SB Nation User Blog: KenDixonFanClub

Roch Kubatko calls out friend of Camden Chat for fisticuffs on Opening Day!

KenDixonFanClub — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 19:53:32 -0000

FanPost frontpaged by SC, your Cobra Commander, who thinks blog wars are funny, and that Roch is a pansy with stale material. BRING IT ON!!!! (I don't want to fight Roch. I'd whoop him, though. F'real. Knock him out.)

For the record, since it's only fair, I have to assume that Roch lives in his mother's basement and stares at posters of Anita Marks. Because he's a blogger now. Srsly. -- SC, Hadouken!

FURTHER UPDATE BY SC: I was pretty sure people could tell I wasn't very serious, and that KDFC is mostly just talking about this because it's kind of weird, but if you're one of the few that missed the ship, no, no one is serious. No one wants to go into pugilism with Roch. Roch could probably beat me up. Roch is a more credible journalist than me. And his opinion that Alex Rodriguez "came clean" and deserves props for it is still stupid.

Okay, here's the skinny. Google "Roch Kubatko." Go to the 5th result: it is my blog, a post I wrote after Roch slobbered all over Jay Gibbons while defending him after he admitted to using 'roids.For the sake of convenience, here's a link.

Yes it was mean, but I felt it was warranted. Gibbons was pretty evasive and morally standoffish about steroids, then tried to claim that he took them under doctor's orders. All this while committing the unforgivable sin of being a crappy baseball player.

Today, defending A-Rod, Roch says this:

"At the risk of being slammed again after praising Jay Gibbons 14 months ago for his admission of guilt - one loser called me a jock-sniffing turd while blogging from his parents' basement and trying to work up the nerve to kiss a girl - I'll give Rodriguez credit for finally coming clean."

Again, a link to the whole post.

He must google himself, or be particularly sensitive. I still feel his defense of Gibbons was inexcusable journalism. The thing I can't figure out is whether to respond as, you know, just another loser blogger.

MORE from the comments:

My mom? Doesn’t have a basement.
Me? Called Roch a jock sniffing turd from an apartment in Northern Virginia.
Me again? Often kissed by my wife.
Me yet again? Still blogging a bit.
Roch’s jokes? Still lame, still tired. This marks at least the four-hundred-thousandth use of the “blogger living in mom’s basement who can’t kiss a girl.”

Opening Day is April 6. Please stop by the front of the press box and introduce yourself. In the meantime, thanks for reading. As always. – Roch

Note, he DID cut out part of my comment; I also asked how it felt to Google yourself and get my blog post as the 5th result.

Burres no longer our problem.

KenDixonFanClub — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 22:56:27 -0000

Been claimed by the Blue Jays according to Roch.

Somewhere, Jim Palmer is clutching an autographed glossy 8 by 10 and crying his eyes out, because he knows Brian didn't mean it when he promised to call every night. He'll have to move on, and that'll be hard; that new Rich Hill is a little too gangly and just doesn't put the same sparkle in Cakes's eyes.

I have no other Jim Palmer jokes for this and it tells me it needs to be longer still.

Progress with Nick

KenDixonFanClub — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 05:29:12 -0000

According to the Sun, Os and Nick are close on a 6 year extension. This would easily be the best move of the offseason.

Linkage:

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/baseball/bal-orioles0117,0,3105559.story

This would be the 2nd richest contract in Os history. Not sure how to feel about that. It is certainly not a sign of fiscal responsibility on the part of the Os; does it indicate their complete irrelevance of the past 11 years? Just odd that a 4th year homegrown player would get that kind of money from us, I suppose. Not used to that sort of thing and all.

Diamond Dave does NOT get it...

KenDixonFanClub — Thu, 08 May 2008 02:48:29 -0000

...B-Rob sorta does, T-Bone Shelby doesn't even know what shape "it" is.

Link here , at everyone's favorite paper's website.

The relevant material:

"Trembley said that he has had no problems with the Orioles' aggressive base running.

"That's part of it," Trembley said. "You can't think negative. You have to think positive. You take the extra base. You go first to third when they allow you to do it. I don't think you play defensive. You play defensive now, you're looking to make mistakes. I don't like that."

Gee Dave. Know what I don't like? MAKING AN ENTIRE INNING'S WORTH OF OUTS ON THE BASEPATHS IN ONE GAME. Being aggressive is, for this team, apparently being stupid and running into outs in the name of "trying to create runs." Gotta have men on base to create runs, Dave.

Shelby weighs in: "I got guys taking bigger leads than they'd normally get," Shelby said. "It's not about getting picked off at first. They have more bang-bang plays at second and it's because they don't go take that extra step."

Actually John, what seems to happen is, they get picked off and we lose runners in crucial innings. Like the 9th.

B-Rob: "Being aggressive doesn't mean you give away easy outs. We need all 27 outs, and we need to use them all wisely."

Yes, true. So stop being aggressive. Geez.

If this isn't an April Fool's joke...

KenDixonFanClub — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 15:16:56 -0000

...it is clearly a crock.

http://insidecharmcity.com/2008/04/01/orioles-to-be-up-for-sale-after-this-season/

Sure they are. Somebody will be prying this team out of Angelos' cold, dead hands, but only after someone stakes him through the heart, shoves a bulb of garlic in his mouth, and sprinkles his coffin with Holy Water, because as of right now his cold, dead hands are perfectly functional.

Besides, a community based ownership group? Sure, MLB would go for that. And again, even if this isn't an April Fool's joke, only Nestor Aparicio would be deluded enough to think he had any kind of pull or influence enough to be involved in something like this.

They DID IT! Gibbons cut!

KenDixonFanClub — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 18:28:12 -0000

From The (Baltimore) Sun.

Here it is. Can't believe they made the smart decision in this case. I thought for certain Moore was headed to AAA and Gibbons was uselessly taking up bench space.

Aaaaand it begins...

KenDixonFanClub — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 01:27:05 -0000

...it being Jay Payton bitching about playing time. I didn't think this would happen at least till, y'know, the season started.

"Last year, I felt like when I came in, I knew if I had a good spring, that I might be able to win a job," Payton said. "This spring, all indications were that it wouldn't have mattered if I hit .700. It's been a little disheartening. I felt like I was pushed to the fourth outfielder's spot without having a chance to compete against two guys that have relatively little experience, even though they are good players and have a decent ceiling."

No Jay, it wouldn't matter, because there is almost zero chance, barring injury, of you matching the production of either Scott or Jones. And, more importantly, they'll be here in 2010, and you won't.

"I'm making more money than I've ever made in my career," Payton said.

The Os fiscal irresponsibility shouldn't guarantee you playing time.

Teams decide to take directions and you kind of have to deal with it. Hopefully if I'm not going to play a lot here, they'll do right by me and look for me to go somewhere else.

Believe me, Jay, we'd LOVE to send you somewhere else.

Who am I kidding, though? I'd bet that at the first sign of Scott struggling, Payton starts to steal his AB. Sigh.

Welcome back, Trax. (Boo)

KenDixonFanClub — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 21:11:27 -0000

Personally I think this is a dumbass move, but on Roch's blog, he indicates that the Os have signed Trachsel to a minor league deal with a spring training invite.

Personally, I'd really rather see the rotation filled out with kids. What's Trachsel gonna do, teach 'em how to take 2 minutes between pitches?

I don't see a whole lot of point to the "veteran presence" nonsense, or the "he'll teach the kids." Isn't that what we have a pitching coach for?

Sun says deal's going down...

KenDixonFanClub — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 16:35:08 -0000

...FINALLY.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/baseball/bal-bedard204,0,7271042.story

To sum up: Jones is indeed taking a physical. If he passes, deal might be announced today.

Please, Warehouse, don't eff this one up.

Now, on to the Roberts trade drama...

let me post, let me post, let me post, let me post

Editor's Note (zk):A "source" also said Jones was in Baltimore taking a physical Friday, which was later debunked. But let's hope the Sun actually verified this before deciding to run with it.

UPDATE: Just found this was reported yesterday by the Seattle Post Intelligencer, so this is looking pretty confirmed.

Gossage goes into HoF

KenDixonFanClub — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 19:04:13 -0000

Well, Goose Gossage is in. He was definitely better than Sutter so congrats, I guess. He's the only one. Blyleven gets denied another year, and Raines should've been a slam-dunk, first ballot entree. I hate the BBWAA.