waashk/20ng huggingface dataset:
kubey@sgi.com (Ken Kubey) said:  >I suppose a foul ball machine (like Brett Butler) is pretty valuable, >but I'd rather watch (and root for) the lower OBP guys who can >actually hit the ball.  Now *this* is a legitimate point.  Baseball is entertainment, and I have no quarrel with people who find certain styles of play more entertaining than others, regardless of their win-value.  Personally, I'm a huge fan of the slug-bunt; I doubt it's a high-percentage play, but I get a big kick out of it.  I am willing to live with the bad consequences in exchange for the fun.  Of course, this is *not* the same as claiming (as some do) that Galarraga's inability to defer gratification isn't hurting his team because he "isn't paid to walk" or "is an RBI guy" or whatever.  >And finally, I'd like to point out that many high OBP guys draw  >their walks more because pitchers are afraid to throw a strike >to them, than because they have a great "eye"  I'm not sure.  I used to think this was true, but more and more I'm becoming convinced that it's the other way around: among players with the physical ability to hit the ball real hard, the patient ones are the ones who get the chance to do it a lot.  Let's break down the four basic categories of hitter, according to whether they are power threats and whether they walk a lot:   			Power			No Power  	Patient		Frank Thomas		Brett Butler 			Barry Bonds		Ozzie Smith 			Mark McGwire		Craig Grebeck 			Babe Ruth		Miller Huggins 			Ted Williams		Billy Hamilton 			Rickey Henderson	Eddie Joost 			Joe Morgan		Mike Hargrove 			   .			   . 			   .			   . 			   .			   .  	Impatient	Ernie Banks		Ozzie Guillen 			Dave Kingman		Shawon Dunston 			Joe Carter		Andres Thomas 			George Bell		Jose Lind 			Kirby Puckett		Devon White 	etc.  As far as I can tell, all the categories are full.  It really looks like the two are independent.  Nobody could possibly be *afraid* of Craig Grebeck at the plate, and yet he walks quite a lot.  Part of that, undoubtedly, is being small of stature, but surely major league pitchers can hit that sort of  target at least 3 times out of 6.  Randy Milligan is an even better example; he's only shown noticeable power for one (partial) season, but he walks all over the place, despite his huge strike zone.
In article <C5r5B8.D1u@ucdavis.edu> ez027993@dale.ucdavis.edu (Gary 'Man From' Villanueva Huckabay) writes: > >It's certainly not very easy.  What I do is use frame advance on the tape, >and simply count the frames.  Five times, and try to throw out any outliers. >It's not perfect, but it's better than a blow to the head with a large >metal object.    Ah, so you finally found a use for that super slo-mo and frame advance other than scrutinizing "Sorority Babes in Heat". Congrats!   >I wish I had FILMS instead of tapes, preferably at 48fps rather than 24, >but while I'm at it, I'd like to have ten million dollars, and be able >to eat anything I want and never gain any weight, either.    Trust me, you'd have a helluva time manipulating them. Besides, if you converted the film to video you'd have all kinds of artifacts because of the difference in frame rate (unless you're an expert at doing 3/2 pulldown for a laserdisc company or something).   >Gary's list of the ten slowest bats in baseball:    Hey, no fair! What about 'Fettucine' Alfredo Griffin? The guy practically has to pivot the bat around along with his body.   >Gary's list of "How the HELL can he hit like that?" > >1.  Julio Franco >2.  Phil Plantier >9.  Darren Daulton    Daulton doesn't strike me as all that strange. He's a little bit quiet at  the plate but, like Franco, gets the bat through the hitting zone on a level plane. The first time I watched Julio Franco, I didn't think *anyone* could hit like that. Now I marvel at how easy he makes it look; every time he makes contact, it's *solid*. He's got good power to all fields and rarely is he caught not ready for a pitch.     I wonder if Phil Plantier had a severe bout with hemorrhoids and had to practice his swing while 'on the throne'? :-) Sure looks like it :-)     How 'bout one to add to your list: Travis Fryman? The guy plants his front foot and seems to swing *across* his body. He generates a lot of power, but I keep thinking he could generate even more if he could get a better pivot out of his hips.   >Gary's list of "I'd give Dave Kirsch's kidneys to have a swing like that."    Well, they're already spoken for (by several people), but ..     I'd add Robbie Alomar's name to the list, among others. I really like Dean Palmer's swing, for some twisted reason, as well as Pedro Munoz's swing.   >That's all for now.  I'm looking at Derrick May's tapes tonight, along >with Troy Neel's.  That guy is a serious ox.    A thought about May: It looks like they've taught him to turn on the ball. IMHO, he's going to fall in love with his newfound power and start pulling off the ball to the point that he's going to see *lots* of sinkers/sliders low and away. Unless he adjusts quickly and starts rifling doubles to left  and left-center, IMHO you're going to see a good number of weak grounders to  the right side of the infield in the next month.
In article <1993Apr16.172502.21766@Princeton.EDU> roger@astro.princeton.edu (Roger Lustig) writes: >In article <1993Apr16.122649.22938@husc3.harvard.edu> fry@zariski.harvard.edu (David Fry) writes: > >>Once, on Jeopardy, the category was "Jewish Sports Heros," believe it >>or not.  The answer was, "This pitcher had four no-hitters with the >>Dodgers in the 60s."  The contestant said, "Who is Hank Aaron?" Alex >>Trebek said something like, "I don't think Hank Aaron was a pitcher." > >Well, it *is* a Jewish name... > >8-) > >Roger
I haven't been following the previous HR's.  But there are two, that I saw live that would have to be up there (up where? there!).   1) Rick Monday's HR to bury the Expos in the NL championship in 1981. It was hit off Steve Rogers, who is a RHP and primarily a starter. Why was he used as a reliever when the 'Spos had Reardon and BillLee warming up in the bullpen.  Considering Monday couldn't touch LHP, Lee would have been a safe bet.  He wasn't even doing any drugs at that time (or so he told me and around 50 others on a recent venture into  Montreal.  The blast wasn't the important aspect.  It was the timing. Seventh game, a tie game, and in the top of the 9th.  The Expos almost came back though... 2) Mike Schmidt hit one that killed the Expos in 1980.  So close, yet, so far. and 3) Strawberry killed a pitch on the second day of the season a couple of years ago.  It went off the technical ring in the Big O.  It almost left the stadium!  That was hit HARD!!! 				CorelMARK!
In article <15APR93.14691229.0062@lafibm.lafayette.edu> VB30@lafibm.lafayette.edu (VB30) writes: >Just wondering.  A friend and I were talking the other day, and >we were (for some reason) trying to come up with names of Jewish >baseball players, past and present.  We weren't able to come up >with much, except for Sandy Koufax, (somebody) Stankowitz, and >maybe John Lowenstein.  Can anyone come up with any more.  I know >it sounds pretty lame to be racking our brains over this, but >humor us.  Thanks for your help. >  Oh... I forgot... Art Shamsky, former Red and Mets player.  Batted .301 between injuries in 1969 (fell short of qualifying for Top 10 because of injuries and platoon with Ron Swoboda; no Swobo wasn't Jewish).
After reading my local paper today, I found out that the Phillies started the 1964 season at 10-2.  I am not as old as 1964, but I've heard many talk about the serious choke job the Phillies did that season. They were ahead of the Cardinals by 15 games that season in mid-August.  They managed to lose a bunch from then on and the Cardinals took the division.  15!!! games ahead and lost it.... I hope this season is MUCH different.
I like the Clark-WIlliams-Bonds order. Pitchers can only walk Clark with 2 outs (unlike last year).  Williams is getting better pitches to hit with Bonds looming in the on-deck circle.  Since Matt has a terrible batting eye, this helps the Giants a lot.  When Bonds gets on base all by himself, he can try to steal 2nd and then be driven in with a single by Thompson, Manwaring, or Clayton.  If you bat Bonds before the other sluggers, then you don't want him to run because a "caught stealing" could take you out of a big inning.  Also Bonds is less in need of protection behind him because he is such a good base stealer (a walk is a potential double).  The only draw back is when Clark and Williams are clogging up the  bases infront of Bonds... and I think that's a problem the  Giants will be glad to see especially if Robby Thompson gets hot.
In article <1993Apr20.163456.8983@adobe.com>, snichols@adobe.com (Sherri Nichols) writes: > In article <13586@news.duke.edu> fierkelab@bchm.biochem.duke.edu (Eric Roush) writes: >>1)  Since time immemorial, batters have complained about calls. >>So have pitchers and catchers. >  > However, batters didn't use to go for strolls after bad calls to the degree > they do now.      I really think that this is the key point.  When I saw the incident on Baseball Tonight Sunday, I couldn't believe how far away from the plate Gant went.  Then he casually leaned against his bat.  I don't blame the  umpire at all for telling the pitcher to pitch.    The worst part of the whole incident was the Braves coming out onto the field.  What were they going to do, attack the umpire?  The only people who should've been out there were Cox and maybe the coaches, but NO players. I agree with the person who posted before that Cox should be suspended for having no control over his team.
HEY!!! All you Yankee fans who've been knocking my prediction of Baltimore. You flooded my mailbox with cries of "Militello's good, Militello's good."  Where is he??!! I noticed he got skipped over after that oh so strong first outing.  He's not by any chance in Columbus  now, is he?  Please don't tell me you're relying on this guy to be the *fourth*, not the fifth, but the  *fourth* starter on this brittle pitching staff.    As for the O's, it's still early.   See y'all at the ballyard Go Braves Chop Chop  Michael Mule'
In article <1993Apr20.233636.114967@zeus.calpoly.edu> jplee@cymbal.calpoly.edu (Jason Lee) writes:  >You simply cannot show up an umpire like Ron Gant did.  It is disrespectful >of not only the home plate umpire, but of the dignity of the game.  But of course, it is expected that umpires will show up players.  Don't get me wrong, I understand the nature of the game, but I just  believe that a little ego-ectomy for the umpires would make the game  much better.  Ted  -- "Social nags and body bags, make you dead, what a drag drag drag." -- Saigon Kick, body bags, The Lizard
franjion@spot.Colorado.EDU (John Franjione) writes:  >>-Valentine >>(No, I'm not going to be cordial.  Roger Maynard is a complete and >>total dickhead.  Send me e-mail if you insist on details.) > >In fact, he's a complete and total dickhead on at least 2 newsgroups >(this one and rec.sport.hockey).  Since hockey season is almost over, >he's back to being a dickhead in r.s.bb.  I was in fact going to suggest that Roger take his way of discussion over to r.s.football.pro. There this kind of hormone-only reasoning is the standard. Being he canadian, and hockey what it is, I would have suggested that r.s.h would work too. It is important in a thread that everyone involved use the same body part to produce a post (brain being the organ of choice here).
To all those out there wondering about who holds the record for three homer games ina career, the answer is Johnny Mize in his career with the  Cards and the Yanks.  He hit three 6 times.  I am almost sure about this. In case anyone is wondering, the record for two homer games is held by Babe Ruth and is 72.  Mize's record may not last for much longer because of Juan Gonzalez.  He has at least three games with three and maybe 4.  I know that  he had at least two last year and one as a rookie.  I don't have any record books at college for me to check on though.  Please let me know, okay, if I  am wrong.   	Onto the Padres.  Is there anyone out there who follows them?- especial-ly those with access to local news?  I don't here anything in Los Angeles and I can't get McPaper consistently around here.   comment:  It looks as though San Diego has gotten the better of the two deals that brought Bell and Plantier to the Padres.  It has also forced the team to use Darrell Shermann.  Of course, Plantier could get injured again or he could  hit with the power of 91 but with a lower average.  Bell always could finish with .240 and 15-18 hrs-essentially Jerald Clark's numbers.   leadoff comment:  Craig Shipley??????  I get on base 29% of the time if I'm  lucky at leadoff?  Hell, of the usual starters, use Gwynn.  He's got 4 steals already.  Is Shipley starting because of an injury to Stillwell, though?  I haven't seen Stillwell's name in any box scores.  Anyway unless you are going to use Shermann at leadoff then use Gwynn.  He at lesat gets on base and this year is stealing bases. Sheffield comment:  Though the season is early and stats mean nothing. Witness Phillips batting .500+ currently.  But does Sheffield have an injury, or anythingelse wrong with him.  I just don't hear anything. Andy Benes:  Is he pitching like he did in the second half of '91?   or is  this a flash of promise that he throws out evrey now and then?   Has anyone  seen him pitch the two good games? score for today, Sunday april 18:  Padres 10, St Louis 6.  Padres sweep the Cardinals as Gwynn goes 5 for 5 with a homer.  Sheffield and Tueful also homer in a winning cause.   				Thanks for listening-reading 				any comments????
In article <1qn6tqINNmnf@senator-bedfellow.MIT.EDU>, cmk@athena.mit.edu (Charles M Kozierok) writes... >In article <1993Apr16.172502.2301@osf.org> dswartz@osf.org (Dan Swartzendruber) writes: >  >the best home run i have *ever* seen came off, believe it or not, >Roger Clemens (sorry, Val) a couple of years ago. he threw a ball to >Incaviglia which was literally at Inky's neck, and he absolutely  >hammered the crap out of it. after the swing, Clemens nonchalantly >motioned for a new ball--he didn't even turn around to look, or >even get upset. the ball hit the lights in the left-field standard, >some 70 or so feet about the Green Monster (over 100 feet above the >ground total!) >  >truly an amazing shot.  I was at that game, behind home plate next to a scout who was manning the  radar gun.  The 1991 season was winding down and Roger didn't have his  best fastball, topping out at 88-90 (in contrast to Frank Tanana, who went  as low as 50 with one lollipop in the process of striking out Phil  Plantier *five* times on the night).  Inky's shot would have gone further than any I've ever seen if it hadn't crashed *into* the lights (not the  lightstand) as you say over 100 feet high, Roy Hobbs-like, and bounced  back onto the field.  That had to have been a 525-footer if unobstructed, edging out Bo Jackson's drive off Oil Can Boyd to the top of the centerfield bleacher back wall in 1988 for the best I've seen personally  (I was sitting under that one).   --- Glenn Waugaman Digital Equipment Corporation Littleton, MA g_waugaman@nac.enet.dec.com
In article <Apr.6.00.33.22.1993.26417@pilot.njin.net> gajarsky@pilot.njin.net (Bob Gajarsky - Hobokenite) writes: >ok - sorry about that...i didn't realise he was being sarcastic about > those sort of things. > >but i'll tell you, mike lupica (daily news) usually says some pretty > funny things in his "shooting from the lip" columns... > >- bob gaj  Y'know, if current trends continue, the Florida Marlins will be the first expansion team to go 162-0 and outscore their opponents by 486 runs.
I'm looking for the address to join the Cleveland Sports Mailing List. If anyone knows it, I would be greatful if they could email a copy of it to me.  If you are a member, just mail me one of the List's letters. I could probably figure it out from there.  Thanks!
Here is the Colorado Rockies openning day cast:  Pitchers -------- Scott Aldred (L)  MLB Totals  31 games, 6-14, 5.08 ERA, 0 saves Andy Ashby (R)                18 games, 2-8,  6.72 ERA, 0 saves Willie Blair (R)              67 games, 10-15,4.57 ERA, 0 saves Butch Henry (L)               28 games, 6-9,  4.02 ERA, 0 saves Darren Holmes (R)             95 games, 5-9,  4.10 ERA, 9 saves David Neid (R)                 6 games, 3-0,  1.17 ERA, 0 saves Jeff Parrett (R)             341 games, 46-30,3.65 ERA,21 saves Steve Reed (R)                18 games, 1-0,  2.30 ERA, 0 saves Bruce Ruffin (L)             223 games, 43-64,4.31 ERA, 3 saves Bryn Smith (R)               354 games,106-90,3.44 ERA, 6 saves Gary Wayne (L)               147 games, 8-8,  3.44 ERA, 3 saves  The rest
In article <1993Apr5.173500.26383@ra.msstate.edu> js1@Isis.MsState.Edu (Jiann-ming Su) writes: %I say buy out Henderson's contract and let him go bag groceries.  Next  %season, you'll be able to sign him for nothing.  That goes for any bitching %ball player.
In article <1993Apr23.141137.6161@e2big.mko.dec.com> francus@e2big.mko.dec.com (Yoseff Francus) writes: >In article <13761@news.duke.edu> simon@hercules.acpub.duke.edu writes: >>Name three ex-Met pitchers that have lost to every team in the majors >>(except Colorado and Florida).  Which two also defeated every team in the  >>majors? >> >>Dan > >Nolan Ryan qualifies on both counts. I would guess that Viola is the >other one who has beaten and also lost to every team in the majors.  	Viola has only played in the NL with the Mets -- not possible for him to have defeated or lost to every team.  Ditto for Tanana who was mentioned in a previous post.  >The 3rd pitcher to lose to every team is probably Tom Seaver, but >it could be Koosman.  	I don't remember if Seaver managed to get a win against the White Sox in his brief sojourn with Boston so I'd say the other pitcher to defeat every team is either Mike Torrez (he bounced around enough for a long enough period of time) or Koosman as mentioned.  I would also guess that if one of these two did not manage to beat every team he did manage to lose to every team.  Tom
In article <1993Apr17.200602.8229@leland.Stanford.EDU> addison@leland.Stanford.EDU (Brett Rogers) writes: >In article <steph.735027990@pegasus.cs.uiuc.edu> steph@pegasus.cs.uiuc.edu (Dale Stephenson) writes: >>>Smith, Ozzie           .742  .717  .697  .672  .664   0.701 >>  The Wizard's 1988 is the second highest year ever.  Still very good, >>but I don't like the way his numbers have declined every year.  In a few >>years may be a defensive liability. > >That's rich... Ozzie Smith a defensive liability...  Why?  Do you expect him to remain the best shortstop in the game until he reaches his seventy-third birthday, or something?  Why is it such a strange concept that a forty-one-year-old Ozzie Smith might be a defensive liability in 1996?
In article <1993Apr22.192035.23822@hpcvaac.cv.hp.com> paula@koufax.cv.hp.com (Paul Andresen) writes: >|> >In article <1993Apr21.032427.22464@leland.Stanford.EDU>, punjabi@leland.Stanford.EDU (sanjeev punjabi) writes: >|> > >|> >(2)   Having Bonds batting behind Williams means that Matt will get >|> >      more good pitches to hit.  This is important since he struggles >|> >      so much with breaking balls.  Opposing pitchers don't want to >|> >      walk Williams to get to Bonds. > >I have to wonder if this "good hitter behind you" argument is really valid. >Has anyone done a study on this.  > >  paula@koufax.cv.hp.com   Paul Andresen  Hewlett-Packard  (503)-750-3511 >
dwarner@journalism.indiana.edu said: >I only caught the tail end of this one on ESPN.  Does anyone have a report? >(Look at all that Teal!!!!  BLEAH!!!!!!!!!)  Maybe it's just me, but the combination of those *young* faces peeking out from under oversized aqua helmets screams "Little League" in every fibre of my being...
I don't actually have the answer to this one.  Bosio, after walking the first two batters, retired 27-straight for a "back-end" perfect game.  How many other games - including extra inning games - have seen a pitcher retire 27 straight, excluding official perfect games?  The only other instance of this I know about for sure is the famous Ernie Shore game, which counts as a perfect one according to those goons in Cooperstown. Shore came into the game when Boston Pitcher Babe Ruth got thrown out for arguing over the first-batter walk; Shore picked him off and retired 26 straight after that.  Matt Wall * wall@cc.swarthmore.edu * Hey, I gotta job here, OK?
In article <1993Apr13.221704.4291@midway.uchicago.edu> thf2@midway.uchicago.edu writes: >In article <rudyC5FxC8.DEu@netcom.com> rudy@netcom.com (Rudy Wade) writes: >>In article <1993Apr13.195301.22652@CSD-NewsHost.Stanford.EDU> nlu@Xenon.Stanford.EDU (Nelson Lu) writes: >>>Guess which line is which: >>>	BA	OBP	SLG	AB	H	2B	3B	HR	BB >>>X	.310	.405	.427	571	177	27	8	8	87 >>>Y	.312	.354	.455	657	205	32	1	20	35 >> >>>The walks should give it away.  OBP's, in general, somewhat more valuable than >>>slugging, and Alomar's edge in OBP was quite a bit larger than Baerga's edge >>>in slugging. >> >>I'm no SDCN, but what's more valuable: >> >>28 hits w/5 more doubles, 12 more HRs   OR >>7 more triples and 52 BBs?  (Let's not forget the 39 extra SBs. How many CS?) > >Alomar had 9 CS.  Baerga had 2. > >Don't forget the 59 more outs Baerga had (his GIDP balances out his CS, and >he had one more sacrifice than Alomar).   A replacement level second baseman >could have had 17 hits, 5 walks, and a couple of XBH for the additional >outs Baerga had.  A triple is little different than a home run.  We're talking >exchanging almost 60 walks for six or seven home runs and four doubles.  I  >would say the almost-60 walks are more valuable.  Also, Alomar got a FAR greater boost from his home park than Baerga did from  his. And "six or seven home runs"? Hmm.  So, if you wanted to pick a second baseman to play in Toronto, you'd take  Alomar. Anywhere else, and you'd probably take Baerga.  Mike
In article <1993Apr15.200629.7200@alleg.edu> luriem@alleg.edu(Michael Lurie) The Liberalizer writes: > >     Actually, I kind of liked the Abott trade. We did trade the rookie of   >the year, SNOW, but with Don mattingly at first for another 8 years, Why   >bother.  I'd be willing to make two wagers: 1) Snow doesn't win ROY. 2) Mattingly is out of baseball within five years.  I'm skeptical of the first, because I don't think Snow is that good a player, and he is on a losing team.  I'm skeptical of the second because of his back.  Mattingly is 32 this year, and how many players play until they are 40?  Not too many, and most of them didn't have chronic back problems when they were 32.  Could be wrong on either or both, but I think that's the smart way to bet...
In article <ls1d6vINNs65@appserv.Eng.Sun.COM> str@maredsous.Eng.Sun.COM (Todd Rader) writes: >Stay in school.  You have a lot to learn.  Learn what?  I know that 3 million dollars is A LOT of money.  I know  Rickey Henderson doesn't have a career out of baseball.  I know if he  didn't have baseball, he wouldn't be making near the money he is now.  I just don't understand how some athlete, who only plays a sport for a  living for millions of dollars, say he is not being paid enough.  If nobody will sign him for his asking price, he will be the one hurting. The A's will still win without him.  Remeber, many of these athletes have NOTHING if not for their athletic  ability.  NOTHING.  They are getting paid MUCH more than most hard working citizens, and they are complaining of not enough pay.
In article <93104.233239ISSBTL@BYUVM.BITNET>, <ISSBTL@BYUVM.BITNET> writes: |> I would like to make everyone aware that in winning the NL West the Atlanta |> Braves did not lead wire-to-wire.  Through games of 4/14/93 the Houston |> Astros are percentage points ahead of the "unbeatable" Braves.  And they deserve to be, if for no other reason than salvaging a little of the honor of the NL West. The supposed strongest division in baseball lost 6 of 7 to the East yesterday, with only the Astros prevailing. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------            We will stretch no farm animal beyond its natural length    paula@koufax.cv.hp.com   Paul Andresen  Hewlett-Packard  (503)-750-3511