Hey! Careful, man. There's a beverage here!
posted by pivo at 06:38 PM on December 06, 2004
In my defense, I posted my first link three months after I got here, and have only posted three in the 14 months I've been here (I always get beat to stuff I would post, guess I'm too slow). 6-ish comments my first week. I think I am being confuesed with someone else, but I appreciate the fantastic old-timer compliment if it still stands :)
posted by pivo at 10:22 PM on December 05, 2004
Goog to see a young, immature, not ready for the league player go to Portland. He should shape up nicely there.
posted by pivo at 07:49 PM on June 24, 2004
Jackson and LeBron could be a nice tandem there.
posted by pivo at 07:30 PM on June 24, 2004
I just want to say screw ESPN...this insider shit on the web page is really getting out of hand. Just make the whole f'n thing pay already and quit jerking us around. That is all.
posted by pivo at 07:29 PM on June 24, 2004
That's the biggie, who is picking #5 and if it's the Mav's, who are they picking for? I say Okafor goes #1 after that it really is a crap shoot. I will say Luke Jackson and Jameer Nelson have the best shot at getting picked far lower than they should.
posted by pivo at 05:54 PM on June 24, 2004
Any shot at Atom and/or .092 feeds?
posted by pivo at 02:52 PM on June 22, 2004
Why punctuate after the title? Make the title the <title> tag and leave the description as it was before. No muss, no fuss, no colonoscopy.
posted by pivo at 02:09 PM on June 16, 2004
LOL JG, a high pitched background singer just did a "Mr. Spofi Improvement Man" in my head. Damn ubiquitous advertising.
posted by pivo at 05:20 PM on June 15, 2004
Nice work kirkaracha. Though if you could wrangle in the main column a bit on the width side, that would be great. Especially at high resolution, most comments are 1 line and some change...very wide. If you can fix it in Firefox and it breaks in IE, that's cool too. Just hide it from IE ;)
posted by pivo at 03:30 PM on June 15, 2004
But none of you has used an actual HTML tag yet. This is why we need the visual editors, to keep the amateurs from breaking shit ;)
posted by pivo at 07:43 PM on June 14, 2004
I don't mind them, but would rather see one with the heavy lifting done server side rather than a bolt-on type client side job. Especially one in Java, you could write off a 200 line rant for/against the yankees/red sox before that fired up in the JVM, probably :)
posted by pivo at 04:16 PM on June 14, 2004
Sorry for the preponderance of geekiness there, but I was asked :)
posted by pivo at 10:27 PM on April 13, 2004
It is a php script, uses cURL for the screen scrape, and shoots output to a mySQL table after scrubbing. Output is also sent to a text file or xml file if desired. Another php script yanks from the tables for display. I can share it, and will do as soon as it is cleaned up (as I said it is currently wedged into a CMS and I need to pull it out and get it to run standalone).
posted by pivo at 01:28 PM on April 13, 2004
I have a script that gets standings and stats for a yahoo league. Would just need to be yanked out of the CMS I have it kludged into at the moment and set up for our league to run. I suppose I could run it and post the results table here.
posted by pivo at 12:05 PM on April 13, 2004
By all means, require titles. I don't think anyone would be too put out by having to title their post. If they are, well, they have bigger issues than titling their SpoFi posts anyhow. Would do wonders for the usability of the feed.
posted by pivo at 02:59 PM on March 29, 2004
Could we get some titles then at least? "posted by [name] to [category], [date]" isn't the most useful of arragements. Also, a sidebar link to the feed may go a long way to ending this frequent request in the locker room. Speaking of which, a locker room feed would be a spiffy addition.
posted by pivo at 09:51 AM on March 29, 2004
Zimmer-throwing-brawl has got to go into the lexicon. I want donnybrook, bench-clearing, melee, pier 6, and all other euphemisms used by sportscasters to be replaced. "Uh oh, we've got us a real Zimmer-thrower breaking out here!"
posted by pivo at 07:53 PM on March 26, 2004
He's a Yankee fan so be nice A textbook definition of 'mutually exclusive' :)
posted by pivo at 11:04 PM on March 22, 2004
I amd down to 3 elite 8, 1 FF, and 0 championship game teams. That probably wont stand (could very easily lose the FF team). After the first weekend. This is nuts. As dano said, let's see the parity naysayers now!
posted by pivo at 06:52 PM on March 21, 2004
Same here. Never good for your pool losing your final 2 on the 3rd day. *Bellys up and sets all up with doubles*
posted by pivo at 09:59 AM on March 21, 2004
Woot...last pick almost as good as first. Love the two in a row thing.
posted by pivo at 11:38 AM on March 19, 2004
jeffm: good job on the writeups, but the pivo that is me is the Russian, not Czech, hence no Budvar or Urquell. I agree with most of what you said about my team. I was stuck in traffic, a monsoon and at 2 train crossings for rounds 1-4...every pick you wrote about, hehe. I was none too happy about Loaiza and Wilson myself.
posted by pivo at 12:20 PM on March 17, 2004
My 2/100ths of a $: 1. At SS, even in this day still not a true "power" position, A-Rod's numbers are gaudy. At 3B A-Rod's type power numbers are somewhat expected, though he is still best bet at 3B at this time (unless Pujols gets qualed there again). That said I don't see this drop in value, even on Yahoo! he is #2 behind Pujols, who is just Roto Baseball gold at this point. Add to that that this year A-Rod will be dual-qualed at SS and 3B. Dual-qualed is always a nice luxury. 2. I wouldn't expect to much, if any drop off in A-Rod's numbers. He's good enough, and has proven to be very consistent in his production, that any of these new team/park factors/new division thing shouldn't have too much effect.
posted by pivo at 06:33 PM on March 12, 2004
I got stuck in traffic for the first 4 rounds just to give you all a chance...I don't think it worked. You are all going down!
posted by pivo at 10:40 PM on March 11, 2004
I like grum's theory of three's there. But as people are saying, looking at runs, hits and errors gives you a 10,000 foot overview of the game. You can almost imagine how ugly a 8R 3H 7E game was without knowing anything else.
posted by pivo at 05:10 PM on March 11, 2004
Not only that grum, but trash talk and bad language can get you booted from the Y! leagues. Don't know if it really happens a lot but it is in the ToS. My e-mail is spence_mk1 At yahoo DOT com. Sent you an e-mail as well on it.
posted by pivo at 12:47 PM on February 28, 2004
Gotta keep pitching and hitting balanced. Kill TB stats and go with Whip, a down, dirty, and useful tool. TB stuff has too many non-pitcher variables (defensive ability of team, scorekeepers decisions, speed of baserunners, etc...) where Walks and Hits are almost all on the pitcher. I would keep Saves in there...I too think it is a crap stat, but in fantasy baseball gives values to closers and adds some nice strategy (take that closer or a 3rd starter or stockpile saves or dump them). I would go 6x6, with 3 ratio stats and 3 counting stats on each side. If 7x7, I would go with 4 counting stats and 3 ratios. Ratios get tough to move once they are establisheed but the counters are where points can be made or lost late season. No fun if the league is decided at the AS break.
posted by pivo at 02:09 PM on February 20, 2004
Can never be in enough fantasy leagues... spence_mk1 AT yahoo DOT com
posted by pivo at 11:43 AM on February 19, 2004
1) No prefs on commish, whoever wants it. 2) Default works 2a) I like the no cut list...It may seem controlling at first but many a league has been skewed by big names appearing on the waiver wire in a wholesale dump by a last place team. If you want to dump the big name for nothing then I'm sure you could easily find someone to trade for them.
posted by pivo at 11:35 AM on February 19, 2004
Roto scoring is based on stats and number of teams. We will probably (I am guessing) play a standard 5x5 league, which is: Avg, Steals, Runs, HR, RBI for hitters and ERA, Strikeouts, Wins, Saves and Whip (Walks and Hits per inning, basically how many baserunners per inning a pitcher allows) for pitching. You can score points for each stat based on your ranking in that stat. In our 20 team league best player in the stat gets 20 points and last place gets 1 point. Add up your points in each stat and there you have it.
posted by pivo at 09:34 PM on February 18, 2004
If we are doing a straight 5x5 I see no reason to stray from the free option. Splitting up into divisions is nice, but not worth the hassle and grief of 20 strangers getting money to one person on short-ish notice, IMO. Will pony up for Sportsline if it comes to that, but my vote would be no. As with Grum, I would be against prize monies, again not worth the hassle, and not fair to the holder of said funds (who I would want not in the league and not commish). Bragging rights on SpoFi should be more than reward enough :)
posted by pivo at 09:22 PM on February 17, 2004
"otherwise the last 3 rounds of drafting are going to be pretty sparse" If those guys get off your bench too often, you have bigger problems :)
posted by pivo at 12:44 PM on February 17, 2004
I would say while 20 may be too many, 10 is definitely too few, unless we split to AL/NL specific leagues or something, which I know wasn't the plan. I want in the NL league if that is case, though :)
posted by pivo at 12:42 PM on February 17, 2004
Can't weight stats at Y! but you can pick from a very large list of ones you want to use. Default is just the standard 5x5 ones.
posted by pivo at 09:46 AM on February 17, 2004
26) If you can find it, see Kirk Gibson's 1988 WS home run at bat (whole bottom of the 9th inning even better). "In a year that has seen the improbable, the impossible has happened..." - Vin Scully
posted by pivo at 04:25 AM on February 17, 2004
21) Read Box scores...read the game summary if you must, but learn to read the box scores. 22) Learn to keep score...great way to learn the game while watching one. 23) The only person at ESPN under the MLB portion of the site who has a clue is Rob Neyer. 24) Revel in the local broadcast team's (radio or TV) "homerness". (Corollary: Despise the "homer" broadcaster in a Nationally broadcast game. See also: McCarver, Tim) 25) Whenever possible listen to the radio broadcast. 9 times in 10, it is much better than the TV team.
posted by pivo at 03:55 AM on February 17, 2004
Yes the Yankees have had their struggles in the Series, but they have been in 6 of the last 8 of them. They aren't assured a championship with their payroll but they are assured 100+ wins, a spot in the ALCS at least, and virtually a lock for the series. Just as bad in my opinion. Some kind of deal needs to get some competitive balance back into baseball. I'm not talking the diluted free-for-all parity that is the NFL, but at least SOME guesswork at the beginning of the season would be nice.
posted by pivo at 09:29 PM on February 16, 2004
Dunno about that jeff, I think Chris Jericho could hang there (hell they already stole his "Assclown" there). But yeah, MetaTalk is the best part...except it is getting pretty predictable nowadays as far as what comment will piss who off and right down to the topic selections (the latest fave being the "Can we please..." whine).
posted by pivo at 06:52 PM on February 11, 2004
Nor was I advocating a split into league specific, just the more the merrier thing.
posted by pivo at 04:54 PM on February 08, 2004
Would like to say I want in on this action. Just to muddy the waters, personally I think 16 teams would be the MINIMUM for a All-MLB league. Hate those ten team universal leagues where everyone has all-stars on their roster top to bottom. Picking up the flyers, young phenoms in hiding, mid season call-ups is where the fun is. 9-10 teams is good number for a NL/AL only league (again makes it interesting on the waiver wire and draft). YMMV
posted by pivo at 11:35 PM on February 07, 2004
Staples was my fave too, but the Bud one with the candle on the horse drawn carriage (farts are funny!) was good too. I like the end of the HR Block talking Willie Nelson Doll one where Zim asks it for advice (the crowds "Ohhh" on the fade to black was good).
posted by pivo at 03:01 AM on February 02, 2004
Patriots Under Antowain Smith I know it will probably be Brady...but wanted to pick someone no one had. On the glass half full side of it, if Carolina is geared up to stop the short passing game of the Pat's, pressure Brady, Smith may be able to break a big one or two (on some draws or something like in the Indy game).
posted by pivo at 12:45 AM on February 01, 2004
So what if you can search for an old post and it has been posted before. As I noted here if it isn't on the front page it is dead. If the system allowed a top level view of new comments, or made a list of active posts not on the front page in a "These topics have new comments" type menu, double posting would be an issue. As we cannot, I say if it isn't on the front page post away (unless your fp count is set to like three or something).
posted by pivo at 07:40 PM on January 29, 2004
An athlete is only an athlete while participating in an event, defined as a sport? What are these people the rest of the time? And what about athletic people who don't participate in sport, but could out run an olympian (extreme hypothethical for effect)? Athletes all, unless all the do is drive race cars. The debate though, as I understand it, was does being a professional race car driver make one an athlete. My reply was no with some qualifiers. Also, couldn't drivers be athletes that drive? That's my comment in a nutshell.
posted by pivo at 11:12 PM on January 20, 2004
1. Patriots 2. ??? 3. Profit Couldn't resist. MVP will be Brady, as the secondary won't be such a busy unit againts the Panthers. I'll get back to #2 when the point is set, obviously (but I'll probably take the under). As a suggestion, to avoid a push on the over/under, set the point total on a half point, i.e. 33.5 points.
posted by pivo at 11:23 PM on January 18, 2004
It's cool Hal, appreciate the effort on the Big Board. Given your list of programs you are using to get it to the web, I am amazed it is even legible, let alone holding correct data ;) Congrats on being the only one of the 6-7 pointers to get em both this weekend (if this 14-3 holds up).
posted by pivo at 07:54 PM on January 18, 2004
3rd down no-call was kosher. 4th down one was a bit iffy, but the refs were consistent. They were letting the hand-play go all day. Colts should have adapted their game to the refs, IMO.
posted by pivo at 05:11 PM on January 18, 2004
And another. Ty Law is killing Peyton. BTW Hal, you have me down for Indy on the "Big Board" instead of Pats.
posted by pivo at 04:29 PM on January 18, 2004
1a) Not a sport. An event, a spectacle, a pastime, but not a sport. 1b) While driving at this level is a very stressful, demanding, and skillful endeavor, they are not athletes. I am sure most proffesional auto racers are very fit and indeed very athletic, they may be good at a variety of sports (in which context they would be athletes). While engaged in their chosen career path, however, they are not athletes, they are drivers.
posted by pivo at 10:51 PM on January 17, 2004
I have to go with Patriots and the Panthers. Think that weakness against the run will catch up with the Eagles this week. That and the 4th and 26 to overcome the Irv Favre mojo called in all their markers. Poor Eagles, at least the Bills did this in the Super Bowl every year. Patriots because of the D, Belichek and home field.
posted by pivo at 03:13 AM on January 17, 2004
Pirates need a sysadmin
The requirements don't mention pitching, batting or fielding as necessary. Ahh, so the same reqs as needed to be a player on the team. Guess that keeps it simple.
posted by pivo at 12:07 AM on April 26, 2005