Saturday Morning

Who's picking me up at 8am at the airport?

If no one steps up, someone can pick me up at Treats on Humboldt sometime around noon. I will be there hammering them down until someone gets off their ass to hang with me.

An Entertaining look back!

Brewers trade Hendrickson to KC

2006 Hendy award winner unlikely to repeat.

We've known for a long time that Hendrickson was going to be traded to either the Royals or Devil Rays because they're the only teams with enough organizational patience to put up with his bullshit. He's worth a flier for the Royals because, hey, their best pitcher is Gil Meche. It's also a worthwhile deal for the Brewers because, hey, Hendrickson sucks balls. Also, we're getting a minor league catcher, meaning that the Crew is probably looking at holding a competition for Miller's spot next year between Rivera, Closser, St. Pierre and Solome. There are worse things than a little competition. While this catcher has some of the worst minor league stats I've ever seen, Hendrickson has some of the worst major league stats I've ever seen. A wash really, but take a moment to rejoice the fact that we're finally rid of that pigment-challenged headcase.

Maxim St. Pierre's stats

Brewers trade Brady Clark for RHP Elmer Dessens

Clark for Dessens

Dessens career stats

Brewers Trade Clark for Elmer Dessens

The Brew Crew has finally cleared up the outfield jam by trading Brady Clark and cash to the Dodgers for Elmer Dessens. Clark's role on the Brewers was to be a defensive sub and emergency outfielder. The Crew already has 3 guys in Triple-A that could do what Clark did. Any at bats that Clark would have gotten would have directly reduced the number of at bats that Gabe Gross would have gotten. Frankly, the Brewers did not need that much depth in the outfield. Getting rid of Clark is no real loss to the Brewers.

Clark is getting paid about $2M more than Elmer Dessens, who will make $1.7M this year. I'm willing to bet that the cash given by the Brewers was exactly the difference in salaries. So, it's not really a contract dump, either.

What do the Brewers get in Dessens? They get the most average pitcher in baseball. Is that a bad thing? Certainly not. Teams were paying $42M for league average pitchers this winter. Dessens gives the Brewers added depth in the bullpen. He can fill in well in long relief, probably posting something along the lines of a 4.30 ERA. He's still got good ground ball numbers and about a 2:1 K/BB ratio. His presence means that someone like Greg Aquino doesn't make the team. Though Dessens at age 36 doesn't have the upside of Aquino, he's far more probable to post a lower ERA than Aquino. Dessens will be a valuable innings eater when a couple of starters go down. He can even start if there was a need.

In sum, I'm happy the Brewers made the move. Clark provided nothing to the team, and Dessens could be a really nice addition and insurance policy to the front end of the bullpen.

That sound you just heard is Condescendy throwing up in his mouth

From Baseball Prospectus:

"A total of 51 percent of Cincinnati Reds left fielder Adam Dunn’s hits have gone for extra base during his six-year career. He has 198 home runs, 151 doubles, six triples and 340 singles.

However, Dunn says he has a new role model this year

“I'm going to be Ichiro,” Dunn told the Dayton Daily News, referring to the Seattle Mariners superstar center fielder. “I'm going to have 216 hits, 177 of them singles, six homers and steal 77 bags.”

Dunn is exaggerating but has spent the majority of spring training working on hitting the ball up the middle and to the opposite field in an effort to improve upon his .234 batting averages of last season. While Dunn has never been a high average hitter, with a .245 lifetime mark, he has made up for it with a .380 OBP and .513 slugging percentage.

Reds General Manager Wayne Krivsky enjoys watching Dunn’s new approach.

"I love seeing those singles and the ball going to all fields,” Krivsky said. “He's positive about it, too. I hope he stays positive because sometimes he is his own toughest critic.”

Dunn wants to be known as a complete hitter and has spent hours with new Reds hitting coach Brook Jacoby throughout spring training in an attempt to make it work.

“I know I'm a good hitter because I've done it before,” Dunn said. “It's down inside of me somewhere and I'm going to get it out of there.”

While PECOTA doesn’t see Dunn morphing into Ichiro, it does project him to raise his batting average this season to .265 to go with 40 homers, 102 RBIs, a .386 OBP and a .568 SLG."

I'm not really surprised...

So everyone's favorite personal baseball game lengthener was caught sleeping at the wheel...literally. I can't say that I'm surprised he was sleeping behind the wheel since the way he manages a baseball game makes it seem like he's sleeping half the time. Anyways, read and enjoy... http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-cardinals-larussadui&prov=ap&type=lgns

Oh, and good luck to everyone in the fantasy baseball draft...I will again most likely finish in 2nd, because I don't win anything...

It was bound to happen...

2007 MLB Predictions: AL East

I tried to post sportsbook's odds and got rejected by this fucking blogger. So, you'll have to look them up yourself at www.sportsbook.com

Who Wins?

I present the following video without comment

2007 MLB Predictions: AL Central

This could be the best playoff race in the American league since 1967 or even 1908. Why? Because there are four teams that are very good and pretty even matched. There haven't been too many races that have featured more than 2 teams battling it out on the last weekend of the season in our lifetimes. Imagine a 4-team race on the last weekend of the season, where all four teams are very good. Probable? No, but certainly possible in this division. This division will be fascinating to watch all year.

Here are Sportsbook.com's odds:

Division Champion:

Detroit Tigers 9-5
Chicago White Sox 2-1
Minnesota Twins 3-1
Cleveland Indians 3-1
Kansas City Royals 75-1

Over/Under Wins:

Tigers 87.5

White Sox 87.5

Twins 84.5

Indians 85.0

Royals 67.0

AL Pennant:

Tigers 4-1

White Sox 7-1

Twins 12-1

Indians 11-1

Royals 200-1

World Series:

Tigers 6-1

White Sox 12-1

Twins 25-1

Indians 20-1

Royals 350-1

2007 MLB Predictions: AL West

Sportsbook.com's odds to win the division:
Anaheim Angels 5-8
Oakland Athletics 3-1
Texas Rangers 5-1
Seattle Mariners 8-1

Over/Under Wins:
Angels 88.5
A's 85.5
Rangers 80.5
Mariners 77.5

AL Pennant:
Angels 6-1
A's 11-1
Rangers 20-1
Mariners 40-1

World Series:
Angels 10-1
A's 20-1
Rangers 40-1
Mariners 100-1

2007 MLB Predictions: NL East

Here are sportsbook's odds to win the NL East:
New York Mets 5-7
Philadelphia Phillies 8-5
Atlanta Braves 9-2
Florida Marlins 10-1
Washington Nationals 100-1

Here are the over and under amounts:
Mets 89
Phillies 88.5
Braves 82
Marlins 77.5
Nats 66.5

NL Champion Odds:
Mets 4-1
Phillies 5-1
Braves 15-1
Marlins 17-1
Nats 200-1

World Series Odds:
Mets 9-1
Phillies 13-1
Braves 30-1
Marlins 50-1
Nats 500-1

2007 MLB Predictions: NL Central

I figured we could discuss sports betting, too...in case anyone was still interested.

Here are sportsbook's current odds for winning the central:

Cubs 3:2
Cardinals 3:2
Brewers 5:1
Astros 7:1
Reds 15:1
Pirates 40:1

Once again, we can all post our predictions in the comments section.

Who is the bigger wig?

This is inspired by a heated debate between your's truly, Internet Asshole Condescendy, and Old Hoss Radbourn. We want to know who you think the bigger wig is, Mike Nardi (above) or Eric Devendorf (below).

2007 MLB Predictions - NL West

Now that people have given up on auditing teams and no one is contributing to the blog, I figured I'd fire up our annual prediction challenge.

After watching the first episode of Baseball Tonight this past weekend, I'm fired up to make some bold predictions. On the subject of Baseball Tonight, I was ready to start a thread simply to make fun of all the fucking retarded things said on that show. But, I realized two things. First, firejoemorgan.com has already taken the lead on ripping to shreds all the nonsense that comes out of the mouths of the BT heads. And second, the talking heads on the show are told what to say. Never has that been more clear than this past weekend's show. Is it really possible that all four people would pick different teams in all six divisions? Does Orestes Destrede really think the Marlins are going to win the NL East? Does he really think Ichiro is going to hit .400?

I'm not sure if Baseball Tongith really pisses me off or delights me to know end. I haven't decided yet. One thing is for sure; a lot of really funny shit is said on the show. I've also come to the realization that no one, not even the 6-year-old viewer takes what John Kruk says seriously. And even the 3-year-old viewer knows Steve Phillips is grossly incompetent to manage, analyze, or even watch baseball. I guess what bothers me is that I'll be depending on the show this year for highlights since I will no longer have the Extra Innings package. It sucks that I can't get real highlights. I digress.

Like last year, I'm not sure if we'll really give out any award for predicting the season well. To keep things easier, I though we'd go division by division this year. At the very least, the people who predict can give some "I told you so"s at the end of the year. Or, conversely, they can get ripped apart for picking the Pirates to win 80 games.

I'll start with the NL West. We'll do each division, then playoff predictions and, lastly, postseason awards. If we do deside to make a game out of this, I propose that we do this like a skins game. For example, points are given out based on who predicts each bracket the best. Let's say we get 6 people to participate. If you predict the NL West best, you get 6 points. If you predict it the worst, you get 1. Half of the consideration in each division will be based on standings and half will be based on how well you pick records. Sound easy enough?

My First Draft

I'm impatient and under the weather, so what better way to enjoy a friday afternoon than a fantasy baseball draft. I had the second pick, which is pretty much the worst pick in this year's draft (Maybe 8). I went with A Rod figuring he won't get walked in that sexy lineup and should come close to 100-40-120-15-300. Hafner went one spot short of me, but thanks to a couple guys picking like nimrods (one was aptly named 'nimrod'), I was still able to land one of the top 18 guys at pick 23. Here's my team:

2. Rodriguez
23. Carlos Lee
26. Jason Bay
47. Konerko
50. Sheets
71. Lackey
74. Weeks (needed SB's)
95. Sabathia
98. Rios
119. Fielder (!)
122. Francisco Cordero
143. Saito
146. Broxton

I have to admit that Broxton was the only pick in the draft I was actually disappointed with, but they're both top 10 closers in their own right and still available in the 12th and 13 rounds.

167. Piazza
170. Valverde
191. Torres
194. Patterson
215. Tulowitski
218. Peralta
239. Scott Olson
242. Ian Kinsler

I only went with four closers because a. I feel each is relatively established and b. I had to hedge against injuries and inexperience at SS, 2B and SP in the later rounds instead of taking guys like piniero, gregg, or mcclung that may or may not be closing. I'll get those types in due time, but for now I'm pretty happy with what I've got.

Brewers Spring Training Baseball is here!

Brewers spring training baseball has arrived. You can find just about every game either webcast on brewers.com or on weekends on 620 in the Milwaukee area. In addition, 3 games will be on TV. We'll make sure to make everyone aware when games are on TV.

I'll post thoughts from each game in this thread and start a new one when this gets lowered.