Check out @NYTimeskrugman’s Tweet: https://twitter.com/NYTimeskrugman/status/457179580240257024

New Jonah Keri

Jonah Keri is a very good baseball writer and you should read his latest.

He has some harsh things to say about the Twins. Hey, even I am elated they swept the punchless Royals, but the underlying concerns regarding their ability prevent teams possessing actual offensive ability still remain valid.

You may also want to listen to his podcast.  

First-Pitch Strikes

I wrote about the importance of throwing first-pitch strikes in March of 2013, using research I began in 2010. Still relevant, though Halladay has since retired. 

7th Inning Meltdown

J. J. Hoover of the Reds in St. Louis. Win Probability & Play-By-Play.

First-Pitch Strikes

Some old thoughts I had about them and their importance located here. 

The Point

Veda here. I debated here and there in the nineties, cooked for a living in the aughts, and think about baseball these days. This space just distills some of those thoughts.

I decided to write because I saw the most absurd thing on the Mariner’s broadcast tonight: they had the Seahawks and their Lombardi Trophy on the field to kick off the home opener. Yeah, yeah, bask in that limelight, I get it, link your self, your image (your brand? Ugh!) to what the population already loves. Sure. But, still … absurd. Very “sympathetic magic” kind of vibe.

Things I Like

As a Pirates fan, I have to say I really like the Phillies’ bullpen for at least two reasons. Reason 1. Reason 2. (Note that I also really like the Pirates’ bullpen but for very different reasons.)