Another Day, Another Beating for Hill

post from Cubs f/x on 18 November 2008 02:40:00 PM. © Cubs f/x

Rich Hill's struggles continue ... on and on ... in Venezuela. The game is in progress, but Rich[...]

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Rob Neyer gives props to Lance

post from The Crawfish Boxes on 18 November 2008 02:09:09 PM. © The Crawfish Boxes

Rob Neyer gives props to Lance

ESPN's Rob Neyer writes about Lance's superb season with the bat and how he probably outplayed Albert Pujols in the clutch, on the bases and in the field. He also notes that there were multiple players in the NL deserving of the MVP, or at least a first place vote. Ryan Howard, who received the remaining first place votes that Pujols didn't get, was not one of those players.

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Pedroia MVP

post from Baseball Musings on 18 November 2008 02:02:00 PM. © Baseball Musings

Dustin Pedroia wins the AL Most Valuable Player Award fairly easily, capturing 16 first place votes to Justin Morneau's seven. Pedroia was left off one ballot, however. He did not receive a vote lower than fourth. Teammates of the 1-2...

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Dempster Staying Put

post from Baseball Musings on 18 November 2008 01:58:00 PM. © Baseball Musings

The Cub Reporter rounds up news that Ryan Dempster will stay in Chicago at a very good price....

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Welcome, Nick Swisher

post from A DIE HARD YANKEES FAN on 18 November 2008 01:52:00 PM. © A DIE HARD YANKEES FAN

player THOUGHTS FROM A DIE HARD YANKEES FAN :

Welcome to the team, Swish. I gotta admitt, when the Yankees used to play the Athletics over in Oakland I used to watch him closely and admired the way he played the game. He's one of my favorties. I can't imagine what he's thinking or feeling being a Yankee. It's alot of little kids dreams to become one. I gotta say though, being a Yankee fan is the best thing in the world ! Well I wish him the best and hope he gets back to his oakland ways in the Yankee days. If 08 was his worst year, Imagine what 09 has to bring.

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From Shea to Citi: Expect Higher Power Numbers

post from Dom D's Mets Fan Blog on 18 November 2008 01:33:27 PM. © Dom D's Mets Fan Blog

I have been going to games at Shea stadium for many years and have seen many things. I have seen postseason shutouts, grand slam singles, botched calls, an empty-gloved Steve Finley, an acrobatic Endy Chavez, and many more. Aside from these great moments, I have picked up on the tendencies of Shea as well. It is not an easy task to hit a ball out of the park at Shea. Ask Mike Piazza, the dominant righty batter how many fly balls he tagged that just died in left field.

Next year is the opening of Citi Field. A person who strives in mathematics may infer that the dimensions of the two fields are nearly similar and all the dimensions differ by no more than ten feet. That is true, but the main reason, in my opinion, that Shea was a pitcher's ballpark is because of the gruesome wind coming through the old picnic area where the left field bleachers were . In Citi Field, there are large walls and many predict the wind will not be nearly as much a factor as it was at Shea.

That being said, lets browse the power numbers. First, lets take a glance over at the division rivals, The Philadelphia Phillies. Sure, Ryan Howard is a powerful slugger who when hot can rip the ball out of any ballpark, but in Philadelphia many home runs to left field would be flyouts anywhere else. There is a reason Todd Hundley and Carlos Beltran have the Mets home run records at only 41 a piece.

Looking back on how some of the Met players of current have been doing in a pitchers ballpark, I expect certain players numbers to improve.

The 1 player I expect to improve home runs is David Wright. Wright seems to be holding to a consistent year: 30-33 home runs, 120ish RBI, .300 ish average, a fair share of stolen bases (Very rarely getting caught) and some gold gloves on the side.

I predict, since David Wright is a powerful righty bat that some of his flyouts in Shea will now be home runs. David is a work-ethic monster who strives on building off success and thus exceeding his confidence. Once he realizes he can knock the ball out to left, he will not look back.

Not solely because I am a Met fan, but in fantasy baseball I would pick David Wright around the 2-3 range overall. He is less an injury threat than Albert Pujols, he is young, and his numbers are generally consistent. Also, the Yahoo end of season rankings but Wright in the top three overall including pitchers.

Here are my bold offensive predictions for David Wright in 2009, barring no injury:

.309 BA 37 HR 129 RBI

Also, expect more home runs from Beltran from the right side.

As sad as I am to see Shea go, look forward to a more exciting offensive statistics year for our powerful lineup and also look forward to David Wright being the 2009 National League MVP.

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Take Ryan Dempster off the board

post from Talking Chop on 18 November 2008 01:04:55 PM. © Talking Chop

Take Ryan Dempster off the board

He signs a four-year deal worth at least $52 million, that's $13 mil per year.

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Cubs and Yankees set to open up the New Yankee
stadium

post from Chicago Cubs Blog on 18 November 2008 12:55:00 PM. © Chicago Cubs Blog

The Chicago Cubs will be opening up the new Yankee Stadium against the New York Yankees on April 3rd. The two teams will the play a second exhibition game on April 4th as well.

“The Cubs are thrilled to be the Yankees’ first opponent in the new Yankee Stadium and are honored to take part in this historic event,” said Cubs chairman Crane Kenney.

I don’t mind playing these games but I really doubt we see the regulars playing a full game in the short two game series. It is just to close to the regular season that you don’t want to risk having someone like Derrek Lee or Aramis Ramirez get hurt in an exhibition game.

Once information about tickets is released, we will let you know. More then likely you will have to order through the yankees or ticketmaster.

Post from: Cubs Blog

Cubs and Yankees set to open up the New Yankee stadium

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