Category: Uncategorized
-
Slow the roll…
Comparisons are natural, we feel the need to rank, rate and rank again. Usually, we compare apples to apples, but occasionally we slip in a potato or potahto. We’re also pursuing the EST, or rather the fastest, best restaurant, TV show, biggest money maker-whatever. We see something new and we’re already proclaiming it’s the EST.…
-
One of the greatest abilities is availability
Have you ever worked with someone who has he uncanny ability to not show up for work on a consistent basis? Or worse, they show up but don’t perform and everyone else has to pick up the slack. Obviously in some companies or industries there are metrics or standards that track this and the slacker…
-
Horrible baseball news
As is the case with all athletes, we worry about injury slowing down a player’s roll. In some cases, we expect the worse because of a particular player’s injury history or “bad luck.” Regardless of the sport, X can happen if he stays healthy. The minute you place a high-stake bet on someone’s future, you’re…
-
Does anyone remember Johnny Vander Meer?
Eighty-five years ago, the Reds lefthander became the first (and only) ML pitcher to throw no-hitters in consecutive starts. Outside of Cincinnati, nobody remembers that he was only 15-10 for a fourth-place team. To this date his feat is legendary and whenever a pitcher throws a complete-game, no-hitter everyone holds their breath until he allows…
-
The real world and baseball
Rather than focusing on MLB or any other professional sports league consider how other industries operate. Every profession has talent regardless of what they are called but in most cases it’s employees. Regardless of the industry/profession there’s either a person or department in charge of talent acquisition. Everyone does it differently-some more successfully than others.…
-
Forecasting the future
It’s hard to believe that the minor league season is coming to an end and I haven’t made as many trips as I would have liked. I don’t expect to make many trips in the coming weeks, however I’d love to hit one of the MWL playoff series. Aside from a handful of games at…
-
The past and the present
One can pick any moment in time and make assumptions today based on similarities. I’m not doing that here, but rather I thought this day in Cubs history would be worth exploring as it goes back to 1998-a year I’ve previously posted about. In fact, I was thinking about yesterday, the 20th. Even with a…
-
A real sign of improvement
Evaluating pitchers can be difficult if you don’t know what to look for and if your criteria differs among pitchers. Today most people would scoff at looking at wins for staring pitchers or even ERA or home runs allowed. One can pick among many different things and pick and choose what best suits your case.…
-
Funny how things work out..
In a weird way it seems like Christopher Morel’s game-winning, three-run homer happened eons ago-because of yesterday’s “surprising” 4-3 loss to the lowly Royals. To quote 327 different ML managers, “Momentum is tomorrow’s starting pitcher.” Unless you’re in the throes of a long winning streak, players aren’t likely to talk as much about momentum as…
-
The nature of the beast
If you are either a Cubs or White Sox fan or live within shouting distance of Wrigley Field, you probably know the Cubs won game 2/4 of the crosstown classic 4-3 in dramatic fashion. According to Tim Stebbins (writing for mlb.com) Sox manager, Pedro Grifol said, “The toughest loss of the year, in my opinion.”…
I'd rather be sitting in a ballpark. 