tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-109924602009-06-06T12:06:50.818-07:00A chronicle of major league baseball from the perspective of two SF Giant fans and the owners of the Pickled Pecklers of the BABI NL fantasy baseball leaguePEFACommishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655825814861100652noreply@blogger.comBlogger403125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10992460.post-41994506054924092812009-05-22T17:39:00.000-07:002009-05-23T14:45:25.457-07:00

I started the research for this entry a long, long time ago. The original inspiration was some more man-love for Al Pujols, who has a chance to be in the conversation as the greatest hitter of all time. I decided to compare his statistics to the age-based statistics for some of the greatest hitters ever.He compares to them all, except maybe Jimmy Foxx*, who was a sick, sick, sick hitter until he

PEFACommishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655825814861100652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10992460.post-63894924360907159572009-02-16T17:57:00.000-08:002009-02-16T18:02:07.185-08:00

I'm going to let Ted Williams' words speak for themselves. His speech, accepting his election to the Baseball Hall of Fame, is the gold standard for speaking from the heart at such a special time."I guess every player thinks about going into the Hall of Fame. Now that the moment has come for me I find it difficult to say what is really in my heart. But I know it is the greatest thrill of my life.

PEFACommishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655825814861100652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10992460.post-52586227026339461592009-02-10T11:43:00.000-08:002009-06-06T12:06:50.831-07:00

This column is one of my winding detective adventures about the olden days in sports. There is no fantasy anything here. This is about a great upset in the world of sports.Do you know where the term upset as in a sports’ upset came from? Man O’War won 20 of 21 races. He lost to a horse named Upset. Until that time, upset meant you had an upset stomach or you were upset with something. Thereafter,

PEFACommishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655825814861100652noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10992460.post-57489231707594682492009-02-04T17:09:00.000-08:002009-02-04T17:16:37.734-08:00

Rule #1 – you become a better writer by writing. I’ve written a lot since college, a lot more than I suspected I would after losing most of my confidence in senior English as the whuppin’ boy for Gracie Sullivan. She caused me to stop reading novels. I didn’t read a novel after high school until Xmas vacation in my senior year at Brandeis.I did, for some strange reason, join the school newspaper,

PEFACommishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655825814861100652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10992460.post-12718632442073319552009-02-03T15:37:00.000-08:002009-02-03T15:40:25.341-08:00

Our keeper list was decimated this season. It began with Jason Bay’s trade to the Red Sox last summer. It continued when Florida traded Mike Jacobs to KC. And then our best keeper, $3 Kerry Wood, signed with the Indians. It didn’t leave much.The Pickled Pecklers are going to rebuild. We’re waiving the white flag. We’re dumping it all except for the obvious keepers:Soto 11-2010Pence 5-

PEFACommishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655825814861100652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10992460.post-87329638014425581402009-02-02T16:30:00.000-08:002009-02-02T16:33:54.558-08:00

I was looking at the list of players nominated for the Hall of Fame who did not get the required 27 votes (5%) necessary to get on the ballot again next year. This is usually a group of pretty good players who you would NEVER think of as hall of fame material.Of course, there are always a few names that are intriguing.This year the most intriguing name was Mark Grace. He was a pretty good

PEFACommishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655825814861100652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10992460.post-89994170114104468842009-02-02T13:46:00.000-08:002009-02-02T14:40:00.608-08:00

Bob Hayes finally, finally, finally was voted into the NFL Hall of Fame. It is a shame he's not here to enjoy it.Only us old guys remember him. First he changed track and field forever. Then he changed the game of football.Here is a link to my clearest memory of Bob Hayes. It's a horrible print. You can ignore the last couple of minutes, which is a retrospective of the 1964 Olympics. Hayes had

PEFACommishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655825814861100652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10992460.post-77759826045805432802009-01-30T10:37:00.001-08:002009-01-30T10:42:40.232-08:00

We were price enforcing: $14. Our excel spreadsheet on our computer that said his value was $19. We had already spent $30 on Pedro Martinez, and we had no spot available for that kind of bid on a starting pitcher. In fact, we had no spots planned for ANY additional starting pitchers.Crickets.Brandon Webb was ours.We’ve been in BABI a long time. I could go look up the Klesko thing (my way of

PEFACommishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655825814861100652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10992460.post-79599045796359091352009-01-29T17:19:00.000-08:002009-01-30T10:04:13.348-08:00

After reading my analysis of the Leaguers, our reigning champion sent me an email asking, basically, “What about me?” Now Boof is going to deny he said this, but I’ve got the email right here:From: Boof BrittainTo: Sgt. BilkoSubject: Mr. Leaguer AnalysisWhat about me?BoofThere you go. Proof positive.In a subsequent email he made a good case for an analysis by BABI’s most brilliant commentator. He

PEFACommishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655825814861100652noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10992460.post-4253508096453490682009-01-28T16:54:00.000-08:002009-01-28T17:00:57.175-08:00

I’ve taken a careful look at the BABI results since the new millennium, and if you’re somehow unaware, Mr. Leaguer has been kicking our asses. I mean REALLY kicking our asses.Since the year 2000, he’s been in the money 9 out of 9 times. He’s won it 5 times, and his worst finish, in a rebuilding year after 4 consecutive wins, was 5th. His AVERAGE finish is 2nd (2.22).He’s won 80% of the money.

PEFACommishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655825814861100652noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10992460.post-79514693757367487742009-01-23T13:52:00.000-08:002009-01-23T14:11:19.458-08:00

In the wake of Jeff Kent's retirement, there has been a lot of local chatter about him. Yesterday JT Snow was on with Tom and Ralph and told a wonderful story about Kent when he first came to the Giants.In 1996 Kent was traded from the Mets to the Indians. He never quite fit in at either place, and he felt he wasn't getting his full opportunity with the Indians. He played in 128 games that season

PEFACommishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655825814861100652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10992460.post-65328289716895208982009-01-21T18:09:00.000-08:002009-01-21T18:16:58.067-08:00

Jeff Kent called it quits today.I’m already on record – the boos at Telephone Park are ridiculous. He gave the Giants 6 seasons of incredible hitting from a second baseman. Beyond incredible.After Rogers Hornsby, those six years were possibly the best hitting by any 2nd baseman ever.Here are those Giant years, and they were truly giant, from 1997-2002:BA - .297OBP - .403SLG - .535Hits – 1021 (170

PEFACommishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655825814861100652noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10992460.post-82408103793943133292009-01-21T09:44:00.000-08:002009-01-21T09:56:57.658-08:00

Here are rules suggestions I’ve received. Obviously some of them need to be fleshed out.Thornton Melon1 – Move to 5x5, adding K’s and runs scored.2 – Real time pickupsOld Ripper1 – Open FAAB date postponed until 6/1. Between draft night and open FAAB date, replacements only for open roster spots. All players traded from AL may be bid on by anyone.Gilbert Sullivan1 – 5x5 or 5x42 – Reserve SquadMr.

PEFACommishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655825814861100652noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10992460.post-66776422864915362742009-01-19T15:30:00.000-08:002009-01-19T15:37:15.519-08:00

I hadn’t checked out Joe Posnanski’s blog in a while. I’d give anything to have his talent and his perseverance. I maintain that Joe, author of the greatest book ever written (The Soul of Baseball) also has the best blog on the planet.Joe is able to write “curiously long posts” which include meanderings that if put on a telestrator look like John Madden’s chicken scratching play descriptions. In

PEFACommishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655825814861100652noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10992460.post-35132692827365074932009-01-19T12:03:00.000-08:002009-01-19T12:17:01.938-08:00

Happy New Year. Let’s all assume I’ve got the usual New Year’s resolutions about this blog and get on with 2009’s 1st post.I’ve made the case here before touting Andre Dawson’s HOF credentials. I don’t get Jim Rice going in before The Hawk. I think that’s about the Boston Whiners. Dawson did it all – hit, hit with power, run, throw.Dawson got the most votes of anyone who didn’t get in this year.

PEFACommishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655825814861100652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10992460.post-88035683451169043312008-11-28T13:27:00.000-08:002008-11-28T13:29:03.434-08:00

OK, Rotisserie fans: what is this semi-recent historical pitching line worth?Innings – 216Wins – 17ERA – 3.75WHIP – 1.259That’s a pretty good line, don’t you think? To put it in perspective, Edison Volquez’s 2008 season stats were fairly similar: 196/17/3.21/1.327. We’d all say Volquez had a pretty darn good season.I’ll tell you the who and the when in a minute. But first, I’ve got a story.Did

PEFACommishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655825814861100652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10992460.post-257074499269138322008-10-31T09:37:00.001-07:002008-10-31T09:39:10.255-07:00

PEFACommishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655825814861100652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10992460.post-39683089555253628482008-10-31T09:35:00.001-07:002008-10-31T09:36:42.093-07:00

PEFACommishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655825814861100652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10992460.post-41421344174206146782008-10-31T09:19:00.001-07:002008-10-31T09:29:26.821-07:00

PEFACommishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655825814861100652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10992460.post-63860350244682653362008-09-29T12:12:00.000-07:002008-09-29T12:13:26.987-07:00

Larry Dot Net called on Saturday to tell me Boof Brittain had left him a phone message congratulating himself on winning BABI. Dot thought that while it probably wasn’t premature, it was a breach of etiquette. Indeed it was. So what? Go ahead, Boof – do your dance.Since Boof has already congratulated himself, and since Dot was a loser, and Mr. Leaguer laid down like a dog at the end, keeping

PEFACommishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655825814861100652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10992460.post-39445224286370076422008-09-24T10:59:00.000-07:002008-09-24T11:05:19.552-07:00

The following was on MLB.com today:Rockies' Taveras wants everyday roleSeptember 23th, 2008Thomas Harding / MLB.comRockies manager Clint Hurdle is deliberating whether center fielder Willy Taveras will continue at leadoff man next season. All Taveras wants is a verdict that has him playing every day, whether it's with the Rockies or another club.Last night at the game, Willie was on the bench.

PEFACommishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655825814861100652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10992460.post-16747218941963209702008-09-10T17:41:00.000-07:002008-09-10T17:46:22.881-07:00

This is the Take It For What It's Worth Dept:A friend of a friend told a friend of mine that he was drinking in a bar with Brian Wilson. Brian told him the real story of All-Star Tim Lincecum in New York.Remember how Timmy got the flu and went to the hospital, missing the All-Star game that because of its length, could really have used him?Uh, not exactly.Wilson and Lincecum got to town, and

PEFACommishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655825814861100652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10992460.post-59585115685841296432008-05-21T16:33:00.000-07:002008-05-21T16:39:00.454-07:00

Writing a blog is a habit. Not writing a blog can get to be a habit mighty fast. The poker boys have been complaining: "You're in first place, where is Sour Grapes?"The toughest part of going for a run are the first 3 steps. For the 89th time (give or take) here are my first 3 steps.I’ll write about the Giants and all of the BABI teams soon enough, but I just want to dip my toe in the water by

PEFACommishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655825814861100652noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10992460.post-66382128961012987092008-04-07T11:28:00.000-07:002008-11-12T18:39:04.173-08:00

Today is the Giants’ home opener, and just as it is supposed to happen, I flipped on the TV this morning with my morning coffee and found the old Ray Milland classic playing on HBO. We all love that movie, but we should remember that at its heart, it is about cheating – applying a chemical substance to the ball. On the other hand, what is funnier than watching King Kelly’s “hop” pitch.I started

PEFACommishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655825814861100652noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10992460.post-1861003133084193042008-03-31T16:39:00.000-07:002008-04-03T12:15:10.165-07:00

It’s opening day, and despite the Giants performing about as well as we all expected (take the under 72.5 games, the UNDER), and despite Kerry Wood getting crushed today, it’s a wonderful day of baseball. Today I finally finished David Halberstam’s “October, 1964” a history of the 1964 baseball season which finished with the Cardinals defeating the Yankees in 7 games.I remember that world series

PEFACommishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655825814861100652noreply@blogger.com1