The Court Got One Right

Good discussion of the Supreme Court's decision in the Hobby Lobby case.

Character in Baseball

My Young Padawans, let us discuss character. No I don’t mean Bill Clinton (“His greatest political asset is that he has absolutely no shame”) or Barack (“You can keep your plan”) Obama.

No, in this case, I am comparing one Dick Howser and the inestimable Peter Edward “Pete” Rose. The former was a man among men who managed the Kansas City Royals to the 1985 World Series Championship. OK, in the interest of fair play to our friends in St. Louis, it was a combination of Don Denkinger and the Royals which defeated the Cardinals. But we then should also recall that St. Louis beat Milwaukee in 1982 thanks to a non-third strike call on Lonnie Smith from Pete (Shoe Size 16) Ladd.

But I digress. Dick Howser was a scrappy over-achiever as a player and man who got the most out of his players as a manager. His teams never finished below 2nd place in any season. The whole of Kansas mourned when he met his early end due to cancer.

Now let us briefly discuss Charlie Hustle. I will grant you that Pete Rose was a great baseball player. Well, I grant you that he was at least above average. With today’s sabermetrics and Rose’s proclivity to hit singles, his value as a fantasy player would be top 25, not top 5.

My beef with Peter Edward is not that he bet on baseball after his playing career ended (although he was the Reds manager at the time). While what he did was 100% against the rules of baseball, he never bet against his own team. If anything he was incented to win every game.

No, my beef goes back to the 1970 All-Star game when he effectively ended Ray Fosse’s baseball career. For those who haven’t seen the play, Peter Edward chose to go directly at Mr. Fosse on a play at home plate. He slammed into Mr. Fosse with such impact that Ray’s shoulder was injured – and would never fully recover.

Two points: The All-Star is an exhibition game. It is not intended to be career-threatening. But let’s say Mr. Rose got caught up in the moment. Fine. It happens. But you do not go after the catcher when you clearly have a path to the plate. Ray Fosse was slightly to the front of the baseline providing an opportunity for Rose to score should the ball come in late. But Rose chose to leap into the air at full speed and smash into the unsuspecting player.

Perhaps it’s just as well that Peter Edward was banned for life. He certainly has no place in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Minor League Rosters 6-18-2014

Brooklyn DL’s

1.     Rafael Montero, P, NYM

2.     Kohl Stewart, P, MIN

3.     Colin Moran, 3B, MIA

4.     Tyler Austin, OF, NYY

5.     Brian Goodwin, OF, WAS

Project33

1.     C.J. Edwards, P, CHC

2.     Eddie Butler, P, COL

3.     J.P. Crawford, SS, PHI

4.     C.J. Addison Russell, SS, OAK

5.     Oscar Taveras, OF, STL

Hockey Nation

1.     Mark Appel, P, HOU

2.     Mookie Betts, 2B, BOS

3.     Byron Buxton, OF, MIN

4.     Max Fried, P, SD

5.     Travis D'Arnaud, C, NYM

The Holy Handgrenade

1.     Robert Peterson, P, CIN

2.     Tyler Glasnow, P, PIT

3.     D.J. Peterson, OF, SEA

4.     Delino DeShields, Jr. 2B, HOU

5.     Alex Meyer, P, MIN

Skip Caray’s Ghost

1.     Raul Mondesi, SS, KC

2.     Austin Hedges, C, SD

3.     Carlos Correa, SS, HOU

4.     Mike Montgomery, P, TB

5.     Mike Olt, 3B, CHC

Planet 10

1.     Clint Frazier, OF, CLE

2.     Jorge Soler, OF, CHC

3.     Bubba Starling, OF, KC

4.     Robbie Erlin, P, SD

5.     Francisco Lindor, SS, CLE

Clown City

1.     Joc Peterson, OF, LAD

2.     Mike Zunino, C, SEA

3.     Miguel Sano, 3B, MIN

4.     Jake Odorizzi , P, TB

stangnut

1.     Henry Owens, P, BOS

2.     Aaron Sanchez, P, TOR

3.     Albert Almora, OF, CHC

4.     Jameson Taillon, P, PIT

Outlaws – All in WDW

1.     Maikel Franco, 3B, PHI

2.     Lucas Sims, P, ATL

3.     Hunter Harvey, P, BOS

4.     Noah Syndergaard, SP, NYM

Hammering Fastballs

1.     Joey Gallo, 3B, TEX

2.     Corey Seager, SS, LAD

3.     Courtney Hawkins, OF, CWS

4.     J.R. Graham, P, ATL

5.     James Paxton, P, SEA

puerto rican perfume

1.     Kevin Gausman P, BAL

2.     Allen Webster P, BOS

3.     Kyle Crick, P, SF

4.     Hak-Ju Lee, SS, TB

5.     Michael Ynoa, P, OAK

Tri State Turmoil

1.     Rougned Odor, 2B, TEX

2.     David Dahl, OF, COL

3.     Dylan Bundy, P, BAL

4.     Nick Castellanos, OF, DET

Milwaukee Braves

1.     Lucas Giolito, P, WAS

2.     Austin Meadows, OF, PIT

3.     Matt Davidson, 3B, CWS

4.     Archie Bradley, SP, ARZ

5.     Kris Medlen, SP, ATL

San Diego Chickens

1.     Marcus Stroman, P, TOR

2.     Matt Wisler, P, SD

3.     Kyle Zimmer, SP, KC

4.     Alen Hanson, SS, PIT

5.     Jurickson Profar, 2B, TEX

In-Season Changes

            April 21^st:  Clown City called up Carlos Martinez, P, STL

            May 30^th:  stangnut called up George Springer, OF, HOU

            June 11^th:  Outlaws called up Gregory Polanco, OF, PIT

            June 14^th:  Turmoil called up Jonathan Singleton, 1B, HOU

John Adams

The consequences arising from the continual accumulation of public debts in other countries ought to admonish us to be careful to prevent their growth in our own.

Presidential Cabinets

The percentage of each recent president's cabinet who had worked in the private business sector prior to their appointment to the cabinet. Of course, the private sector is where wealth creation occurs. The last entry explains the current lack of economic vision and understanding.

• T. Roosevelt  38%
• Taft  40%
• Wilson  52%
• Harding  49%
• Coolidge  48%
• Hoover  42%
• F. D. Roosevelt  50%
• Truman  50%
• Eisenhower  57%
• Kennedy  30%
• Johnson  47%
• Nixon  53%
• Ford  42%
• Carter  32%
• Reagan  56%
• G.H.W. Bush  51%
• Clinton  55%
• G.W. Bush  55%
• Obama  8%

Minor League Rosters 6-11-2014

Brooklyn DL’s

1.     Rafael Montero, P, NYM

2.     Kohl Stewart, P, MIN

3.     Colin Moran, 3B, MIA

4.     Tyler Austin, OF, NYY

5.     Brian Goodwin, OF, WAS

Project33

1.     C.J. Edwards, P, CHC

2.     Eddie Butler, P, COL

3.     J.P. Crawford, SS, PHI

4.     C.J. Addison Russell, SS, OAK

5.     Oscar Taveras, OF, STL

Hockey Nation

1.     Mark Appel, P, HOU

2.     Mookie Betts, 2B, BOS

3.     Byron Buxton, OF, MIN

4.     Max Fried, P, SD

5.     Travis D'Arnaud, C, NYM

The Holy Handgrenade

1.     Robert Peterson, P, CIN

2.     Tyler Glasnow, P, PIT

3.     D.J. Peterson, OF, SEA

4.     Delino DeShields, Jr. 2B, HOU

5.     Alex Meyer, P, MIN

Skip Caray’s Ghost

1.     Raul Mondesi, SS, KC

2.     Austin Hedges, C, SD

3.     Carlos Correa, SS, HOU

4.     Mike Montgomery, P, TB

5.     Mike Olt, 3B, CHC

Planet 10

1.     Clint Frazier, OF, CLE

2.     Jorge Soler, OF, CHC

3.     Bubba Starling, OF, KC

4.     Robbie Erlin, P, SD

5.     Francisco Lindor, SS, CLE

Clown City

1.     Joc Peterson, OF, LAD

2.     Mike Zunino, C, SEA

3.     Miguel Sano, 3B, MIN

4.     Jake Odorizzi , P, TB

stangnut

1.     Henry Owens, P, BOS

2.     Aaron Sanchez, P, TOR

3.     Albert Almora, OF, CHC

4.     Jameson Taillon, P, PIT

Outlaws – All in WDW

1.     Maikel Franco, 3B, PHI

2.     Lucas Sims, P, ATL

3.     Hunter Harvey, P, BOS

4.     Noah Syndergaard, SP, NYM

Hammering Fastballs

1.     Joey Gallo, 3B, TEX

2.     Corey Seager, SS, LAD

3.     Courtney Hawkins, OF, CWS

4.     J.R. Graham, P, ATL

5.     James Paxton, P, SEA

puerto rican perfume

1.     Kevin Gausman P, BAL

2.     Allen Webster P, BOS

3.     Kyle Crick, P, SF

4.     Hak-Ju Lee, SS, TB

5.     Michael Ynoa, P, OAK

Tri State Turmoil

1.     Rougned Odor, 2B, TEX

2.     Jonathan Singleton, 1B, HOU

3.     David Dahl, OF, COL

4.     Dylan Bundy, P, BAL

5.     Nick Castellanos, OF, DET

Milwaukee Braves

1.     Lucas Giolito, P, WAS

2.     Austin Meadows, OF, PIT

3.     Matt Davidson, 3B, CWS

4.     Archie Bradley, SP, ARZ

5.     Kris Medlen, SP, ATL

San Diego Chickens

1.     Marcus Stroman, P, TOR

2.     Matt Wisler, P, SD

3.     Kyle Zimmer, SP, KC

4.     Alen Hanson, SS, PIT

5.     Jurickson Profar, 2B, TEX

In-Season Changes

            April 21^st:  Clown City called up Carlos Martinez, P, STL

            May 30^th:  stangnut called up George Springer, OF, HOU

            June 11^th:  Outlaws called up Gregory Polanco, OF, PIT

Health Care Study

Listed below are the results of a health care study conducted by the United Nations International Health Organization a few years back.  Please note all survey answers were prior to the implementation of ObamaCare in the United States. Both England and Canada have programs similar to ObamaCare. 

1. Percentage of men and women who survived cancer five years after diagnosis:
          U.S. 65%
          England 46%
          Canada 42% 

2. Percentage of patients diagnosed with diabetes who received treatment within six months:
          U.S. 93%
          England 15%
          Canada 43% 

3. Percentage of seniors needing hip replacement who received it within six months:
          U.S. 90%
          England 15%
          Canada 43% 

4. Percentage referred to a medical specialist who see one within one month:
          U.S. 77%
          England 40%
          Canada 43% 

5. Number of MRI scanners (a prime diagnostic tool) per million people:
          U.S. 71
          England 14
          Canada 18 

6. Percentage of seniors (65+), with low income, who say they are in "excellent health":
          U.S. 12%
          England 2%
          Canada 6%

It's a shame we have chosen to reduce our standards of health care.

Random Baseball Thoughts

I’m in 10 fantasy baseball leagues. I’m in first place in three of them. The funny thing? Two of the three are ‘locked’ leagues – that is, you select a team and that’s it for the year. Whoever has the best draft wins the league. Guess who would be better off staying put with his roster in the other leagues? Guess who told you a few weeks ago to ‘trust your draft’? Some “do as I say” character, I am.

Ryan Zimmerman is my ultimate tease player. He can carry a fantasy team at times. Then comes the next injury. Last year he was a beast the last two weeks of the season – right after I’d gotten knocked out in my match-up league playoffs.

Angel Pagan is my vote for most under-rated player. When he’s healthy – and he is healthy most of the time – he provides numbers well within the top 50 performances. Even with missing some games this year, his YTD ranks are: Yahoo #47, ESPN #39, CBS #49. His pre-draft ranks: over 200. Same deal most years. Give the man some love.

Need help with ERA & WHIP with solid K/IP? Pick up Wade Davis, Delin Balance or Pat Neshek. It’s very difficult to win ERA or WHIP without some great middle relief pitching. Why waste your innings on an SP4 or SP5? Get two solid middle relievers and they’ll add up to an SP2 and your zest for life will quadruple.

Just like the Emperor in “Return of the Jedi”, I will now ask the impossible. What is it you ask? Force yourself to always start a pitcher you trust. Force yourself to draft pitching or pick up good pitching. A bad outing by a hitter gives you an 0 for 4. A bad outing by a pitcher destroys your ERA & WHIP for a week. This leads to consternation – which can lead to the dark side.

Ivar Anderson really knows minor league players. Be sure to follow what he says. (Google him since he writes for several websites)

Rotoprofessor publishes a ton of great information. Be sure to memorize all articles.