JimH5

Yep. . .the Ray Conniff and Herb Alpert are straight out of my dad's record stack. I have them on CD now and the fidelity is quite good. It's funny how the music of your childhood comes back to you. . .

Go ahead and use it. Hawing, you and I have shared our affinity for holiday music in the past. . .This year I picked up the Beach Boys, Straight No Chaser and Gladys Knight & The Pips. Plus I've been playing The New Christy Minstrels and the Ray Conniff Singers quite a bit. Plus some Dwight Yoakam, Willie Nelson, Herb Alpert and the Brian Setzer Orchestra. All Good. I ordered one out of the blue from Amazon called a Bossa Nova Christmas. . .should be here today or tomorrow. . .

Fidel Castro and Hugo Chavez could make things happen in fives. . .

4 homers last year, which is 4 more than I hit. Is he Juan Pierre? I'm not excited about that.

Time has a way of making us forget certain stuff, so by nature, (absent any other incidents), this will fade. Plus, he'll have chances to make it right, too. I've mentioned this story before, but I was at a signing in New Jersey a few years ago and there were probably 20 guys signing at the time. Gary Sheffield was the nicest one in the whole room. . .taking pictures, making small talk, signing for a pretty low (by comparison to other guys) fee. He stayed extra time to accommodate everyone, and was vastly different than the 19-year-old sulking in Milwaukee. One doesn't erase the other, but I think much more highly of him now than I did before. For Braun, it would really depend on his explanation. What is this "BS" he is speaking of? Was it a tainted supplement? Something he got from a team trainer? A mishandling at the lab? The onus is on him to come up with an explanation to make me want to support him. I don't like people cheating, and I don't like people lying, and I especially don't like people cheating and lying in the jersey of my hometown team--so he has to make it right. Then I'll decide whether to support him again. He can't just serve a suspension, show up on day 51 and pretend that it's over.

It feels terrible for what this means to 2012. But it feels worse to think that we've been had. What exactly were we cheering for last year? I feel bad for Mark Attanasio for getting all carried away and doing the public celebration, etc. For being contractually locked to a guy who is far from a sure thing. I feel bad for families who have to explain this to young kids. I feel bad for Braun, if this is actually an honest mistake, or if he has been the victim of someone else's wrongdoing or mistake. I feel bad for the Diamondbacks and Matt Kemp, if they didn't get something they deserved. It's pretty bad.

I wonder if Braun's team leaked the stuff to ESPN. If they thought it was sure that he would lose his appeal, then wouldn't this be the time to get the word out, to make ESPN the goat. . . or the lab, or the testing process? It's just speculation, for sure. . .just wondering how I would handle it if it was me. MLB won't talk for another month, so until then, Braun's team has the ability to paint their client in a favorable light. . .

Completely agree with others that the rush to judgement sucks. I actually like the rush to judgement. It speaks of the passion that fans feel toward these players. We could sit back on our hands and wait for things to play out, or we could vent our feelings as we're feeling them. Why else are there in-game threads? In the end, it doesn't matter if we're upset or relieved or saddened or angry in December--it only matters if we don't buy tickets or watch the games or buy the beer.

It makes total sense. I don't want him to hit a walkoff homer, and then have me left with some nagging doubt the rest of the night. It sucks all the fun out of being a fan.

True, the end of Molitor was pretty rough. And I didn't like the way Trebelhorn handled Cecil Cooper's last season. I wasn't so affected by the Gorman trade. The context of this one is pretty tough, though--just days after winning the MVP. . .first division championship in more than a generation. . .right in the heart of a tough offseason. . .this one stings a lot. Bill Simmons will occasionally talk & write about the '04 Red Sox and how he feels conflicted about finally winning the World Series, and then finding out that Manny and Ortiz were PED users--and how it really detracts from him memories of that team. Braun is the face of the franchise, so if he tests positive, it makes me wonder who else might be using--and why I should care about the guys on this team.

Heyman is in town today. I wonder if he knew something was up. Is this the most let down feeling that we have ever had for a non-game event? I think so.

The way it works is if a ball in that zone is caught by someone say 90% of the time (a lazy fly ball), then whoever catches it gets credited with .1 out. So things like that don't make too big of a difference for whoever catches it. Thanks for the clarification.

Vintage stuff from the 1980s and 1970s is fun. Old publications, baseball cards, photographs. . .Do an ebay search on Vintage Brewers and see if anything comes up. There is a set of 4 booklets that were stadium giveaways in 1994 for the 25 year anniversary of the team, and the booklets are made up of baseball cards of guys who had played with the team up to that point. That might be in the price range. Common signed items could be had for that price. . .8x10s of Jim Gantner, Jerry Augustine, Don Money, etc.

So many of these contracts go 2+ years too long. Buehrle would be fine on a one year deal, maybe two. . .but four !? Glad the Brewers are staying away from these deals.

He seemed like a fine fellow, though his obit is incomplete without mentioning his case of spousal abuse. He beat up his second wife several years ago and completed a counseling program as ordered by a judge. So I'm conflicted about how to bid him farewell. None of us should have our lives judged by just one incident, but his was a pretty reprehensible incident. RIP Harry, you gave me some fine entertainment. I hope you and your family lived in peace and love.

Why do I feel that K-Rod and Yuni are going to be there on Opening Day?

How do the fielding metrics handle the play where both the CF and LF (or RF) converge on a lazy fly ball, where either could make the catch, but one player (typically the CF) handles the play? It seems that there is at least one play per game like that. Based on the dynamics of the team, there might be situations where the CF is actually better served to defer to the corner guy. In any case, there's only 1 putout to be recorded, and when outfielding range is measured by 2-5 chances per game, that one routine play could have a great impact on how the stats present the fielders.

While the HOF is interested in celebrating the game's greats, it is also an institution that needs visitors to sustain its operation. By far, the busiest time of the year for the Hall and the village is induction weekend. Without it (and without the subsequent weeks that draw related visitors), the Hall would really suffer. So they really do need to induct someone every year. Like many things, they are serving two masters--one, to only allow people in who are deserving, and two, to keep the turnstiles turning. So I think we'll always see different versions of these "2nd chance" committees--just to make sure they're not at the mercy of the BBWAA vote every year.

I did see that and I thought briefly about it, but I don't think that stuff was attributed to a specific player, and there was something about one of the pics that I thought was a little sketchy. I too would like to grab some catching gear at some point, though, so hopefully when we're both ready, there will be two sets!

As for JimH's stats: Blyleven had 242 CGs and 60 shutouts. For the record, I wouldn't have Morris on my ballot. Earlier I said I would pick Larkin, Bernie Williams & Lee Smith. I don't like Morris's ERA, and while I'd like to think that I could be sold on his candidacy, for now I'm out on him. I was objecting to the statement that Morris wasn't that good ever except for 1 game. I also object to what I feel is an over-reliance on WAR, without regard to other stats. Case in point: In 1983, Morris lead the league with 293 IP in 37 starts, had a 3.34 ERA, a league leading 232 Ks and a 3.4 WAR. That year, Moose Haas threw 179 IP in 25 starts, had a 3.27 ERA and 75 Ks and a 3.9 WAR. Does anyone really think that Haas's season was better than Morris's? WAR does. This past year, Carlos Lee played half a season in LF and half a season at 1B, and he recorded a 2.1 defensive WAR. Neither Keith Hernandez or Mark Grace ever had a single season with a 2.1 defensive WAR. Was Carlos Lee a better defender than Hernandez or Grace? No chance. WAR is interesting, but I think it's flawed when it makes those kind of conclusions--and so when WAR is cited, I'm going to look with some skepticism.

175 Complete Games plus 5 more in the postseason. 28 Shutouts plus 1 more in the postseason. He had more than just 1 good game.

Check out Brian Kenny on tonight's Clubhouse Confidential SUPPORTING Bernie Williams' candidacy for the HOF! Affirmation, Baby!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------- After this one, I'll give you the last word. . .I don't think we're going to convince each other of our own rightness-- But you can't in one post discredit postseason stats, claiming that being able to record them is a matter of luck, and in another post, point to some postseason stats and then use those to advance your case. They either matter or they don't. I think they do. Williams played on teams that won more pennants and World Series than any of those guys you listed. And being on the winning side is better than not winning. He did it at a tough defensive position, playing every day, hitting in significant spots in the lineup. He hit 22 homers in the postseason, 2nd all-time. He drove in 80 runs, most of all time. He's 2nd in runs, 2nd in total bases, 2nd in doubles in the postseason. Of course being a Yankee gave him possibilities that wouldn't have existed had he been a Brewer. But so what? He got the hits in the most important games of those seasons while others didn't. Even so, using the list that you provided, I'll use just regular season stats. . .and I've already conceded that Griffey is a better candidate and that Edmonds is a Hall-of-Famer to me. . . On to the stats: Williams has an OPS+ of 125. Puckett is next at 124; Beltran 121; Dykstra 120; A Jones 111; Butler 110; Lofton 107; Cameron 105; Finley 104; White 98. Williams is boosted by his OBP (381, tops among all of those listed), though his slugging (477) is quite respectable (topped only by Beltran 496 and A Jones 488). Times on base by walk or hit: Butler 3504; Bernie 3405; Finley 3392; Lofton 3373; Puckett 2754; A Jones 2750; Beltran 2748; Cameron 2567; White 2475; Dykstra 1938 RBI: Bernie leads with 1257; A Jones 1255; Finley 1167; Beltran 1146; Puckett 1085; Cameron 968; White 846; Lofton 781; Butler; 578; Dykstra 404. Modern stats like to discredit RBI as not being that meaningful, but it's surely better to drive in a run than to leave a guy on base. Runs: Again, an admittedly team-reliant stat, but scoring is better than not scoring. Williams (1366) comes in 3rd, behind Lofton (1528) and Finley (1443). Total Bases: Williams is 113th all-time, with 3756. That's more than Dale Murphy (3733), Edgar Martinez (3718), Jim Edmonds (3615), Andruw Jones (3595), Puckett (3453), Lofton (3433), Beltran (3359), Devon White (3078), Butler (3076), Cameron (3035). Finley is 69th all time (4157), though his career arc is suspicious (36 HR as a 39 year-old, while hitting just 37 total before his age 30 season). Williams hasn't had even a hint of controversy regarding PEDs, and while none of us can be absolutely sure of anyone, he didn't have any of the Brady Anderson-like seasons to boost his stats. His case is interesting, as a lot of it is built on the postseason. He didn't come close to 3000 hits. He wasn't a true slugger, and he was a bad centerfielder--though probably would have been okay in LF (we'll never know). He was certainly a product of the Yankees environment, but he was also a key contributor to those teams which were a modern dynasty. Griffey's in. Edmonds should go in. And I'd put Bernie there, too.

Fair enough. I'd throw out Devon White right away, but Lofton is a fair comp. Both guys reached base around 3400 times, Lofton was a much better defender and base stealer, but Williams had more power. Williams performed much better in the post season than Lofton. I think that Edmonds is a Hall of Famer. And Andruw Jones could have been. . .just not sure about his .339 career OBP and 111 OPS+. His case will come down to how much I trust the defensive numbers. . .because he gets a ton of value for his defense, and I don't know yet if I'm ready to buy those metrics--though Harry Hooper and Mazeroski are there much for their defense. . .so we'll see. My point on Bernie is that being in the postseason isn't a neutral. It's a good thing. You get extra credit for that. I don't know how he would have been on the Padres or the Pirates. Without the postseason, he wouldn't have nearly the case that he does as an all-time postseason stat compiler. But he did compile those stats--more than just about anyone else.

He did not win 4 World Series, this isn't tennis. He was on 4 WS winning teams. Its not that being on the Yankees made that much easier, it made it possible. Unless you suggesting you could have put Bernie Williams on any team and they would have won the world series. He's a lot like Derek Jeter, vastly overrated especially on defense. Jeter is a HOF player but people pretend like he is the greatest SS of all-time (when coincidentally a real contender for the best SS of all-time plays right next to him). Also Andy Pettitte, who is the same pitcher as Chuck Finley, except he has a lot of wins because he was on the Yankees mostly. Williams is a solid player who is not HOF material. He played a horrible defensive CF, actually the worst defensive CF of all-time. His most similar players is a nice list, but none of them are in the HOF or have strong cases Bobby Abreu (909) Paul O'Neill (905) Bob Johnson (892) Bobby Bonilla (884) Will Clark (881) Ellis Burks (871) Magglio Ordonez (865) Reggie Smith (864) Edgar Martinez (860) Garret Anderson (860) Williams had 47 WAR (average bb-ref and FG), he not in the same league as Billy Williams (64 WAR), Kirby Puckett was a special case due to a shortened career and Enos Slaughter does not belong either or is borderline at least, and he is better than Williams anyways. Earle Combs accumulated about the same amount of value as Williams in 3000 less PAs, and he is also a horrible selection due to being on another Yankee dynasty. Hopefully the HOF will stop making the same mistakes by electing guys lucky enough to be lesser contributors on winning teams. Agreed that Williams wasn't a good CF. He took a lot of bad routes to balls. But he was good enough to play there--certainly better than O'Neill or Abreu or Knoblauch or Soriano would have been. To use the B-R similarity scores doesn't do Williams justice, as it completely ignores the postseason. He had an .850 career OPS in 545 postseason plate appearances. He scored 83 postseason runs and 223 postseason total bases. Those are good things and should count in his favor, even if his peers in the league didn't play in the postseason. Besides Griffey, is there an AL centerfielder from this era who is more deserving? And I don't think Jeter is the best SS of all time. . .just the dreamiest.