Archive for March 5th, 2012

Poor Poor T.O.

March 5th, 2012 by Craig C. | Comments Off on Poor Poor T.O. | Filed in Football, General

Who is in to help our fellow brother Terrell Owens with his financial woes? The latest report is, Owens might be headed to the big house for failing to pay his child support payments. $45,000 a month he owes for his four children. I am not divorced but I can say thank goodness that I stopped making babies after one child just in case. Then again, I was never a professional football player and making millions so my guess is my payments would have been a tad bit less.

I find it odd that Owens is not able to do better than the money he is making with the Allen Wranglers. I realize he is a headcase, and his skills have deteriorated but he is not an idiot. Remember his show with Chad Ochocinco? He is articulate. He is built like an old ford engine (that is a compliment). I realize professional athletes do not manage their money very well but he is not your typical oddball.

I never really cared for him as an Eagle, nor a Bill, nor a Cowboy, nor a Bengal but I was not a huge fan of McNabb either, but he did add some entertainment while he was here. I say, lets bring on Vick, Burress, T.O., and Adam Jones to name a few and bring home a title for the city.

If he declines an offer sheet, I am still willing to throw in the fifty cents and couple pieces of lint in my pocket to help him in his time of need. I think it would be tax deductible anyhow. Anyone else in?

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Positional Rankings: Left Fielders

March 5th, 2012 by Johnny G | 36 Comments | Filed in General

Instead of explaining the criteria and stressing why you should take notice of it, I figured it might be better if I explained why we are using the criteria we are. Finances are a very important part of baseball and they will not be ignored in any ranking I take part in. You can go to any website or blog out there and get a basic ranking based on overall talent and production of a specific position in baseball, which is why we chose to be different. Rather than just ranking Albert Pujols number one in the first base category, we looked a little deeper. Think about it. Are you going to sit here and tell me if you had a $150M payroll, that you would choose to take Albert Pujols and his contract over anyone else in the league? Heck, give me Eric Hosmer making $400k. The kid is young, cheap, and has tons of upside. You can then implement the $20+M you saved at First Base and reinvest it into the rest of your roster. That is the basic premise here. The days of the Yankees spending anything they want to are gone. The new CBA has made sure of that. Think about the role finances play in the game we all love so much, because it probably plays a bigger role than you think.

As always, let us know where you disagree. We’ll answer and address all your concerns. Thanks guys. Here’s our criteria:

Mike H:

  • Innings at Position
  • UZR/150
  • wRC+
  • OBP
  • ISO

Johnny G: (more…)

New Playoff Format Getting Off On The Wrong Foot

March 5th, 2012 by Mike H. | Comments Off on New Playoff Format Getting Off On The Wrong Foot | Filed in Baseball

"Just get it done. I don't care how"

Earlier this month, MLB announced that they would be expanding the post season format from eight total teams to ten in an attempt to increase season long interest. By expanding to a format that entertains not one but two wild card teams per league, MLB is essentially trying to re-create what will forever be known as “Wild Card Wednesday”, game 162 of the 2011 season that saw the Cardinals oust the Braves and the Rays oust the Red Sox despite neither team being in the same state.

There are just two big differences that will change the post season in 2012, but both could be seen as undesirable. The first is the implementation itself. It puts extreme pressure on the two teams to throw out their best pitchers just to make the Divisional Series round and possibly limit their “ace” to just one appearance.

The second, while only intended for 2012, could be even more detrimental to the process. In order to maintain scheduling for broadcasting purposes, not only is an off day being removed from the two League Divisional Series, but the team that is ranked number one in each league, the team with the best record in each league, is forced to lose their home field advantage by starting the first two games in the city of the wild card team that wins the play in game. Maybe MLB should have been more concerned about doing things right instead of right now.

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Countdown To Opening Day 2012: 32 Days

March 5th, 2012 by Mike H. | Comments Off on Countdown To Opening Day 2012: 32 Days | Filed in Baseball, Phillies

Part of the success and failure for the Phillies in recent years has been their reliance on the long ball. GM Ruben Amaro Jr. even stated after their early departure from the playoffs last season that a change in approach at the plate would be needed. Amaro seemingly went 180 degrees in that philosophy this past offseason acquiring pieces for his bench. In 2008, the Phillies were a top 5 National League team in just about every offensive aspect: Power (Home Runs), Speed (Stolen Bases), and Patience (Walks). So how has the team changed since then? (more…)

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