AN Day Update

"Socratic exchange with Joe Morgan No. 1, on the subject of Moneyball, base running in the 2002 American League Division Series, and the use of statistics in baseball:

Me: It seems that you almost take [the book] personally.

Joe: I took it personally because they had a personal thing about me saying Durham should've stolen second base in the game that they lost -- he stayed at first base, and they hit three fly balls, and the A's lose another fifth game.

Me: And that's the chief reason you don't even wanna read the book?

Joe: I don't read books like that. I didn't read Bill James' book, and you said he was complimenting me. Why would I wanna read a book about a computer, that gives computer numbers?

Me: It's not about a computer.

Joe: Well, I'm not reading the book, so I wouldn't know.

Me: I'm not --

Joe: Why would I wanna read the book? All I'm saying is, I see a game every day. I watch baseball every day. I have a better understanding about why things happen than the computer, because the computer only tells you what you put in it. I could make that computer say what I wanted it to say, if I put the right things in there. ... The computer is only as good as what you put in it. How do you think we got Enron?"

BTW I got my black AN T-shirt and AN stickers in today's mail.  Can't peel the stickers off as my finger nails are gone from Sunday's game.

the comments remind me of AN back when everyone on here could spell.  also, they all seem to think the giants season is over, sabean is an overrated gm, and alex sanchez is pure evil.  

wait a minute, why are these otherwise sensible people giants fans and not a's fans??  
maybe we should recruit them...

http://www.mccoveychronicles.com/story/2005/7/11/211917/417

"I am ashamed that I have not responded earlier to your well phrased query.  Although it pains me from the depths of my tortured soul to say so, I am afraid that it is in all likelihood an inevitability that despite the show of enthusiasm and support emanating from the hearts of their fans, the Giants will most likely be swept this forthcoming series by those baleful Athletics hailing from the fetid swamps of Oakland, California.

Oh!  Cruel fate!  How I am filled with despair when I think of young Jesse Foppert, his Sysiphean task laid before him, who from up atop the mound will hurl forth fastballs with a determined fury, only to watch Eric Byrnes, who yields lumber like Hercules against the Hydra, send said fastballs aloft to the distant heavens where not even G-d himself would hope to retrieve them.

Despite the efforts of Vizquel, the tempter of men whose acrobatics inspire awe in all those who cast glances in his direction, or of Alou the Younger, who swings forth his bat like Apollo always wary of the harsh gaze of his father, I fear that the Giants will be swept asunder by the twin millstones of poor starting pitching and ineffectiveness of the bullpen.

But yet I will watch, indeed I shall!  I will even endeavor to drag my weary bones to the poisoned atmosphere of the Coliseum, where I will watch with a weary disposition those vile yellow and green gladiators strike down our doomed heroes.  For I am a Giants fan and my spirit, while resilient, has become accustomed to the bitter draught of defeat."