Ryan Ludwick
Before anybody gets a crazy notion that signing Ludwick solves the gaping hole in LF....yes, i call it a hole in LF with Alonso & Sappelt traded away, and only Heisey (i can't hit LHP, i can't hit when i start, i can't get on base for anything) remaining out there.....i just want to throw some thoughts out on Ludwick:
Looking at Luckwick's #'s he was a good power hitter in the minors who couldn't hit in the majors and therefore couldn't stick with a major league team and bounced around from Tex to Tor to Cle and finally StL.
From 2002~2005, his best season was batting 0.247, and he just wan't a very good hitter.
He spent all of 2006 in AAA, not able to reach the majors.
In 2007 he started for StL hitting 0.267, which was the best he had ever done.
In 2008 (age 29) he put it all together and had a great year hitting 0.299 BA, 0.375 OBP, 0.591 SLG with 37 HR's and 113 RBi's.
The next year (2009), he declined but had a decent year with 22 HR and 97 RBI, but his #'s otherwise fell to 0.265 BA, 0.329 OBP, 0.447 SLG.
Since then, he has steadily declined and in 2010 hit only 0.251, and then in 2011 hit 0.237.
His numbers show:
2003 bad
2004 bad
2005 bad
2006 bad
2007 good
2008 very good
2009 good
2010 bad
2011 bad
2012 ...
I'm not really sure what they want from a guy who best case scenario hits 0.230~0.250 in LF, when they have Heisey who will likely hit better in LF already. Ludwick's only attribute was his power, but it's dropped off the map over the last few years.
Ludwick: bad hitter, no speed, high K's, good BB's, minimal power
Heisey: decent hitter, some speed, mediocre K's, bad BB's, decent power
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before anybody gripes: yes, i know i only used "outdated" stats like batting average in my post....get over it
i copied this from an email i sent to a friend who is older and only deals in stats that you used to find on the back of a baseball card.
Well, if the stats deceive more than they teach, then we don't use them.
Just because you still think that batting average is a viable means of predictive analysis doesn’t mean that we should “get over it.” It means that it’s time for you to “get with it.”
Arguing that we should excuse predictive statistical analysis in favor of your method of using batting average to give each season a “good” or “bad” label is counter-productive and teaches us nothing.
"I think it's possible this could possibly happen." - Harold Reynolds
by PeteyHendrix on Jan 17, 2012 7:37 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Petey, why do you want ephram's old friend to hurry up and die?
How about you agree to waive the fine and I promise not to email you the remaining eighty six photos of my dog dressed as a bear.
by Fat Vegas Alan on Jan 17, 2012 10:47 PM EST up reply actions
see! the liberals all want death panels!!
"The USA despite its flaws and corruption and overall messiness is still a great and powerful instrument of freedom and hope for the entire world." - Madville
To many stats anyways
I dont understand the Ludwick signing no way,no how
"A team is more than a group of individuals,its a group of individuals that come together to make a team"
Keith, the Reds needed an outfielder and there weren't many left to choose from.
Understand now?
How about you agree to waive the fine and I promise not to email you the remaining eighty six photos of my dog dressed as a bear.
by Fat Vegas Alan on Jan 23, 2012 11:56 PM EST up reply actions
This is not the audience to use batting average as evidence, unless it is part of the state line
batting average does tell you something, most guys who have an average over .300 are good hitters (although not always, I am looking at you Norris), but not every guy who hits .250 is a bad hitter.
Also average in conjunction with on base percentage is useful, I would rather have a guy with a high OBP and average up to bat with runners on base, rater then just a high OBP, because in that situation a hit is more useful than a walk.
Forget about trying to impress us, we don’t matter, I am slob in sweat pants who just rolled out of bed 45 minutes ago. If you are a baseball fan, why would you limit yourself to only judging hitters based on their batting average? Batting average only tells a small part of the story, on base percentage tells a bigger story, and add in slugging and you have a good idea of who that hitter is.
"You know when I'm done ranting about elite power that rules the planet under a totalitarian government that uses the media in order to keep people stupid, my throat gets parched. That's why I drink Orange Drink".-Bill Hicks
by Yossarian22 on Jan 22, 2012 12:18 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Nice job, Elbow Patches.
rec’d
"If she’s already pregnant, you’re gold." - Hawkeye00
by PeteyHendrix on Jan 23, 2012 11:51 PM EST up reply actions
Ludwick won't strike out more frequently than Heisey, and he'll get a bump from the smaller ballpark.
In general, I agree. LF is something of a hole, but the Reds have found a way to produce with that hole there for a few years now. I’d have rather seen Damon, Drew, Fukudome, or probably about a dozen other guys (especially at that salary), but we needed somebody. I’m terrified of what Dusty will do with him, but I don’t think it can be bad enough to submarine a legitimate playoff shot.
Trying to pull off "having no money and talking to no one" as well as the Reds have.
I have some hope that Ludwick will be decent
He’s better than Ankiel or Pierre.
I don’t have a lot of faith in Heisey, so I’m not too upset on his account.
But I wouldn’t bet the farm that Ludwick will be good. He’s a bit of a lottery ticket, I think.
All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?
Todd
Scott Roland should retire tomorrow.
by Madville on Jan 17, 2012 7:37 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
hollandsworth?

"God has blessed me and I will continue to do my best for him. This is more important than anything I could do in baseball." -Albert Pujols
Nope

"Aroldis Chapman is a seven course meal followed by four hours of sex on the table with a nymphomaniac model heiress who owns her own brewery." - jch24
Nope.
Wear something sexy to my funeral.
by Pops Daniels on Jan 18, 2012 10:07 AM EST up reply actions
That dude throws like a GIRL!
"Wait, you think I'm being mean to the pretend orangutan?" -- battlekow
Who is that?
"You know when I'm done ranting about elite power that rules the planet under a totalitarian government that uses the media in order to keep people stupid, my throat gets parched. That's why I drink Orange Drink".-Bill Hicks
At least he isn't a pitcher
That picture makes my arm hurt.
"You know when I'm done ranting about elite power that rules the planet under a totalitarian government that uses the media in order to keep people stupid, my throat gets parched. That's why I drink Orange Drink".-Bill Hicks
Fuck it! We got COOOOOOOOOOOKIIIIIIIIEEEEESSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
and Votto.
Under my tutelage, you will grow from boys to men. From men into gladiators. And from gladiators into Swansons. ~ Ron Swanson
i think i'd rather have a pack of oreos + a gallon of milk, than Ryan Ludwick (at this point in his career)
I would, too.
I like cookies, but I have no interest in sleeping with Ryan Ludwick.
"I think it's possible this could possibly happen." - Harold Reynolds
by PeteyHendrix on Jan 18, 2012 2:34 PM EST up reply actions
But you'd bang a snickerdoodle?
Wear something sexy to my funeral.
by Pops Daniels on Jan 18, 2012 6:47 PM EST up reply actions
I know it's all over now. (Including most of the crying.)
But nobody ever mentioned Pat Burrell.
Is Pat Burrell still a thing?
How about you agree to waive the fine and I promise not to email you the remaining eighty six photos of my dog dressed as a bear.
I like your stat lines
I’m not old but I’m so disinterested in following baseball outside of the Reds that I just don’t have time for that fancy GIPBL, OMLTP, XQPTL or whatever other screwed up acronym used to quantify how many times a guy gets to tie his shoes on first base.
Batting average is still relevant b/c it tells you exactly how often that guy gets a hit.
(Let the bashing begin)
It is rather amazing to me that putting the ball in play is not of interest to some sabremagicians...
In many cases stats like OBP while relevant, can skewed if the batter e.g. walks a lot in the no. 8 slot because the pitcher is up next with 2 outs…in the final analysis baseball is often situational: OBP doesn’t necessarily = scoring runs or driving runs in.
Scott Roland should retire tomorrow.
Does OBP = runs? Well, if your team has a 1.000 OBP, you'll score an infinite amount of runs, even if you don't get a hit.
Seriously though, you have a hard time scoring runs without getting players on base. And damn if you don’t have a hard time scoring runs if you aren’t hitting the ball hard to drive them in. That’s why OBP and SLG matter.
Does batting average matter? Only in that it is a component of OBP AND SLG. There seems to be this assumption that OBP just means walks, but that’s not true. Guys have good OBP without many walks if they have a good average. But the thing is, if you have a good OBP but a mediocre average, you’re still pretty damn valuable. Why focus only on average, when you miss all of that yummy, helpful goodness? We can learn something from average, but we can learn so much more from OBP and SLG. That’s why we use those numbers.
And do strikeouts matter? Well, all other things being equal, I’d take the guy with fewer strikeouts. But that rarely happens. So, give me the more productive hitter with more strikeouts over the guy with a better batting average and fewer strikeouts that doesn’t do anything else.
Follow on Twitter: @jluckhaupt. Buy The Wire-to-Wire Reds today!
the pitcher better have one helluva pick off move against a team with a 1.000 OBP!
"You know when I'm done ranting about elite power that rules the planet under a totalitarian government that uses the media in order to keep people stupid, my throat gets parched. That's why I drink Orange Drink".-Bill Hicks
Well written.
You so sexy, Slyde!!
"If she’s already pregnant, you’re gold." - Hawkeye00
by PeteyHendrix on Jan 24, 2012 1:31 PM EST up reply actions
Brilliant Slyde...you should be Manager of the Reds.
(only if I get to bench coach though).
Scott Roland should retire tomorrow.
The earth is flat (except for the hills) 'cause
when I start a’walkin that’s the way it looks to me!
Wear something sexy to my funeral.
by Pops Daniels on Jan 23, 2012 9:19 AM EST up reply actions
Look, batting average is fine, but it's
only a small part of the picture. The willful bristling against tools that give a person a more complete picture of a hitter’s value is the only thing I take issue with. Most of these metrics are not difficult and even the most math-challenged can use them quite easily (I am one of those). They do not require much of your time. All you need is http://www.baseball-reference.com/ and a willingness to understand that every major league team now uses sabermetric principles because they have real value.
But, around these parts, introducing a willful dismissal of advanced metrics and acting persecuted before anyone has a chance to respond to the conversation will get you called out for offering up a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Wear something sexy to my funeral.
by Pops Daniels on Jan 23, 2012 9:27 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Right.
I think you’d find that outside of Slyde and JinAZ, this is not a terribly stats-heavy blog. The vast majority of us stick with average, on-base, and slugging, none of which are too complicated and all of which are easily discoverable.
The best example I’ve heard is: If someone asks me how much change I have in my pocket, I don’t answer “6 coins”, I answer “87 cents”. Batting average is just telling the number of coins, on-base and slugging tell you the value of those coins.
I think WAR is only used because it’s easier to type “3” than .280/.350/480 all the time.
"You said 'walks' twice."
"I like walks."
by Cy Schourek on Jan 23, 2012 10:15 AM EST up reply actions
That's the beauty of WAR
It distills all the different aspects of player value down into one easily-digestible number. It’s not perfect, but it’s still really helpful.
by Charlie Scrabbles on Jan 23, 2012 10:27 AM EST up reply actions
it's good for arguments
I wouldn’t use it if I was a GM, but for our purposes, yeah, it’s great.
"You said 'walks' twice."
"I like walks."
by Cy Schourek on Jan 23, 2012 11:33 AM EST up reply actions
It is a good starting point for valuing a position player.
"You know when I'm done ranting about elite power that rules the planet under a totalitarian government that uses the media in order to keep people stupid, my throat gets parched. That's why I drink Orange Drink".-Bill Hicks
by Yossarian22 on Jan 23, 2012 12:28 PM EST up reply actions
Your six coins
Are a fifty cent piece, a quarter, two nickels, and two pennies.
by Brendanukkah on Jan 23, 2012 7:20 PM EST up reply actions
are you saying he is old?
"You know when I'm done ranting about elite power that rules the planet under a totalitarian government that uses the media in order to keep people stupid, my throat gets parched. That's why I drink Orange Drink".-Bill Hicks
I was terrified that my "87 cents" wouldn't be mathematically possible.
but not terrfied enough to just, well, think of 6 coins.
"You said 'walks' twice."
"I like walks."
by Cy Schourek on Jan 23, 2012 10:16 PM EST up reply actions
/Sherri Shephard'd
"If she’s already pregnant, you’re gold." - Hawkeye00
by PeteyHendrix on Jan 23, 2012 11:52 PM EST up reply actions
Wood, Wood, Wood, Wood, Wood, Wood, Wood....
Batting average is still relevant b/c it tells you exactly how often that guy gets a hit.
In 2004, Barry Bonds won his fourth consecutive NL MVP.
His batting average was .362
Can you tell exactly how often that guy got a hit? 36.2% of the time, right?
No, Wood, he came to bat more than 600 times in 2004. He got 135 hits… Only 22% of the time did Barry Bonds get a hit.
22% of the time. That’s how often that guy got a hit.
But do you know what he did 38% of the time?
How about you agree to waive the fine and I promise not to email you the remaining eighty six photos of my dog dressed as a bear.
by Fat Vegas Alan on Jan 23, 2012 11:52 PM EST reply actions
Um...annoy the press?
Scowl at Jeff Kent?
Willfully break the law for his own self-edification?
"If she’s already pregnant, you’re gold." - Hawkeye00
by PeteyHendrix on Jan 23, 2012 11:55 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs
Pete, why do you have to be such an asterisk?
How about you agree to waive the fine and I promise not to email you the remaining eighty six photos of my dog dressed as a bear.
by Fat Vegas Alan on Jan 23, 2012 11:58 PM EST up reply actions
I'm gonna be one tilde let Rose in the HOF.
"If she’s already pregnant, you’re gold." - Hawkeye00
by PeteyHendrix on Jan 24, 2012 1:22 AM EST up reply actions
always fun to look through Bonds' old stats.
1-[Bonds’ 2002 OBP] = [Joey Votto’s league leading 2011 OBP]
"You said 'walks' twice."
"I like walks."
by Cy Schourek on Jan 24, 2012 12:10 AM EST up reply actions
In 2005, when Bonds had 52 PAs,
he was good for .4 WAR.
"You said 'walks' twice."
"I like walks."
by Cy Schourek on Jan 24, 2012 12:12 AM EST up reply actions
in 2011
Zack Cozart had 38 PAs. And a .7 WAR.
He’s a better hitter than Barry Bonds!
All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?
by BubbaFan on Jan 24, 2012 6:31 AM EST up reply actions 3 recs
That is isane
I played the “look through Bond’s stats” game a week or two ago, I love doing that every so often. He didn’t need the ‘roid at all, that’s what gets me.
"Wait, you think I'm being mean to the pretend orangutan?" -- battlekow
But with them, he became a godamned superhero.
Wear something sexy to my funeral.
by Pops Daniels on Jan 24, 2012 10:19 AM EST up reply actions
FTFY
with them, he became a godamned superhero supervillain.
"If she’s already pregnant, you’re gold." - Hawkeye00
by PeteyHendrix on Jan 24, 2012 1:33 PM EST up reply actions
he did if he was going to eclipse griffey and get the headlines of sosa & mcgwire
he was either going to be a steroid free hall of famer, or a ’roided up best player of all time.
that’s a tough choice
Yeah.
But it’s an easier choice if you assume that you’re going to ‘roid and be the best player of all time and you’re not going to get caught. I wonder if he thought that he could do it without getting caught.
How about you agree to waive the fine and I promise not to email you the remaining eighty six photos of my dog dressed as a bear.
by Fat Vegas Alan on Jan 24, 2012 10:35 AM EST up reply actions
He either thought he could do it without getting caught
or he didn’t care. Knowing his public persona, either one is plausible.
Follow on Twitter: @jluckhaupt. Buy The Wire-to-Wire Reds today!
by Slyde on Jan 24, 2012 10:36 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Right.
And I guess by that time he had already made many of his millions so he may have been prepared to just walk away if the game asked him/told him to.
I mean, that’s kind of what happened in 2007 anyway.
How about you agree to waive the fine and I promise not to email you the remaining eighty six photos of my dog dressed as a bear.
by Fat Vegas Alan on Jan 24, 2012 10:38 AM EST up reply actions
I doubt walking away ever crossed his mind
Back then, that was never a consideration. Everyone who was juicing was being celebrated. I’m guessing that’s all he saw.
Follow on Twitter: @jluckhaupt. Buy The Wire-to-Wire Reds today!
That's probably true.
He pretty clearly looked at Sosa and McGwire and said, “Hell, I’m a better hitter than both those guys and pffsssh, I could probably take more steroids than both those guys.”
How about you agree to waive the fine and I promise not to email you the remaining eighty six photos of my dog dressed as a bear.
by Fat Vegas Alan on Jan 24, 2012 10:43 AM EST up reply actions
the rumor was that he said as much to Junior
but Junior was pure of spirit and was able to fight the demon scourge of steroids. Or so the legend goes.
Follow on Twitter: @jluckhaupt. Buy The Wire-to-Wire Reds today!
and Bonds' hometown fans loved him
and Junior’s hometown fans shit all over him.
"You know when I'm done ranting about elite power that rules the planet under a totalitarian government that uses the media in order to keep people stupid, my throat gets parched. That's why I drink Orange Drink".-Bill Hicks
by Yossarian22 on Jan 24, 2012 10:51 AM EST up reply actions
it's not nearly as simple as that
bonds was setting all the homerun records in front of his fans.
griffey was sitting the bench with injuries in front of his fans.
But Reds fans did kinda treat Griffey like he was trying to get hurt or something.
"You know when I'm done ranting about elite power that rules the planet under a totalitarian government that uses the media in order to keep people stupid, my throat gets parched. That's why I drink Orange Drink".-Bill Hicks
by Yossarian22 on Jan 24, 2012 11:15 AM EST up reply actions
yeah, it was kind of a shame.
"You said 'walks' twice."
"I like walks."
by Cy Schourek on Jan 24, 2012 11:18 AM EST up reply actions
there were plenty of people saying that griffey didn't do enough to keep himself in good condition as he aged
many reds fans think those injuries were avoidable.
griffey was an incredible player for the mariners, but he was an under achiever for the reds.
i don’t think he was treated unfairly at all
maybe the hamstring injuries were avodiable
But he suffered one injury diving for a ball, I believe he separated or dislocated his shoulder, that wasn’t avoidable.
He tore something in his knee sliding into home plate, again that injury probably was not avoidable.
He tore a tendon in his ankle stepping on 2nd base funny, that injury probably was not avoidable.
I believe these were all injuries that required surgery to repair and put him on the D.L. for long periods of time and I think they all occurred in that 2002-2004 time frame when he played less than 100 games. Unfortunately SBN took down (never made) a Griffey player page so while I am sure a time line that includes his injuries exists, I do not know where to find it.
In 2002 or 2003 the fans booed him as he left the field after he got hurt making a catch.
"You know when I'm done ranting about elite power that rules the planet under a totalitarian government that uses the media in order to keep people stupid, my throat gets parched. That's why I drink Orange Drink".-Bill Hicks
by Yossarian22 on Jan 24, 2012 11:29 AM EST up reply actions
I want to say that the injury where he tore the hamstring off the bone (!!!) came when he was rounding third and headed for home in a ST game
"Wait, you think I'm being mean to the pretend orangutan?" -- battlekow
that came late in 2004 I think
I think it was like his first game back, and the Reds were playing on a chilly August night in San Diego.
During the game the announcers thought he left for precautionary reasons, because nobody knew he was leaving the game until a defensive substitution or a pinch hitter took his place.
My memory could be addled though.
"You know when I'm done ranting about elite power that rules the planet under a totalitarian government that uses the media in order to keep people stupid, my throat gets parched. That's why I drink Orange Drink".-Bill Hicks
by Yossarian22 on Jan 24, 2012 11:59 AM EST up reply actions
Take a look at his '07, his age 37 year
He was awesome. I didn’t remember that at all.
by Charlie Scrabbles on Jan 24, 2012 12:28 PM EST up reply actions
I remember
I also think he started out that year with no home runs in the first month of the season.
"You know when I'm done ranting about elite power that rules the planet under a totalitarian government that uses the media in order to keep people stupid, my throat gets parched. That's why I drink Orange Drink".-Bill Hicks
by Yossarian22 on Jan 24, 2012 12:32 PM EST up reply actions
It definitely wasn't in ST,
because I was at that game and sitting along the third base line. He looked to be in pure agony.
Unless there were two games where he injured himself rounding third, which is highly possible.
by the finest muffins on Jan 24, 2012 1:46 PM EST up reply actions
Maybe my ST memory is something else
"Wait, you think I'm being mean to the pretend orangutan?" -- battlekow
another thing is
griffey insisted on kremcheck doing these surgeries for him, even when kremcheck told him he had never done & didn’t know how to do the procedures.
Because griffey was the first pro athlete to ever have the hamstring surgery he opted for
or I should say the first MLB player or major American pro athlete.
expectations are premeditated resentments - cheshirecat
yeah. that's the point
he was referred to a surgeon that knew how to do the surgery, but refused & insisted kremchek “learn” how do perform it.
that’s kremchek’s version of the story anyway.
Well, he seemed to do pretty well with it
so there’s that.
by Charlie Scrabbles on Jan 27, 2012 10:23 AM EST up reply actions
All told,
he had a fairly normal aging curve, and in the middle of it, this happened:
He went on the disabled list in 2001 after tearing a hamstring, starting his run of major injuries. He was on the disabled list twice in 2002 (torn knee tendon and hamstring), twice in 2003 (dislocated shoulder and torn ankle tendon) and twice in 2004 (two hamstring tears).
That’s a lot of insane bad luck (shoulder, ankle, spring training hamstring, “it fell like someone took a bungee jump off of my nuts”) and probably exacerbated by astroturf in Cincy.
Think its any coincidence that the three insane-est athletes of the late Riverfront era: Davis, Larkin, Griffey, couldn’t stay on the field?
"You said 'walks' twice."
"I like walks."
the turf probably was a huge problem
when rob dibble was a co-host on the dan patrick show, he made several comments about griffey. he said that griffey didn’t wait train or take care of himself in the offseason. he said griffey would continue to get injured. he also said griffey didn’t have the bat speed to be elite anymore. everyone laughed at him & dismissed his comments because he was rob dibble.
after that, we saw griffey continually injured & it appeared that he doubled in size. even still, i think people won’t admit dibble was right solely because it was rob dibble that said it.
Also: Rob Dibble has a terrible history of knowing what's an injury and what's not
including his own.
"You said 'walks' twice."
"I like walks."
Griffey only played one season on turf in Cincy, and actually stayed healthy
The turf was removed after the 2000 season when they removed a large portion of the outfield seats (and made Cinergy look like an actual ballpark).
Follow on Twitter: @jluckhaupt. Buy The Wire-to-Wire Reds today!
Oh, that's when Paul Brown opened?
I knew the Reds wanted to get grass but the Bengals wouldn’t let them. Sorry for getting my dates crossed.
"You said 'walks' twice."
"I like walks."
I loved Riverfront with the gap and the grass
"Wait, you think I'm being mean to the pretend orangutan?" -- battlekow
If there's some grass on the gap, then play ball!
Amirite?
Follow on Twitter: @jluckhaupt. Buy The Wire-to-Wire Reds today!
by Slyde on Jan 24, 2012 2:22 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
yeah, i am guessing renovations were cost prohibitive
but that worked as a ballpark after they did that.
They could have put some bleachers or a picnic deck or something out in the outfield and it would have been pretty cool.
"You know when I'm done ranting about elite power that rules the planet under a totalitarian government that uses the media in order to keep people stupid, my throat gets parched. That's why I drink Orange Drink".-Bill Hicks
And Griffey deferred his salary to pay for the renovation
expectations are premeditated resentments - cheshirecat
it wasn't against the rules of baseball & there was no testing
i think he was fairly confident he wouldn’t get caught
it was against baseball's rules starting in 1991
but there was no testing.
Follow on Twitter: @jluckhaupt. Buy The Wire-to-Wire Reds today!
yeah, I didn't realize that until I heard it a couple of weeks ago
Here’s an interesting timeline.
I particularly love this:
July 15, 1995 — In an article by Los Angeles Times sports writer Bob Nightengale, Padres general manager Randy Smith is quoted as saying "we all know there’s steroid use, and it is definitely becoming more prevalent." Also in the article, Tony Gwynn states: "It’s like the big secret we’re not supposed to talk about."
That’s 3 years before McGwire/Sosa. And yet, many sportswriters bought into that crap. And now that they look like fools, they’re going to punish everyone that they suspect used after the fact.
Follow on Twitter: @jluckhaupt. Buy The Wire-to-Wire Reds today!
Sportswriters really are an unfortunate lot
And I so want to be one of them.
by Charlie Scrabbles on Jan 24, 2012 11:09 AM EST up reply actions
word up, Scrabs.
I’d read ya.
Tequila and pancakes, anyone?
by Kevin Mitchell is Batman on Jan 24, 2012 11:49 AM EST up reply actions
Me too, I get bored when I'm deucin'
"Wait, you think I'm being mean to the pretend orangutan?" -- battlekow
by jch24 on Jan 24, 2012 12:10 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
you are a much better writer
honestly all of our main page main stays are better writers than Al.
"You know when I'm done ranting about elite power that rules the planet under a totalitarian government that uses the media in order to keep people stupid, my throat gets parched. That's why I drink Orange Drink".-Bill Hicks
by Yossarian22 on Jan 24, 2012 12:32 PM EST up reply actions
Thanks, I guess
though it’s really not saying much.
by Charlie Scrabbles on Jan 24, 2012 1:07 PM EST up reply actions
You are a good writer, Chuck!
"You know when I'm done ranting about elite power that rules the planet under a totalitarian government that uses the media in order to keep people stupid, my throat gets parched. That's why I drink Orange Drink".-Bill Hicks
Except when you whore yourself out for ads
which removes you from the artistic roll call for life!
"You know when I'm done ranting about elite power that rules the planet under a totalitarian government that uses the media in order to keep people stupid, my throat gets parched. That's why I drink Orange Drink".-Bill Hicks
I wanna see you plug the Garden Weasel™.
Also known as Craig Counsell.
"If she’s already pregnant, you’re gold." - Hawkeye00
by PeteyHendrix on Jan 24, 2012 2:03 PM EST up reply actions
Thanks man, that means a lot to me
"Wait, you think I'm being mean to the pretend orangutan?" -- battlekow
I agree.
What this AI?
"If she’s already pregnant, you’re gold." - Hawkeye00
by PeteyHendrix on Jan 24, 2012 2:03 PM EST up reply actions
I think that's debatable
A memo from the Commissioner’s office does not constitute a rule, IMO. Unlike the current CBA, adding steroids to the banned substance list wasn’t collectively bargained for. And obviously, since there was no enforcement it’s hard to consider Vincent’s memo as any kind of substantive rule with teeth.
well, it was still a crime, no?
I mean, the debate doesn’t really matter either way since there was no testing and evidence at this point is most likely hearsay, but anybody who was using steroids in the late 90s was breaking some rules. It’s hard to deny that.
Follow on Twitter: @jluckhaupt. Buy The Wire-to-Wire Reds today!
No doubt
And if there’d been a player that was caught by law enforcement for possession or use of anabolic steroids, the Commissioner would’ve been within his rights to suspend him (like Steve Howe and the cocaine guys). I’m just getting all esquirely about whether the memo constituted a “rule.” I guess the most accurate thing to say is that steroids were against baseball’s rules once they were made illegal by Congress.
The commissioner himsefl says "it's not allowed in MLB"
but you don’t know if that makes it not allowed in MLB?
expectations are premeditated resentments - cheshirecat
You're missing the whole point of collective bargaining
The Commissioner doesn’t get to set the rules by himself. Selig could not unilaterally decide that all players have to report in ST a week early, or are ineligible for free agency until they’ve completed eight years of major league service. He has to negotiate with the players’ representatives.
by ken on Jan 26, 2012 9:33 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Good point
but were they illegal at the time? If not, then this is a valid argument, but if they were, then none of this really matters, IMO.
expectations are premeditated resentments - cheshirecat
They were illegal to distribute in 1988
and illegal to possess without a prescription in 1990. (I believe I have that right)
Follow on Twitter: @jluckhaupt. Buy The Wire-to-Wire Reds today!
Well, I meant 'caught' in the sense that he was 'found out' by a general public that was eventually going to get wise to all of it.
How about you agree to waive the fine and I promise not to email you the remaining eighty six photos of my dog dressed as a bear.
by Fat Vegas Alan on Jan 24, 2012 10:47 AM EST up reply actions
NO WAY!!!!
OUTRAGE! ANGRY AT CHEATER!! HOW COULD HE DO THIS?!?!?!?! BASEBALL SHOULD BE PURE, JUST LIKE SPORTSWRITING!!!!!!!!!
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Which reminds me
if you don’t read The Platoon Advantage, they did some great satire on sportswriters who didn’t vote for Jeff Bagwell because he looked, you know, suspicious. They pointed out how, without any proof otherwise, those writers might, you know, be plagiarists. The sportswriters did not appreciate the joke and TPA got booted from ESPN Sweet Spot.
Follow on Twitter: @jluckhaupt. Buy The Wire-to-Wire Reds today!
by Slyde on Jan 24, 2012 10:39 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
That's a great comparison
Self-righteous sportswriters are the worst. Anyone who has been around media members knows there are just as many egotistical assholes in that profession as there in professional sports.
"Wait, you think I'm being mean to the pretend orangutan?" -- battlekow
I clipped that for a Reposter some time ago
and never got around to it. Man, that is easily the best of 2011.
by Charlie Scrabbles on Jan 24, 2012 11:03 AM EST up reply actions
the funniest part of it
is that they got booted from ESPN after Peter Abraham complained to their “bosses.” The irony is that they had just declared Abraham clean of any plagiarism suspicion because he changed his vote on Bagwell.
It should be noted they did not accuse every writer who did not vote for Bagwell, just those that used steroid suspicion as their reason to not vote for him.
Follow on Twitter: @jluckhaupt. Buy The Wire-to-Wire Reds today!
I hadn't heard that they got booted from SweetSpot (I don't read them all that frequently)
That is…well, that’s fucking awesome is what it is. It’s comforting to know we can count on idiots to be consistent.
by Charlie Scrabbles on Jan 24, 2012 12:31 PM EST up reply actions
Apparently he felt that he was underappreciated for being a "complete player"
since nobody paid attention to his stolen bases and power combination or something like that.
I am not sure were I saw, heard, read, saw that. It probably isn’t new to anyone.
"You know when I'm done ranting about elite power that rules the planet under a totalitarian government that uses the media in order to keep people stupid, my throat gets parched. That's why I drink Orange Drink".-Bill Hicks
by Yossarian22 on Jan 24, 2012 10:41 AM EST up reply actions
He was the only 400-400 guy ever, right?
Hell, 500-500. People were all over that shit, it’s un-freaking-believable. If he didn’t get more publicity, it’s because he actively shunned the media. But baseball people and fans absolutely recognized him for one of the best the game had seen.
Then he got on steroids and, well…
expectations are premeditated resentments - cheshirecat
he was upset he didn't get the coverage that Sosa and McGwire got.
"You know when I'm done ranting about elite power that rules the planet under a totalitarian government that uses the media in order to keep people stupid, my throat gets parched. That's why I drink Orange Drink".-Bill Hicks
by Yossarian22 on Jan 26, 2012 10:06 PM EST up reply actions
Well, to that point he had never hit 60+ HRs, so...
he could lump himself in with every other MLB player alive.
expectations are premeditated resentments - cheshirecat
I am not saying he had good reason to be upset.
"You know when I'm done ranting about elite power that rules the planet under a totalitarian government that uses the media in order to keep people stupid, my throat gets parched. That's why I drink Orange Drink".-Bill Hicks
by Yossarian22 on Jan 27, 2012 12:00 PM EST up reply actions
The good thread is locked and now SBN is acting all funky
Damn it all.
"Wait, you think I'm being mean to the pretend orangutan?" -- battlekow
Uhhhh...
This thread has me and Slyde and ’tHan discussing actual baseball, so maybe this is the good thread, Burger Boy.
How about you agree to waive the fine and I promise not to email you the remaining eighty six photos of my dog dressed as a bear.
by Fat Vegas Alan on Jan 24, 2012 10:53 AM EST up reply actions
And whose comment started all that discussion, hhhhmmmmm?
"Wait, you think I'm being mean to the pretend orangutan?" -- battlekow
Hey, I started the Bonds conversation.
You just enhanced it. Gave it life. Turned people’s heads and made them take notice. Damn, you might be the greatest commenter of all time.
How about you agree to waive the fine and I promise not to email you the remaining eighty six photos of my dog dressed as a bear.
by Fat Vegas Alan on Jan 24, 2012 12:21 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I'm going to take a picture of me holding a keyboard above my head and post it
"Wait, you think I'm being mean to the pretend orangutan?" -- battlekow
That's not true. You won't.
This must be you joking or something.
"If she’s already pregnant, you’re gold." - Hawkeye00
by PeteyHendrix on Jan 24, 2012 2:06 PM EST up reply actions
i think my main point was
that i had sent an email to a friend who only lives in the world of BA / OPB / SLG.
So when i posted my post using only BA / OPB / SLG i was just using the stats that i had used in my email.
I didn’t want to re-look everything up and crank it through formulas like (X+A)^N=∑_(K=0)^N〖(N¦K) X^K A^(N-K) 〗 or X=(-B±√(B^2-4AC))/2A just to use the fancy stats like BABIP, OBP+, WAR, GWAR, et al.
Regardless of the stats, at the end of the day Ludwick hs been getting progressively worse since 2008.
I disagree with your conclusion.
And I’m not crazy about your methodology, but I’m glad you shared.
"If she’s already pregnant, you’re gold." - Hawkeye00
by PeteyHendrix on Jan 26, 2012 2:50 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
This post is slightly funny
I don’t know, that “formula” just makes me chuckle a little.
expectations are premeditated resentments - cheshirecat
by kcgard2 on Jan 26, 2012 9:07 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
the formula has nothing to do with baseball. i just copy pasted an algabraic formula that looks rediculous.
also, GWAR isn’t a baseball stat – it’s a rock band from the 90’s that used to dress up in cheesy mad-max type of costumes.
on a side note, i couldn’t imagine how crammed the back of a sabermetrics baseball card would look, and how confusing it would be to little 7 year old Johnny :-)
I was aware - thus the scare quotes
it made me chuckle because of the notion many people have that “fancy stats” are built on such arcane formulae, when in reality most of them are completely intuitive even if you don’t have a degree in statistical methods. I scare quoted again fancy stats because I don’t think the ones you picked out are even that fancy.
AVG = (TOB-ROE-ROFC-(I)BB-HBP-CI) / (PA-SF-SH-BB-HBP). Looks really complicated. But everyone understands hits/at-bats intuitively. If you understand the components, you can understand what the stat is trying to measure, without being scared away by the complicated-looking notation.
Really, I just loved the formula you picked out, looking at it makes me laugh.
expectations are premeditated resentments - cheshirecat
Hey, Reds fans..
Let’s make ‘Redsiculous’ a thing.
Like… Game 2 is gonna be REDSICULOUS!
How about you agree to waive the fine and I promise not to email you the remaining eighty six photos of my dog dressed as a bear.
by Fat Vegas Alan on Jan 27, 2012 10:33 AM EST up reply actions
You gotta make it Reds-diculous
otherwise it’s too hard to pronounce
expectations are premeditated resentments - cheshirecat
Your way reminds me of a dog with a boner.
But maybe that’s not a bad thing?
How about you agree to waive the fine and I promise not to email you the remaining eighty six photos of my dog dressed as a bear.
by Fat Vegas Alan on Jan 27, 2012 10:36 AM EST up reply actions
Slyde & JinAZ are continuing to evaluate and possibly validate that formula as I type
The ends justify the means
by Highlifeman21 on Jan 28, 2012 3:37 PM EST up reply actions
I don't like anything outside of obp/slg either.
fistbump?
"You said 'walks' twice."
"I like walks."
obp/slg/ops
Is more than enough fucking numbers.
I personally like PIP as an offensive stat
Put In Play.
It is amazing what can happen when the ball is actually struck by the bat.
Scott Roland should retire tomorrow.
yeah, like double plays
and weak ground balls
and pop ups to 3B
and lazy fly balls
It ain’t all good.
Follow on Twitter: @jluckhaupt. Buy The Wire-to-Wire Reds today!
by Slyde on Jan 27, 2012 8:36 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I agree with you on this Mads
Ks don’t have enough stigma now.
expectations are premeditated resentments - cheshirecat
And don't forget "Mom carrying a special needs baby rocks your world."

How about you agree to waive the fine and I promise not to email you the remaining eighty six photos of my dog dressed as a bear.
by Fat Vegas Alan on Jan 27, 2012 10:44 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Willy Taveras put a lot of balls in play
didn’t he?
"You know when I'm done ranting about elite power that rules the planet under a totalitarian government that uses the media in order to keep people stupid, my throat gets parched. That's why I drink Orange Drink".-Bill Hicks
by Yossarian22 on Jan 27, 2012 12:03 PM EST up reply actions
Blow me.
Taveras did not put that many balls in play.
And when he did he hit with power of an 11 girl…(on a good day)
Scott Roland should retire tomorrow.
Willy Taveras put 79% of his balls in play as a Red
It was the highest on the team in 2009. Second on the team was Alex Gonzalez (77%), another heavy hitter.
Joey Votto put the ball in play 62% of the time in 2009. To be fair though, that includes PAs that end in walks. Then again, it included walks for Taveras and Gonzalez too. When you take out walks, Taveras is at 86%, Gonzalez at 87%, and Votto is at 77%.
You can put the ball in play all you want, but it don’t mean shit if you don’t hit it with some authority.
Follow on Twitter: @jluckhaupt. Buy The Wire-to-Wire Reds today!
Hey look
More made up “formulas”! Because real numbers are SO HARD, right? Ah, willful ignorance.
"Aroldis Chapman is a seven course meal followed by four hours of sex on the table with a nymphomaniac model heiress who owns her own brewery." - jch24
by BK on Jan 26, 2012 11:39 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Teach me please

Scott Roland should retire tomorrow.
by Madville on Jan 27, 2012 2:37 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I would like to solve her unknown
Follow on Twitter: @jluckhaupt. Buy The Wire-to-Wire Reds today!
by Slyde on Jan 27, 2012 8:37 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I'm gonna go ahead and say it.....she's not that hot
"Wait, you think I'm being mean to the pretend orangutan?" -- battlekow
But it's Winnie Cooper!
That ratchets things up a bit for me.
Follow on Twitter: @jluckhaupt. Buy The Wire-to-Wire Reds today!
Maybe if I had a time machine
so I could really impress my 9-year-old self.
"You said 'walks' twice."
"I like walks."
Honestly, I think that's the only thing that does it for me
But Topanga > Winnie when I was young.
"Wait, you think I'm being mean to the pretend orangutan?" -- battlekow
anybody who is airbrushed is hot!
"You know when I'm done ranting about elite power that rules the planet under a totalitarian government that uses the media in order to keep people stupid, my throat gets parched. That's why I drink Orange Drink".-Bill Hicks
by Yossarian22 on Jan 27, 2012 12:05 PM EST up reply actions
I'd like to go to committee with her!
"You know when I'm done ranting about elite power that rules the planet under a totalitarian government that uses the media in order to keep people stupid, my throat gets parched. That's why I drink Orange Drink".-Bill Hicks
by Yossarian22 on Jan 28, 2012 10:26 AM EST up reply actions
I'm gonna go ahead and say it..
she’s IT hot
The ends justify the means
by Highlifeman21 on Jan 28, 2012 3:39 PM EST up reply actions
Nailed it.....although I'd say it as "she's smart girl hot"
"Wait, you think I'm being mean to the pretend orangutan?" -- battlekow
I'm just this side of finding this comment offensive
by Brendanukkah on Jan 29, 2012 7:04 PM EST up reply actions
Congrats, please go pick up your second place ribbon at the table to the right
"Wait, you think I'm being mean to the pretend orangutan?" -- battlekow
well sure
but I haven’t run into that many smart girls outside of IT
The ends justify the means
by Highlifeman21 on Feb 4, 2012 12:53 PM EST up reply actions
I really just thought this was a boring thread compared to the others I read
Now its interesting. Thanks guys. I needed a good laugh.

How about you agree to waive the fine and I promise not to email you the remaining eighty six photos of my dog dressed as a bear.
by Fat Vegas Alan on Jan 28, 2012 12:24 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I am absolutely losing my mind. Who is this hottie?
It looks like Gina Carano….Ugghhh I can’t think.

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