I am pleased to announce that the Ducksnorts 2008 Baseball Annual is now available as a hard copy or a PDF download. Not ready to commit? Try some linky goodness:
- View the table of contents
- Download a free PDF of excerpts
- Read reviews of the 2007 Annual
- Read an interview of me at Hardball Times
- Buy the book
As a reminder, $1 from each book sold during calendar year 2008 will go to the San Diego Red Cross, so not only are you getting something to read, you’re also doing something good for folks.
Enjoy, and spread the word!
Right on, Geoff. Looking forward to seeing the book when you get out here next week. Congrats!
Mmmmmmmmmmmmm, linky goodness…
Sweet!
I second what Navin said earlier this morning
http://ducksnorts.com/blog/2008/02/friday-links-22-feb-08.html#comment-154711
OT … does OG have something to worry about that I don’t know about?
http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20080222/capt.c3328d0a85e547b8963c77248845d883.padres_spring_baseball_azmg101.jpg
http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20080222/capt.11b9a46508f84ea2ba952a0a1fd31c29.padres_spring_baseball_azmg102.jpg
… it’s good to see him running fast enough to blur
mlbtraderumors.com has a listing of all the remaining free agents for 2008:
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2008/02/2008-mlb-free-a.html
Two names that interest me on that list are Corey Patterson and Kyle Lohse. Neither of them are great players (or maybe even good) but they could both fill important holes on the team. Patterson much of a hitter but he’s a good defender and the Padres could stand to improve there. They don’t really need another left-handed hitter but I don’t think an outfield of Hairston/Headley, Edmonds and Giles is going to be very good.
Lohse also isn’t wonderful but he’s durable and better then the current fifth starter candidates at the moment. I’d certainly sign him to a one year deal, hoping that he’d accept to build up value to sign a multi-year deal with another team. Then the Padres could let him walk and take the draft pick. Petco Park would probably really help him out as he’s a flyball pitcher (35th out of 45 NL pitchers over 160 innings). That’s not CY like (45 of 45) but the stadium would probably help him out.
Re 6: I think that’s a great idea if we could get Lohse for a 1 year deal. He’s pitched in two extreme hitters parks over the last 2 years (Cin, Phi) as a flyball pitcher, and he’s only 29 (as opposed to most free agents who are usually 31 at the youngest).
I also think an extra outfielder would be a plus, but I’ve never liked Corey Patterson. How about Reed Johnson now that Tor signed Shannon Stewart in addition to V. Wells, Rios, Stairs, and Lind?
Reed Johnson had a .390 OBP best of all AL leadoff hitters in ’06, and is a good defender at all 3 outfield positions. He also has a career OPS+ of 121 against lefties, which is good because Edmonds is terrible against them (72 OPS+). He also went to high school in Temecula, so he’s local and would probably love to play in San Diego
I’ll be purchasing a copy tonight!!
7: Reed’s coming off back surgery. I’d be wary of putting another injury risk in our OF. But I’d rather have him than Patterson.
Congrats again on the book, I can’t wait to check it out!!!
Congrats again Geoff!
Is there any way I can get html or whatever to put a link and picture of your book in my sidebar thingy … I don’t even care if I don’t make the couple of cents that you get from amazon, I’d be happy to put it up for a few months … though, like I’ve said before, I don’t think there are many folks in internet land who know about my blog and not Ducksnorts : )
Who had the most effective fastball in 2007?
Heath Bell. Chris Young was second, Jake 10th and Justin Germano 14th (???).
http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/searching-for-the-games-best-pitch/
Congratulations, Geoff! I’m so happy for you and impressed with this book. Best of luck with it. It was great seeing you at the meetup too.
Thanks, Carole, and thanks again for the words of wisdom! I look forward to seeing you at the next meetup.