Tagged: Braves
Double Header With Nats – Giants/Braves Trigger Finger
Good news Giants fans. The Giants didn’t lose on the road last night. Well they actually didn’t even play. They waited over 3 hrs at the field to see if they can get the game in, but Mother Nature had other plans. Which means Randy Johnson has to wait another day to go for win #300. Johnson will take the mound today if the rain clears up. He will be pitching game 1 of the double header. Game 1 will be at 1:30pm pacific time. Game 2 will follow that with Matt Cain on the mound.
The Giants have been pretty much hopeless on the road. They have the 2nd best home record in the National League, but can’t seem to win on the road to save their lives. We probably have had the easiest road games possible to win so far this year, and we can’t even take advantage of that. I’m sure a lot of people don’t know this, but the Giants actually have the 2nd best home record in the National League. We are 2nd to the hated Dodgers!
Thoughts about Glavine/Braves and Giants non moves.
In recent news I’m sure that everyone has heard about Glavine getting released by the Braves. This is a guy that will be in the Hall of Fame for sure. This guy has had so many big games for the Braves. Do you think it was right that they released him? Well that all depends on how you look at the situation. The Braves look at it like a business. They want to win and will release a player like Glavine if they think they have someone better to fill his spot. They even went out and made a trade to get Nate McLouth. Now lets step back and look at the Giants. The Giants have a tough time in even thinking about releasing Rich Aurilia. He’s still on the team with a .200 Avg. He did actually get hot to get his Avg. up to .200 and he did hit his first home run last week. Giants can’t even release a fallen star when the Braves can release a future Hall of Famer. The Giants are just dangling Jonathan Sanchez and the Braves are out there making trades. Just shows you which team wants to win and pull the trigger on moves and which team just wants to dangle a player.
~ King of Cali
Quick Random Thoughts
The Giants got the win with Tim Lincecum on the mound. They have won the first 2 games of the 3 game series with the Braves. Giants fans get your brooms out, cause I’m feeling a series sweep with Randy Johnson on the mound today. This would be the first sweep over the Braves since 2003.
Sandoval will be back in the everyday lineup on Friday against the Cardinals. He will be playing 1st base, so he won’t have to throw as much.
Giants are thinking about making a move for a bat sooner then the trading deadline. Rumors have them linked to Dan Uggla from the Marlins and Nick Johnson from the Nationals right now.
My 2nd Fantasy Baseball Team
Last Friday I did my 2nd Fantasy Draft. I had the 6th pick in the draft. My #1 pick of the draft was Josh Hamilton. I have never played Fantasy Baseball before so I’m still not to sure how everything works. I know I have two guys on this team that are injured. I decided to get Alex Rodriguez since I figured he would be back in May. I also got Troy Glaus. I had no idea he was injured. I think I seen on MLB. com today that he won’t be back till June. Grrrrrrreat (not Tony The Tiger Grrrrrrreat) now I need to figure something out. lol Well here is my 2nd Fantasy team. Let me know what you think and any suggestions would be nice. =)
Team – King of Cali
C Brian McCann
1B Pablo Sandoval
2B Howie Kendrick
3B Alex Rodriguez
SS Rafael Furcal
OF Josh Hamilton
OF Alfonso Soriano
OF Corey Hart
Util Andre Ethier
Util Jim Thome
BN Delmon Young
BN Orlando Hudson
BN Troy Glaus
BN Fred Lewis
SP Jon Lester
SP Matt Cain
RP George Sherrill
RP Chad Qualls
P John Danks
P Ryan Dempster
P Jered Weaver
~ King of Cali
KNBR Interview with Emmanuel Burriss recap
I listened to an interview the other day on KNBR the Giants flagship station. Murph and Mac were interviewing Emmanuel Burriss. Emmanuel Burriss is a
switch hitter. He’s a little more athletic than Kevin Frandsen and Burriss can also play short too. The Giants did want him to be the everyday shortstop but he was making some errors, so they decided to go out and get Edgar Renteria. Burriss is now fighting for the 2nd base job with Kevin Frandsen. Burriss started late at switch hitting. He started in college. He’s been trying to get stronger from the left side. It’s his primary focus to be consistent from the left side this year. He hopes to steal some bases this year if he plays full time.
switch hitter. He’s a little more athletic than Kevin Frandsen and Burriss can also play short too. The Giants did want him to be the everyday shortstop but he was making some errors, so they decided to go out and get Edgar Renteria. Burriss is now fighting for the 2nd base job with Kevin Frandsen. Burriss started late at switch hitting. He started in college. He’s been trying to get stronger from the left side. It’s his primary focus to be consistent from the left side this year. He hopes to steal some bases this year if he plays full time.When asked about the 2nd base battle with Frandsen. Burriss said Kevin and him are good friends and hang out a bunch. They both push each other very hard to help each other. Just to make themselves better and help the team. Burriss came up as a short stop but the Giants moved him to 2nd base. One of his favorite players growing up was Roberto Alomar. Burriss grew up a fan of the Braves, Orioles and liked the Giants cause his dad liked the Giants. Emmanuel Burriss father was a big fan of Willie Mays and Willie McCovey. Burriss introduced his dad to McCovey and said that’s the first time he seen his dad act like a little kid.
~King of Cali
Domino effect time for free agents
With spring training here. I think a lot of players are going to start to panic
that they are not on teams. They don’t want to sign late and miss the start of the season. I’m sure we will see some signings starting to come quick. Bobby Abreu and Adam Dunn signing recently is starting the domino effect for the rest of the players. If someone would have asked you at the beginning of the off-season that your team can get Abreu for $5 million would you have believed them? I’m sure if any team would have thought that. Every team would have jumped to try to get that deal worked out quick. Abreu is a steal for the Angels. It’s such a great move cause they got him for cheap and he can bat anywhere. They don’t expect him to be a huge force. He’s just a great bat that has some pop. He will get them about 20 or more home runs and will hit about .300. Can’t ask for anything more than that for a $5 million deal.
that they are not on teams. They don’t want to sign late and miss the start of the season. I’m sure we will see some signings starting to come quick. Bobby Abreu and Adam Dunn signing recently is starting the domino effect for the rest of the players. If someone would have asked you at the beginning of the off-season that your team can get Abreu for $5 million would you have believed them? I’m sure if any team would have thought that. Every team would have jumped to try to get that deal worked out quick. Abreu is a steal for the Angels. It’s such a great move cause they got him for cheap and he can bat anywhere. They don’t expect him to be a huge force. He’s just a great bat that has some pop. He will get them about 20 or more home runs and will hit about .300. Can’t ask for anything more than that for a $5 million deal.
I think Adam Dunn was waiting as long as he could to get a better offer. He just never got it, so he decided to finally sign with the Nationals. The reason I say finally cause it was reported a while back that the Nationals had a contract offer to Dunn but he just kept waiting and waiting. I think he was waiting for Manny to sign and then see what’s out there for him. I’m sure he was hoping Manny wouldn’t sign in LA, so he can sign with the Dodgers. Now it’s wait and see who’s signing next. I’m sure most of us have heard the Dodgers are trying to sign Manny and Orlando Hudson. As a Giants fan I hate this move. As a baseball fan… I think this makes the Dodgers a whole lot stronger. To add these two bats to your lineup. Orlando will hit around .300 and Manny will just rake all day at the plate. I hope the Dodgers can’t get both of these players, but if they do. We will just throw Tim Lincecum at them and no Dodgers will be hitting that day. =)
~King of Cali
Check the attendance for your team…
Teams Dates Home att. Home avg Road avg Total
NY Yankees 81 4,287132 52,928 35,193 7,137,726
NY Mets 79 4,042,045 51,165 35,944 6,953,516
LA Dodgers 81 3,730,750 46,059 34,710 6,542,284
St. Louis 81 3,432,917 42,382 32,342 6,052,643
Philadelphia 81 3,422,583 42,254 33,214 6,112,949
LA Angels 81 3,336,747 41,194 29,621 5,736,079
Chicago Cubs 81 3,300,200 40,743 36,328 6,206,469
Detroit 81 3,202,654 39,539 29,308 5,511,391
Milwaukee 81 3,068,458 37,882 33,237 5,760,633
Boston 81 3,048,250 37,633 38,367 6,155,993
San Fran. 81 2,863,847 35,356 32,272 5,445,583
Houston 80 2,779,487 34,744 32,198 5,387,486
Colorado 80 2,650,218 33,128 32,812 5,307,964
Atlanta 81 2,532,834 31,270 34,105 5,227,115
Arizona 81 2,509,946 30,987 33,946 5,259,562
Chicago WS 80 2,460,294 30,754 30,253 4,910,792
San Diego 81 2,427,535 29,970 35,795 5,326,908
Toronto 81 2,399,786 29,627 30,119 4,809,298
Washington 80 2,321,988 29,025 32,825 4,948,027
Seatle 81 2,329,788 28,763 29,823 4,745,428
Minnesota 81 2,302,431 28,425 29,527 4,644,597
Cleveland 80 2,169,760 27,122 31,029 4,652,092
Cincinnati 81 2,058,632 25,415 34,288 4,835,994
Baltimore 78 1,950,077 25,001 31,654 4,482,366
Texas 80 1,945,857 24,323 29,765 4,327,076
Tampa Bay 81 1,811,986 22,370 30,343 4,239,403
Oakland 81 1,665,256 20,559 29,943 4,030,782
Pittsburgh 80 1,609,076 20,113 33,701 4,338,855
Kansas City 79 1,578,922 19,986 29,918 4,002,291
Florida 80 1,335,079 16,688 33,335 4,001,845
AL total: 34,488,931 AL average: 30,630
NL total: 44,085,595 NL average: 34,201
MLB total: 78,574,526 MLB average: 32,536
Andruw Jones is back in the free agent market
The Dodgers signed Andruw Jones a year ago and make him the highest paid
player in franchise history. Now a year later they are releasing him. Jones batted .158 with three home runs and 14 RBI’s. Jones was a huge disappointment. He came into spring training well overweight.
player in franchise history. Now a year later they are releasing him. Jones batted .158 with three home runs and 14 RBI’s. Jones was a huge disappointment. He came into spring training well overweight.The team that decides to sign Jones would only have to offer him the league minimum which is $400,000. The Dodgers would still have to pay him the rest of his salary. Jones will probably end up going back to the Braves to revamp his career. He should go back to a place where he has had so much success. I’m sure he will have a bounce back year with whatever team he plays with next season.
~King of Cali
Hot Stove is on fire with Red Sox signings
The Hot Stove is still heating up. There is still some big name free agents
out there. The Red Sox have taken a couple of them off the list. They have signed Rocco Baldelli, Mark Kotsay and have agreed to terms with John Smoltz. All these moves within a week. Has the Red Sox still looking strong going into next season.
out there. The Red Sox have taken a couple of them off the list. They have signed Rocco Baldelli, Mark Kotsay and have agreed to terms with John Smoltz. All these moves within a week. Has the Red Sox still looking strong going into next season.Baledlli will be the Red Sox 4th outfielder and Kotsay will be able to fill in at first base and also can play outfield. Smoltz is a great pitcher to add to this team. He’s getting up there in age but can still pitch great. I’m sure another Red Sox signing will be coming again soon. They will eventually end up signing Jason Varitek very soon.
~King of Cali
If you were a GM what realistic moves would you make for your team this off-season?
Its funny cause I wrote this topic down and was going to post a blog about it.
Then I actually found another blog with something similar. It was about the Giants and what they would do if they were the GM. I do give the guy credit because he did put a lot of time and thought into it, but it just wasn’t realistic. What realistic moves would you make with your team. Trades, free agent signings or whatever you can think of. You can’t change any of the teams your team has already made this off-season. Starting today….
Then I actually found another blog with something similar. It was about the Giants and what they would do if they were the GM. I do give the guy credit because he did put a lot of time and thought into it, but it just wasn’t realistic. What realistic moves would you make with your team. Trades, free agent signings or whatever you can think of. You can’t change any of the teams your team has already made this off-season. Starting today….If I was Brian Sabean I would trade some pitching for a bat. I would trade Jonathan Sanchez to the Florida Marlins for Jorge Cantu. He hit .277 with 29 home runs and 95 RBI’s. That would be the corner infielder they were looking for. He can play 3rd base and then Pablo Sandoval can play first base.
Then I would make a hard push for Manny Ramirez. He would be another great bat that would be in the middle of the lineup. Then the Giants would be the favorite in the NL West. They would have a very decent lineup with a great starting rotation.
If by any chance the Giants are out of it by trading deadline. Then I would trade Bengie Molina since he’s in his last year of his contact. No need to re-sign him with Buster Posey ready to come up by the end of the season. Posey was drafted by the Giants with the 5th overall pick in the 2008 draft. Randy Winn would like to stay a Giant. He’s been a good Giant too. I would re-sign him if he doesn’t demand a lot of money. If he’s not signed before the trading deadline. I would also trade him as well. To get some minor league player or players. No sense in letting him walk at the end of the season and get nothing in return.
~King of Cali
What player on your favorite team will have a breakout year in 2009?
Well I think a couple players on the Giants will have a breakout year. I guess I will
name them both and for different reasons. I think Pablo Sandoval will have a very nice season with the bat. He hit .345, 3 Home Runs and 24 RBI’s in just 41 games. I believe that was just a sample of what he can do with a bat in his hands. He does hit for AVG, but I’m hoping he gets a little more pop in his bat. He will probably be batting 3rd and I’m sure he will keep his AVG up and RBI’s will also come easy for him with Renteria on base a lot in front of him.
name them both and for different reasons. I think Pablo Sandoval will have a very nice season with the bat. He hit .345, 3 Home Runs and 24 RBI’s in just 41 games. I believe that was just a sample of what he can do with a bat in his hands. He does hit for AVG, but I’m hoping he gets a little more pop in his bat. He will probably be batting 3rd and I’m sure he will keep his AVG up and RBI’s will also come easy for him with Renteria on base a lot in front of him.
I also think Barry Zito will have a breakout year. I know I’m sure a lot of you guys think that’s a type error. No it’s not! I do believe he will have a breakout year. This year he’s not going to be the main guy that everyone is looking at cause of his big contract. They have Tim Lincecum coming back as the ace and Cy Young award winner. Then you add Randy Johnson with Matt Cain and Jonathan Sanchez. Zito will fall back to like the 3rd or 4th spot in the starting rotation. Which can only help him. He will not be going up against another teams ace. He can only get better at the bottom of the rotation.Who do you belive will be your teams breakout player of 2009?
– King of Cali
