stark gets it right… again
Written on 7 September 2007 by AneelJayson Stark continues to be one of the only “cool heads” in sports writing… at least in my opinion. Time and time again he approaches even the most sensitive subject with a grasp of the big-picture… and he’s done it again here. Rick Ankiel & HGH, pitchers and steroids, NFL players and ‘roids… big picture. Well done Jayson.
a terrible loss
Written on 6 September 2007 by AneelGod bless you Alfred Peete. I never met you, but your product brings me joy each and every day.
they might be unlucky giants
Written on 29 August 2007 by AneelSo, there’s been tons of research done on the correlation between a team’s overall runs scored/allowed and win-loss record. Obviously, it makes sense… teams with positive run differentials are likely to have good win-loss records. Bill James’ pythagorean method, explained here, actually generates a projected winning percentage based entirely on runs scored and allowed. But, as is always the case, there are exceptions, outliers that don’t seem to fit the model. My friends, the 2007 Giants are a major, major outlier.
After last night’s 3-1 win, the Giants have scored EXACTLY as many runs as they’ve allowed (575), yet their record is just 61-72 (.459), nine games UNDER .500. No one should argue that the Giants are a playoff-caliber team, but there is plenty of evidence to support the claim that they are better than 61-72. Much, if not all of the Giants problems can be explained by their performance in close games this season, they are an NL worst 32-46 (.410) in games decided by two or fewer runs.
In fact, if you take a look at every team in baseball history that scored at least as many runs as it allowed, only four had a lower winning percentage than the ‘07 San Francisco Giants.
| Worst Record by Team with Non-Negative Run Differential - All-Time | ||
| Team | Record | Run Differential |
| Giants, 1972 | 69-86 (.445) | +13 (662-649) |
| Rockies, 2001 | 73-89 (.451) | +17 (923-906) |
| Giants, 1953 | 70-84 (.455) | +21 (768-747) |
| Cardinals, 1980 | 74-88 (.457) | +28 (738-710) |
| Giants, 2007 | 61-72 (.459) | +0 (575-575) |
Notice two other Giants teams make this list, which any fan could tell you makes sense. While we don’t whine nearly as much as the Red Sox or Cubs, we are just as tortured and have endured just as much as they have.
Back to my point… What does this mean for the Giants? Well, in part, they can take solace in knowing they’ve been better than their record reflects, and even if nothing about the team changes, you would expect the team to be better in 2008 (ignoring that two-thirds of team will receive their AARP cards). The pitching should improve as the youngsters gain more experience, and the offense is left to Brian Sabean… uh-oh.
lots of good things
Written on 28 August 2007 by AneelA feel like a lot of good things are happening lately… the Giants are playing well, I’m quickly moving through my last semester of grad school, and Jayson Stark has asked for help a couple times in the last week, which gets my name into his articles… thats not so bad. His most recent article credits me again… It’s another “insider only” access, so I’ll post the portion I helped him with here.
USELESS PITCHING-BUFFET INFO
Speaking of creative managing, a bunch of loyal readers checked in last week to report that, in an Aug. 21 game against the Royals, the ever-energetic Ozzie Guillen did something we’d never heard of:In a span of five pitches, he used five different pitchers. Seriously.
Ehren Wasserman got a fly-ball out. Mike Myers gave up a single on the next pitch. Ryan Bukvich allowed a single on the next pitch. Matt Thornton got a double play on the next pitch. Bobby Jenks kicked off the next inning and threw the fifth pitch in that sequence.
One of our favorite loyal readers, Aneel Trivedi, reports that in the 20 years in which pitch counts have been part of the box-score small type, only one other team ever came within one of that five-pitcher, five-pitches super-quinella.
That was the Orioles, who used four pitchers to throw the last four pitches of a May 5 win over the Twins. Those four: Dave Schmidt, Mike Kinnunen, Mark Williamson and Ken Dixon, who earned (what else?) a one-pitch save. Talk about managing with your hair (or bullpen) on fire.
I’ll hopefully have time to get some Giants-related content on here shortly… I’m actually headed out to DC on Friday to catch them play the Nationals. At the very least, I’ll get some good pictures.
for those without insider access…
Written on 25 August 2007 by AneelI’ll repost a portion of Stark’s article here:
Top 10 Useless ‘30-3′ Info
So there I was the other day, taking my daughter off to start her freshman year at Syracuse, when a frigging 30-3 game broke out.How does that happen? I spend my whole life waiting for a game like that, and it erupts on a day I can’t possibly take the time to write about it? That’s not right.
In fact, the Useless Information Department would like to propose the following rule change: No team shall be permitted to score 30 runs in a game if that game occurs on a day when the Useless Info Department is closed for business. Thank you.
OK, so I know I’m the last ESPN employee alive to write about this game (with the possible exception of Mike Ditka). And Tim Kurkjian and the ingenious folks over in the Research Department have done spectacular work digging up those factoids.
But judging by the thousand e-mails in my inbox, you folks think I’m required to interrupt regular Useless Info programming for games like this. So in order to make the insatiable Useless Info Nation happy, I’m obliging. Here they come, my 10 Favorite Useless Info Tidbits (That Haven’t Already Been Reported) on the 30-3 Game:
1. The Rangers scored 30 runs in this game. They hadn’t even scored 30 runs in a whole series since Aug. 10-13, 2006. That was 54 series ago.
2 - 8 –
9. Loyal reader Scott Williams was duly amazed that the Orioles pitchers threw 120 more pitches in this game than the Rangers (252-132). But another loyal reader, the always-resourceful Aneel Trivedi, reports that that’s somehow happened two other times in the last 20 years. The A’s delivered 263 more than the Tigers in a 20-4 loss to Detroit on April 13, 1993. And the White Sox fired up 120 more than the Indians in a 13-0 loss to Cleveland on May 18, 1999. Who knew?
more Jayson Stark
Written on 24 August 2007 by AneelI’m two weeks into my last semester at Auburn, and I’ve been quite busy lately… haven’t had the time to check in as much as I’d like. I did find time, however, to make another appearance on Jayson Stark’s Useless Info blog… check it out here, paying particular attention to #9 on his list.
giants at turner
Written on 17 August 2007 by AneelI was fortunate enough to see the Giants at Turner Field twice this week, Tuesday and Wednesday, the two losses. I was pleasantly surprised at how classy the Braves were… before Tuesday’s game, the PA announcer congratulated Bonds on the HR record and they replayed Hank Aaron’s message to Bonds. There were fewer boo’s than you’d think. Pics here.
Highlights from the two games:
- Bonds home run #759
- Two Bobby Cox ejections, including one for the record
- Barry Bonds dragging Ryan Klesko back into the dugout
- Sam Adams sold at the same price as Bud in the Chophouse roof bar
bud’s reaction
Written on 6 August 2007 by AneelFor those of you that missed it, here’s #755, and Bud Selig’s reaction to it. How can the commissioner of baseball hate his job so very much?
Dodger-fan (but good writer none-the-less) Jim Caple wrote a funny article in response to Selig’s dumb reaction.
i’ll let others do it…
Written on 4 August 2007 by AneelDefending Barry is tiresome… he’s been a jerk for so long, it’s hard to root for him. But I’ve always maintained that Barry is getting a raw deal… he is singled out, picked on, and mocked by those who he mistreated in the past: the media. The same media who control what is both said and written about him. But every now and then, a writer steps back and takes an objective view of the Bonds “situation” as it has become, and I like to try and point out those instances. The LA Daily News’ John Klima wrote an article today that I really enjoyed, and that points out how biased the media, and fans, have been when it comes to Barry Bonds.
And, for anyone who is willing to devote a little more time to the Bonds issue, I highly recommend Jeff Pearlman’s Love Me, Hate Me.
So tonight, why not try enjoying a game, and watch as Barry takes another shot at the most important, famous, and exciting record in all of sports.
fun at LA’s expense
Written on 2 August 2007 by AneelHere’s a great little article about how hypocritical it is for LA-fans to boo Barry. Funny stuff.