SB Nation User Blog: Wonko

Trevor's Market Value

Wonko — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 22:00:20 -0000

I just noticed that a free agent relief pitcher who had a better 2008 season than Trevor Hoffman signed yesterday. He had a 3.33 ERA and pitched 78.3 IP compared to Trevor's 45.3 IP with a 3.77 ERA. For those that are into that sort of thing, that's a value of 8.2 runs over replacement for Trevor and 13.8 for the other guy. The other guy also pitched in hitter's parks the last two seasons (Coors Field and Great American Ballpark) and still managed to accumulate more value than Trevor.

He signed yesterday with the Giants for $4 million per year. His name is Jeremy Affeldt and he doesn't accumulate saves like Trevor, but he does seem to pitch better.

I am of the opinion that Trevor deserves (based on recent performance) to get paid like Jeremy Affeldt. But, of course, I don't really see the need to give away extra $$$ for people who can accumulate save totals by keeping a team from scoring 3 times in the ninth inning.

So if I ever say that the Padres offered Trevor a fair contract. This is what I mean.

Hoffman Done in San Diego

Wonko — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 03:28:18 -0000

Hoffman Done in San Diego

ESPN is reporting that the Padres are no longer offering Hoffman a contract. Hoffman was clearly not the pitcher he once was, but apparently wasn't willing to take the money that represented that. This puts a lot of pressure on Heath Bell. Specifically, that he stay healthy. Hoffman wasn't at his best in 2008, but his performance was better than some of the other bullpen guys. If they can't replace that production then the Padres are in for some late inning massacres. Fortunately, it's usually not that hard to find somebody on the cheap that can fill those 7th and 8th inning roles.

V. Jackson hurt/Chambers Progresses

Wonko — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 17:57:44 -0000

V. Jackson hurt/Chambers Progresses

This article is about Applewhite's transition to the NFL, but at the end it mentions that Jackson hurt his knee in practice and gives some status updates on Chambers.

Jyles Tucker Performance Analysis

Wonko — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 18:34:42 -0000

Jyles Tucker Performance Analysis

Every week FootballOutsiders.com takes on 3 players and breaks down their performances (or parts of their performances). This week Jyles Tucker joined Jeff Otah and Julius Jones in the series called "Cover 3"

Jets Release Punter

Wonko — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 00:20:52 -0000

Jets Release Punter

Ben Graham was released and replace with Reggie Hodges.

Week One Performances

Wonko — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 23:32:48 -0000

Week One Performances

Football Outsiders is the leader in advanced metrics for analyzing football teams and players. After week 1 the Chargers offense looks good (or at least the passing offense does) while the defense looks below average. The funny thing is: the Chargers performed better than the Panthers but still lost. They were the only team in week 1 to do so. Way to go, losers.

Because Dex is Batty: Unbreakable Bats that Don't "Ping"

Wonko — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 23:40:34 -0000

Because Dex is Batty: Unbreakable Bats that Don't "Ping"

I finally found the web site that has the new bats that act like wood bats, but don't break. I also found the article above that talks about someone else who claims he "invented" a bat that is able "to take that aluminum 'ping' out of youth baseball and the broken bat out of the national pastime, while making the game a little safer with every swing. "

Could Padres Raid Marlins?

Wonko — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 19:51:28 -0000

Could Padres Raid Marlins?

The linked article implies that the Marlins will become sellers again this offseason. My first thought is "What players would the Padres want and how could they get them?" I think it's pretty obvious that the Padres biggest trading chit is Kyle Blanks. The Marlins wouldn't go for a straight swap of Uggla for Blanks, but maybe if we threw in Antonelli, Josh Geer or Cesar Ramos? I haven't analyzed that too much, but it seems like a decent deal to me.

Savior Talks to Madres

Wonko — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 08:28:06 -0000

This is a little late because I was waiting for my mom to post the picks, but Chase Headley was the Guest at the Madres luncheon last Saturday. Here are my mom's rememberings from it:

When asked where the ball is that he hit in Yankee Stadium he said it was at his parents’ home.

When asked what his major was in college he said he first started out at University of the Pacific in Northern CA and majored in Sports Medicine, but then when he transferred to University of Tennessee they didn’t have that major, so he changed to Sports Management.

He was valedictorian of his high school, as was his brother. That’s just what is expected in his family.

He is engaged to be married to a girl from Indiana who went to Univ of Tennessee.

He played football, basketball, and baseball in high school, but switched to playing just baseball, which was probably considered odd since they had a great football team and not a very good baseball team.

When asked what he likes best about playing in San Diego, he said he could say the weather, but that’s what everyone always says, so he says it’s the fans

Strasburg Pitches Olympic 1-Hitter

Wonko — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 18:12:09 -0000

Strasburg Pitches Olympic 1-Hitter

Not even a downpour or a protest could spoil the Olympic debut of the lone college kid on the U.S. baseball team - even if he had to wait 6½ hours to finally get the win.

Stephen Strasburg carried a no-hit bid into the seventh inning and struck out 11 Thursday, helping the Americans to a 7-0, rain-shortened victory over the Netherlands. This was a welcome result for a U.S. team coming off a tough opening loss.