Outside the Box
Keeping track of Baseball-Reference.com and the stathead world / RSS/Atom FeedWednesday, January 31
ESPN.com - Seattle Mariners - BatStatistics
I have a new favorite toy. This is pretty killer. For instance, you can see who was the most common entry in each lineup spot, and played the most games at each position. I also love how it includes the team totals at the bottom. My only wish is that the MLB and AL leaders at the bottom changed with the category. Great Stuff at ESPN.com.
I have a new favorite toy. This is pretty killer. For instance, you can see who was the most common entry in each lineup spot, and played the most games at each position. I also love how it includes the team totals at the bottom. My only wish is that the MLB and AL leaders at the bottom changed with the category. Great Stuff at ESPN.com.
Yahoo! Sports: Major League Baseball - Criticize This
It appears that Yahoo! Sports has teamed up with Rivals.com, so now Rivals websites are submitting material to the Yahoo site. This is more evidence of the democratization of the web.
The author of this piece, "Alan Schuster", is one of the biggest homers that I've ever read. He repeatedly refers to the "experts", without ever saying who they are. I'm guessing he is talking about the media, though you could also read it as sabermetricians.
You could guess sabermetricians because they harped on the D'Backs age and also on the wisdom of signing Randy Johnson, Steve Finley, and Luis Gonzalez to long deals all of which he lambastes them for. He conveniently forgets Matt Williams's horrific year last year (Mike Mordecai 5.17 xRuns/G, Williams 4.45).
You could read it as the media because every sabermetrician I know hated the Batista-Plesac trade. Regardless, I would like to see a bit more to back up his claims.
As for the D'Backs, it is a pretty fascinating team. I can see them winning anywhere from 70-90 games. Every single batter, except for Matt Williams, had the best years of their career playing for Buck Showalter. Each player far exceeded their expectations playing for Showalter. Go down the list. Every one of their first nine has exceeded the expectations sabermetricians had for them. In some cases, like Gonzalez and Finley, dramatically exceeded them. Take a look at the 1999 team. Check out the production from the bench, of the seven guys with 100+ at bats, you have an .879, 1.016, .731, .731 (the two middle infielders), .728 (the catcher), .911, and .857 OPS. Even Turner Ward slugged .652 in 23 at bats. Hitting coach Jim Presley was let go as well.
Will everyone turn back into a pumpkin when Bob Brenly takes over? It could very well turn out that Showalter is a far better manager than people give him credit for being.
It appears that Yahoo! Sports has teamed up with Rivals.com, so now Rivals websites are submitting material to the Yahoo site. This is more evidence of the democratization of the web.
The author of this piece, "Alan Schuster", is one of the biggest homers that I've ever read. He repeatedly refers to the "experts", without ever saying who they are. I'm guessing he is talking about the media, though you could also read it as sabermetricians.
You could guess sabermetricians because they harped on the D'Backs age and also on the wisdom of signing Randy Johnson, Steve Finley, and Luis Gonzalez to long deals all of which he lambastes them for. He conveniently forgets Matt Williams's horrific year last year (Mike Mordecai 5.17 xRuns/G, Williams 4.45).
You could read it as the media because every sabermetrician I know hated the Batista-Plesac trade. Regardless, I would like to see a bit more to back up his claims.
As for the D'Backs, it is a pretty fascinating team. I can see them winning anywhere from 70-90 games. Every single batter, except for Matt Williams, had the best years of their career playing for Buck Showalter. Each player far exceeded their expectations playing for Showalter. Go down the list. Every one of their first nine has exceeded the expectations sabermetricians had for them. In some cases, like Gonzalez and Finley, dramatically exceeded them. Take a look at the 1999 team. Check out the production from the bench, of the seven guys with 100+ at bats, you have an .879, 1.016, .731, .731 (the two middle infielders), .728 (the catcher), .911, and .857 OPS. Even Turner Ward slugged .652 in 23 at bats. Hitting coach Jim Presley was let go as well.
Will everyone turn back into a pumpkin when Bob Brenly takes over? It could very well turn out that Showalter is a far better manager than people give him credit for being.
Yahoo! Sports: MLB - Baseball voids contracts of two Dominican players
What a coincidence! I have a Wellington DePaula fake ID, too.
What a coincidence! I have a Wellington DePaula fake ID, too.
Yahoo! Sports: MLB - Brewers, Blanco agree to two-year deal worth $2,225,000
Why would you tie up Henry Blanco for two years? He's cheap and he can throw like nobody's business. That is the only reasoning I can see. In 93 games, his bat produced about 0.3 wins above replacement level and a .387 offensive winning percentage which placed him about 24th among National League catchers. Here's a list of backups with better numbers: Chad Kreuter (though he'll probably start this year), Brent Mayne, Todd Pratt, Keith Osik, Doug Mirabelli, Eddie Taubensee and Jason LaRue, Gary Bennett,and Eli Marrero. At least Blanco was better than Mike Matheny. When evaluating a team and their players, I ask myself, "Is this a championship calibre player, or will he become one?" And for the 29-year-old Blanco the answer is no and no.
The Brewers would be wise to get one of the Tigers' catchers before Detroit realizes what they have there. I don't believe Mitch Meluskey would cost all that much to acquire.
Why would you tie up Henry Blanco for two years? He's cheap and he can throw like nobody's business. That is the only reasoning I can see. In 93 games, his bat produced about 0.3 wins above replacement level and a .387 offensive winning percentage which placed him about 24th among National League catchers. Here's a list of backups with better numbers: Chad Kreuter (though he'll probably start this year), Brent Mayne, Todd Pratt, Keith Osik, Doug Mirabelli, Eddie Taubensee and Jason LaRue, Gary Bennett,and Eli Marrero. At least Blanco was better than Mike Matheny. When evaluating a team and their players, I ask myself, "Is this a championship calibre player, or will he become one?" And for the 29-year-old Blanco the answer is no and no.
The Brewers would be wise to get one of the Tigers' catchers before Detroit realizes what they have there. I don't believe Mitch Meluskey would cost all that much to acquire.
Monday, January 29
My Yahoo!
How do I know it is a slow news day for baseball? Check out the top three baseball headlines on my MyYahoo! page this evening.
The biggest question I had was Rick or Marc Wilkins. Turns out it was Rick. Somebody make a trade, please!
How do I know it is a slow news day for baseball? Check out the top three baseball headlines on my MyYahoo! page this evening.
The biggest question I had was Rick or Marc Wilkins. Turns out it was Rick. Somebody make a trade, please!
Data - Baseball-Reference.com
In case you aren't on my mailing list, I've added my 2000 data to the site, and hope to add a few more things here as time permits.
In case you aren't on my mailing list, I've added my 2000 data to the site, and hope to add a few more things here as time permits.
SuperBowl.com - Etrade Halftime Show
I watched the Super Bowl tonight, and thank God there isn't an intermission in baseball. The pre-game can be annoying, but it has nothing on a half-time show replete with Aerosmith and In Synch (sic, wretch, vomit).
The game wasn't exactly thrilling football either. Even as much as I hate the Yankees, I would not want to see NFL level parity in baseball. As Doug Drinen said before the AFC and NFC championship games, "All these teams suck."
I watched the Super Bowl tonight, and thank God there isn't an intermission in baseball. The pre-game can be annoying, but it has nothing on a half-time show replete with Aerosmith and In Synch (sic, wretch, vomit).
The game wasn't exactly thrilling football either. Even as much as I hate the Yankees, I would not want to see NFL level parity in baseball. As Doug Drinen said before the AFC and NFC championship games, "All these teams suck."
Sunday, January 28
Yahoo! Sports: MLB - Rockies ink 2B Todd Walker to three-year contract
Is Todd Walker worth three years and $6.5m? Initially, I said no, but now I may be willing to backtrack from that impression.
Walker was tied for 5th in the NL among 2Bmen in Offensive Winning Percentage at .591, but he did have just a .776 OPS on the road last year. He isn't a very good fielder, but he can hit a little and should be a significant upgrade over Mike Lansing. He'll be making less than Jose Mesa and Rheal Cormier, so I'll give the Rockies an 83 (out of 100) on this deal. The upside is a less powerful Jeff Kent and the downside is a more powerful Jeff Frye.
Is Todd Walker worth three years and $6.5m? Initially, I said no, but now I may be willing to backtrack from that impression.
Walker was tied for 5th in the NL among 2Bmen in Offensive Winning Percentage at .591, but he did have just a .776 OPS on the road last year. He isn't a very good fielder, but he can hit a little and should be a significant upgrade over Mike Lansing. He'll be making less than Jose Mesa and Rheal Cormier, so I'll give the Rockies an 83 (out of 100) on this deal. The upside is a less powerful Jeff Kent and the downside is a more powerful Jeff Frye.
Friday, January 26
EricEnders.com - Scorebooks
I thought if any of you statheads decided to get your head out of the baseball encyclopedia and go to a game you might need a scorebook, and I've heard these are well done.
I thought if any of you statheads decided to get your head out of the baseball encyclopedia and go to a game you might need a scorebook, and I've heard these are well done.
ESPN.com - Major League Baseball - Two master sabermetricians give their take
I often wish there were 48 hours in the day. Something that might, I repeat might, make what Rob Neyer is talking about possible is a baseball website set up like Slashdot.org or Kuro5hin.org. Something like this could become a self supported research community for baseball. It would be a place where folks could post research results and then have comments made. The source code running these sites is all in the public domain, so you could knock yourself out doing this. If you have a server available for this, I might even offer free advice. ;-)
I've told some friends before that their true calling was to run a Baseball Journal, but I suspect the amount of money to be made doing that is less than what can be made in the Baseball book business.
The people who should be doing this are the Society for American Baseball Research (by the way, say hi to me come July if you'll be in Milwaukee for the convention), but I'm not confident in their willingness to be open and nurturing to the population at large. A site with an easy submission and review process and a kick ass indexing service could make pretty good headway.
It can be tough to get contributions from the community at large. My effort at community involvement at the Iowa Farm Report never took off, but part of that is because I was distracted by Baseball Reference.com and never nurtured the site. It's very unlikely that I'll update it this offseason for the first time in five years. It's a real shame because I finally had a design and implementation that was easy to use.
I've meandered here, but it's late and my gullet is full of sushi, so I'm not in a real focused writing mood.
Oh, the best part of the article is that Voros's comments have drawn out two heavy hitters, Craig Wright and Bill James, who, some might argue (perhaps even me), have deserted the field of sabermetrics when we could use some people with their heft and experience.
There's hope, though. Eventually, I suspect that some enterprising individual will establish a huge web site devoted to sabermetrics, wherein the great work done over the last three decades will be brought together in a systematic, comprehensive way. That'll be a major step forward. And you know, we're about due for a major step forward, because the last major step forward came in the 1980s, when Bill James wrote his Baseball Abstracts and powerful personal computers became affordable.
I often wish there were 48 hours in the day. Something that might, I repeat might, make what Rob Neyer is talking about possible is a baseball website set up like Slashdot.org or Kuro5hin.org. Something like this could become a self supported research community for baseball. It would be a place where folks could post research results and then have comments made. The source code running these sites is all in the public domain, so you could knock yourself out doing this. If you have a server available for this, I might even offer free advice. ;-)
I've told some friends before that their true calling was to run a Baseball Journal, but I suspect the amount of money to be made doing that is less than what can be made in the Baseball book business.
The people who should be doing this are the Society for American Baseball Research (by the way, say hi to me come July if you'll be in Milwaukee for the convention), but I'm not confident in their willingness to be open and nurturing to the population at large. A site with an easy submission and review process and a kick ass indexing service could make pretty good headway.
It can be tough to get contributions from the community at large. My effort at community involvement at the Iowa Farm Report never took off, but part of that is because I was distracted by Baseball Reference.com and never nurtured the site. It's very unlikely that I'll update it this offseason for the first time in five years. It's a real shame because I finally had a design and implementation that was easy to use.
I've meandered here, but it's late and my gullet is full of sushi, so I'm not in a real focused writing mood.
Oh, the best part of the article is that Voros's comments have drawn out two heavy hitters, Craig Wright and Bill James, who, some might argue (perhaps even me), have deserted the field of sabermetrics when we could use some people with their heft and experience.
Thursday, January 25
Yahoo! Sports: NCAA Football - Florida State policy could keep younger Bowden from promotion
As a college faculty member, I have a generally chilly response to things like this. The cynic in me feels that colleges have allowed athletic programs to break all the rules already, so why bother expecting the football coach to follow the university's rules on this one.
As a college faculty member, I have a generally chilly response to things like this. The cynic in me feels that colleges have allowed athletic programs to break all the rules already, so why bother expecting the football coach to follow the university's rules on this one.
January 21, 2001 - Pitching and Defense
Doug Drinen and I were talking in New Orleans at the Mathematical Joint Meetings and we agree that Voros's Defense-Independent Pitching Stats is the most ground-breaking sabermetric work of recent memory. It is a significant paradigm (buzzword) shift in how pitchers and batters interact. I think it is the real deal and that it will provide a dramatic amount of insight into pitcher ability and in the area of pitcher projections. But enough of my praise. Read the article and tell me what you think.
[Disclosure] I'm very happy that Voros will be working on a project that Jim Furtado and I are putting together.
Doug Drinen and I were talking in New Orleans at the Mathematical Joint Meetings and we agree that Voros's Defense-Independent Pitching Stats is the most ground-breaking sabermetric work of recent memory. It is a significant paradigm (buzzword) shift in how pitchers and batters interact. I think it is the real deal and that it will provide a dramatic amount of insight into pitcher ability and in the area of pitcher projections. But enough of my praise. Read the article and tell me what you think.
[Disclosure] I'm very happy that Voros will be working on a project that Jim Furtado and I are putting together.
Yahoo! Sports: MLB - Cubs should trade Sosa while he still has value
Sammy's looking for $110m for six years. Please keep in mind that I lambasted the Cubs for the contract he is currently playing with, so my opinion shouldn't count for much, but I agree with the text that says you shouldn't pay him that much.
I do however think that the article severely underestimates his value. Sosa will be just 32 next year and has three straight years of a .630+ SLG% in what has been a neutral park over the last three years. And to his credit he has missed all of 10 games in the last three years. Without Sosa, the last two Cubs teams would have easily lost 100 games.
Sosa produced more runs (142) than Vlad Guerrero (132) and more than anyone else but Todd Helton. He was a big-time offensive player and has been for three years now. That is not a fluke.
There is cause for concern on his similarity list as Rocky Colavito, Dale Murphy, Jim Rice, Ralph Kiner, Jose Canseco and Bobby Bonds were not (or have not been) worth much past age 34. It isn't much of a stretch to see Sosa turning into Jose Canseco in a few years, except that Sosa is far more durable than Canseco has proven to be. I would be willing to go $55m for three years, but I don't think I would go much beyond that, unless I could get a buyout (even for $5m) after each season.
Sammy's looking for $110m for six years. Please keep in mind that I lambasted the Cubs for the contract he is currently playing with, so my opinion shouldn't count for much, but I agree with the text that says you shouldn't pay him that much.
I do however think that the article severely underestimates his value. Sosa will be just 32 next year and has three straight years of a .630+ SLG% in what has been a neutral park over the last three years. And to his credit he has missed all of 10 games in the last three years. Without Sosa, the last two Cubs teams would have easily lost 100 games.
Sosa produced more runs (142) than Vlad Guerrero (132) and more than anyone else but Todd Helton. He was a big-time offensive player and has been for three years now. That is not a fluke.
There is cause for concern on his similarity list as Rocky Colavito, Dale Murphy, Jim Rice, Ralph Kiner, Jose Canseco and Bobby Bonds were not (or have not been) worth much past age 34. It isn't much of a stretch to see Sosa turning into Jose Canseco in a few years, except that Sosa is far more durable than Canseco has proven to be. I would be willing to go $55m for three years, but I don't think I would go much beyond that, unless I could get a buyout (even for $5m) after each season.
Yahoo! Sports: MLB - Deion Sanders back in Reds' farm system
Is it possible for an athlete to be more tiresome than Deion Sanders? Jim Bowden is a good GM, but I think the suffers from Duquette/LaRussa Syndrome, which forces him to make "cute" moves like this one. I'm not opposed to innovation, but by cute moves I mean audacity and daring for the sake of audacity and daring when there is only a small chance of payoff.
Duquette's constant roster churn and addiction to reclamation projects are an example of this. LaRussa batting the pitcher 8th (which may have made some sense), starting Ankiel the first game of the Division Series and sitting on McGwire too long in the playoffs are his examples. Billy Beane going after Mark Guthrie as a starter is another example. Bobby Valentine is another manager who does stuff like this as well--charging the infield, running the first baseman to and fro, etc.
I'm not opposed to contradicting conventional wisdom, but you need some reason for doing so other than trying to be unconventional.
Is it possible for an athlete to be more tiresome than Deion Sanders? Jim Bowden is a good GM, but I think the suffers from Duquette/LaRussa Syndrome, which forces him to make "cute" moves like this one. I'm not opposed to innovation, but by cute moves I mean audacity and daring for the sake of audacity and daring when there is only a small chance of payoff.
Duquette's constant roster churn and addiction to reclamation projects are an example of this. LaRussa batting the pitcher 8th (which may have made some sense), starting Ankiel the first game of the Division Series and sitting on McGwire too long in the playoffs are his examples. Billy Beane going after Mark Guthrie as a starter is another example. Bobby Valentine is another manager who does stuff like this as well--charging the infield, running the first baseman to and fro, etc.
I'm not opposed to contradicting conventional wisdom, but you need some reason for doing so other than trying to be unconventional.
Tuesday, January 23
Amazon.com: buying info: The Simpsons : A Complete Guide to Our Favorite Family
This is a complete guide to the first one hundred episodes or some such number. You would probably need Volume Two for the episode in question.
This is a complete guide to the first one hundred episodes or some such number. You would probably need Volume Two for the episode in question.
Yahoo! Sports: MLB - Marlins sued by spectator who says flying T-shirt injured him
I have never been concerned about getting hit by a flying t-shirt. My concern has always been getting trampled by the bloodthirsty masses clamoring for said t-shirt.
I have never been concerned about getting hit by a flying t-shirt. My concern has always been getting trampled by the bloodthirsty masses clamoring for said t-shirt.
Yahoo! Sports: MLB - Tatis to bat third in Expos' lineup, between Vidro and Guerrero
The Expos are expecting to be in the top tier of offensive teams in 2001. At least that is their plan. I'm sorry, but to paraphrase the First Father, "Not gonna happen."
The Expos were 14th out of 16 teams in runs scored despite being 8th in batting average. The reason a solid last place finish in walks (nearly 60 behind Arizona). Their lineup appears to be the following.
Bergeron -CF
Vidro - 2B
Tatis - 3B
Guerrero - RF
Stevens - 1B
Blum - LF (never played OF)
Barrett - C
Cabrera - SS
Bench - Mike Mordecai, Terry Jones, Mark Smith, Sandy Martinez and Randy Knorr (though I think they should drop one of them or get a backup catcher who can slug David Wells's weight), and maybe Tim Raines.
Nobody cracked 60 walks last year in this lineup and four of the five had sub .340 OBP's. They should make Tim Raines the hitting coach and a reserve.
The first four spots look pretty good and I would be happy with Barrett behind the plate, though he won't be a great offensive player and may be a big defensive liability. But Blum, Stevens, and Cabrera should be very worried about their job security, and I don't know if they are.
Alou stated in the article about Blum that "he's a guy who's going to have to play every day, somewhere." 28-year-olds with a career .335 OBP shouldn't be guaranteed a roster spot especially to play left field. I'd rather bring up Bradley and see what happens there, or sign somebody like Reggie Sanders for small dollars.
Tatis along with improvement from Bergeron and Barrett might add 80 runs, but that ignores the fact that Rondell White gave the Expos a great 290 at bats and Mike Mordecai was way over his head last year. 820 runs does jump them to sixth in the league, but that strikes me as a bit optimistic.
The Expos are expecting to be in the top tier of offensive teams in 2001. At least that is their plan. I'm sorry, but to paraphrase the First Father, "Not gonna happen."
The Expos were 14th out of 16 teams in runs scored despite being 8th in batting average. The reason a solid last place finish in walks (nearly 60 behind Arizona). Their lineup appears to be the following.
Bergeron -CF
Vidro - 2B
Tatis - 3B
Guerrero - RF
Stevens - 1B
Blum - LF (never played OF)
Barrett - C
Cabrera - SS
Bench - Mike Mordecai, Terry Jones, Mark Smith, Sandy Martinez and Randy Knorr (though I think they should drop one of them or get a backup catcher who can slug David Wells's weight), and maybe Tim Raines.
Nobody cracked 60 walks last year in this lineup and four of the five had sub .340 OBP's. They should make Tim Raines the hitting coach and a reserve.
The first four spots look pretty good and I would be happy with Barrett behind the plate, though he won't be a great offensive player and may be a big defensive liability. But Blum, Stevens, and Cabrera should be very worried about their job security, and I don't know if they are.
Alou stated in the article about Blum that "he's a guy who's going to have to play every day, somewhere." 28-year-olds with a career .335 OBP shouldn't be guaranteed a roster spot especially to play left field. I'd rather bring up Bradley and see what happens there, or sign somebody like Reggie Sanders for small dollars.
Tatis along with improvement from Bergeron and Barrett might add 80 runs, but that ignores the fact that Rondell White gave the Expos a great 290 at bats and Mike Mordecai was way over his head last year. 820 runs does jump them to sixth in the league, but that strikes me as a bit optimistic.
Monday, January 22
January 21, 2001 - Prospectus Q&A: Mike Neill
A great interview with current minor leaguer and potential major leaguer Mike Neill. He's won a gold medal, but he's still striving for the show.
By the way, have you seen how many Prospectus guys are doing Hot Stove Heaters for ESPN.com? I'm beginning to wonder if I really do need to buy their book this year (nice cover BTW), or if I can read it all online. And yes, I do wish I had been asked to write for ESPN.com, so yes, I may be a tad bit envious.
A great interview with current minor leaguer and potential major leaguer Mike Neill. He's won a gold medal, but he's still striving for the show.
By the way, have you seen how many Prospectus guys are doing Hot Stove Heaters for ESPN.com? I'm beginning to wonder if I really do need to buy their book this year (nice cover BTW), or if I can read it all online. And yes, I do wish I had been asked to write for ESPN.com, so yes, I may be a tad bit envious.
Thursday, January 18
Peter Gammons
Gammons is out with his AL East preview. Lots of the usual comments that you would expect. I enjoyed the comment on Gerald Williams.
Of course, he was on first base all of 150 times last year, so that isn't a skill I would bank on. In 1992, Rickey Henderson was on first 181 times in just 117 games.
Gammons is out with his AL East preview. Lots of the usual comments that you would expect. I enjoyed the comment on Gerald Williams.
Gerald Williams isn't a prototypical leadoff hitter, but he brings attitude, power and an ability to score from first base.
Of course, he was on first base all of 150 times last year, so that isn't a skill I would bank on. In 1992, Rickey Henderson was on first 181 times in just 117 games.
Yahoo! Sports: MLB - Mo Vaughn sidelined at least six months
Unlike the Roger Clemens fiasco, Dan Duquette has come out pretty well in this deal. Vaughn hasn't been healthy at all since leaving Boston and he hasn't hit much either. I doubt this injury is weight related, unless he did it trying to do push ups. I wonder what type of shape Vaughn will be in next October. If Charles Barkley is any indication, it might not be pretty.
Unlike the Roger Clemens fiasco, Dan Duquette has come out pretty well in this deal. Vaughn hasn't been healthy at all since leaving Boston and he hasn't hit much either. I doubt this injury is weight related, unless he did it trying to do push ups. I wonder what type of shape Vaughn will be in next October. If Charles Barkley is any indication, it might not be pretty.
Sports on NRO Weekend
I'm not sure George Will would endorse this viewpoint in the conservative mag, National Review. I agree with all of the main points of the piece. Though the reason Derek Bell is a bad signing isn't because he strikes out a lot, it's because he never gets on base. I like that the author brought up replacement level players as a feasible replacement.
I'm not sure George Will would endorse this viewpoint in the conservative mag, National Review. I agree with all of the main points of the piece. Though the reason Derek Bell is a bad signing isn't because he strikes out a lot, it's because he never gets on base. I like that the author brought up replacement level players as a feasible replacement.
Wednesday, January 17
Rasputin's Boston Sports Media Watchdog Site
This was pointed to by Art Martone. Some Red Sox fans are pretty miffed about the coverage their team receives in the local paper. Greg Lynn is doing something about it and has created a watchdog page. He will report on textual and historical inaccuracies found in writings about the Red Sox.
This is an interesting concept. And to some degree this is what folks like Bill James, Big Bad Baseball and Baseball Prospectus have been doing for awhile. Essentially, the internet is allowing anyone to report on whatever they find interesting. It is blurring the line between audience and reporter (or analyzer). This may lead to a more cynical audience, but it is also leading to a more informed one.
By the way, mediot.com is available as is sportswatchdog.com or some other clever name you can come up with.
This was pointed to by Art Martone. Some Red Sox fans are pretty miffed about the coverage their team receives in the local paper. Greg Lynn is doing something about it and has created a watchdog page. He will report on textual and historical inaccuracies found in writings about the Red Sox.
This is an interesting concept. And to some degree this is what folks like Bill James, Big Bad Baseball and Baseball Prospectus have been doing for awhile. Essentially, the internet is allowing anyone to report on whatever they find interesting. It is blurring the line between audience and reporter (or analyzer). This may lead to a more cynical audience, but it is also leading to a more informed one.
By the way, mediot.com is available as is sportswatchdog.com or some other clever name you can come up with.
Tuesday, January 16
National Baseball Hall of Fame - Hall of Fame Election Results for 2001
Here are the official voting results. Deshaies got his one vote. It's too bad Lou Whitaker and Tom Henke didn't stay on the ballot a bit longer. They are better players than Keith Hernandez and Dave Stewart, well at least Dave Stewart.
I was looking at next year's newcomers to the ballot and I would say that Ozzie Smith is the only certainty on that list. Maybe Carter and Rice do get in then. Jim Rice should do all right in a comparison with Andre Dawson.
2003: Murray and Sandberg
2004: Eckersley and Molitor
2005: Wade Boggs and maybe Chili Davis
Here are the official voting results. Deshaies got his one vote. It's too bad Lou Whitaker and Tom Henke didn't stay on the ballot a bit longer. They are better players than Keith Hernandez and Dave Stewart, well at least Dave Stewart.
I was looking at next year's newcomers to the ballot and I would say that Ozzie Smith is the only certainty on that list. Maybe Carter and Rice do get in then. Jim Rice should do all right in a comparison with Andre Dawson.
2003: Murray and Sandberg
2004: Eckersley and Molitor
2005: Wade Boggs and maybe Chili Davis
Yahoo! Sports: MLB - Winfield, Puckett elected to Hall of Fame
Pretty predictable group, these baseball writers are. I'm guessing Carter goes in next year, but I'm beginning to think that Rice won't make it in. The modern day sluggers and their big numbers are going to bury his stats pretty soon, if not already. Can the voters make that nuanced of a distinction? Maybe, maybe not.
Saddest result is that Tommy John, Don Mattingly and Jim Kaat all ended up with more votes than Bert Blyleven. Not the votes I would have made.
Pretty predictable group, these baseball writers are. I'm guessing Carter goes in next year, but I'm beginning to think that Rice won't make it in. The modern day sluggers and their big numbers are going to bury his stats pretty soon, if not already. Can the voters make that nuanced of a distinction? Maybe, maybe not.
Saddest result is that Tommy John, Don Mattingly and Jim Kaat all ended up with more votes than Bert Blyleven. Not the votes I would have made.
National Baseball Hall of Fame - Sample 2001 BBWAA Hall of Fame Ballot
First day of classes, so things are a tad hectic around here. I'll try to comment on the HOF vote when it comes out. I'd bet on Winfield and Puckett getting in, though Blyleven has gotten some pub lately. Maybe he'll get in.
Here is my vote roughly in order of worthiness.
Dave Winfield - Lots of hits, lots of home runs. Number ten all-time in total bases and 39th in base on balls is a tough combination. Still, he isn't an "elite" HOFer. He has a measly four points of black ink and was never an MVP.
Bert Blyleven - Rob Neyer and the Baseball Crank have made the case for Blyleven pretty well. He also is the top remaining pitcher in the HOF standards list.
Kirby Puckett - perhaps he's more worthy than Blyleven, I'm not sure. He gets credit for the injury in my book. His 1995 was outstanding. He is also the ranking eligible batter on the HOF monitor list
Gary Carter - I played catcher in high school, so I feel his pain. Carter and Fisk are a matched set as far as I'm concerned.
Rich Gossage - As a Sox fan, I really hated this guy. I was so mad at him because it was impossible for them to score off him. He has 22 years and 15 of them were above average and asfter his second season none were bad. His two most similars are Hoyt Wilhelm and Rollie Fingers, the only two relievers in the Hall of Fame.
I really wanted to vote for Jim Rice and Luis Tiant, but I just couldn't do it.
First day of classes, so things are a tad hectic around here. I'll try to comment on the HOF vote when it comes out. I'd bet on Winfield and Puckett getting in, though Blyleven has gotten some pub lately. Maybe he'll get in.
Here is my vote roughly in order of worthiness.
Dave Winfield - Lots of hits, lots of home runs. Number ten all-time in total bases and 39th in base on balls is a tough combination. Still, he isn't an "elite" HOFer. He has a measly four points of black ink and was never an MVP.
Bert Blyleven - Rob Neyer and the Baseball Crank have made the case for Blyleven pretty well. He also is the top remaining pitcher in the HOF standards list.
Kirby Puckett - perhaps he's more worthy than Blyleven, I'm not sure. He gets credit for the injury in my book. His 1995 was outstanding. He is also the ranking eligible batter on the HOF monitor list
Gary Carter - I played catcher in high school, so I feel his pain. Carter and Fisk are a matched set as far as I'm concerned.
Rich Gossage - As a Sox fan, I really hated this guy. I was so mad at him because it was impossible for them to score off him. He has 22 years and 15 of them were above average and asfter his second season none were bad. His two most similars are Hoyt Wilhelm and Rollie Fingers, the only two relievers in the Hall of Fame.
I really wanted to vote for Jim Rice and Luis Tiant, but I just couldn't do it.
Monday, January 15
Football-Reference.com
My good friend Doug Drinen has put up a football companion to this site. While I've been blessed to work with Sean Lahman's database, Doug has had to hand-enter most of the data on his site. So while it doesn't go back to 1956 or whenever the NFL began, it does have more football information than you can find anywhere else on the web. If you have old-time football data in a digital format, Doug would love to hear from you.
My good friend Doug Drinen has put up a football companion to this site. While I've been blessed to work with Sean Lahman's database, Doug has had to hand-enter most of the data on his site. So while it doesn't go back to 1956 or whenever the NFL began, it does have more football information than you can find anywhere else on the web. If you have old-time football data in a digital format, Doug would love to hear from you.
Sunday, January 14
Digital City: Boston - Boston's Sports Guy
The best analysis of Bert Blyleven's HOF credentials I've seen to date. This author says he's IN. The Baseball Crank must know what he's doing because he links back to this site.
The best analysis of Bert Blyleven's HOF credentials I've seen to date. This author says he's IN. The Baseball Crank must know what he's doing because he links back to this site.
Yahoo! Sports: MLB - White Sox acquire LHP Wells from Blue Jays in six-player swap
I'll look at this trade using Defense Independent Pitching Stats by Voros McCracken. By the way Voros, I would encourage you to break this into 30 different tables (or pre-formatted text), the 258KB table freezes my browser for a few seconds.
Wells was worth 62.4 runs above replacement and Sirotka was 31.8 runs above replacement and Beirne was 4.3.
The other guys aren't much worth talking about.
Brian Simmons looked like a marginal center fielder a few years back and now after missing 2000, he is unlikely to add anything to the Blue Jays roster.
Mike Williams is an A-ball reliever. Decent enough numbers, but nothing overpowering.
DeWitt might be the third best pitcher in the bunch, as he is fairly young to have already appeared in the majors.
I expect Sirotka to at least maintain his current level of performance while Wells should drop a bit (of weight). All told this could be worth a win or two for the White Sox and will save some coin for the Blue Jays.
The only way I don't like this deal for the White Sox is if they do something stupid like tear up Wells's contract and give him a new deal. If they let him play out his current contract, this should be a solid deal for them.
The Chicago White Sox won the David Wells' sweepstakes, accquiring the portly lefthander (along with Matt DeWitt) on Sunday from the Toronto Blue Jays for pitchers Mike Sirotka, Kevin Beirne and Mike Williams and outfielder Brian Simmons.
I'll look at this trade using Defense Independent Pitching Stats by Voros McCracken. By the way Voros, I would encourage you to break this into 30 different tables (or pre-formatted text), the 258KB table freezes my browser for a few seconds.
Wells was worth 62.4 runs above replacement and Sirotka was 31.8 runs above replacement and Beirne was 4.3.
The other guys aren't much worth talking about.
Brian Simmons looked like a marginal center fielder a few years back and now after missing 2000, he is unlikely to add anything to the Blue Jays roster.
Mike Williams is an A-ball reliever. Decent enough numbers, but nothing overpowering.
DeWitt might be the third best pitcher in the bunch, as he is fairly young to have already appeared in the majors.
I expect Sirotka to at least maintain his current level of performance while Wells should drop a bit (of weight). All told this could be worth a win or two for the White Sox and will save some coin for the Blue Jays.
The only way I don't like this deal for the White Sox is if they do something stupid like tear up Wells's contract and give him a new deal. If they let him play out his current contract, this should be a solid deal for them.
Morphmaster: ROGER vs. MIKE
Jim Furtado pointed this out to me. Did I mention I didn't like the Yankees?
Jim Furtado pointed this out to me. Did I mention I didn't like the Yankees?
Thursday, January 11
Juan Pierre to hit leadoff for the Rox
Pierre is a pretty empty hitter. He'll hit .300, but he still won't be very valuable. First, hitting .300 as a Rockie isn't a big deal. Second, he never walks. His OBP was .320 to a batting average of .310. And lastly, he has no power. He might be all right in the nine-hole, but he'll cost the Rockies runs galore at leadoff.
This will likely be my last post till next Monday. The conference in N'awlins is going well. Heard a great talk about measuring the universe by Jeffrey Weeks, a free-lance mathematician.
Pierre is a pretty empty hitter. He'll hit .300, but he still won't be very valuable. First, hitting .300 as a Rockie isn't a big deal. Second, he never walks. His OBP was .320 to a batting average of .310. And lastly, he has no power. He might be all right in the nine-hole, but he'll cost the Rockies runs galore at leadoff.
This will likely be my last post till next Monday. The conference in N'awlins is going well. Heard a great talk about measuring the universe by Jeffrey Weeks, a free-lance mathematician.
Monday, January 8
ESPN.com - Major League Baseball - Damon key figure in nine-player deal
This one came out of left field. Not many folks had the A's as players in the Johnny Damon sweepstakes.
Here are the players each team gets and gives up.
A's get Johnny Damon, Mark Ellis, Corey Lidle and a PTBNL
A's give Ben Grieve, A.J. Hinch, Angel Berroa, cash and a PTBNL or cash
D'Rays get Ben Grieve, and a PTBNL or cash
D'Rays give Roberto Hernandez and Corey Lidle
Royals get Roberto Hernandez, A.J. Hinch, Angel Berroa, and cash
Royals give Johnny Damon, Mark Ellis, and a PTBNL
Oakland - Is a year of Damon (and maybe more) worth the next couple years of Ben Grieve and A.J. Hinch? Hinch wasn't worth much to the A's given Ramon Hernandez and Sal Fasano. Berroa was a 20-year-old SS in the California League where he hit .277/.337/.434. Pretty decent numbers, but the A's are again very deep at SS. Ellis is an older SS, who is going to be 24, but has hit .311/.412/.424 in two minor league seasons. I'd probably prefer Berroa, but only barely. Naturally Ellis has much better plate discipline. Lidle had low BB totals last year for Tampa, but not much else to speak of.
I'd say the A's made essentially a Damon for Grieve trade. Damon is the better player right not, but I still think Grieve could be a great hitter, while Damon is about as good as he is going to get. Damon was worth 31 more runs offensively than Grieve and several more defensively. I think Grieve will close that gap next year, but the A's should still come out ahead.
It looks like the A's picked up two wins in this trade largely through improved defense as the outfield looks like Terrence Long, Damon and Adam Piatt/Jeremy Giambi rather than Long, Stairs and Grieve.
I'm guessing another reason for this trade is to build buzz around the Athletics. They may not resign Damon for 2002, but the added ticket sales from this move may let them keep Jason Giambi next year.
Kansas City - I suspect Rob Neyer and Rany Jazayerli will have some choice words for this trade, and I'll likely agree with them. For the Royals to win this trade they need Berroa to turn it up a notch, Hinch needs to build on his minor league numbers, and Hernandez needs two outstanding seasons any of which strikes me as 50/50 at best.
My philosophy is that when you trade a stud you need a potential stud back and none of these guys look like potential studs. Allard Baird at least followed a plan. He wanted a closer, a catcher and a shortstop and he got all three, but his number one chip is now gone.
Tampa Bay Devil Rays - Their outfield defense is going to flat out suck next year--Greg Vaughn, Gerald Williams and Ben Grieve. This is a team that might actually have a use for Brian Hunter or Tom Goodwin. Hernandez had little value to the Devil Rays, so turning him into Ben Grieve is a neat little trade. I'd say they are definite winners in this trade, though the trickle down through the roster will be interesting to see.
Overall - A's and Devil Rays win about two or three more games and the Royals lose three or four more (Hinch will be worth a game or two).
This one came out of left field. Not many folks had the A's as players in the Johnny Damon sweepstakes.
Here are the players each team gets and gives up.
A's get Johnny Damon, Mark Ellis, Corey Lidle and a PTBNL
A's give Ben Grieve, A.J. Hinch, Angel Berroa, cash and a PTBNL or cash
D'Rays get Ben Grieve, and a PTBNL or cash
D'Rays give Roberto Hernandez and Corey Lidle
Royals get Roberto Hernandez, A.J. Hinch, Angel Berroa, and cash
Royals give Johnny Damon, Mark Ellis, and a PTBNL
Oakland - Is a year of Damon (and maybe more) worth the next couple years of Ben Grieve and A.J. Hinch? Hinch wasn't worth much to the A's given Ramon Hernandez and Sal Fasano. Berroa was a 20-year-old SS in the California League where he hit .277/.337/.434. Pretty decent numbers, but the A's are again very deep at SS. Ellis is an older SS, who is going to be 24, but has hit .311/.412/.424 in two minor league seasons. I'd probably prefer Berroa, but only barely. Naturally Ellis has much better plate discipline. Lidle had low BB totals last year for Tampa, but not much else to speak of.
I'd say the A's made essentially a Damon for Grieve trade. Damon is the better player right not, but I still think Grieve could be a great hitter, while Damon is about as good as he is going to get. Damon was worth 31 more runs offensively than Grieve and several more defensively. I think Grieve will close that gap next year, but the A's should still come out ahead.
It looks like the A's picked up two wins in this trade largely through improved defense as the outfield looks like Terrence Long, Damon and Adam Piatt/Jeremy Giambi rather than Long, Stairs and Grieve.
I'm guessing another reason for this trade is to build buzz around the Athletics. They may not resign Damon for 2002, but the added ticket sales from this move may let them keep Jason Giambi next year.
Kansas City - I suspect Rob Neyer and Rany Jazayerli will have some choice words for this trade, and I'll likely agree with them. For the Royals to win this trade they need Berroa to turn it up a notch, Hinch needs to build on his minor league numbers, and Hernandez needs two outstanding seasons any of which strikes me as 50/50 at best.
My philosophy is that when you trade a stud you need a potential stud back and none of these guys look like potential studs. Allard Baird at least followed a plan. He wanted a closer, a catcher and a shortstop and he got all three, but his number one chip is now gone.
Tampa Bay Devil Rays - Their outfield defense is going to flat out suck next year--Greg Vaughn, Gerald Williams and Ben Grieve. This is a team that might actually have a use for Brian Hunter or Tom Goodwin. Hernandez had little value to the Devil Rays, so turning him into Ben Grieve is a neat little trade. I'd say they are definite winners in this trade, though the trickle down through the roster will be interesting to see.
Overall - A's and Devil Rays win about two or three more games and the Royals lose three or four more (Hinch will be worth a game or two).
Yahoo! Sports: MLB - Brewers sign McDonald to minor league deal
I was all excited that Ben McDonald was coming back, but it was just Jason McDonald. It's too bad we don't get to see guys like Jose Rijo, Bret Saberhagen and Ben McDonald pitch anymore. We need to really, really study pitcher usage. Note I called it usage not abuse. Abuse is a far too pejorative term for an area we have very little cause and effect science to back up our hypotheses with.
I was all excited that Ben McDonald was coming back, but it was just Jason McDonald. It's too bad we don't get to see guys like Jose Rijo, Bret Saberhagen and Ben McDonald pitch anymore. We need to really, really study pitcher usage. Note I called it usage not abuse. Abuse is a far too pejorative term for an area we have very little cause and effect science to back up our hypotheses with.
Yahoo! Sports: MLB - Diamondbacks sign free agent OF Reggie Sanders
For some reason, $1.5m sticks in my head, but that might not be right. This is a great pickup for the D'Backs. Bautista is pretty shaky and Sanders can play any of the outfield positions and play them well. He should be a good fit for them.
The money (or lack thereof) is the most surprising thing. Sanders deserves at least Derek Bell money. I would have wanted a team option for 2002, but that is my opinion.
Perhaps the small dollars is indicative of a strong "what have you done for me lately" tendency among GM's. It seems like a lot of players are cashing in on singular big years while decent players are being clobbered in the market for poor ones. Shawn Green comes to mind.
For some reason, $1.5m sticks in my head, but that might not be right. This is a great pickup for the D'Backs. Bautista is pretty shaky and Sanders can play any of the outfield positions and play them well. He should be a good fit for them.
The money (or lack thereof) is the most surprising thing. Sanders deserves at least Derek Bell money. I would have wanted a team option for 2002, but that is my opinion.
Perhaps the small dollars is indicative of a strong "what have you done for me lately" tendency among GM's. It seems like a lot of players are cashing in on singular big years while decent players are being clobbered in the market for poor ones. Shawn Green comes to mind.
Baseball Links: Link of the Week
I am this month's link of the month. Thanks to John Skilton for the designation. It's always nice to win some hardware.
I am this month's link of the month. Thanks to John Skilton for the designation. It's always nice to win some hardware.
ESPN.com - Major League Baseball - Rumblings and Grumblings
Stark leads with some thoughts on the possible work stoppage this off-season. I agree with probably 80% of what he says, but in the interest of partisan dickering I'll dwell on the 20%.
He believes that another work stoppage would be "suicide" for the game. This is bunk. Baseball wasn't supposed to survive the last work stoppage, but it has and is nearly back to the previous attendance levels. Besides as a huge baseball fan I wouldn't mind one bit seeing fewer people at the game. Cheaper seats, better parking, less hassle.
I can go along with 1-5 for the most part. I disagree vehemently with number 6. The Twins and Expos misery is caused not by uncaring fans or a bad market, but by a terrible owner and management group and an abysmal stadium. When teams win they draw well. Any team that wins for multiple years will draw well.
If the Expos were to win more than 80 games in a season (which they haven't done since 1996 and the Twins haven't done since 1992) they would start to draw well. In the early 80's they were always in the top two or three in attendance. The Twins' fans behave exactly the same way. We should be lauding them for not supporting a loser like the Cubs' fans do.
I know what you are thinking. The A's finished 11th in attendance last year. Well that's true, but the big payoff is always in the following year. The Twins led the league in attendance in 1988 and then saw a bump in attendance again in 1992. Oakland and the White Sox will be in the top half of the league in attendance this year, just wait.
Stark leads with some thoughts on the possible work stoppage this off-season. I agree with probably 80% of what he says, but in the interest of partisan dickering I'll dwell on the 20%.
He believes that another work stoppage would be "suicide" for the game. This is bunk. Baseball wasn't supposed to survive the last work stoppage, but it has and is nearly back to the previous attendance levels. Besides as a huge baseball fan I wouldn't mind one bit seeing fewer people at the game. Cheaper seats, better parking, less hassle.
I can go along with 1-5 for the most part. I disagree vehemently with number 6. The Twins and Expos misery is caused not by uncaring fans or a bad market, but by a terrible owner and management group and an abysmal stadium. When teams win they draw well. Any team that wins for multiple years will draw well.
If the Expos were to win more than 80 games in a season (which they haven't done since 1996 and the Twins haven't done since 1992) they would start to draw well. In the early 80's they were always in the top two or three in attendance. The Twins' fans behave exactly the same way. We should be lauding them for not supporting a loser like the Cubs' fans do.
I know what you are thinking. The A's finished 11th in attendance last year. Well that's true, but the big payoff is always in the following year. The Twins led the league in attendance in 1988 and then saw a bump in attendance again in 1992. Oakland and the White Sox will be in the top half of the league in attendance this year, just wait.
Sunday, January 7
New Orleans Joint Mathematics Meetings
I'm going to New Orleans. Every year many thousands of mathematicians get together and have a great time for about four days. I should have a lot more fun this time. Last year in Washington D.C., I was interviewing for jobs and had something like 13 interviews in three days. Very stressful. This year, I'll go to a lot of talks, go to Bourbon Street and hang out with friends. If you are going to be at the joint meetings and want to say, "Hi!" let me know. I know Doug Drinen will be there and there are likely some other statheads as well. The conference will be in the Sheraton and Marriott's downtown, so if you have a low tolerance for geeks you may want to steer clear.
I'm going to New Orleans. Every year many thousands of mathematicians get together and have a great time for about four days. I should have a lot more fun this time. Last year in Washington D.C., I was interviewing for jobs and had something like 13 interviews in three days. Very stressful. This year, I'll go to a lot of talks, go to Bourbon Street and hang out with friends. If you are going to be at the joint meetings and want to say, "Hi!" let me know. I know Doug Drinen will be there and there are likely some other statheads as well. The conference will be in the Sheraton and Marriott's downtown, so if you have a low tolerance for geeks you may want to steer clear.
Friday, January 5
Amazon.com: Create a Listmania List
This has nothing to do with baseball, but it illustrates a neat little feature that I really like. I think something like this would be neat to do on Baseball-Reference.com. You could create any sort of list. Perhaps, your all-time Twins team or a list of the ugliest players, the smartest player, the players most hurt by managerial misuse. I probably couldn't implement something like this till next summer, but I'm certainly intrigued by the possibilities.
I should also mention that if you type in "Baseball" on their search box, you will find there are a lot of lists regarding people's favorite baseball books.
On another note, it appears to my amateur eye that Amazon.com is going to run out of gas in the next year. That said, the quality of their website is really mind-blowing. If you want to figure out how to properly do things on the web, study Amazon.com and Yahoo.com. I find neat new features on their sites all the time. They are truly a joy to use.
I just wish Amazon had stuck to books. I've never understood their need to get into lawn & patio furniture and other areas.
This has nothing to do with baseball, but it illustrates a neat little feature that I really like. I think something like this would be neat to do on Baseball-Reference.com. You could create any sort of list. Perhaps, your all-time Twins team or a list of the ugliest players, the smartest player, the players most hurt by managerial misuse. I probably couldn't implement something like this till next summer, but I'm certainly intrigued by the possibilities.
I should also mention that if you type in "Baseball" on their search box, you will find there are a lot of lists regarding people's favorite baseball books.
On another note, it appears to my amateur eye that Amazon.com is going to run out of gas in the next year. That said, the quality of their website is really mind-blowing. If you want to figure out how to properly do things on the web, study Amazon.com and Yahoo.com. I find neat new features on their sites all the time. They are truly a joy to use.
I just wish Amazon had stuck to books. I've never understood their need to get into lawn & patio furniture and other areas.
ESPN.com - Major League Baseball - Rumor Central
I hope that Billy Beane isn't succumbing to the same faults that have hurt folks like Tony LaRussa and Dan Duquette in the past. Mainly, believing that you are smarter than everyone else. This move (if it in fact happens) makes little sense on any level. Guthrie might deserve that much money as a reliever, but just barely.
Guthrie had a good year as a starter previously, in 1990, and has started 13 games since. He hasn't been all that effective in the last two years as a reliever, and his 3-year splits show that he didn't get any stronger as his outings progressed.
I'd save my money and spend it on a draft pick or David Cone. It just doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me.
ESPN.com's Jayson Stark reports that reliever Mark Guthrie is close to signing with Oakland to be the club's fifth starter. The deal being reported is for two years and $3.6 million with incentives that could earn him another $2 million if he makes 50 starts over the next two years. (Jan. 4)
I hope that Billy Beane isn't succumbing to the same faults that have hurt folks like Tony LaRussa and Dan Duquette in the past. Mainly, believing that you are smarter than everyone else. This move (if it in fact happens) makes little sense on any level. Guthrie might deserve that much money as a reliever, but just barely.
Guthrie had a good year as a starter previously, in 1990, and has started 13 games since. He hasn't been all that effective in the last two years as a reliever, and his 3-year splits show that he didn't get any stronger as his outings progressed.
I'd save my money and spend it on a draft pick or David Cone. It just doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me.
1946
St. Louis Cardinals Statistics - Baseball-Reference
I was thinking about team chemistry and "player intelligence" and it
seemed to me that if all this had a lot to do with winning that teams
with a lot of future managers would do very well. Now I haven't done
anything scientific here, but here are the teams with the most
managers on their team. A quick check shows 8 of these teams won
pennants which is more than you would expect randomly.
1956 St. Louis Cardinals 9
1891 Boston Reds 9
1892 Baltimore Orioles 9
1902 New York Giants 9
1912 Detroit Tigers 9
1900 St. Louis Cardinals 9
1908 Boston Red Sox 8
1900 Chicago Orphans 8
1960 Milwaukee Braves 8
1932 Chicago Cubs 8
1881 Detroit Wolverines 8
1891 Boston Beaneaters 8
1897 Boston Beaneaters 8
1959 Milwaukee Braves 8
1955 St. Louis Cardinals 8
1946 St. Louis Cardinals 8
1876 Boston Red Caps 8
1877 Boston Red Caps 8
1875 Boston Red Stockings 8
1892 St. Louis Browns 8
1900 Boston Beaneaters 8
1885 New York Giants 8
1886 New York Giants 8
1887 New York Giants 8
1890 New York Giants 8
1892 Boston Beaneaters 8
1879 Providence Grays 8
>From 1946 on. Two of these teams won pennants, about what you would
expect.
1956 St. Louis Cardinals 9
1960 Milwaukee Braves 8
1959 Milwaukee Braves 8
1955 St. Louis Cardinals 8
1946 St. Louis Cardinals 8
1947 Cleveland Indians 7
1950 Cleveland Indians 7
1950 Boston Braves 7
1946 Detroit Tigers 7
1952 St. Louis Cardinals 7
1947 St. Louis Cardinals 7
1959 Los Angeles Dodgers 7
1964 Cincinnati Reds 7
1965 Cincinnati Reds 7
>From 1970 on, and two of these teams won pennants.
1970 Cincinnati Reds 6
1971 Cincinnati Reds 6
1972 Los Angeles Dodgers 6
1972 Cincinnati Reds 5
1979 Philadelphia Phillies 5
I wouldn't read too much into this, but it is interesting all the same
and would make some pretty hard questions for a trivia contest.
St. Louis Cardinals Statistics - Baseball-Reference
I was thinking about team chemistry and "player intelligence" and it
seemed to me that if all this had a lot to do with winning that teams
with a lot of future managers would do very well. Now I haven't done
anything scientific here, but here are the teams with the most
managers on their team. A quick check shows 8 of these teams won
pennants which is more than you would expect randomly.
1956 St. Louis Cardinals 9
1891 Boston Reds 9
1892 Baltimore Orioles 9
1902 New York Giants 9
1912 Detroit Tigers 9
1900 St. Louis Cardinals 9
1908 Boston Red Sox 8
1900 Chicago Orphans 8
1960 Milwaukee Braves 8
1932 Chicago Cubs 8
1881 Detroit Wolverines 8
1891 Boston Beaneaters 8
1897 Boston Beaneaters 8
1959 Milwaukee Braves 8
1955 St. Louis Cardinals 8
1946 St. Louis Cardinals 8
1876 Boston Red Caps 8
1877 Boston Red Caps 8
1875 Boston Red Stockings 8
1892 St. Louis Browns 8
1900 Boston Beaneaters 8
1885 New York Giants 8
1886 New York Giants 8
1887 New York Giants 8
1890 New York Giants 8
1892 Boston Beaneaters 8
1879 Providence Grays 8
>From 1946 on. Two of these teams won pennants, about what you would
expect.
1956 St. Louis Cardinals 9
1960 Milwaukee Braves 8
1959 Milwaukee Braves 8
1955 St. Louis Cardinals 8
1946 St. Louis Cardinals 8
1947 Cleveland Indians 7
1950 Cleveland Indians 7
1950 Boston Braves 7
1946 Detroit Tigers 7
1952 St. Louis Cardinals 7
1947 St. Louis Cardinals 7
1959 Los Angeles Dodgers 7
1964 Cincinnati Reds 7
1965 Cincinnati Reds 7
>From 1970 on, and two of these teams won pennants.
1970 Cincinnati Reds 6
1971 Cincinnati Reds 6
1972 Los Angeles Dodgers 6
1972 Cincinnati Reds 5
1979 Philadelphia Phillies 5
I wouldn't read too much into this, but it is interesting all the same
and would make some pretty hard questions for a trivia contest.
Wednesday, January 3
The Pulse - Ball Fore
Steve Wulf doesn't like the redistribution draft idea. I hadn't considered the race to the bottom factor, but that would be a bit disturbing if it happened.
I would be curious as to the teams being drafted from and drafting over the last 15 years. Perhaps, I'll get off my tuckus and look at that in the near future.
I really think the best change that could be made is added revenue sharing. I know that many of you will argue that this removes the impetus for a team to improve, but I do think that their opponents deserve a good chunk of the Yankees TV contract (probably 50%). You would likely need to add a minimum payroll.
A more interesting idea is that an owner who goes five years without a winning record is forced to sell the team.
Sorry for the boring comments, but I don't have much to say until ESPN updates Rumor Central?
Steve Wulf doesn't like the redistribution draft idea. I hadn't considered the race to the bottom factor, but that would be a bit disturbing if it happened.
I would be curious as to the teams being drafted from and drafting over the last 15 years. Perhaps, I'll get off my tuckus and look at that in the near future.
I really think the best change that could be made is added revenue sharing. I know that many of you will argue that this removes the impetus for a team to improve, but I do think that their opponents deserve a good chunk of the Yankees TV contract (probably 50%). You would likely need to add a minimum payroll.
A more interesting idea is that an owner who goes five years without a winning record is forced to sell the team.
Sorry for the boring comments, but I don't have much to say until ESPN updates Rumor Central?
Tuesday, January 2
ESPN.com - Major League Baseball - Rockies, Helton ponder lifetime contract
I have a hard time understanding why either party would be interested in signing up for a total of 12 years (2 current ones and a 10-year extension).
Perhaps Helton and his agent feel the dollar amounts can't possibly get higher.
Perhaps the Rockies feel he will hit .400 next year and drive his value even higher.
I'm probably getting excited for nothing.
I have a hard time understanding why either party would be interested in signing up for a total of 12 years (2 current ones and a 10-year extension).
Perhaps Helton and his agent feel the dollar amounts can't possibly get higher.
Perhaps the Rockies feel he will hit .400 next year and drive his value even higher.
I'm probably getting excited for nothing.
Yahoo! Sports: MLB - Puckett? Mattingly? Or both? Hall voting is a tough call
Ken Rosenthal's HOF ballot. It strikes me as a tad hypocritical to bypass Blyleven and some other pitchers for a lack of statistical milestones and then include Mattingly, who has reached none of them. It is just an incident of widespread bias that we are seeing against contemporary starting pitchers and it likely is only going to get worse as the very few starters will reach 300 or even 250 wins for their careers.
Ken Rosenthal's HOF ballot. It strikes me as a tad hypocritical to bypass Blyleven and some other pitchers for a lack of statistical milestones and then include Mattingly, who has reached none of them. It is just an incident of widespread bias that we are seeing against contemporary starting pitchers and it likely is only going to get worse as the very few starters will reach 300 or even 250 wins for their careers.
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