(Edit - Missed both short films, hit the rest)
Picture: 12 Years a Slave
-A month ago I gave you a Seahawks/12 Years parlay; we're a couple of days away from seeing if you owe me a thank you. My vote would go to Wolf.
Actor: Matthew McConaughey
Actress: Cate Blanchett
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Supp Actor: Jared Leto
Supp Actress: Lupita Nyongo
Original: Her
Adapted: 12 Years
Animated Feature: Frozen
Documentary: 20 Feet From Stardom
Foreign: The Great Beauty
Production Design: Great Gatsby
Cinematography: Gravity
Costume: Great Gatsby
Editing: Gravity
Makeup: Dallas Buyers Club
Score: Gravity
Song: Let it Go
Sound Edit: Gravity
Sound Mix: Gravity
Visual Effects: Gravity
Animated Short: Get a Horse
Doc Short: The Lady in No. 6
Live Action Short: The Voorman Problem
MLB 2014 Top 100 20-1
Thursday, February 27, 2014
40-21 is here.
MLB Network is beginning it's countdown of the 100 best players in baseball for the upcoming year, each time they roll out a new section, I'll do the same with mine, and add a bonus at the bottom.
MLB Network
20. Giancarlo Stanton (he's below)
19. Chris Sale (already appeared)
18. Jose Fernandez (he's below)
17. Buster Posey (he's below)
16. Hanley Ramirez (already appeared)
15. Evan Longoria (he's below)
14. Yadier Molina (already appeared)
13. Troy Tulowitzki (he's below)
12. Max Scherzer (already appeared)
11. Carlos Gonzalez (already appeared)
Top 10
10. David Price (already appeared)
9. Paul Goldschmidt (he's below)
8. Joey Votto (he's below)
7. Felix Hernandez (hey, a match)
6. Adrian Beltre (already appeared)
5. Robinson Cano (match)
4. Andrew McCutchen (below)
3. Miguel Cabrera (below)
2. Clayton Kershaw (match)
1. Mike Trout (spoiler alert)
Jividen
20. Paul Goldschmidt
19. Cliff Lee
18. Adam Wainwright
17. Matt Carpenter
16. Jose Fernandez
15. Justin Upton
14. Andrew McCutchen
13. Giancarlo Stanton
12. Troy Tulowitzki
11. Yu Darvish
Top 10
10. Ryan Braun
9. Evan Longoria
8. Buster Posey
7. Felix Hernandez
6. Justin Verlander
5. Robinson Cano
4. Miguel Cabrera
3. Joey Votto
2. Clayton Kershaw
1. Mike Trout
MLB 2014 Top 100 40-21
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
61-40 is here.
MLB Network is beginning it's countdown of the 100 best players in baseball for the upcoming year, each time they roll out a new section, I'll do the same with mine, and add a bonus at the bottom.
MLB Network
40. Victor Martinez (really?)
39. Edwin Encarnacion (just missed my list)
38. Zach Greinke (already appeared)
37. Stephen Strasburg (he's below)
36. Jay Bruce (already appeared)
35. Aroldis Chapman (just missed)
34. Joe Mauer (just missed)
33. Justin Verlander (higher on my list)
32. Adam Wainwright (higher on my list)
31. Yu Darvish (higher on my list)
30. Chris Davis (already appeared)
29. Manny Machado (already appeared)
28. David Ortiz (already appeared)
27. Dustin Pedroia (already appeared)
26. Craig Kimbrel (already appeared)
25. David Wright (he's below)
24. Ryan Braun (higher on my list)
23. Yasiel Puig (he's below)
22. Bryce Harper (he's below)
21. Adam Jones (already appeared)
Jividen
40. Masahiro Tanaka
39. Pablo Sandoval
38. Josh Donaldson
37. Yasiel Puig
36. Carlos Gonzalez
35. Bryce Harper
34. Shin Soo Choo
33. Matt Kemp
32. Andrelton Simmons
31. Matt Holiday
30. Jose Bautista
29. Adrian Beltre
28. Jered Weaver
27. Max Scherzer
26. Madison Bumgarner
25. Yadier Molina
24. Stephen Strasburg
23. David Price
22. Chris Sale
21. David Wright
MLB Network is beginning it's countdown of the 100 best players in baseball for the upcoming year, each time they roll out a new section, I'll do the same with mine, and add a bonus at the bottom.
MLB Network
40. Victor Martinez (really?)
39. Edwin Encarnacion (just missed my list)
38. Zach Greinke (already appeared)
37. Stephen Strasburg (he's below)
36. Jay Bruce (already appeared)
35. Aroldis Chapman (just missed)
34. Joe Mauer (just missed)
33. Justin Verlander (higher on my list)
32. Adam Wainwright (higher on my list)
31. Yu Darvish (higher on my list)
30. Chris Davis (already appeared)
29. Manny Machado (already appeared)
28. David Ortiz (already appeared)
27. Dustin Pedroia (already appeared)
26. Craig Kimbrel (already appeared)
25. David Wright (he's below)
24. Ryan Braun (higher on my list)
23. Yasiel Puig (he's below)
22. Bryce Harper (he's below)
21. Adam Jones (already appeared)
Jividen
40. Masahiro Tanaka
39. Pablo Sandoval
38. Josh Donaldson
37. Yasiel Puig
36. Carlos Gonzalez
35. Bryce Harper
34. Shin Soo Choo
33. Matt Kemp
32. Andrelton Simmons
31. Matt Holiday
30. Jose Bautista
29. Adrian Beltre
28. Jered Weaver
27. Max Scherzer
26. Madison Bumgarner
25. Yadier Molina
24. Stephen Strasburg
23. David Price
22. Chris Sale
21. David Wright
2014 NL West
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
I've done my projected top 10 at each position (not a fantasy list); here I'm diving a little deeper by ranking at the divisional level.
And there's something extra at the end.
1. LAD
2. SFG WC
3. SD
4. Arizona
5. Colorado
Catchers
1. Posey SFG
2. Montero Ariz
3. Grandal SD
4. Rosario Col
5. Ellis LA
First Base
1. Goldschmidt Ariz
2. Gonzalez LA
3. Belt SFG
4. Alonso SD
5. Morneau Col
Second Base
1. Gyorko SD
2. Hill Ari
3. Scutaro SFG
4. Rutledge Col
5. Guerrero LA
Shortstop
1. Tulowtizki Col
2. Ramirez LA
3. Cabrera SD
4. Crawford SFG
5. Gregorius Ari
Third Base
1. Sandoval SFG
2. Headley SD
3. Prado Ariz
4. Uribe LA
5. Arenado Col
Left Field
1. Quentin SD
2. Crawford LA
3. Trumbo Ari
4. Morse SFG
5. Dickerson Col
Center Field
1. Kemp LA
2. Gonzalez Col
3. Pagan SFG
4. Venable SD
5. Parra Ari
Right Field
1. Puig LA
2. Pence SFG
3. Ross Ari
4. Cuddyer Col
5. Smith SD
Top Ten Starting Pitchers
1. Kershaw LA
2. Bumgarner SFG
3. Greinke LA
4. Cain SFG
5. Ryu LA
6. Corbin Ari
7. Hudson SFG
8. Lincecum SFG
9. Haren LA
10. Kennedy SD
Relievers
1. Jansen LA
2. Romo SFG
3. Benoit SD
4. Reed Ari
5. Wilson LA
And there's something extra at the end.
1. LAD
2. SFG WC
3. SD
4. Arizona
5. Colorado
Catchers
1. Posey SFG
2. Montero Ariz
3. Grandal SD
4. Rosario Col
5. Ellis LA
First Base
1. Goldschmidt Ariz
2. Gonzalez LA
3. Belt SFG
4. Alonso SD
5. Morneau Col
Second Base
1. Gyorko SD
2. Hill Ari
3. Scutaro SFG
4. Rutledge Col
5. Guerrero LA
Shortstop
1. Tulowtizki Col
2. Ramirez LA
3. Cabrera SD
4. Crawford SFG
5. Gregorius Ari
Third Base
1. Sandoval SFG
2. Headley SD
3. Prado Ariz
4. Uribe LA
5. Arenado Col
Left Field
1. Quentin SD
2. Crawford LA
3. Trumbo Ari
4. Morse SFG
5. Dickerson Col
Center Field
1. Kemp LA
2. Gonzalez Col
3. Pagan SFG
4. Venable SD
5. Parra Ari
Right Field
1. Puig LA
2. Pence SFG
3. Ross Ari
4. Cuddyer Col
5. Smith SD
Top Ten Starting Pitchers
1. Kershaw LA
2. Bumgarner SFG
3. Greinke LA
4. Cain SFG
5. Ryu LA
6. Corbin Ari
7. Hudson SFG
8. Lincecum SFG
9. Haren LA
10. Kennedy SD
Relievers
1. Jansen LA
2. Romo SFG
3. Benoit SD
4. Reed Ari
5. Wilson LA
MLB 2014 Top 100 60-41
Monday, February 24, 2014
80-61 is here.
MLB Network is beginning it's countdown of the 100 best players in baseball for the upcoming year, each time they roll out a new section, I'll do the same with mine, and add a bonus at the bottom.
MLB Network
60. Jean Sugura (he's below)
59. Matt Kemp (higher on mine)
58. Alex Gordon (below)
57. Cole Hamels (already appeared)
56. Jordan Zimmerman (already appeared)
55. Hisashi Iwakuma (would just miss my list)
54. Cliff Lee (much higher for me)
53. Allen Craig (not on my list)
52. Adrian Gonzalez (he's below)
51. Jacoby Ellsbury (he's below)
50. Jose Bautista (higher)
49. Jayson Werth (already appeared)
48. Ryan Zimmerman (below)
47. Carlos Beltran (not on my list)
46. Prince Fielder (he's below)
45. Freddie Freeman (already appeared)
44. Carlos Gomez (already appeared)
43. Wil Myers (already appeared)
42. Shin-Soo Choo (higher for me)
41. Matt Holiday (higher)
Jividen
60. Ryan Zimmerman
59. CC Sabathia
58. Adam Jones
57. Jacoby Ellsbury
56. Jean Segura
55. Gio Gonzalez
54. Ian Kinsler
53. Anibal Sanchez
52. Alex Gordon
51. Matt Cain
50. Zach Greinke
49. Adrian Gonzalez
48. Prince Fielder
47. Ben Zobrist
46. Dustin Pedroia
45. Jose Reyes
44. Hanley Ramirez
43. Jay Bruce
42. Jason Heyward
41. Albert Pujols
MLB Network is beginning it's countdown of the 100 best players in baseball for the upcoming year, each time they roll out a new section, I'll do the same with mine, and add a bonus at the bottom.
MLB Network
60. Jean Sugura (he's below)
59. Matt Kemp (higher on mine)
58. Alex Gordon (below)
57. Cole Hamels (already appeared)
56. Jordan Zimmerman (already appeared)
55. Hisashi Iwakuma (would just miss my list)
54. Cliff Lee (much higher for me)
53. Allen Craig (not on my list)
52. Adrian Gonzalez (he's below)
51. Jacoby Ellsbury (he's below)
50. Jose Bautista (higher)
49. Jayson Werth (already appeared)
48. Ryan Zimmerman (below)
47. Carlos Beltran (not on my list)
46. Prince Fielder (he's below)
45. Freddie Freeman (already appeared)
44. Carlos Gomez (already appeared)
43. Wil Myers (already appeared)
42. Shin-Soo Choo (higher for me)
41. Matt Holiday (higher)
Jividen
60. Ryan Zimmerman
59. CC Sabathia
58. Adam Jones
57. Jacoby Ellsbury
56. Jean Segura
55. Gio Gonzalez
54. Ian Kinsler
53. Anibal Sanchez
52. Alex Gordon
51. Matt Cain
50. Zach Greinke
49. Adrian Gonzalez
48. Prince Fielder
47. Ben Zobrist
46. Dustin Pedroia
45. Jose Reyes
44. Hanley Ramirez
43. Jay Bruce
42. Jason Heyward
41. Albert Pujols
2014 NL Central
Sunday, February 23, 2014
I've done my projected top 10 at each position (not a fantasy list); here I'm diving a little deeper by ranking at the divisional level.
And there's something extra at the end.
NL Central
1. St Louis
2. Cincinnati
3. Pittsburgh
4. Milwaukee
5. Chicago
Catchers
1. Molina StL
2. Martin Pit
3. Lucroy Mil
4. Mesoraco Cin
5. Castillo Chi
First Base
1. Votto Cin
2. Rizzo Chi
3. Adams StL
4. Sanchez Pit
5. Francisco Mil
Second Base
1. Walker Pit
2. Phillips Cin
3. Wong StL
4. Barney Chi
5. Gennett Mil
Shortstop
1. Segura Mil
2. Castro Chi
3. Peralta StL
4. Cozart Cin
5. Mercer Pit
Third Base
1. Carpenter StL
2. Alvarez Pit
3. Ramirez Mil
4. Frazier Cin
5. Olt Chi
Left Field
1. Holiday StL
2. Marte Pit
3. Davis Mil
4. Ruggiano Chi
5. Ludwick Cin
Center Field
1. McCutchen Pit
2. Gomez Mil
3. Hamilton Cin
4. Bourjos StL
5. Sweeney Chi
Right Field
1. Braun Mil
2. Bruce Cin
3. Craig StL
4. Schierholtz Chi
5. Tabata Pit
Top 10 Starting Pitchers
1. Wainwright StL
2. Latos Cin
3. Wacha StL
4. Cole Pit
5. Cueto Cin
6. Bailey Cin
7. Liriano Pit
8. Cingrani Cin
9. Gallardo Mil
10. Garza Mil
Relievers
1. Chapman Cin
2. Grilli Pit
3. Rosenthal StL
4. Marshall Cin
5. Melancon Pit
MLB 2014 Top 100 80-61
Saturday, February 22, 2014
100-81 is here.
MLB Network is beginning it's countdown of the 100 best players in baseball for the upcoming year, each time they roll out a new section, I'll do the same with mine, and add a bonus at the bottom.
MLB Network
80. Albert Pujols (I've got him higher, bullish on Pujols this year, maybe for the last time)
79. Pedro Alvarez (he's below)
78. Sal Perez (not on my list, he'd be just outside)
77. Carlos Santana (already appeared)
76. Josh Hamilton (already appeared)
75. Eric Hosmer (didn't make it)
74. Hunter Pence (he's below)
73. Michael Cuddyer (that is crazy)
72. Justin Upton (much higher)
71. Anibal Sanchez (higher)
70. Jason Kipnis (already appeared)
69. Gio Gonzalez (higher)
68. Madison Bumgarner (much higher)
67. Greg Holland (all my closers have already appeared)
66. James Shields (already appeared)
65. Matt Carpenter (much...much higher)
64. Brian McCann (already appeared)
63. JJ Hardy (not on my list - there isn't a person on the planet who thinks he's better than Carpenter)
62. Ian Desmond (not on my list)
61. Jose Reyes (much higher)
Jividen
80. CJ Wilson
80. CJ Wilson
79. Neil Walker
78. Pedro Alvarez
77. Doug Fister
76. Aaron Hill
75. Carlos Gomez
74. David Ortiz
73. Jed Lowrie
72. Yoenis Cespedes
71. Jordan Zimmerman
70. Manny Machado
69. Brett Lawrie
68. Everth Cabrera
67. Kyle Seager
66. Chase Utley
65. Alex Cobb
64. Shane Victorino
63. Jayson Werth
62. Hunter Pence
61. Jedd Gyorko
62. Hunter Pence
61. Jedd Gyorko
Athlete of the Month, February 2014
Friday, February 21, 2014
January is here.
Malcolm Smith. Runners-up: Yuzuru Hanyu, Ted Ligety, Adelina Sotnikova
Two months down, 10 left in the race for Athlete of the Year
January - Kevin Durant
February - Malcolm Smith
Malcolm Smith. Runners-up: Yuzuru Hanyu, Ted Ligety, Adelina Sotnikova
Two months down, 10 left in the race for Athlete of the Year
January - Kevin Durant
February - Malcolm Smith
MLB 2014 Top 100 100-81
Thursday, February 20, 2014
MLB Network is beginning it's countdown of the 100 best players in baseball for the upcoming year, each time they roll out a new section, I'll do the same with mine, and add a bonus at the bottom.
MLB Network:
100. The Late Derek Jeter (not ranked on my list)
99. Brandon Phillips (unranked)
98. Torii Hunter (unranked)
97. Andrelton Simmons (ranked much higher)
96. Shane Victorino (solidly higher for me)
95. Ian Kinsler (much higher)
94. Gerrit Cole (unranked)
93. Shelby Miller (unranked)
92. Michael Wacha (unranked)
91. Trevor Rosenthal (unranked)
90. Patrick Corbin (I admire the commitment to kid pitchers, but again, unranked)
89. Clay Buchholtz (unranked)
88. Matt Cain (much higher)
87. Josh Donaldson (much higher)
86. Joe Nathan (unranked)
85. Matt Wieters (unranked)
84. Billy Butler (unranked)
83. Jon Lester (you'll find him below)
82. Koji Uehara (you'll find him below)
81. Chase Utley (a little higher on my list)
Jividen
100. Angel Pagan
99. Koji Uehara
98. AJ Griffin
97. Kenley Jansen
96. Brian McCann
95. Jake Peavy
94. Carlos Santana
93. Coco Crisp
92. Matt Moore
91. Brandon Belt
90. Freddie Freeman
89. Jon Lester
88. Jason Kipnis
87. Wil Myers
86. James Shields
85. Chase Headley
84. Cole Hamels
83. Craig Kimbrel
82. Josh Hamilton
81. Chris Davis
MLB Network:
100. The Late Derek Jeter (not ranked on my list)
99. Brandon Phillips (unranked)
98. Torii Hunter (unranked)
97. Andrelton Simmons (ranked much higher)
96. Shane Victorino (solidly higher for me)
95. Ian Kinsler (much higher)
94. Gerrit Cole (unranked)
93. Shelby Miller (unranked)
92. Michael Wacha (unranked)
91. Trevor Rosenthal (unranked)
90. Patrick Corbin (I admire the commitment to kid pitchers, but again, unranked)
89. Clay Buchholtz (unranked)
88. Matt Cain (much higher)
87. Josh Donaldson (much higher)
86. Joe Nathan (unranked)
85. Matt Wieters (unranked)
84. Billy Butler (unranked)
83. Jon Lester (you'll find him below)
82. Koji Uehara (you'll find him below)
81. Chase Utley (a little higher on my list)
Jividen
100. Angel Pagan
99. Koji Uehara
98. AJ Griffin
97. Kenley Jansen
96. Brian McCann
95. Jake Peavy
94. Carlos Santana
93. Coco Crisp
92. Matt Moore
91. Brandon Belt
90. Freddie Freeman
89. Jon Lester
88. Jason Kipnis
87. Wil Myers
86. James Shields
85. Chase Headley
84. Cole Hamels
83. Craig Kimbrel
82. Josh Hamilton
81. Chris Davis
Barry Bonds 25 Biggest Giants Home Runs
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Barry Bonds hit 594 regular season and playoff homers for the San Francisco Giants.
As ranked by Win Probability (meaning the home runs that most impacted that specific game, not based on the importance of the game, or the length or historical importance of the home run) here are his 25 biggest.
#25 7-24-03 (Homer #646) The first pitch of the Bottom of the 9th, Bonds hits a walk off homer against Arizona (Myers). It was Bonds's 33rd of the season; to that date he had a 1.244 OPS for the season. The Giants moved to 28 games above .500. This was Bonds's 39th birthday and he made a game saving throw in the top of the 9th. 36% WPA.
#24 8-19-03 (Homer #651) Another walk off, this time to break a 4-4 tie in the 10th against Atlanta (King). It was his 38th homer of the season and raised his OPS to 1.277. The Braves, incidentally, were 37 games above .500. This was Barry's first game back after taking the weekend off to be with hid dad, who was on his deathbed. 36% WPA.
#23 6-16-93 (Homer #195). This one tied the game, the Giants were down 4-3 with two out in the 9th in Cincinnati (Dibble) when Bonds hit this one. San Francisco scored two more in the 10th to win it. The Giants moved to 19 over .500 and Bonds moved to a 1.211 OPS in his first year as a Giant. 36% WPA
#22 5-26-97 (Homer #342). Another walk off, this one breaking a 3-3 tie against the Astros (Lima). Bonds had 3 hits. 36.2% WPA
#21. 5-9-94 (Homer #230) Not every important homer comes at the end of the game; this is a third inning grand slam to give the Giants a 4-1 lead over the Rockies (Reynoso). The Giants went on to win 12-5. 36.6% WPA
#20. 7-6-95 (Homer #274) Down 5-4 in the top of the 9th in Cincinnati (Brantley) Bonds hit a 3 run homer to give the Giants the final 7-5 margin of victory. This was Bonds's third game winning homer that week. Bonds's OPS+ for the season (a season during which he had been booed, at home, at least twice) went to 1.016. 37.3% WPA
#19 8-23-01 (Homer #549) How about a pinch hit, 9th inning tie breaking home run against the Expos (Lloyd). The Giants followed up with 4 more runs and beat Montreal 10-5. This was Bonds's 55th (out of the eventual 73) on the season and 549th for his career, moving him past Mike Schmidt into 8th place (as of this writing, he's first overall) His OPS was 1.317. This was Bonds's first pinch homer as a Giant; this win was San Francisco's 20th out of 26, as they got to within a game and a half of the division lead. 37.4% WPA.
#18 5-14-97 (Homer #340). Barry sure hit a lot of big homers in Cincinnati. 10 days before the Lima homer we saw at #22, Bonds broke a 2-2 tenth inning tie against the Reds (Remlinger). The Giants picked up another and won 4-2. That moved San Francisco to 23-13, their best start since '73. 37.6 WPA
#17. 8-15-93 (Homer #212) Bonds hit two here in Wrigley; the first was a two run shot that tied the game in the third, the one that makes our list was a tiebreaker in the 11th (Myers); Matt Williams then followed with his second of the game (he and Bonds also went back to back in the third) and the Giants won 9-7. 38.3% WPA.
#16 6-5-02 (Homer #587) Here's another early inning grand slam. Down 1-0 in the third in San Diego(Tankersley) Bonds's 11th career slam gave the Giants a 4-1 lead on the way to a 12-2 win. Bonds's OPS hit 1.377. This homer, a 482 foot bomb, one of the farthest in San Diego history, moved him past Frank Robinson into 4th place on the all time list. 38.5% WPA
#15. 4-12-04 (Homer #660). The homer that tied Mays. Down 4-2 with two out in the 5th, Bonds hit a 3 run homer to give the Giants a 5-4 lead over Milwaukee(Kinney) in a game they'd go onto win 7-5. It was Bonds's 28th Splash Hit. Before the game, Wayne Gretzky and Bill Russell presented Bonds with his 2003 MVP Award. 38.5% WPA.
#14 5-30-93 (Homer #190). Down 3-1 in the 7th in what was not yet the last ever real pennant race, Bonds hit a 3 run homer to give the Giants their eventual 4-3 margin of victory in Atlanta(Glavine). The Giants moved 5 in front. 39.2% WPA
#13 6-24-02 (Homer #591) Bonds hit a 3 run homer to tie the game in the 7th - and then in the 9th, Bonds beat San Diego (Hoffman) with the homer that reaches number 13 here, just inside the right field foul pole, leading to a 7-6 Giants win. It was Bonds's 60th career multi-homer game. 39.2% WPA
#12 6-5-00 (Homer #469) 2 out in the top of the 11th, Bonds broke a 4-4 tie against the Angels (Hasegawa) and the Giants won 5-4. Bonds had two more hits and a walk, moving his OPS to 1.269. 39.4% WPA
#11 8-16-01 (Homer #546) A week before homer #19 and on the 53rd anniversary of Babe Ruth's death. Down 3-2 to the Marlins(Darensbourg) in the bottom of the 8th, Bonds hit a 2 strike 3 run homer to give the Giants their final 5-3 margin of victory. Bonds also homered in the 4th, getting him to 53 on the year. That broke Mays's Giants single season record and Mize's left handed NL record. 40.5 WPA%
#10 5-17-95 (Homer #262) Bonds hits a two run homer 412 feet into the Candlestick upper deck with the Giants down 2-1 in the bottom of the 7th to Chicago(Foster) the Giants only got one other hit the entire day (and had a perfect game being thrown against them into the 6th) but that 2-1 score held up. 41.2% WPA
#9. 8-21-03 (Homer #652) Two days after Bonds walked off the Braves back in #24, he did it again here. Score tied, bottom of the tenth, Bonds hits the first pitch to dead center, beats Atlanta again(Hodges), and then goes to see his dad who would die from cancer two days later. It was Bonds's 39th of the season, moving him to a 1.273 OPS. 41.9% WPA
#8. 5-28-04 (Homer #671) Bonds's 10th career walk off. 2-2 bottom of the 9th, 2 out, 2 strikes, Bonds (following a 2 run Grissom game tying single) sent Colorado home with a 2 run homer (Harikkala). Bonds had 3 hits on the day and left with a 1.437 OPS. The Giants won their 7th straight. 43.4% WPA
#7. 7-23-93 (Homer #204) The first game on the list where the Giants lost. Down 1-0 in the bottom of the 9th to Philadelphia(Schilling, who may be in prison by the time you read this). Bonds homered to tie the score - but San Francisco lost in 14. 44% WPA
#6. 4-18-94 (Homer #227) Down 1-0 in the bottom of the 9th to Montreal (Shaw) Bonds homered to tie the game - and the Giants went on to win in 11 when Bonds walked, stole second, and then scored the winning run on a Carreon single. 46.9% WPA.
#5 4-26-06 (Homer #711). The Giants lost this one too - with 2 out in the 9th, the Giants were down by two to the Mets(Wagner) Bonds pinch hit a game tying homer in a game the Giants lost in 11. 48.7% WPA
#4. 6-20-97 (Homer #349) Another Giants loss. Down 1 to the Dodgers (Worrell) 2 out, bottom of the 9th, Bonds hit his second homer of the day to tie a game the Giants would lose in the 10th. 48.8% WPA
#3. 7-18-95 (Homer #278) Another loss. Down 1 to the Marlins(Nen) 2 out, bottom of the 9th, Bonds hits his second homer of the day, this one over 450 feet into the right field upper deck at Candlestick (he also homered in the 8th) to tie a game the Giants would lose in the 14th. 48.9% WPA
#2. 9-13-98 (Homer #407) Down two to the Rockies(McElroy) in the bottom of the 8th, Bonds hits a 3 run homer to give the Giants their final 4-3 margin of victory. This moved Bonds past Duke Snider into 26th on the all time list. 61.2% WPA
#1. 6-30-95 (Homer #272) Down 6-4 in the bottom of the 9th to San Diego(Hoffman) Bonds hit his second of the game, a three run walk off that got the Giants to .500 with a 7-6 win. 80.4% WPA
As ranked by Win Probability (meaning the home runs that most impacted that specific game, not based on the importance of the game, or the length or historical importance of the home run) here are his 25 biggest.
#25 7-24-03 (Homer #646) The first pitch of the Bottom of the 9th, Bonds hits a walk off homer against Arizona (Myers). It was Bonds's 33rd of the season; to that date he had a 1.244 OPS for the season. The Giants moved to 28 games above .500. This was Bonds's 39th birthday and he made a game saving throw in the top of the 9th. 36% WPA.
#24 8-19-03 (Homer #651) Another walk off, this time to break a 4-4 tie in the 10th against Atlanta (King). It was his 38th homer of the season and raised his OPS to 1.277. The Braves, incidentally, were 37 games above .500. This was Barry's first game back after taking the weekend off to be with hid dad, who was on his deathbed. 36% WPA.
#23 6-16-93 (Homer #195). This one tied the game, the Giants were down 4-3 with two out in the 9th in Cincinnati (Dibble) when Bonds hit this one. San Francisco scored two more in the 10th to win it. The Giants moved to 19 over .500 and Bonds moved to a 1.211 OPS in his first year as a Giant. 36% WPA
#22 5-26-97 (Homer #342). Another walk off, this one breaking a 3-3 tie against the Astros (Lima). Bonds had 3 hits. 36.2% WPA
#21. 5-9-94 (Homer #230) Not every important homer comes at the end of the game; this is a third inning grand slam to give the Giants a 4-1 lead over the Rockies (Reynoso). The Giants went on to win 12-5. 36.6% WPA
#20. 7-6-95 (Homer #274) Down 5-4 in the top of the 9th in Cincinnati (Brantley) Bonds hit a 3 run homer to give the Giants the final 7-5 margin of victory. This was Bonds's third game winning homer that week. Bonds's OPS+ for the season (a season during which he had been booed, at home, at least twice) went to 1.016. 37.3% WPA
#19 8-23-01 (Homer #549) How about a pinch hit, 9th inning tie breaking home run against the Expos (Lloyd). The Giants followed up with 4 more runs and beat Montreal 10-5. This was Bonds's 55th (out of the eventual 73) on the season and 549th for his career, moving him past Mike Schmidt into 8th place (as of this writing, he's first overall) His OPS was 1.317. This was Bonds's first pinch homer as a Giant; this win was San Francisco's 20th out of 26, as they got to within a game and a half of the division lead. 37.4% WPA.
#18 5-14-97 (Homer #340). Barry sure hit a lot of big homers in Cincinnati. 10 days before the Lima homer we saw at #22, Bonds broke a 2-2 tenth inning tie against the Reds (Remlinger). The Giants picked up another and won 4-2. That moved San Francisco to 23-13, their best start since '73. 37.6 WPA
#17. 8-15-93 (Homer #212) Bonds hit two here in Wrigley; the first was a two run shot that tied the game in the third, the one that makes our list was a tiebreaker in the 11th (Myers); Matt Williams then followed with his second of the game (he and Bonds also went back to back in the third) and the Giants won 9-7. 38.3% WPA.
#16 6-5-02 (Homer #587) Here's another early inning grand slam. Down 1-0 in the third in San Diego(Tankersley) Bonds's 11th career slam gave the Giants a 4-1 lead on the way to a 12-2 win. Bonds's OPS hit 1.377. This homer, a 482 foot bomb, one of the farthest in San Diego history, moved him past Frank Robinson into 4th place on the all time list. 38.5% WPA
#15. 4-12-04 (Homer #660). The homer that tied Mays. Down 4-2 with two out in the 5th, Bonds hit a 3 run homer to give the Giants a 5-4 lead over Milwaukee(Kinney) in a game they'd go onto win 7-5. It was Bonds's 28th Splash Hit. Before the game, Wayne Gretzky and Bill Russell presented Bonds with his 2003 MVP Award. 38.5% WPA.
#14 5-30-93 (Homer #190). Down 3-1 in the 7th in what was not yet the last ever real pennant race, Bonds hit a 3 run homer to give the Giants their eventual 4-3 margin of victory in Atlanta(Glavine). The Giants moved 5 in front. 39.2% WPA
#13 6-24-02 (Homer #591) Bonds hit a 3 run homer to tie the game in the 7th - and then in the 9th, Bonds beat San Diego (Hoffman) with the homer that reaches number 13 here, just inside the right field foul pole, leading to a 7-6 Giants win. It was Bonds's 60th career multi-homer game. 39.2% WPA
#12 6-5-00 (Homer #469) 2 out in the top of the 11th, Bonds broke a 4-4 tie against the Angels (Hasegawa) and the Giants won 5-4. Bonds had two more hits and a walk, moving his OPS to 1.269. 39.4% WPA
#11 8-16-01 (Homer #546) A week before homer #19 and on the 53rd anniversary of Babe Ruth's death. Down 3-2 to the Marlins(Darensbourg) in the bottom of the 8th, Bonds hit a 2 strike 3 run homer to give the Giants their final 5-3 margin of victory. Bonds also homered in the 4th, getting him to 53 on the year. That broke Mays's Giants single season record and Mize's left handed NL record. 40.5 WPA%
#10 5-17-95 (Homer #262) Bonds hits a two run homer 412 feet into the Candlestick upper deck with the Giants down 2-1 in the bottom of the 7th to Chicago(Foster) the Giants only got one other hit the entire day (and had a perfect game being thrown against them into the 6th) but that 2-1 score held up. 41.2% WPA
#9. 8-21-03 (Homer #652) Two days after Bonds walked off the Braves back in #24, he did it again here. Score tied, bottom of the tenth, Bonds hits the first pitch to dead center, beats Atlanta again(Hodges), and then goes to see his dad who would die from cancer two days later. It was Bonds's 39th of the season, moving him to a 1.273 OPS. 41.9% WPA
#8. 5-28-04 (Homer #671) Bonds's 10th career walk off. 2-2 bottom of the 9th, 2 out, 2 strikes, Bonds (following a 2 run Grissom game tying single) sent Colorado home with a 2 run homer (Harikkala). Bonds had 3 hits on the day and left with a 1.437 OPS. The Giants won their 7th straight. 43.4% WPA
#7. 7-23-93 (Homer #204) The first game on the list where the Giants lost. Down 1-0 in the bottom of the 9th to Philadelphia(Schilling, who may be in prison by the time you read this). Bonds homered to tie the score - but San Francisco lost in 14. 44% WPA
#6. 4-18-94 (Homer #227) Down 1-0 in the bottom of the 9th to Montreal (Shaw) Bonds homered to tie the game - and the Giants went on to win in 11 when Bonds walked, stole second, and then scored the winning run on a Carreon single. 46.9% WPA.
#5 4-26-06 (Homer #711). The Giants lost this one too - with 2 out in the 9th, the Giants were down by two to the Mets(Wagner) Bonds pinch hit a game tying homer in a game the Giants lost in 11. 48.7% WPA
#4. 6-20-97 (Homer #349) Another Giants loss. Down 1 to the Dodgers (Worrell) 2 out, bottom of the 9th, Bonds hit his second homer of the day to tie a game the Giants would lose in the 10th. 48.8% WPA
#3. 7-18-95 (Homer #278) Another loss. Down 1 to the Marlins(Nen) 2 out, bottom of the 9th, Bonds hits his second homer of the day, this one over 450 feet into the right field upper deck at Candlestick (he also homered in the 8th) to tie a game the Giants would lose in the 14th. 48.9% WPA
#2. 9-13-98 (Homer #407) Down two to the Rockies(McElroy) in the bottom of the 8th, Bonds hits a 3 run homer to give the Giants their final 4-3 margin of victory. This moved Bonds past Duke Snider into 26th on the all time list. 61.2% WPA
#1. 6-30-95 (Homer #272) Down 6-4 in the bottom of the 9th to San Diego(Hoffman) Bonds hit his second of the game, a three run walk off that got the Giants to .500 with a 7-6 win. 80.4% WPA
2014 NL East
I've done my projected top 10 at each position (not a fantasy list); here I'm diving a little deeper by ranking at the divisional level.
And there's something extra at the end.
NL East
1. Washington
2. Atlanta WC
3. New York
4. Philadelphia
5. Miami
Catcher
1. Ruiz Phi
2. Gattis Atl
3. D'Arnaud NYM
4. Ramos Wash
5. Saltalamacchia Mia
First Base
1. Freeman Atl
2. Davis NYM
3. Laroche Wash
4. Howard Phi
5. Jones Mia
Second Base
1. Utley Phi
2. Murphy NYM
3. Rendon Wash
4. Uggla Atl
5. Furcal Mia
Shortstop
1. Simmons Atl
2. Desmond Wash
3. Rollins Phi
4. Tejada NYM
5. Hechavarria Mia
Third Base
1. Wright NYM
2. Zimmerman Wash
3. Johnson Atl
4. Asche Phi
5. McGehee Mia
Left Field
1. Upton Atl
2. Harper Wash
3. Granderson NYM
4. Brown Phi
5. Yelich Mia
Center Field
1. Span Wash
2. Revere Phi
3. Upton Atl
4. Lagres NY
5. Ozuna Mia
Right Field
1. Stanton Mia
2. Heyward Atl
3. Werth Wash
4. Young NYM
5. Byrd Phi
Top 10 Starting Pitchers
1. Fernandez Mia
2. Lee Phi
3. Strasburg Wash
4. Gonzalez Wash
5. Zimmerman Wash
6. Fister Wash
7. Hamels Phi
8. Minor Atl
9. Beachy Atl
10. Burnett Phi
Relievers
1. Kimbrel Atl
2. Pabelbon Phi
3. Cisek Mia
4. Clippard Wash
5. Parnell NY
1. Washington
2. Atlanta WC
3. New York
4. Philadelphia
5. Miami
Catcher
1. Ruiz Phi
2. Gattis Atl
3. D'Arnaud NYM
4. Ramos Wash
5. Saltalamacchia Mia
First Base
1. Freeman Atl
2. Davis NYM
3. Laroche Wash
4. Howard Phi
5. Jones Mia
Second Base
1. Utley Phi
2. Murphy NYM
3. Rendon Wash
4. Uggla Atl
5. Furcal Mia
Shortstop
1. Simmons Atl
2. Desmond Wash
3. Rollins Phi
4. Tejada NYM
5. Hechavarria Mia
Third Base
1. Wright NYM
2. Zimmerman Wash
3. Johnson Atl
4. Asche Phi
5. McGehee Mia
Left Field
1. Upton Atl
2. Harper Wash
3. Granderson NYM
4. Brown Phi
5. Yelich Mia
Center Field
1. Span Wash
2. Revere Phi
3. Upton Atl
4. Lagres NY
5. Ozuna Mia
Right Field
1. Stanton Mia
2. Heyward Atl
3. Werth Wash
4. Young NYM
5. Byrd Phi
Top 10 Starting Pitchers
1. Fernandez Mia
2. Lee Phi
3. Strasburg Wash
4. Gonzalez Wash
5. Zimmerman Wash
6. Fister Wash
7. Hamels Phi
8. Minor Atl
9. Beachy Atl
10. Burnett Phi
Relievers
1. Kimbrel Atl
2. Pabelbon Phi
3. Cisek Mia
4. Clippard Wash
5. Parnell NY
And there's something extra at the end.
2014 AL West
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
I've done my projected top 10 at each position (not a fantasy list); here I'm diving a little deeper by ranking at the divisional level.
And there's something extra at the end.
AL West
1. Oakland
2. Los Angeles WC
3. Texas
4. Seattle
5. Houston
Catcher
1. Castro Hou
2. Norris Oak
3. Iannetta LAA
4. Soto Tex
5. Zunino Sea
First Base
1. Pujols LAA
2. Fielder Tex
3. Moss Oak
4. Smoak Sea
5. Guzman Hou
Second Base
1. Cano Sea
2. Kendrick LAA
3. Altuve Hou
4. Callapso LAA
5. Profar Tex
Shortstop
1. Lowrie Oak
2. Andrus Tex
3. Miller Sea
4. Aybar LAA
5. Villar Hou
Third Base
1. Beltre Tex
2. Donaldson Oak
3. Seager Sea
4. Freese LAA
5. Dominguez Hou
Left Field
1. Choo Tex
2. Cespedes Oak
3. Hamilton LAA
4. Morrison Sea
5. Grossman Hou
Center Field
1. Trout LAA
2. Crisp Oak
3. Fowler Hou
4. Martin Tex
5. Ackley Sea
Right Field
1. Calhoun LAA
2. Reddick Oak
3. Rios Tex
4. Saunders Sea
5. Hoes Hou
DH
1. Hart Sea
2. Jaso Oak
3. Ibanez Sea
4. Moreland Tex
5. Carter Hou
Top 10 Starting Pitchers
1. Hernandez Sea
2. Darvish Tex
3. Weaver LAA
4. Wilson LAA
5. Griffin Oak
6. Gray Oak
7. Iwakuma Sea
8. Parker Oak
9. Straily Oak
10. Ogando Tex
Relievers
1. Doolittle Oak
2. Feliz Tex
3. Johnson Oak
4. Fieri LAA
5. Rodney Sea
And there's something extra at the end.
AL West
1. Oakland
2. Los Angeles WC
3. Texas
4. Seattle
5. Houston
Catcher
1. Castro Hou
2. Norris Oak
3. Iannetta LAA
4. Soto Tex
5. Zunino Sea
First Base
1. Pujols LAA
2. Fielder Tex
3. Moss Oak
4. Smoak Sea
5. Guzman Hou
Second Base
1. Cano Sea
2. Kendrick LAA
3. Altuve Hou
4. Callapso LAA
5. Profar Tex
Shortstop
1. Lowrie Oak
2. Andrus Tex
3. Miller Sea
4. Aybar LAA
5. Villar Hou
Third Base
1. Beltre Tex
2. Donaldson Oak
3. Seager Sea
4. Freese LAA
5. Dominguez Hou
Left Field
1. Choo Tex
2. Cespedes Oak
3. Hamilton LAA
4. Morrison Sea
5. Grossman Hou
Center Field
1. Trout LAA
2. Crisp Oak
3. Fowler Hou
4. Martin Tex
5. Ackley Sea
Right Field
1. Calhoun LAA
2. Reddick Oak
3. Rios Tex
4. Saunders Sea
5. Hoes Hou
DH
1. Hart Sea
2. Jaso Oak
3. Ibanez Sea
4. Moreland Tex
5. Carter Hou
Top 10 Starting Pitchers
1. Hernandez Sea
2. Darvish Tex
3. Weaver LAA
4. Wilson LAA
5. Griffin Oak
6. Gray Oak
7. Iwakuma Sea
8. Parker Oak
9. Straily Oak
10. Ogando Tex
Relievers
1. Doolittle Oak
2. Feliz Tex
3. Johnson Oak
4. Fieri LAA
5. Rodney Sea
2014 - AL Central
Monday, February 17, 2014
I've done my projected top 10 at each position (not a fantasy list); here I'm diving a little deeper by ranking at the divisional level.
And there's something extra at the end.
AL Central
1. Detroit
2. Cleveland
3. Kansas City
4. Chicago
5. Minnesota
Catcher
1. Perez KC
2. Avila Det
3. Gomes Cle
4. Suzuki Min
5. Flowers CWS
First Base
1. Cabrera Det
2. Abreu CWS
3. Mauer Min
4. Swisher Cle
5. Hosmer KC
Second Base
1. Kinsler Det
2. Kipnis Cle
3. Infante KC
4. Dozier Min
5. Beckham CWS
Shortstop
1. Cabrera Cle
2. Ramirez CWS
3. Iglesias Det
4. Florimon Min
5. Escobar KC
Third Base
1. Chisenhall Cle
2. Moustakas KC
3. Castellanos Det
4. Plouffe Min
5. Davidson CWS
Left Field
1. Gordon KC
2. Willingham Min
3. Dirks Det
4. Brantley Cle
5. DeAnza CWS
Center Field
1. Jackson Det
2. Bourn Cle
3. Eaton CWS
4. Presley Min
5. Cain KC
Right Field
1. Hunter Det
2. Aoki KC
3. Viciedo CWS
4. Murphy Cle
5. Arcia Min
DH
1. Santana Cle
2. Butler KC
3. Martinez Det
4. Dunn CWS
5. Kubel Min
Top 10 Starting Pitchers
1. Verlander Det
2. Sale CWS
3. Scherzer Det
4. Sanchez Det
5. Shields KC
6. Masterson Cle
7. Smyly KC
8. Quintana CWS
9. Salazar Cle
10. Porcello Det
Relievers
1. Holland KC
2. Nathan Det
3. Perkins Min
4. Allen Cle
5. Jones CWS
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