YASNY

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Dec 4, 2012 -> 11:31 AM) No, not at all. You just need to actually try to learn about it before passing judgement, just like everything else on this planet. You just need to set aside uninformed pop journalism prejudices for long enough to actually see what is going on. And these offensive measures are way, way more complete and reliable than FIP. FIP is based on DIPS theory, which is essentially that there are only certain factors of pitching performance that are reliable predictors of future performance, so if you want to predict how a pitcher will perform from year to year, you should only look at those factors. DIPS works out most of the time, but there are several high profile exceptions that no one can explain (See Matt Cain, Zack Greinke for examples on both sides of the spectrum). The whole idea is to strip out the context of defense, which is not something that anyone has figured out how to do completely. All of these offensive numbers do not need to make these kind of estimates. It's all based on linear weights, and it is, conceptually, very simple. Essentially, it has to do with coming up with average run values for each possible offensive event. These values change every year because the run environment changes every year. For example, on average, a homerun was worth 2.058 runs in 2012 because sometimes people were on base and sometimes they weren't on base. If a guy hit a homerun, you give him credit for 2.058 runs regardless, because that's what a homerun is typically worth. You're stripping context from the measurement -- the guy did these things, and we're giving him credit for the average amount of runs so we can compare him to other guys who did similar things. Coming up with the run values is rigorous mathematics because it involves compiling a ton of information about base/out states each time in order to update the constants, but the process isn't actually complicated or difficult to understand. And, the best news is that we have these machines called computers that can do all the rigorous math, without error, if we just program them to do so! For reference, here are all the constants from 1871 to 2012: http://www.fangraphs.com/guts.aspx While you're writing programs and punching in numbers to come with that 2.058 figure, I'll be sitting in my recliner with a cold brew and enjoying a ballgame. And the last time I looked on the only output format that really matters (the scoreboard) a home run is worth exactly 1 run with 1 run added for every baserunner. I don't need a computer for that.

QUOTE (Tex @ Dec 1, 2012 -> 11:57 AM) No matter where you go, there you are. Been there, done that!

QUOTE (Real @ Dec 1, 2012 -> 06:25 AM) what do you guys think happened to Phil? permanent anxiety after throwing the PG, or do you think it was a lingering injury? What happened to Phil Humber is that he went back to being Phil Humber.

Once the first one gets in, then this issue will gradually fade away. Bonds or Clemens will probably be the first to break that logjam and get in.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Nov 28, 2012 -> 01:43 PM) I see nothing obvious about that at all. Baseball history is littered with players both overachieving and underachieving. Some were dirty, others weren't. For all I know, all six players I listed as who I'd vote for may have been roided up. But if there is no evidence, then I can't draw that conclusion. I can only work with what is in front of me. And scouting opinions from high schoolers is not evidence of, really, anything at all. The sudden spike in the minors means a lot more to me as evidence. Then again, a young player in the low minors sometimes has a tendency to just get stronger. They just grow from being a kid to being a man.

QUOTE (spiderman @ Nov 28, 2012 -> 12:29 PM) I have my issues giving more than one year to either guy, given their age, but that's probably not a reality if they hope to keep either. They clearly have a much larger hole at 3B without Youkalis, but I'm not sure Flowers has proven to be much more than a backup catcher either. How can a guy get the opportunity to prove he can be more than a backup when he's had an ironman catcher in front him since he's been on the club?

We spend entirely too much time discussing the freaking Marlins around here. Right this minute, 3 of the 4 threads at the top of this Forum are Marlins oriented. Ozzie fired, Buehrle traded and this one. I mean this franchise is the the National League East for Crissake and a s***ty team to boot. They are the epitome of the word irrelevent.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Nov 25, 2012 -> 09:27 PM) I remember reading some blog, though, that said no way Ozzie drinks as much as he said. It was more Ozzeroo exaggeration. I'm gonna miss his mouth. He's got no forum any more. He's done all cause of Loria. If Ozzie's done, he's done because of Ozzie.

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Nov 24, 2012 -> 02:56 AM) Thought the same with Robin, so I can see it happening. Touche'

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Nov 24, 2012 -> 01:56 AM) This 1000 times. He'll probably be pitching coach one day. This I doubt. I don't believe Mark would want the position. My guess is that he'll be more than content to retire to home in Missouri. But, you never really know.

Ok .. granted that I made an off the cuff remark about the Mustang. You can now get off that point, I yeild. Still, I stand by my last post. Life and the individual circumstances that we all experience at times are a real b****. And, you do actually have to face it and deal with. Empathize to your hearts content, but the fact remains that it's not all sunny days and flowery, butterfly filled meadows.

Honestly Lillian, no. It's been tried and it didn't work. That ship, hopefully, has sailed.

Viciedo has hands of stone at third base. That may work well for a boxer, but not so much at 3rd base. I want my pitchers to have a solid defense. There is an old saying in team sports that applies across the board ... defense wins championships.

You what Tex? People all have issues. Sometimes a family has to do what it has to do and that's just a fact of life. Life is hard. It takes work. It's not some liberal pie-in-sky utopia that you guys think it should be. It never has been and it never will be. Deal with it. ... Unrolling my eyes, now.

QUOTE (Tex @ Nov 22, 2012 -> 08:55 AM) I don't believe when you become a professional athlete you stop being human. Leaving your kids for months at a time should be difficult no matter what you do for a living or how much you are compensated. So whether we are discussing soldiers getting paid $, business people getting paid $$, off shore oil workers getting paid $$$, or athletes getting paid $$$$$, I have empathy for anyone who wants to be with his kids and have a choice in where they are living. Do you really think when you are walking out the door saying goodbye to your son, telling him you will see him in a month he really cares how much you make or what you do for a living? Daddy, will you be at my kindergarten graduation? No, I have to be in Cleveland. Daddy will you be able to see me in my first game like the other dads? No, those dads only make a little money, your daddy makes millions, so I will not be there. But you should be happy I make so much money, you can have anything you want, except a dad at graduation and your first game. I teach so many kids whose parents aren't around. Some voluntary, some involuntary. Bottom line, the parents aren't there and it sucks for the kids. I appreciate the point that they make a lot of money, and they get to play a game for a living. They travel first class, and have all the accouterments of luxury. Their financial futures are secure. But they are still human, their kids are still human. To think that somehow your kids won't miss you because you are a baseball player earning millions isn't right. To think you won't miss them because of your bank account balance isn't right. I don't believe there is much comfort in money and applause when it comes to the bonds of a parent and their children. When those kids receive a brand new Mustang for their 16th birthday, they'll undertand why daddy wasn't there for graduation from kindergarten.

The 40 man roster is now at 40.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Nov 21, 2012 -> 11:34 AM) Wouldn't that be interesting... MB decides to retire instead of playing for Toronto. In a conversation I had yesterday with my dad, I said that it would not shock me at all if Mark hung 'em up.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Nov 18, 2012 -> 01:42 AM) Why? Acquire Mark and trade 2 of our lefties. It will help our team A LOT. Mark is like a pitcher/coach he's so efficient. Greg ... Mark, Ozzie ... those ships have sailed.

I have a few questions. The answer may obvious but it's not coming to me at the moment. When a punt is executed and the ball hits a member of the the receiving team, if it's recovered by the punting team they keep possesion. Is this just an NFL rule? If the punt is blocked, why is that not considered the same as hitting a member of the receiving team (punt returner or blocker) and it be a free ball? What is the NFL rule on the blocked punt?

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Nov 17, 2012 -> 09:57 AM) Lol, what the hell does any of that have to do with sabermetrics? I think you just proved his point.

QUOTE (JoeCoolMan24 @ Nov 16, 2012 -> 10:01 PM) .....and this trade keeps getting worse.... http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/miami-m...promises-111612 Buehrle and Reyes were promised with verbal-non trade clauses. And Loria said "f*** it" More realistic if Loria said "f*** 'em*.

Here's a little more history. After an owner's meeting, when it seemed the Sox would almost certainly end up in Seattle, Angel's owner Gene (The Singing Cowboy) Autry and actor Danny Kaye, who was part of the potential owner's group of the "Seattle White Sox" came out of the meeting, arm in arm, were to tune of Autry's signature song "Back in the Saddle Again" singing "Back in Seattle Again". I've despised those two ever since.

QUOTE (CrimsonWeltall @ Nov 16, 2012 -> 03:30 PM) Does that mean we get to include his .265 batting average in the playoffs, including going 3-13 (.230) in the World Series? Just for the sake of getting out of this discussion that doesn't make a damn bit of difference one way or the other, I yeild. You guys win. Carry on.

QUOTE (ewokpelts @ Nov 16, 2012 -> 01:47 PM) again, dosent mean s*** when looking at mvp voting. I wasn't looking at the voting. I was looking at the MVP.

QUOTE (ewokpelts @ Nov 16, 2012 -> 12:38 PM) The MVP votes are cast BEFORE the postseason starts. The Tigers could have been swept in the ALDS and Cabrera still gets the MVP. Good point. But they did actually win the pennant.