SB Nation User Blog: WyoRanger

JD on 40 after the hour on ESPN radio

WyoRanger — Mon, 18 May 2009 21:03:26 -0000

JD on 40 after the hour on ESPN radio

Are the balls juiced this year?

WyoRanger — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 13:42:43 -0000

I can't remember which commenter (sorry) mentioned this, but I believe it was yesterday he compared MY's average HR distance and speed off the bat from last year to this year. Both were up this year. I figured it was just related to him bulking up some or a small sample size.

Then I ran across this article and here's the money quote:

So, very early this season (actually on the second full day of games), I had already noticed that balls were seemingly flying farther than they usually do, so I checked my numbers, and noticed that the standard distances of all the home runs around MLB were a lot longer than those hit in 2008. Since then, I’ve continues tracking this, and what was little more than a feeling and some numbers off a very small sample size have become a lot more compelling: the first 350 home runs this year are flying, on average, about 6 feet farther than last year. The likellihood that such a difference could come about by chance is exceedingly low, less than 0.0031% the last time I ran the stats on that. I’ve tried to come up with some other possible ways that league-wide homers could be flying so much farther, given that the weather is already factored out, and the ball is the most likely explanation.

http://waswatching.com/2009/04/19/is-the-new-yankee-stadium-a-homer-haven/

Opening day stories

WyoRanger — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 00:02:37 -0000

It sounds like many traveled for the game. I thought perhaps we could exchange our stories.

Based on FuturePants' recommendation I stayed at the Melrose. I don't think I'll stay anywhere else in the future. Cool old hotel and a very nice bar. Based on the recommendation of the chef I sat next to on the plane I went to Steel for sushi. Outstanding.

Here's the interesting part of my story. I was at the bar eating and a regular came in. Older gentleman. He and I start talking about baseball. He said he'd been a season ticket holder since the Rangers arrived in Texas and his seats were behind Hicks'. I mentioned the distance I traveled and crap I went through just to get to the game. At the end he said he was friends with Hicks and whether I had anything to pass on. I told him to tell Hicks to stay out of Jon Daniels' way. That started a conversation about the bad trades Daniels made and my defense of the health of the entire system. Thought that was pretty entertaining.

Critique of the Fed's case against Barry Bonds

WyoRanger — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 19:40:31 -0000

Critique of the Fed's case against Barry Bonds

It's an article by Dayn Perry, writer for Foxsports and BP.

This seems to be a well thought out analysis of the case, various rulings, the witnesses and their backgrounds and the evidence. I don't care if he's convicted or not but it's interesting to see how difficult the prosecutor's job may be despite the fact that most of America is positive that Bonds used steroids.

Nolan Ryan on 1975 Soap Opera

WyoRanger — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 18:04:35 -0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAaJltLmjSk&feature=player_embedded

Nolan Ryan on 1975 Soap Opera

Ways to improve world baseball classic?

WyoRanger — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 04:56:04 -0000

I've watched a good portion of the games and have enjoyed them. But I was wondering how they could improve it. One idea I had was to limit the number of MLB players on the rosters somehow (like 8-10 positional players, 2-3 starters and 3-4 bullpen arms) then fill out the roster with minor league players. To me, this would help with a few things:

1) It would make selection more elite. Perhaps MLB players would be more gung ho with going since they'd be selected as the best US CFer for example.

2) It would help with making sure the MLBers get their ABs to get ready for the season.

3) Guys wouldn't be playing out of position to get them playing time. The way I would see it, you'd be selecting the best 3rd baseman you can get and best SS, etc., so that's where they'd be playing.

The minor league players probably wouldn't be getting as much playing time but that should be a far lesser concern for organizations than their stars not getting ABs or having to play out of position (so not getting ready for the season at their position). This wouldn't solve the Max Ramirez situation but I don't think that's too critical.

I'm mostly thinking this more from the perspective of the US, DR, Venz, and countries with more proven stars. The downside might be that teams like Japan and even Cuba would have a competitive advantage because their total roster might be stronger than the minor league players.

Anyhow, I've really enjoyed watching but was wondering if this might be something to reduce the complaints.

Dallas Hotels for Opening Day

WyoRanger — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 19:46:18 -0000

I'm going to delete this after I've gotten what I need since I've already made this type of fanpost a month or so back.

Now I'm traveling by myself since the Girl is gone and I'm taking a HS buddy and he lives in DFW. Here's what I envision: show up Sat, Sun maybe sit by an outdoor pool then walk around to a restaurant and some bars, Mon game and then hit another good restaurant, Tues home to Wyoming.

I'm thinking I'd like to stay downtown since I presume you can wander around from place to place to find a cool bar to sitdown in. I've got it down to the Hyatt, Indigo, Lawrence, Adolphus, Marriott and Magnolia (most expensive option). The alternative is fly in Sun, leave Tues and stay at the Ritz Carleton since it's actually a reasonable rate for two nights and I'm thinking of treating myself (for a decent price).

Do people have any suggestions regarding my list of hotels or other hotels that will fit my plans?

Best Baseball stat sites

WyoRanger — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 20:33:11 -0000

A couple people people were talking about stat cites and one mentioned that BP is becoming obsolete. The other day I just discovered (based on a discussion here) that baseballcube is really good for draft information. But the fact is, I'm not really well versed on what site is good for what (nor do I know all of them). I basically use baseball-reference for most things since it has OPS+ and ERA+ and also look at fangraphs, mlb.com, yahoo, but I'm wondering if other people want to share their opinions.

What I'm thinking is: what site do you use and for what specific purpose? A unique metric, intuitive organization, easy to categorize what you're looking for, good biographical information, good minor league site, individual pitch information, etc. I'm sure people use different sites for different purposes so that's what I'm trying to figure out. If I want to find X categorized by Y I'd like to easily do it.

I'd like to understand what sites offer what without spending hours trying to figure it out plus I'm guessing there might be some lesser known sites. I'm unlikely to subscribe to a site but it would be good to know what they have to offer.

Rick Helling warns baseball about steroids in 1998

WyoRanger — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 01:06:22 -0000

Rick Helling warns baseball about steroids in 1998

MLB Network-what do you like or dislike?

WyoRanger — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 04:41:20 -0000

Well, we've had a couple weeks to absorb it. To those that don't get it, I'm sorry to leave you out of this post. But I'm wondering what folks think. Am I the only one that's still stoked over this thing? To me, it's a nice way to wile away the days until ST.

What caused me to post this is one of tonight's "Prime 9 - Greatest Single Seasons in Pitching." The thing that struck me was the very beginning where they stated that they based it on "ERA+". No real explanation what that means. I loved that. Some people understand what that means, which is great. To others, they probably looked it up and figured it out. To the rest - screw 'em. This is so much beyond ESPN it's not even funny.

I think Victor's doing a fine job. I'll admit, I haven't watched the channel for several hours in a row (f'n job) but I've liked all I've seen. Is there something we should avoid or things we should tune into?