SB Nation User Blog: sam in so cal

JD's One Year Deals (a review of Tim MacMahon's lovefest)

sam in so cal — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 16:56:30 -0000

Daniels has done wonders with one-year deals

Now that the season has progressed and nears its completion, it seems like a good opportunity to review a midseason rave from DMN writer and underappreciated DMN blog contributor Tim MacMahon.

Tim usually has a lot of negative things to say about the Rangers, but I refer back to one of his more glowing posts about JD's prowess with one year deals - turning something into nothing...

Strangely absent is any reference to Jason Jennings - a COMPLETE failure by JD.

Touted prematurely as a "success story" was the signing of Ponson.

Bradley flamed out sometime after this was written May 20th, contributing very little when the Rangers needed July/August momentum. IF Daniels had an opportunity to move Bradley and didn't then it was another failure, but if there were no offers then it was probably a good signing although Bradley ultimately failed to see his maximum potential despite a great start to the season.

The Lofton year was great for the future of the franchise.

I dissent from MacMahon and question what Sammy Sosa provided this team during his one year.

Gagne was a great move even though Gabbard is, in retrospect, another waste. Murphy hopefully continues to overachieve.

Low risk/high rewards or just a couple of good moves with a healthy dose of crap littering the list of one year signings?

Also, since at least half of the one year signings have been busts, the "low risk" component is actually double for the signings that worked out, right?

In other words, if Bradley was considered a success at $5M (don't know any of the salaries off the top of my head and won't look), you also needs to add salaries of Jennings, Broussard and Ponson to that amount to determine total amount risked versus what was received (high reward). This year the Rangers spent several million on one year contracts and got Bradley. Risk versus reward, good or very average?

good news - i'm going tonight

sam in so cal — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 21:07:07 -0000

to everyone that hates me here, i have some very good news...

i won't be posting my contrarian views for the next several hours because i am going to the game - front row right field.

please don't expect a recap, but i realized that my lake elsinore bakersfield recap sucked relative to some (all) of the subsequent recaps that have appeared in this space. besides, the game is on tv.

so, to everyone that hates when i disagree, please give this post a rec.

sam

scattershooting while wondering whatever happened to...

sam in so cal — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 00:49:54 -0000

mark connor.

i wanted to take this opportunity to say how glad i am that the rangers made a much-needed change at pitching coach. i can't imagine how much worse the worst team in baseball (ERA and unearned runs) would be if he was still wreaking havoc on the staff.

i know - it's too soon to get up the new guy's ass, but i am laughing uncontrollably at the mess he stares at every day. feldman is stretched beyond his limit, dl millwood is perpetually hurt (and SUCKS when he actually shows up), mendoza is circling the drain... on and on. i know he has nothing to work with and no time yet to make his presence felt, but WOW this staff is HORRIBLE.

he's either got the worst job ever or the best opportunity ever. i mean if he waits around long enough, the staff gets better even with no input from him. win - win or lose - lose?

green - it's my favorite color

sam in so cal — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 17:24:11 -0000

here's my photos from last night's blaze game

the pictures are actually good, but photobucket renders them otherwise.

recap:

the drive was no problem from HB to lake elsinore. it took about 70-80 minutes, and the stadium was a mile from the interstate. parking was simple and cost only $5. we were probably 1/4 mile from the entrance which was only 50 yards from the last row of seats.

there were promotions every half inning and several during play. if gerrard (blaze) struck out, beers were half priced. if joynt (storm) hit a double, section 104 got coupons for dbl/dbls from in n out burger (with tax that's $3.18 fyi).

the players were somewhat accessible with little/no security around them and handfuls of fans wanting autographs.

some very surprising things:

1. there is no coaching staff really. players rotate for both teams as the respective first base coaches. there are three coaches listed for the blaze - mgr, hitting, pitching. i guess that's all you need, but it was funny seeing a 20-yr old "coaching" first when lemon was thrown out twice at first and really once at 2nd (but the tag must have been missed).

2. that leads to my 2nd observation. OMG these guys are GREEN! WOW! i have only watched bb at the major league level - at least for the last 20 years. seeing these guys get the ball around the infield is humorous. it's not intolerable, but i wasn't expecting it. double plays are a rarity, and seeing the chaos that ensues when a ball is hit between 1st/2nd is startling. once no one covered 1st and a couple of other times gac barely made it over. lemon getting on base his first three times was good - right up until he was caught off first, out by at least a step stealing 2nd (called safe) and caught off first. WTF?

cheap night. very fun. i wish we had a (ranger) team close to us - or at least one that played close to us.

my last thought - seeing these young guys (i'm 37) with the world ahead of them is really cool. a few of these guys will eventually realize their dream and play major league ball. that's awesome

you never forget your first time...

sam in so cal — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 02:29:45 -0000

so i'm going to my first minor league baseball game this weekend.

bakersfield is playing at lake elsinore, and we have tickets sunday - front row behind home plate (only $10 per seat - which i like a lot). i am soliciting advice from the fellow LSB contributors.

do i go early? do i stay late? do i take a camera?

based on your cumulative years of experience at hundreds of games, what guidance can you provide to a first timer?

thanks in advance,

sam

I would like to introduce you to the world's worst human...

sam in so cal — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 13:54:59 -0000

http://pibbshow.blogspot.com/2006/06/brett-myers-wife-beater-scum.html

from the blob post:

Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Brett Myers assaulted his wife Kim over the weekend in Boston. It was violent enough that multiple witnesses called 911.

Asked what he was feeling, what his state of mind was, and whether he was embarrassed by the situation, the 25-year-old pitcher responded: "I'm sorry it had to get public, that's it. Of course, it's embarrassing."

and YOU MUST LISTEN TO THIS SOUND CLIP - instant classic:

Brett Myers goes postal aka Boom ! Outta Here

Give him hell Ranger fans...