SB Nation User Blog: winningugly

Happy 15 Year Anny, Baseball Strike!

winningugly — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:46:18 -0000

Happy 15 Year Anny, Baseball Strike!

As anniversaries go, it's one most baseball fans would like to forget. Fifteen years ago the leaders of the Major League Baseball Players Association advised their members to walk off the job, thus beginning the ugliest, longest (232 days) and most damaging work stoppage in American sports history.

First Lady Opines on First Fan's White Sox Priorities

winningugly — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:35:46 -0000

First Lady Opines on First Fan's White Sox Priorities

As a Nobel Peace Prize winner and Chicago White Sox Fan, would President Barack Obama rather see world peace or the White Sox win the World Series?

"That's a tough one,'' said First Lady Michelle Obama, running the paces of Jay Leno's 10@10 questions last night. "I think if you would ask him, he'd say he'd probably prefer world peace, but he probably wouldn't mind a World Series bid too... But I think he'd choose world peace.''

Want To Buy A Sports Team?

winningugly — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 02:09:44 -0000

Want To Buy A Sports Team?

It's a trend that shows just how widespread the impacts of the credit meltdown really are -- and that may just let a few investors become sports team co-owners, an elite position usually reserved for billionaires.

If Umpires Were Outlawed, The Sox Could Score From 2nd On a Single

winningugly — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 01:12:09 -0000

If Umpires Were Outlawed, The Sox Could Score From 2nd On a Single

If an institution is only as strong as its founding principles, then the grand tradition of umpiring would be ripe for reexamination. Umpires weren't introduced to baseball to improve the accuracy of calls—they were brought in during the 19th century to cut down on rampant cheating. Historians say players routinely pushed base runners off base, then tagged them out. Runners would occasionally run straight from first to third without touching second.

A Willingness to Amend the Triple Crown Shows Steve Phillips is Not the Biggest Douchebag in Baseball

winningugly — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 16:18:21 -0000

A Willingness to Amend the Triple Crown Shows Steve Phillips is Not the Biggest Douchebag in Baseball

The ESPN analyst Steve Phillips said: "It’s a great concept, and I’m sold on it. It tells a clearer story on who the best hitter is. Home runs measure slugging ability, R.B.I. measure run production, but on-base is a better measure than batting average."

(Dick Allen would've won this mythical Crown in 1972. Yes, THAT Dick Allen.)

You Want Real Basebrawl? Legacy Sox Set The Standard.

winningugly — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 23:34:56 -0000

You Want Real Basebrawl? Legacy Sox Set The Standard.

In 1932, a pair of holiday doubleheaders got out of hand. On Memorial Day, the White Sox lost a doubleheader to Cleveland and were unhappy with the calls of the home plate umpire George Moriarity, who himself was a player with the White Sox back in 1916. According to The New York Times, Moriarity responded by offering "to fight the whole White Sox team," and after the game it appears that is just what happened.
Underneath the stands after the game, Moriarity punched Chicago pitcher Milton Gaston in the face, breaking his own hand and dropping Gaston to the ground. Moriarity was then set upon by Gaston’s teammates, who put him in the hospital with bruises and spike cuts. Moriarity was reprimanded by the league, Gaston was suspended for 10 games, and his manager and two of his teammates were fined.

Which Hot Wife's Husband Should Be Brought Back for 2010?

winningugly — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 23:58:55 -0000

So many signing decisions for 2010. Shoud JD be signed for a cheap one-year deal? Should we bring Thome back for a discount? What about dantesox' favorite Bob (Abreu)? For me, the most important question is "Which pin-up babe with the husband on the decline should be brought back to create havoc in the wives' section?" Since Natalie Punto is off-limits, I only have eyes for Mrs. Podsednik and Mrs. Kotsay, and it is a tough, tough choice. So, what say you? Who can take it up the middle? Who is more versatile? Who would take one for the team? Who would lay it all out there for the brass ring?

Poll

Which pin-up's hubby gets to stay around another year?

Scott Podsednik

71 votes

Mark Kotsay

109 votes

180 votes | Poll has closed

Should Gordon Beckham Replace Alexei Ramirez at SS in 2010?

winningugly — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 05:08:33 -0000

Tonight watching Che spray 3 straight singles (2 with 2 strikes to CF, one on a hit-and-run to RF), and Becks snaring two bullets at third, looking Crede-esque (Ventura-esque, according to Hawk), I thought it timely to revisit a debate last addressed last week. Che has a cheap contract, Becks is the cornerstone of the franchise's future. Both are "natural" SS's. What do you think? Trade, switch positions, or status quo?

Poll

Should Gordon Beckham be moved to SS, and Alexei Ramirez traded, in the off-season?

Yes.

51 votes

No.

85 votes

Have them switch positions.

13 votes

149 votes | Poll has closed

Lookout Landing Analyzes Ian Snell's Left Foot

winningugly — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 21:58:18 -0000

Lookout Landing Analyzes Ian Snell's Left Foot

I've been thinking a little more about Ian Snell's front foot today, and what effect (if any) it might be having on his performance. I'm generally loath to talk about pitching mechanics in terms of implications for health or success, since it's nigh impossible to identify any particular strong correlations, but I just did a Google image search for pretty much every good pitcher I could think of off the top of my head and to a man their front toes all point towards home plate, so I'm thinking there might be something to this.

(I found this fascinating last week, and the guy is pitching against us tonight. Wonderful stuff. And watch the video. Looks like his leg is about to break when he lands on his left foot.)

DeWayne Wise's Catch "Greatest in Baseball History"?

winningugly — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 12:57:50 -0000

DeWayne Wise's Catch "Greatest in Baseball History"?

For four years, Wise’s 12 ¾-inch black Rawlings glove, model PRO 302-4JB, was merely another piece of equipment. Now it lives forever in Cooperstown, N.Y., at the Baseball Hall of Fame.

For more than a decade, Wise has been a baseball nomad, roaming the minors and majors with a .210 career batting average. Now he has an identity. He made the catch that might be the greatest in baseball history.