Saturday a.m. Rangers things
by Adam J. Morris on Apr 3, 2010 10:27 AM CDT
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PrintTwo more days to go before Opening Day. I'm fired up. For those who didn't read the FanPost where everyone was offering their guesses for the A.L. West, I have the Rangers finishing in 2nd place with 88 wins, behind the 90 win Angels, who get a boost in late July when they trade Brandon Wood, Hank Conger and Mike Trout to the M's for Cliff Lee.
Jeff Wilson writes that, while the team had a lousy spring record, the Rangers' intensity and performance improved over the latter part of camp, with the result being that the team is peaking at the right time and ready to hit the regular season in stride. I hope he's right...
C.J. Wilson looked terrific yesterday, allowing no hits during his 5 inning stint. I was a doubter about the conversion of Wilson to the rotation -- I felt he'd be an okay starter, but a #4/#5 caliber guy. But if he pitches this season like he did yesterday...
Opening Day starter Scott Feldman agreed to a contract extension through 2012, with a club option for 2013. At $4.4 million for 2011, $6.5 million for 2012, and a $9.25 million option for 2013 (with a $660,000 buyout), this is a reasonable deal for both sides, I think...and it indicates that the Rangers don't view Feldman as a flash-in-the-pan, but as someone they feel should be a reliable starter going forward.
Joey Matches has an in-depth examination of the Feldman extension at BBTiA.
T.R. Sullivan says that Feldman and the Rangers are feeling confident about things for Opening Day.
The S-T's notes talk about Elvis Andrus and Nelson Cruz, who were scratched last night because of injuries (but expected to be good to go on Monday), and Chris Davis, who, according to Ron Washington, will not be platooned.
Luis Mendoza was sent to the Royals for cash considerations. Although it was expected, I'm still sad. If he can ever get to where he can consistently command his two-seamer, he can be a quality major league pitcher. That's a huge "if," though.
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First
Exhibition game in Arlington was great!
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"When you have a weapon on your shoulder like he has, you can be cool." RW on Perez
And the little bastard threw it for a swinging strike three in a 3-2 count. He’s blessed. And ballsy.
Second
Game should be even better!
I am Jurickson Profar son of judeska and chesmond.. And I was born ready! ready to play baseball!!- Jurickson Profar 2/15/2010
First ever LSB iPad post?
Perhaps.
I am Jurickson Profar son of judeska and chesmond.. And I was born ready! ready to play baseball!!- Jurickson Profar 2/15/2010
You like it?
I thought about getting one, but didn’t really see much use for it.
"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg
Still just messing around with it so far.
It’s basically just a toy for me, not much more than that.
I am Jurickson Profar son of judeska and chesmond.. And I was born ready! ready to play baseball!!- Jurickson Profar 2/15/2010
Yeah that's why I didn't bother getting one
Don’t really need another gadget toy.
I’m waiting to see what can be done with it via hack’s etc
"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg
Multitasking would be a good start.
"There's not a man alive who can whup me. I'm too fast. I'm too smart. I'm too pretty. I should be a postage stamp. That's the only way I'll ever get licked." --Muhammad Ali
OS 4.0 is supposed to have a form of multitasking on it.
I am Jurickson Profar son of judeska and chesmond.. And I was born ready! ready to play baseball!!- Jurickson Profar 2/15/2010
Until it has multitasking...
…it’s a no go for us. There were a couple of other issues, but that’s the big one so far. The main thing I’m excited about is the idea that Apple has entered the market because I’m hoping other companies follow suit and make something better.
If Brad Pitt is playing Beane who do you want playing you?
JD: Eddie Guardado.
by GhettoBear04 on Apr 3, 2010 11:26 AM CDT up reply actions
I really don't know why Apple wouldn't have multitasking already on it.
It’s stupid to think you can’t listen to Pandora while surfing the web. With that said, I am sure they will have multitasking available soon or someone will figure out a way around it.
"There's not a man alive who can whup me. I'm too fast. I'm too smart. I'm too pretty. I should be a postage stamp. That's the only way I'll ever get licked." --Muhammad Ali
You can definitely listen to music while doing other things.
I am Jurickson Profar son of judeska and chesmond.. And I was born ready! ready to play baseball!!- Jurickson Profar 2/15/2010
That's good to hear.
How do you like it without Flash?
"There's not a man alive who can whup me. I'm too fast. I'm too smart. I'm too pretty. I should be a postage stamp. That's the only way I'll ever get licked." --Muhammad Ali
I like it a lot.
The keyboard is going to take some getting used to, and I hate nit having a Z key accessible for this board…
I am Jurickson Profar son of judeska and chesmond.. And I was born ready! ready to play baseball!!- Jurickson Profar 2/15/2010
you know
this might not be you but i will never understand the people who hope that apple products fail.
if you don’t like it, don’t buy it. but i don’t really understand the point of making fun of it, especially when you haven’t actually used one.
I didn’t think i’d like the iphone since it was so feature poor compared to windows mobile phones. then I realized it was faster, brighter, more responsive and a pleasure to use and made those htc’s look like pieces of crap regardless of whether they had removable batteries and add on memory chips (and I had used WM phones for a while).
I’m going to give apple the benefit of the doubt here. If that screen is responsive enough and the thing is easy to hold in the hand, flash isn’t going to matter a whole lot.
""It was a ball, dude," Davis said. "I don’t swing at balls anymore." -CD
lol.
I have had a Macbook pro for about 3 years which I love and I love the IPhone (don’t like forking over $30 a month for their data plan but that’s on at&t).
"There's not a man alive who can whup me. I'm too fast. I'm too smart. I'm too pretty. I should be a postage stamp. That's the only way I'll ever get licked." --Muhammad Ali
Iphone
I love the phone itself but at&t coverage freaking blows goats.
The lack of flash kinda stinks, but if more sites used html5 it wouldnt be as much of a problem.
"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg
You can unlock and use on any GSM carrier pretty cheap.
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"When you have a weapon on your shoulder like he has, you can be cool." RW on Perez
And the little bastard threw it for a swinging strike three in a 3-2 count. He’s blessed. And ballsy.
im stuck on an at&t contract
i do like visual voicemail though, and being able to be on a call and browse the web.
but the data coverage is damn spotty, i had no data at the ballpark in frisco today even though it was full bars 3g
"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg
I've never had a problem with 3G coverage
…unless I’m way the hell out in the middle of nowhere. Use it all the time in Frisco and near the ballpark, too. Maybe they had an equipment problem.
I did have to reboot the phone about a week ago, though….it wouldn’t pick up data or wifi.
by Black Francis on Apr 3, 2010 8:43 PM CDT up reply actions
multitasking
i’m not sure it needs multitasking. Even though it has some productivity software, i think this should be thought of as a badass e-reader and net surfer.
You don’t really need multitasking for those two things
""It was a ball, dude," Davis said. "I don’t swing at balls anymore." -CD
Agreed.
Hot dogs and 24 oz beer. Yay for having St. Arnold’s Lawnmower!
If Brad Pitt is playing Beane who do you want playing you?
JD: Eddie Guardado.
by GhettoBear04 on Apr 3, 2010 11:28 AM CDT up reply actions
I had grilled salmon, spinach parmesan alfredo, and brussels sprouts with a few IPAs
Did it still count?
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"When you have a weapon on your shoulder like he has, you can be cool." RW on Perez
And the little bastard threw it for a swinging strike three in a 3-2 count. He’s blessed. And ballsy.
Ummm...
I guess as long as you had IPAs and not wine…
If Brad Pitt is playing Beane who do you want playing you?
JD: Eddie Guardado.
by GhettoBear04 on Apr 3, 2010 11:37 AM CDT up reply actions
Sierra Nevada, in fact
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"When you have a weapon on your shoulder like he has, you can be cool." RW on Perez
And the little bastard threw it for a swinging strike three in a 3-2 count. He’s blessed. And ballsy.
IPA or Pale Ale?
either way, you’re good to go
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Apr 3, 2010 6:14 PM CDT up reply actions
That was the best surprise of the year last year...
I LOVE me some Lawnmower.
"You'll meet them again on their long journey to the middle." -Lester Bangs
Yeah, all St. Arnold's beers do that.
It’s a Houston brewer and the best brewery in Texas in my opinion. Their Oktoberfest and Lawnmower Ale are really good.
If Brad Pitt is playing Beane who do you want playing you?
JD: Eddie Guardado.
by GhettoBear04 on Apr 3, 2010 12:50 PM CDT up reply actions
have you been to Franconia?
I toured Rahr two weeks before the roof collapsed…
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Apr 3, 2010 6:14 PM CDT up reply actions
The summer Pilsner is better imo
"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg
Ain't I great?
lol
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"When you have a weapon on your shoulder like he has, you can be cool." RW on Perez
And the little bastard threw it for a swinging strike three in a 3-2 count. He’s blessed. And ballsy.
Lolwut?
the addition of utility infielder Ryan Garko
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"When you have a weapon on your shoulder like he has, you can be cool." RW on Perez
And the little bastard threw it for a swinging strike three in a 3-2 count. He’s blessed. And ballsy.
Really?
Although it was expected, I’m still sad.
You are kidding right?
The bloggerformelyknownasBigBaddBubbaJ
/Mike E?
"Jurick Profar is tired of practice!! I wanna play I wanna play….waiting for march 12 to go to spring training! to kill some pichers:D:D I am Jurickson Profar son of judeska and chesmond.. And I was born ready! ready to play baseball!!" - Jurickson Profar
Re: CJ
But if he pitches this season like he did yesterday…
Speaking of big “ifs…”
I am Jurickson Profar son of judeska and chesmond.. And I was born ready! ready to play baseball!!- Jurickson Profar 2/15/2010
He was outstanding last night
And like his quotes say, he was pacing himself. I saw a bunch of 90-ish pitches and then Blammo!, here comes 95 when he needed it. I like that.
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"When you have a weapon on your shoulder like he has, you can be cool." RW on Perez
And the little bastard threw it for a swinging strike three in a 3-2 count. He’s blessed. And ballsy.
He has also been excellent
for about three starts, not just one. As I mentioned the other day, his stuff was fantastic the previous time out.
by Brett Perryman on Apr 3, 2010 11:15 AM CDT up reply actions
If he comes anywhere near his spring training
this will be a great success.
"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg
Yeah.
I read that he was great the past few times out, but actually seeing it last night. He seemed to carry the same intensity of a BP session late into his outing. I wasn’t paying much attention to the gun, but the results seemed to be there.
I was against this move at first because I didn’t think that CJ would be able to be a solid No. 3 pitcher for the duration of the year. The duration is still in question, but it seems like he’s answered questions about his ability as a starter.
If Brad Pitt is playing Beane who do you want playing you?
JD: Eddie Guardado.
by GhettoBear04 on Apr 3, 2010 11:25 AM CDT up reply actions
so excited
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Apr 3, 2010 6:15 PM CDT up reply actions
Ceej says his physical health is better than ever
His arm is feeling much better going on 4 days rest, and he is not laboring at all over the course of multiple innings. He trained off season with Lolo Jones of all people and it really took his conditioning to another level
we're from Texas
CJ says "Relax"
I'm fired up about Wilson
I am very pleased that he took the bull by the horns and made the most of this opportunity. If he can remain this focused through the year I expect a solid #3.
Freude, schoener Goetterfunken,
Tochter aus Elysium,
Wir betreten feuertrunken,
Himmlische dein Heiligtum.
Granted last night was only the Royals
But if he pitches like that a majority of the season he will make everyone look like idiots for doubting him
And frankly I will be ecstatic if that happens
Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.
yep
Only the royals, but unless my memory is failing me it was five innings of no-hit ball with one walk and five or six K’s. And nothing was down the middle of the plate so I don’t think a better hitting team could’ve done much better. Of course they didn’t need to do much better because the Rangers still haven’t shown the ability to hit. But oh well.
by Black Francis on Apr 3, 2010 1:59 PM CDT up reply actions
4Ks, 2 BBs
One to Yuniescky Betancourt on 4 pitches which is unacceptable but overall it was a amazing start
Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.
That was so odd, completely out of no where.
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"When you have a weapon on your shoulder like he has, you can be cool." RW on Perez
And the little bastard threw it for a swinging strike three in a 3-2 count. He’s blessed. And ballsy.
Probably figured Yuni would chase atleast one
I mean hell that was the guy’s 2nd walk of the spring or something.
I was probably the only loser here who didn't watch last night's game.
"Jurick Profar is tired of practice!! I wanna play I wanna play….waiting for march 12 to go to spring training! to kill some pichers:D:D I am Jurickson Profar son of judeska and chesmond.. And I was born ready! ready to play baseball!!" - Jurickson Profar
Nah, I Gameday'd most of it
Look at the comments under Jeff Wilson's blog post on dallasnews.com. What a bunch of rocket scientists.- Keith Law
Curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal!
I missed it because the MLB site was crapping out
and it wasn’t on TV here in Austin.
They don't televise...
Rangers ST games in Salt Lake.
So nope, you’re not the only one.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
Dan Shaughnessy
While baseball is played on green grass in fresh-air stadiums, an army of geeks will be holed up in their basements, under a naked light bulb, crunching numbers and finding new equations to measure something that simply can’t be quantified.
- He’s letting the sunlight shine on your lyin’ numbers.
The comments for this are pretty great
by Brett Perryman on Apr 3, 2010 11:17 AM CDT up reply actions
The internet is how old
and the best these hacks can do is still ‘in the basement’?
Look at the comments under Jeff Wilson's blog post on dallasnews.com. What a bunch of rocket scientists.- Keith Law
Curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal!
Also, this
Bill Russell never lost an NBA Finals seventh game, Olympic game, or NCAA Tournament game, but I shudder to think how he would fare if the crunchers tried to compute his UZR, Plus/Minus, Win-Share quotient, or Defensive Efficiency Rating.
is compound fucktardery with slight shitonthebrainedness. Who can make sense of this? Why in god’s name would we use UZR or plus minus on a goddamned NBA center? Did he moonlight as a LF and no one told me?
Pete Sampras was good at tennis, but his OBP sucked. Richard Petty was good at racercars, but he couldn’t get a first down on 3rd and short to save his life.
Why is this man allowed to write? And why does anyone pay him to do so?
Look at the comments under Jeff Wilson's blog post on dallasnews.com. What a bunch of rocket scientists.- Keith Law
Curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal!
It's a mind-numbingly stupid column
But I think you’re missing the point on this one. It’s just an analogy. I would assume he used it because Russell is a huge figure in Boston sports and, more importantly, he couldn’t think of a defensive stud in baseball.
by brettgardner on Apr 3, 2010 11:34 AM CDT up reply actions
The last point is probably the truest
But it does serve to highlight how stupid, inane, and poorly written that article is. And I just can’t accept that a professional writer is that stupid, even after being subjected to Randy Galloway for two decades. Is he trolling sabremetricians intentionally?
The sad thing is there’s a decent article to be written on the subject, from several angles.
Look at the comments under Jeff Wilson's blog post on dallasnews.com. What a bunch of rocket scientists.- Keith Law
Curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal!
"Is he trolling sabremetricians intentionally?"
gots to be – this was intended to get hits and reads
I'm pretty sure all he does is troll.
He’s an absolutely ridiculous writer.
For those that don’t know, he’s the one that invented the “Curse of the Bambino.”
He's also the infamous "Curly Haired Boyfriend" of fellow hack Gordon Edes
I think Carl Everett was the one who coined that, come to think of it, but Curt Schilling loved using it.
Shaughnessy is worthless.
"Dying ain't hard. It’s living in the wake of a thorough public humiliation that’s hard.--JDT217
OT, but in one of those posts:
This is a criticism we here at FJM get a lot — anonymity. With us, since we’re bitching about things, I see the validity. We stay anonymous for several reasons, most of them having to do with our real jobs (I am at my desk right now, as I type this).
The first time I read that I actually believed “Ken Tremendous” was just some nobody writing from somewhere in Kansas (not that I actually thought it was the company he claimed). Looking at it now it’s kind of hilarious.
I had the same reaction
Then, once he revealed his true identity, I read everything while picturing Mose Schrute.
"Dying ain't hard. It’s living in the wake of a thorough public humiliation that’s hard.--JDT217
Whoa...
I remember the when it was unveiled that Ken Tremendous was a writer for The Office, but he also played the part of Mose?
Wow… I’m amazed. Just can’t picture that in my head at all.
Was :(
And not only are we worse off for not having FJM, The Office has seen a sharp decline since he left.
Damn you Parks and Recreation!
Look at the comments under Jeff Wilson's blog post on dallasnews.com. What a bunch of rocket scientists.- Keith Law
Curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal!
No joke
"Dying ain't hard. It’s living in the wake of a thorough public humiliation that’s hard.--JDT217
And given that contributing to an independent blog cost Drew Magary his day job
It was a good call.
Also, I’d like to take this opportunity to remind everyone that Mike Wilbon is a gigantic flaming assbag.
Look at the comments under Jeff Wilson's blog post on dallasnews.com. What a bunch of rocket scientists.- Keith Law
Curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal!
I don't feel like looking it up
But I recall him spearheading the effort to get Magary fired.
Now, I’m no huge Magary fan (although some of the KSK skits are high quality) but I hate that he got canned for making dick jokes off the clock, anonymously.
Plus, on the Bissinger V. Leitch episode of Costas’ show, Wilbon put up some lame, assholey defense of columnists vs bloggers. I clearly remember him saying that bloggers shouldn’t be taken seriously because they don’t have credentials.
Look at the comments under Jeff Wilson's blog post on dallasnews.com. What a bunch of rocket scientists.- Keith Law
Curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal!
I thought it was that Washington Post guy who got fired.
In any case, I think that site and its contributors are aggressively unfunny—7th grade-level humor.
And if Wilbon gave a blanket statement, then maybe he’s wrong, but I wouldn’t take a guy whose every other word is “fuck” or “cunt” seriously, either.
You're right, it was Micheal Tunison, not Drew Magary
Same site, different writers, very similar dick jokes.
Look at the comments under Jeff Wilson's blog post on dallasnews.com. What a bunch of rocket scientists.- Keith Law
Curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal!
Yeah I don't see the fascination with KSK
It’s no FJM, thats for sure.
"Dying ain't hard. It’s living in the wake of a thorough public humiliation that’s hard.--JDT217
Oh my god, this guy works for us?
You’ve got to watch a guy for three or four games. Last year they said [Derek] Jeter was slowing down. Well, sure, his arm in the hole is not what it used to be, but I’ll still take him every time.
I’m hoping JD doesn’t listen to him too often for much of anything.
Yeah, that was annoying
Freude, schoener Goetterfunken,
Tochter aus Elysium,
Wir betreten feuertrunken,
Himmlische dein Heiligtum.
it's like anything negative is automatically
related to the Rangers now. ridiculous. these kind of statements suck
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings.
He needs to read this. Actually, everyone should
good article on the 3 best defensive measurements out there right now, Dewan’s stuff, UZR and Pinto’s Probabilistic Model of Range. I did not realize this:
John Dewan hires only former college or professional players and trains them to chart games via video and record the specific characteristics of every batted ball. "By gosh, there is nobody in the country who watches more games than our people,’’ Dewan said. "I can’t stress that enough. We can get down to the pixel to make a determination.’’
How can anyone not respect the hell out of that kind of effort? Stupid insecure columnists.
Freude, schoener Goetterfunken,
Tochter aus Elysium,
Wir betreten feuertrunken,
Himmlische dein Heiligtum.
That's the thing.
If you break down plus/minus, it’s pretty much intensified scouting of every single play put down in an objectified, numerical format that people can understand and read.
I don’t really understand how anyone doesn’t see that as a really sensible approach.
it endangers these old columnists stuck in their ways
they can’t just say “this guy is great defensively” anymore because the people now have this type of information at their fingertips. His role influencing the ‘stupid’ of the world is diminishing, but there will always be a market for him, if anything to buzz up a hornet’s nest of response from a terrible article.
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings.
My biggest stumbling block
is that I want stats that I can calculate myself. I can’t calculate +/- or UZR because I can’t watch every single play. I fully realize that this is irrational, and that I am wrong, but it’s still a stumbling block for me.
meta-signature
There is something to be said
about being able to duplicate information givin to someone.
Otherwise you just have to believe what you are told, and thats the very thing saber fans are going against.
"My expectations today are that we're going to be extremely competitive and if we don't win our division, I'll be disappointed." Nolan Ryan
Unfortunately that's difficult to do for fielding metrics.
But obviously that’s the same thing for scouting, as well.
Hopefully Field F/X will happen and change that a little.
honestly, if you are a really big baseball fan and watch your team play every game
I am pretty sure you will come close to understaning who on your team is good and bad at defense. The problem is that the media and other so called baseball experts watch a guy once a year or just go on reputations and fielding % and say he is a great defender when he is not.
I could have easily told you that Cruz and Hamilton were both really good in the OF last year, that was easy. Same with know that Andrus, Kniz, and Vizquel were well above average. I could have told you that with the eye test. Same with Mike Young at 3B, I would have easily known he was below average and that he could not get to a ball hit his left.
So in some way, if you really are a dedicated fan who isn’t easily swayed by just one or two plays, you can pretty much give a close assesment to what some of these systems are saying. These systems are giving us a definitive number to our subjective opinions and are very helpful in coming close to measuring the value of it.
Feliz says his greatest thrill was striking out Boston Red Sox DH David Ortiz, one of his heroes. Yet, when he called to tell his parents, his mother had a request: Strike out New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, too.
"So when I did that," Feliz says, "I told my mom, 'There you go. There's your present. Don't ask me to strike anyone else out, OK?'
"I am pretty sure you will come close to understaning who on your team is good and bad at defense."
I think the major issue comes from not having an understanding of how good or bad they are in relation to most players. You don’t see enough baseball to have a firm clue on what average is and how that baseline relates to your guy.
Said it better than i could
Thanks.
And without being able to eyeball the rest of the league, or reproduce the stats being used, it puts ppl who only want to use what they know/can replicate not wanting to trust fielding stats 100%.
I dont have this problem as im just a casual fan.
"My expectations today are that we're going to be extremely competitive and if we don't win our division, I'll be disappointed." Nolan Ryan
no, not at all honestly. I love both ways of doing things
I love the defensive stats, I love stating that such and such player is this much better than such and such player at defense. W/O them, I am totally grasping in the wind to try and explain what I am seeing with my eyes and using my years of baseball and watching and playing to evaluate that definitely seem to be true, but now with them, I can A.) refine and correct my eye as I am watching the games to pay more attention to a player who I was misjudging and B.) actually back up what I am seeing with real numbers.
Its really just a matter of some fans simply being casual, some fans being stubborn, some media people being stupid and lazy, while others actually love baseball and want to learn as much informative stuff about that they can so they actually open their eyes and see the usefulness of this stuff.
Feliz says his greatest thrill was striking out Boston Red Sox DH David Ortiz, one of his heroes. Yet, when he called to tell his parents, his mother had a request: Strike out New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, too.
"So when I did that," Feliz says, "I told my mom, 'There you go. There's your present. Don't ask me to strike anyone else out, OK?'
Yes, thats very true
but at the same time, I have watched baseball for longer than just this year and have played it and been around it all my life, so in that sense I have an understanding as to what plays should be made and should not be made… as do most die hard, lifelong fans. Now, I have absolutely zero ways to equate the value of this guys defensive value and thats when it becomes crucial to compare it the rest of the league. Then, you can start actually putting values and marking a definitive neutral value line. That helps a ton, and without it, I am completely unarmed to say anything of substantial value about a players defensive value. However, that still does not change the fact that I can see with my eye and non-definitively say that this or that player is a pretty good defensive player or just a plain poor defensive player after watching them play for 162 games. The informed opinions of a trained baseball fans eye who is being somewhat subjective can generally say on which side of the scale a player falls on, now is that all that helpful to us who actually want to value and measure a players ability? No, not at all really… But, it is tied to the fact that stats are often reinforcing very visual and seen things, although, we often have to remove our own preconcieved notions and pre-determined opinions before we can see them to be true with our own two eyes.
From personal experience, after hearing a bunch of whining about Cruz’s routes to balls last year and how he wasn’t really that great defensively from some sources, I was kind of at odds; I was like, yea, I see how he does sometimes do that, but heck, he’s really fast for a big RF and has a cannon arm, I think he’s a pretty good RF. Also, I mean, I see him make some really nice running plays and tracking down balls that looked like where going to be hits, I wonder how good he actually is defensively. So about halfway through last year, I go over to fangraphs and see his UZR is really good and then my eyes start to really notice the times he runs and covers a ton of ground in the Right Center gap. Repeatedly taking balls that I thought could have been a hit off the bat and making outs out of them. I also went to alot of games last year, so that helped me when I was watching him play defense. So, in a very real way, I think you can really use the numbers both to reinforce what you already knew, sharpening those previous thoughts to make out actual physical valuations, and also, take what previous bias’ and hold them against them to remove and wrong ones so that you can watch the game with more clarity.
I only want these stats if they help me enjoy the game more honestly, otherwise, I can’t really call myself a fan. I love these stats because thats what they do, I enjoy the game more because I see it more clearly.
Feliz says his greatest thrill was striking out Boston Red Sox DH David Ortiz, one of his heroes. Yet, when he called to tell his parents, his mother had a request: Strike out New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, too.
"So when I did that," Feliz says, "I told my mom, 'There you go. There's your present. Don't ask me to strike anyone else out, OK?'
WTF, can you calculate the rotational velocity of the planet?
Or do you think the clouds and sun are spinning around us people?
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"When you have a weapon on your shoulder like he has, you can be cool." RW on Perez
And the little bastard threw it for a swinging strike three in a 3-2 count. He’s blessed. And ballsy.
This would most certainty improve the defensive metrics...
Dewan plans to add a batted-ball timer to his adjustments and all involved are eager for Major League Baseball to install 19 high-speed cameras in every ballpark that will track the movements of every fielder.
"There's not a man alive who can whup me. I'm too fast. I'm too smart. I'm too pretty. I should be a postage stamp. That's the only way I'll ever get licked." --Muhammad Ali
I thought this was supposed to be the year for that.
by Black Francis on Apr 3, 2010 2:01 PM CDT up reply actions
I think
the article says that they are suppose to have that in place by next year.
"There's not a man alive who can whup me. I'm too fast. I'm too smart. I'm too pretty. I should be a postage stamp. That's the only way I'll ever get licked." --Muhammad Ali
That's what they said last year.
Bastards. I don’t trust any of you peoples’ stats that much until the batted ball is tracked. WE HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY.
by Black Francis on Apr 3, 2010 8:47 PM CDT up reply actions
Nope
they’re watching too many of the games in their mom’s basements, rather than under the blue sky.
by Brett Perryman on Apr 3, 2010 4:19 PM CDT up reply actions
What did he say?
I’ve largely stopped reading Simmons after he started mailing it in.
"Dying ain't hard. It’s living in the wake of a thorough public humiliation that’s hard.--JDT217
Finally Joining The (stat) Revolution
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"When you have a weapon on your shoulder like he has, you can be cool." RW on Perez
And the little bastard threw it for a swinging strike three in a 3-2 count. He’s blessed. And ballsy.
yea, it was great
Feliz says his greatest thrill was striking out Boston Red Sox DH David Ortiz, one of his heroes. Yet, when he called to tell his parents, his mother had a request: Strike out New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, too.
"So when I did that," Feliz says, "I told my mom, 'There you go. There's your present. Don't ask me to strike anyone else out, OK?'
Um...Arias why?
Andres Blanco is your Opening Day second baseman, Manager Ron Washington said Joaquin Arias will likely start Wednesday’s second game.
- Anthony Andro
respice adspice prospice
I'm begging you, Mr. Daniels.
Your manager is doing stupid things. PLEASE MAKE HIM STOP! Just get rid of Arias so he can’t use him.
the get rid of Wash. he really is this stupid
he’ll probably bat Arias in the leadoff spot too
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings.
Yet another reason
I give the Angels a small edge over us down the stretch.
"I don't condone steroids or any other type of growth hormones or anything else, but I could care less, and, for the most part, I don't think the fans give a (bleep). The people that care about it are the people that probably don't like baseball," - Jim Leyland
because Arias is awesome.
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Apr 3, 2010 6:16 PM CDT up reply actions
I think I had a heart attack just looking at the picture
"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg
.
The buzz is that it’s got more than an entire day’s worth of the recommended allowance for fat, cholesterol, sodium and protein, according to an analysis in the Vancouver Sun.
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"When you have a weapon on your shoulder like he has, you can be cool." RW on Perez
And the little bastard threw it for a swinging strike three in a 3-2 count. He’s blessed. And ballsy.
Replacement heart valves?
Just kidding, I’m going to have to try one.
And then make a better one by myself at home.
Look at the comments under Jeff Wilson's blog post on dallasnews.com. What a bunch of rocket scientists.- Keith Law
Curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal!
huffingtonpost wrote about it Aug 24, 2009
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"When you have a weapon on your shoulder like he has, you can be cool." RW on Perez
And the little bastard threw it for a swinging strike three in a 3-2 count. He’s blessed. And ballsy.
So how many innings can we expect from C.J. this year?
And will they do anything to limit him? I mean he only pitiched about 70 innings last year, right?
Football=Fling... Baseball=Relationship
Yeah, but...
…he’s been relieving a couple years. So I don’t think the normal x+30 IP formula applies here. I just don’t know how high he could go. Earlier, I felt like you couldn’t expect more than 140-150 IP considering last year’s IP, but I’m just don’t know if there’s enough data points for this situation to make a decent projection.
If Brad Pitt is playing Beane who do you want playing you?
JD: Eddie Guardado.
by GhettoBear04 on Apr 3, 2010 11:36 AM CDT up reply actions
I think you can look at Scott Feldman as an example
He pitched 69 innings between Texas and OKC in 2007 and then went to 163.2 IP in 2008 (between Texas and Frisco). Since CJ has had more time to prepare for the transition to the rotation, he might be given a little bit of a longer leash if he is still pitching strong.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
"I am one of the biggest Texas Ranger fans out there but I'm also one of the smartest. Deal with it."
-The Outlaw
Makes it look like Elvis has a Do Not Enter sign in his pants.
I am Jurickson Profar son of judeska and chesmond.. And I was born ready! ready to play baseball!!- Jurickson Profar 2/15/2010
or stuck between his shoulder blades
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings.
x
@BtBScore Quick Take on Feldman Extension http://sbnation.com/e/1167630
"I was going to say, 'You’re gay for Elvis.' But then I realized that I, too, am gay for Elvis." ~Adam J. Morris.
I agree with all of that
Even if Feldman is only middling this is a decent deal.
Freude, schoener Goetterfunken,
Tochter aus Elysium,
Wir betreten feuertrunken,
Himmlische dein Heiligtum.
x
SI_JonHeyman #bluejays gm alex anthopoulos just scored a coup signing adam lind to 4-year, $18-mil deal with 3 club options. 3!!!
"I was going to say, 'You’re gay for Elvis.' But then I realized that I, too, am gay for Elvis." ~Adam J. Morris.
Interested to see what the club options are worth.
"There's not a man alive who can whup me. I'm too fast. I'm too smart. I'm too pretty. I should be a postage stamp. That's the only way I'll ever get licked." --Muhammad Ali
Options
the three options are about $8 mil per year from 2014 to 2016
I'm with COCO!!!
by Baseball North on Apr 3, 2010 2:25 PM CDT up reply actions
talk about cashing in on a good year
Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.
I don't think they should rush him
because the big league club needs to address the catcher situation either at the trade deadline or this offseason which should give Alfaro plenty of time to Boom or Bust
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings.
Awesome OT:
Those who follow Texas BBQ might have heard of the legend of Texas Dan’s BBQ. He’s has a number of columns written about him, including ones in San Fran Gate, Chronicle, Statesman, USA Today, and a shout out on Food Network. What he does is expieriment with BBQ and sell his recipies to companies. If uve ever been to Houstons/Charlestons chain of restraunts and had there pork ribs, that’s him. Or County Lines half rack, that’s his,among many others.
So, Texas Dan is my dad, and he is trying out a new recipe tonight. Its a new way to smoke ribs so that they have a pecan hint with some sweetness to them, like pineapple sweet. He also thinks if it goes right these will be the most tender ribs he has ever made. I can’t even tell you how pumped I am. Combine that with his award winning BBQ sauce, holyshit this is so good.
Just wanted to gloat, carry on! :)
PM Productions - My Work - Song of the Week - Clip of the Week - Rangers Game Streams
"Heres the thing... I made that tape special for today, my special Monday morning tape for you, SPECIAL!
Well it's fucking Monday afternoon you should get out of bed earlier!"
John Cusack and Jack Black, High Fidelity
by FormerLSBUser on Apr 3, 2010 12:31 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
x
congrats
I soloed in the Mile High Club!
oh wow that's really cool, congratulations!
Hell yeh I’ve had Houston’s pork ribs, they’re amazing as well as The County Line’s. I’ve been to the one on 2222 in Austin many times and boy can they do some ribs right. I wish my Dad was a rib guru, of course I’d weigh 500 lbs. but that’s ok.
Now performing in the Mark Holtz room, Elvis sings you ain't nothing but a groundball.
if Texas Dan was my dad I'd be about this size..
Now performing in the Mark Holtz room, Elvis sings you ain't nothing but a groundball.
And I'm jealous.
If Brad Pitt is playing Beane who do you want playing you?
JD: Eddie Guardado.
by GhettoBear04 on Apr 3, 2010 12:53 PM CDT up reply actions
And I'm gonna be his new stalker.
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"When you have a weapon on your shoulder like he has, you can be cool." RW on Perez
And the little bastard threw it for a swinging strike three in a 3-2 count. He’s blessed. And ballsy.
so are you inviting us out for a free tasting?
cause that’d be cool
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Apr 3, 2010 6:20 PM CDT up reply actions
No TV is teh suxxorz.
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"When you have a weapon on your shoulder like he has, you can be cool." RW on Perez
And the little bastard threw it for a swinging strike three in a 3-2 count. He’s blessed. And ballsy.
Btw, MLB at-bat app for iPad = best thing ever.
I am Jurickson Profar son of judeska and chesmond.. And I was born ready! ready to play baseball!!- Jurickson Profar 2/15/2010
BORBON with a single!
Now performing in the Mark Holtz room, Elvis sings you ain't nothing but a groundball.
x
http://www.lonestarball.com/2010/4/3/1403755/radio-only-gdt-4-03
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"When you have a weapon on your shoulder like he has, you can be cool." RW on Perez
And the little bastard threw it for a swinging strike three in a 3-2 count. He’s blessed. And ballsy.
This organization sure seems to go out of their way
to make sure poor widdle Chris Davis doesn’t get his feelings hurt…why not speak the exact truth about why Garko is here instead of sugarcoating it?
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
"The Influence continues." Josey Wales (1/18/10)
Until we see him in a strict platoon then I think what they've been saying has been correct
He is insurance which is pretty much what they’ve been saying
Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.
Our Long National Nighmare Has Ended
Spring training is OVER.
Let the real games Begin!!!
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"When you have a weapon on your shoulder like he has, you can be cool." RW on Perez
And the little bastard threw it for a swinging strike three in a 3-2 count. He’s blessed. And ballsy.
The next
44 hours are going to last forever
by Brett Perryman on Apr 3, 2010 5:09 PM CDT up reply actions
Yes, they will
I refuse to watch Yanks-Sox also.
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"When you have a weapon on your shoulder like he has, you can be cool." RW on Perez
And the little bastard threw it for a swinging strike three in a 3-2 count. He’s blessed. And ballsy.
Thats just a good idea in general
"My expectations today are that we're going to be extremely competitive and if we don't win our division, I'll be disappointed." Nolan Ryan
nah
I’ve got WAY too much to do between now and then to make sure I can leave for the Cowboy Mouth concert on Monday…
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Apr 3, 2010 6:22 PM CDT up reply actions
Is it something to do with chewing tobacco?
That’s kind of gross to visualize.
by Black Francis on Apr 3, 2010 8:49 PM CDT up reply actions
The only song of theirs I've ever heard...
…is called (I think) “Let It Go.”
by Adam J. Morris on Apr 3, 2010 10:15 PM CDT up reply actions
I sure am ready...
for some games that count.
by ghostofErikThompson on Apr 3, 2010 4:41 PM CDT reply actions
But I believe even Adam has said
that if the Rangers don’tt make the playoffs in 2010, then the Jon Daniel’s Experiment has been a Massive Failure and he needs to go.
Looks like he’s signed JD’s Death Certificate.
Glad you’ve seen the light, AJM!
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