Desipio Message Board

FYC

Quote from: Brownie on July 27, 2009, 02:19:53 PM

Quote from: RV on July 27, 2009, 01:12:39 PM
What this guy said.

QuoteThe conversation we ought to be having in response to the July 16 incident and its heated aftermath isn't about race, it's about police arrest powers, and the right to criticize armed agents of the government.

QuoteThis deference to police at the expense of the policed is misplaced. Put a government worker behind a desk and give him the power to regulate, and conservatives will wax at length about public choice theory, bureaucratic pettiness, and the trappings of power. And rightly so. But put a government worker behind a badge, strap a gun to his waist, and give him the power to detain, use force, and kill, and those lessons somehow no longer apply.

QuoteWhat we owe law enforcement is vigilant oversight and accountability, not mindless deference and capitulation. Whether or not Henry Louis Gates was racially profiled last week doesn't change any of that.

Yes, what he said.

RV wanted to spark a CFiHP-MikeC rumble, but instead he just found agreement with TJ Brown.

Provocation FAIL.

Also: what Radley Balko said.

QuoteBy any account of what happened—Gates', Crowleys', or some version in between—Gates should never have been arrested. "Contempt of cop," as it's sometimes called, isn't a crime. Or at least it shouldn't be. It may be impolite, but mouthing off to police is protected speech, all the more so if your anger and insults are related to a perceived violation of your rights. The "disorderly conduct" charge for which Gates was arrested was intended to prevent riots, not to prevent cops from enduring insults. Crowley is owed an apology for being portrayed as a racist, but he ought to be disciplined for making a wrongful arrest.

He won't be, of course. And that's ultimately the scandal that will endure long after the political furor dies down. The power to forcibly detain a citizen is an extraordinary one. It's taken far too lightly, and is too often abused. And that abuse certainly occurs against black people, but not only against black people. American cops seem to have increasingly little tolerance for people who talk back, even merely to inquire about their rights.

I'm not gonna say race has nothing to do with it (read black conservative John McWhorter on the Gates arrest: "The relationship between black men and police forces is, in fact, the main thing keeping America from becoming "post-racial" in any sense"), but this issue is a lot broader than even that.

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/hardens-huge-whiff-rate

QuoteOver the weekend Matthew noted that the only starter who comes close to getting as many swinging strikes as called strikes is Rich Harden. He does it with just two pitches, a four-seam fastball and a changeup. Sliders and curves, generally, get the most swinging strikes so that makes Harden's feat that much more amazing. Harden used to throw a splitter and a slider as well, but gave them up in hope of decreasing his injuries.

Harden four-seam fastball averages about 92 mph with over 10 inches of 'rise'. The fastball has a 18.7% whiff rate (misses per swings). Among starters only Ted Lilly, Jonathan Sanchez, Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer have fastballs with a higher whiff rate.

His changeup is an even bigger reason for his huge number of swinging strikes. Hitters miss 48% of the time they swing at his change. As Harry Pavlidis highlighted that is the third most of any pitch in the game, and tops amongst changeups. The changeup has about 8mph separation from his fastball, with less tail and 'rise'. Because he lacks any other secondary pitches he throws the changeup almost equally to lefties and righties, about 37% of the time. Harden starts about a third of of his at-bats with the changeup and has had better results when he pitches it before his fastball (1.3 runs per 100 above average) then when he throws it after (0.6 runs per 100 above average). This is the opposite of what we saw with Tim Lincecum. Hitters must be expecting the fastball on the first pitch of the at-bat and the changeup trips them up.

Harden's results so far this year have been poor, but that has largely been driven by his high BABIP and HR/FB. His K and BB rates are inline with his career numbers, so going forward we should expect him to be very good.

According to this DL tool it looks like Harden has spent 26 days on the DL this year and 38 in 2008 way down over from 100 days in both of 2007 and 2006, so it looks like getting rid of the splitter and slider may have helped him stay healthy. That left him with two pitches, both of which rack up tons and tons of swinging strikes. It as a testament to how those pitches are that he can succeed as a starter with just the two pitches.

Quote from: MAD on July 27, 2009, 08:41:07 AM
Thrill starts off the week with an img FAIL.

Tsk, tsk.

I guess Tinypic deemed Stoney's enticing tush and terms of service violation.

They don't know what they're missing.

Let's see how much man Image Shack can handle...

Quote from: Poon on July 27, 2009, 08:53:19 AM
I cropped it.  Didn't want anyone getting in work troubles for having that delicious hunk of man pillows pop up on their screen.

About that... Sorry?

Quote from: MAD on July 26, 2009, 10:29:44 PM
Oops.  Did I say that out loud?

You typed it on a website, if that's what you mean.

Quote from: MAD on July 26, 2009, 10:29:44 PM
Also, not that it's viral-ity needs Desipio to exist, but these were inked to earlier in the week here.

It's not about how Stoney's hirsute chest, powerful shoulders and enticing tush get the world's attention, it's that they do.

Speaking of which, Poon's avatar inexplicably crops out said enticing tush.

And that just won't do...

Quote from: CubFaninHydePark on July 27, 2009, 02:39:04 AM

Quote from: Weebs on July 26, 2009, 07:24:46 AM

Quote from: CubFaninHydePark on July 26, 2009, 01:43:47 AM

Quote from: Indolent Reader on July 17, 2009, 03:43:52 PM
Does anyone know of a good bar (or restaurant) in the loop that has a good collection of single malt?  Preference is for something west loop, by Ogilvie.  Thanks.

You gotta go a little further north, but Clark Street Ale House (just south of Chicago on Clark) has a solid scotch collection and a fair amount of good micros from across the country on tap.

I don't trust you know anything about Chicago north of 51st street.

Three words: The Long Room

$1 beers are never a bad thing.

I hope smg stuck around.

Quote from: Slak on July 26, 2009, 05:44:17 PM
Poop sap.

That's what they make poop syrup from.

Quote from: BaseballStoneTo all the people who believe who believe that david kaplan and i made up the bradley story---get a life. Trade deadline rumors are not new.

about 5 hours ago from txt

Quote from: BaseballStoneThe giants need a hitter to make a run at the wildcard. Word out is that the nats nick johnson might fill their needs. Chase that down bruce

about 5 hours ago from txt

Quote from: Fork on April 19, 2009, 04:19:39 PM

Quote from: Andy on April 19, 2009, 02:15:09 PM
The season doesn't officially start until E-ramis sends the Wrigley throng home happy.

2007 he tells the Brewers that their 7 game lead in June means nothing.

2008 D-Lee and E-ramis go back to back to tie, and then walk-off a game against the White Sox.

Yesterday. 

Attention, Best Fans in Baseball...

Hope you enjoyed your time atop the NL Central.

We've got this from here.

And this time we mean it!

Moses, smell the roses...



Stoney once gave Steve Guttenberg a run for his sexy '80s hirsute Hebrew money.

QuoteLast year Steve Stone stripped off his baseball stripes in exchange for a coat and tie, bringing to a close his brilliant career in the majors. Now he is a successful restauranteur and sportscaster. "I knew that one day the uniform would have to be set aside," Steve says. And here he sheds his "new uniform" as well to reveal his winning assets—his hirsute chest, powerful shoulders and enticing tush. Many ballplayers were dazzled by Steve's slick curve ball. In fact, during the 1980 season, Steve won the prestigious Cy Young Award for an outstanding year as a Baltimore Orioles pitcher. But an injured shoulder took him out of the game in 1982. "Obviously, the feeling I got from the cheering crowd is irreplaceable," he explains. "But I never was a one-dimensional player, like some of the other guys. I've always had other interests—the restaurant, writing poetry and screenplays, and sportscasting—and I was ready."

As an active bachelor, Steve's interests are hardly limited to the vocational. "Let's just say I enjoy my single life," says the ex-baseball player, smiling. "I like variety." What draws him to certain women? "I really like a conversationalist who has a sense of humor. Intelligence. An athletic body," he adds. But he never leaves anything to fate. "I've been involved in the psychic world all my life," Steve declares. "I believe that everyone can benefit by refining his or her mental processes. I use meditation techniques in all facets of my life. If I want something, I see it in my mind first." So what does he envision for his own future? Steve, who went into the restaurant business in the early seventies, operates a classy eatery in Scottsdale, Arizona, and soon will expand to another outlet in Lake Tahoe, California. He has also been asked to call Chicago Cubs home games on WGN-TV and to join the sportscasting team for ABC Monday Night Baseball. "My idol now is Vin Scully. He gives viewers a tremendous feel for the game," Steve marvels. "I want to refine my skills to be able to do that." Playgirl predicts even more: Steve Stone will find throngs of women pitching for his amorous attentions!

Quote from: Poon on July 26, 2009, 01:37:26 PM
You're all jealous.  @BaseballStone is a god amongst men and the envy of every other broadcaster.  He picks up the check because he feels bad that no one else is as knowledgeable about baseball as he is.

Sweet Jehovah's ghost!



Intrepid Reader: The Penscaper

You gotta trim that shit right there, hombre.

You want the chicas to mistake you for a greased seal.

Also: http://hirejimessian.com/2009/07/20/hey-stoney-hows-the-visibility-of-my-balls/

Quote from: Internet Apex on July 25, 2009, 09:43:38 PM

Quote from: Eli on July 13, 2009, 08:47:24 AM

Quote from: Fork on July 13, 2009, 08:40:25 AM

Quote from: EVILteddie on July 12, 2009, 03:58:20 PM
how do I get people to follow me! I feel like I am talking to myself damnit.

grow bewbs.

I was really hoping no one would reply so Kurt could continue feeling like he is talking to himself.  But then you had to post and ruin that.

That's Kurt? Thank Christ. I was wondering who the fuck would choose a KE photoshop for his/her avatar. Now I only have to feel sorry for one person again.

Not Kurt.

EVILteddie.

Quote from: Slak on July 26, 2009, 10:47:10 AM
Not that Steve Stone would take the time to read anything regarding his performance as Chicago's foremost pompous jackass, but I'd like to see Dolan take him on in the next dose. Time to see if we can register on his radar.

Who the fuck is Desip?

Quote from: Lukester on July 26, 2009, 11:31:52 AM
Apparently the yellonator is a baseball insider now: 

QuoteLet's get started, then. As first posted by tomas21 earlier this afternoon in this FanPost, Milton Bradley may be on his way to becoming a Detroit Tiger. This rumor was confirmed to me from my own sources, so I think this possibility does have legs, and I hope it happens, sooner rather than later.

http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2009/7/25/962768/trade-rumors-fly-as-cubs-win-third
What a quantifiable douche.

Come laugh with us over here...

http://www.desipio.com/messageboard/index.php?topic=6900.msg185921#msg185921