After the first cut of teams, there are about another 5 teams that are in the rest of the pack, led by last year's runner-up.
IamJabrone - 5th Place
Strong Moves: Strong draft, picking up young players who have performed (Santana, Posey, Bard), particularly at the tough-to-find C. Made a play for Andre Ethier who has been as advertised (though it cost Josh Johnson, who's been lights out). Has gotten above average production out of a less than ideal pitching staff, by finding some talent along the way (Cueto, Medlen, Simon)
Boner Moves: Who the hell's Buster Posey? Have also fed the O.N. Thugs Daniel Bard,a quality set-up man, and probable BoSox closer in 2012. Mystifying lack of moves by the front office, as guys coming off of 2009 career years have fallen back to earth (Reynolds, Hill). Has lost out on trade value, while holding on to extra 2B who aren't quite good enough to play at UTIL. Pinned SS hopes to Alcides Escobar, who has been bad, and hasn't changed course. Testing the theory that any offense with Albert Pujols will be competitive.
Future Outlook: Doesn't look like this team's got it for 2010, and it's hard to tell if they're rebuilding or if they're trying to compete. You don't get the impression that this roster is one that just needs a couple tweaks to win in 2011.
Mid-term Grade: C-. This team could have been a podium team, though asking for a championship may have been a bit much. But a reluctance to trade definitely has hurt the chances. Now, players like Aaron Hill and Ian Stewart are much less likely to get back enough value to matter this year. But the rebuilding seems to be somewhat muted. Stuck in-between is a tough place to be.
SuckmyKnuckleballs - 6th Place
Strong Moves: Has gotten the better end of the Gavin Floyd for Paul Konerko trade. Found potential SS of the future in Starlin Castro, who has performed reasonably so far. Excellent production out of Andy Pettite (2nd round draft pick), and has gotten good results out of other un-sexy veterans (Scott Rolen, Tim Hudson)
Boner Moves: Run into a couple tough seasons by a couple talented pitchers (Beckett, Burnett). Has held on to some under-performing vets that don't have much upside (Tejada, Cameron, Hoffman).
Future Outlook: If Beckett and Burnett get their heads on straight, and guys like Bay, Braun, and Matsui have big 2nd halves, this team could sneak onto the podium. But more likely, it's looking like a team that's headed for a finish between 4th and 8th.
Mid-term Grade: B-. This was a 5th place team last year, and has been in the same ball park this year. This suggests a pretty average grade.
'90 Reds - 7th Place
Strong Moves: No need to play Frankenstein at 2B, as McGehee has been solid. Has gotten enough production out of the Frankenstein at closer (Capps and Lindstrom). Taking a chance on Big Papi, who's looking like he's back to being a legit fantasy player. Getting enough production out of top set-up guys (Kuo, Storen, Gregerson) to get back into competition in pitching. Has found some young SP to perhaps rebuild staff (Travis Wood, Wade LeBlanc, Mat Latos).
Boner Moves: Believing that Bartlett's fluky 2009 would continue, and not having a backup plan. Using the 3rd overall draft pick on Octavio Dotel. Couldn't move any veteran SP who overachieved in 2009 (Javy Vasquez, Wandy Rodriguez, Edwin Jackson), and have been saddled with poor 2010 results (combined 19-25 with about a 4.60/1.35). No trades, despite the underperformance across the board?
Future Outlook: This is a team that's sort of in transition. There's some good young pieces (Gonzalez, Upton, Sandoval?). Some veterans in their primes (Ryan Howard, Victor Martinez), and some that you don't want to predict anything about (Manny, A-Ram, Papi).
Mid-term Grade: INC. This team has managed to pull itself up from the bottom of the standings to the middle of the standings. We'll see if this continues. A move into the top tier would make this year's grade an A, whereas staying in the middle of the pack makes it a C.
Benver Droncos - 8th Place
Strong Moves: Great trade in picking up Rasmus and Volquez for Upton. Has gotten a lot of production out of free agency (SP - Colby Lewis, Barry Zito, Trevor Cahill; Austin Jackson). Jon Rauch (4th round) has been helpful for SV.
Boner Moves: Cano for Weiters has been absolute disaster for 2010 chances, though this may balance out in the next few years. Jury is out on the Volquez for Neise trade. Dropped Jose Bautista way too early.
Future Outlook: Has been willing to make trades to get younger and give the team a shot in 2011 or 2012 - has turned Upton and Cano into Weiters, Rasmus, and Neise. Young A's arms (Cahill and Brett Anderson) could help anchor pitching staff, along with Ubaldo Jimenez, who's still only 26. Will need to sort out what they want to do with some vets (Jimmy Rollins comes to mind, but also Vlad, Kuroda, Zito, Victorino, and maybe even Morneau). Those pieces can probably fetch some solid prospects.
Mid-term Grade: B+. This was the last place team from 2009.
Black Sox - 9th Place
Strong Moves: Gotten all-star production out of Miguel Olivo and some SV from Kevin Gregg, both from free agency. Nice job moving quality for quality, getting Josh Johnson. Drafting Strasburg #2 was pretty much a sure thing, but still qualifies as a strong move.
Boner Moves: Not many moves made - the offense is above average, but could use one or two more pieces. Not so much of a boner move, but rather just taking some lumps with the young pitching, which has had ups and downs.
Future Outlook: Awfully good looking, young pitching staff (Johnson, Strasburg, Verlander, Romero, Billingsley), with a couple wild cards that could still pan out (Marcum, Joba, Kazmir, Matusz). This is a roster that's begging to be tinkered with in trade talks.
Mid-term Grade: B+. Last season's 8th place team has made a somewhat lateral move, but has stockpiled some serious arms, to complement the solid offense. Maybe a bit late to make a move for 2010, but the idea of being a podium in 2011 should entice some more moves.
Next time, we'll wrap things up by taking a look at the kids on the short bus.
-Chairman (O.N. Thugs)
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Friday, July 16, 2010
2010 UPL Baseball Mid-Season Report Cards - Head of the Class
As we head into the back half of 2010 Baseball, there are some surprises at the top of the UPL, but the team currently sitting on top of the UPL is a very familiar one:
O.N. Thugs - 1st Place
Strong Moves: Drafting enough potential power so that 2 guys worked out (Glaus and Willingham). Working the waiver wire to improve squad ( lucking into Buster Posey; getting power out of Andruw Jones and Corey Hart; finding some arms like Brett Cecil, Jonathon Niese, Tommy Hunter, Johnny Cueto, Trevor Cahill, Dallas Braden). Getting a Volquez lottery ticket for Jonathon Niese (though in 3 starts w/ Benver, Niese is 2-1, 3.55/1.18, with 25K in 25.1 IP). No panic trades after slow offensive start.
Boner Moves: Dropping Braden right before perfect game, and not afterwards. Hanging on to losing players too long, and as a result, cycling through high ceiling pitchers a little too quickly (Cueto, Cahill, Hunter), and not being patient enough w/ Thome.
Future Outlook: Still the team to beat, in 2010 and beyond. Still a number of fantasy points that the O.N. Thugs are legitimately chasing. There's enough roster flexibility left to take a couple shots at some talent, and to position team for future.
Mid-term Grade: A-. Still some work to be done. Position on top of the UPL looks somewhat tenuous in comparisons to some prior O.N. Thugs seasons. But you can't argue with the results to this point.
Hats for Bats - 2nd Place
Strong Moves: Drafted young talent, which proved to be useful in new UPL trade environment, which led to... Stealing Jered Weaver away from JimmyDix for Justin Smoak, at least for 2010 (jury will be out on this one until 2014 or so). Finding all sorts of young talent in free agency (Jamie Garcia, Brennan Boesch), as well as 2010 production (Jose Bautista, Chris Young, Aubrey Huff).
Boner Moves: Very unlucky, but the Heyward/Kendry Morales for Marlon Byrd/Jose Valverde/Adrian Gonzalez trade looks really lopsided for 2010 (though will probably look much better in 2011 and beyond). Aside from this, it's been a relatively boner-free 1st half. Dropped Hong-Chih Kuo, who has proven to be a plus-fantasy player, and real-life all-star.
Future Outlook: This is the team that Greg was hyping last year (saying that anything less than a podium-type performance would be disappointing), which never materialized until this year. Will be hard pressed to make up for the production lost w/ Morales, without hurting other stats
Mid-term Grade: A. Will have to balance future position w/ the chance to win in 2010. But a bunch of solid moves, with virtually no boner moves, have taken Hats for Bats up the standings, and shows that a rise from the bottom to the top is definitely possible.
Phatsnapper - 3rd Place
Strong Moves: Martin Prado in the 1st round of the draft worked out well. Absolute swindle of Robinson Cano (for Matt Weiters) before opening day. Shifted quality for quality, and picked up some speed with Brett Gardner (for Martin Prado). Picking up young talent in free agency (Delmon Young, Jose Tabata, Pedro Alvarez).
Boner Moves: Not making a play for SV, which would make team legit championship contender. Rest of draft, aside from Prado was not very helpful. Probably sitting on a little too much potential on the bench.
Future Outlook: Quality young SP, and some top-end offensive talent makes this team a contender for the long-haul. This year, we're looking at somewhere in the top 4. But a little more management would go a long way.
Mid-term Grade: B. This team has largely managed itself since the start of the season, so the design of the team has been pretty good to be in podium position. But this team could easily be sitting on top of the UPL, so it's hard to give a higher grade.
JimmyDix - 4th Place
Strong Moves: Despite taking grief, Marlon Byrd in the 1st round has been a solid pickup. Getting Jon Lester for Ian Kinsler. Filling a hole at 2B by getting Martin Prado for Brett Gardner. Finding some quality in free agency (Gardner, Mike Stanton, Jim Thome, Tyler Colvin, Mike Leake)
Boner Moves: Giving away Jered Weaver, which has stymied some potential trade opportunities. Overpaying for B.J. Upton (Rasmus and Volquez). Dropping Mike Leake twice. Giving up a little too early on Andruw Jones. Giving up way too early on Corey Hart, Clayton Richard. Seems that day-to-day lineups are a bit sub-optimal, given how the overall offensive stats look.
Future Outlook: Pieces are on the roster for a top-4 finish in 2010, but may not have quite enough to make a run for the title. Positioned reasonably well moving forward. Probably not done making moves (and seems to make a lot of moves - some of which are brilliant, while others are awful...). But if you told me that this team would be a podium in 2011, I'd believe you, and if you told me that this team would be a bottom-4 team in 2011, I'd believe you, too.
Mid-term Grade: B. How do you average out a couple A-moves with a couple D-moves? I think that this grade is a reasonable one, given the rise in the standings from last year.
Next time, we'll move from the Head of the Class to the Rest of the Pack. And after that, we'll look at the Kids on the Short Bus.
-Chairman (O.N. Thugs)
O.N. Thugs - 1st Place
Strong Moves: Drafting enough potential power so that 2 guys worked out (Glaus and Willingham). Working the waiver wire to improve squad ( lucking into Buster Posey; getting power out of Andruw Jones and Corey Hart; finding some arms like Brett Cecil, Jonathon Niese, Tommy Hunter, Johnny Cueto, Trevor Cahill, Dallas Braden). Getting a Volquez lottery ticket for Jonathon Niese (though in 3 starts w/ Benver, Niese is 2-1, 3.55/1.18, with 25K in 25.1 IP). No panic trades after slow offensive start.
Boner Moves: Dropping Braden right before perfect game, and not afterwards. Hanging on to losing players too long, and as a result, cycling through high ceiling pitchers a little too quickly (Cueto, Cahill, Hunter), and not being patient enough w/ Thome.
Future Outlook: Still the team to beat, in 2010 and beyond. Still a number of fantasy points that the O.N. Thugs are legitimately chasing. There's enough roster flexibility left to take a couple shots at some talent, and to position team for future.
Mid-term Grade: A-. Still some work to be done. Position on top of the UPL looks somewhat tenuous in comparisons to some prior O.N. Thugs seasons. But you can't argue with the results to this point.
Hats for Bats - 2nd Place
Strong Moves: Drafted young talent, which proved to be useful in new UPL trade environment, which led to... Stealing Jered Weaver away from JimmyDix for Justin Smoak, at least for 2010 (jury will be out on this one until 2014 or so). Finding all sorts of young talent in free agency (Jamie Garcia, Brennan Boesch), as well as 2010 production (Jose Bautista, Chris Young, Aubrey Huff).
Boner Moves: Very unlucky, but the Heyward/Kendry Morales for Marlon Byrd/Jose Valverde/Adrian Gonzalez trade looks really lopsided for 2010 (though will probably look much better in 2011 and beyond). Aside from this, it's been a relatively boner-free 1st half. Dropped Hong-Chih Kuo, who has proven to be a plus-fantasy player, and real-life all-star.
Future Outlook: This is the team that Greg was hyping last year (saying that anything less than a podium-type performance would be disappointing), which never materialized until this year. Will be hard pressed to make up for the production lost w/ Morales, without hurting other stats
Mid-term Grade: A. Will have to balance future position w/ the chance to win in 2010. But a bunch of solid moves, with virtually no boner moves, have taken Hats for Bats up the standings, and shows that a rise from the bottom to the top is definitely possible.
Phatsnapper - 3rd Place
Strong Moves: Martin Prado in the 1st round of the draft worked out well. Absolute swindle of Robinson Cano (for Matt Weiters) before opening day. Shifted quality for quality, and picked up some speed with Brett Gardner (for Martin Prado). Picking up young talent in free agency (Delmon Young, Jose Tabata, Pedro Alvarez).
Boner Moves: Not making a play for SV, which would make team legit championship contender. Rest of draft, aside from Prado was not very helpful. Probably sitting on a little too much potential on the bench.
Future Outlook: Quality young SP, and some top-end offensive talent makes this team a contender for the long-haul. This year, we're looking at somewhere in the top 4. But a little more management would go a long way.
Mid-term Grade: B. This team has largely managed itself since the start of the season, so the design of the team has been pretty good to be in podium position. But this team could easily be sitting on top of the UPL, so it's hard to give a higher grade.
JimmyDix - 4th Place
Strong Moves: Despite taking grief, Marlon Byrd in the 1st round has been a solid pickup. Getting Jon Lester for Ian Kinsler. Filling a hole at 2B by getting Martin Prado for Brett Gardner. Finding some quality in free agency (Gardner, Mike Stanton, Jim Thome, Tyler Colvin, Mike Leake)
Boner Moves: Giving away Jered Weaver, which has stymied some potential trade opportunities. Overpaying for B.J. Upton (Rasmus and Volquez). Dropping Mike Leake twice. Giving up a little too early on Andruw Jones. Giving up way too early on Corey Hart, Clayton Richard. Seems that day-to-day lineups are a bit sub-optimal, given how the overall offensive stats look.
Future Outlook: Pieces are on the roster for a top-4 finish in 2010, but may not have quite enough to make a run for the title. Positioned reasonably well moving forward. Probably not done making moves (and seems to make a lot of moves - some of which are brilliant, while others are awful...). But if you told me that this team would be a podium in 2011, I'd believe you, and if you told me that this team would be a bottom-4 team in 2011, I'd believe you, too.
Mid-term Grade: B. How do you average out a couple A-moves with a couple D-moves? I think that this grade is a reasonable one, given the rise in the standings from last year.
Next time, we'll move from the Head of the Class to the Rest of the Pack. And after that, we'll look at the Kids on the Short Bus.
-Chairman (O.N. Thugs)
2010 UPL Baseball Mid-Season Awards
So, without further ado, your 2010 UPL Baseball Mid-Season Awards
All-UPL First Team:
C: Miguel Olivo, Black Sox
1B: Miguel Cabrera, Cheeseheads
2B: Robinson Cano, Phatsnapper
3B: David Wright, O.N. Thugs
SS: Hanley Ramirez, Black Sox
OF: Vald Guerrero, Benver Droncos
OF: Carl Crawford, Cheeseheads
OF: Josh Hamilton, Phatsnapper
UTIL: Albert Pujols, IAmJabrone
UTIL: Alex Rios, Westy's Sluggers
SP: Ubaldo Jimenez, Benver Droncos
SP: Adam Wainwright, Phatnsapper
SP: Josh Johnson, Black Sox
SP: Jon Lester, JimmyDix
SP: Tim Lincecum, O.N. Thugs
RP: Mariano Rivera, SuckMyKnuckleballs
RP: Billy Wagner, Milwaukee Whiffers
RP: Heath Bell, Hats for Bats
All-UPL Second Team
C: tie, Brian McCann, JimmyDix and Geovany Soto, Cheeseheads
1B: Joey Votto, Mush Heads
2B: Dan Uggla, IamJabrone
3B: Evan Longoria, JimmyDixLongballs
SS: Rafael Furcal, Mush Heads
OF: Carlos Gonzalez, '90 Reds
OF: Adam Dunn, O.N. Thugs
OF: Corey Hart, O.N. Thugs
UTIL: Kevin Youkilis, SuckMyKnuckleballs
UTIL: Justin Morneau, Benver Droncos
SP: Clayton Kershaw, O.N. Thugs
SP: Jered Weaver, Hats for Bats
SP: Roy Halladay, Hats for Bats
SP: David Price, Phatsnapper
SP: Yovanni Gallardo, Phatsnapper
RP: Rafael Soriano, Cheeseheads
RP: Brian Wilson, '90 Reds
RP: Joakim Soria, O.N. Thugs
All-UPL Team Killers
C: Matt Weiters, Benver Droncos
1B: Pablo Sandoval, '90 Reds
2B: Aaron Hill, IamJabrone
3B: Aramis Ramirez, '90 Reds
SS: Jimmy Rollins, Benver Droncos
OF: Grady Sizemore, Westy's Sluggers
OF: Jacoby Ellsbury, IamJabrone
OF: Curtis Granderson, IamJabrone
UTIL: Kendry Morales, Hats for Bats
UTIL: Brian Roberts, Mush Heads
SP: Josh Beckett, SuckMyKunckleballs
SP: John Lackey, Westy's Sluggers
SP: Dan Haren, '90 Reds
SP: Wandy Rodriguez, '90 Reds
SP: Edwin Jackson, '90 Reds
RP: Octavio Dotel, Westy's Sluggers
RP: David Aardsma, Cheeseheads
RP: Francisco Cordero, Benver Droncos
Team of the Half-Season: O.N. Thugs
Manager of the Half-Season: Pauly
UPL MVP - David Wright, O.N. Thugs
UPL Cy Young - Ubaldo Jimenez, Benver Droncos
UPL Fireman Award - Mariano Rivera, SuckMyKunckleballs
UPL Rookie Pitcher - Jamie Garcia, Hats for Bats (apologies to Stephen Strasburg, Neftali Feliz)
UPL Rookie Hitter - Brennan Boesch, Hats for Bats (apologies to Buster Posey, Jason Heyward)
UPL Out of Nowhere Pitcher - tie, Colby Lewis, Benver Droncos and Mat Latos, '90 Reds
UPL Out of Nowhere Hitter - tie, Paul Konerko, SuckMyKunckleballs and Aubrey Huff, Hats for Bats
As usual, comment away. And be on the lookout for first half report cards for teams.
-Chairman (aka O.N. Thugs)
All-UPL First Team:
C: Miguel Olivo, Black Sox
1B: Miguel Cabrera, Cheeseheads
2B: Robinson Cano, Phatsnapper
3B: David Wright, O.N. Thugs
SS: Hanley Ramirez, Black Sox
OF: Vald Guerrero, Benver Droncos
OF: Carl Crawford, Cheeseheads
OF: Josh Hamilton, Phatsnapper
UTIL: Albert Pujols, IAmJabrone
UTIL: Alex Rios, Westy's Sluggers
SP: Ubaldo Jimenez, Benver Droncos
SP: Adam Wainwright, Phatnsapper
SP: Josh Johnson, Black Sox
SP: Jon Lester, JimmyDix
SP: Tim Lincecum, O.N. Thugs
RP: Mariano Rivera, SuckMyKnuckleballs
RP: Billy Wagner, Milwaukee Whiffers
RP: Heath Bell, Hats for Bats
All-UPL Second Team
C: tie, Brian McCann, JimmyDix and Geovany Soto, Cheeseheads
1B: Joey Votto, Mush Heads
2B: Dan Uggla, IamJabrone
3B: Evan Longoria, JimmyDixLongballs
SS: Rafael Furcal, Mush Heads
OF: Carlos Gonzalez, '90 Reds
OF: Adam Dunn, O.N. Thugs
OF: Corey Hart, O.N. Thugs
UTIL: Kevin Youkilis, SuckMyKnuckleballs
UTIL: Justin Morneau, Benver Droncos
SP: Clayton Kershaw, O.N. Thugs
SP: Jered Weaver, Hats for Bats
SP: Roy Halladay, Hats for Bats
SP: David Price, Phatsnapper
SP: Yovanni Gallardo, Phatsnapper
RP: Rafael Soriano, Cheeseheads
RP: Brian Wilson, '90 Reds
RP: Joakim Soria, O.N. Thugs
All-UPL Team Killers
C: Matt Weiters, Benver Droncos
1B: Pablo Sandoval, '90 Reds
2B: Aaron Hill, IamJabrone
3B: Aramis Ramirez, '90 Reds
SS: Jimmy Rollins, Benver Droncos
OF: Grady Sizemore, Westy's Sluggers
OF: Jacoby Ellsbury, IamJabrone
OF: Curtis Granderson, IamJabrone
UTIL: Kendry Morales, Hats for Bats
UTIL: Brian Roberts, Mush Heads
SP: Josh Beckett, SuckMyKunckleballs
SP: John Lackey, Westy's Sluggers
SP: Dan Haren, '90 Reds
SP: Wandy Rodriguez, '90 Reds
SP: Edwin Jackson, '90 Reds
RP: Octavio Dotel, Westy's Sluggers
RP: David Aardsma, Cheeseheads
RP: Francisco Cordero, Benver Droncos
Team of the Half-Season: O.N. Thugs
Manager of the Half-Season: Pauly
UPL MVP - David Wright, O.N. Thugs
UPL Cy Young - Ubaldo Jimenez, Benver Droncos
UPL Fireman Award - Mariano Rivera, SuckMyKunckleballs
UPL Rookie Pitcher - Jamie Garcia, Hats for Bats (apologies to Stephen Strasburg, Neftali Feliz)
UPL Rookie Hitter - Brennan Boesch, Hats for Bats (apologies to Buster Posey, Jason Heyward)
UPL Out of Nowhere Pitcher - tie, Colby Lewis, Benver Droncos and Mat Latos, '90 Reds
UPL Out of Nowhere Hitter - tie, Paul Konerko, SuckMyKunckleballs and Aubrey Huff, Hats for Bats
As usual, comment away. And be on the lookout for first half report cards for teams.
-Chairman (aka O.N. Thugs)
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Field Trip: Livin Large at Miller Park
Its been a while since I updated on this blog. A lot happened, but the results have been less than noteworthy. My pitchers are pitching - strong strikeouts, decent stats (esp WHIP, which held up despite Mark Buehrle's best attemps) but it hasn't translated to "W"s, and actually led to an increase in losses. My hitters are struggling, as I've assembled a group that gets on base, steals bases and scores runs at the cost of RBIs and Slugging.So as you might expect, the Jimmy Dix Longballs should probably be re-named the Jimmy Dix Smallballs. Not, um, that theres anything wrong with that.
Additionally, I dont even have many good baseball stories from life in Chicago as both teams are struggling and looking like duds. Check that, the Cubs are digging a hole that'll be tough to escape from while the Sox are essentially stalling to draw as many fans before the big ticket games start up where fans of the opposing teams swarm the Cell and turn it into Midest-Fenway. This White Sox team is flat, uninspired and largely impotent. Which is to be expected when your GM trades off your farm system but doesn't have the money to sign star players. All that's left is a crew of Has Been's and Never Weres.
So when Memorial Day weekend rolls around and most friends / family are out of town, what's a guy to do?
Road trip! I headed up to Milwaukee, which might as well be called "Chicago's Lake House" with all the FIBs running around up there. I got in on Saturday and purchased a ticket to the game that afternoon online for about 20 bucks before the fees and taxes. Shortly before game time I hopped on a bus (solely running to get people to and from the game) and headed out to see what the Brew Crew's home was like. The first thing I noticed coming up on the park was the plumes of smoke and tightly packed condition of the parking lot - this is a fanbase that takes pride in their tailgating! There were so many people grilling out in the parking lot that it smelled like cooked pork and beef product - not that I'm complaining. The second thing that I observed was that their drinking was keeping pace with their grilling. While walking through the parking lot to get to the park, I was offered a beer brat by a drunk family and happily accepted it while I watched the people next to them play a drinking game called Dizzy Bat, which I hadn't seen before.
Dizzy Bat starts out with a whiffle ball bat (one of the thick ones) with the end near the handle cut off. A beer is poured into the bat, from a can, which is then crushed by the bat holder and then kicked off to a pitcher. The batter then chugs the beer - while being timed - then has to put their head against the bat and spin around for as long as it took them to drink the beer. The pitcher collects beer cans then tosses to the batter, who has 3 swings to make contact. If the batter gets a hit, the pitcher does a shot. If the batter strikes out, the batter does a shot. Either way the batter then becomes the pitcher for the next person.
People were drunk. And fat. As a consequence of the BMI of the average Milwaukee resident, Miller Park has some of the most comfortable seating of any sports venue I've ever been to. The seats, specifically, were made for someone slightly taller but much wider than I am. Which made them perfect for me to lounge in, since most ballpark seats feel like they're made for kids only. One major plus to Miller Park - the addition of tables and eating spaces in the concorse that maintain sight lines to the field so that you can follow the action while eating something in relative comfort. Also, in right field on the first base line there's a section where instead of seats they have tables set up. I watched the game from one of those tables and can say that they were a really cool addition to the ballpark.
But somehow, in a state known for its tendencies to live solely on meat and cheese, Miller Park failed to produce good ballpark eats. They played it too safe in their choice of offerings. The bratwurst I had was okay, kind of bland, and served with the Miller Park Secret Sauce (psst - its not a secret, its Arbys Special Sauce). Not a bad offering, but a weak effort from the state which may have perfected the beer brat. And despite a concourse full of specialty food shacks featuring nachos, sliders and pasta bar, Miller Park gets a D for not having a cheese curds stand. Nobody's demanding that food be unique - the Cell's strong points are the Chicago style dog, churros and a ripped off version of a Maxwell St Polish. But I fail to see why ballparks dont do a little something extra, especially if the little changes will bring in more revenue.
And the game itself? Not too noteworthy, as Manny Parra faced off against Nieve. The game didn't even make it out of the first inning before deteriorating into a slugfest. But the people in Milwaukee sure do love Ryan Braun. And Corey Hart. And Prince Fielder. And the people watching was epic, as a solid 10% of the fans at the game were wandering around in a near-blackout state due to many hours of hard-core drinking and grilling. Alas, I got tired of watching the Mets and Brewers bullpen falter and headed back to my hotel to drink in the bar and watch the end of the Hawks game. Gotta love cheap drinks at the hotel bar.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Damn Reds, Damn Yankees
So lots of folks (myself included) had some hope for the Reds this year, mainly due to the starting rotation. Cueto was supposed to keep improving. Harang was supposed to bounce back. Arroyo was going to be his usual slightly above average self. We'd get some help w/ Chapman and Leake, and maybe Volquez could put us over the top in August.
Leake's been about what you'd hope for. But Harang, Cueto, and Arroyo are not owned in the UPL, and have a combined ERA of about 7. Ouch. Volquez has been suspended for taking unicorn hormone extract. And Chapman is still in the minors... and by the way, we're already 3 games under .500 and 4 games out of first - in late April. Damn Reds.
Between the Reds, Red Sox, White Sox, Cubs, and Brewers, the majority of the UPL is 9 games under .500 in real-life. Only Pauly's Fish are doing well (2 games over .500). If it wasn't for fantasy baseball, we'd probably have a dozen baseball fans grumbling through the marathon season that is Major League Baseball. In the past, my only recourse was to lease my soul and root for the Yankees once my Reds were out of contention (the typical change-over date would be May 15 or so).* While hope springs eternal, it seems to die pretty early for most baseball fans. However, fantasy baseball has given 2nd life for us suckers, who would otherwise spend the dog days of summer in purgatory. I'm a little less vested in the Yankees, while the O.N. Thugs make their annual pilgrimage to the top of the UPL. But win or lose, once October rolls around, I can't help but keep rooting for Derek Jeter and those Damn Yankees.
What's interesting is that in real life, I've started to actually like the players that put on the O.N. Thugs' fantasy uniform. Ascending fantasy gods (I hope) like Clayton Kershaw, who play for a team that I dislike (always hated the Dodgers - they always killed my Reds), would have ordinarily become a hated player, instead becomes "my guy" in real life. Established fantasy gods like David Wright (sans 2009) and Tim Lincecum, who I'd likely admire, but probably dislike, become some of my favorites. Guys like Julio Borbon, Akinori Iwamura and Shin-Shoo Choo, who normally would get mocked for their funny names and their ethnic heritages... well, they still get mocked, but only in a mildly racist way. Players like Jay Bruce or Joey Votto, who are on the Reds? Well, I want them to do well... good enough for the Reds to win, but maybe not so well that their fantasy owners really see a huge benefit :-)
And once in a great while there is an aspiring hero like Aroldis Chapman (or Deron Williams for me in hoops a couple years ago)? The prospects on my real life team, as well as my fantasy team? He ends up being Church. The Word. The Gospel. The One who bridges the gap between two worlds, the real life world and the fantasy world that we often look to when the tides of the real world are overwhelming. Sometimes we find a savior, and sometimes we find a false prophet. We don't necessarily know which path our aspiring heroes will take. But the matter takes on additional importance. Our fantasy salvation is at stake.
-Chairman (aka O.N. Thugs)
*In my defense, I moved up to Albany, NY in 1993 at the start of high school, right when the Yankees were turning things around. Lots of games on TV. And we had the AA team right there in Albany, where I got to meet a young Derek Jeter, who was great with the fans and always stayed to sign every last autograph, including the small stack of rookie cards that he was gracious enough to sign. The leasing of my soul has become less and less painful over the years, to the point where I sort of look forward to rooting for a winning team in May or June.
Leake's been about what you'd hope for. But Harang, Cueto, and Arroyo are not owned in the UPL, and have a combined ERA of about 7. Ouch. Volquez has been suspended for taking unicorn hormone extract. And Chapman is still in the minors... and by the way, we're already 3 games under .500 and 4 games out of first - in late April. Damn Reds.
Between the Reds, Red Sox, White Sox, Cubs, and Brewers, the majority of the UPL is 9 games under .500 in real-life. Only Pauly's Fish are doing well (2 games over .500). If it wasn't for fantasy baseball, we'd probably have a dozen baseball fans grumbling through the marathon season that is Major League Baseball. In the past, my only recourse was to lease my soul and root for the Yankees once my Reds were out of contention (the typical change-over date would be May 15 or so).* While hope springs eternal, it seems to die pretty early for most baseball fans. However, fantasy baseball has given 2nd life for us suckers, who would otherwise spend the dog days of summer in purgatory. I'm a little less vested in the Yankees, while the O.N. Thugs make their annual pilgrimage to the top of the UPL. But win or lose, once October rolls around, I can't help but keep rooting for Derek Jeter and those Damn Yankees.
What's interesting is that in real life, I've started to actually like the players that put on the O.N. Thugs' fantasy uniform. Ascending fantasy gods (I hope) like Clayton Kershaw, who play for a team that I dislike (always hated the Dodgers - they always killed my Reds), would have ordinarily become a hated player, instead becomes "my guy" in real life. Established fantasy gods like David Wright (sans 2009) and Tim Lincecum, who I'd likely admire, but probably dislike, become some of my favorites. Guys like Julio Borbon, Akinori Iwamura and Shin-Shoo Choo, who normally would get mocked for their funny names and their ethnic heritages... well, they still get mocked, but only in a mildly racist way. Players like Jay Bruce or Joey Votto, who are on the Reds? Well, I want them to do well... good enough for the Reds to win, but maybe not so well that their fantasy owners really see a huge benefit :-)
And once in a great while there is an aspiring hero like Aroldis Chapman (or Deron Williams for me in hoops a couple years ago)? The prospects on my real life team, as well as my fantasy team? He ends up being Church. The Word. The Gospel. The One who bridges the gap between two worlds, the real life world and the fantasy world that we often look to when the tides of the real world are overwhelming. Sometimes we find a savior, and sometimes we find a false prophet. We don't necessarily know which path our aspiring heroes will take. But the matter takes on additional importance. Our fantasy salvation is at stake.
-Chairman (aka O.N. Thugs)
*In my defense, I moved up to Albany, NY in 1993 at the start of high school, right when the Yankees were turning things around. Lots of games on TV. And we had the AA team right there in Albany, where I got to meet a young Derek Jeter, who was great with the fans and always stayed to sign every last autograph, including the small stack of rookie cards that he was gracious enough to sign. The leasing of my soul has become less and less painful over the years, to the point where I sort of look forward to rooting for a winning team in May or June.
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