- 10:39 AM
- 12/16/18
| Location: | Canada |
|---|---|
| Member since: | February 21, 2002 |
| Last visit: | December 16, 2018 |
grum@work has posted 221 links and 9,192 comments to SportsFilter and 15 links and 920 comments to the Locker Room and 1 column.
First of all, a trivia question. What are the 11 different ways for a baseball player to reach 1st base safely? Answer at bottom of page. I'm the saddest fan of them all: Toronto Maple Leafs Buffalo Bills (but not so much since the Holy Trinity retired...Kelly, Thomas, Reed) It could be worse...I could be a Boston or Chicago baseball fan. The most memorable sporting event was a hockey game back in the late 80's (not sure exactly when). A friend of the family got me really nice Leaf tickets during the Xmas holidays. They were playing the Bruins, so I took my friend Joe who was a big Boston fan. After two periods, the Leafs were getting killed, 5-1. My friend was really laying on the taunting thick, and I was contemplating how I could kill him on the way home. Then, to start the 3rd period, Wendel Clark scored a quick goal. Hey, at least they'll make it respectable, is what I figured. And then another goal is scored. And another. Well, lo and behold, the Leafs tie it up and send the game into overtime (the last goal was scored with an extra attacker, by Wendel again). Then, with about a minute left in the overtime, Wendel Clark blows one past the goalie and the place EXPLODES with noise. I must have gone hoarse from the shouting. The stunned/saddened look on Joe's face the entire ride home was like icing on the cake. ... Trivia Answer: 1. Hit 2. Base on balls 3. Hit by pitch 4. Catcher interference 5. Dropped third strike 6. Error 7. Fielder's choice 8. Hitting a baserunner with the batted ball 9. A ball, pitched to the batter or thrown by the pitcher from his position on the pitcher's plate to a base to catch a runner, goes into a stand, or player's bench, or over or through a field fence or backstop, or is touched by a spectator. (Obscure rule 7.05(h)) 10. The third strike becomes lodged in the umpires equipment (not touched by the catcher). (Obscure rule 7.05(i)) 11. Pinch Runner
Baseball players are famous for cliches. Here are their most popular ones.:
This article does a heck of job. It's a breath of fresh air that finds a way to get it done. Time after time, it grabs the bull by the horns and brings something to the table. Up and down the lineup, this article was looking forward to the challenge and stepped up it's game.
posted by grum@work to baseball at 07:08 PM on August 29, 2018 - 6 comments
The Single Worst Recorded Umpire Call in Organized Baseball History:
Seriously.
posted by grum@work to baseball at 10:16 PM on July 19, 2018 - 2 comments
Barry Trotz just Zidane'd the Washington Capitals.:
Barry Trotz informed the organization today of his decision to resign as head coach of the Washington Capitals. We are obviously disappointed by Barry's decision, but would like to thank Barry for all his efforts the past four years and for helping bring the Stanley Cup to Washington. Barry is a man of high character and integrity and we are grateful for his leadership and for all that he has done for our franchise
posted by grum@work to hockey at 04:07 PM on June 18, 2018 - 5 comments
Seattle Mariners' star second baseman Robinson Cano has been suspended 80 games for drug violation.:
The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball announced today that second baseman Robinson Cano of the Seattle Mariners has received an 80-game suspension without pay after testing positive for Furosemide, a Diuretic, in violation of Major League Baseball's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.
posted by grum@work to baseball at 02:38 PM on May 15, 2018 - 1 comment
It's finally happened! Emergency back-up goalie (Blackhawks' Scott Foster) plays in an NHL game.:
The 36-year-old accountant comes into the game with 14 minutes left in the game. And he makes a big save!
posted by grum@work to hockey at 12:55 AM on March 30, 2018 - 11 comments
Kansas City by 3
Houston by 17
Cleveland by 6
Atlanta by 6
Buffalo by 3
Chicago by 7
Cincinnati by 6
Dallas by 7
Miami by 9
Tennessee by 7
Washington by 13
Baltimore by 7
Seattle by 7
New England by 3
L.A. Rams by 11
New Orleans by 17
posted by grum@work at 02:36 PM on December 13, 2018
Harold Baines?!
Really?
His claims to fame:
- Played 12 seasons after a team retired his number (White Sox).
- Since the age of integration in baseball (1947), 63 players have accumulated at least 10,000 plate appearances. In terms of WAR (baseball reference calculations), Baines finishes second last (38.7), ahead of just Bill Buckner (15.1).
- WAA (wins above average) is a way of calculating players that weren't just filling roster spots, but providing ABOVE AVERAGE value during a season/career. Among all 42 inactive players that accumulated between 35 and 40 WAR (post-integration), Harold Baines' WAA total is the lowest (1.8). Other luminary players in that list: Tim Wallach (9.2 WAA), Magglio Ordonez (11.3), Reggie Sanders (18.1), and Jessie Barfield (21.9).
- He led the league in one stat, in one season, over the 22 seasons he played (SLG, .543, 1984).
Edit: From a reddit thread about Baines:
here's a list of things Harold Baines never did on a baseball diamond:
get 200 hits in a season
hit 40 doubles in a season
hit 30 home runs in a season
steal more than 10 bases in a season
score 90 runs in a season
finish higher than 9th in MVP voting
have a season of 5.0 or higher WAR (r or f) or better than 3.5 WARP (that's Baseball Prospectus for the uninitiated)
posted by grum@work at 11:44 PM on December 09, 2018
Tennessee by 7
Buffalo by 6
Carolina by 13
Green Bay by 7
Kansas City by 10
New England by 17
New Orleans by 14
Washington by 7
Houston by 9
L.A. Chargers by 14
Denver by 3
Dallas by 9
Pittsburgh by 17
Detroit by 3
L.A. Rams by 6
Minnesota by 3
posted by grum@work at 01:02 PM on December 06, 2018
New Orleans by 14
Baltimore by 7
Denver by 9
L.A. Rams by 13
Green Bay by 6
Buffalo by 3
Chicago by 9
Carolina by 11
Indianapolis by 24
Houston by 17
Tennessee by 6
Kansas City by 21
New England by 7
Seattle by 8
Pittsburgh by 3
Washington by 7
posted by grum@work at 06:17 PM on November 29, 2018
My annual winter tradition begins again:
Daily/hourly refreshing of the Baseball Hall of Fame Vote Tracker.
My favourite early trend: Edgar Martinez is +3 votes just from the first 7 announced returning voters.
Current leader for WTF ballot: Steven Marcus, who voted for just TWO players.
posted by grum@work at 12:05 PM on November 27, 2018
Chicago by 7
Dallas by 3
New Orleans by 13
Jacksonville by 3
Cincinnati by 8
New England by 17
Philadelphia by 7
Tampa Bay by 7
Carolina by 9
Baltimore by 7
L.A. Chargers by 10
Pittsburgh by 13
Indianapolis by 14
Green Bay by 9
Houston by 11
posted by grum@work at 11:05 PM on November 21, 2018
My choices for the ballot if I had a vote (in order of preference):
Bonds
Clemens
Ramirez
Martinez
Mussina
Halladay
Rolen
Schilling
Rivera
Walker
Now, who do I think gets in this year?
Halladay
Martinez
Rivera
with a small chance that Mussina gets over the 75% line.
This is Edgar Martinez's last chance on the ballot, and if they DON'T vote him in, and then vote in David Ortiz in a few years...
posted by grum@work at 01:58 PM on November 20, 2018
Here is the 2019 BBWAA Hall of Fame Ballot:
(Returnees in bold)
Rick Ankiel
Jason Bay
Lance Berkman
Barry Bonds
Roger Clemens
Freddy Garcia
Jon Garland
Travis Hafner
Roy Halladay
Todd Helton
Andrew Jones
Jeff Kent
Ted Lilly
Derek Lowe
Edgar Martinez
Fred McGriff
Mike Mussina
Darren Oliver
Roy Oswalt
Andy Pettitte
Juan Pierre
Placido Polanco
Manny Ramirez
Mariano Rivera
Scott Rolen
Curt Schilling
Gary Sheffield
Sammy Sosa
Miguel Tejada
Omar Vizquel
Billy Wagner
Larry Walker
Vernon Wells
Kevin Youkilis
Michael Young
posted by grum@work at 01:35 PM on November 20, 2018
Adrian Beltre announces his retirement.
I eagerly await his HOF induction ceremony when Elvis Andrus crashes the party and starts rubbing his head.
An amazing combination of offense, defense, and longevity. He's in the top 5 list all-time for 3B.
posted by grum@work at 01:28 PM on November 20, 2018
You'll want to fix the scoring for the Atlanta/Cleveland game. I'm pretty sure Cleveland didn't win 2-0.
Since no one actually took Cleveland for the win, it doesn't matter in the standings...
posted by grum@work at 02:43 PM on November 15, 2018
Green Bay by 7
Atlanta by 6
Carolina by 13
Tennessee by 9
Tampa Bay by 6
Houston by 11
Pittsburgh by 7
Baltimore by 3
Arizona by 3
L.A. Chargers by 7
New Orleans by 14
Chicago by 9
Kansas City by 7
posted by grum@work at 02:39 PM on November 15, 2018
As for Tom Wilson, the next time he does something stupid, they'll be perfectly within their rights to suspend him for at least 28 games.
Actually, I'd fine with the "doubling" rule being made official (5->10->20, for example), but if you get a fourth offense you are suspended for the remainder of the current season OR 40 games (including playoffs), whichever is more.
posted by grum@work at 02:58 PM on November 13, 2018
My favourite part of the smackdown delivered by Passan was throwing their Gary Sanchez support from two years ago back in their face. I wonder if he waded through some of the "Ohtani played less games" twitter fools' histories to see if they were in support of Sanchez' ROY candidacy from two years ago?
posted by grum@work at 02:55 PM on November 13, 2018
If he was just a catcher for his entire career, he'd be a slam-dunk hall of famer.
However, he played more games as a non-catcher (1B/DH) than he did as a catcher.
One thing that might help his case is his "played for only one team for his career". HOF voters love that extra bit of narrative
posted by grum@work at 09:46 AM on November 10, 2018
The Great Heist: How Fox Paid for and Changed Football Forever
I remember it took Fox something like 6 years to actually have prime-time first-run programming on all seven days of the week. I also remember only being able to pick up the station on the UHF channels (Buffalo WUTV, channel 29) for a year or two before we got full cable at my house in Toronto.