No, this isn't a post about why a certain Angel manager left in Jered Weaver the other day.
I'm having four of my pearly whites removed, and by this time tomorrow I should be experiencing some discomfort, so they say.
By the way, can you make a smoothie out of Dodger Dog?
-Straddlin' the base line,
The former Money Store spokesman, broadcaster, and Yankee Hall of Famer Phil "The Scooter" Rizzuto, passed away at 89. Rizzuto, a shortstop, was a key member of the great Yankee teams of the nineteen forties and fifties.
Former Red Sox second baseman Bobby Doerr is now the oldest living ex-player Hall of Famer, also age 89.
We'll miss you Scooter.
Straddlin' the base line,
I've seen this come up recently in some discussion groups:
It's August and the league race for the title is tightening up. You're separated from the other top teams by a point or two, teams change place between first and third on a daily basis, and you think you've run out of options. You've glanced at the free agent pool and there's not much there to help your team. Being a fantasy veteran you've learned to watch the other teams' statistics as well as yours, and you notice that the the bottom three teams area separated by a few points in a category like runs (this could apply to any of the other "number" driven categories like home runs, rbi's, stolen bases, etc.), and the owner ahead of you has just passed them up by a point. Your team is loaded with plenty of runs and it looks like you'll finish first or second in that category.
So...
Do you target and trade "runs" to those teams at the bottom in return for relatively nothing in return (even better if you can get a player that will help your team), in anticipation that those teams will gain points back, and therefore surpass the team that your battling it out with?
Where do we draw the fantasy fair play line?
Post your "hot stove thoughts" and let me know where you stand on this issue.
-Straddlin' the base line between fair and foul play,
At the time of this posting, the 2007 Major League Baseball trade deadline will have expired. There will be a few trades and perhaps one or two that will stand out, like last year's Dodger acquisition of Greg Maddux for the pennant stretch.
Questions abound:
Who will be this season's general manager of the year, which is often determined by how a team crosses the plate, not by how it leads-off?
Will Kyle Lohse lead the Phillies into post season?
Will Mark Teixeira be sound physically to help the Braves chances?
Will Scott Proctor become the Dodger that was lost in the midst of the now forgettable Robin Ventura trade and find Chavez Ravine more welcoming than The House That Ruth Built?
In one of my fantasy leagues, our trade deadline is set for August 12? Like real baseball there will be a trade or two that will be successful. The others will be be forgotten -- if anyone trades at all, and we can thank Internet free agency for that.
Does your league have a trade deadline?
Straddlin' the base line,
Called up by the Tigers, Mike Hessman will back up Sean Casey at first base, play some third, and designated hit. Other than a .257 average, rock solid power numbers at AAA Toledo; twenty-seven home runs and eighty-six runs batted in. He could help you the rest of the way should he make a difference in Detroit's line-up.
Somewhat minimal posting this week as I'm on vacation of another kind; somewhere between fantasy and reality as a:
Vacation Bible School Counselor.
-Straddlin' the base line,
Just arriving off the hill known as Yosemite Point, I came crashing down to earth, and without picking up a newspaper at the Tuolomne Meadows Lodge (I did read the New York Time's headline about President Bush's advisers' view on Al Queda), I resisted the urge to sneak a peak at a box score or two. My head said "Yes!", while my heart said "No!", so I maintained some semblance of self-control, and fantasy addict counselor's everywhere rejoiced at my ability to choose the Ghost of John Muir over Yahoo!.
Talk about being somewhere between fantasy and reality.
So finding a out a little late that Chris Carpenter has gone fishin' too, and that Bud Selig suddenly cares about Barry Bonds again, well, at least when he's in 'Ol Milwaukee, and that just when Marcus Thames got hot he went disabled list on us, and suddenly Brandon Phillips is the latest $25.00 second baseman rising from mediocrity, I can look myself in the mirror with my quad's still burning, heart still pounding, jaw still dropping and say:
"Now that was a five-star hike!"
-Straddlin' the Pacific Crest Trail,
(Vertiginous view image by Adam Luther)
If you build it they will come.
Well, not exactly like that famous field in Iowa featured in the theatrical hit, Field of Dreams, but all roads lead to Yosemite this time of year for me and my gang of John Muir wannabee's.
We'll be in a somewhat remote location so posting will be impossible for about a week, but I'll be looking forward to sharing my experience with you upon my return and wondering if I'll remain in second place in one league and third in another.
-Straddlin' the Tioga Pass,
Ansel
Some All Star second guessing:
In case you missed it, 2007 All Star Game home plate umpire Bruce Froemming (who umpired his first game in 1971), was ready to hang up his count clicker after eight-and-a-half innings primarily as a result from taking two hard foul balls into his somewhat unprotected left shoulder, wincing in pain each occasion.
Then came the bottom of the ninth, and with the American League leading the National League 5-2, soon the score became 5-4 after Alfonso Soriano's two-run homer and Froemming's got to be praying:
"Please, God in heaven, no extra innings".
I'm not superstitious. Well, maybe somewhat, and probably more by habit over a rather lame attempt at seeking good fortune - regardless of the sport; I always put my uniform on the same way. You know - right sock, left sock, "sleeves", jersey, pants, belt, right cleat, left cleat, hat, and still I managed to hit a very average .270 or so in high school.
Today the youngest member of my support staff had a birthday party, which took a fair amount of planning. One of the invited guests, who is an event planner/coordinator, mentioned that today they were having to plan their Saturday family activity around seven weddings.
Seven?
Today the calender today reads "7-7-07" which means good luck (does that mean that 6-6-06 is unfortunate?), and numerous couples decided to get married in hopes that tying the knot today would guarantee marital bliss, or at least help their chances.
So today's post has nothing to with fantasy baseball, and the truth of the matter is other than catching a rather outrageous box score, my attention has been focused on running and recovering from a 5K (completed at a 9:30/mile pace after training for only ten days, not bad for a forty-four year old), on the Fourth of July, throwing a princess party, and trying to stay cool.
Stay tuned,
Straddlin' the base line and don't trip over the threshold,
