From: scott@asd.com (Scott Barman)
Subject: So long, for now!
Organization: American Software Development Corp., W. Babylon, NY
Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1992 19:59:03 GMT

Well folks, this is it.  It is unfortunate that I work for a living and
it seems that this newsgroup (among others) is taking up too much of my
time.  I have a deadline to meet and it has been moved closer than I ever
expected.  That, combined with some real obnoxious treatment and name
calling has caused me to unsubscribe to this newsgroup for a while.

Before I go I have a few quickies:
1) There are a number of people (including some regulars) who really need
to reread the netiquette postings in news.announce.newusers.  I am
specifically referring to the parts about there being real people at the
other end of these messages and a suggested writing style to prevent
misunderstandings.  Remember, we cannot read your emotions, only your
words.

2) To the sabremetrics crowd (sometimes referred to as the stat-heads):
some of us believe there are more to the "facts" than the numbers can
reveal.  We can agree to disagree on the value of these ideals but I
would like to make a suggestion: sabremetrics is not a religion (at least
to most :-).  Defending them religiously tends to not only turn off those
of us who are "non-believers" but also seems to start flame-fests with
those who are "uninitiated" to the way of those who've been around for a
while.  Please temper your attempts to spread the gospel among the
non-believers and maybe you'll win some of them over!  (See Sherri, you
convinced me DA can be a good stat! :-)

3) To the "others" (or the anti-stat-heads): Statistics are not evil and
neither are the people who use them.  In fact, if you read a thread back
to its beginning, you will find most of the regulars (Sherri, David,
Valentine, etc.) are very reasonable people with some very good ideas.  I
could never believe how anyone can call the sabremetrics crowd
non-baseball fans, and you should not either.  I would think that these
people would have to be fans to dedicate, what is for most, a good
portion of their spare time to understanding the game in the manner that
they choose.  You should open you mind a bit and take a look at the
numbers.  Some of the ideas they present are interesting and even
enlightening.  You can be skeptical of the numbers and how they are
derived, but try to be accepting of someone with a different view than
you.

[Why is this taking on the tone of a Last Will and Testament? :-)]

4) For the record, I would like to "officially" say I consider myself
middle of the road on the issue of statistics.  Yes, I know I've
positioned myself against them, but that was after questioning and being
attacked by the "statistically correct."  (gee... we can have fun with
these new 90's terms! :-).  However, I will always remain skeptical of a
statistic that tries to "normalize" the numbers or those that leave out
half the data (e.g., I think DA numbers do this).

5) To my fellow Mets fans: Keep the Faith!  They'll make a run as some of
these guys get healthy.  We might even get to see Vince Coleman make an
extended visit to the active roster!  However, consider this a rebuilding
year (sort of like 1983) and that they've really screwed up the first
half to be truly considered a contender for first place.  I'm looking
forward to the future; one with Bonilla, Saberhagen, and Murray getting a
year's worth of experience playing together.  After that, there is some
good young talent in the minors that are two or three years away who
could bring back memories of the 1986 Dream Team (yes, I can prove the
Mets called the "Dream Team" in the local press long before NBA players
were allowed to play in the olympics).  Let's Go Mets!

6) To the Mets bashers: place your tongue firmly between your lips and
blow... HARD!  :-)  (this action also goes by the name of Bronx Cheer! :-)
[please note the smilies] Seriously, I could never understand how some
people can be that vehemently against New York without having to come
for a visit and see for themselves.  If you ever do come to town and want
an escort to see a ball game at Shea (a/k/a Meet the Mets :-), let me
know!  If I have time, I never pass up a free ticket!  :-)


My lunch 45-minutes is almost up (an hour? who has time?!  Forty-five
minutes is a luxury these days! :-) so I need to wrap this up (oy, it's
too long, but I don't have time to edit it!). If you want to respond and
have me read it, email it to me (short replies can go out almost
immediately, longer ones might take a day). I'll still be here even though
I'll no longer be reading r.s.b.  Take care and relax! We're talking
Baseball here, not brain surgery!!  HAVE FUN!
-- 
scott barman			| <This space intentionally left blank>
scott@asd.com			|
 (I can barely speak for myself, you expect me to speak for my employer??)