Tagged: Adam Dunn
Fantasy Baseball- Outfielders- Jacoby Ellsbury
When it comes to fantasy baseball outfielders are more likely to be the diamond in the rough. Guys like Josh Hamilton, Carlos Quentin, and Shane Victorino have all become diamonds the last few seasons. However, I don’t see any outfielders becoming diamonds this year. That said you can still get many great players in the later rounds.
Jacoby Ellsbury
Unless you have a fantasy team owner who looks at every single players stats Jacoby Ellsbury will probably not seriously be looked at. Why? Well because outfielders tend to be power hitters and well Jacoby Ellsbury is not a power hitter. But with a guy like Jacoby he makes up almost all the steals you will need along with a .300 average, 100 runs, 60+ RBI’s, and 10 home runs. How good is Ellsbury? Well he is ranked the number one fantasy player on the Boston Red Sox on MLB.com, ahead of Jon Lester, Josh Beckett, Victor Martinez, John Lackey, Kevin Youkilis, Jonathan Papelbon, Dustin Pedroia, and Adrian Beltre to name a few.
Ellsbury though is a better choice then guys like Carlos Lee, Adam Dunn, and Manny Ramirez because Ellsbury can turn a single into a double, a double into a triple, and even a triple into a home run. If Lee, Dunn, or Manny tried to do that they would turn a single into an out. Sure Lee, Dunn, and Manny will hit 25+ home runs and drive in 90+ but when you look at the numbers it makes Ellsbury look better.
MLB predicts that Ellsbury will steal 67, drive in 63, score 106 times, and hit nine home runs, meaning that if your league does not facto in batting average, OBP, or slugging percentage and each stat counts as one point Ellsbury will get you 245 points. Manny will get you 202 points, Dunn will get you 229 points, and Lee will get you 213 points if MLB’s predictions are right which well you can make you own thoughts about that.
Due up next: Andre Ethier, Marlon Byrd, Shin-Soo Choo, and The Entire Kansas City Royals Outfield
Photo Credits- <http://www.sawxblog.com/2008/08/youth-group-jacoby-ellsbury-and-jed-lowrie-lead-way-for-sox.html>
P.S. Sorry for well not blogging since October
I’m Back . . . . . Again!
* I have been working on this entry this whole week and have been very busy this whole week with baseball camp and other things so the stats are a little messed up*
Man camp was awesome again. It just always seems to go by waaaaaaaay to fast. Anyway I was hoping to make baseball all-stars and made it! Along with basketball and archery all-stars.
Also I have obviously decided to keep blogging just not once a day. I am going to do a week in review plus extra entries for events like the trading deadline and other things.
Anyway well this year the all-star game rosters just seemed different. Why? Well a few players did not deserve it. Which players did not, and which players should have been there? Well you’ll find out!
The voters, players, and managers got it right mostly in the American League. But there where still a lot of mess ups. For example Chone Figgins only made the team after Evan Longoria pulled himself out due to an infected ring finger. And while at the time Figgins lead the league in runs scored and was tied for the league lead in triples with seven. In an unbiased opinion Mike Lowell might have been better choices. However Figgins and Lowell are three very different players. Also at the time of the all-star game Lowell had not played in an MLB game since June 27th.
And even though Figgins has played more games then Lowell even if the had played the same amount of games the only stats Lowell would lead in would probably be doubles, home runs, RBIs, intentional base on balls, slugging percentage, and maybe if he got on a tear total bases. However Lowell is more of a veteran which might have calmed some players emotions. Figgins though has been in the league since 2002 only four less seasons then Lowell.
Now if I was Joe Maddon I would have picked Figgins. Because he of the fact that the American League team only has about six speedsters besides Figgins. Of corse some people do not consider Derek Jeter, Jason Bartlett, and Ben Zobrist speedsters even though they have a combined total of 47 stolen bases.
Brandon Inge is a question mark. He hit in the home run derby despite having just 21 home runs (tied for fifth in the American League). He won the all-star final vote becoming the first Tiger to do so. Of the five players on the American League ballot three ended up making the team. Yet Ian Kinsler who was ahead of Dustin Pedroia for most of the voting did not make it despite having more runs, hits, total bases, doubles, triples, walks, and less strikeouts.
Inge is a better fielder and has a higher batting average, on base percentage, slugging percentage, and a higher on base plus slugging percentage. Inge is also a candidate for comeback player of the year which might have given him some what of an edge.
This vote could have gone either way. Heck Blue Jays left fielder/DH Adam Lind could have won it. But what it came down to between Kinsler and Inge was the popularity vote. The Tigers have more of a fan base then the Rangers even though the Dallas/Fort Worth/Arlington area is a larger city then Detroit. The Dallas area is a football town and well Detroit does not have much to root for with the 0 and 16 Lions. That is the sad part about sports these days. Most of the time the teams with the larger fan bases tend to have their players win more honors.
In the National League well lets just say there where a lot of players deserving to be in St. Louis that did not get to go. Hunter Pence of the Houston Astros is a five tool player. Yet another five tool player should have been there instead of Pence. That player is Dodgers right fielder, Andre Ethier. Ethier has more runs, doubles, home runs, RBIs, walks, intentional base on balls, and a higher slugging percentage then Pence. Both have nearly the exact same stats though. For example they have the same number of total base and have played in the same amount of games.
Yet their teams are very different. The Dodgers have the best record in baseball while the Astros are trying for a second half push yet again. But think about it this way look what the Dodgers and particularly Ethier has overcome this year. Remember last year when Manny came over and Ethier exploded? Remember this year at the start of Manny’s suspension when Ethier went into a slump. Well yah look at him now.
The fact that Pence made the all-star game and Ethier did not is a joke. There is no doubt that Pence is a good player and very similar to Ethier but look at it this way. For Pence he has Carlos Lee, Lance Berkman, and Ivan Rodriguez to drive him in which would give him more runs. Ethier has James Loney and Matt Kemp to drive him in. Obviously Pence has the advantage. Pence also gets some added RBIs with speedster Michael Born to score. So instead of having Casey Blake stop at third Pence would get an RBI.
Okay still do not think it matters a lot. Okay well look at it this way. In the Astros versus Dodgers game today through the bottom of the eight with no outs and Ethier on first Pence has gone one for four. Ethier is three for four. Yes it is just one game but lets look at it one more way.
The Dodgers have the best record in baseball yet only had three all-stars and Jonathan Broxton is hurt. The Astros are just now playing good. I mean all the facts are there Ethier is having a better season the Pence and deserves to be there. He probably would be there to if it was not for Manny “stealing” his votes even though Ethier probably would not have started.
Two players on the same team probably would not have made it if it was not for Cole Hamels. Shane Victorino and Jason Werth should be thank Hamels today. Victorino won the National League all-star final vote and Werth made the team as Carlos Beltran’s replacement. Yet both got lucky. Ethier could have had either of their spots and so could have Matt Kemp or Mike Cameron, and maybe Carlos Lee, Michael Born, and or Adam Dunn.
Look at the stats as of Jul 22. . .
AVG. HR RBI R H SO SB OBP 2B 3B Errors F. %tage
Werth .266 21 61 63 88 88 12 .378 15 1 0 1.000%
Victorino .307 6 43 67 115 43 15 .374 25 6 1 .995%
Ethier .257 19 58 52 88 71 4 .341 19 1 3 .982%
Kemp .323 13 55 55 110 81 20 .390 12 6 2 .992%
Cameron .260 14 43 44 82 87 4 .366 19 2 3 .988%
Lee .307 15 57 40 107 30 3 .357 17 1 2 .984%
Born .285 3 26 62 101 79 35 .357 17 8 1 .995%
Dunn .268 24 65 45 87 106 0 .401 17 0 7 .950%
So based on my formulas Victorino should have made it but Werth should not have. Matt Kemp should have. Here are the rankings . . .
1. Victorino
2. Kemp
3. Werth
4. Born
5. Lee
6. Ethier
7. Dunn
8. Cameron
The last player who should not have made it was the replacement to Matt Cain, Zach Duke. How does a player who has a losing record at the break (8-9) make the all-star team! His ERA at the break was 3.38 which is good but when your team even though they stink has a great defense not to mention a speedy outfield that could be a little lower.
So lets say the fact that Duke’s ERA was the reason he made the team. As of July 26th his ERA was 3.42, .04 higher then at the break. As of July 26th fourteen players in the National League had a lower ERA then Duke, ten of those players did not make the all-star team including Javier Vazquez.
Duke had eight wins and as of July 26th he has nine wins. As of the 26th eighteen players have more or the same amount of wins as Duke. Of those eighteen players eleven of those players did not make the all-star game including Derek Lowe, Bronson Arroyo, and Yovani Gallardo.
Duke also had 70 strikeouts at the break today he has 74. Lets just say he did not make it because of his strikeouts. There are 37 players with more strikeouts and of those players 31 did not make the team.
So just a few players who could have taken his spot? Well Adam Wainwright, Wandy Rodriguez, Yovani Gallardo, and Jair Jurrjens all had the same or better stats in ERA, strikeouts, and strikeouts. So even though I do not think they deserved it congrats to all the all-stars.
Photo Credits
1- gohalos.com
2- news.bbc.co.uk.com
3- blog.kir.com
4- bostonsports.mlblogs.com
5- baltimoresun.com
6- mlb.com
Dunn Deal
Adam Dunn
Adam Dunn signed a two year twenty million dollar contract yesterday with the Washington Nationals. The deal became official today meaning the Nationals now have a guy they can build their team around. Dunn will wear number 32. Sure Dunn strikes out a ton and stinks at fielding but he hits a ton of home runs and that is what the Nationals needed and wanted. Dunn will join third baseman Ryan Zimmerman in the middle of the order. Dunn is like Babe Ruth he either hits a home run or strikes out trying. Now they obviously are very different besides that but name ten other major league players who either hit a home run or strike out. Last season with the Reds and Diamondbacks Dunn hit .236 with forty home runs, 100 RBI’s, two stolen bases, 122 hits, and 164 strike outs. His carer stats include a .247 batting average with 278 home runs, 955 hits, 278 home runs, 672 RBI’s, and 59 stolen bases. Dunn can play first base and the outfield and at those two positions he has a .974 carer fielding percentage. 2009 will be Dunn’s ninth major league season. He spent eight and a half with the Reds and half a season with the Diamondbacks after the Dodgers traded for Manny Ramirez. Dunn will mostly play first moving last years starting first baseman, Nick Johnson to the bench. Dunn could also play a little left and right. Josh Willingham and Elijah Dukes are the teams starters in left field and right field respectively. Dunn is a one time all-star who made the game in 2002. He went zero for one in that game with a walk. Dunn is 29 years old and I would rate this move a ten out of ten. Sure he isn’t the best player but like I said before the Nationals needed a bat and they got one.
Photos
1- sportsillustrated.com
2- eastvalleytribune.com
3-mlbbada.com
The Past And The Present
The Past
Andruw Jones signed a one year minor league deal with the Texas Rangers today worth $500,000. The deal could be worth one million dollars if he gets 620 plate appearances this year. This offseason Jones was rumored to be traded from the Dodgers to the Mets. Jones is a five time all-star who was won ten Golden Gloves. Jones spent eleven outstanding years with the Braves then in 2007 he had a not so good year, batting .222, with 26 home runs, 127 hits, 94 RBI’s, and five stolen bases. That was still a great year just not an Andruw Jones type of year. In the offseason that year Jones signed with the Dodgers. In 75 games he batted .158, with three home runs, 33 hits, fourteen RBI’s, and zero stolen bases. Andruw is still a good fielder though. In 2008 he had a .993 fielding percentage which made his carer fielding percentage .991. This offseason the Dodgers released him after he agreed to defer $16 million of the $21.1 million he is owed. Jones is the third washed up player the Rangers have signed this offseason joining Omar Vizquel and Derrick Turnbow. Jones has some heath problems. Like the fact that he is overweight. Jones is not likely to be the starter in centerfield though because Josh hamilton is already in center. Jones could become the utility outfielder if he has a strong spring training. I think Andruw Jones will have a strong spring training and be the fourth outfielder but will get sent down in the middle of the season do to poor performances. I did take him off the list of possible center fielders I might want for fantasy baseball because when players are sent to the minors they can’t earn you points and because I don’t want a backup outfielder on my team as the starter. This is also some what of topic but would anyone buy my Andruw Jones autographed rookie card that is in mint for maybe thirty dollars. 😉
The Present
Ryan Howard signed a three year, $54 million dollar contract with the Phillies avoiding arbitration. Howard will get paid eighteen million dollars a year. Last season Howard took the Phillies to the World Series by batting .251 with 48 home runs, 146 RBI’s, one stolen base, and 153 hits. He did have 199 strike outs last year tying a carer high. He finished second in MVP voting in 2008 behind Albert Pujols. Howard has won many awards in his three year carer including, a Hank Aaron award, a Rookie of the Year, a silver slugger, a MVP, but has only made one all-star game. He did make two home run derby’s and won the 2006 one. Howard has a carer batting average of .279 with 177 home runs, 578 hits, 499 RBI’s, and two stolen bases. Last year in the playoffs he batted .269, with three home runs, fourteen hits, nine RBI’s, and zero stolen bases. Ryan Howard has a lot in common with Adam Dunn. Both strikeout a ton, both hit for power, both are one time all-stars, both can play first base, (but Howard plays it every day while Dunn also plays outfield) both bat lefty, both were born in November 1979 (Howard the 19th and Dunn the 9th) and the list goes on and on. Now I think Dunn will not get Ryan Howard money maybe twelve million dollars if he is lucky. If Ryan Howard wants to get into the Hall of Fame though he will have to cut down on strikeouts. Same thing with Adam Dunn.
Photos
Andruw Jones-honkbalsite.com
Ryan Howard- art.com
Where Will Manny Go???
First- Derek Lowe is officially a Brave.
Second- Not a lot of news today.
Where will Manny Ramirez go! He is one of the best hitters ever and today. Manny wants at least 15 million a year and I think he should get 15 million. Manny may be a bad influence in the clubhouse but thats Manny. Some guys are just going to be like that. He is a great hitter and at 36 Manny still can slug the ball. Yes, he has terrible defense but his is better than Adam Dunn. Manny hasn’t signed for two reasons: the economy and his antics. If Manny had behaved and didn’t “force” the Red Sox to trade him Manny would be with someone. Manny hit 37 home runs, hit .332, and drove in 121 with the Red Sox and Dodgers. Manny has 527 carer home runs, with a .314 batting average, and has driven in 1,725. If Manny hadn’t refused to play, went inside the Green Monster, held up signs about trading him for Brett Favre (as shown) and said Derek Jeter was playing golf (also as shown) then he would probably resigned with Boston. Manny will probably end up with the Los Angeles Dodgers. If Scott Boras works his magic the deal will probably give him three years, club option for forth, twelve million dollars a year. If Boras can’t work his magic the deal will be three years ten million dollars. Manny wants to play till he is 40. So for his last year he could end up with the Yankees as a D.H. My baseball trainer Raffi, played minor league ball with Albert Pujols, Bartolo Colon, Willy Taveras, grew up with David Ortiz, and Manny. When I have my lessons guess who is there before me Willy Taveras! Raffi pitches to him and Willy hits. Raffi said that Manny wants to stay in Los Angeles and some other stuff. Click here to see his stats. While the Giants did show interest in Manny that idea kind of fell apart. One thing is will Manny sign before pitchers and catchers report to spring training? Or even before the end of spring training.
Manny Being Manny
Manny gets paid millions of dollars and the best he can do is cardboard!
I was at this game. This was Jason Bay’s third game and I think that is Jason Bay batting.
Top 10 Who Will Win What-Day 8
I’m sorry I didn’t do one yesterday. I was finishing a paper for my P.H.D. Today we go from the desert to Canada.
But before I begin I must say a few things.
1- Congrats ‘Stros on signing Mike Hampton now that his physical is done
2- Peedie signing a deal with Boston. Red Sox ’09 champs!
3- Bob Howry signing with SF congrats dude
4- The Card’s signing Trever Miller
5- I talked to my boy Raffi today, friend of Manny and Pujols, he said Manny will go to whoever shows him the money.
6- Atlanta got Javier Vazquez in a trade yesterday.
7- The M’s inked Russell Branyan
8- The Astros resigned Doug Brocail . . . NOOOOOOOO HE STINKS
Free Agent DH
We all know that pudge cc manny and bobby are free agent but who’s going where? For the next 12 days i will predict. Continue reading
Bostonball 