Rotoman

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I Want to Vote for Bush

If you’re feeling the Bush post-convention Bounce, and think maybe our president deserves Four More Years, I ask that you read this Fred Kaplan piece in Slate.

I don’t see how any thinking person can believe they’re safer today because George W. Bush is the president. I don’t see how any counting person can believe they’re wealthier today because George W. Bush is the president, unless they were plenty wealthy already. But I don’t care that much if you simply agree with me.

Kaplan details how Kerry’s record has been distorted. I don’t think Kerry is great candidate. I don’t think anyone who says it was a good idea to invade Iraq when we did has their head screwed on straight. But I don’t think Kerry’s weaknesses should negate our critique of the truly disastrous policies of the current administration.

You don’t have to agree, of course. But I ask you, no matter what you believe, please read this piece. And by all means continue to make up your own mind.

Rotoman

Cheers,

Major League Baseball : Fantasy : Fantasy

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Major League Baseball : Ask Rotoman

You’ll have to search the archives for last week’s column, if you didn’t catch it after I didn’t link to it here.

This week’s column is posted, in which I ponder whether to keep Hank Blalock or Justin Morneau next year, meditate on Edwin Jackson’s chances (and didn’t get a chance to mention he hit two homers tonight while getting knocked around again in Triple-A), look at how Milton Bradley has helped and hurt teams this year, and surveyed the chaotic run-up to the Sept 1 playoff roster finalization.

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Major League Baseball : Ask Rotoman

I filed then fled to the woods in the north of Maine. Well, Baxter State Park South Branch Pond. If you’ve been there you know why I was in no hurry to get back. Lots of canoing, hiking, and trying to figure out what they were thinking when they named those constellations.

We also came up with some of our own, including Marilyn Standing on the Grate and Willie Catching Vic.

The now old column has meditations on position scarcity, valueing wins and saves, drafting closers, and compares Rickie Weeks to David Wright as prospects. It also has stupid mistake. Rickie Weeks was the No. 2 pick in the 2003 draft (not 1993). Pardon.

Works of Bill James

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Works of Bill James

Some years ago I had the idea that indexing the works of Bill James would be an incredibly useful project, though a terribly time consuming one. It’s the sort of perfect gig for someone who has an office job with lots of down time.

Stephen Roney has gotten the project underway, and the initial results appear to be helpful. You can find them here. The efforts of people like Stephen, which are laborious and certainly won’t be appropriately compensated, should be acknowledged.

Yet he’s just scratched the surface so far.

ESPN.com – MLB – Stark: Winners and losers

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ESPN.com – MLB – Stark: Winners and losers

This is a pretty good survey of the draft day results. The f unny part is that the aggregate of the Mets’ two deals looks whacky, but if pitching coach Rich Peterson really can straighten Victor Zambrano out the Kris Benson acquisition isn’t a bad risk. Even though the odds of winning this year are long. And if Peterson really gives the Mets and advantage in signing Benson next year, all the better.

It still looks pretty funky to deal your three best prospects for two mediocre pitchers.