New inspiration

...Josh posted before me, but the sentiment is still the same--Fassero's got to go. I could tell how badly he was pitching today, and that was just from listening to the radio! He gave us his all, but should never be in a close game after the 6th inning. Hell, he shouldn't be a Giant any more. I'm sure Tampa Bay would gladly stich a uni for him, too.

Tis the Season

The Cartel, glimpsing the brass ring for the first time in the league, seized the moment and contacted Mr. Last Place at the right time.

Here's the trade:

Dunn Howard
Biggio Weeks
Burrell Spilborghs
Dam. Jax Burke
Josh And(F) Stephen Drew (F)

His original offer had Izzy in the mix, but I couldn't do that without getting Wright back, and that's not something that Greg would even consider (don't blame him). In terms of current value, great move for Greg picking up 3 studs. I get Howard and Weeks for now (and the future), and Drew who might end up being the best player of the 10--time will tell (in fact, just wrote about him today in this blog). Throwing in Burke sealed the deal.

...just in case you are wondering.

also heard on larrydotnet

When interviewed about the Giants releasing Tyler Walker, Felipe reportedly was not aware of the team's move and said, "I was planning on putting him out there in the 9th inning (of a tied game)."

No comment here (on so many levels).

pound for pound...

the toughest baseball player in the NL has to be Craig Counsell. The guy should be in traction, but he's gutting it out every day, knowing that if goes to the DL, so goes his starting assignment, as Stephen Drew is waiting in the wings, off to a huge start in the minors. Larrydotnet and I were discussing it today (after he called to report Mark's lame attempt of trying to pull a Peckler on him--trading a werth-less LA OF for actual value).

Of course, some people are not immune to the other Larry's considerable charms...

Also heard at Retail Sales Convention: New Mazzone Punching dolls

...if you can't have the real thing in your dugout, just blow one up and have him rock, rock, rock you into your happy pitching zone. You can punch him all day long and he still bounces up and rock, rock, rocks....

Would do wonders for Jorge Sosa and Odalis Perez (you didn't really think he turned the corner this year, did you?)

Yes, you CAN !

Since 100% of my readers (all 3 of you) are in SF, you should know that as of today, San Francisco re-invigorated a tradition that was in place from 1935-1981--canned San Francisco Beer! And, it's at our favorite watering hole, 21st Amendment Brewpub and Restaurant on 563 Second, near Brannan--just a short walk to or from the ballyard on the Bay.

Read all about it here: http://www.brookston.org/beer/>

Here's the impact of this retro development for us, from a pragmatic perspective--easier to smuggle canned microbrewed ales into the ballyard than its bottled brethren (take it from someone who is experienced).

So, stop by our brewpub before or after a game (or any time--like me!) and grab a sixer to go!

"Snow Globes are going to be Big at Walgreens this year"

Just reporting the facts....as heard 2 minutes ago from a private conversation at the Bar at the Annual Retail Sales Convention at the Ritz Carlton Huntington Hotel in Pasadena. You can't say you weren't warned about this oncoming trend.

About time

... but what am I going to use for inspiration now??

From Rotoworld:

Giants designated RHP Tyler Walker for assignment.Walker was out of options, so the Giants will hope that he clears waivers and heads to Triple-A Fresno. Judging by the way he's looked since the very start of the spring, he isn't going to turn it around anytime soon. He had a 15.19 ERA in six appearances for the Giants. Apr. 23 - 3:26 pm et

Name that Toon: 45 ab's, .289 Average, no rbi's

One owner should know the answer to this one.

Hey brother, can you spare a middle?

If I had the gumption to stick with my original strategy, I would have had one starter (Vargas--who isn't consistent yet) , Izzy, and 8 middles. This year, the derth of starting pitchers in the NL in general, and in BABI in particular is at an all-time low.

But of course, the allure of Brazleton (I stupidly projected him to be like John Patterson recently) was too strong, and I'm still suffering from it. Even after Buckholz's gem yesterday *8.1 IP, 2 singles, no walks, no runs* my team era is just under 6. Still, I see light at the end of the tunnel, as every other BABI staff is getting hammered regularly and two more qstarts from Buckholz will get me in the middle of the pack, eventually.

Old Axiom (since 1993 - when the Rockies were founded)
- Don't buy a Rockies pitcher

Not so Old Axiom
- Don't buy a Rockies starting pitcher (take a shot on one of their closer candidates)

New Axiom
- Don't buy a starting pitcher from any of the following teams:
(Rockies, Reds, Phillies--except maybe Myers, AZ--except Webb)

I was in Columbus, OH last week and saw Harang pitch an absolute gem against St. Louis. He made Puljols look sick, which I had never seen before. If someone had offered me a trade for Harang that night, I might have done it. Since then, oh my.

Brett Myers is a helluva pitcher, but he has to be perfect EVERY TIME in that bandbox. Arroyo is having a nice start, but his second time around the league, in HIS bandbox will be another story. Aaron Cook, if he ever gets out of CO, would be a $20+ pitcher. For now, you can have him.

Fatmando

...looks like a perfect reliever, for a beer league. Felix-like fastballs (read: no movement) and 4 hard hit balls later, a 4 run ninth is complete.

Felipe should have:

1) Never brought in Worrell off the recent work load
2) left Kline in there--he's an adequate pitcher.
3) never put the fat man into such a tough situation, first action of the year.
4) should have let Munter pitch the ninth, too.

...and we have 2 more with these Rocks this weekend--they'll be flying high, as they know they have a long term future together...unlike another team we know.

My masters' voice...

Great pre-draft analysis by the Doc and the tor today (they really are just one entity--just different sides of the brain)

Obligatory link: http://pecklers.blogspot.com/

I hope not to match their sheer volume of prose until after the all-star break. What's great about their blog is that it's a running dialogue, that all us solo owners have with ourselves just before we go to sleep, leading up to the draft. I don't think however it helps you go to sleep trying to figure out how many bums you have to pile up on your plate to afford one Puljols.

Helps to have it in writing and helps with someone there on draft day to call you on misguided draft tendencies. This year, sitting next to the Brothers P, I heard some dissention...and a couple of long silences from them after nothing but crickets came a calling when they were price enforcing--see Klesko.

Bigbie could save their reputation as savants though--if he comes back for one game and hits a homer or steals a base. If that happens, they'll pull another Werth on some schmoe (no offense to whichever schmoe they dumped Werth on last year, as I have mercifully forgotten the specs.).

Notice how every starting pitcher in the NL sucks this year? Must be this first batch of balls from some Caribbean country, eh? The supply should run out when Bud Kennesaw Molehill decides that even the offensive splurge will not save this travesty that is bonds. Glad the King of the Brittains got two good starters before the draft--spending his money for them. Doubt any starter will earn out this year but Carpenter, Maddux and Glavine. OK, maybe the D-Train, too, but not with W's.

That's why I dumped wins (starters). There was crap out there--why waste good money on them?? Doc & tor saw it in their analysis--each available so called ace starter had issues--big issues.

Now, I'm watching COL load the bases with no outs against the G-Men in the bottom of the ninth. Stay tuned. . Even if Worrell is charged with all 3 runs, my team ERA would not suffer.

Seven-Ten Split

You'll see it tonight on the highlight reels. Furcal drag bunts, Eyre lays out to grab it and toss it with his glove, hurting his leg and causing Derek Lee to focus on the ball and not the onrushing Furcal, and gets his right wrist jammed in a collision.

for those owners of Lee...that's a shame. You'll like your new view from down below in the standings.

Homage to Seth's first major league sports experience

...Roosevelt Raceway. What else is a poor boy to do back in the day?? I bring this up because on half-mile racing, the announcer typically will remark about the last place horse: "...and he can see 'em all"

That's what it's like in BABI this year, with a horrid pitching staff, no keepers, and a wall of worthy competitors ahead of me. Quit trying, dump early, and save expensive transaction fees chasing worthless free agents (see Wes Helms) or spend like a wild man for 7th place?? hmmmm...possibilities.....

If you're in BABI and reading my blog, help me make up my mind.

Shark Fin Soup

Power of positive thinking... Sweeney clobbers first pitch from the Mummy (Valverde--you'll know what I mean if you watch his wind-up and delivery) to tie it in the 8th, Finley knocks in go ahead run in 9th with sac fly (after getting two (2!) new lives off dropped foul ball outs); ml leading save #6 from timmy.

Over/Under for the boys in babi: number of save opps. this season for fat-mando: 10.5 I'll take all your action right here on "Ne'er a Dull"

As Noel has taught me, "Life is good"...and for Any 9 it's especially good at the bottom of the ocean in the first month, chowing down on unlimited Shark Fin Soup.

3 minute egg

...that's what Tyler Walker has become. Imagine that egg in the microwave and it blows up all over the place and you can never quite clean up the residue. Just watched him turn a 2 run lead into a 2 run deficit. He's gotta go--just release him back into the ocean and let nature take its course. Arm was chewed last year and came back too early off injury in September and now is just dangling meat-chad, waiting for the great whites.

Only hope is that Finley is in the game now and can combat these snakes with some of his own venom. Maybe he remembers playing in Retirementville a couple years ago... Sad state of affairs this bullpen. Felipe should have pulled Fassero one inning sooner, but can't blame either of them at this pt.

Somehow, Correia got out of the inning, so only down two, going to the top of the 7th--still time.