View Full Version : MoFo Fantasy Baseball 2014 - The Regular Season
Heard we might be getting Austin Jackson, they just pulled him out of his game. Now thats just stupid! We need power. ohmanmumblegrumbledamn
I hate this. Theyve announced to the world that Price is going to Detroit but I cant find anywhere yet what Tampas getting. This is supposed to be a 3 team trade Tampa-Detroit-Seattle so who knows how this will all pan out.
Banknotes Harper
07-31-14, 05:21 PM
I hate this. Theyve announced to the world that Price is going to Detroit but I cant find anywhere yet what Tampas getting. This is supposed to be a 3 team trade Tampa-Detroit-Seattle so who knows how this will all pan out.
I'm still waiting for the other shoe to drop, I think, but it appears that Detroit is sending Austin Jackson to Seattle and Drew Smyly to Tampa, Seattle is sending Nick Franklin to Tampa, and Tampa is, of course, sending Price to Detroit. If that's all that it is, then Franklin and Smyly doesn't feel like a huge "price" to pay for Price. Get it?!
If they don't get a bigger return, then that means that Tampa is completely off the hook for paying Price next season. His 3rd year of arbitration will likely fall around $20MM.
Mariners acquire Austin Jackson; Rays get Nick Franklin in three-team deal
http://fantasynews.cbssports.com/fantasybaseball/players/playerpage/1740931/nick-franklin
We better be getting more than Nick Franklin and (probably) Drew Smiley for Price. Announce the whole package dammit announce!
Oh no I think thats it. David Price for (swallows vomit) Drew Smiley and Nick Franklin. This trade would be vetoed in our FBB league!
....gutted. Im honestly shocked.
It's all about the cash in that trade, it seems...
Banknotes Harper
07-31-14, 05:29 PM
We better be getting more than Nick Franklin and (probably) Drew Smiley for Price. Announce the whole package dammit announce!
It looks like DET is sending their 3rd rated prospect, Willy Adames, over to Tampa also. He turns 19 next month and plays SS.
Banknotes Harper
07-31-14, 05:33 PM
It looks like DET is sending their 3rd rated prospect, Willy Adames, over to Tampa also. He turns 19 next month and plays SS.
He's apparently a great defender, but won't be in TB anytime soon.
We did better with the James Shields trade. This is just unloading a salary they didnt want to pay next year. Theres no power potential here. Yeah Franklins got some power but not even the level of a Wil Myers or Longoria. This feels worse than when we lost all those games this year. I cant wrap my mind around this one.
Banknotes Harper
07-31-14, 06:03 PM
Smyly is actually quite valuable: he's an MLB-average starting pitcher who can be controlled through 2018 for a very low price.
Smyly is actually quite valuable: he's an MLB-average starting pitcher who can be controlled through 2018 for a very low price.
They had to have made this deal months ago, and all parties knew the Rays were going to keep him to the last minute. They told Price this season he was going to be traded, not like theyll try to but that he would be. They wanted to avoid public backlash for as long as possible, get as much out of David before the last minute. That seems to make sense. Oh geez the Tigers are freaking ridiculous now.
Banknotes Harper
07-31-14, 07:33 PM
They had to have made this deal months ago, and all parties knew the Rays were going to keep him to the last minute. They told Price this season he was going to be traded, not like theyll try to but that he would be. They wanted to avoid public backlash for as long as possible, get as much out of David before the last minute. That seems to make sense. Oh geez the Tigers are freaking ridiculous now.
I actually like this for the Rays a good deal. They essentially traded 40 starts from David Price for financial flexibility next season, 4 seasons of Drew Smyly (a roughly MLB-average starter), have Nick Franklin until 2020, and it's still unclear what Willy Adames is worth. Franklin was rated the #29 prospect when he last qualified for the list in 2012 and has been so-so in the bigs; he's been crushing AAA pitching, though. I think it's a decent return and exactly the kind of move that TB should make.
Banknotes Harper
07-31-14, 07:38 PM
I actually like this for the Rays a good deal. They essentially traded 40 starts from David Price for financial flexibility next season, 4 seasons of Drew Smyly (a roughly MLB-average starter), have Nick Franklin until 2020, and it's still unclear what Willy Adames is worth. Franklin was rated the #29 prospect when he last qualified for the list in 2012 and has been so-so in the bigs; he's been crushing AAA pitching, though. I think it's a decent return and exactly the kind of move that TB should make.
Correction: He was rated 19th in 2013
rauldc14
07-31-14, 08:56 PM
I don't think Franklin will amount to much overall, TBH.
Why? He was already a 2+ win player in just two thirds of a season last year.
Also, ugh: Lee was cruising just like his old self, and had to leave the game with an injury. Might not end up rocking that dynamic duo after all.
Been surging huge in pitching late, and I was really looking forward to rampaging in a lot of those categories over the next two months. This could put a real damper on that.
rauldc14
07-31-14, 09:16 PM
Just don't think he will. It's a feeling.
He moonlights as a MLB scout.
rauldc14
07-31-14, 09:44 PM
Maybe he will be serviceable. But I don't see all star in his future.
We've established that you have an opinion about his future. What we haven't established is what it's based in. If it's not based in anything, then it's a guess.
The Red Sox had an outright Fire Sale on their roster, and ended up looking like trading gurus compared to us. Why? Leverage.
Were a small market team that spent 3 times what we normally do in the offseason. When shopping Price around all the other teams knew full well we couldnt even afford to keep him. So why pay more? If the guy selling the product to you is starving, and you know HE WILL trade the product away, youre not gonna give your arm and leg for him. You know you dont have to because the salesmans desperate. Were the poorest ones at the table and everyone can bully us with their pile of chips.
No Im not trying to be a crybaby, but its just the way it is.
If Nick Frankln works out itll be because of Nick Franklin. Most likely we wil trade Zobrist in the offseason, and there are interested parties. Franklin will be our 2B and who knows? Maybe he'll hit 20 dingers. Maybe Smiley will improve (I think he will) and be a left handed version of Archer. Maybe when Yunel Escobars contract is up Willy Adames will finally be drinking age and ready. There are no maybes on what we gave away. Its a sad hard simplicity, but what we got is what we can afford. For a fan of the club this has been a huge reality check.
Cliff Lee diagnosed with elbow strain, season hangs in jeopardy
http://fantasynews.cbssports.com/fantasybaseball/players/playerpage/370395/cliff-lee
Banknotes Harper
08-01-14, 12:26 AM
The Red Sox had an outright Fire Sale on their roster, and ended up looking like trading gurus compared to us. Why? Leverage.
I don't think that's true. The Red Sox dealt 6 Major League players in the last week - Jon Lester, Jake Peavy, John Lackey, Johnny Gomes, Andrew Miller, and Stephen Drew. Peavy netted two not top-100 prospects; Lester and Gomes got a draft pick and the above-average, but not amazing Cespedes, who is a free agent after next season; Lackey got Joe Kelly (who is basically SP depth) and Allen Craig (who looks totally broken); Miller got a not top-100 prospect, AA LHP; and Stephen Drew brought in Kelly Johnson, who is terrible. The Red Sox did well because they through a bunch of (mostly) expendable parts against the wall and got a ton of stuff back in return.
Banknotes Harper
08-01-14, 12:31 AM
The return for Price only looks bad if you're imagining that he was going to be a Ray forever or something. There's like a zero percent that the Rays would sign him after his arbitration ended next season and, on top of that, the Rays' farm system has run bone dry over the last five years. I realize that Smyly and Franklin aren't prospects anymore, but they are young, cheap, controllable MLB-ready players, which is what the farm is supposed to product. Adames is an exciting piece too, I think.
Re: Franklin. I'm not sure that his bat will ever come around, but he's a plus defender at a number of positions, so he'll always have SOME value. If his MLB results can come anywhere close to his AAA success, then he'll be a solid +3 WAR guy.
Banknotes Harper
08-01-14, 12:52 AM
Last couple of thoughts regarding the trade deadline:
-The Phillies didn't trade anybody; Ruben Amaro Jr. is a paste-eater
-The Padres didn't move Seth Smith or Ian Kennedy; they're like a paste-eater with their head cut off right now
-Of the sellers, the Cubs got great returns; it's not even close.
-If the A's win the WS, then they did the best among the buyers. I know that sounds obvious, but I say that because the Lester acquisition only made them marginally-better given that if they play all 5 games in the divisional series and all 7 of the LCS, then Lester will get, say, 4 starts. If they didn't have Lester, then Kazmir would get one, Gray would get one, and Hammel would get two of those four. Lester's a big upgrade over Jason Hammel, but not so much compared to Gray and Kazmir.
-If the A's don't win, then I think Seattle did the best considering they gave up Franklin and a handful of nothing to get two MLB-caliber OFs in Denorfia and Jackson.
The return for Price only looks bad if you're imagining that he was going to be a Ray forever or something.
Yeah, this. I think fans react very differently psychologically when a player signs with another team than they do when their team just deals them a bit before that happens.
I never thought he was gonna be a Ray forever, I just thought we'd get something LARGE for him. Them waiting 30 minutes to the deadline was a twist of the knife too.
Franklin imo should be good. I know theyll deal Zobrist in the offseason (San Frans very interested), and he'll be with our club next year. Upside his power should be more than Zobrists, and since he's constantly raked in the minors I feel he has the true potential to be steady in the majors, not up and down like he has been. Rauld's wrong.
Smyly too should be good, and imo will get better under Hickeys guidance. I feel he will eventually be a left handed version of Chris Archer. Not too shabby, but I fully expect him to get hammered this year.
Still down cause there was an emotional attachment to a player that was always so upbeat off the field, accessible, and fierce when playing. With Detroit backing David now, wow :eek: His best years are coming.
Tongs I am trying to come up with a counter offer for ya, bud...Stay tuned!
For what it's worth, this Detroit sports writer (http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20140731/SPORTS0104/307310126) is less than enthused about the deal:
But you wonder if even Price, who can only work every five games for the Tigers, and who is headed for free agency in 15 months, is enough to put a flawed team into the World Series and across the finish line.
For that boost in a rotation’s firepower, the Tigers lost an effective, back-end starter in Drew Smyly, as well as center fielder Austin Jackson, who in past weeks has been playing the brand of baseball he has often delivered and all but promised to make a permanent part of his daily routine.
Most costly, the Tigers lost 18-year-old shortstop Willy Adames, who was destined to be their top prospect in 2015 and who represents a potential coup for the Rays.
In my experience, 90% of fans are completely pulled in by the present and always hate deals like this, but they're how smart teams do things--especially if they're in a smaller market. It seems worse because Price is at his best, but that's precisely why this was the time to do it.
The Rays had a very small chance of making the playoffs, and if they had they'd have likely had to play a coin-flip game just to get into the ALDS--where they'd undoubtedly be an underdog. This year was/is a big longshot, and if you assume that they wouldn't have been able to afford Price (which is pretty clear), then this undeniably makes them better in the long run.
Clayton Kershaw is a pitching robot.
And an alien.
From the future.
Clayton Kershaw is a pitching robot.
And an alien.
From the future.
The best pitcher in baseball. I can't see how anyone could argue after this season. He missed 2 months and is already 2nd overall in season totals. :eek:
rauldc14
08-01-14, 12:27 PM
What about Waino? Lmao
rauldc14
08-01-14, 12:29 PM
I can't believe that my boy Cueto isn't at least in consideration to give Kershaw a run at the Cy, despite Kershaws brilliance.
I dunno what the argument for Cueto would be. Kershaw has a lower WHIP, lower ERA, more wins (despite starting six fewer games), he gives up fewer homers, he's issuing fewer than half as many walks per 9, and he's striking out just under two more batters per 9.
I'm having trouble finding even one category where he isn't ahead. And the gap's larger if you look at the advanced statistics.
Banknotes Harper
08-01-14, 12:40 PM
Still down cause there was an emotional attachment to a player that was always so upbeat off the field, accessible, and fierce when playing.
I've always thought that he was an ass.
I've always thought that he was an ass.
Im gonna say a strong no to that. He wasnt. He donated tons of time to charity, and was willing to take a lesser money per year for longer term contract like Longorias. He knows he could have made ALOT more elsewhere. Alot more.
rauldc14
08-01-14, 12:50 PM
I dunno what the argument for Cueto would be. Kershaw has a lower WHIP, lower ERA, more wins (despite starting six fewer games), he gives up fewer homers, he's issuing fewer than half as many walks per 9, and he's striking out just under two more batters per 9.
I'm having trouble finding even one category where he isn't ahead. And the gap's larger if you look at the advanced statistics.
Oh, clearly Kershaw is ahead, I'm not debating that. Just saying that you don't hear much about Cuetos brilliant season.
Oh, clearly Kershaw is ahead, I'm not debating that. Just saying that you don't hear much about Cuetos brilliant season.
I think it's because offense is down league-wide, so what would normally be an eye-popping ERA (around 2.00) is only good for 5th in the majors at the moment.
Also, if you used a more advanced metric to account for fielding quality and/or HR fly ball rates (which are pretty random), they suggest his ERA should probably be about a run higher, which is much closer to his career average. Not that your average baseball pundit is looking at that.
Im gonna say a strong no to that. He wasnt. He donated tons of time to charity, and was willing to take a lesser money per year for longer term contract like Longorias. He knows he could have made ALOT more elsewhere. Alot more.
I have no knowledge of Price's personality, but pretty much all star players give a lot to charity.
And that contract thing doesn't sound quite right; I don't think he's ever had the opportunity to sign elsewhere. Pretty sure he's just finishing up his rookie contract. Granted, that has ended up being a bargain, but when he signed it he hadn't thrown a pitch in the majors yet, and he got the second-largest signing bonus in history.
Banknotes Harper
08-01-14, 01:02 PM
Im gonna say a strong no to that. He wasnt. He donated tons of time to charity, and was willing to take a lesser money per year for longer term contract like Longorias. He knows he could have made ALOT more elsewhere. Alot more.
He still has an arbitration season left; he could not have gone anywhere else and his only options were to pitch for arbitration wages or hold out and see how that goes.
I, of course, don't follow the day to day activity of the Rays, but have this idea that he's an immature jerk because:
-The Price/Rays/David Ortiz feud has been going on for years now and is really childish.
-He had that weird rant directed at Tom Verducci and some other reporter last year that culminated with him calling them nerds. To be fair, Verducci is a moron, but still.
-There was a number of reports saying that Price was "pouting" because of the trade rumors.
That said, it's nice to know that he's involved in a number of charities and such.
He still has an arbitration season left; he could not have gone anywhere else and his only options were to pitch for arbitration wages or hold out and see how that goes.
I, of course, don't follow the day to day activity of the Rays, but have this idea that he's an immature jerk because:
-The Price/Rays/David Ortiz feud has been going on for years now and is really childish.
-He had that weird rant directed at Tom Verducci and some other reporter last year that culminated with him calling them nerds. To be fair, Verducci is a moron, but still.
-There was a number of reports saying that Price was "pouting" because of the trade rumors.
That said, it's nice to know that he's involved in a number of charities and such.
He donates money to charity, but more importantly he donates his time. Longoria, and Madden do too.
Re: the Price/Papi pissing contest, they'd end up being best buds if he ended up in Boston. Thats just how that stuff plays out.
I could be wrong but thought last year was the end of his rookie contract, and they signed him to a 2 year extension worth 28 million ish for two years, Im thinking, which Detroit will now honor
Pouting about trade rumors, and Tom Verducci? Uh, ok. Well I didnt say Price was the epitome of professionalism, but if that make him an ass so be it. :laugh:
Ah heres some nice news. The Astros manager Bo Porter is confident George Springer will be activated monday. I need to find a big wiggle gif for that.
http://media.giphy.com/media/cPxRDvlSj9QKA/giphy.gif
:)
http://bostonherald.com/sites/default/files/styles/full/public/media/2014/08/01/080114redsoxsc025.jpg?itok=qcIQujdD&c=61ee7b695761d584fa555ea9dc4f5016
If anyone can turn their season completely around this late in the game, why not Allen Craig? I think Ive had him on my roster now every year but 2013. Loved his rookie year when he played 2B, though that positions more flush in talent now.
Banknotes Harper
08-03-14, 03:41 PM
I'm not a big fan of Allen Craig. He's always benefited from a really high BABIP (it was an obscene .360 last season) and this year it's finally started to fall and he's suffering. Interestingly, his BABIP and his average have both dropped by about 80 points this season. Probably not a coincidence. His power has been dropping off every season that he's been in the league and he's become a groundball machine.
John Lackey doesn't have to do much for the Cards to win that trade; Craig is a lottery ticket to right himself, I'd say.
Yeah, well hes worth nurturing on my bench to see if a change of environment wakes something up in him. I have a hard time believing he can drop so fast so quick and it be a permanency. When Trout started slow this season alot of experts said this was a "falling off" for him, and his norm wont be what hes done the past 2 years. Of course he's #1 overall now, but I dont have to tell you that. :)
Banknotes Harper
08-03-14, 04:09 PM
Trout's looking pretty good, I'd say. Not the same as last year, more K's, but equally good.
The thing about Craig is that his power has been steadily falling off since 2011. His isolated power has dropped from .240 to .215 to .142 to its current, awful .111. He's always benefited from a high batting average on balls in play and has always hit for a high average with runners on base - both of which are things that analysts preach will not last. Still, I agree that given his track record, he's worth holding onto for a couple of weeks to see if he can right himself in a more friendly ballpark.
That feeling when your team has 1 hit with 20 at bats, both pitchers give up 5 earned in 3 innings then yanked. You know that feeling? Of course you dont because mines the team plummeting in a downward direction from yours! :laugh:
Well Allen Craig is benched again due to an ankle injury, so it will end up being much ado about nothing. :rolleyes:
The following lament is brought to you by Sedai:
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you for your attention and understanding during this difficult time.
Oh: I hate Ernesto Frieri. That is all.
Banknotes Harper
08-03-14, 08:03 PM
Oh: I hate Ernesto Frieri. That is all.
So does Kevin Towers, the neanderthal. That's bad news about Goldie; he's been excellent.
Banknotes Harper
08-04-14, 02:14 AM
http://www.fangraphs.com/not/rays-fan-still-awaiting-trade-results/
^Tongo^
Trust me, down here its not just senior citizens sitting on a step that feel this way.
Got Longo back today. Hes been working on refinding his home run swing, studying video and what not. Im not expecting it to happen, but I sure hope he refinds the 30 homer 3B hes always been. Whats been the problem? Id say theres a good 5% chance its because of his haircut.
http://www2.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Evan+Longoria+Baltimore+Orioles+v+Tampa+Bay+FcNqC5XNbekl.jpg
I dont always use a pitcher thats not a starter or closer
but if I do, its Dellin Betances. (or in this case Sedai)
https://pbs.twimg.com/tweet_video/BuM8qImCYAAe3La.mp4
Banknotes Harper
08-04-14, 03:06 PM
I dont always use a pitcher thats not a starter or closer
but if I do, its Dellin Betances. (or in this case Sedai)
https://pbs.twimg.com/tweet_video/BuM8qImCYAAe3La.mp4
There are a handful of non-closer relievers who are worth owning, including Betances, Wade Davis, and Tony Watson.
There are a handful of non-closer relievers who are worth owning, including Betances, Wade Davis, and Tony Watson.
Oh I know, but I they didnt have the moving gif posted on Twitter.
I complained yesterday and my team had its best day all year! Who needs Goldschmidt??
(Oh wait...I do....)
So much for the Allen Craig experiment. The Cubs are calling up Javier Baez.
http://img.bleacherreport.net/img/images/photos/002/214/331/hi-res-7119984_crop_north.jpg?w=630&h=420&q=75
Welcome to For The Love Of The Game homie!
Banknotes Harper
08-04-14, 04:41 PM
So much for the Allen Craig experiment. The Cubs are calling up Javier Baez.
http://img.bleacherreport.net/img/images/photos/002/214/331/hi-res-7119984_crop_north.jpg?w=630&h=420&q=75
Welcome to For The Love Of The Game homie!
Thanks for the heads up; I picked him up in my other league to fill the void created by the injured, disappointing Eric Hosmer.
If anyone can turn their season completely around this late in the game, why not Allen Craig?
So much for the Allen Craig experiment.
http://i.imgur.com/yphk5ow.jpg
Cutch probably going to the DL. Oy. This is the downside of your real life and fantasy teams aligning: it's a mecha-bummer when something like this happens. I need his power, and his speed, and the Pirates really do, too. They're headed for a tough stretch coming up, and they're right in the thick of a pennant race. And it's really, really conceivable that this one thing could end up costing us a playoff spot.
Totally lost year from Cliff Lee. Molina only plays a half-season. Marte goes out right after I trade for him. And now Cutch. Ouchpainhurt.
I guess I should be glad to still be in 4th, but I tend to think to win in Roto you need both good play and good luck, so this is gonna be awfully tough to overcome.
I immediately checked to see if it was because of that pitch he was beamed by. Probably would have been better if he was because an oblique injury is much worse.
It's hard not to wonder that, since it looks related to his side/back and happened the very next night. He thinks it isn't, since he warmed up without issue before the game, but we'll never really know.
One nice little realization is that this made me more worried about the Pirates than it did my team. Nice to be at the point where it isn't the other way around.
Powdered Water
08-04-14, 09:40 PM
I think the worm has turned a bit for the Nine. Just a tough break kind of season for the most part. Injuries to key guys at key times. Losing Matt Moore hurt quite a bit too. And now look at the Rays, who knows how good Moore could have been.
I think the worm has turned a bit for the Nine. Just a tough break kind of season for the most part. Injuries to key guys at key times. Losing Matt Moore hurt quite a bit too. And now look at the Rays, who knows how good Moore could have been.
Losing Matt Moore was a gutshot to Tampa. So totally unexpected for someone so young, I just couldnt believe it. We lost Cobb for a month and a half too the same week. There are bad seasons, and then theres just torrential rains of crap seasons. At least now when he comes back in 2015 he will probably be regarded as the #1 guy. Thought it would be Cobb, but at times he has a real rough patch that kills his overall #'s, Archer too.
Banknotes Harper
08-05-14, 03:25 AM
I think Cobb and Odorizzi are markedly better than Moore, who is good, but has serious problems with his control. Still, the Rays have a really good rotation to look forward to next year - Cobb, Odorizzi, Moore, Archer, and Smyly.
I think Cobb and Odorizzi are markedly better than Moore, who is good, but has serious problems with his control. Still, the Rays have a really good rotation to look forward to next year - Cobb, Odorizzi, Moore, Archer, and Smyly.
Thats a nice way of looking at it man :)
Ive felt Alex Cobb was as good as David Price, but after Cobbs injury he had a bad bad patch. Odor is ALOT better than his #'s, and I feel will be the next James Shields. Moore, yeah his controls iffy, but so was David Prices in his early years. His upside has yet to be reached, and Moores #'s in his first 2 to 3 seasons are better than Price in his first 2 to 3 seasons.
I cant figure out Chris Archer. he can be incredible and Ive no idea why. Then theres poor Jeremy Hellickson. Sad that its assured he wont have a spot in the rotation, and I expect Smiley shouldnt have any problem outperforming him.
Btw, Grant Balfour is a bucket of ass. I dont like him.
I think Price has always looked significantly better than Moore. It probably seems close because Moore racked up a lot of wins last year, even though he has almost no control over that.
I don't think he's had any year yet where he didn't have at least one underlying number that didn't look unsustainable (last year it was his strand rate). He had a decent K rate the first couple of years, but his walk rate's always been way too high. As long as it stays up, any success he has is probably going to be done with smoke and mirrors, and probably won't last.
I think Price has always looked significantly better than Moore. It probably seems close because Moore racked up a lot of wins last year, even though he has almost no control over that.
I don't think he's had any year yet where he didn't have at least one underlying number that didn't look unsustainable (last year it was his strand rate). He had a decent K rate the first couple of years, but his walk rate's always been way too high. As long as it stays up, any success he has is probably going to be done with smoke and mirrors, and probably won't last.
Its all going to depend on the work he puts into his pitching now. The Tommy John surgery will make him rehab everything entirely, and he may be better when he comes back. Otherwise it would have been easy for him to get caught up or freeze up on his development mid season. He will basically do a system restart on his game, and hopefully none of the bad habits will have momentum on him.
This is good closure...
http://www.foxsports.com/florida/story/david-price-thanks-rays-fans-in-full-page-newspaper-ad-080514
http://www.raysindex.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/6-25-2014-1-58-15-PM.png
Reports are now that Cutch doesn't have an oblique strain, but a broken rib. But weirdly, that might make a quicker return possible. We really don't know yet.
What I do know, though, is that the culture in Kirk Gibson's clubhouse is full of macho crap, and something needs to be done about it.
I follow a baseball expert on Twitter named David Kerr. He hates Kirk Gibson, and voices his angered displeasure frequently.
Heres what he tweeted within the hour even...
"I don't care what anyone says, Kirk Gibson being a dick caused Cutch's injury. I'm so hot right now."
Banknotes Harper
08-05-14, 07:49 PM
Exciting debut tonight.
Drew Smyly takes the hill against the A's
http://tampabay.rays.mlb.com/assets/images/5/9/4/87987594/cuts/Drew_Smyly_1280_nf6yu4k5_gr94lit0.jpg
Powdered Water
08-05-14, 08:20 PM
I'm so glad someone finally nabbed Ackley. I've been holding out all week trying not to sign him. Yeah, he pisses me off that much. Maybe if we take the hair off of his face and put it all back on his head he'll be able to actually hit for the entire season and not just for the final 2 or 3 months or so. :(
Banknotes Harper
08-06-14, 02:09 AM
I'm so glad someone finally nabbed Ackley. I've been holding out all week trying not to sign him. Yeah, he pisses me off that much. Maybe if we take the hair off of his face and put it all back on his head he'll be able to actually hit for the entire season and not just for the final 2 or 3 months or so. :(
I don't think I've ever heard of anybody criticizing a player for hitting well in the second half of the season.
Pirates fans sorta did it with LaRoche.
I remember for us there was alot of unusual frustration toward BJ Upton. brrrrr! I shudder from the memory of it even.
Javier Baez went 1 for 6 in his major league debut in Colorado. That one hit though was a homer to pull the Cubbies ahead in the 12th inning. They say he strikes out alot but should always be played due to his awesome power displays. Think I may have another Springer here. Yes the rewards are worth it, but can be frustrating too.
I would have sold high on that guy before he played! ;)
Im open to offers :), but I need HRs. If someone needs a SS give me a holler. He should be eligible for 2B too pretty soon.
I reeeeeeeally hate to brag on another fantasy teams accomplishment, but this is impressive. How strong is Tims ERA & Whip? Sonny Gray just coughed up 7 earned runs vs the Rays, Glen Perkins gave up an earned run, and his era n whip positioning didnt budge an smidge. :eek:
Banknotes Harper
08-06-14, 11:21 PM
Both of my fantasy teams are having bad days of hitting - Sonny Gray, Glen Perkins, and Danny Saladbar (in my other league). I also benched three homers in the last two days in my other league. Fantasy baseball isn't my favorite topic right now haha
Benching great days sucks. I try to keep my lineup really consistent because of it. Worked wonders for me this year.
Im about thiiiiiiiiis close to dropping Curtis Granderson to waivers. So sick of someone I so publicly supported, paid so much for...... TWICE, and hes just been hitting like the drizzlin shats :mad:
Now George Springer had a set back, tweaked his quad running bases yesterday. I think Cuddyer might make it back before him. Hopefully Cuddy will do something for me this season as I traded Anibal Sanchez for him way back when. Back then they said he might not even need a DL stint. Epic wrong.
Know Im not gonna win, but hoping now just to have a surge before seasons end.
Benching great days sucks. I try to keep my lineup really consistent because of it. Worked wonders for me this year.
Yeah, this is a big thing with me each year. Subbing guys in and out based on imagined hot streaks or slumps is just rolling dice.
There's a little something to be said for doing some switches based on matchups, but that's pretty random, too, so you only want to do it with really marginal decisions and/or temporarily.
Generally, I like to have clear starters, so I want to consolidate my talent into fewer roster spots. The only real risk with this is when you get smacked by injuries, but those are usually manageable in the short term. And with long-term injuries, mid-level depth isn't a huge help anyway.
Banknotes Harper
08-07-14, 04:42 PM
I have a couple of guys that I rotate in our league - Mike Napoli, Derek Norris, Jason Hayward, and Miguel Montero - and it usually comes down to pitching matchups and L/R stuff.
My outfield sucks in my other league, so I have a handful of extra parts that I have to rotate in Kevin Kiermaier, Ben Revere, as well as the daily Brian McCann vs. John Jaso debacle.
Oh boy. After today we could have quite a jumble at the top of the standings. Could be a very exciting stretch run.
Banknotes Harper
08-09-14, 11:22 AM
Oh boy. After today we could have quite a jumble at the top of the standings. Could be a very exciting stretch run.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oa4Cy_Fp-Ac
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oa4Cy_Fp-Ac
Ok that just woke me up this morning in the creepiest way possible :laugh:
rauldc14
08-09-14, 04:36 PM
You know the catcher position is bad when McCann goes on the DL, you look at the free agents, and decide an injured McCann is the best option.
Tim slides into first and I slide into third. Big jumble in the top four spots right now, and plenty of time left for them to end up in literally any order.
This'll probably be the most dramatic stretch run we've had since switching to Roto.
Banknotes Harper
08-10-14, 04:24 PM
Tim slides into first . . .
Go me! Go America!
rauldc14
08-10-14, 04:26 PM
I need a bit of a run, but at least I'm somewhat in the hunt too.
Powdered Water
08-10-14, 04:31 PM
The Ducks have been closing like a freight train. I predict his team will hit the 90's before it stops. Who's going to keep up with them? To little to late for the Nine I'm afraid, but its certainly nice to finally be climbing the ladder.
I sure hope so. I think high 80s/low 90s is definitely gonna be enough to take it, if anyone gets there.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93iLTn0BpBc
Banknotes Harper
08-12-14, 12:24 AM
Watching Justin Verlander pitch makes me sad.
Watching Justin Verlander pitch makes me sad.
Was always mystified how he could go from an Ace to a Meh inside of a year. There must not be a physical reason for it or theyd have found it.
I hope Longorias current season isnt going to be his norm now either. That would, ......oh that would be bad :eek:
Banknotes Harper
08-12-14, 01:00 AM
There's a clear downward trend in his velocity. Even still, his performance has dropped off more precipitously than his pitch speed. He's not able to blow pitches by as many batters and his strikeouts are taking a big hit as a consequence.
http://www.brooksbaseball.net/velo.php?player=434378&time=month&startDate=03/30/2007&endDate=08/11/2014&s_type=2
It was only a couple of years ago that he nearly no-hit the Pirates (he would have if not for a single from, you guessed it, Josh Harrison) and today he labored through a 40 pitch, first inning. It really makes me appreciate the guys that are able to pitch at that level for a whole decade or longer.
Powdered Water
08-12-14, 09:55 PM
I was hoping to suck out a little more juice from his tank, but alas, they're saying maybe DL. Bummer dude.
Powdered Water
08-12-14, 09:56 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93iLTn0BpBc
This is just ridiculous and shouldn't be watched as its incredibly hard to stop doing if you listen to it.
Yankees @ Baltimore, and his first game back.
Ok Michael Pineda, lets see what you got.
Banknotes Harper
08-14-14, 11:52 AM
Yankees @ Baltimore, and his first game back.
Ok Michael Pineda, lets see what you got.
Looked pretty good! The Yankees may win the Pineda/Montero trade just yet.
Looked pretty good! The Yankees may win the Pineda/Montero trade just yet.
Yet, Pineda wasnt the most ssurprising pitching performance on my roster yesterday. That belongs to my catcher "J.P. Arencibia who made his pitching debut Wednesday, throwing a scoreless ninth in the 10-1 loss to the Rays". :eek::laugh: What the hell was that?!
Arenciibia was pitching somewhere in the 70's for ball speed, and pitched a scoreless 9th against the Rays!!! We hit so bad that a teams catcher or first baseman can pitch an inning of relief against us!
Amazing.
Report: Carlos Gonzalez probably done for season
http://fantasynews.cbssports.com/fantasybaseball/players/playerpage/1103728/carlos-gonzalez
Kinda hard not to conclude that, while the Tulo and CarGo injuries are certainly real, that they're being more cautious than usual given that their season's not going anywhere. I think if they were in the midst of a playoff race one or both of them would play again this year.
Banknotes Harper
08-14-14, 12:59 PM
Yet, Pineda wasnt the most ssurprising pitching performance on my roster yesterday. That belongs to my catcher "J.P. Arencibia who made his pitching debut Wednesday, throwing a scoreless ninth in the 10-1 loss to the Rays". :eek::laugh: What the hell was that?!
Arenciibia was pitching somewhere in the 70's for ball speed, and pitched a scoreless 9th against the Rays!!! We hit so bad that a teams catcher or first baseman can pitch an inning of relief against us!
I think the record for number of innings pitched by position players has already or will be broken this season.
Banknotes Harper
08-14-14, 01:01 PM
Amazing.
Report: Carlos Gonzalez probably done for season
http://fantasynews.cbssports.com/fantasybaseball/players/playerpage/1103728/carlos-gonzalez
It's hard for me to know how serious his injury is and whatnot, but this does fit in line with my feeling that he's not the kind of guy to try to play through an injury especially for a team mired in a terrible season. I don't really blame him, but this seems par for the course for him at this point - prone to injuries, often stays on the DL longer than expected.
Ugh, shouldn't have benched Liriano today. I've done a pretty good job this year of avoiding this kind of thing, but not today. Gah.
Definitely more upsetting (irrationally, I think) than starting someone who gets shelled, for some weird reason.
Dude, there is no shame in avoiding anything that has "@ DET" written on it.
Yeah, and most of the Tiger hitters have good lifetime numbers against him. And the chances of a Win are pretty low against Scherzer. But given that I need Ks more than Wins, and Liriano's been lights out since he returned from the DL, I could've easily played him. Oh well.
rauldc14
08-14-14, 04:52 PM
There's something that I no longer like about Tulo. The man is playing full strength in a home run derby and all star game and all of the sudden out for the year. I don't think the kid has much heart.
Pretty sure the thing he doesn't have is cartilage in his hip. And while I'm no doctor, I don't think "heart" causes that to spontaneously regenerate.
And how's this more sudden than any other injury? Is there supposed to be some kind of gradual buildup to a torn hip labrum?
When you dont have cartilage in your hip means Tulo has been playing in pain for a very long time.
Cartilage is all in the mind. Rub some dirt on it.
"It" being the place where cartilage would normally be.
rauldc14
08-14-14, 05:42 PM
I'm just saying, the guys injured every year. Sit out the derby and All Star game if this is the yearly outcome. Granted, he will still probably finish as a technical top 50 fantasy player, but still.
I don't see any reason to think that the All-Star break contributed to the injury; he played the first game back without incident, and got hurt in the second.
He does get injured a lot, but what's that got to do with his willpower?
Powdered Water
08-14-14, 09:11 PM
Watching Robinson Cano for most of the year now, I really understand the hype. He really does do everything in super slo-mo. I literally haven't seen a guy this good here since Griffey.
Now Felix on the other hand is already the runaway Cy Young winner. What he is doing this year is just phenomenal. I know Kershaw has been pretty good. But Felix has been so unbelievably consistent that he broke some crazy ass record for "ultra quality" starts I guess. He has routinely gone out all year long and pitched 7 innings and gives up 2 runs or less. He's currently at 16 straight games where he's done this. And in losses? He's even better. I would love to see Kershaw and Hernandez in the World Series.
Watching Robinson Cano for most of the year now, I really understand the hype. He really does do everything in super slo-mo. I literally haven't seen a guy this good here since Griffey.
I miss him so much. The amount of money the Yankees throw around it is mind boggling to me that they didn't sign him. His first couple of years with the Yankees he was getting hit with the lazy moniker a little. Somewhat because Yankee fans are irrational and somewhat because that smoothness can be perceived as a lack of hustle when mistakes are made. By his third year you stopped hearing it. The guy is just a natural and a pleasure to watch. Thought my kids would grow into Yankee fans because of watching a player like him for the next few years. What a nucleus you guys have with him and King Felix.
Banknotes Harper
08-14-14, 10:34 PM
Now Felix on the other hand is already the runaway Cy Young winner. What he is doing this year is just phenomenal. I know Kershaw has been pretty good. But Felix has been so unbelievably consistent that he broke some crazy ass record for "ultra quality" starts I guess. He has routinely gone out all year long and pitched 7 innings and gives up 2 runs of less. He's currently at 16 straight games where he's done this. And in losses? He's even better. I would love to see Kershaw and Hernandez in the World Series.
Here's a good read on Felix/AL MVP/sp4mvp history from Dave Cameron at FanGraphs. I love Felix and hope he wins it both because there's a strong case for him and because it would be hilarious if Trout came in 2nd again.
Banknotes Harper
08-14-14, 10:35 PM
This is for Chris. Warning: it's weird.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtSgWZbL_kE
In key softball situations, I think we, as a team, should utilize the "hand thing."
Powdered Water
08-14-14, 11:17 PM
I see your 'hand thing' and raise you a "Handy and Bandy".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJY25XNLe3k
Banknotes Harper
08-15-14, 12:05 AM
I see your 'hand thing' and raise you a "Handy and Bandy".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJY25XNLe3k
We're playing a dangerous game here.
Encarnacion comes back on Friday. You can't see it, but I'm dancing a little jig.
This jig may or may not graduate into a full blown waltz when Cutch comes off the DL. That's gonna be a fun lineup to trot out in the last month of the season, lemmetellya.
rauldc14
08-15-14, 11:54 AM
I'll just trot out Tulowitzki and pretend like he's playing. Guy killed any chance I had. Just gonna try to hang onto 5th for the remainder of the season.
I'll be getting Myers back soon at least.
FINALLY Michael Cuddyer is back, FINALLY!
No Im not gonna post a pic of him because he might get hurt walking off the bus. A looooooooong time ago I traded Anibal Sanchez for him, and Cuddy immediately went into "production hibernation" and then broke his shoulder. Well I hope he finishes strong to say the least.
Banknotes Harper
08-17-14, 01:44 PM
FINALLY Michael Cuddyer is back, FINALLY!
Looks like you're going to have to wait one more day haha
So, this is getting pretty nuts:
http://i.imgur.com/QRnfWpk.png
Cutch apparently returns tomorrow.
http://i.imgur.com/7Vbhl.gif
Two days ago, Tim was 2nd.
Yesterday he was 4th.
Today he's 1st.
A single point now separates the top three spots.
Banknotes Harper
08-19-14, 10:49 AM
Two days ago, Tim was 2nd.
Yesterday he was 4th.
Today he's 1st.
A single point now separates the top three spots.
Tomorrow, the world.
Unless you're alternating good and bad days. In which case tomorrow you'll be destitute. And then on Thursday you'll be Emperor of Earth and, I dunno, NASCAR champion.
Is that even the right terminology? Is that what they call the guy who NASCARs the best?
I was rooting for Mark, but I got a bad feeling Adam might take it this year. Hes been pretty solid.
Banknotes Harper
08-19-14, 11:21 AM
I was rooting for Mark, but I got a bad feeling Adam might take it this year. Hes been pretty solid.
I'm pulling for Tim; I identify with him very closely.
Alright, this is all way too friendly. There needs to be way more trash talk. I'll start:
Look at this freaking lineup. DON'T TURN AWAY. LOOK AT IT.
C - D. Navarro
1B - F. Freeman
2B - D. Pedroia
3B - E. Encarnacion
SS - J. Reyes
OF - A. McCutchen
OF - J. Ellsbury
OF - Y. Cespedes
UT - A. Rios
UT - A. Ramirez
UT - S. Marte
Now change your freaking pants. No, not into those. The black ones. They're more slimming.
Banknotes Harper
08-19-14, 11:34 AM
Alright, this is all way too friendly. There needs to be way more trash talk. I'll start:
Look at this freaking lineup. DON'T TURN AWAY. LOOK AT IT.
C - D. Navarro
1B - F. Freeman
2B - D. Pedroia
3B - E. Encarnacion
SS - J. Reyes
OF - A. McCutchen
OF - J. Ellsbury
OF - Y. Cespedes
UT - A. Rios
UT - A. Ramirez
UT - S. Marte
Now change your freaking pants. No, not into those. The black ones. They're more slimming.
You really should have reordered your players so Dioner Navarro wasn't first. I just laughed at it instead.
That part is admittedly unfortunate, but the rest of the lineup is terrifying. Terrifying.
That said, I did have Molina there before the injury. And Navarro's actually been a great fill in; he's OPSing .803 since the All-Star break.
rauldc14
08-19-14, 09:39 PM
Alright, this is all way too friendly. There needs to be way more trash talk. I'll start:
Look at this freaking lineup. DON'T TURN AWAY. LOOK AT IT.
C - D. Navarro
1B - F. Freeman
2B - D. Pedroia
3B - E. Encarnacion
SS - J. Reyes
OF - A. McCutchen
OF - J. Ellsbury
OF - Y. Cespedes
UT - A. Rios
UT - A. Ramirez
UT - S. Marte
Now change your freaking pants. No, not into those. The black ones. They're more slimming.
You are admittedly good at this baseball game we call fantasy. I'm not even sure how you do it.
I have decided to let my team climb back up the ranks a bit. Just look out! ;)
Powdered Water
08-20-14, 08:52 PM
Me too!
I drop my car off for repairs, and the guy calls me laughing...actually laughing at my car because it needs so much work. Yeah, that's gonna cost me. Then i get off the phone, pull up Yahoo, and see one of my best pitchers on the ground screaming in pain. Oh...it's one of THOSE days.
Heh. Yeah, I hear that. My last car was 20 years old by the time I got rid of it. I took it into the shop for what was probably the 15th time in the several years I owned it. The mechanic--who'd fixed it a bunch of times before--called me a little later (these are actual quotes):
"You can't drive that."
"What? Why?"
"That car is so messed up."
Car troubles are the worst.
My car only has 90k miles on it, but it's a 1999 and it doesn't get driven a lot. The brakes fall apart from the rot and oxidation, it needs front end work, and the radiator is in bad shape...Did I mention Garrett Richards is out and has to have surgery? Grrrr! ;)
Banknotes Harper
08-21-14, 02:40 PM
Corey Kluber versus Phil Hughes
10.3 combined pitching WAR
Clash of the Titans
Corey Kluber versus Phil Hughes
10.3 combined pitching WAR
Clash of the Titans
:laugh: Sorry but I never thought Id see Phil Hughes and the word titan used together. Maybe if I knew what a WAR was Id appreciate the comparison or recognize the sarcasm.
Banknotes Harper
08-21-14, 03:53 PM
:laugh: Sorry but I never thought Id see Phil Hughes and the word titan used together. Maybe if I knew what a WAR was Id appreciate the comparison or recognize the sarcasm.
By advanced pitching metrics, Corey Kluber has been the 2nd best pitcher in baseball and Phil Hughes has been the 5th best. This is an unflashy match-up of ace pitchers, possibly the best match-up by WAR this season, to date.
A primer on WAR: http://www.fangraphs.com/library/misc/war/
rauldc14
08-21-14, 03:58 PM
I drafted Kluber in round 22 and cut him :facepalm:
Banknotes Harper
08-21-14, 04:01 PM
That's a sad thing. In my other league, I just missed picking up Kluber by a day and also cut Anthony Rendon in favor of keeping Will Venable. :facepalm::facepalm:
Rendon is pretty crazy this season...
Banknotes Harper
08-21-14, 04:25 PM
Rendon is pretty crazy this season...
I only get sad every time that I think about it.
I won't bring it up again!
So anyway, about Rendon... ;)
rauldc14
08-21-14, 04:39 PM
About Kluber....who on Earth would've expected that!!!
I have trouble understanding pitchers over multiple seasons. Seems pretty hit and miss/luck-centric to me...
Banknotes Harper
08-21-14, 05:27 PM
Corey Kluber versus Phil Hughes
10.3 combined pitching WAR
Clash of the Titans
And when the dust settled, only one emerged: Phil Hughes
Kluber actually didn't have a great day. Their combined lines for my team, along with Glen Perkins: 15 IP, 1 W, 1 SV, 17 K, 2.40 ERA, 1.00 WHIP
Same thing here, with Ross and Kershaw squaring off as we speak. They only combine for 7.4 pitching WAR so far, but the actual matchup's proving to be a doozy. They've both thrown six scoreless innings, giving up just five combined baserunners. Kershaw actually had a no-hitter going with two out in the fifth, when Ross himself broke it up, if you can believe that.
Combined line at the moment: 12 IP, 0 ER, 3 hits, 2 BB, 11 Ks. Man.
Banknotes Harper
08-22-14, 01:47 AM
Same thing here, with Ross and Kershaw squaring off as we speak. They only combine for 7.4 pitching WAR so far, but the actual matchup's proving to be a doozy. They've both thrown six scoreless innings, giving up just five combined baserunners. Kershaw actually had a no-hitter going with two out in the fifth, when Ross himself broke it up, if you can believe that.
Combined line at the moment: 12 IP, 0 ER, 3 hits, 2 BB, 11 Ks. Man.
I'm less interested because those guys aren't on my team.
Just kidding. Hughes/Kluber, Ross/Kershaw, and Price/Cobb were all pretty stellar games today. Oh yeah, Matt Shoemaker/Rubby de la Rosa too.
We all find our own teams endlessly fascinating, it is true.
Speaking of which, I can't believe how perfect this picture is. Cutch, sporting his Freedonia Duck pride:
http://i.imgur.com/waubKzt.jpg
Last night he may have hit a Toyota Highlander in right-center (http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2014_08_22_pitmlb_milmlb_1&mode=video&content_id=35587833&tcid=vpp_copy_35587833).
QUACK.
^^^^ Your new team Pic :)
As much as I love Groucho, I might have to, yeah. It's just so perfect.
Somehow the standings are even closer. Just 1.5 points separates all top four teams. :eek:
http://i.imgur.com/qvOH2ZA.png
Also: tied for first for the first time all year!
QUACK.
Thanks, Yahoo, for breaking your lineup indicators right before gametime so I couldn't make any subs, even though I was online and specifically ready to.
This is a WAY MORE spot-on roster for the day site, that self updates if people are scratched...
http://www.rotowire.com/baseball/daily_lineups.htm
Pretty inconvenient to have to open a second page. And I suspect all sites break sometimes. Either way, meh. It cost me two starts today.
http://i.imgur.com/ByfarKQ.png
http://i.imgur.com/x35gkMY.png
QUACK.
You really should have reordered your players so Dioner Navarro wasn't first. I just laughed at it instead.
http://i.imgur.com/bwO6RM3.png
Wow. Even though he fell off hard, Im surprised Pittsburgh sent Polanco back down. What the hell can he still learn down there? Trade him to us for Jeremy Hellickson, there ya go! ;)
Banknotes Harper
08-25-14, 06:49 PM
http://i.imgur.com/bwO6RM3.png
Hey, I'm not bragging about how good my lineup happens to be. Catcher is a lot thinner this year than I think most people expected.
That said, I was wondering if you were going to say anything about it.
Banknotes Harper
08-25-14, 06:51 PM
Wow. Even though he fell off hard, Im surprised Pittsburgh sent Polanco back down. What the hell can he still learn down there? Trade him to us for Jeremy Hellickson, there ya go! ;)
It's kind of an overblown story. He's been struggling at the plate lately (1 for his last 30), but the Pirates play the Cardinals six times in the next nine games and need an extra righty to combat their lefty-heavy bullpen. Polanco will surely be back up when the rosters expand in a week.
Banknotes Harper
08-25-14, 06:52 PM
Also, RIP Cuddyer's 2014 season. Back to the DL after a week.
Alex Rios bumped to waivers.
http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/attachments/transformers-3rd-party-discussion/27456950d1406770558-tfc-toys-project-ares-predaking-mega-thread-2174935-65c6f20c_dayum.jpg
I've had an epic talent the last week or so for always managing to bench the guys who go yard. It's cost me something like four of 'em. D'oh.
Pennant race is still tight as a drum. A super tight drum that's been extra-tightened specifically for this analogy.
Woohoo, Mercer and Cutch go back to back and the Bucs jump out to a 6-0 lead. Looking to sweep the Cubs.
Also, Carlos Carrasco is almost exactly on pace to throw a Maddux (http://groundballwitheyes.blogspot.com/2012/04/maddux.html).
Stanton's face just got destroyed by a Mike Fiers pitch. Blood everywhere.
Brian Doziers been a non-productive suck hole since the all-star break. Ranked in the top 60, but all of that was before the break. I dropped him, go get him if you want him, but just giving you all fair warning.
Clayton Kershaw misses the first 6 weeks of the season injured, but is now the first pitcher to get 20 Wins. :eek:
On a much more minor note, I no longer am in last place for home runs. HUZZAH!!
About 3-4 weeks ago it looked like I had a good chance to keep cruising and enjoy the last week or so comfortably, but my offense started sputtering and Adam's pitching has improved, so we're still neck and neck with just over a week to go.
I've had something like a dozen coin flip decisions (pick up this guy or this guy for today? Bench this guy or this guy) over the last week, and I've somehow managed to pick the wrong option like 90% of the time, which seems statistically impossible, but there ya' go.
Pirates clinch a playoff spot for the second consecutive year, and on the exact same day!
As great as last year was after all the futility, it's really nice that they've gotten right back, that it wasn't just one special year. It's even sweeter to think that it might have been not just the end of the losing streak, but a turning point.
rauldc14
09-23-14, 11:32 PM
Pirates clinch a playoff spot for the second consecutive year, and on the exact same day!
As great as last year was after all the futility, it's really nice that they've gotten right back, that it wasn't just one special year. It's even sweeter to think that it might have been not just the end of the losing streak, but a turning point.
Merry Christmas!
From,
The Brewers
O7t2O6EqMgP
O7tjEJzYAQ5
http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--zihGt3ec--/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_636/g7642nuqg4wkrj12eafn.jpg
Who was that chugging the 2 beers? If you start wearing those glasses now Chris, I will pick on you :laugh:
That's Tony Sanchez. He did the same thing during last year's celebration, and this is his walkup music:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMokVoquWRI
http://standingosports.com/main/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/ff4.jpg
The last 3 days of the regular season, and the 2014 champion is most likely Chris/Yodas Freedonia Ducks (93.5 points). Adams Quickie Marte (91 points) have a shot at the upset.
Runs -
Chris 1605
Adam 1571
HR
C 810
A 785
RBI -
C 790
A 837
SB -
C 92
A 156
AVG -
C .274
A .274 Tied! This could be huge being they're so close.
Chris was much wiser how he handled his pitching this season. He has pitched 1483.1 ip, whereas Adam has 1400.2 ip. Thats a whole 100 innings Adams team missed out on to create Wins, K's, and Saves.
Wins -
C 106
A 90
Saves -
C 106
A 93
K's -
C 1336
A 1237
ERA -
C 3.06
A 3.10 Another close category! Theres one more that can shift the balance of power in these last 3 days
Whip -
C 1.18
A 1.16 The 3rd category to pay attention to this weekend.
This race is closer than a shadow. The 3 categories of Avg, ERA, and Whip are all fluid and hardest to manage. Basically, theres not a dang thing Chris or Adam can do now but sit back, and see which one will be called the 2014 Champion.
http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2013/1114/mlb_u_andrew-mccitchen_mb_576x324.jpg
This has been me for the last two weeks:
http://33.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ljry5cYRfQ1qixleeo1_500.gif
This has been me for the last two weeks:
http://33.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ljry5cYRfQ1qixleeo1_500.gif
FIts funny that you posted that as Im watching The Social Network for the first time right now. Im a little more than halfway thru it. Great film!
Adam has Holland vs Oakland tomorrow everybody. I bet that will cinch the title for the Ducks. The A's are not to be eff'ed with :nope:
Wow! Doug Fister just pitched literally (I checked) the best game of his entire career: a 3-hit shutout with no walks and 9 Ks. So huge!
http://cbswashington.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/452792980-e1406545524707.jpg?w=700&h=349&crop=1
Damn?! The Diamondbacks fired Kirk Gibson 3 days before the regular season ended. They just couldnt wait 3 more days. Damn. :eek:
rauldc14
09-26-14, 05:34 PM
Damn?! The Diamondbacks fired Kirk Gibson 3 days before the regular season ended. They just couldnt wait 3 more days. Damn. :eek:
Basically shows the players that nobody is safe.
Pirates win for the 17th time in 21 games! If the Cards lose tonight they'll be tied for the division lead! What!
rauldc14
09-26-14, 11:52 PM
Eh, doesn't really matter as every damn year we see those stupid Cardinals in the World Series. And if not them the Giants.
I don't know if stattracker is askew, but as of 9:35 est Saturday September 27 both the Freedonia Ducks and Quickie Marte are tied at 93. Tomorrow is the last day of the regular season. This is now a B-Rated movie.
I'm probably actually behind, since the StatTracker rounds off things like AVG and WHIP, so I'm probably a little behind on the former. I had a pretty good position this morning, but he's gotten help in exactly the categories he needs and a few of the teams just above him have been doing nothing.
Very good chance I go into tomorrow down a point, and therefore a moderate underdog. But it really is razor thin and anything could happen.
Adam lost a point from yesterday which I kind of thought would happen since he had 2 pitchers with bad outings. So far, it looks like Yoda nor Adam are pitching anyone this last day, I think Chris has this :yup:
I woke up to find I had just about the narrowest possible lead in batting average--down to the fifth decimal point! :eek: That's big, though, because I wasn't sure how close I was there.
Adam's tied in two different categories, so how those shake out is a really big deal. I think I probably need to hold average to win, and there's a chance I'll need a little more if his lineup does well and/or the teams immediately around him in Wins and Runs don't help me out a little (they didn't much yesterday).
Gahhh, down to the wire! And I've got football lineups and a softball game this evening. It's competitive overload.
What a finish. Good luck guys. Hope to see you at the top next year.
Well, the games get underway in just over an hour. I've made all the moves I can make and more or less settled on my final lineup: largely guys who I think will hit for the best average, with the really marginal choices including HR and RBI potential. The rest of the bench is guys stashed in case of late scratches and/or guys who hit for a good average. The waiver wire is picked pretty darn clean.
Every single starting pitcher today is already owned--Mark grabbed a bunch, and I got the rest, benching them all and completely emptying my starting pitching staff, since I'm over my limit. Might as well use all extraneous roster spots to block whatever I can.
It's been a heck of a year. Just like last year I fell behind early, but knew looking at the roster that it was just a matter of time. And just like last year, that's how it played out. A month ago, we were about as close as we are now, but I honestly expected to start pulling away. But my offense sputtered, however good it looked on paper, and Adam's didn't, so here we are.
It's the last day of the season, so I'm sure there'll be lots of late scratches and other weirdness. We could play this league for another 20 years and we might not have another race as close as this. It's been fun, and stressful, and the two are probably related. Really hope I can pull this out, but either way, what a year.
http://i.imgur.com/f5TUG0h.gif
Ahhhhhhh. I was happy because several of Adam's better hitters are on the bench today, and Altuve was one of them--which is a big deal because he's leading the majors in AVG and I am, as previously stated, winning that category only down to the fifth decimal point. But now I hear Altuve has convinced them to play him after all. D'oh!
I've already got a few dozen gray hairs, and I expect by the end of the day they'll have some new friends.
High drama already. So many categories in play, with criss-crossing interests even within individual games.
My team started 3 for 5, which is great, but they've gone 0 for their last 12, which means I'm likely trailing very slightly in AVG, which I probably need to win. Both teams probably have another 15-20 at-bats today, though.
My team started 3 for 5, which is great, but they've gone 0 for their last 12.
Make their 0 for their last 15. Oof. Virtually all of them good-to-great hitters, too, but anything can happen in a single game.
Window closing...
Hitters ran it up to 0 for 17 before Encarnacion finally singles.
Somehow, it's even closer now than it was this morning. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.
It's somehow gotten EVEN CLOSER. I've been doing calculations and I think I'm leading right now. We both have one player left (unless Molina pinch hits), and both are 0 for 1, and I think all I need to do is have my guy "match" his in terms of average for the game. This is assuming Robertson doesn't pitch a scoreless inning for him.
I have a couple of escape hatches, too, if Mikey and/or Inmate can score a couple of runs. If something like that happens, it's totally plausible we could have a tie.
Odds are, though, that it'll come down to Kolten Wong vs. Ender Inciarte. For the whole thing.
Crap, Red Sox were down 9-0 and just scored five runs. Chances of Robertson coming in (assuming they were only bringing him in in a save situation) are way up now. If he does that, and doesn't give up a run, it throws a wrench into my best path to victory.
EDIT: ugh, Matt Kemp just homered for PW. That's huge. Lot harder to win now, but more likely to tie, too. If things hold my team will have lost in large part because it hit zero home runs over the season's final three days.
EDIT AGAIN: looks like Cespedes might get one more at-bat, so there's just way too many variables. It'll clear back up once the BOS-NYY game ends, though.
Cespedes strikes out. It's literally so close that (I'm pretty sure) I went from tied to trailing based on that alone. Wong due up this inning, Inciarate due up fourth right after.
Really terrible performance by both our offenses today. If either of us had been even bad this would be over already.
Holy crap, Derek Holland, who was scratched from his start the other day, has come in in relief, and he's still in Adam's lineup. This could be bad. He's coming in with two outs, though, so it'll depend on how long he pitches; I think he could get a couple of outs and still not flip ERA.
Wong makes another out, too.
Logan Morrison gets doubled home! That moves The Loose Seals ahead of Quickie Marte in Runs. It ain't over.
Inciarte flies out! We're both hitting exactly .167 on the day, but since I came in with the slightest of leads, that means I'm still ahead on AVG.
I'm trying to do the math to make sure ERA has flipped (pending whatever Holland does), but I'm pretty sure raul is edging him out. And it looks like Phelps is coming in, so probably no Robertson. It could come down to whether or not Holland pitches well enough and/or long enough to flip ERA back. And a single earned run probably means he doesn't.
Wow. I know I'm just babbling on, but it's difficult to convey just how close this is, and how many in sane things it's turning on.
I'm trying to reverse-engineer Adam and raul's ERAs to figure out what they actually are (because the live StatTracker rounds off quite a bit). I actually can't tell if Adam entered today with 497 earned runs, or 498. And believe it or not, the whole thing may hinge on that.
I was about to say that, if it's 498, that even if Holland finishes the game clean it won't be enough, but based on a ST rounding change just now, I think it might be 497. If that's the case then things get really dicey; Holland would either need to give up a run in the 9th, or I'll have to hope raul's Joe Smith throws a scoreless frame for the Angels later. But then, even with the rounding the ST doesn't always seem so precise, so there's a chance he's still trailing.
Well, unless ST isn't even rounding properly (which is possible, but not probable), it looks like Adam probably had 497 earned runs coming into today. If that's true, even a scoreless inning for Joe Smith wouldn't be quite enough to counter another scoreless inning from Holland. So unless someone else catches Adam in runs (very plausible), the Championship may hinge on one thing:
Does Derek Holland give up a run in the ninth?
Holland gives up a baserunner, but it's via an error! What! Is this even good? I don't know.
Donaldson and Moss coming up. Really need one of these guys to kill the ball.
Wong makes another out, but Reddick singles. The bases are loaded. The runner on third would be unearned (unless they make a scoring change in a couple of days? Ooo boy...), but the one on second should do the trick. Lowrie up, still one out. Need a hit, or at least not a double play ball.
LOWRIE SINGLES! THE RUNNER FROM SECOND SCORES! WOW!
Holland's out, but he's still responsible for the runner at third. I'm gonna do some quick math but I'm pretty sure even that one run will be enough to keep ERA flipped for raul.
Inciarte up now, though. I need him to get out to keep AVG for the time being. Huge moment, right after this huge moment has just taken place.
INCIARTE FLIES OUT!
STILL ALIVE!
Wong's out of the game! Two things can happen now:
Inciarate comes out of the game, in which case, I think I win by the most ridiculous, absurd, razor-thin margin imaginable.
Inciarate comes up one more time, where a hit likely wins the Championship, and an out loses it. Oh my God.
Got the ARI-STL radio feed from MLB.com. Inciarate comes up in the 8th if they face more than the minimum.
Obviously, big caveat on the math here, and I need Joe Smith not to come in AND give up a run (but with the Angels trailing 4-0 with nothing to play for, he probably won't). I'll use the time to double-check some of the calculations, but otherwise, after all that franticness, I might just have to sit here for 30 minutes until he comes up and then find out who probably wins. Hoping he just gets taken out, though, which is totally plausible near the end of the last game of the year.
Came fairly close to starting Ackley; he's 1 for 3, which means I'd probably be fine if I had. But heck, looking at where things are, both teams probably had one "I almost..." per day for the entire six months that would've swung the whole thing.
I don't think I have ever been apart of a league this close. I won a league on the last day of the season once but had led most of the year. Plus that was before the up to the second live scoring you get on these sites now. You must be pulling your hair out watching the stats come in.
Yeah, this is pretty tense. Again, my math could be off, but if it isn't, how absurd is it for the whole thing to come down to ONE GUY in ONE AT BAT?
He's due up fourth this inning...one out...I've got the radio feed on.
Really, really hoping they just take him out. But apparently he's got a hitting streak going, so I don't think they will.
He's up with a runner on first. Here we go.
I'm glad I don't have to wait another agonizing inning, but I don't love that he's up with the pitcher having to throw from the stretch.
2-0. Hitter's count. But a walk would be just as good as an out!
They pick the runner off! Oh God, Inciarte's still going to be up in the 9th!
This is agonizing.
And now I sit and wait. Again.
If Inciarte does get a hit, I might still hang onto AVG. Obviously the margin I had going into today was razor thin, but Adam's margin for the day would be razor thin, too, so out of thousands and thousands of at-bats, it's definitely plausible I might hang on anyway, in which case we wouldn't know who won until tomorrow morning.
But I think it's a bit more likely than not that this will determine it.
One-two-three in the top of the ninth. Inciarte leading off the bottom of the inning.
Here we go again.
Anything other than a hit should work; error, walk, hit by pitch, anything.
Full count.
WALK HIM. THAT'D BE PERFECTLY OKAY.
Another foul. This just won't end!
That at-bat spanned two innings and 15 pitches. Absurd.
Technically, he could come up again if the Diamondbacks force extras here in the 9th, but otherwise, we should be in the clear.
Now all I can do is wait and hope my math was right. But I don't think I can lose: if I'm wrong about ERA, then I think we actually tie.
Not popping any corks just yet; I'm mostly sure that'll be enough, and I'm even more sure that this at least forces a 92-92 tie. But I'm not 100% on either. We'll see.
Still, it's nice to breathe again.
You deserve to win just for calculating all that crap out. Good job either way Chris, I hope it aint a tie.
My brain is forcing me to acknowledge that technically, either Joe Smith or Sergio Romo could come into their games and give up runs, but neither of their teams are near save situations.
I think I'm just gonna eat some turkey bacon and go play softball now. Whew.
The last game of the regular season has ended. Final result unless StatTracker changes it by tomorrow is.....
Adam 92.5
Chris 91.5
One thing I do know after all this time is that StatTracker ALWAYS changes their final score the next day.
Yeah, sort of--they just round off close things, so if you both have a .273 AVG it'll list it as a tie, but the official standings will count past three decimals and one of the two will actually be ahead.
In this case StatTracker has him tied for AVG with me, and tied for ERA with raul. I'm pretty sure he's actually going to barely lose both, which would bump him down to 91.5 and bump me up to an even 92. But we'll see for sure tomorrow.
I am really feeling bad for Chris right now, and imho being that the figures were so far off, I think StatTrackers a broken mess.
For instance, heres the message on the league page "Fantasy Baseball scoring doesn't include scoring from regular-season MLB games only. Fantasy scoring doesn't extend to include the MLB playoffs or any tiebreaker games."
.....which means exactly that its including regular season MLB games only! They completely contradict themselves!
Yeah, I'm a little perplexed. I was leading AVG going into yesterday, and I had a higher AVG yesterday. I think this might be an example of Simpson's paradox (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simpson's_paradox), if you can believe that.
Disappointing, to be sure, but thanks for a great year, everybody.
Good job Chris. You still remain the guy to beat year in and year out.
Congratulations to Adam on winning his first MoFo Championship.
and **** you Yahoo for being a broken mess. We all should try a different site next season for this. We can carry our record books to wherever, but I just-don't-trust Yahoos format anymore, at all.
It's a small blessing that I'm finding out now, at least. It would've been harder to swallow in the moment, after all the drama.
And... I just made it into 5th at the last minute... My team took too lumps this year, but it was still a blast!
I was having fun till around August.;) Thanks for letting me be apart of the league. See you guys next year. Congrats Adam.
Aye, congrats to Adam, and thanks to everyone. I'm particularly glad so many of you kept playing hard to maximize points at the end of the year. I know not everyone does this, and even those that do start doing it a lot less, but I think it's great when it happens and makes the league a lot better. :)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyVF1glhAfk
http://i.imgur.com/obyHEhn.png
Feh! I still say the sites broken. I wasnt even in the mix and can feel the gyp sting.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIUlx9mMcXs
http://m.mlb.com/news/article/99468606/joe-maddon-opts-out-of-contract-leaves-rays
No!
No!
No!!!
:bawling::bawling::bawling::bawling::bawling::bawling::bawling::bawling:
The man that came and took a bunch of ho-hum nobodies to the World Series in 2008, the man that made a bunch of minor leaguers competitive for years vs the Yankees & Red Sox, the man that was regarded as the Manager Of the Year 2 times in last 6 years, has left Tampa Bay. I am gutted, and the Rays franchise is especially gutted.
We now suck, and I honestly feel we'll be losing our team too. Without Joe Madden there is not enough confidence in this franchise to invest in, no help relocating their stadium, and no future because fan interest will plummet. My guess is hes gonna follow Andrew Friedman to the Dodgers, but who knows.
Good wishes Joe, youre incredible. :(
http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.123727.1313967390!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_635/alg-joe-maddon-madden-jpg.jpg
This stunned me, and its so tragic because he was so young and his future so bright. RIP Oscar Tavares.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2014/10/26/cardinals-outfielder-oscar-taveras-dies-in-car-accident/17977685/
Awful news. Had such a bright future, too. RIP.
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