Ozzie Ball

Some have said you couldn't win with Smart Ball or Ozzie Ball. Some have said that the White Sox statistically are overachieving at an implausible clip. If you look at Baseball Prospectus' pythagorean projection of where the White Sox record should be at according to the numbers, well they should have won 13 less games. Now the White Sox are on the verge of eliminating the defending champions, who I actually dislike more than the White Sox. Some may say that this a coincidence or that Ozzie has sold his soul to the devil. I know someone who has a different theory! "I say I think Ozzie Guillen is the devil. How delightful!"

A sad story

Kind of have to write this, I am a little sad right now but I figure it helps to get it out, and it helps to remember someone who was a good kid. A football player at my alma mater died as a result of heat related injuries. This kind of hits home, because although I was a tennis player at the university, all my roommates were O-lineman and one was an assistant coach. This kid used to come over to our apartment when they grilled out for their team sessions and he seemed like a great guy. Its times like these when you realize that all these games we play can have human consequences at times. I guess it just helps me to get this out and put it into words. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.

The problem with our sports media!

They just love to demonize our heroes. Take for example Rafael Palmeiro, whose face you can find on the front page of any sports web site for his recent steroid suspension. I think one reason a few sports writers are out to get these athletes or demonize their alleged "cheating" is because it makes them feel better. Jay Mariotti probably thinks that he could hit 66 homeruns like Sammy if he had only taken steroids when he was in little league. Bob Ryan probably thinks that he could have had 3000 hits and 500+ homeruns if he were only to have taken steroids. These guys have this mentality that they must bring these guys down to their level, but the problem is with or without steroids the accomplishments of these athletes are amazing. A lot of the writer's like to draw the comparisons to track and field, bicycling, and other endurance sports. The reason the drug testing in those sports is so strict and intrusive is because steroids and other performance enhancing drugs actually have a noticeable impact. Those sports do not take the kind of hand-eye coordination and athleticism that hitting a baseball does. Steroids do not help you hit a baseball, period end of story. Up next... a discussion of why sportswriters are only concerned about steroids? What about Curt Schilling and his painkiller usage in his "heroic performance" in the World Series? Also, a look back at cheating in past days, Hank Aaron's supposed amphetamine use, Babe Ruth's alleged use of cork, and the Spit ball or scuffed ball.

Boy am I tired...

but it was well worth it last night. I will no longer ask the question Why John Koronka? Instead I will ask Why Not John Koronka? He definitely impressed me a lot with the way he pitched. He does not have the best stuff, needs to add a better hook, but he attacked hitters really well. The other story was of course the "Dynamic Duo" of D-Lee and N-Per, don't know if that works. I honestly don't understand why the Dodgers pitched to Derek after he already was 3-3, then he got the single off Lowe so I figured the next time he's up if there are runners on they will walk him. They didn't and I'm not complaining, but seriously who does not walk that guy with Jeromy Burnitz on deck. My thoughts are a little incoherent now, on very short sleep, it sucks being out here in Philly and finally getting to see games on TV, and then they and at like 2 a.m. I'll be back later when my thoughts are more clear.

The Dynamic Duo of your Chicago Cubs

I'm back

.... if anyone reads this still. Have been on a long hiatus. Been on the road a lot and now its time to get back into the swing of things. Format has changed, CUBS CUBS CUBS, with the occassional mention of my other favorite teams, Da Bulls and Da Bears. My next question is Why John Koronka?

Does anyone understand Statistics?

The latest sports headline on the "steroid problem" attempts to allude to the fact that the early season decline in homeruns is attributable to less steroid use among baseball players. This is frickin ridiculous and anyone with a brain would not publish this shit. Here is the ESPN link, of the Associated Press story, where the purported exports commenting on the fact that there must have been a link are Todd Jones, the current closer for the Marlins and I guess he also doubles as a statistical analyst. And then there is this gem from Joe Maddon, the bench coach of the Los Angeles Angels: I don't know exactly to what extent, but you see people maybe not as big as they had been in the past or don't look as strong as maybe they had been in the past," he said. "Some balls are hit pretty well, but they're not carrying like maybe they had in the past couple of years. So, just being a thinking person, and you know what's been going on, you have to tie them together a little bit." The key to this quote is the part about the balls not carrying as well, maybe it's not steroids, could it be...oh I don't know... the weather!!!!! If you want to use the same type of statistical analysis that these people use, you would come to the conclusion that there was a similar drop in steroid use in 1998 as well, the year of Sammy and Big Mac. Wasn't that the year with all the question marks. My point is that if you want to use these stats to show that your policy is working this year, then you will also exonerate Sammy and Mark. Since there is no one with an actual working brain in the media today, I doubt they will make this connection, or realize that they do not understand the first thing about statistics.

Brings back memories of greatness!

I think I jinxed the Bulls

Boy have they just been outplayed. They look too scared to step up and take shots, and their defense has completely left them. I think the Wizards are going to blow them out in game 6. For that matter the Cubs are going to be lucky to win 60 games this year. Voodoo time is over.