Jeter SS
Damon LF
Teixeira 1B
Rodriguez 3B
Matsui DH
Swisher RH
Cano 2B
Gardner CF
Molina C

What does our boy Cervelli have to do to get a start now and again!?

Backstage passes to a Rockettes show, probably. But he'll probably start most if not all the games after the Yanks clinch home field, for what that's worth.

I told one of my students at open house this morning that she had to surrender her hat. The only B want to see in my class is from my pen. : D Great start. Eff you, Bartlett.

another lovely start from teh Jobber.

Got the k, but missed his spot badly

now THAT'S a bunt I wanted to see!

Nice spot Jetes!

monkeypants, I replied to your last post in "Jugglin'". I just thought I'd let you know because it might be important in helping you turn your life around.

Also it's long and I'd hate to feel like all that effort will just disappear into the void.

Go Joba! (?)

What if one player was hurt? What if one was off his game for unusual reasons for an extended period of time?

It would show up in the stats :)

Not near a tv tonight, but consulting my box score, wtf is up with Joba?

[10] Same ol' same, walking too many batters. FWIW, he is going to the fastball more

[11] not walking, but falling behind in the count

Is it worth going back to read the 61 comments on the Joba-in-the-pen post?

Nice to read the Todd Drew post, thanks for that.

Kay and Flaherty enjoying their "9" conversation...I am not...

sure, that looked outish, with a squint ...

works for me.

Jayzuz Kay, can you stop mentioning all the d-list celebrities in the crowd?? Thankfully the tv camera work here is for NHK so don't have to see them..(instead we get random Japanese fans in the crowd, taking pictures when Matsui is at bat..not much more exciting..)

wow, last 81 games, we're 60-21.

dayumn.

that was a nice hit robbie

the rays must be hoping that this year is an aberration for bossman junior

hot dog THIS Bossman.

well, Longoria made as good a play as BJ's was lousy.

damn.

Is it worth going back to read the 61 comments on the Joba-in-the-pen post?

Sure, it'll give you something to do between innings :)

The Rays are doing Joba a big favor by getting outs on the first pitch. Keep it up.

[8] Interesting. I just got home and replied to your last post. I'll repost here, so you can turn your life around.

[61] No – if there’s a phenomena that is observable but not measured, then someone better get busy measuring it.

You are operating from, I think, a position of logical fallacy. If something is observable, it is measurable. If you say that someone is “intimidating,” the onus is you to support that observation. How do YOU measure intimidation? Did you see several players quake or soil themselves? if so, by all means report that measurement. Maybe the “intimidation factor” could be as simple as “quotient of players who trembled at the sight of X player.”

Byt if you claim to observe something, then the very fact means that there is something to measure. Now YOU go and figure out how to quantify it.

I don’t think comparing straight numbers out of context – as you are doing with Chamberlain and Hughes – necessarily ought to bring about a clear verdict.

What numbers are out of context? I merely cited the quantitative data and analyzed it. And I agree, there are SO many variables, that we can only look at the results and draw conclusions from those. Appeals to nebulous and, apparently, unprovable factors only get in the way.

Finally, I would point out that it is YOU who made a clear assertion–that Hughes in no way is as intimidating as Joba was. I only pointed out that there is no evidence to support this, and that from the evidence that we have it appears that Hughes was about as effective–if not more so–than Joba.

fake michael kay is going to find the reading of that promo quite unacceptable

[9] Exactly, but it wouldn't be reflective of what the player was like uninjured. Hence, a potentially misleading set of numbers.

kind of quiet here.

man up fans - that was not close to being a hit

[26] they're just eager and excited. I'd probably have gotten excited to.

[24] Not necessarily. There are all kinds of metrics and measurements. If a player, in our case a pitcher suffers an injury, it will show in the stats. Velocity would be down, hitters would be making more contact. Maybe more walks. So on and so forth.

btw, I kind of found the stadium gaudy watching the games early this season. but i'm starting to adjust to it. and i like it now.

damn shift

Only had the game on for a few minutes, but this sure has been frustratin' to watch!

Like weeping, I haven't seen a pitch (just tuning in now). I heard Jeter's single called by Sterling (he and Suzyn were just gurgling over how Jeterian it was).
But how could Joba have stuff good enough to K the side, and yet give up two singles a walk and a homer??? Seems to have been fine since then.

[32] Low intimidation factor.
.
.
.
I kid, I kid. : )

Ok, enough of that. Let's go, boys!

it's hard to really judge joba in these abbreviated starts
i missed the 1st inning (which doesn't seem too hot), but his other 2 innings were pretty good

day off here, was excited to watch the game but..kind of boring...not as boring as a discussion about metrics, but still..

[34] I know! When does he get to throw four innings??

But how could Joba have stuff good enough to K the side, and yet give up two singles a walk and a homer???

It happens; a hitter can get a hold of a fastball if he guesses and times it right. Randy Johnson once struck out 19 batters but lost. McGwire got a hold of one that almost went through the Kingdome wall.

[37] I know it happens, Raf, I want an explanation! Jeez. Where are all the know-it-alls this evening?

[29] Feeling any excitement for tomorrow? Say @ 8:30 pm? : )

[22] I may have made a clear assertion according to you, but I didn't say what I was asserting was clear. You using the word "clear" to describe my assertion isn't the same as me using the same word during the assertion.

Anyway, again - I am quite happy - and I don't want to repeat this too many times - to not quantify things. I'm content to talk about things like intimidation without having a number attached to it. So it is certainly not my responsibility to figure out how to quantify it. Why would I go to that trouble when I don't have a problem with discussing it as is?

Those that need everything quantified are solely responsible for fulfilling themselves. I won't have you people denying the existence of things just because you haven't figured out these essential complexities. That's why the first assignment is so important - and has been completed! Sort of. We are henceforth using the "soiled pants" metric in determining intimidation in baseball pitchers. Unfortunately, access to batters' undergarments has proven thus far to be surprisingly limited, so right now everyone has an Intimidation Factor of 0%. All subsequent discussion then must adhere to the fact that no-one intimidates anyone, ever. Also, the lack of skid marks identifies a trait in major league ballplayers heretofore hinted at but only now confirmed: Fear does not affect them.

Yes, indeed, the Yanks are nine games up in the American League East.

[39] no. Giants fan here. :)

[38] Sorry, I used up all my know-it-all-ness on the last thread discussion. I'm just a fan tonight!

[38] oh, you called? actually I thought his pitches looked flat before the last two ks but i missed the first k and first hit or two.

[33] You kid, but Flaherty was talking about just that a couple months ago.

[43] Oh, good, seamus, I knew I could count on you.
So, you thought his pitches looked flat before the two K, but then looked better? He was coming around? (I'm looking for a bright side here.)

[41] Bah. Yinz should be ashamed of yourself. : D I'm psyched but since this isn't Steelers Banter I'll leave it at that for now.

[36] with tonight's game he has thrown 139.2 innings - so let's just say 140.
i think mk said he has 4 starts left (which sounds right if gaudin and mitre stay in the rotation). so 3 innings per start would put him at 152, and 4 innings per start at 156. if they want him to go around 6 in the playoffs i would think they need to get him to at least 5 before the season is out.

[45] flash said he looked more aggressive after the 1st inning and the booth companions think the captain said something to him

[47] Hm, so maybe four next start, then another four, then five, then five or six...

[40] Anyway, again – I am quite happy – and I don’t want to repeat this too many times – to not quantify things. I’m content to talk about things like intimidation without having a number attached to it.

That's an interesting perspective. I don't agree, but it's interesting. In effect, I could claim something like, say: Derek Jeter is the greatest player in baseball history because he has awesomeness. I would be safe in making this assertion, and it would up to someone else a) not to disprove my thesis using numbers such as slugging percentage or on base percentage, but rather to b) to find the data to prove the existence of awesomeness.

I guess we approach things differently.

Enjoy the game.

wow, BJ hot dogging *another* ball tonite ... that takes some doing.

[50] Derek Jeter is the greatest player in baseball history because he has awesomeness.

You misspelled "grittiness".

[52] Well, you know I have a penchant and reputation for typos and misspelling. ; )

I won’t have you people denying the existence of things just because you haven’t figured out these essential complexities.

I'm still trying to figure out how Santa Clause visited when I lived in the projects. Did he climb through the window? The front door? The chimney leads to the incinerator so I don't think he would've gone through there. And how does no one notice a sled and 8 reindeer parked @ Wilwood Gardens?

:D

I've had about enough of Flash. Until this series I had absolutely no problem with him. Now I feel like he's become Joe Morganesque.

[46] tomorrow will be kind of annoying around here with all the Steelers craziness. my facebook feed should be boring as all frack.

[53] You told me so yourself! Well, the penchant part.

[54] You can't fool me. There ain't no sanity clause.

[55] does it help to go "Flash! oh ohhhhhh Savior of the Universe!!!"

[55] oh flash says plenty of goofy things. and for awhile he was bringing the yankees a lot of bad luck (which pj first noticed - i hope he returns here soon)

[50] mp you don't think everything has to be quantifiable to have value do you?

[56] The Patriots have already driven all Red Sox stuff off the pages and airwaves of the sports media.
Fortunately, I do not despise the Patriots. I actually like watching them, a lot. I'm not nearly interested enough to hear endless analysis of what a freaking genius Belicheck is for trading Richard Seymour, but at least I don't find it excruciating.

[58] Yes, it does! I love Queen.

[56] Yeah. I loke the NFL, well sort of. BUt I dread the start of the NFL season. I don't have to deal with local Steeler craziness of the like (fortunately), but ESPN, FOX, etc become even more unwatchable when football season comes around. Was it just last week when, during the FOX Saturday game, THE national broadcast of MLB, the announcers were going on about their fantasy football teams?

[60] No. But that is a loaded question--what do you mean, precisely?

One of the best things about LA ... no NFL team.

We've still got UCLA and USC, which tends to fill the void, but it seems like baseball's climax gets more of the attention it deserves than in other places.

[61] i don't hate the steelers either. I watch now and then. also, a great time to go shopping!!

damn you Bartlett!

[62] i love, love football!! damn nice play. ouch. anyway, back to football. i just love this time o fyear. baseball pennant/playoffs, football starts, beautiful forests!!

[62] "loke" Is that more of that French-Candadian nonsense? Mon Dieu! : D

woo hoo! was upton jogging?

Was Upton totally fooled on that hit? It looked like he thought it was out of the park...or is he just playing so shallow that he knew he had no chance?

hmmmmm, I think Upton may be looking @ a benching...

[68] Yep. It's "like" with a French-Canadian lilt.

you can't lose the first set every time right? crazy.

Yo! What's up with Upton?? He didn't even try to go after that and let it bounce over the wall. Who does he think he is, Manny?

I don't watch many games. Do opposing teams use any sort of reverse-shift when Teix bats RH?

[63] yeah i jusr re-read the question, sorry to phrase it that way.

i am mostly referring to this statement:

b) to find the data to prove the existence of awesomeness.

i know there is some tongue and cheek to this example with the idea of "awesomeness," but some concepts or traits or whatever may not have quantitaive data to prove their existence or capture their significance.

[74] I'm in the kitchen cooking beef stew, so I'm watching but away from the computer. If I seem a bit disjointed or such, that's why >;)

[75] no - just lh

I hate to be annoying (false, as you all know), but observable isn't the same as quantifiable.

[77] Yum. Perfect for a cool September day. Lots of onions, I hope.

Was there any word on Robertson today?

burrell is quite slow - i was a wee bit worried the yanks wold sign him in the off-season - thank cashman they didn't and ended up with swsiher and tex instead

[80] Sorry, not a lot. Onions and I don't necessarily agree, but we do have an understanding. Still, I'd put my beef stew up against anyone else.

[81] he's not seeing andrews until tomorrow

[82] Still a bit surprised the Mutts didn't get Ibanez, but that will wear off completely by the end of the week...

NFL...yawn....not a more revolting breed on earth than "genius" football coaches..

Upton yanked from the game!

Think it's nap time here..

[84] Thanks. I definitely have my fingers crossed.

[76] My example was aimed at a prior discussion with Hawk, in which (s)he stated that Hughes was in no way as intimidating as Joba as a reliever. Now, in and of itself this is an innocuous claim. But it was lodged in a larger discussion of the proper role of each pitcher.

In cases such as this--where a (baseball) policy decision is tied to the claim (e.g., moving Joba to the pen, or starting Nady over Swisher, or trading away A-Rod, etc)--I think that it is incumbent on the claimant to justify the claim. Or, more importantly, to justify the decision that may derive largely from the claim.

So, I have no problem with someone claiming that Jeter is more awesome than A-Rod, or that (s)he feels that Joba is more intimidating than Hughes, or whatever. Hell, my favorite player of all time is Mattingly. But I also believe that if I make a claim, such as Mattingly is better than McGwire, I have an obligation to defend that statement with more than just "because I think so". And if I promote a particular personnel decision (Hughes should be a starter because he is cool), I am doubly obligated to define "cool" and its effects, and prove those effects exist.

[79] Technically true. But when we are talking baseball, especially on this site with the very clever folks who post, either the observable is quantifiable (how many HRs has A-Rod hit) or its effects are quantifiable (CC is a tough pitcher, demonstrated by his low batting average against)...or at the very least, the expected effects of an observation can be quantified (winning big creates momentum, so we might expect teams to have a higher win % in games after winning a blowout).

[75] I know that shifts are harder against RH batters, because you need to keep the 1B at home. Still, it seems that extreme shifts are far more common against LH than RH. I wonder why? I wonder if LH have more pronounced pull tendencies, because they face more opposite hand pitchers or the like?

[54] Ha! I know your story is a fake - because you misspelled "Santa Claus". Try again, saboteur!

[88] Right, in a baseball context, I wouldn't really insist on the distinction.
A simple, maybe oversimplified way to state the main point: if something (awesomeness, intimidation, grit, ...) has effects that make a difference we care about, then there should be no problem in principle quantifying those effects. They're going to be in the form of runs, runs prevented, stuff like that.

[86] Not surprised they pulled Upton, but I missed it; did Maddon pinch-hit for him or did he do a Billy and yank him after the play?

[89] I'm almost sure that lefties do have more pronounced pull tendencies, though I don't know exactly why. All the famous shifts have been against lefties. And you're right, leaving the 1B home doesn't explain enough, since e.g. the Rays shifted against Teix with Jeter on second (so they had to leave Longoria near third).

Chyll, my stew involves large quantities of onions. (It's basically whatever I remember and feel like doing from Julia Child's recipe.)

[50] Using "awesomeness" there really amounts to a straw man argument. It seems condescending, at least. Then you say "I guess we approach things differently"! Yeah "differently": I'm an airhead valley girl and you're a rocket scientist, right? ; )

[93] In the old days, they used to say that lefties tended to be more low ball hitters. Again, I never understood why, though maybe the two are related.

I might speculate that it has something to do with more lefties being self-taught as opposed to natural LH batters? If so, would having your dominant (natural) hand on the bottom of the bat create more of a "pull" swing?

[89] [93] isn't the "hot zone" for most lefties low and inside - which would be a location that lends itself to pulling the ball

Blimpie's just doesn't look like real food. It's like Subway Light®... (and I won't even begin on Subway...)

Hello, Lou!

Cheers, Captain. : D

::stands ... applaudes::

A solid hit, too.

[76] See, I think all those things are quantifiable. No-one has figured it out, but if it exists, it's measurable. Some people seem to think if it hasn't been measured already, then it must not exist, or at least must not be important. I just think it would be such an incredibly complex thing to quantify, no-one's going to bother. Stat heads are content to dismiss these things, and people like me are content to discuss them without stats. This dynamic has been demonstrated tonight, in fact.

jetes!!!

[95] Using “awesomeness” there really amounts to a straw man argument. It seems condescending, at least.

Condescending, perhaps. But more or less parallel to intimidation as an analytical term, which was my point.

Then you say “I guess we approach things differently”! Yeah “differently”: I’m an airhead valley girl and you’re a rocket scientist, right? ; )

Not at all. I pointed out the difference: you feel that a person who makes a claim is less obligated to defend the claim (the burden of proof is on other people to find the proof). I tend to see the burden of proof falling on the claimant. You seem to start from a premise or claim, and assume that there must be evidence out there to support it, if only one looks hard enough. If the evidence at hand does not support the claim, then the evidence is flawed in some way. Yours is largely deductive reasoning. I tend to start with the evidence at hand and draw conclusions from that. Mine is largely inductive reasoning.

Simply different ways of approaching a problem.

Now it's time to finish being shut out by this doofus. N(ew)ieman!!!!

Bring em in, guys!

Damon should steal.

[103] I don't think that's right. When stat heads think about something that nobody has quantified, and they wonder whether it's real, they try to measure it. (For example, the "clutch" factor.)

I think that's very admirable. The converse, "I just know it and I don't have to investigate further," I find depressing.

It's also really important to remember (and this is what I think monkeypants was pointing out with the "awesomeness" example) that although there are plenty of real qualities that nobody's measured, there are also plenty of bullshit concepts that people use honestly thinking they're talking about something real. The stat heads of the world are the people who work to see which is which.

Dammit.

[88] thanks for your take mp. i appreciate where you are coming from and i believe i have a healthy respect for numbers and stats. hell i have used econometric modelling enough to back-up my theories and have appreciated being able to quantitatevly discuss certain concepts; but i do think some concepts are more amorphous and are not necessarily quantifiable. though i will say that i think in baseball you are able to quantitatively measure a vast bulk of things.

I guess that [109] was my official Why I Like Geeks comment.

[103] That is a strawman argument. You assume a priorithat such factors as "intimidation" exist (or, more to the specific case, that Joba was more intimidating than Hughes) even if there is no existing evidence. You did not pose it as a hypothesis. And when presented with counter-evidence, that evidence was dismissed along with the approach.

"Stat heads" (a pejorative term) are not uncurious or merely satisfied with existing data. At least not this one. In fact, the opposite. When presented with a claim (Joba intimidation > Hughes intimidation), I attempted to find evidence. If he was more intimidating, surely this would show up in K rates or ERA or opposing batting average. If not, then I drew the plausible conclusion that the premise was flawed.

But I still believe that the burden of proof falls on the claimant. It's not my job to find the evidence to prove your supposition, nor am I dismissive or uncurious if I do not feel that there is sufficient evidence to make the claim.

[112] Can we be friends?

This game has been maddening!

I love that I am still amazed at how good Jeter is and has been. We all know he isn't the greatest of all time or anything, but he has been so consistently good, for so long, for only the Yankees that, every once in awhile, I'm just astonished about how lucky we are as fans to have #2.

JETER!!!!!!

i heard the hit on the radio in the car. i saw the quick replay at the end of the inning. i hope to catch the full AB and reaction later, either online or a tv highlight.

his next hit is even bigger! : )

how'd Joba do? i'm just getting in and will catch up soon. who'll be the walk-off hero tonight?!

I saw a link someplace to an article about how Jeter's swing changed after his 2003 injury...does anyone know what site that was on?

albie always finds a way to sucker me back

[116] Jeter in the 10th. Why not, right?

This is a loss (assuming it is) I can stand, actually. Plenty of good news and feel-good stuff, including a head-scratchingly good bullpen performance, and maybe Joba is starting to find his way. And Jeter.

[119] I like your thinking!

i don't think this is chess, maybe checkers?

[122] Maybe because he realizes his lefty sucks?

[121] Prove it. ; )

Pinch runner. Bring on Pena.

crown matsui

[105] "Awesomeness" is a parallel to intimidation only on the most technical level. I don't know what you mean precisely by "analytical" but "awesomeness" is used as a general good/bad, thumbs up/thumbs down value indicator. It is also a discrete descriptor; it does not necessitate anything from any other party except the one saying "awesome". (To say someone is "intimidating" suggests an effect on other parties.)

Not only that but "awesomeness" has a clear connotation of thoughtlessness, having been used in countless valley girl/Wayne's World type of jokes, etc. It's brainless teenage slang, or at least that's its pedigree.

I don't think the two words are at all comparable for the terms of the discussion, except to be condescending and make the other person's argument look like something other than what it is, hence my accurate use of the term "straw man".

I think your second paragraph really shows the crux of a misunderstanding. I certainly do not make claims assuming there must be evidence. Why would I make a claim if I didn't see evidence for it already? There would be nothing to motivate such a claim. No, the difference in approach is you want premises or claims to adhere to your chosen form of evidence. I find that form of evidence to be insufficient to come to certain conclusions, for various reasons, depending on the case.

Please don't bunt...

[124] Well played [polite tennis applause].

: )

Or Jr. As long as old creaky knees is resting. Holy shit. Go dye your hair Maddon.

I would love to see Jeter pass Pete Rose for all-time hits.

suh-weet!!! : )

He threw it away! He threw it away!

Gosh, I think I picked the right time to turn this game on. =)

i almost feel sorry for the rays with how things are going for them this year and possibly, repeat possibly trending

[123] Wait for it...

[120] I humbly bow before the baseball gods, even though I did say "assuming". I prostrate myself before Nick Swisher (which seems kind of dangerous now that I think of it). I beg the Captain's forgiveness.

Let's get the W! SCORE TRUCK TIME!

[127] No, the difference in approach is you want premises or claims to adhere to your chosen form of evidence.

No. I a) want premises to be adhere to some, any form of evidence (that is not self-referential), and b) do not feel the burden of proof falls on the audience but rather on the claimant.

[122] Maybe tic-tac-toe. I think checkers is a little over their heads, honestly.

[131] me too!

today won't mean a thing to Derek unless we win...

let's WIN !!!

Shithouse.

Oh shut up, Michael.

I WANT TO GO AHEAD.

Damn.

Oh, hey, smart move! Now it's checkers.

HIP-HIP

do it up, Jorge!!!

Shithouse out

Ball Four in

[142] wait maddon with a move - maybe now it's connect 4

My son just pointed out that it might be smarter to let Brett bat, because he's unlikely to GIDP.

[145] Oh let's face it, it's just scissor-paper-rock.

This game is on ESPN. After Jeters hit, miraculously, none of the commentators said a word. They allowed the picture with just the crowd noise for quite a while. A nice moment from the (usually) butchers at ESPN.

[147] You sunk my battleship!

[146] Interesting point.

not sure why, but this feels like October to me.

i guess it's good practice...

[146] Does he play chess?

; )

[152] Does he ever.

Come on, Jorgie!!

[148] i hope they show the entire highlight later. and that kruk doesn't ruin it...

[147] Mille Bornes!!! ; )

[103] That is a strawman argument. You assume a priorithat such factors as “intimidation” exist (or, more to the specific case, that Joba was more intimidating than Hughes) even if there is no existing evidence. You did not pose it as a hypothesis. And when presented with counter-evidence, that evidence was dismissed along with the approach.

It sounds an awful lot like you are claiming that intimidation doesn't factor into performance. I don't know what kind of evidence you require, but I don't feel compelled to rethink that particular point. Call it an assumption if you want but intimidation exists and means something in the game of baseball. There is tons of anecdotal evidence of this, and if you haven't heard anyone talk or write about it in general, I don't know what to tell you. As far as Chamberlain's intimidation factor (and subsequent lack thereof), that has been written and talked about as well.

I don't think there was any evidence provided that contradicted the idea that Chamberlain is more intimidating than Hughes out of the bullpen, so I couldn't have dismissed it. And even if I had dismissed it, that would not be a straw man argument. A straw man argument would require me to reframe your argument in a disingenuous, easily refutable way. I didn't do that, I don't think.

Stat head is only a pejorative term for those who are wrapped up in its orthodoxy. I don't have a problem with statistics nor statisticians. I have Baseball Reference bookmarked and everything.

jorge jorge hip hip

Unfuckingbelievable. Whoo-hoo.

HIP-HIP HELL YEAH!!!!

[154] Coup-Fourré!!

King Me! er, Check Mate!, uh...Gin!

THAT ONE WAS FOR JETER!
HIP HIP !!!!!!!!!!!!!

JORGE!!!

i fucking LOVE this team!!!

now, his buddy Derek can enjoy his achievement!!! : )

jorge posada in the stadium with the bat

[157] Perfect. Unbefuckinglievable.

Now, co-pie tonight???

[159] nice, dude! i'll have to go thru those cards when i go home to NY for Turkey Day.

ooh, i really hope Derek gets it here. i wanna see it!!!

[164] A fucking lead pipe, baby.

If they weren't winning I would not be suprised to see him lay down another bunt. C'mon Jeter.

i'm standing

float one up there for him!

The Baltimore BP does it again. Sox up 7-4.

[137] Well there ya go! My bad, I should have mentioned the evidence, which I refer to in [155]. I honestly don't think evidence was actually requested, but now everyone's on the same page - sweet.

Boo-ing a walk, hahaha.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!

[171] fuck.

Worst. Walk. Ever...

Shit. Off day tomorrow. Rats. Friday @ 7:25 sounds good. This team hasn't lost much lately. Wow. This is the first game I've watched on a school night since June. Things weren't as rosy back then. Awesome.

So very exciting ... Jeter makes me love this game. I'll admit it.

I'm kind of happy about that walk, myself. There's something nice about having Jeter share with Lou for a day (at least).

saw Jorgie's home run, then Jeter's walk. now NHK-tv here has cut to Mariners-Angels...double yawn! Oh well, am sure Mo will close it out. will watch Ichiro lead off then get to that important nap!

Man they are really overselling this hits record thing, throwing Jeter's face up next to Gehrig, Ruth. I love Jeter and all but come on now.

bruney time

[155] There is tons of anecdotal evidence of this, and if you haven’t heard anyone talk or write about it in general, I don’t know what to tell you.

Ah, but did not claim that Joba was intimidating...you claimed he was MORE intimidating than Hughes. One would expect this intimidation factor to show up, but (as I demonstrated) it does not seem to.

So, I will willingly grant that intimidation exists. I will not, however, grant that Joba-Reliever is more Intimidating than Hughes-Reliever, unless a compelling case can be made. Most importantly, I would not advocate making decisions about their relative roles based until the burden of proof is met.

===

As for the larger point: yes, there is plenty of anecdotal evidence that intimidation exists, or that A-Rod is not clutch, or that bunting is winning baseball, that HRs kill rallies, that walks clog the bases, Jeter is a great defensive short stop, and so forth. Some widely held assumptions--for which there is lots of anecdotal evidence (e.g. Joe Morgan says so, or I saw Jeter make a jump throw)--are shown to be tenuous at best, and often simply wrong, when non-anecdotal evidence is examined.

Returning one last time to our case study, intimidation: I suspect that Hughes is every bit as intimidating as Joba, and this shows up in their equal levels of success on the field as reliever.s I suspect that the greater amount of anecdotal evidence about Joba's intimidation is due to the dramatic way in which he was dropped into the bullpen in 2007, the infamous Joba Rules, the T-Shirts, etc. There is, I suspect, more legend than reality involved.

Why is Brian Bruney in a close game?

[179] i hear ya, but i wanted to see it live. that won't happen now...

Ace & Albie sure did kick some major ass tonight!

huh, it's Bruney. fasten your seatbelts, people!

[181] On this, I agree with you entirely! Assuming the game ends as expected, they get to milk this for another game!

[179] Next game is gonna be Standing Room Only. The media here will be insufferable. Traffic will be unbelievable.

Yummy! >;)

Hey it's Buzz Kill Bruney. Seriously, dude. WTF!!!!!

wait a minute, Jeter got his 300th stolen base tonight?!?!?! how come no one told me?!

he has 25 this season. i think that's his 300th. WOW!!! love it!!! :)

fuck you, BB

whew. scary.

[179] And I'm going to the game on Friday, so I get to see it

[189] Suzyn announced the 300th.

Girardi adopts the unusual tactic of racing his king out to the middle of the board.
Oddly, it appears to be working!

1 more.

checkmate.

it's Cokey

Seriously, why is Mo not in this game? Anybody? Did I miss something?

[193] Creve!

[194] nothing has been said yet - my speculation is maybe they don't want to use him back-to-back yet

[194] I think it has to do with not being able to castle through check?

[192] that's HUGE!!! only 155 players have ever amassed 300 SB's. A-Rod & Mike Cameron on super close. believe it or not, Edgar Renteria is next in line. Beltran and Figgins are kinds close, too...

Jeter 1 of 15 to accrue 200 HR, 300 SB, 2,000 Hits (A-Rod soon. 300-300 for him, also)

my mk you are a twit sometimes - every other player than gehrig has been in his rear view for some time now

Joba picked a good start to be rather mediocre. again. harrumph.