Down for the Count

Will it be ready for Twinsfest 2011?

Save the Dome is the Best

If you are reading this (and you're not), perhaps you've clicked out of curiosity on a link from the #1 ranked team in Benchwarmer Baseball, the 2010 Experts League and Benchwarmer Bash Champion Save the Dome Dogs. Rest assured that between now and the new season, I will reveal all my winning secrets here and perhaps elsewhere. Last year's rankings and depth charts, along with relative underemployment, helped me win 4 league championships out of 6 leagues, one of the notable exceptions being the one league I most wanted to win, the new Murderers' Row ($$money$$!!) league. Congrats to Guttenberg Gandolfinis.

Olde Tymers

The Royals celebrated the 25th Anniversary of the 1985 All-MO World Series by fielding a couple of teams for the Willie Wilson Classic, a seven inning softball game for charity. The Cardinals didn't exactly bring out the stars - it was Jack Clark, John Tudor, the rest, and some grocery store executives.

Clark still had his big swing:



Good seats were available and the Royals' camera caught two Benchwarmer Baseball owners taking it in:

Happy Home Opener Day!

Who can believe today is here?!

In Enemy Territory

Best Reasons to Lose in 2010

My preseason prospect list only included players who were/are available in Benchwarmer. As a BWB admin, I'd say the most frequently asked question (to which I actually know the answer) is when new players become available. The rule:

After the initial load of the master list in December, players will be added to the master list only for these reasons:

• They are promoted to a major league roster AND earn major league statistics.
• They are a number one draft pick in the amateur draft. This is only for one of the top 30 picks and does not include any of the supplemental picks. (If supplemental picks are added in the middle of the first round, they will be included...the intent here is to cover all the primary 30 team slots in the first round).

Putting this another way, no players will be added to the list between January and April – despite signings of players from Japan, Korea, Cuba, etc. and despite any expectations that a minor leaguer not currently on the BWB list will make a major league roster. These players must play in a regular season game before they make our list.

So non first-round draft picks who aren't initially on the 40 man roster trickle in throughout the season. Obviously, a few might even be there the first week. It's important to attempt to jump on these $100 players, as they can be signed cheap and kept under control for a good while (just like in MLB) . Moreover, teams doing the worst pick free agents first, so there is always a reason to pay attention. Here's a quick list of guys definitely worth making room for :

Aroldis Chapman - SP - Cin
Jesus Montero - C- NYY
Jenrry Mejia - RP - NYM
Mike Stanton - OF - Fla
Martin Perez - SP - Tex
Michael Taylor - OF - Oak
Domonic Brown - OF - Phi
Starlin Castro - SS - ChC
Logan Morrison - 1B - Fla
Alex Colome - SP - TB
Matt Moore - SP - TB
Todd Frazier - 2B - Cin
Derek Norris - C - Was
Dee Gordon - SS - LAD
Noel Arguelles - SP - KC
Zach Stewart - P - Tor

No Place Like Home

Where are the Troughs of Yesteryear?

Target Field, 4/2/2010

Ku'oko'a Kila Ka'aihue!

Why even invite Kila to spring training if he can't make the team with a .378/.472/.733 line? Will the first half of the season be an attempt to "showcase" Jose Guillen in order to find someone willing to kick in a million or two of twelve?? If Randy Winn and Brett Gardner should happen to collide with Nick Johnson on the on deck circle....

In the Trenches

A wily veteran in Glendale showed me how to correctly hold out a pen (in the left hand, writing side pointed toward the object to be signed, proffered from the right hand) and said that nearing yourself to a cute kid was no guarantee of success. Sometimes only the kid received the prize.

Updated 2010 MLB Projected Starters by Position

Bookmark now (Ctrl-D)!

Hitters are sorted by career OPS, pitchers by career K/9. I will be gradually trying to add columns to the tables, probably starting with 2009 SB.

Updated 3/20/10

I believe all transactional updates are accounted for, but not necessarily every spring training position battle or injury is reflected here. Moreover, A Strasburg or Alex Gordon may still be projected for the majority of PT for the year and is thusly still on the list.

Please comment on this post at any time if there are any galling errors, or if you just want to say hi.

Catchers
First Basemen
Second Basemen
Shortstops
Third Basemen
Outfielders
Designated Hitters
Starting Pitchers
Closers

Mexicutioner

Spring Training 2010, Surprise AZ

2010 Royals Season Preview?

Pablo Sandoval Sighting, Spring Training 2010

Some have questioned the existence of Pablo Sandoval, but while perusing photos upon return from my Cactus League scouting trip, I couldn't help but notice the imposing silhouette in the upper left corner. A quick crop reveals this shocking profile:




Officially weighing in at 245 pounds, this specimen wears it well and hit a grand slam off Carlos Zambrano, who later defended the Panda. Can he repeat .330 with this body?

Projected 2010 Starting Pitchers and Their Benchwarmer Salaries

Well, this took me some time. Not many new drafters will be able to utilize, but I am glad I went through with the exercise. I've got at least three "real life" drafts and/or auctions coming up, and it's nice for me to look at all this info. Some of the 5th starters are obviously questionable at this point. As with the other lists, I will try to keep them up to date, even if I'm the only one ever looking at them. My P-Bang1 stat is a secret rudimentary formula indicating Bang for the Benchwarmer Buck.

*These pitchers pitched an insignificant amount of innings in 2009.

**Aroldis Chapman is not yet in the BWB system. For an answer to the FAQ of when he will be, look here.

Team	Pitcher	2010 Salary	Career K/9	2009 K/9	Career ERA	2009 ERA	Career WHIP	2009 WHIP	P-Bang1
SF-1	Tim Lincecum	9553	10.2	10.4	2.9	2.48	1.15	1.05	1.07
Det-2	Max Scherzer	2605	9.5	9.2	3.86	4.12	1.32	1.34	3.65
Tex-1	Rich Harden	3592	9.4	10.9	3.39	4.09	1.24	1.34	2.62
SF-4	Jonathan Sanchez	2964	9.3	9.8	4.81	4.24	1.45	1.37	3.14
LAA-2	Scott Kazmir	2950	9.3	7.1	3.83	4.89	1.38	1.42	3.15
Tor-3	Brandon Morrow	868	9.3	8.1	3.96	4.39	1.47	1.58	10.71
NYM-4	Oliver Perez	1492	9.2	8.5	4.54	6.82	1.46	1.92	6.17
Min-5	Francisco Liriano	935	9.2	8	4.16	5.8	1.3	1.55	9.84
LAD-2	Claytom Kershaw	4008	9.2	9.7	3.36	2.79	1.33	1.23	2.3
NYY-5	Joba Chamberlain	2175	9.1	7.6	3.61	4.75	1.37	1.54	4.18
NYM-1	Johan Santana	6046	9.1	7.9	3.12	3.13	1.11	1.21	1.51
Mil-1	Yovani Gallardo	3232	9.1	9.9	3.57	3.73	1.29	1.31	2.82
ChW-1	Jacob Peavy	3129	9	9.7	3.26	3.45	1.18	1.12	2.88
SF-5	Madison Bumgarner*	100	9	9	1.8	1.8	1.1	1.1	90
TB-5	Wade Davis	202	8.9	8.9	3.72	3.72	1.27	1.27	44.06
Tor-4	Marc Rzepczynski	549	8.8	8.8	3.67	3.67	1.32	1.32	16.03
Sea-4	Erik Bedard	1792	8.8	9.8	3.71	2.82	1.32	1.19	4.91
Hou-4	Bud Norris	407	8.7	8.7	4.53	4.53	1.51	1.51	21.38
Bos-1	Josh Beckett	4706	8.5	8.4	3.79	3.86	1.22	1.19	1.81
Bos-4	Daisuke Matsuzaka	1742	8.5	8.2	4	5.76	1.4	1.87	4.88
NYY-3	A.J. Burnett	4230	8.4	8.5	3.84	4.04	1.3	1.4	1.99
Phi-2	Cole Hamels	4426	8.4	7.8	3.67	4.32	1.18	1.29	1.9
Atl-1	Tommy Hanson	1332	8.2	8.2	2.89	2.89	1.18	1.18	6.16
LAD-1	Chad Billingsley	4051	8.2	8.2	3.55	4.03	1.38	1.32	2.02
NYY-2	Javier Vazquez	6867	8.1	9.8	4.19	2.87	1.25	1.03	1.18
Sea-1	Felix Hernandez	8140	8.1	8.2	3.45	2.49	1.27	1.14	1
Det-1	Justin Verlander	6345	8	10.1	3.92	3.45	1.29	1.18	1.26
Was-5	Garrett Mock	496	8	7.1	5.17	5.62	1.65	1.73	16.13
Bos-2	Jon Lester	4869	7.9	10	3.66	3.41	1.33	1.23	1.62
Col-3	Jorge De La Rosa	2823	7.9	9.4	5.18	4.38	1.57	1.38	2.8
Fla-2	Ricky Nolasco	3336	7.9	9.5	4.43	5.06	1.25	1.25	2.37
Fla-1	Josh Johnson	4034	7.9	8.2	3.4	3.23	1.29	1.16	1.96
SD-2	Chris Young	1158	7.8	5.9	3.87	5.21	1.21	1.45	6.74
Col-1	Ubaldo Jimenez	4633	7.8	8.2	3.8	3.47	1.32	1.23	1.68
ChC-1	Carlos Zambrano	3912	7.7	8.1	3.51	3.77	1.3	1.38	1.97
ChC-3	Ted Lilly	4639	7.7	7.7	4.25	3.1	1.29	1.06	1.66
Cle-2	Justin Masterson	1078	7.7	8.3	3.97	4.52	1.36	1.45	7.14
Bal-3	Brian Matusz	200	7.7	7.7	4.63	4.63	1.48	1.48	38.5
Tor-5	David Purcey	248	7.7	7.3	5.81	6.19	1.59	1.75	31.05
Oak-2	Brett Anderson	2378	7.7	7.7	4.06	4.06	1.28	1.28	3.24
Ari-1	Danny Haren	7163	7.6	8.8	3.61	3.14	1.18	1	1.06
KC-1	Zack Greinke	9077	7.6	9.5	3.73	2.16	1.27	1.07	0.84
Oak-1	Ben Sheets*	1395	7.6	--	3.72	--	1.2	--	5.45
NYY-1	C.C. Sabathia	7875	7.6	7.7	3.62	3.37	1.23	1.15	0.97
Bos-5	Clay Buchholz	712	7.6	6.7	4.91	4.21	1.5	1.38	10.67
ChC-2	Ryan Dempster	4534	7.6	7.7	4.44	3.64	1.47	1.31	1.68
Cin-2	Johnny Cueto	2664	7.6	6.9	4.61	4.41	1.39	1.36	2.85
Hou-3	Brett Myers	1324	7.5	6.4	4.4	4.84	1.36	1.37	5.66
Hou-2	Wandy Rodriguez	4996	7.5	8.4	4.33	3.02	1.37	1.24	1.5
SF-2	Matt Cain	5770	7.5	7.1	3.53	2.89	1.25	1.18	1.3
NYM-2	John Maine	1424	7.5	6.1	4.22	4.43	1.3	1.29	5.27
Cin-1	Aaron Harang	3477	7.5	7.9	4.24	4.21	1.33	1.41	2.16
Hou-1	Roy Oswalt	4080	7.4	6.8	3.23	4.12	1.2	1.24	1.81
Mil-2	Randy Wolf	4573	7.4	7.5	4.13	3.23	1.32	1.1	1.62
Sea-5	Ian Snell	2389	7.3	5.5	4.71	4.84	1.53	1.59	3.06
Ari-2	Brandon Webb*	2468	7.3	4.5	3.27	13.5	1.24	2	2.96
TB-2	Matt Garza	3805	7.3	8.4	3.99	3.95	1.34	1.26	1.92
Det-5	Jeremy Bonderman*	570	7.3	4.4	4.78	8.71	1.4	2.32	12.81
LAA-1	Jered Weaver	4185	7.3	7.4	3.73	3.75	1.25	1.24	1.74
LAA-3	Ervin Santana	2328	7.3	6.9	4.52	5.03	1.32	1.48	3.14
TB-3	David Price	839	7.2	7.2	4.17	4.42	1.31	1.35	8.58
Bos-3	John Lackey	3603	7.2	7.1	3.81	3.83	1.31	1.27	2
Fla-5	Andrew Miller	641	7.2	6.6	5.5	4.84	1.66	1.6	11.23
StL-2	Adam Wainwright	6754	7.1	8.2	3.17	2.63	1.26	1.21	1.05
Tor-1	Shaun Marcum*	1063	7.1	--	3.95	--	1.28	--	6.68
Tor-2	Ricky Romero	2207	7.1	7.1	4.3	4.3	1.52	1.52	3.22
TB-1	Jamie Shields	4312	7.1	6.8	4.01	4.14	1.24	1.33	1.65
ChW-3	John Danks	3889	7	6.7	4.06	3.77	1.33	1.28	1.8
Bal-1	Kevin Millwood	3582	7	5.6	4.02	3.67	1.31	1.34	1.95
StL-5	Kyle McClellan	1334	7	6.9	3.73	3.38	1.37	1.35	5.25
Tex-5	Derek Holland	642	7	7	6.12	6.12	1.5	1.5	10.9
Oak-5	Justin Duchscherer*	569	6.9	--	3.14	--	1.12	--	12.13
Min-2	Kevin Slowey	1254	6.9	7.4	4.39	4.86	1.28	1.41	5.5
Min-1	Scott Baker	3496	6.9	7.3	4.27	4.36	1.26	1.19	1.97
SD-4	Mat Latos	344	6.9	6.9	4.62	4.62	1.3	1.3	20.06
SF-3	Barry Zito	3527	6.8	7.2	3.84	4.03	1.3	1.35	1.93
Sea-2	Cliff Lee	6112	6.8	7	3.97	3.22	1.3	1.24	1.11
StL-1	Chris Carpenter	5545	6.8	6.7	3.88	2.24	1.29	1.01	1.23
ChW-4	Gavin Floyd	3478	6.7	7.6	4.67	4.06	1.37	1.23	1.93
Was-3	Scott Olsen	1253	6.7	6	4.77	6.03	1.48	1.72	5.35
Mil-3	Doug Davis	3615	6.7	6.5	4.31	4.12	1.49	1.51	1.85
Phi-4	J.A. Happ	1621	6.7	6.5	3.21	2.93	1.27	1.24	4.13
Pit-5	Kevin Hart	401	6.6	6.6	5.26	6.92	1.75	1.88	16.46
Phi-1	Roy Halladay	8377	6.6	7.8	3.43	2.79	1.2	1.13	0.79
NYY-4	Andy Pettitte	3684	6.6	6.8	3.91	4.16	1.36	1.38	1.79
ChW-5	Freddy A. Garcia	415	6.6	5.9	4.08	4.34	1.29	1.21	15.9
Fla-3	Anibal Sanchez	754	6.6	7.4	3.86	3.87	1.45	1.51	8.75
Ari-5	Billy Buckner	377	6.6	7.4	5.74	6.4	1.56	1.59	17.51
KC-2	Gil Meche	2107	6.6	6.6	4.43	5.09	1.41	1.57	3.13
NYM-5	Fernando Nieve	219	6.6	5.6	4.2	2.95	1.41	1.5	30.14
SD-3	Kevin Correia	2860	6.5	6.5	4.36	3.91	1.43	1.3	2.27
Ari-4	Ian Kennedy*	111	6.5	9	6.03	0	1.68	2	58.56
TB-4	Jeff Niemann	2401	6.4	6.2	4.03	3.94	1.37	1.35	2.67
SD-5	Clayton Richard	1865	6.4	6.7	4.8	4.41	1.49	1.47	3.43
Col-5	Jason Hammel	2304	6.4	6.8	5.18	4.33	1.52	1.39	2.78
StL-4	Brad Penny	2452	6.3	5.7	4.14	4.88	1.34	1.4	2.57
Ari-3	Edwin Jackson	3901	6.3	6.8	4.66	3.62	1.51	1.26	1.61
KC-3	Kyle Davies	977	6.3	6.3	5.54	5.27	1.62	1.53	6.45
Atl-2	Jair Jurrjens	5336	6.3	6.4	3.21	2.6	1.28	1.21	1.18
LAD-4	Vicente Padilla	2398	6.2	5.9	4.33	4.46	1.39	1.43	2.59
Col-4	Jeff Francis*	764	6.2	--	4.74	--	1.44	--	8.12
ChC-5	Tom Gorzelanny	624	6.2	9	4.87	5.55	1.49	1.32	9.94
Mil-5	David Bush	1516	6.2	7	4.69	6.38	1.26	1.47	4.09
Det-4	Armando Galarraga	2023	6.2	6	4.62	5.64	1.37	1.57	3.06
Tex-4	Brandon McCarthy	665	6.1	6	4.56	4.62	1.36	1.36	9.17
LAD-3	Hiroki Kuroda	1625	6.1	6.7	3.74	3.76	1.19	1.14	3.75
Sea-3	Ryan Rowland-Smith	927	6.1	4.9	3.62	3.74	1.18	1.18	6.58
Atl-4	Tim Hudson	1085	6.1	6.4	3.49	3.61	1.26	1.47	5.62
Cin-4	Homer Bailey	719	6.1	6.8	5.45	4.53	1.61	1.47	8.48
Cin-3	Bronson Arroyo	4190	6.1	5.2	4.23	3.84	1.33	1.27	1.46
Pit-3	Ross Ohlendorf	2301	6.1	5.6	4.54	3.92	1.39	1.23	2.65
LAD-5	Eric Stults	343	6.1	5.9	4.84	4.86	1.51	1.54	17.78
Atl-5	Kenshin Kawakami	2094	6	6	3.86	3.86	1.34	1.34	2.87
Min-4	Carl Pavano	2120	5.9	6.6	4.44	5.1	1.36	1.38	2.78
Fla-4	Chris Volstad	1785	5.9	6.1	4.4	5.21	1.4	1.43	3.31
Pit-4	Charlie Morton	649	5.8	5.8	5.24	4.55	1.53	1.46	8.94
KC-4	Luke Hochevar	1331	5.8	6.7	5.88	6.55	1.47	1.49	4.36
Atl-3	Derek Lowe	3622	5.8	5.1	3.84	4.67	1.29	1.52	1.6
Pit-1	Paul Maholm	3247	5.7	5.5	4.33	4.44	1.42	1.44	1.76
Oak-3	Dallas Braden	1035	5.7	5.3	4.68	3.89	1.44	1.36	5.51
Phi-3	Joseph Blanton	3695	5.6	7.5	4.21	4.05	1.33	1.32	1.52
Cle-1	Fausto Carmona	1138	5.6	5	4.69	6.32	1.49	1.76	4.92
Bal-2	Jeremy Guthrie	2996	5.6	5	4.27	5.04	1.32	1.42	1.87
StL-3	Kyle Lohse	1761	5.6	5.9	4.68	4.74	1.41	1.37	3.18
LAA-5	Joel Pineiro	3530	5.6	4.4	4.39	3.49	1.34	1.15	1.59
ChC-4	Randy Wells	2625	5.5	5.7	2.95	3.05	1.25	1.28	2.1
Bal-4	Chris Tillman	330	5.4	5.4	5.4	5.4	1.55	1.55	16.36
Phi-5	Jamie Moyer	2755	5.4	5.2	4.22	4.94	1.32	1.36	1.96
Tex-3	Tommy Hunter	702	5.3	5.1	5.2	4.1	1.4	1.3	7.55
Was-2	Jason Marquis	3465	5.3	4.8	4.48	4.04	1.42	1.38	1.53
ChW-2	Mark Buerhle	4248	5.2	4.4	3.8	3.84	1.27	1.25	1.22
LAA-4	Joe Saunders	2863	5.2	4.9	4.22	4.6	1.37	1.43	1.82
NYM-3	Mike Pelfrey	2584	5.2	5.2	4.58	5.03	1.49	1.51	2.01
KC-5	Brian Bannister	2333	5.1	5.7	4.79	4.73	1.37	1.37	2.19
Tex-2	Scott Feldman	2653	5	5.4	4.58	4.08	1.39	1.28	1.88
Hou-5	Brian Moehler	1924	5	5.3	4.8	5.47	1.45	1.54	2.6
Mil-4	Jeff Suppan	2055	5	4.5	4.68	5.29	1.45	1.7	2.43
Cle-5	Jake Westbrook*	462	4.9	--	4.31	--	1.38	--	10.61
Det-3	Rick Porcello	2053	4.7	4.7	3.96	3.96	1.34	1.34	2.29
Bal-5	Brad Bergeson	883	4.7	4.7	3.43	3.43	1.28	1.28	5.32
SD-1	Jon Garland	3425	4.7	4.8	4.42	4.01	1.39	1.4	1.37
Was-1	John Lannan	3157	4.6	3.9	3.91	3.88	1.36	1.35	1.46
Cle-3	David Huff	563	4.6	4.6	5.61	5.61	1.56	1.56	8.17
Pit-2	Zach Duke	3174	4.6	4.5	4.3	4.06	1.45	1.32	1.45
Oak-4	Trevor Cahill	1817	4.5	4.5	4.63	4.63	1.44	1.44	2.48
Min-3	Nick Blackburn	3088	4.4	4.3	4.14	4.03	1.38	1.37	1.42
Cle-4	Aaron Laffey	790	4.3	4.4	4.39	4.44	1.5	1.62	5.44
Was-4	J.D. Martin	435	4.3	4.3	4.44	4.44	1.42	1.42	9.89
Col-2	Aaron Cook	2839	3.7	4.4	4.33	4.16	1.44	1.41	1.3
Cin-5	Aroldis Chapman**		0						#DIV/0!