EVIL~! alkeiper

Yes, but many, many factors determine a team's success beyond the performance of a single player. Does Devin Harris deserve the NBA award? After all, his team had a better record than the Chicago Bulls. All Ben Gordon did is compile pretty statistics. That is a silly argument, but it serves a purpose. Emeka Okafor outplayed Ben Gordon, in my opinion. Why should we penalize Okafor just because he was drafted by an expansion team. And this is not the MVP award, where we can invent silly distinctions about what constitutes "value." This simply asks who was the best rookie. In my mind it is the player that created more offense and had better defense, meaning Okafor. I do not mean to bash Gordon. But the only argument that has been presented is his team's W/L record. Is Antoine Walker a better player than Kobe Bryant or LeBron James a better player because Walker made the playoffs?

Juan Rivera didn't have a spot, their outfield was full with Matsui, Bernie, and Sheffield. Nick Johnson wasn't getting that much playing time behind Giambi who is locked in FOREVER and whoever was DHing at that time. Plus, Vazquez was traded for Randy Johnson. I think the trade worked out fine. The point is that it is another example of the Yankees dealing prospects in return for "ready now" players, trying to make a run at a World Championship. And now they are paying the price, because they could use Juan Rivera, they could use Nick Johnson, and hell, they could even use Randy Choate. Meanwhile, Vazquez's inability to pitch effectively cost the Yankees the ALCS, and now Randy Johnson is on the DL, and the Yankees are paying HIM for the next three years. Fun note from the 2003 Baseball Prospectus, concerning Nick Johnson.... "But a good sophomore seaspm os a must if he wants to avoid growing up to be a Washington Expo." Johnson went on to hit .284/.422/.472 for the Yankees that year, but was traded to Montreal anyway.

So then what's more important? Going from struggling for the Heat-Fodder Slot to home-court advantage, or going from really really bad to just really bad? Czech, what does Ben Gordon have going for him besides the Bulls' Win/Loss record?

Korver got as bad a matchup as he could have gotten, as he had Tayshaun Prince to contend with.

Phillies up 5-0, Yankees down 0-6. Looks like a good night so far. Of course, this is the team the Yanks scored 13 in an inning against, so I should quiet myself.

Agreed. Being on a better team does not make Ben Gordon a better player.

Utley has 61 career at bats against lefties, and FOUR at bats against lefties this season. Tomas Perez has 441 career at bats against lefties, and carries a gaudy .254/.297/.397 line. He's PROVEN that he can not hit lefties at an effective rate, especially as a first baseman. What really bugs me is that the Phillies do not see fit to start Jose Offerman at first. If your pinch hit extraordinare cannot outhit your second string utility infielder, doesn't that indicate some sort of problem? However, the Phillies DO have a lefty masher. Todd Pratt holds a .293/.392/.490 career line against left handers. That would look good in the Phillies lineup, but god help a team would actually USE their backup catcher.

Joe Buck is nothing special as a baseball announcer.

http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/NASAp...t=.jsp&c_id=phi Jim Thome is on the DL, and Ryan Howard is up from AAA.

Also worth noting that off the six walks Cano drew in 108 at bats, 3 were intentional.

Right now the best outfielder at Columbus is Mitch Jones, who is hitting .367/.436/.722 in 90 at bats. However, he is 27, and he led the Eastern League in strikeouts last year, with 152. He has 29 strikeouts right now in those 90 at bats. From Baseball Prospectus 2005... Candidate #2 is Colin Porter, a 29 year old AAA mainstay. Right now he is hitting .183/.318/.282 in 71 at bats. Last year Porter hit .261/.316/.424 in AAA New Orleans, officially ending his prospect status. His primary asset is his speed. Candidate #3 is Mike Vento. 27 year old hitting .322/.390/.460 in 87 AAA at bats. .275/.333/.441 last year in Columbus. Replacement level. Candidate #4 is Kevin Reese. Another 27 year old hitting .290/.351/.400 in AAA. From Baseball Prospectus 2005... BPro projects a .267/.325/.405 line for Reese, and a .237/.314/.452 line for Mitch Jones. Porter and Vento did not make the book. No really good players among this group, although ALL of them would make better left fielders than Tony Womack. Serously, Womack in left? What the !#%&?

I do. They have too much talent not to improve their slugging percentage. They must get another bench bat though. They need to ditch the 12 man bullpen and call up Marlon Byrd.

Justice did play great that year. But two of the guys they traded are now starters. It was not the worst deal they ever made however. As for Matsui, if there is a booby prize for being the best center fielder on your team, that's terrific. In fact, moving Matsui to center field is a wonderful idea. The problem is that this wonderful idea involves playing Tony Womack in left field. Womack in the outfield is such a ridiculously stupid move that it defies explanation. Womack barely hit enough to justify his existance as a second baseman. As a left fielder, his OPS is better than only Scott Podsednik and Covelli Crisp. Moving Matsui to center is only a good move if it gets another bat in the lineup. Robinson Cano is not that bat.

What does baseball have to do with any of this? Seriously, I don't think the NBA owes any further obligation (how much ARE you indebted to a man for 439 games anyway). But it would be nice to see some players get together and organize a charity game or something of that nature.

No amount of stealing is going to help the team if they do not improve that .312 On Base Percentage. Every player on the club is hitting below their expectations, and I don't know whether they are in a funk, or they need some kind of spark. If there is a comfort, it is that the Athletics' bullpen has been dominant so far.

Of all the great ideas to help teams win pennant, I never placed "Play Womack in LF" among the top. What would you recommend? Not trading Wily Mo Pena to the Reds for Drew Henson would be a good start. And while I'm pointing out the folly of trading too many of your prospects, here's a few more. Damaso Marte for Enrique Wilson. D'Angelo Jimenez for Jay Witasick. Ted Lilly for Jeff Weaver. Jake Westbrook AND others for David Justice. Nick Johnson and Juan Rivera for Javier Vazquez. And yes, hindsight is 20/20, and all that fun stuff. Just excuse me because I am LOVING this right now. The exalted Yankees are playing an infielder with a .681 career OPS in Left Field, a left fielder in center field, and their new second baseman drew six walks in 108 at bats so far this year in Colombus. And all the while, casual Yankee fans are convinced it's because they lack "true Yankees."

And the AA pitcher is Sean Henn.

Of all the great ideas to help teams win pennant, I never placed "Play Womack in LF" among the top.

I have statistical proof that the leading team will hold a seven run lead 99% of the time, even if Bryan Reker is on the mound.

Damnit. WHY did I turn off that game?!

The Phillies have a three man bench tonight, as Lofton and Thome are out with day-to-day injuries. However, we won't DL either player just yet. Jesus, if Ed Wade were on the Titanic, he would still be in his stateroom, debating on whether he should still order room service. This organization never makes a move before it is two months to late.

Why did we change that anyway? Wouldn't it be easier to have the commish approve/reject trades?

I would offer Carlos Pena, Austin Kearns, or Joe Blanton for Thome.

I've been thinking about asking someone else to host the league itself on OOTP. Is anyone interested?

Wallace has been around better, was the better defender at least before this year, and has the HAIR~!