Here are the career lines for two NL pitchers:
G: 1119 vs. 1035
IP: 1245 vs. 1089
W/L: 90-87 vs. 61-75
ERA: 2.89 v. 2.87
Pitcher # 1 is John Franco. He went on the Hall of Fame ballot in 2011, failed to make the cut and dropped off.
Pitcher #2 is Trevor Hoffman, who got over 67% on his first ballot appearance.
Hoffman was not only big name first time reliever on the ballot - Billy Wagner also debuted this year. Wagner cut his career short for personal reasons, but was still very effective when he retired: a 1.43 ERA and 37 saves for the Braves. Hoffman played much longer, but how much is that extra longevity worth? The difference between Wagner's career numbers and Hoffman's would make the following pitcher:
IP: 186
H: 246
ERA: 5.56
Safe to say there is no additional value there . . . yet Wagner barely scraped over 10% support.
The difference of course is the career saves numbers: Wagner and Franco were in the 400s and Hoffman was over 600. But while saves may not be entirely useless as a stat, they aren't very informative either. If Franco is a non-candidate (and I agree he is a non-candidate) and Wagner is a best a very marginal candidate (also agree) I don't see how Hoffman is a strong HOF candidate.
What I really don't get is how Hoffman drew far more support than Mussina or Schilling.
It's clear the HOF voters as a group don't know how to deal with relievers generally and are putting far too much weight on draw save totals.
You are discounting how excited HOF voters got by Hell's Bells when he entered games?
If you want to be in the Hall as a marginal candidate, you need a good theme song.
I think Mussina should have drawn greater support. I also think the PED players should be in for what it's worth, though making them a cautionary tale is vital. I'm glad Griffey and Piazza are in, though I was surprised by Griffey's vote total. I wouldn't have expected him to set a new record on percentage of the vote. In non-HoF news, I'm looking forward to heading to Cleveland at the end of the month to go to Tribefest. Second year in a row for me. Last year was a lot of fun and this year has some new tweaks to the event it seems. Do any of you go to your team's offseason fan fest if they have one?
Junior appeals to all the voting blocs. The PED-crusaders like him because he wouldn't juice. The statheads like him because he was really good. The cranks like him because he played the game the "right way" and had pedigree. And apparently he managed to go through 20 years without annoying some schmuck of a grudge-carrying reporter ready to use a HOF vote as payback. Well except maybe 1 or 2.
Of course, if you want to make the point of valuing "clean" players, where's the love for Trammell? His departure is very disappointing. Seems like the HOF voters have a hard time dealing with players with balanced skills. Trammell didn't have the offense of a Ripkin or Jeter, or the defense of an Ozzie. But he was very good on both dimensions - in terms of overall value, probably close to the Jeter/Ozzie level.
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on January 07, 2016, 06:54:24 PM
Junior appeals to all the voting blocs. The PED-crusaders like him because he wouldn't juice. The statheads like him because he was really good. The cranks like him because he played the game the "right way" and had pedigree. And apparently he managed to go through 20 years without annoying some schmuck of a grudge-carrying reporter ready to use a HOF vote as payback. Well except maybe 1 or 2.
Of course, if you want to make the point of valuing "clean" players, where's the love for Trammell? His departure is very disappointing. Seems like the HOF voters have a hard time dealing with players with balanced skills. Trammell didn't have the offense of a Ripkin or Jeter, or the defense of an Ozzie. But he was very good on both dimensions - in terms of overall value, probably close to the Jeter/Ozzie level.
Trammell's the kind of player the veteran's comittee votes in 30 years after he's dead.
The three votes that Junior didn't get were probably from purists who believe that no player should ever make the hall unanimously if someone like Babe Ruth didn't and they knew he was a lock for a lot of votes. Although if anybody should have made it unanimously it was probably him for the reasons you stated.
I've bought a few packs of 2016 baseball cards and Buster Posey keeps showing up. It's like every pack I open I see his dorkface. Probably a good sign for Bluto's Gigantes this year.
CB and I saw Astros-Tigers yesterday at Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee. (Spring Training: where has-beens and never will-bes compete with today's stars.) The Tiger's have one player who has the greatest name: Joey Pankake (no matter how the Scandinavians think that should be pronounced, it's pronounced the same as "Pancake.") I really hope he makes it; even the Astros fans were cheering him on. It could only be better if he had a brother named "Johnny Pankake."
There were quite a few more Astros fans at Osceola County Stadium than there ever were Nationals fans at Space Coast Stadium. Every game I saw at Space Coast Stadium seemed like a home game for the visiting team.
In between one of the innings they played "Deep in the Heart of Texas." Stadium babes stood up along the first and third base lines with signs that read:
"Clap-clap-clap-clap"
"Deep in the heart of"
and a picture of Texas
Which they held up at the appropriate part of the song; or were supposed to. The gal with the Texas sign was a couple beats behind the song, and would hold up the Texas at the beginning of the next verse. :alberta:
One of these years I'll get down to Florida for Spring Training. But not when it's in the 90s like it has been this week :yuk:
Quote from: derspiess on March 17, 2016, 10:21:55 AM
One of these years I'll get down to Florida for Spring Training. But not when it's in the 90s like it has been this week :yuk:
Yeah, it was 90 in Kissimmee yesterday. It must be strange for the players from northern teams going from that to the usually freezing weather on opening day.
Baseball Trip 2016 is ready to go! I'll be hitting Cleveland midweek for a three game set versus the Mariners April 19-21. I managed to get the usual hotel I stay at for 2 nights and the same tickets for all three games for under $400 split between my friend and I. The tickets are pretty solid as well, 2nd row from the field just a bit past the visitor's dugout. My pants are a dairy factory right now. So much excitement!
BA! :hug:
I really want to buy me one of these gold Royals WS championship hats. :grr:
http://shop.mlb.com/Kansas_City_Royals_Caps/Mens_Kansas_City_Royals_New_Era_Royal_Authentic_Collection_On_Field_Opening_Day_59FIFTY_Fitted_Hat
Stupid Orioles. :mad:
Quote from: CountDeMoney on March 30, 2016, 09:08:06 PM
Stupid Orioles. :mad:
At least they will lose a lot of exciting high scoring games :(
Quote from: Valmy on March 30, 2016, 11:02:31 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on March 30, 2016, 09:08:06 PM
Stupid Orioles. :mad:
At least they will lose a lot of exciting high scoring games :(
Yup. Gotta love spending the most money of any team in the division, and yet, be lucky if they finish 4th. You'll definitely have plenty of 12-9 losses to enjoy this year.
Quote from: Barrister on March 30, 2016, 09:06:24 PM
BA! :hug:
I really want to buy me one of these gold Royals WS championship hats. :grr:
http://shop.mlb.com/Kansas_City_Royals_Caps/Mens_Kansas_City_Royals_New_Era_Royal_Authentic_Collection_On_Field_Opening_Day_59FIFTY_Fitted_Hat
I like it. I almost think the only reason they won is because I transferred my allegiance to Cleveland. I have a worse taint than Timmah when it comes to sports teams. :cry:
I got to meet George Foster last night. Great guy, tells some great stories. Still in great shape for a 66 year old dude. Would like to see the rest of the Great Eight while they're still alive.
I have to love the fact that my team being the defending WS champion means their opening game is covered by ESPN/TSN. :yeah:
Fun game to watch. Considering it was only 1/162 I was way too involved, but fun to see the pennant raised, and of course good to see the good guys win again tonight.
And I couldn't help myself - I ordered an overpriced gold Royals WS champ hat. :shutup:
Quote from: Benedict Arnold on March 30, 2016, 06:34:22 PM
Baseball Trip 2016 is ready to go! I'll be hitting Cleveland midweek for a three game set versus the Mariners April 19-21. I managed to get the usual hotel I stay at for 2 nights and the same tickets for all three games for under $400 split between my friend and I. The tickets are pretty solid as well, 2nd row from the field just a bit past the visitor's dugout. My pants are a dairy factory right now. So much excitement!
Do you have any other trips planned for the season? Btw, my kid got put on the Indians team in his little league :)
Quote from: derspiess on April 05, 2016, 02:16:42 PM
Quote from: Benedict Arnold on March 30, 2016, 06:34:22 PM
Baseball Trip 2016 is ready to go! I'll be hitting Cleveland midweek for a three game set versus the Mariners April 19-21. I managed to get the usual hotel I stay at for 2 nights and the same tickets for all three games for under $400 split between my friend and I. The tickets are pretty solid as well, 2nd row from the field just a bit past the visitor's dugout. My pants are a dairy factory right now. So much excitement!
Do you have any other trips planned for the season? Btw, my kid got put on the Indians team in his little league :)
Awesome! You should enroll him in the Tribetown MVP club the Indians offer. It's... $20 or so and you get a ton of cool stuff. As to future trips, I'm unsure. I would love to, but my work schedule is brutal from May - October. Last year I started back early at my seasonal gig and didn't even get to make it out once. I'd like to catch a few games later in the season if I can. Odds are they would be midweek games, as that's the easiest to schedule and request time off for.
http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/cle/kids/tribetown_mvps.jsp
Oh yeah. 161-1 for the Tribe this year. :(
Whaaaaaat apparently there's going to be an AAA moving team here that will start playing in 2019 in a new stadium they're going to build downtown. The group that owns the Missions (local AA team) will also apparently own this new team.
E: Oh okay, they already own the AAA team (Colorado Springs Sky Sox?), they're just moving them here. Also the Missions will be leaving. :(
Quote- The AAA Round Rock Express, currently a farm team of the Texas Rangers, would switch affiliation to the Houston Astros.
- The AAA Colorado Springs Sky Sox, currently a farm team for the Houston Astros and owned by Elmore Sports Group, would relocate to San Antonio and switch affiliation to the Texas Rangers.
- The AA San Antonio Missions, affiliated with the San Diego Padres, would then need to relocate to a new home.
That move would leave Colorado Springs looking for a team and the Missions looking for a new home, possibly in Amarillo.
Although I guess it wouldn't matter if they just name the AAA team the Missions and carry on like nothing except a new stadium and affiliation happened, because minor leagues.
I'd like to make a trip to see our local-ish Class A team the Dayton Dragons, but their tickets are typically higher than what I can get Reds tickets for on Stubhub, so why bother.
#MadBum!
Kershaw has allowed 11 home runs over his past 27 starts and two of those are to the Giants' staff ace.
The Show 16 is good. Like all the other ones.
The Braves are 0-5. Every night is back to the 80s night at Turner Field!
I am simply waiting for The Inevitabletm.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on April 10, 2016, 09:17:46 PM
I am simply waiting for The Inevitabletm.
You mean death? You might have to wait a few more decades.
Taxes are due Friday, however.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on April 10, 2016, 09:17:46 PM
I am simply waiting for The Inevitabletm.
What? 162-0 here we come!
Quote from: Valmy on April 10, 2016, 09:34:12 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on April 10, 2016, 09:17:46 PM
I am simply waiting for The Inevitabletm.
What? 162-0 here we come!
Only to lose to the 2016 WS Champ SF Giants!
Quote from: alfred russel on April 10, 2016, 09:22:05 PM
Taxes are due Friday, however.
Wrong. Monday, April 18th. Friday is Emancipation Day in Washington, DC; the kind of holiday derweiß could get behind.
And the Orioles starting lineup is like the Chinese economy. Just waiting to collapse.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on April 10, 2016, 11:38:46 PM
And the Orioles starting lineup is like the Chinese economy. Just waiting to collapse.
It is just what I told you in 2014 man. We have to enjoy it while it lasts.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on April 10, 2016, 11:38:08 PM
Quote from: alfred russel on April 10, 2016, 09:22:05 PM
Taxes are due Friday, however.
Wrong. Monday, April 18th. Friday is Emancipation Day in Washington, DC; the kind of holiday derweiß could get behind.
Damn, Free the Slaves Day delays paying your taxes? To a Republican that's a dilemma like offering free bacon to a Jew.
Reds fans were all prepared for doom and gloom and don't quite seem able to cope with being 5-1 after the first week. That will change into unfounded arrogance if their team has a good second and/or third week.
And of course Cubs fans are treating their 5-1 start like they just won the damned World Series.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on April 10, 2016, 11:38:08 PM
the kind of holiday derweiß could get behind.
(https://usatftw.files.wordpress.com/2016/04/160291.jpg)
Cleveland Caucasians. It has a nice alliterative effect.
I prefer the Pittsburgh Palefaces.
Quote from: derspiess on April 11, 2016, 08:21:14 AM
Reds fans were all prepared for doom and gloom and don't quite seem able to cope with being 5-1 after the first week. That will change into unfounded arrogance if their team has a good second and/or third week.
And of course Cubs fans are treating their 5-1 start like they just won the damned World Series.
Royals are 4-1. And they did just win the World Series. :cool:
And the non-bandwagoning fans have every right to remind us of that. Not directing that at you-- there were quite a few Royals "fans" that came out of the woodwork in the past few months. Including some goofball Reds fans that were excited about Cueto.
Cardinals did the Bugs Bunny bat-around in the first three innings of their home opener today. Friggin' 7 extra base hits by the third with zero outs. I know it's against the Brewers, but the stats still count.
Quote from: derspiess on April 11, 2016, 09:08:57 AM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on April 10, 2016, 11:38:08 PM
the kind of holiday derweiß could get behind.
I was referring to the whole "Lincoln paid them to get the fuck out of D.C." angle.
One of the earliest examples of urban gentrification.
Okay. What does that have to do with baseball, CountDeMalcom?
Yeah 1860s DC was a real hipster gentrified place :P
Quote from: Valmy on April 11, 2016, 06:39:11 PM
Yeah 1860s DC was a real hipster gentrified place :P
Kinda. Beards all over the damned place.
Quote from: derspiess on April 11, 2016, 06:45:50 PM
Quote from: Valmy on April 11, 2016, 06:39:11 PM
Yeah 1860s DC was a real hipster gentrified place :P
Kinda. Beards all over the damned place.
Ooooh that's true.
And apparently lots of independent microbreweries.
So Tommy's baseball season starts Friday. The regular league he's in is a little too watered down IMO, so I got him on an 8U select team in addition to his regular team. He's never played before, but the coach let him on the select team after he tried out. Anyway his Friday game is with his 8u team and the coach is going to have him pitch. Poor kid's gonna get shelled :D
I thought he was older than 8. Or if it's grade 8 that you'd have had him playing for years. :hmm:
It's all over now. THIS IS THE REAL TEAM :cry:
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on April 14, 2016, 02:36:22 AM
I thought he was older than 8. Or if it's grade 8 that you'd have had him playing for years. :hmm:
Nah, he turned 8 in January.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on April 14, 2016, 05:56:00 AM
It's all over now. THIS IS THE REAL TEAM :cry:
DOOOOOOOM :weep:
Quote from: derspiess on April 14, 2016, 08:41:00 AM
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on April 14, 2016, 02:36:22 AM
I thought he was older than 8. Or if it's grade 8 that you'd have had him playing for years. :hmm:
Nah, he turned 8 in January.
My son is 5. I went to register him for Kindergarten today. Holy shit it was weird to be inside an Elementary School again after...um...a long time.
There were posters saying stuff like 'win-win' and 'synergize' on the walls so I can see he will definitely be prepared for the corporate world :bleeding: :lol:
Quote from: Valmy on April 14, 2016, 01:41:32 PM
There were posters saying stuff like 'win-win' and 'synergize' on the walls so I can see he will definitely be prepared for the corporate world :bleeding: :lol:
Lol increasing shareholder value one RBI at a time
Quote from: Valmy on April 14, 2016, 01:41:32 PM
My son is 5. I went to register him for Kindergarten today. Holy shit it was weird to be inside an Elementary School again after...um...a long time.
The thing that struck me when I first went into my kid's elementary school is that it smells exactly the same as my elementary school smelled-- musty books and pencil wood/graphite.
Probably not as many smelly kids as mine had, though.
Good god fahdiz needs to act like Cubs have won something before...
Quote from: katmai on April 14, 2016, 03:54:12 PM
Good god fahdiz needs to act like Cubs have won something before...
Well...they haven't.
Quote from: Valmy on April 14, 2016, 03:58:50 PM
Quote from: katmai on April 14, 2016, 03:54:12 PM
Good god fahdiz needs to act like Cubs have won something before...
Well...they haven't.
How soon we forget the back to back championships of 1907-1908. :cry:
Quote from: Barrister on April 14, 2016, 04:01:10 PM
Quote from: Valmy on April 14, 2016, 03:58:50 PM
Quote from: katmai on April 14, 2016, 03:54:12 PM
Good god fahdiz needs to act like Cubs have won something before...
Well...they haven't.
How soon we forget the back to back championships of 1907-1908. :cry:
Teddy Roosevelt really enjoyed those series.
Teddy had no home state pride, just like Benedict Arnold? :hmm:
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on April 14, 2016, 04:06:46 PM
Teddy had no home state pride, just like Benedict Arnold? :hmm:
I'm pretty sure Theodore Roosevelt wasn't from Michigan. :P
Right, I just meant he'd root for NY teams. And yes, I've forgotten the 1908 series. :blush:
Taft was our first baseball president anyway.
Quote from: Barrister on April 14, 2016, 04:01:10 PM
Quote from: Valmy on April 14, 2016, 03:58:50 PM
Quote from: katmai on April 14, 2016, 03:54:12 PM
Good god fahdiz needs to act like Cubs have won something before...
Well...they haven't.
How soon we forget the back to back championships of 1907-1908. :cry:
The curse of Johnny Evers.
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on April 14, 2016, 04:06:46 PM
Teddy had no home state pride, just like Benedict Arnold? :hmm:
I like the Buffalo Sabres! ;)
Okay I'll try to make this the last post about my kid in the baseball thread. But I just had to share the following.
He had his first game Friday and his select 8u team lost to the select 9u team, as expected. Team played great considering the circumstances. Tommy went 0-1 with two walks-- the 9 year old pitchers were just throwing too hard for him to put the bat on the ball. They brought him in as the second pitcher, and I felt bad because I had been coaching him pitching from a distance of 43 feet instead of the 46 feet distance that was used in this game. At this age, 3 feet makes a huge difference. Anyway, he struggled, walked in a couple runs, and just about any strike he pitched was put into play. He was nervous, intimidated, and frustrated but he stuck it out through the inning. I told him as tough as that experience was it would pay big dividends later on.
So in his Saturday game on his regular team he got his first hit and played first base, which he likes. Then in the 6th (and final) inning they brought him in to pitch with his team up by a couple runs. Whatever was going through his mind, he was dialed in. He faced three batters and struck out all three. I was practically giddy :)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Vys3AxwdkhEChFOzPjDmmrR8lw0e7ASBxKOquB8Xt9DmKtDpKSbCx4f-qkrr4bLKjaMGy9TIzu9OnDHF8hOnVSa6VeIBSgftgeBKtYlGtoCThUUw4UofMDCFOS82PaoSJm7iRU1HvjGYsJe3Y6G3UiMFVUoqu76Z_La-cePJi4gkySzprjzQuHqGqz4AlFr2XGOcDumoDzGWRqW2IrcXAg5VmgKcqHmmWaazO-6TN58Axmr9vFTBOA9u0TqXt4BuluQ73y8wkrssRdi6WIb9dQGCAX9Ano80-wujYAX15O_Jzcgd2Vn8iVnLnIcQWwj1iEMe1C2rWAXGUcZ8n032gJoQEGRvVvTxU94IofvfwvIB8sej5MY4GcG0c8qmemy8ZWDWZ83YUSYSseFHWjToYmaXkgVcLfHCa6e6ROnZW6eU0FFsm0HJ8k2E7qWZAlb_3nL_7K0fv7CdvfPeZSRyHBDXlEt-0QSx6735tkMhndkKArpVgNhhptkS_xVHPqCum7mMVS9bea2j7PdpDj_Ea66AApOzN4d0rhU5luYfDObTl5l0ulDo7L6SVuSU-lJCLNSB=w1121-h747-no)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Bhajd6kpD1YndGWlBhGoJf3hrm-0GnBT0gUDPZN794s9ySOwN8lvnl2j7ljVHGN9qauwjEEMqlgv55R76DPC975AgSI6MIoWqxQUhGQkORNEQqAaVKbfjUoWsg5Q-2Cpe9zYTas3ZzdQWEMMU3XYSNEmLX7r7kL_h5zZVfJ45Y_iKW0ATFE0j4pgDl6QwoaoCwrrpsie-fEycQWyJdS4rvEWYVQzy8sSpKIHnLKa1F9Th9HtF5EGgg5O1X_PSRpfc2ZgUIOXe3f8KGYg4bir0VOHScZbjBLLZUqo3_4e13lci4WBWPgokhv8QK0F0jb0BRKpsRqhvYxQbq043ttr47Ay3c2kMzfYe6EDHE5jT-fdPNkBXouRFSoZMo5kQFg_A_UsgiIOuBdbfQxaAu1C67ASOVs0bjQ597zyUNcfc-kNilL96r-KXvHhtlqYgZHcJQYBjH-4iSHvGeW9Kvw2t1Z-Ia3jjH8ds4bvjpngYVMUNqkurwYG9GY7rtyNojvK5p19Rd08Bo7zITiE1SOZVm_HmC3ogEld2HalhLiwgjQidOMAqsyVUQMhag32sdF9u1JA=w1121-h747-no)
Quote from: derspiess on April 17, 2016, 11:05:15 PM
Okay I'll try to make this the last post about my kid in the baseball thread.
Why bother, it's better than the Orioles.
I like their unis. :thumbsup: (Although I love the current "throwback" alternate ones they wear. I'm also a devotee of the block C)
Quote from: Barrister on April 14, 2016, 04:01:10 PM
Quote from: Valmy on April 14, 2016, 03:58:50 PM
Quote from: katmai on April 14, 2016, 03:54:12 PM
Good god fahdiz needs to act like Cubs have won something before...
Well...they haven't.
How soon we forget the back to back championships of 1907-1908. :cry:
There is literally no one left alive that can remember this.
Quote from: Benedict Arnold on April 19, 2016, 02:36:49 AM
I like their unis. :thumbsup: (Although I love the current "throwback" alternate ones they wear. I'm also a devotee of the block C)
Kind of surprised in this day & age that the Chief Wahoo logo is allowed on the kids' jerseys and hats. But then again the local high school still has "Redskins" as their mascot, so I guess that's not a huge concern in our neighborhood.
Cool story/pictures derspiess. :)
Braves have a 3 game winning streak, the longest in the national league and the second longest in baseball after the twins. :yeah:
I'm gearing up for the inevitable rematch of 1991--twins v. braves in the world series. :)
I thought this was pretty interesting.
This is the first couple of paragraphs of a 5 page article. I figure anyone interested enough would follow the link, anyone not interested wouldn't bother to read everything I copy/pasted anyway.
http://imprimis.hillsdale.edu./who-was-ty-cobb-the-history-we-know-thats-wrong/
Quote
Who Was Ty Cobb? The History We Know That's Wrong
The following is adapted from a speech delivered at Hillsdale College on March 7, 2016, during a program on "Sports and Character" sponsored by the College's Center for Constructive Alternatives.
Ty Cobb was one of the greatest baseball players of all time and king of the so-called Deadball Era. He played in the major leagues—mostly for the Detroit Tigers but a bit for the Philadelphia Athletics—from 1905 to 1928, and was the first player ever voted into the Hall of Fame. His lifetime batting average of .366 is amazing, and has never been equaled. But for all that, most Americans think of him first as an awful person—a racist and a low-down cheat who thought nothing of injuring his fellow players just to gain another base or score a run. Indeed, many think of him as a murderer. Ron Shelton, the director of the 1995 movie Cobb, starring Tommy Lee Jones in the title role, told me it was "well known" that Cobb had killed "as many as" three people.
It is easy to understand why this is the prevailing view. People have been told that Cobb was a bad man over and over, all of their lives. The repetition felt like evidence. It started soon after Cobb's death in 1961, with the publication of an article by a man named Al Stump, one of several articles and books he would write about Cobb. Among other things, Stump claimed that when children wrote to Cobb asking for an autographed picture, he steamed the stamps off the return envelopes and never wrote back. In another book—this one about Cobb's contemporary Tris Speaker—baseball historian Timothy Gay wrote (implausibly, if you think about it) that Cobb would pistol-whip any black person he saw on the sidewalk. And then there were the stories about how Cobb sharpened his spikes: before every game, numerous sources claim, he would hone his cleats with a file. In the 1989 film Field of Dreams, Shoeless Joe Jackson says that Cobb wasn't invited to the ghostly cornfield reunion of old-time ballplayers because "No one liked that son of a bitch." The line always gets a knowing laugh.
When I pitched my idea for a book on Cobb to Simon and Schuster, I was squarely in line with this way of thinking. I figured my task would be relatively easy. I would go back to the original source material—the newspaper accounts, documents, and letters that previous biographers had never really looked at. I would find fresh examples of Cobb being monstrous, blend them with the stories that Al Stump and others wrote, and come up with the first major Cobb book in more than 20 years. But when I started in on the nuts-and-bolts research with original sources—the kind of shoe-leather reporting I had learned working at Newsweek in its heyday—it didn't even take me ten minutes to find something that brought me up short.
A peach of a man. :)
sbr you're going to get blasted for posting something from Hillsdale. That aside, there has been speculation that Cobb's main biography was basically a hit piece and either stretched the truth or made shit up completely. I think it was last year something came out that called Stump into question even further.
Quote from: derspiess on April 20, 2016, 10:14:08 PM
sbr you're going to get blasted for posting something from Hillsdale.
I don't know anything about them, what's up with them?
Quote from: jimmy olsen on April 20, 2016, 10:55:31 PM
Quote from: derspiess on April 20, 2016, 10:14:08 PM
sbr you're going to get blasted for posting something from Hillsdale.
I don't know anything about them, what's up with them?
Never mind :shutup: ;)
I have no idea what Hillsdale is, but I'm not too worried about sources. I shared an interesting story about an old time ball player, not trying to write a defendable thesis.
Royals beat the Orioles 4-2. :cool:
Darvish had his rehab start pushed back to May 1. Would be nice for the Rangers to get him, and the 8 or 10 or whatever stupid number of different pitches he can throw, back.
Can someone shoot me a PM when it's time for a fair weather Cubs fan to start rooting for them?
Quote from: Admiral Yi on April 23, 2016, 02:22:29 AM
Can someone shoot me a PM when it's time for a fair weather Cubs fan to start rooting for them?
They're 13-4. Now sounds like a good time. If they fade off later you can always unfollow them later.
Quote from: Barrister on April 23, 2016, 08:15:33 AM
Quote from: Admiral Yi on April 23, 2016, 02:22:29 AM
Can someone shoot me a PM when it's time for a fair weather Cubs fan to start rooting for them?
They're 13-4. Now sounds like a good time. If they fade off later you can always unfollow them later.
On the contrary, they're 13-4, which means there's still 145 games in the regular season. Check back in September.
Quote from: Barrister on April 22, 2016, 09:55:42 PM
Royals beat the Orioles 4-2. :cool:
And after an 8-3 loss,
Los Reales came back to win the rubber match 6-1. :cool:
I've watched more baseball in the last month than I have in a couple of years. Sox are .500ish, but they are entertaining to watch.
4-6 since their great start. DOOOOOMED
Quote from: Barrister on April 24, 2016, 11:01:42 PM
Quote from: Barrister on April 22, 2016, 09:55:42 PM
Royals beat the Orioles 4-2. :cool:
And after an 8-3 loss, Los Reales came back to win the rubber match 6-1. :cool:
Don't you foreigners have something foreign to do, like watching futbol or something?
Quote from: CountDeMoney on April 25, 2016, 06:29:31 PM
Don't you foreigners have something foreign to do, like watching futbol or something?
He's the ice-hockey kind of foreigner. Like Jaron.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on April 23, 2016, 02:22:29 AM
Can someone shoot me a PM when it's time for a fair weather Cubs fan to start rooting for them?
A few months ago was when they all started going ape-shit on Facebook. You're way late.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on April 25, 2016, 06:29:31 PM
Quote from: Barrister on April 24, 2016, 11:01:42 PM
Quote from: Barrister on April 22, 2016, 09:55:42 PM
Royals beat the Orioles 4-2. :cool:
And after an 8-3 loss, Los Reales came back to win the rubber match 6-1. :cool:
Don't you foreigners have something foreign to do, like watching futbol or something?
No Canadian teams in the Stanley Cup playoffs, CFL regular season doesn't start for another couple months... the Royals are the only sporting interest I have right now. Why do you want to take that away from me Seedy? :cry:
Trump has the right idea. Just the wrong border. #AndMakeCanadaPayFerIt
Quote from: CountDeMoney on April 25, 2016, 10:40:30 PM
Trump has the right idea. Just the wrong border. #AndMakeCanadaPayFerIt
And here we have it. CountDeMoney defending Donald J Trump, just because his Orioles lost a series. Just Sad! :weep:
Just don't like Canadians. Rapists.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on April 25, 2016, 11:10:55 PM
Just don't like Canadians. Rapists.
Some of them are good people.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on April 25, 2016, 10:40:30 PM
Trump has the right idea. Just the wrong border. #AndMakeCanadaPayFerIt
Right on. They are responsible for the BJs too. ALE should be Balti/NY condominium as in the glorious 70s.
Watching the Cardinals game right now and I just realized why Wainwright's pitching has been so shitty: I bought his jersey in the offseason.
He literally gave up a two run homer as I typed that.
Quote from: derspiess on April 27, 2016, 09:14:16 PM
Watching the Cardinals game right now and I just realized why Wainwright's pitching has been so shitty: I bought his jersey in the offseason.
He literally gave up a two run homer as I typed that.
Not their best start this year.
They're hitting home runs and scoring a lot. There have been some pleasant surprises like Diaz and Hazelbaker. But about half the pitching staff has been pure shit.
And Diaz just hit a homer. Dude came out of nowhere; wasn't supposed to even make the team but is batting .466. If he can figure out how to field Peralta might be out of a job when he gets healthy.
Waino had another shit night but picked up a win, thanks in part to the triple he hit. Diaz has now had enough ABs to be included in the stat leaders. He's leading MLB in batting at .468 and still hits in the #8 slot. I'm kind of okay with not moving him up in the order for now-- if it ain't broke don't fix it.
The Braves are very streaky. Open with a 9 game losing streak. Follow that with a 4 game winning streak. That is followed with an ongoing 8 game losing streak.
UGA drew 90k+ to its spring game. Maybe the two are connected. :hmm:
Quote from: alfred russel on April 28, 2016, 09:42:54 AM
UGA drew 90k+ to its spring game. Maybe the two are connected. :hmm:
:blink:
Sometimes I think Neil Walker's name sounds Japanese when people say it fast.
Quote from: Valmy on April 28, 2016, 09:45:55 AM
Quote from: alfred russel on April 28, 2016, 09:42:54 AM
UGA drew 90k+ to its spring game. Maybe the two are connected. :hmm:
:blink:
The excitement of a new coach, the Braves suck, the Falcons suck.
Waino's pitching has gone from shit to not-great. He can pitch not-great the rest of the year if he keeps hitting triples & HRs, though.
My kid's baseball games & practices keep getting rained out. Games will be made up, but his worthless coach won't make up practices. So I put him in a pitching clinic Sunday at the local baseball academy, where he received instruction from none other than Don Gullett Jr.
Switched to the Cavs - Hawks game just as the 8th inning of the Rangers - Tigers game started with the Rangers trailing 0-2. Texas won 8-3. Grand slam and 7 runs in the 8th. Of course. :rolleyes:
Didn't even watch the basketball game. Just had it muted while surfing the intertubes.
Watching the Tigers-Orioles game, just because I haven't watched a game in Camden Yards in ages. I still hear Gary Thorne's voice and think I should be watching a hockey game. He has a hockey voice, not a baseball voice.
Yeah, while Joe Angel is no Jon Miller, the Orioles radio team is much more basebally.
Gary Thorne sounds like he's supposed to be calling out the time left on a power play, but he does love the game.
I do miss Jon Miller. Stupid Peter Asbestos. :mad:
For whatever reason I have "Tabaracci - SAVE!!!" stuck in my head from him doing ESPN hockey in the 90s.
Okay, watching Royals-Yankees now. Basically killing time until Angels-Cards. Btw how on earth have the Cardinals played the Angels twice since Pujols left and neither time has the game been in St. Louis??
So the wife informed me tonight that her best friend (or one of her 4 best friends, depending on when you ask her) is going to be in Chicago next month and that we "have" to go. I've been to Chicago about as many times as I want in this lifetime, so I was lukewarm on the idea until i realized the Cardinals were going to be in town during that time. YES MA'AM we're going.
You wearing your gang colors to the park?
Red Sox :showoff:
http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-best-pitchers-of-all-time/
No. of Top 100 peak games by Pitcher Score rating
Quote
Pedro Martinez 55
Randy Johnson 25
Greg Maddux 18
Roger Clemens 2
Quote from: derspiess on May 12, 2016, 08:22:47 PM
Okay, watching Royals-Yankees now.
:(
Not sure what's up in Royals land. They're not terrible, but not exactly looking to repeat either.
Quote from: Barrister on May 13, 2016, 12:13:17 AM
Quote from: derspiess on May 12, 2016, 08:22:47 PM
Okay, watching Royals-Yankees now.
:(
Not sure what's up in Royals land. They're not terrible, but not exactly looking to repeat either.
Regressing to the mean?
Quote from: jimmy olsen on May 13, 2016, 12:07:33 AM
Red Sox :showoff:
http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-best-pitchers-of-all-time/
No. of Top 100 peak games by Pitcher Score rating
Quote
Pedro Martinez 55
Randy Johnson 25
Greg Maddux 18
Roger Clemens 2
Ok, this doesn't make much sense. Many other pitchers have had "perfect games" so how can they say Martinez has had 55 games that were better than those? :hmm:
Quote from: jimmy olsen on May 13, 2016, 12:07:33 AM
Red Sox :showoff:
http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-best-pitchers-of-all-time/
No. of Top 100 peak games by Pitcher Score rating
Quote
Pedro Martinez 55
Randy Johnson 25
Greg Maddux 18
Roger Clemens 2
Silly article.
Game Scores were not designed as an overall pitcher rating system, and are not fit for that purpose. They are useless for comparisons across time, because of big variations in K rates and K/BB ratios over historical eras.
Whenever you see a rating system in which Dazzy Vance is the leading pre-war pitcher, it's a sign that too much weighting is being given to strikeout totals.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on May 12, 2016, 08:49:59 PM
You wearing your gang colors to the park?
Of course. I won't be the only one.
Quote from: derspiess on May 14, 2016, 06:06:32 PM
Of course. I won't be the only one.
Do things ever get unpleasant, or is it all just friendly joshing?
I've never been to Wrigley.
I was going to say me either, then I realized I have only been in 4 MLB parks in my life and one of them (Jack Murphy, err Qualcomm) was for a Chargers game and 2 others (Kingdom and old Busch Stadium) are no longer standing. :D
I am finally going to get up to Safeco field in June, the Cards have a weekend series up there so it is an excuse to see my daughter and my Cards at the same time.
Quote from: derspiess on May 15, 2016, 09:32:37 AM
I've never been to Wrigley.
They give on the field tours and such. Might want to see if you can do that while you're there. I know it's the Cubs and all, but still a cool thing to do. Wear Cardinals gear, go on a game day, talk shit during BP.
Quote from: derspiess on May 15, 2016, 09:32:37 AM
I've never been to Wrigley.
I'm talking about any away game.
(https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--M2TdiV34--/c_scale,fl_progressive,q_80,w_800/dzytltukqx096x7lbsyd.gif)
Bautista got beaned by Matt Bush (the same Matt Bush who went to prison for 3 years and is just now getting his MLB shot at 30. Got his first W in this game), was mad about it, "slid" into Odor's legs, got blasted.
There was nothing wrong with that slide, even in the post-Utley days.
EDIT: And Bautista took that punch pretty well.
^^ Yeah it was an illegal slide, he landed on the base itself
Alternate angles:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8kcoNddWJ8
http://nesn.com/2016/05/watch-rougned-odor-nail-jose-bautista-with-brutal-punch-after-takeout-slide/
Odor gonna get a bunch of games off.
vv look closer. Odor also buzzed that throw RIGHT by his face.
I don't see a problem with that slide.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on May 15, 2016, 09:58:49 PM
I don't see a problem with that slide.
It was a bit late, but not worth the punch in the jaw. Probably just people who got their panties in a twist after Bautista hit the series winning HR against the Rangers last fall.
They called both runners out even when the throw went wild. Anyway, Bautista straight up said he wanted to send a message because he didn't like getting beaned by Bush. Also said something weird about choosing not to hurt him.
E: lolz also there was a 10-15 minute "break" after this, while the umps sorted everything out, then the Jays pitcher immediately drilled Prince Fielder (who probably swung at it anyway) and they all went back out there again, minus these two, of course.
The second view, along the base path, looks worse.
Also, that was a beautiful right cross, but then Odor threw it away by following with a left glove slap.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on May 15, 2016, 10:18:22 PM
Also, that was a beautiful right cross, but then Odor threw it away by following with a left glove slap.
He damn near got someone else with another right cross later in the melee. Beltre was holding on to Bautista away from everyone, but...Donaldson, I think?...basically stuck his face out right in front of Odor while trying to get to him. It looked like he only got maybe the end of his nose or something. Hard to tell though.
E: Yeah must have been Donaldson, he got ejected too.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on May 15, 2016, 10:16:32 PM
The second view, along the base path, looks worse.
He got plunked. If plunking batters is acceptable, then his sorta-late slide is as well.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on May 15, 2016, 02:24:16 PM
I'm talking about any away game.
Ah, I usually wear my Cards hat to Reds games, regardless of who the Reds are playing. Two or three years ago I'd get some nasty comments from Reds fans here & there, but as the Reds have faded it's more of a soft reaction. Except from my friends, of course. I have several low-grade baseball feuds going.
Quote from: derspiess on May 15, 2016, 11:06:17 PM
He got plunked. If plunking batters is acceptable, then his sorta-late slide is as well.
Is it acceptable? Because there were warnings and more ejections for that. I also like how we're talking about it being "sorta" or "a bit" late when the dude landed on the damn bag and Odor had to pull his leg (which was behind the base, and he wasn't actually touching it, I don't think) up to avoid the guy's entire fucking body, which continued for several feet beyond the bag.
Odor shouldn't have blasted him, because that was just dumb and now the Rangers are down a 2B for however long, but c'mon now. If that's "sorta late," Bush only threw the pitch a "little inside" when he popped Bautista in the ribs to begin with, so maybe he should have just stfu.
Quote from: MadBurgerMaker on May 15, 2016, 10:12:11 PM
then the Jays pitcher immediately drilled Prince Fielder (who probably swung at it anyway)
lulz I see what you did there.
I dunno, I didn't see anything particularly wrong with that slide; now, if he had come in cleats high, that would be obvious. But this is all leftover bullshit from the ALCS, so everybody's all sensitive and shit.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on May 16, 2016, 07:31:00 AM
I dunno, I didn't see anything particularly wrong with that slide; now, if he had come in cleats high, that would be obvious. But this is all leftover bullshit from the ALCS, so everybody's all sensitive and shit.
It's leftover in the sense that they changed the rule specifically to protect infielders from dudes sliding through them. Last year that was fine, this year it is not. They also made neighborhood plays reviewable, so the infielder is risking the runner being called safe if he isn't touching the bag unlike in previous years where they couldn't look at it. Odor actually didn't look like he was touching, so a normal slide might have had the tying run at second (with two outs after guy going to first gets thrown out). Gotta try to be a badass though.
Also, if Bautista wants to slide into a 2Bs leg because he's butthurt about getting hit by a pitch instead of taking it up with the pitcher, that's fine, but when he gets sent glassy eyed and wobbly kneed into the loving arms of Adrian Beltre for his efforts, he needs to shut the fuck up about it.
Sensitive Rangers fan is: sensitive
The best part is that the Rangers waited until Bautista's last at bat in the last game the two teams played to plunk him. If you are so butt-hurt by the bat flip then hit him in his first AB; oh wait then the Jays' pitchers can retaliate.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on May 16, 2016, 09:49:35 AM
Sensitive Rangers fan is: sensitive
Rangers fan knows the new rule and was just helping Orioles fan out since Orioles fan didn't seem to be aware of it. Rangers fan is unhappy about losing a second baseman for two weeks at least, although Jays player brought it on himself.
Quote from: sbr on May 16, 2016, 10:03:45 AM
The best part is that the Rangers waited until Bautista's last at bat in the last game the two teams played to plunk him. If you are so butt-hurt by the bat flip then hit him in his first AB; oh wait then the Jays' pitchers can retaliate.
:lol: The game didn't end in the 8th. Jays pitcher immediately hit Prince Fielder on the next pitch (because the illegal slide = two outs) and got ejected. Prince Fielder did not throw his gigantic body at the second baseman's leg though and also managed to not get punched in the face.
E: Seriously why is Prince Fielder still there ugh
Quote from: MadBurgerMaker on May 16, 2016, 10:05:16 AM
Quote from: sbr on May 16, 2016, 10:03:45 AM
The best part is that the Rangers waited until Bautista's last at bat in the last game the two teams played to plunk him. If you are so butt-hurt by the bat flip then hit him in his first AB; oh wait then the Jays' pitchers can retaliate.
:lol: The game didn't end in the 8th. Jays pitcher immediately hit Prince Fielder on the next pitch (because the illegal slide = two outs) and got ejected. Prince Fielder did not throw his gigantic body at the second baseman's leg though and also managed to not get punched in the face.
I never said that was the last at bat of the game, though with a bullpen like the Rangers have you might have to assume that the Jays might bat around in the 9th and give Jose another chance.
Quote from: sbr on May 16, 2016, 10:09:17 AM
I never said that was the last at bat of the game, though with a bullpen like the Rangers have you might have to assume that the Jays might bat around in the 9th and give Jose another chance.
Did you actually have a point then? The Jays pitchers could, and did, retaliate. Bautista tried to retaliate (although was "retaliating" against a guy who didn't do anything to him) and got blasted. Are you saying you want more of this dumbass horseshit? People who are butthurt about the batflip are dumb babies, and if they really told Bush (in his second MLB game) to hit Bautista in the 8th up by only 1, then that's stupid. Bautista trying to slide through Odor's leg as some sort of revenge against the pitcher who is not named Odor was stupid. Odor punching Bautista in the face was stupid. Jays pitcher hitting Fielder was especially stupid. You would want that to go on for a whole series? That's
really fucking stupid.
Bat flips are awesome. The Rangers need to untwist their Fall panties.
Quote from: Grey Fox on May 16, 2016, 10:36:36 AM
Bat flips are awesome. The Rangers need to untwist their Fall panties.
They are indeed awesome. Bautista's was one of the best ones I've seen, at least that I can think of right now.
Quote from: MadBurgerMaker on May 16, 2016, 10:04:23 AM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on May 16, 2016, 09:49:35 AM
Sensitive Rangers fan is: sensitive
Rangers fan knows the new rule and was just helping Orioles fan out since Orioles fan didn't seem to be aware of it. Rangers fan is unhappy about losing a second baseman for two weeks at least, although Jays player brought it on himself.
Rangers fan's second baseman shouldn't have cold-cocked a dude.
Quote from: MadBurgerMaker on May 16, 2016, 10:04:23 AM
Rangers fan knows the new rule and was just helping Orioles fan out since Orioles fan didn't seem to be aware of it.
Orioles fan has his own fucking problems, like Orioles starting pitching. :P
QuoteRangers fan is unhappy about losing a second baseman for two weeks at least, although Jays player brought it on himself.
Bah, Odor was already turning and woofing before Bautista even got up. And that's quite a trick, out-woofing Bautista.
I've no monkey in this shitfight at the zoo, but looks to me like Odor was looking for pooh to fling.
Good advice Spiess, I'll let him know next time I see him.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on May 16, 2016, 11:08:00 AM
Orioles fan has his own fucking problems, like Orioles starting pitching. :P
Fuck it, at least that means the pitchers are screwing up early vs waiting for the bullpen to ruin everything.
QuoteBah, Odor was already turning and woofing before Bautista even got up. And that's quite a trick, out-woofing Bautista.
I've no monkey in this shitfight at the zoo, but looks to me like Odor was looking for pooh to fling.
Odor has always been pretty......well, I mean he's only 22, and he's not exactly shy about going after people. This was also the second time in the game that someone slid into his legs, and with it being a dumbass like Bautista, that was it.
Jon Heyman is saying Lincecum could end up with the Angels as early as today. :hmm:
Well. The "Battle of Ohio" is off to a good start. My only question: Where the hell was this offensive madness when the Tribe faced the even worse Twins over the weekend?! <_<
Quote from: Benedict Arnold on May 17, 2016, 11:12:59 PM
Well. The "Battle of Ohio" is off to a good start. My only question: Where the hell was this offensive madness when the Tribe faced the even worse Twins over the weekend?! <_<
I didn't watch either game, but kept track of the scores-- pretty damned hilarious.
We're going tonight. Found tickets on Stubhub -- five rows back behind third base for $15 apiece.
They read out the suspensions for the Odor thing on the radio this morning when I was driving Tommy to school. Tommy asked me why Bautista was suspended for a game & I honestly couldn't find an answer. I'm no fan of Bautista, but what do you get him for? Sliding a little late?
Quote from: derspiess on May 18, 2016, 02:45:22 PM
They read out the suspensions for the Odor thing on the radio this morning when I was driving Tommy to school. Tommy asked me why Bautista was suspended for a game & I honestly couldn't find an answer. I'm no fan of Bautista, but what do you get him for? Sliding a little late?
Didn't he say afterwards that he was trying to send a message with that slide?
I think the principle is the same as roughing the kicker or passer. Short stop has a plant leg too.
Lincecum did end up with the Angels. Ugh. Maybe he sucks now.
Quote from: derspiess on May 18, 2016, 02:45:22 PM
They read out the suspensions for the Odor thing on the radio this morning when I was driving Tommy to school. Tommy asked me why Bautista was suspended for a game & I honestly couldn't find an answer. I'm no fan of Bautista, but what do you get him for? Sliding a little late?
:lol:
Quote from: Admiral Yi on May 18, 2016, 02:48:18 PM
Didn't he say afterwards that he was trying to send a message with that slide?
I think the principle is the same as roughing the kicker or passer. Short stop has a plant leg too.
Yes, he was suspended for his "actions and comments." Chavez was suspended three games for improving Prince Fielder's OBP.
E: Oh someone got a screenshot of Odor v. Donaldson in the melee. He might have caught him more than I thought:
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fuploads.tapatalk-cdn.com%2F20160517%2F9162af5a6166a7b20d9070e2481092fe.jpg&hash=61b14f7307fa8517e9336c96e95b0e739a08a3d8)
I still can't figure out why he was flying in there face first like that. It doesn't really seem like a good way to fight? Even "baseball" fight.
He didn't lead with his face. He was facing down Odor and got sucker punched.
Wait, is that not the first punch?
No that's Donaldson flying face first into the post punch scrum. Bautista was still leaning on Beltre and hadn't even started checking his teeth yet when this happened. Also, I think the definition of "sucker punch" has changed or something.
Quote from: MadBurgerMaker on May 18, 2016, 03:14:56 PM
Quote from: Admiral Yi on May 18, 2016, 02:48:18 PM
Didn't he say afterwards that he was trying to send a message with that slide?
I think the principle is the same as roughing the kicker or passer. Short stop has a plant leg too.
Yes, he was suspended for his "actions and comments."
But WTF does that mean?
No question that under the old rules, it was a clean slide. Under the new rule, the slide meets most of the requirements of a bona fide slide, with one exception: ability to remain on the base at the end of the slide. So here was an opportunity for MLB to give some useful guidance on how it would police the new rule but it retreated into vagueness. This is just buying more controversy in the future.
The mere statement of intent to "send a message" is meaningless, and IMO not grounds for discipline. You can send a message through a legal slide, or indeed through any number of legal plays. Either the conduct was OK in which case the "message" was irrelevant or the conduct wasn't OK in which case the statement is mere additional color.
To be clear, I'm not taking the position on whether the suspension was unwarranted, just the crappy way MLB messaged it.
You're also supposed to be in contact with the ground before the base (which also helps to keep from sliding several feet past it), and he wasn't really. Anyway, it was probably along the lines of "his actions helped to lead directly to a couple of fights, and then he told everyone they were intentional." Is Joe Torre still the "punishment" guy for MLB?
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fsportsdaydfw.imgix.net%2F1463411968-ODORthrow.jpg&hash=3637d491ada262e113df20e0a7d8b2238bba2002)
I really really think he would have been safe at second if he hadn't tried to be a badass. Check out that back foot.
Is a foot supposed to be on the bag? Because his is clearly not.
The throw was also WAY off. Double play anyway because of the slide.
Quote from: MadBurgerMaker on May 18, 2016, 04:23:54 PM
You're also supposed to be in contact with the ground before the base (which also helps to keep from sliding several feet past it), and he wasn't really.
His left foot hit the ground before the base. The rest of his body is somewhat elevated, but not above Odor's knee.
Yi: you must be "able to" and "attempt" to reach base with hand or foot, and "able to and attempt to remain on the base [presumably with any part of the body] after completion of the slide."
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on May 18, 2016, 04:45:05 PM
Yi: you must be "able to" and "attempt" to reach base with hand or foot, and "able to and attempt to remain on the base [presumably with any part of the body] after completion of the slide."
If one hand is good enough you could slide three feet wide of the bag and be OK.
Well you could do that to avoid a tag as long as the fielder isn't located where you're going, I guess, but the fielder just needs to touch the bag with his foot while holding the ball (no more neighborhood play) and the runner is out (e: on a force out or double play, that is). Feet first is probably faster than trying to grab it as you slide by.
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on May 18, 2016, 04:45:05 PM
His left foot hit the ground before the base. The rest of his body is somewhat elevated, but not above Odor's knee.
Yeah, you can see where it started dragging by the kicked up dirt about two-ish feet short of the bag before he landed on his knee on the base. I'm not sure you can honestly call that a real attempt to get down before the base, which is why I said he wasn't really. It doesn't matter either way though, since dude was blatantly obviously sliding through the fielder and didn't give a single shit about being safe with how far off he came, and that's enough for the rule no matter what. It wasn't even kind of a "bona fide slide. vOv Double play, punch to the face, more batters beaned, suspensions for everyone! Baseball is fun again!
E: This came across my twitter feed just now: http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/15581044/mlb-commissioner-stand-three-hour-baseball-games
Rangers pitching is shaky enough as it is. No need to start rushing them with timers and such, damn. I also don't know why they need to come up with some magical rules, when all it would take is cutting out a couple of commercials between innings. :D Nbd, right?
Quote from: Admiral Yi on May 18, 2016, 04:48:08 PM
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on May 18, 2016, 04:45:05 PM
Yi: you must be "able to" and "attempt" to reach base with hand or foot, and "able to and attempt to remain on the base [presumably with any part of the body] after completion of the slide."
If one hand is good enough you could slide three feet wide of the bag and be OK.
Except you also can't change your pathway for the purpose of initiating contact.
Didn't look like Bautista did that either though. Sliding through the fielder on a straight path is explicitly permitted, unless done in a way such that the runner is unable or doesn't attempt to stay on the base after completion.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on May 18, 2016, 03:28:54 PM
He didn't lead with his face. He was facing down Odor and got sucker punched.
That was in no way a sucker punch. They were squared up to go at it, and it looks like Bautista was winding up to throw a punch of his own.
Freddy Gonzalez, he got sucker punched. Fired, and found out by getting a check in notification from Delta that he had an early flight home while on a road trip. :lol:
e:
QuoteFreddy Gonzalez, he got sucker punched. Fired, and found out by getting a check in notification from Delta that he had an early flight home while on a road trip. :lol:
That's just ice cold.
--------
So Bartolo Colon did....this:
http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/15593253/bartolo-colon-new-york-mets-sued-child-support
QuoteColon, who has been married to his wife, Rosanna, for 21 years, was sued one year ago by 38-year-old Alexandra Santos, who alleges the 42-year-old pitcher hasn't paid child support for two children he fathered with her.
The suit, according to the Post, was filed as "Anonymous v. Anonymous," but because Colon represented himself at one point, he is listed as an attorney in the case.
The newspaper reported that documents in the case are sealed and that Colon and Santos signed a confidentiality agreement last month. The sides are due to be in court again next month.
Quote from: MadBurgerMaker on May 18, 2016, 05:08:13 PM
since dude was blatantly obviously sliding through the fielder and didn't give a single shit about being safe with how far off he came,
"It is impuhrite to sride. Brings dishonor to team and ancestors."
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-y4K1vGL93W0%2FVMHWjCsINoI%2FAAAAAAAANes%2FhAk_FxOcNpM%2Fs1600%2Fmrb3.png&hash=e0074d83c49f6aea045d4ffc87e3aa5ea9d8ca86)
Quote from: CountDeMoney on May 18, 2016, 07:59:02 PM
"It is impuhrite to sride. Brings dishonor to team and ancestors."
Yu Darvish would own the shit out of Mr Baseball. Shuuto, shuuto, shuuto. Sit down and put your round sunglasses back on, dork.
Yu Darvish :wub: He's such a dreamy Squall Leonhart, with a cutter like Adamantine.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on May 18, 2016, 08:13:37 PM
Yu Darvish :wub: He's such a dreamy Squall Leonhart, with a cutter like Adamantine.
:lol:
Just fired up Mr Baseball. I was planning on going to bed early, but not anymore! THANKS SEEDY
You have a hole in your swing.
After 39 years of attending MLB games, I finally got a ball at a game last night. Granted, it was during Indians batting practice and it's an Arizona Spring Training ball, but I'll take it. I got all soft and handed it over to Tommy so he can have all the glory.
I got my first last year. Lorenzo Cain foul ball at Yankee stadium.
A guy in a section next to mine caught two foul balls in one at bat.
Mine was off Napoli's bat, right before they finished BP.
I got a ball at a braves game a few years back. A sharply hit ball was going to the empty seat next to me, and I tried to barehand it. I didn't catch the ball, but it fell by my feet and I picked it up.
I'm sort of pissed that I didn't catch it cleanly. It would have been badass. I lost my chance at glory. As it was, there was a loud, "Thump!" when it hit my hand / wrist and the stadium went "oohhh!" and some stadium guy came over to ask me questions and make sure my hand was okay.
It is kind of a bittersweet memory for that reason. Cool I got a ball, crappy I lost my chance at a possible sportscenter highlight.
Quote from: derspiess on May 19, 2016, 01:36:42 PM
After 39 years of attending MLB games, I finally got a ball at a game last night. Granted, it was during Indians batting practice and it's an Arizona Spring Training ball, but I'll take it. I got all soft and handed it over to Tommy so he can have all the glory.
That was a hell of a game last night.
Quote from: alfred russel on May 19, 2016, 04:59:47 PM
I got a ball at a braves game a few years back. A sharply hit ball was going to the empty seat next to me, and I tried to barehand it. I didn't catch the ball, but it fell by my feet and I picked it up.
I'm sort of pissed that I didn't catch it cleanly. It would have been badass. I lost my chance at glory. As it was, there was a loud, "Thump!" when it hit my hand / wrist and the stadium went "oohhh!" and some stadium guy came over to ask me questions and make sure my hand was okay.
It is kind of a bittersweet memory for that reason. Cool I got a ball, crappy I lost my chance at a possible sportscenter highlight.
Shoulda leaned over and taken it square in the face. That'd get you on Sportscenter.
The Rangers and Arlington are looking at this for the new ballpark:
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fsportsdaydfw.imgix.net%2F1463769131-NM_20NEWBALLPARK1_50636213-%281%29.JPG%3Fq%3D50%26amp%3Bauto%3Dformat%26amp%3Bw%3D900&hash=17b91fd0191eac39ef90c8095af3d2660504d6ba)
They want to split $900m to do it. The biggest thing is, of course, the retractable roof. Since, you know, it gets really fucking hot without one.
Pretty obnoxious ambitious for a franchise that didn't win a pennant for 40 years. Because Texas.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on May 20, 2016, 07:26:32 PM
Pretty obnoxious ambitious for a franchise that didn't win a pennant for 40 years. Because Texas.
It didn't seem to get any cooler in July and August when they won those two AL pennants, so they don't appear to be related. Did something weather related happen 33 years ago to give you this impression?
E: Also, aside from "it's fucking hot and there needs to be some shade," Arlington is getting the jump on Dallas, which apparently started getting the idea that the team should be located there.
They don't deserve the investment. Shitty ass Senators.
Somehow Arlington manages to pay everything off early. The current ballpark was paid off in, IIRC, 2001, which was I think 10 years early, and Jerry's Death Star across the street will be paid off in 2021, right around when this new thing will come online. They're talking about just keeping the current sales tax that they've been using for that and rolling it over to the Ranger's park. Some shit like that.
E: Rough location overlay from Shaggy:(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi64.tinypic.com%2Fwnqlz.jpg&hash=53382b765f862aa4a32f154d3f854c59a601acf3)
It's also going to be a little smaller, in case you can't tell. Maybe Marlins park sized? Maybe a little bigger. Whatever.
Guess that makes up for all the money they pissed away on pitchers over the years.
That's another of the problems they want to address with the roof. Pitchers have a really hard time when its 115 on the field.
:lol: Nice try, Science Guy. CHAN HOT PARK
Kinda reminds me of those arguments people use to attribute Shaq's shitty free throw percentage to his height, and how it actually reduced the elliptical exposure of the hoop's rim or something.
As they say down there, bless your heart.
:lol: You seriously don't think extreme heat affects players in general and especially pitchers?
Quote from: Brett Anderson, Dodgers pitcher"No clue why you would ever want to pitch for the Rangers," he tweeted on Wednesday. "The climate is beyond awful."
They also apparently get pissy and are more apt to retaliate when it's hot lolz: http://www.npr.org/2011/10/12/141233588/pain-at-the-plate-heat-increases-pitcher-retaliation
Never seemed to bother Nolan Ryan.
Stop blaming systemic front office failures the last 15 years when it comes to signing pitching talent on the heat. It's unseemly.
No one is doing that. And Nolan Ryan is from Refugio, dude. He's familiar with the weather in Houston and DFW. If your suggestion is to have only clones of Nolan Ryan pitching, I agree that would be a solid rotation, and they should really get that set up. Otherwise, you're going to end up with dudes who aren't used to it and are sweating all over the ball and talking about having trouble gripping it. And it fucking sucks to sitting there frying in the stands too.
E: Since you don't know what or where Refugio is and especially the climate, just think "hotter than Dallas," and you'll have an idea. It's inland from the Corpus Christi area.
OK, I concede: you're right. After all, look at how successful the Astros have been indoors. Advantage: YUO
Thanks for reminding me: Nolan Ryan played in a dome for damn near 10 years. California and NY before that. For the autists, it's a quality of life improvement (for both fans and players) that they're also hoping will make it easier to convince pitchers to play for them.. It doesn't mean they're going to instantly throw only perfect games with the occasional bummer no hitter. :rolleyes:
E: But I'm still interested in your Nolan Ryan cloning experiment.
Looking forward to heading to San Fran at some point this summer, and I very much want to see the Giants at their new stadium.
Red Sox are just killing the baseball lately. Best hitting I've seen from this team in a long time.
I don't get why David Ortiz seems so beloved in other parks. I mean, I get why we love him, but the dude's obviously been on HGH since 2010 and I thought that was something only home town fans ignored.
Quote from: jimmy olsen on June 14, 2016, 04:03:41 AM
Red Sox are just killing the baseball lately. Best hitting I've seen from this team in a long time.
I don't get why David Ortiz seems so beloved in other parks. I mean, I get we love him, but the dude's obviously been on HGH since 2010 and I thought that was something only home town fans ignored.
I thought he's just kind of a fat slob, and the fans love him 'cause they can relate to that. Sort of like with Cecil Fielder or Babe Ruth.
Hit # 4256 for Ichiro
Pete Rose says those Nip League hits don't count.
Got #4257 later in the game.
Rose is still the MLB hits leaders, but no one has more professional hits as Ichiro does and that is something.
Go Go Cueto! Now 10-1 for Los Gigantes.
7.0 7 1 1 1 9 0 96-62 2.10 |
Quote from: sbr on June 15, 2016, 06:49:58 PM
Got #4257 later in the game.
Rose is still the MLB hits leaders, but no one has more professional hits as Ichiro does and that is something.
Oh i agree, just passing along what Rose said the other day.
Quote from: AnchorClanker on May 21, 2016, 05:16:12 PM
Looking forward to heading to San Fran at some point this summer, and I very much want to see the Giants at their new stadium.
Good luck with tickets, they just had 441st consecutive sellout.
Quote from: katmai on June 15, 2016, 06:36:50 PM
Pete Rose says those Nip League hits don't count.
How much does he want to bet they do?
Anyways Ichiro! having a nice little year, good to see.
Will reach 3k easy in the USA this year and locked down his HOF credentials.
Quote from: katmai on June 15, 2016, 06:51:13 PM
Quote from: sbr on June 15, 2016, 06:49:58 PM
Got #4257 later in the game.
Rose is still the MLB hits leaders, but no one has more professional hits as Ichiro does and that is something.
Oh i agree, just passing along what Rose said the other day.
I wasn't really replying to you, just posting my thoughts in general on the subject. :) Also, I couldn't really care less about what Pete Rose has to say about anything.
His 162 average is exactly 200 hits. Became a regular in Japan in '94. If he'd done that in America he'd probably already have broken Rose's record.
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on June 15, 2016, 08:19:19 PM
Quote from: katmai on June 15, 2016, 06:36:50 PM
Pete Rose says those Nip League hits don't count.
How much does he want to bet they do?
First thing I thought :lol:
I think I mentioned it here before, but I am finally going to get up to Safeco Field the weekend after next for the Mariners/Cardinals series.
I'm going up Saturday and going to the 7PM game with my daughter, her boyfriend and her best friend then gonna party it up a bit and stay the night up there. On Sunday my parents are coming up and we are all going to the 1PM game then going back home that night.
It should be fun to see the Cards play somewhere other than Buschand finally get to see a game at Safeco.
Quote from: jimmy olsen on June 15, 2016, 08:39:16 PM
His 162 average is exactly 200 hits. Became a regular in Japan in '94. If he'd done that in America he'd probably already have broken Rose's record.
What are his Japanese/MLB splits though? I can't be arsed to look tonight, but I would be surprised if they were close enough to say that.
Quote from: sbr on June 15, 2016, 08:46:01 PM
Quote from: jimmy olsen on June 15, 2016, 08:39:16 PM
His 162 game average is exactly 200 hits. Became a regular in Japan in '94. If he'd done that in America he'd probably already have broken Rose's record.
What are his Japanese/MLB splits though? I can't be arsed to look tonight, but I would be surprised if they were close enough to say that.
You can check his stats here. He averaged 224.4 hits a year from age 27-37 in the MLB and hit .332
In Japan from '94-2000 he hit .385, .342, .356, .345, .358, .343, .387
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/suzukic01.shtml
two reasons Giants are up 6 games over Dodgers at moment.
Pitching Since May 4th
BUMGARNER CUETO
Team W-L 8-0 7-1*
ERA 1.23 1.04
ERA MLB rank 2nd 1st
* Loss to Clayton Kershaw |
The Cards-Cubs game started out as a pitching duel between Arrieta and Wacha, but then Arrieta was taken out after allowing 2 runs and 5 innings. Then the Cardinals promptly added 5 more runs :D
Anyway, I took the Argies with me to Wrigley Field Monday for the first game of the series. Great game, great stadium experience, and the Cards won. Wrigley ushers are easily the friendliest in any stadium I've visited.
Fucking hell, everytime I watch the Sox they seem to lose. <_<
Quote from: jimmy olsen on June 22, 2016, 06:47:06 PM
Fucking hell, everytime I watch the Sox they seem to lose. <_<
Keep watching the Sox!
So Texas Tech and Coastal Carolina are playing for the last spot in the "Final Four" of the College World series. The winner will play TCU. On the other side, Arizona vs Oklahoma State is the matchup. :hmm:
Barring some miracle Toad comeback, looks like it'll be Arizona vs Coastal Carolina in the finals. This is Coastal Carolina's first trip to Omaha. Berk's Wildcats have won it all a few times. Should be a good series. :)
At the cards/ mariners game. Mike Leake sucks.
Some jack ass dude just ran onto the field. That was fun.
This has been an amazing season so far. I hope beyond hope that it continues to be this good. I look forward to every game like Christmas. :lol:
wtf Mariano Rivera wouldn't deserve the intro the mariners just gave to Steve Cishek
Quote from: sbr on June 25, 2016, 11:59:43 PM
wtf Mariano Rivera wouldn't deserve the intro the mariners just gave to Steve Cishek
:lol: What happened? I hope there were fireworks.
https://twitter.com/edwgoodman/status/747102083245969409
Quote from: MadBurgerMaker on June 26, 2016, 02:04:09 AM
Quote from: sbr on June 25, 2016, 11:59:43 PM
wtf Mariano Rivera wouldn't deserve the intro the mariners just gave to Steve Cishek
:lol: What happened? I hope there were fireworks.
Nope no fireworks. Stadium blacked out about 80%, then a light show from all the Displays and scoreboards then this huge cgi intro on the main scoreboard/display for Steve Cishek. I don't go to many games anymore but I have never seen anything like it for anyone, much less him.
Steve Chisek intro at Safeco; this doesn't show the lights going out before hand, that is either new or this starts after the lights came back on.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FO2RDFbPEzw
Too bad the Mariners got smacked today so no Steve Chishek appearance. :(
I like how they flash his name all over the place over and over for 2 minutes. Sweet light effects at the beginning.
Can't really tell what the music is, but I'm listening on a laptop, so meh. Tolleson's music was Danger Zone, which is p. great. I don't know what Dyson's is.
Quote from: sbr on June 25, 2016, 09:57:08 PM
At the cards/ mariners game. Mike Leake sucks.
Leake is terrible. He'll give you one good game to make you want to give him another chance, then he has another string of shitty games.
Quote from: sbr on June 25, 2016, 11:59:43 PM
wtf Mariano Rivera wouldn't deserve the intro the mariners just gave to Steve Cishek
The high point for a lot of Reds games was when Aroldis Chapman ran out from the bullpen. Now they just get to watch their relief pitching get shelled :lol:
So a few weeks ago I decided to shift my NL All Star voting strategy from all Cardinals to anti-Cubs. Aside from Catcher (voting Yadi of course), I'm voting for the player who has the best chance of beating the Cubs player leading the voting. For AL I'm just voting the best player at each position ;)
Quote from: derspiess on June 29, 2016, 10:20:24 AM
So a few weeks ago I decided to shift my NL All Star voting strategy from all Cardinals to anti-Cubs. Aside from Catcher (voting Yadi of course), I'm voting for the player who has the best chance of beating the Cubs player leading the voting. For AL I'm just voting the best player at each position ;)
Sounds complicated. I just vote all-Royals in the AL, and leave the NL blank. Reminds me I should vote again.
Remind me again why we have fan voting for the ASG? :hmm:
Quote from: Barrister on June 29, 2016, 11:15:58 AM
Sounds complicated. I just vote all-Royals in the AL, and leave the NL blank. Reminds me I should vote again.
Not really. I just look at the latest vote leaders and go with the 2nd place guy in a lot of the positions. I did vote for some Royals in AL.
BTW-- for our last alloted 5 ballots tomorrow, how about I agree to vote all Royals and you vote all Cardinals? :contract:
QuoteRemind me again why we have fan voting for the ASG? :hmm:
I don't have a problem with it. It gives the fans a voice in who is chosen, but it's limited to the starting positions. Players and coaches pick the backups and pitchers. Any remaining slots are filled at the discretion of the All Star team managers.
Quote from: derspiess on June 29, 2016, 11:40:51 AM
BTW-- for our last alloted 5 ballots tomorrow, how about I agree to vote all Royals and you vote all Cardinals? :contract:
Deal.
Quote
QuoteRemind me again why we have fan voting for the ASG? :hmm:
I don't have a problem with it. It gives the fans a voice in who is chosen, but it's limited to the starting positions. Players and coaches pick the backups and pitchers. Any remaining slots are filled at the discretion of the All Star team managers.
I mean I don't get all worked up over it, but it seems more like a test of fan support, and not how good the actual players are.
But then again, the Royals have done okay for themselves. I looked back to confirm - they had 4 players in the starting AL line-up.
So Tommy's last Little League game was Saturday and they won. Good ending to a bad season for a pretty bad team (poorly coached, not much talent below the top 3 or 4 kids). He did well in batting, fielding, and pitching. His pitching has particularly come along, as I've had him take a little velocity off the ball to increase his control. At this level he pitched from 42 feet away. He'll have to pitch from 46 feet next year, but based upon what I saw during his All Star tryouts he should do fine.
He got chosen as an alternate for his Little League All Star team, which is a pretty big accomplishment IMO with this being his first year. We turned it down, though, because we have to commit to him going to all games with the possibility of him getting zero playing time. They only chose 12 players for the team with a couple alternates; don't know why they didn't just go with 14 as the team size with no alternates, but whatever. We turned it down, since we would have to shelve any vacation plans through early August for possibly nothing.
I'm not overly impressed with how our local Little League is run, so I may get him on a select/Knothole team next year. A friend of mine may end up taking over the 9 & under Midland team next year, and if that is the case I'll definitely try to get Tommy on that team. The Midland program has produced 75 Major League players, 46 First Round draft picks, & 517 Division 1 players.
Quote from: Barrister on June 29, 2016, 11:51:58 AM
Deal.
I set an Outlook reminder :D
Quote
I mean I don't get all worked up over it, but it seems more like a test of fan support, and not how good the actual players are.
But then again, the Royals have done okay for themselves. I looked back to confirm - they had 4 players in the starting AL line-up.
It's a game for the fans, and yes the Royals made out like bandits last year due to their fans stuffing the ballot box (metaphorically now that there are no paper ballots :( ). Cubs fans are doing it this year. And I have no problem with it; if a particular team's fans are that enthusiastic, might as well have that reflected in the starting lineups.
Val, Horns new baseball coach: David Pierce.
http://texassports.com/news/2016/6/29/david-pierce-named-texas-baseball-head-coach.aspx
QuoteIn his five seasons as a Division I head coach, Pierce has posted a 197-109 (.644) overall record, including a 76-46 (.623) mark at Tulane. Joining the Green Wave in 2015, the Houston native guided the school into its first season in the American Athletic Conference. His team posted a school-record nine shutouts, which ranked fourth in the nation, en route to a 35-25 record and the program's first regional appearance since 2008.
QuotePierce's second season at Tulane brought even more success as he led the 2016 Green Wave to a 41-21 record, a regular season AAC championship and a second-consecutive regional appearance. The 41 wins were the most for the program since 2006. The team led the nation with 13 shutouts and ranked in the top 25 in both ERA (23rd/3.24) and WHIP (25th/1.24), while belting out 66 home runs, which was tied for 13th nationally. Tulane produced two third-round picks in the 2016 Major League Baseball Draft in catcher Jake Rogers and shortstop Stephen Alemais with Rogers becoming Tulane's highest draft pick since 2008. Seven players earned All-AAC honors, including four first-team selections, while starting pitcher Ross Massey was named freshman All-America after leading the conference and tying for 18th in the nation in victories (10).
Etc.
CWS final is tied at 1-1. Last game is tonight.
Yes. Amazing story from Coastal and frankly a wonderful championship series. Reminds me why I love College Baseball. Shame our Big 12 brethren shit the bed there in the semis.
Great hire. Pierce was exactly the kind of guy I hoped UT would hire. Youngish, hungry, with his best days in front of him and ready to be the next great Texas Baseball Coach. I expect him to last at least 15 years.
I have not seen a corrupt bargain this outrageous in baseball since the 1980s collusion scandal :mad:
Please don't tell Rob Manfred.
Just had a flashback of last year's Twitter vote for the final AL & NL roster spots. Cards fans had a deal with Royals fans to vote for both Moustakis and Martinez. Both made it :D
The last morning/afternoon of the voting was crazy-- my friends were voting Cueto but I kept canceling out each of their votes with a Martinez vote. I was off work for an All Star Week event, so I had the time.
Just a reminder for everyone that wants to cast All Star ballots that voting ends tonight.
Quote from: Valmy on June 29, 2016, 02:23:19 PM
Yes. Amazing story from Coastal and frankly a wonderful championship series. Reminds me why I love College Baseball. Shame our Big 12 brethren shit the bed there in the semis.
Great hire. Pierce was exactly the kind of guy I hoped UT would hire. Youngish, hungry, with his best days in front of him and ready to be the next great Texas Baseball Coach. I expect him to last at least 15 years.
Coastal Carolina won it this afternoon. I wasn't able to watch very closely, but I had it on here at work. Most of the runs came in the 6th inning (4 for CCU, 2 for Arizona) and I actually did see those. It was two errors on one play that killed Arizona: Directly allowed 2x runs in when they should have ended the inning, then two batters later there was a homer.
E: Fun fact: Coastal Carolina is changing conferences
tomorrow. They're going to the Sun Belt. That might have been interesting if they had had to delay the game for another day due to weather. :D
19 to get 14. Wow. That was a tough win for the Tribe today. :wacko:
Interesting. :hmm:
http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/would-baseballs-all-time-all-star-team-go-162-0/
Quote
Would Baseball's All-Time All-Star Team Go 162-0?
By Rob Arthur
How many games would a team of All-Stars — including all these Red Sox players — win if they played a 162-game schedule? Winslow Townson / AP
Every year, MLB's All-Star game brings together the best players from each league to form two superteams. For one game, we get to see Jose Fernandez as a reliever against lineups in which Mike Trout and Miguel Cabrera hit back to back. But unlike the NBA's fantasy rosters made real, we never get to glimpse how dominant such a talent-laden squad would be against normal MLB competition. So with a little statistical analysis and some conjecture, I took a guess at how well an MLB All-Star team would fare in a regular season — and even how often they'd go a perfect 162-0.1
To get an idea of how good each All-Star team would be, I added up the wins above replacement2 for every All-Star team's best player at each position since 1933 (the first year of the All-Star Game). To further make things comparable to regular-season teams, I summed the top five pitchers' WAR totals to get a rotation's worth of pitching WAR.3 I also did not consider any WAR contributed by the designated hitter for each All-Star and regular season team, since the DH did not exist before 1973. The result of all this was a predicted WAR total for each All-Star team, which I could use as a comparison against real regular-season teams.
Not surprisingly, All-Star teams tend to carry far more talent in their ranks than most normal teams. The average All-Star squad put 60 full-season WAR on the field, which is about the same as the 1976 Reds — widely regarded as one of the best teams in MLB history. No regular-season team in history exceeded the 1927 Yankees' 66.3 WAR, but about 30 percent of All-Star teams would have if given the chance to play together in the regular season.
But 66.3 WAR is kind of an abstract idea; what most fans care about is Ws and Ls. To establish how well these All-Star rosters might have fared in the standings, I used regular-season teams as a guide. I regressed their winning percentages against the total WAR on their rosters to get a sense for how much each additional WAR was worth.4 As expected, each win above replacement contributed to a team increases winning percentage by roughly 0.7 points, or the equivalent of about one win in a 162-game schedule.
By this method, practically every All-Star team would be predicted to have a winning record, and the average All-Star squad would be predicted to win 73.4 percent of its games.5 In a 162-game schedule a .734 winning percentage would lead to 120 wins, a feat no real-life team has ever achieved. And that's just the average; the very best All-Star teams — the top 10 percent — would be predicted to win more than 81 percent of their games, or 132 contests in a regular season.
Standing atop that group as the best All-Star team ever was the 1997 National League squad. (Which, by the way, lost to the AL 3-1, a reminder that in any one game a superteam can lose to a merely great team, especially if there isn't much at stake.) Seven players from that roster have already made the Hall of Fame, with two more (third baseman Chipper Jones and pitcher Curt Schilling) likely to reach induction in the near future, and a few others (such as outfielder Barry Bonds and first baseman Jeff Bagwell) mainly excluded over performance-enhancing drug concerns. (By comparison, only five players from the AL team that opposed them have made the hall so far.) Combined, the top players on the '97 NL team produced 86.2 WAR; six of them reached the MVP level threshold of 6 WAR; their worst position player, Jones, ended up producing 3.7 WAR — still 23rd best in the NL.
We can't say for sure how such a team might have fared over a 162-game schedule; the assumptions of any model can break down at the extremes, particularly since we're trying to extrapolate from a sample of regular-season teams that have never been anywhere near as powerful. But by the model outlined above, the 1997 NL All-Stars would have been predicted to win 87 percent of their games, or 140 times in a season. Even given the amount of luck in baseball records,6 the '97 NL would hypothetically go undefeated only once every six billion seasons. (So the best team in baseball history — by a huge margin — would still be the longest of long shots for a perfect record.)
I can, of course, take things a step further and assemble the all-time greatest All-Star team. By assembling the greatest single-season performances at each position throughout history, I can build a team with almost 137 WAR, more than 50 percent better than the greatest single All-Star team ever. This team — with Lou Gehrig from 1934 manning first base, Barry Bonds from 2002 in the outfield, and '99 Pedro Martinez sharing a rotation with '72 Steve Carlton — would be predicted to win 96.8 percent of its games, becoming the first 157-game winner. With a lot of luck, it could eke out an undefeated regular season, but even for them it would be far from a certainty. (According to the binomial distribution, it would happen once every 200 or so seasons.)
Obviously, no such team will ever play the regular season, and this simplified approach ignores many factors that limit teams from such otherworldly performance, such as injuries and the grind of the long schedule. Even so, it's intriguing to consider how overwhelming an All-Star team likely would be in the face of regular-season competition. For a game in which the default is to fail seven times out of 10, most All-Star teams would suddenly make baseball look quite easy.
Of all the dumb shit I have seen here this may be top 10.
Or higher.
Stanton crushed it in the Home Run Derby last night. Glad to see the NL win something a couple years in a row. Kind of jealous seeing the All Star festivities in another city. It was such a high to have it in Cincy last year :mellow:
Damn I thought I was going to see crowing by BB after his team dominated the All Star game last night. I am disappointed.
I stopped watching in the 7th inning. AL won, shock.
Quote from: Valmy on July 13, 2016, 07:47:21 AM
Damn I thought I was going to see crowing by BB after his team dominated the All Star game last night. I am disappointed.
You had to wait till the morning for that. :P
Nice showing by Hosmer and Perez (and Ned Yost for that matter).
Now lets see if the Royals can turn it up in the second half so they have a chance of taking advantage of that home field advantage in the fall.
Pete Rose is correct that as of today Big Papi is a borderline hall of famer. At best.
However - despite my redsox hate part of me wants see him make it. If anyone has the likability factor to shatter the hall of fame roid barrier it would be him.
How the hell can Ortiz be a borderline HoF candidate? He should be a shoo-in.
I saw Pete get inducted into the Reds Hall of Fame a few weeks ago. Everyone pretended it was the real Hall of Fame.
Yeah, not seeing him as merely borderline. His entry might be delayed because there is likely to still be a backlog of qualified candidates when he becomes eligible.
Quote from: sbr on July 13, 2016, 03:41:25 PM
How the hell can Ortiz be a borderline HoF candidate? He should be a shoo-in.
For example: how is he a stronger candidate then say Fred McGriff, who crapped out at 20%.
The careers are the same length, batting stats are similar except Ortiz has 40 pts of slugging %, but McGriff played a decent first base for a number of years, while Ortiz was so brutal in the field he kept Manny out of the DH spot. Ortiz also awful on the bases. WAR is similar for both, fangraphs actually has Crime Dog materially higher. Both had impressive post-season exploits.
Interesting fact: Ortiz only led the league in HRs once. McGriff did it twice.
Ortiz is the better power hitter of course. But interesting nonetheless. The comparison is really closer than one might think because McGriff's prime years were in the 1988-1993 time period when power numbers were a lot lower.
Now we are back to the same HoF conversation we always have once the classes are announced. I don't put that much stock in the numbers. How do you tell the story of Major League baseball over the last 16 years without Ortiz being a major part? Back to back walkoffs in the first 0-3 comeback ever, and against the Mighty and Hated Yankees. He almost singlehandedly beat the Cardinals in 2013.
To me that's Hall of Fame, not Craig Biggio staying healthy for 20 years.
But as I said, we do this every year and we are a few months early this time.
5 years early.
FWIW, a quick glance at Baseball Reference seems to indicate that Ortiz is a noticeably better HoF candidate than McGriff (keeping in mind that those numbers mostly don't consider defense), but we have lots of time to dig into the stats in more detail before Ortiz becomes eligible for induction.
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on July 13, 2016, 04:23:37 PM
Interesting fact: Ortiz only led the league in HRs once. McGriff did it twice.
Ortiz is the better power hitter of course. But interesting nonetheless. The comparison is really closer than one might think because McGriff's prime years were in the 1988-1993 time period when power numbers were a lot lower.
Ortiz is a stronger candidate.
Ortiz - 618 Doubles, 525 HR, 1713 RBI, .286 BA, 1287 BB
McGriff - 441 Doubles, 493 HR, 1550 RBI, .284 BA, 1305 BB
Ortiz should get in, but IMO the Crime Dog deserves it more.
Quote from: derspiess on July 13, 2016, 09:54:08 PM
Ortiz should get in, but IMO the Crime Dog deserves it more.
There's a case they both should be in. But the borderline characterization is fair.
Jimmy - the homeruns are about equal when you adjust for era. The real difference is that 170 McGriff singles become Ortiz doubles. That's pretty significant - about 8-10 singles turning into doubles every year. A good chunk of that is a Fenway park effect; for his career Ortiz has a 376 doubles at home, only 242 on the road. But let's give Ortiz the full benefit of taking advantage of his environment - turning 10 singles into doubles is worth about 3 runs per year (on a typical linear weights estimate of about 0.3 run value difference). Maybe credit a couple more runs for the HR difference? McGriff wasn't exactly a gold glover at first but was capable enough, especially during his Toronto years; he was no speedster on the bases, but certainly more fleet than Ortiz. That's probably enough to make up 3-5 runs per year.
As players they seem pretty damn close. Though if you put emphasis on the "fame" part Big Papi is a cinch.
The Mariners just finished a series with the White Sox winning 2 of 3 games. The Mariners did not lead for one pitch during the series (2 walkoff HRs).
538 says the balls are juiced
http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/are-juiced-balls-the-new-steroids/
Shut up, Meg.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg2.wikia.nocookie.net%2F__cb20140810081613%2Fsmashbroslawlorigins%2Fimages%2Fc%2Fc6%2FPeter-hits-meg-with-bat-o.gif&hash=89e5f1406a639e688c9f1905fb196bc6248478a1)
Quote from: jimmy olsen on July 20, 2016, 08:24:23 PM
538 says the balls are juiced
http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/are-juiced-balls-the-new-steroids/
The factual underpinning is that batted ball velocity is up by about 1.5 mph. Changes to the ball are one explanation, there are others. K rates and BB rates all also higher. So it may be (e.g.) batters are waiting more for the right pitch and then swinging harder.
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on July 21, 2016, 10:58:45 AM
Quote from: jimmy olsen on July 20, 2016, 08:24:23 PM
538 says the balls are juiced
http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/are-juiced-balls-the-new-steroids/
The factual underpinning is that batted ball velocity is up by about 1.5 mph. Changes to the ball are one explanation, there are others. K rates and BB rates all also higher. So it may be (e.g.) batters are waiting more for the right pitch and then swinging harder.
Across the whole league? And why is it happening in the mlb and not AAA? Players who've played in both are hitting mich more homers in the mlb.
Quote from: jimmy olsen on July 21, 2016, 06:08:02 PM
Across the whole league?
You understand how averages work. right?
:face:
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on July 21, 2016, 10:05:42 PM
Quote from: jimmy olsen on July 21, 2016, 06:08:02 PM
Across the whole league?
You understand how averages work. right?
A very large number of players would have to start behaving in such a fashion to raise the average by that much. 538 counters that argument in detail in its analysis.
Quote from: jimmy olsen on July 21, 2016, 10:55:38 PM
A very large number of players would have to start behaving in such a fashion to raise the average by that much. 538 counters that argument in detail in its analysis.
They don't counter the argument. They don't address the change in BB rates at all. They admit that K rates are up but discount it because K rates were steady last year, which is not directly relevant to the question of why exit velocity is higher this year.
Note the the finding of higher exit velocity comes from Alan Schwartz, who addresses the juice ball theory: http://www.hardballtimes.com/exit-speed-and-home-runs/
In particular:
Quote Is the increase in home runs an indication that the baseball is "juiced"? Arthur and Lindbergh speculated about that in their 538 article, even going so far as to employ the Sport Sciences Laboratory at Washington State to measure the so-called Coefficient of Restitution (COR) of some baseballs. . . .In their limited sample of a dozen baseballs each from 2014 and from the 2015 postseason, they found the latter sample had a COR about 0.003 higher, which is barely at the level of statistical significance.
. . . to obtain a change in exit speed by 1.5 mph would require a change of COR of 0.012. Such a change would easily be observed in laboratory measurements. The preceding numerical exercise should only be considered as "intelligent estimates," not hard cold facts. Nevertheless, they are useful when considering the juiced ball issue.
He then added an addendum:
QuoteThere are lots of readers out there who would like to attribute the increase in home runs to a "juiced baseball," especially since it seems to be highly correlated with an increase in exit speed. So I decided to take one more look at the data . . .While there is a clear increase in mean exit speed for launch angles in the home run sweet spot, 200-350, the mean exit speeds are essentially identical for line-drive type angles, 00 to 100. This is not what I would expect to find if the ball were indeed juiced. If anything, I would expect the coefficient of restitution to have a greater effect on the line drives, which are generally more "squared up" than fly balls, as one can see from the higher average exit speed. This does not bode well for the juiced ball theory.
If there is one certainty in baseball journalism it is that any observed increase in HR rates will inevitably lead to speculation about juiced baseballs. Historically however, that is rarely the actual cause.
Ad the Mariners bought in today's Seattle Times
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CoIrDONUkAAZGAy.jpg)
Yankees throw in the 2016 towel and within a matter of days assemble a top flight minor league system.
Cashman gets some flak but his acquisition and flip of Chapman was impressive.
ARod, Sabathia, and Teixeira all come off the books at the end of 2017
Just in time for the arrival of Harper and Machado on the FA market . . .
Fuck you.
Don't be a hater.
With the latest trades, Yankees are probably around #3 in payroll. Next year likely lower, especially if they can ditch McCann's contract.
A-Rod is retiring. On Friday which seems like a strange time to do it.
It's organizationally driven
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on August 07, 2016, 02:44:47 PM
It's organizationally driven
Yeah I saw that later. I guess they wanted to give him a Friday night home game as a send off?
In other news Ichiro got his 3000th MLB hit today. One of 7 with 3k hits and 500 stolen bases; one of 4 with 3k hits and 10 gold gloves. And he didn't come over to the States until he was 27.
He was/is an amazing player but for all of his talents (great average, great defensive player with amazing arm, great speed and base runner) he sure didn't seem to do much to help his teams win. He was/is a very selfish player who was obsessed with getting base hits over anything else (he could have walked more and had more power if he was willing to take a chance of not getting a precious single) and refused to play center field which would have helped his teams (at least the Mariners) win more games.
Definite HoFer though if he ever retires.
He did play CF in Seattle - the situation was murky but I was always under the impression that the Mariners weren't totally sold on him as their CF and liked him in right. Fangraphs indicates that his range in center was below average and that overall he was an average CF whereas for much of his career he was well above average in RF so that judgment would not have been unreasonable. OTOH playing guys like Reed and Bloomquist for defensive purposes was unreasonable.
As for batting style - that debate goes back to at least Ted Williams, maybe longer. My view is that if a guy is successful, why ask him to screw around with what has brought him success? Putting balls in play and legging out hits was Ichiro's game and it worked for him.
On the ARod thing, the relationship with the FO is shall we say interesting. The Yankees organization has had a lot of frustrations with him over the years for obvious reasons. That history cost him his chance at 700, which just about anyone else would have gotten. However, he has been a model baseball citizen since spring 2015 and he does have a good baseball IQ. Keeping him inside the organization for now has a whiff of Corleone style keeping your enemies close, but who knows - without the pressure of on field performance, he could turn out to be a useful organizational contributor.
Meh...model baseball citizen or not, an A-Rod without the moral counterbalance of Jeter is simply too much bad mojo. The organization understands that.
And I disagree with sbr's Ichiro criticism. Anybody who puts the ball in play and push the basepaths is worth his weight in sushi.
I would respond but I can't stop watching Buster Posey's new slide technique
https://v.cdn.vine.co/r/videos/89277801001374637881989263360_5727bf26a4b.29.1.4AEFE998-A8F1-4C0C-B59D-9892EC74AE65.mp4?versionId=St7jfPVb2eXBi33i.Iykbk7GUgXp7j0V
Maybe tomorrow
I wonder if they will make a new rule to save Buster from this too?
Quote from: sbr on August 08, 2016, 11:11:34 PM
I would respond but I can't stop watching Buster Posey's new slide technique
https://v.cdn.vine.co/r/videos/89277801001374637881989263360_5727bf26a4b.29.1.4AEFE998-A8F1-4C0C-B59D-9892EC74AE65.mp4?versionId=St7jfPVb2eXBi33i.Iykbk7GUgXp7j0V
Maybe tomorrow
Awesome. And I wondered if it were possible for him to look even more like a dork.
Fun Cards game tonight. Walk-off HBP for Yadi :lol:
https://vine.co/v/5bdJuL2I9O7
Might be time to hitch up the horses to the Cub's bandwagon. :cool:
Cubbies - Tribe World Series! I wonder if that would end up the highest rated Series ever. :hmm:
Andrew Benintendi is the real deal. Wow!
Well fucking shit fuck and so forth.
RIP 2016 Orioles. You had a good run.
Save it.
I warned you. I prepared you. I instructed you. I told you what to expect. All the time and seasons together today.
Quote from: Valmy on September 23, 2016, 09:39:02 AM
Well fucking shit fuck and so forth.
RIP 2016 Orioles. You had a good run.
:huh: Aren't they like a half game back from a wildcard spot?
Quote from: Barrister on September 23, 2016, 11:15:29 AM
Quote from: Valmy on September 23, 2016, 09:39:02 AM
Well fucking shit fuck and so forth.
RIP 2016 Orioles. You had a good run.
:huh: Aren't they like a half game back from a wildcard spot?
They were up, but were swept by Boston. Doesn't exactly inspire confidence. They have a series against the Diamondbacks next though, so unless they totally fold, they should pick up some Ws there.
E: Speaking of no confidence, the Rangers have churned out a torrid 5-5 over their last 10. Still 9 games up though, since everyone else in the division seems to be doing just about the same thing.
I guess we can say confidently that Corey Kluber recovered from whatever the hell was going on first half last year, should be in the AL Cy mix. Also very nice return to form by Verlander.
Also just for fun, some random facts about Joey Votto:
+ Votto's lifetime on-base % is .424. That is higher than anyone is hitting in the NL just in this season . . . other than Joey Votto, of course.
+ Out of everyone who was played since WW2, the only player with a higher lifetime OBP is Barry Bonds.
+ Votto has a lifetime BABIP (Batting avg on balls in play) of .358.
+ Rod Carew's lifetime BABIP was .359
+ Of all players with more than 4000 plate appearances, the only ones with higher BABIPs were Cobb, Hornsby and a few 19th century guys (Keeler, sliding Billy Hamilton, and Jesse Burkett)
+ One contributor to the BABIP is the fact the Votto only 15 infield flies. In his entire career
+ He's hit only 6 infield flies in the last 7 years. Less than 1 per year.
Well, well, well. Imagine that. I guess Valmy clicked his ruby slippers hard enough to be heard. :lol:
Quote from: CountDeMoney on October 02, 2016, 05:39:13 PM
Well, well, well. Imagine that. I guess Valmy clicked his ruby slippers hard enough to be heard. :lol:
There's no place like the Wild Card.
They made it entertaining I guess.
And, after three positive seasons, the Bucs are back to having a losing season. Oh well, it was nice while it lasted. :(
I know I am a sucker who will never learn but damn. I am so excited for the game tomorrow night. Cannot wait to watch the birds take down those other more northerly birds.
Quote from: Valmy on October 03, 2016, 02:21:00 PM
I know I am a sucker who will never learn but damn. I am so excited for the game tomorrow night. Cannot wait to watch the birds take down those other more northerly birds.
Haven't watched a game all season, but go Jays!
O-R-I-O-L-E-S!!
Hit a few homers and hand it over to Britton! They got this!
Go Jays!
Great game, in spite of that jagaloon Blue Jays fan throwing the can of beer on the field. Don't want to jinx it, but I'm rooting for the non-Canadian team.
Quote from: derspiess on October 04, 2016, 10:00:55 PM
Great game, in spite of that jagaloon Blue Jays fan throwing the can of beer on the field. Don't want to jinx it, but I'm rooting for the non-Canadian team.
Don't make me root for the Jays. :mad:
Canada sucks
That's it.
Go Blue Jays Go!
(going down to bottom of 11. These wild card games are intense. Reminds me a little of the 2014 Wild Card with the Royals-As (albeit without the wild 8th and 9th inning comeback)
Man so much for two teams who love to smash the home run. This is nerve wracking as hell. I hate it when the Orioles are in extra innings on the road :(
I had a bad feeling about Jiminez there. Fuck.
Oh well. RIP 2016 Orioles you had a good run.
Valmy if I were you I'd blame Ed.
Quote from: Barrister on October 04, 2016, 10:20:30 PM
Quote from: derspiess on October 04, 2016, 10:00:55 PM
Great game, in spite of that jagaloon Blue Jays fan throwing the can of beer on the field. Don't want to jinx it, but I'm rooting for the non-Canadian team.
Don't make me root for the Jays. :mad:
I was just trying to avoid saying Orioles to keep from jinxing them. Didn't work :(
But anyway, there's nothing like MLB playoffs. Such an electric atmosphere-- the crowd hangs on every pitch. Forgot what it was like not to have the Cardinals in the playoffs. Kind of relaxing in a way.
I had plenty of not going to playoffs between Armando Benitez blowing that lead to Cleveland and 2012.
Baltimore really needed that game to be at home though. That damn sweep by Boston.
Quote from: derspiess on October 04, 2016, 10:45:13 PM
Quote from: Barrister on October 04, 2016, 10:20:30 PM
Quote from: derspiess on October 04, 2016, 10:00:55 PM
Great game, in spite of that jagaloon Blue Jays fan throwing the can of beer on the field. Don't want to jinx it, but I'm rooting for the non-Canadian team.
Don't make me root for the Jays. :mad:
I was just trying to avoid saying Orioles to keep from jinxing them. Didn't work :(
But anyway, there's nothing like MLB playoffs. Such an electric atmosphere-- the crowd hangs on every pitch. Forgot what it was like not to have the Cardinals in the playoffs. Kind of relaxing in a way.
As I've well established, I feel like a newbie in postseason baseball, not really having paid attention until the last two years. Yes, there's nothing like the atmosphere - everything can change in a single pitch. Pretty cool to watch.
Quote from: Valmy on October 04, 2016, 10:34:43 PM
I had a bad feeling about Jiminez there. Fuck.
How the fuck did Britton not get on the mound?
Quote from: PRC on October 05, 2016, 12:19:07 AM
Quote from: Valmy on October 04, 2016, 10:34:43 PM
I had a bad feeling about Jiminez there. Fuck.
How the fuck did Britton not get on the mound?
That's what everyone's talking about this morning.
Quote from: derspiess on October 05, 2016, 08:19:34 AM
Quote from: PRC on October 05, 2016, 12:19:07 AM
Quote from: Valmy on October 04, 2016, 10:34:43 PM
I had a bad feeling about Jiminez there. Fuck.
How the fuck did Britton not get on the mound?
That's what everyone's talking about this morning.
I was surprised he was not brought in in the 10th and they just rode him until they won.
But hey emptying the bullpen is what being a big league manager is all about.
The thing that fills me with more angst this morning than Zach not getting in there in extra innings is more Bourn's missing the ball on that liner by Pillar. If he makes that play Britton is on for the save in the 9th.
Quote from: Barrister on October 04, 2016, 10:34:48 PM
Valmy if I were you I'd blame Ed.
I caused the extinction of the Dinosaurs also.
Even year. Do not bet against the Giants.
Quote from: derspiess on October 05, 2016, 10:15:47 PM
Even year. Post-season. Do not bet against the Giants. Bum.
Happy to see the Jays beat down Hamels and the Rangers.
Went to Game 1 in Cleveland. Wow. What an experience! :pope:
Cubs win! Cubs win! Cubs win!
:punk: :yeah: :showoff:
Sweep! Sweep! Sweep!
Swept!
Quote from: HVC on October 08, 2016, 11:34:12 AM
Sweep! Sweep! Sweep!
:yeah:
Now I can go back to not watching :lol:
So, 1 in 4 chance of the apocalypse this year?
Fuck the Red Sox, fuck Ortiz and fuck all Red Sox fans, you useless racist shits.
Cubs losing, Cubs losing!
Fuck.
Not over yet, Yi. Anyway they'd get Game 5 in Chicago.
I hope Bartman runs naked on the field.
Quote from: derspiess on October 11, 2016, 09:57:16 PM
Not over yet, Yi. Anyway they'd get Game 5 in Chicago.
I'd had a couple beers at trivia night at the Regal Beagle and a couple more through 5 innings, so it's over for me.
Game five in Chicago sounds really chilling after being up 2-0.
Quote from: Ed Anger on October 11, 2016, 09:40:47 AM
Fuck the Red Sox, fuck Ortiz and fuck all Red Sox fans, you useless racist shits.
What a depressing end to a great regular season. :weep:
Tim, are you rooting for the Cubs to go all the way now? Please say yes.
There you go, Yi. Tied 5-5 in the 9th
:w00t:
What a collapse. Wow. Now to wait on tomorrow's Dodgers/Nats game.
Yay, Brooklyn. Fuck the Senators.
I didn't realize that Dodgers is short for Trolley Dodgers till reading an old Indians book. Kind of cool.
Quote from: Benedict Arnold on October 11, 2016, 11:27:21 PM
What a collapse. Wow. Now to wait on tomorrow's Dodgers/Nats game.
a black guy is president, a woman is about to be, and the cubs really might win the world series. :hmm:
Well you couldn't expect the Giants' weird even year streak to go on forever.
Quote from: jimmy olsen on October 11, 2016, 10:27:38 PM
Quote from: Ed Anger on October 11, 2016, 09:40:47 AM
Fuck the Red Sox, fuck Ortiz and fuck all Red Sox fans, you useless racist shits.
What a depressing end to a great regular season. :weep:
Shut up, Meg
Anyone know how a six foot seven black Cuban defector who never throws under 100 ended up with the last name "Chapman?"
Quote from: derspiess on October 11, 2016, 10:39:19 PM
Tim, are you rooting for the Cubs to go all the way now? Please say yes.
I know you're just baiting me, but I must tell the truth. I am.
The Tribe is Taint free! :showoff:
Quote from: Benedict Arnold on October 13, 2016, 12:16:07 AM
The Tribe is Taint free! :showoff:
I want Cleavland to win the ALCS and then lose in the World Series. :P
Cubs lose!
Kershaw was unhitable.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on October 12, 2016, 07:13:42 PM
Anyone know how a six foot seven black Cuban defector who never throws under 100 ended up with the last name "Chapman?"
His grandfather was from Jamaica.
Tribe wins! Just one more to go. Taint does not apply because he spelled it "Cleavland". And no take-backs.
Quote from: derspiess on October 17, 2016, 10:55:50 PM
Tribe wins! Just one more to go. Taint does not apply because he spelled it "Cleavland". And no take-backs.
Toronto needs a real drone strike to get out of this one.
Fuck it; they're playing a Canadian team, so their cause is just.
Stupid Canadian baseball and their 3 base fields. Weirdos.
:thumbsup:
Quote from: CountDeMoney on October 17, 2016, 10:58:07 PM
Fuck it; they're playing a Canadian team, so their cause is just.
Stupid Canadian baseball and their 3 base fields. Weirdos.
I want to get upset and argue with you... but the Jays were never my team, so fuck 'em.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on October 17, 2016, 10:58:07 PM
Fuck it; they're playing a Canadian team, so their cause is just.
Stupid Canadian baseball and their 3 base fields. Weirdos.
:lmfao:
That's a great question, why don't we have Canadian Baseball?
Quote from: Grey Fox on October 18, 2016, 09:15:32 AM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on October 17, 2016, 10:58:07 PM
Fuck it; they're playing a Canadian team, so their cause is just.
Stupid Canadian baseball and their 3 base fields. Weirdos.
:lmfao:
That's a great question, why don't we have Canadian Baseball?
Because between 3-down football and 5-pin bowling we have enough oddball sports, don't you think?
:w00t:
I thought the Giants were an abberation, but since the steroid ban baseball players all look kind of normal sized.
Cubs suck! Cubs suck!
Bleh.
Cubs are OK! Cubs are OK!
Exactly. Cubs down 2 games to 1 = PANIC
Cubs come back to tie series = THEY'VE ALREADY WON THE WORLD SERIES
Also, Congrats Indians and BA. Indians get back to the World Series the same year my kid plays for a Little League Indians team. Coincidence?
The Cubs fans are just a little intense.
The Indians used to have a very passionate and neurotic fan base but they seem to have cooled over the years. I think the Cavs winning it somehow soothed whatever complex Cleveland had.
This cubs team is one of the best I've ever seen. Right up there with the 98 Yankees. But it's the playoffs, anyone can lose a 7 game series especially when the other side has Kershaw around.
Alright so social media is calling for Charlie Sheen to throw out the first pitch at the World Series dressed up as his character from the movie Major League. So that's a cool idea.
But what I really thought was cool from the article about it was this: http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/17849635/charlie-sheen-wild-thing-throw-ceremonial-first-pitch-world-series
QuoteThe real Cleveland Indians, who overcame injuries to win the AL Central, before knocking off Boston and Toronto in the playoffs, took a page from "Major League" this season.
Slugger Mike Napoli and second baseman Jason Kipnis constructed a shrine in an empty clubhouse stall between their lockers like one in the movie. In the film, character Pedro Cerrano practices Voodoo and prays to an idol named, "Jobu" to help him hit curveballs.
Like Cerrano, Napoli and Kipnis have their own "Jobu" and have left gifts, including small bottles of rum and cigars, to keep them out of hitting slumps.
Now I know major league ballplayers love that movie so this might be a common thing, but that is pretty awesome.
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on October 20, 2016, 09:47:02 AM
This cubs team is one of the best I've ever seen. Right up there with the 98 Yankees.
No love for the '27 Yanks?
Quote from: Eddie Teach on October 21, 2016, 12:02:59 PM
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on October 20, 2016, 09:47:02 AM
This cubs team is one of the best I've ever seen. Right up there with the 98 Yankees.
No love for the '27 Yanks?
Grumbler prefers the 1869 Reds.
Quote from: Eddie Teach on October 21, 2016, 12:02:59 PM
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on October 20, 2016, 09:47:02 AM
This cubs team is one of the best I've ever seen. Right up there with the 98 Yankees.
No love for the '27 Yanks?
How old do you think I am??!!
(I did overlap briefly with the Big Red Machine, but have no clear recollections of them in their prime)
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on October 21, 2016, 01:34:03 PM
Quote from: Eddie Teach on October 21, 2016, 12:02:59 PM
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on October 20, 2016, 09:47:02 AM
This cubs team is one of the best I've ever seen. Right up there with the 98 Yankees.
No love for the '27 Yanks?
How old do you think I am??!!
(I did overlap briefly with the Big Red Machine, but have no clear recollections of them in their prime)
48?
Syt, tell me if you can figure this out.
Dodgers only sent 27 batters to the box last night. So you would think perfect game, right? But the Dodgers had two hits and one walk. How is this possible?
Double plays after the hits and walk would do it, I believe. First batter hits a single. Next guy = double play. Third out comes vs the next batter. 3 batters, 3 outs, 1 hit.
Yup. Two double plays and one pickoff.
Quote from: Valmy on October 20, 2016, 08:38:08 AM
The Cubs fans are just a little intense.
The Indians used to have a very passionate and neurotic fan base but they seem to have cooled over the years. I think the Cavs winning it somehow soothed whatever complex Cleveland had.
Just look at this weird Cubs fan watch them close out their first penant since before she was born! :angry:
(https://peopledotcom.files.wordpress.com/2016/10/hillary-clinton4.jpg?w=1024&h=768&crop=1)
Quote from: Benedict Arnold on August 16, 2016, 11:38:23 PM
Cubbies - Tribe World Series! I wonder if that would end up the highest rated Series ever. :hmm:
I guess we shall see...
I will watch. Tomorrow at 7 right?
Cubs load the bases in the top of the 7th with no outs, then Miller gets two strikeouts and one popup. :bleeding:
This Series makes me shit blood. You think Boston was insufferable after finally winning a WS, just wait and see what happens when one of these bags of dicks win it.
Eh, Boston is always insufferable.
Heck, I was glad that the Red Sox finally won one, just so their crybaby fans would shut up about curses and shit.
Mike Willbon from ESPN must be having the worse of day, today.
A must see if you didn't watch the game:
http://ftw.usatoday.com/2016/10/bill-murray-take-me-out-to-the-ballgame-daffy-duck-world-series-chicago-cubs
I hope the iceberg that sank the Titanic reforms itself from Zan activating his Wonder Twin Powers and slices Wrigley Field under the waterline so every Cubs fan on earth can watch it sink, collectively board flights to Guyana and then promptly commit mass fucking suicide.
:lol:
2016 is already a weird and effed up year. Might as well have the Cubs win the World Series. :P
You guys can lay off the Cub bashing now they're down 3-1.
I've been too nervous to trash talk this whole post season. That being said, the next game the Indians are favored in will be the first. <_<
Quote from: Admiral Yi on October 30, 2016, 02:39:04 AM
You guys can lay off the Cub bashing now they're down 3-1.
I'll wait until the series is over and humanity is safe for another year.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on October 30, 2016, 02:39:04 AM
You guys can lay off the Cub bashing now they're down 3-1.
Cubbiedom has risen to toxic levels. The equivalent of the Red Sox getting off the schneid, only with celebrity obnoxiousness. This nation just can't deal with that right now.
Fucking Hayward. :bleeding:
How long does Maddon ride a busted hunch?
Chapman comes on in the 7th! :o
You can resume slagging the Cubs now. :)
Great game, well played
Chapman's lucky his lack of hustle to first didn't wind up costing the game. Yeah, his delivery turns him away from first base but covering it, that's Little League stuff.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on October 30, 2016, 10:56:30 PM
Chapman's lucky his lack of hustle to first didn't wind up costing the game. Yeah, his delivery turns him away from first base but covering it, that's Little League stuff.
Maybe because he grew up in Cuba he didn't play Little League, so he doesn't know the Little League stuff.
Quote from: alfred russel on October 30, 2016, 11:06:54 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on October 30, 2016, 10:56:30 PM
Chapman's lucky his lack of hustle to first didn't wind up costing the game. Yeah, his delivery turns him away from first base but covering it, that's Little League stuff.
Maybe because he grew up in Cuba he didn't play Little League, so he doesn't know the Little League stuff.
That's even worse of a excuse, since it's in his DNA then.
Quote from: alfred russel on October 30, 2016, 11:06:54 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on October 30, 2016, 10:56:30 PM
Chapman's lucky his lack of hustle to first didn't wind up costing the game. Yeah, his delivery turns him away from first base but covering it, that's Little League stuff.
Maybe because he grew up in Cuba he didn't play Little League, so he doesn't know the Little League stuff.
No, he's fucking lazy. He won't move unless he's in a car, in which case he'll be pulled over going 150mph.
Why Chapman gets crap while Lester barely knows where 1st base actually is?!
Doesn't need to move if the Indians can't hit him . . .
Three runs in the first! woot
Arrieta mowing down Wahoos. :cool:
Grand slam, 7-0 in the 3rd, pitcher yanked.
FUCK ALL YALL HOMOSEXUAL CUB HATING FAGGITS
Is the world series going to be a reverse NBA finals? Rather than a Cleveland team overcoming a 3-1 hole, a Cleveland team will blow a 3-1 lead?
Quote from: Admiral Yi on November 01, 2016, 08:07:48 PM
Grand slam, 7-0 in the 3rd, pitcher yanked.
FUCK ALL YALL HOMOSEXUAL CUB HATING FAGGITS
Ur a homo.
Cubs escape bases loaded jam, Cubs haters desperately search for cock to suck to ease the pain.
7-1 top of 5th.
:lol:
It's just going to make the pain hurt more in the end, you know.
#BartmanCometh
Meanwhile...
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CwCYO2CWIAAI5jc.jpg)
:lmfao:
Oh, Cleveland. :(
Quote from: Caliga on November 01, 2016, 10:52:15 PM
Oh, Cleveland. :(
Hey makes sense with the Series taking a turn for the worse, might as well start filming for Major League 4.
Charlie Sheen might still qualify for B list if you squint hard enough.
YUGE SWING IN MOMENTUM
Down but never out. Never given a chance and ignored or belittled the whole run. Let's go Tribe.
:punk:
I'm following the game on MLB.com, and their strike zone graphic makes it look like the home plate ump has no fucking clue. Folks watching the game agree?
Like cubs fans needed to be more insufferable.
I don't think you people understand. The Cubs can't win. They can't.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi21.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fb300%2Fspacemonkey_fg%2FBlog%2520Pictures%2FSeven3.jpg&hash=ad2b3dd6bc0aff554488a9f85eb26a4c5a8dc901)
Quote from: Admiral Yi on November 02, 2016, 08:53:13 PM
I'm following the game on MLB.com, and their strike zone graphic makes it look like the home plate ump has no fucking clue. Folks watching the game agree?
He's being tough on batters that don't stand close to the plate.
ruh roh :ph34r:
Oh shit.
Well this game just got interesting...
Fucking Cubans. :bleeding:
Holy fuck.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on November 02, 2016, 10:14:36 PM
Fucking Cubans. :bleeding:
Can't blame them for bringing him in. There is no tomorrow.
No rain delay, please.
:lol:
Why isn't Doctor Strikeout bunting? :huh:
And ow bottom of 9 :ph34r:
Maddon leaned too hard on Chapman. He doesn't have it.
You can't expect modern day closers to do multiple 2+ inning games at a stretch
As much as I would have loved to see the Cubs coast 6-3, this is a perfect way to end a series.
Well hell. I just turned the game on in the background, but now I can't turn away. Extra innings in game 7.
Hell, I'm tired myself, and I just started watching on the 6th.
Fuck the rain delay, I'm going to sleep.
It's midnight, I'm out.
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on November 02, 2016, 10:51:36 PM
Maddon leaned too hard on Chapman. He doesn't have it.
You can't expect modern day closers to do multiple 2+ inning games at a stretch
Dude, this is it. The fucking Vindicator bombers are beyond their fail-safe points. You go to afterburners.
THERE IS NO TOMORROW
:bleeding: I have such a long day tomorrow
Well fuck. Yuge anticlimax.
Agree with Joan. Chapman was hanging sliders and throwing wild fastballs.
Did throw a few decent sliders but was doing it to rest his arm, velocity was down on the FB along with location
Ken Rosenthal, you little weenie.
Used to send him faxes of his face from his Baltimore Sun column header pasted over porn ads during his radio show when we were bored at the office.
Well it's only 10pm Mountain - I'm not going to wait forever, but I can't turn away right now.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on November 02, 2016, 10:29:41 PM
Why isn't Doctor Strikeout bunting? :huh:
Anyone have an answer to this question? Tie game, man on first, no outs, batter going through the little ice age, why in the world do you not bunt?
What rain god did we anger that they replaced game 7 of the world series with pete rose and alex rodriguez?
Quote from: Admiral Yi on November 02, 2016, 11:09:13 PM
Quote from: Admiral Yi on November 02, 2016, 10:29:41 PM
Why isn't Doctor Strikeout bunting? :huh:
Anyone have an answer to this question? Tie game, man on first, no outs, batter going through the little ice age, why in the world do you not bunt?
Maddon was saving his bunt call until he had a guy at the plate with 2 strikes and a runner on third.
:worthy:
Quote from: Admiral Yi on November 02, 2016, 11:09:13 PM
Anyone have an answer to this question? Tie game, man on first, no outs, batter going through the little ice age, why in the world do you not bunt?
He has 2 sacs. Lifetime. I'm guessing he sucks at it.
Anyone have a start card for him with a bunt rating?
Bah.
Grats Cubbies.
Whew. That was some tense shit. Thank you everyone for your support and God bless.
I think we should let Theo Epstein run America.
:mellow:
Good for the Cubbies.
Of course, this ushers in a new Age of Darkness heralded by the God-Emperor that will cast mankind into the blackness of evil for 10,000 years, but hey, at least Bill Murray's happy.
Quote from: Benedict Arnold on November 02, 2016, 11:52:46 PM
:mellow:
This is what you get for abandoning the Royals. :contract:
Two really good teams with two of the best defenses in the game played a pretty sloppy messy (though exciting) game, with stellar pitching talent struggling to get outs. Stating the obvious but the post-season is too long. Everyone was just gassed out there.
Cubbies 2124!
Quote from: alfred russel on November 02, 2016, 11:52:08 PM
I think we should let Theo Epstein run America.
No shit. And his wife/squeeze looked hott too.
Nope. Google says I'm wrong.
Always sad when a long running streak breaks.
Somewhere Tinker, Evers, and Chance are smiling.
Somewhere Chance is calming down after screaming at Maddon, Baez, Chapman, the weather gods and anyone in the vicinity for four plus hours
Tinker and Evers are too busy taking swings at each other
Harry Steinfeldt is probably happy though. Nice guy.
Back to the Future 2 was only off by one year.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fd2s3dt9f4iyeup.cloudfront.net%2Fimages%2Fresized_v1%2F001c6a69-357c-4a40-bc17-f4fc6ef3f8d8.jpg&hash=840be6dc92303c675a5d2ae9fc4196934141e7cc)
Woah.
Now the Chicago/St Louis/Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals are the most cursed team in sports.
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on November 02, 2016, 10:51:36 PM
Maddon leaned too hard on Chapman. He doesn't have it.
You can't expect modern day closers to do multiple 2+ inning games at a stretch
Maddon's a good manager; I don't blame him for bringing in Chapman to replace Lester when he did. The real mistake IMO was bringing in Lester to replace Hendricks too early. Leave Hendricks in longer and bring Lester in later, and you don't have to try to get more than 3 outs from Chapman again.
Quote from: dps on November 03, 2016, 01:00:17 PM
Maddon's a good manager; I don't blame him for bringing in Chapman to replace Lester when he did. The real mistake IMO was bringing in Lester to replace Hendricks too early. Leave Hendricks in longer and bring Lester in later, and you don't have to try to get more than 3 outs from Chapman again.
I agree on Hendricks, but let's look at the bigger picture on Chapman
In Game 5, Maddon brings him in 7th inning. That made sense - Cubs were facing elimination, only one run lead, one out, and tying run in scoring position. At that point in the game their win expectancy is only in the 60s. The next day is a day off and if you don't win, there are no more games to play anyways. So - cool.
Game 6 Chapman comes in the 7th, again, Except now it's a 5 run lead. Yes there are two guys on and Lindor up but it's 2 outs, and Lindor while great, is not a massive power threat. Win expectancy when Chapman came in was about 96%. I know major league managers are not math wizzes, but that's why MLB teams employ stats guys. You can say Game 6 is a must win game, and it was, but the bigger point is BOTH Game 6 and Game 7 were must win. Bringing Chapman in game 6 in the 7th doesn't really move the needle for the Cubs win chances but it does compromise his effectiveness if Game 7 turns out to be close. So that was Maddon's first big bad move.
Game 7 he's got Hendricks on the mound, arguably the best pitcher in the league certainly close to it. Well rested, low pitch count and cruising. Previous inning was 1-2-3, comes in for the 5th, get two quick outs, then a single.
And then he's out for a another pitcher with less rest, whose most notorious weakness is that he can't hold runners. So yeah. bad decision there.
But then Lester settles, and is cruising and the same pattern happens. Lester gets through the 7th with one walk, gets the first 2 outs in the 8th, and then one single. 2 outs, 3 run lead, what's the panic?
For better or for worse, the modern closer role is heavily focused on single inning outings, with guys coming in fresh at the start of the inning. The good ones can deviate from the pattern when needed and Chapman is definitely one of those. But the decision has to made in context, and the relevant context here was a hard ununusual workload the night before and a similar one 2 nights before that. On a guy whose entire game is velocity and fastball command. I think Maddon played with fire there and got burned.
The use of Chapman was pretty weird. Bringing a closer on in the 8th is already supposed to be nuts, then he comes on in the 7th, multiple times. And it's not like the Cubs had hopeless middle relief.
I kind of got the sense that Maddon was trying to teach Chapman a lesson, like "you can talk the talk let's see if you can walk the walk."
Quote from: Admiral Yi on November 03, 2016, 04:19:34 PM
The use of Chapman was pretty weird. Bringing a closer on in the 8th is already supposed to be nuts, then he comes on in the 7th, multiple times. And it's not like the Cubs had hopeless middle relief.
I kind of got the sense that Maddon was trying to teach Chapman a lesson, like "you can talk the talk let's see if you can walk the walk."
I think it more had to do with the fact that the way closers are used is stupid. The best pitchers should be used when the need arises, and if the need arises in the 7th inning, the pitchers should be used then.
In the regular season it may be worth it to deviate from the theoretical best strategy so that you can establish consistent patterns with your team, keep top guys happy by getting them saves, avoid having talk radio bitch all the time about your unconventional relief pitcher use, etc. In the World Series, that longer term stuff doesn't matter: just go for the win.
Quote from: alfred russel on November 03, 2016, 04:44:24 PM
I think it more had to do with the fact that the way closers are used is stupid. The best pitchers should be used when the need arises, and if the need arises in the 7th inning, the pitchers should be used then.
7th inning, 5 run lead, is not an optimal usage time for a team's best reliever.
You would think the coaching staff in the bullpen would have seen the trouble Chapman was having with his fast ball.
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on November 03, 2016, 04:52:36 PM
Quote from: alfred russel on November 03, 2016, 04:44:24 PM
I think it more had to do with the fact that the way closers are used is stupid. The best pitchers should be used when the need arises, and if the need arises in the 7th inning, the pitchers should be used then.
7th inning, 5 run lead, is not an optimal usage time for a team's best reliever.
yeah, i agree on that.
n o
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on November 03, 2016, 04:01:06 PM
Quote from: dps on November 03, 2016, 01:00:17 PM
Maddon's a good manager; I don't blame him for bringing in Chapman to replace Lester when he did. The real mistake IMO was bringing in Lester to replace Hendricks too early. Leave Hendricks in longer and bring Lester in later, and you don't have to try to get more than 3 outs from Chapman again.
I agree on Hendricks, but let's look at the bigger picture on Chapman
In Game 5, Maddon brings him in 7th inning. That made sense - Cubs were facing elimination, only one run lead, one out, and tying run in scoring position. At that point in the game their win expectancy is only in the 60s. The next day is a day off and if you don't win, there are no more games to play anyways. So - cool.
Game 6 Chapman comes in the 7th, again, Except now it's a 5 run lead. Yes there are two guys on and Lindor up but it's 2 outs, and Lindor while great, is not a massive power threat. Win expectancy when Chapman came in was about 96%. I know major league managers are not math wizzes, but that's why MLB teams employ stats guys. You can say Game 6 is a must win game, and it was, but the bigger point is BOTH Game 6 and Game 7 were must win. Bringing Chapman in game 6 in the 7th doesn't really move the needle for the Cubs win chances but it does compromise his effectiveness if Game 7 turns out to be close. So that was Maddon's first big bad move.
Oh, yeah, I agree. I was just focusing on Game 7 itself, but if we want to look at Game 6 as well, there really wasn't any need to bring Chapman in at all IMO.
QuoteGame 7 he's got Hendricks on the mound, arguably the best pitcher in the league certainly close to it. Well rested, low pitch count and cruising. Previous inning was 1-2-3, comes in for the 5th, get two quick outs, then a single.
And then he's out for a another pitcher with less rest, whose most notorious weakness is that he can't hold runners. So yeah. bad decision there.
But then Lester settles, and is cruising and the same pattern happens. Lester gets through the 7th with one walk, gets the first 2 outs in the 8th, and then one single. 2 outs, 3 run lead, what's the panic?
For better or for worse, the modern closer role is heavily focused on single inning outings, with guys coming in fresh at the start of the inning. The good ones can deviate from the pattern when needed and Chapman is definitely one of those. But the decision has to made in context, and the relevant context here was a hard ununusual workload the night before and a similar one 2 nights before that. On a guy whose entire game is velocity and fastball command. I think Maddon played with fire there and got burned.
Again, no disagreement here.
And I also agree with a r that modern relief usage is stupid. I think that he's right; you should generally use your best reliever in the highest-leverage relief situations, and even if you want to just use him for 1 inning, the highest leverage inning isn't always going to be the 9th. But it sure isn't when you have a 5-run lead, either.
I only watched about 7 innings of the game last night, and that was all of the playoff baseball I watched this year. And now I want to see more. Dammit. <_<
The season is so long that by the time the Orioles got eliminated I was a little burned out :P
Glad I caught three of the WS games even if I went to bed last night before the Cubs won it.
Quote from: MadBurgerMaker on November 03, 2016, 08:41:06 PM
I only watched about 7 innings of the game last night, and that was all of the playoff baseball I watched this year. And now I want to see more. Dammit. <_<
No worries, I hear they are bringing it back next year. :P
The game has created a system where Starter stop at around the 5th if that inning is not going perfectly or earlier if 100 pitches come creeping in quickly and than use a new pitcher in almost every inning where they'll throw ~15 pitches each.
However, that is harder to achieve in the playoffs since your number of pitcher is severely cut down.
Also, it appears that Maddon didn't trust any of relievers until he didn't have any choice to use them.
Quote from: alfred russel on November 03, 2016, 09:26:27 PM
No worries, I hear they are bringing it back next year. :P
Too long. I demand new playoffs beginning immediately.
Quote from: MadBurgerMaker on November 03, 2016, 08:41:06 PM
I only watched about 7 innings of the game last night, and that was all of the playoff baseball I watched this year. And now I want to see more. Dammit. <_<
OOTP is on sale. Virtualize it.
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on November 04, 2016, 09:52:25 AM
Quote from: MadBurgerMaker on November 03, 2016, 08:41:06 PM
I only watched about 7 innings of the game last night, and that was all of the playoff baseball I watched this year. And now I want to see more. Dammit. <_<
OOTP is on sale. Virtualize it.
I keep thinking I should try OOTP along with the hockey Franchise Manager games.
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on November 04, 2016, 09:52:25 AM
OOTP is on sale. Virtualize it.
:hmm: I had forgotten about that. Nice.
Well, only about 3 month till the World Baseball Classic.
Quote from: dps on November 05, 2016, 12:17:24 PM
Well, only about 3 month till the World Baseball Classic.
There's a WBC next year? Cool. I know it doesn't get a lot of respect, but I think they're kind of fun. :)
Quote from: Barrister on November 05, 2016, 06:22:56 PM
Quote from: dps on November 05, 2016, 12:17:24 PM
Well, only about 3 month till the World Baseball Classic.
There's a WBC next year? Cool. I know it doesn't get a lot of respect, but I think they're kind of fun. :)
Yeah, they don't have the exact dates up on their website yet, but it's next year. The last of the qualifiers finished up back in September. The four teams that made it through qualifiers are Argentina, Mexico, Columbia, and Israel.
Bet it hurts the Mexican's that they had to go through qualifiers.
Some controversy over AL Cy Young, where Verlander had the most first place votes but lost because he didn't get good downballot support from others - and 2 people left him off entirely.
But . . . it was genuinely a weird year with at least 6-7 guys legit candidates. Leaving out Verlander while a bit sketchy is not totally inexplicable. In particular Bill Chastain's heavily criticized ballot of Porcello-Britton-Kluber-Sale-Tanaka, while IMO suboptimal, is justifable. (although the writer that left off Verlander for Happ and Sanchez, less so).
Personally I would've gone Kluber on the theory that in a really close race you go with the best pitcher on the list as opposed to the good pitcher having a bit of a fluky year (the Mike Flanagan effect). But Porcello is perfectly good choice, good for him.
In the NL i was a little suprised Jose Fernandez didn't get more of a sympathy vote, but again I can't fault the choice.
Kate Upton had a tweet saying: What the hell MLB!? I'm the only person allowed to fuck Verlander.
Seems to me that Porcello got the award mostly due to his win-loss record which is weird in this day and age. I thought people had mostly decided that stat was no longer a big deal.
Quote from: Valmy on November 18, 2016, 08:43:51 AM
Seems to me that Porcello got the award mostly due to his win-loss record which is weird in this day and age. I thought people had mostly decided that stat was no longer a big deal.
There's a slight backlash on that in parts of the stathead world: Bill James recently published a piece on his site arguing they did have some value, although less so over a single season.
Porcello had a genuinely good year, aside from the W-L record, he lead the league in K-W ratio and had the second best WHIP (tiny bit worse than Verlander), second in FIP, second in adjusted ERA+, tied for first in fWAR.
Just based on non W-L numbers alone, he is clearly deserving. Although so are a bunch of other guys.
I meant that that was the thing that primarily distinguished him from Verlander but fair enough.
Damn. It has only been two weeks since the World Series ended and I am already getting excited for College Baseball to start :blush:
Quote from: Valmy on November 18, 2016, 11:52:37 AM
Damn. It has only been two weeks since the World Series ended and I am already getting excited for College Baseball to start :blush:
I'm not very enthused by college football this year either. :P