Tom Brady's in the early days of separation and divorce. That's my guess why he's poppin' his top so much. Guy lives in a fishbowl. Pretty amazing how "cool" he's managed to stay throughout the years. But is it worth it to lose a long marriage to a beautiful wife over one more not-very-necessary season of football? He does come across awfully vain sometimes, but that's also a hallmark characteristic of super models, so I doubt he's the only vain person in that marriage. Tabloids are having a field day with his private life right now. Not fun. It drives me crazy when that happens to me. I have to exit by the side door of my Motel 6 to avoid the papparazi when it gets really bad.
I was a billion percent certain you were referring to the Stones, not the Doors. Imagine my chagrin when, for the umpteenth time, you made the wrong choice. Oh well, some people never learn despite the world's efforts to enlighten them. The Stones are frat house, bad-boy, teenagey hard rock. The Doors are moody, LA adults-only sexy, spooky acidy. Gotta go with Doors over Stones every day of the week.
Oct 18, 2022·edited Oct 18, 2022Liked by Paul Daugherty
Imagine if Sparky went totally by analytics … he would have pinch hit for Big Doggie in the sixth with Bill Lee on the mound. Instead, he had trust in Perez and Perez paid off that trust by depositing Lee’s eephus pitch over the Green Monster. And the rest of the ‘75 Series is history.
But analytics would have told a story of Perez missing that very pitch twice before in the series from Lee, and likely would have resulted today in a pinch hitter from managers who don’t trust their gut or instincts. In today’s game, it feels like Francona in Cleveland is the only “gut” manager around.
Have analytics always been around to a point in baseball? Sure. I’m not putting a pinch hitter who is .023 career against, say, Dennis Eckersley in the bottom of the ninth. But, the reliance on analytics today is akin to playing the percentages they show at the roulette tables, of what has hit the most. End result? You still end up losing more than you win.
And a happy birthday to Jillian! Looking forward to starting your book about her and your family’s journey this week!
Empire of Pain explores the story behind Perdue Pharma and how the Sackler family got us hooked on oxy. Great read. However, by the end of the book, you will be outraged at how this could happen.
I carry a small, damp towel in my back pocket to clean my golf ball when I get to the green. And a drenched towel on my push cart (usually) or golf cart to clean clubs and balls. I find that the ball washers at places I play are either empty or broken. Since I walk most of the time, no sweat, but it is annoying when you belong to a private club.
Jeff Sagarin and Wayne Winston basically created the player analytics the NBA leans so heavily on now (the plus/minus column in extended stat sheets and box scores is essentially their creation). Since both lived in Bloomington when they created their model, they approached Bob Knight about test driving it with his Hoosiers. I'm not quoting here, but Knight basically told him their numbers wouldn't tell him anything he didn't know about his players. Long story short, they started working with Mark Cuban (who Winston knew from his days in Bloomington), and the Dallas Mavericks were their guinea pigs.
Speaking of Sagarin, he's a great guy. If you ever get the chance you should ask him about his conversations with Knight about Ted Williams and Willie Mays.
Love the TML. Don't have to wade through the Enquirer to get there.
My favorite book:
"Beyond the River: The Untold Story of the Heroes of the Underground Railroad"
by Ann Hagedorn. Approximately 300 pages.
It's about the Underground Railroad, which was conducted through Ripley, Ohio - one hour up the river. The things people - white and black - went through in order to free slaves in the years before the Civil War were amazing. If you want a preview, drive to Ripley and tour the John Rankin and John Parker houses, and take the tour. You will be amazed. Reading the book made me question whether I had done anything worthwhile in my life. (I decided have, but not on that scale.)
And Ripley is beautiful. The author liked it so much she moved there.
I don't see the problem with spitting into a gross golf towel and rubbing the ball into it until 'clean'.
I used to play a ton of golf and once saw a random playing partner pop the ball in his mouth, swish it around, spit it out and dry it off. He did this three times until I felt compelled to quietly tell him about the chemicals used to treat golf courses, and that the course used non potable water for irrigation. Eeeeks.
I give leeway to the current best players. It's not cool to be a jerk, but if you're currently the best on the planet, okay. Tom Brady is no longer on that level. Plus, he's starting to look like a Real Housewife, in addition to acting like one.
Did you coin or borrow that Saturn's rings line? That was good.
"Why would a manager allow numbers to replace his hard-earned intuition?"
Isn't this the inverse of your longstanding argument for coaches going for it on fourth down more often?
Curtis Strange's dad Tom was, I believe a club pro. He walked around with golf tees in his mouth. Got mouth cancer... I coined Saturn, or whatever you'd like to call it... my go for it appeals date back well before analytics.
For myself, the game of baseball has lost much of its allure due to analytics; overshifts; the strikeout/home run approach; the lack of speed in the game on offense and defense; the agonizingly slow pace of play, and most of all, the five-inning starter. I reference your stat line on Sandy Koufax. I have no doubt that Greg Maddox, for instance, would have been successful in any era because he understood location, changing speeds, throwing good strikes, and working ahead in the count. I don't think that pitchers of other eras worried too much about seeing a guy for the second time that they had already gotten out once. I would also offer that, analytically, it is highly unlikely that a Team would have 12-15 quality pitchers as opposed to a stout rotation and a couple late inning guys, with the remainder being cannon fodder or mop-up guys.
As for literary endeavors I highly recommend "The Warmth of Other Suns" by Isabel Wilkerson, which I am currently reading. She digs deep into the movement of about 6,000,000 souls from the American South to "anywhere but there" between 1915-1970, roughly. The story of "The Great Migration" is not one of the more discussed aspects of the 20th century. Ms. Wilkerson takes us on that journey through the eyes of three people that actually lived it. Well written, well-sourced, and a compelling read.
Good book tip, Greg. I read the Amazon synopsis a minute ago. What I guessed it's about is what it is about. Looks like a very worthwhile and enlightening read.
Remember how arrogant the Saber Worshipping crowd was 15-20 years ago, in the early days? They were convinced of their superior brilliance and intellectual acumen. Many seemed like guys who hadn't played much and wanted a way to prove they belonged, that they were actually misunderstood baseball geniuses. It was weird. Once every team bought in to metrics, the advantage of BillyBall was neutralized and the game just got duller, mechanistic, and way less intuitive, which is the one wonderful part of the game that is part shaman, part luck. The best managers are intuitive geniuses that mix feel, flow, and experience into a brew of enlightened guesswork that works a lot. I want that game back. After banning the shift, how bout banning laptops from the dugout? I rather watch a manager think and brood over a decision any day. The game needs more randomness, more illogical decisions. That will translate into more action, more surprises, and more fun for fans.
Enjoyable blog today. Brady missed the graceful exit his career deserves. Happy birthday Jillian!
Book Suggestion -- “The Greatest Beer Run Ever” by John “Chick” Donohue and J.T. Molloy
The High Sierra A Love Story Kim Stanley Robinson a great book to read in stages
Tom Brady's in the early days of separation and divorce. That's my guess why he's poppin' his top so much. Guy lives in a fishbowl. Pretty amazing how "cool" he's managed to stay throughout the years. But is it worth it to lose a long marriage to a beautiful wife over one more not-very-necessary season of football? He does come across awfully vain sometimes, but that's also a hallmark characteristic of super models, so I doubt he's the only vain person in that marriage. Tabloids are having a field day with his private life right now. Not fun. It drives me crazy when that happens to me. I have to exit by the side door of my Motel 6 to avoid the papparazi when it gets really bad.
I was a billion percent certain you were referring to the Stones, not the Doors. Imagine my chagrin when, for the umpteenth time, you made the wrong choice. Oh well, some people never learn despite the world's efforts to enlighten them. The Stones are frat house, bad-boy, teenagey hard rock. The Doors are moody, LA adults-only sexy, spooky acidy. Gotta go with Doors over Stones every day of the week.
How is this not the most liked comment today?
Haha
Imagine if Sparky went totally by analytics … he would have pinch hit for Big Doggie in the sixth with Bill Lee on the mound. Instead, he had trust in Perez and Perez paid off that trust by depositing Lee’s eephus pitch over the Green Monster. And the rest of the ‘75 Series is history.
But analytics would have told a story of Perez missing that very pitch twice before in the series from Lee, and likely would have resulted today in a pinch hitter from managers who don’t trust their gut or instincts. In today’s game, it feels like Francona in Cleveland is the only “gut” manager around.
Have analytics always been around to a point in baseball? Sure. I’m not putting a pinch hitter who is .023 career against, say, Dennis Eckersley in the bottom of the ninth. But, the reliance on analytics today is akin to playing the percentages they show at the roulette tables, of what has hit the most. End result? You still end up losing more than you win.
And a happy birthday to Jillian! Looking forward to starting your book about her and your family’s journey this week!
Excellent. I haven’t heard the term eephus pitch used in a long time. Of course, I haven’t had an eephus stream in a long time either. #OGproblems
Jack learns from his mother that Irwin was his father. The pioneers settle. There. You're done.
Empire of Pain explores the story behind Perdue Pharma and how the Sackler family got us hooked on oxy. Great read. However, by the end of the book, you will be outraged at how this could happen.
I never liked ball washers anyway. I'd rather use the shower.
Brady was in a bad mood because the NFL will soon add Botox to the banned substances list.
Dude is starting to look like the love child of a Skid Row Skeletor and Fred MacMurray.
I carry a small, damp towel in my back pocket to clean my golf ball when I get to the green. And a drenched towel on my push cart (usually) or golf cart to clean clubs and balls. I find that the ball washers at places I play are either empty or broken. Since I walk most of the time, no sweat, but it is annoying when you belong to a private club.
So great to read your work again. I've missed your column terribly.
Thank you. Welcome back
Jeff Sagarin and Wayne Winston basically created the player analytics the NBA leans so heavily on now (the plus/minus column in extended stat sheets and box scores is essentially their creation). Since both lived in Bloomington when they created their model, they approached Bob Knight about test driving it with his Hoosiers. I'm not quoting here, but Knight basically told him their numbers wouldn't tell him anything he didn't know about his players. Long story short, they started working with Mark Cuban (who Winston knew from his days in Bloomington), and the Dallas Mavericks were their guinea pigs.
Speaking of Sagarin, he's a great guy. If you ever get the chance you should ask him about his conversations with Knight about Ted Williams and Willie Mays.
Knight was fishing buds w/Williams.
And I miss the ball washers.
I hear they still have them on Trump's courses when he plays. They put a Republican Senator on each tee box. RIMSHOT!
Hi, Paul,
Love the TML. Don't have to wade through the Enquirer to get there.
My favorite book:
"Beyond the River: The Untold Story of the Heroes of the Underground Railroad"
by Ann Hagedorn. Approximately 300 pages.
It's about the Underground Railroad, which was conducted through Ripley, Ohio - one hour up the river. The things people - white and black - went through in order to free slaves in the years before the Civil War were amazing. If you want a preview, drive to Ripley and tour the John Rankin and John Parker houses, and take the tour. You will be amazed. Reading the book made me question whether I had done anything worthwhile in my life. (I decided have, but not on that scale.)
And Ripley is beautiful. The author liked it so much she moved there.
Been through Ripley a bunch. I'll have to stop next time
I don't see the problem with spitting into a gross golf towel and rubbing the ball into it until 'clean'.
I used to play a ton of golf and once saw a random playing partner pop the ball in his mouth, swish it around, spit it out and dry it off. He did this three times until I felt compelled to quietly tell him about the chemicals used to treat golf courses, and that the course used non potable water for irrigation. Eeeeks.
I give leeway to the current best players. It's not cool to be a jerk, but if you're currently the best on the planet, okay. Tom Brady is no longer on that level. Plus, he's starting to look like a Real Housewife, in addition to acting like one.
Did you coin or borrow that Saturn's rings line? That was good.
"Why would a manager allow numbers to replace his hard-earned intuition?"
Isn't this the inverse of your longstanding argument for coaches going for it on fourth down more often?
Curtis Strange's dad Tom was, I believe a club pro. He walked around with golf tees in his mouth. Got mouth cancer... I coined Saturn, or whatever you'd like to call it... my go for it appeals date back well before analytics.
For myself, the game of baseball has lost much of its allure due to analytics; overshifts; the strikeout/home run approach; the lack of speed in the game on offense and defense; the agonizingly slow pace of play, and most of all, the five-inning starter. I reference your stat line on Sandy Koufax. I have no doubt that Greg Maddox, for instance, would have been successful in any era because he understood location, changing speeds, throwing good strikes, and working ahead in the count. I don't think that pitchers of other eras worried too much about seeing a guy for the second time that they had already gotten out once. I would also offer that, analytically, it is highly unlikely that a Team would have 12-15 quality pitchers as opposed to a stout rotation and a couple late inning guys, with the remainder being cannon fodder or mop-up guys.
As for literary endeavors I highly recommend "The Warmth of Other Suns" by Isabel Wilkerson, which I am currently reading. She digs deep into the movement of about 6,000,000 souls from the American South to "anywhere but there" between 1915-1970, roughly. The story of "The Great Migration" is not one of the more discussed aspects of the 20th century. Ms. Wilkerson takes us on that journey through the eyes of three people that actually lived it. Well written, well-sourced, and a compelling read.
Good book tip, Greg. I read the Amazon synopsis a minute ago. What I guessed it's about is what it is about. Looks like a very worthwhile and enlightening read.
Remember how arrogant the Saber Worshipping crowd was 15-20 years ago, in the early days? They were convinced of their superior brilliance and intellectual acumen. Many seemed like guys who hadn't played much and wanted a way to prove they belonged, that they were actually misunderstood baseball geniuses. It was weird. Once every team bought in to metrics, the advantage of BillyBall was neutralized and the game just got duller, mechanistic, and way less intuitive, which is the one wonderful part of the game that is part shaman, part luck. The best managers are intuitive geniuses that mix feel, flow, and experience into a brew of enlightened guesswork that works a lot. I want that game back. After banning the shift, how bout banning laptops from the dugout? I rather watch a manager think and brood over a decision any day. The game needs more randomness, more illogical decisions. That will translate into more action, more surprises, and more fun for fans.
Ban the dugout laptop. Great idea.