You're Waiting For a Train...

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Pretty Girl 03.20.12 - Bryce Dallas Howard

She's so anomalous. Her dad is freaky. She's better looking as a blond. But, hells yeah, she's hot.

While I Was Sminking...

Yeah, so for those of you who might have forgotten or never paid the fuck attention, I sometimes skew my perceptions via the ingestion of intoxicating spirits. Generally, that makes for an awesome time in the moment, but an abysmal recovery period. After a deep pass with the creature, I become incredibly depressed. The status quo is that I care very little for the world around me and the resultant chemical withdrawal leaves me unable to disregard the despair. So yeah, when the high holidays come on down, there might be some gaps. For now, strap yourselves in, a lot happened whilst I was in my stupors.

(1) How Sweet It Is!

Hailing from a city that has not won a championship in 48 years, cheering my soul out for a team that has seen futility for a decade more than that and an alma mater that was, at best, an afterthought in the NCAA, this is particularly heartening. So to every asshole that told me that I was picking with my heart when my brackets had the 'Cats in the round of 16, grab a handful of broken glass and go fuck yourselves.

Bobcats/Wolverines Highlights

Bobcats/Bulls Highlights

Cats Chat

(2) Just In From the Desert -

We're just gonna cover the broad strokes...

Hot Corner: Defensive ability suggests that Jack Hannahan (.222, HR, 5 RBI, .667 OPS) should be seen as the leader over Lonnie Chisenhall (.231, 3 RBI, .490 OPS, 10/26 K/AB), but Manny Acta insists that this battle will not be decided until the last day of camp.

#5: Jeanmar Gomez went four scoreless innings against the Dodgers today allowing just one hit (on a Russ Canzler misplay in left). That's 11 total for the spring with an OBA of .114. While we cannot expect this kind of production during the regular season, it cannot be disregarded in his candidacy for the fifth starter spot. Scott Barnes, the only other pitcher with comparable stats (7 IP, 0 R, .200 OBA, 0.86 WHIP), has been removed from competition. The other "contenders" - David Huff (5.73 ERA, .311 OBA, 1.45 WHIP), Kevin Slowey (5.63, .359, 1.88) & Zach McAllister (4.50, .292, 1.33) - have simply not delivered on the same level as Gomez.

Left Of Center: Although Shelley Duncan's batting average (.217) is low, he leads the team with 3 bombs and is far in front with 10 RBI, not to mention his .966 OPS. Matt LaPorta (.188, 1 RBI, .445 OPS) has shown no desire to showcase himself for this position, while Felix Pie (.158, .516) has done even less (other than running into a wall).

Somewhere Out There: Russ Canzler continues to hit (.355), except that he has just one double in the XBH column and his OPS is an underwhelming .799 for a guy with such a high BA. Also, he is not real slick in the field. Aaron Cunningham (.208, .500 OPS) remains in competition only because the Indians gave up talent to get him and he is out of options. I have no idea why Ryan Spilborghs is hanging around. His offensive numbers (.214, .531, plus a .768 career OPS with home games at Coors Field) are shit and, despite the fact that some seem to believe that he is an asset defensively, the rTot/yr is awful at every spot (-11 LF, -16 CF, -12 RF)! He is an asset exactly nowhere! Ezequiel Carrera has already been outrighted to AAA and god help us if they take Fred Lewis (.214, .675).

Bench Me: I will keep updating Jose Lopez's statistics until Acta officially announces that the former all-star has made the team. Currently - .417, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 1.231 OPS, 1/24 K/AB

Mightier Than the Sword: Frank Herrmann (6.43 ERA) has rebounded from an horrific first appearance to allow just one run in his last 6 innings. Given his leg up entering the process, he is likely in. Nick Hagadone (1.29 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 0 BB) and Jeremy Accardo (1.80 ERA) have also looked good. I would consider Dan Wheeler (12.00 ERA, .444 OBA, 2.50 WHIP) and Chris Ray (12.86 ERA, .382 ERA, 2.29 WHIP) dead in the water. The complication comes from the Perez boys. Neither Chris nor Raffy has thrown a single inning yet this spring. If Rafael is out, then Hagadone is obviously the 2nd lefty. If both are sidelined, things become very interesting with even Wheeler and Ray getting new life. Remember Chris Seddon (3.38 ERA, 7/5.1 K/IP) as a dark horse.

Red Tags: Carrera, Juan Diaz, Hector Ambriz, Michel Hernandez, Corey Kluber

(3) I missed a bunch of pretty girls, but I'm not going to post like 5 sets all at once. Instead, here is a set of the only chick on the hottest women of Irish descent list whom I have yet to post. Y'know cuz this all happened (or didn't) because of St Pat's...

4) Here's a trailer for a neat new Tim Burton flick that is chock fulla hot broads. US Law compels me not to say which one I think is the best. ;-j

Opens 05.11.12

5) oh, OK. I was gonna have to post these eventually. Enjoy the KKK action. I'll see y'all real soon. Cheers.

Cheers.

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Stacking the Barack-ets

How does anyone who loves sports not vote for this guy?

Word Of the Day - "Chipotle"

Pretty Girl 03.15.12 - Abigail Klein

It's the best sports day of the year (Tourney Time, Baby!), so here's a (former) cheerleader (now "actress") for you. I'll be sminking.

Cheers.

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Just In From the Desert

Honestly, I don't know how the soccer fans do it. A sporting event ending in a tie is just unnatural. Two in a row is almost more than I can handle.

Hot Corner: The Chiz Kid (.235) continued a tough skid striking out in all three of his at-bats. Chisenhall is now 1-for-his-last-9 with 5 Ks. Jack Hannahan is clearly in the lead here.

#5: Don't tell me that Scottie Barnes is not in the race for the fifth starter spot. Barnes tossed three more scoreless innings today (7 for the spring with 5 H, BB, 6 K), allowing just one hit and fanning four. He also picked a man off of first, a skill that should not go undervalued. All things being equal, if he puts up equivalent numbers to another contender, he will go to AAA, but, if he outshines his peers, do not believe that the Tribe will just send him on his way.

Left Of Center: Matt LaPorta (.176) continued inching back into contention with a solid double today. He's going to need to build on his recent success and show more power if he expects to have a realistic chance. Felix Pie (.188) was a quiet 0-for-3 and needs to start hitting as well.

Somewhere Out There: Aaron Cunningham (.238) was your left fielder for all nine innings. Yeah, he went hitless in four trips, including a punch out. Guy needs to show us something if he wants to play on the big stage.

Bench Me: Jose Lopez got the day off.

Mightier Than the Sword: Not today.

Tribe/ChiSox @ 4:05p tomorrow. Tune in on STO.

Pretty Girl 03.14.12 - Alexis Bledel

Next time someones asks you what "cute as a button means," refer them here.

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Just In From the Desert

Josh Tomlin got beaten (3 IP, 8 H, 7 R, 4 ER) but the Indians did not, rallying from a 7-0 deficit to knot up the Rangers and an erratic Yu Darvish 8-8. Yeah, Yu walked the first two batters of the game, but both Michael Brantley and Asdrubal Cabrera were caught stealing on separate plays. Yeesh.

Hot Corner: Jack Hannahan (.286) scorched a double and added a single in three trips. He scored a pair of runs, but also made an awful throw to extend the nightmarish 3rd inning. Captain Jack committed only one throwing error all of last year, so we can assume that it's out of the way for 2012. Still, it's not what you want to do when you're fighting for a starting role.

#5: Jeanmar Gomez (0.00) relieved Tomlin and continued to make a strong case that no others need apply for the fifth spot. His fastball looked live with a good sinking action and the man hit his spots. Needless to say, the numbers showed it. In three innings he allowed just a single base-runner (a one base hit) and conjured five ground ball outs. In case you're counting, that's 7 scoreless with just 4 hits allowed. At this point, Jeanmar is going to have to give the job away because no one can take it unless he stumbles. Zach McAllister (4.50) pitched two clean frames, benefiting from a bizarre double play in the 8th (sac bunt attempt, ZMac got lead runner at third, then the batter just sort of wandered off of first for no reason and got tagged out, again, bizare), but has simply not put up a body of work comparable to that of Gomez.

Left of Center: Nope.

Somewhere Out There: Fred Lewis (.182) started in left and did double on a ball that hit about 2 inches from the top of the wall. The problem is that he also struck out twice and has looked consistently troubled in left field. I would not bet on him. Nor would I on Ryan Spilborghs (.125). While the man is tremendously well-spoken (I saw an interview during today's game), he has simply shown nothing so far. Today, he hit into a double play in one AB and left the game winning run in scoring position in the other. Now, if Ezequiel Carrera (.200) can string some hits together, his speed is an X-factor that could earn him a spot. In his first PA against Texas he beat out what was intended to be a sac bunt and then stole second. He seems to be more comfortable in center field than he was last season, perhaps because the big stage doesn't seem so much anymore.

Bench Me: Yesterday, I noted that Jose Lopez was the only man left in this category. Well, the former all-star has no problem carrying it all by himself. Lopez (.500) slapped two more hits today, as well as drawing a walk. He also played a very solid first base for, not 9, but 10 innings. I stand by my position that you will not see him at that position in the regular season unless something stupid happens, but it's still good to know that he can cut the mustard. Oh, his spring OPS is 1.374.

Mightier Than the Sword: Hector Ambriz (1.80) escaped danger in the top of the 10th thanks to his ability to get all 3 outs on ground balls. Unfortunately, it was all Ambriz in getting into trouble. He walked 2 (1 intentional) to open the door for the Rangers.

The wandering Wahoos visit the Gigantes tomorrow at 4:05p.