SB Nation User Blog: JLProck

Ken Rosenthal, "Quick Hit" Expert

JLProck — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 12:09:59 -0000

Ken Rosenthal, "Quick Hit" Expert

Will someone please explain to Ken that you can put more than one sentence in a paragraph. Could you even consider those paragraphs? I get that these are just some quick notes, but this style of writing is absolutely horrible.

Man, Chone Figgins Must Really Suck

JLProck — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 16:24:58 -0000

Man, Chone Figgins Must Really Suck

Talk about cherry-picking stats to try and prove a point.

"Why don't wins count anymore?"

JLProck — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:43 -0000

"Why don't wins count anymore?"

I don't think I need to go too much into this article when it comes to those that frequent this site. I just thought I'd point out another beat writer to avoid in the future.

OFFTOP - Help Me Pick A Hockey Team!

JLProck — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 02:59:31 -0000

I know the other OFFTOP is fairly recent, but I need some help here. And, besides, the other is at 1420 comments as I type this, so let's bring on the freshness.

With the end of the baseball season nigh, I've decided to try my hand at hockey fandom. Seeing as how there is a lack of a National Hockey League team in Seattle, or even Washington for that matter, I need to throw my hat in with a team from elsewhere. I'd like to cheer for a franchise that is well-run, but they don't necessarily have to be a winner right now. Try to think of a team that you could compare to the 2009 Mariners; good to great front office, promising young talent, and on the upswing from horrible. Basically, I don't just want to pull for a team just 'cuz they're a winner. And I don't want to end up rooting for the New York Yankees of the NHL, if there is such a team.

And, not so off-topic, but I'm curious to see who you all will be rooting for come MLB playoff time. I'm all about the St. Louis Cardinals in the NL, and whatever team comes out of the Central Division in the AL.

King Felix, Ichiro! Make All-Star Team

JLProck — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 16:52:45 -0000

Glad to see Felix Hernandez is going to this year's All-Star festivities. He certainly deserves it after the year that he's had so far. And Ichiro is showing that you just can't logically guess when he might fall off the map. He is possibly having the best year of his career.

Keith Law had a problem with some of this year's selections. I'm not an Insider, so I couldn't read the whole article, but I'm sure it went on to explain what's wrong with the selection process (fans being idiots and so forth). I, for one, don't worry too much about selections. I vote for who I think should go, and leave it at that. As long as the game is fun to watch, I'll live with whoever goes.

Here are the two lineups:

AL All-Stars

NL Al-Stars

Plenty of big names. Aaron Hill, who thought deserved to go, made it. As did Raul the Lawn Dart. And, if you'll take a close look, you might notice a former Mariner that we all love and adore. That's right, ladies and gents, Ryan Franklin is an All-Star. Oh, and Derek Jeter is an All-Star again. Big surprise there (though he deserves it this time).

Anyway, here's to a quality All-Star game. They have been less-than-spectacular the last few years.

Steve McNair Found Shot to Death

JLProck — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 21:47:11 -0000

Steve McNair Found Shot to Death

What's the deal with all the famous people biting the dust lately? RIP, Steve.

Does DeRosa change this? And I just noticed that the tag has DeRosa listed as a LF.

JLProck — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 22:45:23 -0000

Does DeRosa change this?

And I just noticed that the tag has DeRosa listed as a LF.

USA vs. Brazil Game Thread

JLProck — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 19:08:55 -0000

The U.S. just beat Spain, as I'm sure you all know. They're currently up 2-0 on Brazil with just about 10 minutes to go in the first half. Not sure that two goals is a safe enough lead for my taste with so much game left to be played, but damn has this been a good show so far. Is it possible that we beat Brazil just after beating the world #1?

Tom Boswell is Misguided

JLProck — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 16:56:23 -0000

It's this kind of thinking that drives me crazy.

It's this kind of thinking that brings me back from the brink.

From Boswell:

All of the encompassing offensive stats __and there's little difference between Total Average, Runs Created, OPS and others__ run the risk of overvaluing walks and singles while undervaluing the bases-clearly game-changing power of extra base hits. So, sometimes, you have to underline the obvious; for example, a first baseman with 146 RBI is "more valuable," especially when he plays on a first-place team, than a first baseman (Pujols) with 116 RBI on a fourth-place team.

He followed that with this:

Don't analyze beyond that. True, Howard can't field (19 errors). And Pujols outhit him by .357 to .251. Howard strikes out a ton while Pujols walks constantly. But none of it outweighs Howard's RBI total, built on his .320 average with runners in scoring position. For what it's worth, Howard wasn't even in the top half dozen in baseball in runners-on-base when he came to the plate. His 146 RBI wasn't a fluke. He's Mr. Multi-Run Homer.

I'm glad Boswell isn't the general manager of my team.

There were too many arguments from Posnanski refuting this way of thinking to list here, but Joe basically told Tom to look beyond the sexy stats and really dig around to find the MVP. And I don't think I have to go into reasons to pick Pujols over Howard last year, especially around here.

I know that everyone is entitled to their own opinion and way of thinking, but Boswell seems to be pretty misguided in his article. I realize this post revisits old arguments, but to choose Howard over Pujols based on RBI (a very team-dependent stat) and HR is ridiculous. Hopefully Boswell can cure himself of this backwards thinking and come to a realization that it makes for a better MVP if you choose the all-around better player on a mediocre team than someone with one or two better stats in sexier categories that played for a team full of superstars and above-average players.

Good thing Joe Posnanski was there to come to the rescue. I'm glad there is someone with some sense writing for a well-known publication that reaches the masses. At least, I hope a lot of people read Joe.

OTFPOTD - Good Book Edition

JLProck — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 05:17:29 -0000

I just finished, for the second time, a book called Into the Green: A Recon by Fire by Cherokee Paul McDonald. It's a great book about Paul's experiences in Vietnam, and I would strongly suggest it to anyone interested in that particular war. Hell, it's a pretty good look into war in general.

I also just finished Pure Baseball by Keith Hernandez, a book suggested by someone here at this site. Thanks for that, whoever it was (sorry for not remembering who pointed me to it). Good read for anyone interested in seeing a baseball game broken down to the smallest detail.

I'm curious to see what everyone around here reads, as I'm always looking for good books to read. So, let's have it. In what books have you guys and gals invested time? Please feel free to discuss magazines also.

Or maybe you don't read books because books are for fucking nerds, and you wouldn't waste your time with something so non-sportified. Shit, you're the man/woman and reading is below you. If you're that person, then please feel free to save your... I was gonna say breath, but you wouldn't be talking, so I'll say fingers. Save your fingers.