Thursday, March 31, 2011
Here we go! Brewers vs. Reds, Opening Day
Well, had to have my first taste of baseball this year soured by Suzyn Waldman on WCBS for the Yankees. Yankee broadcasts are well produced though (and oddly with a much stronger signal than WTMJ) and I can even tolerate John Sterling now. Still, it's great to hear Cory Provus and Bob Uecker.
So, who do we got today? Gallardo vs. Volquez at my least favorite ballpark I've ever been to, the stupid GAP where the views are angled and uncomfortable and you don't get a pencil with your scorecard. Gallardo is a much better pitcher than Volquez. The Brewers' power and patience should be able to get Volquez out before the 5th inning. Still, you never know until they play.
I'd thought the Reds had a better lineup than the Crew and bullpen, but even with Corey Hart out/Mark Kotsay in and the presence of other weak bats like Betancourt and Gomez and Nieves, I like the Brewers lineup core versus the Reds today.
Here's the first pitch! Yeah! Let's have some fun out there!
(ps called strike on Weeks)
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Well, had to have my first taste of baseball this year soured by Suzyn Waldman on WCBS for the Yankees. Yankee broadcasts are well produced though (and oddly with a much stronger signal than WTMJ) and I can even tolerate John Sterling now. Still, it's great to hear Cory Provus and Bob Uecker.
So, who do we got today? Gallardo vs. Volquez at my least favorite ballpark I've ever been to, the stupid GAP where the views are angled and uncomfortable and you don't get a pencil with your scorecard. Gallardo is a much better pitcher than Volquez. The Brewers' power and patience should be able to get Volquez out before the 5th inning. Still, you never know until they play.
I'd thought the Reds had a better lineup than the Crew and bullpen, but even with Corey Hart out/Mark Kotsay in and the presence of other weak bats like Betancourt and Gomez and Nieves, I like the Brewers lineup core versus the Reds today.
Here's the first pitch! Yeah! Let's have some fun out there!
(ps called strike on Weeks)
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
It honestly took me a lot of research to figure out what this commercial is for
On the radio there are no images or explanations. I thought it was a restaurant called Clements.
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On the radio there are no images or explanations. I thought it was a restaurant called Clements.
Guys I need to get to know, Part I: John Axford
John Axford is the closer for Milwaukee. Despite being groomed by Trevor Hoffman last year, he has crazy facial hair. He's got 65 MLB innings under his belt at age 27. He's got a career 2.60 ERA and 85:33 K:BB ratio. He also has a Twitter account:
I think this is going to work out just fine. Now, for his nickname... The Ax-ecutioner? Excuse Me May I Ax You Something? Axcidents Will Happen? Ax And Ye Shall Receive?
(1) comments
John Axford is the closer for Milwaukee. Despite being groomed by Trevor Hoffman last year, he has crazy facial hair. He's got 65 MLB innings under his belt at age 27. He's got a career 2.60 ERA and 85:33 K:BB ratio. He also has a Twitter account:
I think this is going to work out just fine. Now, for his nickname... The Ax-ecutioner? Excuse Me May I Ax You Something? Axcidents Will Happen? Ax And Ye Shall Receive?
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Opening Day just one week away
It's really weird to think of Opening Day on a Thursday. Traditionally I've taken the day off work and turned it into a holiday/extension of the weekend. Now, I'll probably just listen to the game at work. The cool thing is that the Brew Crew will be the visiting team for the very first game.
Looking ahead at their schedule, they've got a rough time for it this year having to play the Yankees, the Red Sox, the Rays AND the Twins in interleague play. In fact that's all they're playing in an awful stretch of more than two weeks from June 17 to July 3. Four perennial playoff contenders from the superior division. Yikes.
The Reds get the Yankees and Rays but also the Orioles and Blue Jays. Plus their "rival" the Indians.
The Cardinals avoid both the Yankees and Red Sox plus get a bunch of games against the Royals.
The Cubs just get the Yankees out of the AL East.
Have I mentioned how much I hate interleague? Anyway, let's get this thing started already while Ricky Weeks is red-hot (though I take Arizona numbers with a grain of salt).
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It's really weird to think of Opening Day on a Thursday. Traditionally I've taken the day off work and turned it into a holiday/extension of the weekend. Now, I'll probably just listen to the game at work. The cool thing is that the Brew Crew will be the visiting team for the very first game.
Looking ahead at their schedule, they've got a rough time for it this year having to play the Yankees, the Red Sox, the Rays AND the Twins in interleague play. In fact that's all they're playing in an awful stretch of more than two weeks from June 17 to July 3. Four perennial playoff contenders from the superior division. Yikes.
The Reds get the Yankees and Rays but also the Orioles and Blue Jays. Plus their "rival" the Indians.
The Cardinals avoid both the Yankees and Red Sox plus get a bunch of games against the Royals.
The Cubs just get the Yankees out of the AL East.
Have I mentioned how much I hate interleague? Anyway, let's get this thing started already while Ricky Weeks is red-hot (though I take Arizona numbers with a grain of salt).
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
A Fresh New Start?
OK. So this looks like my first year without fantasy baseball in about 20. That's fine. I've been too busy for it, really, but I feel like I must do... something.
So, I was thinking about how my baseball feelings have changed over the years. I've gone from a one-team-forever-kid (Mets) to kind of spreading it out over a few teams (+Red Sox +Padres +Cubs) to sort of picking teams I was rooting for every year (+Brewers +Rays +Athletics +Twins) maybe based on how well I thought their team was being run and maybe based on me rooting for players on those teams. Some people, my brother was included, are of the opinion that things like Fantasy Baseball turn people away from being "real fans" like my younger days rooting for the Mets.
So, I'm going to try turning this possible disappointment into an opportunity. I'm thinking, God willing, I've got about 30 years left on this planet (and hopefully the planet has left) and since there are 30 teams, why don't I choose a "favorite team" once a year: read all I can about them, listen to as many broadcasts as I can, and post my own opinions about how the season is going up here where no one will read them. I like this idea, at least for now.
I also thought to myself, "Should I make this decision randomly?" For the purity of it all? I might wind up with the Houston Astros. Then I answered, "Heck no!" I'd much rather follow a team that I think will have an interesting season. Not necessarily one that is going to be a favorite. But one I'll take pleasure in. One with flaws and character.
And so, for 2011, I will be gladly following the foibles of the Milwaukee Brewers. Yes, the Brew Crew, whose hopes are so high to win a weak division with the addition of two good starters - Greinke and Marcum - only one of whom is already hurt. It will be their last year most likely of Big Prince and I have to say I love Bob Uecker as my favorite radio broadcaster. He's probably got less years than I do at this point so I'm going to enjoy it while I can.
Let's go Brew Crew!
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OK. So this looks like my first year without fantasy baseball in about 20. That's fine. I've been too busy for it, really, but I feel like I must do... something.
So, I was thinking about how my baseball feelings have changed over the years. I've gone from a one-team-forever-kid (Mets) to kind of spreading it out over a few teams (+Red Sox +Padres +Cubs) to sort of picking teams I was rooting for every year (+Brewers +Rays +Athletics +Twins) maybe based on how well I thought their team was being run and maybe based on me rooting for players on those teams. Some people, my brother was included, are of the opinion that things like Fantasy Baseball turn people away from being "real fans" like my younger days rooting for the Mets.
So, I'm going to try turning this possible disappointment into an opportunity. I'm thinking, God willing, I've got about 30 years left on this planet (and hopefully the planet has left) and since there are 30 teams, why don't I choose a "favorite team" once a year: read all I can about them, listen to as many broadcasts as I can, and post my own opinions about how the season is going up here where no one will read them. I like this idea, at least for now.
I also thought to myself, "Should I make this decision randomly?" For the purity of it all? I might wind up with the Houston Astros. Then I answered, "Heck no!" I'd much rather follow a team that I think will have an interesting season. Not necessarily one that is going to be a favorite. But one I'll take pleasure in. One with flaws and character.
And so, for 2011, I will be gladly following the foibles of the Milwaukee Brewers. Yes, the Brew Crew, whose hopes are so high to win a weak division with the addition of two good starters - Greinke and Marcum - only one of whom is already hurt. It will be their last year most likely of Big Prince and I have to say I love Bob Uecker as my favorite radio broadcaster. He's probably got less years than I do at this point so I'm going to enjoy it while I can.
Let's go Brew Crew!
Last Rookies. For posterity.
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| No Guts Rookie Draft Round 1 | |
|---|---|
| Praise the Lord | Jeremy Hellickson |
| Wookies | Mike Montgomery |
| Blind Squirrels | |
| TriBonds | Kyle Drabek |
| Shake 'N' Bake | Carlos Santana |
| Fighting Fuzzy Akashas | Cris Carter |
| Burninators | |
| Highway Kind | Martin Perez |
| No Guts Rookie Draft Round 2 | |
| Praise the Lord | Dan Hudson |
| Wookies | |
| Blind Squirrels | |
| TriBonds | Tim Beckham |
| Shake 'N' Bake | Aaron Hicks |
| Fighting Fuzzy Akashas | Jesus Montero |
| Burninators | Michel Inoa |
| Highway Kind | Miguel Sano |
| No Guts Rookie Draft Round 3 | |
| Praise the Lord | Max Ramirez |
| Wookies | |
| Blind Squirrels | Carlos Carrasco |
| TriBonds | Matt Hobgood |
| Shake 'N' Bake | |
| Fighting Fuzzy Akashas | |
| Burninators | Desmond Jennings |
| Highway Kind | Tyler Flowers |
| No Guts Rookie Draft Round 4 | |
| Praise the Lord | |
| Wookies | |
| Blind Squirrels | Michael Moustakas |
| TriBonds | Michael Bowden |
| Shake 'N' Bake | Aaron Crow |
| Fighting Fuzzy Akashas | |
| Burninators | Jacob Turner |
| Highway Kind | Brett Wallace |
| No Glory Rookie Draft Round 1 | |
| Average Joes | Jenrry Mejia |
| Wicked Warthogs | Madison Bumgarner |
| Autoexec.Batsmen | Aroldis Chapman |
| Soko Atarijin | Starlin Castro |
| Crooked K's | Logan Morrison |
| Cholesterol Kings | Dominic Brown |
| Rabid Woofers | Derek Norris |
| Dancin' Homers | Christian Friedrich |
| No Glory Rookie Draft Round 2 | |
| Average Joes | Tony Sanchez |
| Wicked Warthogs | Jarrod Parker |
| Autoexec.Batsmen | |
| Soko Atarijin | |
| Crooked K's | Jason Castro |
| Cholesterol Kings | Drew Storen |
| Rabid Woofers | Wilmer Flores |
| Dancin' Homers | Julio Teheran |
| No Glory Rookie Draft Round 3 | |
| Average Joes | Mike Stanton |
| Wicked Warthogs | Zach Wheeler |
| Autoexec.Batsmen | |
| Soko Atarijin | |
| Crooked K's | Alcides Escobar |
| Cholesterol Kings | Devaris Dee Gordon |
| Rabid Woofers | Matt Gamel |
| Dancin' Homers | Fernando Martinez |
| No Glory Rookie Draft Round 4 | |
| Average Joes | Mike Minor |
| Wicked Warthogs | AJ Pollack |
| Autoexec.Batsmen | |
| Soko Atarijin | Josh Vitters |
| Crooked K's | Buster Posey |
| Cholesterol Kings | Pedro Alvarez |
| Rabid Woofers | |
| Dancin' Homers | Donovan Tate |
| Qualifications | |
| Pitchers | 50 or less IP |
| Hitters | 130 or less AB |
