In case any of you missed it I feel strongly that it’s worth your time to read this Sports Illustrated article, “Bring Back Sports Arguments,” by Joe Posnanski.
Oct 05
Read: Joe Posnanski About Talking Sports
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5 comments
metsfan4decades
10/5/2010-2:41pm at 2:41 pm (UTC -4)
Loved the article – thanks for sharing. This was my comment on the last thread when you linked that story:
This was a great read, partly because I’m in the 20% of the population that doesn’t shy away from confrontation. I don’t revel in it, as others might, but I’ll never back down from it, especially if it’s going to affect something in my life or heck…someone is trying to stuff a ‘wrong’ down my throat when I know I’m right.
I especially like it because of how he tied it into baseball – particularly sabermetrics:
I cannot tell you how many people have sent me emails quoting one of my favorite statistics, Wins Above Replacement, as if that’s an argument-ender. No! To me WAR is an argument STARTER. That’s what’s beautiful about it. The fact that (according to Baseball Reference) Felix Hernandez has a 6.0 WAR and CC Sabathia has a 5.4 WAR doesn’t end the Cy Young debate for me. It starts it.’
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I couldn’t agree more with this statement and the premise of it. You can’t build a roster on strictly stats, anymore than you can on ‘heart and fire’. Have to look at the complete package, what you’re trying to build, what you want the club to accomplish.
And maybe…just maybe sometimes you look at a quiet, never heard from 35 year old journeyman pitcher whose career has been mostly minor league and not particularly successful at that and you take a chance on him. Due to circumstances with your starting 5, he becomes your fan base’s (mostly) favorite player of the year – given them something to feel good about in what turned out to be a lost year.
Yes, I’m talking about RA Dickey. This season would have been even more dismal had Omar not taking a chance on him.
TRS86
10/5/2010-2:43pm at 2:43 pm (UTC -4)
I loved this article. So true and so much what I have been trying to say as of late. 90% of baseball decisions are NOT black and white they are right in the middle and we as fans usually don’t have anywhere near the information needed to know if that decision was in the 10%.
stickguy
10/5/2010-3:02pm at 3:02 pm (UTC -4)
but we do have hindsight!
Mr North Jersey
10/5/2010-3:52pm at 3:52 pm (UTC -4)
When he wrote “The point was making the argument, questioning everything, refusing to accept something because it SEEMED so.” that was probably what registered the most for me.
I am sure everyone will take something different out of it (when I said it I meant the article not the quote) and I think that speaks to the quality of the article itself in that it shows there was a lot there to offer.
Again a very thought provoking article. Thanks again to Grave for the link.
metsfan4decades
10/5/2010-4:27pm at 4:27 pm (UTC -4)
I put this at the end of the last thread while I really meant to put it here in the newest thread.
On another note, this is interesting…..
Jeff Wilpon calls David Wright to explain his comments about listening to trade talks for Mets star.
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/2010/10/05/2010-10-05_owner_calls_wright_to_explain_trade_comments.html