Everyone has trouble talking about sex with their kids. I don't care how cool or hip or how with it you think you are - you are still going to have trouble talking to your kids about sex.
Even God had trouble talking about sex. Seriously. If you read between the lines in the story of the Garden of Eden - you see how uncomfortable God was in talking about sex.
Start from the beginning. God made Adam in his image but with one major difference - God was smart whereas Adam didn't know any better because he did not eat from the tree of knowledge - yet. Think about that for a minute. You have a dumb male - a naked male at that - in perfect health just bopping around the Garden of Eden with really nothing to do. Every guy knows what that means.
Adam must have spent all of his time playing with himself.
There must of been a first time when Adam discovered the hard-on. It was probably morning - a BEMHO (basic early morning hard-on) - not to be confused with a HOFNAR (hard-on for no apparent reason). Can't you picture it? Adam, "Hey what's this?" And of course the first thing he does is to touch it. "Hey it feels pretty good to rub this thing. Hey - this - is - great! Now I know how I'm going to spend my day."
As an aside - God gave Adam the job of naming all the plants and animals. So you know Adam must have also named his newly found best friend. That's why men give their penis a name to this very day. It's a throwback to the Garden of Eden. (I call mine Mr. Happy.)
Now God used to roam the Garden of Eden in those days and you know he must have walked into Adam when Adam was jerking it. God, "Whoa - Adam? What are you doing?" Adam, "Just rubbing myself God. Hey watch what happens when I go really fast." God, "Adam that's fine. That's something you do in private." Adam, "Private? What's that? I'm the only one here. I'm in private everywhere I go." God, "I really have to do something about this guy."
So that night God took one of Adam's ribs and created woe-man and the Bible tells us that is was so that Adam would not be "lonely" but really it was because God was probably tired of seeing Adam playing with himself all the time.
Chris Lynch's slanted view on sports, politics and entertainment. Please send thoughts or comments to chris.lynch@gmail.com
Monday, December 30, 2013
Sunday, December 29, 2013
Linky Links
Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.
- Excellent graphic on Duck Dynasty outrage. As others have pointed out best response to someone really outraged by Duck Dynasty is "Wow - you must really hate Muslims then" and see how they backtrack.
- Netflix getting rid of bunch of titles on January 1st. Check link to see if there is a movie you want to watch before then
- Uncropped version of iconic photo of tank man protester in Tiananmen Square. Wow!
- Tycoon gives away $800 million fortune before jumping to death
- Speaking of Wow! Temporary rules posted at Britain's Richmond Golf Club after German bombs hit course in 1940
- Excellent - Sherlock Holmes now part of public domain
- The Curse of Flutie - hard to argue against it. Though Occam's Razor may just say that this was just evidence that Wade Phillips is awful coach.
- Excellent graphic on Duck Dynasty outrage. As others have pointed out best response to someone really outraged by Duck Dynasty is "Wow - you must really hate Muslims then" and see how they backtrack.
- Netflix getting rid of bunch of titles on January 1st. Check link to see if there is a movie you want to watch before then
- Uncropped version of iconic photo of tank man protester in Tiananmen Square. Wow!
- Tycoon gives away $800 million fortune before jumping to death
- Speaking of Wow! Temporary rules posted at Britain's Richmond Golf Club after German bombs hit course in 1940
- Excellent - Sherlock Holmes now part of public domain
- The Curse of Flutie - hard to argue against it. Though Occam's Razor may just say that this was just evidence that Wade Phillips is awful coach.
Labels:
Cool Stuff,
Doug Flutie,
Duck Dynasty,
golf,
Netflix,
Photography,
Sherlock Holmes
Friday, December 27, 2013
Flotsam and Jetsam
Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.
David Ortiz has a career 431 HR. You have to believe that he'd like to play long enough to get to 500. That should take 3 seasons but what if Boston only wants him for two? Would Ortiz seek his 500th HR elsewhere?... Good advice - 8 poker resolutions for the new year... I liked Zima - especially Orange Zima. There I said it! I can confess this because I am comfortable in my manliness... I agree that Michael Shannon's reading of the epic sorority letter was one of the best things of 2013... I hope you had a great Christmas knowing that Abe Vigoda is still alive... 10 historical figures you might not have thought had tattoos... This year saw the capture of Whitey Bulger. Could 2014 be the year the Hambuglar is finally brought to justice?... The 10 best hockey fights of 2013... Nothing like smoking a good cigar then going to watch an AHL hockey game... Santa painted into great works of art...
David Ortiz has a career 431 HR. You have to believe that he'd like to play long enough to get to 500. That should take 3 seasons but what if Boston only wants him for two? Would Ortiz seek his 500th HR elsewhere?... Good advice - 8 poker resolutions for the new year... I liked Zima - especially Orange Zima. There I said it! I can confess this because I am comfortable in my manliness... I agree that Michael Shannon's reading of the epic sorority letter was one of the best things of 2013... I hope you had a great Christmas knowing that Abe Vigoda is still alive... 10 historical figures you might not have thought had tattoos... This year saw the capture of Whitey Bulger. Could 2014 be the year the Hambuglar is finally brought to justice?... The 10 best hockey fights of 2013... Nothing like smoking a good cigar then going to watch an AHL hockey game... Santa painted into great works of art...
Labels:
Boston Red Sox,
David Ortiz,
Funny,
hockey,
Michael Shannon,
Orange Zima,
poker,
Santa Claus,
Whitey Bulger
Thursday, December 26, 2013
Player Comparison
This player comparison struck me when I was reading Matt Snyder's Hall of Fame case for Edgar Martinez.
Edgar Martinez - 2055 G/ 8674 AB/ .312 BA/ .418 OBP/ .515 SLG/ .933 OPS/ 147 OPS+
Player A - 2247 G/ 9453 AB/ .316 BA/ .414 OBP/ .539 SLG/ .953 OPS/ 133 OPS+
Player A actually played one fewer season than Edgar but was able to stay more consistently healthy during his career so that he was able to be in the field more often for his team. That has a value all its own. Snyder wrote that Martinez was the opposite of a compiler yet Player A was able to accumulate more runs, hits, doubles, triples, HR, RBI, and total bases in let me say again - one fewer season.
Many baseball scribes are writing that an anti-DH bias may hurt Edgar but there may just be the opposite effect in that some writers may vote for him just to prove they aren't biased against the DH. Player A also will be a victim of bias since he played all his home games at Coors Field. Yet I don't think any writer will go out of his way to show he doesn't hold that against a player's career.
Player A is Todd Helton who won a Gold Glove at first base (it should be mentioned). I am curious to see how the voting for the two players compares.
Edgar Martinez - 2055 G/ 8674 AB/ .312 BA/ .418 OBP/ .515 SLG/ .933 OPS/ 147 OPS+
Player A - 2247 G/ 9453 AB/ .316 BA/ .414 OBP/ .539 SLG/ .953 OPS/ 133 OPS+
Player A actually played one fewer season than Edgar but was able to stay more consistently healthy during his career so that he was able to be in the field more often for his team. That has a value all its own. Snyder wrote that Martinez was the opposite of a compiler yet Player A was able to accumulate more runs, hits, doubles, triples, HR, RBI, and total bases in let me say again - one fewer season.
Many baseball scribes are writing that an anti-DH bias may hurt Edgar but there may just be the opposite effect in that some writers may vote for him just to prove they aren't biased against the DH. Player A also will be a victim of bias since he played all his home games at Coors Field. Yet I don't think any writer will go out of his way to show he doesn't hold that against a player's career.
Player A is Todd Helton who won a Gold Glove at first base (it should be mentioned). I am curious to see how the voting for the two players compares.
Happy Birthday Pudge
Today is Carlton Fisk's birthday. Fisk was drafted by the Red Sox in 1967. He was the 4th choice overall. Who went ahead of Fisk?
1. Alec DiStaso P Cubs
2. Michael Flanagan P Yankees
3. Ken Singleton OF Mets
4. Carlton Fisk C Red Sox
Can you imagine if Fisk had been taken by the Yankees? Do you think the Cubs wish they had a do-over on this draft? Ken Singleton was good (3 All Star games) but he was no Rusty Staub and he certainly was no Pudge Fisk.
Happy birthday Pudge.
1. Alec DiStaso P Cubs
2. Michael Flanagan P Yankees
3. Ken Singleton OF Mets
4. Carlton Fisk C Red Sox
Can you imagine if Fisk had been taken by the Yankees? Do you think the Cubs wish they had a do-over on this draft? Ken Singleton was good (3 All Star games) but he was no Rusty Staub and he certainly was no Pudge Fisk.
Happy birthday Pudge.
Wednesday, December 25, 2013
Christmas Wish
Every year at Christmas I re-read A Christmas Carol. It is a very short book (not even a long short story really). It is my personal Christmas tradition.
Merry Christmas - God bless us everyone!
"Spirit! are they yours?" Scrooge asked, horrified. He could say no more.I hope in the year to come that you can work to erase ignorance in your life and want in the lives of those you love.
"They are Man's," said the Spirit, "and they cling to me, appearing from their fathers. This boy is Ignorance. This girl is Want. Beware them both, but most of all beware the boy, for on his brow I see that written which is Doom, unless the writing be erased."
- Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol
Merry Christmas - God bless us everyone!
Christmas Day Cool Pictures
Here's some pictures I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share for some Christmas Day diversions.
- Cool photo - Downtown Las Vegas 1912
- That photo was cool - these ocean photos are amazing
- I agree with the Museum of Fine Arts - Monet's Snowy Scene does put one in the Christmas mood
- Nothing says Merry Christmas like a member of the Scottish National Antarctic Expedition playing a bagpipe for a penguin (1904).
- Nikola Tesla as swimming instructor 1900 - Tesla was a boss.
- Combining memes - Pajama Boy explains Obamacare to Duck Dynasty
Merry Christmas
- Cool photo - Downtown Las Vegas 1912
- That photo was cool - these ocean photos are amazing
- I agree with the Museum of Fine Arts - Monet's Snowy Scene does put one in the Christmas mood
- Nothing says Merry Christmas like a member of the Scottish National Antarctic Expedition playing a bagpipe for a penguin (1904).
- Nikola Tesla as swimming instructor 1900 - Tesla was a boss.
- Combining memes - Pajama Boy explains Obamacare to Duck Dynasty
Merry Christmas
Labels:
Cool Stuff,
Duck Dynasty,
Las Vegas,
Monet,
Nikola Tesla,
Obamacare,
Photography
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
It's a Wonderful Cure for Bad Eyesight
It's a Wonderful Life is a staple of Christmas and a tradition for many on Christmas Eve but just thinking of it make me need to nitpick on this one little thing that has always bothered/amused me.
When Jimmy Stewart is alive and him and Donna Reed are busy making kids - her eyesight is perfect. No eyeglasses for Donna Reed. But when Jimmy never existed - all of a sudden the librarian / spinster Reed needs eyeglasses. What happened?
Now you can argue that she needs glasses because as a librarian she reads more books but I'm not buying that. I think Frank Capra was trying to send out a pro-sex message. Sex is so good it makes your eyesight better! Jimmy Stewart's cure for nearsightedness (that would be a good name for a band - well maybe not).
When Jimmy Stewart is alive and him and Donna Reed are busy making kids - her eyesight is perfect. No eyeglasses for Donna Reed. But when Jimmy never existed - all of a sudden the librarian / spinster Reed needs eyeglasses. What happened?
Now you can argue that she needs glasses because as a librarian she reads more books but I'm not buying that. I think Frank Capra was trying to send out a pro-sex message. Sex is so good it makes your eyesight better! Jimmy Stewart's cure for nearsightedness (that would be a good name for a band - well maybe not).
Monday, December 23, 2013
Top 5 - Greatest Single Seasons by a Red Sox Pitcher
Here are what I consider the greatest 5 pitching seasons in Red Sox history.
1. Pedro Martinez - 2000 - 18-6 / 213 IP / 313 K / 2.07 ERA / 285 ERA+
2. Cy Young - 1901 - 33-10 / 371 IP / 158 K / 1.62 ERA / 216 ERA+
3. Pedro Martinez - 1999 - 23-4 / 217 IP / 284 K / 1.74 ERA / 245 ERA+
4. Roger Clemens - 1990 - 21-6 / 228 IP / 209 K / 1.93 ERA / 211 ERA+
5. Smokey Joe Wood - 1912 - 34-5 / 344 IP / 258 K / 1.91 ERA / 180 ERA+
Notes: Cy Young's 158 K's may seem small but it led the league that year and his ERA+ is smaller than what Pedro had in 1999 but keep in mind that Cy pitched 154 more innings - so I think we can give him a break on the ERA. Roger Clemens finished second in Cy Young voting in 1990 to Bob Welsh of the A's who had a 27-6 record with an ERA that was a full run higher than Roger (2.95 to 1.93). Joe Wood had a great 1912 but his K's and ERA were still second in the league to Walter Johnson of Washington.
1. Pedro Martinez - 2000 - 18-6 / 213 IP / 313 K / 2.07 ERA / 285 ERA+
2. Cy Young - 1901 - 33-10 / 371 IP / 158 K / 1.62 ERA / 216 ERA+
3. Pedro Martinez - 1999 - 23-4 / 217 IP / 284 K / 1.74 ERA / 245 ERA+
4. Roger Clemens - 1990 - 21-6 / 228 IP / 209 K / 1.93 ERA / 211 ERA+
5. Smokey Joe Wood - 1912 - 34-5 / 344 IP / 258 K / 1.91 ERA / 180 ERA+
Notes: Cy Young's 158 K's may seem small but it led the league that year and his ERA+ is smaller than what Pedro had in 1999 but keep in mind that Cy pitched 154 more innings - so I think we can give him a break on the ERA. Roger Clemens finished second in Cy Young voting in 1990 to Bob Welsh of the A's who had a 27-6 record with an ERA that was a full run higher than Roger (2.95 to 1.93). Joe Wood had a great 1912 but his K's and ERA were still second in the league to Walter Johnson of Washington.
Flotsam and Jetsam
Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.
When Bill Belichick and Tom Brady set the scoring record in 2007 - the Patriots were taken to task by many in the media for "running up the score." Peyton Manning is still running the hurry-up offense up two or three TD's in the 4th quarter and not a peep... Was I wrong for finding this funny? The Italian movie poster for 12 Years a Slave... Castrated Hippos would be a good name for a band. Now opening for Pussy Riot - Castrated Hippos!... Nuns firing guns... I admit that when I watch Peyton Manning play - I root for interceptions... I have to think this guy would A: divorce his wife and B: never be able to show his face in that bar again. Wife rats out bar's illegal Super Bowl pools... Unfixed Cats would also be a good name for a band... Was Nelson Mandela an Alien Freemason? Predicting History Channel shows 20-years from now...
When Bill Belichick and Tom Brady set the scoring record in 2007 - the Patriots were taken to task by many in the media for "running up the score." Peyton Manning is still running the hurry-up offense up two or three TD's in the 4th quarter and not a peep... Was I wrong for finding this funny? The Italian movie poster for 12 Years a Slave... Castrated Hippos would be a good name for a band. Now opening for Pussy Riot - Castrated Hippos!... Nuns firing guns... I admit that when I watch Peyton Manning play - I root for interceptions... I have to think this guy would A: divorce his wife and B: never be able to show his face in that bar again. Wife rats out bar's illegal Super Bowl pools... Unfixed Cats would also be a good name for a band... Was Nelson Mandela an Alien Freemason? Predicting History Channel shows 20-years from now...
Labels:
Bill Belichick,
Funny,
Peyton Manning,
Super Bowl Pools,
Tom Brady
Sunday, December 22, 2013
Linky Links
Stuff I found interesting and thought I'd share.
- The Leonys Martin kidnapping story would make a great book.
- Eddie Vedder and Jean Tripplehorn (as Julie Andrews) sing the Stones Shattered. Very cool!
- Save the Elves! Save the Elves?
- Michael Gee with good perspective about what make a good sports columnist.
- A scientific look at James Bond's alcohol problem. I can believe him saving the world several times a month but never having whiskey dick after all those martinis? That's stretching it too far.
- The Leonys Martin kidnapping story would make a great book.
- Eddie Vedder and Jean Tripplehorn (as Julie Andrews) sing the Stones Shattered. Very cool!
- Save the Elves! Save the Elves?
- Michael Gee with good perspective about what make a good sports columnist.
- A scientific look at James Bond's alcohol problem. I can believe him saving the world several times a month but never having whiskey dick after all those martinis? That's stretching it too far.
Labels:
Alcohol,
Eddie Vedder,
James Bond,
Michael Gee,
MLB,
Music,
Science
Fairytale of New York
Greatest Christmas song of all-time!
Friday, December 20, 2013
Linky Links
Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.
- One of the most honest product reviews you'll ever read - a mother of 3 teenage boys on the merits of Kleenex
- In case you are in a giving mood - I would really like a wingsuit for Christmas
- Marvel confirms Paul Rudd as Ant-Man. So this movie is going to be a comedy right? Ant Man is a joke of a super hero to begin with.
- 17 of the most perfectly timed photos ever
- Both cruel and funny at the same time - Merry Christmas little girl!
- A very concise look at the weasel actions of the Administration regarding their latest actions regarding Obamacare.
- One of the most honest product reviews you'll ever read - a mother of 3 teenage boys on the merits of Kleenex
- In case you are in a giving mood - I would really like a wingsuit for Christmas
- Marvel confirms Paul Rudd as Ant-Man. So this movie is going to be a comedy right? Ant Man is a joke of a super hero to begin with.
- 17 of the most perfectly timed photos ever
- Both cruel and funny at the same time - Merry Christmas little girl!
- A very concise look at the weasel actions of the Administration regarding their latest actions regarding Obamacare.
Labels:
Ant Man,
Cool Stuff,
Funny,
Obamacare,
Paul Rudd,
Photography
Thursday, December 19, 2013
Flotsam and Jetsam
Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.
Bonnet de douche means shower cap in French but doesn't it sound like a more snarky version of the insult "ass hat". Man that guy Dan Shaughnessy is a real bonnet de douche... Men and their cameras - the more things change the more they stay the same... I think Craig's List should rename "Casual Encounters" to "Hob-Knobbing" - just because... I agree that you will see lots of commercials like this in the run-up to the 2014 elections. Vote em out - vote em all out... Joseph was a swarthy, Mediterranean Jew - would a snow white baby Jesus have been more or less likely for him to believe in the Immaculate Conception?... The largest horse in the world in 1928. Are horses getting smaller these days, people getting larger or both?...
Bonnet de douche means shower cap in French but doesn't it sound like a more snarky version of the insult "ass hat". Man that guy Dan Shaughnessy is a real bonnet de douche... Men and their cameras - the more things change the more they stay the same... I think Craig's List should rename "Casual Encounters" to "Hob-Knobbing" - just because... I agree that you will see lots of commercials like this in the run-up to the 2014 elections. Vote em out - vote em all out... Joseph was a swarthy, Mediterranean Jew - would a snow white baby Jesus have been more or less likely for him to believe in the Immaculate Conception?... The largest horse in the world in 1928. Are horses getting smaller these days, people getting larger or both?...
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Linky Links
Some stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.
- There goes the very last of any street cred Barack Obama may have had
- The little known court case that might kill Obamacare (God willing)
- I agree - The best entrance to a late night show ever! RIP Peter O'Toole
- 10 facts you might not know about Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol
- Wow Shia LeBeouf must live in an alternate universe
- There goes the very last of any street cred Barack Obama may have had
- The little known court case that might kill Obamacare (God willing)
- I agree - The best entrance to a late night show ever! RIP Peter O'Toole
- 10 facts you might not know about Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol
- Wow Shia LeBeouf must live in an alternate universe
Friday, December 13, 2013
Flotsam and Jetsam
Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.
Please - I really hope somebody asked Peyton Manning about his record in cold weather games after last night's loss to the Chargers. Please! Please! Please!... Jacoby Ellsbury took out an ad in the Boston Globe (owned by Red Sox owner John Henry) to thank fans. How come these ads are never taken out in the Boston Herald (which is not owned by Red Sox owner John Henry)... I don't think I'll be seeing Saving Mister Banks anyways but knowing its a bunch of crap is even more reason to stay away... The Internet Map - cannot find A Large Regular on here - so obviously the map is incomplete...Confession - I have never seen any of the Home Alone movies (and have no plans to do so)... LBJ in the White House pool. I love photos like this... Having a giant Yankees sticker on your car or truck is a good way to insure you WON'T be getting out of a ticket if you get pulled over by the State Police on the Mass Pike... Shaolin Kung Fu Monks... I just find the sound of the word "burgled" amusing. I keep thinking it sounds like something the Urban Dictionary would define as a BJ in the snow or cold, "She burgled me in the ski gondola!"... MacBrown O'Texas would be a great name for a cartoon character...
Please - I really hope somebody asked Peyton Manning about his record in cold weather games after last night's loss to the Chargers. Please! Please! Please!... Jacoby Ellsbury took out an ad in the Boston Globe (owned by Red Sox owner John Henry) to thank fans. How come these ads are never taken out in the Boston Herald (which is not owned by Red Sox owner John Henry)... I don't think I'll be seeing Saving Mister Banks anyways but knowing its a bunch of crap is even more reason to stay away... The Internet Map - cannot find A Large Regular on here - so obviously the map is incomplete...Confession - I have never seen any of the Home Alone movies (and have no plans to do so)... LBJ in the White House pool. I love photos like this... Having a giant Yankees sticker on your car or truck is a good way to insure you WON'T be getting out of a ticket if you get pulled over by the State Police on the Mass Pike... Shaolin Kung Fu Monks... I just find the sound of the word "burgled" amusing. I keep thinking it sounds like something the Urban Dictionary would define as a BJ in the snow or cold, "She burgled me in the ski gondola!"... MacBrown O'Texas would be a great name for a cartoon character...
Thursday, December 12, 2013
Linky Links
Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.
- Every year I post the best Christmas song of all time - The Fairytale of New York. But this year Borepatch beat me to the punch.
- Cool - Iconic aerial photo of Muhammad Ali vs Williams 1966
- This is both funny and sad - The real life of Julia (under Obamacare)
- 11 of the richest people in history
- Tips for Jesus - Jack Selby seems like a genuinely nice guy
- The Grand Canyon like you've never seen it before
- Every year I post the best Christmas song of all time - The Fairytale of New York. But this year Borepatch beat me to the punch.
- Cool - Iconic aerial photo of Muhammad Ali vs Williams 1966
- This is both funny and sad - The real life of Julia (under Obamacare)
- 11 of the richest people in history
- Tips for Jesus - Jack Selby seems like a genuinely nice guy
- The Grand Canyon like you've never seen it before
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Top 5 - Offseason MLB Moves
Here's what I see as the Top 5 MLB offseason moves - so far!
1. Doug Fister to Nationals and Steve Lombardozzi, Robbie Ray and Ian Krol to Detroit. This wasn't even a five nickels for a quarter deal. This was three nickels for a quarter. Fister would be THE ace on half the teams in baseball and the Tigers got a bench guy, a bullpen guy and a AA guy in return for him. Absolute steal by the Nationals.
2. Robinson Cano - signs 10-year $240 million free agent deal with the Mariners. Cano got PAID!
3. Mark Trumbo to Diamondbacks, Adam Eaton to White Sox while Angels get starters Tyler Scaggs and Hector Santiago. A potential 40-HR guy, a starting centerfielder, and two starting pitchers. Most impactful deal for three teams so far.
4. Yankees trade Robinson Cano for Jacoby Ellsbury and Brian McCann. OK so it wasn't actually a trade but I sure feels like one doesn't it? Question - if someone made this trade in your fantasy baseball league - which side would you say was getting the better deal?
5. Prince Fielder to Rangers for Ian Kinsler and $30 million from Tigers. Too early to tell the impact of this deal but considering that Fielder was signed by Detroit in the first place because Victor Martinez got hurt (and is now healthy) and moving Fielder now opens a spot for rookie Nick Castellanos at third my inclination is that this works for both teams.
I said these were my Top 5 so far. I think there's still a blockbuster waiting to happen.
1. Doug Fister to Nationals and Steve Lombardozzi, Robbie Ray and Ian Krol to Detroit. This wasn't even a five nickels for a quarter deal. This was three nickels for a quarter. Fister would be THE ace on half the teams in baseball and the Tigers got a bench guy, a bullpen guy and a AA guy in return for him. Absolute steal by the Nationals.
2. Robinson Cano - signs 10-year $240 million free agent deal with the Mariners. Cano got PAID!
3. Mark Trumbo to Diamondbacks, Adam Eaton to White Sox while Angels get starters Tyler Scaggs and Hector Santiago. A potential 40-HR guy, a starting centerfielder, and two starting pitchers. Most impactful deal for three teams so far.
4. Yankees trade Robinson Cano for Jacoby Ellsbury and Brian McCann. OK so it wasn't actually a trade but I sure feels like one doesn't it? Question - if someone made this trade in your fantasy baseball league - which side would you say was getting the better deal?
5. Prince Fielder to Rangers for Ian Kinsler and $30 million from Tigers. Too early to tell the impact of this deal but considering that Fielder was signed by Detroit in the first place because Victor Martinez got hurt (and is now healthy) and moving Fielder now opens a spot for rookie Nick Castellanos at third my inclination is that this works for both teams.
I said these were my Top 5 so far. I think there's still a blockbuster waiting to happen.
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
Flotsam and Jetsam
Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.
Last night the Cowboys basically quit when they found themselves down 21 with about 3 minutes to go. I found myself thinking that Bill Belichick and Tom Brady would never quit in those circumstances. Maybe that's why the Patriots are the Patriots and the Cowboys are the Cowboys... If humans mated like animals in comic format - disturbing... "Ditka" should be a verb or adjective for anything awesome. We should work to make "Ditka" next year's Websters Word of the Year... Cool - the outcome of the Ravens / Vikings game in terms of poker percentages. Excellent illustration of how unlikely Baltimore's victory really was... I'm wondering why we haven't seen any Ewing Theory references from Bill Simmons regarding the Patriots losing Rob Gronkowski... I'm a huge Band of Brothers fan but I didn't know about number 1 and 3 on this list (and forgot about number 2). 11 actors you may have forgotten were in Band of Brothers... Congrats to Doherty High football coach Sean Mulchahy who will be honored by the New England Patriots today as the high school coach of the year. A well deserved honor for a great guy... Great photo from Sunday!...
Last night the Cowboys basically quit when they found themselves down 21 with about 3 minutes to go. I found myself thinking that Bill Belichick and Tom Brady would never quit in those circumstances. Maybe that's why the Patriots are the Patriots and the Cowboys are the Cowboys... If humans mated like animals in comic format - disturbing... "Ditka" should be a verb or adjective for anything awesome. We should work to make "Ditka" next year's Websters Word of the Year... Cool - the outcome of the Ravens / Vikings game in terms of poker percentages. Excellent illustration of how unlikely Baltimore's victory really was... I'm wondering why we haven't seen any Ewing Theory references from Bill Simmons regarding the Patriots losing Rob Gronkowski... I'm a huge Band of Brothers fan but I didn't know about number 1 and 3 on this list (and forgot about number 2). 11 actors you may have forgotten were in Band of Brothers... Congrats to Doherty High football coach Sean Mulchahy who will be honored by the New England Patriots today as the high school coach of the year. A well deserved honor for a great guy... Great photo from Sunday!...
Sunday, December 08, 2013
Flotsam and Jetsam
Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.
Jacoby Ellsbury got a 7-year deal from the Yankees. I am really curious if there was any legitimate 6-year deals out there that the Yankees felt they had to top... 1936 Jesse Owens gold medal sells for $1.46 million dollars... Crazy trade idea - Ryan Dempster and a prospect from Red Sox to Yankees for Brett Gardner. The Yankees need a starter badly and Gardner is now on the trading block... Fantastic Geoff Baker piece on the dysfunctional Mariners. I'm guessing all the GM's at the Winter Meetings will be trying to dump their bad contracts on Jack Zduriencik as "win now" solutions before the jerkface gets fired... Two days after Pearl Hrbor Bob Feller volunteer for active duty with the Navy. He was the first pro athlete to do so (but not the last). I wonder what pro athlete would do so today? Didn't seem many volunteers after Pat Tillman... Heh heh - science is funny... More unintended consequences - Obamacare may put the end to volunteer fire departments. Unbelievable... Cool - how a car engine actually works... I wonder if historians 80-years from now will look at Obamacare they way we look at Prohibition today. As in "what were they thinking?"...
Jacoby Ellsbury got a 7-year deal from the Yankees. I am really curious if there was any legitimate 6-year deals out there that the Yankees felt they had to top... 1936 Jesse Owens gold medal sells for $1.46 million dollars... Crazy trade idea - Ryan Dempster and a prospect from Red Sox to Yankees for Brett Gardner. The Yankees need a starter badly and Gardner is now on the trading block... Fantastic Geoff Baker piece on the dysfunctional Mariners. I'm guessing all the GM's at the Winter Meetings will be trying to dump their bad contracts on Jack Zduriencik as "win now" solutions before the jerkface gets fired... Two days after Pearl Hrbor Bob Feller volunteer for active duty with the Navy. He was the first pro athlete to do so (but not the last). I wonder what pro athlete would do so today? Didn't seem many volunteers after Pat Tillman... Heh heh - science is funny... More unintended consequences - Obamacare may put the end to volunteer fire departments. Unbelievable... Cool - how a car engine actually works... I wonder if historians 80-years from now will look at Obamacare they way we look at Prohibition today. As in "what were they thinking?"...
Saturday, December 07, 2013
Top 5 - Red Sox To Do List
With Mike Napoli re-signing with the Red Sox for 2-years $32 million - the biggest off-season priority for Boston is done. So what is left for Ben Cherington to do at the Winter Meetings? Here's my Top 5:
1. Find a super utility guy - someone who can back-up 3rd, SS and 2nd. Seriously - the pitching staff and the position players are pretty set. As other teams try to fill gaping holes - the Red Sox biggest need is a capable utility guy. Stephen Drew could fit the bill with at-bats shared between Drew, Xander Bogaerts and Will Middlebrooks and there are many who want Drew back but I'd prefer to have Bogaerts play short fulltime and the Red Sox to enjoy the supplemental pick they would get when Drew signs elsewhere.
2. Sign Jon Lester to an extension. He recently said he wants to stay in Boston and would be open to a home-town discount contract like the one Dustin Pedroia signed. Take him up on it before the costs of top shelf starters goes crazy. Say 5-years $100 million? Everyone happy?
3. Trade Ryan Dempster and his $13 million contract. Boston has six starters and only 5 slots. Trading Dempster and his $13 million contract makes the most sense. Of course you could always wait till Spring Training to do this in case of injury.
4. Trade Ryan Lavarnway to a team that needs a catcher. I like Lavarnway but there just isn't roster room either in the bigs in Boston or AAA in Pawtucket. Once again - maybe wait till Spring Training.
5. Sign David Ortiz to an extension. I know both sides agreed to no extension until the current contract was done but that was before Ortiz was World Series MVP. How about 2-years and $30 million?
1. Find a super utility guy - someone who can back-up 3rd, SS and 2nd. Seriously - the pitching staff and the position players are pretty set. As other teams try to fill gaping holes - the Red Sox biggest need is a capable utility guy. Stephen Drew could fit the bill with at-bats shared between Drew, Xander Bogaerts and Will Middlebrooks and there are many who want Drew back but I'd prefer to have Bogaerts play short fulltime and the Red Sox to enjoy the supplemental pick they would get when Drew signs elsewhere.
2. Sign Jon Lester to an extension. He recently said he wants to stay in Boston and would be open to a home-town discount contract like the one Dustin Pedroia signed. Take him up on it before the costs of top shelf starters goes crazy. Say 5-years $100 million? Everyone happy?
3. Trade Ryan Dempster and his $13 million contract. Boston has six starters and only 5 slots. Trading Dempster and his $13 million contract makes the most sense. Of course you could always wait till Spring Training to do this in case of injury.
4. Trade Ryan Lavarnway to a team that needs a catcher. I like Lavarnway but there just isn't roster room either in the bigs in Boston or AAA in Pawtucket. Once again - maybe wait till Spring Training.
5. Sign David Ortiz to an extension. I know both sides agreed to no extension until the current contract was done but that was before Ortiz was World Series MVP. How about 2-years and $30 million?
Friday, December 06, 2013
Linky Links
Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.
- The Eiffel Tower lit up in the colors of the South African flag in memory of Nelson Mandela
- The Boston Celtics have to feel pretty good right now. They have Brad Stevens as coach (the anti-Jason Kidd) and then there's this coming up the next couple of years (speaking of Jason Kidd)
- This Iron Bowl call is pretty funny
- As a child of the 80's when you think Nelson Mandela you think Apartheid and then you think Artists United Against Apartheid and Sun City
- Is Jack Morris a Hall of Famer? The folks at Baseball-Reference.com don't think so.
- Awesome - Benedict Cumberbatch recites R Kelly lyrics
- Forgotten history - when Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin were on the lunar surface - the Russians crashed into the moon
- Heh heh - Clint Eastwood riding a miniature pony
- Spontaneous street pillow fights - fantastic!
- The Eiffel Tower lit up in the colors of the South African flag in memory of Nelson Mandela
- The Boston Celtics have to feel pretty good right now. They have Brad Stevens as coach (the anti-Jason Kidd) and then there's this coming up the next couple of years (speaking of Jason Kidd)
- This Iron Bowl call is pretty funny
- As a child of the 80's when you think Nelson Mandela you think Apartheid and then you think Artists United Against Apartheid and Sun City
- Is Jack Morris a Hall of Famer? The folks at Baseball-Reference.com don't think so.
- Awesome - Benedict Cumberbatch recites R Kelly lyrics
- Forgotten history - when Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin were on the lunar surface - the Russians crashed into the moon
- Heh heh - Clint Eastwood riding a miniature pony
- Spontaneous street pillow fights - fantastic!
Thursday, December 05, 2013
Top 5 - Ellsbury Thoughts Part II
Here's some more thoughts regarding the Yankees signing Jacoby Ellsbury to a 7-year $153 million contract.
1. Mickey Mantle finished his career with 153 stolen bases. It is not a stretch that Ellsbury will meet or exceed that number.
2. Reggie Jackson had 144 HR in his time with the Yankees. It may be a stretch but I think Ellsbury could meet or exceed that number too. Why do I think Ellsbury has a chance? Reggie had just 5 seasons in the Bronx and Ellsbury will have 7. Johnny Damon twice hit 24 HR in his 4 years with the Yankees and Ellsbury has more strength and power than Damon. Plus Ellsbury has a .906 OPS at Yankee Stadium over the last 3 seasons. He can hit there.
3. Supposedly Vegas has set the over/under for HR next season for Ellsbury at 15.5. For the reasons above - I love the over.
4. Rob Bradford makes a point I meant to bring up yesterday - Ellsbury will not pitch for the Yankees. As it stands right now the Yankees have the worst starting rotation in the AL East (Sabbathia, Nova, Phelps, Pineda and Warren). Pitching is their biggest need but they signed Ellsbury who is just an upgrade over Brett Gardner instead. Signing Ellsbury does not make the Yankees a playoff team.
5. The Red Sox will get a windfall from Ellsbury signing in the Bronx. Many of the women and children who were Ellsbury's biggest fans will now need a new Red Sox jersey. Just in time for Christmas.
1. Mickey Mantle finished his career with 153 stolen bases. It is not a stretch that Ellsbury will meet or exceed that number.
2. Reggie Jackson had 144 HR in his time with the Yankees. It may be a stretch but I think Ellsbury could meet or exceed that number too. Why do I think Ellsbury has a chance? Reggie had just 5 seasons in the Bronx and Ellsbury will have 7. Johnny Damon twice hit 24 HR in his 4 years with the Yankees and Ellsbury has more strength and power than Damon. Plus Ellsbury has a .906 OPS at Yankee Stadium over the last 3 seasons. He can hit there.
3. Supposedly Vegas has set the over/under for HR next season for Ellsbury at 15.5. For the reasons above - I love the over.
4. Rob Bradford makes a point I meant to bring up yesterday - Ellsbury will not pitch for the Yankees. As it stands right now the Yankees have the worst starting rotation in the AL East (Sabbathia, Nova, Phelps, Pineda and Warren). Pitching is their biggest need but they signed Ellsbury who is just an upgrade over Brett Gardner instead. Signing Ellsbury does not make the Yankees a playoff team.
5. The Red Sox will get a windfall from Ellsbury signing in the Bronx. Many of the women and children who were Ellsbury's biggest fans will now need a new Red Sox jersey. Just in time for Christmas.
Wednesday, December 04, 2013
Top 5 - Ellsbury Thoughts
Here's my Top 5 thoughts on Jacoby Ellsbury signing with the Yankees.
1. In the big scheme of things this is not a Yankees vs Red Sox thing - this is a Scott Boras vs Jay Z thing. And make no mistake - this was a big FU from Boras to Jay Z. Now that Ellsbury got the big contract out of the Yankees there is less money for Robinson Cano who now will have to go with someone like Seattle if he wants top, top dollar. Or he will have to take a lesser deal from the Yankees.
2. As soon as Ellsbury signed with Scott Boras every informed Red Sox fan knew he was gone. That's the way it works and I don't blame Ellsbury at all. This idea that he should be booed when he returns to Fenway is ridiculous. I wish Ellsbury nothing but the best. Boston won two World Series during his time here and Ellsbury was a big part of those titles.
3. Ellsbury won a Gold Glove with the Red Sox but many scouts say that his logical replacement - Jackie Bradly Jr. - is actually already a better defender.
4. The Red Sox drafted Ellsbury with the supplemental draft pick they got from losing Orlando Cabrera to free agency. When Johnny Damon signed with the Yankees - Boston drafted Daniel Bard with the supplemental pick. If the Red Sox can get something in between Bard and Ellsbury with the pick they'll get for losing Ellsbury then Boston fans should be happy. By the way - Jackie Bradley Jr. was drafted with the pick Boston got for losing Adrian Beltre. This, in part, is why Boston has a deep farm system and the Yankees do not.
5. As much as Ellsbury is making with the Yankees - he has the potential to make as much if he gets some type of Jockey or Calvin Klein deals. Ellsbury (and his ass) was the favorite of almost every girl in Boston. I predict it won't be long before you see 30 foot tall billboards of his backside at Times Square.
1. In the big scheme of things this is not a Yankees vs Red Sox thing - this is a Scott Boras vs Jay Z thing. And make no mistake - this was a big FU from Boras to Jay Z. Now that Ellsbury got the big contract out of the Yankees there is less money for Robinson Cano who now will have to go with someone like Seattle if he wants top, top dollar. Or he will have to take a lesser deal from the Yankees.
2. As soon as Ellsbury signed with Scott Boras every informed Red Sox fan knew he was gone. That's the way it works and I don't blame Ellsbury at all. This idea that he should be booed when he returns to Fenway is ridiculous. I wish Ellsbury nothing but the best. Boston won two World Series during his time here and Ellsbury was a big part of those titles.
3. Ellsbury won a Gold Glove with the Red Sox but many scouts say that his logical replacement - Jackie Bradly Jr. - is actually already a better defender.
4. The Red Sox drafted Ellsbury with the supplemental draft pick they got from losing Orlando Cabrera to free agency. When Johnny Damon signed with the Yankees - Boston drafted Daniel Bard with the supplemental pick. If the Red Sox can get something in between Bard and Ellsbury with the pick they'll get for losing Ellsbury then Boston fans should be happy. By the way - Jackie Bradley Jr. was drafted with the pick Boston got for losing Adrian Beltre. This, in part, is why Boston has a deep farm system and the Yankees do not.
5. As much as Ellsbury is making with the Yankees - he has the potential to make as much if he gets some type of Jockey or Calvin Klein deals. Ellsbury (and his ass) was the favorite of almost every girl in Boston. I predict it won't be long before you see 30 foot tall billboards of his backside at Times Square.
Tuesday, December 03, 2013
Flotsam and Jetsam
Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.
So the Red Sox have signed AJ Pierzynski to a one-year deal. This feels a lot like when the Boston Bruins acquired Ken "the rat" Linseman. Will be tough rooting for AJ... Jesse Owens' Gold Medal from 1936 Berlin Olympics up for auction... The Nationals were lucky to get Doug Fister for almost nothing. As lucky as an average guy who happens to be in the right place at the right time when a super model decides she needs to have revenge sex... Vintage advertisements that weren't exactly politically correct... The BBWAA needed 4 tries to elect Rogers Hornsby to the Hall of Fame. Very, very flawed process... 19 shocking facts about Detroit's bankruptcy... Jarrod Saltalamaccia was a solid player and top shelf person during his time in Boston. I wish him nothing but the best with his new team. Godspeed Salty... I think this idea was written only half in jest. I think it would actually work. Why not naming rights for sections of the newspaper?... Funny how some people who think it is wrong to lie to kids about Santa and the Easter Bunny still hold fast to the idea that Obamacare is actually a workable solution... Glorious! Dropping a red hot nickel ball onto various things. I love the Internets!... All the baseball Hall of Fame debates are petty compared to the injustice of KISS not being in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame...
So the Red Sox have signed AJ Pierzynski to a one-year deal. This feels a lot like when the Boston Bruins acquired Ken "the rat" Linseman. Will be tough rooting for AJ... Jesse Owens' Gold Medal from 1936 Berlin Olympics up for auction... The Nationals were lucky to get Doug Fister for almost nothing. As lucky as an average guy who happens to be in the right place at the right time when a super model decides she needs to have revenge sex... Vintage advertisements that weren't exactly politically correct... The BBWAA needed 4 tries to elect Rogers Hornsby to the Hall of Fame. Very, very flawed process... 19 shocking facts about Detroit's bankruptcy... Jarrod Saltalamaccia was a solid player and top shelf person during his time in Boston. I wish him nothing but the best with his new team. Godspeed Salty... I think this idea was written only half in jest. I think it would actually work. Why not naming rights for sections of the newspaper?... Funny how some people who think it is wrong to lie to kids about Santa and the Easter Bunny still hold fast to the idea that Obamacare is actually a workable solution... Glorious! Dropping a red hot nickel ball onto various things. I love the Internets!... All the baseball Hall of Fame debates are petty compared to the injustice of KISS not being in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame...
Monday, December 02, 2013
Sunday, December 01, 2013
Linky Links
Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.
- Reasons for admission to the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum 1864-1889. I would have qualified for admission under 8 of those reasons.
- Silly Phish. I laughed.
- Another example of hockey players being the best.
- Google maps and the touching story of the UTA Flight 772 tribute.
- Cool photo of a baby turtle seeing his own reflection
- Reasons for admission to the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum 1864-1889. I would have qualified for admission under 8 of those reasons.
- Silly Phish. I laughed.
- Another example of hockey players being the best.
- Google maps and the touching story of the UTA Flight 772 tribute.
- Cool photo of a baby turtle seeing his own reflection
Labels:
Boston Bruins,
Cool Stuff,
Funny,
Phish,
Photography
Saturday, November 30, 2013
Flotsam and Jetsam
Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.
Am I the only one bothered by ESPN and others always using the term "sexual assault" when discussing Jameis Winston? He is accused of "rape". Rape! Use the frigging word... Does drinking beer make you more creative? Not sure. Does the existence of beer prove there is a God who loves us? Absolutely... Not sure if this is just a Massachusetts expression but "book it" means run away. As in "the cops came and we all booked it"... You can get away with wearing a hat like this when you are Tom Brady... This blows my mind - Michael J. Fox's middle name is Andrew... Welcome to Zombo.com. You can do anything at Zombo.com. Always puts a smile on my face... I wish the AP issued a Stylebook ruling that said any time Alex Rodriguez's name is mentioned in print - the word "churlish" must precede his name... If Justin Beiber made a Christmas CD - I would give it as a gift to people I hate... It is amusing to see how the White House has stopped using the term "Obamacare" and now is calling it the Affordable Care Act once again.
Am I the only one bothered by ESPN and others always using the term "sexual assault" when discussing Jameis Winston? He is accused of "rape". Rape! Use the frigging word... Does drinking beer make you more creative? Not sure. Does the existence of beer prove there is a God who loves us? Absolutely... Not sure if this is just a Massachusetts expression but "book it" means run away. As in "the cops came and we all booked it"... You can get away with wearing a hat like this when you are Tom Brady... This blows my mind - Michael J. Fox's middle name is Andrew... Welcome to Zombo.com. You can do anything at Zombo.com. Always puts a smile on my face... I wish the AP issued a Stylebook ruling that said any time Alex Rodriguez's name is mentioned in print - the word "churlish" must precede his name... If Justin Beiber made a Christmas CD - I would give it as a gift to people I hate... It is amusing to see how the White House has stopped using the term "Obamacare" and now is calling it the Affordable Care Act once again.
Labels:
Alex Rodriguez,
beer,
ESPN,
Heisman Trophy,
Jameis Winston,
Justin Beiber,
Language,
Michael J. Fox,
Obamacare,
Tom Brady
Friday, November 29, 2013
Trade Proposal
There's a trade proposal that's been bouncing around my head for quite some time now. The Baltimore Orioles have said they want to shed payroll and are open to trading both closer Jim Johnson and catcher Matt Wieters. The Red Sox don't need a closer but a catcher like Matt Wieters would certainly be worth exploring.
I know the odds are slim that the Orioles would make a trade to improve a division rival but there has been precedent. Most notably in my mind was the Mike Boddicker trade that sent Curt Schilling and Brady Anderson to the Orioles. It could happen again and I keep thinking this could be a trade could make sense for both teams.
Matt Wieters would be a great fit for the Red Sox. He has two years left before free agency which would be the perfect amount of time for Boston before one of its two stud catching prospects (Blake Swihart and Christian Vazquez) are ready to take the reins. David Ross is only really good for 60 games per year and he's only signed for one more year. Wieters could come in and have a relaxing year for him (he led the AL in games caught last year) and the next year he could mentor Swihart or Vazquez as one of them back him up in his year heading into free agency.
Wieters is perhaps the best defensive catcher in the AL (Gold Gloves in 2011 and 2012). He's hit more than 20 HR in three straight years. He'd be an upgrade over Jarrod Saltalamcchia and salary wise - he would be cheaper with arbitration probably getting Wieters $8.5 million next year and maybe $10.5 in 2015. Salty's probably going to get a 3-year $30 million deal at the least in free agency.
What would be in it for Baltimore? I'd suggest trading catcher Ryan Lavarnway who right now is probably going to catch the majority of the games next year but who would be extraneous with the arrival of Wieters and starter Felix Dubront. Both players are just 26 and both under team control for at least another 4 years. Dubront could be the 3rd starter right away for the Orioles and Lavarnway could be their starting backstop. Both are also very cheap and the two in exchange for Wieters would save Baltimore more than $10 million in 2014 alone when you factor in what a starting pitcher is going for in the free agency market.
It should also be noted that Wieters agent is Scott Boras - so Baltimore knows they are probably going to lose him to free agency anyway. Why not trade him now and get more than just a draft pick for him (especially now when they could use salary relief)?
A deal worth thinking about.
I know the odds are slim that the Orioles would make a trade to improve a division rival but there has been precedent. Most notably in my mind was the Mike Boddicker trade that sent Curt Schilling and Brady Anderson to the Orioles. It could happen again and I keep thinking this could be a trade could make sense for both teams.
Matt Wieters would be a great fit for the Red Sox. He has two years left before free agency which would be the perfect amount of time for Boston before one of its two stud catching prospects (Blake Swihart and Christian Vazquez) are ready to take the reins. David Ross is only really good for 60 games per year and he's only signed for one more year. Wieters could come in and have a relaxing year for him (he led the AL in games caught last year) and the next year he could mentor Swihart or Vazquez as one of them back him up in his year heading into free agency.
Wieters is perhaps the best defensive catcher in the AL (Gold Gloves in 2011 and 2012). He's hit more than 20 HR in three straight years. He'd be an upgrade over Jarrod Saltalamcchia and salary wise - he would be cheaper with arbitration probably getting Wieters $8.5 million next year and maybe $10.5 in 2015. Salty's probably going to get a 3-year $30 million deal at the least in free agency.
What would be in it for Baltimore? I'd suggest trading catcher Ryan Lavarnway who right now is probably going to catch the majority of the games next year but who would be extraneous with the arrival of Wieters and starter Felix Dubront. Both players are just 26 and both under team control for at least another 4 years. Dubront could be the 3rd starter right away for the Orioles and Lavarnway could be their starting backstop. Both are also very cheap and the two in exchange for Wieters would save Baltimore more than $10 million in 2014 alone when you factor in what a starting pitcher is going for in the free agency market.
It should also be noted that Wieters agent is Scott Boras - so Baltimore knows they are probably going to lose him to free agency anyway. Why not trade him now and get more than just a draft pick for him (especially now when they could use salary relief)?
A deal worth thinking about.
Linky Links
Happy day after Thanksgiving! Here are some stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.
- To give thanks - you must first be grateful. There's no reason you can't be grateful every day of the year.
- Good deal - All 5 Game of Thrones books for Amazon Kindle for just $10. I paid full price for them and would take advantage of this deal if I didn't already have the e-books.
- I can be very "scrutable" and after I brush my hair I think it would be fair to say that I'm "sheveled"
- Heh heh - Hope you had a Happy Twerk-y Day
- Cool - gardens on the Moon
- Touching story of Jonny Gomes and his biggest fan
- An oral history of the classic WKRP Turkey Drop episode
- To give thanks - you must first be grateful. There's no reason you can't be grateful every day of the year.
- Good deal - All 5 Game of Thrones books for Amazon Kindle for just $10. I paid full price for them and would take advantage of this deal if I didn't already have the e-books.
- I can be very "scrutable" and after I brush my hair I think it would be fair to say that I'm "sheveled"
- Heh heh - Hope you had a Happy Twerk-y Day
- Cool - gardens on the Moon
- Touching story of Jonny Gomes and his biggest fan
- An oral history of the classic WKRP Turkey Drop episode
Labels:
Boston Red Sox,
Cool Stuff,
Funny,
Game of Thrones,
Jonny Gomes,
Language,
Science,
Thanksgiving,
WKRP
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
Red Sox Options at Catcher
The more I think about it the more I think the Red Sox will be going with a combination of David Ross and Ryan Lavarnway at catcher next season with Lavarnway getting about 3 out of 5 starts. Why do I think this?
I think it is becoming clear that Boston isn't interested in having Jarrod Saltalamacchia back. They could have offered him a qualifying offer of $14.1 million but they didn't do that because doing so would have meant any team signing him would have lost a draft pick. The Red Sox seemingly wanted to make it easier for another team to sign him. The Red Sox have also made it clear they aren't prepared to go beyond a 2-year deal for Salty. With Carlos Ruiz getting 3 years from the Phillies and Brian McCann getting 5 years from the Yankees - Salty is bound to get a 4-year deal from someone. Sticking with the 2-year offer and making that public is akin to begging another team to sign him.
Why do this is they aren't comfortable with Lavarnway?
Some have mentioned Boston making a trade for a backstop. Ryan Hanigan from the Reds? Sure he would probably come cheap and is a very good defender but does that defense improvement mean more than the better offense you'd gain from Lavarnway? Plus even though it would only cost a B-level prospect that's still a cost and then it would put you in a position of still having Lavarnway hanging around waiting to get his at bats. Chris Iannetta from the Angels? Why? He doesn't have the offensive potential of Lavarnway and he will cost $10 million in salary over they next two seasons.
When you add it up - the answer comes back that the Red Sox will be going with David Ross and Ryan Lavarnway next season at catcher. John Farrell has already said he thinks Ross is good for about 60 starts. That leaves about a 100 starts for Lavarnway. They must feel comfortable with him.
I do too.
I think it is becoming clear that Boston isn't interested in having Jarrod Saltalamacchia back. They could have offered him a qualifying offer of $14.1 million but they didn't do that because doing so would have meant any team signing him would have lost a draft pick. The Red Sox seemingly wanted to make it easier for another team to sign him. The Red Sox have also made it clear they aren't prepared to go beyond a 2-year deal for Salty. With Carlos Ruiz getting 3 years from the Phillies and Brian McCann getting 5 years from the Yankees - Salty is bound to get a 4-year deal from someone. Sticking with the 2-year offer and making that public is akin to begging another team to sign him.
Why do this is they aren't comfortable with Lavarnway?
Some have mentioned Boston making a trade for a backstop. Ryan Hanigan from the Reds? Sure he would probably come cheap and is a very good defender but does that defense improvement mean more than the better offense you'd gain from Lavarnway? Plus even though it would only cost a B-level prospect that's still a cost and then it would put you in a position of still having Lavarnway hanging around waiting to get his at bats. Chris Iannetta from the Angels? Why? He doesn't have the offensive potential of Lavarnway and he will cost $10 million in salary over they next two seasons.
When you add it up - the answer comes back that the Red Sox will be going with David Ross and Ryan Lavarnway next season at catcher. John Farrell has already said he thinks Ross is good for about 60 starts. That leaves about a 100 starts for Lavarnway. They must feel comfortable with him.
I do too.
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
The Sexy Pilgrim
My favorite Thanksgiving song.
You're welcome!
Linky Links
Stuff I fund interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.
- Curt Schilling for the Hall of Fame? I say yes based mostly on his 3,000 plus K's and his post season performance.
- Nice profile of BC's Andre Williams. I have to think Williams sudden Heisman chances will help get the Eagles into a higher profile Bowl game.
- Speaking of good profiles - here's one on ESPN's John Clayton one of the hardest working men in football.
- Cool - excellent photo of the Seattle skyline above the fog.
- Good point - why should it be called an RJ45 port?
- Curt Schilling for the Hall of Fame? I say yes based mostly on his 3,000 plus K's and his post season performance.
- Nice profile of BC's Andre Williams. I have to think Williams sudden Heisman chances will help get the Eagles into a higher profile Bowl game.
- Speaking of good profiles - here's one on ESPN's John Clayton one of the hardest working men in football.
- Cool - excellent photo of the Seattle skyline above the fog.
- Good point - why should it be called an RJ45 port?
Monday, November 25, 2013
Flotsam and Jetsam
Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.
The Patriots are now 1-0 all-time when Bill Belichick "takes the wind" in overtime. What a game!... John Kerry really does look like the Cold Miser... Have you seen that Cadillac "that's mine" commercial? Why was older brother Kyle trying to get into a car that didn't belong to him in the first place? Did he fall onto hard times? Meth addict? Just a creepy car thief?... As far as QB comparisons - Tom Brady is Maryann while Peyton Manning is Ginger... I think I would like Broadway plays more if they included lots of yodeling... Hollywood should remake a bunch of John Wayne's movies but with a Mike Dukakis look-alike in the lead. I would go see The Quiet Dukakis or She Wore a Yellow Dukakis. These would be awesome comedies... Is there a bigger hot-mess on the dance floor than middle-age people trying to fast dance to Chicago songs?... Where the redheads are. Looks like a redhead in Italy is as rare as a Peyton Manning victory against Tom Brady...
The Patriots are now 1-0 all-time when Bill Belichick "takes the wind" in overtime. What a game!... John Kerry really does look like the Cold Miser... Have you seen that Cadillac "that's mine" commercial? Why was older brother Kyle trying to get into a car that didn't belong to him in the first place? Did he fall onto hard times? Meth addict? Just a creepy car thief?... As far as QB comparisons - Tom Brady is Maryann while Peyton Manning is Ginger... I think I would like Broadway plays more if they included lots of yodeling... Hollywood should remake a bunch of John Wayne's movies but with a Mike Dukakis look-alike in the lead. I would go see The Quiet Dukakis or She Wore a Yellow Dukakis. These would be awesome comedies... Is there a bigger hot-mess on the dance floor than middle-age people trying to fast dance to Chicago songs?... Where the redheads are. Looks like a redhead in Italy is as rare as a Peyton Manning victory against Tom Brady...
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Flotsam and Jetsam
Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.
Anything funnier than sending an oblivious friend into Dunking Donuts for a large Blumpkin Spice? If he asks just tell him its half pumpkin and half blueberry... Heh heh - very funny play-by-play of a car accident... Con Brio with Cheese would be a nice name for a high end pizza bar... A dark horse Heisman candidate is Boston College's Andre Williams who is the leading rusher in the nation. Remember when running backs used to win this award?... Confession - I have never seen the movie A Christmas Story. No plans to either... Rock the vote! Obamacare forcing some universities to drop health care plans for students... I still find it amusing that something called the Beef O'Brady's Bowl actually exists... Speaking of Obamacare - the Emperor's New Clothes... Seriously - besides the extra $.20 per pound cost is there any difference between regular bananas and organic bananas... Wow! Wheeler Park is so beautiful... Who knew? Pitcher Chris Young who just signed with the Nationals is represented by the law firm of Williams & Connolly. The same firm that was started by former Orioles and Redskins owner Edward Bennett Williams. Interesting...
Anything funnier than sending an oblivious friend into Dunking Donuts for a large Blumpkin Spice? If he asks just tell him its half pumpkin and half blueberry... Heh heh - very funny play-by-play of a car accident... Con Brio with Cheese would be a nice name for a high end pizza bar... A dark horse Heisman candidate is Boston College's Andre Williams who is the leading rusher in the nation. Remember when running backs used to win this award?... Confession - I have never seen the movie A Christmas Story. No plans to either... Rock the vote! Obamacare forcing some universities to drop health care plans for students... I still find it amusing that something called the Beef O'Brady's Bowl actually exists... Speaking of Obamacare - the Emperor's New Clothes... Seriously - besides the extra $.20 per pound cost is there any difference between regular bananas and organic bananas... Wow! Wheeler Park is so beautiful... Who knew? Pitcher Chris Young who just signed with the Nationals is represented by the law firm of Williams & Connolly. The same firm that was started by former Orioles and Redskins owner Edward Bennett Williams. Interesting...
ObamaCare and the Holidays
President Obama sent out a Tweet saying, "When your loved ones get together this holiday season, remember to talk to them about health insurance."
Can this Administration be so out of touch as to not realize that this conversation about health care is absolutely going to happen for millions of families who either had their policies cancelled or premiums greatly increased? What the Administration may not comprehend is that the conversation is going to be something like this, "Well we could afford the turkey and trimmings for Thanksgiving but just so everyone knows - because of Obamacare and our increased costs for health insurance there will be no gifts at Christmas. Thanks to Obama, Pelosi and Reid - we just can't afford it"
Maybe the "loved ones" can discuss that $2,500 you said Obamacare was going to save the average family while they are at it?
Can this Administration be so out of touch as to not realize that this conversation about health care is absolutely going to happen for millions of families who either had their policies cancelled or premiums greatly increased? What the Administration may not comprehend is that the conversation is going to be something like this, "Well we could afford the turkey and trimmings for Thanksgiving but just so everyone knows - because of Obamacare and our increased costs for health insurance there will be no gifts at Christmas. Thanks to Obama, Pelosi and Reid - we just can't afford it"
Maybe the "loved ones" can discuss that $2,500 you said Obamacare was going to save the average family while they are at it?
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
Red Sox Flotsam and Jetsam
Miscellaneous Red Sox thoughts and observations while I try to keep the bad taste of last night's Patriots game out of my mouth.
FWIW - last season there were only 8 MLB 3rd basement who hit 20 or more HR (Edwin Encarnacion, Mark Reynolds and Jedd Gyorko were not primarily 3rd basemen). That's why I feel very comfortable with Will Middlebrooks who is almost a lock for 20+ HR in 2014 and he has 30 HR potential (Bill James has Middlebrooks projected for 32 HR in 2014)... I expect more offense from 3rd base in 2014 than the Red Sox got in 2013. I also expect offensive improvements at short (Xander Bogaerts is just a better hitter than Stephen Drew), and 2nd (Pedrioa played most of the season with a damaged hand that hurt his power). Improvement at those three positions should offset the decline in output at center (Ellsbury tough to replace), 1st (if Mike Napoli signs elsewhere) and catcher (if Jarrod Saltilamacchia signs elsewhere). Basically the offense is in good shape... Speaking of catcher - Alex Speier breaks down the options for the Red Sox. I would expect Boston to offer Saltalamacchia a 3-year $26 million deal maybe with a 4th option year. I'd also be fine with a platoon of Ross and Lavarnway... Red Sox have plenty of money to spend but I wouldn't look for any deals until after the Rule 5 Draft is done...
FWIW - last season there were only 8 MLB 3rd basement who hit 20 or more HR (Edwin Encarnacion, Mark Reynolds and Jedd Gyorko were not primarily 3rd basemen). That's why I feel very comfortable with Will Middlebrooks who is almost a lock for 20+ HR in 2014 and he has 30 HR potential (Bill James has Middlebrooks projected for 32 HR in 2014)... I expect more offense from 3rd base in 2014 than the Red Sox got in 2013. I also expect offensive improvements at short (Xander Bogaerts is just a better hitter than Stephen Drew), and 2nd (Pedrioa played most of the season with a damaged hand that hurt his power). Improvement at those three positions should offset the decline in output at center (Ellsbury tough to replace), 1st (if Mike Napoli signs elsewhere) and catcher (if Jarrod Saltilamacchia signs elsewhere). Basically the offense is in good shape... Speaking of catcher - Alex Speier breaks down the options for the Red Sox. I would expect Boston to offer Saltalamacchia a 3-year $26 million deal maybe with a 4th option year. I'd also be fine with a platoon of Ross and Lavarnway... Red Sox have plenty of money to spend but I wouldn't look for any deals until after the Rule 5 Draft is done...
Monday, November 18, 2013
Player Comparison
Here's a player comparison I've been thinking about.
Player A - 1988 G/ 1355 R/ 383 HR/ 1311 RBI/ .313 BA/ .400 OBP/ .965 OPS
Player B - 2439 G/ 1513 R/ 118 HR/ 1013 RBI/ .328 BA/ .415 OBP/ .858 OPS
Both players have impressive numbers - though Player B had 451 more games in which to compile stats. But here's the numbers I was really curious about:
Player A - .278 BA/ .370 OBP/ .495 SLG/ .865 OPS
Player B - .302 BA/ .387 .OBP/ .395 SLG/ .781 OPS
Those are the career road numbers for the two players. You can see a big drop off for both players but Player B basically becomes a slap singles player on the road.
Player A - .348 BA/ .431 OBP/ .637 SLG/ 1.068 OPS
Player B - .354 BA/ .443 OBP/ .491 SLG/ .934 OPS
Those are the home numbers for both players. It should be noted that Player A won an MVP and was a 7 time Gold Glove winner. At home his numbers were almost Ruthian but ironically it was largely his home numbers which played against him when it came time for Hall of Fame voting. Player A was Larry Walker who played the bulk of his career home games at Coors Field. Player B was Wade Boggs who I still say would not be a Hall of Fame player if A - he didn't stick around just to get his 3,000 hits (3,010) or B - didn't play the bulk of his career home games at Fenway Park.
And yes I have a serious dislike for Wade Boggs.
Player A - 1988 G/ 1355 R/ 383 HR/ 1311 RBI/ .313 BA/ .400 OBP/ .965 OPS
Player B - 2439 G/ 1513 R/ 118 HR/ 1013 RBI/ .328 BA/ .415 OBP/ .858 OPS
Both players have impressive numbers - though Player B had 451 more games in which to compile stats. But here's the numbers I was really curious about:
Player A - .278 BA/ .370 OBP/ .495 SLG/ .865 OPS
Player B - .302 BA/ .387 .OBP/ .395 SLG/ .781 OPS
Those are the career road numbers for the two players. You can see a big drop off for both players but Player B basically becomes a slap singles player on the road.
Player A - .348 BA/ .431 OBP/ .637 SLG/ 1.068 OPS
Player B - .354 BA/ .443 OBP/ .491 SLG/ .934 OPS
Those are the home numbers for both players. It should be noted that Player A won an MVP and was a 7 time Gold Glove winner. At home his numbers were almost Ruthian but ironically it was largely his home numbers which played against him when it came time for Hall of Fame voting. Player A was Larry Walker who played the bulk of his career home games at Coors Field. Player B was Wade Boggs who I still say would not be a Hall of Fame player if A - he didn't stick around just to get his 3,000 hits (3,010) or B - didn't play the bulk of his career home games at Fenway Park.
And yes I have a serious dislike for Wade Boggs.
Linky Links
Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.
- On drinking and peeing - the science of "breaking the seal"
- Getting rid of federal regulations - I always thought if I were elected to the Senate each week in office I would go through a year's worth of laws passed starting in say 1800. Then I would pick the law that was most out-dated and put forward a bill to get rid of that law. By the end of just one six-year term you'd clean up a lot of unnecessary laws (and have an excellent basis for a book)
- Interesting look at former Notre Dame star Tom Zbikowski now that he's out of football
- Heh heh - I'm definitely doing number 4
- Interesting profile of the guy who hoarded a billion dollars of Nazi looted worth of art
- Awesome time-waster - the Rob Ford Soundboard
- This chart could also be labeled - why a Republican will be elected President in 2016
- On drinking and peeing - the science of "breaking the seal"
- Getting rid of federal regulations - I always thought if I were elected to the Senate each week in office I would go through a year's worth of laws passed starting in say 1800. Then I would pick the law that was most out-dated and put forward a bill to get rid of that law. By the end of just one six-year term you'd clean up a lot of unnecessary laws (and have an excellent basis for a book)
- Interesting look at former Notre Dame star Tom Zbikowski now that he's out of football
- Heh heh - I'm definitely doing number 4
- Interesting profile of the guy who hoarded a billion dollars of Nazi looted worth of art
- Awesome time-waster - the Rob Ford Soundboard
- This chart could also be labeled - why a Republican will be elected President in 2016
Labels:
Federal Bureaucracy,
Funny,
history,
Notre Dame,
Obamacare,
Rob Ford,
Science
Saturday, November 16, 2013
Flotsam and Jetsam
Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.
Serious question - if Peyton Manning is hurt worse than the Broncos are letting on and is suddenly out for the season after taking a big hit Sunday - would Denver bring back Tim Tebow to be their QB? Do you think fans would prefer handing things off to Brock Osweiler? Tim Tebow would know his place as a back-up this time around... Fan art tributes to Teddy Roosevelt... I like the word "lumberjacks" and think florists should instead be called "flowerjacks"... This past week PBS had an American Experience special on JFK. The subconscious or conscious comparison to Brack Obama is not flattering to Obama and I think people on the Left had to have been thinking about it... After this week I think we also got a good glimpse as to why this Administration was not able to come up with a technological replacement for the Space Shuttle. Imagine that disaster!... Speaking of PBS and technology - some people there obviously think Albert Einstein was a closet rapist...
Serious question - if Peyton Manning is hurt worse than the Broncos are letting on and is suddenly out for the season after taking a big hit Sunday - would Denver bring back Tim Tebow to be their QB? Do you think fans would prefer handing things off to Brock Osweiler? Tim Tebow would know his place as a back-up this time around... Fan art tributes to Teddy Roosevelt... I like the word "lumberjacks" and think florists should instead be called "flowerjacks"... This past week PBS had an American Experience special on JFK. The subconscious or conscious comparison to Brack Obama is not flattering to Obama and I think people on the Left had to have been thinking about it... After this week I think we also got a good glimpse as to why this Administration was not able to come up with a technological replacement for the Space Shuttle. Imagine that disaster!... Speaking of PBS and technology - some people there obviously think Albert Einstein was a closet rapist...
Friday, November 15, 2013
The Columbus Blue Jeters
Friend of mine was watching the sports ticker scroll on the bottom of the screen when he asked, "Who is CBJ?" That's the Columbus Blue Jackets. "Columbus has an NHL team?" I explained yes Columbus has an NHL team. Then he asked, "What's a Blue Jacket?" To that I had no answer.
Is it a Civil War reference? A cold northern cousin of the yellow jacket? Just a random piece of clothing like a Red Sock? Then my mind switched gears and thought of a better team mascot for Columbus.
Take Derek Jeter and combine him with the Blue Meanies from the Beatles' Yellow Submarine.
The Columbus Blue Jeters.
Is it a Civil War reference? A cold northern cousin of the yellow jacket? Just a random piece of clothing like a Red Sock? Then my mind switched gears and thought of a better team mascot for Columbus.
Take Derek Jeter and combine him with the Blue Meanies from the Beatles' Yellow Submarine.
The Columbus Blue Jeters.
Labels:
Columbus Blue Jackets,
Columbus Blue Jeters,
Derek Jeter,
NHL
Hitler in the Bunker on Obamacare
Now Obamacare has officially become farce.
Labels:
Barack Obama,
Funny,
Hitler,
Hitler in the Bunker,
Obamacare
Thursday, November 14, 2013
Linky Links
Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.
- Cool physics - the potential energy power of dominoes
- "There's an old saying in politics: when your opponent's in trouble, just get out of the way" - Barack Obama. Good advice - let the proponents of Obamacare reap what they have sown.
- Jennifer Lawrence is awesome
- Interesting point - beer calories and your fat ass
- My big quibble with that above link - it doesn't mention the fact that Guinness basically has the same calories as a Bud Light. Guinness is good for you.
- The time George Clooney dominated Leonardo DiCarprio at pick-up hoops.
- Cool physics - the potential energy power of dominoes
- "There's an old saying in politics: when your opponent's in trouble, just get out of the way" - Barack Obama. Good advice - let the proponents of Obamacare reap what they have sown.
- Jennifer Lawrence is awesome
- Interesting point - beer calories and your fat ass
- My big quibble with that above link - it doesn't mention the fact that Guinness basically has the same calories as a Bud Light. Guinness is good for you.
- The time George Clooney dominated Leonardo DiCarprio at pick-up hoops.
Labels:
Barack Obama,
beer,
George Clooney,
Guinness,
Jennifer Lawrence,
Obamacare,
Physics
Monday, November 11, 2013
Flotsam and Jetsam
Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.
Nobody lost their healthcare when Nixon lied about Watergate. Liberals love when you tell them that... 10 things to know about Thor... I'm nostalgic when it comes to Blockbuster Video. Every couple in my age group had a Blockbuster card. And every couple argued about what movie to rent because the new releases were all out and all couples then argued about whose fault it was the the movie you didn't end up watching wasn't returned on time... Interesting - the Will Farrell Chrysler ads for the Dodge Durango are very successful... So will the team theme for the 2014 Red Sox be "Boston Stronger"?... Beautiful photo - eclipse over New York... While nobody was paying attention Boston College's football team is on the verge of being Bowl eligible at 5-4... I'm waiting for the Bad Lip Reading version of the Jay Glazer / Richie Incognito. Should be much more watchable than the original...
Nobody lost their healthcare when Nixon lied about Watergate. Liberals love when you tell them that... 10 things to know about Thor... I'm nostalgic when it comes to Blockbuster Video. Every couple in my age group had a Blockbuster card. And every couple argued about what movie to rent because the new releases were all out and all couples then argued about whose fault it was the the movie you didn't end up watching wasn't returned on time... Interesting - the Will Farrell Chrysler ads for the Dodge Durango are very successful... So will the team theme for the 2014 Red Sox be "Boston Stronger"?... Beautiful photo - eclipse over New York... While nobody was paying attention Boston College's football team is on the verge of being Bowl eligible at 5-4... I'm waiting for the Bad Lip Reading version of the Jay Glazer / Richie Incognito. Should be much more watchable than the original...
Sunday, November 10, 2013
Killing Kennedy
Marilyn Monroe once famously sang Happy Birthday to You (Mister President) to JFK. What's lesser known is that Kennedy never paid the licensing fee for the song.
That was the real reason he was killed. The Happy Birthday to You folks don't mess around.
That was the real reason he was killed. The Happy Birthday to You folks don't mess around.
Saturday, November 09, 2013
Tulo to Red Sox
Ken Rosenthal had an article saying that the Colorado Rockies should listen to offers for Troy Tulowitzki. He mentioned the Cardinals as possible trade partners. Ever since reading the Rosenthal article - I've kept wondering "What about Tulo to the Red Sox?"
The Red Sox have top prospect Xander Bogaerts ready to take over for Stephen Drew if Drew moves on via free agency but Bogaerts could just as easily shift to third. What about Will Middlebrooks who was the Red Sox opening day 3rd baseman last season and is on track to be so again next season? Put him in a package with Felix Dubront (an MLB ready starter with 4 more years of team control), Allen Webster (the key prospect the Dodgers gave up for Adrian Gonzalez) and one AA prospect. That's a pretty good 4 for 1 package.
For the Rockies - they get 4 cost effective players including a potential 30-HR 3rd baseman who can play right now in Middlebrooks. Colorado already has 22-year old Nolan Arenado at third and he just won the NL Gold Glove for 3rd basemen. The solution is simple - just move Arenado over to short. He used to be a shortstop and he doesn't have the pop in the bat that you'd want from a corner playing half his games at Coors Field. Dubront would immediately become the Rockies number 3 starter and Webster could be a number 1 some day.
For the Red Sox - they get a proven player who has a career road OPS of .819 - as a shortstop! Tulo's career home OPS at Coors is .934 which is like Big Papi at Fenway. Tulo could play short to start then as he gets older move to third, first or DH.
Of course as Rosenthal says - right now the Rockies say Tulowitzki is unavailable. The Red Sox should dangle my proposed package and see if they change their mind.
The Red Sox have top prospect Xander Bogaerts ready to take over for Stephen Drew if Drew moves on via free agency but Bogaerts could just as easily shift to third. What about Will Middlebrooks who was the Red Sox opening day 3rd baseman last season and is on track to be so again next season? Put him in a package with Felix Dubront (an MLB ready starter with 4 more years of team control), Allen Webster (the key prospect the Dodgers gave up for Adrian Gonzalez) and one AA prospect. That's a pretty good 4 for 1 package.
For the Rockies - they get 4 cost effective players including a potential 30-HR 3rd baseman who can play right now in Middlebrooks. Colorado already has 22-year old Nolan Arenado at third and he just won the NL Gold Glove for 3rd basemen. The solution is simple - just move Arenado over to short. He used to be a shortstop and he doesn't have the pop in the bat that you'd want from a corner playing half his games at Coors Field. Dubront would immediately become the Rockies number 3 starter and Webster could be a number 1 some day.
For the Red Sox - they get a proven player who has a career road OPS of .819 - as a shortstop! Tulo's career home OPS at Coors is .934 which is like Big Papi at Fenway. Tulo could play short to start then as he gets older move to third, first or DH.
Of course as Rosenthal says - right now the Rockies say Tulowitzki is unavailable. The Red Sox should dangle my proposed package and see if they change their mind.
Friday, November 08, 2013
Linky Links
Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.
- Text from Jacoby Ellsbury drives Dustin Pedroia to play through pain. I did not know this.
- I did know this - It's time to say goodbye to Jacoby Ellsbury
- Does it make me a bad person for laughing at these?
- Rick Neuheisel singing Born in the SEC is just fantastic. Very good work.
- Physicists probe urination splashback problem. I'm really going to try to add the word "sitzpinkler" into my everyday insult rotation.
- Text from Jacoby Ellsbury drives Dustin Pedroia to play through pain. I did not know this.
- I did know this - It's time to say goodbye to Jacoby Ellsbury
- Does it make me a bad person for laughing at these?
- Rick Neuheisel singing Born in the SEC is just fantastic. Very good work.
- Physicists probe urination splashback problem. I'm really going to try to add the word "sitzpinkler" into my everyday insult rotation.
Labels:
Boston Red Sox,
Dustin Pedroia,
Funny,
Jacoby Ellsbury,
Rick Neuheisel,
Science,
SEC
Thursday, November 07, 2013
Red Sox Offseason Moves - Pitchers
Here's my take on the Red Sox pitching staff for 2014. I'm assuming that the team will carry 12 pitchers and I'm also guessing one big name will be traded.
The starting pitching staff has 6 proven starters vying for 5 spots. Jon Lester, Clay Buchholz, and John Lackey are givens. That leaves Jake Peavy, Ryan Dempster and Felix Dubront fighting for the 4th and 5th starter spots. That also leaves an interesting question - do you hang on to all three in case someone goes down in spring training? Or do you trade a Peavy, Dempster or a Dubront to ease the logjam?
Peavy ($14.5 million) and Dempster ($13 million) make too much money to be long relievers. Peavy cost a top prospect to get and he's only going to be 33 this season. My guess is he'd bring the most back in a trade (especially to an NL team). Dempster will be 37 next year but his numbers are just as good as Peavy and probably more durable.
Logic says that just because of salary if the Red Sox trade a starter it should be Peavy or Demspter but I wouldn't be shocked if the Boston front office traded Felix Dubront instead. Felix went 11-6 with a 4.32 ERA last season and is under team control for 4 more seasons. I see his ceiling as a 3rd starter and you know his conditioning and work ethic were in question last spring. Ben Cherington could sell high on Dubront and get back an MLB ready 1st baseman or outfielder in exchange. Boston's farm system is chock full of starters with higher ceilings than Dubront. Keeping Peavy and Demspter for one more season and trading Dubront both eases the logjam and gives those young pitchers another year to develop.
For the seven member bullpen - the Red Sox have the following under contract or team control; Koji Uehara returns as closer, Craig Breslow, Andrew Miller, Andrew Bailey, Junichi Tazawa, and Brandon Workman seems to be a John Farrell favorite. That leaves one spot which could easily come from Drake Britton, Rubby de la Rosa and Franklin Morales.
Boston seems to be in very good position of not even having to dip its toe into the free agent pool to put together its 2014 pitching staff. It will be interesting to see if someone gets traded. And who.
The starting pitching staff has 6 proven starters vying for 5 spots. Jon Lester, Clay Buchholz, and John Lackey are givens. That leaves Jake Peavy, Ryan Dempster and Felix Dubront fighting for the 4th and 5th starter spots. That also leaves an interesting question - do you hang on to all three in case someone goes down in spring training? Or do you trade a Peavy, Dempster or a Dubront to ease the logjam?
Peavy ($14.5 million) and Dempster ($13 million) make too much money to be long relievers. Peavy cost a top prospect to get and he's only going to be 33 this season. My guess is he'd bring the most back in a trade (especially to an NL team). Dempster will be 37 next year but his numbers are just as good as Peavy and probably more durable.
Logic says that just because of salary if the Red Sox trade a starter it should be Peavy or Demspter but I wouldn't be shocked if the Boston front office traded Felix Dubront instead. Felix went 11-6 with a 4.32 ERA last season and is under team control for 4 more seasons. I see his ceiling as a 3rd starter and you know his conditioning and work ethic were in question last spring. Ben Cherington could sell high on Dubront and get back an MLB ready 1st baseman or outfielder in exchange. Boston's farm system is chock full of starters with higher ceilings than Dubront. Keeping Peavy and Demspter for one more season and trading Dubront both eases the logjam and gives those young pitchers another year to develop.
For the seven member bullpen - the Red Sox have the following under contract or team control; Koji Uehara returns as closer, Craig Breslow, Andrew Miller, Andrew Bailey, Junichi Tazawa, and Brandon Workman seems to be a John Farrell favorite. That leaves one spot which could easily come from Drake Britton, Rubby de la Rosa and Franklin Morales.
Boston seems to be in very good position of not even having to dip its toe into the free agent pool to put together its 2014 pitching staff. It will be interesting to see if someone gets traded. And who.
Wednesday, November 06, 2013
Red Sox Offseason Moves - Position Players
Here's how I see the Red Sox roster for position players going forward for the 2014 season. Pretty long position-by-position breakdown so if you are interested - it continues after the break.
Labels:
Boston Red Sox,
Corey Hart,
Daniel Nava,
David Ortiz,
Dustin Pedroia,
Jackie Bradley Jr.,
Jarrod Saltalamacchia,
Jonny Gomes,
Mike Napoli,
Shane Victorino,
Stephen Drew,
Will Middlebrooks,
Xander Bogaerts
Tuesday, November 05, 2013
Linky Links
Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.
- The speech Obama never gave.
- Speaking of Obamacare - Obamacare deconstructed. History will not be kind to Barack Obama. Must see video.
- Glow-in-the-dark ice cream. You read that correctly.
- Heh heh - the Abovetexas Sooners
- 10 historical euphemisms for infidelity
- Wow - 1500 works of art thought lost to the Nazi's found in German apartment
- The speech Obama never gave.
- Speaking of Obamacare - Obamacare deconstructed. History will not be kind to Barack Obama. Must see video.
- Glow-in-the-dark ice cream. You read that correctly.
- Heh heh - the Abovetexas Sooners
- 10 historical euphemisms for infidelity
- Wow - 1500 works of art thought lost to the Nazi's found in German apartment
Monday, November 04, 2013
Who is in Charge?
The RNC has the above new video The Bystander in Chief. It does make you wonder. When Seal Team 6 was about to take down Osama bin Laden there was a famous photo of Obama in the situation room. Then it came out that he was so disengaged that he had to leave to play cards. The scary thing is the question "Who is in charge?" is now a legitimate issue.
I remember when George W Bush was President some people intimated that it was really VP Dick Cheney running things behind the scenes. Even with Obama so disengaged - NOBODY is suggesting it is actually VP Joe Biden pulling the strings. In fact Biden is the Where's Waldo of Vice Presidents. Who is in charge?
Some people are now coming around to the fact that Obama is a bad manager. My fear is that it will be revealed that it's not that he's a bad manager or disengaged - its that he's a real life Chance the Gardner.
Labels:
Barack Obama,
Being There,
Dick Cheney,
George W. Bush,
Joe Biden
Sunday, November 03, 2013
Massachusetts - Ylvis
Keith wants this as the new Massachusetts state song (but then again - he's Canadian).
I'm still on-board with Roadrunner as the official state song.
Linky Links
Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.
- Mike Napoli's wild night. I'd vote for a ticket of Napoli / Gomes for Mass Governor / Lt Governor right now. Someone make up the bumper stickers!
- The extremely disturbing truth about baby carrots. When I read the headline I was prepared for veal-like revelations. OK - that explains baby carrots but what about baby corn?
- I love the idea of Jake Peavy buying a Duck Boat. Probably means more to him than a Cy Young Award. Good for him!
- I'm rooting for both the Celtics and the Nets for the next two years. Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett deserve that from all Celtics fans.
- Nobody in Boston sports history was more deserving of a statue in Boston. Nobody!
- Mike Napoli's wild night. I'd vote for a ticket of Napoli / Gomes for Mass Governor / Lt Governor right now. Someone make up the bumper stickers!
- The extremely disturbing truth about baby carrots. When I read the headline I was prepared for veal-like revelations. OK - that explains baby carrots but what about baby corn?
- I love the idea of Jake Peavy buying a Duck Boat. Probably means more to him than a Cy Young Award. Good for him!
- I'm rooting for both the Celtics and the Nets for the next two years. Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett deserve that from all Celtics fans.
- Nobody in Boston sports history was more deserving of a statue in Boston. Nobody!
Saturday, November 02, 2013
Flotsam and Jetsam
Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.
I'm pretty sure that Jeremy from those T-Mobile commercials ran away from home. I know I would have... Norway looks so beautiful... Last week I stayed at the Wynn hotel in Las Vegas (beautiful place). One day I noticed a scale in the bathroom and I got on. The scale had me 15 pounds lighter than the last time I weighed myself at the gym (maybe two months ago). I wonder if the scale was accurate (good news) or if it was purposefully set to give a lower reading. If the latter - then that's genius! "Honey the scale says I'm down 5 pounds - lets get room service!"... The Kraft Family (on behalf of the New England Patriots and Revolution) took out a full page ad in the Boston Globe congratulating the Red Sox' World Series victory. I haven't seen anything about an ad in the Herald which is amusing. John Henry owns both the Red Sox and Boston Globe - so the Kraft's weren't just congratulating the Red Sox - they were also giving John Henry's Globe some revenue... This makes me proud to be a St. Peter-Marian alumnus... When I read stories about "protesters" - in my mind I change it to "polyesters". Always improves the story 100%... Black and white cows - is that supposed to be some sort of camouflage? Or proof that God wants people to eat beef?...
I'm pretty sure that Jeremy from those T-Mobile commercials ran away from home. I know I would have... Norway looks so beautiful... Last week I stayed at the Wynn hotel in Las Vegas (beautiful place). One day I noticed a scale in the bathroom and I got on. The scale had me 15 pounds lighter than the last time I weighed myself at the gym (maybe two months ago). I wonder if the scale was accurate (good news) or if it was purposefully set to give a lower reading. If the latter - then that's genius! "Honey the scale says I'm down 5 pounds - lets get room service!"... The Kraft Family (on behalf of the New England Patriots and Revolution) took out a full page ad in the Boston Globe congratulating the Red Sox' World Series victory. I haven't seen anything about an ad in the Herald which is amusing. John Henry owns both the Red Sox and Boston Globe - so the Kraft's weren't just congratulating the Red Sox - they were also giving John Henry's Globe some revenue... This makes me proud to be a St. Peter-Marian alumnus... When I read stories about "protesters" - in my mind I change it to "polyesters". Always improves the story 100%... Black and white cows - is that supposed to be some sort of camouflage? Or proof that God wants people to eat beef?...
Thursday, October 31, 2013
Red Sox Win the World Series - Flotsam and Jetsam
Miscellaneous thoughts about the Red Sox winning the World Series.
This was the front page of the Boston Herald this morning... A lot of things had to break right for the Red Sox to win this year but Koji Uehara emerging as one of the most unhittable closers in baseball was one of the biggest. Uehara my sunshine, my only sunshine... It is a lifetime of columns like this why I viscerally hate Dan Shaughnessy. I also remember how he said putting seats on the Green Monster was an abomination that was going to ruin the park... One more reason to love John Farrell - when he came out after the game to accept the trophy - he wasn't wearing one of the cheesy t-shirts or hats that have become ubiquitous at these events. I've grown to hate those hats and shirts almost as much as Dan Shaughnessy. Almost... How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Fox Sports microphone pop?... Sad to think that last night babies were born in New England hospitals and those babies have never witnessed a Red Sox World Series championship. Won't someone please think of the babies!... Semi-sad to think that some key players from the 2013 team won't be around next year. Stephen Drew will be replaced, Jacoby Ellsbury most likely will be gone as a free agent, and Jarrod Saltalamacchia who is also a free agent (though his departure is not as sure as Ellsbury)...
This was the front page of the Boston Herald this morning... A lot of things had to break right for the Red Sox to win this year but Koji Uehara emerging as one of the most unhittable closers in baseball was one of the biggest. Uehara my sunshine, my only sunshine... It is a lifetime of columns like this why I viscerally hate Dan Shaughnessy. I also remember how he said putting seats on the Green Monster was an abomination that was going to ruin the park... One more reason to love John Farrell - when he came out after the game to accept the trophy - he wasn't wearing one of the cheesy t-shirts or hats that have become ubiquitous at these events. I've grown to hate those hats and shirts almost as much as Dan Shaughnessy. Almost... How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Fox Sports microphone pop?... Sad to think that last night babies were born in New England hospitals and those babies have never witnessed a Red Sox World Series championship. Won't someone please think of the babies!... Semi-sad to think that some key players from the 2013 team won't be around next year. Stephen Drew will be replaced, Jacoby Ellsbury most likely will be gone as a free agent, and Jarrod Saltalamacchia who is also a free agent (though his departure is not as sure as Ellsbury)...
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Linky Links
Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.
- Scientists discuss how to build star ships.
- Loureedia - a genus of velvet spider that lives underground. Very cool.
- RIP Frank Perconte - was the oldest living member of Band of Brother's Easy Company.
- Obamacare website updated to meet reality
- Heh heh - Back to the Future as if it happened on Twitter
- How crocodiles have sex
- Scientists discuss how to build star ships.
- Loureedia - a genus of velvet spider that lives underground. Very cool.
- RIP Frank Perconte - was the oldest living member of Band of Brother's Easy Company.
- Obamacare website updated to meet reality
- Heh heh - Back to the Future as if it happened on Twitter
- How crocodiles have sex
Labels:
Animal Sex,
Back to the Future,
Band of Brothers,
Frank Perconte,
Lou Reed,
Obamacare,
Science,
Space,
Twitter
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Boston Sports
Since Y2K the Patriots have won 3 Super Bowls, the Red Sox have won 2 World Series, the Celtics won the NBA Championship, and the Bruins won the Stanley Cup. In addition since 2000 Boston College won 4 NCAA Hockey Championships and Boston University added another.
Every year Boston is host to the Boston Marathon and the Head of the Charles - two of the preeminent events in those sports in the world. Plus the Bean Pot college hockey tournament which is on the bucket list of events to attend of hockey fans everywhere.
The above doesn't even count this year's Red Sox team which is currently leading the World Series 3 games to 2 with the Series returning to Fenway Park.
I bring all this up because I can't stop thinking how blessed Boston sports fans have been. If there is any solace or hope for St Louis fans - since Y2K every major sports team in Boston except the Red Sox has also lost in the finals of their sport. If the Red Sox end up losing you won't hear me complain. The team has already delivered way more than any fan had a right to expect his season.
Besides - given all that has happened in recent Boston sports who would have any sympathy for us? When it comes to sports opulence - we has it.
Every year Boston is host to the Boston Marathon and the Head of the Charles - two of the preeminent events in those sports in the world. Plus the Bean Pot college hockey tournament which is on the bucket list of events to attend of hockey fans everywhere.
The above doesn't even count this year's Red Sox team which is currently leading the World Series 3 games to 2 with the Series returning to Fenway Park.
I bring all this up because I can't stop thinking how blessed Boston sports fans have been. If there is any solace or hope for St Louis fans - since Y2K every major sports team in Boston except the Red Sox has also lost in the finals of their sport. If the Red Sox end up losing you won't hear me complain. The team has already delivered way more than any fan had a right to expect his season.
Besides - given all that has happened in recent Boston sports who would have any sympathy for us? When it comes to sports opulence - we has it.
Saturday, October 26, 2013
Top 5 Living Red Sox Players
Here's who I consider the Top 5 living Red Sox players.
1. Carl Yastrzemski
2. Pedro Martinez
3. Jim Rice
4. David Ortiz
5. Tie: Dustin Pedroia, Dwight Evans, and Freddy Lynn
Missing the list - Roger Clemens and Wade Boggs. Clemens misses the list because of steroids and playing for the Yankees. Boggs misses the list because he's a douche (why do you think you never see him around Fenway Park - the team doesn't want him around).
1. Carl Yastrzemski
2. Pedro Martinez
3. Jim Rice
4. David Ortiz
5. Tie: Dustin Pedroia, Dwight Evans, and Freddy Lynn
Missing the list - Roger Clemens and Wade Boggs. Clemens misses the list because of steroids and playing for the Yankees. Boggs misses the list because he's a douche (why do you think you never see him around Fenway Park - the team doesn't want him around).
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Linky Links
Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.
- McDonald's is discontinuing the Dollar Menu. I blame Obama.
- Groom halts own wedding with a bomb scare. He should have just eloped.
- Nintendo is discontinuing the Wii. That makes me sad.
- Cool - Oregon to California in 5 minutes. I love videos like this.
- McDonald's is discontinuing the Dollar Menu. I blame Obama.
- Groom halts own wedding with a bomb scare. He should have just eloped.
- Nintendo is discontinuing the Wii. That makes me sad.
- Cool - Oregon to California in 5 minutes. I love videos like this.
Sunday, October 20, 2013
Flotsam and Jetsam
Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.
There are 6-years old kids in New England who have never seen a Red Sox win a World Series! Won't someone please think of the children!... Very cool - how cereal transformed American culture... You have to read the article and then watch the video. The whole thing is very cool. That song is awesome... If the Red Sox do win the World Series - many people will be comparing John Farrell's time in Toronto to Bill Belichick's time in Cleveland... Awesome headline... Creedence Clearwater's Born on the Bayou has a ton of Cowbell. I wonder if they used Blue Oyster Cult's record producer...
There are 6-years old kids in New England who have never seen a Red Sox win a World Series! Won't someone please think of the children!... Very cool - how cereal transformed American culture... You have to read the article and then watch the video. The whole thing is very cool. That song is awesome... If the Red Sox do win the World Series - many people will be comparing John Farrell's time in Toronto to Bill Belichick's time in Cleveland... Awesome headline... Creedence Clearwater's Born on the Bayou has a ton of Cowbell. I wonder if they used Blue Oyster Cult's record producer...
Labels:
Bill Belichick,
Boston Red Sox,
John Farrell,
Language,
More Cowbell,
US history
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
Linky Links
Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.
- Who knew? The first scientist was a woman. Before Mary Somerville - people were called "men of science".
- Top nuclear missile commanders fired! Poker News has more detail on the poker cheat Admiral. Have to wonder if this scumbag cheated other Navy men at cards while at sea.
- Story about a guy with a nematode in his mouth. Clicked to find out what a nematode was and was mesmerized by story.
- Very cool - Loki does impression of Owen Wilson doing Loki
- Heh heh - Swedish police speed up escalator on soccer hooligans
- Who knew? The first scientist was a woman. Before Mary Somerville - people were called "men of science".
- Top nuclear missile commanders fired! Poker News has more detail on the poker cheat Admiral. Have to wonder if this scumbag cheated other Navy men at cards while at sea.
- Story about a guy with a nematode in his mouth. Clicked to find out what a nematode was and was mesmerized by story.
- Very cool - Loki does impression of Owen Wilson doing Loki
- Heh heh - Swedish police speed up escalator on soccer hooligans
Monday, October 14, 2013
Flotsam and Jetsam
Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.
Holy crap! What a great way to wake up in the morning! I went to bed when the Red Sox were losing 5-1 and I find out this morning they won 6-5! Holy crap!... Not sure what it says about me but I found Boy Dance Party pretty funny... I think in real life you would have to feed a Ticket Oak newborn infants at midnight on a full moon for the magic to actually work... Can you blame me for going to bed early? Boston fans already had their great comeback for the day when Tom Brady threw a TD pass with almost no time left to beat New Orleans and make Rob Ryan react like this... Have you seen that "Hey lady that's diesel!" commercial? I hope some blonde out there mis-understands the point and puts diesel into her car... Heh heh - vintage birth control... Confession - when I was a kid I thought dining "al fresco" meant eating while wearing no underwear. Now as an adult when I hear a woman suggesting eating al fresco I immediately think she has no panties... Either the smartest or luckiest seal in in the world... I hope Boston sports fans realize how truly blessed we are... Do you want to see pictures of beautiful women wearing nothing but milk? Of course you do...
Holy crap! What a great way to wake up in the morning! I went to bed when the Red Sox were losing 5-1 and I find out this morning they won 6-5! Holy crap!... Not sure what it says about me but I found Boy Dance Party pretty funny... I think in real life you would have to feed a Ticket Oak newborn infants at midnight on a full moon for the magic to actually work... Can you blame me for going to bed early? Boston fans already had their great comeback for the day when Tom Brady threw a TD pass with almost no time left to beat New Orleans and make Rob Ryan react like this... Have you seen that "Hey lady that's diesel!" commercial? I hope some blonde out there mis-understands the point and puts diesel into her car... Heh heh - vintage birth control... Confession - when I was a kid I thought dining "al fresco" meant eating while wearing no underwear. Now as an adult when I hear a woman suggesting eating al fresco I immediately think she has no panties... Either the smartest or luckiest seal in in the world... I hope Boston sports fans realize how truly blessed we are... Do you want to see pictures of beautiful women wearing nothing but milk? Of course you do...
Sunday, October 13, 2013
Linky Links
Stuff I found interesting and thought I'd share.
- This would be funny if it wasn't also so emblematic of our current foreign policy FUBAR status
- I will not be seeing the movie Captain Phillips - ever!
- The time Teddy Roosevelt got shot in the chest but gave speech anyway
- Very cool - the fundamentals of Jazz and Rock drumming explained in 5 minutes
- Why Obamacare is doomed to collapse
- This is fantastic - Archer Danger Zone Top Gun-style. Can't wait till January and new episodes.
- I'm on a laptop for a good part of my day and have been for years - yet I'm part of the 90% that wasn't aware of CNTRL+F
- This would be funny if it wasn't also so emblematic of our current foreign policy FUBAR status
- I will not be seeing the movie Captain Phillips - ever!
- The time Teddy Roosevelt got shot in the chest but gave speech anyway
- Very cool - the fundamentals of Jazz and Rock drumming explained in 5 minutes
- Why Obamacare is doomed to collapse
- This is fantastic - Archer Danger Zone Top Gun-style. Can't wait till January and new episodes.
- I'm on a laptop for a good part of my day and have been for years - yet I'm part of the 90% that wasn't aware of CNTRL+F
Wednesday, October 09, 2013
Flotsam and Jetsam
Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.
The Red Sox Magic Number is now 8... God bless Fisher House. How can any politician say they support the troops while allowing military death benefits to go unpaid - especially when things like the Congressional gym remain open?... Love Nathan Fillion - it's great that he Tweeted this GIF of himself... Was Clint Eastwood right when he described President Obama as an empty chair? How do you negotiate with an empty chair?... Sorry Giants fans but this is funny... A Sequester in Ancient Rome was a man who held a bribe for a client until a politician delivered upon his promise. The more things change the more things remain the same... Cool simplified explanation of what the Higgs-Boson is all about... Is Larry Bird really so cheap that he has to resort to stealing other people's Chicken McNuggets?... Ha ha - this is awesome. Gotta love hockey...
The Red Sox Magic Number is now 8... God bless Fisher House. How can any politician say they support the troops while allowing military death benefits to go unpaid - especially when things like the Congressional gym remain open?... Love Nathan Fillion - it's great that he Tweeted this GIF of himself... Was Clint Eastwood right when he described President Obama as an empty chair? How do you negotiate with an empty chair?... Sorry Giants fans but this is funny... A Sequester in Ancient Rome was a man who held a bribe for a client until a politician delivered upon his promise. The more things change the more things remain the same... Cool simplified explanation of what the Higgs-Boson is all about... Is Larry Bird really so cheap that he has to resort to stealing other people's Chicken McNuggets?... Ha ha - this is awesome. Gotta love hockey...
Tuesday, October 08, 2013
Player Comparison
Here's a player comparison I've been thinking of these past few days:
Player A - .272 BA/ .370 OBP/ .470 SLG/ .840 OPS/ 127 OPS+
Player B - .283 BA/ .359 OBP/ .496 SLG/ .854 OPS/ 122 OPS+
Pretty close right? How about compiled numbers?
Player A - 1470 R / 385 HR / 1384 RBI / 78 SB
Player B - 1346 R / 358 HR / 1327 RBI / 308 SB
Player A played 2606 games while Player B has played 2064 games and is still playing. Very good chance that Player B passes Player A if he stays healthy but playing healthy has always been a concern with Player B. It should be noted that Player A was an 8-time Gold Glove winner and is regarded as one of the best all-around defenders at his position in baseball history. Player B has 3 Gold Gloves.
Player A is Dwight Evans and he's not going into the Hall of Fame. Player B is Carlos Beltran and all those people thinking he's a Hall of Famer need to take a deep breath.
Player A - .272 BA/ .370 OBP/ .470 SLG/ .840 OPS/ 127 OPS+
Player B - .283 BA/ .359 OBP/ .496 SLG/ .854 OPS/ 122 OPS+
Pretty close right? How about compiled numbers?
Player A - 1470 R / 385 HR / 1384 RBI / 78 SB
Player B - 1346 R / 358 HR / 1327 RBI / 308 SB
Player A played 2606 games while Player B has played 2064 games and is still playing. Very good chance that Player B passes Player A if he stays healthy but playing healthy has always been a concern with Player B. It should be noted that Player A was an 8-time Gold Glove winner and is regarded as one of the best all-around defenders at his position in baseball history. Player B has 3 Gold Gloves.
Player A is Dwight Evans and he's not going into the Hall of Fame. Player B is Carlos Beltran and all those people thinking he's a Hall of Famer need to take a deep breath.
Sunday, October 06, 2013
Flotsam and Jetsam
Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.
The Red Sox post-season magic number now stands at 9... If they ever made a live-action Sponge Bob movie - Ben Kingsley would be my choice to play Squidward... Dr. J and John Havlicek, shirtless and wearing sombreros... Just saying but the big problem for the Jets has been turnovers. Tim Tebow never turned over the ball... If I were President - I would make Bill Belichick my Press Secretary. Those White House briefings would be epic!.... By the same token - Bill Belichick should get Hodor to fill in for him at Patriots press conferences. Same amount of information but more entertaining... Is Carlos Beltran a Hall of Famer? How did Bernie Williams do on the HoF ballot? Oh yeah - that's right...
The Red Sox post-season magic number now stands at 9... If they ever made a live-action Sponge Bob movie - Ben Kingsley would be my choice to play Squidward... Dr. J and John Havlicek, shirtless and wearing sombreros... Just saying but the big problem for the Jets has been turnovers. Tim Tebow never turned over the ball... If I were President - I would make Bill Belichick my Press Secretary. Those White House briefings would be epic!.... By the same token - Bill Belichick should get Hodor to fill in for him at Patriots press conferences. Same amount of information but more entertaining... Is Carlos Beltran a Hall of Famer? How did Bernie Williams do on the HoF ballot? Oh yeah - that's right...
The New National Anthem - Free Bird
If I were in Congress every April 1st I would propose a law changing the National Anthem to Lynyrd Skynyrd's Free Bird. I think that would be great. I bet you would get a lot of Congressional support for the law from the South too.
How great would it be if the law went into effect prior to the next Olympic Games? Imagine other countries having to sit through 9 minutes of Southern Rock each time a US Olympian medaled - or would that be metaled? Imagine proud US citizens playing air guitar while the world watched - each citizen putting their own stamp on the guitar anthem. It would be awesome.
Already the words "Free Bird" are a joke/insult to most musicians or bands - how ironic would it be if they all had to actually learn to play the song? Play Free Bird would take on a whole new meaning and level of hostility from other bands.
Too bad I'm not in Congress.
How great would it be if the law went into effect prior to the next Olympic Games? Imagine other countries having to sit through 9 minutes of Southern Rock each time a US Olympian medaled - or would that be metaled? Imagine proud US citizens playing air guitar while the world watched - each citizen putting their own stamp on the guitar anthem. It would be awesome.
Already the words "Free Bird" are a joke/insult to most musicians or bands - how ironic would it be if they all had to actually learn to play the song? Play Free Bird would take on a whole new meaning and level of hostility from other bands.
Too bad I'm not in Congress.
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