If I Were Creating a 25-man Baseball Roster...

This topic was presented on ESPN Radio a few days ago and it got me thinking. If I had to build a 25-man roster of guys who could produce for the next several years, here are the players I would choose along with their 2009 salaries:

Catcher: Joe Mauer ($10.5M)
First Base: Lance Berkman ($14.5M)
Second Base: Dustin Pedroia ($1.5M)
Shortstop: Hanley Ramirez ($5.5M)
Third Base: Evan Longoria ($0.55M)
Left Field: Ryan Braun ($0.745M)
Center Field: Torii Hunter ($17.5M)
Right Field: Hunter Pence ($0.439M)

Bench: Albert Pujols ($16M)
Bench: Chase Utley ($11M)
Bench: Jimmy Rollins ($7.5M)
Bench: Kevin Youkilis ($6M)
Bench: Victor Martinez ($5.7M)
Bench: Justin Morneau ($10.6M)
Bench: Carl Crawford ($8.25M)

Starting Pitcher: Roy Oswalt ($14M)
Starting Pitcher: Roy Halladay ($14.25M)
Starting Pitcher: Tim Lincecum ($0.65M)
Starting Pitcher: Josh Beckett ($10.5M)
Starting Pitcher: Clayton Kershaw ($0.404M)
Relief Pitcher: Joba Chamberlain ($0.432M)
Relief Pitcher: Joe Nathan ($11.25M)
Relief Pitcher: Brian Fuentes ($8.5M)
Relief Pitcher: Jonathan Broxton ($1.825M)
Relief Pitcher: Jonathan Papelbon ($6.25M)

Manager: Terry Francona

Total Team Payroll (minus manager): A cool $184,345,000

Hey, at least it's $17M less than this year's Yankees payroll!

NCAA Basketball Tournament Picks

I know the games have already started, but here's how I broke down the NCAA Tournament:

16-0 on Day One!

Started out 7-0 on Day Two to get to 23-0, but then Dayton ruined the run with an upset of West Virginia. Finished Day Two 11-5 for a total record in the first round of 27-5. Unfortunately, I lost one of my Final Four picks already, when Wake Forest was upset by Cleveland State.

Got all 8 of the winners on Day Three correct. Total record so far is 33-5!

If you consider that I had already lost Florida State and Wake Forest in the first round, I ended up going 5-1 today, but technically went 5-3. My overall record isnow 40-8. Not bad if you asked me. Good for a tie for 3rd on the BaylorFans contest, out of 135 entries.

I went 5-3 in the sweet 16, so overall I'm at 45-11, good for a tie for 5th out of 135 entries on BaylorFans.

So far, I'm 1-1 in the Elite 8. I had UConn to the Final Four (correct) but had Duke winning the East, and it was won by Villanova. Total record thus far: 46-12, which has me tied for 3rd out of 135 entries.

Midwest Region
Louisville vs Morehead State: Louisville (CORRECT)
Siena vs Ohio State: Ohio State (INCORRECT)
Utah vs Arizona: Arizona (CORRECT)
Wake Forest vs Cleveland State: Wake Forest (INCORRECT)
West Virginia vs Dayton: West Virginia (INCORRECT)
Kansas vs North Dakota State: Kansas (CORRECT)
Boston College vs USC: USC (CORRECT)
Michigan State vs Robert Morris: Michigan State (CORRECT)

West Region
UConn vs Chattanooga: UConn (CORRECT)
BYU vs Texas A&M: Texas A&M (CORRECT)
Purdue vs Northern Iowa: Purdue (CORRECT)
Washington vs Mississippi State: Washington (CORRECT)
Marquette vs Utah State: Marquette (CORRECT)
Missouri vs Cornell: Missouri (CORRECT)
California vs Maryland: Maryland (CORRECT)
Memphis vs Cal State Northridge: Memphis (CORRECT)

East Region
Pittsburgh vs E. Tennessee State: Pittsburgh (CORRECT)
Oklahoma State vs Tennessee: Oklahoma State (CORRECT)
Florida State vs Wisconsin: Florida State (INCORRECT)
Xavier vs Portland State: Portland State (INCORRECT)
UCLA vs Virginia Commonwealth: UCLA (CORRECT)
Villanova vs American: Villanova (CORRECT)
Texas vs Minnesota: Texas (CORRECT)
Duke vs Binghamton: Duke (CORRECT)

South Region
North Carolina vs Radford: North Carolina (CORRECT)
LSU vs Butler: LSU (CORRECT)
Illinois vs Western Kentucky: Western Kentucky (CORRECT)
Gonzaga vs Akron: Gonzaga (CORRECT)
Arizona State vs Temple: Arizona State (CORRECT)
Syracuse vs Stephen F Austin: Syracuse (CORRECT)
Clemson vs Michigan: Michigan (CORRECT)
Oklahoma vs Morgan State: Oklahoma (CORRECT)

Sweet Sixteen:
Louisville (CORRECT)
Wake Forest (eliminated in first round)
Kansas (CORRECT)
Michigan State (CORRECT)

UConn (CORRECT)
Purdue (CORRECT)
Marquette (eliminated in second round)
Memphis (CORRECT)

Pittsburgh (CORRECT)
Florida State (eliminated in first round)
Villanova (CORRECT)
Duke (CORRECT)

North Carolina (CORRECT)
Gonzaga (CORRECT)
Syracuse (CORRECT)
Oklahoma (CORRECT)

Elite Eight:
Wake Forest (eliminated in first round)
Michigan State (CORRECT)

UConn (CORRECT)
Memphis (eliminated in sweet 16)

Pittsburgh (CORRECT)
Duke (eliminated in sweet 16)

North Carolina (CORRECT)
Oklahoma (CORRECT)

Final Four:
Wake Forest (eliminated in first round)
UConn
Duke (eliminated in sweet 16)
Oklahoma

National Championship:
Oklahoma over UConn

GOOD LUCK!

Happy Birthday Mom!

Here is my Mom and I dancing at my wedding reception

Just wanted to announce that today is my Mom's birthday. Happy Birthday Mom! I hope you had a great day. Thank you for being such a great mom. Your hard work and dedication to your family and to your job have always been an inspiration to me. Because of you I know that no matter what the dilemma, doing what's best for your family is always the answer. It is because of you that my siblings are now some of my best friends! Thank you for being a wonderful mother and grandmother. I'm just sorry Tabaitha, Mason, and I can't be there in Texas to celebrate with you. I love you and miss you very much. Happy Birthday!

Redistributing the Wealth?

With the inauguration of a great speaker (note: I did not say “great man”) into the White House, a recurring theme that was spoken of throughout the election campaign process crept to the forefront of my mind: Redistribution of Wealth. This term was used many times by Senator McCain to describe part of Obama’s plan to help the economy. It got me thinking…what if we applied this term to sports? I’m the kind of person who does very well understanding things if they’re put into sports terms, so let’s give it a shot. Here are a few ways to “redistribute the sports wealth”.

Suggestion: Let’s take (arguably) the 10 best players in the NBA, listed below:

LeBron James
Kobe Bryant
Kevin Garnett
Chris Paul
Tim Duncan
Dwyane Wade
Deron Williams
Dwight Howard
Yao Ming
Carmelo Anthony

OK, let’s take those 10 players and distribute them among the 10 worst teams in the league over the last few years (again, list is arguable):

Los Angeles Clippers – LeBron James
Oklahoma City Thunder – Kobe Bryant
Sacramento Kings – Kevin Garnett
Memphis Grizzlies – Chris Paul
Charlotte Bobcats – Tim Duncan
Washington Wizards – Dwyane Wade
Minnesota Timberwolves – Deron Williams
New Jersey Nets – Dwight Howard
Indiana Pacers – Yao Ming
New York Knicks – Carmelo Anthony

What do you guys think? Definitely would level the playing field. And it seems so simple: take the best players and redistribute them to the poorest teams.

What? What do you mean this is a bad idea? Stupid, even?

Disagree? OK, take this redistribution and apply it to baseball. How about Alex Rodriguez goes to the Kansas City Royals, Albert Pujols goes to the Pittsburgh Pirates, David Ortiz goes to the Washington Nationals, and so on?

Or in football terms: Peyton Manning to the Detroit Lions, Larry Fitzgerald to the Kansas City Chiefs, Tom Brady to the St. Louis Rams, etc.

OK, so maybe sports aren’t your thing and the point hasn’t completely sunk in yet. Maybe you’re more business-savvy. Why don’t we take Bill Gates and make him the CEO of General Motors?

Perhaps you’re really into celebrities and Hollywood. Let’s take Steven Spielberg and force him to only direct movies with low budgets and D-list actors. And Tom Hanks, you may only do movies with directors who are directing their first-ever film. Seems like the right thing to do, right?

You can take this “redistribution of wealth” plan and apply it to any and every part of the American way of life. Funny thing though: after looking at the redistribution of wealth idea in some other terms, it just doesn’t seem to make quite as much sense.

It’s going to be a very interesting 4 years. I just pray that’s all it takes for Americans to realize we just made a big mistake.

BaylorFans Weekly Pick 'em Contest - Week 14

Well, this is it. I'm 4 points out of 1st, so I have to take some major risks with my picks this week. IF I were to go 10-0, I would win the contest. If I go 9-1, and the one I miss is among a few particular games, I would tie for 1st. So, while I don't actually think all of these teams I pick are going to win, I'm HOPING they all do. At long last, the final week of the pick 'em contest is below.

Georgia Tech at Georgia: Georgia Tech (CORRECT)
Miami at North Carolina State: Miami (INCORRECT)
South Carolina at Clemson: South Carolina (INCORRECT)
Kansas at Missouri: Missouri (INCORRECT)
Auburn at Alabama: Alabama (CORRECT)
Baylor at Texas Tech: Texas Tech (CORRECT)
Maryland at Boston College: Maryland (INCORRECT)
Kentucky at Tennessee: Tennessee (CORRECT)
Oregon at Oregon State: Oregon (CORRECT)
Oklahoma at Oklahoma State: Oklahoma State (INCORRECT)

If I wasn't having to get a bunch of upsets correct, I would select the following winners: Georgia, North Carolina State, Clemson, Missouri, Alabama, Texas Tech, Boston College, Tennessee, Oregon State, Oklahoma (I would've been 7-3 instead of 5-5).

6 out of the 10 games, I would actually pick against my pick 'em contest selections. So, you can see how many of these games I need to have work out in my favor in order to win the contest.

Go, upsets!

5-5 this week
104-36 overall (74% accuracy rate). Tied for 12th out of 200+ participants. Not too shabby, if you asked me.

BaylorFans Weekly Pick 'em Contest - Week 13

I have decided this is the week that will either put me in position to win the whole Baylorfans contest, or put me too far out of contention with one week left. Every season, if you're behind in a contest like this, you have to pick one weekend toward the end of the season to "go against the grain" of everyone else's picks. This is that weekend for me. Wish me luck!

OK, as of 1:10pm PST at LAX airport, these are my picks for week 13. I only say this because there's a chance I could change my pick in a game or two. As of right now, if I went 10-0 Saturday, I would go into 1st place by myself, gaining 3 points on everyone (I'm currently 2 points behind everyone, tied for 7th place).

North Carolina State at North Carolina: North Carolina (INCORRECT)
West Virginia at Louisville: West Virginia (CORRECT)
Tennessee at Vanderbilt: Vanderbilt (INCORRECT)
Michigan State at Penn State: Penn State (CORRECT)
Boston College at Wake Forest: Wake Forest (INCORRECT)
Iowa State at Kansas State: Kansas State (CORRECT)
BYU at Utah: BYU (INCORRECT)
Pittsburgh at Cincinnati: Cincinnati (CORRECT)
Oregon State at Arizona: Arizona (INCORRECT)
Texas Tech at Oklahoma: Oklahoma (CORRECT)

So, 5-5 this week (not good)
99-31 overall. Tied for 9th out of 200+ players

BaylorFans Weekly Pick 'em Contest - Week 12

Another week. I'm in 10th place, 3 points behind with 3 weeks to go....only 30 games left to pick from. I only found one upset worth taking a chance on, based on my competitors' picks (NC State over Wake Forest), but I've gotta start taking some chances to have a shot at winning! Go Wolfpack!!!

Texas at Kansas: Texas (CORRECT)
South Carolina at Florida: Florida (CORRECT)
Wake Forest at NC State: NC State (CORRECT! Woohoo!)
California at Oregon State: Oregon State (CORRECT)
Nebraska at Kansas State: Nebraska (CORRECT)
Texas A&M at Baylor: Baylor (CORRECT!!!!!)
Missouri at Iowa State: Missouri (CORRECT)
Oklahoma State at Colorado: Oklahoma State (CORRECT)
Boston College at Florida State: Florida State (INCORRECT)
Tulsa at Houston: Tulsa (INCORRECT)

8-2 this week
94-26 overall. Tied for 7th out of 200+ players. Now only 2 points out of 1st with 2 weeks left!

BaylorFans Weekly Pick 'em Contest - Week 11

Week 11, looking to make my move. Only down by 4 games with 4 weeks left. Here we go!

Ohio State at Northwestern: Ohio State (CORRECT)
Georgia at Kentucky: Georgia (CORRECT)
Georgia Tech at North Carolina: North Carolina (CORRECT)
Oklahoma State at Texas Tech: Texas Tech (CORRECT)
Baylor at Texas: Texas (CORRECT)
Kansas State at Missouri: Missouri (CORRECT)
Kansas at Nebraska: Kansas (INCORRECT)
Iowa State at Colorado: Colorado (CORRECT)
Alabama at LSU: Alabama (CORRECT)
California at USC: USC (CORRECT)

9-1 this week
86-24 overall. Tied for 10th out of 200+ players. 3 games behind with 3 weeks left!

BaylorFans Weekly Pick 'em Contest - Week 10

Week 10 below:

Northwestern at Minnesota: Minnesota (INCORRECT)
West Virginia at Connecticut: West Virginia (CORRECT)
Kansas State at Kansas: Kansas (CORRECT)
Tulsa at Arkansas: Tulsa (INCORRECT)
Colorado at Texas A&M: Texas A&M (CORRECT)
Pittsburgh at Notre Dame: Notre Dame (INCORRECT)
Missouri at Baylor: Missouri (CORRECT)
Florida vs Georgia: Florida (CORRECT)
Florida State at Georgia Tech: Georgia Tech (CORRECT)
Texas at Texas Tech: Texas Tech (CORRECT)

7-3 this week
77-23 overall. Tied for 13th out of 200+ players.

BaylorFans Weekly Pick 'em Contest - Week 9

Week 9 picks below:

Texas Tech at Kansas: Kansas (INCORRECT)
Wake Forest at Miami: Miami (CORRECT)
Oklahoma at Kansas State: Oklahoma (CORRECT)
Baylor at Nebraska: Nebraska (CORRECT)
Oklahoma State at Texas: Texas (CORRECT)
Georgia at LSU: Georgia (CORRECT)
Virginia Tech at Florida State: Florida State (CORRECT)
Texas A&M at Iowa State: Texas A&M (CORRECT)
Alabama at Tennessee: Alabama (CORRECT)
Penn State at Ohio State: Penn State (CORRECT)

9-1 this week
70-20 overall. Tied for 16th out of 200+ players.

Rooting for Former Hometown Athletes

I don't know how much time I have to type right now, so I may have to come back later and finish this, but here goes. After watching the Phillies and Rays make it to the World Series, I started thinking (dangerous, I know). I came to the realization that, while I was happy to see former Houston Astros Brad Lidge (Phillies), Dan Wheeler (Rays), and Eric Bruntlett (Phillies) get another shot at a World Series title, I certainly wouldn't have felt the same way about a few other former Astros. Digging deeper, I realized that there was a common theme that divided the players I root for and the players I seethe over when seeing their success: the way they left the Astros organization.

Let me explain. I have found myself rooting for players that:

• Were traded
  
• Were released by the team and left gracefully, not burning bridges upon departure


• Were not re-signed, but not because they didn't show a genuine interest in coming back

I have found myself rooting against players that:

• Burned bridges
  
• Speak negatively about their time spent in Houston


• Acted interested in being an Astro going forward, only to jack up their contract offers from other teams
  

Some of you can see where I'm going with this when I say I'll give some examples.

Here are some players I root for:

(pictured are Brad Lidge, Eric Bruntlett, Chris Burke, Taylor Buchholz, Morgan Ensberg, Adam Everett, Mike Lamb, Chad Qualls, Luke Scott, and Dan Wheeler)

Brad Lidge - part of a trade to Philly. I had the pleasure of actually meeting Lidge at spring training in Florida in 2005. Really really nice guy who actually stopped and had a quick conversation with my brother and I. He's had nothing but great things to say about Houston and the Astros.

Eric Bruntlett - part of same trade as Lidge. I've never heard him say a single negative thing about anything.

Chris Burke - part of trade to Arizona. He's a part of Astros lore. Hit the game-winning home run in the 18-inning marathon playoff series clincher against the Braves. Tabaitha and I sat through all 6 hours of that one at Minute Maid Park! Terrific guy who still follows the Astros despite playing elsewhere now.

Taylor Buchholz - part of a trade to Colorado. He is a good young pitcher who showed a lot of promise in Houston. I was shocked when they traded him, and I'm sure he was too. Yet he had only good things to say about the organization upon being dealt.

Morgan Ensberg - released. This guy was an all or everything player when it came to offensive production. When he was hitting, he was one of the best hitting third basemen in the league, but when he struggled, he really struggled. Many people were glad when he and the Astros finally parted ways. Don't count me as one of them. From what I've heard and read about him, he is as professional as they come.

Adam Everett - released. This guy is arguably the greatest defensive shortstop of all-time, but his deficiency with the bat has cost him from achieving stardom, let alone a starting job outside of Houston. He and Ensberg were once seen as the future left side of the Astros infield, and it's still strange not seeing either of them there.

Mike Lamb - released. Great hitter, but a butcher with the glove. Basically the exact opposite of Adam Everett. Great guy who is a class act. Played all over the Astros infield and never complained publicly about it.

Chad Qualls - part of a trade to Arizona. Sometimes looked like a world-beater on the mound, sometimes looked like a team-beater. Still a good young pitcher who should have continued success wherever he pitches. He did give up some big home runs in the postseason, which may have ultimately been his undoing in Houston. Still follows the team (along with Chris Burke) on a regular basis.

I'll get back to what I'm trying to say here tomorrow.

BaylorFans Weekly Pick 'em Contest - Week 8

And the picks continue...

Vanderbilt at Georgia: Georgia (CORRECT)
LSU at South Carolina: LSU (CORRECT)
Wake Forest at Maryland: Wake Forest (INCORRECT)
Nebraska at Iowa State: Nebraska (CORRECT)
Kansas at Oklahoma: Oklahoma (CORRECT)
Baylor at Oklahoma State: Oklahoma State (CORRECT)
Ohio State at Michigan State: Ohio State (CORRECT)
Michigan at Penn State: Penn State (CORRECT)
Kansas State at Colorado: Colorado (CORRECT)
Missouri at Texas: Missouri (INCORRECT)

8-2 this week
61-19 overall. Tied for 25th out of 200+ players.

BaylorFans Weekly Pick 'em Contest - Week 7

Another week.

Texas vs Oklahoma: Oklahoma (INCORRECT)
Colorado at Kansas: Kansas (CORRECT)
Kansas State at Texas A&M: Texas A&M (INCORRECT)
Nebraska at Texas Tech: Texas Tech (CORRECT)
Notre Dame at North Carolina: North Carolina (CORRECT)
TCU at Colorado State: TCU (CORRECT)
Iowa State at Baylor: Baylor (CORRECT)
Oklahoma State at Missouri: Missouri (INCORRECT)
LSU at Florida: Florida (CORRECT)
Penn State at Wisconsin: Penn State (CORRECT)

7-3 this week
53-17 overall. Tied for 22nd out of 200+ players.

BaylorFans Weekly Pick 'em Contest - Week 6

Week 6 picks below.

Oklahoma at Baylor: Oklahoma (CORRECT)
Kansas at Iowa State: Kansas (CORRECT)
South Carolina at Mississippi: Mississippi (INCORRECT)
Texas Tech at Kansas State: Texas Tech (CORRECT)
Illinois at Michigan: Illinois (CORRECT)
Auburn at Vanderbilt: Auburn (INCORRECT)
Texas A&M at Oklahoma State: Oklahoma State (CORRECT)
Texas at Colorado: Texas (CORRECT)
Ohio State at Wisconsin: Ohio State (CORRECT)
Missouri at Nebraska: Missouri (CORRECT)

8-2 this week
46-14 overall. Tied for 25th out of 200+ players.

BaylorFans Weekly Pick 'em Contest - Week 5

Week 5 comin' at ya.

Arkansas at Texas: Texas (CORRECT)
Wisconsin at Michigan: Wisconsin (INCORRECT)
Tennessee at Auburn: Auburn (CORRECT)
Fresno State at UCLA: Fresno State (CORRECT)
Colorado at Florida State: Florida State (CORRECT)
Purdue at Notre Dame: Purdue (INCORRECT)
South Florida at NC State: South Florida (CORRECT)
Alabama at Georgia: Georgia (INCORRECT)
Illinois at Penn State: Penn State (CORRECT)
Virginia Tech at Nebraska: Nebraska (INCORRECT)

Tough ones to pick this time.

6-4 this week
38-12 overall. Tied for 35th out of 200+ players.

BaylorFans Weekly Pick 'em Contest - Week 4

Here we go. Week 4.

Baylor at Connecticut: Connecticut (unfortunately, CORRECT)
Mississippi State at Georgia Tech: Georgia Tech (CORRECT)
Alabama at Arkansas: Alabama (CORRECT)
Miami at Texas A&M: Miami (CORRECT)
Florida at Tennessee: Florida (CORRECT)
Notre Dame at Michigan State: Michigan State (CORRECT)
Virginia Tech at North Carolina: North Carolina (INCORRECT)
Wake Forest at Florida State: Wake Forest (CORRECT)
Vanderbilt at Mississippi: Mississippi (INCORRECT)
LSU at Auburn: Auburn (INCORRECT)

7-3 this week
32-8 overall. Tied for 33rd out of 200+ players.

Ike Update

We finally got power back in our hotel a couple hours ago, after about 24 hours without it. I guess I never appreciated how much of our lives depend on electricity. We were all sweating all day and bored out of our minds. Most importantly though, we are all fine. All of Tab and my family members are also doing well and have power restored. I took some pictures today of some of the damage I saw in the Sugar Land area, and I will post them when I get back to Bakersfield Wednesday. Until then, thank you for all of your thoughts and prayers!

Hurricane Ike

So as stated in my previous post, I'm here in Houston for sales training. While it's always good to be back in the city I love most, I was hoping to avoid hurricanes. Unfortunately, this is not the case with this visit. Hurricane Ike is due here tonight and everyone from my training class is hunkering down in our hotel, with a ton of food and drinks for the weekend. Class resumes Monday (assuming flooding doesn't change that). I know everything will be fine, but that doesn't mean it will be an easygoing time. Please pray for the safety of everyone here, as well as for peace and calm for friends and family members of those that are still in the Houston area.

I'll post an update as soon as I can, whether it is during Ike's visit, or as soon after as possible. There is an assumption that we will lose power here in the hotel, but there are generators ready to restore power. We'll see. I'll post again soon!

BaylorFans Weekly Pick 'em Contest - Week 3

While trying to stay dry here in Houston during sales training, here are my picks. The Arkansas-Texas game has been postponed, so BaylorFans is giving everyone a win for that one.

Iowa State at Iowa: Iowa (CORRECT)
Washington State at Baylor: Baylor (CORRECT)
Georgia at South Carolina: Georgia (CORRECT)
Arkansas at Texas: Texas (CORRECT)
UCLA at BYU: BYU (CORRECT)
Michigan at Notre Dame: Michigan (INCORRECT)
Auburn at Mississippi State: Auburn (CORRECT)
Oklahoma at Washington: Oklahoma (CORRECT)
Ohio State at USC: USC (CORRECT)
Wisconsin at Fresno State: Wisconsin (CORRECT)

9-1 this week
25-5 overall. Tied for 24th out of 200 or so players.

BaylorFans Weekly Pick 'em Contest - Week 2

Here we go with Baylorfans.com's weekly picks for this week:

Georgia Tech at Boston College: Boston College (INCORRECT)
Miami (Ohio) at Michigan: Michigan (CORRECT)
BYU at Washington: BYU (CORRECT)
Mississippi at Wake Forest: Wake Forest (CORRECT)
Air Force at Wyoming: Air Force (CORRECT)
Texas A&M at New Mexico: New Mexico (INCORRECT)
Northwestern State at Baylor: Baylor (CORRECT)
Miami (Florida) at Florida: Florida (CORRECT)
Rice at Memphis: Rice (CORRECT)
Texas Tech at Nevada: Texas Tech (CORRECT)

8-2 this week
8-2 last week
16-4 overall. Tied for 36th out of 200 or so players.