Arbitrary Sample Size

One of the most annoying things to do in sports is listen to announcers talk with arbitrary sample size. For instance, tonight, the Philadelphia Phillies announcers announced that the Phillies are batting 0.172 in September. Wow, really? September is four games old. And what is the problem? Sample size.

Less Phillies, More Mariners

The title really says my intentions. See, there are so many blogs about the Phillies, and not so many about the Mariners. This means a few things:

1. I can’t think of anything to say that someone else hasn’t already. And, as I’ve discovered, just ranting doesn’t really make me feel better.
2. I do enjoy the Mariners. That was true before I met Andrew. If I’d had to pick a team to follow in the American League, they would have been it.

Back to the task at hand, what I’m hoping this means for me is that I can finally find something else to write about that isn’t being spammed by legions of obsessive, rude Phillies fans.

Walk Off Wins

Tonight the Phillies won their third walk off game in as many nights. I don’t really have much to say on that. Other than, we’re not headed anywhere special, but it’s nice to see some heart. Because that’s not quantifiable.

Future Plans

Bryce: So, here we are, Andrew. Halfway (a little more) through the season. The trade deadline is at the end of the month. Both of our teams are in sorry shape. Yours more so, but we are where we are. Let’s take stock. The Mariners are 43-52. As far as the world is concerned, they’ve got one good player in Felix Hernandez. He’s under contract for $20.5 million this year. Total, their team owes 73.5 million dollars in payroll this year. Are the Mariners buyers or sellers? Or do they just stay put?

Andrew: The Mariners payroll this year is actually closer to $85 mil (they’re still paying Chone Figgins $8.5 million this year… sad), but that’s money that’s already been spent. Obviously, the Mariners have had a disappointing first half, and I think almost everyone would agree that they should be ‘sellers’. That being said, they don’t necessarily have A TON to sell.

Ryan Howard – Why Hitting the Ball Hard Isn’t Enough

On the subject of hitting, Batting Average (BA) tends to hide a lot of facts. For instance, is a player striking the ball hard and making solid contact. After all, that should be a good sign that you’re doing something right when at the plate. Unless your name is Ryan Howard. Then it means that hard contact is expected and doesn’t matter, because the fielding is positioned in such a way as to make your batting average cry. He hits the ball, I kid you not, directly at the defense. Of course, maybe that means the ball is catching the fielder. Not that it matters, his ass is still out, usually with no well regard for how well said ball was struck.

I’m not saying Ryan Howard is a bad hitter. No-Wait… Yes. Yes, I am! For 20 million dollars a year, I definitely am.