FergieJ31

It's sort of like arguing the difference between letter of the law and spirit of the law. Like Kyle I really get tired of the media slamming someone as 'racist' when all they are is racially insensitive, at worst. The true meaning of the word racist is disturbing, and it's such a charged pejorative that I think it's important to not throw the term around. That said, the t-shirt is just wrong on so many levels. Not racist, but classless and insensitive. Only a buffoon would buy it.

Surely you have data to back this opinion up? How on earth could he have data on this? Do they have a "drunk and idiot fans in attendance" stat somewhere on baseball-reference.com? C'mon.

Interesting discussion on both sides of the argument. I hate the DH rule but as I read this thread I started trying to think about how I'd articulate exactly why, and without references to purism or strategy. Actually Bill James demonstrated that the DH rule actually increases strategy, using standard deviation of possible game outcomes as a proxy (related to what we'd now call leverage, the LI index). I also wanted to avoid waxing poetic about 'purism' - but actually I think 'symmetry' is a much better term. The DH simply destroys the symmetry of the game. The nine guys the manager slates to start a game should be forced to take the field, and those same nine guys should take their turn at bat. Not eight. Here are two more reasons why I hate the DH: 1. The rule was introduced in 1973 because AL attendance was sagging. The purpose was to artificially spark fan interest by artificially creating more offense. Fine. The history of baseball is full of modest rule changes to increase / decrease average runs per game, e.g. lowering the mound in 1968 or others: http://www.baseball-almanac.com/rulechng.shtml Take a look at these changes. The vast majority qualify as tweaks to emphasize, diminish, abolish, etc. various aspects of the game. The DH was not a tweak - it was a drastic revision. In retrospect the DH was just a stunt that boosted AL attendance short-term but did nothing to address the long-term problems with baseball economics, created in part by free agency. In fact it made things slightly worse by creating a market for all-bat no-glove sluggers. 2. A seldom-discussed aspect of baseball, but obvious to anyone who's played, is the occasional intimidation factor. If the pitcher doesn't have to take the batter's box he can generally take more liberties throwing inside - or just flat out throwing at guys - with relative impunity. Case in point: Roger Clemens.

Ron just said he didn't look like he was hurting in the slightest. Current hopeful explanation is simply to give Ward some garbage time ABs. I hope this is true. The note at the end of the live box score is very worrisome: " CHICAGO FIRST BASEMAN DERREK LEE LEFT THE GAME IN THE TOP OF THE SIXTH INNING WITH AN UNDISCLOSED INJURY. "

I don't see what the big deal is -- Hawk Harrelson makes the same kind of anti-Cub comments on a daily basis. And in games that don't even involve the Cubs. Face it ... the Cubs and their fans have haters - always have and always will. We'd probably feel the same way if we weren't raised Cubs fans. Also, I don't get what upset Brennaman in the first place. They were baseballs -- not beer cups, not batteries or assorted trash. I'm probably reading too much into it but I took the gesture as the bleacher bums giving grudging props to Dunn the Cub Killer. You didn't see a dozen balls come back after Griffey or Votto went yard.

He has good taste in the chicks he chooses to pick up.

Yes, what he said. Hockey equivalent of the DH: NHL Western Conference gets rid of the center line, Eastern Conf keeps it.

Awesome vid - great memory. Thanks for posting that AF. I can't believe that was almost five years ago either. I was in the RF bleachers - easily one of the most memorable games I've ever been to.

I remember it being a post-game press conference after a game Lieber pitched early in 2000. Might've been this game: http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/HOU/HOU200004270.shtml - it was definitely early in the year and after a good outing for Lieber. One reporter asked some kind of generic lay-up "So how did Lieber pitch today?" You expect Baylor to reply with some cliches, but instead he actually chuckled about acquiring Lieber the year before for Brown. I thought the odd part was publically dissing Brown -- had to be awkward when the Cubs reacquired him for their stretch run (to the bottom) in 2000.

Someone's gotta Pujols a fastball over the left field wall on Lidge.

Which Baylor? I'm a little confused. If you are talking about Don, it doesn't make sense to me because Lieber was already with the Cubs a year before Baylor was the manager. Why would that prevent Baylor from gloating about the trade? He directly benefitted from it - it's not like the trade was 20 years ago.

I still remember Baylor snickering - literally snickering - about the Lieber for Brown trade. I like this deal. For a PTBNL-calibre player, Deeds is about as good as it gets.

Yes, this. We need a knee jerk emoticon around here - until then this one will have to suffice: :roll: Why is pulling Lilly any more knee jerk than pulling Hill? I was agreeing with Truffle. I thought his sarcasm was pretty obvious.

It's far too premature so I'll use a rhyme: GIOVANNI PHOTO (hopefully)

Yes, this. We need a knee jerk emoticon around here - until then this one will have to suffice: :roll:

FOO - KOO - DOH - MAY clap - clap - clap clap clap I didn't see a reference to this interesting tidbit: http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-080407-kosuke-fukudome-chicago-cubs-piniella,0,7789593.story I had a sudden image of Kosuke turning around to bat RH against a LOOGY late in a tight game, ala Rocky II.

Watching patient hitters bat is really enjoyable. Watching them bat for the Cubs is enjoyable, watching them bat for other teams is frustrating and at times depressing. I was just about to say the same thing. Especially with a guy like Turnbow on the mound, there's absolutely no excuse to not be patient.

D'oh! FukuOPS remains 3.333

Here comes a Ward-jack...

Looks like Kerry put the kabosh on the entrance song initiative. http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-080326-cubs-kerry-wood-entrance-song-chicago,1,6313188.story As usual, pure class - love the boldfaced part above. If I had to choose an entrance song, I'd go with the evil guitar riff from Led Zep's "In the Light". Perfect complement to noise from the fans.

Well played ... the Cubs rotation better not go helter-skelter on us.

Not to spoil anyone's picayune fun, but Cuse's statement is logically and semantically fine. If instead he'd said "Almost all pitchers start with zero saves.", then we can have some yucks. But by the time a pitcher achieves closer status, it's not uncommon for him to have some saves under his belt. In fact it'd be rare to not have any saves by that time, wouldn't it? Incidentally, like most here on NSBB, I think "closer" is a bogus position and saves are a ridiculous stat. But for purely emotional reasons I'm really happy to see Wood get the spot. It's a status role, like it or not. It'll be nice seeing him on the mound for game-winning outs, and getting the notoriety that goes along with the role.

Actually you have a passable shortstop batting in the 6-hole.

This has probably been discussed before, but why isn't DeRosa even being considered a SS option? He's played over 110 games at short in his career with passable fielding pct / range factor numbers (not that those fielding stats alone can say much). A MI of DeRo/BRob w/Theriot utility backup is pretty intriguing.

Judging from the shadow and the reflection of the sun in his shades, I'm going to go out on a limb and suggest that baseball + disc of sun took the same spot on Felix's retina for a few moments.