Hot Baseball Wife: Betsy Gonzalez

China Dodgers Padres Baseball

Monday is Hot Baseball Wife Day here at UmpBump, and this weeks honoree is Betzabe “Betsy” Gonzalez, the wife of slugging Padres first baseman Adrian Gonzalez.

Together, Adrian and his wife recently established a charitable foundation, the Adrian and Betsy Gonzalez foundation, which aims to serve underprivileged youth in the fields of sports, education, and health.

More pictures after the jump…

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BallHype: hype it up!


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The Scariest Thing About Adrian Gonzalez

So since we last checked in, Padres first-sacker Adrian Gonzalez has continued mashing balls out of the park at a prodigous rate, and is currently on pace for 63 bombs this season despite playing half his games in the worst hitters park in the Majors.

gonzalezBut what is downright scary about Adrian Gonzalez’s 2009 campaign is that he has actually been unlucky this year on batted balls. His BABIP is only .246, well below his career mark of .312,  and seventh worst in the league, way down there with other down-on-their-luck hitters like Jimmy Rollins, Jay Bruce, and Garrett Atkins.

But whereas those other guys are all putting up pretty depressed stat lines due to their bad luck with BABIP, Gonzalez has an outstanding slash line of .281/.421/.638/1.059

It is amazing to ponder how crazy that line would look if Gonzalez were having even average luck this year on balls in play.

BallHype: hype it up!


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Adrian Gonzalez is secretly having the greatest season of all time.

In the prime of his career at age 27, San Diego Padres firstbaseman Adrian Gonzalez is secretly having the greatest season of all time.

gonzalezHe is actually leading the entire Major Leagues in home runs with 15, two bombs ahead of Carlos Pena and Albert Pujols. That means he is on pace to hit 68 home runs this season, 5 shy of the record, which is a pretty amazing pace.

But what makes this all even more amazing is that Gonzalez plays half his games in Petco Park–the worst hitters park in the entire major leagues. Indeed, only 4 of his his 15 homers have been hit at Petco, the place where homers go to die.

Is Gonzalez going to be able to keep up his home run king pace?  Certainly not.  Petco is going to drag him down in the end.

But it is amazing to think of what Gonzalez’s numbers might look like right now if his team played in even a major league average ballpark, hittingwise.

BallHype: hype it up!


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Fantasy Update: Five guys to grab

Craig Wilson, Pittsburgh Pirates

Brandon McCarthy, Chicago White Sox:

McCarthy currently serves as manager Ozzie Guillen’s darkhorse out of the bullpen. In four appearances so far this year, he has worked nine innings tallying seven strikeouts and a 0.89 WHIP. In other words, the 22-year old reliever logs multiple innings per outing while establishing a K/9 ratio nearing 9.0. Can anyone say rotation? Grab onto McCarthy while he’s still available and hope that one of the White Sox starters goes down to injury – McCarthy is next in line.

Chuck James, Atlanta Braves:

James, like McCarthy, is an innings eater for Bobby Cox. He has worked two or more innings in each of his five appearances so far this year, allowing runs in only one outing (solo HR’s to Aaron Rowand and Pat Burrell last week). Although his strikeout ratios have not been overwhelming, opposing batters are batting just .179 against him. With all of Atlanta’s pitching in flux, pick up James and hope that Chris Reitsma continues to blow it. James could very well be the Braves’ next option.

Scott Shields, LA Angels of Anaheim:

Shields is a set-up man that keeps his ERA down and his K/9 ratio up. What bolsters his value is his ability to factor into decisions. Over the last two years, Shields has logged 18 wins, surpassing the likes of both Mark Prior and Kerry Wood. Add to those numbers 33 holds (last season) and you have yourself a mighty successful setup man. Still not sold? Angels stud closer Francisco Rodriguez is day-to-day with a tight hammy. Grab Shields now to fill out all of your stats columns.

Adrian Gonzalez, San Diego Padres:

Few people on the east coast realize that Gonzalez is even starting, nonetheless putting up solid numbers. Ryan Klesko is out indefinitely due to shoulder surgery and word has it that the Padres aren’t too upset. Gonzalez has filled in by hitting .298 over the first two weeks, crossing the plate ten times. Although the power numbers currently aren’t there (1 HR), fantasy owners could benefit from a first basemen that plays everyday, scores runs and hits for average. Start a trend and pick up Gonzalez now. You will wow your league with west coast fantasy expertise and also benefit from Gonzalez’s ever improving numbers.

Craig Wilson, Pittsburgh Pirates:

Wilson is another quality bat that many fantasy owners have overlooked. He’s expected to act as the Pirates’ everyday first baseman with Sean Casey going on the disabled list with two fractures in his lower back. In fourteen games this season, Wilson is batting .297 with six homers and an astronomical slugging percentage of .865. This is the same Craig Wilson that belted 29 homeruns in 155 games in 2004. With that track record, Wilson should be good for another 10+ homers while Casey misses at least six to eight weeks with the gruesome injury.

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BallHype: hype it up!


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