Monday, April 25, 2011

Mile High Minute :: 2011, Week 4

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Another year has begun and Mile High has still not figured out how to beat Chicago. The Tiger Army, aside from being the rivals of the Mackerel, are the only squad against which GM Jon Bielecki’s team has a losing record in the history of ECB. That trend continued in Week 4 with a 445-415 loss to Steve Adler’s Tiger Army.

“We put up 415,” Bielecki said in his Monday morning presser, “We do that every week, and we’ll be okay. We just can’t get past Adler for some reason.”

Bielecki hung the loss on sluggers Victor Martinez and Logan Morrison going on the DL before Wednesday’s games started. The Mackerel got only two points combined from them.

“Would that have made the difference? I don’t know. Even with Jhouls’ 5 points, we still had almost 200 points from pitching. We’ve got to point the finger at the offense this week.”

Andre Ethier led the way for the offense, putting up a steady 34 points while David Price won both of his starts for an output of 54 points for the week. Even after the loss, Mile High is still ahead of Chiaco, sitting in 4th place after four weeks. The Mack will take on New Haven (11-25) in Week 5.

Monday, April 18, 2011

Mile High Minute :: 2011, Week 3

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Mile High continued their solid early season play and started its first winning streak of the young season by dispatching New Haven to the tune of 406-355.

Troy Tulowitzki took home HOTW honors with 50 points, joining Mark Teixeira as the second Mackerel to take home the honor in the season’s first three weeks. Mile High had 7 hitters score 22 points or more, putting up a season-high 263 points of offense. Jered Weaver  continued to not lose, racking up his fourth win in as many starts.

“So far, so good,” GM Jon Bielecki said, “Everything’s clicking right now. We’ve got a couple of concerns, but the rest of the squad is really firing right now.”

“Weaver has been unreal,” he said, “but the biggest thing last week was getting solid starts from Lester, Price, and Cahill. If we can get our pitching together, we’ll be really tough to beat.”

Mile High takes on rivals Chicago Tiger Army in Week 4 of ECB.

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Adlerithmetic :: All-Time Single Season Teams : Marshall Street

By Steve Adler 

adler-04

As baseball season approaches I thought it may be informative to look at the best single season performances at each position for each of our eight franchises.
 
Methodology: I decided to use total point for the FANTASY FRANCHISE. The players may have put up more points during our playoffs, but not for this purpose. I also opted not to use points per game as I didn't think it would truly provide the best representation of each team. I decided to allow players to have multiple years for a team, mainly because I want to see if anyone besides A-Rod and Pujols ends up on Woosta’s roster. I used the positions as they would occur in ECB, not the way the MLB organization does it.  The rosters were compiled using the stats from the almanac. Unfortunately these stats only went back to 2005 so the years 2001-2004 will not be reflected. Anyway, I hope you enjoy it.

MARSHALL STREET MENACE
POS
NAME
YEAR
POINTS
C
Joe Mauer
2006
428
1B
Jason Giambi
2006
500
2B
Ian Kinsler
2008
510
3B
Troy Glaus
2006
478
SS
Derek Jeter
2006
509
CI
Troy Glaus
2005
430
MI
Robinson Cano
2010
501
OF
Carlos Lee
2007
516
OF
Andre Ethier
2009
507
OF
Ichiro Suzuki
2005
456
OF
Carlos Lee
2008
438
UTIL
Dustin Pedroia
2008
453
UTIL
Derek Jeter
2005
453
P
J. Broxton
2009
541.17
P
CC Sabathia
2008
534.84
P
Rafael Soriano
2010
532.17
P
CC Sabathia
2007
506.5
P
Roger Clemens
2005
508.16
P
Mariano Rivera
--
490.36

What I Learned:

  1. Marshall St? In case you haven't noticed I've been going in the order of most playoff appearances. I didn't expect Marshall St to be ahead of Speedway. And they're not. It's a tie, but such is the magic of the almanac.
  2. Yankees. Watts has taken advantage of the Yankee hatred in this league and benefited from great seasons from a variety of Yankees like Jeter, Rivera, Cano, Giambi, Sabathia, and maybe Clemens (can't remember which mercenary year that was).
  3. SWA. BAT. Andre Ethier is the first Keene Swamp Bat to make our list (fittingly for a former GM who was also a SwaBat), but definitely not the last. Well, maybe he is for this go around, but hope to see some more when I update this list in a few years. Long live the Swamp Bats!

Monday, April 11, 2011

Mile High Minute :: 2011, Week 2

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Led by Pitcher Of The Week Jered Weaver’s 60.7 points, the Mile High Mackerel rebounded from a Week 1 loss to Colorado by picking up 7 wins against the struggling Baltimore Devil Jays. Weaver and Troy Tulowitzki (34 points) accounted for almost a quarter of the Mackerel’s league leading 412.5 points and vaulted the Mack to first place atop the ECB standings.

Pitching was the key to victory for the Mack, who got a total of 183.5 points from their six pitchers. “It could have been more than that if it weren’t for the Red Sox being so friggin’ terrible,” skipper Jon Bielecki said, “but overall, I was very happy with the pitching staff we went with last week.”

The Mile High offense contributed a stellar 229 points, which is somewhat impressive considering they got their first double of the season on Wednesday. “It was a team effort on that side of the ball,” Bielecki said, “No one person carried the team. That being said, we’re still looking for more from Uggla and (Austin) Jackson.”

Mile High takes on New Haven in Week 3 without the services of Ryan Zimmerman. “We should be okay,” Bielecki said, “but we’re really going to need Buster and Vladdy to pick up the slack this week.”

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Adlerithmetic :: All-Time Single Season Teams : Baltimore

By Steve Adler 
adler-03
As baseball season approaches I thought it may be informative to look at the best single season performances at each position for each of our eight franchises.
 
Methodology: I decided to use total point for the FANTASY FRANCHISE. The players may have put up more points during our playoffs, but not for this purpose. I also opted not to use points per game as I didn't think it would truly provide the best representation of each team. I decided to allow players to have multiple years for a team, mainly because I want to see if anyone besides A-Rod and Pujols ends up on Woosta’s roster. I used the positions as they would occur in ECB, not the way the MLB organization does it.  The rosters were compiled using the stats from the almanac. Unfortunately these stats only went back to 2005 so the years 2001-2004 will not be reflected. Anyway, I hope you enjoy it.

BALTIMORE DEVIL JAYS
POS
NAME
YEAR
POINTS
C
Joe Mauer
2009
454
1B
Prince Fielder
2009
570
2B
Dan Uggla
2010
482
3B
Michael Young
2009
443
SS
Michael Young
2005
484
CI
Prince Fielder
2007
543
MI
Michael Young
2006
474
OF
Grady Sizemore
2008
553
OF
Grady Sizemore
2006
538
OF
Grady Sizemore
2007
524
OF
Adam Dunn
2007
522
UTIL
Adam Dunn
2009
516
UTIL
Adam Dunn
2006
510
P
Chris Carpenter
2005
551.66
P
Johan Santana
2007
508.5
P
Felix Hernandez
2010
505.66
P
F. Rodriguez
2007
493.84
P
Chris Carpenter
2006
448.67
P
Brad Lidge
2008
416.84

What I Learned:

  1. Dunn and Dunn. What were the rest of us thinking? Every year Grashow throws Dunn back in the redraft pool, and every year we all pass on him, looking for sexier picks. Until Watts took him this year. Well played Watterson.
  2. A Man Named Grady. Almost forgot how great that guy was. Pretty incredible to see the production that Baltimore received from Grady and Dunn. Too bad for Cleveland, Baltimore, and baseball fans in general that he has been beset by injuries the last couple years.
  3. Obvious. This team more than any that I have done so far I felt like I would have been able to fill in without even looking at the almanac, even more than Woosta. Michael Young falls in the same group as Dunn who Baltimore has redrafted frequently. Carpenter was a mainstay for many years and the new Baltimore generation of King Felix, Prince, and Joe Mauer have started to leave their mark.

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Adlerithmetic :: All-Time Single Season Teams : Mile High

By Steve Adler 
adler-02
As baseball season approaches I thought it may be informative to look at the best single season performances at each position for each of our eight franchises.
 
Methodology: I decided to use total point for the FANTASY FRANCHISE. The players may have put up more points during our playoffs, but not for this purpose. I also opted not to use points per game as I didn't think it would truly provide the best representation of each team. I decided to allow players to have multiple years for a team, mainly because I want to see if anyone besides A-Rod and Pujols ends up on Woosta’s roster. I used the positions as they would occur in ECB, not the way the MLB organization does it.  The rosters were compiled using the stats from the almanac. Unfortunately these stats only went back to 2005 so the years 2001-2004 will not be reflected. Anyway, I hope you enjoy it.

MILE HIGH MACKEREL
POS
NAME
YEAR
POINTS
C
R. Hernandez
2005
182
1B
Derrek Lee
2005
602
2B
Robinson Cano
2009
453
3B
R. Zimmerman
2009
497
SS
Jimmy Rollins
2007
565
CI
Mark Teixeira
2009
526
MI
Hanley Ramirez
2007
553
OF
V. Guerrero
2007
519
OF
Bobby Abreu
2005
518
OF
Nick Markakis
2008
516
OF
V. Guerrero
2006
512
UTIL
Hanley Ramirez
2008
535
UTIL
Hanley Ramirez
2009
526
P
Roy Halladay
2008
628.99
P
Tim Lincecum
2009
609.17
P
Bobby Jenks
2007
499.83
P
Tim Lincecum
2008
479.67
P
Mariano Rivera
2006
457.83
P
Mariano Rivera
2008
443.34

What I Learned:

  1. There Is More Than One Way To Win. Woosta and Chicago were heavy on OF and 1B types, but Mile High has made 8 playoff appearances in 10 years as well and they have done it with tremendous strength up the middle with the likes of Hanley Ramirez, Jimmy Rollins, and Robinson Cano to the extent they filled his UTIL spots as well.
  2. DRAFT A CATCHER! Ramon Hernandez ranks as the lowest all time player thus far. It looks like GM Bielecki was at least subliminally aware of this as he drafted both Buster Posey and Victor Martinez this year.
  3. Keepers. The one that first comes to mind is Adrian Gonzalez after the 2007 season, but it seems guys like Robinson Cano, Roy Halladay, and Adrian Gonzalez (again) took great offense to being thrown back into the non keeper pool (Get it? MACKEREL!).

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Adlerithmetic :: All-Time Single Season Teams : Woosta

By Steve Adler
adler-01
As baseball season approaches I thought it may be informative to look at the best single season performances at each position for each of our eight franchises.
Methodology: I decided to use total point for the FANTASY FRANCHISE. The players may have put up more points during our playoffs, but not for this purpose. I also opted not to use points per game as I didn't think it would truly provide the best representation of each team. I decided to allow players to have multiple years for a team, mainly because I want to see if anyone besides A-Rod and Pujols ends up on Woosta’s roster. I used the positions as they would occur in ECB, not the way the MLB organization does it.  The rosters were compiled using the stats from the almanac. Unfortunately these stats only went back to 2005 so the years 2001-2004 will not be reflected. Anyway, I hope you enjoy it.

WOOSTA PIMP ROOSTAS 
POS
NAME
YEAR
POINTS
C
Victor Martinez
2009
474
1B
Albert Pujols
2009
650
2B
Rickie Weeks
2010
474
3B
Alex Rodriguez
2007
653
SS
Jose Reyes
2006
520
CI
David Ortiz
2006
599
MI
Jose Reyes
2007
517
OF
Josh Hamilton
2008
543
OF
Vernon Wells
2006
519
OF
Manny Ramirez
2008
490
OF
Alex Rios
2007
462
UTIL
Albert Pujols
2006
541
UTIL
Albert Pujols
2010
566
P
F. Rodriguez
2008
654.68
P
Ubaldo Jimenez
2010
570.67
P
Roy Oswalt
2005
521.82
P
Josh Beckett
2009
461.34
P
D. Matsuzaka
2007
458.68
P
Cliff Lee
2008
452.62
What I Learned:
  1. Rich Knows Pitching? I think everyone remembers/knows about Rich's love affair with K-Rod, but I never EVER would have guessed he was the all-time leader in single season points for a Roosta. It will surely help his MLB Hall of Fame resume.
  2. Go Red Sox! Given that we have 6 years of data and only 4 spots for Pujols (if we went back further he could have gotten some of the OF spots I believe) I assumed he would sweep them. I didn't expect Ortiz to make it with his great 2006 season. As a side note Albert Pujols broke 500 points all but one year (when he had 490 points).
  3. Strong Keepers. Many of the men on this list would likely wear a Woosta hat into the HOF as that is the team they would identify with and have spent the bulk of their career. It shows that Rich has identified and kept talent for a long time, likely leading to his 4 ECB titles.
  4. BLUE JAYS! I will listen to Rich anytime he tells me a Blue Jay outfielder will have a great year, like Rios or Wells. So what's on tap for Adam Lind this year (fingers crossed)?

Monday, April 4, 2011

Mile High Minute :: 2011, Week 1

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After months of anticipation, the 2011 Elm City Baseball season kicked off in abbreviated fashion last week. The Mile Mackerel welcomed the ECB’s newest member, the Colorado 470s, into the league in Leg 1 of the battle for The Shield Of Gratitude. Mile High finished just outside of the playoffs in 2010 and was looking to start the season off on a positive note for a potential playoff run. Colorado, under new ownership, has made no bones about the fact that their days of being the ECB doormat are over, and looked to prove their point by defeating their crosstown rivals in the Denver Derby.

In a week free of two start pitchers and very many closing opportunities, the focus was on hitting in Week 1, and the 470s answered the bell with a flurry.  Scanlan’s squad launched 11 homers as a team in just 4 days led by 3 from inaugural draft pick Ian Kinsler. Mile High kept pace with 10 homers of their own, putting both Colorado teams at the top of league in that category after Week 1. The 26-point win by the 470s can be attributed to the Mackerel’s all-or-nothing approach at the plate. As a team they registered exactly 0 doubles for the week (25 1Bs and 2 3Bs). Tack on an extra win late in the weekend for Colorado’s Gio Gonzalez, and the 470s ended the week winning their first ever series 5-4.

“Is was great to get our first series win,” Scanlan said, “but it was almost more important to make a statement coming into the league. Things worked out very well for the squad this week. Hopefully we can ride that wave into our first full week of action against the Tiger Army.”

Mile High GM Jon Bielecki spoke with a sense of subdued optimism after Week 1’s loss, “We’re not too worried about Week 1,” he said, “Lincecum could have gotten a win on Opening Day, and I’m fairly certain Tulo will get a few hits this year. Teixeira snagging Player Of The Week honors was huge after struggling early on last season. We’re pretty happy with the squad as-is for the moment.”

Mile High will take on Baltimore in Week 2 starting on Monday.