SB Nation User Blog: RJ2549

Marc Anthony to team up with Miami Dolphins

RJ2549 — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 19:54:59 -0000

Marc Anthony to team up with Miami Dolphins

It is unclear is this is a minority ownership like the Estefans, or a case similar to Jimmy Buffet. I guess we will have to wait and see what happens.

Just saw this on Yahoo! News. Figured I would let you guys know! I usually just read what Matty et al have to say, but I guess I was the first to see/post on this. Props to myself!

A's Father's Day Items

RJ2549 — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 17:33:21 -0000

I was just wondering if anyone here got anything A's related for Father's Day. Personally, I recieved 2 tix to the game at Baltimore on August 11. That's the closest the A's come to North Carolina, and I have always wanted to see them in person. I am super excited about going. Baltimore is my 2nd favorite AL team, and they have a great ballpark that I look forward to visiting again. Anyone else get anything?

The Yankees should not have rainout days

RJ2549 — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 12:05:37 -0000

If you have just spent $1.5 billion on a new stadium, you should have the foresight to have it enclosed. Whether it be a retractable roof, or just a dome, that amount of money should take care of things like that. This goes for all teams getting new stadiums. The fans pay good money to go see games, and rainchecks are not practical for everyone. If you have do get off work early, or a take a day off, plus fly, drive, or take a train/bus/taxi to get to the game, you want to see a game.

The Yankees' front office has been complaining of the winds blowing routine fly balls into homeruns out in right field. If you think this is the problem, on especially windy days, you could close the roof (if you had one!).

I personally prefer the retractable roof to a dome, but either is better than nothing. With a retractable roof, you can leave it open and enjoy the fresh air and sunshine, and if the weather turns, it can be closed, and the game goes on. The temperature is also controlled, and you end up having better baseball, because the players aren't fighting the elements. This is the same reason the NFL went to having the Superbowl in domes and warm weather venues, better games=more fans=more revenue.

Chat with Ryan Sweeney 12 noon PST

RJ2549 — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 19:55:14 -0000

go to www.oaklandathletics.com and click on the link

I saw it earlier today and I am about to go to the link. I am sure many of you guys know about this already, but for those of you who don't, 12 noon PST, or 3 pm EST (which is where I live). Go to www.oaklandathletics.com and it will be in the flasher on the left of the screen. It was page 1 while ago. Not sure what it will be in a few, but all are invited to come on in!!

What did Gaudin do to Geren?

RJ2549 — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 04:59:59 -0000

Gaudin must have really done something to tick Geren off, seeing how he gets pulled with 2 outs in the 7th and the pen blows the win for him. Gaudin had success against Klesko so far, so why not let him get one more out. I hate the "specialty" pitcher status of some players. Mainly for the fact that it isn't nearly as effective as you think, case in point, hits by Klesko and Bonds, both are whom....LEFTIES.

Best/Worst Contract Deals

RJ2549 — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 13:54:20 -0000

Jeff Passan has a column on Yahoo! Sports mentioning the top overpaid collective team, as in one person per position, and the top underpaid or bargain team. A few of our current A's, as well as some familiar faces make the list.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_yl...

No suprise to many of us, Jason Kendall is the first person listed on the overpaid team.
"C: Jason Kendall, Oakland, $13.43 million – Might as well start with the worst contract in all of baseball. How Kendall parlayed 55 home runs and decent peripherals into a six-year, $60 million deal from Pittsburgh before the 2002 season is mystifying. Even though the Pirates are paying $5.5 million of Kendall's salary, Oakland is shoveling nearly $8 million toward a .182 hitter with two extra-base hits (both doubles) in 165 at-bats."

Another familiar face is that of Barry Zito, who is listed on the overpaid team as one of the five starting pitchers.
"SP: Barry Zito, San Francisco, $10 million – Next year it's $14.5 million. Then three years at $18.5 million. And then $19 million. And finally $20 million. We might as well save a seat, because 30 walks and 32 strikeouts in 61 1/3 innings does not portend good things."

On the other side of things are the underpaid players, or bargain deals. Another member of the "Big Three" in Tim Hudson makes this list, as does the anchor member of our current "Pair of Aces", Danny Haren, with Chad Gaudin (the other Ace) receiving an honorable mention.

"SP: Tim Hudson and John Smoltz, Atlanta, $8.5 million and $8 million – Take your pick. Hudson's ERA is 2.79, Smoltz's 2.83. Hudson has allowed 84 baserunners in 77 1/3 innings. Smoltz, at 40, is averaging nearly eight strikeouts per nine innings. Both are cut-rate for established All-Stars."

"SP: Dan Haren, Oakland, $2.25 million – The best pitcher in the AL this season, and it's not even close. His 1.70 ERA is a half-run better than the next best, teammate Chad Gaudin, who would have been the next starter on this team with a $400,000 salary. Haren has allowed just 49 hits in 74 1/3 innings, and his 10 quality starts (out of 11 total) are tied with Peavy and Smoltz for the most in baseball."

MLB>TV

RJ2549 — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 20:42:02 -0000

Does anyone out there subscribe to MLB.TV? I subscribed to watch the Amazin' A's, b/c I live in North Carolina and there aren't any live broadcasts here unless Oakland makes the playoffs or ESPN. The problem is that b/c I live in the Baltimore "area" (I'm 400+ miles away), The Orioles are blacked out, therefore, I can't see the A's.
I was wondering if anyoneout west has an MLB.TV account so we could trade off username and passwords. That way I can still watch the A's when they are over here, and you can see the A's if they are at home, but the game isn't televised to you.
I called MLB and all they could do is tell me there was nothing they could do. I thought about cancelling altogether, but then I would never see an A's game, as there are none scheduled for ESPN this year.
At 4:40 (my time) the A's are up 2-1 over the O's and Swisher is out. Gameday says ankle injury, ESPN says hamstring. Which one is it?