Saturday, July 31, 2010

Who's The Expert Week One: RESULTS

Last week, I asked you, the loyal readers (all 9 of you), to choose from four "dream" MLB lineups and pick the one you thought was the best. From pillar to post, one lineup ruled the competition. So congratulations to our winner...LINEUP B!!!!!


The man behind Lineup B? Glad you asked. Our four "experts" were as follows (in order of finish)


LINEUP B: Steve Kardian, mild-mannered Mets fan and clear MLB expert from New York.
LINEUP C: Yours truly, Michael Francis Krenek, co-host of the Shore Sports Report
LINEUP D: Tyrone A. Johnson, Mr. Weekend Sports Guide
LINEUP A: Joe Giglio, the handsome half of The Shore Sports Report


So there you have it folks...In week one, all three of the "professionals" in this game were put in their place by a MERE FAN! I speak for Joe and Tyrone when I say this is a humbling moment in our lives, wherein we all consider retirement. At the very least we all tip our caps to the lucky winner of Week One...

STEVE KARDIAN: MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL LINEUP BUILDING EXPERT.



Stay tuned for Week 2, which will be coming your way later today.

Friday, July 23, 2010

WHO'S THE EXPERT WEEK 1

It seems like everyone on God's Green Earth considers themselves an "expert" in something. We've got math experts, history experts, physics experts, fellatio experts...the list goes on and on and on. I hold a deep respect for all of these experts, as their areas of expertise are ones I couldn't possible wrap my little lima bean brain around. But there's one "expert" I have NO love for...the "sports expert." You know why? Because every Tom, Dick, and Harry who watches three innings of a Blueclaws game fancies themselves some kind of "expert." ESPN has "experts", Fox has "experts"...Hell, the Shore Sports Network has "experts." But how qualified are these people? Do they really know what they're talking about or are they just souped up writers with "friends of friends" who inspire legions of wannabe experts to parrot their opinions, forcing a vicious, yet unbroken cycle.

Yet unbroken til right now that is. You see I, Michael Francis Krenek (Expert in Frivolous Writing and Hyperbole) have come up with a sure fire formula that will once and for all answer the question "Who's the Expert!" Please hold your applause until the end of this blog.


The formula is simple...I ask four people the same question...Three of those people can be heard weekly on The Shore Sports Report/The Weekend Sports Guide (I'll give you three guesses as to their identities) and one of them is an "everyday" fan whose knowledge of the question I hold in the highest regard. I take their answer to the question, remove their name, and post it here for public consumption. The task is then on YOU THE READERS to decide which of these Wannabes can truly call themselves The Expert. I'll leave it up for a week to saturate and allow people to vote. The Wannabes will always get a chance to "defend" their lineup at the outset, and will continue to be able to do so anonymously throughout the voting process if anyone questions a choice. The answers themselves, however, are final. Every Friday, I'll reveal the person behind the winning answer, and unveil the next question/answers.

Simple enough, right? Its fun, its painless, and if nothing else, every week someone will get to add "Expert" to their business card. Speaking of business...let's get down to it.



Question One was simple enough...Construct position by position what you consider to be the BEST lineup in baseball at this moment, factoring in defense and placement in the order...The only caveat was that every single player throughout the majors got a clean bill of health (yet shockingly no one chose Erik Bedard as their SP.) So without any further adieu, here are the WANNABE EXPERT'S "Dream Lineups"




WANNABE A:
1. Derek Jeter, SS
2. Carl Crawford, LF
3. Joe Mauer, C
4. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
5. Josh Hamilton, RF
6. Evan Longoria, 3B
7. Robinson Cano, 2B
8. Andrew McCutchen, CF
9. Roy Halladay, SP

Reasons: Jeter's "off" season is masked in a lineup this deep and his experience and leadership are invaluable on a team of guys under 30. Crawford is everything I envision a #2 being. Mauer is my #3 hitter despite big power outside of '09 because I like pure hitters in that spot. Gwynn, Helton, Mauer. He'll drive in 100+ with doubles. Cabrera is my favorite hitter to watch right now, so I'll bank on him staying sober. Ditto for Hamilton. Longoria has the best glove in the world at 3rd base and can relax and hit his 25-30 homers in the 6th spot. Think Scott Rolen 10 years ago...maybe even better. Cano over Utley because I know Cano isn't at the point yet where he has an ego to bat in the top of the lineup. Not saying Utley does, but I don't know if his hair gel would look good outside the 3 hole. It's kind of like the girl in high school who doesn't realize she's cute yet. So much easier to talk to than the one who knows all the guys are looking. Chase knows, Robbie doesn't. McCutchen is awesome. Brings some flair, defense, and would do jumping jacks to play with other professionals. I think my starting pitcher is pretty self explanatory.




WANNABE B:
1. Ichiro Suzuki, RF
2. Carl Crawford, LF
3. Albert Pujols, 1B
4. Josh Hamilton, CF
5. Alex Rodriguez, SS
6. David Wright, 3B
7. Robinson Cano, 2B
8. Joe Mauer, C
9. Adam Wainwright SP


REASONS: Ichiro and Crawford at the top of a lineup is dangerous enough, no matter who is hitting behind them. High averages, patience at the plate, fast as hell, and great defense in the corners. Behind them? We aren't just talking power hitters here, these 2 guys can do it all. Pujols and Hamilton hit home runs, drive in the guys in front of them, and while doing that, hit well over .300 and steal the occasional base as well. I moved A-Rod back to his original position of short stop because, well, he is better than Derek Jeter and Hanley Ramirez. I'll take a few more errors for the most dangerous bat in baseball. This allows me to have David Wright at third, a five tool player in his prime and already a five time all star. Robinson Cano puts up first baseman numbers, and plays second base, flawlessly I might add. Joe Mauer is the best all around catcher in the game, so that choice is a no brainer. Not everyone would pick the underrated Adam Wainwright to be the starting pitcher for the best team in baseball, but this guy has the best stuff. There aren't many pitchers who can consistently command a breaking ball on both sides oh home plate, to both right-handed and left-handed batters. And of course, there is the best curveball in all of baseball, which typically runs in the 73-75 mph range. You can usually find a pattern with pitchers, and the typical trend is fastball in, soft stuff away. With Wainwright, there is no pattern, and hitters can't get zoned in.


WANNABE C:
1. Ichiro Suzuki, RF
2. Joe Mauer, C
3. Ryan Braun, LF
4. Albert Pujols, 1B
5. Alex Rodriguez, 3B
6. Robinson Cano, 2B
7. Torii Hunter, CF
8. Jose Reyes, SS
9. Josh Johnson, SP


REASONS: Ichiro's self explanatory, he's a prototype for the top of a lineup even though he doesn't work walks. Mauer might not have the speed of your typical 2nd place hitter, but I know I can work the hit and run with a guy who is ALWAYS going to make contact when the speedy Ichiro is on base. When I think "Number 3 Hitter", I think Ryan Braun. Perfect combo of average, power, and deceptive speed. I couldn't assemble a lineup without the best hitter in baseball, so Mr. Pujols is penciled in at 1B and has an outside chance at Hack Wilson's 191. 600 HRs and still going strong? Give me Alex Rodriguez in the 5th slot. Robinson Cano would be a dream come true in the six spot. He'll almost always have guys on base to knock in, all the while setting himself up for the guy in the next spot, the consummate professional and team captain...Torii Hunter. I went with Hunter over Hamilton here because I feel like he'd be perfect for this team. Hitting lower in the order makes his already impressive offensive numbers all the more impressive, he can give me the timely hits I need here and makes my outfield defense legitimately impenetrable. Plus a veteran leader goes a long way. Reyes was my toughest choice...Hanley and Jeter are both better players, but if he's getting a clean bill of health, there's no one faster in the game. He'll clear the bases with triples and turn singles into triples with a swiped bag and then a pitcher bunt. Josh Johnson is the best in the game. Nobody spots their fastball better. Pinpoint control and intense heat. Team is super strong offensively, playing to ever managerial style and situation possible and defense should be sharp, especially in the outfield.



WANNABE D:
1. Ichiro Suzuki, RF
2. Chase Utley, 2B
3. Albert Pujols, 1B
4. Alex Rodriguez, 3B
5. Hanley Ramirez, SS
6. Josh Hamilton, LF
7. Joe Mauer, C
8. Carlos Beltran, CF
9. Roy Halladay, SP


REASONS: Halladay's pitching because he doesn't walk people. I like Ramirez ahead of Hamilton to almost reset the lineup after A-Rod. Defense would be a major strength too. Carlos Beltran is the best CF in the game when he's healthy. CF is a weak position.




So there you have it folks...A couple of experts decided to expound on their lineups, others let the numbers speak for themselves. Some paid a lot of mind to defense (Torii Hunter/Carlos Beltran in CF), another felt the way to win is to get the best bats into the lineup (A-Rod at SS) and someone felt youth needed to be served (Andrew McCutchen.)

So now the task is yours. Considering EVERYTHING....offensive talent, lineup positioning, defense, and starting pitcher...who is the one person worthy of calling themselves THE EXPERT when in comes to Major League Lineup building. The choice is yours. You can vote by commenting here, commenting on facebook, or hitting up my email at MKrenek31@gmail.com. Vote for who you think did the best job and maybe you be a part of a life changing experience. Its that important.