Here we are at HOF voting time once again. Getting players in is one of the toughest things there is to accomplish. This year is no exception for that matter as I am stuck. Here is the best potential candidates that I think are most deserving. It's a long list and I can only vote for 5...uggggh
Hitters
Junior Bocachica
Nomar Cloud
Lee Coleman
Luis Cruz
David Guardado
Bey Lynch
Javier Santayana
Charlie Stone
Pitchers
Kent Heredia
Orlando Ozuna
Vinny Post
Paulie Sanders
Ken Shumpert
Pascual Solano
My votes so far are:
Ozuna, Solano, Shumpert, Coleman and Santayana
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
The Swami Speaks
Here we go again with our fearless predictions. I have my aluminum hat on to reduce incidental brainwave malfunctions and the sleuthing fur ball has her tail ready by mention of throngs. So away we go. It could be a tad early to start but the Rule 5 draft is a joke and only has a few so called backups for help.
NL North
Cubs still garner the first place votes.
Reds come in a close second this year and a Wild Card once again.
Pirates are good enough for third.
Brewers could end up in third and will be young and enthusiastic.
NL East
The Mets won last year with solid all-around play even with patchwork at the end of the season. They catch the tail wag for first by a hair. You know, every time I put the Mets in first the Braves win, go figure.
The Braves made some off-season acquisitions to strengthen the pen. Was it enough? Everything hinges on Tyreace French if you ask me.
Louisville had enough of the chicken jokes and moved to Florida. They are good but we think the pitching still needs help.
The Phillies continue to get better but the rebuild continues.
NL South
All out civil war has been declared! Mexico City waited til the Marlins floundered last year. Houston played well but not well enough. St Louis was a late newcomer to the fray but never wavered. This year the Marlins are the Rays in Tampa Bay with a new owner. Now for the suggested outcome of the blood bath. EGADS!
Astros get the nod to win the division, surprised? Hey, it ends up a coin flip on a three way tie.
Mexico City and Tampa Bay both end up losers. Ask Mal how it feels to have a 94 win team and not make the playoffs.
St Louis ends up 5 games back and cries, whether there is any crying in baseball or not.
NL West
The Dodgers got off to a great start last year then rolled over and played dead. Arizona had a change in their schedule that may have helped their stance last year while the Giants just didn't have enough gas in their tank. Meanwhile the Padres were listening to the Dead Kennedys. Another nail biter to the end I am afraid.
Giants surprises the pack and winds up in first place.
The Dodgers are a close second at 1 game back.
The D'Backs get a simplified yawn and join the Padres to get drunk.
In the end:
1. Cubs once again with Suzuki leading the charge.
2. Astros
3. Mets
4. Giants
5. Reds
6. Dodgers/Rays/Diablos/Braves .....could be a heart breaker.
AL North
Somewhat of a surprise last year as the Expos rose from obscurity. What a difference a year makes.
Toronto Blue Jays all the way. Yup, you heard it first right here.
Expos in second and a probable Wild Card.
Twinkies will be back on the market to no avail here.
Detroit disappoints one more time.
AL East
The cry goes up "Will someone please STOP Boston!"
It may not have fallen on deaf ears this year. Okay, I am being stupid again.
Baltimore steals first place.
Boston hopelessly falls to second and a Wild Card to the chagrin of others.
Dover who lacks the pitching joins the Padres and D'Backs in a drunken fracus.
Washington holds down the cellar yet again.
AL South
Kansas City was a Royal pain as predicted last year and Texas being bad azz as per usual. There is a different air this year however or is there.
Kansas City all the way to the second seed even.
Texas may hang on for a Wild Card.
Little Rock will show up for every game.
Memphis is in a big learning curve.
AL West
Anaheim had to fight off that crew from Colorado last yer for the title then got punched in the face by a bunch of Texas outlaws. This year we see the Mariners traveled south to Oakland in a surprising move and a new owner that moved Helena to Vancouver. Speaking of which, this could get down right ugly here also.
Anaheim should take first again.
Colorado Springs should be second.
Vancouver surprises Oakland and might just shock the rest also.
Oakland has a promising year shot to hell.
1. Kansas City
2. Anaheim
3. Toronto
4. Baltimore
5. Colorado
6. Boston/Texas/Vancouver
NL North
Cubs still garner the first place votes.
Reds come in a close second this year and a Wild Card once again.
Pirates are good enough for third.
Brewers could end up in third and will be young and enthusiastic.
NL East
The Mets won last year with solid all-around play even with patchwork at the end of the season. They catch the tail wag for first by a hair. You know, every time I put the Mets in first the Braves win, go figure.
The Braves made some off-season acquisitions to strengthen the pen. Was it enough? Everything hinges on Tyreace French if you ask me.
Louisville had enough of the chicken jokes and moved to Florida. They are good but we think the pitching still needs help.
The Phillies continue to get better but the rebuild continues.
NL South
All out civil war has been declared! Mexico City waited til the Marlins floundered last year. Houston played well but not well enough. St Louis was a late newcomer to the fray but never wavered. This year the Marlins are the Rays in Tampa Bay with a new owner. Now for the suggested outcome of the blood bath. EGADS!
Astros get the nod to win the division, surprised? Hey, it ends up a coin flip on a three way tie.
Mexico City and Tampa Bay both end up losers. Ask Mal how it feels to have a 94 win team and not make the playoffs.
St Louis ends up 5 games back and cries, whether there is any crying in baseball or not.
NL West
The Dodgers got off to a great start last year then rolled over and played dead. Arizona had a change in their schedule that may have helped their stance last year while the Giants just didn't have enough gas in their tank. Meanwhile the Padres were listening to the Dead Kennedys. Another nail biter to the end I am afraid.
Giants surprises the pack and winds up in first place.
The Dodgers are a close second at 1 game back.
The D'Backs get a simplified yawn and join the Padres to get drunk.
In the end:
1. Cubs once again with Suzuki leading the charge.
2. Astros
3. Mets
4. Giants
5. Reds
6. Dodgers/Rays/Diablos/Braves .....could be a heart breaker.
AL North
Somewhat of a surprise last year as the Expos rose from obscurity. What a difference a year makes.
Toronto Blue Jays all the way. Yup, you heard it first right here.
Expos in second and a probable Wild Card.
Twinkies will be back on the market to no avail here.
Detroit disappoints one more time.
AL East
The cry goes up "Will someone please STOP Boston!"
It may not have fallen on deaf ears this year. Okay, I am being stupid again.
Baltimore steals first place.
Boston hopelessly falls to second and a Wild Card to the chagrin of others.
Dover who lacks the pitching joins the Padres and D'Backs in a drunken fracus.
Washington holds down the cellar yet again.
AL South
Kansas City was a Royal pain as predicted last year and Texas being bad azz as per usual. There is a different air this year however or is there.
Kansas City all the way to the second seed even.
Texas may hang on for a Wild Card.
Little Rock will show up for every game.
Memphis is in a big learning curve.
AL West
Anaheim had to fight off that crew from Colorado last yer for the title then got punched in the face by a bunch of Texas outlaws. This year we see the Mariners traveled south to Oakland in a surprising move and a new owner that moved Helena to Vancouver. Speaking of which, this could get down right ugly here also.
Anaheim should take first again.
Colorado Springs should be second.
Vancouver surprises Oakland and might just shock the rest also.
Oakland has a promising year shot to hell.
1. Kansas City
2. Anaheim
3. Toronto
4. Baltimore
5. Colorado
6. Boston/Texas/Vancouver
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
FA Market
Denny Boyd became a happy camper with the money he got from the Cubs. Is good at getting a team out of bad situations and the Cubs are banking on that.
Kirt Blasingame also chimed in with the Cubs. Cubs are really hoping for a better season than last years disappointment. Not sure he should be classified as a Type A myself.
Mel White got a 3 year deal in Vancouver and maybe more than he was worth. He is pretty good at closing time, semisonic or not.
Victor Beltran made a tidy profit from Boston. He was good at cleaning up Ivan's messes last year, in Boston it will be a different story as there may be too many messes to clean.
Tomas Ramirez is another that is laughing all the way to the bank. Yes he is a GG CF and that was his appeal but hitting may not be so appealing in Detroit.
Moises Valdes as a Type A might have been a joke and playing COF might even be a bigger one and his salary even bigger. One thing for sure is he can get on base and that one little tidbit maybe be a boon in the Stick.
Rafael Pulido may have been the steal in the FA market which makes the Braves fans hopeful. He was on my radar but I was expecting a bigger salary than what he got. Closer or Ivan type setup, such a decision.
Brandon Miles makes his way to Cincy where he might fit in as a cheap signing.
Alex Ramirez made a lifetime deposit at the bank as the most sought after Type B. I bailed at $7M per as I didn't think he was worth it myself. He is a proven commodity but was it the the Texas offense or him? At least in LA he has a fighting chance.
Kirt Blasingame also chimed in with the Cubs. Cubs are really hoping for a better season than last years disappointment. Not sure he should be classified as a Type A myself.
Mel White got a 3 year deal in Vancouver and maybe more than he was worth. He is pretty good at closing time, semisonic or not.
Victor Beltran made a tidy profit from Boston. He was good at cleaning up Ivan's messes last year, in Boston it will be a different story as there may be too many messes to clean.
Tomas Ramirez is another that is laughing all the way to the bank. Yes he is a GG CF and that was his appeal but hitting may not be so appealing in Detroit.
Moises Valdes as a Type A might have been a joke and playing COF might even be a bigger one and his salary even bigger. One thing for sure is he can get on base and that one little tidbit maybe be a boon in the Stick.
Rafael Pulido may have been the steal in the FA market which makes the Braves fans hopeful. He was on my radar but I was expecting a bigger salary than what he got. Closer or Ivan type setup, such a decision.
Brandon Miles makes his way to Cincy where he might fit in as a cheap signing.
Alex Ramirez made a lifetime deposit at the bank as the most sought after Type B. I bailed at $7M per as I didn't think he was worth it myself. He is a proven commodity but was it the the Texas offense or him? At least in LA he has a fighting chance.
Sunday, July 7, 2013
FA Market Showdown
A flurry of Free Agent signings have our way come, so who were the winners and losers.
Quinton Payton found a new home in Boston with a nice fat check for 5 years. Can the well endowed ($12.5M) QPie doll keep his rockets in the stadium and off the Green Monster? PF Flyer will take the blame if it doesn't work out.
Mal decided to put a few stones in the socks of Jim Matthews to keep him hoppin. The aging vet signed a four year deal for $7.5M. We bet heavily there is a Team Option for the 4th.
Mal further put his balls on the chopping block by signing Benji Franco to a 5 year deal worth $11.3M.
George Atkins went home to where it all began as he signed a $5.8M 3 year with Team Option deal which was comparatively cheap with the Mets.
The Giants went high handed with Michel Delgado as he netted a tidy little sum near $48M for 5 years. Not sure about this one for a SS poser but should be able to hit in Candlestick.
Pepper Murton was sure winner as he signed a 3 year deal for $3.2M. Run out of New York for not being able to throw out runners but can handle the high profile staff in Toronto.
Artie Betemit made his way to the gold mines in Anaheim as he signed a near $40M deal for 5 years.
Quinton Payton found a new home in Boston with a nice fat check for 5 years. Can the well endowed ($12.5M) QPie doll keep his rockets in the stadium and off the Green Monster? PF Flyer will take the blame if it doesn't work out.
Mal decided to put a few stones in the socks of Jim Matthews to keep him hoppin. The aging vet signed a four year deal for $7.5M. We bet heavily there is a Team Option for the 4th.
Mal further put his balls on the chopping block by signing Benji Franco to a 5 year deal worth $11.3M.
George Atkins went home to where it all began as he signed a $5.8M 3 year with Team Option deal which was comparatively cheap with the Mets.
The Giants went high handed with Michel Delgado as he netted a tidy little sum near $48M for 5 years. Not sure about this one for a SS poser but should be able to hit in Candlestick.
Pepper Murton was sure winner as he signed a 3 year deal for $3.2M. Run out of New York for not being able to throw out runners but can handle the high profile staff in Toronto.
Artie Betemit made his way to the gold mines in Anaheim as he signed a near $40M deal for 5 years.
Friday, July 5, 2013
Season 28
Welcome to Season 28 of the greatest league in WIS..so I think. Welcome back knucklebones. A warm welcome to bhansell63 who takes over a team with a lot of promise. And no we aren't going to forget mrbrickey, he shows to be a noob, so lets teach him how to play the game right and help him out. This isn't an easy game to learn by any stretch and we will answer questions if you ask. The answer could be as confusing as the question sometimes but it will be honest.
Do you realize this is my 10th season since taking over the downtrodden Mets? Seems like yesterday. 5 second place finishes, two division crowns with 3 playoff appearances in that time. Not bad after 10 straight 4th place finishes.
What a playoff mess last season, Mets were the only team after round 1 not to get swept. Then the Cubs score 17 runs in games 2 and 3 and barely win the the World Series. Going back and looking at the preseason predictions, if I had stuck to my guns I would have gotten all 6 right in the AL, never rule out Texas with Silent Ed at the helm and I really liked Montreal from the beginning. The NL turned into a bit of a shambles as I wouldn't pick the Mets to win the East and the bickering that went on out West was magical. Florida won in spite of Ivan the Terrible.
Speaking of Ivan, the watch will be on for his 400th win and maybe his 100th save. Lets not forget Dom Tabaka, though I would like too, who needs 13 more saves to cross the 600 save barrier.
Do you realize this is my 10th season since taking over the downtrodden Mets? Seems like yesterday. 5 second place finishes, two division crowns with 3 playoff appearances in that time. Not bad after 10 straight 4th place finishes.
What a playoff mess last season, Mets were the only team after round 1 not to get swept. Then the Cubs score 17 runs in games 2 and 3 and barely win the the World Series. Going back and looking at the preseason predictions, if I had stuck to my guns I would have gotten all 6 right in the AL, never rule out Texas with Silent Ed at the helm and I really liked Montreal from the beginning. The NL turned into a bit of a shambles as I wouldn't pick the Mets to win the East and the bickering that went on out West was magical. Florida won in spite of Ivan the Terrible.
Speaking of Ivan, the watch will be on for his 400th win and maybe his 100th save. Lets not forget Dom Tabaka, though I would like too, who needs 13 more saves to cross the 600 save barrier.
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Championship Feeling
Four sweeps, hard to fathom that one. You could sim those games a 1000 times over and maybe get four sweeps once and not by the same teams. You might have a better chance hitting the lottery than see that happen again.
Mets vs Cubs: Cubs get to face another foe that was 5-5 against them during the regular season. Mets won 4 of 6 at Wrigley, where the Cubs only lost 24 the entire season, might be the only visiting team to have a winning record there. Brown vs Rodriguez to start the series off? Maybe... Pitching isn't lopsided just odd in a way and favors the Mets, defense is even while hitting is heavily in the Cubs favor. I don't think this one will be a sweep but I don't favor my Mets in an upset either. Cubs in 6 at the outside.
Sky Sox vs TardTankos: The AL doesn't cease to amaze me as two wild cards vie for the prize. I gave Texas an even chance to get here but not so much for the Sky Sox. Season series goes to Texas with a 6-4 record, Sox were swept at home by Texas which could weigh heavily on their minds. Pitching is pretty even, defense is even while hitting favors the Sky Sox. Expect a good series with lots of offense, should be anyway. Have to favor the Sky Sox because of their hitting and win it in 6.
Mets vs Cubs: Cubs get to face another foe that was 5-5 against them during the regular season. Mets won 4 of 6 at Wrigley, where the Cubs only lost 24 the entire season, might be the only visiting team to have a winning record there. Brown vs Rodriguez to start the series off? Maybe... Pitching isn't lopsided just odd in a way and favors the Mets, defense is even while hitting is heavily in the Cubs favor. I don't think this one will be a sweep but I don't favor my Mets in an upset either. Cubs in 6 at the outside.
Sky Sox vs TardTankos: The AL doesn't cease to amaze me as two wild cards vie for the prize. I gave Texas an even chance to get here but not so much for the Sky Sox. Season series goes to Texas with a 6-4 record, Sox were swept at home by Texas which could weigh heavily on their minds. Pitching is pretty even, defense is even while hitting favors the Sky Sox. Expect a good series with lots of offense, should be anyway. Have to favor the Sky Sox because of their hitting and win it in 6.
Sunday, June 16, 2013
Secound Round
Royals vs Sky Sox: Sky Sox had trouble with those pesky Expos. Maybe they were treated to the wrong pleasurable event. Now they face a powerhouse in Kansas City where they didn't fair well, 3-7 season series. Look for the highly touted #1 seed to win in 4 games.
Angels vs TardTankos: Texas bounced Boston in 4 games, not a surprise from my viewpoint. Angels won the season series 6-4 but that only tells part of the story. Expect high scoring close ball games for the most part or low scoring famine affairs. I am really up in the air on this one folks as it could go either way.
Cubs vs Marlins: Wonder how long it will take before they can become the Miami Marlins? The Marlins really took care of business against Arizona. The seasons series was tied at 5-5 so no advantage actually seen at this point. The Cubs are still worried about Ivan and yeah he can still be effective. I think the Cubs win in 5 games.
Diablos vs Mets: Mets surprise even me as they downed the Reds in two memorable extra inning games to end the series. Surprise for the Diablos, the Mets are back at full strength and will see Bob Olsen on the mound. Met fans are happy about those consequences. The season series was split 5-5. Will we see a Mathews vs Rodriguez match up in game 1? Will the Met catchers deter criminal theft? This could be the best series in the playoffs. Ummm, who will win is up in the air also, I haven't a clue.
Angels vs TardTankos: Texas bounced Boston in 4 games, not a surprise from my viewpoint. Angels won the season series 6-4 but that only tells part of the story. Expect high scoring close ball games for the most part or low scoring famine affairs. I am really up in the air on this one folks as it could go either way.
Cubs vs Marlins: Wonder how long it will take before they can become the Miami Marlins? The Marlins really took care of business against Arizona. The seasons series was tied at 5-5 so no advantage actually seen at this point. The Cubs are still worried about Ivan and yeah he can still be effective. I think the Cubs win in 5 games.
Diablos vs Mets: Mets surprise even me as they downed the Reds in two memorable extra inning games to end the series. Surprise for the Diablos, the Mets are back at full strength and will see Bob Olsen on the mound. Met fans are happy about those consequences. The season series was split 5-5. Will we see a Mathews vs Rodriguez match up in game 1? Will the Met catchers deter criminal theft? This could be the best series in the playoffs. Ummm, who will win is up in the air also, I haven't a clue.
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