EVIL~! alkeiper

Perhaps, but the On Base Percentage emphasis will remain because its the most efficient method of producing runs, and there is 125 years of data to back that up. The methods of reaching base, however, could very well change, and smart teams will always look for the undervalued methods.

Still, I'd rather have a losing team with a plan than the nonsense I'm currently being subjected to.

Of any losing team, the Blue Jays could be the most promising in the future. They have several young players on the rise, and it'll be interesting to see what J.P. does with Carlos Delgado's money this offseason.

Another Phillies loss, now six in a row. Todd Jones is essentially useless. We're now 6.5 games out of the Wild Card, and nine out in the division. And on a separate note, one of ESPN.com's headlines on the MLB page is that Dwight Gooden got a divorce. The man retired four years ago. Who gives a flying fuck about Gooden's personal life?

I really don't know what's going to be on, and I'll miss it anyway. But heck, if you guys are around, discuss away!

Moneyball itself details the Oakland A's and their strategy for winning on a small budget, through smart player acquisition and efficient on-field strategy. The Moneyball strategy has been used to label the A's and their strategy, as well as the Blue Jays, and to a lesser extent the Red Sox and the Dodgers. It involves an abhorance of the sacrifice bunt, limited use of the stolen base, and a general avoidance of "small ball" strategies.

I don't know what to think. Problem number one with this team is lack of development, so obviously the coaching staff shares some of that blame. But I don't think Bowa has any confidence with his players, and at this point they need change for sake of making a change.

Whether you have or haven't read the book, you have doubtless heard about it from commentators or columnists. I'd like to know what your thoughts are on Moneyball, the so-called Moneyball philosophy, or statheads in general. What are your thoughts, opinions, or feelings (positive or negative). Hopefully I can help dispel some of the myths.

So how many prospects did we give up for Lidle? Un-fucking-believeable.

They should still get some draft picks for Beltran. The worst that happens is that he accepts arbitration and the Astros keep a great center fielder.

John Van Benschoten makes his MLB debut tonight for the Pirates.

The image problem with Luger is most of us associate him with his early 90s career, when he was on the way downhill. In the mid to late 80s, he was truly a hot commodity.

As far as Backlund goes, I recall reading in last year's preview issue that Dave broke down and admitted Backlund was likely a deserving candidate.

How about collusion? I don't recall seeing that on the list.

Torre the player. Torre the manager is what will get him into the Hall.

1. Was he ever regarded as the best player in baseball? Did anybody, while he was active, ever suggest that he was the best player in baseball? No. This is the toughest standard, and anyone who answers "yes" is probably a Hall of Famer. Its not meant to analyze a single season. As part of a critique of Barry Bonds, Total Baseball created a list of the top five players of each decade. I am going to start using that as a reference, recognizing that most of the players I analyze are not on that list. 2. Was he the best player on his team? No. He was probably the second best player on the Braves in the 1960s, behind Hank Aaron. He was also the best player on the St. Louis Cardinals in 1971. 3. Was he the best player in baseball at his position? Was he the best player in the league at his position? Yes. From 1965-66, Torre was the best catcher in baseball. Before then, he was surpassed by Elston Howard, and afterwards, by Bill Freehan and then Johnny Bench. 4. Did he have an impact on a number of pennant races? None of Torre's teams ever made the postseason, but the 1971 and '73 Cardinals stayed close. Torre won an MVP for the '71 Cardinals. 5. Was he good enough that he could play regularly after passing his prime? Not really. Torre was out of baseball by 36. 6. Is he the very best baseball player in history who is not in the Hall of Fame? No, that honor still goes to Ron Santo. 7. Are most players who have comparable statistics in the Hall of Fame? Two of Torre's ten most similar players are in the Hall, but none are considered truly similar. Oddly, most of Torre's comps are not catchers. 8. Do the player's numbers meet Hall of Fame standards? Not quite. Torre scores 12 on the Black Ink test and 71 on the Gray Ink test. He does meet 40.1% of HOF standards. 9. Is there any evidence to suggest that the player was significantly better or worse than is suggested by his statistics? None apparent. 10. Is he the best player at his position who is eligible for the Hall of Fame? It is either Torre or Ted Simmons. There is a strong case that Torre is the best eligible catcher. 11. How many MVP-type seasons did he have? Did he ever win an MVP award? If not, how many times was he close? Torre won an MVP in 1971, and finished fifth in 1964. 12. How many All-Star-type seasons did he have? How many All-Star games did he play in? Did most of the players who played in this many All-Star games go into the Hall of Fame? Torre played in nine All-Star games, a good total. 13. If this man were the best player on his team, would it be likely that the team could win the pennant? Yes. 14. What impact did the player have on baseball history? Was he responsible for any rule changes? Did he introduce any new equipment? Did he change the game in any way? None apparent. 15. Did the player uphold the standards of sportsmanship and character that the Hall of Fame, in its written guidelines, instructs us to consider? Yes. Torre, especially in his managerial days, is considered a team leader and a class act. Conclusion: In 1995, Bill James wrote that Joe Torre should be in the Hall of Fame. Since then, Torre has won four World Series, six League championships, and seven division titles as manager as the New York Yankees. Torre was also a top player throughout the 1960s. When you take everything into account at this point, Torre is a Hall of Fame lock.

*Ray Fosse is unavailable for comment.* The Fosse/Rose collision is one of the most overblown sports legends in history. The collision occured on July 14th. On July 16th, MLB play resumed, and Fosse was behind the plate for the Indians. He did not miss a game until July 25th, the day after playing both ends of a doubleheader. Moreover, Fosse hit 309/370/412 in August, before missing September. He remained a valuable player until after the 1973 season. If the Rose collision cause serious damage to Fosse, I don't see it.

For you USA Softball/Jennie Finch fans, the US Softball team is currently on MSNBC, playing Canada.

Maybe since they're out of contention, they can try out one of their talented pitchers from the minors.... *muffled whisper* They WHAT?!

This Phillies team is really getting tiresome. We've got Eric Milton, a below-average pitcher with a 12-2 record. He leads the NL in run support. But his teammates will bitch if we dump his ass in the offseason. Kevin Millwood is never going to be worth $11 Million. Billy Wagner is good, but $9 Million is WAY too much to pay for 35 innings of work. Mike Lieberthal has absolutely collapsed. The team is not going anywhere with him as catcher. They have some good pieces (Abreu, Thome, Wolf), but Ed Wade needs to figure out how to get the proper supporting cast without paying out the ass for it.

Well tonight's game puts the Phillies below .500.

I'm conflicted. Cuba is playing Japan simultaniously in Olympic Baseball.

Patterson's actually hitting 364/435/655 this month. I think the next angst-ridden threads will be about Moises Alou (204/246/352), Matt Clement (5.40 ERA with 9 BB in 10 IP), and LaTroy Hawkins (1.29 ERA, but he's not a CLOSER~!)

Obviously the big game today is mens' basketball USA vs. Greece.

They're a 65 win team already. Of course, there's still a month and a half left. Right now the Giants are on pace for 88 wins. Barry Bonds has 37 Win Shares, and Jason Schmidt has 18. Take those guys out, and the Giants indeed become a 63 win team.