Buffalo Wild Wings Blazin Player: Carlos Gonzalez
Carlos Gonzalez
Every Tuesday Sports Grind Entertainment presents you with the Buffalo Wild Wings Blazin Player of the Week. This week the recipient of this prestigious honor goes to Colorado Rockies outfielder Carlos Gonzalez for completing a cycle with a walk-off home run which simply is BLAZIN.
Gonzalez singled in the first inning, tripled and scored a run in the third inning and doubled in the fifth while adding a sacrifice fly in the seventh before homering to win the game. Then Gonzalez’s led-off the bottom of the ninth inning against Sean Marshall (6-3) and destroyed the first pitch he faced into the upper deck of right field to give the Rockies win over the Chicago Cubs.
The cycle was the sixth in Rockies history and first since shortstop Troy Tulowitzki did it on Aug. 10, 2009. It was the first time a Major Leaguer clinched a cycle with a walk-off homer since Dwight Evans did it for the Boston Red Sox on June 28, 1984.
Congratulations Carlos Gonzalez you are this weeks Buffalo Wild Wings Blazin Player.
Bill “Spaceman” Lee Not A Fan Of George Steinbrenner
Former Boston Red Sox pitcher Bill “Spaceman” Lee wasn’t a big fan of New York Yankee’s owner George Steinbrenner. When Lee was asked about Steinbrenner’s passing he responded by saying his passing was good. It only got better from there.
I know I’m in a very, very small majority that believes in this but I commend Lee for standing behind his feelings on Steinbrenner and not becoming two-face because of his passing. If you don’t like someone while they are alive what’s the reason to change your feelings just cause they are gone, they will never hear your sudden change of heart.
Cincinnati Reds Joey Votto Doesn’t Approve Of Chicago Cubs, Disses All-Star Teammate
Get Up, Stand Up
It appears as if Cincinnati Reds first-baseman Joey Votto is they only player on the National League that actually gets it. Votto refused to congratulate Chicago Cubs outfielder Marlon Byrd on his performance in Tuesdays All-Star game because Byrd plays for division rival. Byrd made a head’s up play in right field that forced Boston’s David Ortiz out at second base, and also worked a key walk in a seventh-inning rally that led to the NL’s first victory at the All-Star game since 1996.
Thankful for the National Leagues victory and it’s first since 1996 Votto still saw the word Cubs across Byrds chest and said
“I don’t like the Cubs. And I’m not going to pat anybody with a Cubs uniform on the back. But because he made that really cool play, it turned out to be a really cool experience. I’m really glad we got the win today.”
Before you rip Votto and his stance ask yourself if you ever ripped Hall of Famers Willie Mays, Frank Robinson, and Bob Gibson for sharing the same views on each other when they would meet up in the All-Star festivities back in the 1960′s. If you didn’t rip the Hall of Famers for living by the same creed why rip Votto? Division rivals still mean something to some people.
Nick Swisher Earns All-Star Bid With Douche Video
Thank you NBA, your players openly campaigning for spots on the All-Star this past year, like they where running for student council, has made its way into MLB. The vote for me campaign worked for New York Yankees outfielder Nick Swisher, as the fans voted him in for the last spot on the American League roster for the All-Star game to be played July 12.
Oh all the people for the viral campaign to work for why Swisher? I guess it could have been worse since I wasn’t bombarded with one from Boston Red Sox Kevin Youkilis.
Washington Nationals Stephen Strasburg Baseball Sells For $20K
Real Deal?
When your the talk of the baseball world like Washington Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg for over a year before even making a big league debut and then in his first career start goes out and strikes out 14 while walking zero, the stardom train is leaving in a hurry.
Strasburg already has had his rookie baseball card sell for over $16,000 and with TV executives switching previous schedule games in favor of Strasburg starts, how much would a signed baseball from his first game go for?
Major League Baseball has jumped on the train as they authenticated all the baseballs used by the rookie phenom in his major league debut and put some for sale on their auction site. In the second inning Strasburg struck out Pittsburgh Pirates Garrett Jones and MLB snagged the ball.
They put it up for sale with a starting bid of $300, the bidding rose quickly and the final price came in from user Merkle923 for $20,010. Merkle923 is baseball enthusiast and MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann. Over the last few years Olbermann has, using the Merkle923 account, bid on a number of baseball items through MLB and other auction sites.
His next start is tomorrow against the Chicago White Sox and will be broadcast on the MLB Network instead of it’s original Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers game.
Buffalo Wild Wings Blazin Player: Stephen Strasburg
Stephen Strasburg
Every Tuesday Sports Grind Entertainment presents you with the Buffalo Wild Wings Blazin Player of the Week. This week the recipient of this prestigious honor goes to Washington Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg who lived up to the early hype and won both of his Major League Baseball debuts at home and away which simply is BLAZIN.
Strasburg entered the major leagues surrounded by so much hype and in his first game struck out 14 but more importantly walked none at home against the Pittsburgh Pirates. For his follow up performance in Cleveland against the Indians, which TBS switched from a Boston Red Sox vs Philadelphia Phillies matchup, he struck out another 8 batters while walking 5. Strasburgh did give up a home run in both games but did walk away victorious in both starts. He now carries a 2.19 ERA and a rookie card that sold for over $16,000.
Congratulations Stephen Strasburg you are this weeks Buffalo Wild Wings Blazin Player.
Washington Nationals Stephen Strasburg Quickly Becoming A TV Star
Real Deal?
When your the talk of the baseball world like Washington Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg for over a year before even making a big league debut and then in his first career start goes out and strikes out 14 while walking zero, the stardom train is leaving in a hurry.
Strasburg already has had his rookie baseball card sell for over $16,000 but now the TV executives are hoping to hop on and stay for awhile. He’s quickly becoming a TV star as TBS has added Sunday’s Washington Nationals/Cleveland Indians game, which is Strasburg’s second major league start, to its schedule and replaced a previously scheduled matchup of the Philadelphia Phillies/Boston Red Sox.
The train doesn’t stop their for Strasburg as the MLB Network has added the June 18 Chicago White Sox/Washington Nationals game, Strasburg’s third start, replacing Boston Red Sox/Los Angeles Dodgers. I’ll be watching of course but to be replacing Boston Red Sox twice is very shocking to me.
WTF: Jim Joyce
Within A Blink Of An Eye
Sure by now the name Jim Joyce is burned into your mind from all the ESPN cut ins and leading off their telecast to his name being a trending a topic on Twitter within 46 seconds after the blown call. From a OG baseball fan as myself the sad part of watching it play out over and over is that it wasn’t even a close call in MLB umpiring standards.
Joyce has admitted his wrong doing and even apologized to the Detroit Tigers and pitcher Armando Galarraga but will never live down his mistake. Quicker than a blink of an eye and Joyce’s family name has been forever altered even beyond his death.
Hell the Boston Red Sox have erased the Babe Ruth jinx with two World Series wins in recent years but somehow the name Bill Buckner still rings shame and carries a dark cloud over it with many Red Sox fans.
MLB Broadcaster Stops Plane Attack
You Need Me On That Plane!
Former Texas Rangers and Boston RedSox manager and current Tampa Bay Rays broadcaster Kevin Kennedy was among eight men who stopped a passenger who threatened to blow up their flight last night.
A Delta Air Lines flight from Los Angeles to Florida was diverted to Albuquerque after a passenger sprayed the first-class cabin with a water bottle, tried to open a cabin door and threatened to blow up the aircraft.
“When he started threatening bombs it was for real. I knew it was anyway. We all kind of looked at him. The guy next to me, he was saying ‘Hey buddy, let’s calm down here.’ We tried to talk him down but it wasn’t happening. It was actually getting worse,” Kennedy said.
Passengers on Delta flight 2148 to Tampa subdued Stanley Dwayne Sheffield. He was taken into federal custody after the plane landed. Sheffield was charged with interference with flight crew members and destruction of aircraft.
Congratulations to Kennedy and the other seven passengers who had a hand in stopping this lunatic but he still sucked as a manger though.
20 Inning Marathon Draws Big Numbers For FOX
Screw Tony La Russa
Regular season baseball managed to steal some of the spotlight from playoff games in the NBA and NHL over the weekend.
Regional Major League Baseball coverage, featuring the New York Mets 20-inning win over the St. Louis Cardinals, drew a 3.0 overnight rating on FOX Saturday afternoon and evening, up 11% from a 2.7 last year. The game last 6 hours and 53 minutes.
Mets/Cardinals, which aired in 61% of television markets, did not end until after 10 PM CST which preempted primetime and local news programming. According to Sports Business Daily, the 3.0 is the highest overnight for a non-New York Yankees/Boston Red Sox regular season game on FOX since August 2008.
Mets/Cardinals averaged a 6.5 in New York and had a peak of 11.1. In St.Louis it averaged an 18.3 in St. Louis with a peak of 29.3.
Jay-Z Suing Boston Red Sox David Ortiz For 40/40 Club Name In Dominican Republic
Empire State Of Mind
If this doesn’t endure Jay-Z to New Yorkers forever, I don’t know what will. That’s because ultimate New Yorker and New York Yankee fan Jay-Z is suing the Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz for naming his club in the Dominican Republic 40/40 which Hova already owns the naming rights to.
The lawsuit claims the Red Sox star Ortiz liked Jay-Z’s 40/40 Club so much that he stole the name calling the Santo Domingo hotspot Forty-Forty, hoping patrons would think his club was part of the rap star’s empire the suit filed Thursday in Manhattan Federal Court claims.
Since his friend and protector in the Red Sox lineup Manny Ramirez was traded things have been in a tailspin for the designated hitter as he’s been found guilty of using PEDs, his play has dropped off significantly that I don’t know if he warrants being called ‘Big Papi’ anymore and know The Empire is suing him.
Now you can insert joke about how Ortiz should have named his club after his batting average…..Club .154
WTF: Minnesota Twins
Is Dave Mansell Your Final Answer?
Target Field home of the Minnesota Twins opened yesterday afternoon against the Boston Red Sox and who was the lucky person to throw out the ceremonial first pitch? Non other than Dave Mansell.
Scratching your head thinking of when Mansell played with the Twins? You see Mansell never played for the Twins or with any MLB team, he’s the Mortenson Construction Superintendent of the project. I guess Minnesotans really live by a different beat when they passed on Twins All Stars Jack Morris, Tony Oliva, Kent Hrbek and Frank Viola. Hall of Famers Rod Carew, Harmon Killebrew or Dave Winfield didn’t serve any better nor did Kirby Puckett Jr as the honor went to the site manager of people.
When history looks back on yesterday and the trivia question arises who threw out the Twins first pitch at Target Field, I doubt anyone outside of the Mansell family will be able to provide the answer.
The Masters Sees 12.0 Overnight Rating But No Record
Est. 1934
Overnight ratings hit a 9-year high for the final round of The Masters, but remained well below record levels.
CBS drew a 12.0 overnight rating for final round coverage of The Masters on Sunday, up 36% from last year 8.8, up 35% from 2008 8.9. This marks the highest overnight for the final round of The Masters since Tiger Woods victory in 2001 of 12.9.
This is also the first time since 2005 that final round coverage has drawn at least a 10.0 overnight.
Third round coverage of The Masters on Saturday also drew big numbers on CBS, but remained off the pace of both 1997 and 2001.
CBS drew a 7.6 overnight rating for coverage of The Masters on Saturday, up 33% from last year 5.7, and up 25% from 2008 6.1.
The 7.6 overnight is the highest for third round coverage of The Masters since 2001 7.9, and the third-highest third round rating on record behind 2001 and 1997 8.6.
For perspective, Saturday’s third round coverage drew a higher overnight than every single golf telecast in 2009 with the lone exception of the final round of The Masters 8.8.
In comparison other sports that where matched up against the The Masters over the weekend where crushed. I know I didn’t watch any MLB on Saturday afternoon nor did Rudy J watch any NBA on Sunday.
MLB on Fox drew a 1.7 overnight rating on Saturday afternoon, down 29% from coverage featuring Boston Red Sox/Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim last year 2.4. The NBA on ABC drew a 2.0 overnight on Sunday afternoon, down 20% from Boston Celtics/Cleveland Cavaliers last year 2.5.
Japanese Female Pitcher To Play Pro Baseball In U.S.
Knuckleball?
A female knuckleball pitcher from Japan will be playing for a minor league team in the United States. Eri Yoshida, an 18-year-old pitcher who played pro ball in Japan last year, signed with the Chico Outlaws of the Golden Baseball League. The team said she will report to spring training next month.
“I am grateful for this opportunity to pitch for the Chico Outlaws,” Yoshida said. “This is a dream come true for me and I hope I can contribute to the team and help them win and also to continue to improve as a pro baseball player.”
Yoshida will be the first female to pitch for a pro team in the United States since Ila Borders retired more than 10 years ago. The 5-foot, 114-pound Yoshida became Japan’s first female pro baseball player last year when she pitched for the Kobe Cruise 9 in the Kansai Independent League. She was 0-2 in 11 appearances with a 4.03 ERA, giving up seven runs in 10 2-3 innings.
Yoshida learned how to throw a knuckleball by watching video of Tim Wakefield and recently got a few tips from the Boston Red Sox pitcher at the team’s spring training facility in Fort Myers, Fla. The team is making accommodations to provide separate locker room facilities and hotel rooms while traveling.
The 10-team Golden Baseball League is an independent minor league with teams in Arizona, California and Canada.
Ump Calls Yankees & Red Sox Pace “A Disgrace To Baseball”
Est. 1869
Umpire Joe West blasted the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox just before Wednesday’s game, accusing the two clubs of being “pathetic and embarrassing” in dragging the pace of games and refusing to work with umpires.
The two teams, notorious for the slow tempo of their games, were denied some timeouts in the batter’s box by home plate umpire Angel Hernandez during Tuesday night’s 6-4 Yankees victory.
“They’re the two clubs that don’t try to pick up the pace,” said West, chief of the umpiring crew that worked the three-game series in Boston. He was the home plate umpire Sunday. “They’re two of the best teams in baseball. Why are they playing the slowest? It’s pathetic and embarrassing. They take too long to play.”
“All of baseball looks to these two clubs to pick up the pace,” West said. “Angel did everything he could. The players aren’t working with us.This is embarrassing, a disgrace to baseball.”
West would not allow Hernandez to comment. Hernandez denied at least three timeouts Tuesday night called by Derek Jeter, Marcus Thames and Boston’s David Ortiz.
The Yankees-Red Sox games average around 3 hours and 46 minutes which is close to an average more than any other game in MLB.
West conceded that the Yankees and Red Sox often play high-scoring games and that both teams employ a strategic approach that involves hitters taking pitches.
The concern from West wasn’t the only heat coming from the Yankee-Red Sox series as Boston’s Ortiz had some words for the media. After Tuesdays loss the Boston media was back to raising questions about whether to bench Ortiz after he started the season 0-for-7 at the plate. He had similar problems last season when he hit .230 in April and .143 in May and didn’t hit his first home run until May 20.
Big Papi answered the post-game questioning with a profane comeback
“Shit happens. Then you guys talk shit. Two fucking games already. You fuckers going crazy. What’s up with that, man? Shit. There’s 160 games left. Ain’t that a bitch.”
Welcome to opening week at Fenway Park.
Stay Classy Boston Fans
This is a step forward from the “Jeter had AIDS” T-shirt.
The Day Dr. Dre Took Over
Do Yourself A Favor Buy Some Beats By Dre
How often do you see Dr. Dre make public appearances outside of something musically related that was as big as Opening Night of Major League Baseball?
Last night he dropped by to take some batting practice and drop off some Beats by Dre headphones, if you don’t own them yet you must, to some of the Rex Sox players like former American League MVP Dustin Pedroia. Now Dre wasn’t the only headliner to make an appearance last night as he was seen with Interscope chairman Jimmy Iovine, Cleveland Cavaliers LeBron James while Aerosmith’s front man Steven Tyler and Neil Diamond even popped up during the course of the night.
But Dre’s rarity stole the show.
SGE Fantasy Baseball Preview: Outfield Part Tres
Sleeper Pick
It’s just 3 days away from Opening Day and its time for a final bonus edition concerning the outfield position for those still to have their fantasy baseball draft this weekend. As stated in part one and deux of the outfield rankings this is where you will find players who will gather the most points for you through out the season in five categories. Those categories being hitting for average/home runs/RBI’s/scoring runs and stealing bases. Guys like Boston Red Sox Jacoby Ellsbury, Arizona Diamondbacks Justin Upton and Seattle Mariners Ichiro Suzuki are the best at this and will be sure to be taken early so lets go deeper.
Breakout Player: Adam Jones, Baltimore Orioles
- Jones was a first time All-Star last year and on the brink of MLB stardom when injuries cut short his season. It wasn’t just injuries that put a damper on his second half as pitchers began to figure him out and he hit .237 with 7 home runs and 26 RBI’s. This came after a first half in which he hit .305, 12 home runs, 44 RBI’s and scored 50 runs. He spent a huge chunk of the off season with Orioles hitting coach in better preparing himself to take more walks so he doesn’t become an easy strikeout victim which prolongs hitting slumps.
Sleeper Pick: Garrett Jones, Pittsburgh Pirates
- I toss and turned over on where to put Jones here in the sleeper or the risky spot. In the end I have to trust my gut and believe last year wasn’t a fluke for him. He reminds me of Los Angeles Dodgers Casey Blake who developed into an everyday player at the big leagues late in his career. Jones was a 10 year minor league journeyman before getting his first lengthy legitimate shot with the Pirates. Pittsburgh gave him the opportunity in midseason and he capitalized on it by hitting .310 with 10 home runs in July and finished with more home runs than any other rookie in the major. The longer I allowed myself to second guess myself the worse it got for Jones. Ultimately I had to come back to what my eyes saw last year and it just wasn’t the home runs, it was the confidence he showed at the plate. He belonged and and I believe he will show it again this year too.
Risky Player: Chris Young, Arizona Diamondbacks
- Young had yet another roller coaster season last year, hitting .196 with 6 home runs through the All-Star break. Then in September he hit .278 with 8 home runs and 14 RBI’s. He has a combination of speed and power that give him an attractive allure but he never seems to put it all together at the same time for a long period. Until Young makes more consistent contact I see another year like last, some highs more lows.
Slipping Player: Vernon Wells, Toronto Blue Jays
- Wells had wrist surgery in November to help with pain from a 2008 injury. It’s believed that the lingering pain caused for his power numbers to suffer like they did last season. With his power numbers down again, Wells did impress me by stealing 17 bases last year. It gave him some added value but on the other side what took away from that value was him falling back to hitting .260. I thought he had pulled himself out of the depths that he reached in 2007 when he hit a miserable .240 and only 16 home runs. At the end of 2010 I don’t see him crossing the plate more than 80 times, 16 home runs and back to normal on the bases with 11 steals and another .260 season.
Be sure to come back for a preview of starting pitcher position.
Nick Swisher Won’t Sing Your “Sweet Caroline”
As we move into April, that only means the start off baseball season and ESPN has trotted out it’s first Sunday Night Baseball commercial.
I personally would have ran 30 seconds mentioning that Steve Phillips will no longer be a part of the Sunday Night broadcast booth but that’s me and instead ESPN got Boston Red Sox pitcher Clay Buchholz and actor Adam Scott to singing the Sox’s seventh inning stretch song “Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond. They however can’t get any help from New York Yankee Nick Swisher to help sing along.
Did I mention I would have chosen 30 seconds of mentioning Steve Phillips would not be in the Sunday Night booth?
SGE Fantasy Baseball Preview: Third Base
Sleeper Pick
The wait for baseball season to start is almost over and with it heating up just 10 days away from Opening Day, it’s only fitting that we take a look at the hot corner. The third base position is a close resemblance to the catcher spot in that you will not find an abundance of power here outside of a selected few. In the hot corner if you weren’t lucky enough to draft an elite player, the middle of the pack will look bland and bleak. Don’t fret because the middle of the pack guys here can still be plugged in and do quite well for you all season long. It’s a toss up depending on your draft strategy on when you want to draft the third base position. If you want an elite third baseman, go early, but if your willing to settle for the mid pack guys you can afford to stack up elsewhere. Those at the top of the position are of course New York Yankees Alex Rodriguez, New York Mets David Wright and Tampa Bay Rays Evan Longoria but lets go deeper.
Breakout Player: Casey McGehee, Milwaukee Brewers
- McGehee has only a one-year to his resume and predicting what he will do with 162 games and 500 at bats is difficult. But looking at what his typical minor league season was similar to the 116 games he racked up in the major leagues, with a slightly less batting average. You should be able to see close to 20 home runs, 80 RBI’s and right around a .300 average in a position all to his own.
Sleeper Player: Brandon Wood, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
- Wood put up eye -popping power numbers in the minors and hasn’t had much of a chance to show case those skills in the majors on a consistent basis. This year Wood will have his first taste of significant playing opportunity to play time as he’ll be the starter at third. He’s 25 and skill suggest a breakout year that will more than likely not be one anyone’s radar come draft day. Don’t let his production by the All-Star when you start looking to see if Wood is available on the waiver wire because he won’t.
Risky Player: Chipper Jones, Atlanta Braves
- Injuries are not only taking a toll on Jones physically but they are mentally too as he made the announcement that if he was to have another year production like last year it would be his last. It doesn’t help that Jones turns 38 in April. He’s been one of the best baseball best third basemen of all time but unfortunately time does eventually catch up to all and last year was a good indication. The 2009 season was his worst he’s ever experienced with a .264 average, only 18 home runs and another miserable year in Jones standards with 71 RBI’s.
Slipping Player: Mike Lowell, Boston Red Sox
- What better way to show your a risk for 162 game season than to when the team that trades for you has to return to sender because of you being damaged goods. That’s the case with Lowell when the Red Sox traded him to the Texas Rangers but was returned after doctors discovered a ligament tear in his thumb. That lead to thumb surgery and Boston acquiring free agent third baseman Adrian Beltre. Lowell tired toward the end of last season contributed to an ailing hip after surgery in 2008. He did hit above his career batting average but it was only in 119 games. Lowell just turned 36 in February as well.
Be sure to come back for the preview of outfield position.
SGE Fantasy Baseball Preview: Shortstops
Sleeper Pick
I can feel it like the the sun burning up your neck on a hot August day, only 16 more days until Opening Day. Today’s rankings is the shortstop position where you will find a bulk of guys that will help in the stolen base and runs scored department. It’s often said that speed kills, this position has an abundance of it and guys that do it well. The best of the best at shortstop is hands down Florida Marlins Hanley Ramirez, Colorado Rockies Troy Tulowitzki and Philadelphia Phillies Jimmy Rollins buts lets go deeper.
Breakout Player: Elvis Andrus, Texas Rangers
- Andrus finished second among American League rookie of the year voting so don’t expect to wait around on him. His overall talents will have him on plenty of peoples radars but since he’s a great source for stolen bases and runs he might be on radars of the least expected. His on-base skills are very advance for a player who is just 21 years old. He had 125 stolen bases in just 407 minor league games, so even if he struggles at the plate, he will always have his speed. If the Rangers continue to have the offensive year they had last year expect Andrus do be crossing home plate sooner and often.
Sleeper Player: J.J. Hardy, Minnesota Twins
- This pick came down to Hardy and the guy who replace him back in Milwaukee, Alcides Escobar. I believe Escobar should have a good year along the baseballs but still a little leery on his chances of getting there, however its Hardy who I’m rolling with. He hit .156 in April with the Brewers and never recovered but Minnesota got a deal on Hardy when they traded for him after his terrible season. Plus he’s only 27 years old compared to last seasons Twins playoff run shortstop, Orlando Cabrera who is 35. Hardy is not your shortstop that will steal the bases instead he will hit for power and I look for him to get back to his track record of hitting 26 home runs in 2007 and 24 in 2008. He’ll come at a big discount because it will still be fresh on peoples minds that the Brewers optioned him to Class AAA at one point. Playing with a new team, in a new state, in a new stadium is all the things Hardy needs for that fresh start.
Risky Player: Jose Reyes, New York Mets
- Do I believe Reyes to be a great player? Yes. Is there more risk attached to him than ever before? Yes. I would rather watch him prove me wrong on someone else roster than ruining mine if things turned for the worse. The health of Reyes right hamstring is to troubling to ignore. He played in only 36 games last season and was set back again in October when he tore the same right hamstring that had him on the DL since May. I’m just siding with caution on this one.
Slipping Player: Marco Scutaro, Boston Red Sox
- I know Scutaro had his best season as a pro last year with the Toronto Blue Jays, setting career highs in every fantasy category but it came at the age of 33 and in Toronto. The pressure of playing in Boston will sure wear on someone who is more likely to revert back to his normal self and his usual run of 7 home runs and 40 RBI’s. His first five years of career are a better indication of his skills and his .260 average. He’s 34 and I don’t see him having a career like Casey Blake in getting a late start to it and staying consistent.
Be sure to come back for the preview of third base position.
SGE Fantasy Baseball Preview: Second Base
Sleeper Pick
Now just 17 days left until Opening Day and it’s not on to the next one its onto second base. On Sports Grind Entertainment we don’t say keeping it real, we say keeping it 100. I have to got to keep it 100 and tell you that I’ve had terrible luck at my second base position the last few years. I’ve been playing fantasy baseball since 1989 when I found an add in local Washington DC baseball magazine, so it’s not like I’ve never had anything of value at that position. However, it’s been since 2006 when I had a hunch about a rookie named Dan Uggla that I did any real damage with my second baseman. I’m determined to change that around this season though.
If your little iffy on my rankings here, I wont blame you. We all know the cream of the crop is Texas Rangers Ian Kinsler, Philadelphia Phillies Jimmy Rollins and Boston Red Sox Dustin Pedroia buts lets go deeper.
Breakout Player: Kelly Johnson, Arizona Diamondbacks
- Johnson had a decent rookie campaign in 2005 but then experienced an elbow injury that forced him to miss all of the 2006 season and change up his position altogether. He exceeded all expectations in 2007 but as the years moved on Johnson slowly fail out of favor with the Atlanta Braves. Now Johnson is in Arizona surround by a lineup that doesn’t mind just swinging for the fence. Could that mentality wear on him come July or August I’m taking the guess it does and we will see him have a breakout year. He possesses good power for a middle infielder and those poor numbers he had in Atlanta last season can be blamed in part on a wrist injury and the unlucky .249 on balls in plays. The injury and low numbers should definitely keep him under the radar.
Sleeper Player: Rickie Weeks, Milwaukee Brewers
- Weeks went down with a wrist injury in May that required season-ending surgery that took its toll on the Brewers until they finally traded for Felipe Lopez in late July. At the time of the injury, he was hitting well and was challenging for the lead in homes runs. Lopez is gone and its back to being all Weeks at second base. He is a batting-average risk with middle of the road power, so don’t take him to early but not many will be thinking about Weeks because of the injury. An injury free season could return big dividends.
Risky Player: Aaron Hill, Toronto Blue Jays
- I know people will read Hills name as being risky and say I’m crazy or no wonder I’ve been doing terrible at this position the last few years but its players like Hill that have put me into that spot. I can’t argue Hills 36 home runs or his 108 RBI’s from last season, it even earned him a spot on the ALL-SGE-MLB Team. But in his previous four seasons Hills highest total of home runs was 17 and his career high in the RBI department was 72. Hill last season wasn’t putting the ball on the ground much which could explain his drop in batting average. Another explanation could be that he an abnormally high 17% of his fly balls went for home runs. I don’t expect Hill to reach the 30 home run mark this season and his home run/ fly ball ratio should regress back to a more normal rate of 10%. It these kind of numbers that make me believe that Hill is a good pickup just a risky to take early or for an above average amount of cash. Don’t spend more than $15.
Slipping Player: Freddy Sanchez, San Francisco Giants
- I can’t take the batting title away from Sanchez but that was four years and numerous injuries ago. Sanchez just signed a two year extension with the Giants, so they have hopes that he will return to being an everyday player once he has recovered from shoulder surgery. Even then he won’t do much for you except hit for a decent average.
Be sure to come back tomorrow for the preview of the shortstop position.
Bar Selling Season Tickets For A Seat At The Bar
That's My Seat!
Jerry Remy’s Sports Bar & Grill is opening near Fenway Park next week and selling season tickets. These aren’t tickets to the actual game these are tickets for a seat at the bar. For a one-time $500 fee, patrons will get a guaranteed table during Red Sox games. A same ticket for New England Patriots games costs $350 and $250 for Boston Celtics games.
Fenway Park has been sold out since May of 2003 and bars around the ballpark are just as hard to find an open seat so the restaurant’s managing partner John Mascia came up with the idea as a way to keep people coming around when there is no game.
So far Remy’s has sold 170 season passes and one company bought 50. On the surface, the $500 might seem tough to swallow, but if played right, it could be an incredible value. As of now, Mascia says there’s no limit as to the number of people a season ticket holder can bring to a table and the season ticket holder does not have to give up his table or seat when the game ends.
Is Remy’s onto something? Could Wrigleyville be next or the Ice Man’s Pub?
Victoria’s Secret Partners With Major League Baseball On Clothing Line
Babes Love Baseball
With Spring Training underway, Major League Baseball Properties and Victoria ’s Secret PINK are introducing a new way for female fans to display their team pride and celebrate the upcoming season in style.
The MLB and VS PINK co-branded collection will fashionably feature names and logos of 11 MLB teams including the Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Los Angeles Dodgers, Minnesota Twins, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, San Diego Padres and the St. Louis Cardinals.
The collection showcases VS PINK’s highly recognizable brand iconography with fun sayings like “I only kiss Yankees fans” or “Love Love Love Twins”, and boasts cute zip-pocket tees, crystallized caps, baseball jerseys, stylish hoodies, tanks, sweats, shorts and more.
The collection will launched yesterday in more than 100 Victoria ’s Secret stores spanning each of these teams markets, as well as on www.victoriassecret.com. Victoria ’s Secret PINK is a fully articulated and internationally recognized lifestyle collection specifically for young women. This new product line is the latest effort by Major League Baseball to provide its extensive female fan base with new and fashionable ways to support their favorite team.
According to ESPN Sports Poll, Major League Baseball has had the largest percentage of female fans (45% of its total fan base in ’09) among the major sports leagues since 2004. This collaboration marks the first professional sports relationship for VS PINK.
