How we voted for American League MVP:

Me: 1) Ellsbury  2) Bautista  3) Verlander  4) Granderson  5) Cabrera

Griff: 1) Bautista  2) Ellsbury  3) Granderson  4) Pedroia  5) Zobrist

Dee: 1) Ellsbury  2) Bautista  3) Pedroia  4) Verlander  5) Kinsler

Jim: 1) Verlander  2) Ellsbury  3) Cabrera  4) Bautista  5) Granderson

Towel: 1) Bautista  2) Granderson  3) Verlander  4) Ellsbury  5) Cabrera

Final Vote:

1)    Jacoby Ellsbury, OF, Boston Red Sox

2)    Jose Bautista, OF, Toronto Blue Jays

3)    Justin Verlander, RHP, Detroit Tigers

4)    Curtis Granderson, OF, New York Yankees

5)    Miguel Cabrera, 1B, Detroit TIgers

---

Subscribe to The Golden Sombrero by Email

---

---

-  Nyjer Morgan is exciting.  His defensive prowess in the outfield is absolutely fun to watch.  He brings a competitive nature to the game that should be lost on no man.  However, with that said, I wish Albert Pujols would have continued past the mound and cold-clocked Morgan right in his jaw last night.  C’mon Nyjer, there was no reason to get all butt-hurt over that AB last night.

-  It would appear that that Ian Kinsler just can’t help but lay lumber right now. (7 HR’s in his last 7 games.) I am proud to call him a fellow Central Arizona College Alum…ride Vaqueros, ride!

-  Is there anyone out there that can overtake Ben Revere’s over-the-shoulder masterpiece for play of the year?  Of course not.  So I ask you, which catch is better?  That one- or this one?

-  What is up with fans reaching over into the field of play on homeruns? I get it on foul balls, but really people? Don’t screw up a ball in fair territory folks.  It just makes you look bad.

-  Speaking of balls leaving the yard…heads up, pal!

-  A.J. Burnett sure is working hard to make his case for sticking in the Yanks starting rotation with amazing efforts like this.

-  If the criteria for voting on the MVP are so vague, why not just give the award to the player who accumulates the highest WAR at season’s end?  Are wins not the most valued outcome in all of baseball?

-  Did you know that Jeff “Frenchy” Francoeur is tied (with Ben “The Zorilla” Zobrist) for the most doubles in the AL?  Me neither.  To put the cherry on top of an excellently resurgent season, Frenchy turned back the clock to the first year of playing baseball on 90’ bases with this play.

Playing fantasy baseball is fashionable for many reasons.  It appeals to not only rad people, such as myself, but also has qualities that attract the nerdiest guy you know from your AP stats class back in high school.  People love the stats, and people love trying to predict the future.  If they didn’t, then why are psychic hotlines so popular?  For me, though, it is not really about the stats.  It is all about playing the role of the Fantasy GM.

I am sure that there are others who feel this way.  Maybe it is just the fact that I am now a baseball coach/manager, or maybe it is because I can’t stand being drug through the mud for another season as an Astros’ fan.  Whatever the reason, I love to play the role of the GM.  The best part about being the GM: the trades.  Oh, yes.

Trading is maybe the most exciting part of any fantasy season.  I love trying to negotiate a deal on a buy low candidate or trying to convince another owner that so-and-so is not really as good as he thinks he is.  Or maybe I just want some new blood in the lineup.  Regardless, I love trading and think that it is one of the most crucial components to a successful fantasy season.

With the one month mark rapidly approaching, I would like to introduce the first article in a new series I plan on putting out every other week this year.  I call it, Trade Bait.  It is a list of some players that I would like to acquire, as well as guys I am getting rid of as if they were the plague.  I will also start each article off with the list of trades that have gone down in the Denslow Cup before introducing each list.

(more…)

---

Subscribe to The Golden Sombrero by Email

---

---

At first glance, there wouldn’t appear to be many similarities between the Tampa Bay Rays and the New York Yankees. The Yankees regularly top the league’s payroll, shelling out $206 million in player salaries to lead the way once again in 2010. This year the Rays have climbed to number 21 on the list and their payroll is still barely a third of New York’s. The Yankees make a habit of throwing as much money at as many big names as possible, landing blockbuster free agents every offseason as opposed to developing their farm system. Tampa Bay, on the other hand, has been led this season by homegrown talents Evan Longoria (3b, drafted by Rays in 2006) and the AL’s All-Star Game starting pitcher, David Price (drafted by Rays in 2007). The Yankees also happen to be the most storied franchise in baseball, if not all sports, and have won a record 27 World Series titles. The Rays only became a Major League team in 1998 and lost in their only World Series appearance. Yet despite these seemingly overwhelming differences, at the All-Star break both teams share one important trait: winning games.

Continue Reading ‘Evan Longoria and the Rays Battle Baseball’s Evil Empire’