Baseball Whammy

It’s time to close up shop.

documof — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 22:48:21 +0000

Sorry folks, but I’m going to close up shop here, as I just don’t have enough time to keep the website fresh with just me writing.

But I will still be around writing. I’m going to start to write for the guys over at 3 Guys and a Sports Page. Look for me over there!

All-Star Game Predictions

documof — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 14:48:17 +0000

After a very surprising Home Run Derby last night, where I picked Price Fielder to win, we have the All-Star game tonight. First, let me start by saying the whole “This one matters” thing is getting old. They’ve been saying that for a few years now. Unless you live under a rock or really don’t follow baseball at all you should already know that the All-Star Game gives the winning team home field advantage in the World Series in the fall.

With all that said I think tonight is going to shape up to be a really good game, as it should be. Both teams lineups are stacked with superstars, future stars, and sure fire Hall-Of-Famers. I think that the National League has an upper advantage on the American Players. I do like the pitching staff of the National League a touch more, and they have better all-around players than the American League.

It shouldn’t be that high of a scoring game with the staff’s that both teams are supporting. I think the final score is going to be National League 6 and the American League 4. The winning pitcher will be one of the closers possibly either Saito or Wagner...

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Tonight’s Home Run Derby

documof — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 17:39:53 +0000

There is a good lineup of big boppers in tonights All-Star Home Run Derby on ESPN. The lineup for the National league is Prince Fielder of the Milwaukee Brewers, Albert Pujols of the St. Louis Cardinals, Ryan Howard of the Phillies and Miguel Cabrera of the Florida Marlins. Cabrera withdrew because of a jammed shoulder and his replacement has not been announced yet. Finally, the American League roster is made of Alex Rios of the Toronto Blue Jays, Justin Morneau of the Minnesota Twins, Vladimir Guerrero of the Los Angeles Angels, and Magglio Ordonez of the Detroit Tigers.

Typically aren’t only All-Stars in the home run derby? Ryan Howard isn’t an All-Star. Perhaps because he won it last year, he is able to try to repeat his title? I think underrated player, Matt Holiday should replace Miggy for the final roster spot on the NL Squad. David Wright or Derrek Lee could also fill in for the last spot.

With all that side here are my thoughts on what’s going happen:

1st Round

P. Fielder		9
A. Pujols		6
R. Howard		10
Mystery Hitter		4
M. Ordonez		3
J. Morneau		6
A. Rios		2
V. Guerrero		8

2nd Round

P. Fielder		11
R. Howard		6
J. Morneau		4
V. Guerrero		9

Finals

P. Fielder		7
V. Guerrero		6

Winner: Prince Fielder

Much like Ryan Howard’s first Home Run Derby, Fielder is going to...

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NL Final Vote: My Takes

documof — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 17:37:20 +0000

*Blows off dust from journal *

We’ll I have a few quick minutes to write a up a new entry while I’m munching on my lunch here at my day job.

After the first 24 hours of online voting for the final roster spot, my worst fears have started to turn into reality. I have a huge dislike for San Diego Padres pitcher Chris Young. Keeping is clean for everybody, I’ll refer to him as a jerk, but I have many better choice words that I like to refer to him as. I will not deny the fact that he’s a good pitcher, because he is, it’s the way he holds himself on the field, and how “jerk like” some of his actions are.

I can think of two specific instances where his actions have totally rubbed me the wrong way towards him. I didn’t have much of a chance to watch him much when he was called up with the Rangers a few seasons back, because as a Cubs fan, I watch predominately National League games. The first strike against him was against the Cubs last season, I think, where he faked a tag at first base to force the Cubs starting...

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More Down Time….. Again

documof — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 13:38:17 +0000

Hey baseball fans. I’ve become extremely busy with my day job and haven’t had any real time to write up some entries again. I’m finishing up a few projects at work, and once those get done, I should be in the clear for the rest of the baseball season.

Look for some entries again starting in early July.

Thanks!

Shakers and Movers

documof — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 17:11:41 +0000

There as been some interesting movement on some baseball teams here in the recent days and weeks. There have been a few prospects called up to fill in for injuries, some players released, traded and demoted.

The Tigers released relief pitcher Jose Mesa after a really disappoint start to the season for veteran Mesa. He was also on the Disabled list since April 20th. I really don’t think the Tigers had much of a choice to get rid of him. his injuries were serious enough to put him on the 60 day Disabled List to make room for another player to take his 40 man roster spot.

After the White Sox reliever had a great start to the season, they’ve fallen on hard times. I think they might just be competing with the North Siders for the worst pen in the league. They optioned David Aardsmaa and one time All-Star Mike MacDougal both down to AAA to call up a few other relievers. Aardsmaa had such a promising start with a really high K/9 innings and a low ERA. With the series with the Cubs, he turned completely south. I like the guy a lot. He’s got a really lively fastball in...

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What Does Piniella Have Up His Sleeve?

documof — Wed, 23 May 2007 14:46:59 +0000

I really wish that Cubs coach Lou Piniella would just make up his mind about what to do with the Cubs rotation and bullpen. It’s obvious the the bullpen needs to have a lot of work done with it. Both Bob Howry and Scott Eyre have been pitching HORRIBLE thus far this season. Neither have been worth the big reliever dollars that they were paid to do so last season. Neal Cotts started off really well, and has been horrible as of late. Will Ohman had rough start, but has gotten a lot better. Micheal Wuertz has a really good start, but hasn’t been as effective as of late even though his ERA is only 1 something. That leaves Ryan Dempster as the closer. He’s a been fairly effective closing out 9 out of his first 10 opportunities. The one save he did blow was a heart wrenching loss. He’s had a few problems with some non-save appearances as well.

This takes me to where Lou Pinella has been a little hairy with what he wants to do. First, they announce that Dempster is coming out of the pen to become their fifth starter, and that Angel Guzman is going to...

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Griffey And The Heckling Fan

documof — Wed, 16 May 2007 21:11:46 +0000

So did any of you guys read the article on how Ken Griffey Jr. handled a heckler when they were playing the Los Angeles Dodgers over the weekend?

Basically as the story goes a Dodgers fan was sitting near the Reds dugout, and felt the need to heckle and yell and Griffey every chance that he could get. Having fun with it, Griffey started to fire back at the fan, who was larger in size with “Shouldn’t you be wearing a support bra?”. Then during the 6th inning Griffey sent somebody into the clubhouse to get the largest jock strap they had.

The Dodger fan was having a good time with it, and started twirling it around like a helicopter or a stripper, what ever trips your trigger. After a few more innings and some exchanged smiles, when Griffey came back in, the fan apologized to him and was telling him what he really thought of him. It pretty much boiled down to Griffey still having the prettiest swings in the majors, of which he still does.

See now this is what pro athletes should be all about. A good major of them will not give fans the time of day besides maybe...

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Is The Rocket Going To Be The Yankees Savior?

documof — Tue, 08 May 2007 14:13:19 +0000

In a word? No. No, he is not going to be the Yankees savior and the answer to all of their questions.

Here’s why:

The Yankees need a whole lot more help then one starting pitcher. This will give them The Rocket and Pettitte as their one two combination again, but several years later. Does these guys have same amount of gas left in the tank as they did when they last played in New York together? I don’t think so. Wang is grossly overrated, and the rest of the rotation is either injured, coming off injury, or freshly called up from the minors, including Phil Hughes, who is already on the DL after only two starts. You’d have to assume that Carl Pavano’s career is pretty much over too at this point. Sure he made an opening day start, but again has found himself on the DL. Kei Igawa has been horrible for them as well, giving a lot a taters and walking to many players. He was actually optioned back to their A league affiliated to go back and work on the basics again.

The Yankees relievers will all be totally gassed by the end of the season, if they stay...

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Poor Ryan Langerhans: Traded Twice in a Week

documof — Thu, 03 May 2007 15:46:58 +0000

Man, I can’t help but feel sorry for Ryan Langerhans, young outfielder who was traded on Sunday from the Braves to the A’s for a player to be named later and cash considerations. He’s had a rough go at things so far this season, starting the season by getting only three hits in 44 at-bats. There was a small group of hands that would dress up in hands costumes, and it always gave me a chuckle.

Anyway, he played two games in centerfield for the Athletics, and had a costly error that ended up costing the game for them against the Red Sox, and was 0-4 with two strikeouts and a walk. He was shipped off to the Nationals last night for Chris Snelling. Just as he got to know a few new players after spending his career in Atlanta, he gets sent back to the National League East to a rival team of his former Atlanta Braves. And not to mention he goes from first in the East to dead last.

He is at least taking it well, and joking about it.

“You just have to laugh. I’ve never seen anything like that,” Langerhans said, “but I enjoyed my time here. I...

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