Friday, May 14, 2004
I’M SORRY MS. JACKSON (OHH)
I AM FOR REAL--------
About 20% of the season is completed. The following six players listed below are ranked in the top 75 and had a pre-season ranking greater than 200 according to Yahoo. Thus, they are surprises.
Miguel Cabrera (pre-230/9) is not a surprise. Basically, Yahoo is stupid. A 230 pre-season ranking is asinine. Cabrera is FOR REAL---; a real MVP candidate.
Craig Wilson (226/29) made my pre-season sleeper list and he is making me look wicked f@#$in’ smaht. It is unlikely that his batting average will be above 300 at the end of the season but 25 homers and 100 RBIs are almost a given at this point (knock on wood). If he is catcher eligible in your league and on your club, contrags; Wilson is FOR REAL--.
Danny Graves (234/52) is the Reds closer. He will continue to get saves but is not a lock to help in any other areas. As a groundball pitcher, Graves is not going to aid in strikeouts like other closers. Graves’ style also allows him to be susceptible to a high WHIP stat. Groundballs can find holes and Graves does not have Schilling or Wells like control. He is a possible high sell. If you are a believer in the notion that good teams yields more save opportunities, then Graves is a must sell. The Reds are ready for a free fall.
Jose Mesa (236/67) is reborn? I don’t know. Watch for reports on his control and velocity. If they start to go, sell.
A. Otsuka’s (448/69) high ranking is mostly due to his three wins. He won’t keep up that pace as a setup guy so for most fantasy players he has little value at this time.
R. Lopez (223/73) – see above. If Lopez continues to pitch well and is moved into the rotation, he is worth a look. A few years back he won 15 with a 3.57 ERA.
Sox Therapy Session – First of 2004
• Lowe is playing his frustration regarding his 11 days off in the paper; first his contract and now this. Would you like some cheese? Who the f%^&k does this guy think he is? Lowe is a number three starter. He had one very good season in the rotation. Lowe - shut up. I feel strongly about this one – Lowe is an above average starter. If you disagree, fine, but if you are going to leave a comment or email me about this subject, do your homework – show me numbers.
• Damon – how about practicing what you preached? Damon, Bellhorn, and DiNardo all with miscues in the field makes me sick. The game is 27 outs NOT 30.
• Speaking of DiNardo, why the hell is the Rule V pick the first choice to come into a one-run game in sixth, when the other SIX arms in the pen should have been available?
• BTW, WTF is up with SEVEN arms in the pen? The Sox have no need for both baked mAlskan and the rookie.
• Dirt Dogs is reporting that Nomar Tore His Achilles Sheath but should be back the beginning of June. If Nomar does make it back on that time table, will he be the same without surgery? I am no medical professional, by any means, but tears don’t heal on their own. Not good news.
From Dirt Dogs, longtime SoSH poster Rudy Pemberton sums things up nicely (points maybe redundant but WTF):
"1) Mental Errors. Forgetting the number of outs. Botched rundowns. Balls landing between defenders because of lack of communication. Balls falling out of gloves for lack of communication or some other reason.
2) Preparation by Starting Pitchers. The number of first inning runs given up is disconcerting given the talent of this team. What is the reason? Bad karma, or lack of preparation?
3) Not getting up for lousy teams. 14-14 in games that aren't vs. the Yankees. Inexplicable. Too much partying or Playstation playing? What the hell is going on? The Red Sox payroll is more than double that of the teams that are kicking our ass.
4) The bullpen. When its a one-run game in the 6th inning, you don't go to a tired Rule 5 draft pick simply because its "too early" for your veterans. Keep the game close. Theres also no reason for having a 12-man staff if guys like Malaska or Dinardo (no more talented than Man #12) are going to pitch 3 straight days.
5) The lineup. David Ortiz should not be batting third against lefties. Cesar Crespo should not be starting, ever. I'd also think that it might help the defense if players were playing in the same positions. Pick a 1B and go with it."
Other Notes, Links and Comments:
• Doug Pappas with a look at the Dodger’s ownership situation: Whenever you're frustrated about the 2004 Sox, remember that things could be a lot worse. Frank McCourt could have bought the team.
• Jim Caple on former Sox farm hand, Lew Ford. As you may recall, DD traded Ford for Hector Carrasco and his seven innings of relief work in 2000. If DD did not make any in-season swaps, he would have had one of the best trading records of any GM.
• Eric Enders on taking in a game from inside the Green Monster.
• My goal is to have 10,000+ hits and 20+ email addresses signed up on bloglet by the end of the month. If both happen, I’ll reward a random reader. Past prizes have been two Sox tickets and a Baseball Reference sponsorship. Thanks to all for continuing to stop by on your world wide web odysseys.
I AM FOR REAL--------
About 20% of the season is completed. The following six players listed below are ranked in the top 75 and had a pre-season ranking greater than 200 according to Yahoo. Thus, they are surprises.
Miguel Cabrera (pre-230/9) is not a surprise. Basically, Yahoo is stupid. A 230 pre-season ranking is asinine. Cabrera is FOR REAL---; a real MVP candidate.
Craig Wilson (226/29) made my pre-season sleeper list and he is making me look wicked f@#$in’ smaht. It is unlikely that his batting average will be above 300 at the end of the season but 25 homers and 100 RBIs are almost a given at this point (knock on wood). If he is catcher eligible in your league and on your club, contrags; Wilson is FOR REAL--.
Danny Graves (234/52) is the Reds closer. He will continue to get saves but is not a lock to help in any other areas. As a groundball pitcher, Graves is not going to aid in strikeouts like other closers. Graves’ style also allows him to be susceptible to a high WHIP stat. Groundballs can find holes and Graves does not have Schilling or Wells like control. He is a possible high sell. If you are a believer in the notion that good teams yields more save opportunities, then Graves is a must sell. The Reds are ready for a free fall.
Jose Mesa (236/67) is reborn? I don’t know. Watch for reports on his control and velocity. If they start to go, sell.
A. Otsuka’s (448/69) high ranking is mostly due to his three wins. He won’t keep up that pace as a setup guy so for most fantasy players he has little value at this time.
R. Lopez (223/73) – see above. If Lopez continues to pitch well and is moved into the rotation, he is worth a look. A few years back he won 15 with a 3.57 ERA.
Sox Therapy Session – First of 2004
• Lowe is playing his frustration regarding his 11 days off in the paper; first his contract and now this. Would you like some cheese? Who the f%^&k does this guy think he is? Lowe is a number three starter. He had one very good season in the rotation. Lowe - shut up. I feel strongly about this one – Lowe is an above average starter. If you disagree, fine, but if you are going to leave a comment or email me about this subject, do your homework – show me numbers.
• Damon – how about practicing what you preached? Damon, Bellhorn, and DiNardo all with miscues in the field makes me sick. The game is 27 outs NOT 30.
• Speaking of DiNardo, why the hell is the Rule V pick the first choice to come into a one-run game in sixth, when the other SIX arms in the pen should have been available?
• BTW, WTF is up with SEVEN arms in the pen? The Sox have no need for both baked mAlskan and the rookie.
• Dirt Dogs is reporting that Nomar Tore His Achilles Sheath but should be back the beginning of June. If Nomar does make it back on that time table, will he be the same without surgery? I am no medical professional, by any means, but tears don’t heal on their own. Not good news.
From Dirt Dogs, longtime SoSH poster Rudy Pemberton sums things up nicely (points maybe redundant but WTF):
"1) Mental Errors. Forgetting the number of outs. Botched rundowns. Balls landing between defenders because of lack of communication. Balls falling out of gloves for lack of communication or some other reason.
2) Preparation by Starting Pitchers. The number of first inning runs given up is disconcerting given the talent of this team. What is the reason? Bad karma, or lack of preparation?
3) Not getting up for lousy teams. 14-14 in games that aren't vs. the Yankees. Inexplicable. Too much partying or Playstation playing? What the hell is going on? The Red Sox payroll is more than double that of the teams that are kicking our ass.
4) The bullpen. When its a one-run game in the 6th inning, you don't go to a tired Rule 5 draft pick simply because its "too early" for your veterans. Keep the game close. Theres also no reason for having a 12-man staff if guys like Malaska or Dinardo (no more talented than Man #12) are going to pitch 3 straight days.
5) The lineup. David Ortiz should not be batting third against lefties. Cesar Crespo should not be starting, ever. I'd also think that it might help the defense if players were playing in the same positions. Pick a 1B and go with it."
Other Notes, Links and Comments:
• Doug Pappas with a look at the Dodger’s ownership situation: Whenever you're frustrated about the 2004 Sox, remember that things could be a lot worse. Frank McCourt could have bought the team.
• Jim Caple on former Sox farm hand, Lew Ford. As you may recall, DD traded Ford for Hector Carrasco and his seven innings of relief work in 2000. If DD did not make any in-season swaps, he would have had one of the best trading records of any GM.
• Eric Enders on taking in a game from inside the Green Monster.
• My goal is to have 10,000+ hits and 20+ email addresses signed up on bloglet by the end of the month. If both happen, I’ll reward a random reader. Past prizes have been two Sox tickets and a Baseball Reference sponsorship. Thanks to all for continuing to stop by on your world wide web odysseys.
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