- 01:03 AM
- 12/23/24
The "save" (or "blown save") is the most artificial of statistics
which undoubtedly explains why they are in such demand, considered so important by teams, and in many cases (especially Rivera) paid so much. Clearly, based on the stats that matter, Rivera should be put in the starting rotation because he is being wasted in the role the Yankees have put him in. And I hope that no one considers his almost 600 artificial saves when he is voted into the Hall of Fame. There may be problems with the definition of a save (especially the three-inning rule), but I don't think a few examples (like the Goltz save and other unusual situations such as Joaquin Benoit's 7-inning save in relief of another relief pitcher) renders a closer's role meaningless or artificial.
posted by graymatters at 06:10 PM on August 08, 2011
Here are Rivera's career splits against all teams. It's a rough metric, but the Red Sox don't particularly stand out.
With all the columns and information, you would think they would include SVO (save opportunities) somewhere. Rather than just ERA or batting average or some other stat, it seems like the most important for a closer is the number of blown saves against teams; i.e., SVO - SV. While other stats are important, they can be impacted by just a few bad outings, taking one for the team, or pitching in non-save situations for some reason (getting your work in, extra innings, resting the other pitchers, etc.).
posted by graymatters at 05:02 PM on August 08, 2011
The games are "underground" because they are "illegal." One might argue whether such gambling should be illegal, but at this point it is illegal. Some here seem to take the view that wealth is an excuse to violate the law or a defense to illegal activity?
posted by graymatters at 11:55 AM on August 04, 2011
Is this what Moneyball has come to?
posted by graymatters at 04:02 PM on August 03, 2011
I hate it when reporters write for themselves first and assume that the reader knows what they are talking about. I had to read the stories multiple times to finally figure out that Durant scored 66 points in a game and then the next night scored 41 points while Lucas answered the 41 with 60 points. It's just so confusing.
posted by graymatters at 03:53 PM on August 03, 2011
ARod "tried to distance himself from the game" when violence broke out.
Is that the same as running like a little girl?
On an only tangentially related topic, has anyone seen the DirectTV commercial with ARod (probably for MLB game package), where he looks like a preening AHole? Every time I see it, instead of making me want to subscribe, it makes me want to puke.
posted by graymatters at 03:40 PM on August 03, 2011
I love the part in the story about how the Cowboys didn't really want him, but they just wanted to raise the price.
Don't know why, but I keep sensing that the Cowboys are in trouble - both on the field and financially (not that they don't have the money, just that the money is committed elsewhere, whether debt service on the Jones Taj Mahal or other players). Clearly, the Cowboys do not need help in their secondary, because they have done so well recently in that area. (What's the emoticon for tongue in cheek?)
posted by graymatters at 01:50 PM on July 30, 2011
Vince Young cut, Reggie Bush traded away, Matt Leinart a free agent. The supposed big three in the 2006 draft, though Leinart did drop down.
Maybe Mario Williams was not such bad No. 1 pick after all.
posted by graymatters at 06:21 PM on July 28, 2011
Nobody could sprint 10 yards downfield after being tackled with more energy than Barber.
I always marveled at Barber's ability to burst out of the back field with so much energy and then strut and dance after the tackle like he had just busted out for a touchdown. Then, I would see the yard marker and realize he had just busted out for a one and a half yard gain. I am not sure that he ever realized that the game is played before the tackle, not after.
posted by graymatters at 07:13 PM on July 26, 2011
Saw an article (don't remember if print or online) about who winner is in these contract negotiations. Theory was that both owners and players for different reasons. Not in article, but it appears clear that the loser is the fan. Less training camp; less training at camp and during season; probability of ragged play due to this as well as uncertainty of team positions due to free agency delay. But I bet they get all those full-priced pre-season games in.
posted by graymatters at 05:25 PM on July 26, 2011
I know that 33454 is an actually zip code, so he was only off by one
Stupid Rangers, screwing up a perfectly good quote.
posted by graymatters at 03:54 PM on July 26, 2011
"The first five innings looked like a ZIP code, that will tell you how it went-33354," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "I think that's Florida-Fort Lauderdale."
Rangers beat Twins 20-6, scoring at least 3 runs in each of first 5 innings. Michael Cuddyer (1b to rf to p) pitched the 8th inning for Twins, loading the bases but otherwise shutting down the Rangers.
posted by graymatters at 09:53 AM on July 26, 2011
The world needs to understand that showboating is only allowed in American basketball.
posted by graymatters at 12:16 PM on July 25, 2011
Suit filed over Title IX quota system
posted by graymatters at 12:26 PM on July 21, 2011
What I like is that the kid next to him (described in the story as his brother, but it doesn't really look like that; looks like the guy on the left is the second kid's father) got a baseball also because of the way the pouty kid was acting. Reward for proximity.
posted by graymatters at 12:21 PM on July 21, 2011
There's no crying in baseball, but they never said anything about pouting.
posted by graymatters at 10:42 AM on July 21, 2011
they were against the Orioles, Athletics and Mariners
Yep, but every one of them still counts as a win.
posted by graymatters at 04:26 PM on July 18, 2011
Cycling chief's comment: PEDs in Tour de France are a good thing, or something like that.
posted by graymatters at 03:08 PM on July 18, 2011
Hey, did anybody know that the Tour de France is going on? Amazing what happens to foreign competitions (as it relates to US attention) when you eliminate Americans as major competitors. Is this the future of tennis and golf?
posted by graymatters at 11:11 AM on July 16, 2011
If this is some new Iron Man as he says, what's the time to beat?
posted by graymatters at 11:04 AM on July 16, 2011
This is brilliant as opposed to the owners attempt to secure funds through the network deal because...
the players through the union used their own money to secure the funds, as opposed to the owners trying to secure the funds by essentially stealing it from the players.
If I were the insurance company and had to pay off, I might raise an issue that the union technically no longer exists. Wonder if the insured is the union or each individual player? No matter; just get the deal done already.
posted by graymatters at 11:02 AM on July 16, 2011
Nothing to see here. Move along.
posted by graymatters at 10:55 AM on July 16, 2011
There's more to it than that, and I'd love to hear what the Attorney was thinking.
If the attorney could talk (and currently he is saved by the gag order), he would probably say it was just a simple mistake. Reality is probably the typical BS where attorney knows the evidence is not admissible but slips it in anyway and when caught expects the judge to just admonish the jury to disregard. In other words, jury, you saw it, you heard it, but put it out of your mind just like green elephants and purple bunnies. If it works, it's the best of both worlds for attorney. He got the evidence to the jury even if the judge tells them to ignore and the other side cannot rebut it without opening the door to actually make the evidence admissible.
posted by graymatters at 09:39 PM on July 15, 2011
Pure freaking idiocy. But that's just my personal opinion.
posted by graymatters at 05:26 PM on July 15, 2011
Pure freaking genius.
posted by graymatters at 04:43 PM on July 15, 2011
To paraphrase what I said in an earlier post: ESPN is not a "journalism organization." It's freaking entertainment, and that's all.
However, given the state of journalism in general, I might need to rethink that. Getting your panties bunched up because someone does not agree with you or says something different is kind of how most "journalism" works today.
posted by graymatters at 04:40 PM on July 15, 2011
Just a personal opinion, but I think I would be more impressed by his stance if he could take it without the provocative photo shoot.
posted by graymatters at 07:38 PM on July 14, 2011
So stupid, it seems almost intentional.
posted by graymatters at 07:35 PM on July 14, 2011
He was an ankle tackle from overcoming the problem of slick balls.
I am not a big Romo fan, and certainly am not a Cowboy fan despite being a lifelong resident of the area (it's a JJones thing). But I wish I could remember if there was a measurement after the botched snap. Romo lets the ball slip through his fingers, he runs to the left and is tackled. I think they determined there was no fumble because he lost control of the ball when he hit the ground. The ball ended up about the one yard line, which is where the Cowboys had to go to get the first down. But Seattle ball. I remember when the play was happening thinking great the Cowboys lose and then thinking wait the Cowboys have a chance because of the first down. But I don't remember if there was ever a measurement to see if he made the first or not?
Just one of those things that has bothered me over the years. Not that much, because of the outcome, but bothered me still.
posted by graymatters at 06:33 PM on July 12, 2011
this guy deserves to fall.
What an idiot? And he still gets his 15 minutes of fame.
posted by graymatters at 05:54 PM on July 12, 2011
So, NFL is trying to turn this into rookies vs. veterans? Agree to revenue split and salary cap, it's just who gets the money among the players.
NFL owners have long sought to restrict the huge bonuses and salaries paid to rookies.
Please save us from ourselves.
posted by graymatters at 06:44 PM on July 11, 2011
IF "our goal was to get people to watch television," televised executions would be the ultimate reality show.
Biggest laugh from story: ESPN is a "journalism organization." It's freaking entertainment, and that's all.
posted by graymatters at 03:37 PM on July 11, 2011
From story: Warner "putting an onus on the Cowboys to do more to help" Romo
I thought that is what the Cowboys have been doing the last few years, trying to make the team more "Romo-friendly." And where has that gotten them? It really sounds like, "Hey, if you get the right players that are good enough in the right scheme that is good enough and they play against the right teams that are not good enough, then this quarterback can win a Super Bowl." Wasn't that Dilfer?
posted by graymatters at 03:26 PM on July 11, 2011
Mavericks get their NBA championship rings. But not from the NBA or the Mavs organization. There's a lockout, you know.
posted by graymatters at 12:44 AM on July 09, 2011
I'm trying to figure out what the punishment is. Forfeit last season's games, but keeping the money. Forgiving the $250,000 fine to Tressel and agreeing to pay him an extra $50,000 plus because he retired instead of resigned. And promise to do better in the future - or at least the next couple of years - if nobody don't catches us.
posted by graymatters at 06:58 PM on July 08, 2011
Do firefighters get training on how to survive falls?
Strange coincidence that the guy who fell from the upper deck (30 feet) and survived last year (one year and one day earlier) was also a firefighter.
From video, looks like he pushed in front of guy with glove in order to get the ball, which probably contributed to his losing his balance. Not blaming him, but not necessarily blaming the Rangers either.
posted by graymatters at 12:56 PM on July 08, 2011
Several years ago, I saw a fan fall at about same location; i.e. between stands and outfield wall to walkway below. I'm surprised that the team had not put up some type of netting or something to try to prevent or lessen such falls. It looked like only about a three to four foot gap at the top.
posted by graymatters at 11:42 AM on July 08, 2011
Derek Jeter still 6 hits away from 3000
posted by graymatters at 06:41 PM on July 05, 2011
And that lob is back, back, back, back, back ...
posted by graymatters at 06:38 PM on July 05, 2011
To call it chauvinism is one the stupidest things I've ever heard.
Man, some people can't take (or understand) a joke when they see it.
posted by graymatters at 04:32 PM on July 04, 2011
Typical male chauvinism. Women should be seen, and not heard.
posted by graymatters at 10:44 AM on July 03, 2011
7 or 8 players had been struck by lightening
God works in mysterious ways.
posted by graymatters at 04:32 PM on June 28, 2011
Does this mean the Dodgers are going to the World Series? Worked for the Rangers last year.
posted by graymatters at 08:14 PM on June 27, 2011
Is this the same John Blake that used to coach for the Dallas Cowboys? The same John Blake that used to coach for Oklahoma? Yeh, I thought so.
posted by graymatters at 08:21 PM on June 22, 2011
For golf, he should've just linked to this.
So that's where Hugo Chavez got the idea.
And - a top 10 lists of evil sports without hockey?
posted by graymatters at 11:25 AM on June 21, 2011
How I wish I had his problems ...
Maybe all except the broken arm.
posted by graymatters at 06:12 PM on June 20, 2011
They dropped the case against me personally, and they sued S.W.A.T.S., and we are broke and out of money, and he basically put me out of business.
That and 50 cents 5 bucks will get you a cup of coffee - decaf of course.
posted by graymatters at 04:30 PM on June 20, 2011
Contract year. Headed to free agency after rejecting spring contract offer. Down year. And now this. Poor Pujols.
posted by graymatters at 03:52 PM on June 20, 2011
Keeping fingers crossed that Rory can close out a major.
posted by graymatters at 12:09 PM on June 19, 2011
I wonder what the Pr 16:9 stamped on thumb stands for? Model number? High definition glove? I thought maybe Bible verse, but only if Proverbs (Prov) were abbreviated Pr.
posted by graymatters at 12:03 PM on June 19, 2011
In summary, it seems to me for the most part that we agree a man should be allowed to marry a man or a woman marry a woman assuming consenting adults. The differences appear to be how we get there and what government's role should be in private lives.
posted by graymatters at 09:34 AM on June 18, 2011
These estates in land are only available to legally married couples.
I think Atheist's point was that a person could name a beneficiary in his or her will that theoretically would trump or achieve the same purpose as the common law right of survivorship. There's no reason why you have to depend on the government or common law to decide for you.
posted by graymatters at 09:37 PM on June 17, 2011
It cannot and will not happen.
Because it will lead to anarchy? Back full circle.
posted by graymatters at 06:11 PM on June 17, 2011
Sorry, can't help myself.
Legal vs. illegal. Some believe that something is legal only if the goverment says it is OK (seems to be LBB position). Others believe that something is illegal if the government prohibits it, and everything else is legal (my view). If government stays out of marriage (definition or anything else), then it is legal since government would not be prohibiting it.
If someone wants to marry their pet poodle, I have no objection assuming that the poodle can give valid consent. In other words, no freaking way.
Bestiality? Some seem to confuse marriage and sex. They are two different things. If Sex = Marriage, there would be a helluva lot of people married that don't want to be. If Marriage = Sex, then there would be a lot fewer middle-aged comedians.
As for the Human Rights list, I have not and have no reason to view the whole thing. I think some can probably be contracted around if people decide to do so rather than have the government define their rights. But at a glance, it appears that most involve again what the government says spouses can and cannot do. Keep government out of marriage, and most if not all of these restrictions would go away.
posted by graymatters at 05:35 PM on June 17, 2011
Train wreck, all the way around.
posted by graymatters at 03:29 PM on June 17, 2011
should read: my wife and I have paid more federal taxes because of the requirement to file as married or as "married filing separately" than we would have if we were allowed to file each as single
The reason is that by combining two incomes you get kicked into a higher tax bracket. With her not working now, it makes no difference.
As for the hospital situation, that sounds like a "hospital" problem, not a government problem; or is there some law that prohibits non-spouses from visiting patients in a hospital?
Then again, we are getting way off topic, so never mind.
posted by graymatters at 09:37 PM on June 16, 2011
Atheist - you talk about special benefits that those with marriages recognized by the government have, but there are also detriments as well. In the past, my wife and I have paid more federal taxes because of the requirement to file as married than we would have if we were allowed to file each as single or as "married filing separately." I am really not sure what special benefits that "married" people get. Not saying that there aren't, just not sure what they are.
posted by graymatters at 06:49 PM on June 16, 2011
As a practical reality, though, are you going to tell hundreds of millions of heterosexuals that they are no longer legally "married"?
Why would they no longer be legally married? If government was out of the picture, is there some necessity that some religion step in? Can't two people just decide that they are married? In Texas and some other states, there is not even a need for any ceremony whether by a government official or by a religious official; it's called common law marriage. Isn't marriage just an agreement or contract between two people?
Now, I do agree that government should step in to protect the interest of any children, but they are supposed to do that whether there is a marriage involved or not; i.e. provide support for a child whether born in wedlock or out of wedlock.
posted by graymatters at 06:44 PM on June 16, 2011
SportsFilter: The Monday Huddle
There is no need to use saves to describe the greatness of Mariano Rivera. In fact, it's actually a strike AGAINST him, as Trevor Hoffman has more than him, in less opportunities, in less innings pitched.
A closer's job is to close out the game, which is currently measured in saves whether one likes it or not. But statistics are so much better than facts.