I was going to write a longer preview, but I got sucked into this whole “Batman Equation” thing that was running around the internets today
I tried reproducing the result, but the plotting software did not like the equation very much (laughing). In my mathematiciany opinion, the Batman logo probably does solve the equation….but it’s not the only solution.
Here’s the abbreviated, stat-free preview:
The Cardinals sent CF Colby Rasmus along with some spare parts to Toronto for SP Edwin Jackson, RP Octavio Dotel, CF Corey Patterson (dying laughing), and minor league pitcher Marc Rzepczynski (TOR should have thrown in some vowels to be named later in this deal too). The Cards are looking to win now, and Rasmus was having a lousy year relative to his strong debut (2.8 WAR) and even stronger sophomore campaign (4.3 WAR). However, find it tough to believe that the org soured on his future so much that they would flip him for a journeyman SP whose contract expires at the end of the year (as far as I’m concerned, the spare parts on each side of the deal pretty much cancel out). This was all about TLR’s ego.
Pitching Matchups
Friday: Matt Garza, RHP vs Edwin Jackson, RHP, 7:15 PM CT
If Garza sees yet another performance go to waste, he might murder Jeff Samardzija (laughing). F7 blew the lead in Garza’s last start, and it certainly feels like he’s done that many more times in the past month or so.
Saturday: Rodrigo Lopez, LOL vs Kyle Lohse, RHP, 7:05 PM CT
Somehow Lopez has thrown three quality starts in a row. As Ron Santo would say, That’s Baseball.
Sunday: Ryan Dempster, RHP vs Jake Westbrook, RHP
Westbrook was knocked around by the Cubs back in May, but since then he’s found the heavy sinker that was the reason the Cards signed him. That plays right into the Cubs WAG-happy offensive style. I look forward to half a hundred WAGs dribbling past Theriot.
Prediction
Cubs lose two out of three. Corey Patterson strikes out 9 times in the series, 2 TOOTBLANs by Theriot.
Are the Cardinals turning into the Orioles of the NL? They seem to be collecting fringy ex-Cubs. Next thing we know they’ll sign Carlos Silva.
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fwY7cOKlb14/RrxjdzwhNaI/AAAAAAAAAVU/5BpavVXfy_Y/s400/DSC00879.JPG
Vet animal models.
Annoying that I can’t edit posts when I’m not part of the rare earth metals, 15% tax rate on mutual funds, eating fattened goose liver, private crowd.
[quote name=Alvins Amygdala]Annoying that I can’t edit posts when I’m not part of the rare earth metals, 15% tax rate on mutual funds, eating fattened goose liver, private crowd.[/quote]There used to be an edit button for all of us, no? If you’re logged in, you should be able to edit.
Hurd, Williams, Gholston ———–> Bears
I think Angelo is unclear on the concept.
True, if I logged in I would probably have the edit button. But I shouldn’t need to join a club to edit my comments. You know, since I don’t want to use the login I already have b/c then I can’t post under this name (dying laughing) Elitests!
See why I need to edit (dying laughing)
Aramis just swung at three shitty pitches.
Personally, I’m happy to see Corey Patterson back in the NL, where we can watch his epic strikeouts live again.
Garza had a perfecto going until Colvin blew it.
[quote name=josh]Personally, I’m happy to see Corey Patterson back in the NL, where we can watch his epic strikeouts live again.
Garza had a perfecto going until Colvin blew it.[/quote]
I don’t think Kosuke would’ve gotten that either but he did get a bad jump. Would’ve been a hell of a catch. Campana might have gotten there…and probably kicked it into the bullpen for a two-base error (dying laughing)
Thanks for doing the Batman graphing, b, that was pretty cool.
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[quote name=Alvins Amygdala]True, if I logged in I would probably have the edit button. But I shouldn’t need to join a club to edit my comments. You know, since I don’t want to use the login I already have b/c then I can’t post under this name (dying laughing) Elitests![/quote]You can change your name on your profile page.
WTF…TOOTBLAN!
Now, that was a TOOTBLAN, Soto.
Did he forget to run?
[quote name=josh]Personally, I’m happy to see Corey Patterson back in the NL, where we can watch his epic strikeouts live again.
Garza had a perfecto going until Colvin blew it.[/quote]How did Colvin get such a good reputation as a defender? He’s looked horrible thus far in the corners, albeit in small samples.
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]How did Colvin get such a good reputation as a defender? He’s looked horrible thus far in the corners, albeit in small samples.[/quote]He has looked confused in the outfield.
He almost fucked up that flyout too. At least he got there.
Just glancing at baseball reference, Colvin has a consistently negative total zone on defense, so maybe it’s one of those things where you think he should be good on defense because he is a good athlete.
[quote name=josh]Just glancing at baseball reference, Colvin has a consistently negative total zone on defense, so maybe it’s one of those things where you think he should be good on defense because he is a good athlete.[/quote]No, he’s always had good scouting reports on his defense. It’s odd.
I think U2 seriously messed up that field.
Speaking of overrated defenders, I haven’t been that impressed with Peenya.
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]No, he’s always had good scouting reports on his defense. It’s odd.[/quote]
I think it’s mostly because he could play passable CF in the minors. Maybe it didn’t translate over to the corners for him like it does for most players
Brett Jackson sure strikes out a lot.
B, you’re a dork (dying laughing) I liked your graph. It looked like batman and two rabbits
This might be the only thread ever here where this isn’t off topic:
Asomugha —–> Eagles
[quote name=Rice Cube]Brett Jackson sure strikes out a lot.[/quote]
False. He homered. Minor league Gameday sits on a throne of lies.
[quote name=josh]Speaking of overrated defenders, I haven’t been that impressed with Peenya.[/quote]He’s been okay. I tend to think calling someone an excellent defensive first baseman is like telling them they’re the best worst defender on the field.
At some point someone needs to coach Castro about when he should eat the ball.
Cubs lose!
Drawing shapes with complicated equations was like an entire subculture when I was (very briefly) in graduate school for math.
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]He’s been okay. I tend to think calling someone an excellent defensive first baseman is like telling them they’re the best worst defender on the field.[/quote]He does okay with digs and bad throws, but if the ball is hit to him….he’s no Derrek Lee, anyway.
[quote name=Rice Cube]At some point someone needs to coach Castro about when he should eat the ball.[/quote]But then who would Quade use as his scapegoat?
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]But then who would Quade use as his scapegoat?[/quote]
Good point.
Castro has been better about that, but he still is trying to make too many flashy plays. Watching too many Hanley Ramirez clips.
So Pence is for sure going to the Phillies?
I think they’re in heated discussion.
Garza has himself a hitting streak going.
[quote name=josh]Drawing shapes with complicated equations was like an entire subculture when I was (very briefly) in graduate school for math.[/quote]
Strange, as simply plotting a graph is far too concrete for 99% of the math graduate students I know (dying laughing)
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]But then who would Quade use as his scapegoat?[/quote]
They’re going to call up an actual goat as a marketing stunt next month to reverse the curse.
That was a pretty slick play by Garza.
[quote name=Berselius]Strange, as simply plotting a graph is far too concrete for 99% of the math graduate students I know (dying laughing)[/quote]I think it’s the challenge of composing super complicated equations, or more likely, the challenge of writing a program that can generate super complicated equations.
Apparently Len is reporting that the Pence thing is a done deal, so there you go.
Corey Patterson still swinging at everything.
[quote name=Rice Cube]Corey Patterson still swinging at everything.[/quote]Once a Cub, always a Cub.
[quote name=Rice Cube]Corey Patterson still swinging at everything.[/quote]Only now he’s doing it because The Genius has employed him to exactly that, so it’
s okay.
[quote name=Rice Cube]Corey Patterson still swinging at everything.[/quote]
Can’t hit the ball if you don’t swing.
Seriously though, the act of knowing if a pitch is good to swing at is an incredible skill. Once the pitch leaves the hand the batter has ~0.2s to decide if they will swing or not. Trying to teach a batter to pay attention to body motion before the pitch is thrown and then the initial vector is hard as fuck. That takes a lot of conditioning. It would need constant conditioning and the Cub just doesn’t seem too concerned about it. I think be able to teach that skill requires an Organizational philosophy where it is paramount.
*edit
[quote name=Alvins Amygdala]Seriously though, the act of knowing if a pitch is good to swing at is an incredible skill. Once the pitch leaves the hand the batter has ~0.2s to decide if they will swing or not. Trying to teach a batter to pay attention to body motion before the pitch is thrown and then the initial vector is hard as fuck. That takes a lot of conditioning. It would need constant conditioning and the Cub just doesn’t seem too concerned about it. I think be able to teach that skill requires an Organizational philosophy where it is paramount.[/quote]I’d prefer they teach scrappiness and swinging at everything. Also, Defense? What are we, girls?
new shit: http://www.obstructedview.net/chicago-cubs/articles/how-much-is-aramis-ramirez-worth.html