July 4th – A Look Back
July 4th, 2012 | by Ray Flowers |
July 4th is a special day in the history of our great country. We’re you aware though that July 2nd might actually be a more important day? If you have no idea what I’m talking about make sure you give Celebrating the 4th a read. That article also has some interesting tidbits about what we eat this holiday, about Jose Canseco who hit his 30th homer on this date in 1999 (Jose Bautista leads baseball with 27 homers) an about a certain pitcher who in 1974 made an appearance in his 14th consecutive game on this date.
For those of you into hot dog eating, today is Nathan’s 97th Annual Hot Dog Eating Contest from Coney Island, New York. Joey Chestnut, from my hood in the Bay Area, won for the 6th time.
For more on the contest, here’s a write up I did a couple of years ago on July 4th titled Is Competitive Eating a Sport?
Oh, in case you missed it, here is how you can get your hands on the BaseballGuys.com 2012 Rest of The Way Rankings of 525 players for the second half.
Tags: July 4th, Nathan's Hot Dogs
By Morgan on Jul 5, 2012
Hey Ray,
Just got the Mid-Year rankings…they look very good thanks. I am low on pitching especially with Morrow/Marcum/McCarthy all hurt. I am in 1st with my hitting killing it. Would you deal Pence and get in return Wainwright + Nathan/Frieri? I don’t think Wainwright alone is a good enough return for Pence.
-Morgan
By Ray Flowers on Jul 5, 2012
Morgan – If you could do Waino and either of the closers for Pence, given your stated situation, looks like a thumbs up type of situation.
By Joe M on Jul 5, 2012
Hey Ray
Hope you had a nice 4th.. Now back to business
I have 1 too many corners Who would you sit or trade of these corners?
It’s a keeper league where I can keep the player for 3 years in the round drafted. So I can either sit one of them of deal one for improvement somewhere else.
Votto (Can’t Keep)
Konerko (Round 5)
Dunn (Round 13)
Freese (Round 16, only have 1 season left after this)
Encarnacion (Round 19)
Rizzo (Round 26)
Thanks
Joe M
ps. I know youre far from sold on Rizzo, but I can’t ignore the guys power potential.
By Ray Flowers on Jul 5, 2012
Joe M – I didn’t even take the 4th off…
Votto has most value, but if you’re trying to win this year makes no sense to deal.
Rizzo might have second most value. You might be able to get a huge payoff for him. Since you only keep 3 yrs, I’d check into moving him cause the return might actually be better than what you would get for a guy like Dunn.
By Joe M on Jul 5, 2012
Sorry man, that kinda sucks…
Definitely trying to win this year (in second place right now), but definitely also keeping next year in mind a little. I hear you with Rizzo, as much as I love him as a 26th pick for the next 2 seasons I will shop him around a little and I guess I’ll only be looking for a top tier player from one of the last place teams for him.
Thanks for the reply
By Joe M on Jul 11, 2012
Hey Ray
Soooo bored today, no baseball
But.. Shopped Rizzo around a little and wasnt getting too much feedback. So for now I’m overloaded with corners.
I’m curious, do you have any stats on Dunn, Edwin or Freese as far as when NOT to play them.(no way I can sit Votto or Konerko)
I checked out fangraph and only noticed the biggest difference in Dunn with Righty/Lefty.
Does it make sense for me to start Dunn against righty’s only and Rizzo when Dunns playing a Lefty?
I feel like I might be thinking too much into this but I kept Rizzo on the bench this past week and lost out on some good games so trying to figure out for nowif any of these players really stink in certain situations.
If you think i’m thinking too much into this, just say “Joe, you’re out of you mind”
Thank Man
Joe M
By Ray Flowers on Jul 11, 2012
Joe M – Dunn usually struggles against lefties. Encarnacion has a .075 point higher OPS at home for his career. Freese is pretty stable regardless, but he too is up like .075 in OPS at home for his career.
Sometimes you have too many players and not enough spots, so keep working the trade wire.
By Joe M on Jul 16, 2012
Sadly my problem was solved with Votto going down for a month. H