Edgy MD

Frayed Knot wrote: John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: http://bigbadbaseball.blogspot.com/2012/01/jim-jack-and-lash-of-back-baseballs.html This guy argues that the "Morris deoesn't belong" movement is having the same effect the "Blyleven does belong" movement did. That is, it is getting both guys to the HoF. The difference being that the Blyleven & Morris groups were almost directly opposite each other in my experience. IOW, the pro-Bert guys tend to be anti-Morris and verse-vica; roughly translating to the Blyleven guys being the stats crowd while the Morris-ites stuck with more old-skool benchmarks. Which is sort of the point of the article.

MFS62 wrote: Those guys (except O'Neil) are all welcome to join us in the loser's lounge. We don't have enough of a light bulb and water cooler budget to let him in. Still figuring this one out. Do I wanna know?

There's a really good big world analogy. Reformer John the XXIII was beatified in September 2000 amidst heavy pressure and agitation to honor him as a symbol of progress and the church's engagement with the world and history. Reform advocates gave a great cheer for the symbolism of the moment when they suddenly realized the church simultaneously beatified Pius IX, symbol of dogma and anti-nationalism. Italian outrage had squelched his candidacy a hundred years before. He was so reviled that his body had to be moved at night, and even then a street gang nearly succeeded in intercepting the cortege, seizing the body, and throwing it in the Tiber. In short, few people beyond the future Benedict XVI were agitating for his beatification. But it was the medicine that the reformers had to take along with the much desired advancement of John XXII. The bear bites back. I guess my point is that it becomes important to make these cases strictly on their own merits, instead of as symbolic campaigns in the waging of a higher war against the powers that be.

That's a great article. The BBWAA draws a lot of lightning, but the process is designed well enough that they've historically delivered far fewer unworthy candidates than any other process. In other words, they aren't the ones that should be on the defensive. And them acting defensively can only hurt the process.

Burnitz, McEwing, and Wigginton all needed to be restrained. What was amazing was that five minutes after the incident, the adrenaline was still rushing through Piazza. Four guys have him completely under restraint and he's got this blinkless death-stare into the dugout, no longer straining against his restrainers, but still pulsing his muscles, saving his energy for when just one of them might let up a little bit and he can break loose and get on with Operation Kill. And then, when the mission seems impossible, his hand and eyes seems to flash some sort of ancient vendetta sign out of some hokey movie --- saying, "You don't want to do it here? Fine. Run away. I will chase you down. I will get you in your car. I will get you in your house. In front of your family. That's your choice." Fran couldn't get over how unlike Piazza it was and he was kind of disturbed about it even as he's giving the account in that Randy, back-slapping, we're-all-fellas-here voice. I'm not a hockey guy, but it was like watching Clark Gilles and Dave Schultz. There are 15 bodies between the two and they would somehow maintain this vicious focus on each other through the scrum, desperately looking for the opening that might possibly allow them to get at each other. If he was juice-raging, Burnitz was shooting from the same syringe. They had him pinned against a wall, and his muscles were rippling with this "I realize I'm physically unable to move, but I really want to kill" vibe. His resignation also seemed tinged with a "We'll get him later" evil. Very chilling. And all of it being indifferently led by Art Howe in those ridiculous orange pajamas --- as if it was just another day in the prison yard. Art would have done well to take his team off the field and call off the game. Piazza, I don't know, might not have had to go apeshit if the leadership was there. It was Mota that Prince Fielder was trying to kill when he tried to crash the Dodger clubhouse, wasn't it? What a pariah that guy must've been.

In Rotterdam, NY, not far from the town of Cooperstown, sits the Hall of the Fucked. Every year, dozens of baseball fans flock to this hamlet to pay tribute to the their favorite players, enshrined forever by fuckedness. Hodges, Minoso, Herman, Cardenal, Tiant, O'Neil, Munson. Come, bring your kids, and relive these great legacies as they rot away in Rotterdam. As fun as these pilgrimages are is the debate about who will join these immortals. Trammel? Schilling? Whose gonna get fucked next? Bring your family and see. Make special plans for each July when the ranks of the buggered grow in the annual Fucking Ceremony. Don't miss it!

We'll see. Alll reports say they'll be announcing the sale of five forthwith. I think we hardly expected Wilpon to skip the owners' meetings as some sort of austerity measure.

Mike Piazza goes all "Hulk smash!" during spring training. Hot sexy Fran Healy action too. http://sammagonline.blogspot.com/2007/12/piazza-vs-mota.html

If'n I recall correctly, those cards (at least not in all years) weren't even perforated, which meant you had to do your own creative cut job to liberate the cards from the mooring of the box. And if'n you were as afraid of your mom as I was of mine, you didn't get a crack with the scissors until the box was empty. But there was no guarantee that the box would empty while I was about, and end up in the trash. What did my older brothers and sisters care about baseball cards. They were enemies of the people.

The case against Piazza: He had bacne. He played in an era where large numbers of his superstar peers turned out to be juicing. "He was an unathletic guy drafted in a round so low it doesn't exist anymore, as a favor to a family friend, but became the best hitter at his position ever. He supposedly fessed up to at least one reporter off the record, as per Pearlman. Reggie Jefferson, who I believer never played with or against Piazza, said, "He's a guy who did it, and everybody knows it," As Lionel Hutz might say, "I have rumors and hearsay... and those are... types of evidence!" Nonetheless, folks are entitled to their suspicions. The thing is, if all these writers did their job. Look, I'll help. Here's a list of 460 players Mike Piazza played with. Eighty are still active. Three are in the Hall of Fame. Kurt Abbott Jon Adkins Benny Agbayani Manny Alexander Antonio Alfonseca Edgardo Alfonzo Jermaine Allensworth Edwin Almonte Roberto Alomar Dave Anderson Marlon Anderson Jason Anderson Eric Anthony Kevin Appier Billy Ashley Pedro Astacio Manny Aybar Mike Bacsik Carlos Baerga James Baldwin Willie Banks Josh Bard Josh Barfield Brian Barnes Manuel Barrios Daric Barton Rich Becker Derek Bell Jay Bell Heath Bell Mark Bellhorn Carlos Beltran Rigo Beltran Adrian Beltre Armando Benitez Gary Bennett Kris Benson Todd Benzinger Dave Berg Willie Blair Henry Blanco Joe Blanton Jerry Blevins Mike Blowers Geoff Blum Hiram Bocachica Brian Bohanon Bobby Bonilla Josh Booty Mike Bordick Ricky Bottalico Rafael Bournigal Rob Bowen Dallas Braden Milton Bradley Darren Bragg Russell Branyan Craig Brazell Dewon Brazelton Doug Brocail Jerry Brooks Jim Brower Andrew Brown Dee Brown Will Brunson Jim Bruske Brian Buchanan Travis Buck Jeromy Burnitz Mike Busch Brett Butler Miguel Cairo Kiko Calero Mike Cameron Eric Cammack John Candelaria Tom Candiotti John Cangelosi Santiago Casilla Scott Cassidy Vinny Castilla Luis Castillo Alberto Castillo Juan Castro Ramon Castro Roger Cedeno Jaime Cerda Eric Chavez Bruce Chen McKay Christensen Brady Clark Tony Clark Dave Clark Brad Clontz David Cone Dennis Cook Alex Cora Mark Corey Craig Counsell Tim Crews Tripp Cromer Bobby Crosby John Cummings Chad Curtis Jack Cust Omar Daal Jeff D'Amico Kal Daniels Vic Darensbourg Brian Daubach Jeff DaVanon Eric Davis Kane Davis Mike DeJean Wilson Delgado Ryan Dempster Joe Depastino Delino DeShields John DeSilva Mike Devereaux Victor Diaz Mike Difelice Lenny DiNardo Octavio Dotel Darren Dreifort Justin Duchscherer Jeff Duncan Shawon Dunston Todd Dunwoody Brian Edmondson Joey Eischen Jim Eisenreich Mark Ellis Alan Embree Scott Erickson Alex Escobar Shawn Estes Jorge Fabregas Pedro Feliciano Ron Flores Cliff Floyd Joe Fontenot Chad Fonville Bartolome Fortunato Matt Franco John Franco J.J. Furmaniak Greg Gagne Daniel Garcia Karim Garcia Chad Gaudin Shawn Gilbert Brian Giles Bernard Gilkey Matt Ginter Tom Glavine Mike Glavine Adrian Gonzalez Dicky Gonzalez Gabe Gonzalez Alex Gonzalez Raul Gonzalez Tom Goodwin Rick Gorecki Jim Gott Danny Graves Khalil Greene Jeremy Griffiths Kip Gross Kevin Gross Mark Grudzielanek Wilton Guerrero Mark Guthrie Ricky Gutierrez Chris Gwynn Chip Hale Darren Hall Shane Halter Darryl Hamilton Chris Hammond Mike Hampton Tim Hamulack Todd Haney Jack Hannahan Greg Hansell Dave Hansen Rich Harden Dan Haren Mike Harkey Lenny Harris Aaron Heilman Rickey Henderson Oscar Henriquez Clay Hensley Felix Heredia Roberto Hernandez Carlos Hernandez Anderson Hernandez Livan Hernandez Orel Hershiser Richard Hidalgo Joe Hietpas Brett Hinchliffe Chan Ho Trevor Hoffman Todd Hollandsworth Damon Hollins Thomas Howard Jay Howell Trent Hubbard John Hudek Todd Hundley Butch Huskey Garey Ingram Kazuhisa Ishii Jason Isringhausen Ryan Jackson Mike Jacobs Stan Javier Dan Johnson Mark Johnson Ben Johnson Charles Johnson Bobby Jones Bobby Jones Mike Judd Eric Karros Roberto Kelly Jason Kendall Joe Kennedy Jeff Keppinger Bobby Kielty Mike Kinkade Wayne Kirby Ryan Klesko Randy Knorr Jon Knott Shane Komine Satoru Komiyama Paul Konerko Dae-Sung Koo Mark Kotsay Jeff Kubenka David Lamb Ryan Langerhans Frank Lankford Andy Larkin Matt Lawton Derrek Lee Al Leiter Justin Leone Colby Lewis Darren Lewis Scott Linebrink Nelson Liriano Mark Little Graeme Lloyd Paul Lo Esteban Loaiza Terrence Long Braden Looper Luis Lopez Eric Ludwick Ruddy Lugo Matt Luke Pat Mahomes Sean Maloney Jim Mann Matt Mantei Josias Manzanillo Oreste Marrero Jay Marshall Tom Martin Ramon Martinez Pedro Martinez Kazuo Matsui Gary Matthews Mike Matthews Paul McAnulty Roger McDowell Chuck McElroy Joe McEwing Ryan McGuire Greg McMichael Brian McRae Brian Meadows Rafael Medina Adam Melhuse Kevin Melillo Cla Meredith Mike Metcalfe Dan Meyer Jason Middlebrook Doug Mientkiewicz Kevin Millar Ralph Milliard Doug Mirabelli Dave Mlicki Raul Mondesi Melvin Mora Orber Moreno Noe Munoz Donnie Murphy Rob Murphy Dan Murray Eddie Murray Rod Nichols C.J. Nitkowski Otis Nixon Hideo Nomo Jon Nunnally Jose Offerman Kirt Ojala Bob Ojeda John Olerud Rey Ordonez Kevin Orie Antonio Osuna Al Osuna Juan Padilla Donn Pall Craig Paquette Rick Parker Jose Parra Jay Payton Jake Peavy Angel Pena Timo Perez Carlos Perez Jason Phillips Tony Phillips Jay Powell Todd Pratt Tom Prince Bill Pulsipher Danny Putnam Eddie Pye Scott Radinsky Erasmo Ramirez Gary Rath Prentice Redman Mike Redmond Steve Reed Jody Reed Rick Reed Desi Relaford Edgar Renteria Dennys Reyes Jose Reyes Armando Reynoso Jerrod Riggan Adam Riggs Royce Ring Jason Roach Grant Roberts Dave Roberts Connor Robertson Rich Rodriguez Henry Rodriguez Felix Rodriguez Kenny Rogers Mel Rojas Brian Rose John Roskos Glendon Rusch Juan Samuel Rey Sanchez Jesus Sanchez Jose Santiago Dick Schofield Mike Scioscia Marco Scutaro Rudy Seanez Mike Sharperson Jeff Shaw Gary Sheffield Tsuyoshi Shinjo Brian Sikorski Terrmel Sledge Esix Snead Chris Snelling Cory Snyder Tim Spehr Justin Speier Shane Spencer Dennis Springer Rob Stanifer Mike Stanton Tim Stauffer Shannon Stewart Pat Strange Darryl Strawberry Huston Street Scott Strickland Kurt Suzuki Brian Sweeney Nick Swisher Shingo Takatsu Jeff Tam Kevin Tapani Tony Tarasco Jim Tatum Billy Taylor Milt Thompson Mike Thompson Kevin Thompson John Thomson Jorge Toca Steve Trachsel Bubba Trammell Jeff Treadway Ricky Trlicek Jason Tyner Ismael Valdez Eric Valent John Valentin Mo Vaughn Jorge Velandia Robin Ventura Jose Vizcaino Todd Walker Pete Walker Tyler Walker Donne Wall Tim Wallach Allen Watson Matt Watson Gary Wayne David Weathers Eric Weaver Mitch Webster John Wehner David Wells Turk Wendell Jae Weong Dan Wheeler Rick White Ty Wigginton Rick Wilkins Todd Williams Eddie Williams Gerald Williams Reggie Williams Woody Williams Scott Williamson Steve Wilson Preston Wilson Tom Wilson Vance Wilson Jay Witasick Chris Woodward Todd Worrell David Wright Tyler Yates Masato Yoshii Eric Young Chris Young Victor Zambrano Gregg Zaun Todd Zeile Start making some calls.

Nothing to brace for, anyhow.

You can find the 2011 thread here. If someday you cannot, look for it in threads started in February 2011. If you follow that link, you'll see that the first post of that thread is essentially the same as the first in this one --- a report that Johan is throwing. In this case, long-tossing:

Jack Morris: 7-4, 3.80 in 13 post-season starts. Curt Schilling: 11-2, 2.23 in 19 p0st-season starts. Obviously, if you neutralized for era, that ERA difference might be even more striking.

Yeah, I'm not so interested in his categorization as a borderline candidate, but that you place him on the dark side of the border. I neutralized his stats and his W-L stats didn't really change, taking him from 216-146, .597, 3.46 to 212-139 .604, 3.30. Make of the bloody sock what you will, but the statistical representation of that hosiery is an 11-2 record and a 2.23 ERA in the post-season.

Cleared Waivers, Invited To Camp Claimed Away By HoustonRelief Pitchers Outfielders =#0000FF]19 Danny Herrera DoB: 10/21/1984 =#FF8000]26 Fernando Martinez DoB:10/10/1988 Your Projected 2012 Mets (Orange Indicates Players Have Options) Starting Pitchers =#0000FF]43 R.A. Dickey DoB: 10/29/1974 =#FF8000]35 Dillon Gee DoB: 4/28/1986 =#0000FF]49 Jonathon Niese DoB: 10/27/1986 =#0000FF]34 Mike Pelfrey DoB: 1/14/1984 =#0000FF]57 Johan Santana DoB: 3/13/1979Relief Pitchers =#0000FF]46 Manny Acosta DoB: 5/1/1981 =#0000FF]40 Tim Byrdak DoB: 10/31/1973 =#0000FF]77 D.J. Carrasco DoB: 4/12/1977 =#FF8000]50 =#0000FF]Frank Francisco DoB:9/11/1979 =#0000FF]39 Bobby Parnell DoB: 9/8/1984Relief Pitchers Catchers Infielders =#FF8000]52 =#0000FF]Ram�n Ram�rez DoB:8/31/1981 =#FF8000]60 =#0000FF]John Rauch DoB:9/27/1978 =#FF8000]13 Mike Nickeas DoB: 2/13/1983 =#0000FF]30 Josh Thole DoB: 4/28/1986 =#0000FF]4 Ronny Cedeno DoB: 2/2/1983 Infielders =#FF8000]29 Ike Davis DoB: 3/22/1987 =#0000FF]28 Daniel Murphy DoB: 4/1/1985 =#0000FF]11 Ruben Tejada DoB: 10/27/1989 =#0000FF]2 Justin Turner DoB: 11/23/1984 =#0000FF]5 David Wright DoB: 12/20/1982 Outfielders =#0000FF]44 Jason Bay DoB: 9/20/1978 =#FF8000]21 Lucas Duda DoB: 2/3/1986 =#0000FF]12 Scott Hairston DoB: 5/25/1980 =#FF8000]11 Kirk Nieuwenhuis DoB:8/7/1987 =#FF8000]56 =#0000FF]Andr�s Torres DoB:1/26/1978 Also on 40-Man Roster Starting Pitchers =#FF8000]50 =#0000FF]Robert Carson DoB:1/23/1989 =#FF8000]46 =#0000FF]Jeurys Familia DoB:10/10/1989 =#FF8000]47 =#0000FF]Jeremy Hefner DoB:3/11/1981 =#FF8000]32 Jennry Mejia DoB: 10/11/1989 =#FF8000]66 Armando Rodriguez DoB: 1/28/1988Starting PitchersRelief Pitchers Infielders =#FF8000]63 Chris Schwinden DoB: 9/22/1986 =#FF8000]27 Pedro Beato DoB: 10/27/1986 =#FF8000]64 Josh Stinson DoB: 3/14/1988 =#FF8000]1 =#0000FF]Wilmer Flores DoB:8/6/1991 =#FF8000]12 =#0000FF]Reese Havens DoB:10/20/1986InfieldersOutfielders =#FF8000]65 Zach Lutz DoB: 6/3/1986 =#FF8000]3 Josh Satin DoB: 12/23/1984 =#FF8000]62 Jordany Valdespin DoB: 12/23/1984 =#FF8000]13 =#0000FF]Juan Lagares DoB:3/17/1989 =#FF8000]22 =#0000FF]Cesar Puello DoB:4/1/1991 Also in Camp Starting PitchersRelief Pitchers =#0000FF]47 Miguel Batista DoB: 2/19/1971 =#FF8000]36 =#0000FF]Garrett Olson DoB: 10/18/1983 =#FF8000]53 =#0000FF]Fernando Cabrera DoB: 11/16/1981 =#0000FF]19 Danny Herrera DoB: 10/21/1984 =#FF8000]44 =#0000FF]Chuck James DoB: 11/9/1981Relief Pitchers Catchers Infielders =#FF8000]74 =#0000FF]Jeff Stevens DoB: 9/5/1983 =#0000FF]33 =#0000FF]Rob Johnson DoB: 7/22/1982 =#0000FF]22 =#0000FF]Lucas May DoB: 10/24/1984 =#0000FF]15 Val Pascucci DoB: 11/17/1978 =#FF8000]6 =#0000FF]Omar Quintanilla DoB: 10/24/1981 Infielders Outfielders =#FF8000]77 Corey Wimberly DoB: 10/26/1983 =#FF8000]23 Mike Baxter DoB: 12/7/1984 =#FF8000]39 =#0000FF]Adam Loewen DoB: 4/9/1984 =#FF8000]44 =#0000FF]Vinny Rottino DoB: 4/7/1980 Free Agents Starting PitchersRelief Pitchers Catchers Outfielders =#0000FF]55 Chris Young DoB: 5/25/1979 =#0000FF]45 Jason Isringhausen DoB: 9/7/1972 =#0000FF]9 Ronny Paulino DoB: 4/21/1988 =#0000FF]22 Willie Harris DoB: 6/22/1978

I'm just looking at the game itself relative to the balance sheets.

Hard to turn my back on Schilling. His wins cold be higher, but he pitched for a lot of crappy-hitting Phillies teams. (Pitched for some good-hitting D'Backs teams and great-hitting Sox teams, too, of course.)

Do the Mets get any kaching from hosting the All Star Game? Funny that after all this time, I have no idea to the answer to this question. But since they haven't hosted one in my lifetime, you can understand my ignoramusness.

Michael Kay balls-out predicting 55-60 wins for the Mets.

Big freak Jon Holdzkom --- author of exactly 10 innings since 2008 --- resurfacing with Cinncinati.

The regression happened almost immediately.

Clearly, he shook Jerry Grote's hand.

A dippy Danish actor gets hired to impersonate the president of the company to sign off on a buyout to a bunch of bullying Icelanders, but ends up sticking around for a few weeks, forced to continue his act despite having no idea what his firm does. What do we know from Danish actors? But halfway through, my wife suddenly realized one of them was "Laura" --- the significant other in High Fidelity.

Yeah, I'm thinking of conversations along the lines of: Alderson: Jerry, congratulations on getting the big chair. DiPoto: Thanks, Sandy. Sorry about how things are going back I my old club. Alderson: Things will be fine. (Crosses fingers.) Don't believe everything you read. DiPoto: To what do I owe the pleasure of a call from the architect of Moneyball. Alderson: HAR! To tell you the truth, my guys are big on, um, this lefty you got. His name is... Robert Fish. That's the guy. DiPoto: Fish, huh. Well, we like him, too. We stuck him on the 40 to keep him out of the Rule 5. Alderson: Good thing, too. We were eyeing him. DiPoto: Whoah. You know those picks cost $50,000, right? Alderson: Ouch. DiPoto: What were you thinking of offering? Alderson: Well, if you're interested in talking, we're willing to discuss Fernando Martinez. DiPoto: Really? You're ready to cut your losses with that guy? Alderson: Still considered a top prospect as recently as pre-season 2010! DiPoto: Yeah, we have our files. Could you fax over his medical records? Alderson: You're breaking up. I can't hear you.