Brock for Broglio

Paul Sporer, author of the fine blog 52 in 52 puts together an extensive break down of Starting Pitchers, and their 2008 outlook. For those familiar with Bodhizefa’s Annual SP Tiers, this is a nice alternative.

—–> 2008 Version of Echelon-Divided Starting Pitchers

This system has given me a massive advantage on my competition, and I hope you find it as valuable.

 

This article is written–under the assumption–you’re already familiar with using a feed reader. If not, you can find a detailed explanation of how to subscribe to blogs, and use a Feed Reader here.

 

THE SYSTEM:

1. Del.icio.us Bookmarking

If you don’t have a delicious account, you can make one here. (It’s a simple User/Pass/Email with no spam and free) Make sure to install the delicious toolbar on your web browser.

 

Short video explanation of Del.icio.us:

 

Here’s how to use Del.icio.us to filter out junk, and store vital information:

• When you’re going through your feed reader, and you find something important, simply “tag” the content with the name “to_read” by clicking the “delicious” tag on your browser.
• You can quickly go through a days worth of updates this way, storing important and relevant information. This functionality is important when you are subscribed to many blogs and news sites. And as a fantasy baseball manager you should be subscribed to many resources.
• When you are done bookmarking your information with the tag “to_read”, close out your feed reader.
• Go to your delicious bookmark page, and read the content from your bookmark page. This will save you a lot of time; plus, it will keep information important to you consolidated in one place.

Next step…

 

Integrating the power of Stumble Upon:

Here’s a short video about Stumble Upon: (turn up the volume for this video)

 

Now go make a Stumble Upon account by clicking here. (just enter a name/email/pass no spam and it’s free)

 

The video explains how awesome the tool is, but I’m going to show you how to use it specifically for finding new content.

 

Here’s how to discover hidden gems with Stumble Upon:

• Once you have a Stumble Upon account, and the toolbar installed, the only buttons you’ll need are “Thumb Up”, “Thumb Down”, & “Stumble”
• Now when you visit the content you tagged with Del.icio.us, simply vote a thumbs up by clicking the thumbs up icon on the Stumble Upon Toolbar.

Essentially what you are doing is telling the Stumble Upon system that you want to find content like this in the future. The more you vote, the smarter the algorithm gets.

 

Here’s the 4 step system in review:

 

1. You find a blog/site you like (I recommended 101 good baseball blogs here.) You subscribe to those blogs/sites with your feed reader.
2. You receive many daily updates in your feed reader. To filter through all of the updates; you use the delicious bookmarking tool to tag important information with the tag “to_read”
3. You use Stumble Upon to vote on content you stored in delicious by clicking the thumbs up button on the Stumble Toolbar.
4. After voting on content with Stumble Upon the system will began to learn about the types of content that is important to you. Then all you have to do is click the “stumble” button on the toolbar, and the system will launch you to new fantasy baseball content.

I’ve found many quality resources with this system. Pretty cool..eh?

 

If you have any questions, I’d be more than happy to answer them in the comments.

This list is compiled of the best progressive baseball blogs, and resources.

These resources have been invaluable to me. I’m subscribed to every one of them, and much of the commentary posted here is inspired by their innovative ideas and intellect.

 

Baseball Blogs 1. Baseball Analysts 2. Baseball Prospectus 3. The Hardball Times 4. Baseball Think Factory 5. Beyond the Boxscore 6. Baseball Digest Daily 7. Knuckle Curve 8. Biz of Baseball  9. Fire Joe Morgan 10. Bugs and Cranks 11. Squawking Baseball 12. Ump Bump 13. Shysterball 14. Baseball Crank 15. Dead Spin   Spring Training 2008 16. Spring Training 08 17. ESPN Spring Training 08   Fantasy Baseball Blogs 18. Greener On the Other Side 19. Fantasy Game Day 20. Roto Professor 21. Razzball 22. Fake Teams 23. Crooked Pitch 24. Disabled List 25. Fantasy 411 26. Fantasy Baseball Mafia 27. Roto Authority 28. Roto Rob 29. LaRuina Baseball 30. Roto Nomics 31. Seamless Baseball 32. Ask Rotoman 33. Fantasy Baseball Generals 34. The Roto Feed   MLB Prospect Blogs 35. John Sickel’s Minor League Ball 36. Diamond Cutter 37. Project Prospect   Sabermetric Research Blogs 38. Statistically Speaking 39. Dan Agonistes 40. Sabermetric Research 41. Sabernomics (and Braves)  42. Voros McCracken 43. Recondite Baseball 44. Inside the Book 45. Walk Like a Sabermetrician 46. Cybermetric 47. Small Ball to Long Ball   Mariners Blogs 48. USS Mariner (Personal Favorite)  49. Lookout Landing   Rays Blogs 50. Rays of Light 51. Rays Index   Cubs Blog 52. View From the Bleachers   Tigers Blog 53. Detroit Tiger Tales   White Sox Blog 54. South Side Sox   A’s Blogs 55. Catfish Stew 56. Athletics Nation   Yankees Blog 57. River Ave. Blues   Reds Blogs 58. RedLeg Nation 59. Justin Inaz   Royals Blogs 60. Rany on the Royals 61. Royals Review   Mets Blogs 62. Mets Geek 63. Mets Blog   Rangers Blog 64. Lone Star Ball   Indians Blog 65. Let’s Go Tribe   Blue Jays Blog 66. Drunk Jays Fans   Pirates Blog 67. Bucs Dugout   Yankees Blog 68. Bombers Beat   Brewers Blogs 69. Journal Sentinel Brewers 70. Al’s Ramblings 71. Brew Crew Ball   Twins Blogs 72. Aaron Gleeman 73. Seth Speaks   Giants Blogs 74. McCovey Chronicles (Sabean’s favorite read)  75. El Lefty Malo   Phillies Blogs 76. A Citizen’s Blog 77. Ball Sticks and Stuff   Padres Blog 78. Duck Snorts   Baseball Headlines 79. Ballbug 80. BallHype 81. Pro Sports Daily   Baseball Resources 82. Baseball Reference 83. First Inning 84. Hit Tracker Online 85. Minor League Splits 86. Cot’s Contracts 87. Fan Graphs 88. The Sports Cube 89. Baseboogle   Transactions and News 90. MLB Trade Rumors 91. Baseball Musings 92. The Transactions Guy 93. Transaction Oracle   Steroids 94. Baseball’s Steroid Era 95. Steroid Nation 96. Eric Walker Steroids and Baseball   Baseball History 97. Retrosheet 99. Sean Lahman’s Baseball Archive 99. Baseball Almanac 100. The Baseball Page 101. Baseball Library BONUS: Baseball Hall of Fame

B4B Reader Favorites: Sabermetric Wiki Baseball Happenings Home Run Derby It’s About The Money Baseball Talk Online Baseball Blend Touching Base A Baseball Geek Sky King Seamheads Fantasy Baseball: Roto Junkie Trophy League Planet Science Fiction Baseball Fantasy Baseball Search Melnick & Greco Fantasy Hurler Devil Rays: DRays Bay Rays Anatomy Dodgers: Dodger Thoughts Nationals: Capitol Punishment Yankees: Bronx Banter LoHud Yankees Blog Replacement Level Yankees Pending Pinstripes Bronx Bomberz Royals: Joe Posnanski Royals Authority Rangers: The Newberg Report Baseball Time in Arlington Cubs: Cobra Brigade Bleed Cubbie Blue Diamondbacks: AZ Snake Pit Cardinals: Viva El Birdos Future Red Birds Pirates: Hyzdu Headquarters Black & Gold Spot Bucco Blog Phillies: The Good Phight Crashburn Alley We Should Be GM’s Mets: Blastings Thrilledge Metsball

 

What am I missing?

Excerpt from his site:

The main uses of the MLB Mock Draft Software are (but not limited to):

1. Running practice mock drafts against the computer, where the computer drafts for all of the other teams.
2. As a tool to use during your live draft to help manage your draft process and pick the best possible team.
3. To analyze a team that you already drafted using some other draft method.

——-> Download it Here (Free)

Tools:

1. Line Up Analysis Tool
Enter in a lineup, and see what the lineup’s average run production would look like.

I like to re-arrange team batting orders, and see which ones spit out the highest run totals.

 

2. StallValue System
Enter in your league settings, and get player dollar values based on your scoring format.

 

3. Baseball Monster
This player rater updates throughout the regular season. It’s like ESPN’s but offers more customization.

 

4. Pitch F/X (Read the primer first)
Take a look (pitch by pitch) at any given hurler. See what pitches are thrown, where they’re located, and how effective the various pitch types are.

 

Downloads:

5. 2001-2007 entire (individual season statistics) in XLS format
Make sure to have last season’s statistics open–during your live online draft–for quick reference.

 

6. 2008 Player Projections: Marcel | CHONE | ZiPS
Each system has its own strengths and weaknesses. Use all three player forecasts for better precision.

 

Resources:

7. 2007/2008 Team Transactions
Whose been designated for assignment, placed on the DL, signed, and/or extended?

 

8. Hit Tracker
This amazing website keeps track of HR distances using a comprehensive system that measures ballpark dimensions.

 

* This page will be updated as new feedback and commentary comes in. Don’t miss out: Subscribe Here.

How many times have you had to manually visit a site simply to use their search engine? Fangraphs, BaseballCube, & ESPN quickly come to mind.

As Fantasy Baseball Managers, we’re always gathering player performance data, and unfortunately the industry does a bad job consolidating all these important metrics in one player card.

Thanks to this Firefox Extension, you can simply right click any site that has a search bar and add it to your Firefox browser. For those familiar with the beauty of Firefox, you’ll love this extension.

Once you get the extension installed, here are some search bars you should consider adding:

• FirstInning
• THT Stats
• Baseball-Reference

Kelly from Fantasy Gameday has finally finished his massive Average Draft Position project.

You simply won’t find a cheat sheet, that gives a more thorough look into how people are evaluating the player pool this season.

Earlier in the week I shared 101 of the best fantasy team names. Based on your feedback, I’ve compiled a list of your favorite Fantasy Baseball League Names:

1. L.U.M.B.E.R.: The League of Unrepentant Maniacal Baseball Escapists and Renegades
2. The Legend of Dirty Joe - All team names from the movie Joe Dirt
3. The Uberroth Urinalysis League
4. League Of Their Own 
5. League of Extraordinary Gentlemen

Got something better? Let me know in the comments. If its good enough, it will replace what’s in the top 5 already.

Scratching your head trying to come up with an eye catching team name? If so, this resource was created specifically for you.

I compiled a list of over 300 of the funniest and most clever fantasy baseball team names on the web. After some edits and a strict filtering process this is the best 101 found:

 

Radio

1. Roundin’ 3rd

2. Roundin’ the Bases

 

Old/Current ESPN

3. Dibble’s Tribbles

4. Ravech’s Savages

5. Kurkjian’s Workmen

6. Gammon’s Gamers

7. Back Back Back Gone - Chris Berman

 

Team Loyalists

8. Athletic Department - If you own lots of A’s

9. Baltimorioles - …Lots of O’s

10. Bricks & Ivy - …Love Wrigley Field

11. Phillies Blunts - If you’re a Philly Fan & 420 friendly

12. The Green Monsters

13. Waveland Avenue Souvenirs

 

Being Hopeful

14. Career Years

15. Swing For The Fences - Good name for a team with many 3 true outcome players

 

Classic Jokes

16. All Your Bases Are Belong To Us - Ageless internet joke

17. Government Cheese Inspectors - Grew up on this stuff

18. Crotch Bats - SNL skit

 

Just Wrong

19. Helmeted Retards

20. Short Bus Crew

 

Pessimists

21. Destined For Last

22. The Paper Champions - Team that looked good before season started

 

Movies

23. Brokebat Mountain

 

Your Players

24. Stained Sheets

25. Albert Poo Holes

26. A Rod In My Pants

27. Reyes of Light

28. Oliver for Perezident - Mets fans should like this one

29. Orlando Resort and Cabrera

30. Citizen Cain

31. Crunch N Mench

32. Debbie does Odaliz

33. Drew Bastard

34. Foulke You

35. FrEEL the BURNett - If you have both

36. Funky Cold Mussina

37. Gettin’ Figgy Wittit

38. Hip Hip Jorge

39. Honey Nut Ichiros

40. Jeter Peter-Beaters

41. Leave it to the Weavers

42. Leave It to Weaver

43. Lee Harvey Oswalts

44. Marcum Up Knockem Down

45. Mauer Power Please

46. Mench Warmers - Kevin Mench

47. The Happy Halladays

48. The Hungry Howies - Howie Kendrick

49. The Price is Wright

50. X Markakis The Spot

51. Pronkx Bombers - Travis Hafner

52. Sexson the Beach

53. Teixico - Mark Teixeira

54. Duke Nuk’em - Zack Duke

55. Jeff Kent’s Moustache

56. Attention V Mart Shoppers

57. The fAtkins Diet

58. Bull Schmidt

59. Schmidt head

60. Foulke You Guys

61. What the Foulke? - In reference to coming out of retirement

62. Dunn for the Season

63. Dunn for the Year

64. Don’t get mad, get Vlad

65. The Good, the Bad, and Vlad

66. Vlad the Impalar & Co.

67. I Got Wood

68. Morning Wood

 

Power Hitters

69. Frequent Fliers

70. Whammers

 

Raunchy

71. Give it a Yankee

72. Got Two Balls On ‘Em

73. The Panty Sniffers

74. Captain Dick & His Seamen

75. the League of Extraordinary Gerbiling

76. No Glove No Love

77. Off In The Shower - Nobody Beats…

78. The Master Batters

 

Irony

79. Baseball Team - Its in the simplicity

 

Steroids

80. The Backnes - Back acne (steroid symptom)

81. Atrophying Testicles - Definition for atrophying

82. Barry The Roidhead

83. McNamee Injected My Butt

84. Size 10 Hats

85. Stick 2 BarryJuice & ClemenAid

86. The Human Growth Hormones

 

If You Drafted Pitching Heavy

87. Flame Throwers

88. Staff Infection

 

Team Race

89. BuddhaCall - Lots of Asian imports on your team.

90. Dominican Death Squad - Lots of DR on your team.

91. The Dynamic Hispanics - etc

 

Lot of Prospects

92. Minimum wagers - You own many prospects

 

Double Meanings & Wordplay

93. We’ve got the Runs

94. Urine Troubles

95. Hand Gestures

96. Whippersnappers

97. Lastplace Niceguys - Nice guys finish last in fantasy baseball too.

98. ThUnderDogs - The Underdogs + Thunderdogs

99. Karmas’ Bitch

100. Wrecked ‘Em

101. Team Name Generator - If you don’t like anything in the top 100, use this tool.

 

Enjoying this list? Please subscribe here with your email address, or feed reader to receive notification of future fantasy baseball articles published here at Brock for Broglio. It’s private, and spam free.

 

Your Favorite Names

102. Sexson till I’m Dunn

103. Each Hit - Say it out loud…

104. The Flying Oquendos

105. It Byrnes When I Piazza

106. My Balls Ichiro

107. All-Junked-Up

108. Ludicrous Speed - Team poised to win SB category

109. Let My People Bunt

110. Adam’s Eaton Out

111. Jeters Never Prosper

112. Dempster Divers

113. Zach Dukes Of Hazzard

114. Jermaine Tye Dyes

115. What A Putz

116. The Harangatangs

117. Fake Team’s 2008 Best Fantasy Baseball Team Name Winners

 

What are some more of your favorites?

As 2008’s magazines, books, and guides become available, I’ll continue to add them to this list. Am I missing something? Let me know in the comments.

I’d highly recommend reading the commentary at the bottom of the page. There’s on going discussion about release dates and alternative purchase sources.

 

2008 Baseball Magazines:

• Rotowire Magazine (Available)
• 2008 CBSSports.com Fantasy Baseball Owners Manual & Draft Guide (Available)
• Fantasy Baseball Guide Pro. Edition (Available at Newsstands - Link is to Blog)
• Fantasy Baseball Index (Available)
• Athlon Sports Baseball Annual (Available at Newsstands)
• Lindy’s MLB Fantasy Guide (Available)
• The Sporting News Fantasy Baseball Guide (Available at Newsstands)
• Fanball.com’s 2008 Guide to Winning Fantasy Baseball (Available)
• Beckett’s Fantasy Baseball Draft Guide by Rotoworld (Available at Newsstands)
• The Sporting News Baseball Yearbook (There are 16 different covers, to get to the other fifteen, change the last digit of the url from 1 to any number between 2 and 16)
• Lindy’s MLB Preview (Available at Newsstands)

2008 Fantasy Baseball Books/Guides:

• Ron Shandler’s Baseball Forecaster
• Bill James Handbook
• The Bill James Goldmine
• Fantasy Baseball Strategy Advanced Methods
• Dominate Your Fantasy Baseball League
• Baseball Prospectus Essential Guide
• Baseball America Prospect Handbook
• The Baseball Prospect Book
• The Hardball Times Baseball Annual

 

 

* I don’t personally endorse any of these products. I’ve listed them here for your convenience. This page will be updated as more information comes in. If you want to be notified automatically you can subscribe here with your email address or feed reader.