EVIL~! alkeiper

As well, Bonds leads the NL in runs created, with 106.9. Michael Tucker is the second best Giant, with 51.1 runs created. 49th in the league.

Pop Quiz. The best hitter on the SF Giants is the guy hitting..... A. .279 B. .276 C. .362

Perhaps not. No one can say for certain. But what is fact is that Embree and Timlin DID collect five outs for the Sox after Pedro left the game, without surrendering a run. My preseason column is linked in my signature. My paragraph on the Mariners was one of the longest in the column, and I don't even mention the Mariners losing Arthur Rhodes. One post in December shows I was surprised the Mariners didn't offer Arthur Rhodes arbitration. And how exactly would it have been ironic? So Timlin's status as a pitcher six years ago should determine his usage pattern? First off, what you argue in the WWE folder has nothing to do with this. I don't converse with you in that forum. You'll have to explain to me how Pedro's contract demands effect the on-field product. It boils down to this. Grady Little left Pedro Martinez in the game, and he failed. Alan Embree and Mike Timlin, in the same game, did not surrender any runs. That would indicate to me that taking out Pedro in favor of Embree/Timlin would have been the right decision. You have not given any convincing arguments, or even persuasive arguments, to suggest that Embree and Timlin were less likely than Pedro Martinez to lose a three run lead.

Looking over the standings, I noticed the Giants are third in the NL in runs scored, despite playing in a tough park for hitters. So Barry Bonds' offensive efforts are not in vain. There's your MVP.

For shame. Although this unfortunate tragedy might just give this team a shot in the arm.

No, the point isn't that you complain about your team's weaknesses. The point is you pout and throw temper tantrums like an eight year old.

The new column is up. Check it out kids. http://thesmartmarks.com/artman/publish/article_1525.shtml

That was a passed ball.

Also, it'd be silly for the Angels to pay big money for Glaus when Dallas McPherson and Casey Kotchman are top prospects who can play the corners.

This is as good a time as any to give this a shot. Official TSM Yankees/Sox AIM chat. A supplement to this thread. Copy and paste into your browser..... aim:gochat?roomname=TSMSoxYankees

Sabremetrics don't ignore the importance of defense. They certainly do a better job measuring it (range factor, defensive win shares) than traditional fielding statistics. And the fact that Pokey Reese is gainfully employed is an indicator itself.

God. Not even two batters in, and Sutcliffe is already babbling about productive outs.

I think it has more do to with an increased intake of parasitic worms.

One small note after reading through this thread. If you're going to call posters idiots, it is helpful to learn the difference between "your" and "you're".

Should you expect a dropoff? Not really. But players do decline sometime in their 30s, and clubs take a risk when they sign a player in his 30s to a big money contract. The Yankees biggest problem is that because they built their team via free agency, almost all their players are perpetually declining. At baseball-reference.com, they list the ten most similar players to Jason Giambi at the age of 32...... 1. Mo Vaughn. Sharp decline after 30, and worthless at 35. 2. Hal Trosky. Out of baseball at 33. 3. Ted Kluszewski. Sharp decline at 32, done at 36. 4. Fred McGriff. Productive through 38. 5. Larry Walker. Declined at 36. 6. Tim Salmon. Declined at 32, but bounced back. 7. Gil Hodges. Statistics collapsed at 36. 8. Ryan Klesko. Statistics took a dive last year, at 32. 9. Kent Hrbek. Retired at 34. 10. Wally Berger. Retired at 34. That's ten players, seven of which were unproductive by the time they hit 35. The Yankees should have known the risks they were taking. They have no one to blame but themselves.

In baseball, prime occurs around 26-30, leaning towards the earlier stage. For 80-90% of players, the decline stage begins around the age of 30. Usually it is a slow decrease, which speeds up as you age. Not true. Ernie Banks' production evaporated when he hit 32. Many great hitters, such as Charlie Keller, Arky Vaughan, Vern Stephens, were out of baseball by their mid-30s. In their primes, they could hit just as well as some of the all-time greats, but circumstances caught up to them. The ability to play well past your prime is an indicator of greatness, but it is not the only one.

Is Nomar really an issue anymore? He's got his season batting average over .300. For the Phillies.... Roberto Hernandez Doug Glanville Paul Abbott No disrespect intended to the players, especially Doug Glanville, who is one of baseball's nicest guys. But they just aren't good enough to deserve their roster spots.

I can't say much, other than his 2nd half numbers will likely progress towards his career averages. Anything else is idle speculation.

Its not entirely uncommon. Phil Garner had his best season in 1979, playing with an injured hand. The injury kept him from overswinging. Ted Williams had a broken bone in his right foot in 1941.

I'm unpinning the thread. Feel free to bump it as needed.

If you don't want to deal with them, don't volunteer discussion in a topic discussing the Series right after the Sox have won a game. This forum didn't barge down your door and shove itself in your face. Thanks.

Keltner List. I take it for granted that people know it. Basically, its a Bill James creation, meant to evaluate a player's position in HOF arguments. Its named after Ken Keltner, a 3B and borderline candidate from the 40s, known best for stopping DiMaggio's hit streak.

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? Not at all. Relief pitchers are never considered the best players in baseball, and Gossage only finished in the top 10 of MVP voting twice. 2. Was he the best player on his team? He was the best player on the 1975 Chicago White Sox, whom finished 75-86. Reggie Jackson was a better player with the Yankees teams, and Tony Gwynn was the star of the NL champion '84 Padres. 3. Was he the best player in baseball at his position? Was he the best player in the league at his position? Yes, on both counts. Sometimes Bruce Sutter or Rollie Fingers topped Gossage in individual years, but overall Gossage was the best reliever in baseball. As for pitchers in general, Gossage was never among the best pitchers. 4. Did he have an impact on a number of pennant races? Gossage compiled a 2.01 ERA in 134.3 relief innings as the '78 Yankees completed the greatest stretch run in baseball history. An injury in 1979 may have cost the Yanks a chance to compete. 5. Was he good enough that he could play regularly after passing his prime? Absolutely. He pitched until he was 42 years old, and never had a truly bad season. 6. Is he the very best baseball player in history who is not in the Hall of Fame? No. Ron Santo, Ryne Sandberg, and Bert Blyleven are more deserving, in my opinion. 7. Are most players who have comparable statistics in the Hall of Fame? Gossage's most similar pitchers, Rollie Fingers and Hoyt Wilhelm, are in the Hall. However, none of the next eight are in. Moreover, names such as Lindy McDaniel, Stu Miller, Gene Garber, and Kent Tekulve are rarely mentioned in Hall of Fame discussions. 8. Do the player's numbers meet Hall of Fame standards? Gossage scores low on the Black Ink, Gray Ink, and HOF Standards scores. 9. Is there any evidence to suggest that the player was significantly better or worse than is suggested by his statistics? Not really. 10. Is he the best player at his position who is eligible for the Hall of Fame? I believe he is. Whether he is deserving or not depends on your opinion of the Hall worthiness of closers. 11. How many MVP-type seasons did he have? Did he ever win an MVP award? If not, how many times was he close? As was mentioned before, Gossage finished 3rd in 1980, and 9th in 1981. Five times he finished in the top ten of Cy Young voting. His closest finish was in 1980, when he finished third. 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? Gossage played in nine All-Star games, a reasonable total for a Hall of Famer. 13. If this man were the best player on his team, would it be likely that the team could win the pennant? I doubt it. When Gossage was the best player on his team, they lost 86 games. 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? Gossage was a prime example of how different relieving was compared to starting. White Sox manager Paul Richards made Gossage a starter in 1976, and Gossage finished 9-17. 15. Did the player uphold the standards of sportsmanship and character that the Hall of Fame, in its written guidelines, instructs us to consider? Usually. Gossage often clashed with owners, notably Padres owner Ray Kroc, over an edict considering beer drinking. Conclusion: I find it hard to endorse Gossage as a candidate. He was never the best pitcher in baseball, and his success was dictated largely by his usage pattern. How many mediocre starters would have been Hall of Fame closers?

Just a blanket warning to keep this conversation civil guys.

If anyone wants to start the topic, I'll certainly respond. We'll even let AS go off on his least favorite Yankees.