Posted by: RichardSchortemeyerIII
on Sep 1, 2010
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Drafted by the Cleveland Indians in 1991, it didn't take long for Manny Ramirez to validate the team choosing him in the first round. Getting his first opportunity to play full-time in the '95 season, he averaged 36 HR and 123 RBI for six seasons, playing a huge role in the Indians making it to the World Series in '95 and '97. However, he was FA after the '00 season, and with Cleveland not being a big market team, they were unable to secure him for the long-term.
One of the bigger markets, Boston, signed him for $160 million over eight years with a $20 million option for the '09 and '10 seasons. He without hesitation carried over the success he had in Cleveland, but then he showed something else; a personality that quickly stood out over any other. Things like the trademark dreadlocks, disappearing in the dugout and Green Monster, and his unusual interaction with Red Sox Nation that helped create what is known as "Manny being Manny". But all of the antics was allowed, since he averaged just about the same numbers from '01-'06 that he did in that stretch with the Indians, which included being the World Series MVP, helping Boston win in its first championship in 86 years. However, the numbers started to decline in '07, as he had just 20 HR and 88 RBI. But just like what he did in '04, he stepped up when it counted, helping the team win another World Series in '07. In '08, that unique personality finally started to show its ugly side and off the field. Fights in the dugout with players to altercations with the staff to giving up on ground balls led to many in Red Sox Nation to request the organization to cut ties with the disgruntled superstar.
Posted by: DaveGawron
on Aug 30, 2010
TOP MLB NEWS ITEMS FROM FRIDAY 8/27/10 TO SUNDAY 8/29/10
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HELLO, GOODBYE (transactions)
Posted by: SteveP
on Aug 29, 2010
We tell you who to sit and who to start in setting your hitting line-ups each week. For the top hitters for the week, we focus on questionable hitters that may or may not normally start for you that have favorable schedules this week. We won't bother listing hitters like Pujols, Hanley, or A-Rod in this article, because you always start them, regardless of schedule. Likewise, we won't list lousy hitters in the bottom section, because you'd obviously bench a hitter like David Eckstein playing in PETCO all week without our having to tell you to do so. For the bottom hitters, we focus on the average and better than average (but not star) hitters that you would normally start but have poor schedules this week. Top platoon starts are mostly RHBs playing many LHPs in the upcoming week. Bottom platoon starts are mostly LHBs facing a heavy LHP schedule. Top SB starts play against teams that allow many SBs, and vice versa.
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Top Hitting Starts (#1 being the best)
Posted by: RichardSchortemeyerIII
on Aug 29, 2010
We tell you who to sit and who to start in setting your pitching line-ups each week. For the top pitchers for the week, we focus on questionable pitchers that may or may not normally start for you that have favorable schedules this week. We won't bother listing pitchers like Lincecum, Halladay, or Carpenter in this article, because you always start them, regardless of schedule. Likewise, we won't list lousy starters in the bottom section, because you'd obviously bench a pitcher Jason Marquis visiting Philadelphia without our having to tell you to do so. For the bottom pitchers, we focus on the average and better than average (but not star) pitchers that you would normally start with poor schedules this week. Ask a question about your keepers in our FORUM. Leave a comment about this article down below.
Top Two-Start Starts (#1 being the best)
- Dan Haren (LAA) -- Mon-@SEA (Hernandez), Sun-@OAK (Mazzaro) - After giving up 11 ER in a two-start period, rebounded in his last start, giving up only 1 ER in 6 IP in a win over TB. Has a good chance to on a winning streak against two teams that feature lower level offenses.
- Hiroki Kuroda (LAD) -- Mon-PHI (Halladay), Sun-SF (Sanchez) - It's been a pretty consistent season for him. The big difference is that he's gotten lesser run support in the second half. He's done his part, especially in the last four starts, giving up just 9 ER, but only a 1-1 record to show for it. Should stay on his solid roll against a PHI team he had a quality start against last season (6 IP, 0 ER, 5 K) and a team that's struggling offensively and a Giants squad that he was 2-0 with a 1.88 ERA against in two starts last season.
- Brian Duensing (MIN) -- Tue-DET (Galarraga), Sun-TEX (Wilson) - Is 4-1 since joining the starting rotation in late July, putting up a quality start in five of the seven starts. Will face a DET team that he hasn't given up an ER against in five appearances this season. He'll also take on a TEX squad that gave him his first L as a starter in his last start. However, his downfall in that start was giving up 2 HR at Rangers Ballpark, something that's more of a rareity in Target Field.
- Jonathon Niese (NYM) -- Tue-@ATL (Minor), Sun-@CHC (Zambrano) - Had a little roadblock in his last start vs. FLA, a team that has given him problems this season (1-3, 5.66 ERA). Should see a more familiar '10 version of him this upcoming week against two teams he's only given up 1 ER combined against in two starts.
- Jorge De La Rosa (COL) -- Mon-@SF (Sanchez), Sun-@SD (Richard) - After going 0-2 in his first three starts since returning from the DL, has recovered nicely, going 2-1 in his last five starts, tossing a quality a quality start in three of them. Has a good chance of posting up two more quality starts against a Giants squad he was 3-0 with a 3.38 ERA against last season and a SD squad that he's 1-0 against in two starts this season.
Top One-Start Starts (#1 being the best)
Posted by: ewagner25
on Aug 28, 2010
By looking at our RotoCommunity Expert League bids, we can help you with your waiver wire considerations. Here are the leagues we're using as points of analysis (both weekly transactions, TC $1000 FAAB budget, U $100 FAAB budget):
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Figueroa, Nelson SP HOU ($20 TC - drop Maine, John SP NYM)
Posted by: JSchuman
on Aug 28, 2010
By looking at our RotoCommunity Expert League bids, we can help you with your waiver wire considerations. Here are the leagues we're using as points of analysis (both weekly transactions, TC $1000 FAAB budget, U $100 FAAB budget):
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It was an extremely slow week leading up to next weeks September call-ups, which are sure to cause a flurry of waiver wire activity next weekend. Here are this weeks pick-ups with a short analysis.
Posted by: SteveP
on Aug 28, 2010
By looking at our RotoCommunity Expert League bids, we can help you with your waiver wire considerations. Here are the leagues we're using as points of analysis (all $1000 FAAB budgets, weekly transactions):
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Koji Uehara RP BAL ($251 BW drop J.P Arencibia)
Posted by: SteveP
on Aug 27, 2010
TOP MLB NEWS ITEMS FROM MONDAY 8/23/10 TO THURSDAY 8/26/10
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HELLO, GOODBYE (transactions)
Posted by: RichardSchortemeyerIII
on Aug 25, 2010
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One of the central themes to the year of the pitcher has been the no-hitters/near no-hitters. There have been 30 instances this season where a pitcher has taken a no-hitter into the 7th inning, with five pitchers completing it. However, the most intriguing ones have been the last two, Minnesota's Kevin Slowey and Texas' Rich Harden. Both, who have never thrown one, took one into the 7th inning, but were still taken out without giving up a hit. It's one of the toughest decisions a manager has to make. But for Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire and Texas manager Ron Washington, knowing their pitchers, Harden, who had just come back from the DL, and Slowey, who's had a history of arm-related injuries, they realized that they are going to need them for the rest of the postseason push.
When Edwin Jackson, an Arizona Diamondback at the time, went 149 pitches to get his no-hitter, a couple factors I'm sure played in: 1) He was facing his former team, the Rays, a team that gave up on him and 2) the Diamondbacks were already way out of the playoff race and I'm sure the manager valued the individual accomplishment a little higher.
Posted by: ThePME
on Aug 23, 2010
TOP MLB NEWS ITEMS FROM FRIDAY 8/20/10 TO SUNDAY 8/22/10
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HELLO, GOODBYE (transactions)
