February, 2015 Athlete of the Month

January is here.

Malcolm Butler.

Runners-up: Russell Westbrook, Jahlil Okafor, Frank Kaminsky

2 down.  10 left in the race for 2015 Athlete of the Year.

January - Marshawn Lynch
February - Malcolm Butler

Forever Giants:1981 San Francisco Giants Year 24 (99)

1980 is here.

My WAR calculation is a combination of Baseball-reference and Clay Davenport; I believe it to be the "best" WAR number available for historical comparison. 8 WAR is an MVP quality season.  The record is pythagorean adjusted for 162 games.

1981 83-79

C Milt May 1.6 

1B Enos Cabell -1.8

2B Joe Morgan 2.25

SS Johnnie LeMaster -.3 

3B Darrell Evans 2.65 

LF Larry Herndon 2.15 

CF Jerry Martin -.75

RF Jack Clark 2.95 

1B Dave Bergman .55

CF Bill North .45 

RF Jeff Leonard 1.95

SP Doyle Alexander 4.65

SP Tom Griffin 1.1 

SP Vida Blue 4.3 

SP Ed Whitson .3 

RP Greg Minton 2.85 

RP Al Holland 3.15

-The player most historically similar to Mel Ott, a Giant great turned Giant manager, was Frank Robinson, who became the first African-American manager in NL history.  We also got a new GM in former catcher Tom Haller.  In this strike shortened season, the Giants slip back above a .500 pythag.  The Giants got no hit again, fortunately, in Montreal.

Top 10 Catchers - 2015 MLB

Third basemen are here.

Here's my ranking for MLB catchers for the 2015 MLB season.  But first - the MLB Network rankings. I'll revisit before Opening Day

MLB Network

10. Wilton Ramos Wash
9. Derek Norris SD
8. Brian McCann NYY
7. Salvatore Perez KC
6. Devin Mesoraco Cin
5. Russell Martin Tor
4. Yan Gomes Cle
3. Yadier Molina StL
2. Jonathan Lucroy Mil
1. Buster Posey SFG

Jividen
20. J. Saltalamacchia Mia 1.3
19. A. Avila Det 1.5
18. M. Zunino Sea 1.8
17. S. Vogt Oak 1.85
16. C. Iannetta Col 1.85
15. M. Montero Chi 2
14. W. Ramos Wash 2.05
13. M. Wieters Bal 2.05
12. D. Norris SD 2.2
11. D. Mesoraco Cin 2.25
10. T. d'Arnaud NYM 2.4
9. B. McCann NYY 2.4
8. C. Ruiz Phi 2.45
7. Y. Grandal LAD 2.5
6. S. Perez KC 2.55
5. Y. Gomes Cle 2.8
4. J. Lucroy Mil 3.15
3. R. Martin Tor 3.2
2. Y. Molina StL 3.4
1. B. Posey SFG 4.75

Top 10 Third Basemen - 2015 MLB

Second basemen are here.

Here's my ranking for MLB third basemen for the 2015 MLB season.  But first - the MLB Network rankings. I'll revisit before Opening Day

MLB Network

10. Nolan Arenado Col

9. Juan Uribe LAD

8. Evan Longoria TB

7. Matt Carpenter StL

6. Kyle Seager Sea

5. David Wright NYM

4. Anthony Rendon Wash

3. Josh Harrison Pitt

2. Josh Donaldson Tor

1. Adrian Beltre Tex

Jividen
20. A. Ramirez Mil 1.4
19. J. Lamb Ari 1.65
18. L. Chisenhall Cle 1.8
17. M. Prado Mia 1.85
16. J. Uribe LAD 1.85
15. C. Headley NYY 2.5
14. T. Frazier Cin 2.8
13. P. Sandoval Bos 2.85
12. B. Lawrie Oak 3
11. N. Arenado Col 3.25
10. J. Harrison Pit 3.25
9. A. Rendon Wash 3.35
8. D. Wright NYM 3.35
7. M. Machado Balt 3.55
6. A. Beltre Tex 3.65
5. E. Longoria TB 4
4. K. Seager Sea 4.05
3. M. Carpenter StL 4.35
2. J. Donaldson Tor 4.35
1. K. Bryant Chi 5

Tendown Feb 22 2015

163 is here. This is Tendown 164

1. SNL 40 wasn't very funny.  It was fragile. It was elegiac. I really enjoyed it.  Here are 40 years of candid pics.

2. Rolling Stone ranks every cast member.  It's a dopey list.

3. An academic paper about Chris Benoit.

4. 26-25....and here's the finish.

5. I see your Brian Williams and raise you a...oh, guess.

6. Stop me if you've heard this before - raise taxes on rich people.

7. The Oscars are tonight - my picks are here.

8. Check your recently purchased Lenovo laptop.

9. A-Rod killed those people and now must....oh, that's all he did?  He seems remorseful.

10.

43-9.

11. And one more...



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

Your pal,

Jim