Tagged: Jonathan Papelbon
Fantasy Baseball Help- Tip 2
Before I begin I would like to say a few things.
–My Play was AWESOME! We did very well. I was Uncle Andrew in the Magician’s Nephew. I used a can of hair gell, a bottle of hair dye,and a ton of hair-spray for my hair. I got flowers and chocolate, it’s a weird thing we do to the star at the theatre, and by weird I mean awesome. So if the sports carer doesn’t work I’ll have acting to do.
-Also my championship basketball game got moved to six o’clock so I might get to blog tomorrow.
– I moved the front page of MLBlogs! Congrats Cob for making it also and Hyun Young for being the featured blog.
Closers End The Game and End the Draft
When drafting for your team draft closers at the end or middle, unless you play some weird league where saves are worth more then wins. Closers don’t pitch as much as starters and don’t play as much as position players. The only exceptions would be to Jonathan Papelbon, Brad Lidge, and Francsico Rodriguez and some could argue Marino Rivera, Joe Nathan, and Jose Valverde. Closers get the least amount of point on your team except for benchwarmers. The closer is the most overrated position in all of baseball. All they do is pitch one inning. Yes their is a ton of pressure and not everyone can do it but at the end of the day all it is is pitching one inning. I should know I’m the closer on my baseball team. Unless you don’t blow a one save, save sixty, or are the next Trevor Hoffman you are most likely overrated. I know I will get some really bad comments about this but I really don’t care. The most overrated closer? Francsico Rodriguez. Brad Lidge goes perfect with the exception of the all-star game and all we hear is K-Rod this, K-Rod that. Don’t get me wrong K-Rod is one of the games best at closer but he blew seven games last year. The save really just means how many closer games you won. So in a way you don’t want to have a closer come in and pitch because you want to have a blow out. Sarters pitch 200+ innings if you great and closers pitch about 70 at the very most. Position players play sometimes the whole season. While I respect closers and I think they are a huge part of a teams success they are overrated.
sportsnet.ca
blog.pennlive.com
sportsillustrated.com
Note- This may have been the stupidest entry I’ve ever written because since I’m the closer for my team i just dissed myself.
Young Guns- Red Sox
This is a new series I like to call, Young Guns. I will look at the youngest, best, and most promising player on each team. This series will not be every day. I could put two up on the same day, zero in a week, or nine in three days. So I’m going to start with the Boston Red Sox.
Dustin Pedroia
Dustin Pedroia is 25 years old. He went to Arizona State. Pedroia was drafted by the Red Sox in the second round with the 65th pick of the draft in 2004. He has a carer batting average of .313, with 27 home runs, 140 RBI’s, 213 hits, and 27 stolen bases. He also has a .989 fielding percentage at second base (his primary position) and shortstop. In 2007 Peedie won a World Series Ring and a Rookie of the Year trophy. That season Pedroia batted .317, with 50 RBI’s, eight home runs, 165 hits, and seven stolen bases. In the postseason he batted .283, with two home runs, ten RBI’s, and 17 hits. In 2008 Pedroia started at second base in the 2008 All Star Game at Yankee Stadium. In 2008 he batted .326, with 17 home runs, 83 RBI’s, 213 hits, and 20 stolen bases. That year Pedroia won a golden glove, a silver slugger, and the 2008 A.L. MVP. In the playoffs he batted .233, with three home runs, ten hits, two stolen bases, and six RBI’s. Pedroia carer postseason stats are a .262 batting average, five home runs, 27 hits, two stolen bases, and 16 RBI’s. Pedroia is a great guy in the clubhouse. he is very cocky saying stuff like, “Strongest 180 pounder in the league.” He and Red Sox manager, Terry Francona play games of cribbage in the clubhouse on road games. Click here to learn more about cribbage. Pedroia doesn’t have the body of a baseball player at all. He weighs 180 pounds and is five foot nine inches. Did you know that Pedroia is the nephew of Phil Snow, the Detroit Lions linebacker? On January 9, 2009, Pedroia was named cover guy for MLB 09: The Show. This offseason Pedroia signed a six year, $40.5 million dollar contract. Pedroia will have a great carer and maybe will 100% make it in to the hall of fame. I think Pedroia will get 3,000 hits.
Honorable Mentions
2.Jon Lester
3.Jonathan Papelbon
4.Jason Bay
5.Kevin Youkilis
6.Jacoby Ellsbury
7.Justin Masterson
8.Jed Lowrie
World Baseball Classic- Red Sox Style
First- I’m sorry I didn’t blog yesterday I am taking this boring five day test over math, writing, reading comprehension, science, and tons more.
Second- The real news in baseball isn’t the World Baseball Classic, it is Barry Bonds! Click here to read this shocking story about him.
Third- Jeff Kent the legendary second baseman retired today. Kent has a pretty good shot at getting into the baseball hall of fame. More on that soon hopefully.
Forth- Jonathan Pabelbon avoided arbitration by signing a one year, $6.25 million dollar deal. Boston also signed Javier Lopez. Theo Epstein has yet to go in to arbitration with any player since becoming G.M. of the Red Sox. More on that soon.
Fifth- The Dodgers signed Jonathan Broxton and Russell Martin avoiding arbitration.
Sixth- The Red Sox traded David Aardsma to the Mariners for Fabian Williamson.
The Boston Red Sox have eleven major league players and five minor league players on the World Baseball Classic provisional rosters.
Jason Bay- Bay played for Canada in the 2006 World Baseball Classic. In three games Bay hit .455, with zero home runs, drove in none, and had five hits. Last season Bay hit .286, with 31 home runs, drove in 101, and had 165 hits. Bay will be a great move for team Canada. While he didn’t have great stats in 2006 I think he will have a good 2009 World Baseball Classic.
George Kottaras- Kottaras will join Jason Bay on team Canada. Kottaras didn’t play in the 2006 World Baseball Classic. Last season in three games with the Red Sox he hit .200, had one hit, with no home runs, RBI’s, or stolen bases. The Red Sox will watch Kottaras carefully as a test to see how he does against major league talent.
Javier Lopez- Lopez will play for team Puerto Rico. Lopez did not participate in the 2006 World Baseball Classic. Last season with Boston he had a two and zero record, with a 2.43 ERA, and 38 strikeouts. Lopez should help team Puerto Rico. He would give team Puerto Rico a pretty good relief pitcher.
Mike Lowell- Lowell will join Javier Lopez on team Puerto Rico. Lowell will play in the World Baseball Classic for his first time. Last year with Boston he hit .274, with 17 home runs, 73 RBI’s, and had 115 hits. The Red Sox will watch Lowell closely to see how his hip is. If it gets bad they may tell Lowell to sit out a game or sit on the bench for the rest of the tournament. I think his hip will be fine though.
Daisuke Matsuzaka- Dice-K will play for team Japan. Dice-K played in the 2006 World Baseball Classic. He had three wins no losses, an ERA of 1.28, and ten strike outs. Dice-K was a vital part in helping Japan win in 2006. He also won MVP in the 2006 World Baseball Classic. Last year with the Red Sox he had a record of 18-3, with 154 strikeouts, and an ERA of 2.90. I think Dice-K will do fine in the 2009 World Baseball Classic.
Hideki Okajima- Okajima will join Dice-K on team Japan. Okajima didn’t play in the 2006 World Baseball Classic. Last season he had a three and two record, with an ERA of 2.61, 60 strikeouts, and one save. Okajima will be great playing for Japan. he could help them to win another title, but the USA will win.
David Ortiz- Ortiz will play for team Dominican Republic. In 2006 while playing in the 2006 World Baseball Classic he hit .150, with three home runs, five RBI’s, and three hits in twenty at bats. Having three hits and three home runs means that all of his hits were home runs. In 2008 with the Red Sox he hit .264, with 23 home runs, 89 RBI’s, and 110 hits. Ortiz has a hurt wrist so he might not be able to play. He also is listed on the list of Red Sox players in the classic but not on the list of players for team Dominican Republic on MLB.com which is strange.
Dustin Pedroia- Pedroia will play for my favorite team, team USA! Pedroia did not play in the 2006 World Baseball Classic. Last season he hit .326, with 17 home runs, 83 RBI’s, and stole twenty bases. He also won a golden glove, a silver slugger, and a MVP. Pedroia should be a upgrade for team USA. In 2006 the USA had Chase Utley at second base.
Ramon Ramirez- Roman Ramirez will possibly join David Ortiz on team Dominican Republic. Ramirez didn’t play in the 2006 World Baseball Classic. Ramirez was traded from Kansas City to Boston for Coco Crisp this offseason. While with the Royals last year he had a record of three and two, with a 2.64 ERA, one save, and 70 strikeouts. The Red Sox will look at him if David Ortiz plays to see if any chemistry forms between them. As we all know ( Well not the Y*****s) chemistry wins championships.
Kevin Youkilis- Youkilis will join Dustin Pedroia on team USA making the left side of the infield all Red Sox. Youkilis did not play in the 2006 World Baseball Cassic. Last season Youk hit .312, with 115 RBI’s, 29 home runs, and stole three bases. He also started at first base in the 2008 all star game at Yankee Stadium. Youk will be a great ascent to team USA in 2009.
The World Baseball Classic is a time where Cubs and White Sox, Dodgers and Angels, and even Red Sox and Y*****s (Hey I’m serious about not putting the Y word in my entries) unite and cheer for Pedroia, Jeter, Derrek Lee, Carlos Quentin, Joe Saunders, and Jonathan Broxton on team USA.
Youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuk
First- Michael Young will move to third and will not be asked to be traded. Don’t ask me about this one.
Second- Scott Kamir and J.P. Howell, bot Tampa Bay Rays will play in the World Baseball Classic.
Third- David Eckstein signed with the Padres.
Forth- Big Papi (no not me) hopes to play for the Dominican.
Fifth- Ryan Howard, Cole Hamels, Jonathan Papelbon, and Prince Fielder went for arbitration.
Sixth- This has nothing to do with baseball but my phone broke yesterday. 😦 Today I got one of those AT&T go phones. I don’t like it so much but it was twenty bucks and I can get an upgrade (a new phone) in July when I’m at summer camp.
Seventh- I found this cool link. http://www.redsoxdiehard.com/players/unifnums.html
Sorry I don’t know how to make website URL’s into words. it has every single player to play for the Red Sox by number. A useful tool when dedicating your ranking to a player’s number. No one really good wore #28. So I’m going to dedicate it to Doug Mirabelli.
Kevin Youkilis signed a four year, $40 million dollar contract with an option for 2013 with the Red Sox. The deal hasn’t been made official. Youk finished third in the 2008 AL MVP voting and the person who won, Dustin Pedroia, got a deal with Boston six weeks ago. When my sister first went to a game at Fenway and Youk was up I said YOUK, she didn’t know what see was doing and said BOO. People just stared at her. Imagine that a girl in Red Sox gear booing Youk! This season he hit .312, with 29 home runs, and drove in 115. Youkilis won the 2007 Gold Glove at first base. In 2008 he won the Hank Aaron award. Youkilis will play for team U.S.A. in the 2009 World Baseball Classic. Youk can play gold glove defense at first or third which is great for the team. Youk made his MLB debut with the Boston Red Sox on May, 15, 2004. He was not apart of the 2004 World Series team though. He was apart of the 2007 World Series winning team though. Youk had carer highs in batting average, home runs, runs, RBI’s, at bats, hits, doubles, triples, total bases, and slugging percentage. He also started at first base in the 2008 all-star game at Yankee Stadium. I was surprised that Youk will only get paid 10 million a season. I thought it would be around $15 million to $20 million. Maybe it is due to the economy . . . on second thought it is due to the economy. One thing is for sure. If there was a best go-tee award, Youk would win it hands down. I mean just look at that thing.
The Roster Game- Bullpen
Boston is close to signing Brad Penny. I hope they don’t. I want to see Clay back in the rotation.
My Pats sadly didn’t get in to the NFL playoffs. 😦
Now to the entry.
Closer- Brad Lidge, 1.95 era, 2-0, 41 saves, 92 so, $6,350,000
Lidge isn’t cheep or young, which is what I based this team on, but when you strike out 92 guys, don’t blow a single save, win comeback player of the year, and have a low era, your on my team. Lidge was great in Houston till Albert Pujols hit a home run off of him and If I recall ended the Astros season. He stunk and then got traded to the Phillies which was all he needed to become his old self. Lidge’s six full season as a major leaguer give hm leadership one thing that this team kinda lacks.
Setup Man- Jonathan Papelbon, 2.34 era, 5-4, 41 saves, 77 so, $775,000
Some might say that the only reason there are so many Red Sox on this team is because I’m a Red Sox fan. Some might say this is due because the Red Sox are so good. Others might say this is due to the fact that the Red Sox rip of their players, unlike New York who overpays their players. The answer is the second one and no Boston does not rip off their players. Paps wouldn’t like being the setup man and not the closer, but in an ideal universe he would be my setup man. Paps is young and has three full seasons under his belt. He also strikes out a lot of guys.
Other “Bullpeners”
Joakim Soria– 1.60 era, 2-3, 42 saves, 66 so, $426,500
Soria got 42 saves for a team that won only 75 games. He has two full major league seasons under his belt. He strikes out a fair amount of guys. He has a low era, too. He was the third best closer this year (Lidge was number 1 and Paps was number 2.) He has the most saves out of any one on this team, and plays for the second worst team.
Bobby Jenks– 2.63 era, 3-1, 30 saves, 38 so, $550,000
Jenks doesn’t strike out a ton of guys or have a amazing era, or have the figure of a closer, but for some reason he comes through in the clutch. With four blown saves he isn’t that bad. He is a ground ball pitcher, and with this teams defense I’m good. Not putting him in as the closer would also give the team some time to make up the extra run he allows every now and again.
Clay Buchholz– 6.75 era, 2-9, 0 saves, 72 strike outs,* $396,000
* In 16 games.
Clay is a prospect. 72 strike outs in only 16 games is WOW! He has yet to play a full season though. Clay is my long relief pitcher. He is rebounding nicely in the offseason. Clay is young and still has a lot to learn. He was probably the only major leaguer to throw a no hitter and go down to AA. Clay is also cheep.
Honorable Mention
George Sherrill
Total Payroll Today- $8,497,500
Total Payroll of This Team- $34,667,162
My goal was to build an all-star team using last years salaries, under a 100 million. I beat my goal by $65,332,838! This team could win over 120 games, but just like the Yankees who knows if there would be any chemistry.
Bostonball 