SB Nation User Blog: Hoyadestroya85

Re: Raul Ibanez.. Pardon me for seeming sour grapes

Hoyadestroya85 — Sat, 23 May 2009 06:03:17 -0000

Does anyone find something suspicious about Raul Ibanez' stats this year? I guess this is my punishment for reading Game of Shadows right before the baseball season. But seriously, This guy has a lifetime 162 game average of 22 home runs and 95 RBIs, yet this season he's projected to triple the home run number and nearly double the RBI number and on top of that, his OPS is over 300 points higher than his career average.. all from a guy who's turning 37 next week! I know some of this can be attributed to the fact that Citizens Bank Park is possibly the friendliest stadium to lefties in the major leagues and Safeco is absolutely huge, but can that really be the full explanation? I know this sounds really crappy coming from a Mets fan but I get tons of exposure to the Phillies because I live in Philly. How can a guy who was a middle of the range power hitter presumably on the downside of his career all the sudden have a resurgence and become the best slugger in the major leagues, practically overnight. I hate to say it, because I'd rather the Phillies be winning on talent alone rather than using synthetic means.. but something about this is awfully fishy. I've waited a long time to voice it, but i've been having suspicions for about the last two weeks. It just seems amazing because this guy is only getting better. Maybe the guy is a freak of nature, but as each day goes on it is starting to look far more fishy.. this has Barry Bonds written all over it.

Here's his stats for his career.. no sabermetrics or anything so i haven't done a fully detailed statistical analysis.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/stats?playerId=3504

If you think i'm full of Sh*t.. please rebut me, I'd love to hear the opinions of other Met fans.

What does the GM have up his sleeve?

Hoyadestroya85 — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 16:33:10 -0000

We all know by this point that Jerry Reese is a shrewd businessman who is willing to go against the conventional wisdom (passing on Braylon, Boldin, Houshmandzadeh) in order to do what he thinks will help the team win. Whats really been puzzling me is the matter of the roster size. Obviously, not everyone who is on the roster at this point is not going to make the team. The only team that entered the draft with fewer needs than our beloved G-Men was the Steelers and that's saying something. Few needs coupled with a high number of picks begs one question.

Is JR planning a firesale?

I highly doubt it, but there are some players on the roster who have some sort of value.. I'll go down the list.

Aaron Ross.. He's a solid Corner, but that's a position in which the Giant's have depth (that feels weird to have depth at corner.. doesn't it?) Also, I'm sick and tired of seeing Ross leave nearly every game with some sort of injury.. it makes me question his toughness. I think Terrell Thomas has all the potential to be a superstar.. and Corey Webster should have made the pro bowl last year. Dockery is also a servicable nickleback.

David Carr: If Rhett Bomar plays to his ability in preseason, Carr is expendable. He also has a small contract which might make him attractive.

Ahmad Bradshaw: If the staff are really as high on Danny Ware as people are saying, and this Andre Brown kid turns out to be a stud, why not?

Barry Cofield: I think he's almost a bench warmer at this point.. he might be the fourth or fifth defensive tackle (depending on whether tuck kicks inside during third down) and I don't see the rotation getting and six deep which makes it a numbers game between Cofield and Alford.

If you can get good value from anyone, it might be worth it. I don't wanna trade people for the sake of doing so, but I also don't like drafting players just so they can make the practice squad.

thoughts anyone?

P.S.: Ed, I can shine your shoes if needed.. haha

True Courage

Hoyadestroya85 — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 12:53:21 -0000

I know that the very mention of the ravens gives some members of BBV nation ulcers, but the story of one of their players, OJ Brigance almost brought me to tears last night. I thought about how I'm complaining about sunburn when this man is fighting for his life. It also shows that the Ravens are a classy organization for not ignoring their former players. http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/misc/weekend/stories/042609dnsposherrington.3d5e38a.html

truly inspiring

Chastise me if you must

Hoyadestroya85 — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 20:10:12 -0000

I was thinking about how the Redskins want to replace Jason Campbell and I thought that there is somewhat of a trend happening in the NFL .
I hate pulling the race card and usually despise people who do so, but is there less patience for black quarterback in the NFL?
think of this:

The Jaguars are thinking of replacing David Garrard after a season where he got no help or protection.

Byron Leftwich showed promise but he got injured and no team wanted to take a chance on him until the desperate Bucs took a chance on him

Daunte Culpepper had some of the best statistical seasons by a quarterback in history, the Vikings got rid of him and they've been awful at QB ever since.

Vince Young had a good rookie season and won games plus but they still replaced him and he doesn't look to be in the future of the franchise for the time being.

Jason Campbell

Donovan McNabb.. As much as I despise the guy, he's a winner and a big time player. The Eagles would be stupid to let him go.

Tarvaris Jackson shouldn't have started in the first place but he was just as good as Joey Harrington or Rex Grossman but he started for less time.

I'm not saying this is anything definite but i'm saying that this is a strange pattern.. Rebuttals?

Behold the Glory

Hoyadestroya85 — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 20:36:20 -0000

If the prognosis on Plax is looking good and it turns out that we don't need Braylon or Boldin, All i want for My 21st birthday (a month in change after the draft) is Ramses Barden. Barden has been really impressing in his off season workouts and is coming off an absolutely monstrous season. I know that he doesn't play against the best competition but he played two games against I-A teams this season and dominated both of them. He was the only receiver on his team that was a threat and he played in an option offense (so he was being doubled constantly) yet he still had over 1200 yards this season and 18 touchdowns! Those included an average of 120 yards and a touchdown a piece against the I-A games Did I mention that he's 6'6 230 with some of the longest arms and biggest legs in the draft? And due to his size and option roots, he's an accomplished run blocker, something the Giants could use in a Wide receiver.. it's almost like having a third tight end I read somewhere. I've been following this guy since he was a sophomore and he's the real deal.

Note, his teams base formation is the flexbone.. an option offense.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player/profile?playerId=171216

Those stats are ridiculous..

Scouting Report:

http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/ramses-barden?id=71195#player-profile-tab-set-1:player-profile-tab-analysis

Roy Williams (Safety) Released

Hoyadestroya85 — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 15:37:54 -0000

Yes! Just what else I needed while I'm writing a five page paper, another fan favorite cowboy getting released. I wonder if it would be worth it to go after williams and try to sign him at linebacker for a small amount. Parcells said that he was a biscuit short of a linebacker. I doubt the inevitable horsecollar penalties would be worth any kind of big hit he'd lay on someone though.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/football/cowboys/stories/030609dnsporoywilliams.62144b2.html

Quincy Carter is such an idiot

Hoyadestroya85 — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 21:48:34 -0000

Quincy Carter is such an idiot

Shows that Jerry can care less about character

What should they do with Dockery?

Hoyadestroya85 — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 22:13:21 -0000

I was reading MG's blog today and he said that the Giants offered Kevin Dockery a 2nd round tender.

The Giants have extended a second-round tender to restricted free agent CB Kevin Dockery, according to someone who recently spoke to Dockery.

The tender means Dockery is free to negotiate with another team starting on Feb. 27 when free agency begins. If he signs an offer sheet with another club, the Giants will have the opportunity to match. If they don't by the April 17 deadline, they'll be owed a second-round pick.

This is a fairly big hypothetical but if another team that is desperate in the secondary department (which there are several) gives him an offer, what should the Giants do? They already have three competent corners and could very easily pick one up late in the draft or resign McQuarters or Madison potentially. Should they match the tender? Or should they let him go and take the second round pick?

I think that if a team gives the Dockery an offer, Reese shouldn't try to match the offer and accept the second round pick. Think of how awesome it would be if they had four first day picks. Every need could be accounted for on the first day of the draft as well as giving them more ability to trade picks.

What do all of you think?

Manning Meter

Hoyadestroya85 — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 15:05:07 -0000

Manning Meter

This is pretty awesome.. It shows how spectacular Peyton really is.

Most Overrated/Underrated Giants

Hoyadestroya85 — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 20:53:16 -0000

I was talking to my friend the other day who happens to be a cowboys fan (I don't know why we're friends" and we were trying to think of the most overrated players on our respective teams as well as the Most underrated. He said that Flozell Adams and Zach Thomas (he didn't include Roy Williams because he's done for the season) were the most overrated and that Marc Colombo and Anthony Henry are the most underrated

I came up with this for the Giants:

Overrated:

Antonio Pierce- I know he's an above average player but he's not an elite linebacker, he's very smart and that is the best part of his game, but does anyone realize that when Chase Blackburn fills in for him there is very little dropoff at the position?

Ahmad Bradshaw- It seems that in games in which Brandon Jacobs hasn't played, Bradshaw looks considerably more vulnerable. He was also mediocre at kickoff returning. Hopefully he can become an every down back in the future as well as stop fumbling.

Underrated:

Chase Blackburn- This guy is not only the best special teams player on the team, but he doesn't look like he's gonna give up his starting job at linebacker any time soon.

Domenik Hixon- After last week need I say more?

Steve Smith- Makes as many big third down catches as anyone in the NFL.. He's very quick with great hands.

Kevin Boss- He's not only blocked but so far in his short career he's already made more big catches than Shockey ever did.

Corey Webster- He's developing into a shutdown corner after being considered a liability at cornerback less than a year ago.

It's an interesting thing to think about when the team is so stable

Thoughts?