HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: zuhars@madrone.eecs.ucdavis.edu (Gary FDA Approved Huckabay)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.baseball
Subject: Re: Todays News (Rickey too)
Date: 14 Sep 92 17:41:46 GMT
Organization: Pat Gillick Hairdo Club (Puckett Division)

Jimbo @ That long, skinny thing off 280 writes:

>The San Francisco Chronicle Saturday, Sept. 12 (Letters)
>
>"Why didn't Sandy Alderson throw in Rickey Henderson for
>a dozen fungo bats and some pine tar to be named later?"

Jim, I don't know if you're writing this to show how stupid the author
of that letter is, or because you believe Rickey to be an insufferable
ballplayer, but perhaps I can answer this question.

1. Because Rickey Henderson is the best left fielder in baseball not
named 'Barry.'

2. Because, in all probability, Rickey Henderson at age 36 will STILL
be the best left fielder in baseball not named 'Barry' or 'Jose.'

3. Because Rickey Henderson is, arguably, the best offensive
ballplayer of the past twelve years.

4. Because, like Jose Canseco, Henderson is locked into a contract at
much lower than his market value.

5. Because Sandy Alderson knows that I'm not well balanced, and am
extremely adept at using power sanders, taffy pullers, and Lundyizers.
[tm]

Glad I could help.


-- 
*    Gary Huckabay    * 'RBIs rank roughly below political affiliation *
*  'Watching Harold   *  and just above shoe size in terms of whether  *
*   Brooks stalk the  *  a guy can actually hit.  Hitting is more than *
*  Maxvill household.'*  just being lucky.' - T.S. Underwood.          *
From: Graham_Sloan@abcd.Houghton.MI.US (Graham Sloan)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.baseball
Subject: Re: CUB'S MADDUX EASY CHOICE FOR CY
Distribution: world
Date: 5 Sep 92 20:01:23 EST
Organization: Amiga BitSwap Central Dispatch

I agree that a pitchers job is to win ball games, but he can only pitch
well enough to win. The rest is up to the offense. The best pitcher would
be the one who consistently gave his team a chance to win by pitching very
well, game in, game out. (AKA Maddux).
BTW-I couldn't believe that the ump threw Maddux out today. Tell me why
Maddux would be trying to purposely hitting a batter with two out and no
runners on in a tie ball game? It makes no sense...

-- Via DLG Pro v0.995

Newsgroups: rec.sport.baseball
From: rstimets@silver.ucs.indiana.edu (robert and stimets)
Subject: Re: Personal Attacks on the Net
Keywords: yeah right, Blickhan rearranged is Blank Hic or Klan Bich  
Organization: Indiana University
Distribution: na
Date: Sun, 13 Sep 1992 19:52:33 GMT

In article <1992Sep11.221435.13844@news2.cis.umn.edu> kirsch@epx.cis.umn.edu (Joe Cereal Killer Lundy) writes:
>In article <BuE1y4.7Dn@news.cso.uiuc.edu> glb50263@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Gary L.
>"Blickhan - it's more than just a name, it's a lifestyle") writes:
>>rstimets@silver.ucs.indiana.edu (Ren and Stimpy wannabe) writes:
>>>RStimets
>>
[Plenty of stuff deleted]
>
>  Luis Rivera rules! Billy Hatcher is heavenly! Herm Winningham is wondrous! 
> 
Ahh, the ex-Red syndrome has reared it's ugly head.  Don't suppose Boston would
consider taking Bolton back, would they?

RStimets



Newsgroups: rec.sport.baseball
From: tedward@cs.cornell.edu (Edward [Ted] Fischer)
Subject: Re: The Monthly Cecil Fielder Thread
Organization: Cornell Univ. CS Dept, Ithaca NY 14853
Date: Wed, 9 Sep 1992 21:04:46 GMT

In article <1992Sep9.190827.3551@Princeton.EDU> roger@astro.princeton.edu (Roger Lustig) writes:
>In article <1992Sep9.173202.3975@island.COM> fester@island.COM (Mike Fester) writes:
>
>>As for the "replacement level" stuff, that's only relevant if you have such a
>>player ready to play. This is not always the case. Ask the Red Sox.
>
>No.  Don't ask the Red Sox.  That would be like asking Dan QUayle about
>farm parity.

Actually, the Red Sox have plenty of replacement-level players.

catcher: Pena Marzano/Flaherty.
middle infield: Rivera/Naehring/Brumley
1B: Clark/Twardowski
3B: Cooper
OF: Winningham/Hatcher/Zupcic

Strange.  This looks an awful lot like their starting lineup some days...

<sigh>
-Valentine
-- 
Make outs, not walks!					tedward@cs.cornell.edu
Clemens four Cy Young!
Newsgroups: rec.sport.baseball
From: benjamin@duckburg.az05.bull.com <Paul Benjamin>
Subject: Re: Heartwarming Jose Story
Organization: Bull HN
Date: Fri, 4 Sep 1992 23:43:13 GMT

In article <24643@oasys.dt.navy.mil> hambric@oasys.dt.navy.mil (Stephen
Hambric) writes:
>Here's one to add to the Legend of Canseco.
>
>I have two nephews who idolized (note past tense) Jose Canseco.  They
>live in Toronto, and every time I'd visit, they'd show me their latest
>Canseco baseball cards.  Last year, their Father took them to the Bay
>area on a trip, where they attended an A's game.  The kids were ecstatic
>about the chance to meet Jose.  Before the game, during warmups, Dad
>worked the kids around the stadium so that they were within 20 feet
>of their hero.  The oldest (about 10 at the time), adorned with an A's
>cap and Canseco T-shirt, called out "Mr. Canseco, could we please have
>your autograph?"  The reply:  "20 bucks and its yours."  I haven't heard
>my nephews mention Jose since.
>
>Some food for thought for Texans who take their kids to Rangers games:
>be sure to bring some twenties to the ballyard.
>
>Steve Hambric (hambric@oasys.dt.navy.mil)
>

I had exactly the opposite experience.  My sons were also Jose fans
and took their cards with them to a Spring Training game a couple of
years back.  It is increasingly hard to get anybody to sign at these
things in recent years.  After the usual runs around the parking lot
to try and get autographs my sons were giving up when we saw a line
and some commotion down by the main gate.  I asked a little girl what
it was about and she said that Jose was signing autographs.  I thought
to myself that she was sadly mistaken, everybody knows he only signs
at card shows for $15 per.  She was right though.  He stood inside the
fence leaning on his car while security let the children in 5 at a
time.  He signed until the line was completely exhausted which took
about 45 minutes.

Paul Benjamin                 Phone:  (602) 862-4627
Bull HN Information Systems   Fax:    (602) 862-4535
Phoenix, Arizona              E-mail: benjamin@tuna.az05.bull.com

Newsgroups: rec.sport.baseball
From: jmarin@hobbes (Jose A. Marin)
Subject: Astros schedule
Reply-To: jmarin@hobbes
Organization: NASA
Date: Wed, 9 Sep 1992 12:22:30 GMT

I'm going to the Houston area next week and hopefuly I can go see a MLB  
game.  I should be able to attend a game any of the following nights:
	September 14, 15, or 16.

Thanks,

Jose Marin
jmarin@hobbes.ksc.nasa.gov or post
From: rstimets@silver.ucs.indiana.edu (robert and stimets)
Subject: Vincent quitting???
Organization: Indiana University
Date: Mon, 7 Sep 1992 21:51:55 GMT

Just heard on a fading-out AM radio station something along the lines of 
Fay Vincent announcing that he was going to retire.
Any truth to this report??
Comments?


I'll offer mine:  if this is a true report then I must say to Vincent
"It's apparent that you don't, in fact, know what is 'good for baseball'
if you decide to quit now when being pressured by the owners.  The commisioner
of baseball will now just become a tool of the 28 elite, with players, fans,
and entire cities having to take a backseat to certain big-money interests.
I've already expressed my outrage at the owners (particularly the Cubs and
the Dodgers owners) trying to bully the league around because they don't
see things going their way, but I must express my further outrage at you
quitting whenever it seems things aren't going yours."

If, of course, the report is false:
  NEVERMIND.


RStimets

Newsgroups: rec.sport.baseball
From: rom@csd4.csd.uwm.edu (Rommy)
Subject: A's farm team
Originator: rom@csd4.csd.uwm.edu
Organization: Computing Services Division, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Distribution: na
Date: Thu, 10 Sep 1992 01:40:28 GMT

Does anyone have a schedule from this date on for the Oakland A's single A team
in Madison WI.  That is if the season has not ended yet.

Thanks,

Rommy Rowhani

Newsgroups: rec.sport.baseball
From: jmd@cbnewsm.cb.att.com (joseph.m.dakes)
Subject: Re: PHILLIES 15-MAN PROTECTED LIST
Organization: AT&T
Distribution: usa
Date: Mon, 7 Sep 1992 16:35:29 GMT

In article <92250.212306TKN105@psuvm.psu.edu>, <TKN105@psuvm.psu.edu> writes:
>YO, EVERYBODY!  I AM HAVING A PROBLEM COMING UP WITH THE 15 GUYS THE PHI
>LLIES ARE GOING TO PROTECT.HERE IS MY LIST.  WRITE BACK AND TELL ME WHAT YOU TH
>INK.

If you think you're having a problem, consider the problem the Phillies'
front office is having.  They're the only team in baseball that doesn't
have 15 guys who need to be protected.  The Phils and its minor league
system is a joke!  And before you respond with, the AAA WB-S Red Barons
won their league, let me remind you that is all fine and dandy for NE PA,
but there are no prospects expected to make it to the show.  At least
none that will help any time soon.


Joe Dakes
AT&T Microelectronics
555 Union Boulevard
Allentown, PA  18103
alux2!jmd

Newsgroups: rec.sport.baseball
From: lsmith@myria.cs.umn.edu (Lance "Squiddie" Smith)
Subject: Re: Ugliest *ever* (was: Re: Ugliest Man in Baseball??)
Organization: The Littlest Squid of the Poor
Distribution: na 
Date: Sat, 12 Sep 1992 19:24:01 GMT

In article <10010691@hpfcso.FC.HP.COM> mjs@hpfcso.FC.HP.COM (Marc Sabatella) writes:
>In rec.sport.baseball, psg+@pitt.edu (Paul S Galvanek) writes:
>
>> I mean what's next, ugliest rec.sport.baseball poster?  Or perhaps we can 
>> discuss which r.s.b regular has the largest breasts (male or female) which
>> has the smallest penis...
>
>Apparently, some lucky Pittsburgh residents will get to judge Amit in person...

You know, I was reading the little sniplet about some exotic dancers being
kicked out of Three Rivers for stripping in a private box. 

You don't suppose...
--
     Lance "William Blake?" Smith     |   "Bring me my bat of burning gold!
         (lsmith@cs.umn.edu)          |    Bring me my pine tar of desire!
 "The Cat. He walked by himself, and  |    Bring me my glove! O clouds unfold!
    all places were alike to him."    |    Bring me my fastball of fire!"
From: rstimets@silver.ucs.indiana.edu (robert and stimets)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.baseball
Subject: Re: Personal Attacks on the Net
Date: 11 Sep 92 18:17:23 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: Indiana University

In article <BuF4zG.75C@encore.com> jlundy@bilbo.encore.com (Joe "RBI's as a way of life" Lundy) writes:
>In article <BuE1y4.7Dn@news.cso.uiuc.edu>, glb50263@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Gary L. Blickhan) writes:
>
>|> I agree with a lot of this.  Mr. Huckabay has done worse, though.  I
>|> remember the time that he changed his name file to my name.
>|> In short, he used my name to post annoying articles telling everyone
>|> to go to **** ,etc.  This damaged my reputation unfairly.
>|> If you've got a problem - I suggest mailing the root@madrone.ucdavis
>|> or something like that.  He's the source of a lot of name-calling around
>|> this network.
>
>Here we go again!
>
>Just as the interest in this group was tapering of, Gary's back!
>
>
>The Maynard/Huckaby flame war will go down as a classic.  It's already shown us
>what would happen when Noel Coward meets Don Rickles.  (Roger, have a cookie)
>If you can't take a little criticism, I suggest you put me, Gary, Kirsch,
>Lustig, Nichols, Tate, Lu, Bose (not as in speakers), and JOHN STUART MILL
>in your kill file.
>
A LITTLE CRITICISM???

No, sir, either you missed the point of my post or you are completely without
a clue.  "A little criticism" is pointing out to someone their faults in an effort
to change one's methods, policies, or intentions (Webster).  I think either my
previous post (which started this discussion) or your post could be considered
to involve "a little criticism", though in my case one may add "denouncing one's
methods" to the description.
GH, however, does not inconvenience himself with the subleties of (my idea of)
decorum in his attacks.  Degradation and humiliation are his tools for getting
his points across.  
Now don't get me wrong: I think his points (when he states them) are valid
and often convincing.  But to have to weed through his petty, rancorous abuses
in his attempt to expound his view over another's makes his argument specious.

In short, this is how you should reply to (me, for example) when you disagree:
No, Rob, you're wrong because your argument [such-and-such] flaws.

Not:
What? Were you beaten senseless as a child and never recovered?

Nor:
Your idiotic spewings just make you look ridiculous to everyone on the net. Why 
don't you just give up on having a real brain so the rest of us can live in
peace?

Not even:
I fart in your general direction, you wiper of other people's bottoms.  Now get
out of here before I taunt you a second time.


RStimets
Organization: Penn State University
Date: Tue, 15 Sep 1992 11:06:51 EDT
From: Kevin Polcovich <KAP118@psuvm.psu.edu>
Newsgroups: rec.sport.baseball
Subject: Gary Sheffield

How many of you think Sheffield has a good, if not great shot of the Triple
Crown?  Nothing has been mentioned on the Net at least nothing I have seen.
If anyone has any opinion RE: it or drop me a line.  Also I have some of his
Upper Deck and Leaf rookies for sale if interested.  Also some authentic
game-worn items by him.He will definately be a strong force to be reckoned
with. Period.

             Later.
Newsgroups: rec.sport.baseball
From: hymowitz@whatever.cs.jhu.edu (Hymie!)
Subject: Re: Magic Numbers Explanation...
Organization: Creative Sensualities dept, Jacquie's House of Underwear
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 1992 09:09:30 GMT

rstimets@silver.ucs.indiana.edu (robert and stimets) writes:
[discussion about definition of magic numbers]

>is, say 10 games, then this means any combination of wins by the first
>place team and losses by the second place team will ensure that the second
>place team will finish behind the first place team.  It does NOT give the
>first place team the division.

is there a difference? if you are guaranteed to finish behind me, than i
am guaranteed to finish ahead of you.  n'est-ce pas?

>Here's an example:
and a very contrived one at that
>
>        Record  GB   Games left
>Team A  141-0   -       21
>Team B  140-10  5       12
>Team C  140-10  5       12
>
>Then the magic number for both A and B are

m=163-141-10=12

>ie any number of wins by Team A and losses by team B totalling 12 will 
>  eliminate Team B.

>Suppose both Team A and Team B lose the rest of the games, while Team C
>  wins all of theirs. Then

then at some point, team c will take first place, and the magic number
for team a no longer has any meaning. (well, actually, the magic number 
for a to beat c stays at 12, but the number of games dwindles to the point
where losses(a)+wins(c)<<12. )

>        Record   GB   
>Team C  152-10
>Team A  141-21   11
>Team B  140-22   12
>
>But Team B obviously reached their "tragic" number.

and team b finished behind team a.  team c did /not/ reach it's tragic number;
it took first place after a while, then it got it's /own/ magic number.

perhpas the definition is bad.  each team has a tragic number t.  any
combinations of wins-for-the-first-place-team + losses-for-team-x = t
will guarantee that team x will /not/ overtake first place.

the 'magic' number for a team to clinch a division = t for the second place
team, whoever the second place team is on any given day.

>Anyway, I heard Skip Caray say that any Combo of Cinci wins and Atlanta
>losses will give Atlanta the NL West, and I just had to yell at the screen
>that he was 
>  1) uninformed, or
>  2) lying.

(3) you are overliteralizing the definition
(4) when the other 4 teams are eliminated, then the fact will be true.

--hymie
hymowitz@cs.jhu.edu                                         hymie@jhuvms.bitnet
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I'm just a soul whose intentions are good.
Oh, Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood.                    --Nina Simone
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: rec.sport.baseball
From: thf2@ellis.uchicago.edu (Citecheck Hell)
Subject: Re: consistency stats
Reply-To: thf2@midway.uchicago.edu
Organization: University of Chicago Computing Organizations
Date: Tue, 15 Sep 1992 04:16:22 GMT

In article <1992Sep15.025720.17243@news.iastate.edu> TW.N82@isumvs.iastate.edu (BOB.PEDERSEN) writes:
>This is a listing of the total number of games behind
>each team in baseball was at season's end from 1982-1991.  It
>represents an attempt on my part to measure consistency in
> recent years.

Except the only thing you're measuring is relative win-lost record,
with a penalty for whomping on the division by twenty games (cf. White
Sox, 1983).

Is "consistency" really what you want to measure?  My guess is that
Cleveland and Seattle were the most consistent teams in the last ten
years by the standard dictionary definition of the word, but I'm not
so sure that's a good thing.
-- 
           .........................................................
          ted frank | thf2@midway.uchicago.edu | standard disclaimers
         the university of chicago law school, chicago, illinois 60637
         here i sit looking for a warming smile in a house of cold wit
Newsgroups: rec.sport.baseball
From: kbos@carina.unm.edu (Kurt Bose "of Biscayzee")
Subject: David Rossing Retires
Date: Tue, 15 Sep 92 20:14:25 GMT
Organization: University of New Mexico, Albuquerque

Yes, folks, you heard it right..."Doublin'" Dave Rossing has decided to call it
quits.  Rossing, only 25 years old, enjoyed a banner season this year at AAA
Denver, but was reportedly upset that he was not called up to the Brewers after
September 1.  Bud Selig, Brewers boss and interim Commissioner, had this to say
about the last player still around from the 1969 draft never to play in the
majors.  

"This organization is proud to have had such a long and fruitful relationship
with Mr. Rossing, and we're sorry to see him go.  Well, okay, that's not quite
true.  What I meant to say is that if he hadn't resi...er, retired, Beeston,
Reinsdorf and I would probably have convened a meeting to kick him out.  Hey,
how do ya like the new desk?  It's a shame I have to give it up when we enslave,
er, elect a new commissioner..."

Rossing was also upset that Milwaukee could not guarantee him a spot on the 
25-man protected roster.  "I'm very disappointed in Dave's decision," said Mike
Easler, Brewers coach, "but we can't brood on it.  What he doesn't realize is
that major league pitching is nothing like minor league pitching.  I mean,
sure, a guy may be able to murder mistakes in AAA, but that .800 batting average
just doesn't come against proven major leaguers like Jose Mesa and Tim Crews.
In a few years, he might have been able to play a bit for us, but after that
Sheffield guy a few years ago, I'm afraid that this organization just can't
waste at bats on a young guy anymore.  Damn.  We shoulda made the Valle deal
when it was offered."

Rossing is undecided about his next plans, but it is rumored that a job piloting
the first manned Mars mission has been offered to the player.  Either that, or
a spot on QVC selling autographed Sibby Sisti baseball cards.  One thing is for
sure, though:  the Rossingtown Rossings will have a difficult time making it to
the World Rossing now.

FINAL MINOR LEAGUE STATS, DAVID ROSSING, SS, AAA DENVER ZEPHYRS, 1992

 G   AB  R   H   2B 3B  HR RBI  W  K SB CS  BA  OBP  SLG   OPS  RC/27
134 484 486 398 176 45 168 442 106 3 98 0 .822 .854 2.413 3.267 289.96
                                                                (better than
                                                                 Moises Alou OR
                                                                 R. Sanders)


-- 
Kurt Bose (as in Daisy, not Rose) *  kbos@carina.unm.edu * Make outs, not walks!
Keeper of the R.S.BB FAQ, and Junior Stathead {tm} * Yay!  Gary Blickhan's back!
Be kind...don't disillusion the RBI-lovers. * Net.Agent, "Doublin" David Rossing
Not as much of a clubhouse leader as Alfredo Griffin, but better than nothing...
From: grabiner@math.harvard.edu (David Grabiner)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.baseball
Subject: Re: Deliberate loss?
Date: 4 Sep 92 22:16:16 GMT
Article-I.D.: zariski.GRABINER.92Sep4181706
Distribution: usa
Organization: Harvard University Dept. of Mathematics
In-reply-to: rstimets@silver.ucs.indiana.edu's message of 4 Sep 92 20:07:47 GMT

In article <Bu2L8z.MrC@usenet.ucs.indiana.edu>, robert and stimets writes:

> Remember this too, though.  A team may well decide to "rest its
> starters" for the big game coming up.  Furthermore, if a team felt
> it's chances of WINNING the pennant would be increased by LOSING a
> game, then why shouln't they be able to just say "we don't want to
> play today, sorry."  If that doesn't work (it probably won't) the
> manager can just have his players hang about in the lockerroom till 15
> mins.  after scheduled start.  Why not?

There was some discussion about this in the 1981 season.  The split
season was set up so that the winners of the two halves would play for
the division title.  However, if the same team won both halves, it would
play the team with the second-best *combined* record.

I think it was the White Sox who realized that they might need to
forfeit games to make the playoffs.  Whichever team it was, they had
finished second in the first half.  If the first-place and last-place
teams from the first half were battling for the lead in the second
half, with the Sox third, the Sox could only make the playoffs if the
first-place team won.  Thus, if they finished their season against that
team, they should lose the games.

I don't remember whether anything actually happened to deal with this; I
remember a suggestion that the second-place team from the second half
would play if the same team won both halves.  In any case, it didn't
matter, as no team won both halves of its division.

--
David Grabiner, grabiner@zariski.harvard.edu
"We are sorry, but the number you have dialed is imaginary."
"Please rotate your phone 90 degrees and try again."
Disclaimer: I speak for no one and no one speaks for me.
Newsgroups: rec.sport.baseball
From: hanson@tss.com (Hanson Loo)
Subject: Re: Ugliest Man in Baseball??
Reply-To: hanson@tss.com (Hanson Loo)
Organization: Teknekron Software Systems. Inc.
Distribution: usa
Date: Fri, 4 Sep 1992 23:32:06 GMT

OK folks,

I saw a picture of Mark Lemke when he used to wear
glasses, now that was goofy.

Hanson
Newsgroups: rec.sport.baseball
From: rstimets@silver.ucs.indiana.edu (robert and stimets)
Subject: Re: Times on Base: all-time records and Frank Thomas
Organization: Indiana University
Date: Thu, 10 Sep 1992 18:04:47 GMT

In article <1992Sep9.214350.5405@cs.rose-hulman.edu> rickert@NeXTwork.Rose-Hulman.Edu (John H. Rickert) writes:
>Distribution: usa
>
>In article <BuA3o5.8Bn@news.cso.uiuc.edu> jhg8680@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Jon   
>Hamkins) writes:
>>                   Outs
>> Runners       0     1    2
>> None        .454  .249 .095
>> 1st         .783  .478 .209
>> 2nd        1.068  .699 .348
>> 3rd        1.277  .897 .382
>> 1st,2nd    1.380  .888 .457
>> 1st,3rd    1.639 1.088 .494
>> 2nd,3rd    1.946 1.371 .661
>> Full       2.254 1.546 .798
>> 
>> So, before Branson hit, the expected runs in the inning is 1.088, and
>> after, it's 1.209.  A help, but not even close to the value of getting
         ^^^^^^^^^^^
Well, actually, since this was the last play of the game, and since (Sanders)
had already scored in the inning to tie the game, the expected value of 
the number of runs is 2.00  (with probability 1).

:}

>> hit by a pitch.  Also, take a look at all of the other situations.  If
>> there were no outs, Branson reduces the expected runs from 1.639 to
>> 1.209.  True, at times we'd want to also consider the probablility of
>> scoring _at least_ one run, which could end the game if it is the
>> ninth, but unless it IS the ninth (or tied in the eighth, or something
>> similar), I think you're better off maximizing expected runs.
>] *sarcasm on*[
>I dunno, I'd rather have my runs in the dugout...
>y'know "money in the bank" 
>"maximize profits right now"
>Why not? It worked for the American auto industry.
>] *sarcasm off*[

huh?


RStimets