Tiger337

The wOBA stat gives weights to BB, 1B, 2B, 3B, HR based on the statistical probability that each event contributes to a run. The weights do change over time, but they remain relatively stable. For example, Walks had about 3% less value from 2018-2022 than they did from 1998-2002. The value of singles changed even less. If you go back to the 1930s, you will see some more meaningful differences. https://www.fangraphs.com/guts.aspx?type=cn

I am also ambivalent. I like it because it's strategic. I don't like it because it's still disconcerting to see balls that have been hits my whole life as a fan become easy outs. I never really got used to it. I don't really think they can ban it though. I think we are going to see teams find ways to get around it. I also agree with you that more hitters should have been able to get around it. I don't buy the excuse that it's too difficult for the best hitters in the world to alter their swing to beat the shift. I do kind of buy the theory that players don't try to beat the shift because constantly slugging for homers pays off in the long run. I don't think that works for everyone though.

I don't know if it will go a lot farther, but I think it's going to help a lot for two reasons: (1) It will speed up the pace of play (2) It will allow less time for pitchers to rest between pitches which I think will affect them significantly and might even cut down on the strikeouts a bit. Unrelated, but I don't think banning the shift really addresses any real problems.

I agree it's hard for him to do much especially with so many foundation pitchers having health problems. That is part of the reason I am giving him time. It's just that I remember when Randy Smith was the whiz kid that was going to change everything.

I am still going to give Harris time, but any hope I have is based on faith at this time. We can hope that Boyd and Lorenzon have big seasons like some of the pitchers he acquired for the Giants, but if Avila made the same signings. fans would have laughed at him. The Jimenez trade looks good, but Avila made some good relief pitcher for prospect deals too. I like the constant waiver wire additions as a way to build depth, but it's not likely to produce any meaningful improvement.

I wasn't referring to you in particular in my post. I have also suggested that deadening the ball would solve some of the problems people talk about. I also agree that baseball wants home runs more than they want to solve problems with the game.

Wake me up from my Knapp when the Tigers do something that matters.

I had that fear from about 8-11 too. What I remember most about the Hostage crisis was some asshole on the wrestling team nicknaming me "The Irainian". Every time he saw me, he would yell, here comes "The Iranian" and his friends, of course, thought it was hilarious.

My father used to show me WWII movies to explain his experience in the war. Although he tried to present it as a positive experience, it terrified me. I remember my mother looking up my birthdate in one of the draft lotteries, seeing that my birthday was near the top and being thankful I was too young. However, the draft ended well before I was of draft age. There was still a little fear that it would get re-instated, but being drafted was never a reality.

I was born in 1962 but I don't really identify with boomers because I was too young to really experience the 60s revolution which supposedly defines the boomers. I have vague memories of the 60s, but I grew up in the cynical post-revolution 70s.

How about playoff contraction? Or a new deadball era.

Yes, I am technically a boomer - right on the border of the next generation.

I think this is true at every level of education all the way up to graduate school. I think the most important quality of a teacher is to genuinely care about students. If they know that you care about them, they will most likely respond a lot better and learn more. It's important to know your stuff and to come prepared with good material and present it well, but if you don't care, they won't either.

Beck is maybe the most conservative baseball writer ever, so I usually take him seriously. He doesn't indicate that Malloy has a chance to take over 3B soon though. He said he could be in their long-term plans.

Yes, Anderson would be OK, kind a lateral move from Candelario.

I wish I knew more about 401k's when I was young. I was good at saving and not going into any kind of debt, but was late at getting into investing. Young people are not stupid, but they need instruction. Some things they need to learn for themselves, but I don't think finances and investing are among those things.

I was thinking they might have a shot at Segura. He would have been OK, but it's not worth getting upset about missing out. I can imagine the response from Tigers fans if they sign Josh Harrison. They had him four years ago and he seemed washed up then. Now, he's going to be 35.

I don't think Harris has a history in that market either. Lee-Jung-Hoo definitely seems to fit the "dominates the strike zone" profile though.

That is probably the biggest problem, but another thing is there are a lot of advisors who try to pressure people into poor investments because it benefits them.

Using social media for advice isn't usually a good idea. but part of the problem is there have been so many dishonest financial advisors working for dishonest companies that people don't trust them anymore. Financial advisors are useful if you can find the right one though. I currently have a self directed account which is good because I do most of my planning myself without paying fees, but I have access to advisors who can do things like find the best short-term CD for me.

That is true.

This guy can hit! Maybe, he can change the Tigers offensive indentity. 😀 Or maybe the Mets, Yankees and Dodgers can stockpile more talent. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/01/kbos-kiwoom-heroes-to-post-lee-jung-hoo-after-2023-season.html

"You guys?" I hope I am not included in that as I never mentioned politics at all!

You can't make blanket statements about any generation. Every generation has a lot people that are irresponsible when young. Maybe the generation that came before the boomers is the exception. They got no breaks at all going through the depression and then WWII. Every generation after that thinks that they had it tough and that the younger generations are too soft. Let's see where the current young generations are at when they grow old.

It's always been a big thing, but more so now. You can never ever have too much starting pitching!