Won't dilly dally with a ton of small talk chit chat today. Brad Penny brought it for me yesterday, but Chien-Ming Wang has seen his last Spot * On Pick, and Russ Ortiz likely has as well. Let's see who hasn't...
Brad Bergesen (R), BAL (50% Owned) @ Jarrod Washburn (L), SEA
read more »On this the 233rd anniversary of this country's independence from the tyrannous British (current company of Englishmen here excused, of course), my gift to the American people is simple, simple I say. I give you the gift of Quality. Quality Starts, that is. Quality Starts backed by research, tireless hours, and wearing my fingers down to the bone. So America, here is the gift I give you to as we celebrate our freedom. Who would've thought that in July we'd have a Yankee and Red Sox pitcher who both qualify for this? Not I...
Russ Ortiz (R), HOU (8% Owned) @ Tim Lincecum (R), SF
I understand that reading about someone else's league is right up there with watching paint dry in the 'exciting activities' category, but since RDB has a representative in each of the major bloggers' challenge leagues, I feel obligated to provide a general league update, along with the status of my own team. If it's not your bag, move right along. I won't be offended, I promise.
read more »I'll be honest. Today sucked. I spent seven straight hours grading standardized exams, and followed it up by playing the worst round of golf of my life. So my head's not exactly all there right now. It's a mixture of mush and anger all balled up into a pissed off sandwich that I'm ready to cram down someone's pie hole. Don't let it be you. You've been warned. What was I saying again? Oh yes, who do I like tomorrow? Well, to be honest, my favorite play of the day is Oakland RHP Vin Mazzaro; but since he's owned in 59% of Yahoo! Plus Leagues, I can't officially take him. If he's available to you, though, do yourself a favor. Now, as for those who qualify...
Russ Ortiz (R), HOU (4% Owned) vs Zack Greinke (R), KC
read more »First and foremost I'd like to wish a Happy Father's Day to all of the ECB male readers who have been lucky and fortunate to have successfully birthed a child. I believe that somewhere out there there may be some little Hort's runnin' around, but as they say, ignorance is bliss. Congratulations on doing your Daddy thing, providing, nurturing, and teaching your sons and daughters how to throw left-handed so that they may one day be your meal ticket. We salute you on this day.
read more »A lot of guys are probably going to pick up Oakland LHP Brett Anderson against the Padres tomorrow. I mean he torched the Minor Leagues, which is essentially what San Diego is at this point, but don't be fooled. This is a guy who allowed 6 Earned Runs to the Giants last week. That's like a week's worth of Runs for San Francisco! I shouldn't be that critical. Anderson may be a decent start tomorrow at PETCO, but let's see if I can't find someone a bit better, eh?
Clayton Richard (L), CHW (14 % Owned) @ Johnny Cueto (R), CIN
read more »Tomorrow's Friday, and you know what that means. If you live anywhere in the Northeast like I do, it means it's going to continue to pour out, and that your neighbors have started construction of their arc. What a lunacy filled June it's been where the best baseball is played. We've been treated to rain, rain, and more rain which means less baseball and less golf, which leads to all around crankiness. However, with the way this week has gone with my first four Spot * On Picks, I won't complain. I'll just try and keep the pain train full steam ahead, with the primary target being your league-mates. Choo choo!!
Scott Feldman (R), TEX (38% Owned) @ Randy Johnson (L), SF
Today was a tough one to pick. There's a lot of scary, unfavorable, and/or crazy picks to be made. Due to watching the last few episodes of Season 4 of Weeds, so I can get back to Season 5 which we're now 2 weeks into, I'm keeping this opening short...
Matt Palmer (R), LAA (35% Owned) @ Tim Lincecum (R), SF
read more »So my picks have been more and more sporadic and spaced apart lately, and for that I must apologize. With my summer Graduate School session kicking into high gear coupled with frequent meetings with Human Resources for the new School District that employs me, and playing golf whenever humanly possible (see: when it hasn't poured, which has been almost never lately), my adoring fans have been the ones to suffer. For that, there are no excuses. I'd like to promise that in the immediate future I'd be back to my daily grind like in April and early May, but I don't want to lie. I will, however, keep this up through the end of the season, to see how I finish up, and will try to continue making my picks as often as possible. If anybody's got beef with that, well, I'll let you know where you can stick it (where?). On to more important things, like tomorrow's picks...
Kevin Correia (R), SD (3% Owned) vs Felix Hernandez (R), SEA
read more »You'll have to excuse the title, it's the 14 year old in me coming out, probably perpetuated by the fact that I spend the vast majority of my workday around, you guessed it, 14 year olds. But I digress. After finishing the week on a very somber note (see full breakdown below), I'm back, head high, pride in tact, checking the hubris at the door, trying to put together the first Spot * On whole week since like April. So, who we gon' kick it off with?
Mike Pelfrey (R), NYM (49% Owned) vs Cole Hamels (L), PHI
I saw the Hangover yesterday, and aside from being one of the funniest things I've ever seen, I realized that it essentially mirrored my life, with each character embodying an emerging trait or characteristic that I possess. Consequently, I also had a hangover this morning (and will probably have one tomorrow as well). As is life. Just got in from a scramble golf outing, so before I settle down to watch the Mets, Team USA Soccer, and maybe some NBA or Stanley Cup Finals if they're on, let's get tomorrow's picks...
Josh Geer (R), SD (2% Owned) vs Dan Haren (R), ARI
read more »Okay, I got a round of golf in this afternoon, which explains why this is a few hours later than I generally like it. But due to J.A. Happ restoring my faith in the human race, and an effort to keep the pain train rollin', I'm back with action for tomorrow. Who do I like?
Jeremy Guthrie (R), BAL (36% Owned) @ Dallas Braden (L), OAK (30% Owned)
While my pick of David may look suspect yesterday, I'd just like to reiterate that there was a flyball hit to left field that hit Nolan Reimold in the glove that they ruled a double for Seattle (thanks Safeco official scorer!), causing 2 Earned Runs to be charged to Dave that shouldn't have. He wasn't spectacular otherwise, but he certainly wasn't as bad as his numbers indicate.
Ross Detwiler (L), WSH (6% Owned) vs Matt Cain (R), SF
read more »I'm back for a second day in a row (feels like it's been awhile since I've been able to say that, even though it was just last week), waiting for my main man David Hernández to take the mound in Baltimore. Looking ahead, I've got two options for you tomorrow, depending on how your nerves are. Hoping to get a little groove goin' here, and I'm happy with the prospects of tomorrow's picks...
J.A. Happ (L), PHI (50% Owned) @ Chris Young (R), SD
read more »Well, it's June, it's Week 9, so that means we've got some recapping to do. Not getting ahead of ourselves, though, let's first take a look at who tomorrow's Spot * On Starters are...
David Hernández (R), BAL (8% Owned) vs Erik Bedard (L), SEA
With my two picks for today, Mike Pelfrey and Joel Piñeiro, having yet to take the hill, it is still with great hesitation that I make further selections as we enter the weekend. My swagger has not yet been restored, so these may be the diamonds in the rough we're looking for, but you won't see me hopping all over them; not yet.
read more »Okay, I know it's late. But with the lack of picks I've been making lately, coupled with meeting my family for some dinner, I figure, as the title suggests, better late than never. So let's just get right to it...
read more »Alright, so after an unsuccessful attempt at even picking a pitcher who was starting on a given day, I'm going to give this another try. It feels like it's been so long since I've tasted the sweet nectar of success, I've almost forgotten what it is. Today I attempt to find the remedy, the antidote. Who can alleviate this Spot * On Swine Flu I've seemingly contracted?
read more »When you have a week like I had last week (full table below), a little sabbatical seems reasonable I think. But, in honor of one of Memorial Day Weekend or Interleague Play (you choose which), I remove my tail from between my legs, and saddle back up to try and regain my confidence, as well as my ratios. The unfamiliarity that teams have with pitchers and vice versa adds a different dynamic which can often lead to unexpected gems, as well as blowups. For the sake of my mental health, let's hope I'm able to spot the former instead of the latter.
read more »Falling in line with the offensive members of the 2009 All-Early Disappointment Team, we must not forget about the pitchers. The pitchers who have destroyed our ratios, neglected to notch us Wins or Saves, and have a K/9 that makes Jamie Moyer chuckle. We drafted them early and often, and in return they've slapped us in the face and kicked us in the groin. Who are these sumanumbatches? Let's take a look...
read more »
