Tagged: Josh Hamilton
Fantasy Baseball- Outfielders- Andre Ethier
Andre Ethier
Even though Andre Ethier has proven that he can hit for power, contact, and in the clutch many fantasy baseball owners don’t pay serious consideration when it comes to drafting Andre. Why? Well he shares and outfield with Manny who will always be Manny and Matt Kemp who has become a superstar since he started dating singer, Rihanna. Yet, Andre is the best player out of those three.
Andre Ethier is one of the rare types of players I call a “six tool” player. Andre is fast, has a good arm, is a great fielder, can it for power and contact, and can hit in the clutch. When players hit in the clutch that generally means they will get a few extra home runs and or RBIs.
Fantasy wise though you get a .290 average, 100 runs, 100 RBIs, 30-35 home runs, 5-7 stolen bases, and an OBP of .375 ish. With Andre you will not get the number of stolen bases other guys could probably get with his speed because he is not the best base stealer. However, just like Ellsbury, Andre can still turn a double into a single any day of the week.
Andre is one of the safest bets out there. His numbers have all gone up with the exception of OBP and SLG, since his rookie year. Matt Kemp is a little bit riskier as some analysts think he might let the fame go to his head. Manny, well . . . he is probably one of the most risky outfielders to draft. However, Manny is a high risk- high reward type player.
When it comes to Nelson Cruz, Josh Hamilton, and Hunter Pence (who will be talked about in a little) all three are very risky. All three of them need to prove they are not “one year wonders,” and Hamilton, so far has not done the best job with that.
Ok so you might not be so sold yet on Andre. Well are you sold on Nelson Cruz, Josh Hamilton, or Hunter Pence? Ok you probably aren’t but just pretend you are. Andre Ethier is A LOT better then them. While Cruz and Pence are five tool players just like Ethier is classified as, Hamilton is not the fastest guy but has more pop in his bat obviously meaning he is not a five tool player.
I mean, the stats prove that Ethier is obviously better then Cruz, Hamilton, and Pence but because Hamilton, Cruz, and Pence are more well know Ethier will most likely get overlooked for the third straight year. But there is not way he should I mean, just look at what MLB predicts the stats for Either, Cruz, Hamilton, and Pence will look like.
AVG R HR RBIs SB OBP SLG OPS
Ethier .289 92 27 101 5 .377 .501 .878
Cruz .272 88 35 96 22 .345 .533 .878
Hamilton .291 77 25 92 10 .356 .504 .860
Pence .297 88 28 87 14 .357 .493 .850
So actually Ethier is tied with Cruz followed by Pence. But when you compare only Ethier’s and Cruz’s projected stats Ethier is the winner.
AVG R HR RBIs SB OBP SLG OPS
Ethier .289 92 27 101 5 .377 .501 .878
Cruz .272 88 35 96
22 .345 .533 .878
22 .345 .533 .878
Ethier wins four categories plus the tie in OPS while Cruz wins three plus the tie in OPS. Another thing to take not of is that most leagues do not use OBP, SLG, or OPS. Meaning that Ethier would win three categories to two if you don’t factor in OBP, SLG, or OPS.
Andre will not be in your draft in the seventh round so I would plan on trying to get him with a late fourth pick to a late sixth round pick. I would tell you my plans to get him but well, I do not want anyone knowing my plans this year.
Ethier is a safe bet who has no injury history and will get more pitches to hit with Manny and Matt Kemp on a balanced team who will most likely win the National League West again.
Photo Credits
My Baseball Trip to Barnes and Nobel
I’m having really bad writers block so I’m sorry if you don’t want to read this.
All right I went into Barnes and Nobel today because my Mom wants to learn French because we are going to France for spring break. I started looking around and saw The Yankee Years. Joe Torre’s new book. I am really excited to read it. I going to start it either on the plane ride to France or in may because my teacher is having a contest of who can read the most books of this list of her picks of good books. Some of the prizes are really cool and awesome. I took Julia’s advice and walked in wearing my Red Sox hat and Jason Varitek jersey. It surprised me to have the cashier not ask me why would you read this book if your a Red Sox fan. My dad and mom wear like why would you read a book about the Yankees! I convinced them to let me get it by telling them that it made fun of the Yankees and Torre trashed the Yankees. I don’t know if that is true though. All I have looked at so far is the pictures. So far my favorite one is where Joba Chamberlain is spraying bug spray on him after a swarm of bugs “attacked” him in the 2007 ALDS against the Indians.
I also looked at Josh Hamilton’s new book Beyond Belief. Josh Hamilton is the center fielder for the Texas Rangers if you didn’t know. I did not get the book though because I did not have enough money for it. The book is about Josh Hamilton recovering from drug addiction and his baseball carer. The book is pretty new so I’m pretty sure that it doesn’t come in paperback yet. To be honest I don’t know that much about the book since I did not get it. Hopefully I will be able to read it sometime soon.
Another book I got was Baseball Prospects 2009. This book is pretty much the Baseball Encyclopedia for 2009. This book is 632 pages long in paperback. This book has every thing from stats to predictions to well everything. The 2008 copy correctly predicted the Rays great season, the breakthroughs of Evan Longoria, Geovany Soto, and Joey Votto, and many more players and facts. It is a great guide for fantasy baseball drafting. I will give a give a few predictions from the book. Hanley Ramirez will have 128 runs. Jose Reyes will league the majors with 68 stolen bases and Jacoby Ellsbury will lead the A.L. with 42. Mark Teixeira will hit 28 home runs which is good enough to tie for 18th in the majors. Lance Berkman will hit .299 with the Astros. Grady Sizemore will strikeout 134 times in 2009. Adrian Gonzalez will drive in 99. Lastly Jed Lowrie will win the starting role over Julio Lugo. I hope that that might help when drafting your fantasy team.
(Sorry can’t find any pictures of the book’s cover but here are the extra pictures from yesterday.)
This picture is the eighth on Google and is from my blog!
Photo credits
All book covers- barnesandnoble.com
Joe Torre- rksbaseballbookshelf.wordpress.com
Josh Hamilton- scottfmathews.wordpress.com
Evan Longoria- http://whentheunderdogwins.wordpress.com/
Jose Reyes- sportsillustrated.com
Mark Teixeira- minstrelboy.blogspot.com
Lance Berkman- allposters.com
Grady Sizemore- sportsillustrated.com
Adrian Gonzalez- sportsillustrated.com
Jed Lowrie- bostonsports.mlblogs.com
Young Guns- Reds
First- Trevor Hoffman officially became a Brewer. Sorry Kaybee.
Second- Justin Duchscherer avoided arbitration by signing a one year deal that could be worth $4.05 million dollars.
Third- Sean Casey is retiring. The “mayor” will join MLB Network. His role is still unknown.
Edinson Volquez
Edinson Volquez is 25 years old. Volquez has a carer record of 20-17, an ERA of 4.37, and 261 strike outs. He also has a .97 fielding percentage. at pitcher. Volqez has played for the Texas Rangers and the Cincinnati Reds. With the Rangers Volquez made 17 starts and had a record of three and eleven. In his first season he went zero-four, with an ERA of 14.21, and only 11 strike outs, in six games, 12.2 innings. Following the 2007 season Volquez was traded from the Rangers to the Reds for Josh Hamilton, a deal that made both teams happy. In 2008 Volquez had his break out year with a record of 17-6, an ERA of 3.21, and 206 strike outs. In the 2008 All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium Volquez didn’t do so well. He pitched one inning in which he gave up two hits and a home run. That one home run was to J.D. Drew, all-star game MVP. He did strike out two batters though. Volqez has yet to make the post season with the Reds or Rangers. Unlike Dustin Pedroia Volquez has the body of a major leaguer. He is six foot and weighs 200 pounds. In the 2009 Wold Baseball Classic he will play for team Dominican Republic possibly joining team mate Johnny Cueto, who went 9-14 with a 4.81 ERA, and 158 strike outs. remember when Tom Glavine got 300 win? People said he could be the last person ever to gat to 300. Volquez is on pace to get 300 wins if he plays another 15 seasons and not get injured. If Volquez does get to 300 he will be a sure lock to get into the hall of fame. Edinson Volquez is only one of the promising Reds though, Jay Bruce, Joey Votto, etc. So Reds fans the Reds could be the Rays of 2008 his year.
Honorable Mention
2. Joey Votto
3. Jay Bruce
4. Micah Owings
5. Homer Bailey
MLB Network . . . ROCKS!
First- Manny could go to the Giants! They would have to show him a lot of money, but if they got him they would be the favorites to win the N.L. West.
Second- The fix for the Dodgers is . . .
A.) Sign Manny
or
B.) Sign Bobby Abreu, put him in right and move Andre Ethier to left.
I think the Dodgers will do A.
Third- The Detroit Red Wings beat the Chicago Blackhawks, six to four, at Wrigley Field. It was the first time a NHL game was played at a MLB stadium.
Now to the Entry
The MLB Network was awesome. It started out with Bud Selig welcoming us to MLB Network and thanking us for watching. He really needs to smile some more. Like in this picture.
Okay he still isn’t smiling that much, but it looks like he is trying. After that they showed us the studios. I liked studio 42 named after Jackie Robinson. I liked all the people on the show but I really liked Matt Vasgersian, Barry Larkin, Al Leiter, and Harold Reynolds. They had Jimmy Rollins on the show and talked to Josh Hamilton while he was at home. They demonstrated Jackie Robinson’s steal of home where Yogi got all mad in the World Series. They also talked about Manny. They had some news headlines like Barry Bonds getting hip surgery in an effort to make a comeback. After Hot Stove Live, they had Don Larson’s perfect World Series game. They had Yogi and Larson guest in the studio. They showed the original broad cast with even the same commercials! They were really funny like the one with the baseball encyclopedia. I think a better choice for the first game should have been the last game of 2008 since it was new years or Roberto Clemente’s last game because New Years was the anniversary of his death. Here are some fun facts.
First Word- Hello
First Person on the Show- Bud Selig
First Studio shown- Studio 3, named after Babe Ruth
First Topic- Manny
First Guest- J-Roll
First Game- Don Larson’s perfect game in the World Series
First air time- 6 p.m. eastern
First News Desk Topic- Barry Bond’s hip surgery
I LOVED the MLB Network
5 out of 5 stars
Studio 3
Top 5 Baseball Moments of 2008
Happy New Year’s eve. On the last day of 2008 I thought I would look back at the year of baseball.
5-The Red Sox Come back Against the Rays
This game the Red Sox trailed by seven runs and then came back to win. J.D. Drew hit a walk off ground rule “single” to win the game for the Red Sox. He had hit a two run home run to bring the Red Sox within two with one out in the bottom of the eighth. This game forced game six where the Red Sox won that game and then lost to the Rays in game seven sending Tampa bay to the World Series.
4- Yankee Stadium Goes Away
I’m a Red Sox fan, but this was a little sad. Think of all the memories the Red Sox have had at Yankee Stadium, good and bad. Remember trailing three games to zero and then winning the World Series and breaking the curse in 2004? Do you remember Aaron Boone’s home run? Babe Ruth hit the first home run and Jose Molina’s hit the last home run at Yankee Stadium. I don’t get though if it’s so great then why didn’t they try to turn it in to a museum?
3-Josh Hamilton’s Home Run Derby
This was the last great Yankee Stadium moment. Josh Hamilton, who overcame drug addiction hit a record 28 home runs in the first round and three over 500 feet, the crowd even started chanting Hamilton’s name. Hamilton lost though to Twins first baseman Justin Morneau in the finals, in a derby that didn’t have a Yankee, Red Sox, Cub, Dodger, Angel, Cardinal, A’s, or Met. This was Yankee stadiums final WOW moment.
2-Jon Lester’s No Hitter
This was an inspiration to many people, kids, parents, and athletes. Lester came back from cancer to win game four of the World Series, throw a no hitter and other amazing things. He struck out ten and walked just two throwing a no hitter against the Royals. I remember turning on my laptop and seeing that he was six outs away. I went to a TV and watched the rest of the game. This was a great moment for anyone Red Sox, Yankee, Met, Dodger, Angle, and Royal who he threw the no hitter against.
1-Phillies Win It All
This was the Phillies first title since 1980. Brad Lidge was perfect when he droped to his knees and screamed. This was a team you couldn’t count out till it was over. It put Philadelphia back on the sports map. They beat a team of rookies, who made it all the way here, beating the Red Sox and Yankees. Hey Phillies fans you might get to party even more because some say the Eagles could win the super bowl.
Honorable Mentions
Roco Baldelli returns to the majors
Junior hits 600
Manny hits 500
Ryan Braun sends the Brewers to the playoffs
Big Z’s no hitter
The Roster Game- Outfielders
First- The Boston celtics are on an 19 game winning streak! Setting a ton of records a long the way.
Second- When you write your entries is any one else having problems going to the dash board page?
Third- Merry Christmas Eve!
Fourth- I’m going to publish an entry about Teixeira signing with the Yankees, today. 😦
Fifth- Where do you think Manny will sign. I think it will be with the Dodgers very cheap, maybe 2 years $35 million.
Now back to the roster game
Left Field
Ryan Braun– .285,37 Home Runs, 106 RBI’s, 14 Stolen Bases, $ 455,000
Braun was rookie of the year in 2007 along with Peedie. He was an important part in getting the Brewers into the playoffs. He hits for power and brings in runs, along with being kind of fast. I’ve seen Braun play once, when I was visiting family in Milwaukee, and well he is good. he was 4 for 4 with a homer, a double and two singles. I still think he should have won N.L. MVP.
Honorable Mention
Josh Willingham
Center Field
Grady Sizemore– .268, 33 Home Runs, 90 RBI’s, 38 Stolen Bases, $3,166,666
Sizemore is one of the best players in the game. He has great defense along with a great bat and speed. He won a Silver Slugger and a Golden Glove for outfielders this year. Sizemore was another example of a great player playing for a bad team. Sizemore will also play for team U.S.A. in the World Baseball Classic.
Honorable Mention
Vernon Wells
Right Field
Josh Hamilton- .304, 32 Home Runs, 130 RBI’s, 9 Stolen Bases, $396,830
With flames running down his arms walking up to the batters box in Yankee Stadium, you just knew something was going to happen. I know he is plays center but he can play right great. I don’t think there was a better fell good story in baseball other then maybe Lester or Baldelli. Recovering from drugs and being an all-star. He wore out down the stretch though but he had never played that many games in his life.
Honorable Mention
Hunter Pence
Pay roll for today- $4,018,496
Tota
l Pay roll so far- $16,202,162
l Pay roll so far- $16,202,162
* Note- If they are on the bench they are not going to be honorable mention
Top 10 moments of 2008
Today I’m going to go threw the top 5 moments of 2008, post season or regular season, in know order.
Josh Hamilton home run derby
Josh Hamilton is know a hero to some kids. He goes to schools and talks about drug education. Hamilton had a dream in it he was hitting home runs at Yankee Stadium, when asked how many, he said I don’t know, I lost count. He crushed the old record of 24 home runs in the first round. He even had his 86 ( I think ) year old coach pitch to him. He even hit the adds in right-center field. He didn’t have to bat the second round to go on. He just ran out of gas though, in the derby and the end of the season.
A-Rod instant replay
I hate A-Rod but isn’t it weird that the future home run king ( it kills me to say that ) hit it at Cinderella’s castle, if you know what I mean. I would have liked instant replay to have began in 2009 because what if you lost a game due to no instant replay then won a game due to instant replay. What I should say is a overpaid, over rated, juicing player hit a home run at a dump, where the couldn’t afford to have “devil” in front of their name (ha ha).
Junior 600
Why didn’t he only play at his home stadium. If you want 600 home runs would you want to hit it in front of people who boo you, and in front of almost no fans? Junior is a legend though. He got to play with his dad how can you not enjoy that? Well, ok, some times you won’t. Still why not play at the Great American Ballpark? By the way, that name should be change. Any way Junior is a first ballot hall of famer.
Yankee Stadium
I hate this moment, but at the same time I can’t hate it. I went to my first baseball game here when I was a kid. I got booed being and picked on when I lived in New York city as a kid, being a Red Sox fan. Yankee stadium is amazing though, the Babe, Mickey Mantle, Ted William, George Brett and Nolan Ryan all played here as the favorites or the guys drunk fans yelled at. There were so many moments here don’t blow it up save it as a museum.
Ryan Braun’s blast to send the brew crew to the playoffs
Who wouldn’t want to hit a walk off homer to send your team to the playoffs. Being Braun the best hitter on the Brewers, wow. Braun is amazing after A-Rod becomes homer king, the Pujols, the look out for this kid. Braun also almost joined Peedie as being the forth player to win Rookie of the Year and MVP in back to back years. When Braun is done look for him to be a first balloter.
Look out tomorrow for the other top 5 moments of 2008. I have no- no’s and walk offs
Bostonball 