SB Nation User Blog: flipgatey3

What a surprise...

flipgatey3 — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 17:54:29 -0000

I was reading ESPN.com (the same article that said that FWP and Big Snack would be out this week), and at the end of the article, about the second-to-last paragraph, I saw this:

"Tomlin said no personnel moves will be made along the offensive line, despite the repeated breakdowns in protection that had Roethlisberger constantly ducking defenders. The Steelers (2-1) were held to 160 yards, with 33 yards rushing on 19 carries."

Is anybody surprised at all? This is disappointing. I can't believe Ben is not even going to be limited at practice this week, he needs some rest after that debacle.

Jim Caple: The Most Overrated Position In Sports

flipgatey3 — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 20:21:10 -0000

Jim Caple: The Most Overrated Position In Sports

Pretty good article on closers and why the role is overrated.

Idea: Miller/Warrick/a PG...

flipgatey3 — Thu, 29 May 2008 22:25:40 -0000

I was talking this over with a friend, and thinking that the Warriors, despite how deep the draft is, don't need another rookie to sit the bench.

Given our needs for a backup PG, some real-life shooting, and a big (in addition to Andris and Brandan) who can run...what about...

Warriors receive:

Mike Miller, Hakim Warrick, Kyle Lowry/Juan Carlos Navarro

Grizzlies receive:

Al Harrington, #14 pick

Now I know that Navarro isn't a true point, but the guy is servicable and can shoot the rock. I would prefer Lowry, and if they insist on Pietrus as well (collecting "talent"), I wouldn't hesitate to throw him in the mix.

What say you, GSOM?

Revere vs. Bourjos

flipgatey3 — Thu, 29 May 2008 06:45:58 -0000

I'm in a ten-team keeper league with eight spots for minor leaguers.

Seven spots are filled with Trevor Cahill, Andrew McCutchen, Jake McGee, Tommy Hanson, Todd Frazier, Michael Burgess and Chris Davis.

I want to get another speedy outfielder. Currently my eighth spot is Jordan Schafer, but I am probably trading him sometime this week. McCutchen is going to fetch a guy I can use this season in my rotation, so I am trying to replace his speed (also due to the fact that I traded Ellsbury and Cueto for Matt Holliday last week...going for it all).

Who is the better option, Ben Revere or Peter Bourjos? Or, if you have a better idea than those two, list it please.

Poll

Which player should I have in that last spot?

Ben Revere

37 votes

Peter Bourjos

14 votes

Jordan Schafer

17 votes

other

1 votes

69 votes | Poll has closed

All About At-Bat Songs...

flipgatey3 — Thu, 29 May 2008 03:02:02 -0000

I was thinking about this the other day when I was at the Friday game against the Red Sox. During the game, it seemed like everyone had at-bat music. Baseball is a quirky game; there are players who, if they don't get a hit, have the PA announcer play a different song the next at-bat (I did this in high school, actually).

When I was at the game last Wednesday (day game), I could only remember a handful of guys who even had at-bat music. I guess we were trying to make our organization seem legitimate for all the Sox fans there.

Let's break it down.

If you know any of the ones I don't know the names to, please fill in.

Going by the recent lineup:

Jack Hannahan: AC/DC "Thunderstruck". This seems perfect.

Bobby Crosby: nothing

Jack Cust: Kanye West "Can't Tell Me Nothing". Cool choice.

Frank Thomas: Couldn't really make it out because he's the only guy people cheer for, sadly.

Ryan Sweeney: I don't know the name of this song, it's got a pretty good beat though. Kinda sounds like "Fireman" by Lil' Wayne, but it isn't.

Mark Ellis: nothing

Emil Brown: some absolutely bizarre song that I have no idea of...sounds like a fiddle or something.

Daric Barton: Atreyu "Becoming The Bull". Cool song, but it's funny because they play the part where they sing "back and forth, the struggle consumes us..." and that seems ironic to me. Wonder why.

Kurt Suzuki: nothing, but they played a Hawaiian band once before IIRC.

To make this even more fun...what songs would YOU use? I used "Intergalactic" by Beastie Boys and the intro to "Somebody Told Me" by The Killers in high school. We weren't allowed to have music in high school, but at the college I'm at now, we get it. Still deciding. If you have any suggestions...

Go A's.

Zito to the 'pen?

flipgatey3 — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 07:09:23 -0000

I was reading the recent news on CBS Sportsline, and stumbled across this interesting tidbit. Apparently the Gnats are deciding whether they should either skip Zito's next start, or just make him the longman altogether for the time being.

According to MLB.com, Giants manager Bruce Bochy called SP Barry Zito into his office after another poor start Sunday against the Reds and suggested he might have him skip a start or move to the bullpen.

"We can't keep doing what we are doing. We need to get together and get a game plan on what we think is best," Bochy said. "I'm sure there's a lot on his mind. He's got a lot of pride and he's taking this harder than anybody."

Zito gave up eight runs on seven hits and three walks in only three innings against the Reds, falling to 0-6.

"Obviously, I'm hurting the team right now," Zito said. "I just have to keep grinding and fighting. For me, this is an opportunity to stick it out and toe the line."

I feel for the guy, but it's probably time for him to skip a start and get some extra rest. Not so sure about him in the 'pen, assuming he would be the long reliever.

Poll

What should the Giants do?

Send Barry to the 'pen

23 votes

Skip his next start and re-shuffle the rotation so he isn't facing all aces

57 votes

Send him to Fresno

74 votes

Maintain the status quo

39 votes

193 votes | Poll has closed

Crosby scratched...injured again?

flipgatey3 — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 21:41:28 -0000

I posted this in today's DLD already, but it probably deserves its own fanpost.

From CBS Sportsline:

News: Athletics shortstop Bobby Crosby was dropped from the starting lineup for Monday's exhibition game against the Angels due to back spasms. Crosby, who missed the final two months of 2006 with a fractured vertebrae in his back, was working out with the team in the morning when he started experiencing tightness. "His upper back spasmed up a little bit while he was taking grounders," said manager Bob Geren, who spoke with assistant GM David Forst for nearly 10 minutes before talking to reporters. "He's OK. It's no big deal."

Did he really snap his spine in half, then?

Barton to hit sixth?

flipgatey3 — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 21:56:58 -0000

Stumbled across this on CBS Sportsline in my fantasy league.

News: The Sports Xchange reports Athletics 1B Daric Barton already has a starting job nailed down. He showed excellent strike-zone judgment last September in reaching base in every game he played, and he is making strikes defensively.

Analysis: The A's tenatively have Barton slotted in the sixth spot in the lineup. Barton made 72 plate appearances in 2007. He hit .347 with four homers, eight RBI and 16 runs. He has never been a great power hitter in the minors, but did hit a lot of doubles. He has sleeper written all over him, but his value lies in AL-only and larger mixed leagues at this time. Why sixth? I thought he was a natural candidate for the two-hole.

Here is my updated projection for the lineup (channeling Zonis + some wishful thinking):

Buck lf, Ellis 2b, Chavez 3b, Cust rf, M. Sweeney dh, Barton 1b, Crosby ss, Denorfia cf, Suzuki c

Poreda/Lofgren/Rowell

flipgatey3 — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 07:08:18 -0000

I posted this on Athleticsnation earlier, but am hoping for some more input.

I have three guys here for two spots.

We get eight minor league spots, and I have narrowed down the guys that could be axed to three:

Aaron Poreda, SP, CHW
Chuck Lofgren, SP, CLE
Billy Rowell, 3B, BAL

In case you were curious, my other minor leaguers are:

Jacoby Ellsbury, CF, BOS (moved to majors roster)
Ian Kennedy, SP, NYY (moved to majors roster)

Andrew McCutchen, CF, PIT
Michael Burgess, RF, WAS
Todd Frazier, SS, CIN (yes, he is listed at SS)

Trevor Cahill, SP, OAK
Johnny Cueto, SP, CIN (but as an A's fan, I'm hoping we can get him in a Blanton deal)
Jake McGee, SP, TB

My concerns:
Poreda: Has no second pitch, and people say he lacks control. Could end up as a reliever.

Lofgren: 2007 was a down year.

Rowell: Yes, he's been young for his levels (young for his high school grade level too), but 12 home runs and 163 k's in 547 minor league at-bats to date kinda worry me for someone with "plus" power.

Any insight would be appreciated.

Poll

Who to cut?

Poreda

29 votes

Lofgren

37 votes

Rowell

14 votes

80 votes | Poll has closed

To all you Minor-League-heads

flipgatey3 — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 02:23:19 -0000

I know this would be better suited on Sickels' site, but now I'm too used to the new AN, and I know there's guys on here with lots of knowledge on minor-league players that could give me a different set of eyes.

In my long-term keeper league, we currently have a farm system of eight players. Mine has been one of the most, if not the most successful overall (I started out with Francisco Liriano, Delmon Young and Cole Hamels in the beginning, when we started out with three minor leaguers). Unfortunately, I traded both Young and Hamels, and cut Liriano after his arm surgery (he did not qualify under our league rules to keep in the minors any longer).

Anyway, my point is this: I have nine guys for eight spots. Technically, I have 11 "minor-leaguers" under our rules, but I decided to move Ian Kennedy and Jacoby Ellsbury to my major league roster. Here is what I had after our draft:

Billy Rowell, 3B, BAL

Andrew McCutchen, CF, PIT

Michael Burgess, RF, WAS

Adam Miller, SP, CLE

James Simmons, SP, OAK

Kasey Kiker, SP, TEX

Jake McGee, SP, TB

Chuck Lofgren, SP, CLE

Aaron Poreda, SP, CHW

After this, I traded Miller for Trevor Cahill and Todd Frazier. Then I cut Simmons and Kiker, leaving my minor-league roster with:

Burgess, Frazier, McCutchen, Rowell, Cahill, Lofgren, McGee, Poreda.

Then I traded James Loney for Johnny Cueto (I have Mark Teixeira at first base as a keeper), leaving me with one too many MiL guys:

Burgess, Frazier, McCutchen, Rowell, Cahill, Cueto, Lofgren, McGee, Poreda.

I'm leaning towards cutting Poreda since he is the furthest away and probably has the best chance out of the pitchers to be a RP, from what I've heard. Any thoughts or insights?

EDIT: Our deadline to cut down to 8 is 11:59 PM, Valentine's Day.

Poll

Who should I cut?

Poreda

11 votes

Lofgren

11 votes

Cueto

2 votes

McGee

1 votes

Burgess

1 votes

Cahill

4 votes

Frazier

1 votes

McCutchen

2 votes

Rowell

13 votes

46 votes | Poll has closed