Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Format Change
It has occurred to me that I put a wide variety of stuff on here, and it's a bit too random at times. But basically, I put stuff into three categories:
1) Baseball and other sports stuff
2) Politics and Economics
3) Just plain funny stuff
So I'm going to create two new blogs. This one will remain as my Just Plain Funny Stuff blog, because quite frankly, that's all quite amusing and I enjoy it. Now I can crowd cyberspace with two new blogs nobody will read.
The other stuff will be added to the sidebar when completed.
UPDATE: Done. See the sidebar under "shameless self-promotion." No promises about my next venture into bad creative writing.
1) Baseball and other sports stuff
2) Politics and Economics
3) Just plain funny stuff
So I'm going to create two new blogs. This one will remain as my Just Plain Funny Stuff blog, because quite frankly, that's all quite amusing and I enjoy it. Now I can crowd cyberspace with two new blogs nobody will read.
The other stuff will be added to the sidebar when completed.
UPDATE: Done. See the sidebar under "shameless self-promotion." No promises about my next venture into bad creative writing.
Labels: About the Blog
Bonds May Be Juicing, but the MLBPA is stronger
Barry Bonds signed a $15.8 million contract with the San Francisco Giants, much to the amusement of anyone that is not a Giants fan. There was some stalling, though, in the gap from when it was agreed on and when it was signed. Bonds has some rather special circumstances, though.
For one thing, he tested positive for amphetamines last year. In the course of that, he blamed a teammate for the substance - a very Bonds-like thing to do but despicable nonetheless.
Bonds is also an admitted steroid user, having claimed before a grand jury he thought he was getting "flaxseed oil" from his trainer. It is very possible, then that he could be indicted not only on some drug charges, but on charges of perjury as well.
We already knew that, but what is particularly interesting is that Bonds' contract contained an escape clause for the Giants in the event that he was indicted. Major League Baseball rejected the contract, apparently to save the Giants. Here is Bonds' agent Jeff Borris.
The saving grace for San Francisco is that Bud Selig rejected the deal. The question is whether or not the Giants will continue to cave, or what other concessions will have to be made to get the contract signed, because this is a very stupid deal. I don't know if they're without a choice because they agreed in principle or something, but either way, that's just screwy.
For one thing, he tested positive for amphetamines last year. In the course of that, he blamed a teammate for the substance - a very Bonds-like thing to do but despicable nonetheless.
Bonds is also an admitted steroid user, having claimed before a grand jury he thought he was getting "flaxseed oil" from his trainer. It is very possible, then that he could be indicted not only on some drug charges, but on charges of perjury as well.
We already knew that, but what is particularly interesting is that Bonds' contract contained an escape clause for the Giants in the event that he was indicted. Major League Baseball rejected the contract, apparently to save the Giants. Here is Bonds' agent Jeff Borris.
Borris said that the additional language in Bonds' contract would be unenforceable if the matter ever was litigated because baseball's collective bargaining agreement would take precedence. Because of that, Borris said the inclusion of the added provision is meaningless.
"Although it is not my policy to comment on the specifics of an individual player's contract, the reporting that Barry will allow the Giants to get out of his contract if he is indicted on the federal steroid investigation is inaccurate," he said. "The collective bargaining agreement governs the work relationship between the owners and players, not the Giants' unilateral assertions."
From this we can conclude that Brian Sabean's IQ is a bit short of Bonds' single-season home run record. I mean, seriously, if it turns out that it's no big deal and that part of the contract is invalid, was Sabean tricked into thinking it would hold up? And in such an event, would he think he could get away with such a thing?
One comparison which could potentially be drawn by the MLBPA is Kobe Bryant, and how he played despite the rape trial going on. Of course, there was nothing in Bryant's contract about rape indictments, nor did Bryant have a reputation as a rapist beforehand, so that weakens the analogy. After all, Bonds' head got bigger - literally.The saving grace for San Francisco is that Bud Selig rejected the deal. The question is whether or not the Giants will continue to cave, or what other concessions will have to be made to get the contract signed, because this is a very stupid deal. I don't know if they're without a choice because they agreed in principle or something, but either way, that's just screwy.
Labels: Economic Stuff, MLB
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Fantasy Baseball for 2007
If you don't play fantasy baseball, then you should. It will teach you a whole lot about major league baseball, moreso than you would have thought. Most significantly, you will learn that there are more good players than you knew. It can also teach you a bit about the game, like the importance of WHIP (walks + hits per inning pitched).
A good fantasy team is not the same as a good baseball team, and there are different things to keep in mind. But there are still several tips as to how to have a good fantasy baseball team.
1) Depth. While it's important to get your superstars early in the opening rounds, don't forget the importance of having players that get the job done all the way down. You get a few utility players, so this is tricky. Pitching depth is key too, and that can also be hard.
2) Know what stats a player can control. A pitcher will generally be consistent with IP and K numbers generally. WHIP is also not out of their control entirely, although it is somewhat. But stats such as ERA, Wins, and Saves depend on the team. ERA factors in defense; there's more to good defense than just not bobbling the ball. Wins and saves are hugely depenent on team factors. The offense has to put up more runs than the other team, which can be nasty for a pitcher on a team like Tampa Bay, and defense has a lot more to do with run prevention than one might thing. Saves require a save situation, which means that the game has to end with that team up by 1-3 runs.
For hitters, AVG, R, RBI, HR, SB can vary too. SB varies on opposing catchers and pitchers as well as that player's manager, but otherwise is generally consistent. Home Runs can be consistent too, as can average. Runs and RBI, though, depend on batting order. A player moving from batting 3rd to batting 4th, for example, will score fewer runs but will likely have more Runs Batted In. Further, players whose teammates are more likely to get on base get more RBI, because there are more guys on in front of them.
3) Oppurtunity Costs. In the draft, remember to pick players based on how useful they'll be to you. If you draft Albert Pujols in the first round instead of Chase Utley, for example, you'll get a better overall player. But remember that you have available slots based on position, so your second base slot will not be nearly as good, whereas you could wait a couple rounds and still get reigning AL MVP Justin Morneau. Know which positions have more depth than others; there are lots of good first basemen and outfielders, but not so many catchers or second basemen. As for pitchers, starters carry more weight because they pitch more innings, so get really good starters; better to get Johan Santana and Brad Lidge than K-Rod and Jeff Weaver.
4) Free agents. There are going to be plenty of players nobody has on their team, and they may be good. People may have not noticed them, or they just got promoted, or they might have just been injured. Look them up, and maybe shuffle your lineup. Players can be streaky, though, so be careful.
5) Look for good overall. I'd take Fernando Rodney over Todd Jones 7 days a week because he'll give me a better ERA, WHIP and K count, even if he doesn't do saves.
6) Don't play favorites. You might like a player or they might be on your favorite team, but if they're sucking, drop 'em.
Pujols is the best overall, but because of the comparative value, I'd be flipping a coin between Chase Utley and Johan Santana for my first overall pick. Daisuke Matsuzaka is intruiging. The DH utility spots are few, but there are few good DHs to go for. David Ortiz, Travis Hafner and Jim Thome are still up there. Frank Thomas may be lower on the totem pole, although Piazza may still be eligible as a catcher, and if so still a good catcher to have.
A good fantasy team is not the same as a good baseball team, and there are different things to keep in mind. But there are still several tips as to how to have a good fantasy baseball team.
1) Depth. While it's important to get your superstars early in the opening rounds, don't forget the importance of having players that get the job done all the way down. You get a few utility players, so this is tricky. Pitching depth is key too, and that can also be hard.
2) Know what stats a player can control. A pitcher will generally be consistent with IP and K numbers generally. WHIP is also not out of their control entirely, although it is somewhat. But stats such as ERA, Wins, and Saves depend on the team. ERA factors in defense; there's more to good defense than just not bobbling the ball. Wins and saves are hugely depenent on team factors. The offense has to put up more runs than the other team, which can be nasty for a pitcher on a team like Tampa Bay, and defense has a lot more to do with run prevention than one might thing. Saves require a save situation, which means that the game has to end with that team up by 1-3 runs.
For hitters, AVG, R, RBI, HR, SB can vary too. SB varies on opposing catchers and pitchers as well as that player's manager, but otherwise is generally consistent. Home Runs can be consistent too, as can average. Runs and RBI, though, depend on batting order. A player moving from batting 3rd to batting 4th, for example, will score fewer runs but will likely have more Runs Batted In. Further, players whose teammates are more likely to get on base get more RBI, because there are more guys on in front of them.
3) Oppurtunity Costs. In the draft, remember to pick players based on how useful they'll be to you. If you draft Albert Pujols in the first round instead of Chase Utley, for example, you'll get a better overall player. But remember that you have available slots based on position, so your second base slot will not be nearly as good, whereas you could wait a couple rounds and still get reigning AL MVP Justin Morneau. Know which positions have more depth than others; there are lots of good first basemen and outfielders, but not so many catchers or second basemen. As for pitchers, starters carry more weight because they pitch more innings, so get really good starters; better to get Johan Santana and Brad Lidge than K-Rod and Jeff Weaver.
4) Free agents. There are going to be plenty of players nobody has on their team, and they may be good. People may have not noticed them, or they just got promoted, or they might have just been injured. Look them up, and maybe shuffle your lineup. Players can be streaky, though, so be careful.
5) Look for good overall. I'd take Fernando Rodney over Todd Jones 7 days a week because he'll give me a better ERA, WHIP and K count, even if he doesn't do saves.
6) Don't play favorites. You might like a player or they might be on your favorite team, but if they're sucking, drop 'em.
Pujols is the best overall, but because of the comparative value, I'd be flipping a coin between Chase Utley and Johan Santana for my first overall pick. Daisuke Matsuzaka is intruiging. The DH utility spots are few, but there are few good DHs to go for. David Ortiz, Travis Hafner and Jim Thome are still up there. Frank Thomas may be lower on the totem pole, although Piazza may still be eligible as a catcher, and if so still a good catcher to have.
Update
Thursday, January 18, 2007
A classic
On a Resolution by the Commonwealth of Virginia to say that Slavery was Bad
Ok, here's the gag: the state of Virginia is proposing an apology for slavery. Yeah, slavery's bad, mmm-kay. This 140 years after slavery was abolished by the 13th amendment to the Constitution. "We're sorry that people we've never met but are related to enslaved people you've never met but are related to."
But then it gets really funny. A delegate in the General Assembly said no. And he didn't just say no, he said a few more words. Frank Hargrove, R-Hanover, said this, as stated in the Times-Dispatch:
Hargrove did not add that he felt that importing and enslaving Africans was necessary to salvation, so we might have to ask if that one's a fair assumption. Or perhaps he meant that the abolition of slavery was similar to Christ's resurrection.
Nonetheless, these remarks scared the governor, Tim Kaine. Kaine immediately was frightened that this would lead everyone to think that such a person was typical of Virginians. Granted, the only people who will think that are the people who think that Fred Phelps is a legitimate Christian leader, and they're just a bunch of idiots anyway. But whatever.
The stupid resolution, the crazy delegate, and the paranoid governor. Once again in Richmond, the Circus is in town early.
But then it gets really funny. A delegate in the General Assembly said no. And he didn't just say no, he said a few more words. Frank Hargrove, R-Hanover, said this, as stated in the Times-Dispatch:
Regarding slavery, Hargrove said "black citizens should get over it" and that
asking the state to apologize for slavery is akin to asking Jews to apologize
for killing Christ.
Hargrove did not add that he felt that importing and enslaving Africans was necessary to salvation, so we might have to ask if that one's a fair assumption. Or perhaps he meant that the abolition of slavery was similar to Christ's resurrection.
Nonetheless, these remarks scared the governor, Tim Kaine. Kaine immediately was frightened that this would lead everyone to think that such a person was typical of Virginians. Granted, the only people who will think that are the people who think that Fred Phelps is a legitimate Christian leader, and they're just a bunch of idiots anyway. But whatever.
The stupid resolution, the crazy delegate, and the paranoid governor. Once again in Richmond, the Circus is in town early.
Labels: Other News Items, Politics
Sunday, January 07, 2007
Forseeable Victory for Free Trade?
As we all know, most soft drinks in the US are made with corn syrup and high fructose corn syrup. Corn syrup, though, has negative effects that exceed that even of your basic granulated sugar.
Another major use for corn, of course, is in ethanol fuel. Ethanol, a corn-based alcohol, is such a major component of fuel that we can expect ethanol and grain prices to climb quite a bit as the need for more corn will grow rather quickly.
High fructose corn syrup is used in soft drinks for the same reason that oil-based gasoline is still used in automobiles: it's cheap. Thanks to tariffs imposed to protect the US sugar industry, it is cheaper than sugar in the US. So it seems simple enough: once there is more demand for ethanol, even if we do nothing, it will be more profitable to use sugar more often because the soaring demand for corn will raise its price, making sugar relatively cheaper; even if corn syrup were more still a little cheaper, soft drink makers would be more apt to selling drinks with sugar because they would be a bit healthier for consumers.
The difficulty, of course, lies in the politics of this whole issue. Politicians do not want to disappoint the sugar lobby, and the corn lobby would have it in their interest to make sure that sugar remained expensive enough that people still used high fructose corn syrup. Fortunately for the marginally health conscious (the truly health conscious would drink juice, milk, tea and water), all that needs to be done is to explain to the American public that foreign sugar means cheaper fuel, because Americans love cheaper fuel. This fixation on cheap gas, which led to nostalgia for gas price fixes of the 1970s, can be used to promote freer markets, potentially quite soon.
Another major use for corn, of course, is in ethanol fuel. Ethanol, a corn-based alcohol, is such a major component of fuel that we can expect ethanol and grain prices to climb quite a bit as the need for more corn will grow rather quickly.
High fructose corn syrup is used in soft drinks for the same reason that oil-based gasoline is still used in automobiles: it's cheap. Thanks to tariffs imposed to protect the US sugar industry, it is cheaper than sugar in the US. So it seems simple enough: once there is more demand for ethanol, even if we do nothing, it will be more profitable to use sugar more often because the soaring demand for corn will raise its price, making sugar relatively cheaper; even if corn syrup were more still a little cheaper, soft drink makers would be more apt to selling drinks with sugar because they would be a bit healthier for consumers.
The difficulty, of course, lies in the politics of this whole issue. Politicians do not want to disappoint the sugar lobby, and the corn lobby would have it in their interest to make sure that sugar remained expensive enough that people still used high fructose corn syrup. Fortunately for the marginally health conscious (the truly health conscious would drink juice, milk, tea and water), all that needs to be done is to explain to the American public that foreign sugar means cheaper fuel, because Americans love cheaper fuel. This fixation on cheap gas, which led to nostalgia for gas price fixes of the 1970s, can be used to promote freer markets, potentially quite soon.
Labels: Economic Stuff, Politics
