Baseballs Burning Issues & Post Season Awards
(For the serious Baseball Geek only!!)
Now we are back in my wheelhouse. Sports and, more importantly, Baseball is really my passion. There seem to be three issues facing the baseball fan of the day: When to pitch to Barry Lamar Bonds, should Shawn Green play on Yom Kippur, and is Ichiro selfish &overrated. Also, I will release my totally unanticipated post season awards. I do not need another week to tell you who the MVP, Cy Young, Manager of the Year, and Rookie of the Year are, I already know, and regardless of what else happens, I am always right!!!
Barry Lamar Bonds is better than you. And as most of you know he is my favorite player, so maybe there is a certain amount of bias that goes into this, but I do not care. It is dumb to walk him as much as teams do. Think about it logically, at his best he is going to get on base 40% of the time. When you intentionally walk him, you know what his percentage of getting on base, yep you guessed it 100%. When you get on base, you have a chance to score, which is what the game is all about. Bonds scores 34% of the time he is on base. He has been intentionally walked 111 times, which gives him 37 free runs basically. Bonds has come to the plate 16 times with runners on second and third, he batted 2 times and was walked the other 14. He scored in 11 of those 16 situations. Obviously he did not score when he got out, so of the 14 walks he scored 11 runs that is 78%. Stop walking him, pitch to him, he will not hit a home run every time, although that is what we all want to see. Your cheating him, yourself and the fan when you employ this tactic.
This same type of argument leads me right into the Ichiro overrated backlash which is something I have read and heard over the past week. Where the hell did this come from? This guy is at the top of the order, the table setter as they call it is baseball. He has pounded out 247 hits for an average of .372. One of the knocks on him is that he does not score enough or is selfish. How getting hits and getting on base is selfish is mind boggling to me. He does not score enough? Well who’s fault is that? Last time I checked he has teammates who are paid to do that. Ichiro scores 33% of the time he is on base, not much less than Barry Lamar Bonds. He gets on base, he has the second highest OBP in the American League. What more does someone want from a leadoff hitter? Ichiro is paid to get on base using the skill of batting, and he does that better than anyone.
Finally, we have the issue of Shawn Green and his religion. Green has missed games for Yom Kippur in the past but this year it is magnified because the Dodgers and Giants are deadlocked in a battle for the playoffs, and facing each other this weekend. To me there is no issue, if he wants to go to synagogue and use the day as it is intended according to his beliefs, then synagogue it is. Screw your teammates, last time I checked your religion has something to do with your eternal salvation. Rob Dibble of ESPN (whom I like, and Martin hates) says that Green owes it to his teammates to play, when he signed the contract. Hey listen pal, screw the contract, if Dodger management has a problem with it they will take the steps they feel are necessary to discipline or financially burden Mr. Green. Then Mr. Green will take them to court and get his money back. But make no mistake about it, this man is firm in his beliefs and he should spend the day with his family in prayer and reflection upon his sins over the past year.
AL MVP: Call me a homer, call me what you will. Gary Sheffield (.294 36 117)has kept the Yankees together. This man has played through and assortment of injuries and has kept producing for a team that has had lackluster pitching and turmoil and struggle throughout their lineup.
AL CY YOUNG: Johan Santana (19-6 2.65 254K’s/217 IP). He has made every start for his team, he is the ace. Has not given up more that 3 runs in 20 consecutive starts, and boasts a 0.92 WHIP for a starter. SICK!!!
AL MANAGER: Eric Wedge, Cleveland Indians. This team is all young unproven players. Before the season they traded away there only All-star Caliber player at the time, Milton Bradley. Wedge kept this team competitive for the Central and the Wild Card longer than anyone could have expected and turned out 3 AL All Stars.
AL ROOKIE: Lew Ford, Minnesota Twins. He has been a pleasant surprise for the Twins. Many expected another Twins rookie, Joe Mauer, to contend for this award. Ironically Mauer being injured helped secure room on the roster for Ford. Who has played all outfield positions and batted over .300 has be a key part to Minnesota winning the Central again.
NL MVP: Yes Bonds is the MVP, but I am gonna give JD Drew (.313 31 90) some dap. He has been the single best player on a team that nobody thought would do anything. He has been consistent and help lead the charge of the Braves into first place and cruise to there 14th consecutive division title. In June & July the Braves went 40-21 Drew batted .322 with 14 HR’s and 38 RBI.
NL CY YOUNG: Can we call this award the Roger Clemens. He was retired, done finished!!! He started over 30 games, won 18 and had an ERA around 3.00. He is the best, this will be his 6th Cy Young.
NL MANAGER: Bobby Cox, look at his roster. I will Say no more.
NL ROOKIE: Khalil Greene, he batted .273 and belted 15 HR’s as a rookie for the San Diego Padres. He recently broke his finger and is out for the season, but he was still the best rookie in the NL. His defense electrified crowds in San Diego like nobody since the Wizard of Oz. He is going to be a fixture in San Diego for years to come.
Now we are back in my wheelhouse. Sports and, more importantly, Baseball is really my passion. There seem to be three issues facing the baseball fan of the day: When to pitch to Barry Lamar Bonds, should Shawn Green play on Yom Kippur, and is Ichiro selfish &overrated. Also, I will release my totally unanticipated post season awards. I do not need another week to tell you who the MVP, Cy Young, Manager of the Year, and Rookie of the Year are, I already know, and regardless of what else happens, I am always right!!!
Barry Lamar Bonds is better than you. And as most of you know he is my favorite player, so maybe there is a certain amount of bias that goes into this, but I do not care. It is dumb to walk him as much as teams do. Think about it logically, at his best he is going to get on base 40% of the time. When you intentionally walk him, you know what his percentage of getting on base, yep you guessed it 100%. When you get on base, you have a chance to score, which is what the game is all about. Bonds scores 34% of the time he is on base. He has been intentionally walked 111 times, which gives him 37 free runs basically. Bonds has come to the plate 16 times with runners on second and third, he batted 2 times and was walked the other 14. He scored in 11 of those 16 situations. Obviously he did not score when he got out, so of the 14 walks he scored 11 runs that is 78%. Stop walking him, pitch to him, he will not hit a home run every time, although that is what we all want to see. Your cheating him, yourself and the fan when you employ this tactic.
This same type of argument leads me right into the Ichiro overrated backlash which is something I have read and heard over the past week. Where the hell did this come from? This guy is at the top of the order, the table setter as they call it is baseball. He has pounded out 247 hits for an average of .372. One of the knocks on him is that he does not score enough or is selfish. How getting hits and getting on base is selfish is mind boggling to me. He does not score enough? Well who’s fault is that? Last time I checked he has teammates who are paid to do that. Ichiro scores 33% of the time he is on base, not much less than Barry Lamar Bonds. He gets on base, he has the second highest OBP in the American League. What more does someone want from a leadoff hitter? Ichiro is paid to get on base using the skill of batting, and he does that better than anyone.
Finally, we have the issue of Shawn Green and his religion. Green has missed games for Yom Kippur in the past but this year it is magnified because the Dodgers and Giants are deadlocked in a battle for the playoffs, and facing each other this weekend. To me there is no issue, if he wants to go to synagogue and use the day as it is intended according to his beliefs, then synagogue it is. Screw your teammates, last time I checked your religion has something to do with your eternal salvation. Rob Dibble of ESPN (whom I like, and Martin hates) says that Green owes it to his teammates to play, when he signed the contract. Hey listen pal, screw the contract, if Dodger management has a problem with it they will take the steps they feel are necessary to discipline or financially burden Mr. Green. Then Mr. Green will take them to court and get his money back. But make no mistake about it, this man is firm in his beliefs and he should spend the day with his family in prayer and reflection upon his sins over the past year.
AL MVP: Call me a homer, call me what you will. Gary Sheffield (.294 36 117)has kept the Yankees together. This man has played through and assortment of injuries and has kept producing for a team that has had lackluster pitching and turmoil and struggle throughout their lineup.
AL CY YOUNG: Johan Santana (19-6 2.65 254K’s/217 IP). He has made every start for his team, he is the ace. Has not given up more that 3 runs in 20 consecutive starts, and boasts a 0.92 WHIP for a starter. SICK!!!
AL MANAGER: Eric Wedge, Cleveland Indians. This team is all young unproven players. Before the season they traded away there only All-star Caliber player at the time, Milton Bradley. Wedge kept this team competitive for the Central and the Wild Card longer than anyone could have expected and turned out 3 AL All Stars.
AL ROOKIE: Lew Ford, Minnesota Twins. He has been a pleasant surprise for the Twins. Many expected another Twins rookie, Joe Mauer, to contend for this award. Ironically Mauer being injured helped secure room on the roster for Ford. Who has played all outfield positions and batted over .300 has be a key part to Minnesota winning the Central again.
NL MVP: Yes Bonds is the MVP, but I am gonna give JD Drew (.313 31 90) some dap. He has been the single best player on a team that nobody thought would do anything. He has been consistent and help lead the charge of the Braves into first place and cruise to there 14th consecutive division title. In June & July the Braves went 40-21 Drew batted .322 with 14 HR’s and 38 RBI.
NL CY YOUNG: Can we call this award the Roger Clemens. He was retired, done finished!!! He started over 30 games, won 18 and had an ERA around 3.00. He is the best, this will be his 6th Cy Young.
NL MANAGER: Bobby Cox, look at his roster. I will Say no more.
NL ROOKIE: Khalil Greene, he batted .273 and belted 15 HR’s as a rookie for the San Diego Padres. He recently broke his finger and is out for the season, but he was still the best rookie in the NL. His defense electrified crowds in San Diego like nobody since the Wizard of Oz. He is going to be a fixture in San Diego for years to come.
1 Comments:
...please where can I buy a unicorn?
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