Duck-Billed Catechist

I'm just saying a guy like Glaus who has arguably better stats than Uggla is nowhere near as valuable to his team because it is a different style of play.

But what does that have to do with VORP? Isn't his VORP higher than Glaus's because Glaus plays 3B, whereas Uggla plays 2B? Uggla is the first or second-best offensive second baseman in the game, where as Glaus is about the tenth-best third baseman.

I think we were .500 until the red Sox took 2/3.

Well, I think they finished 9-9. Not over .500, not under.

The Marlins were one of the few NL teams who held their own against the AL. You know how many NL teams were over .500 against the AL? 2. 2! That's ridiculous.

I'd say the only reason the AL will beat the NL is because it is such a different game over in the AL. It is an offensive minded game that relies on the home run to win it. The NL is much more strategy, and a guy with worse stats can have a much bigger impact in an NL team than a guy with monster stats in the AL.

 

I'd say a guy like Dan Uggla on the Marlins is worth much more to his team than a guy like Troy Glaus in Toronto.

 

(and according to VORP, I am completely correct, as Uggla is the 25 ranked player in the league).

And not surprisingly, NL pitchers dominate the pitching VORP as much as AL hitters dominate the hitters VORP.

 

(VORP is Value Over Replacement Player, and it is considered one of the best ways to judge a players value in terms of wins attributed to his team).

This is kind of iffy logic. The NL pitchers have better stats because they pitch to weaker hitters. The AL has both stronger pitching and hitting and this was fairly well established in this year's inter-league games. Troy Glaus is one of the more questionable picks, so I'm not sure what your point is.

Joe Average fan likes it. And, it drives in loads of money to the hosting city and gives MLB a chance to promote the sport on an epically inflated scale. That said, I don't watch either.

 

I've got another pressing question, though: Why the title of "Captain" on some teams? And why does Varitek have to wear the riciculous "C" on his jersey? I can understand a Captain in hockey, for example, because it's who the referees go to for penalties/problems. But what, in baseball, does a Captain actually do? Absolutely nothing. Clubhouse morale? It's ridiculous. It bears no significance whatsoever.

It's just a prestige/authority thing. Konerko is captain of the White Sox, but elected to avoid the C. It's like a king without a crown.

You're talking about a marginal difference in performance and possibly no difference in talent. The AL squad is frickin' loaded and should crush the NL. Yes, the team is stacked with White Sox, but most of them are deserving. Hell, the White Sox could probably beat the NL team.

Depends on the size of the bonus and how cash-strapped the team is. AJ's bonus was something like $15,000. Peanuts.

Bjorn, I know the reality of the all-star game being a popularity contest...doesn't make it any less ludicrous when somebody like AJ gets in over more deserved players or someone gets voted in for their performance last year. That's all i'm saying.

Ludicrous is a little strong. He's having an all-star type season. There are just others who are more deserving. That's life in the AL.

Oh yeah? That's not completely what I had in mind.

I would like to write up a psychological profile of Kalle.

Well, it's only this one part that sounds like early U2. Spiders was revamped for this reason, or something. To be honest, I can't pay attention to the song (IG) for its whole length. I think the solo is still going on right now.

Wait, are they actually expecting him to close?

Keep in mind that Buehrle was selected before the Cubs game, when he was 9-4 with a 3.22. AJ is probably fourth or so on the list of catchers that should be taken. The only argument for Konerko over Hafner is that he actually plays the position in question. Obviously if you use that criterion Thome and Ortiz are put into question. You could make a case that Giambi should've been taken over Konerko as well. Is he being frozen out? Crede should be on the team over Glaus.

Liriano was the most deserving of the bunch. As for Hafner, how many first basemen/dh should the squad take? It's a bit deep there.

Are they going to realize it sounds like U2 this time before the studio version comes along?

Let's go Buccos...close it out.

I assume you're kidding? Said quote is from Hitler, not Coulter.

He can't work that magic outside of his homebase. He's too far from the crystals.

So how much, if any, of Atlanta's struggles have to do with losing Leo Mazzoni?

I'm not sure how comparing similar quotations also implies a similar amount of political relevance.

I saw that Cabrera hit. One of the funniest baseball moments that I have seen.

Yeah, I also got a perfect score. Hitler talks about the archetypal liberal, whereas Ann Coulter talks about liberals.

He should probably be suspended.

Now Dave Duncan is all pissed at him because

1. A misquote in the paper.

2. Reading too much into the rest of the quote.

3. The Sox lineup beating the shit out of his pitchers

4. His kid getting hit in the rumpus.

so since he's your manager that's ok with you sox fans? wow. oz needs to shut the hell up. that's just effin' embarrassing.

You're not paying much attention.

That's 69 runs in their last 6 games. Someone check their cheerios.

I hope the White Sox realize that the Cardinal might need some of their bullpen against the Tigers.