up until the last week or two, they were on pace for something in the high 90s, which is

I still think there could be some change of the shape of the distribution of records over the season, which would probably amount to a pretty interesting historical study. Obviously early in the year, you’ll have strange things (lots of teams on pace for over 100 wins or 100 losses), which will settle down as sample sizes get bigger.

But how predictive overall are records at the ASB? 100 games isn’t that much smaller a statistical sample than 162. Obviously there would some correlation of pre-and post-ASB records, but does one tend to over or under predict the other?

I have no idea. Maybe if I get bored and feel like figuring out how to parse retrosheet data into Matlab one day.

I made a bet with some girl friends out in California before the first series we swept them in that if we won the season series, they had to buy a ticket out to Texas…if they win it, I have to go out to SoCal. Either way, I think I win…but it’d be nice if they’re the ones buying plane tickets

seems to be stating that Michael Young is playing bad third base right now . So I don’t see how Cal Ripken’s thoughts are relevant.

The trades are all JD in my opinion. Some good, some bad, some OK at the time. As far as FA contract offers it’s probably a collaboration between the interests of the club and financial interests.

The thing about MY is that you were dealing with FOTF. That decision probably had a good deal to do with concern of casual fan backlash should the Rangers not hold on to FOTF. There might have been influences in that contract that had very little to do with whether MY could provide league average production through the life of that contract. That said, we’re all talking out of our asses (you included) when it comes to why a decision was made except for the fact that Hicks thought MY was FOTF.

As an aside, the Rangers made a very reasonable bid for Dice-K but were completely blown out of the water by a bid from left field (have you seen his performance lately?). I’m also glad the Rangers didn’t outbid for Hunter or Zito.

I’m gonna go ahead and presume that the contract was not JD’s idea. That was, in my opinion, purely Hicks’ idea.

Now JD negotiated the contract and it was probably a case where he was between MY wanting to go and Hicks wanting him to stay at all costs (since losing MY and Tex at once would be PR suicide) and that’s why the contract was as bad as it is.

And of course this is all supposition whereas your statements are all supposition as well

if Young is not making plays that Elvis is making, that obvious helps Elvis’s fielding scores, but does it hurt Young’s?

Because from my perspective, I don’t care if Young isn’t making plays that Elvis makes.

His reactions have been poor this year, so he lines up closer to the line to give himself a better chance at a shot down the chalk.

over at BBTiA with both +/- and UZR:
http://www.bbtia.com/the-clubhouse/2009/6/22/rangers-defensive-barometer-june-22nd-edition.html

I’ve ever seen ab post a gif.

I figured I could throw it out there a few more times, though.

You dont get it.

how guys who made gobs of money were able to piss it away.

I gotta believe wives and ex-wives are near the top of the list.

the local little league district has a “tournament of stars” to be able to get more kids on postseason rosters than would be possible with the all-star tournament. The TOS teams from here play TOS teams from other cities within the district, and the winner gets a little banner and bragging rights but doesn’t advance to another tournament like the all-star tournament winners do.