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Archive for the ‘American League’ Category

2011 World Series: Rangers vs. Cardinals

Posted in American League, National League, world series on October 20, 2025 | Leave a Comment »

It’s World Series time in baseball. For many baseball fans, this means that your best friends for the next week straight are your high definition television and the coziest spot on your couch. The World Series marks the best four to seven games of the year featuring the two greatest teams in baseball. And this year those teams are the St. Louis Cardinals and Texas Rangers.

The Cardinals are clearly the underdog in the 2011 World Series, which is nothing new from every other series they have played in the 2011 Playoffs. The Cards fought their way to a spot in the NLDS, being pulled in at the last minute as the National League wild card. The momentum from their end-of-season winning streak has carried them well into the playoffs, as they beat the Phillies 3-2 in the NLDS and the Brewers 4-2 in the NLCS. They now lead the World Series with home field advantage 1 - 0 against the Texas Rangers.

The Rangers were a top contender all season long in the American League. Finishing the regular season ranked 1st in the AL West and 2nd overall in the American League to the power house New York Yankees, the Rangers have proven to be a force in this post-season. The Rangers stomped the Rays in the ALDS with a 3-1 series win, and then went on to beat the Tigers four games to two. Now returning to the World Series for the 2nd consecutive year, they are looking to clinch the win and take home the title. This will be the first series in the playoffs where they will not have home field advantage, so winning on Cardinals’ soil is a must if they want to claim the trophy.

Best of seven wins this final series and we’re only one game in. Game 2 will be held at Busch Stadium tonight at 8:05pm (Eastern Time) with pitching lineup Jaime Garcia (STL) vs. Colby Lewis (TX). Tune in and watch the best action in baseball. If you’d rather be at the stadium for the full experience, World Series tickets are still available! Game on.

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I want the “Truth” for 2011!

Posted in American League, Around the Web, National League, Projections on March 9, 2025 | 1 Comment »

We can forecast on how we think a player will perform in each category. Some of these statistical categories reward playing time (i.e. HR,RBI,K,W) , where others are based on the success rate (AVG,ERA)

Everyone has their secret formula about how they make these projection, but the bottom line is we will be happy just knowing the numbers are close. We do not need to know how close the number are , we just care that we are within the range of the actual numbers .

ESPN

 

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XM Baseball Sport Radio

Posted in American League, Around the Web, fantasy, Minors, MLB, National League, Rookies, Rotisserie on March 8, 2025 | 5 Comments »

After being on Sirius a few years ago, I finally made it back to Satellite radio. This time on the XM wing of the company.

XM 175:

http://www.facebook.com/MLBNetworkRadio

http://www.Twitter.com/MLBNetworkRadio

First Pitch
Weekdays 7 am - 10 am ET
Jim Memolo and Rob Dibble

Power Alley Jim Duquette and Kevin Kennedy
Weekdays 10 am - 2 pm ET

Inside Pitch Casey Stern and Jim Bowden
Weekdays 2 pm - 6 pm ET, Saturdays 10 am - 1 pm ET

MLB Tonight (MLB Network Staff)
Weekdays 6 pm - 8 pm ET

MLB Roundtrip
Weekdays 8 pm - 12 am ET

Minors and Majors Grant Paulsen
Sundays 8 am - 10 am ET

Remember When Ed Randall and Rico Petrocelli
Saturdays 8 am - 10 am ET

MLB Roundtrip Saturday Grant Paulsen
Saturdays 1 pm - 4 pm ET

Baseball Today Holden Kushner & Jim Duquette
Sundays 10 am - 1 pm ET

MLB Roundtrip Sunday
Sundays 1 pm - 4 pm ET
Talk about the news of the day and get insight on your team’s roster moves from former GM Jim Bowden.

Home Plate Jeff Joyce & Jeff Nelson
Weekends 4 pm - 7 pm ET

XM 147:

http://Twitter.com/siriusxmfantasy

http://www.facebook.com/siriusxmfantasysportsradio

7 am ET - RotoExperts w/ Scott Engel & Adam Ronis
10 am ET - SiriusXM Fantasy Basketball w/ Dennis Scott
11 am ET - RotoWire Fantasy Sports Today w/ Jeff Erickson & Derek Van Riper
2 pm ET - SiriusXM Fantasy Baseball w/ Steve Phillips & Jeff Rickard
5 pm ET - SiriusXM Fantasy Drive w/ Kyle Elfrink, Kay Adams & Ray Flowers
8 pm ET - Fantasy Baseball Tonight w/ Craig Mish

Ray Flowers on his web site is offering free fantasy information

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Counting down the 100 Names You Need to Know

Posted in American League, Around the Web, Minors, National League, Projections, Prospects, Rookie Of Year, Rotisserie, ROY on February 17, 2026 | Leave a Comment »

Each year, USA Today comes out with their 100 names you need to know for the upcoming season. This is a good resource of getting to know some of the minor league players that are usually at that point of their career where they are ready make a big impact at the major league level.

Here are a few of the players making the 2011 top ten of the “100 Names You Need to Know:

#1 Aroldis Chapman

Bullpen is the answer to the first big question about the Cuban flamethrower for this season. That’s where he’ll pitch, though the Reds aren’t ruling out a future role in their rotation. The next question revolves around when and if he could take over for closer Francisco Cordero, who is entering the final guaranteed year of his contract ($12 million option for 2012) and allowed baserunners last season at the highest rate of his career.

#2 Craig Kimbrel

Kimbrel, 22, got a taste of key late-inning situations late last season and in the playoffs. His 14.4 strikeouts-per-nine-innings rate through three minor league seasons was impressive enough, but he boosted that to 16.9 in his 25 combined regular season and playoff innings in the majors last year.

#3 Freddy Freeman

Freeman will show up this spring with the first base job and expectations he can be as impactful as Heyward. A lefty like his close friend Heyward, Freeman’s best attribute might be his defense, though he finished in the Class AAA International League’s top 10 in batting before turning 21 in September. His 18 homers last year dispelled concerns the 6-5, 225-pounder might not develop big-time power.

#6 Logan Morrison

Florida has plenty to chirp about with its trio of young studs on offense. Twitter-happy Morrison - and not Mike Stanton or Gaby Sanchez - remains eligible for our list thanks to his late-July 2010 call-up. Morrison moved to the outfield last year after older Sanchez beat him out for the Marlins’ first base job.

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Roto Ball is Back 2011

Posted in American League, Blogging, Rookies, Rotisserie, Sabermetrics, Strategy on February 17, 2026 | Leave a Comment »

With the NFL labor battle taking shape, the talk of any football is clearly on mute until that matter reaches a resolution. But, this just in: It’s baseball time again! As we speak, the Boys of Summer are on their way to spring training camps across Florida and Arizona. The pitchers and catchers arrive early, in order to get their arms warmed for the first game which starts on February 26th.

Over the next few weeks, the focus here at Baseball Happenings will be getting you thinking baseball again. Just like the players, managers, and the general managers, you have to prepare for the upcoming season. Fantasy baseball or Roto for that matter is all about making good business decisions.

There are certain strategies for the typical rotation drafts, and other ways for participating in a full blown auction draft.

I dabble in fantasy play. Or, you could say I live and breathe fantasy baseball. Each year I play in two NL only auction leagues. In addition, I am a commissioner for one mixed league rotation draft, and have a few other pending leagues that are getting started up.

Here we use both the traditional statistics such that are used in typical 5×5 leagues. As well, we make use of sabermetrics to help with some of the decision making.

Moreover, this year I plan on discussing some of the new strategies I have learned over this off season. These are ideas I have never used before, but have become educated on the new ideas.

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Opening Day Cheers and Jeers

Posted in American League, MLB, National League, Opening Day on April 6, 2025 | Leave a Comment »

It was opening day for the 2010 season for a handful of teams. Let’s not get carried away with success with one day of statistics, as we all remember the “Emilio Bonifacio” on the highlight reel last opening day. He brought back memories of Tuffy Rhodes with his offensive outburst, only to be a footnote as the year progressed.

Here is a look at how some of my fantasy players performed on opening day. Lets start with the Cheers.These players started the season off on a high note:

  • Carlos Gonzalez 4-5
  • Brian McCann 2-3 HR 3R
  • Todd Helton 2-5
  • Brandon Phillips 1-4 2RBI SB
  • Hanley Ramirez 2-4 SB
  • Johnny Damon 2-4 2R 2RBI
  • Mark DeRosa 1-3 HR
  • Ubaldo Jimenez 6IP 6K W 1.5 ERA
  • David Wright 1-3 HR 2RBI
  • Placido Polanco 3-5 HR 6 RBI
  • Juan Fransisco 1-1 RBI (MLB debut)

Jeers

  • Jacob Ellsbury 0-5
  • Josh Johnson 5IP 7.2 ERA
  • Derek Lee 0-3 R
  • Aki Awamura 0-4
  • Mike Jacobs 0-4
  • Wil Venable 0-4
  • Dan Uggla 0-3
  • Ian Desmond 0-2
  • Ryan Franklin 1IP, 2ER
  • Clay Hensley .1IP 2HA 1ER
  • John Garland 6R, 2ER
  • Evereth Cabrera 0-3
  • Adam LaRoche 0-5
  • Melky Cabrera 0-5

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NL Arrivals For 2010

Posted in American League, Free Agent Signing, National League, Rotisserie, Trade on March 30, 2025 | Leave a Comment »

There is not a single way to prepare for a NL or AL only keeper league draft. In these type of leagues, its important to get a good read of who came over from the other league in the off season, and figure out how their skills will do in the new league. As, they go directly to the new player pool that will be available for bidding on in the draft. Each owner in evaluating the players coming over to a new league should consider :

  • the ball park the player is coming from/to
  • the playing time the player may receive with the new team
  • with pitchers coming from AL to NL, the lack of DH in NL suggests better results

The list goes on, but lets take a look at the movement with the NL teams this off season.

The Braves bullpen is remade with the Wagner and Saito signings, but one of their best pitchers Javier Vazquez traded away. The Doctor is in for the Phillies, but sent Cliff Lee packing for Seattle pitchers Philippe Aumont and Juan Ramirez and outfielder Tyson Gillies. The Marlins traded away Jeremy Hermidia for Boston prospects Hunter Jones and Jose Alvarez. The National brought in Matt Capps, Pudge, Miguel Bautista, Adam Kennedy, and Chris Duncan. Along with Jason Bay, the Mets signed Hisanori Takahahi From Japan. The Diamondbacks blew up the team with starters Ian Kennedy and Edwin Jackson coming over in blockbuster deal. They remade the left side of the infield in Adam Laroche and KellyJohnson/Tony Abreu. Their bullpen was upgraded with Bob Howry and Aaron Heilman. The Cubs took on Carlos Silva, and obtained pitcher Jeff Grey in trades. Chad Tracy and Kevin Millar were signed as possible backups. The Brewers added Randy Wolfe, Doug Davis, and outfielders Jim Edmonds Carlos Gomez. The Pirates traded with Rays for Aki Awamura, they signed Ryan Church, and added pitcher RHP Chris Jakubauskas. The Reds shocked people by signing the Cuban defector Chapman, along with SS Orlando Cabrera, reserves Miguel Cairo and Josh Anderson. The Astros Ed Wade overspent for a new back end of bullpen. The Cards signed Brad Penny and Fellipe Lopez. The Rockies brought in Tim Redding and Melvin Mora. The Giants signed Mark DeRosa, 1B Aubrey Huff, and pitcher Todd Wellemeyer. The Padres stayed busy with additions of both the Hairston brothers, Aaaron Cunningham, John Garland, Catcher Torrealba, and P Radames Liz. The Dodgers stayed busy with divorce issues and only signed Josh Towers, Jamey Carroll, and Nick Green.

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LABR 2010 USA Today Sports Weekly Is Out

Posted in American League, Around the Web, National League, Rotisserie on March 18, 2025 | 1 Comment »

http://usatodaysportsweekly.newsstand.com/

usatodaysportsweeklly

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NL LABR Draft Results for Rotowire Dalton Del Don

Posted in American League, National League, Rotisserie on March 13, 2025 | 3 Comments »

Each year for the LABR draft, NL Rotowire owner Dalton Del Don (DDD) and AL Rotowire owner Chris Liss drive up to the event together. The 2010 LABR was no exception, as the long car ride gives them time to finalize their bets for the upcoming season.

After deciding which RotoSynthesis writer put down the better bet, you can review Chris Liss 2010 AL LABR draft selections, and then take a look at DDD’s NL LABR 2010 results:

Pos Player Price
C Chris Iannetta 12
C Ryan Doumit 11
1B Bobby Crosby 1
2B Chase Utley 35
3B Chipper Jones 15
SS Orlando Cabrera 14
CI Troy Glaus 13
MI Placido Polanco 16
OF Carlos Gonzalez 24
OF Nyjer Morgan 22
OF Scott Hairston 7
OF Tony Gywnn Jr. 3
OF Aaron Cunningham 1
U Matt Gamel 3
P Johan Santana 22
P Roy Oswalt 15
P Tim Hudson 12
P Stephen Strasburg 9
P Kenshin Kawakami 3
P Brad Lidge 11
P Jason Motte 3
P Drew Storen 4
P Peter Moylan 1
P Pedro Martinez 3
B Andrew Miller R
B Jason Giambi R
B Dan Meyer R
B Jeff Samardzija R
B Simon Castro R
B Jason Michaels R

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Names to Know 2010 Edition

Posted in American League, Around the Web, Minors, MLB, National League, Opening Day, Projections, Prospects on February 24, 2026 | Leave a Comment »

Each year, USA Today comes out with their 100 names you need to know for the upcoming season. The list is different from typical prospect lists. Its typically a good resource for fantasy leagues, as these are players who have a good chance to make contributions for the upcoming season:

These aren’t necessarily baseball’s 100 best prospects because many top prospects are too far down in the minor leagues to contribute in the majors this season. Others are stuck behind established major leaguers.

Not all of the players on our list have rookie status, either, but our standard for inclusion is that a player must have had more innings (for pitchers) or at-bats (for hitters) in the minor leagues in 2009 than he has had during all of his major league time.

Conversely, Baseball America released their top 100 prospect list for 2010 .

The Top 100 Prospects list is the culmination of our offseason prospect coverage, which begins with our reviews of the top talent in each minor league and proceeds with ranking the talent in each major league farm system.

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