Tuesday, February 28, 2006

Mr. Swindler's Warriors? NEVER!

Money quote on why the future managing partner of the NY Yankees, Steve Swindal, is a jagoff:

"I just grew up not being a huge baseball guy. I consider myself a huge baseball guy now. I've come a long way. I'm passionate about it. I think my wife will tell you she dreads when baseball season comes because I'm in front of the TV. And sometimes I turn it off and I'm not happy. And invariably, you lose a game - especially if it's a close game or you blow a lead - and you have a hard time sleeping."

Read more on the heir-apparent here.

Friday, February 24, 2006

Barry Bonds

It's nice to see bonds is getting his proper rest. And that two members of his "entourage" are watching over him like he's baby Jesus. This guy has irritated me since he played with the Pirates.

espn article

GOOD STORIES

Here are a couple of good stories from the NY Post. Registration is free, btw, and hasn't produce any junkmail for me.

Some good news we haven't heard in ten years.

Some irrelevant news with a important tidbit at the bottom.

Some "news" absolutely not worth reading but posted only so I could complete the triple.

Thursday, February 23, 2006

2006-07 Potential Free Agents for 1B/DH

I know its jumping the gun, but here's something fun to ponder. I went to this website to look-up potential SP free agents following this season (see my comment to Tony's NY Times article post) and came across a list of the players available at all positions. Most interesting is the stable of bats that will be available at 1B/DH (after Bernie's actual retirement this year). Look at who we can possibly sign... this is pretty exciting stuff:

Sean Casey
Phil Nevin
Dmitri Young
Nomar Garciaparra
Derrek Lee
Jeff Bagwell (Team Option)
Darin Erstad
Dimitri Young (Team Option)
David Ortiz (Team Option)
Craig Wilson
Nick Johnson
Aubrey Huff

Who would you want?

Wednesday, February 22, 2006

CONGRATULATIONS

I would like to offer public congratulations to our blogging buddy, Adam Cohen, for completing the New York State bar exam on Wednesday. Hopefully news of his passing will come swiftly. In the meantime, we welcome him back as the blog's most talked about personality!

-Steiner

Worth A Read

A good look at some of the stuff going on in Tampa.

From the NY Times.

Monday, February 20, 2006

THE GUY TO WATCH

The thought of Dotel coming back to form really excites me. Farnsworth, Dotel, Rivera. That, my friends, could spell dominance.

From the NY POST.

Friday, February 17, 2006

Erickson set to conquer New York

The entire Viking community is celebrating Leif Erickson's signing with the vaunted New York Yankees. Eric the Red, legendary Norwegian outlaw and Erickson's father, said "I haven't been so proud since Leif discovered North America." Erickson's mother, Pjoohildr, commented as well, "I never thought I'd see my little Leif in pinstripes." Hagar the Horrible, Erickson's agent, stated "He's still got some life in that arm of his. We are thrilled to have this opportunity with the greatest organization in baseball." Erickson himself joked "I just hope I fit in with Mr. Steinbrenner's definition of a warrior. I'll guess have to ask Johnny Damon for the number of his barber."

PAVANO WHO? ERICKSON SIGNS WITH YANKS

Here is the glorious news.

Thursday, February 16, 2006

PAVANO STILL BLOODY HURT

Carl Pavano will not throw off the mound for at least another two weeks, for he is suffering from backpain similar to that which contributed to his rotator cuff problems last year. So says the NY Post.

I think we can stick a fork in this guy.

SOSA HEADED TO YANKS?

Rumors are swirling, folks. Could Sammy be heading to New York?

We might as well dig up the Piazza posts, because I feel the same way about this one. In fact, I like it more, because Sosa can double as a backup outfielder while Piazza could not really play firstbase. He is the ideal right side of our DH platoon.

For those of you who think Bernie is bound for 500 abs this year, I say you're mad. He'll either break down or will split time, but it's one or the other. He will not play that much. We didn't sign him to play that much, he was told when signing that he wouldn't play that much. And I still think Cash doesn't want to start the season with that lousy bench.

Bring on Sammy!

Tuesday, February 14, 2006

PROFILES IN SUCCESS SERIES: Luis Palonia (UPDATED: Polonia)

Friends, on occasion, we will highlight a less-than-holy man that we regardless admire, as a "Profile in Success" baseball player. These are men who possessed talent but also were poisoned by some weakness or addiction- men like Pete Rose (sports gambling) and today's entry, Mr. Palonia(Polonia) (playground tail).

Acquired by the Yanks from Oakland in the famous Ricky Henderson trade, Luis Palonia (Polonia) was a sparkplug. He hustled and came up with that big hit when you needed it the most. He played for several teams, but as a Yankee he made his mark. Luis also had an appetite for 15 year-old girls, and that would mar an otherwise honorable and clean reputation. But Luis was a man of his word, and he pleaded no-contest to the charges and did his 60 days of jailtime during the offseason. Look at his face... jail must have been rough! But think about this (and this ought to make you feel old as dirt), that girl Luis was convicted of statutorily raping, she'll be 31 years old this year. Wow, how time flies.

Anyway, the speed, the fast bat and the heads-up play of Luis Palonia (Polonia) deserves our recognition. Vaya con Dios, Luis!

Sunday, February 12, 2006

YANKEES STARTING PITCHING, PART I

With Pitchers and Catchers upon us (most staffs and their battery mates will arrive in warmer climes sometime this week), it is a good the time to offer predictions and insight into every team's biggest priority: The starting pitching. How do we match up with our rivals? What are potential problems and strengths? There is much to discuss.

As of now, our rotation has seven candidates for five spots. Here they are:

1. Randy Johnson
2. Mike Mussina
3. Chien Ming Wang
4. Shawn Chacon
5. Jaret Wright
6. Carl Pavano
7. Aaron Small
8. Roger Clemens (?)

Have at it, you animals.

Friday, February 10, 2006

Brokeback Infield?

Not quite baseball news, but read up on this upcoming film:

In the wake of the success of "Brokeback Mountain", gay love stories which studios were hesitant about doing are now getting a new life including one of the most high profile. This week, producer Andrew Lang optioned Peter Lefcourt novel "The Dreyfus Affair: A Love Story" and hired Lefcourt to write the script reports Variety.

The novel concerns a married all-star shortstop who, in the heat of a pennant race, falls in love with his team's second baseman. As the double play combination goes public, scandal ensues. Book was first optioned in 1992 and has been developed in different incarnations at Disney (twice), Fox and New Line with filmmakers including Betty Thomas and David Frankel attached.

Lefcourt said the film got closest at New Line, where director Thomas had interest from Ben Affleck and Don Cheadle. Project struck out when Affleck instead did "Pearl Harbor".

Ben Affleck and Don Cheadle? How about A-Rod and Jeter? No? Sorry...

Thursday, February 09, 2006

Moe, Pete, and Freddie



Time-waster of the day

While taking a personality test for "What kind of starship Captain are you?" I came across this Baseball Personality Test. It's a short one, takes about two minutes to fill out. I came back as a "Hot Dog Vendor." I'm not sure what that means, but I can't disagree with the results either. Post your results below.

Wednesday, February 08, 2006

BREAKING NEWS: DAMON STILL A FLAKE

This story from ESPN is flat out bizarre. John better learn quick that he can't have it both ways. This is a trade demand in the making.

-Steiner

New Proposal

Guys, consider this proposal. I think there is something for everyone--more categories to keep it interesting, but a proportionally higher value for Avg./Power and ERA for those interested in making it more like the game on the field.

Offense: Avg., Slg., OBP., Hr, RBI, R

Defense: ERA, IP, W, WHIP, SV, K

In my system, I had Avg. and Slg. weighted twice the other categories. This proposal comes close to achieving that by including OBP and HR as categories, which will go mostly to Avg. and Slg. But, they bring in some other variables to make it more interesting.

The same with pitching. WHIP and ERA are closely related, and including IP will more accurately reflect the value of both. I don't like the win category, but you can't win them all.

I think this is a good compromise. Thoughts?

Tuesday, February 07, 2006

PROPOSED SPECS

Friends, at 3:30 am I awoke, covered in sweat and screaming at the top of my lungs, "Innings pitched! Innings pitched, damn you! Innings pitched!" Gus ran in, nude. And that's where the story ends...for you. Nonetheless, the unifying variable had come to me in a deep sleep.

I present to you the Marcavage System:

Offense: OPS (5), RBI (3), R (1), SB (1)

Pitching: ERA (5), IP (3), SV (1)


You may ask, "What are those funny parentheses?" Well, my friends, those are the genius of the system. I have weighed the categories in relation to one another in terms of value. Gone are the days where a SB will be worth *more* (because they are rarer) in fantasy value than the homerun! This system accounts for all the important skills a player could possess, but emphasizes those I think we can agree are most important: Getting on base and driving in runs.

I will elaborate.

Offense:

1. In my opinion, OPS is the great statistic. It combines plate discipline, average, and power into one category. It is also a finer measure of power hitting than mere homeruns, because it accounts for all power categories at once (homers, doubles, etc.). And it takes into account bases on balls, which is a valuable category often ignored in fantasy leagues.

2. RBI takes into account clutch hitting. It is an imperfect statistic, because it depends on runners being on base, but it's the best we can do to measure this important skill.

3. Runs. I know there was some talk about whether we should count runs. My feeling is yes (but at a low value), because there is some specific talent associated with running the bases. I don't like the category, because it's dependent on getting hit in, plus it's largely reflected in OPS, but it may capture something the others miss.

4. SB. Stolen bases, unlike most of the other categories, measures an independent skill, which makes it a good fantasy statistic. It's low value reflects the fact that it is a secondary skill, like base running, but one that I think deserves some recognition. I think the argument that there are only a few really good base-stealers has some merit, but isn't much of a worry when we value SBs at one and adds some strategy to the draft.

Some will undoubtedly argue about the absence of homeruns. In my opinion, the homerun is the most redundant statistic on the offensive side. If you take OPS, RBIs, and Runs together, you cover all the aspects of the homerun. If you insist on having it as a category for sentimental reasons, I suggest it be weighted as a one, since it is already given great weight in three other categories.

Pitching:

1. ERA. This statistic, of course, is the bottom line. If not for one catch, this might be the only statistic necessary in the pitching category.

2. IP: ERA, while the most important pitching statistic, is susceptible to dirty tricks. It needs to be kept honest with Innings Pitched, so a team cannot stock its staff with low-inning, low-ERA guys and beat the system. IP plus ERA also accounts for the value in wins, while squeezing out the luck aspect (for instance, whether your team gives you run support, etc.) I love these two categories together, because they really come down to the pitchers performance alone.

3. Saves: Although no doubt an overrated stat, it's a measure of clutch pitching that we should account for, though at a diminished value.

I know there was talk about Holds and Ks. I liked the holds idea until I looked it up to see exactly what it is. From Wikipedia:

"A hold is awarded to a relief pitcher if he enters in a save situation, records at least one out, and leaves the game without having relinquished that lead.

To receive a hold, the pitcher must not finish the game (thus becoming the closing pitcher) or be the winning pitcher."

I don't like this stat for several reasons. One, it favors middle relievers who enter the game with leads over those who come in during a tie or close game, which is illogical. Two, you can come in with a three run lead, give up two runs, leave the game and get a hold. Should someone get rewarded for that? Three, it is just too easy to get a hold. You come in, pitch to one batter in the six inning, leave and get a hold. It seems to me like a completely superfluous statistic. As for middle relievers, their skills are accounted for with ERA and IP. Also, we should probably only have three relief pitchers and five starters to account for the value of starters in the statistical categories.

As for Ks, they are a glamour stat, for sure, but any benefit they produce is reflected in ERA and IP. There is nothing unique about their value other than that they contribute to a better ERA.

Anyway, there it is. I will entertain objections and criticisms throughout the day. I know the system looks unusual, but don't be put off by the new and unusual. I think this system will give us a pure measure of production, and a legitimate champion.

-Steiner

Monday, February 06, 2006

Fantasy Specs

Guys, we are currently considering how we want to set up the fantasy league. It appears we've agreed to Roto, but now we're considering stats and roster settings.

We welcome proposals or suggestions on both.

MONDAY MORNING OPEN THREAD

I haven't really felt like a blog administrator until this moment, boys. Have at it!

-Steiner

Saturday, February 04, 2006

Jeter's glove

Interesting article. I can never figure out all of these defensive statistics. Jeter does seem to make the big play when needed (although he has a brainfart more often than I would like). People claim that he has terrible range, but it's very hard to eyeball that.

Thursday, February 02, 2006

YANKEES BUY RUTH FOR $100,000 CASH

The Yankees have purchased the contract of demon slugger Babe Ruth of the Boston Red Sox for $100,000 and a $350,000 loan to finance owner Harry Frazee's Broadway interests. Frazee reportedly "to buy new players," calls "one man team...a failure."

Wednesday, February 01, 2006

YANKS SIGN(ED) DAMON (TWO MONTHS AGO)



If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh?