Tag Archives: Angels

Jul21

MLB Predictions: The Surprise Factor

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I hate making predictions. It’s a hard thing to do. You take a roster of men, and based on stats and previous performance and/or scouting reports, you make a prediction.  There is an element in baseball that no one talks about but everyone knows: The Surprise Factor. While self-explanatory, it has many examples: the 1951 Giants — “Shot Heard ‘Round the World” — a dream when on the bottom that you can work your way to the top of the standings.

 

In more recent years, the 2004 Red Sox, during the ALCS, down three games to none, came back to beat the Yankees ( which you know I am always happy about) and later win the World Series against the Cardinals.

This year, I tried my hand at predicting the winners and wildcards. My NL Predictions and  AL Predictions.  I admit fully that I was blinded by Cub fandom. I just really want to see the Cubs in the World Series.  I was surprised at Lester. I thought he had a pickoff move. This is essential in small ball in the NL.  No one could have guessed what the Astros have done. I mean, if I weren’t a huge Ranger fan, I would be cheering for these Texas boys. The Astros have made the AL West a real division, with some real competition.

Who would I pick to win now? Well, being a glutton for punishments, I would say this:

My new AL predictions:

West: I would like to see the Astros beat the Angels, and I predict Astros will win the division. I think that if they make some trades, there could be real Wild West fun. I see the Angels being the wild card again, like last year.

Central:  Royals Royals Royals. They still have the magic from last year, and, no surprise, what make a great team great: camaraderie.

East: If you going to spend some money, you might as well get something for it. The Yankees should be on top, for all they put into the team.

My new NL predictions:

West: I love the Dodgers, where pitching is king. There is going to be some back-and-forth in the standings with the Giants, Dodgers will prevail.

Central: I think we will see The Surprise Factor at work. The Pirates are coming back in a big way. It’s going to make for some fun baseball.

East: Chocolate sauce all around. The Nationals have this in the bag. That being said, I see the Mets coming in as the wild card.

 

 

 

Apr25

Josh Hamilton: What the Rangers could have gotten instead

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I would like to state for the record, i don’t hate Josh Hamilton. I don’t like how he behaves and he has offended me as a baseball fan. I also think you never bash your former team. For me when you become a Ranger you get my Fandom, and when you leave, I will still hope good things for you and when the Rangers are not in the playoff then yeah I will cheer for you. I have always done that and I always will.

That being said. OH NO! Josh Hamilton is back to being a Ranger and as I write this I scan Twitter for some glimmer of hope that the deal has collapsed. Nope we are still a go. OK.

Well as the news broke out you could tell the real fan from the fake ones. I almost laughed at the fans who thought they are getting 2011 Josh Hamilton .298/.346/.536 no we are not getting this. We are getting this .263/.331/.414, for 15 million over the next three years.

So as you know its my quest to finally learn metrics and I thought I would start today. so armed with my new email subscription to Baseball Prospectus, I think we can get the same ballplayer Josh Hamilton for less than 5 million a year.  Let’s test this theory.

Well let me start off by saying WHOA! That’s a lot of stats,but after a bit of searching around I think I got what I needed. According to the Baseball Prospectus 2015 The Essential Guide to the 2015 Season. I am not quoting the stats you want the stats do what the rest of us do Buy the book. I will tell you that Ryan Ludwick was a comparable to Josh Hamilton. Ryan Ludwick was signed by the Rangers this spring and let go. Now isn’t that interesting.

A quick search and a highlighter in hand I have figured out players who would be a better investment, give us the same batting support as Hamilton and be about half the cost of 15 million over three years

Robbie Grossman

Junior Lake

Corey Dickerson

Why did i pick these guys, well I had my reasons. No in all seriousness Baseball Prospectus listed Ryan Ludwick (which we already talked about ) and Josh Willingham as comparables.

So on my list Robbie Grossman had a higher BA BIP .311 than Ludwick and his FB% is 25.8% which is better than  Ludwick and the same as Josh Hamilton

Junior Lake has a BA BIP of .293 while lower than Hamilton his FB% is greater than Hamilton 26.9%

but if you are just looking at BA BIP than Corey Dickerson has it with .356 to Hamilton .350 the other plus for Corey is he is 25. An investment for the future.

Anyone of these guys would love 15 million over the next three years, or even half that. Its time to stop waxing nostalgia and take off the rose colored glasses. The Josh that led us to victory is not here anymore. Can he come back? Well for 15 million he better come back but I think its time for Jon Daniels to really look what is out there and do some serious research. 

 

Apr14

Miss Baseball’s MLB Franchise Four picks

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Oh lets have some fun today. I love baseball, I love everything about the game, and I love the long rich history of the game. So MLB has a ballot online at :http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/all_star/y2015/ .jsp

Well I thought I would give you my picks for each team. Now i have to say this was hard. My love of the game and some personal morals and knowledge of the game really made some of these choices hard. In some cases I would cry out to the baseball gods and ask how am I supposed to choose. (toughest teams were Yankees and Red and Cardinals)

So being a life long Texas girl lets start there

Texas Rangers: When I think of Ranger baseball who comes to mind. Now I don’t know if the team made the list or if MLB made the list but my first three choices were no brainers.

Micheal Young, Ivan Rodriguez, Nolan Ryan and my write in because I don’t know how you can talk about Ranger baseball and not mention him. RUSTY GREER!

Astros: I really thought about who do you think about when you think about the Astros, Nolan Ryan is a given. Then you have to pick the killer Bees. Bagwell, Berkman and HOF Biggio

Angels: Anderson, Guerrero,Finley,Salmon

A’s: Simmons, Foxx, Henderson, Eckersley

Mariners: Griffey, Johnson, Martinez, Suzuki

White Sox: Minnie Minoso,Harold Baines,Frank Thomas,Paul Konerko

Indians: Bob Feller,Jim Thome,Omar Vizquel,Tris Speaker

Tigers: Ty Cobb,Alan Trammell,Hank Greenberg,Justin Verlander

Royals:George Brett,Bret Saberhagen,Alex Gordon,Write In: Bo Jackson

Twins:Kirby Puckett,Walter Johnson,Rod Carew,Harmon Killebrew

Red Sox: Cy Young,Carl Yastrzemski,Ted Williams,Pedro Martinez

Orioles: Cal Ripken Jr,Brooks, Robinson,Frank Robinson,Jim Palmer

Yankees: Joe DiMaggio,Lou Gehrig,Babe Ruth,Mickey Mantle

Rays: Evan Longoria,Carlos Pena,David Price,James Shields

Blue Jays: Jose Bautista,Joe Carter,Carlos Delgado, and because I can write in my favorite Blue Jay Frank Catalanotto

National League

Braves:Hank Aaron,Greg Maddux,John Smoltz,Eddie Mathews

Marlins: Livan Hernandez,Giancarlo Stanton,Josh Beckett Write in: Rick Helling

Mets: John Franco,Dwight Gooden,Mike Piazza,David Wright

Phillies: Chuck Klein,Jimmy Rollins,Mike Schmidt,Chase Utley

Nationals: Ryan Zimmerman,Andre Dawson,Vladimir Guerrero,Gary Carter

Cubs: Ernie Banks,Ryne Sandberg,Ferguson Jenkins,Ron Santo

Reds: Johnny Bench,Barry Larkin,Joe Morgan,Frank Robinson

Brewers:Prince Fielder, Rollie Fingers,Paul Molitor,Robin Yount

Pirates: Roberto Clemente,Ralph Kiner,Willie Stargell,Honus Wagner

Cardinals:Lou Brock,Dizzy Dean,Rogers ,Hornsby,Stan Musial

Diamondbacks: Luis Gonzalez,Randy Johnson,Curt Schilling,Matt Williams

Rockies: Dante Bichette, Vinny Castilla,Todd Helton,Larry Walker

Dodgers: Steve Garvey,Sandy Koufax,Jackie Robinson,Fernando Valenzuela

Padres: Adrian Gonzalez,Tony Gwynn,Trevor Hoffman,Jake Peavy

Giants: Christy Mathewson,Willie Mays,Buster Posey, and I don’t know how you can talk about the Giants and not mention Will Clark so he is my last write in vote.

Ok so that’s the list, Who would you pick?

Jan26

Josh Hamilton owes me an apology

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According to the Dallas Morning News:

http://rangersblog.dallasnews.com/2015/01/jon-daniels-again-shoots-down-josh-hamilton-rumors-fan-fest-crowd-applauds.html/

Ranger fans cheered and clapped when GM Jon Daniels shot down rumors of a Josh Hamilton return. This reaction is no surprise to Miss Baseball or other Ranger fans. We are still mad at Josh, but I thought everyone knew why. Then I read this from blogger David Cash

I was thinking it was going to be a feel-good article about how we shouldn’t hold grudges and such, but no, he seemed to not understand why Ranger fans were mad and started quoting stats about how great Josh was. I thought surely this was just one person who didn’t understand, but then I read an article by Marc Lancaster:

http://www.sportingnews.com/mlb/story/2015-01-25/josh-hamilton-texas-rangers-fans-jon-daniels-los-angeles-angels

Again, no mention about Josh’s harsh words, and then it hit me. They didn’t know. They didn’t know what Josh had done to make us so mad. Please let me take this chance to enlighten you.

I thought at first I would type it all out, but the videos are too good. Click to see what started this firestorm.

http://dfw.cbslocal.com/video?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=8418588

 

Then to add further insult to injury, his harsh words continued on with his return to Texas.

To Josh Hamilton:

I have been a Texas Ranger fan for more than 30 yrs. I have cheered for my team through the good and the bad.

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You were a Ranger, and I loved you and embraced you as a player for my team. Then when you left, your words hurt me in my heart, this place where I love all my baseball players.  The only time I have booed for a Ranger, his name was Steve Buechele.

I have cheered for other former Rangers. When Ruben Sierra came up to bat in a Yankee uniform, I went bat-shit crazy cheering for him. Ruben is awesome, even being a part of the evil empire.

The difference?

Ruben has said nothing bad about Ranger fans.

Josh, I want an apology. I am a true fan and you have insulted me.

Dec25

Twas the Night before Christmas MLB style

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Were you on Twitter? , If you were, you would have seen the MLB teams had some fun and the fans had some more fun reciting the famous Christmas poem by, Major Henry Livington Jr,  which also called Account of a Visit from Saint Nicholas. The offical accounts of  Phillies, Red, Astros, Rockies, Cubs, Mariners, MLB and more got into the mix. So my gift to you on this the merriest of nights.

Dec16

Be nice to the fans and they will be nice to you.

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OK, well not always, as I have seen fans who don’t behave nicely. Miss Baseball is going to be Miss Manners today and give you some Crash Davis advice on handling fans. Some Do’s and Don’ts

Do: Say Goodbye. We have cheered for you for a season or for years. Say goodbye. Billy Butler put out a full-page ad in the paper to say goodbye to the KC fans.

Don’t: Bash your former team or their fans. You know, what is sad as a Ranger fan is there is more than one player who left and insulted me (as a fan) and my city and my team. I don’t have to worry about pointing fingers at any one person.

Do: Smile. Be happy. You are playing baseball.

Don’t: Be arrogant or overly modest. Both make you appear fake and mean.

Do: Sign autographs and take pictures with fans.

Don’t: Blow fans off. If you can’t talk, tell them that. Some of them don’t know.

Do: Get on social media,

Don’t: Follow the wanna-be Playboy girl, she’s not real, and do you want your young fans to see that?

As a Ranger fan, I have been very blessed with some great players, and while we didn’t always win, we had heart, and I am still and always will be a fan.

Dec5

Fun Fact Friday: Miss baseball’s top baseball movies

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I am on the DL! Ha! Ha! Stop that laughing.  I have hurt my knee. With the winter meetings, and the wonder where in the world is Jon Lester going. What is a baseball fan to do? Well its time to watch some movies. There are some good ones out. I know you might argue with my list well go ahead, I know Moneyball is not on here and there is a reason for that until Gabe Kapler talked about metrics in the World Series I thought it was all crap and avoided the movie, I am going to watch it after my knee surgery. So without further ado

Miss Baseball Top Ten Baseball movies:

10.

the rookie

A Texas baseball coach makes the major league after agreeing to try out if his high school team made the playoffs.

9.

angels in outfield

When a boy prays for a chance to have a family if the California Angels win the pennant, angels are assigned to make that possible.

8.

Major League (1989) Poster

The new owner of the Cleveland Indians puts together a purposely horrible team so they’ll lose and she can move the team. But when the plot is uncovered, they start winning just to spite her.

7.

Eight Men Out (1988) Poster

A dramatization of the Black Sox scandal when the underpaid Chicago White Sox accepted bribes to deliberately lose the 1919 World Series.

6.

For Love of the Game (1999) Poster

A washed up pitcher flashes through his career.

5.

The Natural (1984) Poster

An unknown comes out of seemingly nowhere to become a legendary player with almost divine talent.

4.

Bull Durham (1988) Poster

A fan who has an affair with one minor-league baseball player each season meets an up-and-coming pitcher and the experienced catcher assigned to him.

3.

Field of Dreams (1989) Poster

An Iowa corn farmer, hearing voices, interprets them as a command to build a baseball diamond in his fields; he does, and the Chicago Black Sox come.

2.

The Sandlot (1993) Poster

A new kid in town is taken under the wing of a young baseball prodigy and his team. Together, they get themselves into many adventures involving rival teams, lifeguards, and a vicious dog.

1.

A League of Their Own (1992) Poster

Two sisters join the first female professional baseball league and struggle to help it succeed a midst their own growing rivalry.

Are you really surprised of my number one pick? I mean come on its Girls playing BASEBALLl.The BEST MOVIE EVER! On a side note I was an extra in The Rookie. Enjoy the list, make one of you own, or argue with me on facebook, twitter or here. Till then Play Ball!

All movie descriptions can be found at http://www.imdb.com

Dec2

Garrett Richards is my hero

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lat-sp-garrett-richards-20141103

(Tony Gutierrez / Associated Press)

What Miss Baseball?!? He’s an Angel, and you are a Ranger fan. I am a Ranger fan, and the MLB package won’t let me watch Ranger games live, so while I wait for the game to be over, I watch other teams, Baseball is a wonderful game, no matter who is playing. I saw Garrett’s injury last season live, This post kept me up last night. You see, Miss Baseball tore up her knee, too, in very much the same fashion as Garrett, I could describe to you everything I went through, but it’s too hard to think about even 13 years later. I will say this: If you can walk, don’t take it for granted because learning how to walk again was the hardest thing. Garrett just touched my heart. I wrote him a fan letter and told him I was thinking about him. And then I started following him on Twitter, and he has a wonderful upbeat and positive attitude, and I knew he was going to make it. Then I saw this,Tweet:

it’s going good bro. Malone and steady. I’ll be ready. How you doing?

This got me all sorts of happy because there is a point in your recovery when you know you are going to get back. I am so excited for Garrett. There was an article from the L.A. Times saying Garrett was back on track after the injury to his patellar tendon .My injury was not as bad as Garrett’s but I defy the odds as well. I was supposed to be on crutches for six months, I was off of them in six weeks, And in eight weeks, I was working in promotions for the Texas Rangers, (Would you like a bobble head? Only one please. No! You can’t take them all. AHHHHHH! Don’t knock me over!) He looks like he is, too. Never discount the human spirit and drive. It can do anything. Garrett, I am so glad you are coming back. I hope you have a great season and beat every team, other than the Rangers. What?!? I am still a die-hard Ranger fan.

If you would like to read more about Garrett’s comeback Check out this article. http://www.latimes.com/sports/sportsnow/la-sp-sn-angels-garrett-richards-20141103-story.html