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 Post subject: Re: Yankee rules hitball
PostPosted: Tue Mar 02, 2010 19:36 
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Pyrotechnician!!!1

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All set for opening day then! Yankees and Red Sox no less, getting us underway on April 4th... boom!

I also just realised, my mlb.tv subscription has already started so I can watch the spring training games if I see fit. Not that they are general worth watching or indicative of anything whatsoever... they are more meant as tryouts for those on the fringes looking to get the back-up slots on the roster, or pitchers trying to sneak into the 5th spot in the rotation or whatever.

Interesting to see how the Red Sox organise their rotation this year and who they consider their "ace"... their staff is very deep, even more so now they have picked up John Lackey, who I personally would have on the mound for opening day, but that would probably be too much of a snub for Josh Beckett so I imagine he will get the nod, and fair enough, it's a very close call. The roles of Dice-K and Tim Wakefield are going to be the most interesting to see... unless there was a trade I didn't know of that solved this problem? I confess to not having followed the comings and goings since Roy Halladay finally found his new home.

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 Post subject: Re: Yankee rules hitball
PostPosted: Tue Mar 02, 2010 19:43 
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That Rev Chap

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myoptikakaka wrote:
I've got the official MLB iPhone app and everything!


£8.99 this year! But worth it.


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 Post subject: Re: Yankee rules hitball
PostPosted: Tue Mar 02, 2010 22:05 
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The Rev Owen wrote:
myoptikakaka wrote:
I've got the official MLB iPhone app and everything!


£8.99 this year! But worth it.

What do you actually get for your money?

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 Post subject: Re: Yankee rules hitball
PostPosted: Tue Mar 02, 2010 22:10 
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That Rev Chap

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TheAlbin0Kid wrote:
The Rev Owen wrote:
myoptikakaka wrote:
I've got the official MLB iPhone app and everything!


£8.99 this year! But worth it.

What do you actually get for your money?


News, scores, text commentary, audio commentary of all games, live video of a game or two a day, video highlights of all games, push notifications of games starting, ending and video highlights becoming available. And stuff.


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 Post subject: Re: Yankee rules hitball
PostPosted: Tue Mar 02, 2010 22:14 
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Pyrotechnician!!!1

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That does sound like quite good value. My mlb.tv package does sound quite pricey relatively now (about £12 per month), but then I can watch every single game live (or "as live" since everything gets archived), and on a bigger screen too so it feels more than worth it to me. Last year I probably watched 10 live games each week on average from July to the end of the World Series.

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 Post subject: Re: Yankee rules hitball
PostPosted: Tue Mar 02, 2010 22:32 
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That Rev Chap

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The MLB At Bat app will sync with your MLB.tv subscription so you can watch all those games on your iPhone.


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 Post subject: Re: Yankee rules hitball
PostPosted: Wed Mar 03, 2010 0:20 
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Pyrotechnician!!!1

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The Rev Owen wrote:
The MLB At Bat app will sync with your MLB.tv subscription so you can watch all those games on your iPhone.

There's a stumbling block in there somewhere ;)

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 Post subject: Re: Yankee rules hitball
PostPosted: Tue Apr 06, 2010 22:02 
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Pyrotechnician!!!1

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Ok, so the season kicked off with a big opening day clash between the Yankees and Red Sox on Sunday night, and there were 13 more games happened yesterday... for the benefit of those with a passing interest in the game, I'm going to give short summaries of everything that goes on for as long as I can be arsed all season. If anyone is really bothered about spoilers then shout up and I will oblige by hiding things, but for now I can't be bothered.

So, Sunday night was defending champions vs biggest rivals.

It was a good day for:

1) baseball
2) Boston as they rally from 5-1 and 7-5 down to win
3) Curtis Granderson, the new Yankees centre fielder who hit a home run in his first at bat for his new club

It was a bad day for:

1) the Yankees bullpen, who are the one thing that stops the team being an unstoppable machine
2) Steven Tyler, whose version of the national anthem I didn't like.

And then 13 different opening days on Monday, with every team apart from Baltimore and Tampa Bay getting down and dirty.

It was a good day for:

1) Roy Halladay, who won his first start as a Philadelphia player with ease in front of a watching Barack Obama. Placido Polanco also set standards high for himself by hitting a grand slam on HIS Phillies debut, with 6 Runs Batted In in total.
2) Mark Buehrle, who blanked Cleveland to give his Chicago White Sox an opening win, in the process breaking the record for most consecutive opening day starts by a Chicago White Sox pitcher.
3) Albert Pujols, the best hitter of this generation, who hit not one but two home runs in St Louis' 11-6 win over Cincinatti; having led the league last year with 47, it looks like he ain't going to slow down.
4) Andrew Heyward, the rookie phenom who is only 20 but played so well pre-season that the Atlanta Braves just had to give him his debut. He hit a home run in his first ever major league at bat to lead an Atlanta romp over the Chicago Cubs.
5) Tim Lincecum, who started his bid for a 3rd consecutive Cy Young award by not allowing a run as his San Francisco Giants topped Houston.
6) Jarrod Saltalamacchia, who has the best name in baseball. He also had the day's only walk-off game-winning hit, sending the Texas fans into raptures with a bases loaded single in the bottom of the 9th as the Rangers toppled Toronto 5-4 :'(

It was a bad day for:

1) Carlos Zambrano, who was pulled from the Cubs/Braves game after less than two innings after being mauled for 8 runs... it finished 16-5.
2) Vincente Padilla, a surprise choice by the Dodgers to pitch their opening game; the young Pittsburgh team hit him pretty hard in what ended up an 11-5 Dodgers loss.
3) Jason Frasor, who blew the game in his first outing as the Bluejays official closer, getting only 1 out in the 9th inning as Texas rallied to win (see good day #6)
4) Zach Greinke, whose Kansas City team mates continue to torment him. Last year he pitched well enough to win 24 games, but only won 16 because his hitters couldn't hit. This year began with him only giving up 1 earned run against Detroit, only for his bullpen to give up 6 runs in the very next inning as the Royals slumped to an 8-4 defeat.

Seven games tonight!!!

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 Post subject: Re: Yankee rules hitball
PostPosted: Wed Apr 07, 2010 0:00 
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Nice round-up. I'm going to watch the start of the Yankees/Red Sox game because I can't sleep.


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 Post subject: Re: Yankee rules hitball
PostPosted: Wed Apr 07, 2010 0:27 
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Pyrotechnician!!!1

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myoptikakaka wrote:
Nice round-up. I'm going to watch the start of the Yankees/Red Sox game because I can't sleep.

Didn't realise you'd subscribed to anything ;)

I'm going to click it on for an hour or so too, I'd back Boston again in this one... I worry about Burnett's consistency. Using the term "worry" loosely of course.

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 Post subject: Re: Yankee rules hitball
PostPosted: Wed Apr 07, 2010 7:25 
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Lol at your predictions. Very lol. Bullpen didn't look so bad last night.


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 Post subject: Re: Yankee rules hitball
PostPosted: Wed Apr 07, 2010 8:38 
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Good start for my mets against the marlins too

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 Post subject: Re: Yankee rules hitball
PostPosted: Wed Apr 07, 2010 9:01 
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Mrs Squirt, during a period of insomnia last year got addicted to baseball on ESPN, so I got her the MLBtv subscription this year, so she doesn't have to stay up until 3.30am to watch it. She's a Yankees fan, based quite a bit on the fact that she fancies Derek Jeter rotten. I'm considering cheering for the Red Sox just to annoy her.


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 Post subject: Re: Yankee rules hitball
PostPosted: Wed Apr 07, 2010 20:15 
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Pyrotechnician!!!1

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myoptikakaka wrote:
Lol at your predictions. Very lol. Bullpen didn't look so bad last night.

Even the worst bullpen will succeed more than they fail. Get to the 8th with Chamberlain and Rivera to come and it's fine, it's all the times they have to rely on others to get there that the problems will arise. Although Robertson has potential.

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 Post subject: Re: Yankee rules hitball
PostPosted: Wed Apr 07, 2010 20:16 
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Squirt wrote:
Mrs Squirt


I....nothing.

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 Post subject: Re: Yankee rules hitball
PostPosted: Wed Apr 07, 2010 20:51 
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Pyrotechnician!!!1

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Tuesdays rundown...

Good day for:

1) Carl Crawford/Evan Longoria - the former had a 2 run walk-off hit as the Tampa Bay Rays rallied from 3-2 down to win 4-3 in their season opener against Baltimore; earlier his teammate Longoria became only the 2nd Rays player ever to hit a home run into the upper deck of the stands at their Tropicana Field ballpark where the team has been playing since their inception in 1998.
2) Mark Ellis - more walk-off drama, this time Ellis providing the winning hit in the season's first extra innings game where Oakland evened the score with Seattle in 10 innings, 2-1 final score.
3) Barry Zito - the league's most overpaid pitcher made a strong start to what could be a career defining season for him personally by pitching six blank innings for the Giants as they beat Houston for the second day running, 3-0.

Bad day for:

1) Shortstops, especially Marco Scutaro - infield errors abounded in the big game at Fenway Park, but the biggest came from new Boston shortstop Marco Scutaro, whose bad throw in the 8th inning blew what would have been the final out and allowed the Yankees to snap a 4-4 tie in a game they went on to win 6-4 to get their championship defence up and running.
2) Hunter Pence and Houston - the Astros barely troubled the scoreboard yet in their 2 games, and their major player Pence led by example by going 0-5, still without a hit this season.
3) Joe Saunders - the Angels starter ran into trouble against the long ball as Minnesota hit him hard and early on the way to a 5-3 win in Los Angeles to level their series.

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 Post subject: Re: Yankee rules hitball
PostPosted: Thu Apr 08, 2010 1:04 
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That Rev Chap

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The Astros aren't starting the season well. Grump.


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 Post subject: Re: Yankee rules hitball
PostPosted: Thu Apr 08, 2010 1:29 
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Pyrotechnician!!!1

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The Rev Owen wrote:
The Astros aren't starting the season well. Grump.

On the plus side, Lance Berkman is out injured at the moment... when he gets back in action, they will improve from awful to merely bad :)

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 Post subject: Re: Yankee rules hitball
PostPosted: Thu Apr 08, 2010 8:47 
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damn, a familiar ending for the mets today

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 Post subject: Re: Yankee rules hitball
PostPosted: Thu Apr 08, 2010 11:59 
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The Astros game yesterday was DULLSVILLE. Switched over to Brewers vs Rockies around the 6th inning, which was a much better game.

From the sounds of it, the Yankees Red Sox game was a corker. Excellent pitching and fielding from both sides - went to the 10th inning!


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 Post subject: Re: Yankee rules hitball
PostPosted: Thu Apr 08, 2010 19:17 
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Pyrotechnician!!!1

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Here we go again for Wednesday...

Good day for:

1) Edgar Renteria, who had 5 of San Francisco's 19 hits as they completed a sweep of the awful Astros 10-4.
2) Vernon Wells, who hit 2 home runs back in his home town of Arlington to lead the Bluejays to a 7-4 win over the Rangers.
3) Kerry Johnson, who also hit 2 home runs, his first and second for his new club, as the Arizona Diamondbacks got their 2nd win of the year, 5-3 against San Diego.
4) Curtis Granderson, who is making Yankee fans forget the name Johnny Damon; his 10th inning home run was his 2nd in 3 games for his new team as the Yankees beat Boston 3-1 to begin the season with a series victory over their biggest rivals.
5) Matt Garza, who pitched 8 strong innings for Tampa Bay as they beat Baltimore 4-3 for the second consecutive night. Evan Longoria also homered for the second consecutive night.
6) Garrett Jones, who joined Vernon Wells at the top of the home run charts with a 3 run blast for the Pirates as they started the season strongly with a series win over the fancied Dodgers; last night's game was a 4-3 victory in 10 innings.

Bad day for:

1) Jonathon Papelbon, who wasn't his usual dominant self in surrendering the game-winning home run in the Red Sox/Yankees game (see good day #4)
2) Rich Harden, who suffered control issues in his first start as a Texas Ranger; he didn't get hit hard, but walked 5 batters, including 2 with the bases loaded to surrender cheap runs, being pulled from the game in less than 4 innings.
3) Jose Valverde, who made a bad start to his life as the new Detroit Tigers closer. He entered the game in the 11th inning with a 2-1 lead... 3 batters later, 2 runs had scored without him rcording an out and Kansas City had notched their first win of the season 3-2.
4) Stupid rules being stupid. Marlins pitcher Ricky Nolasco was penalised during his teams 7-6 win over the Mets for breaching a new rule regarding when pitchers can and cannot touch their mouth while on the mound. "You can touch, but you gotta wipe" explained crew chief Wally Bell helpfully afterwards, making me wonder if Wally is his real name or the reporter was just being descriptive.

Thursday's games already underway!

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 Post subject: Re: Yankee rules hitball
PostPosted: Fri Apr 09, 2010 11:36 
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bad day for the mets again..:(

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 Post subject: Re: Yankee rules hitball
PostPosted: Fri Apr 09, 2010 11:53 
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I miss fantasy baseball. I had all sorts of fun playing that back in the day...

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 Post subject: Re: Yankee rules hitball
PostPosted: Wed Apr 21, 2010 8:13 
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at least two wins in a row now
!
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/21/sport ... ref=sports

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 Post subject: Re: Yankee rules hitball
PostPosted: Fri Apr 23, 2010 19:08 
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http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/23042010/ ... -leap.html

:o

:DD

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 Post subject: Re: Yankee rules hitball
PostPosted: Tue May 04, 2010 14:59 
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we were the hottest team in baseball for a week or so, and then started losing again :(

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 Post subject: Re: Yankee rules hitball
PostPosted: Tue Oct 05, 2010 13:10 
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so the thread had ended with still some hope for the mets, but ofcourse it went horribly wrong and now looking for a new gm..
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/05/sport ... ref=sports

but lets celebrate 55 years of the glory days of NY baseball, it's 55 years agot he Brooklyn dodgers won their only title (before getting moved to la, grr)
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/05/sport ... ref=sports

minnesota for the world series?

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 Post subject: Re: Yankee rules hitball
PostPosted: Tue Oct 05, 2010 13:28 
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As it's Bobby Cox's last season, I'd love the Braves to win the World Series, but I can't really see it happening.

Looking at who's in the play-offs, I'd like it to be anyone but the Twins, really.

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 Post subject: Re: Yankee rules hitball
PostPosted: Wed Jul 27, 2011 9:38 
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I enjoy watching baseball if it's being shown on a TV in a bar (there's one in Oxford that occasionally shows MLB), and sometimes read articles online about how the various teams are doing. I don't have a favourite team just yet, mind. Probably a toss-up between the Red Sox, the Atlanta Braves, and the Milwaukee Brewers at the moment, but the final decision will probably be made based on what game I eventually go and see (I've toured Fenway, but really want to go a game some day).

Does anyone know of a decent idiot's guide to understanding baseball commentary and debate? I can follow the gist of it when I watch it as it's basically rounders in pyjamas, but then the reports go into statistics and tactics and I suddenly feel very out of my depth.


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 Post subject: Re: Yankee rules hitball
PostPosted: Wed Jul 27, 2011 9:41 
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Kern wrote:
Does anyone know of a decent idiot's guide to understanding baseball commentary and debate? I can follow the gist of it when I watch it as it's basically rounders in pyjamas, but then the reports go into statistics and tactics and I suddenly feel very out of my depth.


Baseball stats effectively changed the game since some guy who I can't recall, looked at it from a different perspective. There's probably a really good beginner's guide, but, basically, RBI ain't all that.

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 Post subject: Re: Yankee rules hitball
PostPosted: Wed Jul 27, 2011 9:41 
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Kern wrote:
I enjoy watching baseball if it's being shown on a TV in a bar (there's one in Oxford that occasionally shows MLB), and sometimes read articles online about how the various teams are doing. I don't have a favourite team just yet, mind. Probably a toss-up between the Red Sox, the Atlanta Braves, and the Milwaukee Brewers at the moment, but the final decision will probably be made based on what game I eventually go and see (I've toured Fenway, but really want to go a game some day).

Does anyone know of a decent idiot's guide to understanding baseball commentary and debate? I can follow the gist of it when I watch it as it's basically rounders in pyjamas, but then the reports go into statistics and tactics and I suddenly feel very out of my depth.

Hi!

You need to read Zack Hample's 'Watching Baseball Smarter', and then after that 'Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game' by Michael Lewis. Both available on Kindle if that's your sort of thing.

Don't pick the Red Sox is my advice. They are almost as hated as the Yankees. :)

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 Post subject: Re: Yankee rules hitball
PostPosted: Wed Jul 27, 2011 9:43 
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MaliA wrote:
Kern wrote:
Does anyone know of a decent idiot's guide to understanding baseball commentary and debate? I can follow the gist of it when I watch it as it's basically rounders in pyjamas, but then the reports go into statistics and tactics and I suddenly feel very out of my depth.


Baseball stats effectively changed the game since some guy who I can't recall, looked at it from a different perspective. There's probably a really good beginner's guide, but, basically, RBI ain't all that.

Billy Beane, and that's what the book 'Moneyball' is all about. :)

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 Post subject: Re: Yankee rules hitball
PostPosted: Wed Jul 27, 2011 9:47 
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Gogmagog

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myoptikakaka wrote:
MaliA wrote:
Kern wrote:
Does anyone know of a decent idiot's guide to understanding baseball commentary and debate? I can follow the gist of it when I watch it as it's basically rounders in pyjamas, but then the reports go into statistics and tactics and I suddenly feel very out of my depth.


Baseball stats effectively changed the game since some guy who I can't recall, looked at it from a different perspective. There's probably a really good beginner's guide, but, basically, RBI ain't all that.

Billy Beane, and that's what the book 'Moneyball' is all about. :)


That's the man. Have you read "why England lose"? I think you'd like that. About to order thsoe two, unless waterstones have them in Oxford.

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 Post subject: Re: Yankee rules hitball
PostPosted: Wed Jul 27, 2011 9:48 
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myoptikakaka wrote:
You need to read Zack Hample's 'Watching Baseball Smarter', and then after that 'Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game' by Michael Lewis. Both available on Kindle if that's your sort of thing.


Thanks, will add them to my wish list. :)


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 Post subject: Re: Yankee rules hitball
PostPosted: Wed Jul 27, 2011 9:50 
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I was reliably informed by an American friend that the last two words of the US national anthem are 'play ball'.


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 Post subject: Re: Yankee rules hitball
PostPosted: Wed Jul 27, 2011 9:57 
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Gogmagog

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myoptikakaka wrote:
Kern wrote:
I enjoy watching baseball if it's being shown on a TV in a bar (there's one in Oxford that occasionally shows MLB), and sometimes read articles online about how the various teams are doing. I don't have a favourite team just yet, mind. Probably a toss-up between the Red Sox, the Atlanta Braves, and the Milwaukee Brewers at the moment, but the final decision will probably be made based on what game I eventually go and see (I've toured Fenway, but really want to go a game some day).

Does anyone know of a decent idiot's guide to understanding baseball commentary and debate? I can follow the gist of it when I watch it as it's basically rounders in pyjamas, but then the reports go into statistics and tactics and I suddenly feel very out of my depth.

Hi!

You need to read Zack Hample's 'Watching Baseball Smarter', and then after that 'Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game' by Michael Lewis. Both available on Kindle if that's your sort of thing.



Ordered, thanks.

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 Post subject: Re: Yankee rules hitball
PostPosted: Wed Jul 27, 2011 11:15 
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MaliA wrote:
That's the man. Have you read "why England lose"? I think you'd like that. About to order thsoe two, unless waterstones have them in Oxford.



both brilliant books.. simon kuper (who grew up in leiden), made a special dutch version of the latter book (why expensive strikers don't score)..

Go Mets!

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 Post subject: Re: Yankee rules hitball
PostPosted: Wed Jul 27, 2011 14:08 
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Gogmagog

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MaliA wrote:
myoptikakaka wrote:
Kern wrote:
I enjoy watching baseball if it's being shown on a TV in a bar (there's one in Oxford that occasionally shows MLB), and sometimes read articles online about how the various teams are doing. I don't have a favourite team just yet, mind. Probably a toss-up between the Red Sox, the Atlanta Braves, and the Milwaukee Brewers at the moment, but the final decision will probably be made based on what game I eventually go and see (I've toured Fenway, but really want to go a game some day).

Does anyone know of a decent idiot's guide to understanding baseball commentary and debate? I can follow the gist of it when I watch it as it's basically rounders in pyjamas, but then the reports go into statistics and tactics and I suddenly feel very out of my depth.

Hi!

You need to read Zack Hample's 'Watching Baseball Smarter', and then after that 'Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game' by Michael Lewis. Both available on Kindle if that's your sort of thing.



Ordered, thanks.


And they have been despatched.

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 Post subject: Re: Yankee rules hitball
PostPosted: Wed Jul 27, 2011 14:09 
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Hurrah! Let me know how you get on.

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 Post subject: Re: Yankee rules hitball
PostPosted: Wed Jul 27, 2011 15:27 
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Reminds me , i have got tickets for Yankees vs Oakland next month! i'm really, really looking forward to it.


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 Post subject: Re: Yankee rules hitball
PostPosted: Wed Jul 27, 2011 16:16 
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markh wrote:
Reminds me , i have got tickets for Yankees vs Oakland next month! i'm really, really looking forward to it.


I just looked into flying to NY or Boston to see the Yankees or the Red Sox to cover my birthday, but the season has ended by then. By a week.

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 Post subject: Re: Yankee rules hitball
PostPosted: Wed Jul 27, 2011 16:22 
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MaliA wrote:
markh wrote:
Reminds me , i have got tickets for Yankees vs Oakland next month! i'm really, really looking forward to it.


I just looked into flying to NY or Boston to see the Yankees or the Red Sox to cover my birthday, but the season has ended by then. By a week.


I've wanted to go for ages for the experience as much as anything, but either mistimed it or been there when there was a really 'big' game on, where tickets were really hard to get/ridiculously expensive. I've always wanted to watch basketball at Madison Square Garden after a friend went, but i always seem to time it when it's the woman's B team friendlies....

was looking at booking some flights for work the other day, there is some decent deals with virgin at the moment - return flights friday - wednesday for around 300 pounds in early October.


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 Post subject: Re: Yankee rules hitball
PostPosted: Wed Jul 27, 2011 16:25 
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markh wrote:
MaliA wrote:
markh wrote:
Reminds me , i have got tickets for Yankees vs Oakland next month! i'm really, really looking forward to it.


I just looked into flying to NY or Boston to see the Yankees or the Red Sox to cover my birthday, but the season has ended by then. By a week.


I've wanted to go for ages for the experience as much as anything, but either mistimed it or been there when there was a really 'big' game on, where tickets were really hard to get/ridiculously expensive. I've always wanted to watch basketball at Madison Square Garden after a friend went, but i always seem to time it when it's the woman's B team friendlies....

was looking at booking some flights for work the other day, there is some decent deals with virgin at the moment - return flights friday - wednesday for around 300 pounds in early October.


The Giants against the Rockies was good at Pacific Bell park in 2001. Loved that.

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 Post subject: Re: Yankee rules hitball
PostPosted: Wed Jul 27, 2011 16:29 
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Never been to a game anywhere before so really looking forward to it. Watched a game in a sports bar in Boston which had a fantastic atmosphere and made the sport click more with me. I possibly could have lived without all the 'soccer' experts though.....!


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 Post subject: Re: Yankee rules hitball
PostPosted: Thu Jul 28, 2011 15:31 
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Wow, I never knew that occasionally the BBC does radio coverage of MLB, even if it is hidden away on a digital station.

Next game is

Quote:
Sunday, 31 July (coverage starts after Test cricket finishes - match starts @ 1910 BST)
Chicago White Sox v Boston Red Sox


Huzzah!


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 Post subject: Re: Yankee rules hitball
PostPosted: Wed Aug 24, 2011 16:21 
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myoptikakaka wrote:
You need to read Zack Hample's 'Watching Baseball Smarter', and then after that 'Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game' by Michael Lewis. Both available on Kindle if that's your sort of thing.


Now finished both. The game's making far more sense now, and is far more fascinating. I'm glad I read Hample's book first as although it can get very technical it did explain some terms and concepts which were discussed in 'Moneyball'. I think I'm going to keep Hample's book close-by when /if I watch or follow a game as it looks like it'll be a handy reference for answering quick 'what was that about' questions.

'Moneyball' was really readable and I learnt loads from it. Feels odd that 2001 is a decade away though. Not sure if it'll make me an A's fan, but I was fascinated by how Beane approached the game as a businessman and entreprenuer, not as a player.

Thanks for the suggestions, Myp, and enjoy the rest of the season.


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 Post subject: Re: Yankee rules hitball
PostPosted: Wed Aug 24, 2011 17:31 
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Be interesting to see where the new market inefficiencies occur that a smaller team can exploit to stay competitive, since Theo Epstein basically took heed of the Oakland model and founded the Red Sox championship winning squads of 2003 and 2007 around the "get on base" philosophy (which is the main reason Beane never actually got Youkilis). Now everyone knows the value of OBP the market pays it appropriately.

Perhaps the closest thing going on right now is with my own Bluejays, who have made a habit of trading for players who are scheduled to become free agents very soon, simply to acquire the high round draft pick that comes as compensation for that player hitting free agency. As a result, there's a lot of young quality piling up in the farm system that hopefully comes to fruition in the next few seasons. Time will tell.

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 Post subject: Re: Yankee rules hitball
PostPosted: Wed Aug 24, 2011 18:36 
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Kern wrote:
Thanks for the suggestions, Myp, and enjoy the rest of the season.

No problem. I found the Hample book myself, but you have Alberto to thank for Moneyball as he turned me onto that.

I think teams might look more towards better defensive players that have been overlooked because they can't hit very well. Should be interesting...

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 Post subject: Re: Yankee rules hitball
PostPosted: Sun Aug 28, 2011 12:25 
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myp, have you read soccernomics by simon super, it's money ball for football..

the mets are out.. not sure whom to support in the playoffs yet..

today a true amsterdam rotterdam clash in the dutch hoofdklasse (hey we're nr on the world cup, we play this game), amsterdam pirate has to win twice..
#playoffs">http://www.honkbalsite.com/competitie/2 ... l#playoffs

i heard their might be a great britain team on the WBC.. that would be fun..

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 Post subject: Re: Yankee rules hitball
PostPosted: Sun Aug 28, 2011 13:31 
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romanista wrote:
myp, have you read soccernomics by simon super, it's money ball for football..

No, but I'll check it out. Maybe when I've found my football mojo.

Quote:
i heard their might be a great britain team on the WBC.. that would be fun..

Yep, we're in the qualification tournament - fingers crossed we get there!

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