Lots of Sport Talk.....

Well.....

Normally I would be discussing the poker wrap up for the week.....but Pokertracker is importing hand histories (observed HH from full Tilt and weekly Pokerstars)...I forgot to do it last week...so its gonna be another 2 hours.

The Seattle Seahawks....

I am trying not to look into the loss against the Atlanta Falcons (post Mike Vick birds).....Part of me wants to say its just a meaningless game, since we already clinched the playoff spot....and winning this game would mean zero.....

But....

The Falcons are bad....
Its not that they outplayed the Seahawks....just losing to any 12 loss team....well it sucks donkey balls.....

The Seahawks are their own toughest opponent....with the exception of the Saints game and the Steelers game....the seahawks pretty much gave away the rest of their losses in similar fashion.

I really expected the Seahawks would win by a TD and only play the starters for a half.....

And now...The Redskins are one of the hottest teams in the league.....

Thank goodness the Game is at Qwest field were the hawks are....

I think I have changed my thinking about which team is gonna be the toughest....
In order...

Packers (not because I think they are better than the cowboys)
Redskins (Washington is just gutting out wins)
Dallas (have they played well for over a month now?)
Giants and Tampa Bay Buccaneers ...this is a Tie...

My hope is the Tampa/New York matchup beats the Cowboys....because neither team scares me at all....The seahawks are definately better.

Hopefully it will be a Seahawks Packer rematch of Matt Hasslebeck's "We want the ball, and we are gonna score" comments heard around the world :-)

I'm getting tired....I thought I would be more stoked about the Hawks.....this loss has take alot out of my sails....lets just hope my energy comes back soon.

Havent been posting much....but...

...having a good day pokerwise.

Playing well the last 2 days....

I believe I have isolated the problem...its all a matter if I can keep from doing it as "habit"....

Trying to bet people off hands they will not fold.....its -EV....and...
OMFG-he-didnt-fold-to-my-1st-2-bets-i-need-to-blow-him-off-the-hand Strategy....

Well...it doesnt friggin work.

I just am trying to be TOO aggressive in the wrong spots.

So for the time being, I am going to play pretty much straightforward poker....

1) its profitable
2) its hte correct way to play
3) it will correct the bad habits
4) it will allow me to open up my game significantly when I feel confident that I am not donking $$
5) My bankroll with thank me

Okay...back to the tables

Feels like I am starting over....

Between playing bad and running bad....down alot this week...enough where I descided to drop down in stakes....still had 30 buy ins....but felt its best to drop down....concetrate on good fundamental play without pressure.

I feel like I should be further along....

but I am not going to dwell on it....

As far as today.....played relativelty well....finish 1/2 buyin down.
Couple bat beats (lol, actually really bad...but I am just trying to concentrate on playing well and not worrying about the results)

I do have to look for opps for 3betting more.....
Isolating the bad players more.

etc etc...I am gonna play about another hour or so tongiht and see if I can keep from tilting off money

I dont know why I am blogging

I was just wondering to myself..."why am I doing this?"

Part of me want to "believe" it is helpful.....or meaningful....or whatever.

It is? I dont friggin know.

To be honest.....alls I want is to play poker well enough so I can make a really good living....even more than the Mariners winning the world series.

In order.
1) Play poker for a living well (be able to 4+ table at least 3/6 and above profitably
2) Mariners win the world series
3) Seahawks win the Superbowl.

Well...Actually I would just like to be happy in my life....Its been an extremely long time since I was....I worry so much about things.

I'd give anything to go back in time.....
I'd give anything just to be moderately happy.....
I'd give anything not to hurt inside so much.....

I'd give my soul, if someone would coach me to play winning poker on a consistant basis....

Of course no one wants my soul though...so I;ll continue to play an A game for 100k hands...then lose 1/2 of the winnings the next 100k hands....stop playing because I cant figure out whats wrong (know I am doing something wrong...but dont know what it is)....and then start playing again....and win again.

ARGH...its so fucking frustrating.....Its like I hit a wall.....I know what variance is....and its not just standard variance....its in a general way I am playing and cant figure it out.

I have so many places for improvement (it feels that way....dunno if true or not)

If someone can get me to a 3ptbb winner at 3/6...hell....I;d be willing to give them 5% of my winnings for half a year (LOL....someone spends 20 hours...and gets 20k...lol)

Nancy Sue called today.....I dont know what to think.....I was so happy back then...I scarificed so much of myself last time....I am the unluckiest person alive...lol

I feel like I have nothing to gain...and nothing to lose.....and it sucks....I'd rather feel like I have only a 1% chance and be able to persue what I want....

I'm not making any sense

Didnt play any poker today....Possum on the porch.....and Seahawks NFL playoff analysis

Its Xmas Eve...played Zero Poker....

I got socks for Christmas from my mom...and thats it.....but as long as I get socks from my mom....it makes xmas.....well.... wouldnt be xmas without them.

I havent mention it....but I think a possum is living under the house......
3-4 times a week he comes up on the porch......starts scratching and clawing at the pastic garbage can (definately not sneaky creatures...I watch TV and can hear him from a mile away)

Last night I descided to open the garbage can, (with free chicken bones on top) and see if I could attract him, so I could take a pic......

Ironically....he didnt even react to the flash...its when I dropped my drink, he ran like crazy.

I might start calling him my little buddy....

btw....possum's sight....its not so good.....and their hearing isnt the best either....I could sneak up on the little rat bastard easliy.....but when ya make sharp loud sounds...they run like hell.

As you can see.....he was having a 7-course meal in the can.


Seahawks Playoff analysis.

Okay....1st of all..let clear this up for people.....
The Seahawks are underrated this year....the should be EVERYONES sleeper pick this year....

Seahawks Strengths.

Defense-----Incredibly improved....its times better than when they went to the superbowl.
Defense----0Look at the probowl selections
Defense----It matches up great with Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New York Giants, and Washington Redskins......the only team that it might be a push...is Minnesota Vikings....and that is only because of Adrian Peterson

Offense---Passing attack only.....it is one the best in the NFL.....70% of the time...at other times...I do wonder...
Matt Hassleback has the experience...He's great.....he wont be hall of fame.....but he's good enough to lead the seahawks back to the superbowl.

Punt Return Team
Josh Brown (I still consider him a strength even though not like past years)
KO Return team (underrated...no TDs...but if ya TD runs from other Teams...Hawks are 2-3 in Ret average.


Seahawks Weakness

Running game....its alot better now that weeks ago.....but it might be a problem.......but if they can just be average....seahawks roll.

With the Seahawks winning the 3rd seed in the playoffs.....they are a Redskins Win away from the perfect playoff setup.

First Round ----Washington Redskins
The Least scary of any playoff team...they are on a roll....and I might be underestimating them...
All in All though.....My hope is Skins lose and Vikings lose...so neither team thinks they have a chance.

Alt----Minnesota Vikings....as I have said before....I would fear the Playoff return of Steve Hutchinson.....He makes any RB a Probowl typa back....and with Adrian Peterson doing the running duties....the Seahawks would have their hands full on the defense side...and the Offense would have to be on their game...because they would not get many ops.

2nd Round----Packers (no matter who wins Bucs/Giants...Hawks will play the Pack if they win.
Could Brett Farve will the Packers to the win? Of course.....but unlikely.

It comes down to if the Hawks get pressure on Farve ...if they do...Hawks win.....if they don't...hawks lose...its that simple.
I still like the Hawks in this game....Mike Holgren is an Offensive Guru...he will score enough points to win

NFC Championship Game----My guess is The cowboys...I pray its Tampa Bay....38.95% chance its the Giants....

My preference in Order
Giants (we own them and Manning....lets just say he would be Mr INT and TO)
Bucs--we beat them week 1...

Both of the above would be at qwest field....loudest in the league.....
Manning+hawks D=Seahawks win

Lets be realistic though.....Its gonna be the Cowboys.

Hawks vs Boys

Hawks match up extremely well.......
Key to the Game.....Whitten vs Hawks LBs

If the hawks contain Whitten....they win (well unless they let Owens go wild)
Cover Whitten....Tony Romo is on his butt most of the game.

I like the Hawks chances this year....last year I figured we'd beat the Cow-girls....but I didnt think we would get back to the SB.....this year.....I wish the Running game was better....
BUT....Defense wins championship.....right?

If not...the passing attack will take care of the rest.

Poker: Week of 12/17-12/23

End of Week Update

Hands 10,083
Profit -$156.90
BB/100 -3.75 (-1.87 PTBB/100)
Hours 25.33 (Smacked into the wall on Thursday)
-$6.18 Per Hour

To be totally Honest....this week of poker Sucked beyond belief......

Holes in my game "re-appeared"
My Discipline was non-existant
I felt worse than I have in months.....If I wasnt so stubborn...I would have quit.

Thank goodness I didnt Tilt off all my bankroll on Thursday.....
I can remember how many buyins it was....but it was an incredible downswing...
1/2 due to very poor play...the other half being unlucky.

Things I need to do this week

Rewatch some of the Videos (these are what got me in the right direction)
Play more Hands...its Xmas...but I still need to play more.
Play less tables....6 tables Max
PAY ATTENTION TO READS MORE
Study about Ranges and Poker Math

Seattle Seahawks win again.....

I actually thought about writing this post before the game started...LOL

I was 100% sure the Hawks would win this game before it started....and they didnt dissappoint.

With the Exception of the 79 yard pass to Derrick Mason, The Hawks "D" was Pro-Bowl Caliber
(1/3 of the NFC PRO Bowl team is from the Seahawks Defense)

Oh...and thats another thing I didnt comment week ago....
4 of the 11 Probowl starters are from the seahawks (I've been telling people all year the Seahawks Defense is Underrated.)

Lofa Tatupu
Patrick Kerney
Julian Peterson
Marcus Trufant

LOL...I just look at that list and thought....."Dang, thats alot of Talent"
And...its all on one team.....

Let me say it again.....
The Hawks Defense is the Best in the NFC

Its a Final (I started this at the end of the 4th QTR)

Seattle Seahawks 27 Baltimore Ravens 6 ---Final

LOL....

I Love Mike Holmgren (Watching the post-game interview)

Talking about Troy Smith, and the Hawks trying to put maximum pressure for his first start...
"You dont want to give the rookie any hope of survival"

I actually delivered a mattress to Mike Holmgrens on Mercer Island (dont worry Mike, I wont tell anyone where ya live)...BEAUTIFIL house on the Water.
He wasnt there, it was the offseason and he was on vacation.....

Man that was a long time ago...

LOL...I swear I delivered to have the Hawks at the Time....

I even delivered to Matt Hasselbeck when he 1st arrived in Seattle (it was just a month or so after the Hawks traded for him)....His wife was extremely Nice to us.....

Matt.....we need ya man...No INTs and we goto the Superbowl.

Shawn Alexander....dude....good job today....Running hard....Prove to the world you're a stud.

Did I say the Defense is AWESOME?

****Pause**** (watching Matt's post-game interview)

Okay...I am gonna wrap this up and get to playing some Poker.

GO HAWKS!!!!

I know what the problem is, but I cant make myself slow down to fix it....

Its sound really stupid.....but its true......

98% of the time I am playing at least a B to A+ Game of Poker
And then there are 3 or 4 hands per session....that I cant move the slider over fat enough to bet,raise,3bet,shove etc etc etc when I shouldnt....If I had 1 second to decide....the choices I make...well...I could rationalize it....but I dont...I have 8-15 seconds before my tank timer kicks in...and since I dont utilize that as well as I should...I always have like 80 seconds or more each table....

I dont have an excuses......I tell myself before every session I need to slow down and take my time each action....but 10 minutes in...even if its only a couple tables....if all the tables have actions at the same time.....(even if they are junk hands and obvious folds)....its like a silent trigger....that I just do it this way.....

Action at table 1 .....quick click to fold (easy)
Action at table 1(same time) A8os from the MP (I didnt even notice I was MP, thought was CO)....I BetPot so quick I dont even look at the stats of the btn/Co or the blinds.....Essentially at quick glance it looks like a decent or good open....but the READS, that are important....not even looking at them until "maybe" the flop....

Esssentially I taking average situation...that look average on the surface...and not pausing to look...if I did...I would see that they were Marginal at best because of reads (bunches of PFR start to add up......as well as the Misguided CBs)

If I would just take 5+ seconds on lots of situations.....I cant even imagine how many BB/100 hands I would save by alalyzing the situation and adjusting to the read.

I really dont know what to do....

I know the problem......It "should" be easy to fix....I do it the right way for the 1st 10 minutes or so...then it just slips back into habit........

I mean...I even have a word document that I have linked to my opener (prog that opens all poker related software I need to play...PT, Pokerstars PAHud, AHK scripts etc etc)

I read it outloud before I play...and some of the key things...I have them written out from 5-20 times...and I keep repeating them.

Argh...I am goingto have to do something drastic though.....The last 20K hands has been really bad....before that I was doing pretty good about it...but it seems when I do go on a prolonged upswing.....taking my time on actions seems to dwindle.

Maybe I'll have to get somethink like a chess clock.....to make sure I take at least 5 seconds on each action.....even if its folding 72os to an allin.

I dunno.....just really frustrating when ya play a session that should be winning session...and ya break even because ya played 1 pair or 2 pair like the nuts postflop....or...ignored the villians actions and THE FRIGGIN MEANING of his actions.....where 5 seconds of thinking SHOULD have resulted in a better line. (i.e. taking a marginal hand like QQ on an Ace high flop and playing it like I have an ace)

Whaaaaaa Whaaaaaaa.

Pathetic....I know the problem...but cant find a solution to ensure I do the right thing....
(5 seconds afterward thinking "I should have spend 5 seconds thinking before I acted")
Most of the actions are horrible.....just -EV compared to other lines.

I am lame.....rambling.....I am just so mad at myself....Its the same problem....I get it to go away....play 50k of winning poker (A game).....then....little differences.....can barely tell the difference....but there is....key situations that I leak money....I know it happens.....and I cant seem to self correct it.....byt the time it works out......well....I go 9 steps forward.....8 steps back...8 forward.....7 back....10 forward....9 back...and so on...

I am winner....but I see such HUGE potential......variance is one thing....but I am leaking money because of this.....even with standard variance and swings....95% of my game is 10+++++ bb/100 winner (closer to 20+BB)......

I am going to rest before my head explodes.

Maybe one of the StoxPoker Gods will have some wisodom in a video that just "Clicks" in my head or something....I dunno.....I know the leatherass9 and cottonseed1 videos that I first watch....its like a bell went off...and I completely wiped out that part of the game that was hurting me......now...I dunno....just like a switch went off.......Maybe I should rewatch the first 10 I watched....LOL....100+ NL vids...and I am suppose to remember in what order I watched them...I mean...I've watched 40 of them or so.

Head hurts.....I'm tired of A-game....then brainfart...and end up $9 up for a 3k session...when I know it should have been $250++

Ugh.....

Yesterday was completely terrible......

The exact opposite of the day before.....

I had the worst single day results I have ever had.....

Down 7 buyin in right around 1200 hands......

I do not want to dwell on it (its the reason I didnt post it yesterday and have been chilling out most of the day)

I actually thought about dropping down...but my plan is to just play today...

Play 4 tables
Stop if I lose 2 buyins and drop down (It might be nitty....but 35 Buyin bankroll is the minimum)
Play Relaxed.....
Timer MUST activate before I do anything if Pot is going to be Medium or bigger
(might piss people off....but I really do need to stop the 1 time per session brainfart that cost me a large pot....that alone will get me +EV)

Besides that...well...I am just trying to clear my mind today and not worry about "getting better"...I will worry about that tommorrow...today I just want to play...play decently...and book a session that I feel I played well.

LOL.....48 BB/100...is it sustainable?

I was just gonna play a little bit of poker......watch some TV and get some sleep.

But, I just had to post this sick graph for today.....

I couldnt get it to display BB/100....it would only show PTBB/100...so its only HALF as many BB

I played Half the amount of hands I normally would.....and made over half what I did all last week....all in one day....just Sick.

500BB.....for many thats a good week......

I just think its funny.....sure makes up for the past 5 or so days.....I am playing much better....

I definately need to expand my "Prep the day reading list"....it might not be the main reason....but it does remind me to be patient and discipline.

Today I was very patient.....
My discipline was around 95%....
and I still hate it when they hit the one-outter

Back to todays results (I know results are just the output of playing good).....

As Dave Chappelle would say....
"I'm Rich Bitch!!!!"

Go Craig

Results arent suppose to matter....but they do.

I played pretty well today (so far...I play on playing another 600 hands later)

And.....result-wise...it definately reflected playing well (up almost 4 buyins)

Unfortunately I updated my PokerTracker and for some odd reason it reverted back to a trail version....I emailed support and hopefully they will give me the new Reg code soon.....cause without Poker Tracker.....EV definately drops....they are usually pretty good at getting back on support issues.

I cant wait until Poker Tracker V3 the 3bet stats are gonna be beneficial for sure.

Silva----4 years 48 million.....LOL...I still cant get over it.....Bavasi's attempt to make the Mariners permanent 2nd place team for the next 4 years.

Lets just hope Felix Hernandez wins the Cy Young.....because thats what its gonna take for the Mariners to beat the Angels in the West (Angels didnt get any better...well...okay...slightly better)

BTW-- Did I mention I was up 4 Buyins today so far? WOO HOO

Its official, and worse than originally reported....

Carlos Silva, 4 years 48 million

at least its not Kyle Lohse for 10+ million per year.

The funny thing is, a bunch of fans are going to be super happy because
"Look Ma, the Mariners signed the top over-hyped free agent pitcher"

Lets just hope the is Bavasi's only mutilation of the franchise this year.
(and to think I actually thought he was doing a good job.....then the Ho-Ram trade....and his brain has turned off since then)

Poker......If I Stop, Breathe, and Think about the situation.....

.....I will make tons of Money playing poker.

If I don't?
I will go broke.

Tuesday totally sucked....
I played horribly.....
I felt horrible.....

I really dont understand it.....I "almost" can tell when my mind is not in optimal thinking mode,

Having an emotional day, is not a good mind frame for poker......I play well 90%...but the other 10 percent is donktastic.......its amazing though.....

How my pokertracker numbers can look exactly the same (I mean everything).....except getting stupid with 3 or 4 hands......

Wednesday was much better.....
I played really well.....
Finished the day a little bit up......but played better than the results...and thats good.

The Times that I didnt play well today were as follows (just to remind myself)

Opening too many tables
(I actually reduced the amount I play...but the way I was doing it was....open 10+ "good" tables....then reduced them as picked the best)
Basically I need to open up the best tables I want to play......and have a "max" amount of tables open....If I want to find another one that is better...I need to close a table before opening

Take time on Every descision that matters (all flop-river and an 3bet, raises etc etc)

I really need to read more articles and posts that matter.

I also need to follow up on study better....I really should reread some post here, to give me an idea what to work on for the day.

The Mariners make the 3rd worst possible move.....

Its 90% official....

Carlos Silva(former minnesota twins) is gonna sign for 4 years 44 million with the Mariners

1st. Its not that I hate Silva....or think he is trash.....he is just average.

Why is this one of the worst possible moves....

1) The rotation isnt any better than it would be with other pitchers available (a little in some instances but not 11 million worth)...The rotation go "better" because of Ho-ram and Weaver being ejected from it....not because of addition of talent.
2) Silva isnt much better than other options we already had for league minimum.
Baek, Morrow, Rowland-Smith, Rhorbaugh, Sean White, Feierabend, RA dickey......all of these options dont cost much....ALSO....The Mariners arent locked in for 4 years
3) Its a 4 year contract.....conisdering Silva doesnt dramatically improve the Mariners...that is a large committment that at best ads a win or two at most.
4) Silva is a monkey against lefties and the MAriners already have 2/5 of the staff that isnt "good/great" against lefties.....left handed platoon splits will be optimal against the Mariners...lets hope all the AL lefties goto the NL
5) Safeco doesnt benefit Silva much.....Left field short porch actually hurts him, where even with guys like Jarrod Washburn who we signed to 4 year 40+...safeco benefits his style of pitching...
Safeco doesnt hurt Silva....but Safeco + FA pithcer who safeco would "improve" = cheaper solution
6) Now 3/5 of the Rotation takes up 30+% of the total payroll....and that doesnt include King Felix, who is gonna enter his arbitration years soon.......30+% for guys not having "impact"...thats alot of money that should be spent wiser (people flipping out about Richie sexson....at least the 1st 2 years he produced for his money.....but for his mariner carreer...its basically similar to the Mariners Trio)
7) The 3rd and 4th year of the contract is when its gonna hurt the most....Either we will be blowing the team up, or wont have $$$ to address other needs (which will probably still be pitching, and we'll be in the same position....not utilizing the minors correctly)
8) Pretty much secures we lose $50,000 for RA Dickey ....I would have rather seen him get a slot...I am not a huge fan or anything....but IF...he can find the plate....a knuckler is like having a leftey in the line-up to disrupt the other team in a 3 game series)

The Good....
1) Most likely....Adam Jones wont get traded for Bedard.....Of course if Jones is a bust....well....we wont be talking about silva.....I doubt Jones will be a bust....in a year or two we will be say "All-Star Adam Jones"

2) We didnt trade tons of Talent for some 3rd rate pitcher (Such as the Ho-Ram / Soriano trade last year)

3) Ummmm.....Silva isnt Weaver or Ho-Ram?

When the "good" points are "we didnt get this other guy"...thats a sign of an average signing or trade.

If he can reproduce 2005 and 2007 ....he will be fine.....its just there were better options for the future.

But all that being said....

Carlos Silva....Welcome....Once ya put on the Mariners uniform...it means I will be a lifelong fan.
And Hopefully se can move Richie for better 1B defence, which should help ya out.

P.S. More pitches you can throw for groundballs to the 3B side will equall more outs, and more wins

Adrian Beltre and Yuniesky Betancourt = Great Wall of Chine + Industrial StregnthVaccuum

If Yuni "fixes" his throws to 1st base ....its the best 3B/SS combo in the AL IMHO

Go Mariners

Ups and Downs and Ups and Downs.....Pay Good, then Bad...then good...etc etc

Poker.....If I quit trying to shove people off the nuts I'd make a bundle.....

drumroll please........

2000+ hands......
-$0.65 total

Considering I donked off in 3 hands almost 4 buyins (1 hand was borderline...the others...I was just plain stupid)

Definatley gonna watch a Stoxpoker video tommorrow....(at least 1 NL 6-max)

I cant wait to watch Mr. Omaha Robert Williamson III coaching video (Pot-limit Omaha)
I was shocked when I found out the hired him to be the new omaha coach....
Best money i've spent in a long time.

If you havent join StoxPoker.com yet....definately do...and use the link or craigsmagic as a refference

Poker: Week of 12/10-12/16

End of Week Update

Hands 14,061
Profit +$557.90
BB/100 8.22 (4.11 PTBB/100)
Hours 33.22 (very little sat/sun because lack of confidence)
$16.80 Per Hour

At the begining of the week....Played incredible, that went hand in hand with winning at a rate that I KNOW could not continue......

What I did not expect....was for me to lose confidence in my game so abruptley on the downswing to follow...

I am up a good number for the week....but thursday-sunday (I actually ended up sunday even though I dropped a buyin quickley) ......10 years old could run over me.

Psychologically it was a very painful week......To be honest.....it was night and day...half the week...Playing A++ game....questioning if I shouldnt be playing ALOT higher.....
The rest of the week...I wondered if I shouldnt be playing the lowest of low Micro-limits.

Example:

Today....Complete idiot Me

QJs (I think....dunno it might have been QJos) Raise from the CO...
BB calls. (a realatively tight and good player which should have been my first clue that he cold calls)
Flop is Q 9 2 Rainbow
BB Leads into me for 1/2 pot (red flag #2)
All week long (frustration)
I have top pair....I pop it for a little less than pot (reflecting I should have just called an evaluated turn)
He 3bets medium...(red flag #3....no read as tricky...but I lumped him in with other bluffers)
I shove (pretty dumb given his line)
He thinks about it (which is something If I would have done....I would have lost less than $5)
He Calls....He has KK (which when I look at the hand I should have read that or a set EASILY)
bet/3bet line...They Will have something 90% of the time

I played poorly the last half of the week.....
Not sure if I need to be more aggressive or less (the numbers say more.....but its mainly losing Big pots on stupid "moves"

Rule #1 should be:
Don't Trying to Blow people out trying to get them to fold (people dont fold the nuts)

I actually feel better right now....but I have to admit....over 24 hours ago I had very little hope.

I am thinking of moving down tp work on my game and get my VPIP and PFR up a little....
16-17/10-13 game is not going to cut it in 6-max

Also...I have to do some thinking and research about getting play back at and 3/bet at...it seemed to be happening alot more at the end of this week....its almost like they just knew they could push me off of hands.....
I dunno....maybe it will correct itself with me playing hands stronger (If you play strong....well....strong beats stong and respect)

Okay....I am gonna do some tinkering with PaHud

Seattle Seahawks Update....

Well, I really dont know what to say....

Previous weeks the Seahawks have been looking like the team to beat in opinion..... I figured they would at least lose 1 game before the end of the year (with the playoffs wrapped up, not much to play for....)

After today...I am seriously worried about the Seahawks running attack....Today proved the passing attack could not work without the running attack.

I am seriously worried.....

We all know Shawn Alexander is just an average runningback.....and ever since Steve Hutchinson was stolen from the hawks....well....(Its so true....it all starts from the O-Line)
Maurice Morris...he's an improvement....but the O-line just isnt what it use to be.

The Defense is still awesome.....

Can they do it? Yeah, but its all gonna come down on Matt's shoulders, and the recieving crew.
I am still up on the Hawks.....and still think Superbowl....but man....they have to get it together an atleast gets some yards on the ground each game.

Go Hawks......just forget about this game, it means nothing

Mariners Fans, Say goodbye to Hiroki Kuroda

Its official....he's gonna sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

I am very neutral on this......
We all know the Mariners need pitching.....
Pitching doesnt grow on trees.
13 million a year for a #3/#4 starter and three years....The Mariners already have 2 pitchers with that description (Washburn and Batista)

Would it improve the team? Yes....but not enough to make them contenders....and would weaken the team down the road.

The Result of not signing Kuroda.....

Bavasi is gonna have a panic attack now........I hope he doesnt do something stupid to ruin the franchise by signing an over-rated free agent (okay, not over rated....but signing someone from the no talent free agent class)

Carlos Silva (If he becomes a Mariner....I become an Angels fan......Hold on a second....I contemplated suicide) Its not because he is horrible...but a 4-5 year contract for a #5 pitcher....
I couldnt take it.....save the 60 million Mr Bavasi.....spend it wisely...DO NOT DO IT....its not the 1st year....its th 4-5th year when ya cant sign good free agents or ya want to make a trade but cant because 3/5 of your rotation is untradeable.

Kyle Loshe?????? I just read an article saying we were looking at tossong big money his way???
Please shoot me.

Start Baek
Start Morrow
Start Ryan Rowland-Smith
Start Sean White
Start Ryan Feierabend

BUT PLEASE DO NOT SIGN A PITCHER FOR 12+ MILLION A YEAR that is not any better than the above pitchers....
I Beg You Bill.....dont castrate the Mariner Faithful

The ONLY Free agent Pitchers the Mariners should be looking at now are:
Bartolo Colon (1 year deal on the cheap)
Ummmmm...besides that.....1 year deals....
Locking long term would destroy the franchise for the next several years

No matter what the Mariners do this offseason....we are far behind the angels overall....
We should concentrate on increasing the farm system and improving the team overall. with shorter term deals for NON superstar players.

No Ho-Ram
No Weaver

The MAriners just got better.

Unloading Richie wouldnt be bad, and then signing Geoff Jenkins

I could go on an on...but I am definately tired

Average boring day....

Half the day I felt just as crappy....

Poker for the day I ended up 1/2 a buyin down over 2300 hands

I was playing way to tight, and essentially blinding my money away....not good...but not horrible.

My confidence is so so at best....I even fooled around at 2 stakes lower sLaging it up.....

Nancy Sue called....I always like talking to her....even though....well.....Lets just say there is a reason I wont ever date again.....LOL...been 1 year and 4 months :-)
Its True what they say.....Evil people cant really hurt ya, its hte ones that ya love that it hurts the most.

I miss being in Love
I miss companionship

Unfortunately pain lasts a lifetime

Enough of that....I might write a post in a month or two of the "details" of my life.

I'll finish this up.....then another post about the Mariners

I just want to Cry....and feel like I want to die....

I just feel like total crap......

Poker....I am not sure if I just sucked today....if the fish got lucky.....

To be honest I dont have a clue if I played great, good, average, fair, poor, bad or crappy.

the Red numbers in poker tracker mean I lost several buyins.

I really just want to cry......I lost more in a day last week, and felt 20 times better....
I played worse 2 days ago and I feel worse than I did then (and I know I didnt play as bad as that day.....

this is my day in a nutshell....

I have a set of 3s on the flop...
Bet for value.....
Bet for Value....
River is some card that cant hit any range.....say....4 of diamonds...
Bet for Value....
The stupidest villian on the planet min raises.......
I replay the hand in my head.....No resistance...just call station....Raggedy board....
I thought he had a pair....K4? 94?......
I bet 3 streets, is he stupid enough to think bottom 2 pair is good.

He called all the way down with 44.....K937 board (note:I potted it EVERY STREET)

and then there are the hands I push, and dont even think before I do.....

I really just want to cry......
I hate this......

I'm not sure if its bad beats, or my own stupidity.

I know I got floated alot today......

ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Combine that with being lonely.......
Craig's not a very happy camper....

I wish I was more sociable....
I wish people weren't such liars.....(LOL...especially friends and partners)

I definatley need to get out....I am going to have to force myself to goto the Thunderbirds game tommorrow.

I feel so pathetic going to everything alone though.

I wish I wasnt me.

My Take on the Mitchell Report

First of all.....

Bud Selig is the biggest moron on the Planet......he thinks he is God without reguard for justice, honesty and what is right. If Bud Selig Died today, the earth would be a better place to live.

As Far as Former Senator Mitchell......prior to this...I actually thought highley of Mr Mitchell....
but...after putting his stamp of approval on this....as a former judge and lawyer....
I am astonished...I cant believe my eyes....

Fine...he had the impossible task of trying to get people to "confess" ......BUT If I were in the Brian Roberts Family....I would sue the hell out of MLB, Mr Mitchell, Bud Selig and the idiots who included the crap.

Yes...TOTAL CRAP....

Here is a recreation of it...

"I know someone, who knows someone...who has a sister who knows someone...that is a relative of a dead person, who's Dog overheard a cat, that heard he did Roids"

Give me a break.....destroying a person reputation on info that is LESS than gossip....
The National Enquire and The Star are more reliable.

PATHETIC.....

Bud selig trying to screw everyone else so he doesnt have to admit that he is

MR STERIOD COMMISSIONER

My hope is that everyone who meets Bud in the future will call him Mr Steriod Era......

I still cant believe that he is willing to disreguard every agreement he has ever made.....
I mean...I think the players Union over the years has been horrible.....but Bud has taken being criminal and unjust to a new level.....

BTW this is just an opinion...I have no facts that Bud selig has relations with goats....I heard it from a friend who had a friend, who's cat told him.

As far as the Players who they have evidence against....yeah...suspend them according the policy at the time.....to the max.

My suggestion to players in the future....NEVER AGREE to talk to anyone related to anything set up by Bud selig.....talk about backstabing.

Bud Selig is a pathetic individual.....trying to get others to forget about his involvment in the steriod era....

It is just an opinion....Bud Selig is believed to be the main reason for steriod problems in MLB....it looks like he turned his head for years and years and years.

Pathetic Bud.....Pathetic.

Bud....start another investigation of all the FALSE steriod claims in this report.....and then personally goto the players home and be there personal Bitch for a month for the players you just wronged.

I am still in shock at the depth of the claims that have zero proof and slandering peoples names.

Clemens, Petite, Guillen....etc etc...I am fine with naming....a bunch of them there seems to be evidence of some sort.....but MY GOODNESS....PATHETIC

Can ya tell I think Bud is a crook?

BTW....Congress involvment....its stupid...spending bazillions in tax dollars about grown men cheating in baseball.....

stupidity in the steriod scandal is ranked this way.....

Bud Selig (until 2005, I thought he was an average commissioner)
Congress
(OMG...those hearings...its worse than reality tv with congress people trying to get TV time, some of the congressmen made me feel like I live in a pathetic country with leaders like them....I mean...sanctioning killing people worse than steriods?....get real)
George Mitchell
(frankley before today he wouldnt even been on this list....BUT...to put you name on a document like this that....just to make it longer.....included false and things that could not be verified....George Mitchell = National Enquirer)

The ones.....so far....that havent done stupid things....
The players....the ones who have shut up....WAY SMART....its the Salem WitchHunt ...."see Brian Roberts".....If I were council to a player...I would reccomend he never speak to anyone....if they say "Hi"...there carreer will be ruined by Bud.....and make sure to mail Bud a Xmas card or he will butcher you.

Donald Fehr.....personally I cant stand the guy....but his press conference....BIG props for not telling it like it is.....Bud promised things...then fucked him and the union....
Much Respect Sir....though I still dont like ya.

Seattle Mariners Offseason update.....The Good, the bad, and the ugly

First of all

The Good....
Mariners tendered George Sherrill...... this is a no brainer....one the Best set-up guys in baseball.

The SoSo....
Rule 5 pick R.A. Dickey...knuckleballer .....personally I think its just another guy who wont pan out for cheap....but if he can control it, if he can become the 2nd best knuckler in the Bigs....great....but I am not counting on it.

Ben Broussard traded for Tug Hulett .....its good and bad....Not wasting big dollars on a bench player (Ben)...good......getting a guy named "Tug"....good....improves the mariners....not really....the bead is that it really doesnt do much of anything.....I dunno....maybe Tug becomes Willie with power.

The Bad-Good.
John Parrish...GONE...the "bad" is gone, so thats good

The Ugly

#@$%^$&#$^&#$%^#$^&#$^&$%*&$%*&$%*$%&*$%&*$%&*$%&*$%* Ho-Ram
@!$%@#%^#^&#$&#$*&(*%^*(%^&*^&#$^@#$%^#$^&#%^&&#$#$^@ Ho-Ram

Unbelievable.....

Attention Mr Bavasi.....please sign me, I could pitch better than Ho-"powder-puff"-RAM

Normally I wouldnt care much about minor signings....but If I am not mistake Ho is gonna cost in 4-6 million arena (I might be wrong)....if thats the case....boot him....for a Million or so....fine...its a speedbump of salary.

If Ho comesback and is awesome this next year.....LOL....but if he does....I'll have to do something crazy to show him my support.


The Kuroda Update.....Well....
looks like he's gonna be a Dodger...physical, then the announcement....but that could change....
If it doesnt.....
Please God, dont let Bavasi go nuts and trade for no talent pitchers with our top prospects.


Winter League update

Sean White...Oh my...2 starts...awesome...lets hope he can keep it up and do it with the mariners

Adam Jones is doing well too...Lets hope he can meet expectations (hopefully not Jeremy Reed Jr)

I hate running good? No Kuroda for the Mariners? If not, then Who?

I wonder, I know the google analyzer says that people visit and read this blog....but do they really?? or is it just a ploy to build their own revenue stream?
LOL....definately in a thinking mood....internet conspiracy by google and the blog-gods :-)


Another day, another 20+ bb/100 session......

Today was much better than yesterday...I played extremely well and others were sucking out on me (If they suck out on ya, it means you're getting it in good for the most part)

Couple tables I was completely abusing a couple loose weak players...
limp limp ....I raise....1 fold.....1 call.....flop (70% of the time it doesnt matter).....check, I bet, they fold.

The only exception to the above was......villian raises, hero folds....and.....villian raises...hero 3bets and villian donates his/her stack.

The more I think about it, I played damn good......the only hand I thought I originally played bad, well I didnt notice it went to showdown between 2 villians.....I originally though I made a marginal fold (I must have been brain damaged thinking my trips and 2 pair outs were good...I was drawing 4 to 1 at best on the turn...glad I didnt get stupid and 3bet)

I wasnt feeling well while playing....felt extremely cold...hopefully I feel better tonight and tommorrow.

Once again...Thanks StoxPoker.....

Note to self: dont let the success goto your head.....Good laydowns are key to success (figuring out the resisstance is key to good decisions)

As far as the MAriners homefront.

Rumor is The Dodgers have won the Kuroda bidding.....but at this point its just rumor......
should find out thurs or fri.

Still not sure If I want the M's to spend 12 mil/per ..could be worth it...might not....
My main concern is how it affects the next 2 offseasons....an extra 12 million to land someone who would have a real affect....who that might be...I havent a clue....but another #3 pitcher is not what the Mariners need....sure...he might be better...but he could be Igawa 2.0

Like I said...as long as its not 4 years, I'll be happy.

If we dont get Kuroda......
Well......then my fear factor will increase.....because Bavasi might go nuts.....and Doing something real stupid.......Carlos Silva for 120/8 years or something equally as dumb.....
Just me over thinking.....but Ho Ho Ho season makes me think about last year and Ho Ho Ho-Ram trade.........

We can hope a reasonable trade for Bedard (Wlad, and 3 C and B prospects)....No Jones and I'd prefer to keep Clement......but Bedard and Felix improved...well...thats pretty decent.

Its funny....because most every year I have a general plan that I would like to see the Mariners go after...but this year....there just isnt alot of things that are possible.....I mean....the only pitchers available that are worth trading for ar Bedard and Johan Santana.......the others are Oakland pitchers, which 95% wont end up in a MAriners uni......if ya cant get either of the above, I am all for letting guys fight it out for the 2 rotation spots for the league minimum....

I mean.....spending 10 mil, or trading your farm system for pitchers of the same caliber....it doesnt make a whole lot of sense.

Man I want some Garlic Fries. LOL

Might be going the the Thunderbirds game this saturday against the Swift Current Broncos.
I wish Key Arena was closer...I know its only about 60 minutes...but 2 hours round trip for a 2 hour max game...LOL....I am so lazy.

One of these days I will learn to be more sociable and let people get to know me and find friends to goto the game......I think my daughter is working (95% sure).....
Anyone want a ticket to the game? I probably should have only got 1 season ticket instead of 2.

I cant wait until next year when the T-birds move to the New Kent Events center....30++++ minutes closer....and an arena made for Hockey. I'll triple the amount of games I attend.

Paid for my Seahawks playoff tickets today...Now I just gotta sell them (got 10 tickets together and need to sell 8 of them),,,,,they will sell themselves though......
I love the seahawks...I goto the games for free and make more than enough to cover food and parking.

Winning Money While Playing Bad.....

I'm not complaining about the winning part......

BUT I PLAYED HORRIBLE THE LAST 3 HOURS!!!!!
(to be honest...I didnt play so hot the first 2 hour session of the day either)

when ya win 21.92 BB/100 over 2570 hands....While playing like a complete Moron...

Thats definately running good.

I cant even express how pissed I am at myself.....Part of the punishment is Making myself stop (the money was flowing in like crazy, but that made it worse)

I might play for an hour so in a little while.....I think I used up all my equity with the poker gods today....I mean....shoving with JJ preflop...generally not a good idea (well okay, that play in the context wasnt as bad as ALOT of other plays...at least that one I did it with a read and read my stack as 33 not 53...so the "play" was good....misreading my stack was "bad")

I was Playing like Jeff Weaver pitching (well more like Ho-Ram...the Mariners would win some when he stunk it up)

Okay...I have to relax before I blow a gasket.

Rules for the rest of the week.
6 tables at the same time MAXIMUM (8 if I play well for 2 hours solid)
Watch 2 videos per day....and post 1 hand just to get ripped on and 2 hands for analysis on Stoxpoker (LOL...they teach you to run good and make money when playing bad)....thats a joke....but actually its kinda true...because I maximized the profit on certain hands...I ran good...and that I learned at stox.

The membership at Stoxpoker has already paid for itself....LOL....my bankroll is up 2000% and climbing.

Relax mode....brain off

Poker: Week of 12/3-12/9

End of Week Update

Hands 11,257
Profit 485.71
BB/100 13.42 (6.71 PTBB/100)
Attitude: Pure Joy for 1 day and 6 days of OMFG for the 1st hour of each session and then ending each session even or slightly up

Hours 29.14 (actually was less total)
$16.48 Per Hour

If I have more days like I had this week, I am unsure if I can take it.

I really dont mind the swings.....its just the quickness and severity of the swings...Just about every session this week I started off 2 buy ins down within the 1st 15 minutes and ended up even or up

(I think it was tuesday when I dropped around 5 buy ins within...it had to have been 10 minutes at most.....I almost threw the computer.....

BUT I remembered something either Leatherass9 or cottonseed1 said in one of there videos (might have been stox,,,,I really dont remember who said it exactly)....
Remember to breath after a beat....and to be honest....it kept me from tilting off a buy on several occations this week.

I think it was either friday or saturday......well....thats the only reason I am still playing...it was insane....the funny thing is I should have been up another 4 buy ins from suckouts. (not complaining though)

Well...I do need to play more hands....started off the week good...but thrusday rolled around an mentally I couldnt play more because of the crazy week.

Excuses

This week.

Goals Next week

1) Play good poker
2) Watch 5 videos
3) Review Big winners/losers EVERY SESSION
4) at least one day PT hour indepth analyze
5) Play 15,000+ hands
6) at least 20% 6-max (3k minimum)
7) Research/study/post AK and AKs hands....find how to play them better in situations
8) figure out which situations I dont play AK-AJ well and come up with a plan
9) 4+ PTBB for both FR and 6 max (5+ PTBB overall)

I am tired, definately missing something

Oh....today recap.

Dropped almost 3 buy ins tonight.....grinded for the next 2 hours and ended up a buyin up.....

I dont mind swings...I just wish EVERY session wouldnt start of with a huge drop....hell....I'd be happy with tredding water for the first hour and losing 4 buy ins over the next 3 hours...I'd be happier (odd to say, but I'd ALMOST rather ending up down with a gentler slide)

Okay, maybe not....I dont hate money

Seattle Seahawks --- West Division Champs 4th year in a row

Last year in the same type of situation (virtually the same record and 49ERs instead of the cardinals.....they laid an egg in 2006 and struggled down the stretch.

This year....

They simply put away the Cardinals and showed them who the better team was without question.

I said it earlier this week.....The seahawks have a Great chance for the SuperBowl

The Ironic thing is they could just as easily go out in the first round.
The Vikings scare the crap out of me, more than the Cowboys or Packers.

I'd give anything to Face the Giants in the 1st round, or ANY other team....
Adrian Peterson is a complete stud and would be a problem.

With the exception of the Running Game....this year Seahawks is IMHO better than the Super Bowl team.....AND....the rushing offense is coming around little by little.

Congrats Guys.....
Since 2002 the Seahawks have the 2nd best winning percentage of all NFL teams.

Enough Seahawks...I slacked off today on Poker....

Between The Seahawks game and Nancy Sue calling me, I have done zero today...and the little I did...I played horribly, I think (I wasnt paying attention at all)

I'll post the weekly poker report tonight or first thing tommorrow (on the plus side)

HalfTime: Seahawks = Dominant 24 - 7

Lets Recap the Game so far.....

Mike Holmgren = Offensive Genius
Matt Hasslebeck = Stud
Shawn Alexander = He's Back
Offense = Unstoppable

Defense = HOLY COW THEY ARE GOOD

The 12th Man = We rock

Plackemeier = ??????? Sole reason for Arizona Scoring

GO HAWKS
SUPERBOWL OR BUST !!!!!!!

Seahawks Game of the Season..........

Well.....it comes down to this game....

If the Seattle Seahawks Beat the Arizona Cardinals, they win the West Division and clinch a Playoff spot. If they lose.....well, they would have only a 1 game lead in the Division with 3 games to go.

Its not a "must win"...but its damn close....They lose and then ya gotta wonder if they can do anything in the Playoffs....if they win....they would still be a REAL contender.

Arizona is scary....not for the Bad Teams...just the good ones....They cant beat any team with a losing record for the most part...and if a Team has a winning record....they beat them (Steelers, Browns, Seahawks etc etc)

Its 30 minutes till kickoff...the Pre-game show is starting....

If the Hawks win...and If anyone reading this needs playoff tickets....give me a call...I have extras :-)

Movin' On up

Today I officially decided to move up in stakes,
I was going to wait until I had 35 Buy-ins in the Pokerstars account (without depositing more)....but since I have been consistantly winning 6 PTBB/100,
I figured if I dropped 3 Buy ins I would just move back down.

Welp.....Poker gods smiled on me today....Only played about 600 hands and ended up the day 5+++ Buy ins up.

Edit: played another 300 hands tonight.....Make that up 8 buy-ins (should be up 14 buy-ins.....3 horrible all-in on the turn...then 2 outers on the river....normally I would want to die over those and that many...but hey....8 buy ins is good enough for me....Insane day of running good....would have been great)

Once of the other things I am doing is playing full Ring at 25c/50c, The players in Full Ring are definately worse than 6-max overall....and of course less variance.

I still keep thinking I should just start playing 1/2 and $2/$4, but I am going to stick to my plan of building from $100 and playing my way up.....

Things I need to do.

Play more hands.....averaging under 4 hours a day is not going to cut it.
Rewatch a couple videos
More hand reviews
LOL...think of things I need to do :-)

Brief Mention of Mariner History

Dec 7th, 2007

Mariners worst trade in franchise History

Ho-Ram trade from atlanta to Seattle

If you're a Mariner Fan, and even if you are having the best day of your life....the Mere Mention of that trade ruins your day.

Okay...Sonics Part 3 and My monthly worship of King Felix

Poker Update:
I know I have said it before....
Stox Poker Rocks....if you are reading this....I am controlling your thoughts so you will Join www.stoxpoker.com ...best investment ever....FYI....Make sure you enter My ID CraigsMagic as a referral :-)

I have a feeling its gonna be a good poker day tommorrow

Forgot to mention the hillarious sight of Squatch shooting the t-shirt Air Cannon and Nearly taking his assistants head off....Diet Pepesi came out my nose.

Shame on me....Have Mentioned Felix Hernandez this month.....
Time for our King Felix Prayer.

Please Baseball gawds....let the King Realize his full potential this year...25-2 with a 1.67 ERA (and sick numbers), Protect him from Injury and sign him long-term.
Amen.

Thank you Baseball Gawds for answering our Ichiro Prayer last year, Bunch of people think we overpaid....but smart fans realize we got him cheap (just look at the Tori Hunter deal...Same Price...same amount of years...and Tori Hunter cant hold Ichiro's jock at the plate or defensively.

Seat relocation day was today (forgot to mention earlier)...I move the Terrace Club seats to Box seats in Section 125....Kept the other 4 seats

Go Mariners

Sonics 105 Bucks 98 .....T-Birds up 4-0 vs Portland Winterhawks in the 3rd period (listening on the Radio right now)

Just got home from the Sonics Game.....
The Sonics should pay me to goto games....I'll have to check my records....but they are winning at a .700 win pct of games that I attend the last 4 years (considering they have had a winning record since Nate left....thats just insane.

My impressions of the Sonics....

Kevin Durrant , Alright...so he is better than I was giving him credit for (always had a problem of people annointing an unproven rookie as "all-world" and Mr franchise.

Green....well...maybe he just had a bad game...but he left me thinking "1st Round draft pick??!?!?" Not that he was horrible...I dunno...just hos college highlights looked better to me. (might have been Nachos on the Brain)

Rest of the Team....well...played well with the 8man rotation (swift, Ridnour and company were all in suits injured)

As far as the Bucks.

Micheal Redd, That guy is a complete stud.......Holy Cow....I really dont know what to say....He was incredible.

Yi, seriously overated.....

Bogut .....there were 15 Australian High school kids on some tour of WA at the Game...Oh My goodness////they were loud...and having a heck of a time....To be honest...they made the experience 50 times more enjoyable tonight....
The Aussie chants....LOL....and the Bogut Chants....LOL..."Here we go Bogut, Her we Go".....and of couse Aussie Aussie Oi Oi etc etc.....

American fans are just plain stupid (well 40 year old fans)....these kids were just having a blast (and as I said....adding to atmosphere for all)....
I hate Drunk People....Closet Alcoholics are the worst....they drink like fish, act like idiots and Make excuses for their behavior.....Fun drunks....fine...Passed out drunks...thats okay too....40 year old idiot getting in the face of a 12 year old kid....Friggin Retarded.

Thunderbirds are in Portland....Man the WinterHawks Suck this year....If the T-birds lose a game to them this year....I might have a heartattack.
GO BIRDS!!!!!

Considering I went to my 1st Hockey game last year...My "fan-hood" is growing rapidly.....Have to say, Hockey is the best to watch live...On TV.....snoozers.

Welp...Sleep time and Poker tommorrow (If I win, I might goto the T-birds game tommorrow)

Going to the Sonics Game and $0.15 profit for 2200 poker hands

Heading out the door to the sonics game against the Milwaukee Bucks
(the tickets that were "sold" .....welll...idiot lied about buying them....I hate People)

Soooo....Headed to the game with 4 tickets (use 1 and sell 3 at the game)
At least I will get the same price I paid (being a season ticket holder is the only way to go.

$135 worth of free food vouchers I need to use at Key arena (another perk of a season ticketholder...essentially they gave me $3 worth of free food per game)

Poker....

$0.15 profit....Ugh...not bad....played well...EXCEPT....

I NEED TO LEARN NOT TO STACK OFF ON A BLUFF....I have been keeping that idiotic move under controll....but bluffs that afterwards ya think "That was a horrible spot to bluff".....well....I just shouldnt 3 street bluff against calling stations. LOL

Off to the game.

Mariners.....Stox Poker and well.....a good day of poker.

First of all....

Stox Poker Rocks.... besides the obvious benefits of improving my game.....

Here is just another instance of "coolness"

StoxPoker.com is offering people free one month subscription for people who place Stoxpoker banners on their wesite....

I already have a year membership that I got free from Cake and PSO (btw...great promo...best offer ever) So I dont need an extension of the extra month....

Me being the complete cheap skate that I am....I send a message to the forums Admin asking if I could get Stox's book instead of the extra month (they also have a INCREDIBLE sign up offer for 6 month and 1 year subscriptions of a bunch of free poker books and poker software)

Here is what I got in response

"That is not a problem as long as shipped within the continental US or Canada."

Which is WAY Cool....and I realized that they are even giving me a better deal....because on the other free offers...approx every 1 1/2 months is equal to 1 book....

Definately not complaining.

So....BIG PROPS to Stoxpoker.....My bankroll thanks ya and so does my daughter :-)
At this rate...by mid-2008 I might make more in one month than I ever have working....well.....its way in the future...but I am hopeful and plan on working at it.....

Be great Just to goto Mariners games and Play poker.

Now for the Mariners update....

Mariners + winter meetings = yawnfest

Wasnt expecting anything....but I am like every other fan...always hopeful.
Minnesota Twins fans offeseason has been crazy.....I couldnt imagine writing all about that.

Supposedly M's offer Kuroda 4 years 40 mil....
Relatively is an okay signing (considering dont have to pay a posting fee)....
I hope he doesnt bust like Igawa.....4 years would be like paying Scott Spiezio again for additional years.

Btw...

Scott SLEEEEEEEEEZZZZZZZZZZZZZZIIIIIIIIOOOOOOOO can suck my butt crack.
The only Ex-Mariner that I can actually say I hate.

Back to what I was saying....lets just keep our fingers crossed he is a stud.

Rumors still around for Erik Bedard....
I am all for the trade.....as long as it doesnt cost to much talent.....
No adam Jones.
heard a rumor they wanted George Sherrill ......
I like Bedard...but I have this bad feeling I am not gonna like who we have to give up to get him....

Bedard....controll untill 2009.....
Felix/bedard 1-2 punch would be really good.

Okay...

Poker.....

Started the Day off slow....first hour or so left me feeling "great, break even-downswing"....but then I won one big pot that brought me near even for the day......

Then.....

Fish started jumping into my bankroll....
One guy I took his stack 4 times....He was tilting hard and I took full advantage of it.....I think he stacked off 9 full buy-ins....Unfortunately he had position on me, Or I would have gotten 80% instead of 50%

I was making good reads the 2nd half of the session....

Example....

Made a River call, that I would normally fold with no reads...and had fully intended on folding when I check and I expected the villian to fire.

It was the size of his River Bet.....20 minutes earlier...he had fired...got call...he had Ace high...but won the pot because the other guy thought King high was good (I did a double take)
Initally I thought he had a huge hand....but his river bet was 90% of pot....the ONLY other time he made a bet that size....was the river bluff....all other bets were exact Pot...or the standard 1/2 2/3 3/4 etc etc (or rounded off) etc etc.

Just glad the board texture was favorable to hand read his range.....generally calling "he has trips, boat or bluff" are not calls I generally would want to ever make (missed draws are a different story).

The funny part was....he commented "how did ya make that call"....then 2 hands later he chatted "Damn, I did the same move 30 hands ago".....
Made me feel good...Took him 3 minutes to analyze and I caught it in seconds.

Go Craig :-)

Results wise it was a good day.....feeling wise, 2nd half was good....playwise, some spots I sucked.....for the most part I was good....

Note to self:
3-bet more preflop.

I think I might require myself to squeeze 4 extra time preflop (not random...but selected)...I am definatly not doing it enough weekley....leaving money on the table.

Also....Tough guys on your left Sucks.

Grrrrr.........

I really need to just let downsiwings roll off my back...

Its not really the "downswings".....its the sharp swings downward (drop 2+ buyin in 5-10 min)

It only slightly affects my game (been alot better lately not make back to back to back Huge mistakes)

Like right now....I should be playing....but I am doing the "right thing" and chilling out....Got a little aggrivated....was crushing the regulars in spots (playing excellent I might add for the 2nd time)....but the Super Fish were....well....NE 2cards....No pair, No draw on flop....call....runner runner trips (btw, no overcards)....It only happen exactly 5 times in 10 minutes....thank goodness they are idiots and love to check the river.

I am up 4000 BBfor the past Month...and still I question that I am playing decent at times.....

Hmm....I guess its just when I lose the "big Pots" when it bothers me.....

Blah blah blah blah....sometimes I just need to shut up.

Grinding is good.....Homeruns are bad (well unless ya do it while ya grind)

Okay enough poker....I'm still gonna play another 3 hours and need to clear my mind

Mariners....

Jose Guillen-- Looks like he's gonna get suspended for 15 games.....still doesnt make any send for the Mariners to pass up the sandwich pick.....
This is gonna bug me all offseason....especially if some team picks up a stud...and in 2009 crushes the mariners.

Mariners free agent signings

NONE....

Rumors abound...
Kuroda is the most likely....
Beyond that....who knows....

Rumor that Tejada May be headed for the Angels....I totally forgot about the Baltimore fire sale....

Sigh....it will probably lead to Bavasi trading the farm for another Ho-Ram.

I am starting to get this feeling Bavasi is gonna do something real stupid (last year I wasnt expecting it....this year I am)

Go Seahawks (this sunday is the end of the division race)
Go Mariners
Go Thunderbirds (even though they cant win in overtime)

Tuesday....cont....

Okay, I was going to call it a day...then....

News Flash!!!

Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis to the Detroit Tigers for the Tigers Farm system.

Not that I care about the Tiger or Marlins....
But I do care about the Mariners.....

The Baseball gods have answered my prayers to not let the Anahiem Anal Angels aquire Cabrera. All-Praise Detroit for Keeping him out of the West Division.

With A-Rod, Miguel and Lowell all wrapped up.....The Angels hopes of getting that all-star to hit behind Vlad...aint gonna happen.

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tori Hunter makes them better....but in the long run is gonna hold them back
(Ichiro contract for Hunter??? LOLOLOLOLOLOL)

I am soooooo happy....

Winning poker....
And a near guarentee that the Angels wont get significantly better this offseason.

Go Mariners

From the Pits of Dispair, to Feeling Hunkie Dorie.....

Before I get into the Title....

Mariners Update....

Jose Guillen signs with KC.....
Bavasi deserves an anal probing for this one.....
No arbitration, no extra 1st round draft pick for the Mariners
I thought the Ho-Ram trade was bad last year.....this was just plain stupidity on Bill's part.
Hmmmm....as I am writing this someone just told me we did offer him arbitration....
Hmmmm....gawd I hope so.


Mariners still the front runner for Hiroki Kuroda
I hope he isnt the next Igawa.....dont think so...but I do worry.

Rumor is Erik Bedard is on the Mariners Radar.....
Now he's not Santana (btw the Mariners wont be getting him)
I dunno....He's high quality....but the big question is what we give up for him.
IMHO get him, but dont give up the farm.

No if we can just dump richie (love ya Big Rich, but unless you can get back to form from 2+ years ago.....cant afford what you've done the last 2 years)


Okay.....

Now for the ups and downs of poker.....

Yesterday was probably the 2nd worst I have ever felt after playing poker.
In a matter of 15 minutes I dropped 7 full buy-ins
Ironically only one of them I can partially attribute to Tilting (my play was questionable, but not horrific by any means....-EV but not by too much)

So today, I started a little later than normal....datamined a bit longer than I normally do, just to get more meaningful numbers......

My plan was to make sure I wasnt too aggressive (which I tend to do when I start any session for some reason....its not maniac at all....its just me thinking...
"aggression is the key to being a winning player".....
Its true....but you can blow people off the hand when they have the mortal nuts.

Played about 5 hours straight (playing so well I even held off going to the bathroom for a while)
No huge hands.....several situations in which I "WISHED" I had the hand to call.
(complete Donk on my right shoving all in all day....80BB into a 5 BB pot)
The Biggest pot I scooped all day was maybe 40 BB total....

BUT....

Talk about grinding.....
Near perfect poker.....
The only bad hand played was letting a flush draw get there at the river (completely screwed up by not betting the turn...cost me 10BB)

Won back all 7 buy ins from yesterday.....

Ironically I should be happier.....
With the exception of a few days.....I cant remember a more successful day BB/100 where I played over 2k in hands....

I know what this means....means I need to stay at this level for at least the rest of the week.....sigh.....at least I am regonizing the right moves.

Go Hawks!!!!
Go Mariners!!!
Go T-birds!!!
Go.....
Well...
Stay Sonics!!!!

Seattle Seahawks.....better than everyone thinks....

Are people watching the same games I am?
I swear all the people in Seattle have no clue about football.....several people this week have said....and I quote..."The seahawks are aweful this year, they can barely win games, and Alexander sucks"

Okay...as far as Alexander...ya he has been over-rated for a while....Glad to see Holmgren has gone with a Pass-1st offense....
I have to say....his sub=par preformance this year are from the O-line not nearly as good as it once was in the Super Bowl year

Seattle Fans...get over it...Sean is over paid and an average running back...but he is definately not the worst....and if Mo Morris gets more carries...I personally think Alexamnders per rush numbers will increase.

As far as the idiot fans...
8-4

and the Seahawks are 2 plays from being
10-2

(A botched Handoff in the Arizona Game, and giving the Game to cleveland)


IMHO
The Seahawks have an excellent chance at getting to the superbowl
(you can quote me on that)

We match up well with Dallas.
We Match up even better against Green Bay.

I am actually more concerned about the 1st round Wild card team (I hope its the giants)....the rest kinda scare ya.

I could rant for hours...but some fans are Pathetic.

Go HAwks!!!!!!

Finally 6-Max and Sleeping Mariners

End of Week Update

Hands 12,865
Profit +$400.60
BB/100 +10.66 (5.33 PTBB/100)
Attitude: 4 days =Feeling like a Stud 3 days Feeling like a Nit
$11.92 per hour (I cant wait till I let myself move up)
33.62 Hours (about 8 hours of it was playing 1-2 tables while Tv/Study)

Seattle Mariners update:

Zero
Zero
Zero

Wait a Minute....

Winter Baseball Meetings....

Zero
Zero
Zero

And the word is that The M's arent gonna offer Jose Guillen arbitration.....

Now granted I am not that upset Jose wont be back (especially with the steroid rumor)
Adam Jones needs a home in the Outfield....and though I love what Jose did for the MAriners, and will consider him a Mariner always (its funny how every player who plays 1 game in the uniform...in my mind will always be an M)
But 10 mil PER/Year for 3+ years....sorry...No-way-jose

BUT.....

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
No arbitration (which Jose will pass on anyways)?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

THAT MEANS NO SANDWICH PICK IN THE DRAFT!!!!!!!! 1st Round pick...BYE BYE

Unbelievable.

Jose is a Type B Free agent, and that gets us a Sandwich pick in next years draft,
By not offering A-b-tration, the Mariners lose out on the draft pick (2 1st rounders instead of ONE)

I dont get it....it wont hurt next year....but it hurts the farm system.

Kuroda news....
Nothing....

Pitching news...
Nothing...
(okay, with the exception of on the Mariners website JJ Putz doing charity stuff)

Mariners needs:
Starting pitching

Secondary needs
Move Richie Raul or Turbo trade to say goodbye to one (free up LF for a free agent who can play defence and left handed)

My suggestions

Kuroda.....BUT NOT for huge money 7 Mil per and Max 3 years
Bartolo Colon ...yeah he sucked last year....but a 1 year for cheap....
If he comes back...thats a bargain....
If not....dump him after 5+ starts and Morrow has starts under his Belt at tacoma, or RRS (ryan rowland smith) or Baek can take his slot

Basically get pitching...but dont ruin the franchise for 5 years doing it.
Carlos Silva is NOT the answer.

As far as the 2ndy need
Geoff Jenkins would be good and the right price

Whether its Richie or Turbo...I wouldnt really care that much who got traded for salary relief and line-up/defense relief.
Its more about Defense than anything else...and of course another left handed bat in the lineup would be nice

Okay enough Mariners...

Poker....

Mid week after moving up to 25/50c I realized its mainly a matter of confidence to move up and make huge $$$ .....My game tighens up WAY to much....I should Half/half it when moving up.

Mid week as well....I finally started learning 6-max.....3 years in the waiting.
My intiall reasoning was "All the good players are flocking to 6-max to take advatage, so I will Full ring and be the best there to profit"

Honestly...I was right.....the Players are Full Ring, are either Really good...or they are 10 times worse than 6-max players.
But....My BB/100 at 6-max (even though I dont feel like a pro yet) its higher, simply for the factr of being able to take advatange of 1-2 bad players, TWICE as much per 100 hands (in Full ring...ya take on the Bad player 2 times in 2 orbits....in the same amount of hands in 6-max....you take on the bad player 4 times)
DUH!!!!!!

I must say though...have to be a bit more careful against the good players....
And its definately teaching me to play in position more (not because I need position on bad players as much....but because I need to make sure I dont get in situation out of position against the good players)

I think the next 20-40K in hands are going to improve my game 10 fold....just the last 3 days (6k hands)I can see the difference in how I approach each hand relative to position.

My BB/100 should have been 3 times what it was....but lost 4 huge hands (one hand was 200 BB deep)
77 in the CO
I open for 4BB
SB calls, BB calls
Flop K72 rainbow
SB near pots
BB calls
I of course Raise (even though when I think of it now...no draws with the excpetion of a gutshot at worst, I might have just called and slowplayer...naw...pump it is better this deep)
SB and BB call (
Turn is an Ace completing the rainbow.
SB leads out....BB calls again

To be honest I actually though about just calling here...I mean....there is no way I am behind 99% of the time.....draws???? Are there any???

But I raised, because I like money (I left enough for a comfortable shove where is he does have 2 pair he's gonna call.....cause KK is the only thing I am worried about....and with the read I have on both....they would have pumped preflop

SB calls....BB fold (who knows what he had)
River is 2

SB checks
With my perfectly sized Turn bet....it leaves me a shove that he has to call with 2 pair (I'm hoping he has AK, Ax, or some crazy Kx)

He insta calls with Quad Dueces

The more I think about it....I cant find check on the river....
He doesnt have KK or AA (I would bet everything I have, just cause those 2 dont slow play anything)

I dunno...I hate bad beat stories....but it was such a cooler (being exremely deeo over 200BB really hurt)

Okay enough of that.

Things to work on....

Steal more from the CO, and stealing a little from the Hi-jack (blind specific)
3Bet more on the Button and CO
Find info on 3Bet from blinds (do's and don'ts)
(I think of doing it a bunch, but dont pull the trigger....well...because they "seem" -EV...even though it kinda feels like I am giving up money....
Dunno...I think I am missing out on money ops

I started 6-max to play better around the button...Need to work hard....
Its gonna pay off big time.

Oh, and if anyone read this far....

click on the Stoxpoker banner and signup....its more than worth it (its already paid for itself)