Dillon 1st MRB

It was 1995. In the Mariner's 19 year history, they had finished over .500 once before. And then 1995 happened. It began on August 24, 1995. The Mariners were one game under .500, and 11 1/2 games behind the Angels. They were even four games behind Texas in the Wild Card chase. The Mariners went on to finish the season 79-66, tied with the California Angels. There was a one-game playoff, with Randy Johnson vs. Mark Langston, who was a tremendous pitcher in his own right. The Mariner's won the one-game playoff with this line: Notice 0 HR by Mariner's. RJ whipped out the Big Unit and slapped every Angel with it. And then, the 5 game divisional playoff against the fucking Yankees. It came down to Game 5. The Mariner's had to struggle, as it was the beginning of the Yankee Dynasty. But that dynasty would have to wait one more year, for the Mariner's to trade Tino Martinez and Jeff Nelson to the Yankees in the off-season, because Edgar Martinez had a giant FUCK YOU for every Yankee fan in the world.

This is the craziest year I can remember for baseball injuries. Its freaking baseball. There aren't event his many injuries in football. Fortunately, most of the harm has come to Gooderham, who will now discover the joys of having a Replacement Level team, the poor bastard. Maybe its because of the number of top level players who have been knocked out for a significant amount of time. Shoot, 3/4 of the Yankee infield is out, 3 top level pitchers, now Jose Reyes maybe for the season? Baseball, you are a wacky bitch.

For all you young'uns out there that don't remember the greatest pitcher charge ever known to man, its important to remember this one. In 1993, during 46 year old Nolan Ryan's final year as a pitcher, he hit 26 year old Robin Ventura with a pitch. Now, at 46 years of age, Nolan Ryan still threw 100mph fastballs. During his final game where he tore a ligament in his pitching arm, he threw a pitch with the torn ligament. It measured 98mph. With a torn fucking ligament. Next time you give yourself a papercut, fucking nut up. Well, Robin Venture figured he'd take the old man down. This is what happened: Mr. Ryan put Robin in a headlock, and repeatedly punched this shit out of him. This picture is the most purchased autographed sports poster ever. Here's the video.

Now Greinke is out with a broken collarbone. Gooderham, I owe you a blowjob for not accepting my trade.

Nirvana opening for Pearl Jam. Small venue before they made it big. Maybe 200 of us there. Attempted my first stage dive. It was like Moses at the Red Sea.

Yeah, the system is already in place. Its called Pitch F/X. Its flawless.

Weaver out for a month or two. Thanks for not trading him to me, Gooderham! I love you.

Actually, it was pretty consistent with the ump's zone all night. Don't get me wrong, its a bad call. But the framing by the catcher and the tail end movement really make it look more egregious than it is. There is a great article at fangraphs by Jeff Sullivan on this. Great animated gifs and ss's to break it down. Anatomy of a really bad call.

Its because this is how it plays out: Pop out - 1 pt. for the AB., no -1 for a K (not a strikeout) - 1 pt total Single - 1 pt. for the AB, 1 pt. for the hit - 2 pt total Walk - 0 pt for an AB (Walks aren't scored as an AB), 1 pt. for the walk - 1 pt total Strikeout - 1 pt for AB, -1 pt for the strike out - 0 pt total Now, making walks worth 2 pts seems like the simple solution (it may not be, but I'm a simple fellow), but it seems odd to me that a pop-out artist will score the same as someone with a high walk rate, as long as they don't strike out. To me, a walk should be worth the same as a single. And wow, yeah. GG on this first one. Got lucky with my starters spacing out after day 1, where I had 5(!) people starting in three slots. This is going to be a challenging year! Love it!

Wow, I did! Also, walks need to be worth 2 points. Because at this point, they aren't worth a single. They don't get the point for an AB, so they are worth the same as a pop up.

After another 19.5 point night with a Grand Slam, he may now.... This week alone could make him the sleeper of the year. And I believe he is literally the difference for me for this first matchup.

Casper Wells. Shoot, throw Ichiro in there. That dude can do anything.

If I win tonight, I'll owe it all to Chris Davis of the .636/.692/1.727 line. Total points for him is resting at 62.8. He's averaging 20.8 per start AS A FREAKING BATTER.

Tonight, baby!!

That's like being the skinniest kid at fat camp. It ended up being a poorer trade because of Pineda's torn labrum. No one knew it was there, but it sucks. That's why any time you trade for a younger pitcher, you risk injuries. The attrition rate on young pitchers is pretty atrocious. But yes, thank you for Montero. Too bad he won't stick at Catcher. But, had there not been an injury, it would probably be an unbalanced trade in favor of the Yankees. Oh, and labrum surgery is bad..... Statistically, he will lose at least 3mph on his fastball. Bummer, because he was a 95mph fastballer.

League was actually pretty good in Seattle. Top 5 closer for a year and a half. Then things sort of imploded. But closers are just overvalued. Good lord, a starter for a closer? A starter with Morrow's stuff who "just can't put it together?" Madness to trade him.

Amatuers.... The Seattle Mariner's have had abominable trades since... forever. Randy Winn to San Francisco for Jesse Foppert and Yorvit Torrealba - Randy Winn was a superior outfield defender, switch-hitting speedster that had some great years in SF. Asdrubal Cabrera to Cleveland for Eduardo Perez - Eduardo who? And Cabrera is an elite defender with good AB's. Carlos Guillen to Detroit for Ramon Santiago and Juan Gonzalez - Guillen went on to have the most productive years of his career. And this isn't THE Juan Gonzalez, this is a crappy minor leaguer. Shin-Soo Choo and Shawn Nottingham to Cleveland for Ben Broussard - Shin-Soo Choo.... why!!??! He was a 5-tool player when we traded him! Jamie Moyer to Philadelphia for Andrew Barb and Andy Baldwin - I will always love Jamie Moyer. He pitched till he was... what.. 50? Jose Cruz, Jr. to Toronto for Paul Spoljaric and Mike Timlin - Two relievers for a solid corner outfielder. Timlin went on to be good.... for the Red Sox. Brian Fuentes, Denny Stark, and Jose Paniagua to Colorado for Jeff Cirillo - Cirillo was one of the worst disappointments ever. Rafael Soriano to Atlanta for Horacio Ramirez - Elite reliever for a dud of a left handed starter that even Atlanta couldn't fix. Makes sense. Tino Martinez, Jeff Nelson, and Jim Mecir to New York Yankees for Sterling Hitchcock and Russ Davis - Two of the pillars of the Yankees dynasty. Yep, they were Mariners. Adam Jones, George Sherrill, Chris Tillman, Kam Mickolio, and Tony Butler to Baltimore for Erik Bedard - Don't get me started. I would have been fine with Jones for Bedard. But all of them?!? Bill Bavasi, you are a motherfucker. Derek Lowe and Jason Varitek to Boston for Heathcliff Slocumb - Two other pieces of the Red Sox dynasty years... for a terrible closer who had a shiny ERA. Brandon Morrow to Toronto for Brandon League - Just shoot me now.

DAAAAAAAAMIT!!! hahaonu@hotmail.com In like Flynn!

Thanks all. He's a pretty cool little kid. Doesn't whine at all. Just sleeps, poops, and eats. Being a dad is the best. Hand-eye coordination training will start ASAP! Anyway, I'll see if I can't hop on in the next few nights and shoot some of you. BTW, the game has gotten a lot harder having shown you all how I play.... now all of my tricks *poof*. Gone.

My boy has been born! Little guy came Dec. 30th and we got ourselves all settled. Here are a couple of shots. Very similar to my reaction campers/those that lack gumption in the pub. My son shares my reactions to those that lack gumption.

After this thread, I'll take you up on that. Now would be better though. And thanks much, all. Very fun time!

Oh its better than that! 6 weeks down, 8 to go! 14 weeks! Fucking hand (literally) has blisters now.

Great season! I can't wait for next year when I know how it works! And for all of you who finished lower than the guy who knows nothing about baseball and lives in England, you should definately join Fantasy Cricket and kick Johnson's ass.

Well, figured I'd give you all an update. I've started Grad School, and I'm loving my program. Just as a remdiner, I'm getting an MA in Higher Education and Student Affairs Leadership. This means I could work in a college or university in the Dean's Office, Student Affairs, Registrar's Office, etc. Really learning a lot and having fun with it. The wife is still pregnant, and we've been told no sex. I'm going on 6 weeks of no nik-nik, with at least 8 more weeks. Needless to say, I might as well have bought the movie "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo." However!!!! Not all is sad! We are having a BOY!!! He is still due at the end of December. Everything is looking healthy and good. He's really active and is kicking and moving well. Future name: Orion. Don't game a whole lot. Don't even have DODS installed. However, I know it won't be forever. I'm just a whore for the game. When I do re-install, I'll be coming by the pub. Our pub. Because at this point, the 1st MRB = DODS. Hope you all are doing well.

Thanks much, all! Finding out if we're getting a boy or a girl on Wednesday. Exciting times!