Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff
Now that
Here’s my take on Manny Ramirez; you can love him or you can hate him. That’s your right as a fan and ours as members of the media. However, every player or sports personality has a right to be treated with respect.
I bring this up because of the contentious question and answer session with Manny’s agents upon his arrival to
This comes on the heels of David Wells complaining about obsessive and obnoxious Sox fans. Though Wells isn’t one of my personal favorites, he’s right on this one. A player deserves to be treated with respect whether at the ballpark or out with his family. Screaming obscenities in front of his kids and disrupting a private dinner aren’t rights purchased with game tickets or NESN subscriptions. Sadly, a lot of
Judging by the treatment of Manny’s agents, neither do some of the people holding cameras and microphones. It’s O.K. to voice opinions in stories. It’s what a lot of us are paid to do; provoke thought and discussion. However, that can be done just as easily without being rude to someone doing their own job. And then people wonder why Ramirez rarely speaks to the media.
(Another side note here: how come reporters don’t take a similar tone with agents like Scott Boras? Could it be because they’re more likely to eat the microphone than their words?)
Elsewhere around the Fort, Daisuke Matsuzaka is wowing observers with how much work he puts in at such and early stage of the season. I think it’s going to be a very interesting subplot to follow. Pitch counts are more foreign to this guy than college level English right now. If he can stay strong through the 100-pitch, 200-inning barriers that seem to cripple every other starter, might it not be time for the major league teams to re-examine their approach to pitcher’s workloads and how they train?
Free fantasy baseball advice: Josh Beckett is going to make those who draft him this year very happy.
There’s never been a question about his stuff, only what goes on between his ears. But I like what I’m reading and hearing about him. The kid seems to “get it” now, admitting he should have trusted Jason Varitek more.
And since you asked, you could do a lot worse at closer than Joel Pineiro. Use a middle-to-late round pick on him and let everyone else gobble up the big names early. You can thank me later for the 30+ saves coming from the back end of your draft.
Well, that’s all for now…have to go make sure my greenhouse gas levels aren’t out of whack. What ever happened to that new Ice Age my grade school teachers were warning me about in the ‘70’s, anyway?
No offense but I could care less when Manny or any other Red Sox player for that matter shows up for Spring Training - what I do care about is what he and the rest of the team does on the field during the season.
If Manny keeps producing like he usually does and protects David Ortiz in the process then this Red Sox fan is happy all the way.
I was shocked at how nasty the reporters got with the agents. They are just representing Manny- I think they're just along for the ride like the rest of Red Sox nation when it comes to Manny.
As for your Red Sox mini fantasy BB preview...
I agree on Beckett - I think he'll be very good this year. Cut the HR balls about in half (very possible) and his numbers will look very good.
Not sold on Pineiro though. I still think Timlin has as good a shot of being the closer as Pineiro does. If Joel is officially named closer he's worth picking up but if not I think anyone not named the "official" closer is a risky pick. Better to pick a risky guy on a team that should log a lot of wins/saves but maybe better to go with "the man" on a lesser team...
In 2002, I drafted John Smoltz (1st year as closer for the Braves) in the 11th round, Eddie Guardado (part of supposed bullpen by committee w/Twins) in the 19th round and Eric Gagne (another bullpen by committee coming out of spring training) in the 20th round of my 25-round draft. The went on to save 55, 45, and 52 games respectively. Needless to say, that was one category I never sweated out the entire year.
Last year, while guys in my league were using 5th and 6th round choices on players like Rivera and K-Rod, I again waited till the later rounds. While I didn't find another Gagne or Guardado, I finished the year with guys like Joe Borowski, Chris Ray, and J.J. Putz through the draft and/or waivers. I didn't lose saves too ofen last year, either.
The point; that's an easy position to find multiple sleepers and late bloomers. Let everyone else grab the big names early. Concentrate on building up the rest of your roster. You might lose saves the first few weeks, but you'll be better off in the long run when you've caught your competition napping on guys like Pineiro, Zumaya, Soriano/Gonzalez, Valverde and Broxton.
Those of you in my league, consider that a gift as to my draft strategy.
You learned that strategy from me Teddy!
Definitely important to have good bullpen arms- they can "save" your ERA and WHIP if you have a starter who has a "Beckett 2006" sort of season even if they don't get saves.
My goal is to stock up on arms (picked up Fernando Rodney last year for $1 and he closed for Detroit for a while when T.Jones was hurt to start the year) and put up good numbers the rest of the year.
Any of these guys who can put up 1+ strikeout per inning, don't walk too many, and don't give up a ton of hits are worth drafting and hoping they get themselves some saves.
Now- if you're playing without salaries it's a little tougher sometimes because once a run on a position starts you almost have to do SOMETHING to keep from totally punting a category.
I like the auction format with a set amount of salary so much more- you know how much your keepers are going to cost you and you budget $$$ for each position knowing you will be adjusting it constantly during the draft. Always cool to pick up a guy for a buck in the early rounds that ends up being a stud while someone else in the same rounds is picking up $40 "stars" who go on to have sub-par years. Pick yourself up a few of these $1 future stars and you have automatic trade bait at the end of the year.
I forgot to thank you that year for letting me stock up with guys like Pujols in the 5th round while still having Gagne and Everyday Eddie on the board late.
Gracias!
DB, to quote Glenn Ordway; "You're makin' mah point."
Guys like Rodney and Todd Jones are always there. You just have to be quick on the trigger during waivers and be able to read the trends and jump in at the right time when a team has a struggling closer and scorching setup guy.
Personally, I luv when the run on closers begins. It's exactly as you say...you can get six or seven in a round. In the meantime, keep drafting those 25-30 home run potential guys. That's where in the past, you're able to grab the David Wright and Rickie Weeks, Nomar Garciaparra (at SS last year) type of guys....huge payoff with a middle to late round pick.
And of course, use those early and middle rounds to stock up on the all-important starting pitchers. I don't care how good your relievers ERA and WHIPS are, you have a couple of your starters get shelled early in the week, and you're done in those categories.
Ted
I also agree about Beckett. Although I think his Blister problem will re-occur and he may miss a start or 2. Last year he barely threw the curve and though it saved him from blisters it opened him up to 450 foot HR's. I think listening to Tek and throwing more junk will make him more effective. Any Major Leaguer can hit a 95 mph fastball, especially when they know it's coming.
With the importance of middle relief in baseball I think starters can be a little overvalued in fantasy.
You have to be VERY careful who you pick up as one bad guy can kill your numbers. Sometimes it's better to get by with 4 starters and then pick up good middle-men (maybe 4 or so of the Scot Shields-type guys) and then a closer or two than to have 5 or 6 starters. Just need enough to make your Innings Pitched limit if you have one. Once you have that pick your arms based on potential but do look at a middle man who's averaging 100 IP or so a season that has great numbers over a mediocre 200 IP starter...