No?
My name is Chuck, I'm 6'3", and like long walks on the beach, piña coladas, and getting caught..
Hm, maybe this one...
Please allow me to introduce myself, I'm a man of wealth and taste.
*ahem*
Ok, try this one. Hey, my name is Chuck Ruether and I'll be setting up and breaking down baseball on this blog. I'm 28, born and raised in Minnesota, baseball man through and through. Weaned on the glory days of Puckett, Gladden, and Viola, my love affair with the sport began thinking that World Championships were only a matter of time. That expectation was broken quickly by a little glaucoma and a pinch-penny ownership. That fandom matured with a return to contention by the likes of Mientkiewicz, Koskie, Radke, and the Soul Patrol. It's only burned stronger since. Now I'm in my 5th year as a Twins season ticket holder, and loving every game I go to.
That most recent group of Twins brought my attention to the world of prospects and the eternal future that springs anew annually in baseball. I'll be able to tell you more about why Mike Trout is the key to the Angels' success this year than any more conspicuous free agent signings. I'll talk about why Jesus Montero will do more for the Mariners this year than Michael Pineda will do for the Yankees. I'll tell you that the Rangers' acquisition of Joe Nathan will do more for their starting rotation than their bullpen. I'll talk about why the Braves have the best pitching staff in the AL East. I'll tell you that the White Sox will soon be among the worst teams in the league, and that statement comes from no point of bias. And I'll say that, while they do so many things right and can't help but win games, the sooner the Yankees and pink-hat-wearing Red Sox run themselves out of the playoff hunt, the happier we'll all be. Ok, the last one was spite, but I'm not sorry.
Oh, and I hate, hate, HATE, the wave. Hooray for basic human coordination! Worst. Fans. Ever.
So step up to the plate. Summer's coming, and the weather's great. Is there really any place you'd rather be on a warm evening than the ballpark listening to the crack of the bat as the sun sets? Not me.
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Chuck, will you please enlighten me with five reasons why the Arizona Diamondbacks (Now D-Backs) will be representing the National League in the Fall Classic?
ReplyDeletePlayoffs as they are, all you need is a chip and a chair and anything can happen. Therefore, all Arizona really needs is about 88-ish wins to contend with Atlanta/St. Lou/Cincy/Mil for the now-pair of WC spots if they don't win the division, which I kinda think they will.
ReplyDeleteTherefore, why Arizona will win the division, though I'll only give you 3:
1) Starting Pitching - with Cahill in the fold, they have the best rotation top-to-bottom in the division. SF is so close, but Sanchez is gone and Vogelsong was a fluke. Name to watch: Trevor Bauer, last year's #3 pick. May crack the rotation before season's end.
2) Miguel Montero - not many people outside of Phoenix and fantasy know of this guy, but he's a well above average offensive catcher. That's a commodity in the NL without the DH.
3) Aaron Hill and Paul Goldschmidt - the right side of the infield was such an offensive disaster for Arizona, these guys will help make it right, especially if Hill can maintain the form he had after arrival last mid-season. And why anyone would give Juan Miranda 200+ ABs is beyond me.
Heck, these guys won the division last year. Took Milwaukee to a game 5 no less. They're a really good team, and they just needed to get a little hotter when the weather got colder. Oh I'm pretty sure the Snakes will be back playing playoff baseball this year. After that, it's up to luck.
With a healthy Steven Drew and an addition of certain left handed stick, Kubel, we have a deep club on our hands! Excellent stuff right there Chuck! Top notch! Is a season preview from you imminant? Looking forward to that one. Opening day just around the corner and with this nice Midwest weather I'm gettin' the itch.
ReplyDeletePlanning on a season preview soon, for sure.
ReplyDeleteA healthy Drew is an upgrade on Willie F'n Bloomquist, but he's still not up to what his considerable potential was coming through the minors. Of course, the offensive bar for a starting SS in the majors has lowered significantly since the days of A-Rod, Jeter, and Nomah, so he's still above average, but I don't think the superstar he was touted to be will happen.
As for Kubel, I share the confusion of some analysts out there. He really wasn't that good of a move for Arizona. They've got enough power in the lineup as it is, they needed Parra's defense and on-base ability more than another big lefty stick. Kubel, for his part, was better off going to the AL where he could split time at DH with his old man knees.