USSoccer

You beat me to it.

He has had consistently one of the best defenses in baseball behind him and yet has been incredibly bad. The thing about Jason Marquis is that he just doesn't have the ability to consistently command his stuff. He has the great sinker, but game-to-game he can't keep it together. His control isn't great either, but specifically his command of his stuff is pathetic game-to-game. He'll rattle off 3 good games in a row then 4-5 horrendous games. Inconsistency is key to mediocrity... If he were always bad he'd be out of the League. If he were good we wouldn't be having this discussion. It's up to the manager to limit the damage in his horrendous games while maximizing the success of his good games. What kind of logic is this? "We know he's likely to blow up, so make sure Lou has the bullpen ready for the 65% of the games that Marquis starts because he's going to be horrendous"? Why not try and find a guy who's not going to be a disaster over half the time instead of having to manage for a guy who sucks? He's bad. He's barely above replacement level. It doesn't matter if we signed him to be the "5th starter" or an ace. It was a waste of money for 3 seasons. He might go out and have an average year, and people will exclaim "What a year!" in comparison to his past couple seasons, but that won't change the fact that he'll probably never be better than replacement level over the length of his deal, and we can do better than replacement level pitchers.

Let's see. Shakira speaks 5 languages, can play a mean guitar, and is an amazing dancer. Beyonce sings better. Both write their own songs, and Shakira's spanish language stuff is amazing. Both are hot, but Shakira's hotness is just dead sexy. I'm going with Shakira, and I don't think this is close.

Ugh. Rumors are abound that Cuahatemoc Blanco may be the Fire's Designated Player.... :pukel:

If Aramis were a grinder he'd have slid into each base head first despite the HR.

I don't think Roma are going to enjoy Cristiano Ronaldo very much. He's playing at a very high level.

It's hard to attack well internationally without pace on the flanks. Beckham's skill with dead balls and restarts is noted, but when Lennon played in Germany, you saw a totally different dynamic to their attack.

Yep. Lennon is awesome. That was a fantastic touch on the ball. Just awesome.

just watched it. amazing.

Really... yes really I'd post the O RLY owl but I don't want to go there. I'm suprised that they traded Jones considering his supposed leadership status in the locker room.

Really...

How badly?

Two years ago when the Cubs were in NY to play the Yankees, who is walking around Yankee stadium yelling CUBS WOO!, none other than Ronnie. How does he make it anywhere? The guy has some sort of super power. He had five months to get there... I guess he probably hitchhikes. Or who knows...maybe he's one of those weird types...lives like a vagabond while he's really got millions in the bank. There are a few of those out there... Maybe he's really some sort of superhero.

I don't think it's that ridiculous. He hates it in NY and NY hates him. People are saying the right thing, for now, but the Yankees would absolutely move him if they got value, and he'd absolutely accept a trade to the right situation. And the Cubs are one of the teams that could be "the right situation".

So when Prior and Gooz pitch to their abilities, and Z doesn't agree to an extension by opening day, does this open up the Z and Izturis for ARod possibility?

How does he have the cash to get there?

What the hell is that?

Yes, they show you who has the best chance, but not who will win. Ok...now is it always right? No. It gives you the best chance and that's it. Now, for what we were talking about earlier the variables that happen during a game that are not measured by numbers. A pitcher that is a starter his whole career and struggles late and is an alcoholic. He stops drinking gets traded and is one of the greatest closers of all time. What stat told me this was going to happen? i'm sorry CCF, but this is almost not worth responding to. this has nothing to do with what we're talking about. It does and it doesn't. It has something to do with unknown variables and trends and how you would react if you were a GM in that instance. Where did Sully advocate maknig decisions solely thru metrics? You're debating something entirely different from the point. What if the alcoholic pitcher got off the sauce and sucked? or didn't change his performance levels? Stats are going to provide you with a better big picture than solely looking at the human element of character, or whatever. No one is saying that random events aren't going to alter a trendline. People are saying that you need stats to accurately track the trendline.

Color me skeptical. I would think the Cubs would be worth far mre than than.

Because the vast majority of the media continue to mock stats like OBP, to say nothing of more advanced metrics. One more time: The biggest reason for the "fear" of stats amongst fans is the way SABR inclined analysis is mocked by 95% of the mainstream baseball media.

I think Len has touched on some things. That's true. Len has made attempts to bring SABR type metrics into the broadcasts, and I think it's fantastic that he does so.

Frankly I find that to be a baseless assertion. Not only baseless, but a big reason that the "casual fan" can't/won't embrace new metrics is articles like this from journalists like Chass that deride and mock the metrics, rather than simply integrating them into conversation. I think it might help if the metrics are explained and not just thrown out there to overwhelm the viewer. If you just throw out the term VORP and assume everyone knows what it is isn't the best way to go about it IMO. That's my point. No attempt has been made to expose the general fan to these metrics other than to mock them at every opportunity. Think about the beat writers and show hosts in this city. Only Bruce Miles talks about advanced metrics, and I can't think of any radio hosts in the city that consistently bring up metrics like VORP. No wonder people can't embrace them and feel that they "ruin" the game. They have no idea what they are because the media doesn't properly educate people about them. That's certainly a good point, and I think a few of the advanced metrics will eventually bleed through and become a part of the game-it would have to be done very slowly and carefully though, and that would include only introducing one new stat at a time and giving a sufficient adjustment period before having a new one. You've got to be kidding me. I don't necessarily think very highly of the general population's ability to absorb information, but you're talking about integrating stats like spoon feeding an infant. It doesn't have to be that way. Metrics like VORP, ERA+ and OPS along with OBP aren't all that complex to understand. There's no reason not to utilize them along with the "conventional" numbers. People can handle getting acclimated to more than one at a time.

Frankly I find that to be a baseless assertion. Not only baseless, but a big reason that the "casual fan" can't/won't embrace new metrics is articles like this from journalists like Chass that deride and mock the metrics, rather than simply integrating them into conversation. I think it might help if the metrics are explained and not just thrown out there to overwhelm the viewer. If you just throw out the term VORP and assume everyone knows what it is isn't the best way to go about it IMO. That's my point. No attempt has been made to expose the general fan to these metrics other than to mock them at every opportunity. Think about the beat writers and show hosts in this city. Only Bruce Miles talks about advanced metrics, and I can't think of any radio hosts in the city that consistently bring up metrics like VORP. No wonder people can't embrace them and feel that they "ruin" the game. They have no idea what they are because the media doesn't properly educate people about them.

Frankly I find that to be a baseless assertion. Not only baseless, but a big reason that the "casual fan" can't/won't embrace new metrics is articles like this from journalists like Chass that deride and mock the metrics, rather than simply integrating them into conversation.

Mac, Jurko and Harry played a soundbite from a brief interview Bruce Levine held with a member of the Hall of Fame board (Jane something) and Joe Morgan. Levine kept calling out Morgan and saying that perhaps the players on the veterans' committee aren't intelligent enough to vote in the right players. Hopefully they make it available on espn1000's website. If Levine actually said that he's earned a gold star in my book for asking a tough question.