EVIL~! alkeiper

I'm making my first pilgrimage to Camden Yards tomorrow to check out the Rangers/Orioles game. Any advice for a first timer, particularly driving into Baltimore the first time? (I've been to Inner Harbor before, but I didn't do the driving).

Ryan Braun sports a gaudy .889 fielding percentage this season. That's lower than Butch Hobson's mark during the Sox's 1978 stretch run.

I'll come back to the previous queries in a bit. I find the 1950 mark a curious distinction. I have never seen any reference book use that point myself. There are generally three breaking points considered proper in baseball records. 1893, when the pitching mound was moved back ten feet, 1901, the modern game, and 1920, the beginning of the lively ball era. As for records, baseball was not as organized as it was today. Baseball had its stars but the bottom of the league was much worse. Many talented players would play in the unorganized minors, or perhaps in the Pacific Coast League. The sport of course was not integrated. As time passes, teams evolve to compete and the sport becomes more difficult to dominate. The disappearance of extremes in performance is often a sign the sport is getting stronger, not weaker.

Nah. You've got a 500 lb. guy you aren't getting over the top, maybe you try something else and hope it counts. He looked worse jumping after Jake in '92 and the announcers had to cover for him.

I think the fundamental problem isn't with their ability, teamwork, fundamentals or selfishness. The big problem is that when you compile a team of stars in basketball, you end up with offensively based players because that's where the statistics are refined. They'd be better off balancing the team a bit.

It's fairly pointless. If you want to find the face of a franchise, just look at the pocket schedule or media guide. It's not even as fun as debating Hall of Fame candidates. Of course, and has been for forty years. Speed guys just aren't as valuable as power guys at the plate. In addition, stealing home really requires a lapse on the part of the defense and they're less prone to that.

There's a wonderful Kids in the Hall sketch you should track down. Bruce McCullouch's boss eviscerates him for his overuse of the word 'ascertain'.

Third in OBP and OPS, fourth in slugging. Plays third base on a contender. It's a crowded field and I went with a historically overlooked player.

I used to hate high school starting early. Now that I'm long out though, it can't start early enough. Fuck y'all.

As I noted in Bored's blog, win shares goes by actual wins. After working out credit among the individual players as their statistics dictate, the system them distributes extra credit for a team that overperforms relative to their runs scored and allowed. Since the D'backs have won 11 more games than expected, this gives their players a huge boost. It's not like Byrnes has been ridiculously clutch or anything, so I really can't see the MVP. Braun, Cabrera and Ramirez I can't trust their fielding. Especially Braun, whose defense has cost them at least twice as I recall.

AL MVP: Alex Rodriguez, NYY AL Cy Young: Eric Bedard, Bal AL Manager of the Year: Jim Leyland, Det AL Rookie of the Year: Daisuke Matsuzaka, Bos NL MVP: Chipper Jones, Atl NL Cy Young: Jake Peavy, SD NL Manager: Bobby Cox, Atl NL Rookie: Troy Tulowitzki, Col

At this point, never underestimate their ability to put Batista in another title match.

The miners are long gone, probably have been since day one or two. Technology hasn't advanced to the point where we can push a button and travel down a mine. If it did, we wouldn't need miners to go in the first place. Working a mine is an inherently dangerous job. And it isn't that it happens more frequently as much as it is that every mine disaster gets reported these days. Not all mines are created alike either. The last mine in Pennsylvania was probably easier to access.

I think Byrnes is up the list because the D'backs are outperforming their pythagorean record by 11 wins.

A quick note on Brandon Webb. He's the first pitcher to throw three straight shutouts since Roger Clemens in 1998.

Peter Abraham Super outfield prospect who's 18 and has been mashing in A-ball. He's slugging 9 points above the FSL average. Mashing is kind of a strong term. Assuming he makes it back though, he's the Yankees' #1 prospect (after Chamberlain exhausts his eligibility). The Sox can't afford to lose any more offense, they have little minor league depth and this isn't a long term commitment. Dye had a bad slump making his numbers look bad but he's been solid the last few months.

I don't have a low opinion of Gerald Brisco. It's worth mentioning though that the Crockett/McMahon war has its roots in the Briscos selling Georgia and the TBS timeslot to McMahon in 1984/85.

The former, easily. Benoit rendered his wrestling ability meaningless with his actions.

I'm sure Arn, Flair and co. would love to have it shown repeatedly how they hob-nobbed on television with a murderer.

If he has a .395 OBP, it doesn't matter how many of those outs are strikeouts.

As was said earlier, the WBC was meaningless. The best players in baseball in the major leagues are routinely American, although lots of Hispanics dominate as well. The olympics was just a case of not playing well together, I don't think that proves America isn't the best country for producing talent. Are you willing to go so far as to say America is not the best country for producing talent in those two sports? If you are, that's an argument you will definitely end up on the losing side of. It's not that the best players are American. The important factor is where the foreigners come to play professionally.

Speaking of shorties, is this the Road Warriors/Freebirds match where the Warriors came to the ring and told the Birds, "we're not going for the finish."?

Check out the JYD/Savage shortie. Gorilla tries to interview Elizabeth at ringside during the match, as he does with many managers. Savage sees Elizabeth talking to Gorilla and FLIPS.

Sometimes you see a sight you never expected in a baseball game. Tonight in Scranton, Sal F'n Fasano stole second base. It was the first time he stole a base at any level since 2002.

Giambi did not test positive for steroid use and the proof resides in court testimony that should have been sealed. Giambi's steroid use came out because he was candid about it. If we punish a guy for speaking out, forget about ever finding any good information regarding steroid use in baseball.