This series already began in disappointment, as the marquee matchup between extremely likely Cy Young winner Justing Verlander and C.C. Sabathia was suspended due to rain in the second inning. The game will resume tonight with different starters and the score 1-1. I said last night that it was good for the Yankees given how great Verlander is, but C.C. is also a great pitcher and there’s a hugh dropoff in talent for both sides.
Team Overviews
Team stats, AL rank in parentheses
| Detroit | New York | |
| wOBA | .336 (5th) | .346 (3rd) |
| UBR | -6.8 (12th) | 1.3 (6th) |
|
UZR |
-3.7 (9th) | 6.4 (5th) |
| DRS | -15 (12th) | -9 (10th) |
| SP FIP | 3.94 (6th) | 3.97 (7th) |
| RP FIP | 3.98 (7th) | 3.65 (3rd) |
Both of these teams have a little less firepower than I thought, stat-wise. They’re both great teams but no particular numbers blow me away as they did in the TB-TEX series.
Detroit’s offense was overwhelmingly led by Miguel Cabrera’s monster season, in which he posted a .436 wOBA and a whopping 65.6 wRAA and a slash line of .344/.448/.586. His .365 BABIP certainly helped, but Cabrera hit the cover off the ball this year. After Cabrera the two other largest contributers were C Alex Avila (.383 wOBA) and sort-of C Victor Martinez (.368 wOBA). Lucky for the Tigers they can use the DH, since they had three guys for two positions there. Cabrera’s huge year more than made up for disappointing seasons from the usually underrated Brandon Inge (.247 wOBA in 303 PAs) and the shambling remains of Magglio Ordonez (.283 wOBA in 357 PAs). Ordonez has still been getting a few starts a week (I’m guessing due to platoon advantage), but Inge has pretty much lost his job to Wilson Betemit. It’s a bummer, as Inge is one of my favorite baseball stories – a catcher who converted to 3b and became an elite defender.
On the pitching side, it’s not quite Verlander and pray for rain, but he is far and away better than the rest of the rotation. The top four spots each made more than 30 starts (Verlander, Scherzer, Porcello, Brad Penny) and the fifth spot was bounced around between Phil Coke and a bunch of roster filler before the relatively unkown Doug Fister siezed the job after being acquired from Seattle. Fister has easily passed Penny on the depth chart and is probably the second best pitcher on the team now. Hot-doggin’ Jose Valverde is the Tigers closer, but the most notable name in the Pirates bullpen is former Cubs prospect Al Albuquerque, who was traded for Jeff Baker. He’s had a Marmol-like year, striking out 67 while walking 29 in 43.1 innings.
The Yankees offense was much more spread around than the one-man wrecking crew of Cabrera. Curtis Granderson, Robinson Cano, Mark Teixeira, and Alex Rodriguez all had solid years at the plate, posting 15 or more wRAA each. LF Brett Gardner had a mediocre year at the plate but still managed to swipe nearly 50 bases while putting up monster defensive numbers (UZR and DRS and Men’s Fitness agree). Jorge Posada finally fell apart this year, unable to catch and posting a .309 wOBA mostly as a DH. They got about as much value as you would expect from the 4-year deal they signed with him before the 2008 season, when he was a 36 year old catcher.
On the pitching side they’ve got C.C., who has had yet another big year and will get yet another big contract this offseason, and a bunch of palatable guys. Nova is a guy who looks like a solid average MLBer going forward, and fellow Yankee developee Phil Hughes still has some work to do to get back to his previous 2.5 WAR-ish form. The rest of the Yankee rotation is staffed with retreads like Freddy Garcia, Bartolo Colon, and A.J. Burnett, who Rothschild was supposed to fix but kept on sucking. With the rainout there’s a chance A.J. could make an appearance in this series. There’s no need to talk about the back of the bullpen with this team, but the pitchers in front of him have struggled a bit, most notably by the unwanted by Cashman high-profile FA signing Rafael Soriano. RHP David Robinson meanwhile, who I had never heard of this year, has had a monster season posting a 1.84 FIP over 66.2 innings for the team.
Pitching Matchups
ERA, FIP, xFIP listed for each pitcher
Saturday (Friday): Ivan Nova, RHP (3.70, 4.01, 4.16) vs Doug Fister, RHP (2.83, 3.02, 3.61), 7:37 PM CT
Nova seems like an under the radar guy, as with all the frenzy over Yankees prospects by their fans/media he never really got any attention over the likes of Betances, Hughes, and Montero. But he’s a solid pitcher and a ground ball machine. He was solid down the stretch, and since returning to the team in the end of July he’s only given up more than three runs twice, once in a blowout win over the Royals and in the final game against the Red Sox.
Fister had a quietly solid 2010 with the Mariners, posting a 3.65 FIP over 171 innings despite striking out less than five batters per nine. Fister’s strikeout rate regressed upward this year, but his pinpoint control was even better (1.54 BB/9).
Sunday: Max Scherzer, RHP (4.43, 4.14, 3.70) vs Freddy Garcia, RHP (3.62, 4.12, 4.36), 2:00 PM CT
I remember when Scherzer was coming up with Arizona a few years ago many scouts were worried that he wouldn’t be able to stick as a starter. He’s proved his doubters wrong, posting 30 starts or more in each of his three full seasons as a starter. Scherzer had some bad luck with the home run ball this year but generally was right in line with his previous two solid seasons.
It seems like Garcia has been pitching forever, but he’s only 34. After stinking up the joint last year with the White Sox he posted yet another solid year with the Yankees. His strikeout rate is still hovering a bit below 6, but most of his skill lies in not issuing free passes and he’s maintainted that this year.
Tuesday: C.C. Sabathia, LHP (3.00, 2.88, 3.02) vs Justin Verlander, RHP (2.40, 2.99, 3.12)
There’s been some rumbling that Sabathia might get the extra rest but I don’t buy it. Colon or Burnett could take this start if the Yankees grab a 2-0 series lead, but otherwise it should be CC. For all the buzz about Verlander being a lock for the Cy this year (a product of his 24 Wins and some BABIP luck), Sabathia has had a better year. The two pitchers have farily similar peripherals, but the difference with Sabathia is that he gets more ground balls. Of course, CC does not have a 100 mph fastball.
Wednesday: A.J. Burnett, RHP (5.15, 4.77, 3.86) vs Rick Porcello, (4.75, 4.06, 4.02)
Did Rothschild “fix” A.J. Burnett? Sort of. Burnett’s strikeout rate jumped by nearly a batter an inning this year, but his walk and gopherball rates did not improve. There’s also a very good chance that the strikeout improvement was simply regression, as last year’s 6.99 K/9 rate looks like an outlier on his career numbers.
Porcello is a sinkerballer so take his FIP numbers with a grain of salt. He succeeds the way that all sinkerballers need to succeed – he pounds the strike zone. IIRC Porcello is a guy that Ryno has lamented the Cubs not taking over Vitters.
Friday: Ivan Nova, RHP vs Doug Fister, RHP
Prediction
Yankees in four
Go Rays.
Big day in college football today. A couple of undefeated teams playing cross division games. ISU vs Texas (dying laughing)
I’m seriously excited for the WIS vs NEB game tonight. Hoping WIS welcomes NEB to the B1G with a loss.
They’re actually playing Sat, Sun, Mon, Tue, and Thurs., with the aces planned to pitch on Mon.
[quote name=cdw]Big day in college football today. A couple of undefeated teams playing cross division games. ISU vs Texas (dying laughing)
I’m seriously excited for the WIS vs NEB game tonight. Hoping WIS welcomes NEB to the B1G with a loss.[/quote]I’m excited about that game too; friend of mine is a big NEB fan, and I really like Russ WIlson because my brother is an NC State fan.
All that said, the Natl. Championship is scheduled for Nov. 5 in Tuscaloosa
also, Go Rays
[quote name=Mish]
[/quote]
OMG: http://twitter.com/#!/Joelsherman1/status/120209943642112000
[quote name=ACT]They’re actually playing Sat, Sun, Mon, Tue, and Thurs., with the aces planned to pitch on Mon.[/quote](dying laughing) I think I just rediscredited us.
[quote name=ACT]OMG: http://twitter.com/#!/Joelsherman1/status/120209943642112000/quoteZOMG
If I weren’t on my phone I’d post the cookie monster gif.
[quote name=ACT]OMG: http://twitter.com/#!/Joelsherman1/status/120209943642112000/quote
I’d be happy with a Theo/Tito package even though I think I’d rather have Friedman as GM. The idea of Friedman and Dave Martinez seems good to me as well. So, I guess I’ll just take a wait and see approach. (dying laughing)
I’m not watching on a wide screen but Prince Fielder looks like he has lost some weight over the course of the season. I really hope the Cubs go after him in the off season.
Is that Bob Brenley doing color on the Phillies/Cards game?
[quote name=melissa]I’d be happy with a Theo/Tito package even though I think I’d rather have Friedman as GM. The idea of Friedman and Dave Martinez seems good to me as well. So, I guess I’ll just take a wait and see approach. (dying laughing)[/quote]I don’t think you can wrong with either one. On one hand, Theo has shown he can win consistently and has reshaped the Boston Red Sox into one of the most sabermetric organizations in baseball. He’s shown he can manage a lot of money and win. Friedman has shown he can win with a small budget and a successful minor league system.
The Cubs are going to have a lot of money to spend so I probably trust Theo to spend it better than Friedman.
Halladay, future hall of famer? Or doomed by too many years stuck in Toronto?
[quote name=melissa]I’m not watching on a wide screen but Prince Fielder looks like he has lost some weight over the course of the season. I really hope the Cubs go after him in the off season.[/quote]Are you watching on your phone? Everybody looks small on the phone.
[quote name=mb21]
The Cubs are going to have a lot of money to spend so I probably trust Theo to spend it better than Friedman.[/quote]
It’s hard to know what Friedman would do with expanded resources. It actually might give him an opportunity to make more mistakes. We’ve seen Theo make some errors with money that Friedman hasn’t yet had the chance to make. I’d be happy with either one for sure, I just hope they aren’t using the Cubs to get more money elsewhere.
[quote name=mb21]Are you watching on your phone? Everybody looks small on the phone.[/quote]
(dying laughing) No, it’s a just a regular TV at my parents. Fielder isn’t small by any means but he didn’t look nearly as fat when he hit that homer. He didn’t look nearly as big as he used to when they would show him at the end of his swing.
I think the Cubs is THE general manager job in baseball. I don’t think there’s a better job in sports to be honest. I’ve been as critical as anyone of the organization, but like the guy in the Boston Globe says today, if Theo wins with the Cubs, he’s going to instantly have a plaque in Cooperstown. He could win his 3rd in Boston and that probably won’t happen, but winning in both the “cursed” cities and he’s in. These guys are egotistical.
I don’t know what each of them value of course, but it’s actually hard for me to imagine either of them turning the Cubs down if offered the job. The question with Theo is whether or not the Sox will give the Cubs permission. If they say it’s for the President’s job then they will. Otherwise I just don’t know. But if they let him and the Cubs offer the job, I’ll be very surprised if he turns it down. Same goes for Friedman regardless of this relationship crap he has with ownership. This is business.
[quote name=melissa](dying laughing) No, it’s a just a regular TV at my parents. Fielder isn’t small by any means but he didn’t look nearly as fat when he hit that homer. He didn’t look nearly as big as he used to when they would show him at the end of his swing.[/quote]I didn’t get to see the game, but I haven’t noticed much of a difference this year in the games I have seen. I haven’t paid much attention though. I’d think if he’d lost much weight we’d be hearing about how awesome his work ethic is about right now.
Melissa, I know you’re a Dead fan. I was wondering if you ever heard that “rap” version of Fire on the Mountain that MIckey Hart and I think Garcia and maybe another member did back in 1974. It was part of one of the Grateful Dead Hour series. I had it on a cassette about 15 years ago, but I no longer have it anymore. I’ve been looking for it for about a year. It’s an especially unique sound from them. Do you know if it’s on anything? Dick’s Picks? You can find it on youtube, but I’m wanting to download the mp3 file or buy the album it’s on. Any ideas?
Listening to part of that I think it was all of the members in it. Not sure why that or Hart/Garcia in mind.
[quote name=mb21] I’d think if he’d lost much weight we’d be hearing about how awesome his work ethic is about right now.[/quote]
True although he’s only half white so his work ethic can never be too good. (dying laughing)
I think you’re right about Theo and Friedman both being inclined to take the job with the Cubs if it’s offered. It’s just that as a Cubs fan I always hate to get my hopes up. (dying laughing)
[quote name=mb21]Listening to part of that I think it was all of the members in it. Not sure why that or Hart/Garcia in mind.[/quote]
I don’t know where you could find it but I’ll ask some of my deadhead friends and let you know if I get any info on it.
[quote name=josh]Is that Bob Brenley doing color on the Phillies/Cards game?[/quote]Yep.
[quote name=melissa]I don’t know where you could find it but I’ll ask some of my deadhead friends and let you know if I get any info on it.[/quote]Thanks. It’s been driving me nuts for about 10 years. (dying laughing). Seriously, it’s something I look for about every 2 months and have done so for at least the last decade. It’s frustrating. I know I had it before and it’s on youtube so it must exist.
[quote name=melissa]True although he’s only half white so his work ethic can never be too good. (dying laughing)
I think you’re right about Theo and Friedman both being inclined to take the job with the Cubs if it’s offered. It’s just that as a Cubs fan I always hate to get my hopes up. (dying laughing)[/quote]I don’t have my hopes up. I’m too Cubs fan for that shit. (dying laughing)
Fielder still looks pretty damn fat to me. (dying laughing)
[quote name=GBTS]Fielder still looks pretty damn fat to me. (dying laughing)[/quote]You must have been watching on a large screen. On my Ipod Touch he looks very small.
http://www.dead.net/features/grateful-dead-hour-no-500
It doesn’t look like it’s ever been officially released. I’m going to ask around to see if anyone I know has a recording from the dead hour show.
The Rays like to hit homers.
Joel Sherman has a source but apparently it’s still a rumor in this case. (dying laughing)
[quote name=melissa]Joel Sherman has a source but apparently it’s still a rumor in this case. (dying laughing)[/quote]I would surmise that these sources know more than Al Yellon. But I can’t be sure.
Shields weakening! We need more power!
[quote name=Rice Cube]I would surmise that these sources know more than Al Yellon.[/quote]
Correct.
[quote name=Rice Cube]I would surmise that these sources know more than Al Yellon. [/quote]
False. Irresponsibly false actually. (dying laughing)
Gah. Fucking special teams.
[quote name=Berselius]Gah. Fucking special teams.[/quote]Yep, that was painful. UNL’s offensive line is pretty effective so far.
Dammit, Nebraska has jumped on three fumbles in the span of five minutes
No wonder UNL recovered that WIS ST fumble. They get a lot of practice on offense. (dying laughing)
[quote name=cdw]No wonder UNL recovered that WIS ST fumble. They get a lot of practice on offense. (dying laughing)[/quote]
(dying laughing)
Shields down! Shields down!
[quote name=Rice Cube]Shields down! Shields down![/quote]
Tampa needs to reverse the polarity and run a level 2 diagnostic, that always seems to fix everything
[quote name=Berselius]Tampa needs to reverse the polarity and run a level 2 diagnostic, that always seems to fix everything[/quote]If they can enter the Rangers’ prefix codes they should be able to counterattack with the element of surprise.
TOUCHDOWN WISCONSIN
[quote name=Berselius]TOUCHDOWN WISCONSIN[/quote]All of this technical jargon is making my brain drip into my sinuses.
I wonder if getting thrown out by Mike Napoli is a reason for shame.
[quote name=cdw]All of this technical jargon is making my brain drip into my sinuses.[/quote]
Sorry, I forgot that stats don’t win the game.
So did Shields get pulled? TB’s pitching injuries are regressing to the mean.
[quote name=Berselius]Sorry, I forgot that stats don’t win the game.[/quote]Don’t be so sure. Some commenters here were discussing some interesting research about two stats that correlate well with wins. Runs score was one and I think the other was runs allowed?
Sorry, no link.
[quote name=cdw]So did Shields get pulled? TB’s pitching injuries are regressing to the mean.[/quote]He’s still in.
[quote name=cdw]Don’t be so sure. Some commenters here were discussing some interesting research about two stats that correlate well with wins. Runs score was one and I think the other was runs allowed?
Sorry, no link.[/quote]
I think it’s some newfangled stat called scoring the most runs. I’d have to run a multivariate regression analysis and test against the league environments to be sure.
Al Toon making an appearance. Wow. Highly questionable throw.
[quote name=cdw]Al Toon making an appearance. Wow. Highly questionable throw.[/quote]
I used to think Toon was insanely overrated, but it looks more like the problem was with who was throwing him the football.
WIS ST shitting all over themselves here.
Ugh, UW’s special teams blow chunks
(dying laughing) I think Will-I-Am is writing jingles for Dr. Pepper.
I can’t remember if Bielema is still personally coaching ST or not.
If so can Bielema fire himself?
/Metaphysical’d
Al Toon? The WR for the Jets back in the 80s?
[quote name=Mucker]Al Toon? The WR for the Jets back in the 80s?[/quote]
(dying laughing),I missed that cdw said Al Toon. His son plays for Wisconsin
(dying laughing) C Evans is bringing back the high top fade! (dying laughing)
[quote name=Berselius](dying laughing),I missed that cdw said Al Toon. His son plays for Wisconsin[/quote]I hadn’t seen or heard that name since Tecmo Bowl (dying laughing)
UNL throws the ball to the other team as much as they fumble it.
TOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON
Damn, Russell is a nice QB. That was a another perfectly thrown ball with a short arm motion and wrist flick.
I knew the WIS offense was talented after last year and their torrid start but this is pretty awesome to watch. They have talent at every skill position. Their offensive line has been good overall tonight. A few hiccups.
It’s a little weird to see. Next thing Bo Ryan will be running a D’antoni offense.
Looks like the Rays are coming back…
[quote name=mb21]Are you watching on your phone? Everybody looks small on the phone.[/quote]Arkansas fans don’t look small on my phone.
Wisconsin looks pretty damn awesome, and the rest of that division looks awful. I think we’re going to see a Wisconsin-SEC title game.
Also, I refuse to believe any Theo rumors until they’re finally final. Sanity defense mechanism.
[quote name=cdw]I knew the WIS offense was talented after last year and their torrid start but this is pretty awesome to watch. They have talent at every skill position. Their offensive line has been good overall tonight. A few hiccups.
[/quote]
It’s surreal to watch.
It’s too bad that UW and Michigan don’t play this year. I think that game would shatter the NCAA points scored record.
Wisconsin’s remaining road games are Purdue, Indiana, and Penn State. None of those should end up being a 1-score game. Their toughest opponents are all at home – Ohio State, Illinois, and Mich. St.
[quote name=Berselius]It’s surreal to watch.
It’s too bad that UW and Michigan don’t play this year. I think that game would shatter the NCAA points scored record.[/quote]You, sir, are having a pretty phenomenal year as far as your football teams are concerned.
[quote name=shawndgoldman]You, sir, are having a pretty phenomenal year as far as your football teams are concerned.[/quote]
[quote name=shawndgoldman]Wisconsin looks pretty damn awesome, and the rest of that division looks awful. I think we’re going to see a Wisconsin-SEC title game.[/quote]Illinois is 5-0. I haven’t seen them play yet. But I don’t believe for a second they are any good.
[quote name=cdw]Illinois is 5-0. I haven’t seen them play yet. But I don’t believe for a second they are any good.[/quote]
[quote name=cdw]Illinois is 5-0. I haven’t seen them play yet. But I don’t believe for a second they are any good.[/quote]Yeah, and the come to Camp Randall. I have a hard time seeing anyone in the Big 10-ish beting Wisconsin… and a harder time seeing it up there.
If I told you a home game against Illinois is the toughest hurdle to cross to get to the Big 10-ish title game… that’s a deal a fan of any team in the country would take.
Speaking of surreal, the OSU offense scored 7 pts today? And deep into the 2nd half they had negative offensive yardage for the half. I can’t stand OSU but I’d like them to still represent the B1G well.
and yeah… that’s exactly how I’ll feel if Theo becomes the GM. But I’m not going to get my hopes up over a “rumor” tweet.
[quote name=Berselius]
[/quote](dying laughing)
Martinez with another pick!
[quote name=cdw]Speaking of surreal, the OSU offense scored 7 pts today? And deep into the 2nd half they had negative offensive yardage for the half. I can’t stand OSU but I’d like them to still represent the B1G well.[/quote]Their line was totally ineffective, and they don’t have the skill players to make up for that.
Damn, all my worries about the defense are rapidly disappearing
[quote name=shawndgoldman]Yeah, and the come to Camp Randall. I have a hard time seeing anyone in the Big 10-ish beting Wisconsin… and a harder time seeing it up there.
If I told you a home game against Illinois is the toughest hurdle to cross to get to the Big 10-ish title game… that’s a deal a fan of any team in the country would take.[/quote]B1G is overrated.
/Obligatory
[quote name=cdw]B1G is overrated.
/Obligatory[/quote]But an undefeated Big 10-ish team still probably gets a shot at the title game, for ratings if nothing else.
[quote name=shawndgoldman]But an undefeated Big 10-ish team still probably gets a shot at the title game, for ratings if nothing else.[/quote]Never mind – that was a stupid thing to say. Polls determine it, which I forgot.
[quote name=shawndgoldman]Never mind – that was a stupid thing to say. Polls determine it, which I forgot.[/quote]
I can’t wait until the internet explodes after UW passes Boise in the rankings,
[quote name=shawndgoldman]But an undefeated Big 10-ish team still probably gets a shot at the title game, for ratings if nothing else.[/quote]I hope so. I’m still concerned about a scenario with a 1-loss SEC champ and an undefeated Oklahoma (probably won’t happen).
[quote name=Berselius]
[/quote]Well said. (dying laughing)
[quote name=shawndgoldman]and yeah… that’s exactly how I’ll feel if Theo becomes the GM. But I’m not going to get my hopes up over a “rumor” tweet.[/quote]I don’t care about the rumors at this point, but the Cubs GM job is the best job in baseball. If the Red Sox let the Cubs talk and they will if it’s for a promotion as all teams do that, it would be shocking if he didn’t take the job. My guess is they hire Steve Stone and Ricketts will praise his analytical approach in that he Stone hates Moneyball. (dying laughing)
Russell Wilson is good at sports.
[quote name=shawndgoldman]Their line was totally ineffective, and they don’t have the skill players to make up for that.[/quote]They didn’t even lose many offensive players to transfers either.
Wilson! Welcome to the B1G UNL!
[quote name=shawndgoldman]Russell Wilson is good at sports.[/quote]… and the plural is appropriate in this case.
[quote name=cdw]I hope so. I’m still concerned about a scenario with a 1-loss SEC champ and an undefeated Oklahoma (probably won’t happen).[/quote]It seems every year people talk about the possibility of an undefeated B10 team not going to the championship. About the only way that happens is if there are 3 or more undefeated teams.
[quote name=mb21]I don’t care about the rumors at this point, but the Cubs GM job is the best job in baseball. If the Red Sox let the Cubs talk and they will if it’s for a promotion as all teams do that, it would be shocking if he didn’t take the job. My guess is they hire Steve Stone and Ricketts will praise his analytical approach in that he Stone hates Moneyball. (dying laughing)[/quote]I tend to agree, but that still hinges on a pretty big “IF.”
[quote name=mb21]It seems every year people talk about the possibility of an undefeated B10 team not going to the championship. About the only way that happens is if there are 3 or more undefeated teams.[/quote]Yeah, I think Wisconsin goes over a 1-loss SEC team. They probably don’t go over undefeated teams from the BigXII AND SEC, though. I guess they could if Nebraska destroys everyone left on their schedule and Wisconsin beats them again in the title game. But that’s probably the only way.
FWIW now that the Cubs season is over, they are investing in the minors and they are starting a search for a new GM I’ll actually excited to follow the team.
I’m with Shawn about any Theo or Friedman talk. I like the current vector of the organization but I’d be a fool to think Ricketts won’t fuck this up.
[quote name=mb21]It seems every year people talk about the possibility of an undefeated B10 team not going to the championship. About the only way that happens is if there are 3 or more undefeated teams.[/quote]I don’t think it will happen but I’m always concerned if the winner isn’t OSU, UM, PSU.
FWIW if there’s anyone who has stars in their eyes wrt winning it with the Cubs, it wouldn’t be Theo. He’s already won 2 WS with the Red Sox, pretty much the same thing.
[quote name=cdw]FWIW now that the Cubs season is over, they are investing in the minors and they are starting a search for a new GM I’ll actually excited to follow the team.
I’m with Shawn about any Theo or Friedman talk. I like the current vector of the organization but I’d be a fool to think Ricketts won’t fuck this up.[/quote]I find it telling that I didn’t have any interest in following the Cubs until the season ended and the GM search began.
[quote name=shawndgoldman]Yeah, I think Wisconsin goes over a 1-loss SEC team. They probably don’t go over undefeated teams from the BigXII AND SEC, though. I guess they could if Nebraska destroys everyone left on their schedule and Wisconsin beats them again in the title game. But that’s probably the only way.[/quote]
It certainly helps that Wisconsin is on its way to obliterate every team it faces
I think the Yankees are going to win this game. Unless they put in the B-tearm.
[quote name=shawndgoldman]I find it telling that I didn’t have any interest in following the Cubs until the season ended and the GM search began.[/quote]This.
I didn’t feel like I should invest any time this lost season. Even with Castro playing.
[quote name=Berselius]It certainly helps that Wisconsin is on its way to obliterate every team it faces[/quote]Yeah, that’s part of what I foresee here. Not only do I see them running the table, I see them picking up that table and smashing it to smithereens, Hulk-style.
[quote name=shawndgoldman]I tend to agree, but that still hinges on a pretty big “IF.”[/quote]I don’t think it’s a big if. Teams have an agreement that if the position is a promotion they let them talk with other teams. The Cubs have the President position they could offer and I’m sure they would.
I don’t know, b. Winning 2 WS or 3 or 4 or 5 in Boston is one thing. Winning 2 in Boston and then 1 or more in Chicago gets him a plaque in Cooperstown. Like the Boston Globe said today, if that happened, he’d easily be known as the 2nd greatest GM in baseball history behind Branch Rickey.
I think you’re underestimating the egos involved here.
[quote name=Berselius]It certainly helps that Wisconsin is on its way to obliterate every team it faces[/quote]And that WIS started the season ranked highly. Of course that helps LSU and ‘Bama too.
[quote name=mb21]I don’t think it’s a big if. Teams have an agreement that if the position is a promotion they let them talk with other teams. The Cubs have the President position they could offer and I’m sure they would.
I don’t know, b. Winning 2 WS or 3 or 4 or 5 in Boston is one thing. Winning 2 in Boston and then 1 or more in Chicago gets him a plaque in Cooperstown. Like the Boston Globe said today, if that happened, he’d easily be known as the 2nd greatest GM in baseball history behind Branch Rickey.
I think you’re underestimating the egos involved here.[/quote]
Maybe the Red Sox will offer him the chance to murder Larry Lucchino to keep him around (dying laughing)
This David kid on UNL is every where and hits hard.
[quote name=mb21]I don’t think it’s a big if. Teams have an agreement that if the position is a promotion they let them talk with other teams. The Cubs have the President position they could offer and I’m sure they would.
I don’t know, b. Winning 2 WS or 3 or 4 or 5 in Boston is one thing. Winning 2 in Boston and then 1 or more in Chicago gets him a plaque in Cooperstown. Like the Boston Globe said today, if that happened, he’d easily be known as the 2nd greatest GM in baseball history behind Branch Rickey.
I think you’re underestimating the egos involved here.[/quote]The “President” angle is interesting. What would that mean for his role on the team? He’d oversee all baseball relations, presumably hiring his own GM, scouts, manager, etc. right?
[quote name=cdw]And that WIS started the season ranked highly. Of course that helps LSU and ‘Bama too.[/quote]Also, Oklahoma.
[quote name=Berselius]Maybe the Red Sox will offer him the chance to murder Larry Lucchino to keep him around (dying laughing)[/quote](dying laughing) I just figure it’s like this: Theo would have the chance to be forever loved in two cities and be remembered as perhaps the greatest GM in baseball. If we’re talking about Friedman, we’re talking about a guy who may never have this chance again. A few failed drafts and the Rays are at the bottom of their division and the Friedman love declines significantly. He may never get this chance again and if he does, he’ll be worth no more than he is now.
[quote name=shawndgoldman]The “President” angle is interesting. What would that mean for his role on the team? He’d oversee all baseball relations, presumably hiring his own GM, scouts, manager, etc. right?[/quote]It seems if he’s the president, he’d also assume the GM role…he’s not that old and it seems like he’d be the type to want to be in the thick of transactions, no?
[quote name=shawndgoldman]The “President” angle is interesting. What would that mean for his role on the team? He’d oversee all baseball relations, presumably hiring his own GM, scouts, manager, etc. right?[/quote]
It’s just a title. Isn’t MacPhail team president in BAL? I don’t see how the president duties differ so much from a GM’s unless it’s totally hands off
[quote name=mb21](dying laughing) I just figure it’s like this: Theo would have the chance to be forever loved in two cities and be remembered as perhaps the greatest GM in baseball. If we’re talking about Friedman, we’re talking about a guy who may never have this chance again. A few failed drafts and the Rays are at the bottom of their division and the Friedman love declines significantly. He may never get this chance again and if he does, he’ll be worth no more than he is now.[/quote]The only thing about that I question is whether Theo gets as much “credit” for the Cubs. I mean, he gets the vast majority as GM of the Sox for their turnaround. Wouldn’t whichever GM he hires get the same credit with the Cubs? It seems the position that would get him the most glory (GM) would be the one the Cubs may not have permission to talk to him on.
[quote name=shawndgoldman]The “President” angle is interesting. What would that mean for his role on the team? He’d oversee all baseball relations, presumably hiring his own GM, scouts, manager, etc. right?[/quote]Ricketts said the GM would report to him so I think he’s intended to offer that position at the same time all along and I think it’s to get a guy like Theo, Cashman or Friedman. I don’t think it would mean much more than it being another title and we like titles, especially ones that say President. Sounds better. (dying laughing)
If at some point Theo wanted to sit back and do less, he could probably hire a GM at that point.
[quote name=Berselius]It’s just a title. Isn’t MacPhail team president in BAL? I don’t see how the president duties differ so much from a GM’s unless it’s totally hands off[/quote]OK, that would make sense. I was thinking he’d have a GM under him. but if it’s just a title, that would work.
[quote name=mb21]If after cementing himself as a baseball immortal Theo wanted to sit back and do less, he could probably hire a GM at that point.[/quote]Fixed.
[quote name=shawndgoldman]Also, Oklahoma.[/quote]I was thinking about WIS vs 1-loss SEC team. I don’t see a big name like Oklahoma with recent championship game appearances getting left out if they go undefeated.
Hopefully my worry is pointless and WIS rape chokes everyone to the championship game. Barring an appearance by Iowa in the B1G game (dying laughing)
[quote name=Berselius]It’s just a title. Isn’t MacPhail team president in BAL? I don’t see how the president duties differ so much from a GM’s unless it’s totally hands off[/quote]It depends on the organization, but for the Cubs it would be a title. Mostly anyway. Some organization that isn’t true. I think the Red Sox is one of those. Theo reports to the President (Lucchino and probably at least one other guy). If given the President title he’d report directly to Tom Ricketts. I don’t know exactly what Lucchino does other than he’s a part of the ownership group. He’s close with Henry and he has more power than Theo does.
[quote name=cdw]I was thinking about WIS vs 1-loss SEC team. I don’t see a big name like Oklahoma with recent championship game appearances getting left out if they go undefeated.
Hopefully my worry is pointless and WIS rape chokes everyone to the championship game. Barring an appearance by Iowa in the B1G game (dying laughing)[/quote]
^
would love to see a UW-Iowa B1G CCG
Crane Kenney apparently did a lot for the organization financially. If the Cubs hired Theo as President/GM, they’d create another position, separate from baseball ops for someone to perform whatever duties it was Kenney was doing.
My guess for Theo or Friedman or Cashman’s title would be something like this: President of Baseball Operations/General Manager
Here’s his current title: Executive Vice President/General Manager
[quote name=Berselius]^
would love to see a UW-Iowa B1G CCG[/quote]I don’t see it, but if it happened it would be a battle of shitty special teams. (dying laughing)
[quote name=Berselius]^
would love to see a UW-Iowa B1G CCG[/quote]I’m hoping that PSU can go into the Wisconsin game with the chance to play in the Big 10-ish title game with a win at Camp Randall. (Not that I think that will happen, or that they’d get that win.)
Penn State has to beat Iowa first, Shawn. (dying laughing)
I think this is the year they do it.
[quote name=mb21]Penn State has to beat Iowa first, Shawn. (dying laughing)
I think this is the year they do it.[/quote]Maybe, on both counts. I think despite expectations to the contrary, PSU is on the weaker side of the conference this year. (Although I may be overestimating how horrible OSU looked today.)
[quote name=mb21]I don’t see it, but if it happened it would be a battle of shitty special teams. (dying laughing)[/quote]
I look forward to seeing multiple fumbled kickoffs, followed by runbacks called back for blocking in the back penalties (dying laughing)
[quote name=shawndgoldman]Maybe, on both counts. I think despite expectations to the contrary, PSU is on the weaker side of the conference this year. (Although I may be overestimating how horrible OSU looked today.)[/quote]
Luckily their crappy QB situations would cancel each other out (dying laughing)
Seriously… who is the second-best team in that division? OSU and PSU both look awful so far. Illinois? Really? We’ll find out more about them next week, when they travel to Happy Valley. If PSU wins that one, they have a shot at being the number 2 team in the division.
Time to jump around
[quote name=Berselius]Luckily their crappy QB situations would cancel each other out (dying laughing)[/quote]That game is going to be UUUUUUGGGLY. I think Vegas may put the over/under at 3.
[quote name=mb21]Crane Kenney apparently did a lot for the organization financially. If the Cubs hired Theo as President/GM, they’d create another position, separate from baseball ops for someone to perform whatever duties it was Kenney was doing.
Manager[/quote]So marketing, accounting and risk assessment? Certainly all of those could be hires under a Theo-type. I know you don’t think the Cubs need a baseball guy as Pres but this type of organization would be my ideal set-up. Obviously that is important b/c of my long history in academia.
Hey Shawn, you’re in NASA right? What are they going to do for spacecraft now that the shuttles are being phased out? They have a collaboration with some other country to at least get folks to and from the space station?
Can’t wait to see if Wisconsin can outdo Michigan when it plays Goldy
[quote name=Berselius]Can’t wait to see if Wisconsin can outdo Michigan when it plays Goldy[/quote]Any chance Minnesota doesn’t play like Minnesota since that is a rivalry game?
[quote name=Rice Cube]Hey Shawn, you’re in NASA right? What are they going to do for spacecraft now that the shuttles are being phased out? They have a collaboration with some other country to at least get folks to and from the space station?[/quote]Yeah, I’m a postdoc located at NASA HQ.
It’s going to be a mix of strategies. Short-term, they’re paying the Russians to give them a ride. Medium-term, they’re investing money in private companies (like SpaceX, founded by the guy that started PayPal and Tesla). Long-term, they’re building one helluva big rocket. That’ll be an important piece to taking humans beyond Earth orbit, back to the moon, onto Mars, to asteroids, etc.
… and the issue is you can’t do it all, unless Congress makes huge increases to NASA’s budget. (Not gonna happen in the current climate.) Something had to give, and it was the shuttle. So unfortunately, there was no way to do the “really big stuff” unless they canned the shuttle.
Shamelss self-promotion: part of what I’ve been busy with is a new blog I started earlier this summer. It talks about space exploration, planetary sciences, climate change, and the search for life beyond Earth (our focus):
http://www.paleblueblog.org
[quote name=shawndgoldman]Shamelss self-promotion: part of what I’ve been busy with is a new blog I started earlier this summer. It talks about space exploration, planetary sciences, climate change, and the search for life beyond Earth (our focus):
http://www.paleblueblog.org/quoteGreat name. Just watched a TED with Brain Cox where he uses that quote. Incredible.Thanks for the link.
Awesome, thanks for the info.
Do you believe that “faster-than-light particle” stuff from last week, btw? As a closet Trekkie I’m always keeping an eye out for the possibility of warp drive even though my knowledge of physics sucks overall (dying laughing)
Hahahahahaha… Wisconsin chanting “Big Ten Football”
[quote name=shawndgoldman]Shamelss self-promotion: part of what I’ve been busy with is a new blog I started earlier this summer. It talks about space exploration, planetary sciences, climate change, and the search for life beyond Earth (our focus):
http://www.paleblueblog.org/quote
Not to mention getting into dustups with Rush Limbaugh (dying laughing)
You probably get to interact with some of those brilliant people in Whitesides group, eh? I saw one kid give a talk at ACS a few years back about the role of potassium solubility in cell function that was fantastic.
[quote name=Rice Cube]Awesome, thanks for the info.
Do you believe that “faster-than-light particle” stuff from last week, btw? As a closet Trekkie I’m always keeping an eye out for the possibility of warp drive even though my knowledge of physics sucks overall (dying laughing)[/quote]I’m not an expert in this stuff, but the people that I talk to that know it better than me say it’s hard to find a hole in or alternate explanation for what they’re reporting. It was a 6-sigma detection, and they apparently accounted for potential measurement errors.
That said, few experts accept it… yet. This is one of those things that really demands a second measurement. When that happens, we’ll know more.
[quote name=Berselius]Not to mention getting into dustups with Rush Limbaugh (dying laughing)[/quote]… Yeah. And that happened.
[quote name=shawndgoldman]… Yeah. And that happened.[/quote]Did Rush find you on Twitter or Google or something? I’m kind of amused that you got singled out (dying laughing)
/didn’t read the whole story’d
[quote name=shawndgoldman]I’m not an expert in this stuff, but the people that I talk to that know it better than me say it’s hard to find a hole in or alternate explanation for what they’re reporting. It was a 6-sigma detection, and they apparently accounted for potential measurement errors.
That said, no one believes it… yet. This is one of those things that really demands a second measurement. When that happens, we’ll know more.[/quote]There is some dicussion on data set size at work here. I’ve heard a lot people discount the observation due to a much larger data set (detection of a supernova particles never showing neutrinos arriving before light and covering a larger distance for error to be less significant) being consistent with the speed of light as the max. Of course, one high quality exception should show that general behavior can be broken. Plus I’m skeptical that neutrino detection at the time the supernova was being monitored is what it is today.
[quote name=Berselius]I look forward to seeing multiple fumbled kickoffs, followed by runbacks called back for blocking in the back penalties (dying laughing)[/quote]Half the time UW will just get the ball at the fucking 40 after the ball is kicked out of bounds.
[quote name=cdw]You probably get to interact with some of those brilliant people in Whitesides group, eh? I saw one kid give a talk at ACS a few years back about the role of potassium solubility in cell function that was fantastic.[/quote]I haven’t interacted with them directly, but their work on the origins of life falls within the scope of the stuff the research program I work in supports.
[quote name=shawndgoldman]I haven’t interacted with them directly, but their work on the origins of life falls within the scope of the stuff the research program I work in supports.[/quote]So you do chemical origins of life research? What is your niche? Insert tiny url link to Web of Knowledge here.
[quote name=mb21]Half the time UW will just get the ball at the fucking 40 after the ball is kicked out of bounds.[/quote]
They’ll back it up to the 25 when one of the blockers clothelines a gunner on the play (dying laughing)
[quote name=Rice Cube]Did Rush find you on Twitter or Google or something? I’m kind of amused that you got singled out (dying laughing)
/didn’t read the whole story’d[/quote]Here’s the gist:
http://paleblueblog.org/post/9110304050/some-important-points-of-clarification
Here’s Rush’s take:
http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/daily/2011/08/29/scientists_aliens_may_destroy_humanity_to_protect_themselves
Or I guess I could read that link (dying laughing)
That Rush Limbaugh shit cracks me up.
[quote name=Berselius]They’ll back it up to the 25 when one of the blockers clothelines a gunner on the play (dying laughing)[/quote](dying laughing) there was a game last year where Iowa stopped some team at the 35 on the kickoff, which was remarkable. Unfortunately there was an unsportsman like conduct penalty because Iowa thought they had just won the national championship having stopped some team shy of their own 5 yard line. So the ball went to the 50. Offsides. 45. Personal Foul. 30. Pass interference. 15. I’d never seen that before and don’t expect I’ll see it again.
[quote name=mb21](dying laughing) there was a game last year where Iowa stopped some team at the 35 on the kickoff, which was remarkable. Unfortunately there was an unsportsman like conduct penalty because Iowa thought they had just won the national championship having stopped some team shy of their own 5 yard line. So the ball went to the 50. Offsides. 45. Personal Foul. 30. Pass interference. 15. I’d never seen that before and don’t expect I’ll see it again.[/quote]
(dying laughing)
(dying laughing)
(dying laughing)
[quote name=cdw]So you do chemical origins of life research? What is your niche? Insert tiny url link to Web of Knowledge here.[/quote]I don’t. I’m an astrobiologist, and that field includes research on the origin of life. (For example, we’ve got a chapter on this in a primer to the field I’m co-lead editor on.)
I’m an atmospheric chemist. I primarily work on the very ancient Earth (billions of years ago), and on extrasolar planets. I combine the two by using Earth history to provide examples of why we will have to think outside the box when we try to characterize and search for life on extrasolar planets.
I can’t access WoK from home, but here’s my google scholar hits. (The higher ed stuff is my wife’s.)
http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&q=author%3Adomagal-goldman&btnG=Search&as_sdt=0%2C47&as_ylo=&as_vis=0
You guys see this?
By that, Olney means that Ricketts is going to fuck the fan base in the ass by hiring Steve Stone and calling it a day.
[quote name=Rice Cube]By that, Olney means that Ricketts is going to fuck the fan base in the ass by hiring Steve Stone and calling it a day.[/quote]
Stone and Coletti as Co-GMs
[quote name=Berselius]Stone and Coletti as Co-GMs[/quote]It just might work.
CDW, what do you do?
What an asskicking by the Badgers
I know b is a mathlete. Are there other academics here?
[quote name=Berselius]Stone and Coletti as Co-GMs[/quote]College of General Managers
[quote name=shawndgoldman]CDW, what do you do?[/quote]ChemE by education. Structural biology by training. Now a days I’m postdoc’ing in a biology department but doing biologic drug design and trying to get out two residual papers from my doctorate.
[quote name=shawndgoldman]I know b is a mathlete. Are there other academics here?[/quote]About to graduate with a doctorate in cancer biology. At least I hope so.
This was a teddy bear in the OVBlog store I recently enjoyed.
[quote name=Berselius]What an asskicking by the Badgers[/quote]When I saw UNL running off the field felt like an out of conference game. It is going to take a while to get acclimated.
Wow. What are you bastards doing wasting your time on the Cubs when you could be saving the word? (kidding of course)
Whoops. Obviously I didn’t mean word. But I’ll leave it because it’s funny.
[quote name=shawndgoldman]Wow. What are you bastards doing wasting your time on the Cubs when you could be saving the word? (kidding of course)[/quote]I’m hoping for the end of linguistics history so I can rest.
OK, I’m gonna go do some work before bed.
If you academics ever have the chance to sit on a panel (even as an observer), DO IT. It’s a lot of work, but you really learn a lot about the grant application process. (My postdoc at NASA included work setting up review panels, and it’s been really helpful to see them operate.)
[quote name=shawndgoldman]Wow. What are you bastards doing wasting your time on the Cubs when you could be saving the word? (kidding of course)[/quote]To be honest I kind of hate being an academic, but that’s probably mostly because my mentor is insane (dying laughing) I might change my mind if I can find a good postdoc to rekindle the science-y spirit.
Shawn you had the schedule backwards earlier. UW plays MSU, Illinois, and aOSU on the road
Also, don’t piss off your reviewers. So don’t say “word” when you mean “world,” make sure your logic is clearly laid out, don’t get Wisconsin’s schedule backwards etc. If it’s an interdisciplinary program, hold their hands more than you think you need to.
[quote name=Berselius]Shawn you had the schedule backwards earlier. UW plays MSU, Illinois, and aOSU on the road[/quote]OH. That changes things a bit. (I’m guessing I was looking at next year’s schedule?)
[quote name=shawndgoldman] If it’s an interdisciplinary program, hold their hands more than you think you need to.[/quote]
Understatement of the day.
[quote name=Rice Cube]To be honest I kind of hate being an academic, but that’s probably mostly because my mentor is insane (dying laughing) I might change my mind if I can find a good postdoc to rekindle the science-y spirit.[/quote]Well if you’re doing drug design you shouldn’t have a problem getting placed in industry somewhere.
[quote name=shawndgoldman]OH. That changes things a bit. (I’m guessing I was looking at next year’s schedule?)[/quote]
You’ve just completely discredited NASA.
[quote name=Berselius]You’ve just completely discredited NASA.[/quote]Nah. I already took care of that with the “Baum et al.” work.
[quote name=shawndgoldman]Also, don’t piss off your reviewers. So don’t say “word” when you mean “world,” make sure your logic is clearly laid out, don’t get Wisconsin’s schedule backwards etc. If it’s an interdisciplinary program, hold their hands more than you think you need to.[/quote]Thanks for the advice. Still trying to get a fellowship, resubmission yea!
[quote name=Berselius]You’ve just completely discredited NASA.[/quote](dying laughing)
berselius out fuckfaces
[quote name=Rany]The Brewers have gotten a combined 26 innings (and a 7.62 ERA) from southpaw relievers all season.[/quote]
.
new preview up http://www.obstructedview.net/articles/major-league-baseball/series-preview-arizona-diamondbacks-vs-milwaukee-brewers.html