Category Archives: Carlos Gonzalez

Sweetbob’s Fantasy Baseball F/M/K – July 22nd

We are now officially in the second-half of 2018 fantasy baseball season.

I hope you’re still in playoff contention in your league(s) this season. The trade deadline is fast approaching real-life MLB and in your fantasy leagues. If you’re out of the race in a dynasty league, it could be time to dump a couple starters for some young studs.

Which hot pitchers are we suggesting to pick up this week?

We look at some players who started out hot, some who are struggling and maybe a couple young guys who should be targeted in your free agent pool on July 22nd, 2018.

I’ll be posting a weekly fantasy baseball F/M/K every Sunday this baseball season…so keep coming back!

Continue reading

2017 MLB Season Preview: Colorado Rockies

2017 MLB Season Team Preview Colorado Rockies Ian Desmond funnyFor the first time in a many years, I like the current trajectory of the Colorado Rockies. It all started when they waited until the perfect time to trade Troy Tulowitzki to Toronto and got some really nice pieces in return. I’ve been waiting for them to do the same thing with Carlos Gonzalez, but they just keep holding onto him. I never thought he would last the entire contract when he signed the seven-year/ $80 million contract before the 2011 season.

I’m curious to see how well the Rockies starting rotation will do this season. Jon Gray was outstanding at times last year. It was nice to see him get comfortable at the Major League level.

Can Colorado surprise us all and contend for a Wild Card spot this season?

Here is the 2017 MLB season preview for the Colorado Rockies.

Continue reading

2016 MLB Season Preview: Colorado Rockies

Gerardo-Parra-Colorado-Rockies-2016-MLB-season-preview-americas-white-boyIt feels like the Rockies have been in rebuilding mode for a decade. It’s been shorter than a decade, but it has felt slow. It appeared like the rebuild was about to take a leap forward when they traded Troy Tulowitzki to the Blue Jays late last year…but the Rockies didn’t make much noise this offseason.

Carlos Gonzalez is still in Colorado. I’m not quite sure why, but he’s still there. He played in 153 games last season and knocked 40 homers. Teams will clearly unload some prospects for a guy like that, right? I’m not sure why they have waited this long.

Can Colorado’s make-shift bullpen last the entire season?

Here is the 2016 MLB season preview for the Colorado Rockies.

Continue reading

2015 MLB Team Preview: Colorado Rockies

Colorado Rockies 2015 MLB team preview funny David Nied bust topps shirtlessThe NL West should be one of the best (if not the best) divisions in Major League Baseball. Colorado is in the unfortunate position of being a rebuilding team while their division is so strong.

Carlos Gonzalez and Troy Tulowitzki have both been hampered by nagging injuries. If both players appear in 145+ games, could the Rockies shock the world and contend? If not, should the Rockies try to move them for prospects?

Can the starting rotation hold up until top pitching prospects Jon Gray and Eddie Butler are ready?

Here is the 2015 MLB season preview for the Colorado Rockies.

Continue reading

2014 Fantasy Baseball Rankings: Top 100 Outfielders

Mike Trout Shirless Los Angeles Angels 2014 MLB Fantasy Baseball Rankings OutfieldersSince most of us play in fantasy leagues that start five outfielders, I decided to super-size my rankings for outfielders. We all know Mike Trout is the best fantasy player in baseball, but the rest of the field is very deep. There are a dozen guys who can help you in every category in a 5×5 standard roto league.

My outfield fantasy baseball rankings are based on a standard 5×5 league. If you have any specific questions about a different league, email me BobbyMcrib@gmail.com.

1. Mike Trout – Los Angeles Angels – Trout is the consensus #1 overall fantasy player this season. He’s a yearly threat to be a 30/30 player and who knows, he could be a 40/40 player at some point. He’ll be an MVP candidate and be near the top of every major offensive category.

2. Andrew McCutchen – Pittsburgh Pirates – The reigning National League MVP should meet or exceed last year’s numbers. He’s in his prime and could even top 30 home runs this season.

Continue reading

2014 MLB Team Preview: Colorado Rockies

The NL West is top-heavy (Dodgers & Giants), but the rest of the division improved their rosters this offseason. Colorado was one of the most active teams in baseball. They completed a few trades and landed starter Brett Anderson and added depth at other positions. The biggest splash they made was signing former AL MVP Justin Morneau. It is unknown if the thin air in Denver can help rekindle his career.

Carlos Gonzalez and Troy Tulowitzki have both been hampered by nagging injuries the last two seasons. If both players appear in 150+ games, could they contend for a Wild-Card spot?

Colorado made an effort to improve one of the worst pitching staffs in baseball. Can the starting rotation hold up until top pitching prospects Jonathan Gray and Eddie Butler are ready?

Here is the 2014 MLB season preview for the Colorado Rockies.

Continue reading

2013 World Baseball Classic: Notable Players

World+Baseball+Classic+2013+RostersThe World Baseball Classic has been lost in the shuffle with the beginning of Spring Training, but it kicks off this weekend on March 2nd.

It’s an event that’s supposed to showcase the world’s best…but at the same time, aggravate the pants off every Major League team’s front office. They must hate seeing their pitchers waste their arms in an International tournament.

Asian countries have had the most success in this format, but the Latin American countries always bring the most individual talent. The rosters have been finalized and we list the notable players who will play in this year’s World Baseball Classic. Continue reading

2013 MLB Team Preview: Colorado Rockies

Troy TulowitzkiThe Walt Weiss era begins in Denver this season. He takes over a team with a lot of problems. The most glaring issue is their pitching. When Jorge De La Rosa and Jhoulys Chacin are at the top of your rotation, you’re doing something wrong. Drew Pomeranz, the centerpiece in the Ubaldo Jimenez deal, is not where they expected him to be. He’s only 24, so there’s still time for him to turn into a #1 starter.

The rest of the team lacks an identity. I hope Weiss focuses on defense, because their pitching staff isn’t going to help them.

Can Troy Tulowitzki stay healthy in 2013?

Here is the 2013 MLB season preview for the Colorado Rockies. Continue reading

2012 MLB: What We’ve Learned So Far…

If Matt Kemp was the MVP of April, the May award would go to either Giancarlo Stanton, Melky Cabrera, or Carlos Gonzalez. Their bats started to heat up as the degrees raised on the thermometer.

If I had to chose between Stanton, Cabrera, and Gonzalez, I would have to go with Stanton. He hit a grand slam that hit the scoreboard. It made a large portion of the scoreboard go black. If the Miami Marlins want to keep a left-field scoreboard, they may want to move it deeper into the park.

May is a month when teams start getting an idea if their roster needs tweaked. Players start getting called up from the minors and veterans begin to get “designated for assignment.”

Here are some things that we learned in May…

Jamie Moyer is a bad ass. Yes, a middle school pitcher could beat him on the radar gun, but you have to respect what he has done. The Colorado Rockies released him last week, but he set the age records for wins and oldest person to get an RBI. I hope a team gives him an opportunity to pitch at age 50 next season.

– No one can hit Ernesto Frieri. The Los Angeles Angels reliever did not allow a hit during the entire month of May. He has registered 30 strikeouts in 14 innings and saved his first game. He currently shares the role of closer with Scott Downs. I have a feeling that Frieri will have that job by himself if he keeps this up.

– Aroldis Chapman? (see: Ernesto Frieri)

– Matt Kemp’s hamstring pisses him off. He spent nearly the entire month of May on the disabled list. He came back, but re-injured his hamstring and will be out the entire month of June. Kemp was so mad that he had a mini-tirade in the dugout.

– Bryan LaHair falls back down to Earth. He was the only Chicago Cubs offense in April. He looked to have a stranglehold on the first-base job and block Anthony Rizzo from being called up. He is now stuck in a platoon with Jeff Baker and sits when the Cubs face a left-handed starting pitcher.

– Alfonso Soriano found the Fountain of Youth. He reduced his bat weight by an ounce and a quarter and his power has returned. He hit eight home runs in the last 30 days. The Cubs are hoping that he can keep this up so they can finally trade him.

– Justin Smoak can be called “The Smoak Monster” once again. He started the season off horribly, but he had seven home runs and a .280 average in the month of May. He now has a .241 average, which is much better than hitting around the Mendoza line.

Bryce Harper and Mike Trout are really, really good. No one thought they would hit this well so early in their careers. Harper is a ball of energy and is a threat with his bat and his cannon of an arm. Trout looks like he could turn into a 30/30 guy. He will definitely have over 30 stolen bases this season, since he has nine in only 127 at-bats.

Mark Trumbo ate Albert Pujols. Going into the season, analysts had written off Trumbo. They thought that he could end up in a platoon with an outfielder and spell Pujols at first-base. Trumbo currently has a line of 10/27/.331 and Pujols has a line of 8/23/.238. Pujols hit all of those homers in May, so he is headed in the right direction.

Jared Weaver and Roy Halladay are human. Both pitchers started off the year very hot. Weaver pitched a no-hitter earlier this season and Halladay had a few games in which he has no-hitter stuff. They both landed on the disabled-list at the end of May. Weaver will only miss a couple starts, but Halladay’s season is at risk. He is having a second opinion on his shoulder and could need surgery.

– The Pittsburgh Pirates have a talented pitcher? James McDonald came out of nowhere and has been phenomenal. In May, he had 39 K’s in 35 innings with an ERA of 1.54 and a WHIP under 1.00. His BABIP doesn’t do him any favors by showing that he has had a bit of luck. His K/BB is currently at 63/19, a rate that he needs to keep up if he wants to continue his early success.

– The AL East is too close too call. In the month of May, every team in the division were either 15-13, 15-14, or 14-14. You can’t get any closer than that.

– Will Middlebrooks made Kevin Youkilis expendable. Middlebrooks is a younger version of Youk, but with more power. The Boston Red Sox will get a nice return for the “Greek God of Walks”.

– The Chicago White Sox are showing that they could be a playoff team. They went 18-11 with a +34 run differential in the month of May. Davan Viciedo, Alejandro De Aza, Alex Rios, Gordon Beckham, and Paul Konerko all lead a stat category for their position in May. The 2012 roster is almost a mirror image of last year’s team. They are responding to a new message and probably grew tired of Ozzie Guillen’s method. Robin Ventura is getting the most out of the team.

– The NL East is as close as the race in the AL East. The Washington Nationals are currently leading, but only 3.5 games separate them from last place. I can see this race still being a three or four team race at the trading deadline.

– The St. Louis Cardinals are confusing. They have a +52 run differential but are only one game over .500. The Cincinnati Reds are looking like the team to beat, but don’t count out the Pirates. This is definitely a three team race.

–  The NL West will be won by either the Los Angeles Dodgers or the San Francisco Giants. The Arizona Diamondbacks aren’t getting as many balls fall as they did last year. The pitching staffs for the Dodgers and Giants look dominant. The NL Cy Young winner could be won by a pitcher in this division. Matt Cain, Ryan Vogelsong, and Madison Bumgarner and the Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw in the discussion.

The following pictures are a monthly treat for my female readers. I’m not a huge fan of this section of the post, but it has been a hit. Female sports fans have been very kind to this site, so here’s a little eye candy for the ladies…I hope you enjoy shirtless photos of Hunter Pence, C.J. Wilson, Ryan Braun, Jacoby Ellsbury, and Lance Berkman. (yeah, sorry about the Berkman photo)

Sorry about that guys! I promised a female reader that I would do this once every month during the baseball season. Shirtless photos are my limit…no one could handle seeing a nude photo of Berkman.

By: TwitterButtons.com

A Sports & Entertainment blog that focuses on absurdity in sports, snarky banter, updates on Tim Tebow’s virginity, and decent sports gambling advice.