snoodmonger

I thought Bags retired. No?

Ken Rosenthal, to Hendry: "Jim, I've heard you may have some interest in trading for Miguel Tejada. Is that true? Have there been any talks on the matter?" Hendry: "Obviously, we like him a lot. And, yes, we've had some prior discussions about Tejada." Rosenthal pulls a muscle running back to his computer. Shortly thereafter, NSBB implodes. nice.

African-American: Barry Bonds Latin American: Albert Pujols I could cite many more examples. Sabermetrics don't care about the race of the player - just raw numbers. There's a stereotype that African-American and Latin American players are too aggressive at the plate (i.e. not talking walks). Can you cite some non-superstar guys? This is not a challenge. I am just trying to see if there is any evidence to back up what I have termed as an very unscientific look. I don't understand the question. How would be citing non-superstar guys help? I guess as follows: I hear the names on non-superstar guys like Wilkerson, Giles, Todd Walker bandied around as valuable under sabermetric theories but not non-superstar player of color. I don't know if that clears it up. Again, I repeat that I am not stating that sabermetrics is racist in any way. According to VORP Giles was the 18th most valuable player in baseball with 65.1 so to me he's pretty elite. I would say Raul Ibanez or Ray Durham would be underrated "Moneyball" guys. That's a tough question to answer because you want players that are good but not too good. I don't think you are calling anyone racist, it's an interesting question. Chone Figgins would seem to qualify, too.

The TEAM, not Dee himself. is illinois THAT unlikelable of a team that everyone has to hope against hope for their downfall? they are the kings until supplanted, and i really don't think that MSU has the ability to beat them. indiana, granted, will offer more of a challenge with white and killingsworth down low, but it remains to be seen. I'm a Michigan State fan, am I not supposed to hope that they win? No one has responded to the point that they haven't played anyone on Ager or Davis or Killingsworth's level, and we don't know how they will fare against the best players without their losses from last year. IU has played Duke(Redick and Williams) and to a lesser extent Kentucky(Sparks and co.). MSU has played BC(Smith and Dudley), Gonzaga(Morrison and friends), and to a lesser extent Arizona(Adams and co.). All I'm trying to say is that Illinois is untested yet in that fashion. I've said multiple times that they may not have a problem with it, and may or probably will win the conference. The other point is that Brown hasn't performed to last year's level to date, and he may not return to last year's level because of the talent lost. It's a valid concern, just like MSU's defense thus far. I've been able to talk about MSU's lack of defense previously without getting super defensive, why can't it go both ways? are you forgetting that they beat UNC fairly easily in chapel hill? Fairly easily? I can't get the flowchart thing to come up, but they were tied at halftime and won by 4. That's irrelevant anyways, because Noel or Hansbrough aren't on the same plane as all the players mentioned in the previous post. That's the point. Good teams with star players, not just a borderline top 25 team. Right, you guys and your stars. Hansborough is a much better player than Patrick Sparks who you have listed. Hariston from Oregon is a pro. Good teams aren't always made of stars anyways. Last year we didn't have a star and we did alright with a bunch of really good players. Every year you guys are gonna snap us back to reality and every year we beat you guys pretty handily. The last time you guys were better than us was when Cleaves and MoPete were in school. I like Shannon Brown and Maurice Ager a lot, but they haven't had to show it yet against an All American like Dee Brown. Paul Davis hasn't been tested yet like James Augustine reigning Bit Ten Tournament MVP will do. I think Paul actually has nightmares about James. In seriousness I think Randle will more than hold his own defensively against Ager or Brown. McBride will be ok as long as he gets back on D in transition. Dee will eat Neitzel alive. The idea that last year's UI team didn't have stars is preposterous (and part of the continuing UI propaganda blitz pumping Weber as basketball jesus.). If you don't consider Dee and Luther stars, fine (though I disagree). Deron, however, was a lotto pick and a bonafide star player.

I'm assuming this is satire.

If we start patterson in RF and he flops, there will be no deadline deal. You don't broker big deals in a push for 4th place.

I am firmly in the "I don't want Huff unless we get him for Neifi" camp. I don't think he's worth any of our top prospects.

This Anderson guy must be pretty good to keep it that close.

I have yet to see Texas look good this season. I wonder if the Big XII will have much more than 4 tourney-worthy teams this year.

I want what he's drinking. Those ERAs are a riot.

Ahh, the Brewers - everyone's sexy sleeper pick! Although Zambrano is more durable Sheets has been the better pitcher the last two years with WHIP of 0.98 and 1.07 compared to Z's 1.22 and 1.15. I'm not knocking Z - he's awesome but Sheets has been better IMO. Not sure why whip is the only stat you're including. A closer look at the stats shows that Sheets has better control. Thus, the better WHIP. But that's it in favor of Sheets. Let's look at their careers. Big Z: 1.27/.228/3.26 Sheets: 1.22/.258/3.83 That's career WHIP/BAA/ERA. Aside from the nearly idenitcal WHIP, Z has the advantage, and it's a fairly healthy one. Other pertinent stats: Big Z: 7.73 K/9 • 1.97 k/BB • .341 SLG • .656 OPS Sheets: 7.57K/9 • 3.79 k/BB • .417 SLG • .717 OPS Nothing surprising here. Z has the better numbers except for a lopsided advantage for Sheets in K/BB. But Z's OPS against is over .050 better, primarily because when people hit Sheets, they hit Sheets much harder. Factor in the age (24 vs. 27) and the durability, and it seems to me the Z is a prett clear cut winner. Sheets gets hit more often and harder than Z. He gives up more runs and Ks less people, too. Don't get me wrong, he's a great pitcher, but it seems like the only thing he's got on Z is control.

Time to visit Spence and play some PSP (especially since he already has his own PSP)! That's pretty outrageous. Funny how it's okay for some people to give these kids tons of expensive free stuff but wrong for others. I understand it's a perk of going to the game, but I still think it blurs the line a bit.

:shock: Wow.

How come rotoworld always has a saracstic remark about our crappy signings but played it straight with this turd?

In order for that study to be of use, seems to me you'd have to figure out a way to account for the times a strong arm kept an outfielder from having to make a throw. On a shallow sac fly, I suspect a runner on third is a lot more likely to run on Manny than Ichiro. It's true that when facing a competent 3rd base coach a strong OF arm's greatest value is as a deterrent. Wendell Kim.

I'm a Pierce fan, but I'm not sure how happy Skiles would be with his D.

no way

does skmsw still post there? I always thought he'd fit in well here, amateur sabremetrician that he was.

pop.

I'd like Burrell, but I've seen no indications the Cubs have even looked into him. Thus, this thread depresses me.

They're calling it a "sprained knee."

I thought Miggs backed off on his demands. The Os are still shopping him (or entertaining deals, at least)?

I doubt Roy was pushing too hard for that guy. (A four star, 185 lbs PF that's not rated at his position in the Scout network.) Still, he looks like he's got some very refined skills, and from the little I've read, he's got a touch that will stretch the D. If he can get stronger, he'll provide some nice matchup problems.

I think someone in the Cubs brass misinterpreted "We have a hole in RF".

According to Seabiscuit (the movie--I haven't spoken with the horse), yes.