I had a sale yesterday that was $2800, and the buyers didn't bat an eye nor really seem to care how the price shook out. I want to do that sometime.
44 thoughts on “June 24, 2012: High Rollers”
the AL Central is terrible. The Twins are playing .400 ball (-91 run differential!) and are only 9 games behind Cleveland (-36 run differential!).
28 wins places the Twins last in the AL, but only 4th from last in the MLB because the Cubs (24), Padres (25), and Rockies (27) are also terrible.
According to the internet, known gamer, Matt Capps, is "not good" and "back to square one".
I'm shocked, SHOCKED that Matt Capps is "not good".
not good healthwise or not a good pitcher?
I think he could be a decent set up guy/6-7th inning guy. But as a closer, nope.
catching up on the twitter machine I see Capps is probably heading to the DL. I am stunned by this news.
It's the new norm. Guy feels something. Twins shut him down. Twins do not send him to the DL. Guy sits for a week.* Guy "wants to get out there".** Twins use him in a game. Guy feels something...again. Twins place guy on DL. Due to Twins' use on previous day, Guy's DL stint is not retroactive to first day 'Guy feels something'. Guys trade value is even lower than it was one week prior.
Obviously, there's a lot more to this calculus than what I've outlined. But when even a dedicated, generally optimistic and fairly knowledgable Twins/baseball fan - one who understands that this is a lost season and the club is simply trying to stay afloat and evaluate talent (benefit of the doubt there) - thinks that their process is as f*cked up as what I've outlined - then this club has a long way to go.
*June 15 - 23 for Capps
**obviously "Guy" is anyone but Mauer
I think the craziest thing about the Capps situation is that his shoulder hurt and they didnt do an MRI.
I 100% agree with your second paragraph.
When it comes to handling injuries, the Twins are a bunch of ass-clowns.
Today's Euro quarterfinal leaves me to root for either John Terry and Ashley Cole, or the Italians.
I love all of those things!
Why are we friends, again?
Hey, if we weren't friends, I wouldn't poke you like this.
I haven't seen England with more than 20 seconds of possession so far. Italy is really bringing it to them.
If this is going to end 1-0 one way or another, I prefer it to be because Balotelli does something cuckoo-bananas crazy like that attempted bicycle.
wow, the ESPN announcers are going full tilt homerism for England (at least since I started watching)
Yeah, Macca is always pretty bad about that. Darke is doing a bit more than he did during the group stages.
I can understand Macca, since he was on the National team. But I expect more out of Darke.
Italy has to put one away soon. It will be heartbreaking for them if they lose in PKs
I suppose Italy "deserve" to win the shoot out based on how much they've outplayed England
Kevin Youkilis was traded to the White Sox for pitcher Zach Stewart. yuck.
Meh- Youk hasn't been doing much except for visiting the DL for the last couple years. Not sure what Kenny Williams is expecting from this trade.
You mean besides being worth 15 rWAR over the last three years? It seems he's on the decline, but with 90 games left, another 2 rWAR seems reasonable, if he can stay healthy.
6.3, 5.1, 3.7 and .1 this year. He might recover (Brandon Inge sure rebounded nicely in Oakland), but that's a pretty poor trend.
I'll give you this- I don't know if he'll produce 2 rWAR for the rest of the season, but Youk is a far better option than the Morel/O-Hud/Lillibridge crap combo the Sox are currently running out there at third. Cripes, that's definitely below replacement level.
The White Sox have been above average in keeping players healthy (i.e., the anti-Twins), so they might be able to work their magic on Youkilis as well.
better dirt to rub on it
I'm skeptical about Inge. HALF of his value to Oakland so far (1.2 rWAR) is defensive. He's always been a decent defensive player, to be sure. But....
He is hitting 240/333/446, which is actually well above his career 234/305/389. I don't believe that that is sustainable. His ISO is above .200 for only the second time in his career. (.210 in 2009)
I just have a hard time believing that this 33 game run is all that indicative of what they will get for the season.
Oh, I'm pretty skeptical of Inge continuing to play at the level he has so far in Oakland, but if the White Sox get something like that from Youkilis, this trade might be worth it for them.
Turned just in time to see Portland score the opener in the Cascadia Cup.
Hey, Rhu Ru. I stopped by the card shop today.
Do you have this one?
That. Is. Awesome.
I was at Lake Calhoun with some friends this afternoon. They were wondering why I was giggling at my iPhone.
(Gotta love apps.)
You're going to have to ask buffalo for some 'points'.
I NEED THAT CARD
(heh heh -- very good!)
that card made me LOL
I second the professor - that is awesome. Well done bootsy.
For you fans of trail runs and general insanity, the Western States 100 was run yesterday, in some of the coolest weather ever (highs in the low 70s in the valley -- it felt like San Francisco around here!). this made for perfect ultramarathoning conditions.
"This year's 10th place finisher would have won 32 of the previous 38 races," announcer and Western States Board of Directors trustee John Medinger said in awe of the fast times posted Saturday night.
Ultramarathons are nuts. I feel like their marketing campaigns should be "Are you crazy? Would you put your level at 'bat-shit' or higher? Then we've got the sport for you!"
You know what I haven't heard a lot of? That we miss Cuddyer.
Cuddy: 102 OPS+
Willingham: 153 OPS+
I guess I know why.
I miss Kubel.
I thought of both of those things yesterday as I was listening to ESPN radio and heard that Kubel had hit a home run for Arizona.
I had the D'Backs game on MLB Network Saturday night for a little while (Sheenie's out of town, that qualifies as my going crazy on my own!) and learned that Kubel has approximately 65 RBI's in June.
I considered that a head-scratcher of a pickup by the D-backs, but it sure has worked out nicely for them so far.
Last year he had 401 PAs and so far this year he's had 276 PAs. 12 home runs last year, 10 this year; 32 walks last year, 31 this year; 21 doubles and 1 triple last year, 17 doubles and 2 triples this year. I would say the pickup has worked out very well for the D'backs.
.833 OPS against lefties so far in 97 PA. Career .696 against lefties. Last year he was .731. I'm happy for Kubes, but have to think that that split will come down a ways.
the AL Central is terrible. The Twins are playing .400 ball (-91 run differential!) and are only 9 games behind Cleveland (-36 run differential!).
28 wins places the Twins last in the AL, but only 4th from last in the MLB because the Cubs (24), Padres (25), and Rockies (27) are also terrible.
According to the internet, known gamer, Matt Capps, is "not good" and "back to square one".
I'm shocked, SHOCKED that Matt Capps is "not good".
not good healthwise or not a good pitcher?
I think he could be a decent set up guy/6-7th inning guy. But as a closer, nope.
catching up on the twitter machine I see Capps is probably heading to the DL. I am stunned by this news.
It's the new norm. Guy feels something. Twins shut him down. Twins do not send him to the DL. Guy sits for a week.* Guy "wants to get out there".** Twins use him in a game. Guy feels something...again. Twins place guy on DL. Due to Twins' use on previous day, Guy's DL stint is not retroactive to first day 'Guy feels something'. Guys trade value is even lower than it was one week prior.
Obviously, there's a lot more to this calculus than what I've outlined. But when even a dedicated, generally optimistic and fairly knowledgable Twins/baseball fan - one who understands that this is a lost season and the club is simply trying to stay afloat and evaluate talent (benefit of the doubt there) - thinks that their process is as f*cked up as what I've outlined - then this club has a long way to go.
*June 15 - 23 for Capps
**obviously "Guy" is anyone but Mauer
I think the craziest thing about the Capps situation is that his shoulder hurt and they didnt do an MRI.
I 100% agree with your second paragraph.
When it comes to handling injuries, the Twins are a bunch of ass-clowns.
Today's Euro quarterfinal leaves me to root for either John Terry and Ashley Cole, or the Italians.
I love all of those things!
Why are we friends, again?
Hey, if we weren't friends, I wouldn't poke you like this.
I haven't seen England with more than 20 seconds of possession so far. Italy is really bringing it to them.
If this is going to end 1-0 one way or another, I prefer it to be because Balotelli does something cuckoo-bananas crazy like that attempted bicycle.
wow, the ESPN announcers are going full tilt homerism for England (at least since I started watching)
Yeah, Macca is always pretty bad about that. Darke is doing a bit more than he did during the group stages.
I can understand Macca, since he was on the National team. But I expect more out of Darke.
Italy has to put one away soon. It will be heartbreaking for them if they lose in PKs
I suppose Italy "deserve" to win the shoot out based on how much they've outplayed England
Kevin Youkilis was traded to the White Sox for pitcher Zach Stewart. yuck.
Meh- Youk hasn't been doing much except for visiting the DL for the last couple years. Not sure what Kenny Williams is expecting from this trade.
You mean besides being worth 15 rWAR over the last three years? It seems he's on the decline, but with 90 games left, another 2 rWAR seems reasonable, if he can stay healthy.
6.3, 5.1, 3.7 and .1 this year. He might recover (Brandon Inge sure rebounded nicely in Oakland), but that's a pretty poor trend.
I'll give you this- I don't know if he'll produce 2 rWAR for the rest of the season, but Youk is a far better option than the Morel/O-Hud/Lillibridge crap combo the Sox are currently running out there at third. Cripes, that's definitely below replacement level.
The White Sox have been above average in keeping players healthy (i.e., the anti-Twins), so they might be able to work their magic on Youkilis as well.
better dirt to rub on it
I'm skeptical about Inge. HALF of his value to Oakland so far (1.2 rWAR) is defensive. He's always been a decent defensive player, to be sure. But....
He is hitting 240/333/446, which is actually well above his career 234/305/389. I don't believe that that is sustainable. His ISO is above .200 for only the second time in his career. (.210 in 2009)
I just have a hard time believing that this 33 game run is all that indicative of what they will get for the season.
Oh, I'm pretty skeptical of Inge continuing to play at the level he has so far in Oakland, but if the White Sox get something like that from Youkilis, this trade might be worth it for them.
Turned just in time to see Portland score the opener in the Cascadia Cup.
Hey, Rhu Ru. I stopped by the card shop today.
Do you have this one?
That. Is. Awesome.
I was at Lake Calhoun with some friends this afternoon. They were wondering why I was giggling at my iPhone.
(Gotta love apps.)
You're going to have to ask buffalo for some 'points'.
I NEED THAT CARD
(heh heh -- very good!)
that card made me LOL
I second the professor - that is awesome. Well done bootsy.
For you fans of trail runs and general insanity, the Western States 100 was run yesterday, in some of the coolest weather ever (highs in the low 70s in the valley -- it felt like San Francisco around here!). this made for perfect ultramarathoning conditions.
Ultramarathons are nuts. I feel like their marketing campaigns should be "Are you crazy? Would you put your level at 'bat-shit' or higher? Then we've got the sport for you!"
You know what I haven't heard a lot of? That we miss Cuddyer.
Cuddy: 102 OPS+
Willingham: 153 OPS+
I guess I know why.
I miss Kubel.
I thought of both of those things yesterday as I was listening to ESPN radio and heard that Kubel had hit a home run for Arizona.
I had the D'Backs game on MLB Network Saturday night for a little while (Sheenie's out of town, that qualifies as my going crazy on my own!) and learned that Kubel has approximately 65 RBI's in June.
I considered that a head-scratcher of a pickup by the D-backs, but it sure has worked out nicely for them so far.
Last year he had 401 PAs and so far this year he's had 276 PAs. 12 home runs last year, 10 this year; 32 walks last year, 31 this year; 21 doubles and 1 triple last year, 17 doubles and 2 triples this year. I would say the pickup has worked out very well for the D'backs.
.833 OPS against lefties so far in 97 PA. Career .696 against lefties. Last year he was .731. I'm happy for Kubes, but have to think that that split will come down a ways.