Draft Results: No Gimmicks Needed

Two weeks before the season started, TheBaseballStars held its annual draft for the “State” league. It’s a 7×7, 10-team, head-to-head keeper league where owners keep five players and a prospect. All five of ‘Stars are in this league. Below is the analysis and results of team “No Gimmicks Needed.” In case you’re wondering, the team is in fact named after Chris Candido (pictured here) whom I felt had one of the coolest monikers ever.

My Worst Baseball Experience

The scene would have been perfect, but things just didn’t go as planned.

Since my wife and I had our daughter three months ago, we’ve not spent a lot of  time alone together. We used to be avid garage sale and thrift store shoppers.  Occasionally we’d hit up a movie. And frequently we’d treat ourselves to a nice dinner. But now with a child? No dice. Not yet, anyway. And honestly, it’s OK. Our child is our priority now.

But when we do see opportunities to have us time, we take it. Wednesday, that was supposed to be our time … at a baseball game.

This is why I love my wife. She’s not a sports fan, but she knows I’m flippin’ nuts about the Red Sox. And over the 12 years that we’ve been together — four of which have been wedded bliss — I’ve managed to convert her to a point where she at least cares when the Sox are in town. Hell, last year she wanted me to teach her the entire starting lineup, which she actually learned. God bless her. You know if she were trying to teach me about make-up brands or certain girly-type stuff I wouldn’t be able to remember more than one.

LIVE! 2009 Opening Day blog!

Opening day is here, and Newspaperman man is here too chronicling almost every pitch of the first full day of the 2009 Major League Baseball season. This blogging tradition started two years ago with an asinine warning: Stay away from Josh Hamilton. At the time Hamilton was fresh off his personal problems and I warned fantasy owners to stay away until he could prove he was over them. Clearly he is, and I was wrong. Hamilton has turned out to be one of the best players in the game, bar none. He’s a top-10 fantasy player, and a hobby favorite in the baseball card collecting community.

But I’m not here to talk about the past — thanks for the line, Mark McGwire — I’m here to talk about the future: the 2009 baseball season. Who will be today’s star? Who will break out of the gate like Karl “Tuffy” Rhodes and blast three homers on opening day? Stay tuned.

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9:24 p.m.: The first full day of games has been over for about 45 minutes. This has been my third Opening Day blog and as best as I can remember, this days seems to have wrapped up faster than any other Opening Day in recent memory. The others seemed to have extended well into the late hours on the West Coast, but that’s not the case here.

In other news, it looks like the North Carolina Tar Heels won the NCAA Men’s basketball championship tonight. I’m not much of a college basketball guy, so I didn’t spent even a second watching it.

Anyhow, this concludes the Third Annual Opening Day Blog. Thanks for reading.

6:38 p.m.: Justin Morneau is coming to the plate with the bases loaded in Minnesota. And Morneau just toppled a double play ball on the first pitch.

6:29 p.m.: Ouch! Mike Redman just got hit with the barrel of a broken bat.

6:26 p.m.: Griffey just homered. The Mariners announcer just proclaimed: “He’s back.” Yeah, sorta …

6:22 p.m.: Vicodin is kicking in. Back is numb.

6:09 p.m.: Props to my wife for like the fourth time today. She got me some Vicodin for my back.

6:06 p.m.: The Athletics and Angels are getting ready to begin. For the first time in more than a decade, I’m actually excited to see what the A’s — one of my home teams — will do.

6:02 p.m.: Wow, I think my poll about who has the worst Opening Day pitching line was created too early. Justin Verlander is the winner, hands down: 3.1 innings, 8 hits, 8 earned runs, two walks and a homer allowed. He did have 4 Ks though.

5:58 p.m.: My sister and her husband just got back from the Pacific Northwest and I’ve got a free Seattle Mariner pocket schedule available to the first three people who e-mail me at cardboardicons@yahoo.com. These pocket schedules have Felix Hernandez on the front doing some sort of fist pump.

5:46 p.m.: A few things of note happened over the last hour: Justin Verlander got rocked in Toronto, Roy Oswalt gave up three runs in five innings to the Cubs, Felix Hernandez turned an ankle in the first inning of the Twins-Mariner’s game and Ken Griffey Jr. took his first at-bat as a Mariner for the first time in some nine years. Griffey looks old. Sad.

It also should be noted that within the last hour I traded Carlos Delgado for Vernon Wells in one of my fantasy leagues.

4:18 p.m.: Cardinals lose 6-4. I’m going to take a break to see if I car get my back loosened up.

4:16 p.m.: Props to my wife again. She’s now hooked up the Rice Krispy treats. My wife is the bomb.

4:15 p.m.: Albert Pujols, in an effort to save Jason Motte’s sorry ass, has singled. He’s got two singles, a double and a walk today. This is why Pujols is the man.

4:07 p.m.: This just in, Jason Motte sucks. He’s blown the lead — 6-4 pirates.

4:01 p.m.: Jason Motte is on the mound to close out the Cardinals game and he has allowed a run and three hits. He’s in danger of blowing his first opportunity. Start the Chris Perez chatter again.

3:40 p.m.: Wow, Brandon Webb AND Aaron Cook got off lucky today. Both guys gave up 6 earned runs, but the D-Backs defeated the Rockies 9-8 with some later-innings antics.

3:34 p.m.: I hate when home-team broadcast guys refer to the team as “we.” I understand homer broadcasts, but the use of the term “we” makes me sick. I’m referring to the Nationals broadcast team again … wish I knew who they were.

3:28 p.m.: Just looking at some blog stats and see that we’ve got a few hits from people searching Google for the following phrases: “Chipper Jones naked”,” david wright underwear”, and “authentic football players masterbatin.” I am not kidding.o

3:24 p.m.: Sabathia’s outing has inspired the following poll:

3:14 p.m.: In honor of CC, here’s a video for you to enjoy:

3:11 p.m.: As a Red Sox fan, it is my job to note that CC Sabathia of the Yankees has allowed five earned runs and is pitching with the bases loaded. Need I remind you he is facing the F’n Orioles.

3:07 p.m.: One of the best things to watchon Opening Day is the free agency activity in my fantasy leagues. Here are some of the adds: Bonaficio, Jeremy Guthrie, Billy Butler, Manny Parra, Anthony Reyes and Kendry Morales. The Drops: Rick Ankiel, Miguel Tejada, Carlos Guillen, Jack Cust and Khalil Greene. Interesting.

2:59 p.m.: WOW, Adam Dunn just CRUSHED a three-run home run off Nolasco. As the Nats announcer just said: “That’s what I’m talking about.”

The announcer just said, ” This is one dangerous dude.”

My wife responded with “Who the fuck is this announcer?”

Awesome.

2:53 p.m.: Just read a note from the State League Commish (FreeSanJose) where he makes fun of PoiDog who has made an unverified record of six pre-season free agency moves. We are limited to 30 throughout the season. Good job, Poi.

2:51 p.m.: Looks like one of our fantasy leaguers is reading this blog — or watching the Marlins game — Bonaficio has been added.

2:45 p.m.: Emilio Bonaficio of the Marlins had an inside-the-park homer about 15 minutes ago. He makes for an intriguing play at second base in fantasy leagues as he provides crazy speed.

2:18 p.m.: Props to the wife again, she hooked up lunch — Subway.

2:03 p.m.: ESPN2 is airing the Yankees-Orioles game and I just don’t seem to care. I’m enjoying this non-HD stuff on MLB Extra Innings. This just in — The Orioles are boring.

2:02 p.m.: The Jon just called again to make fun of Brandon Webb, whose given up back-to-back jacks in the fourth. He’s now given up 6 earned.

1:59 p.m.: Pujols singled, but the Cardinals held Adam Wainwright at third so the bases are loaded for Khalil Greene — who just singled up the middle. 1-0 Cardinals.

1:58 p.m.: Channel surfing and see that Albert Pujols is about to bat with two runners on. This is the first year since Albert’s rookie year that I have owned him in a fantasy league. He’s 1-1 already …

1:54 p.m.: Just added links to the on-going games. ALso realized that Ricky Nolasco is cruising — 4 ks through two innings.

1:49 p.m.: Check that, Tony Clark just smashed a two-run homer to make it 6-4 D-Backs. Arizona is in the midst of a four-run third inning.

1:47 p.m.: Quick league roundup: Rockies-D-Backs knoted at 4 in the 4th innings; Marlins up on the Nats 2-0 in the third, and the Pirates-Cardinals and Yankees-Orioles are scoreless int he second.

1:44 p.m.: Quick box score check shows the Rangers have defeated the Indians 9-1. Kinsler was 3-5, Millwood — who still sucks — was solid. Heed this warning fantasy leaguers: LEAVE MILLWOOD ALONE.

1:40 p.m.: K-Rod just shut down the Reds 1-2-3. First save as a Met. And the first game of Opening DAY is in the books.

1:35 p.m.: Francisco Rodriguez has entered the game for the first time as a Met.

1:31 p.m.: I switched the channel from the Mets game to the Nats and Marlins. Marlins are up 2-0 in the bottom of the first. When I got back to the Mets game, David Wright, who walked, was back in the dugout after apparently getting caught stealing, Damnit. This net-stolen bases category in my main fantasy league is going to kill me again.

1:27 p.m.: Looks like we’re about to get another batch of games started. As The Jon noted in our latest conversation, Opening Day has just begun.

1:14 p.m.: Well, looks like the good people at ESPN are preparing for another season of zooming in on the eyes of relief pitcher, ala Jonathan Papelbon. They are doing the same “intense” treatment for JJ Putz, Ugh.

1:10 p.m.: JJ putz has entered the Mets game to be the bridge to K-Rod. On that note, I watched Mike Gonzalez close out the Braves game last night. What the hell is up with his windup. He and K-Rod are some odd dudes.

1:08 p.m.: The Jon is on the phone and we’re watching the opening garbage ceremonies of the Yankees-Orioles. This is painful. This is like Little League opening day.

1 p.m.: Just looked at the Indians box score and see that Cliff Lee’s line looks like that of Jason Kidd’s line from like five years ago. Lee has a line of 10-7-7. If this were Kidd, we’d be talking points, assists and steals. For Lee, we’re talking hits, runs and earned runs.

12:56 p.m.: It just dawned on me that it was 10 years ago on Opening Day when my wife and I attended our first baseball game together. It was the Yankees at the Athletics, Roger Clemens’ first start as a Bronx Bomber.

12:51 p.m.: Steve Phillips was talking about Gary Sheffield again, talking about how he was sending him text messages last week, trying to figure out where he was going to sign. This for some reason bothered me. I guess it seemed like he was name-dropping.

12:48 p.m.: About ten minutes ago Darnell McDonald scored the first run of the Reds season. At the same time, my near-three-month-old daughter had an explosive poop that went through her diaper and clothes. That’s what she thinks of Darnell McDonald. Oddly enough she had the same reaction last night when I was speaking about Brett Myers.

12:37 p.m.: Just saw that the Rangers have gone up 7-0 on a Hank Blalock 3-run homer. Cliff Lee getting lit up big time.

12:27 p.m.: Reds just changed Herrera for Mike Lincoln, who has the task of pitching to David Wright with two runners on and first base open. He’s thrown two breaking balls that almost went for wild pitches.

12:23 p.m.: Herrera just walked two straight to load the bases for Daniel Murphy, who went deep in his last at-bat.

12:19 p.m.: Darnell McDonald just dropped a diving catch. Something tells me he’s headed back to the minors tonight …

12:17 p.m.: Travis Hafner just grounded into an inning-ending double play. He looks confused.

12:16 p.m.: Harang is now out of the game after throwing some 100 pitches in just five innings. Daniel Herrera now on the mound.

12:07 p.m.: Grady Sizemore just broke up the Millwood no-no with a single laced to right.

12:06 p.m.: Kevin Millwood has a no-no through three innings. JINX!

Noon: The Jon called again to say “That Cleveland defense has more gaps than the hoes we saw at that run-down strip club in Vegas.” He’s referring to the toothless chicks who were dancing at this club we briefly stopped in a few years back during the one and only trip The Jon and I, along with eight others, took to Sin City. Terrible.

11:59 a.m.: I knew Darnell McDonald would be a frequent topic today: He and his outfield buddies just let a second straight pop-up fall for a hit.

11:55 a.m.: Daniel Murphy just blasted a homer off Aaron Harang. Weeeeeeeeeeeeee. 1-0, Mets

11:54 a.m.: Steve Phillips is sharing his philosphy on the World Baseball Classic. He has an interesting idea: Give the backup spot to a scrub and allow the true backup, a MLB star, stay with his MLB team until he is needed.

11:50 a.m.: I just flipped back the Indians-Ranger game and see that I missed a four-run second inning against reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Cliff Lee. Damnit. Looks like Ian Kinsler and Jarrod Saltalamacchia both had two-run singles.

The Live Opening Day Blog is coming

After thinking about things for a few days, I’ve decided to attempt the third annual Live Opening Day blog. As best as possible, I’ll be blogging about the happenings of the first full day of the 2009 season, from the first pitch of the first game to the last one of the latest game. If you’re unfamiliar with the Opening Day blog, check out seasons past here (2008) and here (2007). I write these things for TheBaseballStars.com, and this year I will do so again. (I also run another blog, one focused mainly on baseball cards — it can be found at www.cardboardicons.com) I tend to write frequently, often times about whatever is on my mind. If you’re stuck at work on Monday — the REAL Opening Day — and need updates, don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. Got questions? Just leave a comment and I’ll answer them as soon as possible.

As it is right now, I’m sitting here watching the Braves and Phillies Opening NIGHT game on ESPN and being a Brett Myers fantasy owner, I’m pissed. I’m even more perplexed by the fact that Myers is reluctant to throw his damn fastball, which sets everything else up. You know things are not going you way when Brian McCann takes you into the second deck, Jeff Francoeur lights you up and skinny-as-a-toothpick Jordan Schafer goes deep in his first Major League at-bat.

A couple things of interest:

* Did the Phillies add gold trim to their jersey patch? It looks almost Rainbow Bright-ish

*With Ryan Howard’s monster spring, where can his 2003 Bowman’s Best rookie go in terms of demand. Remember when those things were SELLING for $600? I still feel like the $150 I paid for mine was a bargain … I guess.

*This is the most ESPN I’ve watched since 2008. Thanks to the MLB Network (MLBN) I’ve not had to change the channel for anything but a few World Baseball Classic games and this Opening Night beatdown by the Braves. (Note: Just as I wrote that sentence, Yunel Escobar launched a double that should have been a home run.)

*Poor White Sox and Royals fans. I can’t imagine what it’s like to wait all winter and spring for Opening Day and then have to wait an extra day. In case you msised it, the Royals-White Sox game scheduled for Monday has been postponed due to rain. They’ve rescheduled for Tuesday. Ugh.

Rebuilding A Franchise: From First to Worst and Back … Hopefully

It started with a poor season.

For better or worse, the 2008 baseball season was a disaster for my squad in the SLO League, causing me to seriously consider blowing up the team that had led me to two titles. I’d entered the 2008 draft with what at the time was considered OK keepers — Chase Utley, Victor Martinez, Justin Verlander, Carlos Lee and CC Sabathia. But then things quickly started to unravel.

Dear MLB Network, Part I

The last few days I’ve had the great pleasure of watching the MLB Network while watching over my newborn daughter during the day time and in the early morning hours. And one thing has become increasingly more apparent: There is no new content on this channel during the weekend.

For the love of God, can someone in New York mix in something new? I don’t care if I end up watching the Yankees pummel the Red Sox for an entire day. Anything but another re-run of the 1986 season.

Finally, the MLB Network has arrived

Finally, the day has come. For about as long as I could remember, I’ve always wondered what it’d be like to have a TV channel dedicated solely to baseball, a sport that I could watch 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Today, the MLB Network officially launches, and there is no one more stoked than I am. OK, maybe I’m embellishing a bit, but you get the point.

Instead of watching re-runs of Fresh Prince of Bell Air at 1 a.m. while writing for CardboardIcons.com or TheBaseballStars.com, I can sit here and re-watch highlights from the games of the day, watch contests that were played decades ago and largely have been withheld from public consumption due to strict copyright laws, or simply just marvel at theme shows highlighting Herculean efforts from our favorite players of all time.

I’ve dreamed of this day for several years. Finally this dream of mine has been fulfilled.

Dear TBS, Part One Million

Where the hell is my baseball!?!?!?!?!?!?! I’ve been watching this godforsaken channel for an hour now waiting for the pre-game show and the start of Game Six of the ALCS, and right now I’m stuck watching some stupid-ass sitcom. I’ve tried to call your customer service number, and it is busy. The game has started and I’m watching crap from the 1990s. Thanks for the nothing, idiots. Very Unfunny.

Open Letter to Terry Francona, baseball minds alike

I can’t help it. Every time I see Tim Wakefield, I think of 2003. I think of Aaron Boone. I think of a floating knuckle ball that never hits the catcher’s mitt. I think of lost dreams and heartbreak. And I know I can’t be the only one. Boston fans have had much to cheer about since 2004, but you can’t tell me that all is well in your in mind when you see Terry Francona send Wakefield to the hill every fifth day. You can’t tell me that disaster is not the first thing on your mind.

Dear TBS, Part 4

Dear TBS,

Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Because your intrepid reporter Craig Sager wanted to interview Jonathan Papelbon and Justin Masterson after the Red Sox’s victory Monday over the Anaheim Angels in the American League Division Series, I got to experience the second greatest moment of the night. Nothing will top Jason Bay scoring on Jed Lowrie’s game-winning single. But watching Papelbon ruin Craig Sager’s suit with his champagne blast during the interview was perhaps the second greatest moment of the entire playoffs. And speaking of the suit, what the hell was that pocket square. Was that a tiger? An Eye of the Tiger?