So true, Braves are good
Topic: Baseball
This article is so true - the Braves are very good at getting what they need.

Sure, they blew it with Danny Kolb last season, that was not a good move. But they got Farnsworth to balance it out.

So they lose Furcal. Uh oh, right?

Well, they go out and fleece one of the most jittery, knee-jerk organizations in baseball, the Red Sox, and get a guy who just last year got a huge contract.

Sure, he had bad numbers last year. Defensively and offensively. But if the Braves are getting him, you just get that sense that they know something the Sox don't and that, in the end, this deal will work out for them.

Even when they don't have a GM, the Red Sox still make moves for the sake of making moves. Long live the Evil Empire II.

Trades galore at the Winter Meetings
Topic: Baseball
It's an exciting time to be a baseball fan with all the moves that are going on right now. A lot of the GMs are obviously making moves for the sake of making moves (see the nonexistent GM of the Red Sox) while others are getting some real bargains (see the Pirates in the Sean Casey deal).

But there is one trade that has, so far, interested me the most. The reason is that I had been pouring over a bunch of former prospects and their career minor league numbers to see if there was one that was well-suited for the Cubs.

An underdog who has been overlooked, if you will.

One of the guys I settled on (besides, Roberto Petagine, who I may get to later) was Esteban German. That was a couple of days ago. Well, today he got traded to a team that needs a ML 2B, someone to start on opening day. It seems like he will finally get his chance.

What is it that interest me about his guy? I'll tell you.

First of all, he was once a prospect. Otherwise, I probably would ignore the guy.

His OBP. In four, full AAA seasons, these are his OBPs: .390 (very good), .379 (still good), .380 (in 280 ABs), and last season at .400 (which is great).

OK, so we know he gets on base. It's not because of gaudy hitting numbers, this guy draws walks, sometimes more times than strikes out.

That's a good thing since this guy is a leadoff hitter.

He can also steal bases and won't get caught as often as other prodigious base-stealing threats. (stole 43 and was caught 6 times last season).

I think I read somewhere that he's a good defender, but I'm not sure.

Looks like a case of bad luck and bad timing so far for him. He'll be 27 this coming season and look for Kansas City to give him a serious shot at the leadoff spot and 2B position.

Funny
The final word

While in Las Vegas over the weekend, Paris Hilton had her pet monkey with her and it bit her. She is being tested for rabies. The monkey is being tested for chlamydia.

-- Jay Leno, on NBC

Guatemala City's Mayor #3 in the World
Topic: Guatemala
According to a contest held out of London, Guatemala City's current mayor, Alvaro Arzu, is the world's third best Mayor.

Check out the details over at www.worldmayor.com.

Some schools too Asian?
Interesting article about why some parents are pulling their kids out of some schools deemed "too rigorous."

Reading
Topic: Books
I'm currently reading "We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will be Killed With Our Families: Stories from Rwanda"

Recommended by Nelson

Paper Clips
Topic: Movies
It's a documentary I first saw on Blockbuster when I was doing their "Netflix" style promotion.

But I didn't get it.

This weekend I saw it. It's about a small town in TN that is trying to learn about tolerance and diversity by studying the Holocaust.

It's incerdibly powerful, some parts are just so strong you have to accept that you're going to cry.

RENT
Saw it this weekend and am speechless of all the negative reviews out there. I liked it. I have never seen the play but this was a strong movie. Powerful.

I feel as though it would've gotten better reviews if it had never been a play before and critics didn't have certain expectations.

But oh well.

A Million Little Pieces
by James Frey


Go buy it. Don't think about it just buy go out there and pick it up and start reading and don't worry you can always thank me later.

This is how you cut payroll
So the Marlins are cutting payroll, but it seems like no other team out there knows they are because they are getting some amazing deals. The prospects they are getting back are high quality guys.

It may have to do with the sub-par free agent market, but either way look at what the Marlins are getting in exchange for Delgado, Becket, and Lowell:

Jacobs, Mike (from Mets)
25HR 93RBIs .321AVG .376OBP at AA but in the majors he hit: .310 11HR 23RBIs .375 OBP

That's 36 HR over two levels including the Bigs, plus he hit over .300. The man is ready to step in and take over for Delgado.


Petit, Yusmeiro (Mets)
2.91ERA 117.2IP 90H 15HR 18BB(!) 130K
Incredible numbers, especially the walks. Plus this guy has been rated as one of the top players in the minors.

Ramirez, Hanley (Sox)
212B 73B 6HR 52RBIs 26SB 13CS .271AVG .335OBP

THere is a lot of hype around this guy, he's supposed to be an amazing defensive talent and the tools for a 20HR+20SB guy, but the numbers at AA just don't show it. Rumor has it the Marlins will plug him straight into the bigs and if that's so than I don't see this guy developing. But he has been rated as one of the top prospects, so you never know.


Sanchez, Anibal (Sox)
3.45ERA 57.1IP 53H 16BB 63K (at AAA)
2.40ERA 78.2IP 53H 24BB 95K (At AA ball)
A AA starter with good numbers coming off Tommy John, a power arm.


Delgado, Jesus (Sox)
3.50ERA 72.0IP 57H 39BB 69K
Another young power arm with A-ball numbers


The Marlins had to cut payroll - they did. But they also stocked their farm system and got themselves a potential 1-2 starter, a starting first baseman, and a starting SS.

not bad.