Digital Chaos Media

Fantasy baseball approacheth; amazingly pitchers and catchers will report in less than 45 days.  Fantasy baseball drafts are already taking place, and if you’re not mocking 2009 the day after 2008, you’re way behind.  With that in mind, here is Vigga’s take on position-by-position rankings in a 6×6 (that’s BB’s or OBP added to a standard 5×5) keeper league.  The numbers beside the player’s name in parentheses provide a way to measure the player across positions so that you can use this info as a draft sheet as well.  I’ll also throw in some sleepers after ranking the cream of the crop… Definite keepers are ranked 7 and up.

The Tip-Top:

1. Albert Pujols (9.5) - This ranking is questionable only because Pujols’ arm is expected to explode into a season-ending mess at some point from now until the end of his career.  But if Dr. J. Andrews can’t figure out what’s going on in there, then what’s the point in guessing?  By nearly every statistical measure, he is the most dominant hitter ever through the first 8 seasons of a career.  He plays over 150 games a year, and you can notch him in for 40 HR, a .330 AVG and a 1.05 OPS.  Plus, he’ll give you a half-dozen swiped bases a season, which ain’t bad from the 1B position.  Silly.
2. Miguel Cabrera (9.5) - As a young buck in the Marlin’s system, Cabrera put up astoundingly well-rounded numbers in his early 20’s, but after an off-season trade to the Tigers a regimen of weightlifting and plyometrics left the hefty 1B unhappy and underweight last April.  Seemingly powered by Ho-Hos and Juju Bees, as Miguel put on weight (how do you put on weight during the MLB’s rigorous season?) throughout the course of last season, he seemed to return to his pre-2008 form.  He’s a natural power hitter, with good lift and ample doubles on top of 35 or so homers a year.  2008 saw Cabrera’s OBP take an unnatural drop from his career arc, so while he may strike out 120 times I’d look for 65+ BB on top of a .320 AVG and 130 RBI.  To be honest, I was tempted to move Cabrera ahead of Pujols because he’s 3 years younger, but we need to see some increased plate discipline before Miguel is crowned the keeper king. [Read more →]
   

Today ESPN.com reported that Kevin Mchale (former Minnesota VP of Basketball Operations & Celtic spy) will be taking over as the full time head coach of the T-Wolves. McHale looks to step in and provide an immediate spark to a team that despite solid talent (read: Al Jefferson) has lost 15 of their first 19 games including their last 5 straight. That being said, the move out of the front office is rather surprising given that McHale has only 31 games under his belt as the head ball coach (19-12 record) and he was doing just fine running the franchise into the ground from the front office.

To be fair, McHale was one of the most effective big men of his day, despite bad knees, no ups and status as the original ‘Big Saltine.’ Perhaps his new players will benefit from the tutelage of the Celtic great. Analysts are pointing to the development of one “Big” Al Jefferson as a player who would benefit most from McHale’s experience. However, Bobby is not convinced. Al’s line this year is off the freaking charts! [Read more →]

Some reflections on Greg “Mad Dog” Maddux as he fades into the sunset…

If you’re like me, you never saw Mike Jordan or Wayne Gretsky play their passion live.  It’s an unfortunate reflection of not being a Knicks fan and loving the Red Wings while living in New York.  With great confidence, then, I say that Greg Maddux is the greatest athlete I ever had the honor of watching play in person.

A dominating presence wrapped up in a mathematicians body, Maddux’s career will be judged kindly by history as clean in an era often viewed through the filthy lens of performance enhancing drugs.  He was, in many ways, the cure to what ailed us after Sosa and McGwire broke our collective heart.  And while he may be an enduring symbol of what is right with our American pastime, the Mad Dog will be best remembered as a player who was unfailingly more bite than bark: [Read more →]

We all have bad days, some worse than others. Sometimes you find yourself in a club on a Friday night after giving thanks to the lord for your 35 million dollar paycheck and you get excited. You’re dancing with some really hot girl and she turns to you and says “is that a gun or are you just happy to see me?” To provide some proof of your manhood you reach into your pocket somewhat franticly in an attempt to calm her fears that you’re an all too eager beaver and you accidentally shoot yourself in the leg. It happens to the best of us, we all carry our guns to crowded clubs and power around with the safety off. Now I don’t live in New York but I am an avid Giants fan and I know for sure that my first inclination when visiting my boys from the Meadowlands would be to take a detour into the big city and make sure I’m carrying an unlicensed weapon; because if you’re going to be packing, New York City is the place to do it. If it were me, I’d hop into a New York club and brandish my fire arm, right after I got back from cheating on my husband in Saudi Arabia, it just makes sense. [Read more →]

So I’m a huge Tar Heels fan, I’ll say that right off the bat.  But I would argue that more than any other successful NCAA D-I program (UConn, Kentucky, Indiana, Duke), UNC has put a significant number of winning, solid players in the pros.  I mostly refer to the post 1990 season, so sorry M.J., Perk, Worthy, Daugherty, etc.  Read on:

Jerry Stackhouse: Career avg 19/4/4, been to payoffs 8 times

Vince Carter:  8 time allstar, 2 time all nba, olympic gold, 26 ppg, 6 rpg, 4 apg career.

Rasheed Wallace:  Made playoffs in all but one professional season; career numbers are subpar but he clearly is unique–stretches your defense out and hits threes on KG’s head.  Also he looks like Dave Chapelle. [Read more →]

Al Horford is the real deal, so is Al Jefferson.  I think they’re consistent 20-10 guys for the next while, probably perennial all stars.  The Hawks are also the real deal, I think they have Tampa Bay potential, but the T-Wolves are like three years away (at least) and a real PG (Telfair is not a PG) from being a contender.

LBJ is a great basketball player, but only one player in history has ever averaged a triple double over a season (Oscar Robertson averaged a triple-double for an entire season in ‘61-’62 in only his 2nd yr in the league he averaged 30.8 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 11.4 assists).  However, its a different league now, and frankly I think It’s impossible, even for LBJ.  (I know, anything is possible).  And the Cavs are definitely a solid 2/3 seed in the East, as long as Big Z doesn’t crumble like the Soviet Empire.  Whether they are 2 or three depends on how the Billups for Iverson deal works out.  I have a feeling DET may not be as good as years past, though Joe Dumars always surprises me.

[Read more →]

Major League Baseball and the Toyko press are reporting that a 16 year old Knuckleballer, emulating Tim Wakefield, was drafted by an Independent Japanese League on Monday. The girl, weighing in at only 114 pounds, threw a no-hit inning during tryouts and will go on with 33 other draft players in an attempt to make it as a professional.

Girls in Baseball… Yea, I guess so.

Here are some bucking young lads playing a game of pigskin at ye ole’ Chadron State College in… I dono, somewhere in the middle of the country.  Really, just watch the video.  I’m pretty sure somebody’s head flies off at some point.  I can honestly say that in years of watching college and pro-football, not to mention lifetimes spent carefully analyzing high-school cheerleading, that this is not only one of the most vile hits I’ve ever seen delivered, but also one of the most amazing catches I’ve ever seen made - all in the same play!  Weeee!!! Video after the jump: [Read more →]

Missed My Picks Last week.  Here’s this week’s to make up for it:

Bobby’s picks in Bold…

Denver @ Atlanta (-7)

Oakland @ Miami (-10)

Baltimore @ NYG (-7)

Houston @ Indianapolis (-8.5)

Chicago @Green Bay (-3.5)

Philadelphia (-9.5) @ Cincinnati

New Orleans (-6) @ Kansas City

Detroit @ Carolina (-14.5)

Minnesota @ Tampa Bay (-5)

St. Louis @ San Francisco (-7)

Arizona (-3) @ Seattle

Tennessee (-3) @ Jacksonville

San Diego @ Pittsburgh (-5.5)

Dallas (-2) @ Washington

Cleveland @ Buffalo (-5)

Since the Lakers are going to win every game this year, the only interesting thing happening in the Western Conference of the NBA will most likely continue to be Steve Nash getting thrown around the court 10 feet at a time.  The odd thing about this whole sissyfit, which unsurprisingly ended with Shaq as the last man standing, is that Matt Barnes started it by cross checking Tracy McGrady for no apparent reason - odd because Matt Barnes’ untalented ass is somehow still in the NBA, not because cross checking is usually reserved for ice hockey.  Video of Barnes crying, huddled in the corner after the jump: [Read more →]