Brag Here!

by RJK on Jul 8, 2008 6:23 AM EDT

Hiroki Kuroda's 7 innings of perfect baseball tonight swelled my ego many times over. You see, I picked him up last night for this specific start. For the past 45 minutes I've been hovering over Stattracker and MLB.tv hoping I'd be the guy who picked up the pitcher right before his perfect game. Unfortunately, Mark Texiera's double to lead off the 8th ended my chance to gloat to my league for the rest of the year.

Ron Shandler's 2008 Baseball Forecaster revealed a poll showing 43% of people play fantasy baseball strictly for "the challenge of proving your knowledge". It was by far the #1 answer. We all want to be the guy to pick up the rookie that goes crazy or to trade for the "next big thing". We all want to be the smartest guy in our league but, fantasy baseball gives us opportunities to feel brilliant one moment and stupid one pitch later. Over the years I've certainly had my hits and misses. Here's some of the more memorable ones.

Hits:

-Picking up Ryan Braun in all 3 of my leagues last year. He single handedly moved me up at least 2 positions in each league.

- Kuroda's performance tonight is certainly up there

- Trading Juan Gonzalez for Johan Santana in 2004. Here's the background, Juan Gone was making his comeback with the Royals and was looking so-so through the end of May. Johan on the other hand was coming off a break out year in '03 but, was struggling to start his '04. Through his first 12 starts he was 2-4 with a 5.50 era. The other owner needed power and I needed an arm. I think you know the result. Juan-gone was practically one and gone. He got hurt right away and Johan went on to go 18-4 with 1.44 era and a 6.6/1 K/BB rate. Hello!! That's one I'll be telling the grandkids about.

Misses:

-Having Fernando Tatis on the bench during "the game". Which game you ask? If you're asking you certainly didn't have him on your team that day. Tatis hit 2 grandslams in one inning. Ouch is an understatement.

-Picking Liriano in the 9th round and Andruw Jones in the 11th round this year. Waiting to take a catcher in the 21st so I could target JR Towles didn't help either.

-Holding on to Roger Clemens and Homer Bailey for a combined year in '07. Their "production" certainly wasn't worth the wait.

Who are your hits and misses through the years? See if you can beat Juan for Johan or Tatis on the bench.

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Comments

oh boy

get out of the house and enjoy life

by superherodj on Jul 8, 2008 8:08 AM EDT reply actions

Hopes

I am gambling on Wins and hope these tow moves pay-off in that category without damaging my ratios. Chris Volstaad and Sean Gallagher.

Fake Teams - a proud member of the SB Nation

by faketeams on Jul 8, 2008 9:26 AM EDT reply actions

Sean Who?

Didn’t you take Sean Marshall?

by Rad on Jul 9, 2008 2:45 AM EDT up reply actions

Right

Just checked the email i sent. I did take Marshall.

Now this has the chance to really work poorly or really well.

Fake Teams - a proud member of the SB Nation

by faketeams on Jul 9, 2008 8:46 AM EDT up reply actions

Hmmmm

My biggest loser bets have been (in no particular order):
1. My love affair with Carl Crawford, and spending $50 on him in my AL only 4×4 league in 2006 and $47 on him in 2008. Not that he has been bad, but he certainly hasn’t been the player I thought he could’ve been.
2. Keeping Lyle Overbay in 2007 at a pricetag of $23 and watching him perform like Greg Norton.
3. Not protecting Brian Roberts at $32 because of fear he was close to being traded

My best:
1. Picking up Gavin Floyd off the WW in said league
2. Trading for Joe nathan and Carl Crawford in 2005 when they were still relatively undervalued(Crawford – $5, Nathan $34). However, I subsequently dealt back Nathan(whoops!)

by thomasps3 on Jul 8, 2008 10:42 AM EDT reply actions

Floyd

In this space a few weeks ago I doubted Floyd’s ability to keep it up. His low K/BB rate and BABIP #’s screamed regression. He’s improved his K #’s and has proved a lot of doubters wrong. Certainly not the first time or last time I’ll be dead wrong. Yeah fantasy

by RJK on Jul 8, 2008 12:08 PM EDT up reply actions

dont believe anyone but yourself

this same site had an article on you better get rid of matt garza before june started,3 wins and 1 era and 1 whip later he’s probaly been picked up in all mixed leagues

by superherodj on Jul 8, 2008 1:17 PM EDT reply actions

good stuff!

by Jdiggle on Jul 8, 2008 3:37 PM EDT reply actions

Mister Byrnes

Forgot to mention taking Eric Byrnes in the 6th round of my 12 team keeper. Nice hamstrings. Definitely a miss.

by RJK on Jul 8, 2008 8:16 PM EDT reply actions

This Season

Hits:
Compiling a pitching staff this season of:
Cliff Lee
Rich Harden
Scott Kazmir
Edinson Volquez
John Danks
Yovani Gallardo (excellent before season ender)
John Smoltz (excellent before season ender)
George Sherrill
Jonathan Papelbon
Takashi Saito
Chris Carpenter stashed on the DL

(And no, my offensive side of the the roster does not suck.)

Misses:
#%@&ing Eric Byrnes

Past moments of pride:
Having twin terrors Johan Santana and Francisco Liriano on the same squad 2 years ago
Adding Ryan Braun in early May last year and laughing as I watched people in my leagues show up a month late to the party.

by sixth on Jul 9, 2008 4:53 PM EDT reply actions

6th

Is that all one team? That’s a crazy contingent of arms. What’s your team era, 2.40? There will be some regression with this list but, you must have a one run cushion.

Ah yes, I forgot to mention Liriano in ‘06. He carried my pitching down the stretch that year. My love for him that year had to be the reason I reached so much for him this year. At least I hope that’s the reason, I can’t come up with any others.

by RJK on Jul 9, 2008 6:43 PM EDT up reply actions