Google News continues to vex me

by Adam J. Morris on Nov 12, 2008 10:33 PM CST Comment 31 comments

Continuing with my ongoing battle of wits and wills with Google News...

I get online and do a quick news search for a few Rangers news who, well, might be in the news.

One of them is Jarrod Saltalamacchia.

And what does Google News offer up for me?

This.

Here's what is at the bottom of the Google News page:

The selection and placement of stories on this page were determined automatically by a computer program.

I think they need to get a new computer program.

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My head hurts now

because I read that. I just wish we had enough proDpects to land some of the players Mr Ben Brown (aka dumbest man alive) mentioned.

by Michael Cave on Nov 12, 2008 10:42 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I don’t know if you can get through to a sysadmin at Google, but if you can, maybe simply have them block Bleacher Report from search results. You lose minutes from your life, IQ points in the double digits, and your appetite just reading that crap. Then, work on the algorithm failure or link sortation failure that you experienced.

"He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-posts... for support rather than illumination." - Andrew Lang (1844-1912)

by Ed Coffin on Nov 12, 2008 10:50 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I'm honestly rather surprised that Google News returned something like that.

I’m sure they weight the relevance of a link by the number of times a search term is mentioned in the article compared to the article’s length, but I’m surprised that such a short article would get a reasonable ranking at all. Not to mention the fact that he was only in one sentence and one phrase…something in that article must’ve broken their analysis.

by jwiscarson on Nov 12, 2008 10:53 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

It was that article’s stupidity. It even throws Google News off.

By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw

by Gdawg on Nov 12, 2008 11:43 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

also of note tonight

the braves are stealing jake peavy.

stupid f’ing no trade clauses. we could have produced that package and maintained our number one farm ranking…

by clark on Nov 12, 2008 10:54 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

omg

I can’t believe the Padres settled for that. Is yunel supposed to be that good?

by BuckyB on Nov 12, 2008 11:20 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Rangers would have blown that offer out of the water with:

C.J. Wilson, Elvis Andrus, Kiker, and Hunter.

We would have been in the playoff run for years to come, too. Alas.

by BuckyB on Nov 12, 2008 11:22 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I cant disagree with that

Our offer part of course. Would have been interesting to see how Peavy would have performed at the ballpark.

by Michael Cave on Nov 12, 2008 11:24 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I dunno if that would've blown ATL's offer out of the water.

Yunel is a really good major leaguer right now, something Andrus may never be able to say.

Reyes is nothing special, but he’s okay. I’d prefer Ceej, but they’re close enough that it’s not batshit to assume a team could like Reyes more than Ceej.

And Gorkys is a really interesting prospect, imo. Strong plate discipline and good center field defense in such a young guy. If he comes into even a little bit of power he could be special. I’d probably take him over Kiker.

Oh, and I don’t trust Peavy’s arm long term. Locking him up for 5 years here could’ve come back to bite us in the ass big time.

The 40 Trumps All!!!

MVP votes are the new OBP.

by thedirkatron on Nov 13, 2008 12:15 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

+1

The Padres aren’t getting shafted too badly IMO. They need a shortstop and a future CF, and they’ve got at least one of those things if not both lined up in that trade. The pitching going to SD is the weak part of that package, but considering Peavy’s shortcomings in his splits and mechanics that actually seems reasonable to me.

"I would say that our gaping hole isn’t nearly as gaping as the A’s hole [was] or Mariner’s would be." - tyd3311

by lonestarJon on Nov 13, 2008 1:44 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

How to fix the Mariners:

Replace Ichiro in the outfield with Dunn and Griffey

by BuckyB on Nov 12, 2008 11:07 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Obviously, plenty to choose from,

but this was my favorite:

Then Kenji Johjima to Reds for Cash.

by Randy Richardson on Nov 12, 2008 11:10 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Mariners — Ichiro = Success

Unbelievable… That should be treason.
I would think the M’s fans would have lynch mob organized for Ben Brown and have him hung for treason
That Ben Brown’s calculation is so wrong.

What I find so disturbing is he wants to lure Ken Griffey Jr. and Jerry Hairston Jr. No disrespect to Griffey Jr. but the CWS let him JR go because he’s pretty much just a average player now. He did make that great throw in the playoffs to get the runner out but he really didn’t hit very good when he was traded for our old buddy Nick Massett. I’m sure the CWS are going to miss Massett. Griffy didn;t do to much to help the White Sox. Especialy after Carlos Quentin went down with that broken wrist injury. Which was just plain stupid on his part stemming from his own temper cause he got pissed off. Hell Quentin was the AL home run leader at the time nad a leading contender for the AL MVP. Point is, Griffy JR never really stepped up and never showed much leadership from what I could tell and talking with people who were CWS fans. I know cause I’ve been following John Danks and talk to CWS fans cause Danks was with us. Griffey

by kokopelli on Nov 12, 2008 11:35 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

somehow my post froze. that was strange

those over on southsidesox have pretty much said the same thing about Griffey.

Somebody tell Jeff over at LL that it would be a foolish move by the M’s if they try and go for Griffey

And the trade for Jarrod Wells, and Roy Corcocan for Salty I really have no idea. Long as we don;t trade Laird or TT.

by kokopelli on Nov 12, 2008 11:43 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Stupid blog post by that guy, yah.

But I don’t disagree with the basic premise of his article.

The Mariners would be better off as a team long term if they dealt Ichiro.

He’s super beloved there, though. How would that fan base react to Ichiro being dealt? I can’t imagine it’d be good.

The 40 Trumps All!!!

MVP votes are the new OBP.

by thedirkatron on Nov 13, 2008 12:17 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Pitchforks would be involved.

I don’t think they’d be better long-term trading Ichiro, especially if it involves replacing him with Adam Dunn.

J.K.L.

by acblue on Nov 13, 2008 1:30 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Well, no, not if it means signing Adam Dunn.

I was talking more about a complete rebuild being the best option in Seattle.

Trade Ichiro and Beltre for the best package of young players you can get. Wait and see if Bedard and Putz can rebuild some value this season and deal them the second a good offer comes along.

Also I would actually see who bites on King Felix. That team could use a hot beef injection of young talent and Felix would bring back a crazy package. You could maybe even combo him with a crumby contract like Silva and still get a good package back.

That team needs to be strip mined, imo.

But hopefully they’ll just keep trying to plug holes year-to-year and never be good again. Cause eff those guys, that’s why.

The 40 Trumps All!!!

MVP votes are the new OBP.

by thedirkatron on Nov 13, 2008 1:36 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Felix

No way they trade him. If they blow it up that’s the one guy they’d keep I would think.

Fire Todd Dodge. Seriously. Back to Suckville with a loss to FLA ATL but whatever, SUCK IT WESTERN KENTUCKY! 1-9 baby!

by sprite on Nov 13, 2008 1:43 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I don't think they'll deal him, either.

But I’m saying I think the best course of action for them if they want to win in the future is to blow it up and Felix is their most attractive piece.

I’d certainly look into it.

I can’t even begin to guess at what sort of package it’d take to land F-Her.

The 40 Trumps All!!!

MVP votes are the new OBP.

by thedirkatron on Nov 13, 2008 1:46 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

One thing's for certain

It would be way more talent than you’d ever want to deal to a division rival.

"I would say that our gaping hole isn’t nearly as gaping as the A’s hole [was] or Mariner’s would be." - tyd3311

by lonestarJon on Nov 13, 2008 1:49 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yah, I don't think they trade him to us anyhow.

But you would get some crazy offers for a guy like F-Her.

The kind of offers that could turn a crumby franchise like Seattle around.

The 40 Trumps All!!!

MVP votes are the new OBP.

by thedirkatron on Nov 13, 2008 1:57 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Isn't Bedard likely to start the season on the DL

I just love that trade for Seattle.

By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw

by Gdawg on Nov 13, 2008 10:16 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Best case scenario on Bedard has him being ready for ST.

Worst case (based on what is currently known) has him missing April. That was one of the stupidest trades in MLB history.

J.K.L.

by acblue on Nov 13, 2008 5:31 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

The idea that the Mariners need a complete and total teardown is prevalent, but I don't think it's all that accurate.

Ichiro is most likely going to be a very valuable player for another four years or so, and I think the Mariners are more than capable of competing within that time. And Ichiro’s value to the franchise surpasses his contribution on the field.

J.K.L.

by acblue on Nov 13, 2008 5:30 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

While we're talking about the Mariners...

I think they have some intriguing chips to deal, if the Rangers made the right offer. I personally don’t think Felix is going anywhere, but Bedard is eminently available. Some question as to how many games he’d feel like starting, but I think he could be had for Max Ramirez, Andrus or Vallejo, and a lower level pitcher. I wonder, too, if Morrow could be had? I think he’d make a great closer, if not a starter, and the Rangers seem to have a need in that area. To me, it seems like CJ is a great setup guy who just doesn’t have the makeup or command to close.

by sggut95 on Nov 13, 2008 6:47 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Again

why would they trade Morrow?

Doesn’t that defeat the purpose?

"He’s basically told himself unconsciously that he can’t be any good unless he catches 130 games a year. If he played with the baseball smarts of a guy like a David Eckstein, he’d maximize his talent and be an incredible player." - Andy Seiler, Texas Rangers Analyst

by Chase Irwin on Nov 13, 2008 8:45 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yah, they're not trading Morrow

The only way you’re going to get him away from the M’s is by sending a squad of SEALS to kidnap him in the dead of night. He and Felix are about all they’ve got going for themselves right now.

"I would say that our gaping hole isn’t nearly as gaping as the A’s hole [was] or Mariner’s would be." - tyd3311

by lonestarJon on Nov 13, 2008 9:23 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs