Poker: The Two Weeks of 2/11/08-2/24/08 (I've been avoiding updating so its REALLY late)

End of Week(s) Update

Hands 27.669
Profit -979 BB
BB/100 -3.54 (-1.77 PTBB/100)
Hours 55.88
-8.76 BB/HR Per Hour

Well...since I had such a horrible week from the 11th to 18th...I said "SCREW IT"....
and I screwed around with the update.....after playing so well at the begning of the month

(I played so well at the 1st week of the month, and the results reflected it)......

The past couple weeks...If I played well...The results sucked...if I played crappy....the results sucked.

Basically...my play wasnt very good as a whole for those two weeks....and I really couldnt tell ya what I did wrong for the most part.....

LOL....I am trying to tweek and change to much....and occationally play to many tables.

I did everything possible wrong at some point...and the WORST PART...is I could even evaluate what I have done wrong or right....but that is par the course over the last 2 months or so.

To be honest....I feel like I am a good player....who doesnt know how to play good.....
That doesnt make any sense at all...but its the way I feel....

A better way to describe it....

I think on the say...6th level of thinking.....(or whatever...I can think with the best of them)
when I play.....I over or under estimate the villian...and that equals....disaster

I dunno....I have played well for the past 4 days...and ironically that is playing up a level in stakes
(I didnt feel like playing 3k in hands a day for 3 days straight to get the VPPs to make platinum...so I just moved up and played half the amount of hands for the same VPPs)

The stakes didnt bug me....I actually took more time on each descision....which is a good thing....the more time I take each descision...the better I play.

gonna go back to my normal stakes at 25/$0.50....and see if I can put together 50K hands on the plus side.....I am getting real sick of the 20K hands up....20k down.,...20k up.....20k down....I mean...150K hands and I am down less than a buy in.....

ARGH!!!!

Okay...I just needed to yell....I have played well post 2/24...so that is good.....

I think the reason I even made this post...is so I could bury those two weeks in which I sucked donkey balls.

So busy...and GO MARINERS!!!!!

I have been so busy.....well...not that busy....but a bunch of different things....

Go Mariners!!!

GO Ichiro.....I love him so much....he is the engine that makes the MAriners go.

Lol....I dont even know what to write....

I made a huge blog post on Stoxpoker, for the Small stakes Stoxpoker Project
(which by the way is something I would kill for...I know its not gonna be like 20 hours a week coaching....but even if its just a little....my goodness....it could be something extremely good for my game......and I would do anything to improve it)

I am always wary of stuff ya read in the forums....people saying the exact opposite of each other....and to be honest...I am not the best...and when I see people posting stuff that contradict each other...well...ya never know whats true or better.....I'm not a math guy...I am good at math...but I dont like spending 4 hours calculating and number crunching.....snooze

I dunno....

I;ve thought of paying for coaching....but....spending $500 an hour for what? ya dont know what you're getting.....the guy might not communicate the way I NEED....and wasting my bankroll to be in the same spot...I'd rather not spew my money to someone who calls themself a "coach"

I dunno....I dont trust anyone any more.....Its all about the Benjamins....and lieing to to get more from me is not on the top of my list.

But back to the stoxpoker project thing.....lol...man can I blabber on and on.....I just ramble and dont really think of what I am saying....
LOL...I am afraid to see what I wrote....

but...the voting is friday....I thought about begging like some of the others are doing....but I just think that will put people off...and comes across as pathetic.

I have my fingers cross...but I'm not holding my breath...I would love it...but things like that.....well....they just dont happen to me. if it werent for bad luck...I wouldnt have any luck :-)

But...if this is the year for the Mariners...I might actually win it....95...2001...I had good years...and the mariners won.....if I get the SS SP project....its world series baby :-)

I wonder what I would pick if it was Mariners WS or Stoxpoker project...I love the Mariners...but honestly...I need a break for myself...and it might be small..but it would be good for me.

Poker Possum Returns...

He came back again...he must love me

Dave Niehaus Hall of Fame bound...FINALLY!!!!

It is Loooooonnnnnnnnnng over due.

Dave Niehaus is not only the voice of the Mariners.....
He is a Mariner...He is "The Franchise"

To be honest...I dont even know where to start....

I remember going to games....bring an AM radio just to hear the play by play of Dave.
I cant remember a HR that was "belted".....
Grandma is always the relative who supplies the Rye Bread.
Grandma always had "Grand" Salami and not the cheap kind.
"My Oh My" isnt just a saying....its Mariners culture....
Junior is Griffeys 1st name right?
Alvin Davis Maybe "Mr Mariner"....but Dave is "Mr Mariner Sr."
Dave is like Mariners Dad....he rename Norm Charlton.

Gawd I love Dave Niehaus....just listening to his calls of the 95 season...they send chills down my spine.

When I watch replays of Edgar Martinez Double in Game 5 of the Divisional Series against the New York Yankees....I am hearing Daves voice even before he says it.....

"Right now, the Mariners looking for the tie. They would take a fly ball, they would love a base hit into the gap and they could win it with Junior's speed. The stretch... and the 0-1 pitch on the way to Edgar Martinez swung on and LINED DOWN THE LEFT FIELD LINE FOR A BASE HIT! HERE COMES JOEY, HERE IS JUNIOR TO THIRD BASE, THEY'RE GOING TO WAVE HIM IN! THE THROW TO THE PLATE WILL BE ... LATE! THE MARINER'S ARE GOING TO PLAY FOR THE AMERICAN LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP! I DON'T BELIEVE IT! IT JUST CONTINUES! MY OH MY!"

Congratulations Dave for winning the Frick Award......Cooperstown bound, and very deserving.

I can't even imagine a Mariners broadcast without Niehaus....From David Segui's first Pitch in 1977 til present.....

I was sad Oct 3, 2004 when Edgar Retired......
The only other day I can imagine being as sad is the day Dave retires.

We Love you Dave, dont ever retire.

Poker: Week of 2/04/08-2/10/08

End of Week Update


Hands 9382
Profit +1320 BB
BB/100 +14.08 (+7.04 PTBB/100)
Hours 18.97
+69.84 BB/HR Per Hour

This week I didnt play as many hours....

Part due to be being lazy....
Part Due to not feeling well emotionally...(spewing is bad and I did a good job this week of not doing it)

I pretty much played a no frills Tight aggressive approach this week...definately on the tight side. Bailed on hands that I thought I was behind...and bet bet bet hands I was ahead.

This style wont be as effecient at higher levels...but it does give me piece of mind...as well as it ephasizes my hand reading....there were only a few times I felt I made really bad river folds or calls...and that means I felt I was strong reading on previous streets.

my best played day was Saturday...flopped tons of straights and lost virtually every set I flopped...it was a weird day...but I played well.

I need to make sure I keep taking my time on descisions...even the basic ones....that is the main difference from the downswing weeks....taking my time is what is profitable.

Hopefully I can keep it up.

Erik Bedard is co-King

Okay...I cant call him King Erik...because Felix is the King....but...Erik is Co-King....even though from now on we cant refer to him that way.

Bedard--left handed....stud...staff ace...and lots and lots and lots of strikeouts.

The Pride of Canada

To be honest....I dont really know what to say.....

He is one of the Top 5 pitchers in all of Baseball
The Mariners now have a Pitching staff that is in the Top 5 in the Majors, because of the Two Aces.

Bedard is a stud...and I will just leave it at that.

The Bedard Deal is Final.

All Mariners fans have been waiting forever for it to become finalized....

After week of Orioles being complete douche-bags and drawing this out weeks longer than necessary, The Mariners finally get their man.

I have been in general against this trade....mainly because I think Jone, Tillman, and George way to much.....I think Tillman is WAY undervalued....and including Butler too....thats a whole lot of Talent. Baltimore got an incredible deal.....even better than they realize.

Adam Jones = Stud outfielder who is essentially free for 6 years
George Sherrill = The ultimate left hander...and not Baltimore's closer (or setup) super value
Chris Tillman = I have this bad feeling he is gonna end up being an Ace type of pitcher
Tony Butler = Left handed....if he can every stop walking people....a #3 pitcher or better
Cam = Talented reliever....closer of the future....cheap bullpen talent....mariners should have gave up green.

Some people look at that list and think its just a good trade for Baltimore...to me....they fleeced us bad.

Okay....that is the last time I am going to dwell on Jones.....

New post now...to welcome Erik

Poker is going well this week....

So far this week poker is going well....somewhere around 5 PTBB/100....

And...cleared the Bonus I purchased with FPPs....

Ironically when I reign in the aggression (getting on the loose aggressive side)....My win rate suffers

I dont think its from the extra aggression so much, or playing junkier hands....the only time I feel it really affects my game...is when I stop thinking...and insta-shove or insta-raise "thinking" I can bet them off the nuts (or a hand that they will not fold...either because they are a calling station and call with a 3rd pair to a shove....or they have a royal flush (not really, but ya know what I mean...Top set isnt gonna fold on a raggy board).

Starting last week and continue to today...the amount of times I;ve done it is EXTREMELY small....the only hand I think came close was a hand where I Check raised all in with an over pair on a slighty scary board......it was a pretty big push...so it was the size relative to the strength of my hand/board that I questioned. I wasnt "good"...but it wasnt horrible either.
LOL....but no T4os turn shoves, after Leatherass9 calls the flop bet, and a blank turn (I still like the aggression...but with the blank coming I still cant get over me firing again....what did I think he had? Only thing he is calling with was a Set, 2 pair or Air/float/steal....LOL...cant wait till I get called a retard on the video. Overall though...I havent made stupid aggressive errors.

As far as Passive errors...several tables got run over a bit....some of it due to cards...but some of it from folding to the pure aggression....lol...but it better that when I "feel" I have a read that they are trying to run over me.....I raise/3bet....they smooth call with AA or KK and I dump more money too them on the flop :-(

The thing that for now that works for me is being selectively aggressive......Everywhere I read and watch Vids at Stoxpoker, they say a loose aggressive pound them till they puke style will result in the best win-rate.....Well...I dunno what villians others are playing against....but I go into a 20k downswing when I try to pound the passive players....ya know...they call ya on the flop with nothing...and hit the straight when ya shut down cause you're convinced they have something...or when ya got an overpair, they hit 2 pair on a ragged flop (94s comes to mind....you know...the 48/11 who will cold call with any 2 soooooooooooted because thats what he did in limit)

I just get in this mode that I feel I have reads that arent there.....I start calling when most of the time I shouldnt call against villians....basically trying to pick to much stuff off....

Example:

I've got 2 pair on the turn and position....the villian is aggressive....likes to bluff alot.....multi-street too ...he will have a hand 1 out of 4 at most....and 2 pair is ahead near always....but...he's smart enough to fold to resistance, and will shut down if he doesnt have ya.

Essentially....he never shuts down when he is behind.....and always shuts down if ya raise....basically this guy...let him bet bet bet....he's at best 8% on the turn, even if he does suck out...the extra river bets 6 times out of 10 that ya never get by raising the turn is EV+++++++
(super reads....like I am in the zone against certain types of villians)

BUT....then I will take the same line on guys with similar but tighter numbers...guys who dont fire the 2nd barrel or 3rd....and I have a super read that they dont....but I am just on auto-pilot and become a calling station against these guys with TP3K, and they turn over whatever that owns me.....I know I am behind...I know that the best line is to raise the flop or turn and define his hand based upon my read...but I dont. complete Spew.

Funny thing is...90% of the time playing solid poker...that 10% I am donating to guys who should never get my money.

And it is the main source of every downswing......Yeah, my game can be alot better....but its stupid how I forget the most basic stuff and spew money.

Leatherass9 was going on in the forums how he exposed alot of his game in a recent Video....actually saying in his blog that it revealed stuff others never would....
I watched the video...and yeah...alot of the plays he made, were plays that required ya to think and analyze a situation well....
But....

Well...it just makes me frustrated...Throughout the whole video I was like "well....Duh...of course he gonna fold there....or Duh...I raise in that type of spot all the time except against XXX villians"

The Video frustrated me more than anything....because all this info he was providing....well...its things that I see and do all the time....read the situations like an open book....hell alot of my winrate is because of that.

But...I watch Ed Miller's Poker Made simple vids...yeah...80% of the basics...I have down cold...but some of the most "basic stuff" (or at least what I feel should be basic)...I can watch those test vids, and miss have the questions (ones that are similar)...I can rewatch it 5 times...and still miss the question...AND still not play a situation optimally.

Part of me feels and plays like a genius...and the other part can't believe after all this time I dont understand things that SHOULD be so simple.....

I wish I was more social....I wish I wasnt so much inside of a shell...If there is a leak in my game...thats it...Its like getting a college degree, without the proffessors....

Would a coach help? Hell yeah....I am very smart, and when I do get feedback from my questions (even if they cant understand how I think about it)....even if they dont say the right things...I just can extract the info I need to clarrify it.....
BUT...If I was just more open...

My life has sucked...been screwed by the people closest to me....I know its silly to isolate myself..because I do enjoy being around people, just not concetrating ABOUT me...lol...since I am running millions of scenerios through my head about every possible situation....

Ramble Ramble....Sometimes I go back and edit the hell out of a post...but 90% of the time...LOL...I dont even check for Typos....I dont even read what I wrote 90% of the time....because I would probably stop....because its probably jumbled and makes no sense because its more.....well...its just the moment....which is very hard for me lately....so its kinda therapy...lol....I analyze so much now...I even question basic situation....Like I was at the Sonics game....I bought 2 20oz diet pepsi's (actually got 2 caps that both won free soda)...as I was walking away, putting my the season ticket food/drink vouchers in my pocket (OH, lol...what a deal this year....spent $800 on the two seats...they give me $300 in Food vouchers for free food...plus the other free stuff that I ended up just selling...just that alone I almost break even)

Back to the story.....I drop one of the bottles...I crouch down to pick it up...I am way out of the way of people walking....but I notice every persons looks...what direction they are looking...why...how..and have a good idea what they are thinking/feeling etc etc...not just the person closest...but I scope out every one who "could have" seen me drop the soda....and wonder what I am doing in the mini-totebag I have for the Nick Collison Bobbleheads that they gave awya pregame (also put the soda I dropped in the bag).......its kinda sad....lol...makes me want to cry actually. Not because I care that much if I looked like a dork (well okay...a little)...but instead of being able to be my silly self...and make some funny joke/reference that the soda I dropped is "for them"....I actually thought "If someone was with me, I could make that joke".......

The poker post is turning into the blabbering idiot post...I just feel so lonely.....lol....the only time people have EVER wanted to be around me is if I was supporting them and working my ass off so they would be with me.....or because they were inbetween "better" and more "enjoyable" friends.....

I analyze others well, and how they interact with each other....I see the things happen before they do....but I suck when it comes to me....I feel I am so socially inept.....I am such a nice guy....I really am....hell...you can ask anyone who I let fuck me over...LOL....I spend my attention enjoying and trying to be enjoyable to others and just being myself....when I do....its like the blinders are put on.....I mean...the best way for people to like ya, is just to not worry and just be yourself right? But I cant even put myself in the situation any more because I am just so damn scared....I mean....I let people know me...I think the friendship or relationships are going well mutually...I mean...geezus...just once...I'd like someone who would just tell me the damn truth.


I'm not making any sense...and who the frick cares? No one does....the closest thing I have to someone or something caring about me is.....well....my parents...but they have each other, and they dont need me to be around....I mean...I know they love me with all their heart...but I feel like I am such a dissapointment in my life....I just dont want the only two people in the world who dont think I am a failure to think so......they have been so good to me....I love them so much...I wish I could really show they how I feel...but I cant.....which just makes me cry more.

I am so pathetic.....I am really an incredible person inside, but it just doesnt really matter

LOL...the ironic thing is....I will still cry my ass off for the next 3 months...I will still feel the same way as I do...I will still wish for the world....blah blah blah....

And no one will know.....because in an hour or two...I put on the front that everything is fine, no matter how it really is....because I dont want to be a burden on others...I only want to benefit others....because the truth is...no one wants to be around ya, unless you're providing something for them....and as soon as it becomes "standard"....well...no matter what "level" of wonderfulness it is to be around ya....well...when ya raise the bar even to elite heights....well...people toss ya aside because ya cant provide the "next level"

See....even when I write....I do the same thing....try to write crap that ya need a translator for, just to keep....LOL...anyone who would read this...at a distance.

It is pathetic to say that I am a wonderful person....but I am...I wish I could be more of the type of person that can just screw someone over...I'd probably have more so called friends...lol...maybe thats why I want to succeed in poker so much....besides if I can make Alot of money (its a game of people and money)...its the only time I can feel "okay" with essentially screwing another person out of something......sure...win it fair and square...but its satisfying...lol..with my desire to screw over every person who hasnt had my personal values and bent me over...lol....

One of these day I really need to just write a weeks worth of posts about the last 25 years....lol...people would think "DAMN, and you havent shot yourself yet?"...its not like anyone ever reads these damn things....I mean...I pretend that "its all out there for the world to see"....when in reality...any hits to the page...its...read the title...browse 20 words in the 1st 3 paragraphs...then surf to the next blog, site, pic...lol...maybe if I made Youtube video blogs then someone might pay attention....but the truth is...by the time I ever get around to doing that...well....then there will be something else that attracts people to pay attention (I mean...blogs now are a dime a dozen, if ya dont have video...you're just writing to yourself (LOL...aint that the truth though...I am pretending....I mean...I would feel like a dork if anyone I actualy knew read this....I mean...no one understand anyways...so instead of feeling like I was sharing to be closer.....whatever...back to what I think I was trying to say in my ramble.)
Oh yeah...I will always be behind the times when it comes to the "modern" way of social communications....I know and understand people better than most....but when it comes to applying ti to myself...lol...I suck....and am always tryingto filter the "bad" of people not to affect me...but the result is...lol...we wont talk about that....basically...communicationwise...I will alays be holding myself back...not because that I dont understand....but because I am afraid....afraid I will get screwed again by someone I feel close to....and to be frank...I have had as much as I can take....

Okay....I am not making anysense...well....I dont know if I am or not....I cant bring myself to try to read everything I wrote (LOL...I would spend the next 5 hours trying to edit it)

I will probably make another simple post...just to drop this post down a notch...so less chance of anyone reading it (I mean...very little chance of someone reading it, once it gets archived)....see...even when I proclaim that I really need and want good friends...I try to stop it from happening from the fear of past results.....I wish socializing with others was like poker....poker treats me well overall when I play well...when I do something stupid....generally ya get crapped on...which is the way it should be....you'll get sucked out on...but...if you consistantly do the right things....in the end the results will be good over all....lol...but people arent that way.

Okay...enough....lol...maybe its the stress of the Erik Bedard deal on permanent hold...LOL...thats funny...because it has nothing to do with how I feel...though it is funny, how the best years in my live correspond with the good years of the Mariners (oddly enough, when the team is doing good...my life is going good....thats one reason why I am concered about the MAriners...my life is below average...probably less....the mariners "think" they are becoming a playoff team...but I havent felt it yet....lol...which means my life is gonna go down the crapper....lol....I will have to make a post about the timeline of the Mariners and the good and bad of my life....lol....frigging crazy...the Mariners trigger the best years of my life...and significant turnarounds and downfalls...its just crazy.

Okay...going

Craig

King Felix ....The Pitching Pride of Teal and Blue Nation

The One and Only King.....

Felix Hernandez

We've loved him when he was 16 and barely anyone had heard of him....
We love him when it crushed hitters in Rookie ball.....
We love him when he flew through the minors
We love that he was unstoppable...nothing would keep him from the majors.
We love that everyone wanted to trade for him....but the front office finally did something right.

He's the one and only...20 something and Top 10 pitcher in baseball....

He is going to be one of the greatest pitchers of all time.....

LOL...I get goosebumps thinking...

King Felix
and
Long term contract....
In the same thought.

A groundball Power pitcher.....
The Rare and unique

I love the King
I love his fastball
I love his cut-fastball
I love his breaking ball
I love his slider
I love his hair when he was 18
I love his hair now cause his cap stays on
I love the dominance
I love seeing knees buckle
I love the Ks
I love the Ws
I love the power
I love that he's an ace
I love that he is only gonna get better
I love that Mel is gonna coach him
I love to love the King
I love the idea of cloning him
I hope Felix has kids...and we draft all of them

All Hail the King

Please Mr Bavasi.....5 year deal to buyout Arbitration years

KING FELIX

The Man-child
The Myth
The Legend

Roger who?
Randy who?
Gibson who?
Cy who?

thats right...


King Felix....the Man that Makes Mariners fans orgasm every 5th day.

Poker: Week of 1/28/08-2/03/08

End of Week Update


Hands 10603
Profit +740 BB
BB/100 +6.98 (+3.49 PTBB/100)
Hours 24.62
+15.05 BB/HR Per Hour

Well......

The Majority of being on the upswing, was the last 3 days...the rest of the week was alot of upand down neutral days....

Not gonna over analyze it...but I sure folded in some tough spots....they felt right.

One spot I felt I should of folded....well...I was right...and set over set really sucks..the Huge drop on Sunday part of the graph, shows the one hand that killed me...was still up for the day a hundred or so.

The Key for me...is simply folding to resistance...and and putting up resistance to C-bets on spots I think someone is weak.

The main thing I need to keep doing, is throwing away some hands, to keep out of big pots with medium hands...losing a stack for Top pair is not a good thing....its stupid......when they are raising...most of the time it means I am beat....especially when the fire the 3rd barrel.....Sure...it might be a bluff....but its not a bluff 50% of the time or more.....

NEED A READ to call the big bets

Played average.....and thats good enough to make money.

JJ "GAME OVER" PUTZ.....

What can ya say....

Two letters says it all

JJ

It means the other team has no chance....
It means the best hitters walk away in shame

The Destroyer of 9th inning dreams.

No words can do him Justice...

He is an All-start Closer....
He is the nightmare of hitters.....

The splitfinger fastball puts them away
(thank you Eddie Guardado)

THUNDERSTRUCK!!!!!

Thunderstruck, yeah, yeah, yeah,
Thunderstruck, thunderstruck, thunderstruck
Whoa baby, baby, thunderstruck
You've been thunderstruck, thunderstruck
Thunderstruck, thunderstruck, thunderstruck
You've been thunderstruck

Sends chills down my spine anytime I hear the song......

Just seeing him warming up in the bullpen in the top of the 9th....
6 foot 5 of a rocket cannon arm.

Everyone at safeco on their feet...

Nothing better....

JJ Putz.....I have a Man crush until 2010...and you need to resign again

And you're always the best with fans......you Rock dude.

JJ for President is what I say

THUNDERSTRUCK BABY, THUNDERSTRUCK

Game Over

The Unheralded Hero on the corner....

MR Adrian Beltre.....

Some people think the MAriners overpaid....they expected him to reproduce his 2004 year for the next 5 years....and those people are stupid to expect that.

Fools...all of them.....

Adrian Beltre is the best 3rd baseman in the American League by far....
Sorry Boston Redsox fans, Mike lowell is a distant 2nd or 3rd.
Sorry Eric Chavez fans....his reign is over
Sorry Detriot fans...I love Miguel Cabrera but his defense is horrible

Adrian Beltre is the best all around 3B

I LOVE ADRIAN BELTRE
I LOVE THE GOLD GLOVE
I Love the defense
I love the bare handed grabs
I love the off balanced throws that are strikes to 1st
I love the vaccuum cleaner that sucks any balls hit to the left side
I love the appeals to 1B umpire...when its on himself
I love the appeals to 1B umpire...when its on himself (love it so much I had to say it twice)
I love the number 29
I love Red, The ultimate Beltre Fan
I love that we have him ffor 2 more years
I love that someday he will learn to hit a breaking ball
I love his accent
I love groundball pitchers...because Adrian makes them look good
I love the Yuni-Belt (its the thing that holds the left side together)

He is so unappreciated...and often undervalued....All-star defense is hard to comeby at 3B, becasue most teams use the position as a place to attempt to hide bad defense for power.

BOOM BOOM BELTRE

Call him Ambassador Adrian