- 06:38 AM
- 11/22/09
Suicide isn't a statement - "fuck you" or otherwise - it's a tragic symptom of an unravelled mind.
Maybe not in this case JJ, but sometimes it is very much a statement.
Generalizing suicide as a loss of control of 'mental faculties' isn't accurate.
Interestingly enough, from the same wiki link is this:
German law interprets suicide as an accident and anyone present during suicide may be prosecuted for failure to render aid in an emergency. A suicide legally becomes emergency when a suicidal person loses consciousness. Failure to render aid is punishable under article 323c of the StGB, with a maximum one year jail sentence.
posted by BoKnows at 07:10 PM on November 11
Yadier Molina also won a Gold Glove in the NL and he is nowhere near the top of offensive production at the catcher position, but easily deserving of the defensive award. As is every year, some GG's are spot-on and some are absolutely debatable.
posted by BoKnows at 06:14 PM on November 11
posted by BoKnows at 09:27 PM on November 10
or a mic button got stuck in the hold position at the wrong moment.
The clarity and differential in audio quality was very much like what comes through your headphones.
Sounds good to me.
But because I am curious, why would there need to be a button that allows some guy 'in the truck' to broadcast anything? That just seems to be an unnecessary button. I understand the truck-to-announcer's headphone idea, just not the truck-to-live audience possibility.
posted by BoKnows at 09:45 PM on November 09
Sammy Sosa is turning white.
Apparently, he's just rejuvenating his skin.
posted by BoKnows at 09:18 PM on November 09
"I won't be a Wildcat guy. I can't"
posted by BoKnows at 09:09 PM on November 09
I find it hard to respect minor-league hockey when they allow that kind of stuff to go on for so long. Letting a player fight after he has left the penalty box, instead of immediately stopping it, makes a complete mockery of the rules.
I agree. I have tried to follow minor league hockey a few times but find myself turned off by the excessive fighting. I say that as someone who believes that fighting does have a part in the NHL, just not at the frequency I've seen in minor league hockey.
That said, my experience could be way off, so feel free to tell me how wrong I am.
But how could anyone expect someone named Robin Big Snake to not come out of the penalty box? In a long list of great hockey names, RBS is near the top for sure.
posted by BoKnows at 05:20 PM on November 04
Meyer seems to have confused the attacker with the victim. Brandon Spikes does not need their "full support."
I agree. I couldn't figure out what that meant. Would Meyer have been pushing Spikes' finger further into Ealey's eye if given the chance?
On local radio in Jacksonville they're saying that Ealey took some cheap shots at Gators during the game.
I'm assuming that with all the cameras surrounding the Gators, there would be video of that too no?
posted by BoKnows at 08:55 PM on November 02
I also see nothing wrong with this play considering it was in the first quarter, and the score was 13-0 at that point.
I thought it was cool. When trick plays are executed correctly, I find them some of the most exciting plays in football - at any level.
posted by BoKnows at 09:27 PM on October 30
The "Professional Athlete: Broke" article is almost becoming a Mad-Lib. Just fill in the player name, team name and dollar amount. Everything else is the same.
Sooner or later, players will realize that employing a financial adviser is just as important as their agent.
posted by BoKnows at 10:52 PM on October 28
I never said better without a description of in what facet. You're argueing just to argue. If that is a victory to you, congrats.
posted by BoKnows at 02:12 PM on October 27
I think that's a bit of an easy out when you were a bit coy in the same response:
I was coy because you were correcting my stats with bad addition. And I am not looking for an easy out. I was clear from the beginning that it was my opinion.
Which years would you say McRae was the better hitter than McGwire?
I never said he was a better hitter. I said a more complete hitter. I also said a jack-of-all-trades hitter. A more consistent hitter. A better all-around hitter throughout his enitire career. I said a smart, patient hitter. I never said better. And those qualities are what I would look for when judging the ability to instruct a whole team of players who each have their own style and ability. Like you suggested earlier, if the objective were to draft DHs, McGwire would be the better guy for that job.
posted by BoKnows at 01:49 PM on October 27
you come up with some fuzzy reason why the stats aren't real.
That's not true at all. I recall questioning the application of stats one other time. Usually, I let the stats speak for themselves. Generalize much?
if Mark McGwire was "pitched around" for 3 consecutive years in a way Hal McRae was never pitched around, doesn't that suggest McGwire was a better hitter?
For those 4 years (1996-1999), yes, I agree.
But there's no way you can find someone who would take an in-his-prime Hal McRae over Mark McGwire if they were drafting DHs, is there?
Not even me. In fact, I said something similar:
I don't need to be right here, yerfatma. You don't have to agree with my opinion, because that's all it is, an opinion. I stated that in almost every post in this thread and I gave my reasons to why I think that way. If you and grum want to base it all on numbers, that's okay. We'll agree to disagree.
posted by BoKnows at 10:39 AM on October 27
Well, for their entire careers, intentional walks accounted for 11.3% of McGwire's total walks. For Hal McRae, it accounted for 10.5%.
What that stat doesn't reflect is all the time McGwire was "pitched around" from 1996-1999. On the scorecard it appears as a walk, but the intent of the pitcher was to get him to swing at bad balls and to walk him rather than put something in the strike zone for him to crush. Or, when the count is 3-1, and the pitcher just walks him on the fourth pitch to try his luck with the next batter. Just the same as Bonds. My point is that because of that treatment, which seems unquantifiable, the elevated # of walks and increase in OBP doesn't suggest that he is a smart hitter who earned each of those walks.
The walks were not always a part of his game.
Huh? For 1000 consecutive games (18 seasons, 1992-2000), his OBP was .434.
I'll concede the 18 years that spanned between 1992 and 2000. I don't know how he did it, but it sounds amazing. You have me there on paper, but if you remove 1996-1999, his OBP drops to .369 (1986-1995), still above the AL average during those years, but not near the increase when including 1996-1999. (I think we all can agree that during the years 1996-1999, Mark McGwire was using methods that may have significantly contributed to his power numbers and were eventually banned.)
My opinion isn't that McGwire is undeserving of the job, or the HOF, or being known as a great power hitter. I was there in St. Louis during the entire Home Run chase in 98. It was great and he was great fun to watch. It's that I think Hal McRae was a better all-around hitter consistently through his career. And if consistent player performance translates into coaching ability that generates consistency, I'd choose McRae to coach my teams hitters.
posted by BoKnows at 01:57 AM on October 27
Well, I can't just leave that hanging. There used to be a phrase for this sort of thing around here...
I presented the links of both players stats in an earlier post. But I will do so again.
I guess when I look at McGwire's career stats, I see a bunch of home runs and RBIs, but also a bunch of strikeouts. He was also very inconsistent year-to-year in almost every category.
Looking at McRae's stats I see a more complete hitter, the jack-of-all-trades if you will. Good amount of doubles and triples. A consistent batting average year to year. He never really had a big drop-off in any stat, season to season.
My opinion would be to take Hal McRae over McGwire in the role of a batting/hitting coach due to him just being a more complete hitter. That said, if it was possible to teach every guy in the lineup how to hit dingers, McGwire would be the guy for sure. But that's just not reality. Especially when playing under LaRussa, who manages a very situational type of game.
You have a point with the walks, at least in terms of total number. But that number doesn't take into account the intentional vs. the unintentional vs. the unintentional intentional walks. And 511 (about 40%) of McGwire's walks came from 1996-1999 (only 25% of his 16 year career), when he was receiving what was later dubbed as the 'Bond's Treatment' at the plate. The walks were not always a part of his game. The situations were different, as were the aspects of the game from 1970-1987 (McRae) and 1986-2001(McGwire).
posted by BoKnows at 09:55 PM on October 26
I don't think the quality of baseball has suffered during the 'Yankee-free' years. Obviously the TV ratings were lower during the Cards/Tigers, Astros/ChiSox series, but in my opinion, there are just as many fans that watch to see the Yankees lose than there are to see the Yankees win. And after articles like this, I just want to see the Phillies demolish the Yankees just for the authors sake.
posted by BoKnows at 08:05 PM on October 26
So what exactly makes this an upgrade for the team?
Nothing. It isn't an upgrade at all. Of course, now that I've said it, I'll be proven wrong during 2010 when the Cards have an offensive explosion that will no doubt be contributed solely to McGwire.
posted by BoKnows at 07:49 PM on October 26
Damn ice shavings!
posted by BoKnows at 06:41 PM on October 26
Ask and ye shall receive.
posted by BoKnows at 06:25 PM on October 26
I'd definitely cheat on Sean Salisbury for her!
I had no idea you were so closely connected to this story. How long have you and Sean been together?
posted by BoKnows at 05:40 PM on October 26
If by "career batting stats," you mean batting average, then yes, you are correct.
Not really, I meant just about everything except home runs. Hal McRae may not have the flashy numbers but he was way more of a complete hitter. At the end of McGwire's career, he was an all or nothing pull hitter. McRae struck out less than half as much (779 vs 1596) as McGwire while playing 100+ more games. That stat alone is the smart, patient hitter that I would want to employ for my teams instruction.
posted by BoKnows at 05:35 PM on October 26
I did something almost identical to that playing hockey a few years ago. I felt shame.
posted by BoKnows at 12:56 PM on October 26
I'm not defending him but all T.O. wants to do is win...
What professional athlete doesn't want to win?
The league shouldn't allow for a future Hall of Famer to fade away with a team like the Bills. That's just wrong.
The NFL controlling player movement based on empathy of age and a fading skill set would be more wrong.
posted by BoKnows at 12:29 PM on October 26
Sorry about the poor quality but I found a picture of her for you THX.
posted by BoKnows at 12:14 PM on October 26
How about we let Pujols teach the other guys to hit. He does pretty well. Based on overall career batting stats, McGwire is a huge step down from Hal McRae.
Sammy Sosa could be the first base coach. Barry Bonds the third base coach. Rafael Palmeiro bench coach and Roger Clemens pitching coach.
Just for fun, let's say McGwire does come back to St. Louis. Sosa returns to Chicago. Clemens to NY, Boston, Houston - you pick. Raffy goes to Baltimore and so on down the list. Each coaching their respective positions that they excelled in while allegedly using steroids/PEDs. That would be some ridiculous irony of untold ridiculousness.
posted by BoKnows at 01:43 AM on October 26
I think I would want to wear these shoes too.
posted by BoKnows at 12:25 AM on October 22
If the letter is legit, it makes the woman look like somebody who made the mistake of believing all the lines fed to her by a womanizer.
Completely agree.
posted by BoKnows at 03:35 PM on October 21
So you're disappointed because this thread is juvenile?
I'm disapointed because you are defending your right to be shallow. Congratulations on that.
I'll only remark from now on that she is a miserable psycho home-wrecker and that Steve Phillips is a self-absorbed poor excuse for a father and husband.
Which is exactly the comments that would be here if those pictures were not included with the story. Surprisingly, I find this opinion appropriate.
posted by BoKnows at 03:33 PM on October 21
Did the average age of Sportsfilter just go down? Reading all the comments regarding her appearance reminds me of the lunch room in high school.
posted by BoKnows at 02:29 PM on October 21
Dear Tiger,
Anything you can do, I can do better.
Signed,
Mark Benevento Jr.
posted by BoKnows at 02:05 PM on October 21
I don't see it as pointless to join mid-season. While there may not be much you can do to salvage the overall record for the season, you essentially get 10 games to evaluate your talent. I could see how that could definitely give the coach an edge going into the off-season and preparing for player movement. Not only the players, but you would get to evaluate the inherited coaches too.
I think Shanahan's decision was strictly to leave his options open for the off-season, when multiple teams may be looking for a coach and with the demand high, so too will be the salaries offered.
posted by BoKnows at 09:27 PM on October 19
"If anyone knew that rule, that it should have been a drop ball, then you are one saddo. I didn't know."
I find it hard to believe that no one would know if there was a defined rule involving anything thrown onto the field and how it affects play.
posted by BoKnows at 08:59 PM on October 18
The rules state the referee has the option to allow play to continue if a "second ball" goes on to the field but should call a halt if it interferes with the action.
It also states he should stop the game in the case of "any kind of outside interference" but in reality matches are routinely allowed to continue with items like balloons on the pitch.
Former FIFA referee Graham Poll told the BBC the referee should have stopped the game and given a drop ball.
I could understand why play wouldn't be stopped if the ball was at midfield, against the sidelines or away from the play. But this seems like a perfect opportunity for the official to exercise his option to award a drop ball. That is interference, right? And if not in this case, then when it is proper to?
Maybe I don't watch enough soccer.
posted by BoKnows at 09:46 PM on October 17
Only nine guns? That's the minimum here in Montana. Hardly worthy of the 'sleeper cell commando' tag.
posted by BoKnows at 11:06 PM on October 16
If Saint Louis really had the best fans in baseball, the Browns would have never left town.
That is completely untrue. In fact, the owner of the Browns at the time of the move (Bill Veeck) had intended to drive the Cardinals out of St. Louis using his antics as a way to increase the Browns fan base. Which it did. Remember Eddie Geadel? But, then Cardinals owner, Fred Saigh, found himself in great legal and financial trouble and the Cardinals were then bought by August Busch Jr. That purchase proved more resourceful than Veeck could have hoped for his team and then Veeck moved the team to Baltimore. Not long after, the Orioles did everything they could to erase almost all of the Browns' history in relation to their current franchise.
Nice try though.
posted by BoKnows at 10:43 AM on October 13
This is the guy that I don't want to hear some sob story about in 25 years. If he ends up with some form of PCS induced dementia, Alzheimers or worse, is the NFL's lagging effort to prevent head injuries/concussions really to blame?
posted by BoKnows at 08:02 PM on October 11
Thanks for the link, rumple. I recall this being posted before, but I will bookmark this time.
posted by BoKnows at 07:15 PM on October 11
So, what is the debate here then? Is it whether or not Cards fans are deserving of the title* or is it because it's become annoying**?
*Which we can't measure.
**I'd rather be part of a fan base that is annoying/obnoxious because of it's niceties than a fan base that is annoying/obnoxious due to it's complete lack of respect for other fans/teams. (I'm not directing that at any specific team, but the Jets fans chanting for women to show their tits comes to mind. Batteries being thrown onto the field is another. That list can go on and on. I'm happy to be associated with the former.)
posted by BoKnows at 07:13 PM on October 11
I don't think we're talking about equivalent terms here.
America's Team was not my comparison. And since there can only be one 'best' baseball fan base, then an equal comparison is rather hard to produce.
(as far as players, come on, players on other teams are constantly saying they play in front of the 'best' fans. I've heard many players say that nothing compares to playing home games at fenway, same for the yankees, and I'm sure other teams as well.)
I absolutely agree that players do and will say those same words to other cities....but St. Louis fans know they are lying to you and telling us the truth :)
That aside, I had no idea my remark in my first post would cause such a debate. I had only intended it to be a little sarcastic, a little snarky and only a little serious. I also followed that remark with congratulations to the Dodgers, a bright side for next year and an observation of Championship winning teams. Having the 'best fans' obviously has nothing to with it.
On Edit: The problem with "best fans in baseball" is that it's a boast. If you don't see why that might rub some people the wrong way -- such as the fans of the other 29 teams -- I don't know what to tell you. I didn't say it was used primarily today as a taunt, but the high self-regard of Cards fans is a bit obnoxious, so that's where I see it going.
I think you and others are reading way to much into it. It's really not that serious. But the 'obnoxious sports fan' concept is clever, who woulda thunk?
posted by BoKnows at 05:39 PM on October 11
rcade, justgary,
There is no fan-saber-metric equation involving hotdogs or #1 foam finger sales. It's not attendance or minor league jersey sales.
Boston has Red Sox Nation, right? Does that mean there is some magical way to measure whether it is in fact a nation, or is it just a morale boost? A way to get fans involved, maybe? (Repeat for Detroit's 'Hockeytown' claim and any other marketing campaign that has latched on.)
Then again, the St. Louis title isn't something that is only claimed by fans. Players use the phrase regularly. So do coaches, announcers and tv/radio analysts, etc... So to say it's mostly used as a taunt by fans of other teams is just not accurate.
And gary, you are right, being a Royals/Pirate fan right now does suggest a deep loyalty to the team, but your Sox and my Cards have been at the bottom of the league before too. The 'best fans' thing didn't start when the Cardinals were competitive, and I don't think it will go away when they are not. I do think your idea that it involves a less obnoxious/rabid fan is a part of it. So St. Louis fans pride themselves on being nice, polite, well-behaved, knowledgeable fans. How dare they?
igottheblues, judging by your dickhead response to me, you will be a fine addition to St. Charles County.
posted by BoKnows at 02:20 PM on October 11
We're the best fans in baseball year round, igottheblues. The standing ovation given to Matt Holliday in his first at-bat following the game 2 error shows how passionate STL fans are about the Cardinals. And it is also the reason a lot of star players agree to stay, even for less money.
Come November, Pujols will be given the MVP, Wainwright the Cy Young and 2-3 gold gloves will/should be given. Carpenter is Comeback Player of the Year and Holliday will re-sign. Ryan Franklin had an great year as a closer. Colby Rasmus will only continue to grow and get better. Troy Glaus may be 100% in 2010. They should be well in contention again next year and as a life-long StL fan, I'm already thinking about it.
That said, the Cards offense was terrible in this NLDS. They left 472 men-on-base during the 3 games and Carpenter had one of his worst outings this year in game 1. After the first pitch homer he gave up to Kemp, it was clear that the Cards were not themselves and the Dodgers had become the team they were in the first half. The Dodgers played great baseball and produced when they needed to - whether it was in the first inning or bottom of the ninth. Hats off to LA for putting it all together at just the right time. A rematch of last years NLCS looks very possible and should be a great series to watch, but if the Dodgers continue to play like they did in the NLDS, they should end up in the WS.
It always seems tha only one or two playoff teams do the little things - get the lucky breaks. Maybe it's errors by the opponent or amazing plays by the defense or walk-ff wins, but a WS team usually has that extra edge/karma/effort/luck happening throughout the playoffs for them. Nothing was going right for the Cards this time, but we'll see you next year.
posted by BoKnows at 11:38 PM on October 10
There is a stream here.
posted by BoKnows at 07:20 PM on October 10
Because the kid's possibly 14 or 15 years old, and he's going to catch enough hell from his teammates and classmates for the rest of the season, and possibly the rest of his existence.
I don't believe that. While he may get some shit, I doubt his whole existence is under attack. Is there some personal history in play here, wfrazerjr?
posted by BoKnows at 03:50 PM on September 30
The bigger goat is the coach for putting two Otters players back to receive the kick on a game-ending field goal attempt.
I guessing those players weren't back there to receive anything, rather they were there in case of a fake field goal attempt.
posted by BoKnows at 01:00 PM on September 30
Despite all the health risks, if I had a kid who really wanted to play football and had the ability to do it, I'd let him (or her?). While it is, of course, an especially risky sport, if they really love it, I'd support it.
Exactly.
Drood - Why would there be any less risk in the alternative sports you mentioned? MMA, boxing, racing all have deadly risks associated with their sports at almost every level of competition.
In fact the only sport they've probably be interested in is racing. Possibly soccer. They're just not that into sports.
The apples don't fall far from the tree :)
posted by BoKnows at 09:25 PM on September 29
And here.
posted by BoKnows at 12:58 AM on September 29
And this was voluntary.
So what else should we let 16 year olds volunteer for? Better yet, lets put a whole group of high school football players on a bus, "after hours" of course, and see what kind of voluntary decisions they will make.
Anyway, that coach should know that infancy is the best time to baptize, making it completely involuntary. Less trouble that way.
posted by BoKnows at 12:33 AM on September 29
...an assistant strength and conditioning coach was acting as a "spotter" for the player.
Next time, they should get a real spotter instead of someone "acting" like one. I wish him a speedy recovery and hope he gets a chance to return to the field.
posted by BoKnows at 09:14 PM on September 28
Then again, Big Z's emotions sometimes get away from him.
posted by BoKnows at 01:12 PM on September 28
The kids should have known something was up as soon as the coach started giving communion during the pre-game prayer.
posted by BoKnows at 12:38 PM on September 28
J-E-T-S, Jets, Jets, Jets! fan gets game ball.
posted by BoKnows at 01:02 PM on September 26
Somewhat sports related link.
posted by BoKnows at 12:42 PM on September 26
So are the fines based on volume, length or severity?
posted by BoKnows at 12:34 PM on September 26
"They're starting to care for each other. We're coming together. I can see it."
posted by BoKnows at 12:30 PM on September 26
That teacher is an ass. The kid said it best himself:
"Just because my teacher doesn't like the Yankees I should still have the right to wear a Yankees shirt,"
The school seems to be treating this as if somebody was killed. "We don't have all the facts"? An investigation? It sounds like the other kids are going to be interrogated. Just make the teacher wear a Yankees shirt for a day and this situation could end there.
posted by BoKnows at 12:23 PM on September 26
Not sure if it is worthy of a full post as it has been covered somewhat on this site.
Only somewhat?
posted by BoKnows at 07:44 PM on September 23
Maybe a new stat should then be kept. Ex: SB# (DI)#
In hockey, empty net goals are counted as a goal in the overall season stats, but in the boxscore they are labeled as an ENG. I don't see any harm in adding the DI rulings into the overall season total as long as they can be differentiated.
The defense was never indifferent about Rickey Henderson. -Rickey Henderson
posted by BoKnows at 05:58 PM on September 23
Is It Time to Retire the Football Helmet?
The shoulder and elbow pads went from protection to weapon more than a decade ago.
I work in a large sporting goods store here in Montana. Each year, I am more and more surprised by the level of what seems to be bulletproof hockey armor we receive. Weedy is right. Pads are becoming weapons. Not protection.