saturday baseball

Your Saturday Baseball Post

cskfm42w8aad32u

Man this is a tough one to write. The final baseball Saturday of the regular season. I can’t believe it, just like every year at this time we can never believe it’s really over.

We have to say, we’ve appreciated every one of them about as much as you can. Baseball is not something that should ever be taken for granted, and we don’t at this blog. So as we get ready to brave another long, cold offseason; what an incredible year of ups and downs it’s been with so many emotional ebbs and flows.

So we put the flag at half mass one last time in honor of baseball season, the greatest time on earth and the greatest sport on earth.

Your 80’s song of the week that should be played on a ballpark loudspeaker near you:

Enjoy your Saturday everyone. And God bless. Thank you for continued support of Diamond Hoggers.

Fantasy Baseball

The Gentleman’s Cup II has concluded

Our Gentleman’s Cup Series in year two has finished up as of last night. It’s kind of sad. We crown our champion for the second straight year.

Congratulations to DStars45 on his second straight title for the year. His yearly score will show he was head and shoulders above the rest in terms of consistency.

Our own t3bird04 held off a late incredible run from JSquad34 – a JSquad34 who won the final two contests – to claim second place.

And Swindaman3’s work on the toilet the last few weeks and the futility of Diamondhoggers dug him out of the Gentleman’s basement! A spot that no man wants to find himself in. This means a cold winter for Diamondhoggers in which they have to do much soul-searching and wonder why the Hell they were so bad. Well they don’t have to wonder. We suck at DFS.

Here are a look at the yearly standings. These are final! Etched forever in stone in time.

Yearly Standings:
DStars45 – 101 points
t3bird04 – 87 points
Jsquad34 – 84 points
Swindaman3 – 66 points
Diamondhoggers – 65 points

Last night’s Standings:
screen-shot-2016-10-01-at-11-05-54-am

Standings from two Friday’s ago:
screen-shot-2016-10-01-at-11-05-19-am

Winning lineup from last night, nice work JSquad34:
screen-shot-2016-10-01-at-11-06-08-am

Two weeks ago winning lineup, again from JSquad34:
screen-shot-2016-10-01-at-11-05-31-am

So we enter the cold winter months facing an uncertain future with the Gentleman’s Game. Will Daily Fantasy Sports be outlawed and banned by then? By next spring, some gents will be in new places. Some may even have new kids. This makes it harder to be good at solving the rubix cube, not easier.

We want to thank you for following the Gentleman’s Game cup Volume 2.0. It was a fun year and much camaraderie was had. Congrats again to DStars45 on his second straight Gentleman’s Cup title. He has reached legend status within the DFS community.

Los Angeles Dodgers

Lasorda Friday’s: Tommy Lasorda Destroys the Phillie Phanatic in 1988

We haven’t honored fun Tommy Lasorda on Friday’s enough through the years. It was done at least once, and abandoned.

But the gem that is this man will not be ignored on this Friday. Here we have a clip we had not seen in full prior to today. It’s late August 1988, and that rascal Phillies Phanatic is getting under Tommy Lasorda’s skin.

The best part of this clip is not when Lasorda starts to take off with the Phanatic’s ATV. It’s not when the Phanatic razzes the angry man who is mad at a mascot that is making fun of his belly by sticking his mascot tongue out at him. The best part of the video isn’t even when Lasorda chases him down in anger (look at how fast Tommy moves in those turf shoes, he looks like sprinting Super Mario).

The best part of this video is around the 1:13 mark when Lasorda pulverizes the Phanatic with that stuffed Lasorda and the mascot plays dead, on cue. Like he’s really hurt. I’ve watched this no less than 15 times today, and it gets me every time. I love this.

Houston Astros

Fare Thee Well, Tal’s Hill

tals-hill

With all that has gone on in the last few days in baseball, I had no idea that one of baseball’s most unique ballpark physical features was making it’s final appearance today.

The Astros closed out their park today in a 12-4 loss to the Mariners. None of us will ever see the weird slope with the flag pole in play known as Tal’s Hill ever again. And that’s a damn shame. Too many parks are too normal and symmetrical. Tal’s Hill had character that only a baseball stadium can offer. It had personality!

The Houston Chronicle had an article of the most memorable moments of Tal’s Hill. Check it out.

I can’t think of another ballpark landmark in play that is as unique.

Miami Marlins

And Dee Gordon definitely made me cry, again

This is another reason why baseball is the greatest sport on earth. It really makes you feel. Was this the biggest moment of the season? Emotionally, it had to be.

Consider it was Dee Gordon who hit his first home run of the season in the Marlins’ emotional win tonight. Gordon said it best after the game.

The unprecedented loss of Jose Fernandez is never going to go away, and the Marlins probably never recover as an organization. But this was clearly their night for their fallen teammate. And damn if I wasn’t happy for them inside.

You can watch the end of the toughest night in Marlins franchise history here. It’s an amazing tribute to their friend.

screen-shot-2016-09-27-at-1-19-52-am

Miami Marlins

Marlins Retire Jose Fernandez’s No. 16

ctnkwhiw8aakrql

In a move that we love, the Miami Marlins will retire Jose Fernandez’s number 16 after tonight’s game – a game in which all the Marlins players wore the Fernandez jersey.

I’m excited for two other things aside from this: I want to see baseball name an award after Jose Fernandez, and I hope that the Marlins build a statue outside their park of the Hall of Fame talent who wore only their uniform.

I am confident that both of these things will happen in the short future.

Colorado Rockies, Los Angeles Dodgers

Vin Scully’s send off at Dodger stadium was magical

coreyseagercoloradorockiesvlosangelesurr2gs-rjnpl

I am so numb right now.

It’s been a tough day. Between the death of Jose Fernandez (and Arnold Palmer also passed), and the goodbye to Vin Scully; I am just emotionally spent.

The Dodgers had an incredible walk-off win today for Vin Scully’s final game at Chavez. Dodgers trailing 3-2 in the ninth, and there’s two down. But Corey Seager was at the plate, and of all the greats that Scully has seen play, you better believe it’s special that Seager did this to tie the game and “pull the sun back up in the sky” just a few more moments with Scully in the booth:

Charlie Culberson would of course homer in extras to give the Dodgers the 4-3 win. But there were no fireworks.

For the first time that I can ever remember, I sat and had a good cry over something to do with sports. And the reason I cried is because Vin Scully addressed the crowd one final time, and then sang “Wind Beneath My Wings” to them.

And my wife saw it all. For all in this world that is ugly, and patronizing, and backwards; and it’s everywhere right now…. there’s a prince like Vin Scully. Something that is the real article. That’s what I said to my wife. And then I told her that I hope they win it all as I might have wiped a tear out of my eye. And I do.

I have been listening to this guy for as long as I can remember. The truth is, I wasn’t ready for this. I would have never been ready for this.

In memoriam, Miami Marlins

Jose Fernandez (1992-2016)

jose fernand

This is unbelievable news to wake up to – that Jose Fernandez has died at age 24 – in a boating accident.

There just aren’t many pitchers I really enjoy anymore. There aren’t that many I would consider good. I knew the first time Fernandez pitched that we had a bad ass on the mound and one that was going to be good for a very long time.

Things like this should never happen, but they do. When they do there just really aren’t words. This is so incredibly saddening.

I had a horrible dream back in Spring Training that a player had died, and I won’t name the player. I’m not sure why I had the dream. It was horrifying enough I woke myself up in a panic. This is like living that nightmare. Again, I can count on two hands the pitchers I really enjoy in baseball. Fernandez was on that short list.

His final start five days ago was a work of art. A 1-0 victory in which he had 12 strikeouts and no walks.

Thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by the horrible loss of this young man and immense talent.

saturday baseball

Your Saturday Baseball Post

B
B

It’s the second to last Saturday in the regular season. It’s a sad time. It still feels like July outside here. The baseball games don’t really start until after the primetime slot. If you’re in the mix for a fantasy baseball title or two, you’ve got just over a week to hang on. No slip up’s.

If you read this blog, or stumble across it; you’re presumably a pretty big baseball fan. It’s almost your duty to tune in to a couple innings of Vin Scully tonight to pay tribute. And College football did everyone a favor by not scheduling any great games.

As always, the oldies song of the week that should be played on a ballpark loudspeaker near you:

Enjoy your Saturday, everyone. Thank you for your continued support of Diamond Hoggers!

Throwing it around

Throwing it Around

Two more days of Vin Scully at Dodger Stadium after tonight. It’s heartbreaking. This might as well be “Vin Scully Weekend” here on the blog, because we’re going to pay homage to him in as many ways as we can.

-A Statistical trip through Vin Scully’s career. [Baseball-Reference]
-Helluva tribute at Dodger Stadium tonight for the man. [SB Nation]
-Vin Scully wrote a heartfelt letter to Dodger Fans. [MLB.com]
-The Cubbies have homefield through the NLCS thanks to a dominating performance this afternoon by Jake Arrieta. [Baseball Musings]
-It’s OK to feel this way, Steve Clevenger. You just can’t tweet that you feel this way. [Hardball Talk]
-How to judge the Atlanta Braves’ rebuild. [Fangraphs]
-The case for Corey Seager to win NL MVP. [Fangraphs, again]
-More Scully retirement ceremony. [Deadspin]

Los Angeles Dodgers

In-Depth on Corey Seager’s Record Season

coreyseagerchicagocubsvlosangelesdodgersx61gtrfavfxl

After Tuesday’s game, Seager is now hitting .316 with 185 hits, 25 home runs and 40 doubles. The only rookies in Major League history, according to Baseball Reference, to hit at least .300 with 25 homers, 40 doubles and 185 hits as a rookie are: Albert Pujols (2001), Nomar Garciaparra (1997), Tony Oliva (1964), Ted Williams (1939), Joe DiMaggio (1936), Hal Trosky (1934) and Dale Alexander (1929).

He is on track to having the greatest OPS+ by a rookie shortstop all time. Chicago Cub Charlie Hollocher (1918) is the current record holder at 134. [Dodgers Insider]

Los Angeles Dodgers, Rivalries, San Francisco Giants

Yasiel Puig, Madison Bumgarner, and Vin Scully describing the Scene

Just when you thought you had seen the last of Yasiel Puig, Dodgers outfielder. The Bums win another wild one last night, 2-1 at Chavez.

This was too good not to get on the site, somewhere. Seriously though: eff Madison Bumgarner. Guy is an asshole.

h/t: Deadspin for the video.

Houston Astros

Carlos Correa’s 20th Home Run of 2016

Everyone was watching football today when just past the 4:00 hour on the east coast, Carlos Correa hit his 20th home run of the season at Safeco Field, a moonshot to dead center in the Astros loss.

The Astros’ season is probably over, barring a two-week miracle. You step back and look at Correa’s season: 20 home runs, 92 RBI, 13 steals, 70+ runs, .270ish; and he’s really done fine. Huge things coming for both him, and the loaded Astros in 2017. I can’t wait already. They simply ran out of pitching in 2016. They’ve been throwing Larry, Curly, and Moe for the last three weeks.

It’s been plenty of fun watching this team, and more specifically this player develop this season. Two more weeks and it’s winter for most.

Baseball