.
Wanted to postscript today's Sportsman and The Next Erin Andrews of the Month with an apology that we haven't been posting more often. July has been a surprisingly busy time here, mainly ridden with travel to everywhere from Fort Dodge to Chicago to Madison. So it's been tough to find time on the blog. But I promise, once football season of all varieties gets started up (NFL, fantasy, college, high school), there will be more frequent posts. I promise.
Now, here are three fun trivia questions. No fair using the Internet.
The first is courtesy of the Comcast SportsNet broadcast of tonight's Cubs-Rockies game.
Four active left-handed batters have more hits than Todd Helton. Name 'em.
Question numero dos is courtesy of Jayson Stark on Tuesday's "Mike and Mike in the Morning".
Albert Pujols now has nine consecutive 100-RBI seasons to begin his career. There are only six active major league players, besides Pujols, with nine 100-RBI seasons in their entire careers. Name 'em.
And your final pop quiz inquiry of the day is courtesy of yours truly. One of those hidden-identity-name-the-two-compared-players deals. Enjoy.
Pitcher A: 141 IP, 10-5, 3.69 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 125 K, 16 homers allowed in a hitter's park
Pitcher B: 150 IP, 9-9, 3.65 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 134 K, 8 homers allowed in a hitter's park
Oh, and one more thing...
Pitcher A makes $16.5 million this season
Pitcher B makes $750,000 this season
Name 'em.
If you like, post your guesses as a comment to this entry. I'll have the answers later this week.
-AJ
Showing posts with label Albert Pujols. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Albert Pujols. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Monday, July 13, 2009
Case of the Mondays, Part I (Quick Hits)
.
Didn't have time last week - too busy with work - for a Riverside Rants, so we'll try something new tonight. Just some quick-hit, one- or two-line thoughts on the past two weeks of sports.
So here we go, Riverside Rants for a Monday that feels kinda weird without checking my fantasy baseball team even once...
-AJ
Didn't have time last week - too busy with work - for a Riverside Rants, so we'll try something new tonight. Just some quick-hit, one- or two-line thoughts on the past two weeks of sports.
So here we go, Riverside Rants for a Monday that feels kinda weird without checking my fantasy baseball team even once...
- Roger Federer: Greatest of All-Time. If you win the most big events, you're the best ever. End of discussion.
- It's simply remarkable that Andy Roddick became the player we never thought he could be, at this seasoned age and with a pretty hot wife in his life. Hopefully, those two weeks weren't just a flash in the pan; because if he truly is this skilled overall now, then he will absolutely win a second major before his time is done. Write it down.
- This just in - Albert Pujols is good.
- And while we're right to at least be suspicious - it sucks, Albert, but that's life - he has a right to complain about our suspicions. After all, his test-of-time consistent stats indicate he's clean. Sure hope he is.
- I'm still unsure about baseball's decision - OK, Bud Selig's decision - to have the All-Star Game count for that much. On the one hand, it makes me watch. On the other hand, it takes a fun event and makes it stressful, since any fan with a contending team in the losing league gets pissed afterward.
- So here's my suggestion to make it even wackier: make it I survived a Japanese Game Show! style. Whichever league wins the Home Run Derby, gets "big advantage in second game!" aka ASG. So now the National League should, like, get four outs in the first and ninth innings or something like that. And then the HRD gets even larger ratings. Done and done.
- Hey, did you hear Michael Jackson died?
- From this week's "I'm not tootin' my own horn, I'm just...well...okay, I'm tootin' my own horn" department: I said in March that C.C. Sabathia would go 14-10 with an ERA in the high 3s. At the All-Star break, C.C. (which stands for cold cash, by the way) is 8-6 with a 3.86 ERA. That's on pace, for, uh, about 14-10 with an ERA in the high 3s.
- Excuse me while I give myself a high five.
- Good for Jonathan Sanchez showing everybody he's a better pitcher than, for some reason, the national pundits give him credit for - he is definitely deserving of a place in that awesome Giants rotation. But I won't congratulate him on a no-hit performance, because I'm still waiting for him to throw strike three on the last batter. That pitch was absolutely a ball, and PTI made a great point by discussing how the umpire got a little too excited to punch out the Padres' Everth Cabrera.
- Fantasy Football. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Just typing those words, well, in the words of Brian Fantana, "I'm very aroused."
- Chauncey Billups. Roy Halladay? Please? Just send Garrett Atkins, Seth Smith and a minor-league arm the Jays' way, and maybe Roy will come home and deliver another WS trip. Please?
- I think I died laughing when I saw the video of Willie Harris taking a bad hop to his, uh, man area. You gotta love the Nats for their comic relief. Wish I had a link to this.
- Why is this Lance Armstrong-Alberto Conquistador (or whatever his name is) thing such a big deal? I was under the impression cycling was an INDIVIDUAL SPORT. Instead of debating who should let who win, how about you BOTH work your butts off 'til the final stage, and then may the best man win? Gee, I thought that's what sports was about. Not being polite. And you wonder why competitive cycling is stupid, Lance or no Lance.
- Speaking of overblown, overaged egos...go away, Brett. Please, go away.
- Wipeout = really funny show. I Survived a Japanese Game Show! = strangely addicting. The Superstars = laaaaaaaaaame.
- Zach Johnson needs a fashion advisor, and quick. And that's all I gotta say about that.
-AJ
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Sportsman of the Month - April
.
Actually, I don't have a sportsman of the month. I don't have a sportswoman of the month, either.
I've got 18,541 of them.
Sportsmen and sportswomen of the Month:
I mean, if you looked outside and saw recurring downpours, in about 45-degree weather, just one day after enjoying a 75-degree day in late April, would you voluntarily lace up your running shoes, grab a towel and water bottle, and go run 8 kilometers or walk 2 miles?
A record-setting amount of Madisonians and out-of-town racers did just that on Apr. 25. Not once before in the 28-year history of the Crazylegs Classic - a run-and-walk event that starts at the Capitol building, winds around the University of Wisconsin campus and ends at the 50-yard-line at Camp Randall Stadium - had so many as 18,541 people participate. Considering the awful elements, that just made Crazylegs officials that much prouder.
“I think this is an exclamation point for Badger fans,” Terry Murawski told me during the closing ceremony under a tent's shelter on the soaked Camp Randall turf. Murawski is the Executive Director of the W Club and helps coordinate Crazylegs each year.
“You could not have scripted a worse day unless you had snow; it’s chilly, it’s raining, it’s rained hard through the race, and people are still coming over the finish line an hour after we started.”
Crazylegs features people from just about any background. You've got world-class racers including UW cross country and track superstars Katrina Rundhaug and Ann Detmer (whose recent graduation finally made them eligible to participate in the event); you've got local college students who go with friends as a fun end-of-the-semester outing; you've got casual runners who want to test their speed in a mini-marathon-type race, as well as people just looking to walk a little bit in late April as part of a large group.
But perhaps most impressively, you had large groups who coordinated to run or walk together, wearing matching shirts and racing for a common goal.
221 "Fun and Fitness" teams entered Crazylegs, including an eye-popping 4,000 individuals. The second-largest group, the Kevin Peyton Crazylegs Memorial Team, had 150 people in black shirts screaming "Running for Kevin". Kevin Peyton died last fall of autism at just 14 years old.
“This was one of his favorite things to do," Kevin's father, Steve, told me after the race. "We enjoyed it together as a father-and-son duo, and now to have 150 people here, it’s unbelievable. We’re just a bunch of friends and families; we’re not a corporation or business. It’s pretty neat, I’m very proud.”
It was an emotional day, too, for Elli Tarnutzer, whose 14-year-old son Lance was diagnosed with diabetes in September. Before long, his football and basketball teammates started spreading the word to create "Lance's Team", girls at Lance's high school were making and posting flyers, and 55 participants came out on a rainy day to help raise money for juvenile diabetes research.
When asked what it meant to have so many supporters for her son, who along with other Type 1 Diabetes combatants wore a red headband during Crazylegs, Elli teared up.
“He’s a real outgoing, personable kid,” said Elli Tarnutzer, Lance’s mother. “Everybody likes him. He’s just a good kid overall.”
On a lighter note, I, the Crazylegs newbie, had to ask Elli, a Crazylegs vet, just what does her group do if somebody has to stop and use the facilities during the race. Do they all stop? Do they go ahead and hope the individual catches up?
She shrugged and grinned. "Pretty much, you just grin and bear it."
More than 18-grand brave souls did just that on Apr. 25. And that made for a very proud day in the Madison community.
Past SOTM winners:
Team Japan – March
Rafael Nadal – February
Larry Fitzgerald – January
April honorable mentions:
North Carolina Tar Heels: No. 1 when they started, No. 1 when they finished. Just a couple bumps in the road, but overall a terrific season for clearly the best team in the land.
Albert Pujols: For singlehandedly carrying my fantasy team in Weeks 1 and 2. Not that I'm biased or anything.
Zach Greinke: For being the freaking man. He's now 6-0 with a 0.40 ERA? WHAT?!?! Too bad he'll be an overpaid Yankee by 2012.
April dishonorable mentions:
Al Davis: For being you. Darrius Heyward-Bey? I mean, seriously? Does Al enjoy making Mel Kiper Jr. tear his bizarro hair out?
Detroit Pistons: For deciding not to show up to these playoffs. Way to keep one foot on the basketball court and one foot on the yacht in Bermuda, boys.
Chien-Ming Wang: For singlehandedly destroying my fantasy team in Weeks 1 and 2. Not that I’m bitter or anything.
Alex Rodriguez: for forcing Hooters waitresses everywhere to put up dartboards with his mug on it. And doing non-sexual things with it.
Brett Favre: ... oh wait. All this has taken place in May. OK, Brett, we'll get to you next month. Don't think you're not immune to this infamous list.
I've got 18,541 of them.
Sportsmen and sportswomen of the Month:
The 18,541 Crazylegs Classic Record-Setters
I mean, if you looked outside and saw recurring downpours, in about 45-degree weather, just one day after enjoying a 75-degree day in late April, would you voluntarily lace up your running shoes, grab a towel and water bottle, and go run 8 kilometers or walk 2 miles?
A record-setting amount of Madisonians and out-of-town racers did just that on Apr. 25. Not once before in the 28-year history of the Crazylegs Classic - a run-and-walk event that starts at the Capitol building, winds around the University of Wisconsin campus and ends at the 50-yard-line at Camp Randall Stadium - had so many as 18,541 people participate. Considering the awful elements, that just made Crazylegs officials that much prouder.
“I think this is an exclamation point for Badger fans,” Terry Murawski told me during the closing ceremony under a tent's shelter on the soaked Camp Randall turf. Murawski is the Executive Director of the W Club and helps coordinate Crazylegs each year.
“You could not have scripted a worse day unless you had snow; it’s chilly, it’s raining, it’s rained hard through the race, and people are still coming over the finish line an hour after we started.”
Crazylegs features people from just about any background. You've got world-class racers including UW cross country and track superstars Katrina Rundhaug and Ann Detmer (whose recent graduation finally made them eligible to participate in the event); you've got local college students who go with friends as a fun end-of-the-semester outing; you've got casual runners who want to test their speed in a mini-marathon-type race, as well as people just looking to walk a little bit in late April as part of a large group.But perhaps most impressively, you had large groups who coordinated to run or walk together, wearing matching shirts and racing for a common goal.
221 "Fun and Fitness" teams entered Crazylegs, including an eye-popping 4,000 individuals. The second-largest group, the Kevin Peyton Crazylegs Memorial Team, had 150 people in black shirts screaming "Running for Kevin". Kevin Peyton died last fall of autism at just 14 years old.
“This was one of his favorite things to do," Kevin's father, Steve, told me after the race. "We enjoyed it together as a father-and-son duo, and now to have 150 people here, it’s unbelievable. We’re just a bunch of friends and families; we’re not a corporation or business. It’s pretty neat, I’m very proud.”
It was an emotional day, too, for Elli Tarnutzer, whose 14-year-old son Lance was diagnosed with diabetes in September. Before long, his football and basketball teammates started spreading the word to create "Lance's Team", girls at Lance's high school were making and posting flyers, and 55 participants came out on a rainy day to help raise money for juvenile diabetes research.
When asked what it meant to have so many supporters for her son, who along with other Type 1 Diabetes combatants wore a red headband during Crazylegs, Elli teared up.
“He’s a real outgoing, personable kid,” said Elli Tarnutzer, Lance’s mother. “Everybody likes him. He’s just a good kid overall.”
On a lighter note, I, the Crazylegs newbie, had to ask Elli, a Crazylegs vet, just what does her group do if somebody has to stop and use the facilities during the race. Do they all stop? Do they go ahead and hope the individual catches up?
She shrugged and grinned. "Pretty much, you just grin and bear it."
More than 18-grand brave souls did just that on Apr. 25. And that made for a very proud day in the Madison community.
Past SOTM winners:
Team Japan – March
Rafael Nadal – February
Larry Fitzgerald – January
April honorable mentions:
North Carolina Tar Heels: No. 1 when they started, No. 1 when they finished. Just a couple bumps in the road, but overall a terrific season for clearly the best team in the land.
Albert Pujols: For singlehandedly carrying my fantasy team in Weeks 1 and 2. Not that I'm biased or anything.
Zach Greinke: For being the freaking man. He's now 6-0 with a 0.40 ERA? WHAT?!?! Too bad he'll be an overpaid Yankee by 2012.
April dishonorable mentions:
Al Davis: For being you. Darrius Heyward-Bey? I mean, seriously? Does Al enjoy making Mel Kiper Jr. tear his bizarro hair out?
Detroit Pistons: For deciding not to show up to these playoffs. Way to keep one foot on the basketball court and one foot on the yacht in Bermuda, boys.
Chien-Ming Wang: For singlehandedly destroying my fantasy team in Weeks 1 and 2. Not that I’m bitter or anything.
Alex Rodriguez: for forcing Hooters waitresses everywhere to put up dartboards with his mug on it. And doing non-sexual things with it.
Brett Favre: ... oh wait. All this has taken place in May. OK, Brett, we'll get to you next month. Don't think you're not immune to this infamous list.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
2009 MLB Preview Extravaganza, Part II (Brenner's picks)... and our first Weekly Links
AJ's PICKS (all right, let's hear from someone who kind of knows baseball. But...no, not really)
You Play to Win The Game! Divisional and Playoff picks
AL East: Yankees....................................................NL East: Mets
AL Central: Indians...............................................NL Central: Cardinals
AL West: Angels.....................................................NL West: Dodgers
AL Wild Card: Red Sox...........................................NL Wild Card: Marlins
AL Penthouse (best record): Yankees.....,...........NL Penthouse: Mets
AL Outhouse (worst record): Mariners...............NL Outhouse: Nationals
ALCS: Yankees beat Angels
NLCS: Marlins beat Dodgers
World Series: Marlins beat Yankees in 7 (That's right, folks. We're on the every-six-year-plan with the Fish, and their last title was...let's see...consulting Wikipedia...ah! Six years ago! It's their year!)
Hardware heroesAL MVP (ranked 1 through 5):
1) Grady Sizemore, Indians. Can do it all at the plate and in the field. And just look at that puddum.
2) Josh Hamilton, Rangers
3) Evan Longoria, Rays
4) Alex Rodriguez, Yankees
5) C.C. Sabathia, Yankees
NL MVP:
1) Albert Pujols, Cardinals: Well, I paid $70 for him in our auction draft - almost 30 percent of my cap. He'd BETTER deliver.
2) Hanley Ramirez, Marlins
3) Manny Ramirez, Dodgers
4) Ryan Howard, Phillies
5) Ryan Braun, Brewers
AL Cy Young:
1) CC Sabathia, Yankees: he's a big man.
2) Ervin Santana, Angels
3) Roy Halladay, Blue Jays
NL Cy Young:
1) Tim Lincecum, Giants: could win 20 and whiff 250 this year.
2) Ubaldo Jimenez, Rockies (okay, I'm a homer)
3) Ricky Nolasco, Marlins
AL Rookie of the Year: Travis Snider, Blue Jays
NL Rookie of the Year: Cameron Maybin, Marlins
Best shot to win a Triple Crown, AL: Alex Rodriguez, Yankees
Best shot to win a Triple Crown, NL: Albert Pujols, Cardinals
Other random crap we’ll try to predict
Most underrated team: Cincinnati Reds (and, obviously, my WS pick, Florida)
Most overrated team: Oakland Athletics
Surprise player (most likely to overachieve): Yovani Gallardo, Brewers
Disappointing player (most likely to underachieve): Matt Holliday,
What a ripoff! (top-10 salary team to stumble): Since the $120 million Mariners are too obvious, I'll go the Chicago White Sox.
Livin’ on a budget (bottom-10 salary team to thrive): Since the $22 million Marlins or $43 million Rays are too obvious, I'll stay in the AL Central with the Kansas City Royals.
Biggest name to surface in 2009 season involving steroids (active players only):
WEEKLY LINKS
Story of the week: Big Ten commish stands up for his league...and the Big XII, and the Pac-10
Blog post of the week: Mark Cuban stands up for noble sportswriters and surviving newspapers
Video of the week: Not gonna YouTube this week...this airgliding video is sweeeeeeeeeet, I HUGELY recommend you watch it, you will not regret it
Audio of the week: If you haven't heard the "Pucker Pucker Pucker" man, your life is not yet complete. End of story. I might devote more space to this later this week.
2009 MLB Preview Extravaganza, Part I (Walnick's picks)... and our first Weekly Links
B-Dubs readily admits he's not a big baseball guy, so...he'll probably be more accurate than me anyway.
B-DUBS PICKS
You Play to Win The Game! Divisional and Playoff picks
AL East: Yankees....................................................NL East: Phillies
AL Central: White Sox............................................NL Central: Cubs
AL West: Angels......................................................NL West: Dodgers
AL Wild Card: Rays................................................NL Wild Card: Brewers
(AJ note: wow, now that is original analysis from Mr. Benjamin Walnick. I feel like I'm looking at the 2008 division winners and wild card, only somebody accidentally typed the Yankees in for winning the AL East instead of the Red Sox. Talk about chalk.)
AL Penthouse (best record): Yankees.................NL Penthouse: Dodgers
AL Outhouse (worst record): Orioles..................NL Outhouse: Padres
ALCS: Yankees beat Angels
NLCS: Cubs beat Phillies
World Series: Yankees beat Cubs in 6
Hardware heroes
AL MVP (ranked 1 through 5):
1) Evan Longoria, Rays: Leads team to playoffs again.
2) Grady Sizemore, Indians
3) Joe Mauer, Twins
4) Kevin Youkilis, Red Sox
5) Carlos Quentin, White Sox
NL MVP:
1) Albert Pujols, Cardinals: Best power and finesse hitter in last 15 years.
2) David Wright, Mets
3) Hanley Ramirez, Marlins
4) Jimmy Rollins, Phillies
5) Ryan Braun, Brewers
AL Cy Young:
1) CC Sabathia, Yankees: The horse brings a championship to New York.
2) Roy Halladay, Blue Jays
3) Cliff Lee, Indians
NL Cy Young:
1) Carlos Zambrano, Cubs: Finally puts together a complete season and leads Cubs to World Series.
2) Tim Lincecum, Giants
3) Cole Hamels, Phillies
AL Rookie of the Year: David Price, Rays
NL Rookie of the Year: Cameron Maybin, Marlins
Best shot to win a Triple Crown, AL: Alex Rodriguez, Yankees
Best shot to win a Triple Crown, NL: Albert Pujols, Cardinals
Other random crap we’ll try to predict
Most underrated team: Rangers WILL make a run at the Angels (I'm a homer)
Most overrated team: Atlanta Braves
Surprise player (most likely to overachieve): Chris Davis, Rangers
Disappointing player (most likely to underachieve): Mark Teixeira, Yankees
What a ripoff! (top-10 salary team to stumble): Detroit Tigers
Livin’ on a budget (bottom-10 salary team to thrive): Tampa Bay Rays
Biggest name to surface in 2009 season involving steroids (active players only): Ryan Howard, Phillies
WEEKLY LINKS
Story of the week: Big Ten commish stands up for his league...and the Big XII, and the Pac-10
AL Penthouse (best record): Yankees.................NL Penthouse: Dodgers
AL Outhouse (worst record): Orioles..................NL Outhouse: Padres
ALCS: Yankees beat Angels
NLCS: Cubs beat Phillies
World Series: Yankees beat Cubs in 6
Hardware heroes
AL MVP (ranked 1 through 5):
1) Evan Longoria, Rays: Leads team to playoffs again.
2) Grady Sizemore, Indians
3) Joe Mauer, Twins
4) Kevin Youkilis, Red Sox
5) Carlos Quentin, White Sox
NL MVP:
1) Albert Pujols, Cardinals: Best power and finesse hitter in last 15 years.
2) David Wright, Mets
3) Hanley Ramirez, Marlins
4) Jimmy Rollins, Phillies
5) Ryan Braun, Brewers
AL Cy Young:
1) CC Sabathia, Yankees: The horse brings a championship to New York.
2) Roy Halladay, Blue Jays
3) Cliff Lee, Indians
NL Cy Young:
1) Carlos Zambrano, Cubs: Finally puts together a complete season and leads Cubs to World Series.
2) Tim Lincecum, Giants
3) Cole Hamels, Phillies
AL Rookie of the Year: David Price, Rays
NL Rookie of the Year: Cameron Maybin, Marlins
Best shot to win a Triple Crown, AL: Alex Rodriguez, Yankees
Best shot to win a Triple Crown, NL: Albert Pujols, Cardinals
Other random crap we’ll try to predict
Most underrated team: Rangers WILL make a run at the Angels (I'm a homer)
Most overrated team: Atlanta Braves
Surprise player (most likely to overachieve): Chris Davis, Rangers
Disappointing player (most likely to underachieve): Mark Teixeira, Yankees
What a ripoff! (top-10 salary team to stumble): Detroit Tigers
Livin’ on a budget (bottom-10 salary team to thrive): Tampa Bay Rays
Biggest name to surface in 2009 season involving steroids (active players only): Ryan Howard, Phillies
WEEKLY LINKS
Story of the week: Big Ten commish stands up for his league...and the Big XII, and the Pac-10
Video of the week: Not gonna YouTube this week...this airgliding video is sweeeeeeeeeet, I HUGELY recommend you watch it, you will not regret it
Audio of the week: If you haven't heard the "Pucker Pucker Pucker" man, your life is not yet complete. End of story. I might devote more space to this later this week.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
