Looking Over Catcher Projections In 2010
Well this season Inge is only available at Third Base, which makes him a filler at best, so I have to make a statement at Catcher this year. Mauer, Martinez, McCann, and Sandoval are all off the market because they are on other team's keepers list. So looking over the list I have a small group that are at the top of my list and I can't let slip through my fingers this year.
Matt Weiters - Weiters is probably my favorite. But I think he is a little overrated but if he falls a little I will definitely not let him slip through. The other thing is this is the last year of keepers, so his youth is not that attractive to me, but his .291 Batting Average is very good for my strategy this year.
Russell Martin - What !?!?!?! Is that 12 steals for Martin. If I thought he was up for that again, he might be higher on my list, but his Batting Average, Runs and Runs Batted In, are exactly what I am looking for.
Miguel Montero - I like Montero's 17 Home Runs, but that doesn't mean I am going to put him ahead of anyone else on this list because his Batting Average is still a little sub-par. He is still a very viable option in case the others are off the board.Kurt Suzuki - Like his Batting Average, Like his Home Runs and I really like his Runs Batted In, which means I like where he his hitting in the line-up and I think he might actually be in for a bump in Runs.
Bengie Molina - Molina had an average season in Batting Average and Home Runs, and his bump in Runs Batted In might make him OK, if it wasn't for his very low Runs. Wasn't he like a top Catcher last year?
Geovany Soto - A little low in the Batting Average, but everything else is exactly what I am looking for. He could improve those numbers real easy this year and if the Cubs are healthy he may have a big year.
Probably not going to reach for: Jorge Posada, Ryan Doumit, Chris Ianetta, or Mike Napoli... but might be great for a number 2 catching option.
Trade Offs in Fantasy Baseball Drafting 2010
If Anyone Asks
A Close "One" For The Huskers
Anyhoo, I have been most fortunate to catch many Nebraska games this year. Many of them have been on the television here in New York City which helped me follow the dominance of one man, Ndamukong Suh. Trust me I have watched all of the great Nebraska players over my brief tenure as a Nebraska fan, 31 years is still a short tenure compared to most. But I have never seen someone blow-up a line of scrimmage every time like he does, and I have created players on video games that don't dominate the way he does.In one word he is remarkable. And for the first time in a few years I was able to wash the bad taste that is Bill Callahan out of my mouth last night. Suh, might be the only thing he ever did right. But before I get on the phone and send an Edible Arrangement to Bill's house in New Jersey (and yes most every Sunday I get to watch him on the Jet sideline, YEAH!), I want to think about the number 1.
They were one drive away from beating Virginia Tech, they were one fumble away from beating Iowa State, and most importantly they were one second away from beating the Texas Longhorns and winning the Big12 Championship. I know in life you can't look back and regret, but you can look back and learn. This team will do just that. Later today we will find out where the Nebraska Cornhuskers will be bowling this year, which will probably be the Holiday Bowl. And at least that game is late enough this year that I will be able to forget that the Big 10 somehow got two BCS bids this year and will lose both of them, handily.
Ohh and after the three hour drubbing he put on the Texas Longhorns, was I the only waiting for Suh to come behind and sack McCoy again when he held up the Big 12 Championship trophy? I mean it was only fitting, being as Suh had made him his prison bitch all night.
Overheard on YES Network Cameras
We Should Have Thought Of This Years Ago!
From the information that we were able to gather we selected some of our favorite clips from people who have taken in during he Yankee windfall but still had the audacity to say these mean things about the Yankees. They may be true but they will definitely create their own kind of buzz.“Drove to the stadium this morning and traffic was awful, probably because they knew a black guy was coming to the stadium. Once I was in the clubhouse the toilet was out of toilet paper, they always doing that to the black man, probably Torre’s idea. Then I had to go out and play Right Field, definitely Joe’s idea and because I am black. Got a homerun in the sixth that drove in 3 runs and we won the game, but Randy Johnson got player of the game because he threw a shut out and I am black. But at the end of the day I love the Yankees because I’m a paper chaser”
Carl Pavano – SP
“Today was a beautiful July morning in Tampa. I awoke at 11 AM and made myself some toast. While buttering the toast I felt tightness in my shoulder, I went over to my to-do list and put down SEE THE TRAINER and thought about visiting the east coast later this month. It has been three years since I have been to New York and I bet the guys would love to see me, they always say things like 'nice to see you' and 'long time no see'.”Jason Giambi – IB/DH
Why I Don't Believe a Word of What Stephon Marbury Says.
He has been the topic on this blog so many times we have lost count, our just failed to count. But thinking about his early this year and last year saga that is Starbury, I could have made millions just being an expert on him — and bought lots of his shoes.
Anyways, ESPN recently interviewed the off-again Knick about what he is up to and what his plans are. Steph keeps saying that he did nothing wrong and if the Knicks would let him out of his contract he could pick between playing for the Heat and Celtics this year.
I find that hard to believe. But in Steph’s mind it makes perfect sense and it is an important bargaining chip against the Knicks. But if the whole squabble over a million or 3 dollars, then why aren’t the Celtics stepping up and saying, “Don’t worry about it, we will get you.” I mean after all it is the difference of two million dollars which in the NBA is nothing.
If you ask me, he is full of it, and the Knicks know it. No one wants his services, except maybe that Greek team, and his attitude in the club house and the press he brings with him is enough to disturb any well oil machine trying to make a playoff run.Remember he went to the press first and you're going to hear it here first, “Starbury, you’re full of shit!”
Finally Andy signs with the Yankees
Call me crazy.
Am I the only one thinking though they have to figure out what is going on in the outfield. And why in the hell do they keep dangling Xavier Nady? He is relatively cheap and is going to be a great hitter depending on where Posada finds himself in the line-up. He hits for average, plays great D and takes walks, we need this guy.
But a Damon/Swisher/Cabrera/Matsui Platoon in center and left scares me. None of them are a good fit together and there is nothing redeeming from any of them, with the exception that Matsui and Damon, who are great DHs.
But we are going into the season strong, now if they would just open up ticket packages I could plan my summer.
Why I like Kurt Warner
From his background, I am not even going into his whole background, I am sure we will hear about it a million and a half times in the next few days, but here is a Woot! For the Hy-Vee on University in Cedar Falls, their Chinese is f***ing awesome. But besides that he has become a 2-time NFL MVP, going on his 3rd SuperBowl appearance, he is a leader on the field and will be the starting quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals this Sunday, Yes the Arizona Cardinals. Warner makes the best of his situations though, he made the Rams the greatest show on turf and now the Cardinals look like a team that can win it all. But think about it, two of the lowliest franchises ever in the NFL, (not to mention the mentoring he did of Eli Manning in the middle) St. Louis fresh off of trading their best player Jerome Bettis and the Cardinals letting go of their franchise player of Jake Plummer, here comes Kurt Warner, not expected to be any better than a back-up Quarterback and lead his team not only to vistroy, but to championships. He believed in himself and it showed on the field. And his teams followed him.
He throws an ugly ball, he was supposed to retire twice now, but when it comes down to it I am proud of fellow University Northern Iowa Alumni, Kurtis Eugene Warner.
The Top 5 Worst Yankees Free Agent Pitchers of All Time
What recession?
By dumping a behemoth-sized pile of cash in front of C.C. to sway him back to
the East, the Yankees simply did what they had to do. Yes, the contract is
huge, and Sabathia’s waistline is huge, but if he brings October glory into the
new stadium, none of that will matter.
Now that we have a legitimate ace on the staff, the prospect of Opening Day 2009 grows even more exciting. To appreciate just how important of an accomplishment this is for Brian Cashman and the boys, let’s take a look back at some of the all-out misfires the Yankees have made in the not-too-distant past while testing the free agent waters for starting pitching.
Warning: Some of the following names may induce severe bouts of rage and/or depression for the average Yankees fan. Please proceed with caution.
5. Kenny Rogers (1996). “The Gambler” spent just two seasons in the Bronx before being traded to Oakland for the infamous “player to be named later,” and never quite lived up to the buzz that stemmed from tossing a perfect game for the Rangers in 1994. Sure, the Yankees won their first World Series in 18 years during Rogers’ first season in pinstripes, but this was no thanks to Kenny, who never reached later than the third inning of any of his postseason starts that year. As everyone in Yankeeland knows, October futility will get you shipped out of town faster than Julia Roberts’ run on Broadway (unless you make $25 million a year and have fabulous highlights in your hair).
Since leaving the Yankees, Rogers showed why he doesn’t belong on America’s Team by doing his best Sean Penn/Randy Johnson impersonation and attacking an on-field cameraman during a pre-game warm-up in 2005. A silver lining in this failed acquisition? That “player to be named later” from Oakland turned out to be 1998 World Series MVP Scott Brosius. Thanks, Kenny.
4. Jaret Wright (2004). Did Brian Cashman bump his head and think he was back in 1997 when he pursued Wright to help bolster the Yankees rotation four years ago? Long gone was the cocky Cleveland Indian fireballer who flustered the Bronx Bombers in his first ever postseason appearance (’97 ALDS). Instead, Yankees fans were treated to a fifth starter who took the phrase “laboring on the mound” to a brand new level. With one eye glued to the scoreboard at the old stadium you would almost, almost, feel bad for the guy as the number on the Duane Reade pitch-counter climbed into the 40s and even 50s in just the second inning.
Watching Jaret Wright trying to retire the side was like watching Jimmy Fallon attempting to make it through a sketch on Saturday Night Live without smirking or even cracking up altogether. They would both make you shudder with disgust.
So, where is this mistake of an acquisition now? After failing to make the pitching-challenged Pittsburgh Pirates squad last spring, Wright is looking for work and wondering why Cashman won’t return his phone calls anymore.
The big righty’s worst moment in pinstripes came in pivotal Game 5 of the 2003 World Series against the Marlins. When starter David Wells went down with an injury after just one inning, Contreras came on in “relief” to promptly get rocked for three quick runs in the second, setting the tone for the rest of the game.
The biggest burn of the Contreras signing? After giving up on the overpriced hurler, the Yankees traded him along with cash to the White Sox during the 2004 season, only receiving (gulp) Esteban Loaiza in return. Contreras found a rebirth in Chicago and went on to help the Sox win the World Series in 2005. We don’t need to mention how the Yankees have fared since then.
2. Kei Igawa (2007). Oh no, the Red Sox just forked over big bucks to sign a Japanese pitcher, now we have to get one too. Such was the thinking when the Yankees shelled out $26 million just to talk to Igawa about signing a 4-year, $20 million contract. Add everything up and you get . . . the highest paid Triple-A pitcher in the history of baseball.
Is there anything more to say about this one? Someone, anyone, please just take him away!
No one could blame Cashman and The Boss for throwing money at Pavano—he was the most sought-after free agent starter on the market at the end of the 2004 season, not to mention a Yankee-stopper in the 2003 World Series while pitching for the Marlins—but seriously, how could this one have turned out any worse? Pavano jumps out of the bullpen and picks a fistfight with one of the right field Bleacher Creatures?
Now that it’s all said and done, and Pavano’s stint with the Yankees has mercifully drawn to a close, the final numbers speak for themselves on what a colossal bust this signing turned out to be: 4 years, 26 games started, 9-8, 5.00 ERA. When the dust settles, Carl walks away from all of this with a cool $39.95 million in his pocket. That equates to roughly $1.54 million per start. A few more financial debacles like this one, and the Yankees may be next in line for a federal bailout.