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Tendown July 31, 2016

Sunday, July 31, 2016

This is 235. Let's read some Tendown 236.




1. Not as bad as "let's slur atheists" in terms of getting my vote, but this is not the church at which I pray.




2. Who do the Neocons Support? One guess.

“I would say all Republican foreign policy professionals are anti-Trump,” leading neoconservative Robert Kagan told a group gathered around him, groupie-style, at a “foreign policy professionals for Hillary” fundraiser I attended last week. “I would say that a majority of people in my circle will vote for Hillary.”
As the co-founder of the neoconservative think tank Project for the New American Century, Kagan played a leading role in pushing for America’s unilateral invasion of Iraq, and insisted for years afterwards that it hadturned out great.
Despite the catastrophic effects of that war, Kagan insisted at last week’s fundraiser that U.S. foreign policy over the last 25 years has been “an extraordinary success.”
3. Thanks!


5. As opposed to this - this is the Justice blogger for Think Progress; prior to this campaign, you would have thought of him a reliably progressive.  My views about the world and his are almost certainly very closely aligned.

Except....


6. We can't win a game.  But...


7.


9. Here's what you can't say at the Democratic Convention.


Here's what you can...

"many Democrats wrongly blame the private sector for our problems" -Mike Bloomberg

10. So, here's the editor of what used to be a lefty mag, Mother Jones, hitting a fringy left political party.


The logic of this is challenging.  

When Sanders did not pick up African-American votes; the view expressed by liberals was it was his fault.  It wasn't that the voters did not appreciate that Sanders would better assert their interests than Clinton, it was that Sanders did not effectively make the case.  Moreover, the thought continued, it's never the fault of the voters - if you want a vote, you need to earn it.  Sanders, in message, in effort, in the structure of his campaign, did not reach out sufficiently to people of color in the Obama coalition and it was his undoing.

Fair enough.  Sure, there weren't many liberals lining up against the "What's the Matter With Kansas" thesis but fine. I'm in.  It's not the voters.  It's the campaign. Sanders did not earn their votes.  Done.

However, in recent weeks, a clear narrative is being established to cover a possibility that Clinton doesn't win - it's the left's fault.  Some % of Sanders supporters will not vote for Clinton and if that causes Clinton to lose the Sanders campaign (or, in this circumstance, the Green Party) will be to blame.

Not the fault of the candidate.  Not the campaign.  Someone else.  

I'm comfortable with that narrative prediction as you don't have to dig more than an inch deep through liberal analysis of modern American history to find that Ralph Nader receives the blame for the 2000 election and therefore, for the Iraq War.  Liberals blame Ralph Nader for the Iraq War more than they blame Hillary Clinton, who voted for the Iraq War.

I want to put aside the fan fiction that a Gore Presidency has a substantially better foreign policy outcome than a Bush Presidency (although, for me, I am 100% convinced that if a Democrat was President on 9-11 every single GOP campaign forever would be "They let us get attacked" and it would be emboldened by mainstream media and the Democrats couldn't bomb people fast enough to try to demonstrate toughness) and instead just talk Nader.

The "it's Ralph's fault" thesis requires one to believe that Nader voters would have been Gore voters absent Nader.

I voted for Nader.  Absent Nader, I would not have voted.  Gore was not a consideration.  This is the benefit of being an old guy; I was around for these things.  

I did not vote for Clinton in '96.  I did not vote for Clinton in '92.  The third way Democrats, the DLC "era of big governmenmt is over" Democrats were not my party.  They weren't New Deal, War on Poverty Democrats.  They were "not as bad as Republicans, so come on you guys" Democrats.

You want to blame someone for 2000, you can't blame Nader, he just gave me someone to vote for instead of staying home or writing in Jesse Jackson.  You have to blame me. And that means we can blame voters for their votes, and then we need to have a discussion about when it's cool to do that and when it's not.  

I'm not voting Green; I'm most likely voting for Clinton.  I think it's the right vote to cast.  But please, if Clinton loses, how about blaming the Democratic Party for seeing incredible anger from those economically marginalized over the past 30 years and nominating the Wall St. candidate as opposed to blaming Jill Stein.  

And one more...


that's all for this time.  I'll be back next time...if there is a next time...

Your pal,

Jim

100 Games in - The Best MLB Players of 2016

Friday, July 29, 2016

Current playoff projections.

AL East
1. Toronto (89)
2. Boston (88)
3. Baltimore (88)

AL Central
1. Cleveland (92)
2. Detroit (85)

AL West
1. Texas (88)
2. Houston (88)

NL East
1. Wash (93)
2. NYM (87)
3. Miami (86)

NL Central
1. Chicago (96)
2. StLouis (86)

NL West
1. LAD (92)
2. SFG (91)

Catchers
1. B.Posey (SFG) 3.8
2.W.Ramos (Wash) 3.75

1st Base
1. A.Rizzo (Chi) 5.55
2. P. Goldschmidt (Ari) 3.7

2nd Base
1. J.Altuve (Hou) 4.75
2. R.Cano (Sea) 4.5

Shortstop
1. F. Lindor (Cle) 4.4
2. C. Seager (LAD) 3.55

Third Base
1. K. Bryant (Chi) 5.5
2. J.Donaldson (Tor) 4.95

LF
1. R. Braun (Mil) 3.45
2. C. Yelich (Mia) 3.3

CF
1. M. Trout (LAA) 5.45
2. J. Bradley (Bos) 3.9

RF
1. A. Eaton (CWS) 4.2
2. M. Betts (Bos) 4

DH
1. D.Ortiz (Bos) 4.1

SP
1. M.Bumgarner (SFG) 5
2. C.Kershaw (LAD) 4.9
3. N.Syndergaard (NYM) 4.3
4. C. Martinez (StL) 4.3
5. S.Strasburg (Wash) 4.05
6. J.Fernandez (Mia) 4
6. M.Scherzer (Wash) 4

RP
1. K. Jansen (LAD) 3.3
2. Z. Britton (Bal) 3.15
3. A. Miller (NYY) 2.7







July, 2016 Athlete of the Month

Thursday, July 28, 2016

June is here.


Serena Williams.  Runners-up: Andy Murray, Henrik Stenson, Anthony Rizzo

Seven down. Who will be the 2016 Athlete of the Year?

January-Von Miller
February-Lionel Messi
March - Buddy Hield
April-Breanna Stewart
May - Klay Thompson
June - LeBron James
July-Serena Williams

Tendown July 24 2016

Sunday, July 24, 2016

234 is here. this Tendown 235



1. Man, this piece about Trump.

2. Drones

3. VP Kaine

4. Trump's Ghostwriter.

5. 

Just 'cause I feel like some Bonds.

6. time to talk about juiced balls again

7. These are the people we're supposed to vote for.



8.  Trump's speech.



9. Another shooting.



And more blue lives mattering here.

10.   Hey, look who came back.

And one more...


that's all for this time, I'll be back next time...if there is a next time...

Your pal,

Jim

Labor Day Weekend, Final Version - 2016 Fantasy Football Top 120

Tuesday, July 12, 2016

Fantasy football projection for the 2016 season.All 3 of my drafts are Labor Day weekend; here's my board of 120. Standard, non PPR.

1. Antonio Brown WR Pitt
2. Julio Jones WR Atl
3. David Johnson RB Ari
4. Adrian Peterson RB Minn
5. Todd Gurley RB StL
6. Odell Beckham WR NYG
7. Jamaal Charles RB KC
8. Lamar Miller RB Hou
9. Ezekial Elliott RB Dall
10. Devonta Freeman RB Atl
11. DeAndre Hopkins WR Hou
12. LeSean McCoy RB Buff
13. Doug Martin RB TB
14. Mark Ingram RB NO
15. LeVeon Bell RB Pitt
16. Eddie Lacy RB GB
17. AJ Green WR Cin
18. Dez Bryant WR Dall
19. Alshon Jeffery WR Chi
20. Rob Gronkowski TE NE
21. Brandon Marshall WR NYJ
22. Allen Robinson WR Jax
23. Jordy Nelson WR GB
24. TY Hilton WR Ind
25 Mike Evans WR TB
26. Sammy Watkins WR Buff
27. Brandin Cooks WR NO
28. Thomas Rawls RB Sea
29. Carlos Hyde RB Niners
30. Randall Cobb RB GB
31. Jonathan Stewart RB Carol
32. Ryan Matthews RB Phil
33. Latavius Murray RB Oak
34. Amari Cooper WR Oak
35. CJ Anderson RB Den
36. Keenan Allen WR SD
37. Cam Newton QB Carol
38. Aaron Rodgers QB GB
39. Matt Forte RB NYJ
40. Eric Decker WR NYJ
41. Jarvis Landry WR Mia
42. Jeremy Maclin WR KC
43. Julian Edelman WR NE
44. Larry Fitzgerald WR Ari
45. Matt Jones RB Wash
46. DeMarco Murray RB Tenn
47. Melvin Gordon RB SD
48. Jeremy Langford RB Chi
49. Demaryius Thomas WR Den
50. Kelvin Benjamin WR Carol

51. Jordan Matthews WR Phi
52. Greg Olsen TE Carol
53. Golden Tate WR Det
54. L. Blount RB NE
55. Doug Baldwin WR Sea
56. Frank Gore RB Ind
57. Jeremy Hill RB Cin
58. Danny Woodhead RB SD
59. Rashad Jennings RB NYG
60. Giovani Bernard RB Cin
61. Donte Moncrief WR Ind
62. Andrew Luck QB Ind
63. Drew Brees QB NO
64. Carson Palmer QB Ari
65. DeSean Jackson WR Wash
66. Allen Hurns WR Jax
67. Ameer Abdullah RB Det
68. John Brown WR Ari
69. Duke Johnson RB Cle
70. Jordan Reed TE Wash
71. Emmanuel Sanders WR Den
72. Arian Foster RB Mia
73. Russell Wilson QB Sea
74. Ben Roethlisberger QB Pit
75. Coby Fleener TE NO
76. Vincent Jackson WR TB
77. DeVante Parker WR Mia
78. Charles Sims RB TB
79. Isaiah Crowell RB Cle
80. Delanie Walker TE Tenn
81. Michael Crabtree WR Oak
82. Michael Floyd WR Ari
83. Torrey Smith WR Niners
84. Willie Snead WR NO
85. Josh Gordon WR Cle
86. Travis Kelce TE KC
87. Antonio Gates TE SD
88. Marvin Jones WR Det
89. Stefon Diggs WR Min
90. Tyler Lockett WR Sea
91. Sterling Shepard WR NYG
92. Chris Ivory RB Jax
93. TJ Yeldon RB Jax
94. Justin Forsett RB Balt 8
95. Gary Barnidge TE Cle
96. DeAngelo Williams RB Pit
97. Zach Ertz TE Phi
98. Jimmy Graham TE Sea
99. Blake Bortles QB Jax
100. Philip Rivers QB SD
101. Tyrod Taylor QB Buff
102. Matt Ryan QB Atl
103. Andy Dalton QB Cin
104. Matt Stafford QB Det
105. Markus Wheaton WR Pit
106. Kamar Aiken WR Balt
107. Terrence Williams WR Dall
108. Jason Witten TE Dall
109. Pierre Garcon WR Wash
110. Travis Benjamin WR SD
111. Tyler Eifert TE Cin
112. Bilal Powell RB NYJ
113. Rishard Matthews WR Ten
114. Kevin White WR Chi
115. James Starks RB GB
116. Laquon Treadwell WR Minn
117. Steve Smith WR Balt
118. Tavon Austin WR LA
119, Theo Reddick RB Det
120. Dion Lewis RB NE





MLB 50: 50 Best Franchise Players in MLB History

Monday, July 11, 2016

I've just completed a project putting together the all time rosters for every MLB franchise, you can get to the final team, and through that every other team, here.

Here's a list of the 50 best players; so, this isn't the 50 best players in MLB history, nor is a list of players who only played for one team their entire career - this list views players as different people when they change uniforms (Babe Ruth who played for the Yankees is one guy, Babe Ruth who played for the Sox a different guy).

See?  That's this list.  One team performance only.  WAR is B-Ref+Davenport

1.       Walter Johnson Senators(Twins) 151.85
2.       Willie Mays Giants 151
3.       Hank Aaron Braves 139.5
4.       Babe Ruth Yankees 136.4
5.       Ty Cobb Tigers 130.1
6.       Stan Musial Cards 124.05
7.       Honus Wagner Pirates 120.65
8.       Barry Bonds Giants 118.6
9.       Ted Williams Red Sox 116.55
10.    Mike Schmidt Phils 108.45
11.    Cal Ripken Orioles 105.75
12.    Lou Gehrig Yankees 105.25
13.    Christy Mathewson Giants 103.35
14.    Warren Spahn Braves 102.95
15.    Mel Ott Giants 101.7
16.    Mickey Mantle Yankees 99.95
17.    Albert Pujols Cardinals 91.4
18.    Eddie Mathews Braves 90.5
19.    Mariano Rivera Yankees 90.1
20.    George Brett Royals 90
21.    Roger Clemens Red Sox 86.75
22.    Carl Yastrzemski Red Sox 86.25
23.    Phil Niekro Braves 84.15
24.    Bob Gibson Cards 83.4
25.    Al Kaline Tigers 83.25
26.    Rogers Hornsby Cards 82.4
27.    Cap Anson Cubs 82.4
28.    Robin Yount Brewers 81.95
29.    Rickey Henderson A’s 81.7
30.    Roberto Clemente Pirates 81.6
31.    Chipper Jones Braves 81.55
32.    Kid Nichols Braves 81.15
33.    Lou Whitaker Tigers 80
34.    Alan Trammell Tigers 78.35
35.    Barry Larkin Reds 78.25
36.    John Smoltz Braves 78.1
37.    Johnny Bench Reds 78.05
38.    Nap Lajoie Indians 77.7
39.    Joe DiMaggio Yankees 76.7
40.    Frank Thomas White Sox 76.65
41.    Charlie Gehringer Tigers 76.3
42.    Pete Rose Reds 75.65
43.    Jeff Bagwell Astros 75.45
44.    Edgar Martinez Mariners 75.35
45.    Tom Seaver Mets 74.4
46.    Derek Jeter Yankees 74.25
47.    Eddie Plank Athletics 73.15
48.    Tom Glavine Braves 73.1
49.    Luke Appling White Sox 72.95
50.    Greg Maddux Braves 72

          So, if we put together a 25 man roster, here's how it would look.

          C Bench (Reds)
          1B Gehrig (Yankees)
          2B Horsnby (Cardinals)
          SS Wagner (Pirates)
          3B Schmidt (Phillies)
          LF Ruth (Yankees)
          CF Mays (Giants)
          RF Aaron (Braves)

          C Berra (Yankees)
          CF Cobb (Tigers)
          RF/1B Musial (Cards)
          LF Bonds (Giants)
          LF Williams (Red Sox)
          SS/3B Ripken (Orioles)
          2B Whitaker (Tigers)

          P Johnson (Senators)
          P Mathewson (Giants)
          P Spahn (Braves)
          P Niekro (Braves)
          P Gibson (Cards)
      
          Cl Rivera (Yankees) 
          P Nichols (Braves)
          P Smoltz (Braves)
          P Seaver (Mets) 
          P Plank (Athletics)






Tendown, July 10 2016

Sunday, July 10, 2016

Tendown 233 is here. This is Tendown 234






1. Durant.

They aren’t here just to change the way the game will look, they’re here to take everything. We had a few weeks to laugh at Joe Lacob’s “light-years ahead” proclamation after the team’s postseason collapse. With one move, the discourse has shifted once again. The myth has become the monolith.

2. Durant

Curry told Durant in a text message that he could care less about who is the face of the franchise, who gets the most recognition or who sells the most shoes (Curry is with Under Armor, Durant with Nike). The two-time NBA MVP also told Durant that if Durant won the MVP award again he would be in the front row of the press conference clapping for him. In closing, Curry’s message to Durant was that all he truly cared about was winning championships and he’d like to do that as his teammate.

3. Durant

That link's behind the paywall, but here's the bottom line:

Golden State projects to have a net rating of plus-12.8 points per 100 possessions -- far better than last year's mark (plus-11.6).

4. Durant

The collective shooting on this team is outrageous -- including perhaps the two greatest shooters ever, with a seven-foot gunslinger about to enjoy the cleanest catch-and-shoot looks he has ever had. Only three guys had a larger gap than Kevin Durantbetween their actual field-goal percentage and the mark we would have expected based on the difficulty of those shots, per SportVU data provided to ESPN.com. One of the three was reigning two-time MVPStephen Curry. Things are about to get much easier for Durant and Curry.

5. Let's talk some more about Alexander Hamilton

For Hamilton, personal and military force, unrestrained by the slightest consideration of law, were joined ineluctably to American wealth, American unity, and America modernity.

6. And let's talk about the musical itself

despite the proliferation of black and brown bodies onstage, not a single enslaved or free person of color exists as a character in this play. For the space of only a couple of bars, a chorus member assumes the role of Sally Hemings, but is recognizable as such only by those who catch Jefferson’s reference to the enslaved woman with whom he had an ongoing sexual relationship. Unless one listens carefully to the lyrics—which do mention slavery a handful of times—one could easily assume that slavery did not exist in this world, and certainly that it was not an important part of the lives and livelihoods of the men who created the nation.

7. The 4th of July

8. The Shootings.

9. Kansas.

The nation’s eyes should be trained on Kansas. This is what happens when you put Republicans in charge with the freedom to pursue their economic ideology. It’s not just a moral train wreck in terms of inequality and shared prosperity. It doesn’t even work to keep the lights on and make the trains run on time. Conservative economic orthodoxy is completely dysfunctional for running governments and society because it’s built on assumptions that aren’t true: rich people don’t create jobs, cutting their taxes doesn’t stimulate growth, cutting government services doesn’t “free up” capital to be spent on private sector growth, etc. What actually happens is that the rich simply hoard more money, corporations build up savings in their balance sheets, government cuts damage public confidence and infrastructure, and regular people don’t have as much money to spend, which dries up the consumer confidence and spending that is the real driver of job and economic growth.


10. Every Week, Except For Next Week, When Tendown Goes Dark, Back the 24th.

And one more...




That's all for this time.  I'll be back next time....if there is a next time....

Your pal,

Jim





All Time Blue Jays 25 Man Roster

Saturday, July 9, 2016

Last team here.

Through 2015

New project, all time rosters for each team. WAR is B-Ref+Davenport. Other numbers are OPS+/ERA+.

The structure of all of these teams will be the same, 7 bench players (well, 6 for AL teams since they have a DH) with someone able to backup every position. 10 pitchers, a legitimate bullpen arm as closer. 

C Ernie Whitt                                1977-89           23.6           102
1B Carlos Delgado                       1993-04           40.1           142
2B Roberto Alomar                      1991-95           24.75         123
SS Tony Fernandez       1983-90, 93, 98-9, 01    44.9           106
3B Edwin Encarnacion              2009-               27.4            136  
LF George Bell                              1981-90           20.05         119
CF Vernon Wells                            1999-10          28.3            108
RF Jose Bautista                           2008-              42.3          145
DH (RF) Jesse Barfield                  1981-89         31.9            118

                                                
1B John Olerud                            1989-96           26.45          130
CF Devon White                          1991-95           25.2            102                    
LF Shannon Stewart                     1995-03, 08     18.1         108
2B Aaron Hill                                2005-11           21.1          92
3B/SS Rance Mulliniks               1982-92           20.4         114 
C Gregg Zaun                                 2004-08            10.1          98     

P Dave Stieb                                  1979-92, 98     59.55         123
P Roy Halladay                             1998-09           53.6            133
P Jimmy Key                                  1984-92           34.1            121
P Pat Hentgen                                1991-09, 04    30.55          110
P Jim Clancy                                  1977-88           27.85         103

Cl Tom Henke                               1985-92           23.95          167
P Juan Guzman                              1991-98          22.55          111
P Roger Clemens                           1997-98          20.65          196
P David Wells                       1987-92, 99-00      18.65          110
P Duane Ward                                1986-95          15.2            128

All Time Rays 25 Man Roster

Friday, July 8, 2016

Last time here.

Through 2016

New project, all time rosters for each team. WAR is B-Ref+Davenport. Other numbers are OPS+/ERA+.

The structure of all of these teams will be the same, 7 bench players (well, 6 for AL teams since they have a DH) with someone able to backup every position. 10 pitchers, a legitimate bullpen arm as closer. 

C Toby Hall                                                         2000-06               5.95         81
1B Carlos Pena                                                    2007-10, 12        18.4         126
2B Ben Zobrist                                                    2006-14               38.4        117
SS Julio Lugo                                                      2003-06               15.05      105
3B Evan Longoria                                            2008-                    48.5        128
LF Carl Crawford                                                2002-10               39.8        107
CF Kevin Kiermaier                                        2013-                    14.9        105
RF(1B/3B) Aubrey Huff                                   2000-06               12.65       116
DH Melvin Upton                                               2004-12               20.3         105                                      

DH Desmond Jennings                                    2010-                    13.15       101   
SS Jason Bartlett                                                 2008-10               10.85      102
CF Rocco Baldelli                                           2003-08,10             10.8       102
RF/LF Matt Joyce                                            2010-14                  12.05       118                
2B Logan Forsythe                                            2014-                     8.7          110
C John Jaso                                                         2008-11, 15             4.45       107

P David Price                                                     2008-14                25.3         122
P James Shields                                                 2006-12                23.2          107          
P Chris Archer                                                 2000-                     13            110        
P Scott Kazmir                                                   2004-09                18.95       114
P Alex Cobb                                                       2011-14                12.75       118

Cl Roberto Hernandez                                     1998-00                8.45          143
P Jake McGee                                                   2010-15                8.45         138
P Jake Odorizzi                                                2013-                     9.65         104
P Matt Garza                                                       2008-10                9.65         109
P Jeremy Hellickson                                          2010-14                9.05         101






All Time Cardinals 25 Man Roster

Thursday, July 7, 2016

Last team here.

Through 2016

New project, all time rosters for each team. WAR is B-Ref+Davenport. Other numbers are OPS+/ERA+.

The structure of all of these teams will be the same, 7 bench players (well, 6 for AL teams since they have a DH) with someone able to backup every position. 10 pitchers, a legitimate bullpen arm as closer.  

C Ted Simmons                                    1968-80        45.6          127
1B Albert Pujols                                  2001-11        91.4          170
2B (SS) Rogers Hornsby                    1915-26        82.4           177    
SS Ozzie Smith                                    1982-96        70.1           93
3B Ken Boyer                                      1955-65        54.55        119
LF (RF) Stan Musial                           1941-63        124.05      159
CF Jim Edmonds                                  2000-07         41.15         143
RF Enos Slaughter                               1938-53       46.15          126                     

LF Ducky Medwick                   1932-40, 47-8       41.35         142
1B Johnny Mize                                  1936-41          37.3          171        
1B Keith Hernandez                           1974-83          37.15        130
CF Ray Lankford                             1990-01, 04      35.5          124
2B Red Schoendienst                  1945-56, 61-3      35.9              93
2B/3B Frankie Frisch                         1927-37          34.05           105
C Yadier Molina                                2004-              44.85            98

P Bob Gibson                                       1959-75         83.4            127
P Adam Wainwright                           2005-             44.05          126
P Dizzy Dean                                        1930-37         40.95          132
P Harry Breechen                                 1940-52         39.7            133
P Jesse Haines                                       1920-37         33.75          109

Cl Al Brazle                                           1943-54         22               120
P Max Lanier                                          1938-51        28.65          133            
P Chris Carpenter                                   2004-12        29.6            133                                      
P Mort Cooper                                        1938-45        28.75          133
P Howie Pollet                                       1941-51        27.8             127



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