SB Nation User Blog: marco magic

OT: Best online baseball subscription

marco magic — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 15:59:57 -0000

Hey everybody and Happy New Year!! One of my Christmas presents that I have yet to cash in on was an online subscription to any baseball (yes baseball) site I want, given by my family. I wanted to get some input on what are the cream of the crop sites for myself as a recently transplanted out of market A's fan. I do like stats and things like that, but I am much more interested in reading articles and insight from great baseball minds even though I am not that well versed on who those people even are (oops). I love my A's but would enjoy reading about all teams and learning more about the minor leagues and up and coming stars in what little spare time I have.

Could anyone suggest some sites that have good content that wont just be the same recycled east coast love that is ESPN, FOX, and other major sports outlets. I suppose they wouldn't have to be subscription sites as really I am just trying to broaden my horizons on baseball literature. Nothing against the lovely and free AN, but you know.

I need help to make it that month until pitchers and catchers report, and would love a good site to read all season long. All suggestions welcome and thanks for the help AN!

Sammy Sosa an A?

marco magic — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 05:07:36 -0000

MLBTradeRumors.com made an interesting suggestion about a possible DH platoon of Cust and Sosa who mash righties and lefties respectively quite effectively. Just thought in the slow offseason we may as well kick this idea around on AN. Granted there would have to be a move made on the 40 man roster but Sosa would be willing to sign cheaply (3 mil +or-). Would it be a better idea to let Cust continue his mash, walk, or walk back to the bench (aka strikeout) and get a chance to improve against righties, or would Sosa make any sense given the youth movement of the A's.

It's Spring Training, may as well discuss.

Underachieving A's

marco magic — Sun, 15 Jul 2007 05:51:34 -0000

I was going to post this in an existing thread but I got too caried away and it really turned into a diary.

Lately there has been an incredible amount of dumping on "underachieving" A's players who are totally overpaid, let's look at a few things.

What did Kendall hit last year..........Yeah 295 and the year before a respectable 271. Meanwhile the Pirates are picking up a chunk of his salary, and still people are reacting as if we gave Antonio Perez a 1 year $100 million deal. The guy has been solid behind the dish for three years, and we all remember the play in Texas where he blocked the plate with his face (how many people were down on Kendall then), or when he body slammed
Lackey WITH Jose Molina on his back. This guy has contributed so much to the team in his short tenure and people want to rip his head off for one bad year. How short is your memory really.

Crosby. Essentially this is his second full year in the bigs coming 2 years removed from his first due to injuries. He aint that great, and you gotta give a guy a couple years to figure it out. The A's WILL address the situation next year, in the meantime not much you can do but say whoops Billy maybe this was a scouting gaffe.

Kotsay. The guy just got back from major back surgery and has been a solid contributor for the A's on offense and defense for the past few years, albeit not Vlad Guerrero numbers but solid numbers for what he is getting paid (7 mil a year). He will get it together this year and hit 270-285.

Chavez. This one is the hardest to swallow I understand due to the alternatives to the franchise contract being named Miguel Tejada and Jason Giambi, but the fact of the matter is his defense is unparalleled at third over the past 6 years. (yes I understand there are some ANers who will swear by his range not being great anymore because a rocket on turf got by him, but I am talking over the past 6 years). He has dealt with some nagging injuries and because he is a man he has played through them and not made a fuss. He has a very uniquely subtle way of going about his business that works for him. Now he has not been a top ten in the league run producer over the life of his contract and I can understand the frustration and demand with a typically weak offense, but he knows that the other players admire his toughness and unspoken leadership and has played through the injuries to put together decent years the past two seasons. Better I would imagine than any other major leaguer would (could you really imagine Manny Ramirez playing through pain, and not sitting back waiting for the stretch run?) Chavez is human, step back and think about that as your carpel tunnel frustrates you as you type while he swings at 95mph fastballs with aching forearms.

Swisher. Why in the name of Zeus' butthole is no one on this guy. People will rag on Chavez until the end of time, even when he does produce ("it was a meaningless homerun, that's why he did it"), but Swisher has freefallen to a 258 avg with 2 hr since MAY. Some may be cutting him slack because he is still young (2nd full season), remind you of anyone else getting no slack....cough Crosby cough.

I am just as sick if not more than most of you at seeing these players in particular fail, but let's be realistic. Our expectations are very high since a winning product has been so common lately. These are humans playing baseball not robots with numbers popping out each year in a predictable graded increase. Things happen, and lack or morale and injuries have simply caught up to the A's in 2007. I don't blame them, and I will not stop watching them.

End of sermon.

Red Sox Nation

marco magic — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 22:12:48 -0000

$15 to be a fan?

Yet another reason why I hate the Red Sox more than any other franchise in all of professional sports (yes more than the Yankees, way more). It was just reported that the Red Sox have set up a service to elect a President of Red Sox Nation (YUK!). For a fee of $14.95 you can nominate yourself or a friend and the winner will be picked at random to represent Red Sox nation as President and will receive, among other give aways, free season tickets.

Is it just me or is this the most ridiculous thing you have ever heard? They are going to charge the fans 15 bucks to be an "official" fan and have a supposed leader of the lemmings. I hate the Red Sox more than anything in the world, but this is beyond a money making scheme, it is pure exploitation.

The Red Sox have no class and never will. They have a clubhouse full of idiots (self-proclaimed and otherwise) and have never stood for anything respectful.

If you want to know where my hatred comes from you can reference the playoffs in 2003 during game 3 when Red Sox players taped tape on their backs (one letter per player like fans paint on their chest) to get the crowd to start a derisive "Li-lly" chant when Ted Lilly was on the mound. This incident sealed the deal for me in hating the Red Sox. Fans can do what they want, but when the players are so busch league that they try to start the chant themselves that is just beyond classless.

The Yankees, aside from a few gaffes by A-Rod, have always won and lost with class. The Red Sox have never had class. This scheme is just the latest step in shameless promotion the Red Sox have become involved with.

This news got me going, but I want to hear other opinions. What do you think about this $15 scheme? What team do you hate the most and why? Here's a chance to vent about something other than the A's mediocre play lately.