January 2016
New WNBA video promotes women’s basketball
Posted by InsideSeattleBa... on 01/31/16
2 Comments
After so many people cried foul over Jewell Loyd leaving college early to join the WNBA—something that would likely not occur when any young man is considered for the NBA—the topics of women’s sports, gender equality and fair pay for athletes is more on everyone’s mind s than ever, as it should be: WNBA players are paid significantly less than their NBA counterparts, sometimes just a bit more than minimum wage. As Loyd has displayed through her merchandise, partnerships with major sports apparel companies, Rookie Player of the Year award and other accolades, the risk is worth it when you are... Read More
Spokane wins by one goal
Posted by SeattleHockeyInsider on 01/31/16
It was a loss, but it was a great game. On Friday night, the Spokane Chiefs barely took the game from the Seattle Thunderbirds by a slim margin of 5-4 when the two teams had it out at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena. It was a tight, intense game with the Birds leading most of the way and it was obvious that both teams played their hearts out the entire night.
During the first period, the Birds scored the first goal. Mathew Barzal stole goalie Tyson Verhelst’s pass, redirecting the puck back into the net and setting the tone for the close game all evening. Outshooting the Chiefs 11-8... Read More
Posted by jschario on 01/30/16
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The Seahawks have done a good job of retaining the talent on their roster, especially the core talent that has driven and will continue to drive the success of the organization. Of course the names that undoubtedly belong in that core group are Russell Wilson, Marshawn Lynch (at least he used to be), Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas, Kam Chancellor and after this past season Michael Bennett has solidified his position within that group.
Though one of those players within the core could be on their way out. Not only that, but it could be a pillar within the Legion of Boom.
Kam Chancellor did not... Read More
Have you checked out this part of the T-Bird site?
Posted by SeattleHockeyInsider on 01/30/16
2 Comments
You probably know the T-Birds’ website front to back by now. You may have used it to buy tickets, get your Seattle Thunderbird merchandise and keep up with everything team related. But have you checked out the Player Retrospective section?
Under the “Video Zone” on the homepage of the Seattle Thunderbirds website, there is a section called Player Highlights. When you click there, you can see a bunch of fun videos of players both currently on the team as well as ones who’ve moved on to the big leagues or elsewhere. You might learn some player facts that you’ve never even heard about before.... Read More
inquiring minds want to know
Posted by jemanji on 01/30/16
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6 Comments
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My own local version of Soccer Mom axed me this question today. Are the M's gonna do good this year. Just like you, I had no idea how to answer. This is the phenomenon known as "paralysis by analysis":
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Analysis paralysis or paralysis by analysis is an anti-pattern, the state of over-analyzing (or over-thinking) a situation so that a decision or action is never taken, in effect paralyzing the outcome. A decision can be treated as over-complicated, with too many detailed options, so that a choice is never made, rather than try something and change if a major problem arises. A person... Read More
not that the M's scrum is crystal clear just yet
Posted by jemanji on 01/30/16
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4 Comments
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HMMMMmmmmm this stopped me short.
For five years, the depth chart on the M's website has normally been (a) 45 days obsolete, (b) almost completely senseless, or worse (c) evocative of something Dr. D might suggest. But we hopped through the page, intending a 4-second stick, just to get 7-8 rotation names and ... Whhhaaaaaa? Looks like a real depth chart! And it boasts the "LAST VERIFIED JAN. 30" banner top left! Granted, it's also got the disclaimer top right, but you can imagine why the M's want plausible deniability if Luis Sardinas moans and groans about a web page.
Even if the... Read More
Team was quick to work together
Posted by SeattleSoccerInsider on 01/30/16
A lot of Rave Green fans have expressed concern about the Seattle Sounders this season in terms of cohesion. The team is brimming with new players, some of whom are complete rookies, and there seem to be more unfamiliar faces than familiar ones. It is a legitimate concern with the amount of fresh blood on the team. The Sounders, however, are well into season training and Seattle Sounders head coach Sigi Schmid says that the team is already buff and ready to play, and that they are already playing as a unit rather well.
In fact, Schmid says that he is impressed with the rate of cooperation and... Read More
a three-pointer either way should do it
Posted by jemanji on 01/30/16
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96 Comments
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In 2012, after Obama beat Romney, James wrote a political piece that included this good-natured chide:
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Post-Election and Sportscasters
In a basketball game, if one team jumps off to a 20-11 lead and holds the lead until late in the game, the broadcast color man in most cases—19 times out of 20—will spend most of the game browbeating everything that the trailing team does. They can be trailing 83-78 with two minutes to play, and the announcer will still be dogging them: They have no energy, their offense is out of sync, they’re not taking care of the ball, they’re not blocking out on... Read More
Barcelona and Atlético duel for first place
Posted by jschario on 01/29/16
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A weekend of epic implications looms in Spain this Saturday as Atlético Madrid and Barcelona face off for sole possession of first place a top the Spanish league. Both teams are currently tied for first.
Each team finds itself on opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of confidence heading into their match at the Camp Nou in Barcelona. Atlético was stunned during the week in their Copa del Rey tournament match against Celta Vigo, losing 3-2 at home and thus losing the aggregate 3-2 after drawing 0-0 in Vigo. Barça meanwhile easily dispatched Athletic Bilbao 3-1 in the final leg of their Cope... Read More
Breaking Down 2015
Posted by hawksinsider on 01/29/16
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Get your popcorn ready....
They came, they tried, and they did conquor...we'll conquered many, but not all
Seattle started off as bad as they could in 2015. Many were injured in the off season. Chancellor held out much of that offseason, oh yeah, and some regular season while the defense struggled. The line could not block, and the newly acquired gem Jimmy G could not settle into the Seattle offense.
In between, Seattle got back to what they knew. Graham went down to injury and somehow the team got better. Beastmode began to pick up some speed in his absence, and the receivers were suddenly... Read More
aka "Big Boy" in Korea
Posted by jemanji on 01/28/16
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16 Comments
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JUST THE FA'ACTS, MA'AM
BaseballHQ listed a dozen Pacific Rim prospects for 2016, including Kenta Maeda, Seung-hwan Oh and Dae-ho Lee. All HQ has on Lee is the stuff you'd get on RotoWorld or somesuch:
1) Dominated Korean baseball hilariously, including a 9-game HR streak that, um, broke Griffey's record
2) Transferred quite well to Japanese baseball, becoming a .280/.370/.525 hitter even in the Japanese "deadball era"
3) Has elevated his game in international contests (against new pitchers)
4) At age 33, it's now or never
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FOR THE MARINERS
Several sites are conjecturing the 3 teams have... Read More
What you need to know
Posted by SeattleSoccerInsider on 01/28/16
If you haven’t already purchased your Seattle Sounders season tickets, worry not. There is still plenty of time to purchase your seats to ensure you don’t miss a game. That said, the choice seats do fill up fast, so if you are eyeballing a great spot to watch the game, you might want to make sure you add it to your shopping cart ASAP.
The cheapest seats are going for $24, which is an unbeatable price for the benefits of a season ticketholder that come along with them, such as the 15% discount at the Sounders Pro Shop and your Alliance Member scarf. When you order, you get to attend all 17... Read More
Stiff road test in SoCal this weekend
Posted by jschario on 01/28/16
Hec Ed on the University of Washington campus is experiencing an atmosphere it has not seen in a long, long time.
And for good reason as the Huskies, picked to finish 11th in the Pac-12 before the start of the season, are tied for first place with no. 23 Oregon. To say they've been a surprise would be an understatement a especially considering last year's leader in scoring and assists Nigel Williams-Goss, transferred to Gonzaga. Nonetheless they've s they've beaten some strong opponents such as UCLA and Arizona State. On the other hand, they've lost to inferior opponents the likes of UC Santa... Read More
$20 per person for a night of fun
Posted by SeattleHockeyInsider on 01/28/16
2 Comments
Planning on watching the Seattle Thunderbirds take on the Spokane Chiefs at the ShoWare Center on February 19? Why not make it the event of the season by inviting 9 friends or family members along to enjoy a famous T-Bird Pub Night? It is a Friday night, perfect for getting together to watch the game with your coworkers and other T-Bird fans to get into the spirit. It’s also a great post-Valentine’s Day gift for someone special who may not be in town or available for Valentine’s Day weekend.
Just what do you get with a pub night package? Plenty. For $200, you and your guests receive your 10... Read More
DiPoto M's unbeaten, untied, and unscored upon
Posted by jemanji on 01/28/16
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10 Comments
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Bob Dutton must have gotten his over-medium eggs done tender but moist this morning. Dr. D counted at least six discreet "yeah baby" Tweets before he rushed off to an Arizona travel site. Hey, no cheering in the press box, babe. We are Journalists here, not sportswriters. Get with it behind the mixing board wouldja.
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Dut' Tweet: Dipoto says #Mariners will have two lefty relievers. Furbush expected to be one. Other candidates: Nuno, Montgomery, Hultzen and Fry.
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SSI denizens expect Furbush NOT to be one, based on his medical issues. However, the Mariners themselves are (1)... Read More
What works better for you, the global inefficiency or the local?
Posted by jemanji on 01/28/16
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5 Comments
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The first "market inefficiency" I remember was in the 1980s in Oakland, after Rickey got there. First Bill James, then Sandy Alderson reading Bill James, and then the rest of us became aware that BB's were awesome. For several years it seemed like a few sharp teams could purchase BB's for pennies on the dollar.
Market inefficiencies have since gone through several mail stops. Stars, believe it or not, were undervalued for quite a while, which actually caused the explosion in silly contracts. In the 1980s there were AstroTurf inefficiencies. UZR you know about. "Invisible bases"... Read More
After Martin, there are a lot of options...
Posted by Tacoma Rain on 01/28/16
12 Comments
While there is some debate about how long Martin will last for the Mariners, there is a bit of a discussion behind the scenes... If Martin is not the long term answer, then who is?
This may come as a bit of a shock to some of you, but Jack actually did start collecting some CF candidates. Moreover, Jerry has added to the collection as well. So who are these guys?
The List and where they will start (I think):
Tacoma - Boog Powell (bats & throws left)
Jackson - Ian Miller (bats left - throws right)
Bakersfield - Aaron Barbosa (bats left - throws right)
Clinton - Austin Cousino (bats and... Read More
Let's give some love to our 22-yr-old shortstop
Posted by jemanji on 01/28/16
Posted to blog
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All y'all longtime DOV season ticket holders probably remember Dr. Naka. He took the board deep with a prediction that Michael Morse would have a big league career. Morse was the 3rd player we got back for Freddy Garcia, after Miguel Olivo and Jeremy Reed? The Mainframe has a VR-chip recording of USSM walking around with Cheshire Cat grins on their faces for days, murmuring "What a great trade." Hey, if other sites are going to photo-brush Bill Bavasi into a Special Ed student, least we can do is remember that teaching moment.
Anyway, Dr. N insisted "physical talent is approximately the... Read More
synergy in the batting order?
Posted by jemanji on 01/28/16
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6 Comments
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There has been a spirited debate this last week or two about the disappearance of Rod Carew and Ichiro types. Guys who could hit .300-and-plenty while chipping the ball in front of the outfielders. They are rare nowadays, perhaps because nobody launches the bat quickly and then drags it through the zone in Wade Boggs fashion. A few guys lately have hit .300 with low power, Jose Altuve, Ben Revere, Marco Scutaro. It will be fun to see if Ketel Marte can make a run at this.
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A corollary is that --- > when you stack a lineup with HR hitters, they may bump into each other, for lack... Read More
Both players are Olympic Finalists
Posted by SeattleSoccerInsider on 01/27/16
2 Comments
It will come as no surprise to anyone who has followed the Seattle Storm at all this season to hear that both Sue Bird and Jewell Loyd have both been named as finalists for the 2016 Olympic Women’s Basketball Team! If Bird makes it to the Olympics, she will be up for her fourth Olympic Gold Medal. Loyd, the 2015 Rookie of the Year recipient, is looking forward toward her first time in the Olympics if selected.
There are 25 finalists for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Women’s Basketball Team in tall, including 15 finalists who have 41 Olympic and FIBA World Championship gold medals between them. Loyd... Read More
Dempsey discusses possible changes
Posted by SeattleSoccerInsider on 01/27/16
1 Comments
How would you feel about big changes in the Seattle Sounders formation this season? Clint Dempsey himself says that he won’t mind, so maybe you shouldn’t. Of course, he also says that changes, if any, should make sense before being made. Dempsey, who has typically played a 4-4-2 formation paired with Seattle favorite Obafemi Martins, could be facing an entirely new format of play this year. He seemed positive about the potential shift when he said, “As long as the tactics are right, as long we’re playing well and getting chances with it, it will be good.”
With rumors circulating that head... Read More
Game still ends in teddy bears for kids
Posted by SeattleHockeyInsider on 01/27/16
2 Comments
Although the T-Birds lost the Teddy Bear Toss game to the Portland Winterhawks, fans can still take pride in providing dozens of stuffed animals to children in crisis situations. Droves of T-Bird supporters came armed to the teeth on Saturday night with stuffed puppies, cats, and of course, bear to donate. They enjoyed a good game in which Seattle ran ahead until the middle of the game, losing the night with a 5-2 win to Portland.
At first, the night seemed to be well on the side of Seattle when a great power play was made among Scott Eansor, Jerret Smith and Mathew Barzal within the first 47... Read More
The John Smoltz shortcut to the next level? We kin hope
Posted by jemanji on 01/27/16
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4 Comments
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Level 551?, sure, seeing as level 451 was last year. We've chattered each other up on this kid worse than Kevin Hart just before Ice Cube decides he has a fly on his face. Worth another clarification / obfuscation / you be da judge, because Tony Blengino "predicts a big season for Walker," on the following grounds:
1) Taijuan's bad start in 2015 doesn't really count
2) He allowed hard-hit balls in 2015, which will naturally smooth out as he learns
3) Other things behind the ESPN paywall
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As to 1), this raises the question: Fo shizzle. On or about May 25th, in the vicinity of the... Read More
Is the 'net more like a book or like TV? Well, are we talking SSI?
Posted by jemanji on 01/27/16
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6 Comments
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Jeff Sullivan has a typically sparkling writeup as to --- > the rise and fall of pitch framing. For sure umpires are calling the zone much more consistently from one catcher to the next, and more so all the time. And the theory is that umpires realized that this statistic was making them look like braying donkeys, and so they targeted the pitch framers for termination.
This is good for you and for me, seeing that we like fairly referee'd sports decided between two parties, not three. Who it ain't good news for, is Mike Zunino. And particularly the tandem of Felix Herandez and his... Read More
Plus drama with Atlético's fan favorite
Posted by jschario on 01/26/16
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Soccer is a great sport because of the drama that it creates week to week. Whether it’s the overdramatic dives to the ground during games, late game-winning goals or the gossip that fills the lull between games throughout the week.
Spain is always a great place to find that drama as they have two of the richest clubs that also happen to include the game’s most overwhelming personalities. Though not to be left out a third club, co-league leader Atlético Madrid is experiencing some drama of its own as well.
Atleti faces Celta Vigo Wednesday this week at the Vicente Calderon in Madrid for the... Read More
Women's hoops is tearing it up
Posted by jschario on 01/26/16
It’s January and both Husky basketball teams are in unexpected positions. The men’s squad finds themselves atop the Pac-12 standings with no. 23 Oregon at 5-2 and 13-6 overall. On the women’s side they slid into the AP Top 25 for the first time since March 2003 after their win against rival Washington State.
Their win against the Cougars brings the Lady Dawgs to 6-2 in Pac-12 play and 15-4 overall. Making the win even sweeter is that it gives them a season sweep of the Cougs. That record is good enough to get them ranked no. 25 in the country and they boast an RPI ranking of 17, which is the... Read More
The top of the table shaken up
Posted by jschario on 01/24/16
Posted to blog
This past weekend was a competitive one in Spanish football. Instead of a usual game with a litany of goals, all the top three teams were severly tested in their matches. Atlético endured a tough physical match at home against Sevilla, and consequently only came away with one point. Real Madrid hosted a vastly inferior Real Betis side, but only came away with one point as well. Barcelona now shares the top spot after traveling to Málaga and coming away with a three points in a tough match of their own.
Barcelona escape with three
Young prodigy Munir got the Catalans on the board early with a... Read More
ya pays yer nickel and ya takes yer chances
Posted by jemanji on 01/23/16
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6 Comments
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Baseball America has an excellent discussion page up. An excerpt:
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Brandon F (Poulsbo, WA): Ackley, Zunino, Peterson ... I think it's fair to say these guys were drafted where they were expected to go. It's not like the M's reached on them. So I'm wondering is this just a run of bad luck or can a team's deficiencies in player development really have that dramatic of a negative impact?
John Manuel: Great question. I think it’s a different answer on all three. With Ackley, I was incredibly high on him out of college. I always thought he just should go out as an outfielder or first baseman... Read More
Plus Marshawn Lynch "leaning" toward retirement
Posted by jschario on 01/23/16
Posted to blog
Beast Mode heading off into the sunset
Big news this weekend is Seahawks general manager John Schnieder claiming that Marshawn Lynch is “leaning towards retirement.” Now he did back off those words at a later interview, but the scenario makes a lot of sense.
Lynch was hobbled this year, looking like a shell of his true potential. And with his preferred aggressive, contact seeking style of play he may never be in shape to return to that style.
What’s more, he carries a huge cap hit at $11.5 million. As is, he really is not worth that kind of money, especially when Thomas Rawls has proven to be... Read More
Sounder player receives new contract
Posted by SeattleSoccerInsider on 01/22/16
1 Comments
He is the longest tenured player with the Seattle Sounders. He just announced today that he is putting off his retirement in order to play with the team yet another season. Although the Sounders are quickly building a younger, faster team before the 2016 season begins, they have signed on 35-year-old Zach Scott to new contract to play again. That will make this Scott’s 15th year with the team.
Sounders FC General Manager and President of Soccer Garth Lagerwey told the press that he is very pleased to have Scott back on the team, and that Scott means a great deal to the team. Sounders head... Read More
Their starting XI limps into the weekend as they chase Atlético
Posted by jschario on 01/22/16
Posted to blog
Barcelona, with all the success they have been experiencing this 2015-16 soccer season, still find themselves looking up in the standings. Atlético Madrid sit atop the league table, two points clear of los cules, although the Catalans have played one less game.
Even with that one extra game to make up the ground, Luis Enrique's men can not afford to slip up with the way Diego Simeone has his men playing in the capital. This weekend Barça travels down to Málaga, where they again will not be playing with their full attacking trio as Neymar is out to nurse his hamstring. However his injury has... Read More
Player Awarded Role Model of Year
Posted by InsideSeattleBa... on 01/22/16
2 Comments
Sue Bird was just seen giving a speech to kids a week ago and now she is in the news again. This time, she is being honored as the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce 2016 Role Model of the Year. She was given the award on Wednesday at the Middlesex County, Connecticut Chamber breakfast. During the event, hundreds of students and local business leaders came to see her get the award and they all had some great things to say about the Seattle Storm player.
Since Bird was a member of the UConn Women’s basketball team, she is still hailed as a local hero, even if she does play across the country... Read More
Game is approaching January 23
Posted by crackerjack on 01/22/16
2 Comments
Looking for something fun to do this weekend? How about a worthy cause to support with your family and friends? You can do both at a Seattle Thunderbirds game on January 23rd. This Saturday, the Birds will be taking on the Portland Winterhawks at the ShoWare Center, which is always a great game to see. But even better than that is the fact that it’s the annual Teddy Bear Toss.
This year’s 2016 Fred Meyer Teddy Bear Toss is presented by WARM 106.9. Fans bring in stuffed animals to throw on the ice and after they are collected, they will be given to the Seattle fire department and police... Read More
The Mick got there pretty early
Posted by jemanji on 01/22/16
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3 Comments
From BJOL:
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We sure are getting a lot more cuban players now. How good is the CUBAN baseball league? Is it as good as AA, AAA, AAAA?
Asked by: shthar
Answered: 1/22/2016
It is more like Negro League baseball, with superior talents but nothing like the depth of the American rosters. There are 16 year old kids who play in the Cuban majors, sometimes 15 year old kids, I guess. That's why you have highly superior 21-, 22-year old players. In the same way that Willie Mays, Roy Campanella and others became highly superior players because they were playing against high level competition at a... Read More
Posted by jemanji on 01/22/16
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1 Comments
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Moe sez,
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O'Malley is in a weird place. He can play some. He can field a bunch of positions. Switch hits. Did well in a limited Seattle cup of coffee last year.
But he's no lock, it seems. In some roster-world, I could actually see him making the team and not Montero.
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Shawn O'Malley seems to have that Willie Bloomquist sparkle dust. We're not saying it with a sneer. Last year, when he came up, he worked himself into far more games than you'd have expected. You know, twenty-five years ago James pointed out that we "sabermetricians" are flying over the forest, while the "baseball... Read More
What do you MEAN, you don't have this month's BB's
Posted by jemanji on 01/22/16
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6 Comments
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James today pointed out it was weird for the majors to have five (5) players with >40 homers and <99 RBI. It never happened in baseball history until 1957; in fact in the 1930's, 40-homer men averaged (!) 163 RBI apiece.
40 homers and 99 RBI had happened only 16 times in history before last year, but here we were watching Nelson Cruz, Bryce Harper, Mike Trout, Albert Pujols, and Carlos Gonzalez all do it together.
The problem wasn't that Nelson Cruz was an overrated slugger, any more than Harper and Trout are. It's the disappearance of the tablesetter. There used to be all kinds... Read More
anybody else wanna negotiate?
Posted by jemanji on 01/21/16
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8 Comments
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Youse mooks probably read through all this stuff as it comes down. Dr. D, in his curmudgeonly fashion, is just now reading Jan. 13 stuff as he types. (More fun to simul-type-read.) Hmmmm, this Shannon Drayer piece has quite a few DiPoto quotes...
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"Most will be taught through development," he said. "The younger you can get with a player and give him a plan at the plate, the better off you are going to be. You don't hit very effectively in the big leagues without a plan. We're trying to instill that in our players, particularly our young players. It's something we are going to demand... Read More
neuro-linguistic programming dept: YERRRR OUT
Posted by jemanji on 01/21/16
Posted to blog
6 Comments
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Drayer says, "The Mariners brought 16 hitters - including Mike Zunino, Chris Taylor, Jesus Montero, Boog Powell, D.J. Peterson and Alex Jackson - to Arizona to participate in the hitting summit."
And here we thought Montero was circling the airport until his flight could be diverted down to Oakland. ... no, more seriously, Montero does look like the kind of hitter who has been reacting on instinct. If you took a shot in the dark, find 10 players around baseball, who could leap a big plateau through better anticipation, Montero would probably be on the Post-It Note.
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Chris Taylor was... Read More
Sounders sign on homegrown player
Posted by SeattleSoccerInsider on 01/21/16
1 Comments
The Seattle Sounders were so excited to announce that one of their first fans became a player on the team today that they used his photo as their website art for the day with the bold title, “Welcome Home, Jordan!” Pieces all about Jordan Morris—from his interview to a discussion about what he can do in a year to even a special call for fans to come see Morris in particular highlighted the team’s enthusiasm over their newest player.
The enthusiasm is multi-fold, of course. It’s not that Morris is the best player the MLS has ever seen. But he IS the first to be capped by a national team before... Read More
Plus Birds mentor students at elementary school
Posted by SeattleHockeyInsider on 01/21/16
1 Comments
There is no denying that all of Seattle’s teams are just phenomenal. We have highly skilled players that work hard at their sport and really represent the city well. But part of that representation also comes from their character and willingness to really help improve the community, and the Seattle Thunderbirds are especially always willing to demonstrate their caliber when it comes to goodwill.
Take Matthew Barzal. Barzal is a huge name on the T-Birds roster right now, having already been signed into a three-year contract with the New York Islanders through the NHL Entry Draft. But he is not... Read More
How do you celebrate?
Posted by InsideSeattleBa... on 01/21/16
2 Comments
All over social media, various sports teams are celebrating National Hug Day with photos of their athletes giving in to huddles, embraces and big bear hugs. Fans, too, are sharing their favorite huggable moments and favorite photos, either of themselves with players or of players posing together with their teams. The Seattle Storm is no different, and the team shared one of their most famous embraces on Facebook today: a big hug between Lauren Jackson and a grinning Sue Bird. The page even used the hash tag #NationalHugDay.
Fans went gaga over the share, lauding the pair as the best... Read More
Posted by jschario on 01/21/16
Posted to blog
Turnover in the NFL is like taxes, it comes every year and there is always too much of it. Unlike taxes though, you can at least pick and choose who you keep and lose. And with the Seahawks' season ending about two or three weeks sooner than we would have hoped, it's time for the team to start thinking about who they are going to keep, and who they will let go.
First, the most obvious departure is Marshawn Lynch. If he stays on the team, he carries an $11.5 million cap hit. And with THomas Rawls expected to assume a larger, if not the starting role next season, that is one expensive backup in... Read More
Stephen Landazuri, RHP
Posted by jemanji on 01/21/16
Posted to blog
3 Comments
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The M's winter league stats are right here. There are no batters who are batting anything of note, not if you've given them more than 30 chances. ... we're leaving ourselves vulnerable here; Moe could notice that Tyler O'Neill can afford 30 dummy strikeouts into a batting line of note.
There are three pitchers with interesting statlines; James Paxton you might have expected. Vidal Nuno has been brought up before; he's up to his old 5 BB in 41 IP tricks. He figures Babe Ruth is dead, so he can throw strikes. The trouble is, Babe isn't all that dead in Texas and Boston.
Then the third... Read More
Posted by jschario on 01/20/16
Sunday featured all three teams at the top of the league table; Atlético Madrid, Barcelona and Real Madrid. And all three delivered emphatic wins that is sure to please their fans.
Each team won by at least three goals, with Atleti winning 3-0, Barça 6-0 and Real Madrid 5-1.
Barcelona hosted Basque side Athletic Bilbao, the same team they defeated at the Camp Nou barely more than seven months ago to win the Copa del Rey en route to their treble winning season. Bilbao was at a disadvantage, playing with 10 men after their goalkeeper drew a red card just seven minutes in. Athletic goalkeeper... Read More
WNBA star is Rookie of the Year
Posted by InsideSeattleBa... on 01/20/16
2 Comments
When Jewell Loyd left college to join the WNBA, most people said she was doing the wrong thing. Even her coach expressed dismay, warning Loyd that despite her talent, women do not usually make it big when they go pro. In fact, her coach advised her to finish her college degree so she would have a career as a backup option, since most WNBA stars do not make even half of what NBA stars make—something that definitely needs to be remedied within the professional circuit.
In fact, Notre Dame coach Muffet McGraw said that it was a really “bad decision to make” for a woman. And maybe monetarily... Read More
Birds beat the Blades
Posted by SeattleHockeyInsider on 01/20/16
2 Comments
Seattle Thunderbirds fans may have waited more than half a season to see the first shut-out of the year just last week, but Landon Bow has proven his mettle yet again with another shut-out this week. On Tuesday night, the Birds won 4-0 against the Saskatoon Blades with Bow at the goalie helm. But it wasn’t all on Bow’s shoulders, either—the Birds vastly outshot Saskatoon the whole evening with 44 shots, compared to the Blades’ 17. Seattle was simple on fire the whole evening from both a defensive and offensive perspective.
Since joining the T-Birds, Bow has had two shut-outs and as of this... Read More
Welcome, Michael Nelson
Posted by SeattleSoccerInsider on 01/20/16
1 Comments
The Seattle Sounders announced their final MLS SuperDraft pick on Tuesday. Their number 15 pick during the fourth round was Michael Nelson. Nelson, a defender, remains unsigned as of yet. Nelson was born on August 8, 1984, making him 21 years old. He hails from Austin, Texas. He stands at 6’1 and weighs 170 pounds.
In his senior year in 2015, Nelson attended Old Dominion and was named a First Team All-Conference USA selection. He transferred there and played for the Monarchs after spending his freshman year at N.C. State. In high school, he was a four-year team captain and named 2011 RISE... Read More
perish the thought
Posted by jemanji on 01/20/16
Posted to blog
2 Comments
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=== Mariner Outfield ===
So, we got three (3) mid-30 tomata cans plus Leonys Martin. Boog Powell is the safety net. SSI can't find the words :- 0 but they had better be closer to "re-load" than "re-build." Which raises the question of how much wisdom is involved when you're "re-loading" a 76-win ballclub.
In fairness, Nelson Cruz is the 5th outfielder. And scoff though Baseball Prospectus might, there are a few bat-first outfielders in the game:
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Thumper
2015 UZR runs "scored"
Matt Kemp
-24.1
Gerrardo Parra (coveted around the North Puget Sound last month)
-22.1
Jose Bautista
-18.9 (... Read More
Kyle Seager vs Yuniesky Betancourt, Dept.
Posted by jemanji on 01/20/16
Posted to blog
15 Comments
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BJOL has two intriguing remarks on the problem:
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How accurately do you think the Red Sox (or teams in general) evaluate players' desire to get better before drafting? Is it harder or easier than evaluating physical skills? Do you think it is more or less important than physical skills in determining how good a player becomes?
Asked by: Ben from New York
Answered: 1/19/2016
Well, there's a lot of information about it. In baseball there certainly is such a thing as wanting it TOO MUCH, and you have to be careful about that. There's a lot of failure in baseball, a lot of losses and... Read More
Who would you pick?
Posted by SeattleHockeyInsider on 01/19/16
2 Comments
The NHL Central Scouting Midterm Rankings were posted online today and two T-Birds were ranked in the list. Turner Ottenbreit and Nolan Volcan were among those selected as prospective NHL players for the future. Ottenbreit was number 169 out of 210 and Volcan was number 206. They weren’t in the top spots, but they still made the midterm rankings. Fans usually get pretty excited over this list because it’s not just letter grades assigned to the players; we actually get to see who is being considered in real time.
Neither selection should come to a surprise to T-Bird fans. Both Ottenbreit and... Read More
Emir Alihodzic is one choice
Posted by SeattleSoccerInsider on 01/19/16
Today the final rounds of the SuperDraft were announced and the Seattle Sounders found themselves on the receiving end of not one but two more players. University of Nebraska-Omaha midfielder/defender Emir Alihodzic is the newest Rave Green player after today’s announcements. Alihodzic is originally from Bosnia but his hometown is St. Louis, MO. He was born on September 2, 1993 and is 22 year old. He weighs in at 170 pounds and stands at 6’0. The son of Latif and Hasa Alihodzic, he has one sibling.
Alihodzic was the 13th pick of the third round of the draft, making him the 54th draft pick... Read More
Plus how to get involved
Posted by InsideSeattleBa... on 01/19/16
2 Comments
Have you ever dreamed of dancing alongside your favorite team to the roar of the crowd? How about leading the crowd in cheering your team colors on as you dance to music and enjoy the spotlight? The Seattle Storm Dance Troupe has been a huge part of Storm games since the Storm began in 2000. Youths from all over Seattle audition to become a part of this mixed gender group of talented dancers!
The latest Storm dance troupe team consists of Brady, Starley, Kaylee, Sarah, Amanda, CiCi, Michelle, Becca, Taylor, Tia, Kyler, Rosa, Alex, Avery and Levi. Members audition and are selected by the Dance... Read More
Plus Valdez says he’s not going anywhere
Posted by SeattleSoccerInsider on 01/18/16
We just started to get into the deep of the SupeDraft last week when the weekend hit. But don’t think that it’s over just yet, Seattle Sounders fans. There is plenty more draft where that came from! In fact, the break today was in honor of the Dr. King holiday. Tomorrow it will resume again. Have any predictions or hopes? Who do you NOT want to see traded at all costs—and who would you love to see traded for someone younger, faster or just plain better? Maybe you love every Rave Green player equally.
Either way, tune in tomorrow for more Superdraft news. The third and fourth rounds are still... Read More
Everett remains in the lead
Posted by SeattleHockeyInsider on 01/18/16
2 Comments
Seattle Thunderbirds fans entered the Saturday game against the Everett Silvertips with high hopes after the Birds had two victories earlier in the week, including a fantastic shutout with new goalie Bow saving every shot that came toward the net. But over the weekend the Birds weren’t as successful at taking on their opponents and lost to the Everett Silvertips with a final score of 5-1. The game took place at the Xfinity Arena in Everett.
No goals were scored during the first period of the game, but Everett took the lead during the second period with a shot by Defenseman Cole McDonald.... Read More
Today we start answering a few as we head into the offseason
Posted by jschario on 01/18/16
Posted to blog
1 Comments
There is no need for any analytics or second guessing to determine why the Seahawks lost Sunday. They simply laid the egg of all eggs in the first half and could not come back all the way, even with the valiant effort they put up in the second half. It almost makes the loss feel that much worse, the second half showed that the Panthers were not as good as the first half score might indicate. Rather the Seahawks gave it away.
That first half seemed to be all mental, they were overpowered in every facet of the game. Then in the second half they played as well as they have played against anyone... Read More
Seattle Storm basketball clinics
Posted by InsideSeattleBa... on 01/17/16
1 Comments
Basketball clinics present a fun, healthy and engaging atmosphere for children in schools, camps and recreation centers all over the globe. Not only do they help kids learn new skills and physical fitness, but they also help children acquire teambuilding skills, leadership traits and confidence. They may even begin a lifelong love of a new sport, a passion that could help them achieve goals, stay fit for life and even potentially earn scholarships. In return, the team itself gets to connect with the community, create new fans and really get to know some of their fans.
When the Seattle Storm... Read More
Sounders acquire Joevin Jones
Posted by SeattleSoccerInsider on 01/17/16
1 Comments
Seattle Sounders fans are eagerly awaiting meeting the new blood on the team from this year’s MLS Superdraft, and we have had some announcements this week featuring new players—but for at least one Superdraft pick, the Sounders decided to do something a little different. The team gave Chicago Fire not only a draft pick but also some allocation funds in order to acquire the team’s left back Joevin Jones. The amount of money, per usual, was not announced to the public. The sounders will now have two players with the last name Jones, making things more interesting during announcements.
Jones was... Read More
Final score 4-2
Posted by SeattleHockeyInsider on 01/17/16
1 Comments
On Friday night, the Seattle Thunderbirds enjoyed a solid victory over the Regina Pats in a 4-2 win. The victory included three power plays and plenty of action to excite fans everywhere. Following their shutout earlier in the week, the victory has fans buzzing with expectation: are we on a roll? If so, are we about to beat the Silvertips for the number one regional spot again? If games like this continue, it is definitely a possibility.
Friday’s game at the ShoWare Center was a well-attended event, with 4,701 fans present to watch the big win. Landon Bow had another great night: although it... Read More
Which is your favorite?
Posted by InsideSeattleBa... on 01/16/16
2 Comments
Like any WNBA team, the Seattle Storm has several fun traditions fans know to expect during the game. Each of these not only makes the game more interactive and fun, but also unifies the fans together to rally and support the Storm as they take on an opposing team.
The first ritual is a pretty basic one that you can expect from any team: to wear the team colors. Fans of the Storm dress in red, green and yellow to show their support. Jerseys and team shirts are always a plus but not required to participate. Diehard fans, of course, sometimes paint their faces for even more fun.
Another fun... Read More
Alfaro is the Sounders seventh round selection
Posted by SeattleSoccerInsider on 01/16/16
Sounders fans are enjoying the different draft pick news as the stories trickle in, and the latest selection is none other than Tony Alfaro from Division II Cal State Dominguez Hills. Alfaro is the 27th pick overall. From Santa Barbara, California, Alfaro stands at 6’2. He is a left-footed defender and weighs 190 pounds. As an unsigned player, he has yet to obtain a uniform number. The 22-year-old was born on June 15, 1993.
In his senior year, Alfaro was named both All-American by the NSCAA (1st Team) and Division II CCA (2nd Team), making him a highly sought-after player during this draft.... Read More
T-Birds win 4-0
Posted by SeattleHockeyInsider on 01/16/16
1 Comments
T-Birds fans everywhere had to be heard across the city after the shutout game that occurred on January 13. On Wednesday night, the Seattle Thunderbirds pretty much annihilated the Prince George Cougars in a match at the CN Center. The final tally was 4-0 Birds, with no goals on the board at all until the final period of the evening. Because of this game, Birds are now 23-15-3-0 in the US Division. Although they are still behind for first place, they are only three points behind the Silvertips now.
Landon Bow was on point all night. He made 26 saves, refusing to allow a single puck into the T... Read More
Just sayin'
Posted by moethedog on 01/16/16
13 Comments
I'm just sayin', mind you, but we're opening the '16 season with 4 principal OF'ers who might not be around in '17.
Each brings a question mark to the '16 plate, as well.
CF: Martin, we assume, will recover just fine from his hamate owey. Here's a neat article that examines recovery from hamate injuries, especially looking at ISO:
http://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2014/5/2/5672834/hamate-fractures-and-p...
Of course, Martin has no ISO to speak of, so any bounce there doesn't really impact him as much as it might a Tulo, for example. And (also) of course, Martin was big league terrible... Read More
would you please just Go Away scott
Posted by jemanji on 01/16/16
Posted to blog
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FREE AGENT LAND MINES
Six, eight weeks ago, Fangraphs laid out its WARNING: LETHAL FORCE AUTHORIZED placards to steer the public and private away from 5 free agents.
Dr. D agreed with all five, lining them up neatly -85, -75, -60, -45, -30 from riskiest to least risky. Fill in your own Price Is Right guess cards as to which tag goes with who, but I betcha we'd all agree with Chris Davis at the head of the list. Bet you, too, that GM's would tab this one as the most likely to blow your thumb off.
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7 x $161M
Dave Cameron gleefully busts the Orioles for falling into Boras' trap. EXEC SUM... Read More
Starry, Starry Scrubs dept.
Posted by jemanji on 01/16/16
Posted to blog
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As Cameron himself just now argued, the Red Sox are (may be) justified in offering David Price $30M year / forever BECAUSE --- > the value of a postseason berth is far beyond what we ever imagined. And, Dr. D kicks in annoyingly, the value of a team "Brand" is big, whether or not that team makes the playoffs. The Royals have completely changed their "brand." As have the Seahawks and Warriors and ... what's that worth to a jillionaire who owns a sports team? That people look him in the eye differently when they shake his hand? Ask a Manchester City fan.
Anyway, Chris Davis could... Read More
Posted by jschario on 01/16/16
Posted to blog
As the NFL is more quarterback-centric than ever, Sunday’s matchup between the Seattle Seahawks and Carolina Panthers naturally is being billed as Russell Wilson vs. Cam Newton. And for good reason, as both are young exciting quarterbacks that are redefining how to successfully play the position.
Such comparisons don’t really make much sense to me, as Russell can’t play a role in stopping Cam himself, and vice versa. Rather it’s Seattle’s defense against Newton, and Carolina’s against Wilson.
Therefore let’s see what kinds of problems the Panthers defensive unit will pose for Russ, Doug and... Read More
Posted by jemanji on 01/15/16
Posted to blog
1 Comments
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The Shout Box turned out kinda good, so The Mighty Klat is working an a supplement - a running chat room. Will be interesting to take a peek.
At the moment, the chat room is simply a web page (URL to be posted shortly). We'll be running an open chat in it Monday from 2-5 pm, so you can look around, kinda like a roto war room. At 3:30 pm specifically Dr D will be there or be square.
Would be nice to get a group, since part of the testing is to assess the number of users it can handle. Amigos ax, "Can we PayPal Dr. D or anything for his efforts?" Nah, but you'd be doing me a solid if you... Read More
Here's betting one more year
Posted by jemanji on 01/15/16
Posted to blog
4 Comments
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Q. Is 33 old for a Seth Smith-type ballplayer?
A. There's this vivid memory that Dr. D has from back in the 1980s. There was a good corner outfielder playing for the Mets, Kevin McReynolds. AARP members will remember him as an archetype of the "fairly good" player that New York fans had literally in the Hall of Fame by age 29. James wound up an argument sourly, going "if he's still PLAYING at age 33, he'll be horsefeathers."
This was back before anybody else fully bought into James' age-arc sermons. I remember going, "Yowch! He KNOWS that? He's not PREDICTING it?" But of course... Read More
Both face one-year transfer bans
Posted by jschario on 01/15/16
Posted to blog
Scandal is nothing new to Spain. Politicians engulfed in corruption scandals are the norm in every province at every level, and top businessmen are a mainstay in the headlines for similar offenses. This week however, it was Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid’s turns to be mired in scandal, which has seen them hit with heavy sanctions.
Barcelona were hit with similar sanctions by FIFA last year, which saw them unable to incorporate new players until this month. Like Barcelona, Atlético and Real Madrid were found to have committed irregularities in regards to youth transfers. In Real Madrid’s case... Read More
some chance, we would venture, of the round file here
Posted by jemanji on 01/15/16
Posted to blog
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THE GOOD
I was sitting at breakfast like age 9. On the back of the cereal box it said something like "ORDER NOW! FREE SLINGSHOT WITH TWELVE CAPN CRUNCH BOX TOPS!" I snickered with my mom. Who do they think they're kidding? Does ANYbody send in for that?
My mom smiled gently, which wasn't her habit when being asked for money. "Well, honey, if you were going to buy the cereal anyway."
IF AND ONLY IF (IFF) the 49ers wanted Chip Kelly anyway, then maybe Kelly's attempt to call Kaep out of the tomb means that Kelly comes with a bonus #1 overall draft pick. Whether you buy that, that they... Read More
If we'd offered you this roster on Oct. 1 ... ?
Posted by jemanji on 01/15/16
Posted to blog
2 Comments
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Since the last POTD Update, DiPoto has onloaded three (3) relief pitchers, we did the Marte shtick, and even threw in an Angel's Advocate on king Leonydas. In all the tables we even swapped out the flava text. Now tell me, would Harball Times do this for yer? I think NOT
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Grab
HQ Bumper Sticker
Dr. D's Micro Grok
RP Justin De Fratus
Volatile. And that's with UP of "meh"
Truly the "dime a dozen" GREEN BEANS can on the shelf
RP Ryan Cook
studiously avoids the subject
Throwback to Zduriencik 8:4 CTL days, if not 1950s Phillies days
RP Joe Wieland
beneath their dignity
My kinda steady-... Read More
The first of two games ends in a loss
Posted by SeattleHockeyInsider on 01/14/16
1 Comments
Well, T-Birds fans, if you were hoping for a big win against the Cougars this week, maybe it was just not in the cards. On Tuesday night, the birds suffered a loss at the CN Centre in Prince George, British Columbia. The Prince George Cougars won the game with a brutal score of 6-2. The Cougars had an exceptionally skillful night on the ice—but perhaps they were a bit lucky, too.
Prince George started the game off with a lead right away, scoring the first goal within five minutes of the puck drop. The goal was scored by Chase Witala and assisted by Joe Carvalho. The thing is, Logal Flodell... Read More
New weapons more Seattle, a new attitude for Carolina
Posted by jschario on 01/14/16
Posted to blog
For what seems like the 22nd time since Russell Wilson took over as quarterback in Seattle, the Carolina Panthers and Seattle Seahawks will face either for the second time this season, and for the second year in a row they will play each other in the playoffs.
They play each other almost as much as they do their divisional opponents, and it looks like Cam Newton-Russell Wilson is the rivalry Wilson was supposed to have with Colin Kaepernick. Although Newton-Wilson looks to be much more exciting than that one would have been.
This time around however, much has changed. Not just from when they... Read More
sweet clearance, ain't it
Posted by jemanji on 01/14/16
Posted to blog
1 Comments
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Q. What's the BEST case for him?
A. To become Doug Fister or Phil Hughes in the rotation, or a Koji Uehara Lite in the bullpen. Hey, we're talking BEST case here.
WEE-land has a Maddux-esque still head and CG , throws 1+ walks (as delights Jerry DiPoto), and now the question is whether he can deploy weapons that put ML batters on their back foot. For Doogie, that started as a dynamic change speed and a surgeon-precise fastball, evolving into an overhand change curve later.
For Wieland it will have to be superb command of the FB and deception on the change curve. That's not far-fetched... Read More
wear a HELMET, bro'
Posted by jemanji on 01/14/16
Posted to blog
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LL has caught on to the idea that Tony Zych's slider is a weapon. Yes it is, and the slider is -12 to -14 MPH off his fastball -- which is itself a weapon that puts you into the fetal position with a set of plastic keys in your mouth. Tony's heat exceeds Wade Davis', so this high-deception, arm-active slider is obviously going to draw some garbage swings.
LL has some stats that tell you Zych's slider got really good results. Basic reason: after 95 MPH, batters sit fastball with pepper swings. Sell that slider with a whippy through action and you WILL be effective. End of story.
Zych... Read More
it's comin' ... come ON got to BE
Posted by jemanji on 01/14/16
Posted to blog
6 Comments
This from BJOL:
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Hey Bill, what do you think of this idea? A stat for pitchers based on what percentage of the time they allow a hard-hit ball. Pitchers for the most part are trying to prevent the batter from hitting the ball hard, and batters for the most part are trying to hit the ball hard, right? And if I'm not mistaken they already keep track of hard hit balls.
Asked by: manhattanhi
Answered: 1/14/2016
I think it would be useless, but go ahead.
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Wow. Useless? Lemme digest for a sec.
My impression of modern ML-internal sabermetrics was --- > that it had "reduced" to the... Read More
Find out what’s new with The Storm
Posted by InsideSeattleBa... on 01/13/16
2 Comments
Are you following all of the women of the Seattle Storm on Twitter? If not, you are missing a lot! Here are some of the most recent news updates, quotes and shares from the women of The Storm on Twitter. Be sure to follow your favorite players!
Sue Bird showed the world how much she appreciates National Bird Day with her fun bird shirt! Way to give the country the bird without being inappropriate! That tweet was particularly loved, with 30 shares and 80 likes.
Keisha Gatling shared some worrisome news, tweeting that her coach in Korea just quit in the middle of the season. She also says the... Read More
Garan Magnes joins the T-Birds
Posted by SeattleHockeyInsider on 01/13/16
1 Comments
The Seattle Thunderbirds are welcoming another player this week. They have announced the acquisition of left wing Garan Magnes from the Edmonton Oil Kings, a trade that only cost them a draft pick from the seventh round of the Bantam Draft in 2017. After trading so many players recently, fans are surely happy to hear that this trade was made without another player involved.
Magnes wears the #14 jersey. He stands at 6’0 and weighs 194 pounds. Magnes was born on April 11, 1997 and calls Edmonton, AB his hometown. He shoots left. He has played in a total of 62 games during his career. In those,... Read More
Players available for 2016 draft picks
Posted by SeattleSoccerInsider on 01/13/16
The Generation adidas Class just announced the first player selections of the year, giving plenty of fans time to speculate who will be picked up by which teams and which NCAA underclassmen will have a shot at becoming the newest fan favorites during the 2016 season. This year’s picks are from all around the world, from California to Germany.
For those unfamiliar with the program, Generation adidas is a program that has replaced the Nike Project-40 since 2005. It is designed to help encourage young soccer players by having them join an MLS team without finishing college first. Home Grown... Read More
A new star is rising for the US in the Premier League
Posted by jschario on 01/13/16
Posted to blog
It’s January, which means some Americans could be on the move in the January transfer window. Although, that isn’t very likely as most of the big American names are stateside in the MLS (Michael Bradley, Clint Dempsey) or are coveted young assets (Julian Green, john Brooks).
However, one Yank will be making his way back to MLS; 24-year-old defender Zarek Valentin has just signed with the Portland Timbers Tuesday. Valentin had been playing with FK Bodø/Glimt in Norway since 2013. Initially loaned out to Bodø/Glimt, his deal was made permanent after a successful showing whilst on loan. This... Read More
The Minnesota kicker was their MVP and scapegoat
Posted by jschario on 01/12/16
Posted to blog
Analysis: cold = a factor
John Wooden said that, “luck is when preparation meets opportunity.” And the ending of the Seahawks-Vikings game in a frozen over Minneapolis is proof of just that.
The analysis of the game is simple, both teams played like crap offensively. All week in the media the frigid temperatures were noted and dismissed. Understandable being that a lot of us are is western Washington where we rarely, if ever, experience such cold. If we were to be hit with such a cold front, surely us Seattleites wouldn’t play football in it, we can barely drive in it!
Turns out, the cold... Read More
Meanwhile the Zidane era begins in Madrid
Posted by jschario on 01/11/16
Posted to blog
Perfect weekend for Barcelona
Lionel Messi won his record fifth Ballon D’Or award Sunday, capping a perfect week of FC Barcelona.
After kicking off the weekend with a 4-0 win over Granada, in which Messi scored a hat-trick, Messi and teammate Neymar traveled to Switzerland for the awards ceremony. Both Barcelona players plus Cristiano Ronaldo were the three finalists for the award anointing the best player in the world for the previous year.
Neymar came in third in the voting, Ronaldo second and of course Messi came in first. It’s Messi’s first Ballon D’Or since winning a record four in a row... Read More
Perkins returns as part of coaching staff
Posted by SeattleSoccerInsider on 01/11/16
You may have heard all about the retirement of Troy Perkins this year. Perkins just joined the Seattle Sounders last year and only appeared in four games, but now, at the age of 34, he is retiring after 12 years as a goalkeeper. That said, he is not completely out of the game. Perkins is returning to the Sounders not as a player, but as a part of the team’s coaching staff.
Perkins is specifically serving as the goalkeeping coach for the team. Regarding the transition from player to coach, Perkins said, “It’s a tough decision to make when in your heart you want to compete. You see the field... Read More
T-Birds welcome Landon Bow
Posted by SeattleHockeyInsider on 01/11/16
1 Comments
You know you have got the skills when a team trades not one, not two, but two players PLUS a future draft pick for you. That is exactly what the T-Birds did in order to acquire one Landon Bow. Bow, formerly a goalie for the Swift Current Broncos, is supposed to be a “goalie upgrade,” according to Seattle Thunderbirds general manager Russ Farwell. Hopefully the trade is a worthwhile one, since the Birds gave up a future Bantam Draft pick (a conditional second round pick) as well as both Jamal Watson and Taz Burman for Bow.
Bow catches and shoots left. He was born on August 24, 1995 in St.... Read More
a short finish, dude. don't leave home without it.
Posted by jemanji on 01/11/16
Posted to blog
1 Comments
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Dr. D will cheerfully bet something important, such as Carolina's weather forecast or SABRMatt's screen name, that Leonydas' 2016 hitting life will be nasty, brutish and short. So will BaseballHQ. We aren't backing off on that. But still, if Dr. D received The Big Phone Call and were to go to arbitration with the lad, what reasons are there to believe?
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The Mariners and Rangers agree that he's made out of gold. If you cancel James Jones against Anthony Bass - and you DO, b'lee DAT - then you've got (1) a power RH with 67 (!) career saves and (2) an org top-5 prospect for Leonydas. ... Read More
point counterpoint
Posted by jemanji on 01/11/16
Posted to blog
3 Comments
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Win, lose, or draw, I'm happy that Kevin Mather has tossed the ball to one man. Here are a couple of today's Hey Bills, just $3/month "just to keep out the riffraff" in James' own words:
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I hope DePodesta can convince the Browns to stick with a coach for longer than 2 seasons.
Asked by: Steve9753
Answered: 1/10/2016
Excellent. Excellent, Excellent point. That's exactly what strategic thinking is, in my view. You make short-term decisions, one after another after another; each decision makes sense at the time that you make it, but each one cancels out the previous one so there is no... Read More
Storm star advises girls to set goals
Posted by InsideSeattleBa... on 01/10/16
2 Comments
The women of the Seattle Storm are always engaging with the community, whether it is through cleaning up an old basketball court, mentoring youth, making dreams come true and so much more. This month, WNBA legend and Seattle Storm star Sue Bird delivered a speech to the youth at Greenwich Academy, inspiring the girls of the school to take charge of their lives and make their dreams become a reality.
Bird’s main theme during the January 6 assembly was to set goals, no matter how small they are. She even shared some of her personal goals with the kids, like making the Olympic team this year.... Read More
Cavin Leth joins the team
Posted by SeattleHockeyInsider on 01/10/16
1 Comments
The trades continue this season as the Seattle Thunderbirds say goodbye to defenseman Sahvan Khaira. In his place, the Birds received center Cavin Leth from the Swift Current Broncos in a trade made on January 4. Leth has appeared in 39 games this season so far. He has made six goals and seven assists for a total of 13 points with the Swift Current Broncos. In his career with the team, he has played in a total of 159 games. In these, he has scored 30 points between an even split of 15 goals and 15 assists. Leth is already showing his skills on the ice with the T-Birds. He made a goal and an... Read More
Retired but still active
Posted by SeattleSoccerInsider on 01/10/16
On January 7, Sounders fans gasped over the news that Gonzo Pineda, a fan favorite for many years, was retiring from playing soccer. Sure, it was a shock to see him go after two years on the team plus several years playing internationally, for a total of 13 years on the field, and seeing a favorite on waivers is never easy, but retirement? It wasn’t as if Pineda wasn’t used to trying on new hats. After all, he has played for seven teams in MLS and been to the World Cup more than once, earning 44 caps and becoming a favorite worldwide.
Luckily, Pineda may not be playing on a team anymore, but... Read More
Posted by jemanji on 01/09/16
Posted to blog
10 Comments
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MARTIN-WILHELMSEN DEAL
Tacoma Rain has an interesting comment:
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I am having a tough time imagining how this trade ended up getting consummated. I would think GM's are trading for players that they want, or they think will improve their team... but that does not seem to be the case here.
Texas immediately cuts Jones after Kivlehan is announced as the last player in deal?? why trade for Jones then?
And I really wonder why there was a delay on annoucing Kivlehan at the time of the trade. Was there another player as an option instead of Kivlehan? Or did the trade happen so fast that Texas ... Read More
NFL Network says friction between him and the team is the cause
Posted by jschario on 01/09/16
Posted to blog
Breaking news Saturday revealed that Marshawn Lynch will not be inthe lineup for Sunday's wild card playoff against the Minnesota Vikings in Minneapolis. What's more, Lynch did not even travel with the team, staying behind in Seattle.
Lynch of course returned this past Monday after seven weeks rehabbing an abdominal injury. He was a full participant in practice all week, but told the team that he could not play in Sunday's game. Head coach Pete Carroll all week indicated that Lynch would play, and even get a bulk of the carries. As late as Friday morning Carroll had been using that as his... Read More
Ginny Gilder says coaches not always to blame
Posted by InsideSeattleBa... on 01/09/16
2 Comments
Ginny Gilder is no stranger to working hard to accomplish personal and professional goals. The former competitive rower has a silver medal from the Olympics to prove her mettle. An early graduate of boarding school and a graduate of Yale, she knows how to achieve her dreams and that it doesn’t always come easily. Recently the co-owner of the Seattle Storm had an interview with KUOW’s Bill Radke to discuss the firing of Bob Ernst, the coach of the University of Washington’s rowing team, and Gilder’s thoughts were that it’s not always the coach’s fault.
In fact, Gilder says the issue is with... Read More
T-Birds take the Winterhawks
Posted by SeattleHockeyInsider on 01/09/16
3 Comments
The Seattle Thunderbirds have had a hilly season when it comes to the Winterhawks. It seems like for every win, there was an accompanying loss for a while there, but that unfortunate pattern may just be over. On Friday night, the T-Birds took the Winterhawks in a tight 3-1 victory at the ShoWare Center. Two new acquisitions from the Swift Current Broncos, Cavin Leth and Landon Bow, both had a big night during the game, perhaps bringing some luck to the team along with their skills.
The game started off as Seattle’s, with Ethan Bear making the first goal of the evening during the first period... Read More
Plus a desktop calendar
Posted by SeattleSoccerInsider on 01/09/16
1 Comments
Ready for some more Sounders news now that the preseason festivities have been announced? All of the 2016 Sounders dates are now available. So get out your schedule and start planning your matches to attend—or, if you are watching from home with friends, your viewing parties. To make it easier on you, the Sounders even have this nifty Obafemi Martins desktop wallpaper you can download. It’s Rave Green and includes home game icons, opposing team crests and Martin’s trademark roaring face to get you pumped up about the new season. If you’re not into that, you can also visit the same page for a... Read More
Posted by jemanji on 01/09/16
Posted to blog
1 Comments
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$/WO' NO MO, dept.
Bill James was on the MLB Now show and Brian Kenny asked him whether he was behind the David Price and Craig Kimbrel moves. He floored me by gushing over the moves. 9 times out of 10, he's going to acknowledge both sides of the argument, while 6 of those 9 times he'll take a "preferred position." Not this time. And don't ax whether he was carrying spears for Sox management; he was not.
David Price got $31M x 7 years. You can bet that Price will NOT be an ace for all seven years; in fact if he's an ace for even 3 of the years, he'll probably opt out. But Dave Cameron... Read More
weebles wobble? let's hope this one DOES
Posted by jemanji on 01/08/16
Posted to blog
6 Comments
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Q. Is he an upgrade from Anthony Bass?
A. Not for me, no. I was looking forward to watching Bass, in the sense of being Bass being a good pitcher among bad pitchers. I wouldn't trade you Bass for Cook, but ... you, Gentle Reader, can take comfort in two things.
(1) Bill James' axiom: MLB orgs pay too much attention to what their scouts say, and too little to how their players have performed.
(2) Jerry DiPoto's axiom: Relievers, if they're not Kimbrel or Chapman, wobble like Weebles.
You AARP subcommittee members recall the Weebles that Wobble But They Don't Fall Down? In 2012-14, ... Read More
They'll need to stray from their regular game plan to do so
Posted by jschario on 01/08/16
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1 Comments
Despite losing to the Seahawks in back in December by 31 points, the Minnesota Vikings are underdogs by less than a touchdown, according to Las Vegas odds makers.
And for good reason, they will be bringing back three defensive starters that were out the first time around, and head coach Mike Zimmer will likely stick with Adrian Peterson longer than he did previously.
Those two factors, along with answering some other questions, mixed in with some luck can put the Vikings over the top on Wild Card Sunday. Here are the biggest keys for a Minnesota victory:
Adrian Peterson must get the ball... Read More
Bat, TJM, DaddyO and Rick arrange SSI high school reunion
Posted by jemanji on 01/08/16
Posted to blog
5 Comments
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I enjoyed this Full Disclosure. So much so that we're going to troll for more old feebs confessing their allegiances to Roy Campanella and Preacher Roe ...
"The glory of young men is their strength; gray hair is the splendor of old men." In sabermetric terms ... a recent college graduate has more energy and interest to stay caught-up and cutting-edge with more clinical research. You don't see 55-year-olds pick up a guitar and spend the next 8 years "sitting on the edge of my bed playing through Eric Clapton with a six-pack of Schlitz" as Eddie Van Halen put it. You've got to have the... Read More
Gropp signs with NY Rangers
Posted by SeattleHockeyInsider on 01/07/16
3 Comments
During the 2015 NHL Draft, the Seattle Thunderbirds’ own Ryan Gropp was chosen to play for the New York Rangers. The contract is a three-year entry contract with the team, an exciting opportunity for any player. He was chosen during the second round of draft picks, making the 41st pick of all during the event. The draft occurred in Sunrise, Florida. Gropp, who wears the #12 jersey, stands at 6’2 and weighs 189 pounds. He was born on September 16, 1996 and is from Kamloops, BC.
Seattle Thunderbirds general manager Russ Farwell beamed that the team is very excited to see Gropp reach this goal... Read More
Sounders sign on another homegrown player
Posted by SeattleSoccerInsider on 01/07/16
1 Comments
Yesterday we learned that homegrown player Jordan Morris would be joining the Seattle Sounders in lieu of attending Stanford University his senior year. Today we know that another Jordan, Jordan Schweitzer, is also joining the team as a homegrown player. Schweitzer is a native of Everett, Washington and is the team’s sixth homegrown player to join the official team. A midfielder, Schweitzer is 6’0 and weighs 165 pounds. He was born on April 19, 1994 in Dallas, Texas. His contract was signed on January 7, 2016.
Sounders GM and President of Soccer Garth Lagerwey says that he is very pleased to... Read More
Barcelona's Luis Suarez faces a three match ban
Posted by jschario on 01/07/16
Posted to blog
Well it may be winter, but things have gotten off to a hot start in 2016 for Spanish soccer.
First Real Madrid made waves by firing Rafa Benitez and ushering in soccer legend Zinedine Zidane. Then midweek city rivals Espanyol and Barcelona square off in a feisty Copa del Rey match that saw two players sent off for Espanyol, and Luis Suarez facing suspension.
Throughout their match, tensions were high between the two teams, with referee Juan Martinez Munuera losing control early. As mentioned, two Espanyol players were sent off, though Barcelona’s players were not on their best behavior either... Read More
Posted by jemanji on 01/07/16
Posted to blog
12 Comments
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Basic Game Theory: if you're the upperdog, you want to minimize luck. The less chaos, the better. Anything that randomizes the outcome is to the underdog's advantage.
Classic example: Backgammon. If you're a 2:1 favorite, you want few loose "blots" on the board, even if your opponent has them too. In chess, a Grandmaster does not want a time scramble, 2 minutes for each side, against his duffer opponent.
That's why, in all sports, a team that is ahead by 2 touchdowns / 3 runs / 15 points wants to avoid a hectic flurry of action.
And that's why, this Sunday, the Seahawks would much... Read More
the mainframe assimilates all lesser computers
Posted by jemanji on 01/07/16
Posted to blog
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WHERE WE WERE
Marte played well in the Mariners' bush leagues, which is a little bit like saying Taylor Williamson got big laughs on America's Got Talent. It doesn't exactly mean he's headed for Jerry Seinfeld book-movie deals. Dr. D and a host of comrades, notably G-Money, waved off the Marte template. But! The Mariners' scouts kept insisting that Marte was Jose Reyes II. SSI insisted that although quite reasonable, this proposition was looney tunes.
Then Marte was rushed to Safeco, age 21, and played three or four games for the benefit of the Mainframe's CF camera. Dr. D's mouth... Read More
of ignitors and Claudell Washingtons
Posted by jemanji on 01/07/16
Posted to blog
22 Comments
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Editor's choice.
Diderot sez,
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.... I'd like to move the comparison machine way back past Fernandez and Stennett to the hero shortstop of my youth...Luis Aparicio. ... How can Marte--or anyone else--be compared to him? Well, the guy (Aparicio) wasn't perfect:
Despite the eye, his career OBP was only 311 (compared to league-average 329). He neither struck out NOR walked very much.
Career OPS+ was only 82...and exceeded 100 only once in 19 seasons.
Yes, Marte could exceed both of these last metrics. Last year's performance was fueled by a high BABIP. But neither contact nor hard... Read More
What do you think?
Posted by InsideSeattleBa... on 01/06/16
2 Comments
The Seattle Storm unveiled a new logo on the team’s Facebook page today. The logo is the same image the Storm already had, but it has a color change: the old red ring around the team name is now a light blue shade, the bright orange colors on the ball and background border are now yellow and match the green shades that were more muted than the crimson and orange colors. The entire logo has a much softer look than it did previously. When fans commented on the change, the Storm admins confirmed that the colors were changed.
Some fans are really enjoying the new look. First Jamaican WNBA player... Read More
T-Birds sign on Bryan Allbee
Posted by SeattleHockeyInsider on 01/06/16
3 Comments
The Seattle Thunderbirds are welcoming another player among their ranks this week, announced just this Monday. Say hello to Bryan Allbee, formerly of Kootenay Ice. The defenseman was exchanged for a fifth round pick during the 2017 Bantam Draft and wears the number 6 jersey. Albee, who shoots left, stands at 6’0 and weighs 180 pounds. He was born on July 11, 1997 in Prince George, BC.
Allbee has played a total of 88 regular games with Kootenay. He made a total of 7 goals and 10 assists for a total of 17 points and 34 penalty minutes. Allbee played in seven playoff games with the Ice, scoring... Read More
Morris will skip senior year to play
Posted by SeattleSoccerInsider on 01/06/16
1 Comments
Last year, The Seattle Sounders announced that they had given the sweetest homegrown deal in their history. This week, they have topped that previous deal with a new one for homegrown player Jordan Morris. In order to get the contract, Morris is even skipping his senior year at Stanford University to start playing for the MLS team. The decision came as a surprise to fans watching the team, particularly the ones who have been following Morris, because the rumor mill had churned out that he was interested in playing internationally instead.
Morris was born on October 26, 1994. He is from Mercer... Read More
It won't be as easy this time around
Posted by jschario on 01/06/16
Posted to blog
1 Comments
The temperature in Minneapolis is expected to be 11 degrees come game time on Sunday. It will also be the first time the Seattle and Minnesota face each other in the playoffs.
Of course, not every playoff team is coming in whole, with Seattle waiting to confirm the status of three Pro Bowlers and NFL rushing leader Adrian Peterson dealing with back issues for Minnesota.
Vegas pegs the Seahawks as the favorites by as much as 6.5 points, and after tearing through their competition the way they did the last six games or so, it’s easy to see why. Not to mention when the two teams played each... Read More
Can he coach as well as he played?
Posted by jschario on 01/05/16
Posted to blog
Big news out of Spain on Monday as Real Madrid change managers yet again, this time turning to a former legend on the pitch, Zinedine Zidane. After only seven months at the helm, Rafa Benitez finds himself unemployed
The move isn’t surprising, as the Benitez was never the preferred choice for the fans and the heat has been on since Madrid was destroyed at home 4-0 by Barcelona in El Clásico.
What did surprised many was the timing. Yes, Real Madrid did miss an opportunity to move closer to the top of the table by drawing in their match at Valencia. But they are still only four points off the... Read More
no images with "Magic 8 Ball" available
Posted by jemanji on 01/05/16
Posted to blog
17 Comments
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THEY SAID WE COULDN'T LAND THE BIG BOOKING! So what do you have to say about THIS, LrKrBoi29. Live and in the studio. Yankee$ powerbroker, SABR speaker, New Jersey-hardened and nimbly able to cheer or slag the Seattle Mariners as his slide rule commands him.
Let's get straight to the white meat. We'll ladle on the gravy thrice deep in a moment:
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M's
SABRMatt's WAR
Steamer
Dr. D remark
Ianetta/Clevinger
0.0
1.7 + 0.4
(These spaces intentionally left blank
Lind/Montero
2.5
1.5 + 0.2
for future use)
Cano
4.0
3.5
Marte
0.5
1.8
Aoki
1.0
1.0
Martin
0.5
1.2
Smith/Guti
2.0
1.2 + 0.6... Read More
an eminent Think Tanker talks the craziest dawg of 'em all
Posted by jemanji on 01/05/16
Posted to blog
2 Comments
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Dr. D asked Nathan two Seahawks questions and enjoyed his two posts responses as much as I have any Seahawk articles in a long time. Way to pick 'em up and lay 'em down.
Possible that I'm biased because they were my questions :- ) but the answers were Jamesian. They transferred knowledge from a hardcore follower (you) to a guy with a rather basic question (me) and they did so with a bright tone that was not condescending. Very compelling logic also, getting to the point and not wasting words.
I don't know how many M's fans are Seahawk fans at my level, but boy, an "Ask Nathan" would make... Read More
Arizona goes from favorite to worrisome
Posted by jschario on 01/04/16
Posted to blog
If there’s one thing Pete Carroll knows how to do, it’s getting his team to peak at the right time. Every year that he’s been in Seattle it seems, the Seahawks play their best football late in the year, and continue their solid play into the playoffs.
Some say that Arizona didn’t have much to play for, though even if your playoff spot is wrapped up, Week 17 you are playing for momentum – and Arizona was in fact playing for a shot at a no. 1 seed. Week 17 is about heading into the second season strong and on a high note. It speaks volumes about which team is better prepared for a playoff run.... Read More
I got yer nanobubbles right here, pal
Posted by jemanji on 01/04/16
Posted to blog
11 Comments
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So, ALL of us were scared about the Cardinals. That's "about" the Cardinals, not "of" the Cardinals. Scared "about" them because they have the kinda back-alley defense the 49ers used to have, and because they're an excellent 46-1 with Carson Palmer healthy.
They led the NFL in yards and in scoring offense. Yes, Egbert, we get it; DVOA is better than yards like xFIP is better than ERA. Thing is, at SSI we see the game as well as the stats. Well, hang on ... John Fraley seems to see a game pretty good too. Oh well whatever nevermind
Point is, the Cardinals have the feature receivers... Read More
The women of the Storm share advice and affirmations
Posted by InsideSeattleBa... on 01/03/16
2 Comments
Looking for a great way to stay on top of your game during 2016? Whether you just want to think positive, believe in yourself or strive to be the best athlete you can be, the women of the Storm have some inspiring messages of faith, courage and strength to share. Here is a compilation of some of the most powerful messages from the Storm women collected from their social media accounts for you to enjoy. Print them out, write them in your journal or calendar and let them inspire you as you take a jump shot into the New Year.
Alysha Clark gives us poignant messages on a regular basis. The... Read More
Plus key MLS dates announced
Posted by SeattleSoccerInsider on 01/03/16
1 Comments
Although the team is happy with his progress, Roman Torres is being shy about exactly when he will return to playing with the Seattle Sounders. He has been working with a personal sports physician in Panama, his native country, since he suffered from an ACL injury last September. On Monday, he began training with the Panama team, prompting local media to find out exactly when we can see him join Rave Green again, but Torres was very vague with his reply, simply stating that, “In Seattle they are happy with my progress.”
Fans should know that he is at least returning to Seattle later in the... Read More
Birds lose first game of 2016
Posted by SeattleHockeyInsider on 01/03/16
2 Comments
Although T-Birds fans had high hopes for the team to begin the year on a high note, it simply was not meant to be. The Seattle Thunderbirds lost to the Tri-City Americans on their first game of the New Year on January 2, 2016 with a score of 4-2. The game was held at the ShoWare Center. Overall, the Birds took 29 shots and made 27 of them.
Tri-City may have been outshot by the Seattle boys of thunder on Saturday night, but they were in the lead during the entire game. Their first two goals were made during the first period. Parker Bowles shot the puck right between Logan Flodell’s legs for... Read More
Lessee whether DiPoto is better at 'dime a dozen' than Z was
Posted by jemanji on 01/02/16
Posted to blog
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We'll try to do this as objectively as possible, seeing as Dr. D is now as sympathetic toward Justin De Fratus as would be Oprah Winfrey to Rosa Parks.
;- )
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HQ SEZ
Getcher Baseball Forecaster rat cheer. You can be downloading a .pdf while the book's in the mail, too.
Whatever went right in 2014 went wrong in 2015. Wildly inconsistent month-to-month. (1)
Righties 'lathered' him, though .410 BABIP played a role. (2)
There were far fewer 1st-pitch strikes, swinging strikes (3), and runners stranded (4).
All that in career-high IP.
Even at his best, he's really just a guy. [Roto stats no... Read More
Who will make what moves?
Posted by jschario on 01/02/16
Posted to blog
Christmas may be done and gone, but soccer teams do their holiday shopping in January. As the calendar changes to 2016, European teams look to bring in reinforcements to help them secure trophies.
The January transfer window differs a bit from its summer counterpart in that it is more rare to see a big name move, though it is possible. Reason being that with the summer window longer, it is easier to integrate a new player into the lineup. Not only that, but many teams are unwilling to sell, and as a result the asking prices for players tend to be overvalued.
Still though we do see big moves... Read More
Mears chosen for Fox Soccer’s Best XL in MLS
Posted by SeattleSoccerInsider on 01/01/16
2 Comments
Tyrone Mears is no newbie. A veteran MLS defender, he came to Seattle in 2015 for a fresh start to his career after playing for several different teams, from Manchester City to the Bolton Wanderers. Seattle was not yet home to Mears, but he quickly adapted, gaining thousands of fans and establishing himself among the Rave Green.
Flash forward a season and it was clear that the Sounders needed some vast changes among the ranks in order to move forward. The team had had a successful season that somehow ended with a fizz rather than a bang, and Sigi Schmid and co have since worked hard to reform... Read More
Birds lose the last game of the year
Posted by SeattleSoccerInsider on 01/01/16
2 Comments
Too bad about those high hopes we discussed yesterday following the last amazing game, folks—the Seattle Thunderbirds were not able to end the year with a win. During the annual New Year’s Eve game, the Portland Winterhawks came through with a 4-1 victory over our Birds. Overall, the Hawks outshot the T-Birds 41-29. The game was at the Portland Moda Center and there were 10,620 fans in attendance. The Birds are now 10-14-1-0.
There was a long lull during the first period, with no goals as well as no penalties. During the second period, Portland scored three of their four goals. The first was... Read More
Our Pizzano is pretty rare
Posted by moethedog on 01/01/16
6 Comments
This "Controling the Zone" discussion got me to thinking: Just how rare is it to find a guy who really does control the zone, season in and season out.
Well, if you look at AA guys, it is pretty rare.
So last season, our Dario Pizzano was at 19 BB's and 20 K's, down on the AA farm, before he was injured. He was 45-38 the previous year at AA. For his MiLB career he has 181 BB's and 163 K's.
So I wondered how many AA guys walked more than they K'ed in '15 AND how many of them have more career BB's than K's? And I do realize that Pizzano missed walking as often as he K'ed last year by one BB... Read More
Plus, keys to beating the Cardinals
Posted by jschario on 01/01/16
Posted to blog
Over the past few weeks I’ve noticed a trend that isn’t exactly tracked by any stat, it’s more of just an observation. That is that rookie Tyler Lockett is taking a lot of big hits in recent weeks. Especially to the head. Being the tough guy that he is, he’s been able to bounce right back up and not miss a beat, but Sunday we saw a glimpse of the potential consequences of No E taking those hits.
Lockett isn’t a big guy, at 5’11” 182 pounds he might not be bigger than the average high school running back, and against Minnesota, Baltimore and Cleveland we’ve seen him take some hits to head by... Read More