warrior, but it is hard to forget how he pinballed himself into Maverick defenders in 2006 to get free throw attempt after free throw attempt in a pitiful display of basketball savvy. The rest of the team are opportunists hoping to get a ring on the Big 2 + Bosh's back. Mike Miller? Eddie House? Mike Bibby? Juwon Howard? These guys weren't in Miami last year. The only guy I have a hard time disliking is Udonis Haslem, but he is a Florida Gator. They are all hate-able. To swipe Bill Simmons's idea, they are the NWO of the NBA. If Pat Riley pulled Dirk's leg out from under him on an inbounds play, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised.
2) Dirk - In the last month, Dirk Nowitzki has gone from a choker, a fraud, an overrated European jump shooter into a Top 10 all-time professional basketball player. It is not because of his play in the last month that he is earning such accolades, but his play in the last month is validating a career that has been overlooked because of two colossal failures (the 2006 Finals and the first-round upset to Golden State in 2007).
Here is what Dirk has done in these playoffs: 28.4 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 52% FG%, 93% FT%, 52% 3P%.
He is having one of the greatest post-seasons in NBA history. And it isn't just statistics-driven: he led the Mavs to a win over the Blazers when everyone was picking Portland in an upset (and remember the monumental Dallas collapse in Game 4 of that series that is now a forgotten bit of playoff history). Dirk then orchestrated a sweep of the two-time defending champion Lakers by making big shot after big shot before burying the Thunder in the conference finals.
When you look at this Mavericks roster, it isn't easy to figure out how they are in the finals. Jason Kidd is past his prime. Same for Shawn Marion. Tyson Chandler has been terrific this year, but there is no history of greatness there. Jason Terry is a good player, but not a superstar. They are missing their second best offensive option in the injured Caron Butler. How are they doing this?
Simple: Dirk.
3) 2006 Rematch - The 2006 NBA Finals featured these same two organizations. It was Dirk vs. Shaq & D-Wade. The Mavericks seemed to have a hammerlock on the series, up 2-0 and ahead in Game 3. Then it all fell apart. Dirk missed a free throw to clinch it, the Heat got phantom call after phantom call and the series ended in six games with a Miami banner. It felt a little like robbery to most of the nation; it felt a whole lot like robbery to Mark Cuban, Avery Johnson and the city of Dallas, TX. So the Mavericks get a second chance not only at the NBA title, but also the Miami Heat. That makes for an interesting storyline.
4) Jason Kidd - the 38-year old point guard is clearly at the end of a great NBA career and this is probably his last shot at a championship. After taking New Jersey to the finals multiple times but losing to the superior Spurs and Lakers, J-Kidd has looked like his young self in these playoffs. If he adds a championship to his resume, he enters into the "second greatest point guard of all-time behind Magic Johnson" conversation with guys like Isiah Thomas, John Stockton, Oscar Robertson and Steve Nash. Kidd is one of the greatest rebounding point guards to ever play the game, runs a crisp fast-break even today and makes 2-3 heady plays per game to help his team. This series could cement his legacy if he can help lead the Mavericks to a victory.
5) LeBron vs. Dirk - LeBron won't guard Dirk for most of the series, but he definitely will in crunch time - the same way he guarded Derrick Rose of the Bulls. When he does, will he be able to lock down Dirk the same way he locked down Rose? LeBron is an amazing defensive player - big enough to block shots, but quick enough to guard the perimeter. You cannot back him down because he is too strong. And, yet, Dirk has been unguardable in these playoffs. He gets off his one-legged fade-away whenever he wants (it helps to be seven feet tall). What will happen when there are three minutes left in a tight game and LeBron gets the Dirk assignment (which he will)?
Prediction: My heart says Dallas, but my head cannot picture LeBron & Wade losing four times in seven games. Miami in six.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
The Posey Problem
(Sorry for the lack of posts recently. The end of the school year means strange schedules and random busyness that has put the blog on the back burner).
I have been fascinated by the reaction to Buster Posey's season ending injury last week blocking the plate. There have been multiple calls to look at changing the rules from baseball people in the wake of losing one of the game's young stars. I don't blame them - it seems like a stupidly dangerous play.
But compare this reaction to the concussion reactions in football and hockey. Both of those sports have been hypersensitive to suggestions that the physicality of their respective sports is getting guys unnecessarily hurt. Both sports have resisted rule changes even when the safety of their players is being protected.
Have you heard a single baseball player freak out about the possibility of a rule change? I have not, even though the play with Posey was one that a) doesn't happen that much b) doesn't usually result in serious injury and c) has been a part of the game forever.
There has been no "slippery slope" argument offered about breaking up double plays or pitching inside.Why not? Why does it seem that nearly every baseball person wants to reexamine the rules that allowed the play instead of defending it as good, hard baseball?
Here is why: baseball does not need an occasional violent collision to attract fans or sell itself. Nobody goes to a ball park to see the catcher get plowed over. When it does happen, and it is not often, nobody likes it. It looks dirty and feels dirty. And when a guy like Buster Posey is out for the year, it makes people second-guess it.
Here is why football and hockey should follow suit: they don't need the violence either. I do not understand the argument that says limiting the violence of either sport would ruin it. I don't watch football or hockey because of the violence. I watch because I enjoy the game. I like the skills, the strategies, the pageantry, etc. Could I live without seeing guys crossing the middle of the field/ice getting creamed and concussed?
YES.
The misnomer that violence is what brings people to the NFL and NHL is ridiculous. Football is more popular than ever and is less violent than ever (hockey's lack of popularity has more to do with a terrible television deal and too many teams than any rule changes). Guys used to clothesline each other without penalty. Guys used to play hockey without helmets and get slammed into boards less forgiving than today's. While there is surely a segment of the NFL & NHL fan base that is drawn to the violence, there is a much larger segment that finds the violence troubling and frustrating.
I find it harder and harder to be an NFL and NHL fan when I see guys getting seriously injured and little being done about it. Two of my all-time favorite athletes are Troy Aikman and Sidney Crosby - both sufferers from multiple concussions playing their respective sports. My love of Muhammad Ali makes it tough to watch boxing these days.
If baseball can figure out a way to keep players like Buster Posey safe without radically changing the game or its integrity, I hope it does so. And I hope other sports will follow its example.
I have been fascinated by the reaction to Buster Posey's season ending injury last week blocking the plate. There have been multiple calls to look at changing the rules from baseball people in the wake of losing one of the game's young stars. I don't blame them - it seems like a stupidly dangerous play.
But compare this reaction to the concussion reactions in football and hockey. Both of those sports have been hypersensitive to suggestions that the physicality of their respective sports is getting guys unnecessarily hurt. Both sports have resisted rule changes even when the safety of their players is being protected.
Have you heard a single baseball player freak out about the possibility of a rule change? I have not, even though the play with Posey was one that a) doesn't happen that much b) doesn't usually result in serious injury and c) has been a part of the game forever.
There has been no "slippery slope" argument offered about breaking up double plays or pitching inside.Why not? Why does it seem that nearly every baseball person wants to reexamine the rules that allowed the play instead of defending it as good, hard baseball?
Here is why: baseball does not need an occasional violent collision to attract fans or sell itself. Nobody goes to a ball park to see the catcher get plowed over. When it does happen, and it is not often, nobody likes it. It looks dirty and feels dirty. And when a guy like Buster Posey is out for the year, it makes people second-guess it.
Here is why football and hockey should follow suit: they don't need the violence either. I do not understand the argument that says limiting the violence of either sport would ruin it. I don't watch football or hockey because of the violence. I watch because I enjoy the game. I like the skills, the strategies, the pageantry, etc. Could I live without seeing guys crossing the middle of the field/ice getting creamed and concussed?
YES.
The misnomer that violence is what brings people to the NFL and NHL is ridiculous. Football is more popular than ever and is less violent than ever (hockey's lack of popularity has more to do with a terrible television deal and too many teams than any rule changes). Guys used to clothesline each other without penalty. Guys used to play hockey without helmets and get slammed into boards less forgiving than today's. While there is surely a segment of the NFL & NHL fan base that is drawn to the violence, there is a much larger segment that finds the violence troubling and frustrating.
I find it harder and harder to be an NFL and NHL fan when I see guys getting seriously injured and little being done about it. Two of my all-time favorite athletes are Troy Aikman and Sidney Crosby - both sufferers from multiple concussions playing their respective sports. My love of Muhammad Ali makes it tough to watch boxing these days.
If baseball can figure out a way to keep players like Buster Posey safe without radically changing the game or its integrity, I hope it does so. And I hope other sports will follow its example.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Chronicling a Fantasy Baseball Season, Part III: Week 7 Picks
There are some really big matchups this week. Emerson takes a five game lead into his head-to-head with Flynner and his third place Honey Badgers. Also Thriller and his second place Let Timmy Smoke’s take on Dr. Dunk and his third place Gangstas. For right now, I’m just going to get my picks in. No analysis.
Explosive Renteria (36-34-2)
Havyouseenmywiener (29-39-7)
My pick: Renteria. We’re getting on a Winning streak.
Doc Halladay (42-27-3)
The Lobster (16-47-9)
My Pick: Doc. Sorry Lobster, I just don’t think it’s in the cards for you this year. The good news is that this is a keeper league. Unfortunately, that’s also the bad news.
Ruppert Mundys (21-47-4)
Tacoby Bellsbury (35-34-3)
My pick: Tacoby. I still like BobbyJ’s lineup, but I refuse to pick him anymore until he gets some actual pitching that has the possibility of contributing in more than (maybe) two categories.
Carry On Heyward Son (24-44-4)
Purple Tigers (33-39-0)
My pick: Heyward. It’s a coin flip. I don’t know if Chipper is going to be healthy, so I’m taking Trambo. He picked up Anibal Sanchez, who Brandonwood dropped, so one of the two will look good for it and one of the two will look.
Honey Badgers (42-26-4)
Wuertz Case Scenario (47-19-6)
My pick: Honey Badgers. Note that I thought about making another SEC reference, but with these two Bammers playing against each other, I thought their world might explode if they had to argue over who was who. If they’d have played each other last week, Honey Badgers would have won 10-2. Honey Badger don’t give a shit.
Let Timmy Smoke (42-24-6)
Gangstas (41-25-6)
My pick: Let Timmy Smoke. If you were to look at the “smack talk” option on our yahoo league, you would see that Dunk, in his never ending quest for perfecting douchebaggery 16 year old Valley Girl style, has talked the following “smack” to Flynner from last week: “My dog asked me to mucho take it eazzzzzzzzy on his red-headed brother.” Disappointing, Dunk. I would have expected emoticons to go along with all those z’s.Friday, May 13, 2011
Read All About It - Games That Deserve Their Own Books
ESPN's Page 2 has a fun story about individual games that deserve their own books. The article goes sport-by-sport, but I'm going to tackle it team-by-team from the SCSB's perspective.
Tennessee Vols football: There are two games that jump out to me as great books - the 1986 Sugar Bowl victory over Miami and the 1998 comeback win over Arkansas. The former is the most obvious choice with its impact on Tennessee fans, the size of the upset and the unique cast of characters involved. The latter saved the Vols' National Championship season as the Razorbacks dominated the game before the Clint Stoerner fumble and proceeding Vols offensive drive for victory. I think most people would think of the Florida OT victory in 1998 (which was pretty miraculous itself and was when Tennessee finally figured out how to beat Spurrier), but the Arkansas game was when UT could feel the title slipping out of its hands only to fall on the most unlikely of fumbles.
(Honorable mentions: the miracle comeback at South Bend, the 1998 Florida win, the 2001 LSU SEC title game loss, the Peyton Manning 41-14 win over Alabama)
Tennessee Vols basketball: It isn't as easy to find games worth remembering in the history of Vols hoops and the end of the Pearl era puts a taint on some of his great wins. Regardless, the 2010 Kansas game is my choice. With the Vols down four players from the infamous New Year's Eve arrest of Tyler Smith, Brian Williams, Cameron Tatum and Melvin Goins, the Vols played one of the most inspired games in college basketball history against the #1 ranked Jayhawks. Renaldo Woolridge and Skylar McBee played crucial minutes against the best team in the country...and won. Insane game that would have made for a good book (the arrest, the odds, McBee's miracle shot) before Pearl's exit.
(Honorable mention: the Greg Oden/Mike Conley Ohio State loss)
Atlanta Braves: The Francisco Cabrera/Sid Bream game vs. the Pittsburgh Pirates is the winner here. Not only was it a dramatic end to a dramatic series, but it was also the end of the Pirates who have not had a winning season since. The bottom of the ninth itself deserves an entire book - Drabek's brilliance, Lind's error, the choice to bring in Stan Belinda (who never recovered), the decision to pitch-hit Cabrera, Bonds' throw, Bream's slide...I used to watch this half inning on a video tape over and over just to hear Sean McDonough's call. Brilliant book.
(Honorable mentions: Game 7 vs. the Twins, the Jim Leyritz/Mark Wohlers Game 3 vs. Yankees, the Braves/Astros marathon playoff game...all Braves losses, by the way).
Atlanta Hawks: Um...the only possibility here is a book about the Nique/Bird shootout in Boston Garden. I suppose something from the Jon Koncak era might have an audience, but I don't see much else from the Hawks' history.
Atlanta Falcons: I'm going to cheat here and pick the 1980 playoff game vs. the Dallas Cowboys. I'm cheating because I'm a Cowboys fans and don't care much about the Falcons. I don't imagine there is much of any audience for this book - a Falcons' loss, a win that didn't translate into a Super Bowl for the all-or-nothing Cowboys franchise - but it is the only Falcons book I can imagine reading.
(Honorable mention: 1999 playoff win over Minnesota)
Tennessee Titans: No doubter - the Music City Miracle game vs. Buffalo gets its own book. The storyline before the game was Wade Phillips' decision to replace Doug Flutie with Rob Johnson before a playoff game. Then, of course, the play. The squib kick, Lorenzo Neal's pitch back to Frank Wycheck, Wycheck's controversial backwards lateral to Kevin Dyson, and then the historical run and radio call from Mike Keith. There is no other choice from the Titans' history and it would make an interesting read.
(Honorable mention: 1999 Super Bowl loss to Rams)
Memphis Grizzlies: Nothing. Maybe the Game 4 3OT thriller, but probably not.
Did I miss any?
Tennessee Vols football: There are two games that jump out to me as great books - the 1986 Sugar Bowl victory over Miami and the 1998 comeback win over Arkansas. The former is the most obvious choice with its impact on Tennessee fans, the size of the upset and the unique cast of characters involved. The latter saved the Vols' National Championship season as the Razorbacks dominated the game before the Clint Stoerner fumble and proceeding Vols offensive drive for victory. I think most people would think of the Florida OT victory in 1998 (which was pretty miraculous itself and was when Tennessee finally figured out how to beat Spurrier), but the Arkansas game was when UT could feel the title slipping out of its hands only to fall on the most unlikely of fumbles.
(Honorable mentions: the miracle comeback at South Bend, the 1998 Florida win, the 2001 LSU SEC title game loss, the Peyton Manning 41-14 win over Alabama)
Tennessee Vols basketball: It isn't as easy to find games worth remembering in the history of Vols hoops and the end of the Pearl era puts a taint on some of his great wins. Regardless, the 2010 Kansas game is my choice. With the Vols down four players from the infamous New Year's Eve arrest of Tyler Smith, Brian Williams, Cameron Tatum and Melvin Goins, the Vols played one of the most inspired games in college basketball history against the #1 ranked Jayhawks. Renaldo Woolridge and Skylar McBee played crucial minutes against the best team in the country...and won. Insane game that would have made for a good book (the arrest, the odds, McBee's miracle shot) before Pearl's exit.
(Honorable mention: the Greg Oden/Mike Conley Ohio State loss)
Atlanta Braves: The Francisco Cabrera/Sid Bream game vs. the Pittsburgh Pirates is the winner here. Not only was it a dramatic end to a dramatic series, but it was also the end of the Pirates who have not had a winning season since. The bottom of the ninth itself deserves an entire book - Drabek's brilliance, Lind's error, the choice to bring in Stan Belinda (who never recovered), the decision to pitch-hit Cabrera, Bonds' throw, Bream's slide...I used to watch this half inning on a video tape over and over just to hear Sean McDonough's call. Brilliant book.
(Honorable mentions: Game 7 vs. the Twins, the Jim Leyritz/Mark Wohlers Game 3 vs. Yankees, the Braves/Astros marathon playoff game...all Braves losses, by the way).
Atlanta Hawks: Um...the only possibility here is a book about the Nique/Bird shootout in Boston Garden. I suppose something from the Jon Koncak era might have an audience, but I don't see much else from the Hawks' history.
Atlanta Falcons: I'm going to cheat here and pick the 1980 playoff game vs. the Dallas Cowboys. I'm cheating because I'm a Cowboys fans and don't care much about the Falcons. I don't imagine there is much of any audience for this book - a Falcons' loss, a win that didn't translate into a Super Bowl for the all-or-nothing Cowboys franchise - but it is the only Falcons book I can imagine reading.
(Honorable mention: 1999 playoff win over Minnesota)
Tennessee Titans: No doubter - the Music City Miracle game vs. Buffalo gets its own book. The storyline before the game was Wade Phillips' decision to replace Doug Flutie with Rob Johnson before a playoff game. Then, of course, the play. The squib kick, Lorenzo Neal's pitch back to Frank Wycheck, Wycheck's controversial backwards lateral to Kevin Dyson, and then the historical run and radio call from Mike Keith. There is no other choice from the Titans' history and it would make an interesting read.
(Honorable mention: 1999 Super Bowl loss to Rams)
Memphis Grizzlies: Nothing. Maybe the Game 4 3OT thriller, but probably not.
Did I miss any?
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Closing the Door on Kimbrel
When the season began, the Braves were supposedly going to close games with a committee of two: left-handed Jonny Venters and right-handed flamethrower Craig Kimbrel. Instead, Fredi Gonzalez gave the closer role exclusively to Kimbrel and made Venters the set-up man.
Time to flip them.
Kimbrel blew another save last night (his third blown save in his last seven appearances). He throws a nasty fastball when it finds the strike zone, but it doesn't do that enough. He seems scared to throw strikes - scared to pitch to contact.
Meanwhile, Venters' ERA is .87 and he has only walked five batters in twenty innings. More importantly, he isn't a rookie anymore. He knows how to get big leaguers out. Kimbrel is learning on the job...in the 9th inning...on a World Series contending team.
I don't know what it will do to Kimbrel's confidence, but for the good of the other 24 guys on the roster it is time to make Venters the closer and put Kimbrel into the set-up role. It actually fits the bullpen better anyway because Eric O'Flaherty is a perfectly acceptable left-handed set-up man.
Take some pressure off Kimbrel and put the ball in Venters' hands in the 9th.
Time to flip them.
Kimbrel blew another save last night (his third blown save in his last seven appearances). He throws a nasty fastball when it finds the strike zone, but it doesn't do that enough. He seems scared to throw strikes - scared to pitch to contact.
Meanwhile, Venters' ERA is .87 and he has only walked five batters in twenty innings. More importantly, he isn't a rookie anymore. He knows how to get big leaguers out. Kimbrel is learning on the job...in the 9th inning...on a World Series contending team.
I don't know what it will do to Kimbrel's confidence, but for the good of the other 24 guys on the roster it is time to make Venters the closer and put Kimbrel into the set-up role. It actually fits the bullpen better anyway because Eric O'Flaherty is a perfectly acceptable left-handed set-up man.
Take some pressure off Kimbrel and put the ball in Venters' hands in the 9th.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Chronicling a Fantasy Baseball Season, Part III: Week 6 Preview
I’m late again, I know. We already have a whole day of stats in the book and here I go doing a “preview” of the week’s games. So, to the 1-2 other people who read this gibberish, I apologize for it being tardy.
Anyway, we have a logjam at the top of the standings. Wuertz Case reclaimed sole possession of first place last week, but only leads Gangsta by a game. Doc Halladay, who is now someone’s huckleberry, Honey Badgers, and Let Timmy Smoke are all tied for 3rd and 2 games behind Wuertz Case.
1. Wuertz Case Scenario 38-19-3 .658 –
2. Big Dick Gangsta 36-19-5 .642 1
3. Let Timmy Smoke 35-20-5 .625 2
4. doc halladay 36-21-3 .625 2
5. Honey Badgers 36-21-3 .625 2
6. Tacoby Bellsbury 29-28-3 .508 9
7. haveyouseenmywiener 26-30-4 .467 11.5
8. explosive renteria 27-32-1 .458 12
9. Purple Tigers 24-36-0 .400 15.5
10. Carry on Heyward Son 20-37-3 .358 18
11. ruppert mundys 18-38-4 .333 19.5
12. The Lobster 14-38-8 .300 21.5
| pos | Explosive Renteria | The Lobster |
| C | Wieters | McCann |
| 1b | Fielder | Cabrera |
| 2b | Pedroia | Uggla |
| 3b | Bautista | A Rod |
| SS | Drew | Andrus |
| OF | Cargo | Ethier |
| OF | Pence | Fuld |
| OF | Markakis | Byrd |
| UTIL | Lind | Ruiz* |
| UTIL | Smoak | Infante |
| SP | Johnson | Bucholtz |
| SP | Marcum | Garcia |
| SP | Scherzer | Arroyo |
| RP | Marmol | Fuentes |
| RP | Hanrahan | Nunez |
| P | Pineda | Cain |
| P | Sanchez | Narveson |
| P | Chacin | Franklin |
Explosive Renteria is getting back in the W column this week. I hope. This is our best shot. I think we will dominate the pitching categories and at least split the hitting categories this week (assuming Adam Lind’s back starts feeling better and he can produce at or near the level he’s been at lately). The Lobster’s pitching is just not that great and ours is pretty good. The Lobster has a pretty good lineup and I think that Uggla will get back on track this week, but Sam Fuld is playing like a 4th outfielder right now and has been for the lat couple of weeks. Carlos Ruiz is on the DL, Omar Infante is a great utility man in real life, but he doesn’t put up number in enough categories to be a big fantasy threat and Marlon Byrd is not going to be the savior. If we can avoid a huge week from Cabrera, I think we can win this week easily and make up some ground.
| pos | Carry On Heyward Son | Let Timmy Smoke |
| C | Santana | Buck |
| 1b | Davis | Howard |
| 2b | Johnson | Sanchez |
| 3b | Wright | Reynolds |
| SS | Cabrera | Jeter |
| OF | McCutcheon | Braun |
| OF | Granderson | Werth |
| OF | Swisher | Berkman |
| UTIL | Gordon | R. Davis |
| UTIL | Sizemore | Gardner |
| SP | Lester | Lincecum |
| SP | De La Rosa | Haren |
| SP | Gallardo | Lilly |
| RP | K Rod | Street |
| RP | Broxton | Wilson |
| P | Anderson | Cahill |
| P | Liriano | Romero |
| P | Madson | Chapman |
Thriller has a lot of speed in his lineup this week. He’s substituted Rajai Davis for Maybin. Add Davis to Gardner and I think Let Timmy Smoke wins steals. I still really like Trambo’s staff, and I still think that his staff will be really good over the long haul. But, Thriller’s staff is just a little better, right now.
Look, I know that Liriano threw a no-no last week. But, he walked 6 only struck out 2. His fantasy line was good, but not great. His K/9 would have been a killer and while his WHIP was good, when a pitcher doesn’t give up a hit, you expect his WHIP to be better than his was. Think about it this way. In Lincecum’s last start, he gave up 5 hits and 3 walks in 7 innings. His WHIP was a little over 1.00. But, he struck out 10 more than Liriano did. He and Liriano would have tied in ERA. Liriano would have won WHIP, but not by too much. Lincecum won convincingly in both K’s and K/9. This is why I think Smoke’s staff is better than Heyward Son’s. Plus, Gallardo is not pitching as well as he can and should right now.
All in all, I’m taking Let Timmy Smoke.
| pos | Doc Halladay | Tacoby Bellsbury |
| C | Arencibia | Napoli |
| 1b | Gonzalez | Helton |
| 2b | Phillips | Kinsler |
| 3b | Young | Longoria |
| SS | A. Ramirez | Castro |
| OF | Upton | Ellsbury |
| OF | Upton | Vitorino |
| OF | Zobrist | Holliday |
| UTIL | Polanco | Ortiz |
| UTIL | Vlad | Hafner |
| SP | Halladay | Weaver |
| SP | Billingsley | T. Hudson |
| SP | Garza | Peavy |
| RP | Perez | Papelbon |
| RP | Cordero | Farnsworth |
| P | Shields | Tomlin |
| P | Morrow | Masterson |
| P | Storen | Wakefield |
Brandon Morrow had a pretty bad night last night, but he’ll have another chance to make up for it later in the week. Jacob, having picked up Josh Tomlin and Wakefield, is playing the hot hands in his rotation this week. Tomlin is on fire right now, but he’s capable of having a blow up or two at any time. Jacob is also starting Jake Peavy, who is set to make his season debut Wednesday. When Peavy pitches like Peavy, he is dominant. He can carry a whole fantasy pitching staff on his back. But, he’s coming off another injury and it remains to be seen if he can return to the form that has made him great. We shall see. If it was me, I would have watched at least one of his starts before putting him in my lineup, but Jacob kicked my ass last week, so I don’t know why he would listen to me.
All pitching aside, I like Doc Halladay in this matchup. I think they pull out a close one.
| pos | Ruppert Mundys | Purple Tigers |
| C | Posey | Posada |
| 1b | Pujols | Butler |
| 2b | Kendrick | Cano |
| 3b | Ramirez | Chipper |
| SS | Rollins | Reyes |
| OF | Rasmus | Bruce |
| OF | Hunter | Huff |
| OF | Gomes | Bay |
| UTIL | Teixeira | Y. Escobar |
| UTIL | Francoeur | Soriano |
| SP | Felix | Kershaw |
| SP | Price | Jimenez |
| SP | Drabek | Nolasco |
| RP | Sanches | Putz |
| RP | Chen | Feliz |
| P | Wood | Zambrano |
| P | Ramirez | Lowe |
| P | Axford | Jurrjens |
BobbyJ has got to go out and get some quality pitching. When he does that, his team is going to be formidable. He has a good lineup and two excellent frontline starters in Felix and David Price. Drabek is a good 4th or 5th starter, especially in a keeper league, but he has to get somebody to replace Ramirez and Sanches because neither of them is contributing in any counting category. Sure, they may help out in ERA and WHIP, but neither of them has a K/9 over 7.5 and you cannot count on Ws or Ss from either one of them.
Brandonwood’s staff is really pitching well right now. His staff is, like explosive renteria, the strongest part of his team. His hitters are not as good as those on Ruppert Mundys. This one is going to be close, but I’m going to take Ruppert Mundys.
| pos | Haveyouseenmywiener | Wuertz Case Scenario |
| C | Y. Molina | V Mart |
| 1b | Wallace | C. Lee |
| 2b | Weeks | Espinosa |
| 3b | R. Roberts | Valencia |
| SS | O. Cabrera | Tulo |
| OF | Crawford | Kemp |
| OF | Quentin | Coghlan |
| OF | Bourn | Beltran |
| UTIL | Youkilis | Murphy |
| UTIL | Scott | Smith |
| SP | Lee | Hamels |
| SP | Sabbathia | D. Hudson |
| SP | Wolf | CJ Wilson |
| RP | Venters | Bell |
| RP | McClellan | Stauffer |
| P | Rivera | Burnette |
| P | Oswalt* | Santana |
| P | Norris | Latos |
Walter has completely revamped his lineup in hopes of providing a spark. Emerson had 3 pitchers on the hill last night (CJ Wilson, Latos and Santana) and none of posted an ERA under 6.00, so Haveyouseenmywiener should have some room for winning ERA and WHIP. Haveyouseenmywiener’s counting numbers will suffer with Oswalt on the DL, though and with 3 pitchers making 2 starts this week, I think it is safe to say that Wuertz Case has the inside track on winning Ws and Ks.
I think Haveyouseenmywiener will win steals. They should, but Kemp is running a lot these days, so I’m not counting Wuertz Case out. With Beltran playing well and Coghlan hitting everything he sees, I have to pick Wuertz Case to win.
| pos | Honey Badgers | Gangsta |
| C | Martin | Avila |
| 1b | Votto | Konerko |
| 2b | Walker | Izturis |
| 3b | Beltre | Prado |
| SS | Aybar | Ramirez |
| OF | Stubbs | Boesch |
| OF | Heyward | Choo |
| OF | Stanton | Ichiro |
| UTIL | Roberts | Tabata |
| UTIL | Aviles | C. Young |
| SP | Carpenter | Verlander |
| SP | Grienke | Hanson |
| SP | Loshe | Beckett |
| RP | Soria | Kimbrel |
| RP | Valverde | Capps |
| P | Kuroda | Walden |
| P | Volquez | Gonzalez |
| P | Floyd | Farnsworth |
If this league were the SEC, this game would be on CBS at 3:30. Despite the adition of Grienke, I still think Gangstas has a better top 3 SPs. Verlander, Hanson and Beckett (who is pitching well this year and pitched well last night) are, I think, better than Carpenter, Grienke, and Loshe. I like Gonzalez’s ability to strike people out and I think that starting 4 closers solidifies his Gangstas in saves, but gives Honey Badgers an edge in the counting numbers, especially with their two best pitchers going twice this week. I think that Honey Badgers will win the counting stats (other than Ss) and K/9.
Cruz going on the DL is a big blow for Gangstas. Cruz is better than Boesch by a facto of 10. Look, I hate Mike Aviles for costing me in Week 1, and he may be splitting time and giving up some at bats in that lineup, but he’s not a bad player to have in your lineup if your Flynner. Hanley Ramirez is better than he has played all year. He will have a huge week soon. If that is this week, Ganstas will win. If it’s not this week, Honey Badgers will win. I don’t think Hanley will play badly this week, but I don’t think he’s going to have the type of week like Tulo did in Week 2 either. So, I’m going with Honey Badgers this week.
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