I might have posted this before, but instead of moving the mound or lowering the mound, they should just make the ball a little bigger. Feel like that would immediately reduce spin rates and velocity.
On the subject of rebranding stats, I’ve always thought OBP should be called “safe %”, and its complement “out %”. Then the same stats for pitchers (with the opposite implications).
How about a cult film shout out for Bleacher Bums. I haven't seen the 1979 version but truly loved the 2002 version. Written by gangster Joey Zasa (or maybe actor Joe Mantegna, a Chicago Kid). Had to rename the team in the movie as the Chicago Bruins to avoid legal trouble but did make reference to a lot of former Chicago Cubs greats.
The thing most likely to increase offense is how they implement ABS because every time baseball's changed the strike zone offense changed; big zone less offense, small zone more offense.
As a smart high school catcher who didn’t hit enough to advance, Bull Durham is my favorite.
The Battered Bastards of Baseball documentary on Netflix is excellent
Joe just go for a walk. Nietschke said all good ideas come while walking. Don’t worry about the heat, this is the coolest summer we will ever have. And even if it’s not yoga, just do some stretching
Can’t just refuse to make pitching more difficult and also lament the lack of offense. Make the strike zone smaller and lower the mound. These have been done before. Any change will require adjustments by pitchers and hitters. Look how great the pitch clock has turned out
Joe, how could you not have "The Kid from Cleveland" (1949) on your list?
I might have posted this before, but instead of moving the mound or lowering the mound, they should just make the ball a little bigger. Feel like that would immediately reduce spin rates and velocity.
For your baseball movie list, watch (and add) "Bang the Drum Slowly."
I always wondered if Maddux kept pitching just long enough to have one more win than Clemens. Sadly, he would be four "true wins" short.
Did Christy Mathewson really have FEWER True Wins, or was that a typo?
I looked up Blyleven, same...
Probably harder to write something nice about Marty Schottenheimer’s defensive plan against Elway late in critical games.
On the subject of true wins, I guess Justin Verlander can halt his quest for 300. By that stat he already has 307. And BTW, Tommy John had 386.
On the subject of rebranding stats, I’ve always thought OBP should be called “safe %”, and its complement “out %”. Then the same stats for pitchers (with the opposite implications).
Wouldn’t errors gum that up? The batter is “safe” but it counts against him in OBP.
Yeah, well that is a mistake by MLB. Either you are on base or you aren't. Counting errors against OBP is dumb
just wondering if we'll ever see another pitcher join the 300 wins club...
We will not. Ever.
How about a cult film shout out for Bleacher Bums. I haven't seen the 1979 version but truly loved the 2002 version. Written by gangster Joey Zasa (or maybe actor Joe Mantegna, a Chicago Kid). Had to rename the team in the movie as the Chicago Bruins to avoid legal trouble but did make reference to a lot of former Chicago Cubs greats.
The same year they lowered the mound, a lot of things changed, Greg Resor wrote about this fort The Hardball Times in 2014 . https://tht.fangraphs.com/the-height-of-the-hill/
Baseball made the strike zone smaller.
Artificial turf was introduced at another ballpark, which oddly enough to make you squint, had a slightly lower BABIP than grass that season.
A few ballparks moved the fences in.
At anecdotally, the baseball less lively; Jim Hannan called them softer - we'd say deader today.
The same year that Resor post appeared, Baseball prospects did some math stuff with the help of Alan Nathan and found that the mound would have to move back five feet to make a significant difference (https://www.baseballprospectus.com/news/article/23863/overthinking-it-the-other-way-we-could-move-the-mound/). MLB experimented with a one-foot move in the Atlantic League in 2021 and scrapped it halfway through the season.
The thing most likely to increase offense is how they implement ABS because every time baseball's changed the strike zone offense changed; big zone less offense, small zone more offense.
I'll go back to sleep now.
Thee three best baseball documentaries are the 3 When It Was A Game films.
No love for “Bingo Long”?
Buck O'Neil hated it, so no chance it'd be on Joe's list.
I agree, just wondering. Heck, I didn't watch it all the way through.
As a former debater, I must profess my love of long yellow legal pads!
Wtm and ltm are...what?
"Wtm" is short for "team wins," and I'll trust you can figure out what "Ltm" means.
As a smart high school catcher who didn’t hit enough to advance, Bull Durham is my favorite.
The Battered Bastards of Baseball documentary on Netflix is excellent
Joe just go for a walk. Nietschke said all good ideas come while walking. Don’t worry about the heat, this is the coolest summer we will ever have. And even if it’s not yoga, just do some stretching
Can’t just refuse to make pitching more difficult and also lament the lack of offense. Make the strike zone smaller and lower the mound. These have been done before. Any change will require adjustments by pitchers and hitters. Look how great the pitch clock has turned out
I thought Nietschke said that all good ideas come when trying to tear a quarterback’s head off.
LT?
He was just repeating what Butkus said.
Touche
Walter Johnson loses wins using “true wins”?
If your ace is willing to come in in relief and picks up a win, I say that’s a truly true win!