Bluegrass Turns Green

So it's finally true. John Calipari is the new head basketball coach at Kentucky replacing Billy Gillispie.

The former Memphis coach has accepted a contract that will make him the wealthiest coach in Division I, and will place enormous expectations on him to have the Wildcats contend right away. He has reportedly signed for eight years and $35 million.

The move is a great one for Kentucky, even if they have doled out an unprecedented sum to bring Calipari to Lexington. Coach Cal is a great recruiter, and has taken both UMass and Memphis to the national championship. He is a great defensive coach, and always has great athletes playing for him.

Yet I questioned on the BERNing on Sports Podcast whether this is a good move for Calipari. Obviously, he's getting a huge sum of money that no one could pass up. I realize that Kentucky is the winningest program in Division I history and the chance to coach or play there is hard to pass up. I also know he'll inherit Jodie Meeks and Patrick Patterson for next year's team.

But when you consider that Calipari was already being comfortably compensated by Memphis, and he was part of a situation that set up extraordinarily well for his Tigers to succeed yearly in the NCAA Tournament, maybe Coach Cal is leaving a perfect situation behind.

After all, he's won more than sixty consecutive games in Conference USA. Last year he took the Tigers to the National Title game and with a team that lost Derrick Rose, they still earned a number two seed in this year's dance and likely would have competed for a similar position next year. Seemingly every year the last few years Memphis has earned the benefit of the doubt even though they play a weak conference schedule and they get a top seed. It seems that would be hard to leave behind.

Again, do I see why Calipari's off to Kentucky? Sure. Do I understand the lure of a school with so much tradition and history? Yes. Furthermore, do I think Calipari can do a great job and Kentucky can return to prominence under his tutelage? Yes.

But while the bluegrass seems greener on the other side, maybe it's not. Maybe this isn't the match made in heaven that many on the national networks have asserted it is. Maybe Coach Cal would be better served staying in his safety zone in Memphis where he's guaranteed success. He could still have that success at UK, but it's going to be a heck of a lot harder.

The Fantasy Baseball Nerd: All Bargain Team

On Sunday night I went through the best part of any fantasy baseball season, bar none:  the draft.

The excitement that accompanies each pick, wondering the seemingly eternal questions like, will this be the year Rich Harden stays healthy?  It's great fun.  After that, the season pretty much goes down hill.

The answer, by the way, is no.

Any how, we're all looking for bargains, players on the cheap that everyone else is going to sleep on.  You know what I'm talking about, the proverbial Jermaine Dye, that produces way above where he's selected on average in most drafts.

And so, I present my All-Bargain Team.  By the by, I'm judging what is a "bargain" on value as opposed to ADP (average draft position) in Yahoo drafts.

C - I've never understood the idea of taking any catcher before the, I don't know, 15th round?  Maybe later.  You really shouldn't have to.  Ramon Hernandez and Kelly Shoppach are two guys that will have similar numbers (lower average, but still...) to most top tier catchers.  Difference?  You can get those two guys on average 15 rounds lower.  I'd take the slight hit in BA.

1B - A deep position, no doubt, but you shouldn't have to go with a first basemen in the 1st round if you don't want to.  Sure, guys like Mark Teixeira will put up .300/30/100+, but, so do 4th and 5th round guys like Adrian Gonzalez and Kevin Youkilis.  People sleep on Gonzo, and I don't know why.  Forget the ballpark, forget how bad his team is.  They've been bad and good for a while now, and the ballpark is the same size.  3 of 5 fantasy cat's have increased since he got to San Diego (R, HR, RBIs).  As for the Greek God, he's another one that has trended upwards each year over the past 3, and plays in a great lineup in a great park.

2B - One idea I had here was Robinson Cano, primed for a bounce back year.  But, if you're not much for banking on that type of thing, Jose Lopez (on average taken in round 15) is your guy.  He'll be in the middle of the Seattle order (feigned Oh My!), has shown some pop (17 HRs) and only 2 other second basemen had as many RBIs as he did last year.

SS - The top few guys here are amazing, no doubt.  Hanley Ramirez, Jimmy Rollins and Jose Reyes produce on a level that later round guys can not match.  But, there are a few really good shortstops out there to be had later in the draft.  J.J. Hardy and Jhonny Peralta are generally available in the 9th and 10th rounds.  Both have hit over 20 homers each of the last two years, are improving, and don't have real first names.  

3B - You could go with Youk here, but a name that seems to be garnering a ton of buzz in the fantasy world is Pablo Sandoval.  People around baseball have been known to say that the two months not to pay attention to statistics in are March and September.  If you hold to that belief, you might want to stay away from Sandoval.  In a half of August and full September, the burly Sandoval (with catcher, 3b, and 1b eligibility, I believe) hit over .340 and knocked in 24.  If he's for real, who knows, but someone needs to drive in runs for San Fran, and he'll get his shot.

OF - Mark Nickakis (either way, really) is one guy you can get in the 4th round on average, that's a good bet to get somewhere near .290/25/100.  Magglio Ordonez isn't as fun or up-and-coming as a guy like Nate McClouth, but he's a near lock to mash.  Over the last 3 seasons, he's never had less than 21 HRs, 103 RBIs, or batted under .298 (all, curiously, right near what his career averages are).  Same goes for Raul Ibanez, especially in a hitter's park now.  Mags' (6th round) and Ibanez's (11th round) statistics compare quite favorably to those a few rounds higher.

SP - My theory is, if you pitch in the NL West, you're A-OKay with me.  There's one hitter, one real hitter in that whole division.  You know who I'm talking about.  So, in that line of thinking, the first guy I'd recommend is Chad Billingsley (7th round), who should be fine for Opening Day, already had his first big season innings-wise, and should be ready to stay strong the whole season this year.  Teammates Derek Lowe (13th round) and Javier Vazquez (11th round) are consistently producing, and the National League never hurt anyone.  Ted Lilly (17th round) is a steal, considering he could won that many games last year, and has had at least 15 three years in a row.  Other post 10th round names are John Danks (14th, same as Billingsley, should be ready to handle full year of pitching after big innings year last year), Scott Baker (14th, over 3 to 1 K:BB ratio last season), and Zack Greinke (12th, don't let impending psychosis, team, or my man-crush get in the way).

I'm leaving RPs off this list because there so unpredictable.  People in firm closer seats pop in and out all year, it's not worth getting excited over.  What I will say is, you can find value late, and that it's not worth going too early for them.  Brian Wilson, Joakim Soria, Jose Valverde had as many as or more saves than Jonathan Papelbon.  Not saying those guys will do it again, but the point is, it could be anyone.

Coming up next...All-Breakout Year

30 Teams in 30 Days

Texas Rangers:  How Can This Team Continue To Let Kevin Millwood Be Their Ace?

(Over the next 30 days, BERNing on Sports will be previewing every team in the Majors, yes, even the Royals. Only one a day, every day, so try not to get too hooked)

Keeping It Real

Every year it seems, the Texas Rangers run into the same confounding problem:  they can score runs with just about anyone in the league, but seem to have a little problem stopping the other team from doing the same.  Last year, to no one's surprise, the Rangers ranked last in team ERA.  They've been in the bottom half of the league in that category (more often in the bottom 5) since at least 2002.  And that's only because Yahoo!'s database doesn't go back further.  I'm sure they stunk before then.  Either way, they did try to court Ben Sheets, which was a fine effort, but nothing came of it.  Instead, they enter 2009 with Kevin Millwood and Vincente Padilla in contract years as the front members of a rag-tag rotation.  The lineup is again loaded, though now more than ever with young, less-proven talent like Josh Hamilton, Nelson Cruz, Elvis Andrus, and Chris Davis.  I don't doubt the ability of any of those guys, but outside of Hamilton, it might be a lot to ask them all to perform so early in there careers.  Oh, and Andruw Jones has decided he wanted to put down the cheeseburgers and try playing baseball again.  So that's exciting.  Best of luck pal.

More Pitching Staff Ripping

The only thing I can say positively about this staff is that there aren't many retreads, besides Kris Benson.  By the way, Kris, get over it.  If you weren't drafted first overall, people would have long gotten over the fact that you're amazingly mediocre.  On the other hand, who the hell is Matt Harrison?  Or Scott Feldman?  Or Tommy Hunter or Dustin Nippert?  These are guys that I only know having been a fantasy nerd and having played in an AL-Only league for 3 years.  I'm sure Nolan Ryan doesn't even know who some of these "young guns" are.  The only uniting factors about these young guys are that they are, well, young and that they all sport ERAs near or above 6.  As for Millwood and Padilla, I'm amazed they still are pitching in the front end of a rotation.  These guys long ago proved they're not consistent, top-end pitchers.  Neither throws hard or with a ton of command nowadays.  Meatball city, in Arlington.  Can't wait til my team gets to go down there.

The King Has Left The Building

Well, not really.  In fact, prized shortstop prospect Elvis Andrus has just entered the building, but I couldn't really think of any Elvis-related slogans that made any more sense.  Maybe, "Thank you, thank you very much" for moving a gold glover out of my position when I'm clearly not ready for a full-time gig.  Yeah, that might have done better.  Andrus hasn't hit over Double A yet and struggled mightily in the field last year (32 errors at short).  Though he did produce well while there last year (.295 with 50+ steals), the expectations for him will (should be, at least) lower for him as he'll likely bat 9th.  Why they felt the need to rush him up to the big leagues when there clearly wasn't a real reason for it, I'll never know.  I just hope it's not one of those deals where his growth winds up being stunted because he came up too early.  Not that I really care about Elvis Andrus, but, still, I'd rather not see it happen.

From Throwing Chairs, To Throwing Strikes

This is the tale of Frank Francisco, a cautionary one to be sure.  Only a few short years ago, Francisco was a disgruntled reliever best known for being a psycho.  A Tommy John surgery and a few anger management classes later, Francisco enters 2009 as the team's closer, something that they aren't too concerned about.  In his final 12.2 innings of the last month plus of last season as the closer, Francisco didn't allow a run, saved 5 games, won another, and struck out 21 while only walking 4.  Granted, it was a short span, but, maybe the Rangers might have a weapon in the bullpen.  I don't think it's much of a coincidence that the last time the Rangers were over .500 (2004) was the year another unheralded Francisco burst onto the scene in the back end of the pen.

Bold Predictions

Someone will let fantasy owners down, big time.  Maybe it'll be Chris Davis.  Maybe Josh Hamilton, or Nelson Cruz on a lesser scale.  Point is, not all of these guys are primed for huge offensive years.  Usually doesn't work that way.

Frank Francisco won't be as good as his Franciscan predecessor, but he will enjoy a violence-free, solid season.  Somewhere between 25-30 saves.  

No one mentions this guy, but if it wasn't for a knee injury ending his season prematurely last year, he'd be all the rage.  David Murphy will continue where he left off, expect 20 homers and near 90 RBIs out of the left fielder.

Up Next...Wednesday, Diamondbacks

A Little of This, A Little of That Pt. 2

None of this deserves its own full posting, so I present a smattering (smorgasbord, even?) of some sports related information.

(ed. note:  maybe I really am this dense, but it took me nearly a month to figure out the "NOT funny" comment after the last post in response to an opposite day video. well done, sir.)

• According to the New York Daily News, the formerly inaccurate throwing and dog-slaying Michael Vick is looking for a book deal.  A memoir, of sorts.  First of all, I never got the idea of people trying to write stories about themselves before they've finished their careers (or, in his case, life in the public eye as a future playing career remains up in the air).  Second, who wants to read about this guy, or his life?  Chapter One...Why Didn't Roddy White Catch Like That For Me?...Chapter Two...Fido Had It Coming...Chapter Three...Pretend Remorse in an Attempt To Get Out Of Bankruptcy...
• I never could stand Mark Cuban, ever.  I realize what he does that is good, that if he was the owner of my favorite team, I'd love him.  But, he owns the team I hate, he's constantly running his mouth, and he never shuts up about the referees.  This time, it came on Twitter, where he complained about something else the refs screwed up for him.  Here's what I want.  I want Cuban to go out there and ref a game of any kind, at any level.  Rec basketball, high school, college.  A quarter, a half, a game.  Anything.  Go and do that, and once your done, let me know how much complaining you want to do.  I'm not saying referees are infallible, but, jeez already, give them a break.
• You can look at Dontrelle Willis' recent DL-stint for a blood related anxiety disorder in two ways.  First and foremost, it's a bit sad how far he's fallen, if only because he's a guy that not much was expected of when he first started playing pro ball, and then in a few short years won 22 games.  And, unlike so many other pro athletes, Willis legitimately seems like a really nice, likeable guy.  The leg kick, the smile, the fact that he could hit better than most Marlins at the time.  The whole bit.  So, if only for those reasons, to see a guy that was dominating the National League only a few years ago not be able to get guys out in Single A is a bit depressing.  The other side of things is, I wonder how much of his recent DL trip is a "I walked nearly twice as many guys as I struck out last year" thing, as opposed to a disorder thing.  Not that I doubt the results of the test, but, somehow I feel like if he had rediscovered his command, he'd have found a way into that 5th spot this year, and not on the DL.
• I love the guy, but, shouldn't this be a good thing?
• Saw this on the BLS on Yahoo.  Not sure who Fredi Gonzalez thinks he is having all of his players get hair cuts, but I guess I see the point of trying to make the clubhouse a bit more professional.  Then again, I think it's fair to say that if a player (ahem, Hanley) decides wearing a "I'm Sick of This S**t" t-shirt is the grown-up way to handle things, maybe Gonzalez isn't so far off base.

New BERNing On Sports Podcast Available

On today's podcast, Scott and I talk College Hoops again, as the NCAA Tournament moves towards the final four. We'll also delve into the John Calipari situation as he may move to Kentucky. We also have a longer Hail Mary segment where we throw out a bunch of topics including Michael Vick's memoir soon to hit the bookshelves.

Click Here to access this week's BERNing on Sports podcast.

As always, once this post moves down, you can find it on the red right tab. However, next week we'll be moving to berningonsports.com, which will make all this MUCH easier!

Enjoy!

30 Teams in 30 Days

Seattle Mariners:  Better A Year Late Than Never

(Over the next 30 days, BERNing on Sports will be previewing every team in the Majors, yes, even the Royals. Only one a day, every day, so try not to get too hooked)

Keeping It Real

The "team" the Mariners ran out there everyday last year was putrid.  No questions about it.  Guys like Richie Sexson and Kenji Johjima just aren't the kind of guys you want around if winning is your thing.   Unfortunately, while Sexy is gone, Johjima is still manning the plate (trust us, Jeff Clement knows it's not about ability but rather a poor contract decision the Mariners would prefer we not discuss).  Still, less poisonous members (in fact, down right peachy!) of the team return. Jose Lopez, Ichiro, Felix Hernandez and others form a group of guys that may not look like much, but keep in mind the division they play in.  None of the teams in the AL West will run away and hide at any point, especially with seemingly every Angels starter beginning the season on the DL.  The key, far as I'm concerned, is Erik Bedard returning to his top form.  If he can, this team, believe it or not, will compete all season long for that division.

Does Erik Bedard Feel Like Playing Baseball This Year?

As I just mentioned, the Canuck is the key.  The guy they acquired for sleepy prospect Adam Jones a year ago was one of the best left handed pitchers in the game, even if he'd yet to throw 200 innings in a season.  His ERA had dropped each of the previous four years, and his strike out totals rose each of those years as well.  A move to a real pitcher's park in Seattle seemed like a great move for Bedard.  Then, he got hurt, and stories came out that he just didn't really care too much for giving it his all in baseball.  Not good for one of your aces.  This year, despite getting consistently shelled this spring, he says he feels fine.  The Mariners should hope so.

The Kid is Back

This is all I have to show you.  Oh, and, "Call me, call me, call me Junior".

The Lone Mariner To Show Actual Improvement

Jose Lopez seems to be, from what I've read and looked at, the only Mariner that improved from 2007 to 2008.  While most guys were busy either not caring, not hitting, not improving, or simply moving their way out of baseball, Lopez actually trended upwards.  More power, better average, more RBIs.  No one on Earth talks about him, but he's a pretty good hitter.  I'm not saying I'm comfortable with him as a meat of the order guy, but, there's worse options.  Like, say, Richie Sexson.  

Could This Be The Year For The King?

Felix Hernandez came up with Doc Gooden-esque hype.  He's yet to reach it yet, and most people point to the fact that even still he's only 22 years old.  Over the years, he's battled a number of ailments (shoulder bursitis, shin splints, ankle sprain, etc.) but appears to be (wink, wink) ready to go for 2009.  He may not be in what many consider a desirable situation after the WBC, but King Felix insists he'll be fine.  He's one of the harder pitchers to truly figure out, seeing as how electric he can be one outing, and how mediocre he can be another. To date, he's yet to put it all together.  Will this be the year?  I can't really say, as I've been part of the group saying each of the previous 3 years would be "the year".

Bold Predictions

Wladimir Balentien will issue a public apology for his name, finally admitting that a W/L combination in a name is nearly impossible to know how to pronounce.

Brandon Morrow, newly anointed as the team's closer, will save at least 25 games this year.  Maybe I just caught him at his peak, but I'm in love with this kid.  

Griff will be happy, the fans will be happy to see him.  His season will be better than last, maybe 20 homers (maybe?), but nothing special.  All in all, a  nice ride off into the sunset for the Kid.

Up Next...Tuesday, Rangers

This Was Extremely Necessary

Three knee surgeries in a year and a half? Check.

Two ill-attempted comebacks already?  Check.

A team more than 40 games under .500?  Check.

Nearly a full season gone by without so much as an update as to his whereabouts?  Check.

Based on this impromptu checklist, it seems to me like Gilbert Arenas needed to come back, if only to rev up the nation's capital before they fully go to sleep when the Zimmerman Bros. come to town for the summer.

Why Agent Zero thought it would be a good idea to return to the Washington Wizards, with only nine games remaining, I can't really say with any certainty.  Maybe he figured he had a whole bunch of extra time on his hands. Maybe, and more likely, he's the most selfish player this side of Ricky Davis.  Only a player as selfish as Arenas, only a player as blinded by his own personal goals and desires would come back with so few games left in the season, and so little to play for. 

The Wizards were a playoff team, as recently as last year.  With a healthy Arenas and company in the East, they could again be a playoff team next year.  How much of an accomplishment that actually would be is being investigated by our crack team as you read this.

Either way, stupidity and arrogance are the only factors at play.  Though he came back for the final 9 games, he will only play in 7, as he's being held out of the second end of back-to-backs.  Oh yeah, that's right, he's recovering from knee surgery.  His third.  Forgot about that.

A couple of the obvious possibilities that could result from this comeback are that he could get hurt or could wind up making it worse.  But, something else to consider is that his presence could possibly sneak in a few more wins and lose a few ping pong balls for the Wizards.

I find it personally ironic that in a season for the Wizards that, basically since jump street has been all about praying for that number one draft pick, their superstar's first game back heroics were swatted away by Kwame Brown.  

Sometimes, you can't make this stuff up.

My Final Four Is Gone

Shows what I know about the NCAA Tournament.

First Syracuse lost. I'll give you that I shouldn't have picked them. It was a homer pick. Sue me. Then I had Memphis. So did a lot of people. Thanks for losing. Go back to the Conference USA.

I also chose Pittsburgh, which wasn't smart, apparently. Scottie Reynolds, thank you for that. Now Michigan State knocked out my national champion, Louisville. I should have known never to pick against Tom Izzo.

At least I still have North Carolina alive in my other bracket. But I may as well go ahead and burn my BERNing bracket. Good luck to those of you still in this thing, because like Ryan Seacrest, I'm out.

The New Play of the 2009 NCAA Tournament

We've seen this play, the coast-to-coast game winner.  But that doesn't mean it's not impressive.  Scottie Reynolds sent his Villanova Wildcats to the Final Four for the first time since 1985 with this impressive bucket with 0.5 seconds left to win it.

Unquestionably the play of the tournament.  The problem, though, which you don't see in this video, is that the basket was scored with 0.5 seconds left.  The Villanova players had rushed the court already, and while listening on the radio play by play guy Kevin Kuebler (not sure if that's spelled right) had announced the game over.  After deliberation Pitt got one final shot at the buzzer and from more than 70 feet away Panthers guard Levance Fields nearly drained a three at the buzzer to win.  (It hit the backboard.)

Still, props to Scottie Reynolds.  Great basket in traffic with the pressure on.  UConn and Villanova represent the Big East in the Final Four.  We'll see who else joins them this afternoon.  (Maybe yet another Big East squad in Louisville.)

30 Teams In 30 Days

San Diego Padres:  Jake Peavy Is Still Their Employee

(Over the next 30 days, BERNing on Sports will be previewing every team in the Majors, yes, even the Royals.  Only one a day, every day, so try not to get too hooked.)

Jake Peavy's Still A Padre

The only thing anyone heard this off-season regarding the Padres (other than their blockbuster free agent signing of catcher Henry Blanco) was whether former Cy Young award winning ace Jake Peavy would be wearing a new uniform come opening day.  First we heard about a potential deal to Atlanta, then the rest of the off season seemed to be a game of chess between Cubs GM Jim Hendry and Padres GM Kevin Towers.  Nothing ever happened, despite the fact he was found drunkenly singing "Go Cubs Go" at the winter meetings and he was signing autographs with "Go Cubs" below his name.  He has since denied this, because he was drunk enough that he probably doesn't remember, but it was quite a scene at the Las Vegas Hilton and the Bellagio last December.  Now that Peavy apparently isn't headed anywhere and he'll remain the Padres ace, that's means they have a good chance to win at least once every five days.  Twice when you consider that Chris Young is apparently healthy again and ready to go as well.  Not a bad one-two punch for a team that lost 99 games last year.

Peavy and Young, But Who Else?

Do the Padres have five starting pitchers employed for 2009?  I'm really not so sure.  After the aforementioned Peavy and Young, I suppose Cha-Seung Baek pitches the third day of 2009.  After that, who?  Yahoo Sports only has three pitchers listed in this rotation, which cannot be right, unless San Diego's pending ownership change has gotten so bad that they're trying to go with a three man rotation 1930s style.  Better judgment suggests they might put Kevin Correia and Shawn Hill on the back end of the rotation, or pitchers of the like, and that tells you all you need to know about the lack of pitching depth on this team.  Not to mention that long time closer Trevor Hoffman now gets his mail forwarded to Milwaukee and the Fathers will likely have to settle for Heath Bell as the closer.  Yikes.

Where Hitters Go To Die

Remember the Brian Giles that played for Cleveland and Pittsburgh?  He was one of the best hitters in the game.  The one that has played for San Diego over the last six seasons is half the player he was before.  Credit that to playing in the cavernous Petco Park, allege that he was a steroid user, do whatever you want.  But this guy hasn't hit more than 15 home runs in any of the last four years.  He's gone from great hitter to "walk machine".  Other than Adrian Gonzalez, who is apparently so good this ballpark can't do him in, there's no one in this lineup that stands out as a guy who will have a significant impact on their offense.  Kevin Kouzmanoff seems to be developing into a nice player, but can he be the right handed hitter the Padres could sandwich into the lineup between Giles and Gonzalez?  Probably not.  This offense stinks, flat out.  And it will continue to stink, unless everyone in the lineup has a career year.

Moorad Takes Over

According to sources in San Diego, Jeff Moorad's ownership group, which currently owns 35 percent of the team, is going to be taking over the decision making for the Padres even though their transition to majority ownership may not officially occur for a few years.  What does this mean for the product on the field?  Well Moorad did a nice job running the Diamondbacks previously, as they made the playoffs and rebuilt with a young lineup in 2007.  San Diego is hoping for the same thing.  But the Padres will be strapped for cash over the next couple of years while things are in transition, and this could mean San Diego will eventually dump big contracts like Peavy's and others to the first taker.  Stay tuned.

Bold Predictions

1. San Diego won't be nearly as bad as last year, and with Peavy and Young atop the rotation they may hover around the .500 mark until mid-season.  But at that point they'll realize they can't contend with either the Dodgers or Arizona and they'll dump Peavy and maybe even Chris Young.
2. Kevin Kouzmanoff will hit 30 home runs this year.  He'll also drive in a hundred runs.  His offense however, will be the least productive in baseball.
3. The Padres will trade Brian Giles at the break to a contending team.

Speaking Of Funny Commercials

This one is a great old gem.  Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, Mark McGwire, and chicks who dig the long ball.

Enjoy.

Classic.

30 Teams In 30 Days

Los Angeles Dodgers:  Yes, I Know They Swept The Cubs in the Playoffs Last Season

(Over the next 30 days, BERNing on Sports will be previewing every team in the Majors, yes, even the Royals.  Only one a day, every day, so try not to get too hooked.)

As I Was Saying...

I know the Cubs lost in a sweep last year in Los Angeles.  So the jokes can end right here.  Save your James Loney jeers and your comments related to Cubs playoff errors for some other forum.  (Because you'll probably have more fodder for me this October.)  Yet even though my beloved Northsiders played a horrifying series against L.A. last October, last year's playoff run showed you what this Dodgers team can be when their lineup is healthy.  We'll have the obligatory Manny discussion (next paragraph) and his impact on the team.  But the supporting cast for Ramirez is not only good when healthy, but potentially dangerous.  Do they have any one great hitter other than Manny?  Well, no.  But they do have a line up full of good hitters like Andre Ethier, the aforementioned Loney and Russell Martin in the middle of the lineup.  They also have two good table setters in Rafael Furcal and Orlando Hudson who should provide many pitchers problems with Manny coming up next.  Casey Blake and the athletic Matt Kemp are solid guys as well.  This is one lineup in baseball that top to bottom really has no weaknesses, and it's what should keep the Dodgers in contention for the next six months.  

The Obligatory Man-Ram Discussion

How could we have a preview of the Dodgers without giving one of the most scrutinized players in the great game of baseball his own header?  Exactly, so here goes.  The whole off-season was just a series of non-stories until the inevitable conclusion that Ramirez would eventually be a Dodger finally came to fruition a couple weeks ago.  The truth is, no matter what Ramirez cost, or whether there was a market for him or not, the Dodgers had no choice but to bring him back in the fold.  He is one of the best hitters in the game, and assuming he doesn't significantly decline due to age, he's a game-changing player that makes the Dodgers a force just by his mere presence on the lineup card.  Furthermore, you'd have to think his work ethic and approach to hitting can only be a good thing for the young guys in this lineup.  You put up with his attitude, or his seemingly careless demeanor.  Because the bottom line is, he's a masher, and they need him.  

Can Dodger Stadium Save This Staff?

The Dodgers lost ace Derek Lowe to free agency this off-season, and without him this pitching staff should take a significant hit.  He was outstanding down the stretch last year and other than Manny he was the biggest reason L.A. made it to October.  Now Chad Billingsley will have to assume a bigger role anchoring the staff, as well Hiroki Kuroda and veteran lefty Randy Wolf.  If those three pitch well and reap the benefits of pitcher-friendly Dodger Stadium, L.A. should be okay.  You can't rely on Clayton Kershaw to give you much, even though at times last year he showed promise, and if Claudio Vargas assumes an significant role that's clearly not a good thing.  The Dodgers pitching staff is usually good even if the names aren't there just because that ballpark historically helps pitchers pitch.  But what is normally a strength in The City of Angels could instead be a setback for the 2009 outfit.

Remember This Guy?

His name is Jason Schmidt, and what seems like eons ago he was a coveted top of the rotation pitcher.  He has made just six starts for the Dodgers after they inked him to a now infamous three year contract worth forty-seven million dollars.  Well this is the final year of the deal and Schmidt is nearly recovered from shoulder surgery.  He is allegedly healthy now, but will start the season on a minor league rehab assignment to build up his arm strength.  He hasn't had a banner year since 2o04, but if he is in fact healthy and is at all effective this could be the shot in the arm (no pun intended) that the Dodgers need in a pitching staff which lost its ace.  I'm not saying the guy's going to win 17 games, but if he can come back and win ten games for this team, it could provide them the pitching depth they need to battle for a playoff spot again.

Bold Predictions

1. The Dodgers will win 90 games this year and win the NL West again.  But their pitching staff with have a team ERA among the worst in the National League.
2. Chad Billingsley will finish in the top 5 in the Cy Young voting.  He's the next great pitching star in the National League.
3. People will stop considering the Dodger Dog some kind of ball park delicacy.  It's an overrated, average hot dog.

Up Next...Sunday, Mariners.

Sweet Turns Sour

I'll still watch the rest of the tournament.  I have already professed my love for the college hoops festival that is March Madness on this forum.

But Syracuse's loss to Oklahoma in the Sweet Sixteen turned my tournament experience from sweet to sour.  It's not really that I'm upset.  I'm just disappointed.  I'm disappointed at how poorly Syracuse played and how they failed to show their talent on the grandest stage.  For the first time, my school went deep in the tournament, and now their run is over.

Like Scott has mentioned in the podcast and in a post last week, it's satisfying just to know that this team made it to the Sweet Sixteen.  I expected less at the beginning of the year.  So the reality of seeing them in this game tonight was enough.  Really.

Yet I raced home from work, listening to the game on the radio as I weaved through highway traffic like Jeff Gordon at Daytona, (like the NASCAR reference?  Honestly, it took me a couple seconds to think of a driver to use here.) and made it to the sports bar with four minutes left in the first half.  I saw the Orange down by four at the time, and then watched their deficit balloon to thirteen at halftime.

The second half was just heartbreaking.  Oklahoma's lead swelled and I learned that Betty Crocker not only is a great cook but she also has a jump shot.  Blake Griffin killed the Orange as was expected.  It wasn't an enjoyable experience.

When the game ended, I barely noticed.  My attention diverted to the other hoops games and the Blackhawks hockey game on the adjacent TV.  I sat through two baseball games Friday afternoon anticipating the opportunity to watch Syracuse play for a chance at the Elite Eight.  I didn't even watch it until the clock hit triple zeros.

And after a couple short hours, Syracuse's run was over.

That's how the tournament goes.  But it's tough when your team gets trounced.  Syracuse had a great year.  I know that.  They played the best college basketball game I have ever seen this year, won it, and went to the second weekend of March Madness.  Next week I'll be excited to watch the Final Four, no matter who advances.

For the rest of this weekend though, it's going to be tough to watch college basketball.  The Sweet Sixteen turned sour.

30 Teams In 30 Days

Los Angeles Angels:  Dropping The Ball, Ready To Fall

(Over the next 30 days, BERNing on Sports will be previewing every team in the Majors, yes, even the Royals. Only one a day, every day, so try not to get too hooked)

Keeping It Real

You want me to keep it real? OK, on the real, the Angels really were plain pathetic this off-season.  They let their closer of record-setting proportions and their much needed big bat both walk for more money to New York.  Then, they settled and added a closer who just a year prior had lost his job and an outfielder that can hit, but won't make a huge difference.  And this team is still a top tier team?  I don't think so.  Besides John Lackey, their entire staff (nay, their entire team) seems to be sliding in production (more on that later).  The Halos are counting on big years from Kendry Morales and Howie Kendrick (don't their names sound the same if you say them real fast?).  That's not the worst prayer in the world, but I wouldn't put the house on it.  If it wasn't for the fact that they're division is god awful, they wouldn't even be in contention this year.  That's just how I feel. 

Mike Napoli, Making Italians Everywhere Proud

Of players with a last name ending a vowel that were catchers in the major leagues last year, Mike Napoli lead them all with 20 homers.  That has to make you feel good, if your an Italian.  Unless, of course, if you're Chris Ianetta.  18 dingers.  Good, but not Mike Napoli-good.

A Fading Bunch

It pains me to say it, but Vlady Guerrero has clearly seen his best days.  "Shawn" Figgins also seems to have seen his better.  Throw in that Jered Weaver (uh, he's a Weaver...) has seen his ERA rise each of the past 3 years, Ervin Santana is hurt now, Kelvim Escobar inevitably will be hurt and you've got a team filled with guys that aren't looking up.  As I said above, they're still a good team, their bullpen is still solid, but their greatest strength is that they play in AL West.

Where Have You Gone Baby Sarge?

On another blog I wrote about two or three years ago, I wrote a post in tribute to the return (?) to glory of one Gary Matthews Jr.  It was featured on Deadspin, and I must say, along with his All-Star selection, his career never got any better.   Now, only two years removed from a comical (even at the time) 5 year 55 million dollar deal, Matthews has been relegated to 4th outfielder status.  If his career path to this point is any indicator, the waiver wire could again be in his future, and that is sad for the proud, albeit known steroid user.

Bold Predictions

The Angels will not win the AL West, and thus will not make the playoffs.

Brian Fuentes will not be the Angels' closer for the entire season.  Jose Arredondo should and will be given a shot.

Up Next...Saturday, Dodgers

Clogging Arteries, One Bite At A Time

This is revolting.

The West Michigan Whitecaps baseball team (Single-A affiliate for the Detroit Tigers) is introducing a new item on its ballpark menu that will provide you 4800 calories in one sitting.  It's a cheeseburger made of nearly two pounds of beef, five slices of cheese, almost a cup of chili, salsa and corn clips on an eight-inch bun.  It weighs four pounds in all, and you can have it at a Whitecaps game for twenty dollars.

This is all America needs.  Another glutenous way to make an already overweight country fatter.

To me, this isn't funny.  Well, scratch that.  The picture is pretty funny.  It's hysterical, even though that burger looks disgusting.  That's why I posted this on the blog in the first place.  But this is an irresponsible move by the Whitecaps to offer this colossal burger to its customers.

I know what you're going to say.  Ultimately, it's the fans problem if they order this cow on a bun.  It's not like the Whitecaps concession people are force feeding this burger down people's throats.  And I realize that at most parks you can't get a healthy thing to eat as it is.  Trust me, the only thing my health-nut ex-girlfriend used to eat at ballparks was the soft pretzel without the salt.  Even that isn't exactly healthy, though.

But this cannot be a good thing.  It just can't.  The Whitecaps are contributing to American obesity by offering this thing in the first place, and now you're going to have people that want to take the challenge to eat it.  People entering the ballpark each day are going to be asking their buddies, "Dude, you gonna get that four pound burger?"  And you know there will be plenty of fools ready to dive in.  After all, if they eat the whole thing in one sitting they win a free t-shirt.  (So worth it!)  Not to mention they'll wash it down with a few 250 calorie each beers.  Nothing like a nice 6,000 calorie night at the Whitecaps game.

Worse yet, you're going to make things VERY difficult on your janitorial staff who will likely be cleaning up a lot of cheeseburger-induced sicknesses at the park.  Imagine trying to leave the ballpark restroom in the fourth inning when you get bowled over by some greasy fat guy ready to be sick from eating the behemoth burger.  That should be a pleasant experience.

Remind me not to go to a Whitecaps game anytime soon.  Then again, it won't be too hard to stay away.  I just Googled it.  The ballpark is 209 miles away and a good three and a half hour drive from my house.

The Fantasy Baseball Nerd: A Strategy For The Ages

It doesn't help me get women.  It's not considered "cool".  I should grow up at some point.  It's been called pathetic.

I know all of these things said about playing fantasy baseball.  Trust me.  My dad told me some of them last night as I watched ESPN's hour long fantasy baseball special.  Then again, when one of your leading "experts" looks like this, can you really blame anyone for making those sort of assertions?

Thing is, I've been doing fantasy baseball for the past eight years, and I'd say I've become fairly proficient (read:  my nerdyness and lack of social life has allowed me to be competitive on a year-in, year-out basis).  And so, as we move closer to the start of the real baseball season, and throughout the year, I'm going to be putting up some fantasy baseball related posts.  I wouldn't say to count on it, because you all know how bad unfulfilled promises can be.  But, be ready.

Day 1:  Strategy

Today, I'd like to talk strategy.  For the purpose of this or any further discussion on the topic of fantasy baseball, let's assume a standard, 5 by 5, head-to-head league (BA, HR, RBI, SB, R for hitters and W, WHIP, ERA, SV, K for pitchers). 

Some leagues I've seen, some of the categories included are just flat out ridiculous.  One league a buddy of mine is includes CI.  Yes, catcher's interferences are a category.  I'm not sure who wins in that situation.  The guy with more CI's, or less?  I've also seen perfect games as a category.  Plural.  It's happened 17 times in 132 years.  Come on.

The Idea, In Theory

Last year, I brewed up a scheme. Essentially, after years of doing stupid things like drafting players I liked and players I thought would be good, I wanted to try to monopolize a few categories and try to guarantee the most that I could.  Further, I started to realize that the fluctuation in the pitching market from year to year (Aaron Harang, anyone?) really made it a crap shoot and guys like that were only helping you with strikeouts as wins were basically pot luck.

So...the idea.  I figured, if I can lock up steals, I could lock up batting average and runs.  Draft steals and saves, in heavy doses almost exclusively.  See if you can get one of those closers that has SP eligibility so you can put another in your daily lineup.  Go with guys like Jose Reyes and Ichiro and Grady Sizemore.  With one or two of these guys in your lineup along with a few other guys that steal in the 20's you should be able to lock up steals every week.  Following my logic, most guys that steal bases score runs.  And, to score runs, you've got to be on base, so their batting average isn't terrible either.  Of the 16 guys to steal at least 30 bags last year, only two didn't score at least 75 runs or hit at least .275.  

On the other side, my idea had me going heavy with closers.  The theory being that their ERAs and WHIPs would be extremely low each week, and you'd be in the mix for both of those categories.  Logically, you'd take saves.  Throw in a few cheap starters that are proven for some wins, like Chien-Ming Wang, Joe Saunders, and Derek Lowe and you're now in the mix for wins without having to gamble on guys like Joba Chamberlain or Rich Harden who seem to wind up hurting more than anything in the long run.

The Idea, In Practice

This failed miserably.  I finished in 9th place, which is the lowest I've finished in a league since 2003, and the lowest ever in a 10 team league.  I sucked major (insert phallic joke here).  Then again, that could have something to do with the fact that my "locks" like Matt Holliday (dropped 49 RBIs from the previous year), Ichiro (BA dropped 40 points), and Vladimir Guerrero (worst full statistical year in career) all decided to have down years.  In a big way.  Then, another lock, Mr. Ming Wang, decided he couldn't handle running the bases.  

Still, besides bitterness, the strategy didn't work as well as I had hoped.  I did get a ton of steals and saves, but just like any other category, they came in fits and spurts.  As you could imagine, during those dry spells my team stunk.  More often than not, that was the case.

Coming up soon...All-Bargain Team

Top 5 SportsCenter Commercials

Ok. After posting this last night and promising this post, here we go. I now present you the Top 5 SportsCenter Commercials of all-time.

(Disclaimer: Trying to pick the best five SportsCenter Commercials is very difficult. As I have said, it's the best ad-campaign that I've ever seen, and every commercial is funny. So making a list so exclusive is hard. And of course, if you disagree with my list, then post your favorites in the comments section. Many of them are on YouTube.

5. Studio Rivalries
The idea for this commercial is great, because it the idea of an anchor/reporter rivalry actually exists in some places, and maybe it did at one point at ESPN. But what makes this a standout commercial are the taunts and jeers between anchor and reporter, and the final scene. The interaction between Sal Paolantonio and Rich Eisen causes me to giggle every time. (And as a quick aside, don't you miss Rich Eisen on SportsCenter? I certainly do.)



4. Big Buddy
This is a hilarious mockery about ESPN giving back to the community, as anchors and former NBA players play basketball with children. The best part of course is how the anchors take the game far too seriously. I don't know which is better: the Stuart Scott block on one kid or Kenny Mayne's line at the end.



3. Gheorghe Muresan Dancing
Gheorghe Muresan was a great sport, and he's featured here in one of the best scenes in SportsCenter commercial history. The dance scene with Karl Ravech and Kenny Mayne makes me burst into hysterics every time. If you don't find this funny, well, you don't know what humor is.



2. Y2K Preparations
Remember when people actually thought the world would come to an end when the clock turned to the year 2000? ESPN does a great job of mocking the hysteria that was prevalent in the time, and there's nothing better than Charlie Steiner's role at the end. Fantastic mockery and fantastic commercial.



1. The International SportsCenters
I posted this one last night, but I'll post it here again. There is no better TV commercial out there now, and hasn't been one since this. This is perfectly acted by Dan Patrick and Kenny Mayne, and the absurdities of this commercial is what makes it great. I have never laughed harder at any commercial than at this one. And how can you not love the classic old brown set in the background?



Send us your suggestions. Like I said, there are so many great ones. But these are the top five.

30 Teams In 30 Days

Oakland Athletics: Moneyball Madness
(Over the next 30 days, BERNing on Sports will be previewing every team in the Majors, yes, even the Royals. Only one a day, every day, so try not to get too hooked.)


Finally Some Pressure To Win
The Oakland A's normal course of action when they have a top flight player entering their prime is to let him walk at the end of his contract or trade him for four or five prospects before his deal expires. Remember the Mark Mulder trade to St. Louis? Or when Tim Hudson was dealt to Atlanta? How about letting go of Jason Giambi, Johnny Damon and Miguel Tejada, all in their respective primes? The rationalization for these peculiar management decisions was always that they could be replaced by players using Moneyball (more on that later). But considering Oakland is a combined 21 games below .500 over the last two years, management told General Manager Billy Beane to go get some bats in this lineup. Enter Matt Holliday acquired via trade, resigning an older yet still effective Giambi, picking up former White Sox shortstop Orlando Cabrera and taking Nomar Garciaparra off the scrap heap, all of a sudden this lineup may not be so bad. Is it great? No. But when was the last time Oakland was the team making key free agent acquisitions? Exactly, I can't think of a time either, at least before this off season. I'm not saying the A's will be good, but at least they'll be more watchable this season.

Would You Want Any Of These Five Men In Your Starting Rotation?
If you're an educated baseball fan, and you were told your opening day starter would be some girl named Dana Eveland (kidding), and he'd be followed by Justin Duchscherer (say that 5 times fast), Sean Gallagher, Dallas Braden and Gio Gonzalez, would you think your team had a fighting chance this season? The answer, clearly, is no. This rotation might be the weakest in baseball, at least in terms of name recognition, and as Scott pointed out, the Royals rotation at least has two viable pitchers in it. Beane usually constructs a pitching staff full of young talent, but other than Duchscherer, this staff has youth but not much talent. Starting pitching will be the Achilles of the A's all season long unless one of these guys blossoms in that big ball park (which is an atrocity, by the way). Otherwise, Oakland will struggle again in the AL West.

A Three Month Solution?
While I did give some props to the A's for acquiring Matt Holliday, let's reserve some of those props for the end of the season. Because those props go right out the window if the Athletics go par for the course and trade Holliday at the deadline or let him go after this season. Holliday is a young player, and while his splits do suggest he was helped a bit by Coors Field in Colorado, he's a good player who could be the the face of the franchise for a while if they keep him around. When asked about his future on "Jim Rome is Burning" on ESPN a couple days ago, Holliday said he was told by management he likely wouldn't be sticking around very long. As he put it, management told him they "don't really do long term contracts" and that they may not have the money to offer him anyways. We can cut the A's a little slack because they're trying to finance a new ballpark but can't get it, and the franchise appears to be in limbo. But if Holliday hits by the bay this year, this guy should be kept in the fold. Unless Beane has a left fielder in AA who has a .405 on base percentage. Groan.

How Great Is Moneyball Anyway?
Michael Lewis wrote a book about it, and the topic has been discussed and analyzed around baseball ever since it came out. The truth is, "Sabrmetrics" the system that is money ball has been around since Bill James came out with those boring stat magazines almost thirty years ago that no one took seriously at the time. Moneyball has certainly had an influence on the game since it was re-popularized by Beane in the 199os, in that on base percentage has become a far more important statistic than it ever was before. Bu the teams that seem to be most successful using Moneyball tactics also employ good baseball wisdom: signing good free agents, developing quality pitching, etc. I'm not saying that Beane hasn't or doesn't do that, because his track record certainly shows that he did and still does. But what I am saying is he relies too much on his system and not enough on common sense. Look at the pitching staff he has? It's terrible from top to bottom. I don't care how many of these guys throw a high percentage of strikes with a 1-1 count. It's still bad.

Bold Predictions

1. Oakland will finish in last place in the American League West. Yes, last place. This team won't be able to win enough games out-slugging people and their pitching is bad, as I have already mentioned.
2. Matt Holliday will prove his doubters wrong and have a big year in a big park. 30HR, 100RBI for the special occasion.
3. Nomar Garciaparra will return to being a good MLB hitter. If he gets the at-bats, expect 20 homers and 85RBI.

Up next...Friday, Angels.

Exclusive: Villanueva and Shaq Not Only Twits In NBA

By now, you've definitely heard about Charlie Villanueva's little twitting adventure during halftime of a recent Milwaukee Bucks game. 

The mercurial forward snuck away for a moment, and posted a Twit, that read as the following:

In da locker room, snuck to post my twitt. We're playing the Celtics, tie ball game at da half. Coach wants more toughness. I gotta step up.

This drew a range of reaction, from Scott Skiles (who outlaws any and all forms of fun) reprimanding Charlie V, to people questioning how he even had the time, to people just not caring.  Personally, my favorite reaction came from the man himself (who goes by the moniker, @CV31).  Essentially, while he wasn't going to go against his coach's wishes, he didn't get what the difference was between taking a minute to tweet (or, is it, to twat?) or taking time at half to talk to a television reporter. Must say, I see your point Chuck.

Anywho, we here at BERNing decided it's time the rest of the Twittering world outs itself.  Thus far, we have @the_real_shaq and @CV31.  From a source who requested anonymity, we received a list of players, their Twitter names, and twits they've sent recently during practices or games.  Apparently, this epidemic is spreading faster than anyone could imagine.  Without further ado, we present some of this list.  

@the_real_jamal_crawford -- sent 9:15 pm pacific, march 25th 2009 -- coach nelson and i dont like each other.  dont tell no one but im not playing ne more this season.  (expletive) him.

@youngsuperman (dwight howard) -- sent 9:25 pm eastern, march 25th 2009 -- i got away with one there.  no way i didnt foul paul at da end.  def a foul.  wonder if svg will defend me still.

@rajonrondo (apparently, he doesn't have a nickname) -- sent 6:15 pm eastern, march 22nd 2009 -- steph has to go.  dudes gonna tattoo my name on my head in my sleep if i dont watch out.  he tried it on mikki last night, mik(e) slapped him.  

@twolvescoach (kevin mchale) -- sent 7:15 pm central, march 13th 2009 -- why is anyone still watching our games?  they cant still be charging for tickets.  can they?

@stevie_novak -- date and time unknown --  how am i still in the league?

@bdiddy#1 (baron davis) -- sent 10:15 pm eastern, march 18th 2009 -- GET ME OUT OF HERE!!!!!!!!!  I IMMEDIATELY REGRET MY DECISION.

@truwarrior (ron artest)  -- sent 11:15 pm central, march 24th 2009 -- tooth fell out tonite.  thought about usin it to stab kyle korver.  didnt think coach would like that.  poked abrooks with it instead.

@maskandagun (jerome james) -- sent 12:15 pm central time, march 20th 2009 -- sittin down 4 lunch.  back to da future 2 is on.  some1 has the afternoon off!

@agentzero -- sent 4:15 pm eastern time, march 4th 2009 -- the league needs me.  the nation needs me.  dc needs me.  barack obama needs me. i think im gonna dedicate my first game to him.  hed like that.

Now, legally we can't continue to reproduce any more of the Twits, as the rest seem to get a bit more graphic from here on out. They range from the sexual  (Adonal Foyle's twit about a magical vixen in a poem he's working on) to the crazy (Chris Andersen's decision to have George Karl's face tattooed over his own face) to the metaphysical (Darius Miles questioning the meaning of it all [that one's not all that bad, in retrospect]).  

If we receive any more of these wild Twits, we'll certainly update you as soon as is possible.  Stay tuned.