Random Thoughts, the Sequel

All those photos of Nipplegate and you just now unveil this one?

;D

 

what are your categories?

For instance, in my league we're 5x5:

Hitting: Average, total bases plus walks, RBI, runs, SB.
Pitching: W/QS (wins and quality starts, a QS being at least 6 IP with 3 ER or less), ERA, WHIP (walks/hits ratio per innings), strikeouts and saves.

There's no easy way to explain it other than pay attention to baseball and trends and try to think how you would want to build a team in real life. It's funny because before reading Moneyball, I was like those old-school scouts that Billy Beane derides, the guys who evaluate guys by watching them and having a so-called gut feeling. After reading Moneyball, I started to take SABRmetrics uber-serious. But I still want to be able to watch a pitcher pitch or watch a batter's presence in the batter's box.

All it takes to judge a pitcher for my team is an inning or two; I'd never seen John Maine pitch before last year, and the first time I saw him throw for the Mets I was hooked; sometimes you just have a feeling about a player. The complete batter is different because some guys hit for power and get RBI, others are scrappy Ecksteins who have a nice average, score some runs but don't have a lot of total bases or RBIs, and so you have to really want to have that type of player. Eckstein gave me 2 good seasons in terms of average and runs, but that's about it. I had to cut him loose. Sometimes you have to forego a category or two. Prince Fielder will hit 35 homers and drive in 100, but won't have a big average or a lot of stolen bases. I drafted Randy Winn this year hoping for 25 stolen bases, but he's having a great season, hitting over .300 with a nice number of ribbies. Meanwhile, Scott Rolen is choking the chicken and playing the part of ATM Queen, shitting the bed and making me very upset.

But my advice to you might be useless because you have both leagues to choose from; from which to choose. Much easier.

 

You make Angola! look sober.

 

THAT'S our JTO moderator? Day-um.

 

Nobody can make Angola! look sober, although moderbutt is pretty damned funny right now.

 

Not a Nipplegate photo! Was trying to find a shot online of the massive billboard on the side of the building down the street from Skydome, the one IJAG wanted to climb and dryhump, but this is all I could track down.

 

No offense meant, Headbutt. Just interesting to see a moderator posting while drunk buzzed.