I believe there’s a serious flaw in the way that baseball standings are listed.
I’ve been following the Washington Nationals from a distance by reading the sports section in the paper. Each morning I turn to the standings to gauge where the Nats place in the National League East. The most important line in the standings is “GB” or games behind. This tells the number of games a team would have to win to pull even with the team in first place. Towards the end of the season, this becomes a magical number, because it’s based on a team’s winning percentage.
I believe the GB stat is misleading because a critical piece of data is missingthe number of games each team has played.
As of today the Nats are 2 games behind the NL East leading Marlins. Except that by adding up the games played, I see that the Nats have played 4 more games than the Marlins. Thus, the Nats are potentially 6 games out of first place. Or they could be 2 games IN FRONT of the Marlins.
Thus, I’m asking the baseball standing people to add a Games Played column to the standings.
Stats are worse at the games themselves
I hear your complaint, Sam, and second that. More stats for all.
I’ve been thrilled to be at now four or five home games at RFK – including the Opening Night victory and then three more games in six days. Lots of good baseball. We bought a mini-plan season tix package – my brother Chris and I did, and a few of you might remember Chris – with seats in the upper deck, but we tend to move around a lot during the games.
But it’s been a struggle to figure out from the scoreboards in the stadium what’s going on during the game. Prior to my last visit there, they hadn’t been showing a player’s stats from that game’s at-bats. That’s frustrating since it’s nice to see trends and watch to see if someone is going to get benched, etc. Finally, last week when I was there to watch an awesome pitcher’s duel with the Brewers – which ended in a great bases-loaded single by Hammonds in the ninth to win the game – they were finally getting some of those at-bat statistics on the big screen.
RFK itself is rife with problems, which is understandable considering the years of neglect. But I have to say, it’s so cool to see tens of thousands of people watching the home team, in our hometown stadium, especially for a mid-week game against the Brewers. That game last week was packed right through to the end.
The Washington Post online has a Nationals Journal by the beat writer Barry Srvulga. They have a newsletter that gets emailed out, once a week or so. I’d encourage you to consider it if you are keeping up with the Nats.
And if you’re ever in town and want to catch a game, let me know.
Buying The Nationals
Reading that an investment group including Colin Powell, Darrell Green and seven other lesser-known, but likely wealthier, folks are trying to buy the Nationals from MLB…
I’m assuming this is taking up a lot of print space in the DC papers, but it was just a blurb out here.
Are they going to move the Nationals to a new stadium?
My opinion is that because baseball has such a long season, with lots of games, that a team’s financial success is directly tied to its on-the-field success. Meaning, the stands won’t consistently be packed if the team isn’t winning. The Orioles were playing poorly for a five-year run, but Camden Yards is such a fantastic place, that people would go anyway.
So, I’m wondering if a new ownership would build a new stadium, or if they would just improve RFK and invest more money in the roster.
That three game sweep by the Reds was ugly.
Rumors
Others in the know may be able to verify and correct, but for now…
The deal to move the Nats to DC included a provision to build a new stadium on the Potomac, paid for from the overflowing coffers of the District.
Angelos got a sweet deal in that he gets a large sum of money every year because of lost revenue due to the relocation of the Nats to DC, PLUS he has controlling interest in the newly created Mid-Atlantc Sports Network. The MASN will be broadcasting both Nats and Os games.
Apparenrly the owners didn’t want to challenge Angelos about these provisions because of his legal skills. So he basically pillaged the league in return for his allowing the Nats to go to DC. Good for my team, but wow…why can’t all leagues be run like the NFL?
My $.02 Weed
mmm…
Pie…
Pi
Justin, You need to understand something here. If you aren’t actually playing baseball then statistical analysis actually becomes the most interesting part of the game. Its one of those rare occasions where math is more exciting than sports.
——– Visit my blog, eh! The Murphy Maphia
That whole thing about stat a
That whole thing about stat analysis IS a unique and fascinating aspect of baseball. Along the same lines, I know several people who have just as much fun listening to baseball on the radio as watching it on TV. I know of no other sport that can make that claim.
Stat analysis is a key component of enjoying any sport (hence the popularity of fantasy sports), but I know of no game in which it is more useful (and complex) than baseball.
Arthur Rowan
“There is nothing more frightening than a man who is absolutely sure in the righteousness of his cause.
Except spiders. Spiders freak the hell out of me.”
Radio sports
I found myself listening to a Nascar race on the radio the other day. In fact, I listened to 12 minutes of red flag coverage. It was still more interesting than most baseball games I’ve ever watched. Not all… but most.
——– Visit my blog, eh! The Murphy Maphia
It Sounds Like A Cliche
It sounds like a cliche, but some of my earliest and best memories are of me & my dad listening to the O’s on the porch on warm summer afternoons.
Nowadays, 1090 AM will play a montage of all the O’s jingles they’ve used over the years, and I’m amazed at how many of them I remember. I’ve never considered myself a rabid baseball fan, but I think I shocked Sam at how much I was into the O’s playoffs back in ’97 & ’98 (I STILL CANNOT BELIEVE THEY WASTED MUSSINA’S PERFORMANCE AGAINST THE INDIANS! and that was a foul tip, too)
But I can’t watch a whole game on TV. I’ll flip to see Weather on the 8s, or the score of the NBA playoffs, or Who’s Line, or whatever. The attention span isn’t there.
I apologize to the forum members who aren’t into sports, but to dismiss this as pie after two posts is premature. For some of us, sports are a big part of our life. It starts early, too. My son isn’t even three and likes to swing a baseball bat and shot basketballs. I haven’t pushed him, but maybe I have in that sports are always on the TV, and he sees that.
But the thing to remember about sports is this: Sports are Play, and we all like to play.
My $.02 Weed
You mentioned Pie?
See, now that someone who’s actually into the topic has mentioned Pie, it’s time for Pie.
I think that’s how the rule goes. Or something.
Dang. I’m stuck at work, and I want Pie. I wonder what’s open at 5:50 in the morning?
—
Matthew P. Barnson
Not Even Joking
I was telling the fiancee the other day of that game, in which you were on your knees in front of the television, seeking the Lord’s involvement to influence the outcome, with a promise of naming your first-born after one of the players (I forget which player), and the madness that ensued afterwards.
Remember it like it was yesterday.
I also will never forget that field goal kicker from Boston College who made the game-winning kick against Notre Dame.
Watch This
Sam, (without looking it up)
Who played right guard for the Redskins in 1983?
Weed
Russ Grimm
I could be wrong about that. He was the offensive line coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers last year. One of the reasons I picked up Jerome Bettis for my fantasy team.
*looks it up*
You are correct, sir!
Russ Grimm served as right guard of the Redskins from 1981-1991.
— Ben
AIGHHH!!
I believe the O’s stranded about 1.56 millions runners in that game (or 15) and lost 1-0 when our catcher let a ball past him that he claims was fouled tipped and the Indians scored.
Melissa is the girl Screech was hitting on by the pool.
I’m sick My $.02 Weed
Pie..
Ahh.. but I do indeed like pie.
And I like baseball.. I see the O’s play once a year about and I love it.. I go the park and its a blast..
I don’t consider pie a dismissal of the topic, but rather a way to say “ahh.. I think I’ll bow out here, as I have little else to say.”
And yes.. I have now tricked Matt into liking pie.