SB Nation User Blog: UnleashTheGore

Sanchez is overperforming

UnleashTheGore — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 19:25:20 -0000

Sanchez is overperforming

At least, that's how ESPN sees it. His ERA is quite ugly away from AT&T, but it seems to me like he's had much better command of the zone, not just taking advantage of a pitcher's park (heck our other pitchers don't seem to be doing so). Screw the WWL - let us enjoy our new 2nd best starter!

Slightly OT: Taking one for the team

UnleashTheGore — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 17:27:23 -0000

It's something we've seen over at least the last decade or so: the big ticket free-agent gets a huge contract from a team that can actually afford him. However reality eventually sets in and everyone realizes that because they spent so much money on that star, they are unable to surround him with a quality supporting cast. This, of course, doesn't apply to every situation (see: Jeter, Manny, A-Rod) , but it's something that teams need to consider when signing players. Also, this is probably a bigger league-wide issue in basketball and football, where a salary cap exists.

I'm curious how many of you honestly feel like you would cash in as much as you can, or go the Tom Brady route and take less money in hopes that the team could spend that money elsewhere? It may seem like an easy answer, but saving that money does not necessarily translate to money going to other quality players (either because of front-office incompetance or greediness).

I've always liked to think that if I made it big, I would sign for much less than the going rate so the team could have more money to spend. Yet those feelings could very well change once you get in that position. Thoughts?

Poll

Would you take less money so your team could spend more on other quality players?

CWS OT: Lovin' me some FSU!

UnleashTheGore — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 19:29:17 -0000

This is the first College World Series that I have paid attention to, to be honest. There's something about college baseball that normally doesn't live up to college football and basketball (maybe it's the aluminum bats, or maybe it's as simple as not getting near the media coverage).

However, this year has been much different. Little 'ol Fresno State, the school with convicts for basketball players and a fearless football coach that schedules over-his-head nonconference games, is actually 9 innings from a national championship! Not only have they never been this close, but the closest they have come to reaching this point was back in the 1960's! Losing 10 of 15 (I believe that's what I read in today's paper) going into the CWS, they were a long-shot to go anywhere in the tournament, but here they stand on the doorstep of history. Oh yeah, and they're the lowest-seeded team to reach the CWS finals ever.

It's been a strange trip for them, with an injury-plagued pitching staff that has been severely depleted. The coach has been working with a makeshift rotation since the semifinals, and somehow these kids keep coming through when they're needed. They don't normally hit with a lot of power, but 3B Tommy Mendonca holds the record for most HRs in a CWS now. Everything seems to be clicking at the right time for this group of guys.

It's a pretty big deal for the Central Valley as well, considering how close the David Carr team came to a BCS game years back and the success the basketball program had under Tark the Shark, who led the way into the subsequent charges of point shaving, samurai sword-weilding, cocaine use, academic cheating, and murder. This is a feel-good story for a town that needs one badly.

So, tonight, watch probably the most exciting CWS you'll see in a long time. And root for FSU if you aren't from Georgia. There's a great possibility that they'll never have another chance to get to this point again, whereas these other teams they've faced could easily contend for it every other year or so.

Oh yeah, and my freshman cousin (Gene Escat, P) is on the team. Doesn't play much, if at all, but if you see him you can say you know his cousin. So yeah.....Go Wonderdawgs!

OT: Advice needed

UnleashTheGore — Tue, 20 May 2008 21:38:27 -0000

I'm taking the wife to the games on the 30th and 31st, and we got this package thing where we get a night stay at the Hyatt at Fisherman's Wharf. I live near Fresno, and while I've been to a number of games, I don't know the area real well.

I believe the hotel is charging like 40 bucks for valet parking overnight. If anyone's seen the episode of Seinfeld where George refuses to pay for parking...that's me. Or, at least I try to avoid it as much as possible. Does anyone have any bright ideas as to where I could park near the hotel for free or considerably less? Also, is there a better option than driving the 3 miles to the stadium and paying for $20 stadium parking? I've only driven to the game before and I don't know many alternatives. Any suggestions are welcome, thanks!

OT: Here we go again.

UnleashTheGore — Wed, 14 May 2008 19:25:19 -0000

Not content having wasted time and (more importantly) our tax money on the ridiculous investigation of Barry Bonds for the past 4 years, the US Senate now thinks it needs to investigate the Spygate ordeal .

Are you kidding me? On what ridiculous level does the government think they have a responsibility to waste more time and money on sports? SPORTS, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD! Apparently the bankrupt Social Security system, the war in Iraq, a tax system in dire need of reform, etc. aren't big enough issues to take issue with before an effing game made for OUR ENTERTAINMENT!

Buster hearts Timmy

UnleashTheGore — Thu, 08 May 2008 23:30:43 -0000

Buster Olney gives Timmy some video love:

http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=3386464&name=olney_buster&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab1pos2&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fespn%2fblog%2findex%3fentryID%3d3386464%26name%3dolney_buster%26lpos%3dspotlight%26lid%3dtab1pos2

I really noticed this stoicism after the *balk. He did noticeably say something after he got out of the inning, but as it was happening I was pretty impressed with the way he handled it. I can't get enough of this kid and I'm pretty sure if he's ever traded or lowballed when he hits free agency, I won't ever, ever forgive this organization.

Enough fawning for now...

OT: Bracketeering

UnleashTheGore — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 21:00:11 -0000

Spill out your complaints against the teams that have caused you pain, frustration, and (cough) money (cough)...

Western Kentucky, I hate you for last second shots.

USC and Cornell...thanks for looking like a bunch of overwhelmed 8th graders. You cost me 2 Sweet 16 spots.

Moneyball debunked?

UnleashTheGore — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 16:26:56 -0000

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=garfamudis/080305&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab6pos 2

I'm feeling like this could be satire, but it's not overly satirical, which makes me wonder if he's being serious? Let's hope not, because this could be one of the dumbest articles ESPN has published if he is serious. One guy Beane loved retires early and his whole system is shot? Yeah, forgot all those crazy stats like OBP and let's get back to the real success-measurers like W/L and runs scored!

Poll

Satirical?

Cleanup theories

UnleashTheGore — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 19:32:54 -0000

Much has been made of the Giants' lack of a cleanup hitter, or any power at all for that matter. The generally accepted idea of a lineup has always been speedy, good OBP guys at the top, power guys in the middle, and your Felizes at the bottom. It's been pretty much a staple of baseball as far back as I can remember.

Mind you, I'm not claiming Sabean is on to any sort of new groundbreaking theory...I'm pretty sure most of us would agree "groundbreaking" isn't one of the better terms to describe him. However, should it be a given that you HAVE to have power in the middle of the lineup?

That's the question I pose to you guys. Has anyone done any research on this? Are there any examples of teams from the past that have had success but with little power up the middle of the lineup? I'm not saying the Giants have a chance to succeed next year even without power. In my head I'm imagining a team with good OBP up and down the lineup, with a ton of speed, maybe? You would definitely need some good hitters up and down the board, but I'm just wondering why people necessarily feel like you NEED power. Sure, it brings guys on the bases in quicker, but is it necessary to win?

Shower me with your wisdom, oh McCoven.

Something has to be done here

UnleashTheGore — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 00:37:09 -0000

First of all, I want to emphasize that I do not intend to offend anyone, new reader or old alike. My only intentions here are quality control for this most informative and jovial message board.

I am for freedom of speech, but lately these diaries have been getting out of hand. Today was the proverbial "straw that broke the camel's back" with the Rowand signing. I believe I read a post a while back where someone predicted the inevitable insanity, claiming that the tens of diaries about the Rios/Lincecum trade would explode into hundreds of posts once Sabean actually did something. Kudos to you for your apocalyptic writing that was entirely accurate.

That being said, the whole way-to-many diaries is getting out of hand, IMO. I realize some of you may shrug me off as someone who's relatively new to the site, as I've been only reading and posting here for over a year now. However, I know in my heart that many of you old-schoolers have the same feelings.

Call me the diary police if you must, but something must be done. The integrity and quality of this site will go down the crapper if people keep posting 10 different diaries about the same damned thing, when their diary post could be put as a comment in the original diary. There is a line between a different-angled diary, and one that is about the same thing but has a poll in it. Also, people, for goodness sake, we are adults here (most of us, at least). Write your sentences out legibly, not text-language, and try to reduce your run-on sentences, which I realize I have horribly failed at in this post.

Am I the only one that would be in favor of a moderator of these things? I am all for anyone being able to post what they are thinking, but I am tired of having to sift through so many diaries about the same thing (and no, it's not as simple as looking at the title to see if it's repetitive). Could we maybe put this to a vote? Give Grant/Natto the ability to delete posts that are obviously repetitive? Or do you all enjoy the free-range abilities of the newcomers, and the awfl txt lngo? I know I kept coming back to this site because of the intelligence and insightfulness of many of the posters here, and I feel that will really be overshadowed by all the overkill of diaries and awful typing.