graymatters's profile

graymatters
2071
Location: Texas (and damn proud of it)
Gender: Male (and damn proud of it)
Member since: May 03, 2005
Last visit: August 09, 2011

graymatters has posted 40 links and 1,083 comments to SportsFilter and 0 links and 0 comments to the Locker Room.

Recent Links

Fan Dies After Josh Hamilton Tosses Him Baseball: A fan attending the Texas Rangers game Thursday night died after Josh Hamilton tossed a foul ball to him in the second inning. Shannon Stone, a Brownwood, Texas, firefighter attending the game with his young son, was along the left field outfield wall and fell through an opening behind the outfield fence. Video footage from the Oakland A's broadcast shows the accident.

posted by graymatters to baseball at 02:40 AM on July 08, 2011 - 17 comments

Congress to look at NFL head injuries: Judiciary Committee chair plans hearings on impact of injuries, how to limit them, and compensation. Because it's not like they have anything else to do.

posted by graymatters to football at 01:22 PM on October 03, 2009 - 15 comments

'An obvious case of deliberate overreaching by the government': Appeals court rules that feds had no right to seize results of MLB player steroid drug tests.

posted by graymatters to baseball at 03:53 PM on August 26, 2009 - 2 comments

Iraq banned from Olympics: The interntional Olympic committee confirms a ban on Iraqi participation in 2008 games due to government interference.

posted by graymatters to other at 12:51 PM on July 24, 2008 - 6 comments

Recent Comments

SportsFilter: The Monday Huddle

There is no need to use saves to describe the greatness of Mariano Rivera. In fact, it's actually a strike AGAINST him, as Trevor Hoffman has more than him, in less opportunities, in less innings pitched.

A closer's job is to close out the game, which is currently measured in saves whether one likes it or not. But statistics are so much better than facts.

posted by graymatters at 11:34 AM on August 09, 2011

SportsFilter: The Monday Huddle

The "save" (or "blown save") is the most artificial of statistics

which undoubtedly explains why they are in such demand, considered so important by teams, and in many cases (especially Rivera) paid so much. Clearly, based on the stats that matter, Rivera should be put in the starting rotation because he is being wasted in the role the Yankees have put him in. And I hope that no one considers his almost 600 artificial saves when he is voted into the Hall of Fame. There may be problems with the definition of a save (especially the three-inning rule), but I don't think a few examples (like the Goltz save and other unusual situations such as Joaquin Benoit's 7-inning save in relief of another relief pitcher) renders a closer's role meaningless or artificial.

posted by graymatters at 06:10 PM on August 08, 2011

SportsFilter: The Monday Huddle

Here are Rivera's career splits against all teams. It's a rough metric, but the Red Sox don't particularly stand out.

With all the columns and information, you would think they would include SVO (save opportunities) somewhere. Rather than just ERA or batting average or some other stat, it seems like the most important for a closer is the number of blown saves against teams; i.e., SVO - SV. While other stats are important, they can be impacted by just a few bad outings, taking one for the team, or pitching in non-save situations for some reason (getting your work in, extra innings, resting the other pitchers, etc.).

posted by graymatters at 05:02 PM on August 08, 2011

You gotta know when to fold 'em, ARod

The games are "underground" because they are "illegal." One might argue whether such gambling should be illegal, but at this point it is illegal. Some here seem to take the view that wealth is an excuse to violate the law or a defense to illegal activity?

posted by graymatters at 11:55 AM on August 04, 2011

SportsFilter: The Wednesday Huddle

Is this what Moneyball has come to?

posted by graymatters at 04:02 PM on August 03, 2011

NBA's Lucas, Durant duel in front of standing-room only crowd at Pro City

I hate it when reporters write for themselves first and assume that the reader knows what they are talking about. I had to read the stories multiple times to finally figure out that Durant scored 66 points in a game and then the next night scored 41 points while Lucas answered the 41 with 60 points. It's just so confusing.

posted by graymatters at 03:53 PM on August 03, 2011

You gotta know when to fold 'em, ARod

ARod "tried to distance himself from the game" when violence broke out.

Is that the same as running like a little girl?

On an only tangentially related topic, has anyone seen the DirectTV commercial with ARod (probably for MLB game package), where he looks like a preening AHole? Every time I see it, instead of making me want to subscribe, it makes me want to puke.

posted by graymatters at 03:40 PM on August 03, 2011

Nnamdi Asomugha Signs with Philadelphia

I love the part in the story about how the Cowboys didn't really want him, but they just wanted to raise the price.

Don't know why, but I keep sensing that the Cowboys are in trouble - both on the field and financially (not that they don't have the money, just that the money is committed elsewhere, whether debt service on the Jones Taj Mahal or other players). Clearly, the Cowboys do not need help in their secondary, because they have done so well recently in that area. (What's the emoticon for tongue in cheek?)

posted by graymatters at 01:50 PM on July 30, 2011

SportsFilter: The Thursday Huddle

Vince Young cut, Reggie Bush traded away, Matt Leinart a free agent. The supposed big three in the 2006 draft, though Leinart did drop down.

Maybe Mario Williams was not such bad No. 1 pick after all.

posted by graymatters at 06:21 PM on July 28, 2011

NFL Back in Business

Nobody could sprint 10 yards downfield after being tackled with more energy than Barber.

I always marveled at Barber's ability to burst out of the back field with so much energy and then strut and dance after the tackle like he had just busted out for a touchdown. Then, I would see the yard marker and realize he had just busted out for a one and a half yard gain. I am not sure that he ever realized that the game is played before the tackle, not after.

posted by graymatters at 07:13 PM on July 26, 2011

NFL Back in Business

Saw an article (don't remember if print or online) about who winner is in these contract negotiations. Theory was that both owners and players for different reasons. Not in article, but it appears clear that the loser is the fan. Less training camp; less training at camp and during season; probability of ragged play due to this as well as uncertainty of team positions due to free agency delay. But I bet they get all those full-priced pre-season games in.

posted by graymatters at 05:25 PM on July 26, 2011

SportsFilter: The Tuesday Huddle

I know that 33454 is an actually zip code, so he was only off by one

Stupid Rangers, screwing up a perfectly good quote.

posted by graymatters at 03:54 PM on July 26, 2011

SportsFilter: The Tuesday Huddle

"The first five innings looked like a ZIP code, that will tell you how it went-33354," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "I think that's Florida-Fort Lauderdale."

Rangers beat Twins 20-6, scoring at least 3 runs in each of first 5 innings. Michael Cuddyer (1b to rf to p) pitched the 8th inning for Twins, loading the bases but otherwise shutting down the Rangers.

posted by graymatters at 09:53 AM on July 26, 2011

Man City Pulls Striker When Backheel Backfires

The world needs to understand that showboating is only allowed in American basketball.

posted by graymatters at 12:16 PM on July 25, 2011

SportsFilter: The Thursday Huddle

Suit filed over Title IX quota system

posted by graymatters at 12:26 PM on July 21, 2011