tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75815388263572183912024-02-20T14:31:03.818-05:00The Kitchen SinkholeWhere sports are fourteen degrees coolerDrGraviteehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10439520454351733144noreply@blogger.comBlogger165125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7581538826357218391.post-11211325513714029992013-10-31T21:25:00.003-05:002013-10-31T21:25:32.678-05:00Shu-How & Me<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgitx6-Rw43-Ock2ssoQeC7ZYbgG6Py6h-d_BcyibaGWUZfoS44DtJwu7zrZfUj5PW52tUXKWz7Dfd_vocmCGFBvMHzCekoawPzDzonUmogqvw2-ILpUyCTipBR1Y9LpsgVO_fkInn9fSRg/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-10-31+at+10.05.29+PM.png" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgitx6-Rw43-Ock2ssoQeC7ZYbgG6Py6h-d_BcyibaGWUZfoS44DtJwu7zrZfUj5PW52tUXKWz7Dfd_vocmCGFBvMHzCekoawPzDzonUmogqvw2-ILpUyCTipBR1Y9LpsgVO_fkInn9fSRg/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-10-31+at+10.05.29+PM.png" /></a>DrGraviteehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10439520454351733144noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7581538826357218391.post-76027807339798431722010-07-17T19:10:00.011-05:002010-08-11T18:36:40.960-05:00King of the Trail<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdBLaF2jCp3MGIQ-lt8_DMKbX3G9XN-hgLxqhjkSL6dEjbXPT7cAXgxqY7pB8eFUaCHciooOA0q83IQkm3mM7da2vit31hrwE9DcA2KzDE2qiVK5jNO_omw9QGEp5qA-S4XtSJXqo6bzTx/s1600/WasatchPic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdBLaF2jCp3MGIQ-lt8_DMKbX3G9XN-hgLxqhjkSL6dEjbXPT7cAXgxqY7pB8eFUaCHciooOA0q83IQkm3mM7da2vit31hrwE9DcA2KzDE2qiVK5jNO_omw9QGEp5qA-S4XtSJXqo6bzTx/s200/WasatchPic.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>When I entered the trail at Long Meadow I was ten feet behind two runners -- I dubbed them red-hat and mesh-shorts -- who were racing and pretending not to. I held back and watched with growing amusement as the red-hat runner surged, only to be matched by mesh-shorts, and then mesh-shorts counterattacked, but red-hat hung tough. By the time we reached Queen Hill, which has a vertical of 45', both runners were laboring noticeably. At the crest of the hill, red-hat broke: his shoulders slumped and his pace slowed. Mesh-shorts had, it seemed, "won."<br />
<br />
I picked up my pace and quickly dispatched with red-hat and was gaining rapidly on mesh-shorts when mesh-shorts unexpectedly veered off onto a side trail right before Lookout Hill. I had wanted to pass him with authority, to show him that I owned the trail, and briefly considered following him down the side trail just to make my point, but ultimately that would have cut my run short, and so I let mesh-shorts leave the trail without conquering him.<br />
<br />
As I neared the top of Lookout Hill and its 23' vertical I was surprised to hear footfall behind me. Red-hat was making a valiant effort to match my pace. The topography was cooperating with him, as the next stretch around the lake had no vertical. Red-hat nosed ahead of me and began to one-step me; no matter what pace I ran he ran one step faster. I realized that breaking him wouldn't be easy. I would have to grind him down. To do this, I would use Breeze Hill and its 95' vertical as a weapon.<br />
<br />
At the base of Breeze Hill, I began to run at a pace that I knew I couldn't sustain for much more than a minute or two. I pulled ahead by one step but could not shake red-hat. Fearing that if I slowed, red-hat would sense that my fast pace was a bluff and gain confidence, I continued to run at an unsustainable clip. When my body started to crack, I promised myself that if I could just maintain this pace until Midwood, I would allow myself to stop and walk. We crested the hill together, and as we sprinted towards Midwood, I began to rationalize my defeat: I was dehydrated. I hadn't slept well. The extreme amount of vertical I was running each week, upwards of 1000', was sapping the energy from my legs.<br />
<br />
Seconds before I was about to slow to a walk, Red-hat turned to me and said he was going to stop and refill his handheld bottles. "Nice run, man," he said. We exchanged names. "You were really pushing me there," he said. "Are you training for anything?"<br />
<br />
"I'm just trying to get into shape," I said.<br />
<br />
"I'd say you're already there. Have you done any half marathons?"<br />
<br />
I thought this was an oddly specific question, so I answered it vaguely: "Ah, yes, there is one in a week or two around here. I might do that."<br />
<br />
"Queens," he said. "I might do that one, too. Well, nice running with you."<br />
<br />
We shook hands and then he pulled off the trail. I ran around a few more bends in trail and then leaned over and threw up three times.<br />
<br />
I took the long way home, hoping to add mileage to my run, but I knew almost immediately that this was a mistake. I was fried. Miles later, when the trail merged with the road up by Grand Army, I vomited two more times and then forced myself to jog every other block, mostly because I wanted to get home so that I could pour myself a tall glass of water. I was sopping wet with sweat, and even when I was running it wasn't much faster than a walk. When I was a few blocks out off the trail I nearly ran right into the back of Red-hat. He was walking with a slight limp. His chin was on his chest. He hadn't seen me, and so I immediately crossed the street and went down a side road. I vomited one more time before I reached my apartment. <br />
<br />
<b>9 Weeks Out</b>: <br />
Saturday 7/10: Run 60min; 50' vertical (4.8M race)<br />
Sunday 7/11: Run 50min; 50' vertical<br />
Monday: 7/12: Run 60min; 150' vertical<br />
Tuesday 7/13: off<br />
Wednesday 7/14: off<br />
Thursday 7/15: Run 10min<br />
Friday 7/16: Run 60min, 200' vertical<br />
<br />
Total: 4hr; 450' vertical<br />
<br />
<b>8 Weeks Out</b>:<br />
Saturday 7/17: Run 1hr, 35min; 1,100' vertical<br />
Sunday 7/18: Run 1hr, 45min; 300' vertical; city hike 4hrs (10miles) and 108' vertical<br />
Monday 7/19: Run 50min; 180' vertical<br />
Tuesday 7/20: Run 60min; 150' vertical (track workout)<br />
Wednesday 7/21: Run 60min; 200' vertical<br />
Thursday 7/22: off<br />
Friday 7/23: Bike 60min<br />
<br />
Total for week so far: 11hr, 10min; 1,938' verticalDrGraviteehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10439520454351733144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7581538826357218391.post-73279599474040460342010-07-05T23:36:00.006-05:002010-07-09T08:00:27.874-05:00Barefoot Runners Never Get Injured<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjshsRT2cjqihXqIKKGq9EJ5qjmndEEIbw7aehsJMqHU5RzMYuFbmgZRqLRKWWQUszD5bSok3CVfqw0DntjBzA3cuQ_kVpKL2sT3BbXB7CFHj3RRQoXOLLQe_0Jm23cqhyphenhyphen4fxcKMR3-wOJa/s1600/Wasatch.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjshsRT2cjqihXqIKKGq9EJ5qjmndEEIbw7aehsJMqHU5RzMYuFbmgZRqLRKWWQUszD5bSok3CVfqw0DntjBzA3cuQ_kVpKL2sT3BbXB7CFHj3RRQoXOLLQe_0Jm23cqhyphenhyphen4fxcKMR3-wOJa/s400/Wasatch.png" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I recently agreed to be come a pacer <a href="http://ben-runlong.blogspot.com/">for LEWIS</a> who is running a <a href="http://www.wasatch100.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6&Itemid=49">100-mile ultra marathon</a> in the Wasatch mountains in Utah. <br />
<br />
Pacers are allowed to start at the 39-mile mark. As far as I can tell, finishing a 100-mile race takes 15 - 40 hours. Apparently it is helpful to the racer to have company during the race, especially during the parts of the race that are run in in the dark using a headlamp, and during <a href="http://www.canadiandeathrace.com/v2/bears.html">bear attacks</a>, and during the last half the race when the racer is feeling exhausted and sleep deprived.<br />
<br />
As you can see from <a href="http://therunscout.com/2009/09/wasatch-front-100/">this video</a>, the Wasatch course has <a href="http://therunscout.com/2009/09/wasatch-front-100/">slightly more vertical</a> than your typical local 5k. If I'm going to be any help to LEWIS at all, I'm going to have to start running a few more hills and a little more distance. I asked LEWIS how I should train, and his response made sense to me: "I think any way of just being on your feet moving forward for an extended period of time will be helpful."<br />
<br />
So, from now until Sept. 10th, I will turn this blog into an Ultra Marathon Blog. I've been reading <a href="http://antonkrupicka.blogspot.com/">other ultra blogs</a> and apparently there are a few rules to ultra blog writing:<br />
1. Always be earnest; take yourself very seriously<br />
2. Reference the names of mountains and mountain passes<br />
3. Use the word vertical whenever you can<br />
4. Believe in your heart that people with a <a href="http://borntorun.org/">barefoot fetish</a> never get injured<br />
5. Have mild outspoken superiority complex over runners who run less than 50k races<br />
6. Have mild unspoken inferiority regarding runners who can break 16 minutes for a 5k (Unless you are Anton Krupicka, who seems comfortable with is 5k abilities:" <a href="http://running.competitor.com/2010/05/features/a-simple-kind-of-man_10093">I mean, I’m not a very good runner. I mean, I’ve never even broken 16 minutes in a 5K, dude</a>.") <br />
<br />
Over the next ten weeks I will do what I can to honor the ultra blog rules listed above. <br />
<br />
<b>10 Weeks Out</b>: (since the race starts on a Fri, I'll keep mileage on a Sat - Fri schedule)<br />
Sat (7/3): Run 1hr 10min w/ 249' vertical; 2+hrs (7mi) of city walking; 262' vertical <br />
Sun (7/4): Bike 1hr; 299' vertical<br />
Mon (7/5):Run 30min, Bike :20min; 37' vertical [heatwave update: high of 99 degrees]<br />
Tue (7/6): [heatwave update:high of 103 degrees]<br />
Wed (7/7): [heatwave update: high of 99 degrees]<br />
Thu (7/8): Run 50min, 138' vertical<br />
Fri (7/9): Run 80min, 715' vertical<br />
<br />
Totals: 7hrs, 10min; 1,700' vertical<br />
<br />
Vertical stats from www.mapmyrun.comDrGraviteehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10439520454351733144noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7581538826357218391.post-46908561147233254032010-05-31T22:51:00.000-05:002010-05-31T22:51:14.918-05:00Bottomless Sinkhole in Guatemala City<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Vr4g9fbY8obuWzN9ytTbRCiEhS_ex1BRIxbqvgPOWjFy37AKYzCgsM1lNVQoqrfZEcF3iM7RcQipJBC2QojfF57OVIkN6KFhrb8IImg55sACAa8LpIE_lqiif8AmGUNsEo6OaIRPiooY/s1600/Sinkhole_Gautemala.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Vr4g9fbY8obuWzN9ytTbRCiEhS_ex1BRIxbqvgPOWjFy37AKYzCgsM1lNVQoqrfZEcF3iM7RcQipJBC2QojfF57OVIkN6KFhrb8IImg55sACAa8LpIE_lqiif8AmGUNsEo6OaIRPiooY/s400/Sinkhole_Gautemala.png" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<br />
From NYTimes (<a href="http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/05/31/dot-shot-sinkhole-in-guatemala-city/?src=mv">click here</a> for full post):<br />
<br />
"This astonishingly unnerving photograph was posted today on the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gobiernodeguatemala/">Flickr.com feed of the Guatemalan goverment</a> and shows a seemingly bottomless sinkhole that opened up on Sunday in Guatemala City as a swath of Central America was <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/05/31/world/americas/AP-Tropical-Weather.html">drenched by tropical storm Agatha</a>. Click <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gobiernodeguatemala/4657053554/sizes/o/in/set-72157624035870825/">here for the high-resolution version</a>, if you dare..."DrGraviteehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10439520454351733144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7581538826357218391.post-78579578498930213762010-04-09T23:17:00.000-05:002010-04-09T23:17:22.411-05:00Three Closer Predictions for 2010<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOwM_84marPESUhyphenhyphen7j2ToX7Vt7Pq_Z5DtTTmmpinLZcY_A6ps5_1U-n4RzRoxbXepZ0OvjW-Cl95L4-NYGnBSWVffxNGdV5BQuyzIl7IMODyJnS9Ukad0IMFZzTQGzIBYxCO_iaMwD-SZP/s1600/KojiUehara.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="377" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOwM_84marPESUhyphenhyphen7j2ToX7Vt7Pq_Z5DtTTmmpinLZcY_A6ps5_1U-n4RzRoxbXepZ0OvjW-Cl95L4-NYGnBSWVffxNGdV5BQuyzIl7IMODyJnS9Ukad0IMFZzTQGzIBYxCO_iaMwD-SZP/s400/KojiUehara.png" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<b>Kerry Wood</b> saves 20+ games. The news of Wood's fantasy uselessness is greatly exaggerated. I personally feel like there is an 80% chance that Wood gets the closer job back. I know it is trendy to say Wood is toast, but his replacement Chris Perez's career numbers are not exactly confidence inspiring: 98 innings, 49 walks, 110 K, a 3.92 ERA. Why is everyone so in love with Perez? He's going to get killed by his own penchant for giving up walks.<br />
<br />
<b>Koji Uejara</b> will close at some point and do very well. MGonzo has experienced a loss of velocity. If he continues to get hammered, Koji will get a shot to be the closer. He's proved he can close in Japan and he's proved he can get MLB hitters out by throwing up a 1.18 whip last year.<br />
<br />
<b>Ryan Madson</b> will save more than 20 games.DrGraviteehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10439520454351733144noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7581538826357218391.post-89345801717963437862010-03-04T20:43:00.001-05:002010-03-04T20:44:49.084-05:00Fantasy Baseball Auction Draft Strategies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNqdIhnotaGgfYT8m_kmDUDqsFnO7i_2KrNWa9E0WVLvAXEnV04z6QO9KsbdtmpGVMQB0-lpRolovOgA7eYFAaYZZtgQlGLkaeJabQQtfTEbME9K7tJzLBqxdPpz5kzXWgXVD9j9gIuLWA/s1600-h/Baseball_Astronaut.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNqdIhnotaGgfYT8m_kmDUDqsFnO7i_2KrNWa9E0WVLvAXEnV04z6QO9KsbdtmpGVMQB0-lpRolovOgA7eYFAaYZZtgQlGLkaeJabQQtfTEbME9K7tJzLBqxdPpz5kzXWgXVD9j9gIuLWA/s200/Baseball_Astronaut.png" width="147" /></a></div>Anyone out there doing a fantasy baseball auction draft for the first time? Nervous? Here is some literature that might help you formulate a strategy:<br />
<span style="background-color: #666666;"></span><br />
<ul><li><a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/fantasy/baseball/flb/story?page=auctionstrategy">Auction draft strategy from ESPN</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://razzball.com/fantasy-baseball-auction-strategy/">Auction draft strategy from Razzball</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.fftoolbox.com/baseball/2008/auction-draft-strategy.cfm">Auction draft strategy from FFToolbox</a></li>
<li><a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/fantasy/baseball/flb/story?id=3271319">Matthew Berry on auction drafts</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://fantasynews.cbssports.com/fantasybaseball/story/8144609">CBS auction draft strategy</a></li>
<li><a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/fantasy/mlb/news?slug=be-strategy_auction">Yahoo's auction draft strategies</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.baseballnotebook.com/e_031601.asp?linkid=">A treatise on auction drafts from Baseball Notebook</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.fantasybaseballhub.com/strategy.html">Fantasy Baseball Hub auction draft strategies</a></li>
</ul>DrGraviteehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10439520454351733144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7581538826357218391.post-6593201342864037662010-03-03T20:18:00.010-05:002010-03-04T07:27:54.352-05:002010 H2H Fantasy Baseball Strategy: C.R.A.S.S (CL, R, AVG, SB, SP)<a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyhm_57aJQOuAaae6cO2tQi8yhGbxCGaBOS-XTp8mK_GLiAA04rC1T40pW_pWRYEk_dQm-0Y97pcLS8W7vwK5rMup6jdJ-Z_iR31OG1Bb7G4sCrmLxkgCGDZoAWXEl03vA103EljS_vJ69/s1600-h/Julio_Borbon.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 229px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyhm_57aJQOuAaae6cO2tQi8yhGbxCGaBOS-XTp8mK_GLiAA04rC1T40pW_pWRYEk_dQm-0Y97pcLS8W7vwK5rMup6jdJ-Z_iR31OG1Bb7G4sCrmLxkgCGDZoAWXEl03vA103EljS_vJ69/s320/Julio_Borbon.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444614756249757730" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic;">"Certain speedsters are not getting proper respect this year. Borbon, Pierre, </span><strong style="font-weight: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic;"><strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/davisra01.shtml">Rajai Davis</a></strong></strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic;">, </span><strong style="font-weight: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic;"><strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/cabreev01.shtml">Everth Cabrera</a></strong></strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic;">, and </span><strong style="font-weight: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic;"><strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/andruel01.shtml">Elvis Andrus</a></strong></strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic;"> are all projected to swipe 40+ bags and score 80+ runs, but they're going in the 13th round or later."</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /><br />- <a href="http://www.rotoauthority.com/2010/03/2010-sleepers-julio-borbon.html">RotoAuthority</a><br /><br />Given the multitude of Stolen Base / Runs hitters that are available after round 13 or so, one (head-to-head) strategy is to draft as many high-quality pitchers as possible in the early rounds before scooping up the hitters like the ones mentioned above in the later rounds.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Now, before you thank me for being a genius, please let me tell you why this plan is foolhardy</span>:<br /></span><ul style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><li>If you punt saves, you can also "unpunt" them through smart/fast waiver wire pickups. If you punt HR/RBI, you will never be able to unpunt them. In other words, there is no hedging your bets with this strategy. Either you are in, or, as Heidi would say, you are out.</li><li>During that moment when a player on your team hits a HR, your team instantly is rewarded in four categories: R, RBI, HR, and AVG. Why would you draft a bunch of guys who can't hit HRs?</li><li>Pitchers are, supposedly, "riskier" because they get injured more frequently</li><li>Andrus might hit 8th; Borbon can't hit lefties and might lose his lead-off spot to Kinsler; RDavis could lose at bats and/or see his AVG dip; ECabrera might not lead off; etc., etc., etc. In sum, picking hitters late means you are more likely to have to deal with loss of playing time, demotion to lower in the lineup, demotion to minors, and regression of skills.<br /></li></ul><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Here is why I'm going to use this strategy anyway</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">:</span><br /><ul style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><li>I did the boring old "best player available" last year and got my clock cleaned. My team was terrible. So I decided I'd rather do something oddball and fun than predictable and unfun.</li><li>People love power. So if you want it, you'll need to pay for it. On the other hand, powerless players can come at a huge discount. Most people view the Juan Pierre's of the world as one-trick ponies. I'd argue that with 600+ lead-off at bats, they can become three-trick ponies (R/AVG/SB).</li><li>With all the decent SB options available late, this is the perfect year to give it a try.</li><li>The league I'm in has daily lineup changes, three SP slots, four P slots, four OF, and five bench slots. Winning teams in this league usually have one or even zero bench hitters; almost every inch of bench space is used to rotate in pitchers. This C.R.A.S.S strategy won't work for all league settings.<br /></li></ul><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">A few reminders</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">:</span><br /><ul style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><li>Focus less on the stolen bases and focus more on the Runs and the Batting Average; a team of speed guys will certainly lock that category down, but if you can't win Runs and AVG most weeks, your team won't be successful. To this end, you probably want to lock down a dependable Dustin Pedroia Run/Avg guy early in the draft.</li><li>Try to get five closers so that you can guarantee winning that category each week.</li><li>Did I mention that you should shoot for a team filled with leadoff-type hitters? You want your team to make up for its inability to hit a home run by getting more at bats.</li><li>You can't afford to draft a single player who is AVG challenged.</li></ul><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Here is what an example team might look like (plus ESPN Projections)</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">:</span><br /><ul><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">OF: Ichiro 29sb. 91r, .307 (#1 hitter)</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">OF RDavis 37sb, 62r, .279 (#1 hitter)</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">OF Borbon 38sb, 80r, .281 (#1 hitter)</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">OF Morgan 40sb, 78r, .276 (#1 hitter)</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">1B Helton 0sb, 75r, .309 (#3 hitter)</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">2B Dustin 17sb, 110, .305 (#2 hitter)</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">3B Prado 2sb, 62, .300 (#2 hitter)</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">SS Aybar 25sb, 72r, .303 (#1 hitter)</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">C Yadier 12sb, 42r, .301 (#6 hitter)</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">UTL Pierre 40sb, 62r, .287 (#1 hitter)</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">SP Lincecum</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">SP Halladay</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">SP Lester</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">RP JonP (39sv, 1.17whip)</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">RP THoff (32sv, 1.13whip)</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">P FrankFrank (31sv, 1.20whip)</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">P Wandy</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">BN Hamels</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">BN Nolasco</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">BN Josh Johnson</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">BN Lyon (24sv, 1.28whip)</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">BN Downs (9sv, 1.30whip)</span></li></ul><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Other Options</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">:</span><br /><ul><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Alt: Wieters 0sb, 78r, .303 (#5 hitter)</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Alt: Polanco 5sb, 91r, .306 (#2 hitter)</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Alt: Frasor (17sv, 1.26whip)</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Alt: Wood (29sv, 1.28whip)</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Alt: Capps (24sv, 1.33whip)</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Alt: MGozo (29sv, 1.35whip)</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Alt: Dotel (22sv, 1.36whip)</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Alt: Nunez (23sv, 1.34whip)</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Alt: Jenks (31sv, 1.27whip)</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Alt: MMontero (0sb, 66r, .286)</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Alt: Howie 10sb, 73r, .313 (#2/7 hitter)</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Alt: Kemp 30sb, 96r, .307 (#2 hitter)</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Alt: Loney 5sb, 69r, .302)</span></li></ul><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Example Draft</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> (12-team mixed league)</span>:</span><br /><ol><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Lincecum</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Dustin</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Roy Halladay</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Ichiro</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Lester</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Josh Johnson</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Jon Pbon</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Hamels</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Nolasco</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Borbon</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Wandy</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Morgon</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">RDavis</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Hoffman</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">FrankFrank</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Prado</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Yadier</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Pierre</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Aybar</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Helton</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Lyon / Dotel</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">TOR CL (Downs or Frasor or Other)</span></li></ol><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Don't like this team? Pick and choose your own team</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">:</span><br /><ul><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">1.Pick #2 Lincecum, HamRam, Albert</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">2.Pick #23 Pedroia, Halladay, Ellsbury</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">3.Pick #26 Pedroia, Halladay, Ellsbury, Zack G.</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">4.Pick #47 Votto, Sandoval, Cliff Lee</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">5.Pick #50 Ichiro, Wainwright, Lester, Vazquez</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">6.Pick #71 Papelbon, JJohnson, Carpenter</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">7.Pick #74 Chone, Bourn, Choo</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">8.Pick #95 Hamels, McCutchen, THanson</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">9.Pick #98 Gallardo, Nolasco, Ubaldo, MYoung, Wieters, Bartlett</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">10.Pick #119 Span, Wandy, Borbon</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">11.Pick #122 Garza, Shields</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">12.Pick #143 RMartin, NMorgan, RDavis</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">13.Pick #146 SBaker, RSoriano, Asdrubal, GSoto</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">14.Pick #167 EAndrus, Neftali, DPrice</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">15.Pick #170 FFrancisco, BAnderson</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">16.Pick #191 Capps, EAybar, Loney</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">17.Pick #194 Wood</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">18.Pick #215 Helton, RHarden, Pierre</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">19.Pick #218 Yadier, Kuroda</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">20.Pick #239 Everth Cabrera, A. Escobar</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">21.Pick #242 Liriano, DFowler</span></li></ul>(<span style="font-weight: bold;">Note</span>: the players in the above team should be understood as placeholders of sorts, merely to give you a better idea of what this draft strategy might look like if it were to be carried out in the present fantasy baseball market. During your draft, you can always target other pitchers or hitters that you feel are more likely to be available in your league or more likely to perform at a high level during the 2010 season.)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFQnzdbyQLbUUnNw86bGv6_3UE-5cL9XS0hzcuJdw7Wzehw0VuZ_0feLdXinfoj4_AjEZNajvI70zim_R6_ehYsyAf5tGr-luaYnXV0WVkoMa0okABGbgEp1zqAQycm1rk5GalQvudqq9_/s1600-h/Julio_Borbon2.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 206px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFQnzdbyQLbUUnNw86bGv6_3UE-5cL9XS0hzcuJdw7Wzehw0VuZ_0feLdXinfoj4_AjEZNajvI70zim_R6_ehYsyAf5tGr-luaYnXV0WVkoMa0okABGbgEp1zqAQycm1rk5GalQvudqq9_/s320/Julio_Borbon2.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444652361271244226" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Links</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">:</span><br /><ul style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><li>H2H Fantasy Baseball Strategy: <a href="http://thekitchensinkhole.blogspot.com/2009/02/h2h-fantasy-baseball-draft-strategy.html">The Pitching Heavy and the Average Challenged (PHAC)</a></li><li>H2H Fantasy Baseball Strategy: <a href="http://thekitchensinkhole.blogspot.com/2009/03/fantasy-baseball-draft-strategy-have.html">Get Some S.A.C. (SB, AVG, and CL)</a></li><li>Players that <a href="http://thekitchensinkhole.blogspot.com/2010/02/juan-pierre-king-of-contact.html">can hit for AVG</a></li><li><a href="http://thekitchensinkhole.blogspot.com/2010/02/mlb-2010-projected-lead-off-hitters.html">Projected lead-off hitters</a></li><li><a href="http://www.rotoauthority.com/2010/03/2010-sleepers-julio-borbon.html">2010 Sleepers: Julio Borbon</a></li><li>Head-to-head: <a href="http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/fantasy/article/head-to-head-thoughts-and-strategy/">Unorthodox Draft Strategies</a><br /></li></ul>DrGraviteehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10439520454351733144noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7581538826357218391.post-54751115374363309072010-02-23T20:02:00.007-05:002010-02-25T20:45:28.422-05:00Juan Pierre: King of Contact%<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0prU5KosG4qKB9gbWsr2Cy2A20y3gi2f8OZtKFeSZh6YS3zmTH_60UM5xRmlpwgctDhjwqvNaBvSzvNdjtyOtTHl4J1Zc81vaeE3nDM1O_Dm-qDImjzfhdW_G3cN2CFwFgTL6ACQQtalR/s1600-h/Juan_Pierre.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0prU5KosG4qKB9gbWsr2Cy2A20y3gi2f8OZtKFeSZh6YS3zmTH_60UM5xRmlpwgctDhjwqvNaBvSzvNdjtyOtTHl4J1Zc81vaeE3nDM1O_Dm-qDImjzfhdW_G3cN2CFwFgTL6ACQQtalR/s320/Juan_Pierre.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441614998383915250" border="0" /></a>96 players stole at least 10 bases last year. That means that in a twelve-team league, it would be possible for each team to have 8 hitters steal over 10 bases. That sounds like a lot of players.<br /><br />But how many of those steals are "clean;" how many of those stolen base threats have a decent chance of scoring runs and hitting for average? Nobody wants 10+ steals if they are attached to a part-time player who struggles to hit over .260 (yes, <a href="http://thekitchensinkhole.blogspot.com/2009/03/talented-mr-roto-matthew-berry-has.html">I'm talking about you, Bonifacio</a>).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Well, here are the players who had a contact%* of over 83% in 2009</span>:<br />*Total percentage of contact when swinging at all pitches.<br />93.2% Juan Pierre (1.00)**<br />93.0% Dustin Pedroia (1.64)<br />90.4% Robinson Cano (.48)<br />89.9% Denard Span (.79)<br />89.6% Todd Helton (1.22)<br />89.6% Martin Prado (.61)<br />89.0% Erick Aybar (.56)<br />88.7% Ichiro Suzuki (.45)<br />88.7% Shane Victorino (.85)<br />88.5% James Loney (1.03)<br />88.4% Jacoby Ellsbury (.66)<br />88.0% A.J. Pierzynski (.46)<br />87.8% Brett Gardner (.65)<br />87.3% Elvis Andrus (.52)<br />87.0% Yadier Molina (1.28)<br />86.9% Ryan Theriot (.55)<br />86.2% Julio Borbon (.54)<br />85.2% Asdrubal Cabrera (.49)<br />85.0% Nyger Morgan (.54)<br />84.2% Chris Coghlan (.69)<br />83.9% Alcides Escobar (.22)<br />**Eye (also known as Batting Eye), which is defined as walks divided by strikeouts, is in parenthesis. This metric is considered by <a href="http://www.prorank.net/baseball/statistics.htm">some</a> to be a good measure of a player's strike zone judgment. The very best MLB hitters have batting eye ratios over 1.00. Eye ratios of less than 0.50 are indicative of a free-swinging approach to hitting and poor strike-zone judgment. Players with eye ratios of .70 or better have a greater probability of maintaining a high batting average than players with eye ratios of .50 or less.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Here are some players that didn't break 83% contact% in 2009</span>:<br />82.7% Andrew McCutchen<br />81.9% Everth Cabrera (.52)<br />80.6% Michael Young<br />80.2% Rajai Davis<br />79.4% Franklin Gutierrez<br />79.4% Howie Kendrick<br />79.3% Dexter Fowler<br />78.9% Michael Bourn<br />77.5% Matt Wieters<br />77.4% Carlos Gonzalez<br />76.0% Drew Stubbs<br /><br />(I know that not all the players listed will steal 10+ bases, but I included them for one reason or another.)<br /><br />All of this makes me feel pretty good about the hitters on the top list. That is, until I saw that Nate McLouth had a contact% of 84.1% in 2009 and batted .256 on the season.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Links</span>:<br /><ul><li><a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=bat&lg=all&qual=y&type=5&season=2009&month=0">Contact% on Fangraphs</a></li><li>Juan Pierre <a href="http://blogs.dailyherald.com/node/3486">reported to camp early</a></li><li>ESPN's <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/fantasy/baseball/flb/story?page=REcloserorgchart">closer chart</a><br /></li></ul>DrGraviteehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10439520454351733144noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7581538826357218391.post-3404385412490297342010-02-21T17:56:00.013-05:002010-03-02T23:42:48.514-05:002010 Y! Default Ranks: The Highs and Lows (Relative to MDC)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrfmgu7fQsIyN-SF9qG6EbEgQL3xSm5Y52a_x_WSXtKSyt8DaPp9Jd1GdhLsXVT9TNGjmNQHzxASlM-uutScAsZktiwIU5Va2IJe93loQzTecNPz7C78meyK35scSuJ1yCKTgHky7dG-SI/s1600-h/Francisco_Liriano.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 289px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrfmgu7fQsIyN-SF9qG6EbEgQL3xSm5Y52a_x_WSXtKSyt8DaPp9Jd1GdhLsXVT9TNGjmNQHzxASlM-uutScAsZktiwIU5Va2IJe93loQzTecNPz7C78meyK35scSuJ1yCKTgHky7dG-SI/s400/Francisco_Liriano.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440856660244190402" border="0" /></a><br />Yahoo's default rankings are pretty excited about a few players:<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ranked higher on Y! (ADP on Mock Draft Central / Y! default rank)</span>:<br /><ul><li>Denard Span (MDC 127 / Y! 63)</li><li>Julio Borbon (MDC 185/ Y! 113)</li><li>Andrew McCutchen (MDC 90 / Y! 60)</li><li>Michael Young (MDC 96 / Y! 64)</li><li>Asdrubal Cabrera (MDC 151 / Y! 106)</li><li>Chris Coghlan (MDC 225 / Y! 102)</li><li>Adrian Beltre (MDC 196 / Y! 159)</li><li>Wandy Rodriquez (MDC 115 / Y! 75)</li><li>Scott Baker (MDC 154 / Y! 98)</li><li>Stephen Strasburg (MDC 264 / Y! 200)<br /></li></ul>On the flip slide, there are a few players that Yahoo's default rankings seem to dislike and/or forget.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ranked higher on MDC (ADP on Mock Draft Central / Y! default rank)</span>:<br /><ul><li>Carlos Gonzalez (MDC 121 / Y! 128)</li><li>Gordon Beckham (MDC 94 / Y! 136)</li><li>Chris Davis (MDC 160 / Y! 301)</li><li>Evereth Cabrera (MDC 228 / Y! 270)</li><li>Juan Pierre (MDC 213 / Y! 280)</li><li>Martin Prado (MDC 235 / Y! 294)</li><li>Alcides Escobar (MDC 244 / Y! 335)</li><li>Jake Fox (MDC 344 / Y! 1042)</li><li>Trevor Hoffman (MDC 164 / Y! 255)</li><li>Kerry Wood (MDC 222 / Y! 338)</li><li>Matt Capps (MDC 212 / Y! 393)</li><li>Brandon Morrow (MDC 363 / Y! 484)</li><li>Brad Lidge (MDC 217 / Y! 487)</li><li>Jon Lester (MDC 59 / Y! 78)</li><li>Scott Kazmir (MDC 174 / Y! 222)</li><li>David Price (MDC 171 / Y! 237)</li><li>Max Scherzer (MDC 145 / Y! 263)</li><li>Clay Buchholz (MDC 192 / Y! 290)</li><li>Joba Chamberlain (MDC 197 / Y! 316)</li><li>Francisco Liriano (MDC 220 / Y! 979)</li><li>Chien-Ming Wang (MDC 420 / Y! 1049)</li></ul>Feel free to post any other outliers that I missed in the comment section.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Links</span>:<br /><ul><li><a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/fantasy/index.php/adp-value-recap">Fangraphs</a> m<span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">akes some similar-but-different observations</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><a href="http://www.fantasyballjunkie.com/?p=3021#more-3021">FJunk</a> makes some similar-but-different observations</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><a href="http://razzball.com/yahoos-fantasy-baseball-rankings-those-yahoos/">Razzball</a> makes some similar-but-different observations<br /></span></span></li><li style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Stephen Strasburg in NYTimes:</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/22/sports/baseball/22strasburg.html?hpw">Nationals’ Strasburg Resumes Work of Living Up to Expectations</a></span></li></ul>DrGraviteehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10439520454351733144noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7581538826357218391.post-42099382345548522562010-02-18T19:20:00.012-05:002010-02-19T23:26:56.999-05:00MLB: 2010 Projected Lead-Off Hitters<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7cpE7uuG_HyK68dYb3aCwXWeFlq37buxYgQNcegXbUWgr-Mct_Tw_Uhhh2msz7jEM7pVWSONTa6dJGjtF4CXMW7gKgLlXFzf5t2OA4L7SiU9TJMLMTjNcx_XK7bWGlg7SomfGanRYCSwZ/s1600-h/ChrisCoghlan.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 232px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7cpE7uuG_HyK68dYb3aCwXWeFlq37buxYgQNcegXbUWgr-Mct_Tw_Uhhh2msz7jEM7pVWSONTa6dJGjtF4CXMW7gKgLlXFzf5t2OA4L7SiU9TJMLMTjNcx_XK7bWGlg7SomfGanRYCSwZ/s400/ChrisCoghlan.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439756831670956210" border="0" /></a>Runs have, <a href="http://www.fantasyballjunkie.com/?p=861">apparently</a>, the highest correlation with fantasy baseball hitting success. So, if you believe that players who bat early in the line up get more at bats, and if you believe that more at bats leads to increased run production, then you might be interested to know who is going to be the leadoff hitter for each major league baseball team. I do not have this information, but what I do have is a list of 2010 lead-off hitter guesses / projections (I sometimes added <a href="http://www.mockdraftcentral.com/report_adp.jsp">Mock Draft Central ADP</a>, the draft position in a recent Y! mock draft, and <a href="http://games.espn.go.com/flb/tools/projections?display=alt&avail=-1">ESPN's projected</a> Runs, Steals, and Batting Average):<div><br />Cubs: Ryan Theriot (81r, 21sb, .285avg)<br />Reds: Drew Stubbs (69r)<br />Hou: Michael Bourn (79r)<br />Brewers: Rickie Weeks (86r)<br />Pirates: Andrew McCutchen (100r)<br />STL: Skip Schumaker (78r)<br />ATL: Nate McLouth (95r)<br />Florida: Chris Coghlan (19th MDC, 10th Y!; 96r, 16sb, .292)<br />NYM: Jose Reyes (93r)<br />PHI: Jimmy Rollins (101r)<br />Nats: Nyjer Morgan (78r)<br />ARZ: Stephen Drew (10th MDC, 15th Y!; 87r, 8sb, .289)<br />COL: Carlos Gonzalez (81r, 11sb, .283)<br />LAD: Rafael Furcal (92r)<br />SDP: Everth Cabrera (20th MDC; 72r, 33sb, .263avg)<br />SFG: Aaron Rowand (64r)<br />BAL: Brian Roberts (101r)<br />BOS: Jacoby Ellsbury (92r)<br />NYY: Derek Jeter (103r)<br />Rays: Jason Bartlett (72r)<br />TOR: Jose Bautista (45r)<br />White Sox: Juan Pierre (62r)<br />Cleve: Grady Sizemore (97r)<br />DET: Austin Jackson (52r)<br />KC: Scott Podsednik (44r)<br />MN: Denard Span (12th MDC, 7th Y!; 92r, 21sb, .304avg)<br />LAA: Erick Aybar (72r)<br />OAK: Rajai Davis (62r)<br />SEA: Ichiro (91r)<br />TEX: Borbon (17th MDC, 11th Y!; 80, 38, .281)<br /></div><br />The list of lead-off hitters available after the first ten rounds of mock drafts who are projected to bat over .280, steal 10+ bases, and score more than 80 runs is small:<br /><div> </div><ul><li>Carlos Gonzalez (11th MDC, 10th Y!; 81r, 11sb, .283)</li><li>Chris Coghlan (19th MDC, 10th Y!; 96r, 16sb, .292)</li><li>Julio Borbon (17th MDC, 11th Y!; 80, 38, .281)</li><li>Ryan Theriot (22nd MDC, 19th Y!; 81r, 21sb, .285avg)</li></ul><div><span style="font-weight: bold;">Quick Links</span>:</div><div><ul><li><a href="http://www.mlbdepthcharts.com/">2010 Major League Baseball Project lineups</a></li><li>Chris Coghlan, <a href="http://www.faketeams.com/2010/2/7/1298570/fantasy-bust-florida-marlins">fantasy bust</a>?</li><li><a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/stats/sortable_player_stats.jsp?c_id=mlb&baseballScope=mlb&teamPosCode=all&statType=Overview&timeSubFrame=2009&sitSplit=&venueID=&Submit=Submit&timeFrame=1">Thirty players</a> had more than 600 at bats last year, including Theriot, Rollins, Ichiro, Jeter, Ellsbury, Furcal, and Bourn.</li><li>Orlando Cabrera had the third-most at bats in MLB last year and went 83r, 13sb, .284avg<br /></li></ul></div><br /><div> </div>DrGraviteehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10439520454351733144noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7581538826357218391.post-41224293932768554502009-11-16T19:17:00.004-05:002009-11-16T19:53:35.893-05:00Ben Wallace; armpits<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidhJGVq-a6nmNswpD_risFKuk6nm8_B-kRWjm_fGBwGfOm-4RdEmDoF4-TCKjfc2yv-62nqEISBoW1XepC1KvFz2lOtPQZhRDbB4mhrtFYYZbGwmwd6QqR-9-G0-5FGVr4MQmRVJAT5VTz/s1600/Ben_Wallace.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 322px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidhJGVq-a6nmNswpD_risFKuk6nm8_B-kRWjm_fGBwGfOm-4RdEmDoF4-TCKjfc2yv-62nqEISBoW1XepC1KvFz2lOtPQZhRDbB4mhrtFYYZbGwmwd6QqR-9-G0-5FGVr4MQmRVJAT5VTz/s400/Ben_Wallace.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404862143945802962" /></a><br /><b>Fantasy Sports:</b><br /><li>If you play in a H2H (Head-to-head) nine-category fantasy basketball league (FG, FT, PTS, 3PTM, REB, AST, STL, BLK, TO), you might like Ben Wallace.<br /><li>Under what circumstances would you ever want a guy who can't score more than 5 points a game or make more than half of his free throws? Well, if your team already stinks at FT and PTS, you'd want Ben Wallace<br /><li>If you filter the NBA player rankings for seven categories, omitting FT and PTS, <span style="font-weight:bold;">Ben Wallace is ranked 4th in the entire NBA</span>.<br /><br /><b>Life:</b><br /><li>I want to find a way to stop my armpits from sweating while I'm at work. Armpit sweat is an affliction--a quiet affliction--that doesn't garner the same attention as pimples or hair loss, but it is arguably more devastating. Pimples and hair loss don't stain your favorite button-down.<br /><li>I heard a rumor that there is this prescription strength anti-perspirant that you put on once a month. You coat your armpits with this stuff that is the consistency of cake batter, you let it dry and then your sweating issues are solved for thirty days.<br /><li>For anyone who has had to tolerate the chill of a corporate air conditioning unit on their damp armpits for eight hours a day, armpit cake batter sounds like a delicious solution.DrGraviteehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10439520454351733144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7581538826357218391.post-65441248590244137242009-08-20T00:23:00.004-05:002009-08-20T21:09:44.941-05:0015 Fantasy Football Facts for 2009<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiDn4TkuMyvugHCkfCRFbFFwVoi106wSWNXSDCB0-dDJjA2ngRfLY-5tp70nsWsENpVzu_fx77nE3VDTvIlE2EQ-OMtTVFZ7lN-KwHLssBzZ6gxOHghHymUsWGv-xCDpvm1neKFQVYNpSg/s1600-h/Steve_Slaton.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 331px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiDn4TkuMyvugHCkfCRFbFFwVoi106wSWNXSDCB0-dDJjA2ngRfLY-5tp70nsWsENpVzu_fx77nE3VDTvIlE2EQ-OMtTVFZ7lN-KwHLssBzZ6gxOHghHymUsWGv-xCDpvm1neKFQVYNpSg/s400/Steve_Slaton.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371931425674783938" /></a><br /><li>Pierre Thomas only had more than 16 carries one time in 2008. Even though I drive his nickname (PT Cruiser), I'm not sure I'm willing to use a top 30 pick on him.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Readables</span>: PT is ranked 20th overall <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/fantasy/nfl/news?slug=ys-expertpoll-pre09-top40"target=_new>here</a> and 28th <a href="http://fantasyfootballcalculator.com/adp.php" target=_new>here</a>. Oh, and here is an ESPN article asking <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/fantasy/football/ffl/story?page=nfldk2k9saints32Q" target=_new>if PT is an RB1</a>.<br /><br /><li>Ronnie Brown scored 40% of his touchdowns in one game last year. He had sixteen or fewer carries in 13 of 16 games last year. He had 3 100-yard games last year.<br /><br /><li>Felix Jones has never had more than 10 touches in an NFL game.<br /><br /><li>Chris Johnson (9) rushed for more touchdowns than Matt Forte (8) in 2008.<br /><br /><li>Based on no evidence, I fear that DeAngelo Williams (18 TD) might be the Braylon Edwards of 2009 (Braylon went from 16 TD in 2007 to 3 TD in 2008). It will cost you a 12th overall pick to find out.<br /><br /><li>Slaton caught 50 passes last year.<br /><br /><li>Kevin Smith had over 20 carries in 6 of his last 8 games in 2008. He scored in four of them.<br /><br /><li>Ray Rice carried the ball more than 11 times twice last year. He scored zero TDs for the year.<br /><br /><li>DeSean Jackson went for 62-912-2TD last year. That's better than I thought, especially when you consider he'll probably pop off a return TD or two and maybe a rushing TD.<br /><br /><li>I like my WRs to be consistent. Lance Moore caught at least 5 passes in 10 of 16 games last year. Housh did it 9 times. TOwens did it 9 times. DeSean did it 8 times. DMason did it 9 times. <a href="http://thekitchensinkhole.blogspot.com/2009/08/you-owe-it-to-yourself-to-read-up-on.html" target=_new>DBess did it 5 of his last 6 games</a>. BMarshall did it in 12 of 15 games. Royal did it in 11 of 15 games.<br /><br /><li>Kevin Walter only caught at least 5 passes in four of his 2008 games. AGonz did it 4 times. VJax did it 6 times.<br /><br /><li>I'm on the fence about Antonio Bryant. He is either a dominant WR (9 catches, 200 yards, 2 TDs in Week 14 last year) or an <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/fantasy/nfl/news;_ylt=Aio6J7A4ETuvrtTydpMCcy8mANAF?slug=be-posprimer-wr" target=_new>overrated 2009 bust</a>.<br /><br /><li>I like my quarterbacks to be consistent. Aaron Rodgers threw or rushed for at least two touchdowns in 11 of 16 games in 2008. Drew Brees also did it 11 times. Peyton Manning did it 9 times. Matt Ryan did it 5 times. Romo did it 8 times (in only 12 games). Schaub did it 7 times (in only 11 games). Philip Rivers did it 12 times, but I refuse to draft him because I don't like him personally. (I've never met him, naturally.) So because of this silly stat I will probably draft Rodgers (ADP = 36) or Romo (ADP = 58) or Schaub (ADP = 72). <br /><br /><li>Last year I was burned by my lust for rookie RB McFadden. So I've instituted a new rule: no rookies before the 80th pick, and no rookie WRs unless they went to University of Florida. That rules out Moreno (53), Wells (71), Donald Brown (77), Crabtree (Texas Tech). McCoy (81) conveniently is an option. As is Harvin (97) and Green (118). I'm going to throw in Mendenhall (99), who missed so much time last year he is rookie-ish.<br /><br /><li>If you think I forgot about rookie RB Coffee (199), I didn't. He was ruled out because of what I call the Coco Crisp Theorem: if you've got a fun name, you'll always be overvalued. Milton Bradley is another baseball version of this rule. Is it safe to say Chad Ocho Cinco is the biggest football offender?DrGraviteehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10439520454351733144noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7581538826357218391.post-46618597555164684642009-08-18T21:36:00.007-05:002009-08-19T00:11:39.600-05:00You owe it to yourself to read up on Bess<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz7oxPz1-kWIsaKxEj9gVLKLmC4WTZSh4RuaEMl7kcnVQEWSmLmOX0cKImeNjU6DiI2bT7klfzp_sZgLVFLSMU8b0G8xUaTfoy2ztkuC_rmIr1p-pJKmb_73kTUkiicXfMiljmD9iHakVp/s1600-h/Davone_Bess.png"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 263px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz7oxPz1-kWIsaKxEj9gVLKLmC4WTZSh4RuaEMl7kcnVQEWSmLmOX0cKImeNjU6DiI2bT7klfzp_sZgLVFLSMU8b0G8xUaTfoy2ztkuC_rmIr1p-pJKmb_73kTUkiicXfMiljmD9iHakVp/s320/Davone_Bess.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371528190407799394" /></a>A few months ago, my wife said she would only let me pick up Florida 2B Emilio Bonifacio for the fantasy baseball team we were co-managing <a href="http://thekitchensinkhole.blogspot.com/2009/03/talented-mr-roto-matthew-berry-has.html" target=_new>if I let her buy a dog</a>. <br /><br />Since the All Star break Bonifacio has hit .244 with two stolen bases and has been caught stealing twice. The dog, on the other hand, has been quite a hit. The dog, which we named Golden Mucho, has changed my life. More on that later.<br /><br />Soon after nabbing Bonifacio, our fantasy team began to tank. I was distraught. To relieve my stress, I joined a local cycling team. Some members of the team, sensing my immense reservoir of talent, convinced me to race. During my third race, I was caught up in a crash and hyperextended two fingers and broke my clavicle. Surgery was required on my clavicle. While some folks do the Giro d'Italia a few weeks after clavicle surgery, I was placed on the fantasy 60-day disabled list. My doctor banned me from typing. I feared my season might be over. And so fans everywhere began to wonder, could The Sinkhole pull out victory with a team managed only by a wife who cared more about using fantasy sports as leverage to buy pets?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiElZqSWRHkO-wX5cbocMVcQUFffu4_2zWNXbd_H97MnXY_FuoO1DOxa0qp8GRfKROARTDJfNN_SnrHjF7h3Hv0QBI_V5Hk5VYJZybm-ltSeE-4rxAUzhhvckrfEh25y2FgC-cmB3wMt9rz/s1600-h/Lance_Armstrong_Clavicle.png"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 151px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiElZqSWRHkO-wX5cbocMVcQUFffu4_2zWNXbd_H97MnXY_FuoO1DOxa0qp8GRfKROARTDJfNN_SnrHjF7h3Hv0QBI_V5Hk5VYJZybm-ltSeE-4rxAUzhhvckrfEh25y2FgC-cmB3wMt9rz/s200/Lance_Armstrong_Clavicle.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371528746013663698" /></a><br /><br />The short answer is no. My fantasy season this year mirrored that of the real-life Mets. The Sinkhole fantasy baseball team is currently in 11th place in a league with twelve teams. Not that my wife didn't try. She recognized that the league favored starting pitching and traded BJ Upton for Johan Santana, but both players have been mediocre since the trade. She tried to sell Matt Wieters to the highest bidder, but no one was interested, even though this is a keeper league. Anyway. We suck.<br /><br />But now, football season is here. And my wife has agreed to co-manage again. I am insisting that we draft Devone Bess. She is insisting that Golden Mucho needs a friend. G. Mucho is, she says, lonely. The other day, when I came home from work, I found him on the couch, pawing through a month-old issue of US Weekly. The TV was on, and was tuned to Top Chef marathon. He was the most bored-looking dog I'd ever seen.<br /><br />When I was out with my broken clavicle, Golden Mucho nursed me back to health. He dutifully carried bags of ice to me. He helped me pull my shirt over my head. When I was finally well enough to leave the apartment, he made sure that nobody bumped my tender shoulder. I owe Golden Mucho a friend.<br /> <span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />You owe it to yourself to read up on Bess</span>:<br /><br /><li>A luke-warm <a href="http://www.4for4.com/draft_board/fantasy_football_analysis.php?id=1867" target=_new>Bess article</a>.<br /><br /><li>A hotter <a href="http://www.rotoworld.com/content/features/column.aspx?sport=NFL&columnid=77&articleid=33428&pg=2" target=_new>Bess article</a>.<br /><br /><li>Hottest: <a href="http://blogs.rotoworld.com/Fantasy_Football/2009/08/davone_bess_2009_ppr_hero.php">Bess, PPR Here</a>.DrGraviteehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10439520454351733144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7581538826357218391.post-60634754227016263422009-06-10T21:25:00.006-05:002009-07-20T21:28:38.965-05:00I Care That Matt Kemp Is Batting 8th<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghYUPvDs_QSRPqfYB0oR-toe_WBUdeNOzMdzmAEwfCJGrD60xUE_mbMpIr0W_-RSiWL1a_WmuX7o-vK4CXTOmtdiK-pheg298oVhx3_bsntjnQEEGrrFMcpu_2kVLqLGceh8cY9bXxtNnd/s1600-h/Matt_Kemp.png"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 210px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghYUPvDs_QSRPqfYB0oR-toe_WBUdeNOzMdzmAEwfCJGrD60xUE_mbMpIr0W_-RSiWL1a_WmuX7o-vK4CXTOmtdiK-pheg298oVhx3_bsntjnQEEGrrFMcpu_2kVLqLGceh8cY9bXxtNnd/s320/Matt_Kemp.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345893508880740802" /></a><br />"Earlier this season, Torre said he didn't have to talk to Casey Blake about batting 8th because he was a veteran who knew how to hit there. Torre thinks the same of Matt Kemp, who batted eighth four times recently. "Matt Kemp doesn't care where he hits," Torre said, adding that if he sensed it would be a problem he would talk with the player first. With Kemp, it wasn't a problem at all."<br /><br />- <a href="http://mobile.truebluela.com/2009/6/7/901812/dodgers-host-the-phillies-phanale" target=_new>True Blue LA</a><br /><br />Does it count if I care? Put aside all that baseball BS (power at the bottom of the order, putting a good hitter who can get hits even with the pitcher batting behind him, blah blah blah) and consider that Torre is giving the best hitter on the Dodgers one fewer at bat per game...on purpose.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Suggested Reading</span>:<br /><br />Is Matt Kemp <a href="http://bases.newsvine.com/_news/2009/07/20/3041491-kemp-building-case-as-baseballs-most-underrated-player" target=_new>the most underrated player</a> in baseball? Gleeman makes his case!DrGraviteehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10439520454351733144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7581538826357218391.post-56637809091270378242009-05-28T22:57:00.007-05:002009-05-28T23:20:13.063-05:00Leftovers, Fever Pitch & Johnny Damon<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi16F9jmtqU3yXrVnLp8JWFFzUyV051pjdBSVXqb4DveEdNs-fkP0_VEkRTgBmk_8SRo86XU4DsXM2RAIowIzHUkFucQ1vMLsDEFyvMd1Jtep9Bbk189yDZxaDwi230tOFTbkm2AMYatXFW/s1600-h/johnny_damon.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 274px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi16F9jmtqU3yXrVnLp8JWFFzUyV051pjdBSVXqb4DveEdNs-fkP0_VEkRTgBmk_8SRo86XU4DsXM2RAIowIzHUkFucQ1vMLsDEFyvMd1Jtep9Bbk189yDZxaDwi230tOFTbkm2AMYatXFW/s400/johnny_damon.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341093804822853970" /></a><br />My wife is off on a business trip and so I am alone for a night for the first time in months, maybe years. My goal was to read a textbook about software requirements for work, but I watched Fever Pitch on network television and ate a dinner of leftovers (rice, beans, and two chicken fingers) and a bowl of cereal (Special K with chocolate bits in it) instead.<br /><br />The movie made me feel...sad. And not just because I'm a Yankees fan. And not just because I was home alone eating a hodgepodge dinner and watching network television. The content of the movie made me feel sad, especially the parts that were attempting to make me feel uplifted. Like Johnny Damon's grand slam, for example.<br /><br />Let me explain: I miss being able to root against Johnny Damon and his caveman look. Back when he was with the Sox, I rooted against him as a player while simultaneously respecting his caveman look. I miss that complicated love/hate relationship. His caveman look was, well, pretty freaking awesome.<br /><br />End, nostalgia.<br /><br />Maybe <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thEie7led7U" target=_new>Matt Wieters can fill the emptiness</a> in my heart.DrGraviteehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10439520454351733144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7581538826357218391.post-15181584650093607262009-05-08T22:56:00.015-05:002009-05-09T12:21:15.857-05:00When do we start taking Barry Zito seriously?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTkO4oD4NSxaS_aYTOe0UgvQ8JLj_hagdw0HAtc1kObwfPm5NDUVDQdKZfgaZMy98aCH6ztUlol9j9SQX4ZaldK0ty-TdaoNRDL0sOg5dbLcwzglOLgX6hVlv1bGfDbG2YOTqsmZuL6zNO/s1600-h/Barry_Zito_Santa.png"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 372px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTkO4oD4NSxaS_aYTOe0UgvQ8JLj_hagdw0HAtc1kObwfPm5NDUVDQdKZfgaZMy98aCH6ztUlol9j9SQX4ZaldK0ty-TdaoNRDL0sOg5dbLcwzglOLgX6hVlv1bGfDbG2YOTqsmZuL6zNO/s400/Barry_Zito_Santa.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333678391911280290" /></a><br />Nine years ago, I liked a certain young starting pitcher so much that I incorporated his last name into the name of my fantasy baseball team. That pitcher? Barry Zito. I kept the name for four years, and during those four years <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/6394/career;_ylt=AmIBtl1gItC2VncnewdHZKWFCLcF" target=_new>Zito had won-loss records</a> of 7-4, 17-8, 23-5, and 14-12. After that the name got a little stale, and so I switched it up to something else. About that same time, Zito began to struggle. Well, maybe not struggle, but he certainly wasn't that same dominating pitcher that he used to be. His WHIP rose from a low of 1.13 in 2002 all the way to a high watermark of 1.60 in 2008.<br /><br />Guys who go 23-5 usually get taken seriously, but Zito hasn't been taken seriously for years. Maybe now that he has racked up <strike>three</strike> four straight quality starts, it is time to start taking him seriously. Maybe now that he has found a <a href="http://thekitchensinkhole.blogspot.com/2009/04/will-sandoval-become-zitos-personal.html" target=_new>soulmate in catcher Pablo Sandoval</a>, we should start taking him seriously.<br /><br />I'm going to go to bed now (I have to wake up in four hours <a href="http://thekitchensinkhole.blogspot.com/2009/05/someone-is-streaming-on-me.html" target=_new>to pick up some pitchers to stream</a>), but later I'll try to post some actual analysis about Zito in an attempt to see if he can be a sub 1.30 WHIP pitcher this year.<br /><br />Oh, and the name of my fantasy team? Zito Burrito. Kinda fun, kinda dumb. Good night.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Readables</span>:<br /><br /><li>Everything you could ever want to know about <a href="http://www.brooksbaseball.net/pfx/index.php?month=5&day=8&year=2009&game=gid_2009_05_08_sfnmlb_lanmlb_1%2F&pitchSel=217096.xml&prevGame=gid_2009_05_08_sfnmlb_lanmlb_1%2F&prevDate=58" target=_new>Zito's last start</a>.<br /><br /><li><a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=944&position=P" target=_new>A quick glance at FanGraphs</a> shows that Zito's 2009 LOB% (75.8%) isn't much over his career average (73.2%). His 2009 BABIP is actually higher (.284) than has career average (.273). His 2009 K/9 (6.11) is actually slightly below his career average (6.70), but his 2009 BB/9 (3.06) ties his best ever (he also had a BB/9 of 3.06 in his 22-5 2002 season, as <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/graphs.aspx?playerid=944&position=P&page=2&type=full" target=_new>this graph</a> shows). One change that jumps out is that 27% of his pitches thrown were curveballs in 2002, but now he's only throwing his curve 13% of the time. For some reason, after the 2005 season he abruptly stopped throwing his curveball as much. The only difference I can glean from <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/pitchfx.aspx?playerid=944&position=P" target=_new>these charts</a> is that he seems to be throwing a tick faster this year. So what does it all mean? Well he's walking fewer batters and giving up fewer home runs. If he can keep that up, he should be able to continue to be a sub 1.30 WHIP pitcher. I have not idea how true it is, but I like to believe that as long as Sandoval is behind the plate, Zito will continue his resurgence.<br /><br /><li>Just to summarize in a less blocky paragraph: after Zito pitches, check the boxscore for walks and HRs. If he's continues to give up fewer than 1 HR every other start and 2 walks per start, you should believe in all things Zito. If his HR or BB creep over those thresholds, be wary. Is that too subtle? Then just check back on <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/graphs.aspx?playerid=944&position=P&page=2&type=full" target=_new>these graphs</a> (using the BB/9 and HR/9 tabs).<br /><br /><li><a href="http://espn.go.com/page2/s/questions/zito.html" target=_new>An old Zito Q&A</a> from back in the day.DrGraviteehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10439520454351733144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7581538826357218391.post-15478393963743911042009-05-07T01:55:00.008-05:002009-05-07T08:46:15.388-05:00Fantasy Baseball Strategy: Someone is streaming on me<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkdwt1PQ5eYCH2sTvqQsmn4wtBYRwdnw3SMAiC1PqITFNa306VE9UOKChynRajJmVOKn049vZIslS4vArWNoEJe5_s3MCemAJxzACzx6nb0g_5sXKdToWVIy9DUEpsULSSUZYgCCKuwlvr/s1600-h/Ubaldo_Jimenez.png"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 179px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkdwt1PQ5eYCH2sTvqQsmn4wtBYRwdnw3SMAiC1PqITFNa306VE9UOKChynRajJmVOKn049vZIslS4vArWNoEJe5_s3MCemAJxzACzx6nb0g_5sXKdToWVIy9DUEpsULSSUZYgCCKuwlvr/s400/Ubaldo_Jimenez.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332981668038730098" /></a><br />I do not like it when someone streams on me. It doesn't make me feel good. In order to stop the streamer from streaming on me, I am aggressively fighting to neuter the streamer through a little trick I call anti-streaming. Here's how:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">First, some context</span>:<br /><br />In my Yahoo! league, the owner who is playing me this week dropped the three worst players on his roster on Sunday night (our weekly games start on Monday) and picked up the three best free agent starting pitchers who were scheduled to pitch on Monday. (In my Yahoo! league, you can't pick a player up and play him the same day; you can only play him starting the following day.) All three pitched well, and I suddenly found myself down in Quality Starts and Ks.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Now, the strategy (sort of)</span>:<br /><br />To counteract the streamer, I dropped the three worst players on my roster on Monday morning (I woke up earlier than the streaming owner) and picked up the two best free agent starting pitchers who were scheduled to pitch on Tuesday, as well as a starting pitcher who was scheduled to pitch on Wednesday. The following morning (Tuesday morning), I again woke up before the streaming owner and dropped all three pitchers and picked up two pitchers that were scheduled to pitch on Wednesday, as well as one starting pitcher who was scheduled to pitch on Thursday.<br /><br />You see, picking up one pitcher who is scheduled to start in two days allowed me to hold him for one night and drop him, thus relegating him to the waiver wire for three days and preventing the streamer from being able to start him against me. (In Yahoo! leagues, if you pick someone up and drop him right away he goes straight to being a free agent. If, however, you hold him overnight, the default settings put that player on waivers for three days.) The idea is to thin out the free agent pool a bit, as forcing the streamer to start increasingly marginal players will help you win ERA and WHIP when one of his SPs inevitably implodes (much like Bronson Arroyo and Mike Hampton did in the first inning of their starts today).<br /><br />As for the other two pitchers I picked up that pitched the following day, sometimes I started them and sometimes I didn't. The idea was to protect my ratios, while simultaneously hanging with the streamer in the K and QS categories. For example, today I started Ubaldo Jimenez. The reason I could do this safely was because I had such a huge lead in the ratios. So you have to play it by feel.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">To review</span>:<br /><br /><li>My league settings require me to wake up earlier than my opponenent to pick up the best three starting pitchers off the wire each day for a week.<br /><br /><li>Streaming is insanely stupid and I am insanely tired because I've been waking up early to get players off the wire for the last four mornings.<br /><br /><li>Just know that you don't HAVE to start the semi-crappy pitchers you pick up when trying to counteract a streamer. Only start a streaming SP when your ratios are safe and you need the Ks and QS (or Wins).<br /><br /><li>And if the SPs on the wire are particularly bad for a given day, move on to the next day and snag those SPs. You are trying to keep up with the streamer when it comes to quantity, but you want to try to do whatever you can to also maintain some quality to your pitching.<br /><br /><li>I realize not every owner can just drop three players. As it happens I had a number of injuries (Josh Hamilton, Brandon Morrow, Hong-Chih Kuo) that gave me some sudden roster flexibility.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">To conclude</span>:<br /><br />Thankfully, there is only one owner in my twelve-team league that is streaming. Otherwise I'd be tired all the time. Okay, I gotta sleep. I have my alarm set for two hours from now. Good night.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Related Reading</span>:<br /><br /><li>Yahoo!'s Behrens <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/fantasy/mlb/news?slug=ab-h2hstrategy_032707" target=_new>talks about streaming a day in advance</a>. All you need is two empty roster spots and the <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/scoreboard?d=2009-05-08" target=_new>MLB probable pitchers</a> for two days in advance.DrGraviteehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10439520454351733144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7581538826357218391.post-17222271735753659132009-04-27T13:21:00.011-05:002009-04-28T17:05:19.911-05:00Will Sandoval become Zito's personal catcher?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjga1IMzdcgUU_MQUJklxURpptNR8VuHWKm7TybOWNvJMl45f863hPos_1vnqxEB_I44Pj2SUlRHOywNfxIsoZ0XSkuQiUeMG-XEUg9bCKdVCAQU8f4_1i4nBTF-pCKgy_0tqhuBCtSc8n7/s1600-h/Pablo_Sandoval_Tagged.png"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 210px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjga1IMzdcgUU_MQUJklxURpptNR8VuHWKm7TybOWNvJMl45f863hPos_1vnqxEB_I44Pj2SUlRHOywNfxIsoZ0XSkuQiUeMG-XEUg9bCKdVCAQU8f4_1i4nBTF-pCKgy_0tqhuBCtSc8n7/s320/Pablo_Sandoval_Tagged.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329442956812864306" /></a>Tonight might be the night we discover if Pablo Sandoval is going to become Zito's personal catcher. Bengie Molina <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/04/25/SPOV178JHV.DTL" target=_new>says he's cool with it</a>, and plus, Molina caught twelve innings yesterday, so it makes sense that he'd get a rest. <br /><br />My thoughts? I'd say Sandoval has a 39% chance of catching tonight. Here is what others think:<br /><br /><li><a href="http://www.rotoworld.com/content/features/column.aspx?sport=MLB&columnid=2&articleid=32589&pg=3" target=_new>Rotoworld's Pouliot</a>: "Pablo Sandoval catches and Barry Zito pitches well; it's a trend that dates back to the second half of last season. Still, the Giants don't want to take Bengie Molina out of the lineup and they've never tried Molina at first base. I'd be surprised if Sandoval is behind the plate for Zito's start Monday."<br /><br /><li><a href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/04/25/SPOV178JHV.DTL" target=_new>Molina gives his blessing</a> to Sandoval and Zito.<br /><br /><li>"Barry Zito may be the first pitcher who <a href="http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090426&content_id=4434918&vkey=news_sf&fext=.jsp&c_id=sf" target=_new>prefers being caught by a third baseman</a>."<br /><br /><li>As many of you know, Sandoval is already catcher eligible in Yahoo leagues, so this information is aimed at leagues that need five or more catcher appearances this year to become eligible (which is the case in Sandbox leagues and probably some others). Sandoval has one catcher appearance so far this year.<br /><br /><li><a href="http://thekitchensinkhole.blogspot.com/2009/01/ten-early-thoughts-on-pablo-sandoval.html" target=_new>Ten Spring Training thoughts on Pablo Sandoval</a>...sort of interesting to read now that we've gotten a chance to see him play a bit this year.<br /><br /><li>UPDATE 4/27, mid-game (11:24pm): Yes! Sandoval catches Zito. And, perhaps more importantly, Zito is pitching well (4 innings, zero runs) so far, which makes it more likely for this trend to continue.<br /><br /><li>UPDATE 4/28, late-game (12:32am): A solid Zito start. He pitched six scoreless innings with 92 pitches, but he was left in the game for the seventh and gave up a walk, a homer, and a single. He was pulled for Merkin Valdez, who promptly allowed the inherited runner to score, plus a few more. So no win for Zito. But still, all in all Zito's start was MCE (more conclusive evidence) that he is better when Sandoval is his catcher.<br /><br />I think we have our answer to the question posed in the title. For now.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">The Morning After</span>:<br /><br /><li>"<a href="http://blogs.mercurynews.com/extrabaggs/2009/04/27/pregame-notes-matos-up-velez-out-bochy-squashes-personal-catcher-talk/" target=_new>I asked Manager Bruce Bochy</a> how he weighs the benefit of having Pablo Sandoval working with Barry Zito against the negative of taking Molina, the club’s cleanup hitter, out of the lineup. Bochy insisted this is not a “personal catcher” scenario and he would have rested Molina anyway because he caught all 12 innings Sunday. Bochy did say there was a benefit to giving Sandoval his starts with the same pitcher, because it helps with familiarity."<br /><br /><li>"<a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090427&content_id=4457050&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb" target=_new>Once again, though Bochy didn't fully commit</a> to naming Sandoval as Zito's personal catcher, the manager did say, "It makes it easier for the pitcher or the catcher if Bengie gets the same off-day each week." Bochy added that besides Zito, Sandoval would be most likely to catch Matt Cain or Jonathan Sanchez, while Molina has been charged with the responsibility of working with ace Tim Lincecum and fellow veteran Randy Johnson."DrGraviteehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10439520454351733144noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7581538826357218391.post-30118425310663055592009-04-24T22:35:00.007-05:002009-04-25T07:56:17.769-05:00Kinsler on pace to join 50/50 club<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfL9y8Bml1VHAbslnCl3H1skjbustTTGLIeQN8N1BZrMkA1swxfkvtJLoSKJCtInHIrI0HWOx1j4zaJcuUGsigvto2uzia3dFzUNRFpFXk5pi4s2Lghb6bYpdbdTCzV0ylhDLTSFg_kSKI/s1600-h/Ian_Kinsler.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 241px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfL9y8Bml1VHAbslnCl3H1skjbustTTGLIeQN8N1BZrMkA1swxfkvtJLoSKJCtInHIrI0HWOx1j4zaJcuUGsigvto2uzia3dFzUNRFpFXk5pi4s2Lghb6bYpdbdTCzV0ylhDLTSFg_kSKI/s320/Ian_Kinsler.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328475917139556722" /></a>Here are the highest draft picks to have been dropped so far in my Yahoo! 12-team mixed H2H league (22-player rosters): Justin Upton (Round 11), Chris Iannetta (11), Derrek Lee (11), Milledge (12), Carlos Guillen (13), Kawakami (14), Jose Lopez (14), and Delmon Young (15).<br /><br />Of this list, the players that I am most confident will rebound are Jose Lopez and Chris Iannetta.<br /><br /><strong>Other Notes</strong>:<br /> <br />After a rough start, Motte has quietly settled down. After giving up 4 runs in his first appearance, he's pitched 6 innings, given up only 1 run, and has 1 walk and 6 Ks. He's probably not an option when not getting saves, but he's worth watching.<br /> <br />I've read more talk about how Chris Ray will take over the closer role from Sherrill, and maybe sooner than most folks think. I believe it because it makes sense. Sherrill is most valuable (to Baltimore) when not in the closer role. Don't believe me? <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/7379/splits;_ylt=AtvkwlLXhdg_3GqJx4Sl3piFCLcF?year=2008&type=Pitching" target=_new>Check out</a> how bad he is against right-handed hitters (1.73 WHIP, 26 BB, 28 K in 2008) and how good he is against left-handed hitters (1.06 WHIP, 7 BB, 30 K, in 2008).<br /> <br />Other closer types that are worth watching include Santiago Casilla, Garrett Mock (Nats), Nunez, CPerez, Motte, Arredondo, Zumaya, Balfour, Izzy (TB), Aardsma, RMadson (PHI). Oh, and with Joakim Soria missing a minimum of 3 games, look into Juan Cruz.<br /> <br />Brandon Wood hasn't played single inning in three games so far. He supposedly will play a little this weekend. I don't get it. If you aren't going to play him, why call him up?<br /> <br />Other middle infield news: Aviles is playing horribly. I predict he will be dropped soon by most managers. Also: Ass Cab (Asdrubal Cabrera) has been solid of late.<br /> <br />When it comes to a steals-only type player to pick up, consider Iwamura (5 steals) to be potentially more valuable than Gardner (4 steals) or Elvis Andrus. Iwamura hits for decent average (.280-ish), scores a lot (91 times last year), and is on pace for 50 steals right now. Speaking of on-pace stats...<br /><br /><strong>Fun With Stats</strong>:<br /><br />The season is already 10% complete, as teams have played 15-to-17 games. The cool thing about this is we can add a zero to any counting stat and get that players' 2009 pace. For example:<br /><br />Han Ram: 20 HR / 20 SB<br />NCruz, Inge, & Pujols: 60 HR<br />Abreu: 80 SB<br />Kemp: 30 HR / 40 SB<br />Kinsler: 50 HR / 70 SB<br />Markakis 180 Runs, 190 RBI<br />Pujols: 180 Runs, 210 RBI<br />Aaron Hill: 290 Hits<br />Kevin Millwood: 300 Innings<br />JSantana: 270 K<br />CBills, Wandy, & Haren: 40 Quality Starts<br />Heath Bell: 70 SavesDrGraviteehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10439520454351733144noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7581538826357218391.post-3879335243966185002009-04-22T22:29:00.009-05:002009-04-25T08:13:32.988-05:00Rafael Soriano gets the save: should you save a roster spot for Soriano?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxCDIRaJo-ksEApnLoIkWL284pMsMSOqranLENXt0JBnquic8LjJU9j3BH14bVDck6mesCgbRLIEN-Iiqp7U-tDzAqO23uHFtFMzzHZXT5jF4yXYMRFQzU9AFTNSrfWEaOet9X5L6Ql-gr/s1600-h/Rafael_Soriano_Hug.png"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 245px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxCDIRaJo-ksEApnLoIkWL284pMsMSOqranLENXt0JBnquic8LjJU9j3BH14bVDck6mesCgbRLIEN-Iiqp7U-tDzAqO23uHFtFMzzHZXT5jF4yXYMRFQzU9AFTNSrfWEaOet9X5L6Ql-gr/s400/Rafael_Soriano_Hug.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327728418347127570" /></a><br />Here is what <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/6662/news;_ylt=AhpoPNZYXCy7dCVjxyd6U..FCLcF" target=_new>Rafael Soriano's Yahoo player note</a> had to say after he got the save tonight:<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">"Soriano threw a scoreless ninth inning with two strikeouts to earn his second save in Wednesday's win over Washington. Mike Gonzalez pitched in the eighth inning to get the win.<br /><br />"Soriano got the nod over Gonzalez when the Braves wanted to bring a left-handed pitcher in to face left-handed Adam Dunn in the eighth inning. This could be a sign the closer role may be split between the two players, and Soriano may have more upside if both are healthy since Gonzalez may be used earlier in games against left-handed batters."</span><br /><br />My guess is that either this is a bit of a false alarm and Soriano only snipes a quiet one-to-two saves a month for the rest of the season OR Mike Gonzalez and Soriano split of the save opportunities equitably going forward. Either way, this news makes Soriano valuable in mixed leagues, especially in leagues that have saves and holds; Soriano has had either a save or a hold in four of his seven appearances in 2009.<br /><br />What? You want me to speak in an informal, off-the-record type way? Here ya go: ride the Intermittent Raffy Sores closer horse until he gets injured. And he will get injured. Dude's ligaments have the tensile strength of tissue paper.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Stat-y Type Stuff</span>:<br /><br /><li>Check out Rafael Soriano's <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=1100&position=P" target=_new>career stats</a> (in 263 innings):<br />K/9 = 9.27<br />BB/9 = 2.74<br />K/BB = 3.39<br />AVG against = .204<br />Career fastball speed: 93.5 MPH (he's been throwing 92.1 so far this year)<br /><br /><li>4/24 UPDATE: Well, R. Soriano got the hold tonight (while giving up one run in the eighth) and M. Gonzo got the save. It will be interesting to see how this plays out over the next few weeks.<br /><br /><li><a href="http://www.fantasyhurler.com/articles/april-2009/fantasy-errata-goes-vulture-hunting.html" target=_new>Fantasy Hurler</a> thinks RSoriano will save more games than Gonzo in 2009 (by the count of 20-ish saves to 10-15-ish).DrGraviteehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10439520454351733144noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7581538826357218391.post-88942787684915788442009-04-20T22:03:00.017-05:002009-04-21T22:40:06.845-05:00The RP/SP Eligible Fantasy Baseball Update: Garrett Mock Might Close<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNW3wDnlL7fWMR_tbmmra9tiDAnKA1nUcQAqcpV-a1M6GhOudS2_D3zqFOWjPycTfa8oHTEx0nnvM3Eh1BbRb1SCysgB3BRD9Vib01bIIqHoO5uYH4Uswmu7WYq75zjKFK52ZZdk4pTJu1/s1600-h/Garrett_Mock.png"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 376px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNW3wDnlL7fWMR_tbmmra9tiDAnKA1nUcQAqcpV-a1M6GhOudS2_D3zqFOWjPycTfa8oHTEx0nnvM3Eh1BbRb1SCysgB3BRD9Vib01bIIqHoO5uYH4Uswmu7WYq75zjKFK52ZZdk4pTJu1/s400/Garrett_Mock.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326989154636617874" /></a><br /><a href="http://thekitchensinkhole.blogspot.com/2009/02/who-are-top-rpsp-eligible-players-of.html" target=_new>As I mentioned in a previous post</a>, RP/SP dual eligible pitchers can help your fantasy baseball team. Here are a few relief pitchers that have SP eligibility that you might want to keep an eye on:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Brandon Morrow</span> - The best SP eligible relief pitcher of the 2009 season. Look for him to put up Joakim Soria type closer numbers this year.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Hong-Chih Kuo</span> - Dodgers coach Joe Torre has been avoiding using Kuo on back-to-back days to protect Kuo's elbow (which has had four (4!) operations), but as a result Kuo has looked out of sorts. Kuo himself has admitted that he is currently <a href="http://www.rototimes.com/article/2009/4/National-League-Review-3" target=_new>lacking in confidence</a>. Don't push the panic button on Kuo just yet, but if he still is struggling by the time May rolls around, you can begin to get worried.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Carlos Villanueva</span> - Villanueva was so bad as a closer that he has, most likely, been banished to 7th inning duties even with Trevor Hoffman still out for at least one more week. <a href="http://www.king5.com/sharedcontent/northwest/sports/mlb/stories/NBC_BB_Col_100032552_nl_team_by_team_notes.13935d.html" target=_new>Rotoworld claims</a> Villanueva is still worth using, but I'm not so sure.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Garrett Mock</span> (pictured) - <a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090420&content_id=4354848&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb&partnerId=rss_mlb" target=_new>With Joel Hanrahnrahan stuggling</a> as the Nats closer, the possibility exists that the RP/SP eligible Mock gets a shot at the closer role. Mock has two saves in five relief appearances in the Minors so far this year. He also had a Chien-Ming Wang-like <a href="http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/playerbreakingnews.asp?sport=MLB&id=4118&line=259632&spln=1" target=_new>31.50</a> ERA after his first three minor league appearances this year. So it is not like Mock was tearing up Triple-A. Still, given that Mock has had decent control and a solid K/9 ratio <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=mock--001gar" target=_new>throughout his minor league career</a>, I'm cautiously optimistic that he would be useable if he ever were to get the closer role. Not that it is all that likely he'll get a shot to close: I'd say he has a about a 15% chance of ever closing in 2009, as I'd speculate that Joe Beimel gets first crack if Hanrahanrahan continues to falter. UPDATE 4/21: Beimel was just placed on the 15 day DL. So maybe Mock will get a shot. Then again, Joel H. was able to lock down a save last night, so maybe Mock won't get a shot. Mock did, however, retire the only batter he faced to get the last out of the eighth inning--picking up a hold in the process--in his 2009 debut. It appears he'll be Joel Hanny's setup guy for the near-term.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Dan Meyer</span> - Unlike most of the other RP/SP eligible pitchers, Meyer has started out the year strong: 5.1 innings, 2 ER, 4 K, 2 BB, and 3 Holds. This is a very small sample size, but if you are looking for holds from an RP/SP eligible pitcher, you might try riding Meyer's strong start. Just know that he will probably regress to numbers closer to his career averages of a 1.68 WHIP and a 7.19 ERA.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Others</span>: Jeff Bennett, Justin Masterson, Dennis Sarfate, and Sean Marshall each have 1 Hold in 2009.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Other Readables</span>:<br /><br /><li><a href="http://thekitchensinkhole.blogspot.com/2009/02/who-are-top-rpsp-eligible-players-of.html" target=_new>The top RP/SP eligible pitchers of 2009</a><br /><br /><li>Rotoworld <a href="http://www.rotoworld.com/content/features/column.aspx?sport=MLB&columnid=2&articleid=32552" target=_new>thinks Mock might close</a>.<br /><br /><li>Suddenly Mock info is cropping up everywhere! <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/fantasy/blog/roto_arcade/post/Closing-Time-Hanrahan-yes-he-can;_ylt=ApiQ7GNVQHr96cnDXGLf4nW5bZ8u?urn=fantasy,157849" target=_new>Here is</a> a Yahoo post about the Nats closer situation.<br /><br /><li><a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/fantasy/blog/roto_arcade/post/Closing-Thoughts-We-Mock-what-we-don-t-Hanrahan;_ylt=AqAszlJ0BjnjUbgNitUXiLG5bZ8u?urn=fantasy,157940" target=_new>Here is</a> Yahoo's team-by-team closer summary. They've even added a nifty RP/SP icon. And they got rid of the horrible yellow color and went with blue. Good work, guys.<br /><br /><li>UPDATE 4/21: Hanny-rahan is on a roll! He held on for his second save tonight (1 BB, 1 hit, 0 K). Mock didn't pitch.DrGraviteehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10439520454351733144noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7581538826357218391.post-31650086108665251622009-04-19T00:01:00.008-05:002009-04-24T11:54:16.639-05:00Funked-up Starts To The 2009 MLB Season: Six Players Who Are Currently Ranked Below A-Rod<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibIeVmTMT1eGMuyx1h7gpL5eup7Z8_IjPJisqS4dD_UMrRllRrco_Ap14lnn0KKVeXlDXrdkT8ZweGtdaEHHvQXOx-wFyzOkg9U9imgJRkNZ3vJF3uAhN2iNU3QCjc5PrU0mNFVJyk9oFO/s1600-h/Jimmy_Rollins_Cold.png"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 132px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibIeVmTMT1eGMuyx1h7gpL5eup7Z8_IjPJisqS4dD_UMrRllRrco_Ap14lnn0KKVeXlDXrdkT8ZweGtdaEHHvQXOx-wFyzOkg9U9imgJRkNZ3vJF3uAhN2iNU3QCjc5PrU0mNFVJyk9oFO/s200/Jimmy_Rollins_Cold.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326260828470906130" /></a>Every year, a few very good baseball players start the MLB season in a bit of a funk. When this happens, you have three choices:<br />1. Run away from them, screaming<br />2. Do what you can to get the funked-up player on your team as cheaply as possible<br />3. Do nothing.<br /><br />This year I am mostly going to do nothing. Why? Because nearly every player who has started the 2009 season in a funk is already on my team. You don't believe me? Check this out: my entire team is batting .194 over the last week. Thank you Pablo Sandoval (.216 for the season), Chris Davis (.176), Garrett Atkins (.222), Alexei Ramirez (.143), and BJ Upton (.176). Wow.<br /><br />So, according to the Yahoo! ranking system, Alex Rodriguez is ranked #962 even though he hasn't played a single game yet this year. For those of you who are in position trade for some funked-up players, here are six players who have played so poorly this season that they are ranked <span style="font-style:italic;">below</span> A-Rod in the Y! ranks. Yes, that's right: the players on this list have been so cold at the plate so far this season that you would have been better off if you'd been starting the injured A-Rod over them:<br /><br />6. <span style="font-weight:bold;">David Ortiz</span> (#1085): You might be able to get Ortiz really, really cheaply. He's batting .158 (6-for-38) so far this season, and people are starting to whisper that his career is done. Kaput. Razzball <a href="http://razzball.com/david-ortiz-2009-fantasy-schmohawk/" target=_new>compares Ortiz's career trajectory to Mo Vaughn</a>. Scouts, apparently, <a href="http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=4072961&name=olney_buster&action=upsell&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fespn%2fblog%2findex%3fentryID%3d4072961%26name%3dolney_buster" target=_new>are concerned</a>. What do I think? I don't really know, but I'm staying away for now. (That could change, as I always like a bargain.)<br /><br />5. <span style="font-weight:bold;">Justin Upton</span> (#1109): JUpton started the season by batting .130 (3-for-23). His swing, apparently, needs fixing. People are suddenly saying that 21-year old still isn't ready. Funny to think that if he'd just had three more hits, people wouldn't be having this conversation at all. The only reason I hesitate to endorse him is that his manager isn't playing him regularly. This could either turn into a 2008 Matt Kemp situation, where JUpton plays himself into more playing time, or it could result in a Lastings Milledge situation, where JUpton is demoted. I'll sum up my feelings this way: I'm in love with the guy, but he is currently sitting on the waiver wire in my 12-team money league.<br /><br />4. <span style="font-weight:bold;">Chris Iannetta</span> (#1109): Iannetta started the season by batting .048 (1-for-21). Hey, look on the bright side: his defensive skills <a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090416&content_id=4300616&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb" target=_new>have improved</a> since last year. (Full disclosure: I was one of those people who fell for JR Towles in the past.) I am not honestly not worried about Iannetta.<br /><br />3. <span style="font-weight:bold;">Jimmy Rollins</span> (#1110 in Y! game): Rollins has started the year 5-40 and doesn't have a single stolen base. Jimmy <a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090416&content_id=4303248&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb" target=_new>claims it is all about timing</a>, and quite frankly, I believe him. I am actively pursuing him in trades. Sure, he's cold now, but he'll heat up soon enough.<br /><br />2. <span style="font-weight:bold;">Alexei Ramirez</span> (#1100): Alexei has started the year batting .143 (5-for-35). Am I worried? Yes, but only because he's on my team, and when players are on my team I worry about them constantly. But someone with more perspective would point out that Alexei <a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/whitesox/chi-19-white-sox-bits-chicago-apr19,0,4610732.story" target=_new>made some great adjustments</a> last year, and that he's a great bet to do it again this year.<br /><br />1. <span style="font-weight:bold;">Geovany Soto</span> (#1117): Soto is currently batting .118 (2-for-17), but I blame a "sore" shoulder. If the shoulder injury isn't serious, he'll be fine. If his shoulder injury is serious, he might 2008-Victor-Martinez your team. I say the odds are 80/20 that he'll be fine.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Honorable Mention</span>:<br /><br />Prince Fielder (#673), Carlos Lee (#762), Stephen Drew (#661), Chris Davis (#628), Jay Bruce (#679), and JJ Hardy (#674).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Other Readables</span>:<br /><br /><li><a href="http://www.fantasyhurler.com/articles/april-2009/the-drop-dead-pool.html" target=_new>Fantasy Hurler</a> thinks that Alexei, CDavis, and Ortiz might be droppable at some point this year.<br /><br /><li><a href="http://fantasybaseball365.com/2009/04/the-risingthe-falling.html" target=_new>Fantasy Baseball 365</a> suggests that Justin Upton might be better off if he were in the minors for another year...or two.<br /><br /><li><a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/fantasy/mlb/news;_ylt=Alk8jef8sC4Sw94csLNbcwO5bZ8u?slug=be-noise041608" target=_new>Yahoo suggests</a> you should buy Chris Davis and Chris Iannetta and hold Alexei Ramirez.<br /><br /><li><a href="http://razzball.com/cuban-missile-crisis/" target=_new>Razzball on Alexei</a>: don't despair!DrGraviteehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10439520454351733144noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7581538826357218391.post-80482890482740482192009-04-18T10:47:00.014-05:002009-04-19T12:09:17.033-05:00Wang or Pettitte?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC_fnIFC4VlVQIaXBj8WSqwm5QFT_51AxD32pPPYWXEiE_yOJWz_f4-9wU1zVEQpqW4mUac2NvuyH0PMRKK0CNYy8VHZkJulsABeM11p7PCt1H8ry_X_-dJ5A-nKK-Y2Poq0nUMC1cN32a/s1600-h/Chien-Ming_Wang.png"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 387px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC_fnIFC4VlVQIaXBj8WSqwm5QFT_51AxD32pPPYWXEiE_yOJWz_f4-9wU1zVEQpqW4mUac2NvuyH0PMRKK0CNYy8VHZkJulsABeM11p7PCt1H8ry_X_-dJ5A-nKK-Y2Poq0nUMC1cN32a/s400/Chien-Ming_Wang.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326062878193594546" /></a><br />Chien-Ming Wang was just dropped in my 12-team mixed league. Andy Pettitte was already on the wire. My co-manager was pushing for us to pick up Pettitte. I've been resisting, wanting to pick up Wang instead. Here is my argument:<br /><br />Pettitte:<br />2006: 214.1 innings, 3.20 ERA, 1.44 WHIP<br />2007: 215.1 innings, 4.05 ERA, 1.43 WHIP<br />2008: 204 innings, 4.54 ERA, 1.41 WHIP<br />2009: 14.1 innings 2.51 ERA, <span style="font-weight:bold;">0.77 WHIP</span><br /><br />Which WHIP seems out of place?<br /><br />Wang:<br />2006: 218 innings, 3.63 ERA, 1.31 WHIP<br />2007: 199.1 innings, 3.70 ERA, 1.29 WHIP<br />2008: 95 innings, 4.07 ERA, 1.32 WHIP<br />2009: 4.2 innings, 28.93 ERA, <span style="font-weight:bold;">4.50 WHIP</span><br /><br />Which WHIP seems out of place?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Conclusion</span>: The over / under on Pettitte's 2009 WHIP should be about 1.43. Wang's over / under for his 2009 WHIP should be about 1.31. You think it is a bit misleading to only show WHIP, ERA, and innings pitched? Fine. How about this: Wang is 29 and hasn't been linked to steroids and Pettitte is going to turn 38 soon and <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/2007/12/13/2007-12-13_source_yankees_clemens_pettitte_named_in.html" target=_new>has been linked to steroids</a>. You think this is ageist, and that I should get over my ageism by watching <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/18/arts/television/18boyle.html?ref=global-home" target=_new>this link</a>? Ok. You have me there.<br /><br /><li><a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/fantasy/mlb/news?slug=ys-expertpoll-09preseason1-sp" target=_new>Here is how Y! saw it</a> before the season started: Wang is ranked 63rd and Pettitte is ranked 71st.<br /><br /><li>Bill James projects a 1.35 WHIP for both <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=840&position=P" target=_new>Pettitte</a> and <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=2074&position=P" target=_new>Wanger</a>.<br /><br /><li>Of course the day I post this, Wang gives up 8 runs in 1.1 innings in what will probably end up being a 22-4 loss to the Indians (there are two outs in the ninth), raising his ERA to 34.50. Now I'm beginning to wonder if he is hiding an injury.<br /><br /><li>Yes, that is Joba wearing the checkered sweater in the background in the picture above.<br /><br /><li>"<a href="http://bats.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/18/what-the-yankees-can-and-cant-do-about-chien-ming-wang/?hp" target=_new>To reach his career E.R.A.</a> coming into the season (3.79), Wang would have to roll off 48 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings."<br /><br /><li><a href="http://bats.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/14/eiland-analyzes-wangs-problem/" target=_new>Wang is able to correct his flaw in practice</a>, just not in the game.DrGraviteehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10439520454351733144noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7581538826357218391.post-64522627352872269522009-04-07T23:07:00.005-05:002009-04-19T18:58:32.798-05:00Q: Should I trade Alexei Ramirez for JJ Hardy & Rich Harden?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4J59_TmIxTvpVoCNZPF4GNZiOv1VauFf8evM-puZ2ApnJr4j7eKQqodmVzc-fVgKtGfsJmKlFaIvCgxGaRS9Gqxf1ESXoDeiIH8g3TsBPIod9uzbjiNgw-EbmaUVHuFLt7-BCfy_V11b8/s1600-h/Alexei_Ramirez_HomeRun.png"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 218px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4J59_TmIxTvpVoCNZPF4GNZiOv1VauFf8evM-puZ2ApnJr4j7eKQqodmVzc-fVgKtGfsJmKlFaIvCgxGaRS9Gqxf1ESXoDeiIH8g3TsBPIod9uzbjiNgw-EbmaUVHuFLt7-BCfy_V11b8/s320/Alexei_Ramirez_HomeRun.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322174872509085202" /></a>I'm lacking a little bit of context here (is this a daily league? Do you have DL slots? Roto or H2H?), but I'll give a stab at answering Anonymous' question anyway: <span style="font-style:italic;">I</span> wouldn't trade Alexei for JJ & Rich.<br /><br />Why? Well, blame Rich Harden. My own personal over/under on how many starts he makes this year is 11, and I'd take the under. But remember, I'm the same guy who drafted Harden for both his 2006 (9 starts) and 2007 (4 starts) seasons, but not his 2008 (26 starts) season. I'm also the guy who <a href="http://thekitchensinkhole.blogspot.com/2009/02/is-alexei-ramirez-worth-his-adp-if-he.html" target=_new>wrote stuff</a> about Alexei and then <a href="http://thekitchensinkhole.blogspot.com/2009/03/what-will-your-waiver-wire-look-like.html" target=_new>drafted him</a> in his own draft. So you can certainly take my advice, but remember that I'm pretty biased here.<br /><br />As for stats, I wouldn't read much into their stats so far this year:<br />Alexei: 0-3 (1 game)<br />Hardy: 0-5 (1 game)<br />Harden: Yet to pitch in regular season, but did give up three HR in each of his last two spring training starts.<br /><br />I admit that I'd be tempted because of the Hardy/Harden thing. I'd be especially tempted if your team already has both Uptons on it. Then again, if you have both Manny and Alexei Ramirez I'd be less tempted. On a more serious note, Hardy will get some nice stats at the end of the year, but he seems to get most of them in the same week, so I'd personally avoid him if you are in a H2H league.<br /><br />I'm all over the place. Bottom line? Stick with Sexy Alexei. Harden is a great player when healthy (top ten SP? top five? He's captain of the <a href="http://www.fantasyballjunkie.com/?p=1553" target=_new>all-value-per-appearance team</a>), but you'd be taking a big gamble by trading for him. Arguably (and according to ADP, which is meaningless now that the season has started, but still), Alexei is the best player in the deal, and you rarely want to be on the side of the deal that is giving up the best player.<br /><br />Good luck, Anon!<br /><br /><li>4/19/09 Update: <a href="http://thekitchensinkhole.blogspot.com/2009/04/funked-up-starts-to-2009-mlb-season-six.html" target=_new>Don't give up on Alexei Ramirez yet!</a>DrGraviteehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10439520454351733144noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7581538826357218391.post-60646535416708582602009-04-07T08:13:00.002-05:002009-04-07T19:14:51.609-05:00Talented Mr. Roto Matthew Berry Has Google Alerts<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN78z1IUqWqmbke-HSaIZtXWLRiljgmNGosFlqCYYMHfVxi5IZvZtm_yYEJneICbdktlCSpJ8z5BM-HESVHrZR_YzlXRccpODb5nFdYKpstvxIF4UCwgOtnEm5MqRDKuiFFaqpVnyJsfFs/s1600-h/Fantasy_Focus.png"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 197px; height: 197px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN78z1IUqWqmbke-HSaIZtXWLRiljgmNGosFlqCYYMHfVxi5IZvZtm_yYEJneICbdktlCSpJ8z5BM-HESVHrZR_YzlXRccpODb5nFdYKpstvxIF4UCwgOtnEm5MqRDKuiFFaqpVnyJsfFs/s200/Fantasy_Focus.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317951081344131266" /></a>So I was listening to Matthew Berry and Nate Ravitz's <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/espnradio/podcast/archive?id=2544461" target=_new>ESPN: Fantasy Focus Baseball Podcast</a> the other day, and I heard Matthew tell Nate that he (Matthew) is signed up to receive google alerts when his name is mentioned on the web. So, I thought I'd conduct an experiment: <br /><br />Talented Mr. Roto Matthew Berry Has Google Alerts. Talented Mr. Roto Matthew Berry Has Google Alerts. Talented Mr. Roto Matthew Berry Has Google Alerts. Talented Mr. Roto Matthew Berry Has Google Alerts. Talented Mr. Roto Matthew Berry Has Google Alerts. Talented Mr. Roto Matthew Berry Has Google Alerts. Talented Mr. Roto Matthew Berry Has Google Alerts. Talented Mr. Roto Matthew Berry Has Google Alerts. Talented Mr. Roto Matthew Berry Has Google Alerts. Talented Mr. Roto Matthew Berry Has Google Alerts. Talented Mr. Roto Matthew Berry Has Google Alerts.<br /><br />Hi, TMR. This is kind of funny, right Matthew? That I got your attention in this way? Maybe you're right, maybe it isn't funny.<br /><br />Anyway, now that I have your attention, I though I'd tell you a quick story: I'm currently co-managing a fantasy baseball team with my wife. She is fairly knowledgeable about baseball, but she'd always scoffed at fantasy sports, so I was amazed that she agreed to team up with me. It wasn't until last night, when she said she'd refuse to let me pick up Emilio Bonifacio until I agreed that we'd buy a dog, that I understood why she had agreed so readily manage with me.<br /><br />I initially said no to the dog (we live in a small apartment), but a few hours later (right after Bonifacio stole his third base) I broke down. I had to have Bonifacio. So I made a deal with my wife that we could have a dog as long as Bonifacio was on our roster.<br /><br />My wife left our apartment and returned thirty minutes later with a full-grown golden retriever mix.<br /><br />“Should we name him Bonifacio?” I asked.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh52VpA2IM-IdllEHyEOJcRrNMPc-MXoEpUnRjUAewL1OrH5joH8kzUQw93FrQEq6KB4PkBJttiPawTvcM5Rj5ol2Oflvp67od91g2Y2JqtIupqf9pRPaG-FC9ojJIfFTpiQ_PoJZme6djL/s1600-h/Emilio_Bonifacio.png"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh52VpA2IM-IdllEHyEOJcRrNMPc-MXoEpUnRjUAewL1OrH5joH8kzUQw93FrQEq6KB4PkBJttiPawTvcM5Rj5ol2Oflvp67od91g2Y2JqtIupqf9pRPaG-FC9ojJIfFTpiQ_PoJZme6djL/s400/Emilio_Bonifacio.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321921526762948002" /></a><br /><br />“Nah. Golden Mucho is his name,” my wife said.<br /><br />The plan was for Golden Mucho to sleep on the linoleum in the kitchen, but after we’d gone bed, he opened our bedroom door and joined us in our bed.<br /><br />“Did he just open our bedroom door?” I asked.<br /><br />“Maybe it was open a crack already.”<br /><br />“Shouldn’t we kick him out?”<br /><br />“Let him stay.”<br /><br />I was too tired to argue.<br /><br />In the middle of the night, I woke up and went to use the bathroom. When I opened the door to the bathroom, I found Golden Mucho squatting over the toilet bowl and using it for its intended purpose. When he was done, Golden Mucho used his nose to flush the toilet, and then he bounded out of the bathroom, past my legs, and into our bed.<br /><br />This morning, as I ate breakfast and started to get ready for work, the stereo began to play at an acceptably loud level. I don't know what it is with this dog, but he's really good with knobs and levers. How cool is that? There is no way I'm dropping Bonifacio now. He can bat .217 for all I care. We're keeping Golden Mucho.<br /><br />Okay, Matthew. Thanks for listening. As you were.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Related Reading(s)</span>:<br /><br /><li>Matthew and Razzball <a href="http://deadspin.com/5168113/matthew-berry-doesnt-enjoy-being-razzballed" target=_new>have some polite back-and-forth</a>.DrGraviteehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10439520454351733144noreply@blogger.com2