Thursday, May 08, 2008
What are the odds? Let's find out
During the Dodgers' 12-1 loss yesterday to the Mets, the only interesting thing to happen to the home fans was that two of them in adjacent seats caught consecutive foul balls.
And I could have been there -- someone at my office sent out an e-mail saying she had 10 free tickets available, first come first serve. But it was a rare weekday day game, and I didn't think my boss would appreciate me taking a 3-hour lunch. (I'm definitely glad I didn't fake appendicitis for a 12-1 game. I probably wouldn't have caught a foul ball, either.)
And I could have been there -- someone at my office sent out an e-mail saying she had 10 free tickets available, first come first serve. But it was a rare weekday day game, and I didn't think my boss would appreciate me taking a 3-hour lunch. (I'm definitely glad I didn't fake appendicitis for a 12-1 game. I probably wouldn't have caught a foul ball, either.)
Labels: dodgers, foul balls, Mets
Monday, April 28, 2008
The name change is working so far
After sweeping series against the Blue Jays and Red Sox, the Rays have won 6 in a row, and -- this is quite a statistic -- are in first place in the AL East later in the season than ever before. (Tied for first, but still...)
Labels: devil rays
Monday, March 31, 2008
Oh, I see what your problem is
As I mentioned in the last entry, I'm at work today, instead of watching Opening Day baseball. The closest I can come is watching baseball-related videos on YouTube, such as this one (which I don't think I've linked to here before). The serious baseball-related content starts at about 1:50 in. Dave Foley is awesome.
Labels: kids in the hall, who's on first, youtube
Friday, March 28, 2008
Predictions for 2008
Yes, this blog is still in business. It's time for our annual look at the Sports Illustrated baseball predictions, all the better to laugh about later when the Cubs do not win the National League pennant. (Yes, that's what SI has predicted -- a Tigers-Cubs World Series, in fact, with the Tigers victorious.) As usual, they are accompanied by a set of predictions made using a quick-and-easy formula found in a Bill James Baseball Abstract from the '80s (double last season's win total, add the win total from two years ago, divide by 3).
In other news, although I have upgraded my TV watching to high-definition since last year, I have also had a schedule change at my job. I now work a normal Monday-through-Friday week, which means I will not be at home to watch the Opening Day games, as I did in 2007 and 2006 and 2005. Sorry about that. Perhaps by 2009, I will be independently wealthy, or I'll use a day of vacation time.
| Sports Illustrated | Bill James formula |
| AL East | |
| 1. N.Y. Yankees (94-68) | 1. N.Y. Yankees (95-67) |
| 2. Boston Red Sox (92-70) | 2. Boston Red Sox (95-67) |
| 3. Toronto Blue Jays (87-75) | 3. Toronto Blue Jays (84-78) |
| 4. Tampa Bay Rays (80-82) | 4. Baltimore Orioles (69-93) |
| 5. Baltimore Orioles (64-98) | 5. Tampa Bay Rays (64-98) |
| AL Central | |
| 1. Detroit Tigers (90-72) | 1. Cleveland Indians (90-72) |
| 2. Cleveland Indians (89-73) | 2. Detroit Tigers (90-72) |
| 3. Chicago White Sox (77-85) | 3. Minnesota Twins (85-77) |
| 4. Kansas City Royals (73-89) | 4. Chicago White Sox (78-84) |
| 5. Minnesota Twins (72-90) | 5. Kansas City Royals (67-95) |
| AL West | |
| 1. L.A. Angels (87-75) | 1. L.A. Angels (92-70) |
| 2. Seattle Mariners (82-80) | 2. Seattle Mariners (85-77) |
| 3. Oakland Athletics (75-87) | 3. Oakland Athletics (82-80) |
| 4. Texas Rangers (72-90) | 4. Texas Rangers (77-89) |
| NL East | |
| 1. N.Y. Mets (91-71) | 1. N.Y. Mets (91-71) |
| 2. Philadelphia Phillies (86-76) | 2. Philadelphia Phillies (88-74) |
| 3. Atlanta Braves (85-77) | 3. Atlanta Braves (82-80) |
| 4. Washington Nationals (73-89) | 4. Florida Marlins (73-89) |
| 5. Florida Marlins (72-90) | 5. Washington Nationals (72-90) |
| NL Central | |
| 1. Chicago Cubs (91-71) | 1. Milwaukee Brewers (80-82) |
| 2. Cincinnati Reds (87-75) | 2.St. Louis Cardinals (80-82) |
| 3. Milwaukee Brewers (85-77) | 3. Chicago Cubs (79-83) |
| 4. Houston Astros (74-88) | 4. Houston Astros (76-86) |
| 5. St. Louis Cardinals (73-89) | 5. Cincinnati Reds (75-87) |
| 6. Pittsburgh Pirates (70-92) | 6. Pittsburgh Pirates (68-94) |
| NL West | |
| 1. Colorado Rockies (89-73) | 1. San Diego Padres (89-73) |
| 2. Arizona Diamondbacks (88-74) | 2. Colorado Rockies (85-77) |
| 3. L.A. Dodgers (85-77) | 3. Arizona Diamondbacks (85-77) |
| 4. San Diego Padres (79-83) | 4. L.A. Dodgers (84-78) |
| 5. San Francisco Giants (68-94) | 5. San Francisco Giants (73-89) |
In other news, although I have upgraded my TV watching to high-definition since last year, I have also had a schedule change at my job. I now work a normal Monday-through-Friday week, which means I will not be at home to watch the Opening Day games, as I did in 2007 and 2006 and 2005. Sorry about that. Perhaps by 2009, I will be independently wealthy, or I'll use a day of vacation time.
Labels: bill james, predictions, sports illustrated
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Again with the "Jeopardy!"
On tonight's "Jeopardy!", one of the contestants had taken a baseball road trip with his father in which they saw 9 baseball games in 9 cities in 8 days. If I ever get on the show, it's going to look like I'm copying with my "11 baseball games in 11 cities in 10 days" story. Maybe I'll just talk about my cat.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Hooray for the '70s
As seen on Uni Watch, this particular item is apparently a Yankee Stadium food vendor shirt from the 1970s. Quite a difference from what was being worn on the field.
Edited later to add: Further evidence turned up that these are actually from the late 1960s.
Edited later to add: Further evidence turned up that these are actually from the late 1960s.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
A new way to think about outfield defense
As pitchers and catchers are finally in camp, rather than hanging out at the Capitol trying to decide exactly how stupid Chris Shays is, I thought I should share the baseball-related dream I had the other night--from which I woke up laughing.
I was at Fenway, following David Letterman around on a videotaped tour, and I learned two things.
First, from where we were standing (in the press box?), I was able for the first time to see why Manny Ramirez is such a bad fielder. Turns out that outside the foul line in left, just off-camera, where you can't ever see him either live or on the broadcasts, there's a hobo who's always standing there badgering Manny for money. And Manny's too nice to have security get rid of him. Who knew?
Second, there's a giant apple in a hat just outside the outfield wall. Letterman asked Baseball Related Program Activities Hanger-on (and MLB employee) Dan Rivkin, "So, I know the one at Shea, when it goes up, it's because the Mets have hit a home run. What does this one mean?"
"Well, Dave," said Dan. "This one's about government. When it goes up in the air, everyone in, like, Congress, and the Vice President and President, they all have to resign. And then the 37 Amazing Dudes, who've been sitting patiently on the bench for like years and years, they take over."
That's when I laughed out loud and woke up. It made a tiny bit more sense in my dream. The 37 Amazing Dudes were presented as if they were just this ordinary group we all knew about.
Let's play ball.
I was at Fenway, following David Letterman around on a videotaped tour, and I learned two things.
First, from where we were standing (in the press box?), I was able for the first time to see why Manny Ramirez is such a bad fielder. Turns out that outside the foul line in left, just off-camera, where you can't ever see him either live or on the broadcasts, there's a hobo who's always standing there badgering Manny for money. And Manny's too nice to have security get rid of him. Who knew?
Second, there's a giant apple in a hat just outside the outfield wall. Letterman asked Baseball Related Program Activities Hanger-on (and MLB employee) Dan Rivkin, "So, I know the one at Shea, when it goes up, it's because the Mets have hit a home run. What does this one mean?"
"Well, Dave," said Dan. "This one's about government. When it goes up in the air, everyone in, like, Congress, and the Vice President and President, they all have to resign. And then the 37 Amazing Dudes, who've been sitting patiently on the bench for like years and years, they take over."
That's when I laughed out loud and woke up. It made a tiny bit more sense in my dream. The 37 Amazing Dudes were presented as if they were just this ordinary group we all knew about.
Let's play ball.
Labels: Dan Rivkin, dreams, Fenway Park, Manny Ramirez
