Transmogrified Tiger

Team names in Japan generally make reference to the corporation that owns them. In this case, the Fighters are owned by Nippon Ham. Good thing that DOESN'T apply to MLB cause there would be some off-the-wall names. Names like the New York Fighting Steinbrenners, or the Atlanta AOL Time Warner Braves,etc, etc. Chicago Tribunes! I think Tribune Newsies is closer to that Japanese feel. I was thinking the Flaming Tribunes myself.

I really don't think so. I'm pretty sure getting players who have played in 3 different decades is undervalued, or players who can't switch hit but can bunt from either side are undervalued, but that doesn't mean having them is best for the team. huh? undervalued means the contribution to winning is underpriced. Yes, but when the underpriced contribution isn't a very big contribution, then it can be a detriment to pursue the undervalued.

I really don't think so. I'm pretty sure getting players who have played in 3 different decades is undervalued, or players who can't switch hit but can bunt from either side are undervalued, but that doesn't mean having them is best for the team.

My favorite is when he calls Colin Quinn "Norm".

Ok, lets review. 1. Bill James didn't write Moneyball or have anything to do with it. 2. Moneyball did not address the importance of OBP other than that Billy Beane recognized its value. 3. Just because you criticize the moves a GM makes, does not mean you think you could be a better GM. This is similar to arguing that because you criticize a player for striking out you think you could do better. 4. Most people don't scapegoat Neifi other than to point out the fact that his playing everyday and batting at the top of the order probably cost the Cubs a lot of runs. 5. Neifi's production could be obtained from a player making near league minimum. This makes Neifi's contract a bad one. This is not remotely related to fantasy baseball. This is very related to Moneyball. Have you read it? 6. The judge and jury part I don't understand. Yes, Neifi's abilities can be evaluated based entirely on statistics. What does he provide that can't be measured by statistics? Please don't hurt me this is my first post. I would like to refute some of Poudre's six points of light. 1. Although James did not write Moneyball saying he had nothing to do with it is like saying God had nothing to do with the writing of the ten commandments. 2. On the Billy Beane valuation of OBP my thoughts are: Beane recognized that players with high OBPs and lower BAs were being undervalued. To maximize his meager payroll he decided to pick-up as many high OBP players as possible. If high BA low OBP guys were what Beane perceived to be undervalued those are the players he would have been aquiring. It was all about getting the most bang for his buck, not about OBP. 3. Let's be honest here. We all know that we could do no better than the major league hitter who strikes out. But, at the end of the day we all think that we could do Hendry's or Baker's job. 4. Maybe this board needs to adopt some Neifi post traking statistics. My observation tells me that Neifi gets slammed at about a 4:1 ratio on this board. 5. Maybe Neifi's production could be obtained cheaper, but the Cubs are a large market team with a $100 million dollar payroll. Having a major league starting infielder who has won a GG on your bench is a tremendous luxury, and completely useless. Except, when your starting shortstop goes down in April for four months. But, how likeley is that to happen? 6. Obviously a player's abiities can not all be determined by statistics alone. If statistics were the only tool for determining a player's value Todd Walker would not be staring down his fifth team in six years, and D'Angelo Jimenez would have a starting job as a major league middle infielder. Not points of light, points of discussion. 1. Either way, James was not associated with the writing of Moneyball. Most people's opinions come from reading James, BP, Neyer, not from reading Moneyball. 2. Yes. Sulley you misread this. 3. I don't think I could do Hendry or Baker's job. 4. Regardless of how many don't like neifil, most people don't blame him for last year's fiasco. 5. Yet, we don't pursue players like Giles or Weaver that could help us because they are too expensive. 6. Yes, they can be measured by statistics. Defensive statistics are admittedly unreliable but they exist. If a players "intangibles" help a team, that will reveal itself in more runs scored or fewer runs allowed - the only statistics that really matter. Regarding #2, Sulley was right on point. One of the key points of Moneyball was that Beane discovered what was undervalued, and it happened to be one of the most important aspects of the game. When less important things are undervalued, then there's a much different thought process because the trains of thought(what's best for the team, and what's most efficient/inexpensive) are no longer in unison.

Probably a minor leaguer or marginal ML player. Considering the lack of interest in Walker this offseason, I think Hendry will gladly take any offer he can get. Futhermore, I think Hendry wants to make room for Lugo at 2B. How about we get Lugo first before we trade away our best alternate option? IMO Walker> Lugo. Hendry would be downgrading. Again. There is no comparison: Walker is a 2B & Lugo is a SS There has been a good deal of speculation that Lugo would move to 2B with Cedeno remaining at SS if we were to acquire him.

It was also truly frightening to watch.

Someone posted a Stark tidbit that they are worried that Roberts won't be healthy(elbow?).

No, statistically and visually he's below average. His rate has consistently been below average, about the same as Todd Walker's maligned defense. He has good speed, but takes bad routes to balls, and has no arm to speak of.

Michaels career: .291/.380/.442/.822, 113 OPS+ Pierre's best season ever: .326/.374/.407/.781, 107 OPS+ Michaels has been the superior offensive player. The only argument you could make is that Michaels for some reason wouldn't duplicate those numbers over the course of a full season. His numbers v. RHP are pretty much the high end of what to expect from Pierre, so his splits aren't any help in that aspect either. Has Michaels ever played a full season? Big difference between playing part time or in a platoon and being the everyday guy. PA's by year: 121, 125, 346, 343. Like I said before, he hits LHP better than RHP, but his numbers against RHP(.278/.361/.411/.772 the last 3 years) are still plenty good for a CF. Jason Michaels will be 30 YEARS OLD in 2006. IMO, he's an OLDER Matt Murton. I mean why do people like Michaels but give Pierre CRAP? Michaels doesn't have the speed to play CF, nor does he have the POWER to play a CORNER OF spot. In other words, Michaels is a GREAT 4th OFer. Michaels Rates as an above average defensive CF, Pierre below average. Michaels is the superior offensive player, and is cheaper in money and players. That's why people prefer him to Pierre.

Michaels career: .291/.380/.442/.822, 113 OPS+ Pierre's best season ever: .326/.374/.407/.781, 107 OPS+ Michaels has been the superior offensive player. The only argument you could make is that Michaels for some reason wouldn't duplicate those numbers over the course of a full season. His numbers v. RHP are pretty much the high end of what to expect from Pierre, so his splits aren't any help in that aspect either. Has Michaels ever played a full season? Big difference between playing part time or in a platoon and being the everyday guy. PA's by year: 121, 125, 346, 343. Like I said before, he hits LHP better than RHP, but his numbers against RHP(.278/.361/.411/.772 the last 3 years) are still plenty good for a CF.

Michaels career: .291/.380/.442/.822, 113 OPS+ Pierre's best season ever: .326/.374/.407/.781, 107 OPS+ Michaels has been the superior offensive player. The only argument you could make is that Michaels for some reason wouldn't duplicate those numbers over the course of a full season. His numbers v. RHP are pretty much the high end of what to expect from Pierre, so his splits aren't any help in that aspect either.

We KILLED Missou! Good day indeed! Not a good game at all for Mizzou. Gardner had a poor shooting night, struggling to get open looks and then having an off shooting night when he did get them. A poor defensive showing all around as well. I was also less than pleased when Cartier Martin stepped on Gardner's face after Gardner had been laying on the ground for 10 secs after play stopped and Cartier decided to go through the pile en route to the K-State bench. All in all Mizzou didn't have it tonight, they got outplayed and hopefully it's just a blip on the radar with ISU at home Wednesday.

I'd really really rather have gotten Betancourt for the pen than Howry.

Gansey is a beast, that's all you need to know.

Another good way to beat Duke is to take the ball at Sheldon Williams early and often. Get him in foul trouble like today, and Duke is in a lot of trouble. McRoberts is going to be a great player someday, but he's not ready to handle the lane all by himself yet. Relating to that point, is it just me or is this the 3rd year in a row Duke is playing a 7 man rotation that gets hurt with foul trouble? For a school like Duke you'd think they'd be able to fix that given that long a stretch.

Welcome!

The Big 10 is first in conference RPI, ACC second, and the Big East a tight 3rd. IMO, the B10 is the strongest conference this year followed by the Big East. Well Wisconsin just lost to a 10-9 North Dakota St. team at home so this doesn't bode too well for the Big 10. If WV beats UCLA the Big East may sneak into the top spot RPI wise. UW is going to drop big time now that they've lost 3 key players to injury.

The Big 10 is first in conference RPI, ACC second, and the Big East a tight 3rd. IMO, the B10 is the strongest conference this year followed by the Big East. RPI isnt' a very accurate way to judge those things. To say that the ACC is tougher than the Big East (I know you didn't say that, but that's what RPI implies) is ridiculous. The Big East just has too many great teams. They've had what, four different teams in the top five this year? Big Ten is good, but I don't think they top the Big East Big East- #3, #7, #9, #15, #17, #20 avg: 11 Big 10- #5, #11, #12, #13, #19, #25 avg: 14 There's not much distinguishment there.

The Big 10 is first in conference RPI, ACC second, and the Big East a tight 3rd. IMO, the B10 is the strongest conference this year followed by the Big East.

It shows that it's very difficult to go undefeated and to win on the road.

Walker or Jones against RHP(Walker is probably better overall, but he's better fit for other spots) Barrett against LHP

I've been watching the last 8 mins and I don't think they've gotten much benefit. There were a couple of strips I was surprised they didn't get calls on.

You say that you can't undervalue offense or defense, then you say offense is a bonus at a position? Neifi is an above average defender. He is a wasteland offensively. On the whole he is replacement level, and considering he is past his prime, which means very very little chance for offensive improvement, there are a multitude of options that can provide that replacement level production(hence its name) with the potential to do better because of age. Furthermore, giving Neifi TWO years and five million on a team managed by a man sure to misuse him is a terrible decision. I've said this around 5 times in this thread, will someone please acknowledge it or respond? I said that too. Yeah, several people have, and I don't know why people are countering with points that are barely even tangent to the argument.

You say that you can't undervalue offense or defense, then you say offense is a bonus at a position? Neifi is an above average defender. He is a wasteland offensively. On the whole he is replacement level, and considering he is past his prime, which means very very little chance for offensive improvement, there are a multitude of options that can provide that replacement level production(hence its name) with the potential to do better because of age. Furthermore, giving Neifi TWO years and five million on a team managed by a man sure to misuse him is a terrible decision. I've said this around 5 times in this thread, will someone please acknowledge it or respond?