100 Posts, Computer Fried

Is that a sign or something? Hopefully be back up and running sometime next week. In the meantime enjoy the LCS!

Links for October 14th, 2009

TV: Redstone selling share in CBS
Baseball: Nats Managerial List
Music: Britney's 3 is #1
Fantasy Football: WR Targets
Green: Climate Changes for Big Companies
Fantasy Baseball: BA Prospect List Accuracy
Technology: VC Funding for Q3
Sports Business: WMG buying Athletes First
Movies: THR Where The Wild Things Are Review
Stocks: JP Morgan Q3 Earnings

Links for October 13th, 2009

TV: No Glee for Thanksgiving
Baseball: Cards Resign Holliday & Extend Pujols
Music: Mayer's Return
Fantasy Football: TMR's Waiver Wire
Technology: Wave on the Iphone
Fantasy Baseball: Early 2010 OF Rankings
Green: Volt is A Step Closer
Sports Business: Season Tickets for 50 years
Movies: Getting Ready for MJ's last dance

Links for October 12th, 2009

Baseball: Jose Reyes Injury Debate
Music: Michael Jackson New Song on TMZ
Fantasy Football: Droppables
Green: Climate Bill Compromise
Fantasy Baseball: Orioles 2009
Technology:How The Wave Changes Communication
Sports Business: Spongetech Lawsuit
Stocks: Earnings Week
Movies: Weekend Box Office

Computer is back, I think, so baseball and TV posts coming soon.

Links for October 9th, 2009

TV: NBC is dying
Baseball: Yankees Good For Baseball (Revenues)
Music: No TM-Live Nation Merger in Europe?
Fantasy Football: Week 5 Advice
Green: Smart Grid Debate
Fantasy Baseball: Gordon Beckham, Breakout Star?
Technology: Asian Click Fraud
Sports Business: Nets Finances
Stocks: Goldman's Quarter
Movies: Burlesque Movie with Christina and Kristin

Technical Difficulties

Sorry guys, I'm officially behind. My Internet has been having some issues. Blogs coming on nuclear energy, MLB postseason revenue, movies, stocks, and technology. I should catchup by tomorrow if my computer can get cleaned up. Thanks for your patience.

Links for October 8th, 2009

TV: Michael Vick TV Show
Baseball: Baby Cole Cries about Start Times
Music: Eminem done with Relapse 2
Fantasy Football: Target Report
Green: Tariff Debate
Fantasy Baseball: Top Southern League Prospects
Technology: Branded Phones Coming Soon
Sports Business: Attendance Up from 08 for playoffs
Movies: Miss Borat Making Her Own Moves
Economy/Stocks: September Retail Figures

Fantasy Catchers 2009 in Review

2009 Average Draft Pick Rankings (Draft Position, Round)
1. Brian McCann (44, 4) - solid 2nd tier, not worthy of selection
2. Russ Martin (45, 4) - absolute bust 14th best C this year
3. Joe Mauer (50, 5) - pick of the year here, MVP in fantasy and real life
4. Geovany Soto (61, 6) - biggest bust, not even top 25 at years end
5. Victor Martinez (70, 6) - went on a tear when he joined the Sox
6. Ryan Doumit (117, 10) - injuries plagued him
7. Chris Iannetta (140, 12) - horrible AVG, but still has pop
8. Matt Wieters (149, 13) - slow start after call-up, great September
9. Bengie Molina (150, 13) - what we thought
10. Mike Napoli (169, 15) - same as above
11. Jorge Posada (174, 15) - helped but new stadium but not much
12. Dioner Navarro (203, 17) - Dodgers were right, can't hit

Final 2009 Yahoo Rankings
1. Joe Mauer (12)
2. Pablo Sandoval (46)
3. Victor Martinez (58)
4. Brian McCann (142)
5. Kurt Suzuki (151)
6. Jorge Posada (196)
7. Miguel Montero (249)
8. Brandon Inge (252)
9. Mike Napoli (279)
10. Bengie Molina (283)
11. AJ Pierzysnki (309)
12. Miguel Olivo (317)
Note: Matt Wieters #3 last month of season

Power surge: 10 catchers had 19 home runs or more this year and 19 catchers hit more than 10

Looking forward to 2010, Mauer is absolutely #1 and will get consideration for first round. I see Sandoval and Victor as a 4th rounders. From there, let the crapshoot begin here. Olivo, Posada, and Napoli all hit 20 bombs in less than 400 AB's. Wieters is sure to get some hype after his September. Potential bouncebacks from McCann and Martin are possible as well. Molina and Barajas are the only decent free agent options so not much will change at this position between now and 2010. I'll start 2010 rankings with catcher when the calendar says 2010.

New Music

RECOMMEND Doesn't Mean Anything - Alicia Keys
Back and just as talented as she use to be

RECOMMEND Medicate - AFI
Not saying you should tale drugs, but you'll like the song

Taking Chances - Glee Cast
OK cover, Idol's Kara DiGourdi did a better one although she wrote it which is impressive

RECOMMEND Wheels - Foo Fighters
Slower more commerically viable track from a louder band

Red Light - David Nail
New country artist with a mediocre country song

RECOMMEND Manhattan - Kings of Leon
The hits keep coming for TN's finest, if you don't own the album buy it already

Bad Habits - Maxwell
Suprised he's still around, after listening to song even more suprised

Slow Poison - The Bravery
Too much keyboard for a rock song for me

RECOMMEND Funhouse - Pink
A jingly new one that'll get played in the radio and clubs

Crawl Back In - Dead By Sunrise
Linkin Park's Chester side project, mediocre, stick to Linkin Park for their beats

Bonfire - Craig Morgan
Another reason why I'm coming around to country, very Big &Rich sounding track

New Albums This Week
Michael Buble
Toby Keith
Roseanne Cash
Brandi Carlile
Tokio Hotel

Week 4 Recap: Fantasy Football

WOW! Performances of The Week

• David Garrard - 323 yards, 3 TD
• Rashard Mendenhall - 165 yards, 2 TD
• Steve Smith (NYG) - 134 yards, 2 TD
• Peyton Manning - 353 yards, 2 TD
• Ronnie Borwn - 115 yards, 2 TD
• Mike Sims-Walker(UCF) - 91 yards, 2 TD

WTF! Performances of The Week

• Tony Romo - 0 TD
• Darren McFadden - -3 yards and gets injured
• LT - 15 yards
• Braylon Edwards - 0 catches
• Drew Brees - 0 TD

Trends To Keep An Eye On

• Jerome Harrison and Rashard Mendenhall for real?
• Is Joe Flacco a must-start every week?
• How long will it take Michael Crabtree to catchup?
• The big group #2 RB's after the top 10 all being pretty equal
  

Trade Targets

• QB: Donovan McNabb, Jay Cutler
• WR: Roddy White, Anquan Boldin, Dewayne Bowe, Wes Welker
• RB: Brian Westbrook, Jonathan Stewart
• Little TD Club: Bush, Forte, LT, Steve Smith (CAR), Housh - Players who don't score TD but have solid stats are always easy trade targets because there scoring is supressed
• Off Bye Week Club: Kurt Warner, Larry Fitgerald, Michael Turner, Desean Jackson, D'Angelo Williams, Matt Ryan - Players who come off the bye haven't played for owners in 10-12 days so people forget how good they are
• **Start using average points per game as byes/injuries throw off players who've played every week vs bye players if using cumulative point when targetting players**

Waiver Wire Picks

• Brian Robiskie - CLE WR
• Michael Bush - OAK RB
• Beanie Wells - AZ RB
• Jerome Harrison - CLE RB
• Rashard Mendenhall - PIT RB
• Derek Anderson - CLE QB

Links for October 7th, 2009

TV: Bored To Death Get 2nd Season
Baseball: Depodesta on MLB Firings
Music: Jay Sean Down For #1
Fantasy Football: Edwards Jets Effects
Green: Cleantech boom
Fantasy Baseball: All Damn-It Team
Technology: DoubleTwist Goes After Apple Music
Sports Business: UDorsements
Movies: Green Rome Film Festival
Economy: XM Back From 5 Cents

Links for Tuesday October 6th

TV: What people watched beside Brett
Baseball: Comeback Player Analysis
Music: GNR sue for copyright infringement
Fantasy Football: The Waiver Wire
Green: Why 350 Matters
Fantasy Baseball: Carolina League Prospects
Technology: Blackberry Apps
Sports Business: Rams Have A Buyer
Movies: New Chris Rock Movie
Economy: No Gift-Giving To Bloggers (Shucks!)

TV for the Week

So I somehow missed remind you to watch Curb and Entourage last night. If you missed either of them find them on demand or the Internet. Both were hysterical. In between baseball this week:

Gossip Girl, Monday 8 on CW
Tyra Banks and Hilary Duff guest star

Jone & Kate Plus Eight, Monday 9:30 on TLC
I don't care but everybody else seems to

King's Ransom, Tuesday 8 on ESPN
Beginning of 30 for 30 which is ESPN sports documentaries series shows Gretzky's move to LA

South Park, Wednesday 10 on Comedy Central
New episodes, need I say more

The Office, Thursday 9 on NBC
Pam and Jim get hitched

Wizards of Waverly Place, Friday 8 on Disney
If you have kids under 12 you understand

Wanda Sykes standup, Saturday 10 on HBO
Not a huge fan of female standups, but she's the exception to the rule

Sundays are Californication, Dexter, Curb, and Mad Men time plus another new E! show at the Llamas family.

Awards and Division Series Predictions

AL ROY: Elvis Andrus (MLB Pick: Rick Porcello)
NL ROY: Chris Coghlan (MLB Pick: JA Happ)

AL MVP: Joe Mauer
NL MVP: Albert Pujols

AL Cy Young: Zach Greinke
NL Cy Young: Tim Lincecum (MLB Pick: Chris Carpenter)

Cardinals over Dodgers
Toughest matchup to pick. Cardinals can't hit lefties and have 2 great hitters but no much else. The Cards have much much better SP depth, games 3 and 4 are Piniero-Garland and Smoltz-Padilla in STL. Don't underestimate the Dodgers bullpen with lefties Sherill and Kuo. SP wins in the playoffs and the Cards have more of it. If Torre throws Wolf in game 4 on short rest giving them the potential for 4 LHSP starts, I reserve the right to switch my pick now. Otherwise, Matt Holliday's new friends will play on I think. Clayton and the Dodgers I'm rooting for you so please make me another dumb blogger.

Phillies over Rockies
Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels is too much for any team to overcome even the red hot Rockies in my mind, plus Utley-Rollins-Howard will mash against the Rockies middle relief. The C&C K Factory will make everybody dance now in Philly. Throw out the records and the the pressures. The Phillies will get by the Rockies, but the "wildcard" here is Ubaldo Jimenez who can steal 2 games for the Rockies possibly to give them a shot but I wouldn't bet on it.

Yankees over Tigers/Twins
Red Sox over Angels
I'm taking the northeast aces here again and again, just too much pitching as always. Lester-Beckett-Buchholz & CC-Petitte-Burnett will dominate the opposition as they have all year. If the Tigers get in and Verlander pitches game 2 and they can somehow win another game, they might have the slightest of chances.

On paper the matchups seem very close at first glance but all 8 teams have some holes. Pitching wins in the postseason as the temperature drops. I've also said you need a closer (1990's Braves) so I could just as easily see an all NL West LCS headlined by Street and Broxton but see Phillies-Cards advancing. I'm looking forward to Sox-Yankees and whatever comes out of the NL 5 game crapshoots.

Links for Monday October 5th

Baseball: Postseason Schedule
TV: DJ AM Lives on MTV
Fantasy Football: Early Waiver Wire
Music: Lady Gaga Solo Tour
Fantasy Baseball: Tuesday's Game
Economy: Simmons mattress is no more
Sports Business: Final MLB Attendance
Movies: Zombies Rules, Michael Moore drools
Green: Investments Update
Technology: Google Goal is $100 billion

Nation's Unemployment Update

September Jobs Loss 263,000 jobs (up 62,000 from August)
National Unemployment Rate - 9.8% (26 year high)
Unemployment plus undermeployment 17%
15.1 million unemployed Americans
9.2 million Part Time workers who were Full Time
65% of involuntary part time workers are aged 15-24

The data above speaks for itself. Companies are getting more work out of fewer employees. Unemployment should peak at 10.5% and start going down next summer from there. State data isn't out yet for last month but wast 12.2% in August for CA nd MD was a mere 7.2%. The most telling stat not mentioned is the 6 unemployed Americans for every job in America. This will get worse before it gets any better. Next year most of the stimulus money goes out and we'll see the effects then. Keep an eye on the health care and greentech for growth sectors in the new economy.

Movies This Weekend

Zombieland(86% Rotten Tomatoes) - I've never seen a movie so advertised, I think they spent more money on ads than the movie, not a big Woodie Harrelson fan or of zombie fans at all, I'll pass

Whip It (82% Rotten Tomatoes) - Drew Barrymore's directorial debut with everybody's favorite pregnant high schooler (Ellen Page) star in a movie about roller derby, worth a shot

Invention of Lying (58%) - Extras' Rickey Gervais and Jennifer Garner star in a romantic comedy, but to be honest I hate when funny guy like Gervais try be the least bit serious

Toy Story & Toy Story 2 in 3D (100%)- the computer animation that started the craze in 3D, move is the definition of a safety bet for the weekend

More Than A Game (68%)- Story of LeBron's high school team, great soundtrack, but who wants to see a basketball player in a movie, I think Spike Lee's Kobe movie ruined this one for me

Next week, Couples Retreat is coming...

Links for Friday October 2nd

TV: Letterman's Blackmail
Fantasy Baseball: Pitching Prospects for 2010
Music: Jay-Z Pauley and all the onsales
Fantasy Football: Week 4 Rankings
Green: Nissan Leaf Now Taking Orders
Baseball: Horrible Ted Williams Story
Technology: Google vs. Bing
Sports Business: Chicago 2016 Failed Bid
Stocks/Economy: Cash4Gold Banking
Movies: This Weekend At The Movies

Google Wave

This week Google sent out 100,00 copies of it's newest toy Google Wave. Google Wave is "an online tool for real-time communication and collaboration. A wave can be both a conversation
and a document where people can discuss and work together using richly formatted text, photos, videos, maps, and more". I watched the demo on Google's website it looks pretty cool. It's a fun thing for displaced friends, web meetings, and even large company meetings to take place.

I think Google might be onto something but it's to expected from a company who revolutionized pricing models as we know them. It appears to be a very cool way to exchange ideas and is seen as one the biggest Web 3.0 ideas. I'll write further on the Wave once I get my invitation to test out the software. For now all I have to look at it the website here.

Nuclear Energy Institute Signs Deal With Washington Capitals

Big news out of the nation's capital today and it has nothing to do with Barack Obama or health care. Good luck in Copenhagen, bring home the rings please. The Washington Capitals entered into a sponsorship deal with NEI (Nuclear Energy Instituate) for the upcoming season. My first thought was it's a straight-up public lobbying, but good for NEI for doing what very few companies and sports teams are doing. Plus who wants to sponsor the Nats, Orioles, or Redskins right now?

Many environmentalists are unhappy with the deal. Nuclear energy promotes electricity without the emissions of fossil fuels. But nuclear plants can take years to develop, companies can't get ride of waste properly just yet. Nuclear energy will be part of the solution for our country's energy independence. I for one think nuclear power should power neighborhoods.

Compliments to the Capitals on getting a deal done as the only teams I know of with energy sports sponsorships are the Tigers with DTE Energy, Cowboys with Direct Energy, and the Nationals with Exxon Mobil. This is the future of our country's economy and sports sponsorship. Look for companies such as Tesla Motors, Fisker Automotive, Silver Spring Networks, Solyndra, and more to be draping the court, fields, and rinks in the years to come and becoming the it companies that bring our country back to the economic forefront in the world.

DES Links for Thursday October 1st

Baseball: September and Homefield Don't Matter in the Playoffs
TV: Comcast to Buy NBC
Music: Alicia Keys Stays At WME
Fantasy Baseball: Window at 2010
Movies: Big Bottlegging Movie Getting Top Actors
Fantasy Football: Notes for Week 4
Green: Rough Draft For Energy Legislation
Sports Business: Top Sports Reads of 2009
Stocks/Economy: Banks Biting Bullet?
Technology: Google Wave Backlash?

Altcar Expo in Santa Monica This Weekend

More info here

Look at 2010 MLB Fantasy First Round

Matt Kemp - Makes a case for #1 pick at OF due to position scarcity and potential 40/40 next year
Albert Pujols - 9 straight 30 HR, 100 RBI seasons and never injured, 1B depth makes him my #2
Hanley Ramirez - BA title winner this year plus 30/30
Ryan Braun - 30 HR, 100 RBI for 3 years plus 15 steals will fall if Brewers trade Prince
Justin Upton - 26 HR /20 steals at a mere 22
Chase Utley - 2B is stacked next year, but 30 HR-100 RBI in that lineup
Alex Rodriguez - RF porch helps get him 28 HR in 122 games this year
Ian Kinsler - 30/30 up the middle with Hamilton back runs will increase too
Carl Crawford - 15 HR, 60+ steals plus solid BA
David Wright - can't hit HR at Citi but still is great a 4 categories
Prince Fielder - played every game this year and figured out how to hit for average
Mark Reynolds - shocking but power is legit needs to keep steals up to earn 1st round status

New Music Tuesday (sort of)

Live Like Were Dying - Kris Allen
Best version of "heartless" and his first single is upbeat and catchy

3 - Britney Spears
Classic Britney dancetrack about 3 in the the bed (and the little one said)

I Can Transform Ya - Chris Brown
Horrible comeback song, he'll sell (R. Kelly) did just not with this one

I'm Going In - Drake F. Lil Wayne
Southern rap, not a fan

Happy - Leona Lewis
Slow upbeat track off album #2

Pursuit of Happiness - Kid Cudi F. MGMT
Too slow of a dance track, can't wait for remix though

RECOMMEND La La La - LMFAO
Love this track, now it's their new single

I Want To Know What Love Is - Mariah Carey
Girl still has pipes (and curves)

We Weren't Born To Follow - Bon Jovi
"This is our country" for the MLB playoffs, get used to it baseball fans

I Wanna - The All-American Rejects
Solid but I expect more from these guys

Albums dropping:
Paramore
Mariah Carey
Barbra Streisand
Alice in Chains
Breaking Benjamin
Selena Gomez