I forgot in the last post to mention Friday's most significant signings.
Lefthander Randy Wolf has returned to the Dodgers, with whom he pitched in 2007, and most likely will be in their rotation.
Righty Tom Gordon signed a contract to take a spot in the Diamondbacks' bullpen, which needs help and might even use him as a closer.
More to come on them at fantasybaseballscout.com.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Venezuela clinches Caribbean Series
There still are two games to play Saturday, but Venezuela clinched the Caribbean Series Friday night by defeating Mexico 5-3.
Light-hitting catcher Raul Chavez led the offense with two RBI and three hits as Tigres de Aragua, representing Venezuela, improved its Caribbean Series record to 5-0. Mexico's Venados de Mazatlan fell to 3-2, with both losses to the Venezuelans.
Padres first baseman Adrian Gonzalez drove in two of Mexico's runs, giving him a Series-high total of eight. Mexico's team has been the only one to inflict much damage with its bats in this pitching-oriented series. Francisco Butto picked up his fourth save of the Series for Venezuela, which has hit only one home run in five games.
The Series and winter baseball conclude Saturday with two games that could determine whether the Dominican Republic or Puerto Rico finishes last in the four-team double round-robin.
Puerto Rico faces Venezuela at 5 p.m. EST in Mexicali, Mexico, with the Dominicans and host Mexicans squaring off at 9 p.m.
After that, we can get down to the real business of spring training.
And some time when I have more energy I can write about all the crap that has been going down here and on the fantasybaseballscout.com web site.
Light-hitting catcher Raul Chavez led the offense with two RBI and three hits as Tigres de Aragua, representing Venezuela, improved its Caribbean Series record to 5-0. Mexico's Venados de Mazatlan fell to 3-2, with both losses to the Venezuelans.
Padres first baseman Adrian Gonzalez drove in two of Mexico's runs, giving him a Series-high total of eight. Mexico's team has been the only one to inflict much damage with its bats in this pitching-oriented series. Francisco Butto picked up his fourth save of the Series for Venezuela, which has hit only one home run in five games.
The Series and winter baseball conclude Saturday with two games that could determine whether the Dominican Republic or Puerto Rico finishes last in the four-team double round-robin.
Puerto Rico faces Venezuela at 5 p.m. EST in Mexicali, Mexico, with the Dominicans and host Mexicans squaring off at 9 p.m.
After that, we can get down to the real business of spring training.
And some time when I have more energy I can write about all the crap that has been going down here and on the fantasybaseballscout.com web site.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Another good Super Bowl?
It wasn't too long ago that we were waiting for a good Super Bowl game.
Now we're coming off two very entertaining games in a row after last year's improbable finish after David Tyree's nearly impossible catch and tonight's back-and-forth 27-23 win for the Steelers.
Some observations:
Santonio Holmes deserved the MVP award. James Harrison might have lost it with his late personal foul. And Larry Fitzgerald and Kurt Warner could have fought over it if Arizona had won.
Speaking of Warner, when did his wife get all that blond hair?
It was fun watching some of the players on my fantasy teams -- Warner, Holmes, Fitzgerald, Hines Ward, Ben Roethlisberger -- perform (mostly well). It would have been more fun if I were still playing in the league that stretches its playoffs through the Super Bowl. I took a narrow defeat two weeks ago, then had to watch as the owner who picked up Fitzgerald and Warner after my dismissal won our league's Super Bowl easily. Sorry, NFL. I mean our league's big game.
I'd been thinking the Colts and Cowboys in Super Bowl V went into overtime, but now I realize that the merciful game-winning field goal to end a dreadful game came with a few seconds left.
One thing that was a misstatement on the telecast was that the Steelers have more NFL championships than any other team. It's true that Pittsburgh's six Super Bowl titles are the most by any franchise. But there were 46 champions before there was a Super Bowl, and the Packers have a total of 12 NFL championships.
As a Steelers fan since I lived in Pittsburgh as a kid, I was pleased. This was also the most I've watched of any Super Bowl in several years. I missed most of the first quarter while taking a nap and the early part of the fourth quarter after slicing up my finger along with some steak for sandwiches.
I still believe that today's game shouldn't have been close, and wouldn't have been in Pittsburgh's defense hadn't played mostly like crap. Troy Polamalu played as if he had a wager on Arizona. He hit a great middle: the Cardinals covered the spread, and Polamalu got one of those big-ass rings.
Now we're coming off two very entertaining games in a row after last year's improbable finish after David Tyree's nearly impossible catch and tonight's back-and-forth 27-23 win for the Steelers.
Some observations:
Santonio Holmes deserved the MVP award. James Harrison might have lost it with his late personal foul. And Larry Fitzgerald and Kurt Warner could have fought over it if Arizona had won.
Speaking of Warner, when did his wife get all that blond hair?
It was fun watching some of the players on my fantasy teams -- Warner, Holmes, Fitzgerald, Hines Ward, Ben Roethlisberger -- perform (mostly well). It would have been more fun if I were still playing in the league that stretches its playoffs through the Super Bowl. I took a narrow defeat two weeks ago, then had to watch as the owner who picked up Fitzgerald and Warner after my dismissal won our league's Super Bowl easily. Sorry, NFL. I mean our league's big game.
I'd been thinking the Colts and Cowboys in Super Bowl V went into overtime, but now I realize that the merciful game-winning field goal to end a dreadful game came with a few seconds left.
One thing that was a misstatement on the telecast was that the Steelers have more NFL championships than any other team. It's true that Pittsburgh's six Super Bowl titles are the most by any franchise. But there were 46 champions before there was a Super Bowl, and the Packers have a total of 12 NFL championships.
As a Steelers fan since I lived in Pittsburgh as a kid, I was pleased. This was also the most I've watched of any Super Bowl in several years. I missed most of the first quarter while taking a nap and the early part of the fourth quarter after slicing up my finger along with some steak for sandwiches.
I still believe that today's game shouldn't have been close, and wouldn't have been in Pittsburgh's defense hadn't played mostly like crap. Troy Polamalu played as if he had a wager on Arizona. He hit a great middle: the Cardinals covered the spread, and Polamalu got one of those big-ass rings.
Seven sleepers from winter ball
It's a simple list of players who performed well in winter ball. Most of these players will be under the radar at draft time, unless something happens to thrust them toward the spotlight, such as a trade or an injury to a better-known player.
I'm not saying these guys will return $20 worth of value, but given the right circumstances they could bring double-figure value. You should be able to get any of them for a dollar or two in auctions. Those farther from the majors, such as Hanson and Parnell, would have greater value in a league where you have reserve roster spots open.
RHP Jose Ascanio, Cubs
RHP John Bannister, Rangers
RHP Tommy Hanson, Braves
RHP Bobby Parnell, Mets
C Max Ramirez, Rangers
2B/3B Kevin Frandsen, Giants
3B Jesus Guzman, Giants
There's more about these players in an Email I sent to my mailing list from fantasybaseballscout.com.
You can go there and sign up for FREE Daily Spring Training Emails from Feb. 20 through March 15.
I expect to have more blog information for you later today. Nothing else going on today.
I'm not saying these guys will return $20 worth of value, but given the right circumstances they could bring double-figure value. You should be able to get any of them for a dollar or two in auctions. Those farther from the majors, such as Hanson and Parnell, would have greater value in a league where you have reserve roster spots open.
RHP Jose Ascanio, Cubs
RHP John Bannister, Rangers
RHP Tommy Hanson, Braves
RHP Bobby Parnell, Mets
C Max Ramirez, Rangers
2B/3B Kevin Frandsen, Giants
3B Jesus Guzman, Giants
There's more about these players in an Email I sent to my mailing list from fantasybaseballscout.com.
You can go there and sign up for FREE Daily Spring Training Emails from Feb. 20 through March 15.
I expect to have more blog information for you later today. Nothing else going on today.
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