HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: fester@island.COM (Mike Fester)
Subject: Re: Ripken's Season
Organization: /usr/local/rn/organization
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 1992 16:51:32 GMT

In article <1992Sep11.182547.331@cs.cornell.edu> tedward@cs.cornell.edu (Edward [Ted] Fischer) writes:
>
>BATTERS         BA   SLG   OBP   G  AB   R   H  TB 2B 3B HR RBI  BB  SO SB CS
>RIPKEN,C 9/6  .243  .344  .321 136 535  62 130 184 22  1 10  60  58  43  4  1
>RIPKEN,C 6/28 .289  .449  .369  74 287  41  83 129 14  1 10  38  34  22  2  1
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>difference    .190  .221  .265  62 248  21  47  55  8  0  0  22  24  21  2  0
>
>Ripken has been more of a shit than I thought!  He shouldn't be
>batting third.  He shouldn't be batting cleanup.  He shouldn't be
>batting fifth.  He shouldn't even be batting ninth!  He should be
>riding the pine!

>Great players can carry a team.  They can also become real millstones
>when they don't perform.  Because good or bad, they will play every
>day and bat in the middle of the lineup!

Ah, the great dilemma; a proven veteran starts slowly, but do you jerk him
from the lineup, or give him a chance to come around? Boggs, eg, always starts
slow, then seems to finish well (except this year). Mattingly started HORRIBLY
but has since raised his totals to a very respectable level. I believe Ventura
did the same.


One of the joys of managing, right?

Mike
-- 
Disclaimer - I'm only doing what the little voices tell me to do.
From: demers@cs.ucsd.edu (David DeMers)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.baseball
Subject: Re: Times on Base: all-time records and Frank Thomas
Date: 8 Sep 92 20:17:37 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: =CSE Dept., U.C. San Diego

In article <1992Sep8.191849.3728@menudo.uh.edu> chee1l5@jetson.uh.edu (Sam Lane) writes:
>>In article <37806@sdcc12.ucsd.edu>, demers@cs.ucsd.edu (David DeMers) writes: 
>> >In article <1992Sep8.154935.16353@menudo.uh.edu> chee1l5@jetson.uh.edu (Sam Lane) writes:
[that HBP has no skill component]
   
>> btw, if HBP includes no skill, how come Ron Hunt/Don Baylor
>> always led in the category?  
 
...

> Are you saying you think a team would perform
>better if the players were coached to be hit by pitches rather than avoid them ? 

No. 

-- 
Dave DeMers			 ddemers@UCSD   demers@cs.ucsd.edu
Computer Science & Engineering	C-014		demers%cs@ucsd.bitnet
UC San Diego					...!ucsd!cs!demers
La Jolla, CA 92093-0114	(619) 534-0688, or -8187, FAX: (619) 534-7029
Newsgroups: rec.sport.baseball
From: thornley@nano.cs.umn.edu (David H. Thornley)
Subject: Re: Opinions, give 'em to me and make it hurt!
Organization: University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, CSci dept.
Date: Tue, 8 Sep 1992 20:00:28 GMT

In article <5603@blue.cis.pitt.edu.UUCP> psg+@pitt.edu (Paul S Galvanek) writes:
>What does the collective think or know about A's 3bman Jerry Browne?
>
>It seems that he's hitting okay this year but not for much power.  Is
>he a legitimate major league prospect?  I know nothing of him so any
>opinion, fact, minor league stats etc etc would be helpful in helping
>to determine whether he's a pick of mine in next years ABPA draft.
>
27 years old, so he isn't a prospect.  His batting this year is consistent
with what he's done in Cleveland.  If you can use him as he is now, consider
him, but don't expect much improvement.  (Actually, a third baseman with
a .360 OBP has value nowadays, with the relative lack of offense at the
position, and he does play several different positions.)

David Thornley
From: ehlerswm@hackney.ecn.purdue.edu (William Mark Ehlers)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.baseball
Subject: Clemins,Scraldi,Swindel, and Owen
Date: 8 Sep 92 16:52:11 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Purdue University Engineering Computer Network

I know I probably butchered the spellings of their names, but I have a question
about these four former Texas Longhorns.  Did they all play on the same team at
one time during their respective careers at Texas.  If not which of these four
played together at Texas.  Thanks in advance.

later,	
			---Mark
Newsgroups: rec.sport.baseball
From: claudius@leland.stanford.edu (Nelson Lu)
Subject: RC/27 for CFs
Organization: DSG, Stanford University
Date: Sat, 5 Sep 92 22:09:49 GMT

NATIONAL LEAGUE
Andy Van Slyke, Pittsburgh	8.77
Brett Butler, Los Angeles	6.95
Lenny Dykstra, Philadelphia	6.58
Reggie Sanders, Cincinnati	6.58	; my pick for ROY
Deion Sanders, Atlanta		6.55
Ray Lankford, St. Louis		6.51
Otis Nixon, Atlanta		5.91
Marquis Grissom, Montreal	5.44
Steve Finley, Houston		5.21
NL AVERAGE			5.20
Darrin Jackson, San Diego	4.55
Howard Johnson, New York	4.43
Sammy Sosa, Chicago		4.43
Dave Martinez, Cincinnati	3.92
Doug Dascenzo, Chicago		3.27	; I won't protect him...
Darren Lewis, San Francisco	2.92

AMERICAN LEAGUE
Ken Griffey, Seattle		7.86
Kirby Puckett, Minnesota	7.39
Juan Gonzalez, Texas		6.08
Mike Devereaux, Baltimore	5.85
Kenny Lofton, Cleveland		5.38
Roberto Kelly, New York		5.36
Ellis Burks, Boston		5.22
AL AVERAGE			4.67
Lance Johnson, Chicago		4.47
Willie Wilson, Oakland		4.47
Bob Zupcic, Boston		4.46
Robin Yount, Milwaukee		4.38
Devon White, Toronto		3.94
Junior Felix, California	3.91
Gary Pettis, Detroit		3.66
Brian McRae, Kansas City	3.21
Milt Cuyler, Detroit		2.94

===============================================================================
GO CALIFORNIA ANGELS!
===============================================================================
Nelson Lu (claudius@leland.stanford.edu)
From: lbr@holos0.uucp (Len Reed)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.baseball
Subject: Re: <None>
Date: 5 Sep 92 14:01:21 GMT
Organization: Holos Software, Inc.

In article <1992Sep3.111551.1@sscl.uwo.ca> vince@sscl.uwo.ca writes:
>
>P.S.: if Fafoofnik is still playing, I want him for the Expos. NOW!!!

Be careful, here, Vince.  Exposition stadium is a terrible hitter's park.
Fafoofnik might only hit .860 there. :-)
From: spira@panix.com (Greg "Sarcasm Is A Way Of Life" Spira)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.baseball
Subject: Re: Todays News (Rickey too)
Date: 14 Sep 92 23:21:26 GMT
Organization: Boo!

In <17055@ucdavis.ucdavis.edu> zuhars@madrone.eecs.ucdavis.edu (Gary FDA Approved Huckabay) writes:

>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.

According to a recent Peter Gammons column, Tony LaRussa recently told
Jim Leyland that "my guy's [Henderson] still better than your guy [Bonds]"
Whether that's true is quite arguable, of course, but LaRussa and the As
know exactly what they have in Henderson.

Greg 
-- 
  spira@panix.com       "The one-O delivery to Fisk.  He swings.  Long drive,  
 cmcl2!panix!spira      left field!  If it stays fair, it's gone!  Home Run!"  
158-17 Riverside Dr.                     Ned Martin, 10/22/75   
Whitestone NY 11357          (Insert your favorite baseball moment here)
From: jrmst8+@pitt.edu (Joseph R Mcdonald)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.baseball
Subject: Re: Ugliest Man in Baseball??
Date: 7 Sep 92 18:47:04 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: University of Pittsburgh


Some nominations....

Zane Smith
Willie McGee
Mookie Wilson
Gary Varsho
John Kruk

-- 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dean J. Falcione                                   Dean's UNIX Exorcism Service 
(using jrmst8 by permission                             "We kill daemons" 
 of the owner, Joe McDonald)   
Newsgroups: rec.sport.baseball
From: tedward@cs.cornell.edu (Edward [Ted] Fischer)
Subject: Re: Toronto press and Morris for Cy Young
Organization: Cornell Univ. CS Dept, Ithaca NY 14853
Date: Sat, 12 Sep 1992 22:14:47 GMT

In article <BuH6yE.HtG@zoo.toronto.edu> rising@zoo.toronto.edu (Jim Rising) writes:
>
>Before his injury, there certainly
>was talk of Guzman for Cy Young, and I think that he was probably
>the best pitcher in the first half.  

I might have argued for Clemens, but I would have had a really tough
time of it!  I'd have to refer to dirty words like "career" and "team
leader".  Guzman was unbeatable before his injury!

>Do you suppose that Clemens
>could win the Cy Young if he pitched for the Jays?

I think the Jays are getting much more exposure than they used to.
Having a consistently excellent team will do that for you.  Especially
when ESPN tries to show the division leaders frequently.  (Which of
course means that I don't get to see my Red Sox very often...)

If Dave Stieb were to have a season today like he did in 1984, he
might win the Cy Young...

Cheers,
-Valentine
-- 
Make outs, not walks!					tedward@cs.cornell.edu
Clemens four Cy Young!
From: rsmith@strobe.ATC.Olivetti.Com (Russ Smith)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.baseball
Subject: Re: Amazing Walk Total
Date: 9 Sep 92 19:17:54 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Olivetti ATC; Cupertino CA, USA

In article <9SEP199215090604@jhuvms.hcf.jhu.edu> hasch@jhuvms.hcf.jhu.edu (Bruce M Hasch) writes:
>Of course, Brad Pennington could challenge these ratios, too...  >(Last check, 34 IP, 11 (!) H, 33 BB, 53 K) > >----------------------------------------------

Check out Robbie Beckett's stats sometime(class A Padres pitcher). For 
the year he's averaging 9 K's and 11 Walks per 9 innings! Gave up only
3 hits in his last 20 innings(from Baseball America so stats are a bit
old). And this is an improvement in control for Beckett, he was also
a #1 pick.

:


Russ Smith
*******************************************************************************
The amount of time spent brushing and flossing your teeth is inversely
proportional to how recent your last dental appointment was.
********************************************************************************




Newsgroups: rec.sport.baseball
From: claudius@leland.Stanford.EDU (Nelson Lu)
Subject: Re: roy NL
Organization: DSG, Stanford University, CA 94305, USA
Date: Fri, 11 Sep 92 17:17:59 GMT

In article <1992Sep11.150226.1695@island.COM> fester@island.COM (Mike Fester) writes:

>> This same logic gave Walt Weiss the ROY over Bryan Harvey in '88.
>
>Walt had a decent year. 

A .312 OBP and .321 SLG is *not* a decent year in my book, even for a shorstop.

>So who's there to replace him? Do the dodgers have anyone ABOVE average (by
>your standards) on the roster to play first, who's not already busy at some
>other postion?

They don't.  But most teams do.  Besides, even if you replace Karros with
the ever so horrible Todd Benzinger, you still lose less than if you replace
Reggie Sanders with Dave Martinez.

===============================================================================
GO CALIFORNIA ANGELS!
===============================================================================
Nelson Lu (claudius@leland.stanford.edu)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.baseball
From: kirsch@epx.cis.umn.edu (Joe Cereal Killer Lundy)
Subject: Re: Personal Attacks on the Net
Keywords: yeah right, Blickhan rearranged is Blank Hic or Klan Bich  
Organization: People living in Tents, Inc. (Ft. Lauderdale division)  
Distribution: na
Date: Fri, 11 Sep 1992 22:14:35 GMT

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
>
>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.

  Hee hee har har aiyeee howwwwlll THUMP! 

  Oops, fell off my chair for a minute after reading that hilarious prose. 

  Yeah, I sure remember when Mr. Huckabay went out of his way to deface Mr.
Blickhan last year. There were a *lot* of slanderous posts written; the only 
part I couldn't figure out is why the return address for Mr. Huckabay's posts
was 'glb50263@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu'. 

  Look, Senor Blickhan, if you're out to insult yourself and practice some
form of computer masochism, please take it to alt.bondage or
alt.sex.bestiality.latex.crossdressers.BBweekly.steere. 

  Luis Rivera rules! Billy Hatcher is heavenly! Herm Winningham is wondrous! 
 
-- 
Joe Built Better Than The Sta-Puf Marshmallow Man Lundy 
jlundy@kinky.latex.mollusk.com          "Have you hugged a stathead today?" 
"Latex is the #1 form of family entertainment in America today" - N. Steere
"Cups and Cakes, Cups and Cakes, I'm so full my tummy aches" - Lance Smith
From: barrym@informix.com (Barry Mednick)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.baseball
Subject: Re: J. Gonzales All-time HR King
Date: 14 Sep 92 15:55:00 GMT
Organization: Informix Software, Inc.

In article <1992Sep13.015239.11653@newshost.anu.edu.au> gerry@macadam.mpce.mq.edu.au (Gerry Myerson) writes:
>I read somewhere that three ballplayers have had 40 HR seasons before 
>turning 23; Mel Ott, Joe DiMaggio, and Eddie Mathews. Nice company to keep, 
>but notice the absence of the names Aaron, Ruth, and Mays. 

Mathews did it twice.  Boog Powell and Frank Robinson just missed.

  AGE       20           21            22            23
Aaron       13 HR        27            26            44
Mays        20            4        drafted           41
Ruth         4            3             2            11

Ruth was primarily a pitcher at this age.  Mays spent almost two
seasons in the military.
Newsgroups: rec.sport.baseball
From: rickert@NeXTwork.Rose-Hulman.Edu (John H. Rickert)
Subject: Re: Times on Base: all-time records and Frank Thomas
Organization: Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Date: Wed, 9 Sep 1992 21:43:50 GMT

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
> 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*[
Gee, and that's after only one week of classes :-)

john rickert        rickert@nextwork.rose-hulman.edu
If the Orioles opponents leave a runner on first base is he stranded on  
Milligan's island?
Newsgroups: rec.sport.baseball
From: latone@trixie.ide.com (Joe Latone)
Subject: Re: humid or dry air ? AND Re: Diameter of a regulation baseball
Keywords: flight dist
Organization: Interactive Development Environments
Date: Wed, 9 Sep 92 16:20:55 GMT

You ought to check out the following book, which is also some fun reading.

Adair, Robert K., _The Physics of Baseball_, Harper & Row, New York, 1990.
ISBN 0-06-055188-7 
ISBN 0-06-096461-8 (pbk.)
QC26.A23  1990

Adair is a "Sterling Professor of Physics, Yale University, and
Physicist to the National League, 1987-1989."

Hmm, why only 1987-1989?  I don't know, maybe he was forced out by the
owners because they didn't want to abide by the laws of physics.

Regards, Joe
Newsgroups: rec.sport.baseball
From: rstimets@silver.ucs.indiana.edu (robert and stimets)
Subject: Re: Magic Numbers Explanation...
Organization: Indiana University
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 1992 02:39:03 GMT

In article <BuJo1s.AK9@news.cso.uiuc.edu> jhg8680@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Jon  Hamkins) writes:
>JIMBO@SLACVM.SLAC.STANFORD.EDU writes:
>
>>In article <l_8y_nk@rpi.edu>, ananim@aix.rpi.edu (Mark Anania Jr.) says:
>
>>>      I have seen it calculated with 162 before, it just means when the
>>>    Magic Number gets to Zero the first place team has clinched a tie.
>>>
>>>-Mark....
>
>>The magic number indicates the point at which a team clinches the
>>divison, not a tie. So using 162 is incorrect. 
>
>Sure, if you define it that way.
>
>>Why would clinching a tie be magic. 
>
>Why is clinching a division magic?  I don't even like the word magic.
>
>     ----Jon Hamkins  (hamkins@uiuc.edu)
>         University of Illinios
>         Urbana, IL

You know, I just busted in on this thread so I may be talking out my ass,
but I have a serious disagreement with the way SOME sports announcers use
the concept of magic number.

For example, if a team has a sufficiently small lead over second and third 
place in their division, and the "magic" number for the second place team
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.

Here's an example:

        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=140-141+12+1=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

        Record   GB   
Team C  152-10
Team A  141-21   11
Team B  140-22   12

But Team B obviously reached their "tragic" number.


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.
It must be (1) since I think Don Sutton said the same thing just a few 
minutes later.

RStimets
From: nss3@kimbark.uchicago.edu (Noel Steere)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.baseball
Subject: Re: Famous Netters
Date: 12 Sep 92 19:44:16 GMT
Reply-To: nss3@midway.uchicago.edu
Organization: University of Chicago Computing Organizations

In article <1992Sep9.220452.19277@news2.cis.umn.edu> kirsch@epx.cis.umn.edu (Dave Kirsch) writes:
>In article <1992Sep4.220251.20223@midway.uchicago.edu> nss3@midway.uchicago.edu (Noel 'more often mistaken for a queer than a' Steere) writes:
>>
>>Gosh, this is becoming even bigger than when I got published in
>>Penthouse! :-)
>
>  And folks, that time it wasn't in the letters section :-) That was one
>heckuva photo spread; Bob 'Hoochie' Guccione must've shot it himself.  
                       ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
<other sordid and, er, rather embarrassing details deleted>

I hear he's heading for Pittsburgh next. :-)

Noel Steere                  |...of the Dave Rossing fan club
GM/Manager, New York Knights |Knights' Run Total: 467 Runs in 93 games
Internet Baseball League     |Projected Season Total: 813  Target: 1000!
nss3@midway.uchicago.edu     |HECTOR VILLANUEVA FOR PRESIDENT
                             |(Heck, the Cubs sure aren't using him!)
Make outs, not walks!        |OMAR VIZQUEL FOR VICE-PRESIDENT
Newsgroups: rec.sport.baseball
From: farenebt@craft.camp.clarkson.edu (Bri Farenell)
Subject: Re: criteria for THE HALL
Organization: Clarkson University
Date: Fri, 4 Sep 1992 23:38:24 GMT

rlwilliams@gallua.gallaudet.edu writes:

>Hi,
>	I was thinking about what should qualify a person to be inducted 
>into Baseball's Hall of Fame. Here is what I came up with:

>2. He should put up some impressive career numbers: 300 wins, 400 - 500 
>hr, 3,000 hits etc or in the neighborhood.

Nope. The Hall rules specifically (I believe specifically) state that there
shall be no specific stat reached for induction. If you hang around long enough,
you can break most records.

>4. His personal life should not be an issue. Whether hack Wilson was an 
>alcoholic, Ty Cobb a racist, Rose a gambling fiend... It's what they do on 
>the field that counts. On the flip side of the coin, charisma doesn't 
>count.

Again, there are one or two specific rules that say that a players character
and integrity are to be taken into account in the voting.

>Whatcha think?

I think that if someone is banned from baseball, he should NOT be eligible
for the game's highest honor, HOF induction. It just makes no sense. If the
person is reinstated, then he should be CONSIDERED.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
BRI FARENELL			  |	"Hockey must be a great game to
CLARKSON '95			  |       survive what the NHL has done	
FARENEBT@CRAFT.CAMP.CLARKSON.EDU  | 	 to it."
rec.sport.hockey's AHL contact	  |    ---Howard Baldwin, Penguins owner
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
         CONGRATS TO 1992 CALDER CUP CHAMPION ADIRONDACK RED WINGS!!
                       (also: 1981, 1986, 1989)
From: f67700241@violet.ccit.arizona.edu (Greg Franklin)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.baseball
Subject: Re: How to get rid of Strawberry
Date: 4 Sep 92 22:38:09 GMT
Article-I.D.: violet.1992Sep4.153809.1
Distribution: usa,local
Organization: University of Arizona
Nntp-Posting-User: f67700241

In article <183419@pyramid.pyramid.com>, stown@pyramid.COM (Scott Townsend) writes:
> Well, the Dodgers very, forgettable year is almost over. Only 4 more weeks of
> misery for the team and their fans. Looking to next year, there are many
> questions to be answered for the Dodgers. One of the more interesting ones
> involves the Straw. I am sure there are many opinoins of what the team should
> do about him. Let me here your opinoin! Below is mine.

The Dodgers' problems go beyond Strawberry.  Their catching hasn't been up to
par.  The SS, 3B, and 1B, although young and likely to improve in the future,
are currently below average.  The starting pitching is declining precipitous-
ly.  The relief pitching other than Gott stinks.  The bench (mostly Benzinger
and Webster) was no help at all.

I wouldn't call Straw a bum; he had a fine year in 1991. The problems mentioned
above seem more serious to me.  They need to (1) rebuild their pitching, and
(2) hope their young IF gets better.  (It actually surprised me that Lasorda
dared to bring up 4 offensive rookies and give each of them significant PT
in 1992.)

> I think that the Dodgers need to get rid of Strawberry for the following reasons:
> 
> 	1. He is injured and has refused to have surgery. He has a chronic
> 	    back problem that can only be fixed by surgery. The surgery is
> 	    not guaranteed and is risky business. He has known this for several
> 	    months, and still thinks he will get better with physical
> 	    therapy.

I don't know what *he* thinks... does he have a personal doctor whose diagnosis
differs from the Dodgers'?  If the surgery isn't guaranteed and could be
permanently disabling, why should he risk it?
 
> 	2. The Dodgers will be building a young team. The youth movement has
> 	    begun. Straw is not the right role model to have around for all
> 	    of these younger players.

If you believe in the role model theory....  Strawberry's not that old (30),
and he definitely shouldn't get the heave-ho before any of the older, less
talented players.  He's still their biggest power threat in the OF.

> 	3.  Perhaps some other team will take a risk on this ex-superstar,
> 	    and give the Dodgers something worthwhile in return.

Likely someone will.  And if it happens, that other team will likely get
something out of him, and the Dodgers will get garbage.
-- 
Greg "Mockingbird" Franklin      Interviewer: "Sir, how do you spell relief?"
f67700241@ccit.arizona.edu               Dan: "R-O-L-A-I-D-S-E."
Newsgroups: rec.sport.baseball