Tag Archives: Red Sox

May4

Lost in Metrics

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Its  Monday and I wanted to start my learning of Sabermetrics. Its a lot of information. Enough to make someone go ACKKK!!!!. But I press on. I have my Baseball Prospectus 2014, there is a forward from Gabe Kapler. (I am on his site, you are going to hear his name a lot)

To quote Kap

“In 2007, just before I embarked on a season as minor league manager in the Red Sox system, Boston General Manager Ben Cheringotn gave me a study on the sacrifice bunt and how it was being misused in the major-league level. I laid down 20 sacrifice bunts in my playing career , my consistent employment as a player I would have been very easy for me to discard Cherington’s information, That would have been ego-driven approach based on the rigid belief that because I played the game at a high level , I had little left to learn.

Many players have chosen that route. Executives in the game (like Cheringotn) have moved from old-school statistics to newer metrics when it comes to player analysis yet most players themselves have not . But that stance would have left me stagnant while more open-minded individuals continued their growth. We shouldn’t want to be left behind and I’m driven not to be In my quest I am led by the ingenuity and substance of publications like the one you hold”

Well you are not holding it I am. I could read Kap all day long. He’s right its time to really look at metrics. I look at this from a fan perspectives we have to understand what management is doing.  This is not going to be an easy subject to learn but its necessary.

Now its time to read, I went to  http://sabr.org/sabermetrics

there I am reading about the basics of metrics, from the site:

First, let’s go over some basics:

  • What is sabermetrics? As originally defined by Bill James in 1980, sabermetrics is “the search for objective knowledge about baseball”. James coined the phrase in part to honor the Society for American Baseball Research. 
  • Who invented sabermetrics? Statistical analysis has been around as long as baseball has been played competitively. Long before Moneyball became a worldwide phenomenon in the 21st century and before Bill James’ baseball writings gained mainstream popularity in the 1980s, Hall of Fame manager Earl Weaver was using index cards to fine-tune his platooning system and pitching changes with the Baltimore Orioles in the 1960s, while Branch Rickey hired statistician Allan Roth in the 1940s to evaluate player performance with the Brooklyn Dodgers. A generation before that, Baseball Magazine editor F.C. Lane was creating new statistical methods to measure offensive production, culminating in his classic book of essays, Batting. In the mid-19th century, Henry Chadwick is credited with developing the box score and his tabulation of hits, home runs and total bases led to the formulation of metrics such as batting average and slugging percentage.
  • SABR or sabermetrics? With more than 6,000 members around the world, SABR is a membership organization comprised of passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans with a variety of interests — one of them being statistical analysis. SABR members Bill James, Pete Palmer and Dick Cramer co-founded SABR’s Statistical Analysis Committee in 1974 and helped popularize the study of sabermetrics. The phrase “sabermetrics” itself is in the public domain and is generally used to describe any mathematical or statistical study of baseball.

Sabermetric researchers often use statistical analysis to question traditional measures of baseball evaluation such as batting average and pitcher wins. Early on, James’ theories were largely mocked (or ignored) by the baseball establishment, but as Joe Posnanski wrote in “The Ballad of Bill James”, over time his work started to be recognized. Time Magazine once named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world. The Boston Red Sox hired him in 2003 and subsequently won two World Series. James is still asking relevant questions today at billjamesonline.com, and so are legions of his disciples such as Rob Neyer, baseball editor at FoxSports.com; Birnbaum; and all the great writers at Baseball Analysts, Baseball Prospectus, Beyond the Box Score, FanGraphs, The Hardball Times and other sites.

Want a primer on sabermetrics? Check out the FanGraphs Library for down-to-earth explanations of advanced metrics such as wOBA (weighted on-base average), FIP (fielding-independent pitching) and WAR (wins above replacement), written by Steve Slowinski. SABR members can also read cutting-edge articles on statistical analysis in every issue of the Baseball Research Journal, such as “The Many Flavors of DIPS: A History and Overview”, by Dan Basco and Michael Davies. We’ve got a full list of resources on our Related Links page at the end of this section.

Be sure to check out the annual SABR Analytics Conference, where we bring together the top minds of the baseball analytic community under one roof to discuss, debate and share insightful ways to analyze and examine the great game of baseball.

We also have a lot more online tools available for SABR members on our Research Resources page, including Matt Dennewitz’s Saber Archive, an online repository of sabermetric articles.

Whether you’re just starting out or you’d like a refresher course, whether you’re a numbers wizard or you consider yourself math-phobic, we hope you’ll find Phil Birnbaum’s Guide to Sabermetric Research informative and interesting.

Well I have got some reading to do. #StrongMind

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Apr14

Miss Baseball’s MLB Franchise Four picks

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Oh lets have some fun today. I love baseball, I love everything about the game, and I love the long rich history of the game. So MLB has a ballot online at :http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/all_star/y2015/ .jsp

Well I thought I would give you my picks for each team. Now i have to say this was hard. My love of the game and some personal morals and knowledge of the game really made some of these choices hard. In some cases I would cry out to the baseball gods and ask how am I supposed to choose. (toughest teams were Yankees and Red and Cardinals)

So being a life long Texas girl lets start there

Texas Rangers: When I think of Ranger baseball who comes to mind. Now I don’t know if the team made the list or if MLB made the list but my first three choices were no brainers.

Micheal Young, Ivan Rodriguez, Nolan Ryan and my write in because I don’t know how you can talk about Ranger baseball and not mention him. RUSTY GREER!

Astros: I really thought about who do you think about when you think about the Astros, Nolan Ryan is a given. Then you have to pick the killer Bees. Bagwell, Berkman and HOF Biggio

Angels: Anderson, Guerrero,Finley,Salmon

A’s: Simmons, Foxx, Henderson, Eckersley

Mariners: Griffey, Johnson, Martinez, Suzuki

White Sox: Minnie Minoso,Harold Baines,Frank Thomas,Paul Konerko

Indians: Bob Feller,Jim Thome,Omar Vizquel,Tris Speaker

Tigers: Ty Cobb,Alan Trammell,Hank Greenberg,Justin Verlander

Royals:George Brett,Bret Saberhagen,Alex Gordon,Write In: Bo Jackson

Twins:Kirby Puckett,Walter Johnson,Rod Carew,Harmon Killebrew

Red Sox: Cy Young,Carl Yastrzemski,Ted Williams,Pedro Martinez

Orioles: Cal Ripken Jr,Brooks, Robinson,Frank Robinson,Jim Palmer

Yankees: Joe DiMaggio,Lou Gehrig,Babe Ruth,Mickey Mantle

Rays: Evan Longoria,Carlos Pena,David Price,James Shields

Blue Jays: Jose Bautista,Joe Carter,Carlos Delgado, and because I can write in my favorite Blue Jay Frank Catalanotto

National League

Braves:Hank Aaron,Greg Maddux,John Smoltz,Eddie Mathews

Marlins: Livan Hernandez,Giancarlo Stanton,Josh Beckett Write in: Rick Helling

Mets: John Franco,Dwight Gooden,Mike Piazza,David Wright

Phillies: Chuck Klein,Jimmy Rollins,Mike Schmidt,Chase Utley

Nationals: Ryan Zimmerman,Andre Dawson,Vladimir Guerrero,Gary Carter

Cubs: Ernie Banks,Ryne Sandberg,Ferguson Jenkins,Ron Santo

Reds: Johnny Bench,Barry Larkin,Joe Morgan,Frank Robinson

Brewers:Prince Fielder, Rollie Fingers,Paul Molitor,Robin Yount

Pirates: Roberto Clemente,Ralph Kiner,Willie Stargell,Honus Wagner

Cardinals:Lou Brock,Dizzy Dean,Rogers ,Hornsby,Stan Musial

Diamondbacks: Luis Gonzalez,Randy Johnson,Curt Schilling,Matt Williams

Rockies: Dante Bichette, Vinny Castilla,Todd Helton,Larry Walker

Dodgers: Steve Garvey,Sandy Koufax,Jackie Robinson,Fernando Valenzuela

Padres: Adrian Gonzalez,Tony Gwynn,Trevor Hoffman,Jake Peavy

Giants: Christy Mathewson,Willie Mays,Buster Posey, and I don’t know how you can talk about the Giants and not mention Will Clark so he is my last write in vote.

Ok so that’s the list, Who would you pick?

Apr10

MLB Autism Awareness Game Guide

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Each year MLB teams have one day for Autism Awareness, When is your favorite team having their Autism Awareness Day? Well, I asked that question and went to the web. Only to find out some of the teams had the information on the web.I then hit the phones and called the teams.Bookmark this post as I will update it when I have more information.

Well home is where the heart is. I will start off with my town San Antonio, Home of the Double A San Diego Padres affiliate The San Antonio Missions. Go Missions! (who said that?,Oh yeah! Its me, Big fan!)

Their Autism Awareness night is April 18, and it benefits The Autism Community Network. During the game player will wear puzzle piece jerseys and after the game will autograph and auction them.

Now for the MLB Autism Awareness Night Guide

April

11 Baltimore Orioles

12 Arizona Diamondbacks:

Support Autism Awareness and come out on April 12 for the D-backs Autism Awareness Day! MLB is partnering with Autism Speaks to recognize April as National Awareness Month. A portion from every ticket sold will be donated to Autism Speaks.

For the first half hour when gates open (11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.), the D-backs are reserving Phoenix Children’s Hospital Sandlot play area for children with Autism. If you would like to be part of the pre-game Autism Awareness parade meet outside through Gate J/Section 110 no later than 11:55 a.m.

Should a quiet area be needed, please go to our suite level concourse, there are couches by sections 202-203. Enjoy Gluten-Free ballpark items from the stand by Section 107.

For more information on Autism programs in Arizona, stop by the Autism Resource Area in centerfield behind the scoreboard until the 7th inning.

You don’t want to miss any of the action! Get your tickets and grab your glove now! We will see you at the ballpark!

For groups of 12 or larger or for accessible seating, please contact Johanna Imperial at 602-462-4113 orjimperial@dbacks.com.

For more information go to: http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/ari/ticketing/ticket_dugout.jsp?loc=autismaware

14 Texas Rangers

Autism Speaks Night is Tuesday April 14 vs Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Members, colleagues, family, and friends are invited to take advantage of discounted tickets in Lower reserved or All You Can Eat seating areas. $3 from every ticket you purchase will be donated to Autism research and awareness. Come join your Texas Rangers for a night of great baseball

For additional questions about any of the above information please call Stephan Morales at (817) 273-5250 or email smorales@texasrangers.com

For more information go to: http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/tex/ticketing/community_business_discounts.jsp

Scroll down to Autism Awareness

19 Washington Nationals

25 Philadelphia Phillies:

Autism Awareness Night

The Phillies are once again teaming up with Autism Speaks to host Autism Awareness Night at Citizens Bank Park. Please join us on Saturday, April 25 at 7:05 p.m. when the Phillies host the Atlanta Braves.

Tickets (subject to availability) are available in locations regularly priced $47 and under. In addition, $8 from each ticket purchased through this event will benefit Autism Speaks.

For more info go to:http://mlb.mlb.com/phi/ticketing/theme/autism_awareness.jsp

25 Milwaukee Brewers

25 Colorado Rockies:

The Colorado Rockies and Autism Speaks would like to invite all individuals, family members, employees and volunteers to come and enjoy an exciting game at Coors Field. A portion of each ticket sold will benefit Autism Speaks’ work in the Colorado Community. This is a great opportunity to enjoy a game at Coors Field while supporting the leading autism science and advocacy organization.

Please come help increase awareness of autism spectrum disorders and advocate for the needs of individuals with autism and their families!

Outfield Box $30 – Lower Level Seating ($35 Face Value)
Pavilion $21 – Lower Level Seating ($27 Face Value)
Lower Reserved Outfield $16 – Third Level Seating ($19 Face Value)

For more information go to http://colorado.rockies.mlb.com/col/ticketing/group_offers.jsp?offer=autismspeaks

26 Miami Marlins:

Autism Awareness Day

Sunday, April 26th vs. WAS – 1:10 PM

Lexus Legends Level: $25

Join the Marlins as we partner with local organizations in an effort to raise awareness about this developmental disorder. VIP Special Event Package includes:

  • Legends Level game ticket
  • First 12,000 fans will receive a Christian Yelich Gold Glove replica trophy sponsored by Pepsi
  • Exclusive Marlins Autism Awareness puzzle
  • A portion of the proceeds will be donated directly to local autism groups
  • Seating will be located in the Lexus Legends Level, which will provide your family a comfortable setting to enjoy the game
  • A quiet room will be available if needed

Gift item redemption is located on the Lexus Legends Level and must have a valid Special Event ticket. Please email groups@marlins.com for more information

For more info go to:http://miami.marlins.mlb.com/mia/ticketing/special_events.jsp#aad

May

2 LA Dodgers

Join us as we team up with Autism Speaks to bring you Autism Awareness Day. Autism Speaks aims to bring the autism community together as one strong voice to urge the government and private sector to listen to concerns and take action against this urgent global health crisis.

For more information go to: http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/la/ticketing/theme_games.jsp#autism

3 New York Mets:

Join us in raising awareness for autism, a disorder that affects 1 in 68 American children.

    • Help Autism Speaks fundraise! With each ticket sold through this advanced offer, they will receive a rebate from the New York Mets.
    • Early gate entry for participating families through the Bullpen Gate beginning at 11:10 a.m.
    • Pre-game party in the Bullpen Plaza including art therapy projects by the Queens Museum of Art, karate drills by Kicking the Spectrum and much more!
    • The Cozy Corner will be open all game long for children in need of a quiet reprieve from the game.
    • The first 15,000 fans in the ballpark will receive a Mets Tote Bag.
    • Left Field Landing seats will be an area exclusively for guests with autistic family members. We will lower the volume in this section and make other fan-friendly adjustments on this game.
  • New in 2015: Promenade Outfield seats will also be an area where we will lower the volume in this section and have seats reserved exclusively for guests with autistic family members.

For more information go to :http://mlb.mlb.com/nym/ticketing/group_offers.jsp?group=autism_awareness&partnerId=Z114411FB-15J

17 Minnesota Twins:

This is a fundraiser for local autism groups with a pregame parade

24 Boston Red Sox

29 St. Louis Cardinals:

The St. Louis Cardinals and Autism Awareness have teamed up for Autism Awareness Night at Busch Stadium when the Cardinals face the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday, May 29th at 7:15pm. Loge level tickets are just $17 and $5 of each ticket purchased will benefit Autism Awareness. Tickets are limited so come and support a great cause at the ballpark on May 29th.

For more information go to: http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/stl/ticketing/group_theme.jsp?loc=autism&partnerId=ZB11W6G251-80

June

2 San Francisco Giants:

Autism Awareness Night

Tuesday, 6/2 vs. PIT 7:15 p.m

In Community Partnership with Autism Speaks, The Arc, and Anova
Join the Giants as we partner with Autism Speaks, The Arc, and Anova, among other organizations in the community, in an effort to change the future for all those who struggle with autism spectrum disorders. With the help of Giants legend Will Clark, who is a great supporter of the cause, the Giants hope to raise awareness about this developmental disorder that affects more children than childhood cancer, juvenile diabetes and pediatric AIDS combined. Your special event ticket package includes a ticket to the game against the Pirates, as well as a limited-edition Will Clark-themed Giants hat! Proceeds from every Autism Awareness Night Special Event ticket will be donated directly to non-profits in the Autism community to aid in their ongoing mission.

Now the Giants also have a special VIP package for this event, Details are here:n Community Partnership with Autism Speaks, The Arc, and Anova
The Giants invite you and your family and friends to a special Autism Awareness Night VIP experience, where you can join them in an effort to change the future for all those who struggle with autism spectrum disorders, through both the raising of awareness and proceeds. Each VIP-ticket holder will receive admission to the Triples Alley Premium Location from 4:45-6:45 p.m., complimentary food and beverage (including beer and wine), as well as a Will Clark-themed hat, and a Will Clark mini helmet, each individually autographed and only available to ticketholders of this VIP offer! Proceeds from every Autism Awareness Night VIP Special Event ticket will be donated directly to non-profits in the Autism community to aid in their ongoing mission. Unlike any other ballpark setting, this on-field space is the perfect place to enjoy all of the pre-game excitement at the ballpark. Triples Alley, the Giants newest Premium Location has it all, including on-field access from which to watch batting practice, early access to the ballpark, and at the conclusion of the pre-game event, a walk along the warning track on the field to get to your seats for the game.

For more information go to:  http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/sf/ticketing/group_special_events.jsp#autism

7 Atlanta Braves

SUNDAY, JUNE 7 AT 1:30 PM

Join the Atlanta Braves and help raise awareness for Autism Spectrum Disorders. Children and adults with autism may receive a $1 ticket with the purchase of a regularly priced Outfield Pavilion ticket. A portion of every ticket will go to support Autism Speaks.

TICKET DETAILS
  • All tickets will be in a covered area together in the 234 – 242 aisles in left field.
  • All purchasers of this offer are invited to join a pre-game parade around the field. To participate, line up on the Hank Aaron Ramp across from aisle 129 by 12:00 PM.
  • If needed, there will be a quiet room with activities set up in the Hank Aaron Room, near your seats across from aisle 128.
  • By purchasing this offer, you will be entered into a raffle to win an opportunity to be the Honorary Team Captain!

For more information go to: http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/atl/ticketing/ticket_specials.jsp?loc=autism

7 Chicago White Sox

The Chicago White Sox, in partnership with Autism Speaks, are offering specially priced tickets for the White Sox game against the Detroit Tigers in support of MLB’s Autism Awareness Initiative.

$10 from every ticket sold in Lower Box and $5 from every Outfield field reserved will support the funding of research into the causes, prevention, treatments, and a cure for autism.

For information on Sensory Friendly club level seats, please email grandslamgroups@chisox.com.

Quiet Areas have been designated for those who need it on the 100 level concourse by section 155, and by section 354 in the sensory friendly club level concourse.

Please note that orders will NOT be redeemed at the U.S. Cellular Field ticket windows or the White Sox administrative offices

I spoke with Scott Gbur of the White Sox and he was very kind and understanding of the issues with Autism. If you have any questions you can contact him at SGBUR@CHISOX.COM or 312-674-1000

13 Tampa Bay Rays

23 Cleveland Indians

There will be a future update on what will be offered during this event. including pregame activities. so stay tuned to this channel for further updates.

September

25 Kansas City Royals

This is not a complete list. I will be calling and checking website for further updates.

Jan6

HOF 499 wasted votes

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Well the results are in and per my doctors orders I will not be jumping or dancing for the excitement of Craig Biggio getting in the Baseball Hall of Fame! Congrats! While working for the Rangers, I met briefly Pedro,he was very nice. I am happy to see someone deserving in. Both Johnson and Smoltz are well all I can say is YES!

There is another side. To get in you must get 412 votes, and 499 votes were wasted on KNOWN PED users.  This is a stat we can’t ignore. There is always the argument that the players can be judged on their performance before they used PED ‘s. For me, if they did it for one day, then they forfeit the right to be in the Hall.

I don’t want someone in the Hall of Fame who has the thought.
” Ok I need something at any cost to make me better. I’m going to find a way to get around the rules.”
Of course your numbers are going to be great if you cheated.

In Vegas, if you count cards your kicked out. Insider trading is wrong and punishable with jail time. In baseball, you can still get into the Hall of Fame, there is something fundamentally wrong with this notion.

I’m officially offended that these degenerates are on the ballot, but I’m more offended is how anyone can vote for them.
STOP VOTING FOR THEM!
We must tell the world that Baseball’s Hall of Fame is filled with ballplayers who took a simple game and with hard work and great skill made the game something extraordinary.