SB Nation User Blog: Tyler Bleszinski

Blogger So Dear Discusses Statistical Findings with StatSheet

Tyler Bleszinski — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 05:51:53 -0000

Martin Rickman, the SB Nation Wake Forest blogger at Blogger So Dear, had the opportunity to chat with StatSheet's Robbie Allen. StatSheet is a site that is all about crunching the latest numbers to come up with new statistical insight into the sports we love. Here's a sampling of that interview:

3.) Which sport do you think is the most statistically important and telling? Why?

I’ve mainly looked at basketball, baseball, football and racing in depth. Most people are familiar with baseball when talking about sports stats, but a lot of stats analysis is happening in the other sports now. I don’t know if one sport is more important than the others from a statistics perspective. Stats are neither a complete measure of performance or a great predictor of success. As you say, it’s only part of the story.

Best of the SB Nation Network: December 15, 2009

Tyler Bleszinski — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 23:52:45 -0000

Here is the best of the SB Nation network for Tuesday, December 15, 2009:

Baseball

- The John Lackey signing looks like it might cause a ripple effect in Boston.

- DRays Bay asks if Rafael Soriano can top the greatest closing season in team history?

- True Blue LA celebrates the trade of Juan Pierre for much needed salary relief.

College Basketball

- Addicted to Quack says it's time to fire Ernie Kent.

- Double T Nation is fired up about their basketball team being 9-0 and ranking in the top 20.

- Big12Hoops ranks its all-decade team.

Soccer

- Landon Donovan appears to be ready to announce his transfer on Wednesday and Daily Soccer Fix asks why everything around the LA Galaxy has to be so dramatic?

Basketball

- Can Atlanta Hawk Al Horford create a new position in basketball?

- Golden State of Mind is struggling to find a bright spot this early season.

Football

- The Browns are closing in on Mike Holmgren and pulling him into the player personnel fold.

- The Patriots need to wake up and realize that the team should be all about the running game now.

MMA

- Bloody Elbow has a comprehensive Strikeforce Evolution preview up.

- Bloody Elbow also says that Brock Lesnar will not be the only fighter to hold the UFC heavyweight title in 2010.

College Football

- Clone Chronicles ranks the 2009-2010 bowls.

- Corn Nation attempts to rank the 2009 coach of the year.

- Tomahawk Nation uses analysis to see if new head coach Jimbo Fisher should be calling his own plays.

Hockey

- Japers' Rink breaks down the Washington Capitals' backline statistically.

- Fear the Fin tries to figure out why the Sharks have struggled in early December.

Third Quarter Collapse Wins Orlando Best Sports Blog

Tyler Bleszinski — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 08:27:12 -0000

SB Nation Orlando Magic site Third Quarter Collapse is a great blog there's no question about that. But it's apparently the best Orlando has to offer, at least according to the Orlando Sentinel. Congrats to 3QC! And honor well deserved.

Waggle Room Interviews Kenny Perry

Tyler Bleszinski — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 08:06:38 -0000

SB Nation golf site Waggle Room recently had the opportunity to interview Kenny Perry on everything from Perry's results at Augusta to his problems with his eyesight to his future goals. Here is a taste:

KP: Great question, what does come next? ::Laughter:: You know, it's been a great run. And somehow I'm going to have to refocus. I'm going to have to sit down around Christmas. I'm going to have to set some goals and stick to it. I don't mean to be lazy or lackadaisical or whatever. I need to put something down on paper. I really need to think about it. And then I need to get out there and fire at it again.

You know, I turn fifty next year. You'll see me play on the regular tour most of the time but I'll play a few Champions events. I've got five more years' exemptions on the regular tour, so I can play 'til I'm 55 on the PGA Tour. And, so, what you'll see me doing is playing both tours a bit though I'll primarily focus on the PGA Tour.

Best of SB Nation Network: December 14, 2009

Tyler Bleszinski — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 07:38:55 -0000

Here is the best of the SB Nation network for Monday, December 14, 2009:

Hockey

- Who should be lighting the cauldron at the opening ceremony of the 2010 Olympics?

- Goaltending is up for grabs. Anaheim Calling looks at the trade possibilities for the Ducks and Defending Big D says that the Stars should not trade Marty Turco.

Football

- The Saints may have their best season in team history, but recent games have given a cause for concern.

- Field Gulls rips the Seahawks, saying the team is just falling apart.

Baseball

- Amazin Avenue charts the decline of Francisco Rodriguez, told in mind bending GRAPHS!

- Bluebird Banter makes a case for not giving up on a season before it evens starts.

Basketball

- Donnie Walsh decides to forgo the D-League, instead signing someone who hasn't really been heard from for four years.

- The Timberwolves drafted two guards in the 09 draft, yet Tyreke Evans is trumping them both.

College Football

- California Golden Blogs tries to make sense of uncontrollable football rage.

- Can Big Ten expansion get Boise State out of the WAC?

College Basketball

- Searching for Billy Edelin asks, "Is the Pac 10 a one-bid league?

- Bruins Nation examines how to improve the fortunes of the UCLA struggling program.

- Casual Hoya grades out Georgetown's victory over Washington.

Soccer

- World Soccer Digest takes a total of two very large posts to look at the weekly world soccer action.

Better Know a Blogger: Niners Nation David Fucillo

Tyler Bleszinski — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 06:47:59 -0000

The San Francisco 49ers are one of the most storied franchises in football. From Joe Montana to Jerry Rice to Steve Young to Ronnie Lott, they've won championships and had some of the most memorable teams in NFL history. So when it came time to fill the spot for writing about the Niners, we knew we needed someone special. Thankfully, David Fucillo sort of fell into our lap. Consider us lucky. Fucillo has done a remarkable job building one of the most amazing communities in SB Nation. The Niners are once again on the upswing and NN is a destination for all those fans. Without further ado, let's get to know David Fucillo.

Tyler Bleszinski: Tell about how you came to be at SB Nation.

David Fucillo: I used to work for the Oakland A's and had learned about, and begun reading, Athletics Nation. Through a networking functions through the grad school program I was in at the time I came to know Raymond St. Martin, known as Saint on AN, and the eventual lead writer at our Raiders blog. I had been interested in starting some kind of blog, so I started a blogspot blog. After a short while I talked to Raymond about potentially starting the 49ers blog at SB Nation. Raymond got me in touch with Dave Halprin and the rest, as they say, is history.

Bleszinski: What's been your experience at SB Nation?

Fucillo: As most would agree, it's been a great experience. Obviously the tech folks are top notch and the folks above me (Tyler, Dave, etc...) have been as helpful as could be. It's been an interesting transition as the network has developed as a whole. While I write more frequently, and have more toys to play with on the site, what I've enjoyed about the experience is that the structure of things has remained the same, leaving the bloggers with a lot of autonomy, while still providing assistance. SB Nation has grown immensely in my almost 3 years here, but the growth has not gotten in the way of the experience and camaraderie of the network.

Bleszinski: What's the best part about writing for SB Nation?

Fucillo: I'd say there are two things I can point to right now, although the list could go on forever. As mentioned above, the autonomy is a big plus. Our league manager keeps on us about partnership stuff, which is obviously necessary. However, beyond that we're given a lot of space to do what we want on the blog. The responsibility falls on each blogger to make the most of their site and there isn't a pressure to write one way or another, or take specific angles on your team.

The second thing is definitely the blogging platform that we have access to. I was pleased with the original platform, but this change has been better than I could have imagined. Given how things were on my little blogspot site, it's like going from hammer and chisel to a computer.

Bleszinski: Have there been challenges?

Fucillo: I'm sure many others would agree on this, but I'd have to say coming up with new material in the offseason. During the season there is plenty to keep the site buzzing throughout the day. However, in the offseason, it's definitely much more difficult to get multiple posts up in a given day. There are times in May/June where it's deathly quiet in the NFL. I've brought on additional writers, but during those summer months, it can be a little bit more difficult to keep things fresh. When I've reached "projecting the 49ers practice squad," I know I'm closing in on rock bottom.

Bleszinski: How'd you come to be a 49ers fan?

Fucillo: I grew up in Las Vegas, where obviously we had no football team. Given that I was a child of the mid to late 80s, and I had absolutely no interest in being an LA Rams or Raiders fan, it was easy to hop on the 49ers bandwagon. Although I started as a bandwagon fan, the last decade has certainly allowed me to prove my loyalty.

Bleszinski: Who is your all-time favorite Niner?

Fucillo: It's a tough call for me. I'd say it's probably Steve Young. Although I loved those 49ers teams in the 80s, I think I was always a Steve guy as opposed to a Joe guy. Montana had the rings and was the Man, but Steve Young always seemed to have more personality to him. It's reached into their post-playing life where Steve Young puts himself out there on tv and in football-related issues, while Montana has kept out of the limelight. I had a chance to interview Steve Young a couple months ago for a Hall of Fame promotion and it was definitely one of the thrills of my life.

Bleszinski: What's your all-time favorite 49ers moment?

Fucillo: The Catch II - Steve Young to Terrell Owens to beat the Green Bay Packers in the 1998 Wild Card playoff round. The 49ers had been eliminated by the Packers the previous 3 years and to see them finally beat them was a thing to behold. TO had been having a crummy day, and given what transpired in subsequent seasons, this was probably the happiest moment of his tenure. I probably could have picked Montana to Taylor or "The Catch." However, I think I appreciated this moment so much more than those moments from the 80s.

Bleszinski: Where do you think this year's edition of the Niners will end up?

Fucillo: The 49ers seemed to be on the cusp of getting back into the NFC West race when they fell flat on their faces last weekend up in Seattle in a nightmare of a loss. At this point, I'd say 7-9 is likely, although 8-8 is certainly possible if they can upset the Cardinals on Monday Night Football. Although the team has had some very rough patches, they've taken a step forward under Mike Singletary and are close to breaking through.

Bleszinski: Tell me something about yourself that might surprise your readership.

Fucillo: My readers know a fairly decent amount about me. However, one thing they don't know is that when I was a kid I was a junior black belt in Tae Kwon Do. Additionally, from ages 7-10 I took part in the National Tae Kwon Do Junior Olympics, and actually won a silver medal in 1988 when I was 8 years old.

Bleszinski: Thanks so much for your time.

Cat Scratch Reader Catches Up with Linebacker James Anderson

Tyler Bleszinski — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 08:17:24 -0000

More photos » by Rick Havner - AP

James Anderson stopped by Cat Scratch Reader to talk about facing some stiff competition in coming weeks. (AP Photo/Rick Havner)

Browse more photos »

SB Nation Carolina Panthers site Cat Scratch Reader had the chance to sit down with linebacker James Anderson and get his input on everything from the Panthers upcoming games to what Anderson's statistical goals for the year are.

Best of the SB Nation Network: December 10, 2009

Tyler Bleszinski — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 02:04:24 -0000

Here is the best from the SB Nation network for Thursday, December 10, 2009:

College Football

- BCS Evolution tells Bill Hancock that his take on a playoff system is just plain wrong.

- Corn Nation is looking back on the 2009 season and revealing just how bad QB Zac Lee really was.

- Tomahawk Nation attempts to figure out which teams are best at stopping opponents' running games.

College Basketball

- Mountain West Connection recaps the huge Utah win over Michigan.

- Crimson Quarry says that the numbers tell the story of the Indiana's victory over Pittsburgh.

- A Sea of Blue discusses another close win, this time over Connecticut.

Baseball

- The Astros keep going, signing Brandon Lyon.

- Lone Star Ball breaks down Rich Harden, Kevin Millwood, Chris Ray and the new Texas Rangers.

- The Tampa Bay Rays deal for Rafael Soriano by giving up Jesse Chavez.

Hockey

- Lighthouse Hockey tries to figure out where the Islanders goals are (or aren't) coming from.

- Maybe for Stars fans it's the darkest before the dawn?

Football

- It's a powerhouse NFC/AFC matchup when the Vikings face the Bengals this weekend.

- Hogs Haven isn't about to go easy on the Redskins organization.

Basketball

- Golden State of Mind recaps the thriller that was the Warriors beating the Nets.

- Blazersedge says it's crossroads time for the disgruntled Jerryd Bayless.

Hockey Wilderness Chats with Eddie Olczyk About Winter Classic

Tyler Bleszinski — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 03:36:39 -0000

Our Minnesota Wild site Hockey Wilderness recently had the opportunity to sit in on a conference call with NBC color commentator Eddie Olczyk about the upcoming Winter Classic on New Year's Day between the Philadelphia Flyers and Boston Bruins at Fenway Park.

Best of the SB Nation Network: December 9, 2009

Tyler Bleszinski — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 01:14:03 -0000

Here is the best of the SB Nation network for Wednesday, December 9, 2009:

Football

- Raiders strong safety Tyvon Branch stops by Silver and Black Pride to discuss beating Pittsburgh.

- Joe Flacco hasn't gotten worse, the Ravens just need to run the ball more says Baltimore Beatdown.

Boxing

- Mayweather and Pacquiao is starting to look like a reality so what does that mean? Meanwhile, Boxing Bulletin is saying let the trash talking and anticipation begin.

MMA

- Bloody Elbow examines how head injuries might impact MMA.

Basketball

- Blazersedge delves into the history of patella tendon injuries, not just Greg Oden.

- Come one, come all to celebrate Steve Nash Internet Day.

Hockey

- Hockey Wilderness interviews NBC announcer Eddie Olczyk about the Winter Classic.

- Copper & Blue has one of the best Terry Sawchuk retrospectives you'll ever read.

Baseball

- Despite the A's recent struggles, the decade has been quite kind to the team from Oakland.

- Curtis Granderson is in New York and Yankee fans are pretty darn happy about it despite some initial reservations.

Soccer

- Denzel Enslinger provides in depth analysis in his post-season report card for the entire roster at MLS champion Real Salt Lake.

- Sounder At Heart links to the entire MLS plus-minus list and then expands on Seattle's in his post.