Posting Spreadsheet Data Instructions

I am going to attempt to describe how I get spreadsheet data to the blog. I am not at all saying that this is the "only" way to do it, nor am I even saying it is the "best" way to do it. Simply, this is the way "I" do it so therefore I know it works.

There are a few steps to accomplish this task but, as in all things, practice makes perfect and you should find it fairly easy after you have done it a couple of times. The main thing is don't get excited nor frustrated. If you will follow these steps and use a little intuitive thinking, you will be able to make top quality posts that the whole league can enjoy.

The main thing that I don't like hearing is.... "My computer won't do that" or "The program isn't working on my computer" etc...... If you are having problems making a post it is 100% operator error and there is nothing I can do to correct that.

Found on Settings Tab

First lets talk about basic posting of any sort. When you are logged in to the blog site you will have the option of creating a New Post. When you click "New Post" a screen will pop up that will have a place for the "Title:" of your post. Once you have "titled" your post then you will move down to the editor. Make sure you are using the "Updated Editor" which can be activated on the "Settings" tab.

With the Updated Editor activated you will have a toolbar at the top of
the post area that offers several useful options. It will look very much like a standard word processor toolbar. You will also notice 2 tabs above the toolbar. "Edit HTML" and "Compose". For most basic posts make sure you have the "Compose" tab selected. With "Compose" selected you can type right into the window and add images without having to know any HTML coding language. If you add images make sure they are not too large (byte wise) as it will only slow down the loading of the blog. You should do your image editing with a program on your computer. Most pics can be kept to well under 50KB and will look great on the page. You can drap and drop images to the location on the page you want them but I recommend using the built in tool to locate the image to the "Left -Center-Right" and also to choose a size "Small-Medium-Large-XLarge".

Now let's talk about adding spreadsheets.

1st you will need to make sure you have a Google Docs account. This is totally free and is a pretty handy online word processor/spreadsheet program (also known as cloud computing). You do not have to have a Gmail account to have a Google Docs account although I see absolutely no reason why all of you wouldn't already have one. If you have any questions about setting up a Google Docs account just IM me on Yahoo and I will try and walk you through it. But come on folks.... Google purposely makes it EASY to set up because they want you to use it.


Ok, .... you have a Google Docs account set up which you will notice has a spreadsheet program built in. You could actually do your spreadsheet work right here including formulas and all. I would recommend however that you do your spreadsheet work on your computer using Excel or maybe Open Office (free). If you use Open Office, which I think is a great program, I would save the spreadsheets in Excel format for compatibility purposes. Once your spreadsheet is complete then you can "upload" it to Google Docs and walla! .... you now are getting close to posting in the blog.

Assuming your spreadsheet is complete and ready to post the next step is to get embedded HTML code to post to the blog. Here is a screen shot.  You will select "Share" in the 
upper right hand corner and select "Publish as web page"







 Then you will see this

1. Select that spreadsheet page that has the data you want to post. (Should be the one you are looking at)

2. Use the drop down menu to select "HTML to embed in a page"

3.Input the range of cells that you want to post. You should start with the top-left most cell and end with the bottom-right most cell.  You input will look something like this A1:H18 (colon separating cell references) Hit enter.

4. This box will have the embed code for the spreadsheet cells you have specified. Highlight and copy it.

Now go back to the blog editor and select the "Edit HTML" tab. Make sure you have a blank line or 2 below whatever you have last had on the blog and then "paste" the code you copied from Google Docs.  Go back to the "Compose" tab.

You should be able to "Preview" your spreadsheet now from the 'New Post" page. Don't be surprised if it is not a good fit to begin with. You can go back to the Google Docs page and resize the columns, change fonts in the spreadsheet or whatever you need to do to get it to look properly on the blog page. Continue 'Previewing' the page until you have everything set the way you want it.

Now from the "Compose" tab on the blog, skip a line or 2 and continue and complete your post!!

Here are some things I have learned from experience.

1. Don' try and cram too many "columns" in a spreadsheet. 4-6 is about all you can fit in. You can have almost endless "rows" but only so many columns will fit in the allotted area.
2. Any edits you do in the selected cells in Google Docs will update to the blog (not instantly but should on page refresh). This is a good thing if you find you made an error. However, should you want to use the same spreadsheet format to make another post then be sure to copy and paste the cells to a different page or area of the page because you will want to have different cell references for the new post. What I am trying to say is.... if you posted stats for say Week 1 and then came back the next week to post Week 2 and all you did was change the numbers in the existing cells, then the previous post that had the Week 1 stats will now have Week 2 in them. Always put new tables in new cells so you can reference them without compromising previous posts.
3. For the most part you could have 1 spreadsheet in Google Docs with all Hardball Heaven data on it. Just add a new page to the spreadsheet if you want to put together something different. The main thing is that once you post a spreadsheet with the embedded HTML from Google Docs then you need to leave that spreadsheet there forever.

You will notice that anything you do to the Google Docs sheet will transfer to the blog post (highlighting, shading, colored fonts etc.... )

If you are working on a blog post and decide you need a break before finishing, just save the post and come back later, select "Edit Posts" from the blog menu and select your post to work on some more. You post will not go to the blog until you hit the "PUBLISH POST" button at the bottom the page. Remember.... if it doesn't look right in "Preview" mode it won't look right once published.

Remember to use a couple of one word "Labels" to help in case somebody wants to look up a post later on.

I am sure I have left out some minor things but hopefully you can fill in those blanks and get a spreadsheet posted with minimal problems.

PRACTICE. PRACTICE, PRACTICE

Thanks,
Randy

Mid-Season Review Part II

Here is the other half of the teams and the Colorado Springs betting odds.  This is based on Sunday evening's standings.

Zonk: Strengths are that Stephen's team does a little bit of everything.  Offense is approximately 5th ranked and the lowest numbers are in runs where he comes in 7th.  Not a bad offensive club at all and Aramis Ramirez has gotten hot.
Weakness:  There is not really a true weakness when I look at this club, but it is one that shows stats of a middle of the road team.  Can beat anyone one week and lose to anyone then next. 
Betting Odds:  50/50  Right now Zonk is 6.5 games back with still a lot of baseball left.  If I remember right he and Randy went down to the wire last year.  Not saying that will happen again, but it could, just could possibly happen again.

Ageless One: Strengths are hitting for power both in HR's and RBI's.  Good pop in all positions except LF. 
Weakness:  The rest of the offensive statistics show Ageless to be down near the bottom.  Pitching is just below average according to the stats.
Betting Odds:  25/75  This team has been in a freefall after a torrid start.  Right now 10 games back and there were signs of the offense coming to life with a big week, but pitching wasn't there.  Never bet against Mike's team, but the boys better reverse the falling in the standings and fast. 

Champions: Strengths are real easy here (Pitching, Pitching, and more Pitching!)  ERA is the lowest rank at 5th and that is barely.  Offensive strengths are Konerko, Castro, and Beltran.  A-Rod is hurt for 4-6 weeks, so leaving him out for now.
Weakness:  Let me just say simply "The Offense."  Scraping bottom in most categories, but will give him the benefit of the doubt in batting average, where tied with two other teams at 6th. 
Betting Odds:  25/75  At 12 games back, the offense has got to get it going and with A-Rod on the DL that is going to be a tough order.  With a similar team as last year, what is different?  Why is Champs lower in the standings?  It may be that pitching is the name of the game nowadays and there isn't all that much difference anymore.  Yes, Champs is better in most categories on defense, but look at the overall numbers for pitchers these days and ERA is down considerably for a lot of pitchers.  To have a good offense in the new era of the pitcher seems to make a team stand out in fantasy.  Just a thought.

Utica Tried and Tested:  Strengths are hits and batting average. The resurgence of Berkman has been a godsend.  Hunter Pence has also paid big dividends.  In pitching it is losses, BB's, and a strong ERA.  Pitching is stronger than years' past for sure.
Weakness:  Keeping players off the DL.  Uticans has had some bad luck for sure with injuries in Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau, and now Jose Reyes.  Also, needs help at 2nd and 3rd base.
Betting Odds:  20/80 at 12.5 games back. I know Utica is fighting and clawing, and I do like the pitching staff, but there may be too many holes to fill on offense.  Needs Jose Reyes to come back and play like an MVP candidate to have much of a chance.

Sultan of Swat: Strength is definitely by far the offense in all categories except SB's.  Ain't the Sultan of Swat for nothing.  Chad has done an admirable job building a powerful batting attack!
Weakness:  Based on the standings and Chad's potent offense, then this one is easy without looking.  Has to be the pitching.  Let's see.  Yes, the numbers do show the pitching is having major issues.  The best ranking is a 10th place standing for K's and BB's.  Now to be fair Chad has traded for pitching, but Josh Johnson fell to the DL.  Still don't think an ace like Johnson would make a major difference in the long run when numbers are where they are. 
Betting Odds:  10/90 at 16.5 games back.  Just play offense and I give Chad a decent shot, but unfortunately we can't do that. 

I Fear That I Suck: Strengths are a team built on putting the ball in play and running around the bases really fast.  Upper half in hits, runs, batting average, and SB's, so the diamond is more like a track for this squad.
Weaknesses: Power and pitching need some help.  Just like Chad's team, the offense is really pretty decent, but the pitching ranks in the lower half in all categories.  To give Timmy credit, he is trying to shore up the pitching staff, which needs help.
Betting Odds: 10/90 at 18.5 games back.  If it was the beginning of the season, I like Timmy's chances as the team has really been coming on of late.  What looked to be disastrous is starting to look more respectable.  The problem is so much ground to make up with so many teams to leap over. 

If anyone has various thoughts please share as this is a semi-stats and opinion column. 

BASEMAN

MId-Season Review

Here is a short snippet on each team for the season to date and their playoff chances if I were a betting man in Vegas.  Again, these are only regular season odds as the playoffs are much more volatile like our stock market nowadays. 

BASEMAN:  Strengths are balance up and down the lineup.  Enough said there.
                      Weaknesses are at shortstop, and getting W's by pitching staff.
                      Betting Odds:  99/1 chance of making playoffs.  85/15 odds of keeping 1st seed
                      Going to have to get this team in the playoffs.

Blind Squirrels:  Strengths are the pitching staff easily.
                         Weakness is an offense that is starting to erode.  Rode the youth wave for awhile, but
                         coming to earth as stats are dropping.
                         Betting Odds: 60/40 chance of playoffs.  Odds are better than even with some cushion and
                         a pitching staff that can hold its own every week. 

Stars:  Strengths are savvy management of team despite all the injuries.  When team is at full strength, then
           there is nice balance all over.  Pitching stats are above average.
           Weakness??  The offense has been performing less than mediocre according to stats, but again with
           health, this is easily an above average offense.
           Betting Odds:  85/15 chance of playoffs.  History shows Stars is a proven manager and knows the
           right moves.  Team has been decimated so far, but still succeeding.  Doesn't bode well for rest of the
           league jockeying for position.

Tennessee Hitters:  Strength is easily the offense.  Towards the top in all categories.
                              Weakness is starting pitching.  Down in lower half in all but two categories.
                              Betting Odds:  70/30  as the offense is too good to go into a freefall.  Who wouldn't
                              want Adrian Gonzalez and Ryan Braun leading the way! 

Wooster Panties:  Strenghts are scoring runs and hitting with power.  Surprising there aren't more RBI's,
                            which are in lower half of league stats?  Decent win/loss record.
                            Weaknesses are probably consistency on offense as stats are kind of uneven.  Saves
                            are almost nonexistent except for Drew Storen.  Having too many pitchers on one team,
                            may not bode well from week to week.
                            Betting Odds:  50/50  Team isn't bad at all, but numbers are kind of all over the board,
                            which mean consistency from week to week will be hard to maintain.

Halfway Hardballers:  Strengths:  Pitching! In upper half of all stats, except BB's.
                                Weaknesses:  Offense is in bottom half of league in all but the runs category.  Lacks
                                speed.
                                Betting Odds: 50/50  Needs Pujols to heat up in 2nd half despite the forearm/wrist.
                                Pitching will have to continue and pull the load if offense doesn't start clicking.  Randy
                                may be living on the edge another year?

Time for a break, so will get the 2nd half of the teams in their current order of standing out soon!

BASEMAN