Re: The geeks will inherit the earth

[BigbadB]

This is tremendous.

 

Excerpts:

 

And as I do, there’s only one thing I see spoiling the party. One small, nagging turd in the punchbowl, mitigating an otherwise perfect celebration. I’m afraid that if … when … the Sox win it all this year, it will mean total victory has been achieved by that odd, creepy little subculture that lives among us: the Stat Geeks.

 

There’s no escaping this conclusion: the Stat Geeks have quietly and insidiously taken power. Every hot stove report I’ve read this offseason, every article written from Fort Myers, every statement from Sox brass, has the Stat Geeks’ grubby little fingerprints on it. They’re like the Communist Party plotting to take over Hollywood in the 1950s before Ronald Reagan got wise to them and kicked their pinko butts all the way back to Moscow and Harvard Square. Only, instead of trying to write screenplays full of anti-capitalists rants, the Stat Geeks have succeeded in making otherwise normal, decent, God-fearin’ Americans start talking about VORP (Value Over Replacement Player) ratings and UZR (Ultimate Zone Rating) numbers like they really believe in this nonsense.

 

If he says pitching and defense are the keys to victory, who am I to argue? Even if the defense is judged on obscure, impossible-to-understand and largely subjective stats that some pale virgin made up in his mom’s basement, I’ll trust Epstein. That’s why my rubber bracelet says ”WWTED?”

 

But I just can’t feel good about it. Maybe my ever-growing paranoia is exaggerating things, but I can’t shake the feeling the Geeks have taken over the Red Sox, if not all of baseball. And believe me, I think they’re capable of pulling off such a coup. It’s amazing how resourceful and clever these nerds can be when their minds aren’t occupied with anything but their own little obsessions. How do you think Bill Gates got where he is today? It certainly wasn’t from spending his free time at the gym.

 

I don't know if this guy's being serious or satirical, but if it's the former, I'm in awe.

 

http://www.weei.com/sports/boston/baseball/red-sox/jerry-thornton/2010/03/09/geeks-will-inherit-earth?page=0,0

[Eephus Speed]

Let's sum up that piece. Bay has more RBI than Cameron, therefore Bay has more value. And stat geeks don't have any interest in women. Brilliant.

 

It would seem Thornton is about as dense as most mainstream sportswriters.

[bcl412]

Did anyone else see the picture of this guy and not recognize the irony of him ripping on geeks? This has to be satire or a pretty big instance of projection.

[Sammy Sofa]

This has to be satire. At least, I hope it is for this part alone:

 

They’re like the Communist Party plotting to take over Hollywood in the 1950s before Ronald Reagan got wise to them and kicked their pinko butts all the way back to Moscow and Harvard Square. Only, instead of trying to write screenplays full of anti-capitalists rants, the Stat Geeks have succeeded in making otherwise normal, decent, God-fearin’ Americans start talking about VORP (Value Over Replacement Player) ratings and UZR (Ultimate Zone Rating) numbers like they really believe in this nonsense.

[Formerly Snayke]

This is tremendous.

 

Excerpts:

 

And as I do, there’s only one thing I see spoiling the party. One small, nagging turd in the punchbowl, mitigating an otherwise perfect celebration. I’m afraid that if … when … the Sox win it all this year, it will mean total victory has been achieved by that odd, creepy little subculture that lives among us: the Stat Geeks.

 

There’s no escaping this conclusion: the Stat Geeks have quietly and insidiously taken power. Every hot stove report I’ve read this offseason, every article written from Fort Myers, every statement from Sox brass, has the Stat Geeks’ grubby little fingerprints on it. They’re like the Communist Party plotting to take over Hollywood in the 1950s before Ronald Reagan got wise to them and kicked their pinko butts all the way back to Moscow and Harvard Square. Only, instead of trying to write screenplays full of anti-capitalists rants, the Stat Geeks have succeeded in making otherwise normal, decent, God-fearin’ Americans start talking about VORP (Value Over Replacement Player) ratings and UZR (Ultimate Zone Rating) numbers like they really believe in this nonsense.

 

If he says pitching and defense are the keys to victory, who am I to argue? Even if the defense is judged on obscure, impossible-to-understand and largely subjective stats that some pale virgin made up in his mom’s basement, I’ll trust Epstein. That’s why my rubber bracelet says ”WWTED?”

 

But I just can’t feel good about it. Maybe my ever-growing paranoia is exaggerating things, but I can’t shake the feeling the Geeks have taken over the Red Sox, if not all of baseball. And believe me, I think they’re capable of pulling off such a coup. It’s amazing how resourceful and clever these nerds can be when their minds aren’t occupied with anything but their own little obsessions. How do you think Bill Gates got where he is today? It certainly wasn’t from spending his free time at the gym.

 

I don't know if this guy's being serious or satirical, but if it's the former, I'm in awe.

 

http://www.weei.com/sports/boston/baseball/red-sox/jerry-thornton/2010/03/09/geeks-will-inherit-earth?page=0,0

 

You're in awe of an editorial with a stale premise?

[BCVM22]

You're in awe of an editorial with a stale premise?

 

Assuming this guy meant every word, I'm in awe that a turd of this magnitude is actually published by what would ostensibly seem to be a legitimate journalistic outfit.

[Formerly Snayke]

You're in awe of an editorial with a stale premise?

 

Assuming this guy meant every word, I'm in awe that a turd of this magnitude is actually published by what would ostensibly seem to be a legitimate journalistic outfit.

 

Gotcha! I wasn't sure what you were aiming for.

[Geech]

I think it's satire. If this guy meant the things he was saying, he probably would not have used stats like VORP and UZR as examples. He probably would have just used some long jumble of letters, since that's the sort of lame joke crotchety old sportswriters make.

[17 Seconds]

i hate being a geek. i wish i was a baller like him- http://www.weei.com/sites/default/files/pictures/picture-33.jpg

[chuckywang]

i hate being a geek. i wish i was a baller like him- http://www.weei.com/sites/default/files/pictures/picture-33.jpg

 

He must pull in poontang like a tractor beam.

[Guest]

Dude looks like a pale virgin who writes sports articles out of his mom's basement.