Upon Dilbert

I used to look at Dilbert and think "why the hell do people find this funny?" This marginally drawn cartoon just has these characters walking around and saying barely intelligible things. They have a cat who works in the office, and a dog, and apparently the manager isn't that smart. Fast forward over two years, and while I still do not find it especially funny, it is now because the strip hits far too close to home. The archetypes put forth by the artist are ridiculous, but even more so for the fact that they do exist.

I am thinking about Dilbert this morning because after 2 plus years, I still do not understand how some people live their lives. It seems as though some people derive pleasure from things such as chastizing others. I do not see how correcting a perceived mistake in someone's behavior or actions can move from a job responsibility to a source of enjoyment. Why would someone enjoy this?

Another example? Sure, don't mind if I do.

Consider the following two sentences:

"The meeting will take place on Monday, January 24, in room 302 B, beginning at 8:00 AM."

"This meeting will occur Monday, January 24, 2005, at 8:00 AM, in room 302 B."

Does one sentence contain any more information than the other? Is one clearer than the other? Can you think of any reason for circiling one sentence in red pen, crossing it out, and writing the other sentence as its replacement? If the rest of the memo reads exactly the same, and it has already been printed, why would you exchange one sentence for another sentence with the exact same information. The grammar is correct in both, the sentence length is not disparate enough to make a difference. Is this change the result of ego? Is it a control issue? Could the 5 minutes wasted making this change not be more productively applied?

Thats about it for now. I think I see Dog-bert coming.

Upon having the most value

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BA OBP SLG
Season 152 574 115 170 38 1 46 140 1 .296 .394 .606

155 577 117 184 26 1 46 124 16 .319 .421 .607

Consider if you will the above two stat lines. Two similar seasons. The Runs are almost the same. Player 2 has the edge in hits, but Player 1 has more doubles. Triples and HR are even. Player 1 is out in front in RBI, but player 2 has many more steals. Average, On-base, Slugging (and OPS) all go to Player 2.

Now the anonimity of these two players allows us to consider them on the basis of their stats. The RBI lead speaks loudly for Player 1, but nearly all the rest of the offense goes to Player 2. The difference in steals more than mitigates the doubles lead.

Lets look at a few more stats:

Strike-outs- Player 1- 116 Player 2- 133 - Edge Player 1
Walks- Player 1- 98 Player 2- 88 -Edge Push, as player 1 hits more
Ground into Double Play- P1-13 P2- 8 - Edge Player 2


I don't have the exact numbers here, but Player 1 has an average 40 or so points higher with RISP, but Player 2 has more game winning RBI.


So looking at these players with no names attached, this is a tough call, right?

Now I'll give you two more numbers

Games Played Defensively-
Player 1- 10
Player 2- 155

Now, again with no names attached, wouldn't you wonder why
Player 2 has played nearly every game in the field, but Player 1 has only 10 games? Going purely based on these numbers above, who would you say is the more valuable player? Was Player 1 at the DH for 140 games? If we assume that, then his only defensive value was not being on the field, right? Wouldn't a somewhat capable fielder make it out there once in a while? Offense for Offense, this is a dead heat. However, this is not a race for the silver slugger. Numbers for Numbers, you would have a convincing argument on either side. But...

A PLAYER MUST NOT BE CONSIDERED MORE VALUABLE THAN ANOTHER IF ONE PLAYS THE ENTIRE GAME, AND ONE ONLY HALF.

If Player 1's reputation as "clutch" convinces people of his value, then does his absence from 80 games worth of baseball (half innings seated firmly on the bench) not decrease his value exponentially? Would you consider a player who only played after the All-Star break the most valuable player in baseball? After all, he did only play in half of his teams games. You may have a valid case as the most valuable hitter in the game, but the award in question is not most valuable hitter.

Put this another way. Would you as a GM trade unnamed Player 1 for unnamed Player 2? I contend that AL or NL, you would not take Player 1 and give up Player 2, but you would take Player 2 and give up Player 1.

Someone care to try and rationally convince me otherwise?

Upon the race to the tape

Toronto, Baltimore, Boston. Three series for all the marbles. Toronto comes to the Bronx, and then the show goes on the road to Baltimore, before finishing with a 3-spot in Beantown. Unit, Moose, Wright, Wang and Chacon appear to have gotten the nods. 9-0 Aaron Small goes to the pen, where he will pick up where any of the previous 5 should falter. Concerns persist with respect to middle and late relief, and these are critical areas in a playoff series. The Yankees have gone a long stretch where they could not expect 7+ from their starter, and this is taxing a middle relief core that is not the strongest facet of the team.

If I remember correctly, the championship Yankees usually got to their relief in the 8th and 9th. The starter gave you approximately 7 innings, and then Stanton, Nelson, and Rivera would come in for the finale. Before that, Rivera was a bridge to Wetteland. With rest, I believe that Tom Gordon and Mariano can be as dominant as Mo and Wetteland were. Tanyon Sturtze hurls gas, but can not get overworked or his stuff suffers. Since the pen, and the offense have taken turns carrying the team this season, I believe and hope that this is the time when the starters can pick the squad up and run them to October. If the Yankees can get the "quality start", mixed in with the twice-weekly offensive outburst, then October is a distinct possibility.

I am looking to get back that trademark Yankee swagger. I refuse to root for my team like a Boston fan. I will not look constantly in the rear-view mirror, expecting the worst. I want to look at the first round match-up in October, not hope that we make it. We were always like this, confident, arrogant, cocky, and correct. Then 2001 happened, and we got shaken. 2002 had us questioning our identity, but 2003 suggested we were almost back. Last year came, and the power dynamic swayed a bit. Now I believe that the Yankees are reemerging. You need to be hot at the right time, and all the pieces are there for a sizzle to erupt.

10 games for all the marbles. Chacon vs Ted Lilly tonight. Lets run hard across the line.

Upon a boy named Bubba

"3-4 with a walk-off home run in an important September pennant chase game." Bubba Crosby is not the first Yankee who leaps to mind with a tag-line such as the above. With Tampa Bay continuing to spoil for AL East powerhouses (taking last night's game from the Red Sox), the Yankees used a powerful start from Wang, and the clutch HR of Crosby to move within a half game of the division lead. The Yanks and Sox are also tied in the loss column, meaning that the last weekend of the season (which looks to be a stroke of brilliance by MLB schedulers) could determine the entire shooting match. The Indians do not seem to lose these days, and are charging hard at the once seemingly insurmountable Central lead of the woeful Chicago White Sox. As it stands right now, the division title means much more than the wild-card, as second place and 90+ wins ensures you of nothing. NY, Boston, Oakland, LA of Anaheim, Cleveland, and Chicago will all likely be sweating it out down the stretch, which should make for the most compelling, remote-hopping, ALT-TAB ing sports experience this side of March Madness.

Upon Quick Thoughts

Greetings new friends and old. The 25th season of the Charlie experiment is in full swing, and I'm glad to have you along for the ride. ( I think its the 25th season, since age zero to 1 was the first season, but I got confused around the millenium too).

I spent yesterday in the friendly confines of Yankee stadium. We saw a pitchers duel between the Randy Johnson that we thought we would be getting, and Tim Wakefield, who had the knuckleball dancing at its unhittable best. I can't remember a quieter 12 K game than the one
Timmy had, but sure enough, the Yankees were flailing at pitches that ended up far from where they began, often taking the most circuitious route possible. Jason Giambi jumped on one of the few hittable pitches and banged it out to right for all the offense the Yankees could muster. However, it also proved to be the only run the Yankees would need as unit had it cranked to 11. His fastball was hitting 95-96, and the slider was doing its frisbee trick. A cramp kept him from a CG, but Gordon and Rivera shut the door. An entirely pleasurable way to spend a birthday (thanks Jess).

The first week of fantasy football went well, with the team delivering enough to overcome my head-to-head opponent. Collins got the job done thanks in large part to Randy Moss. Priest didnt have the most yards or TD for a running backl on his own team, but scored well. Steve Smith was on his game. Slow weeks for Cutris, Driver, and Franks, and Baltimore ran into the Indy machine, who will get their points. The lads did enough to get it done. Rod Smith is worth a look next week at WR, but with Javon Walker hurt in the Bay, Driver and Franks should get more looks (if Favre can remember how to be a good QB).

some more musings now-

Do animals like sunflower seeds? Also, now many things in nature would we enjoy eating if we simply salted the hell out of them?

Do you think Family Guy is beginning to rely too heavily on the cut away?

Why do you need two feet in bounds, but only need to break the plane for a TD?

Upon Musings

Why is the highest seting on some things almost not useable? Like the top volume notch on a stereo, which generally renders the music unlistenable, or the highest setting on the AC, which you really only use for a few minutes until things cool down, at which point you put it to a normal setting?

How is it you can be a dynamo on 3.5 hours of sleep, and a zombie on 10+?

Is there a female equivalent to the neck-tie? I dont think the scarf qualifies.

Does anyone remember mini-discs? Or Laser discs? I wonder how big the outlook for them was.

"Baby on Board" stickers....why? Should we drive differently around you because you have a child? Unless you have more kids, the thing is outdated in 2 years anyway.

If you have to imagine something happeing to you before you feel sympathy to a persons situation, does it still qualify as sympathy?

Did nearly a million people living below sea-level not strike more people as incredibly dangerous?

Why is it I just don't believe Green Day?

How many people ever use an entire pencil?

Can we stop gelling spikes in the hair, popping the collar, and doing the other things that, would people stop and reflect, will almost certainly inspire cringes in a few years?

If you are 11,12,13,14 do you need to be on the cell phone? (this goes for the rest of the ages too)

Blogging is the new ________?

Is it really September already? Was it really 6 years ago I was starting college?

Upon Fantasy Draft

Here's hoping that the image to the left will be seen frequently around the NFL. With the second pick in my fantasy draft, I took The Priest, hoping for a spectacular return to form. 66 TD in the past 3 seasons has me hoping the head Chief can return to his fantasy monster form.


Other Key Pics
Curtis Martin led the NFL in rushing last year, and I hope he stays on track.
Steve Smith looked to be a perennial fantasy stud before an injury cut him down in week 1 in 2004. Mushin Muhammed has departed, and Smith looks to star in Carolina.
Adam Vinatieri is money, I have to admit.
I am counting on Ray Lewis to anchor a Ravens defense that should be among the best in the league.
You gotta love the name Bubba Franks.

Fantasy football has returned.

Upon Daily Sports Pic

Happy trails to Jerry Rice. The best receiver ever to lace them up is finally riding off into the sunset. He did pull a bit of a Jordan and stick around longer than we would have liked, thereby probhibiting his legend from forever feeding upon itself until it grew greater than the man (no small feat). Just check the man's stats, especially the part at the bottom where it gives his career numbers. However, if you don't know what the man means to the game, just ask a football fan, from casual to die-hard. The picture above gives a pretty good indication of how many Jerry Rice plays ended.

Upon Daily Sports Pic

Beginning today, I will try to include a picture each day reflecting something good from local sports.

This was probably a nasty pitch.

Upon Finley to the Spurs

The San Antonio Spurs landed the big fish of the free agent class with their signing of Michael Finley. Fans may remember that Finley was one of the highest-profile players to be released under the salary cap exception dubbed "The Allan Houston Rule". (though the Knicks somehow cut loose the JYD). The Spurs took home another NBA championship this year, and now have reloaded their roster to the point where on paper they are the prohibitive favorite to repeat. In fact, the depth of the Spurs is such that they could probably field a competitive team with their backups.



PG- Nick Van Exel
SG- Brent Barry
SF- Mike Finley
PF- Big Bob Horry
C- Rasho Nesterovich

This team could win 30 games easily. Now realize that for the most part, these guys are simply spelling Parker, Manu, Bowen, Duncan and Mohammed.

My one concern is that the Spurs may be becoming over-starred. Mike Finley wants a championship, but he also will want touches. Manu is the best athlete, and at times the best player on this squad. Tony Parker is a year older, and wants to continue to emerge as a star. Duncan is a perennial MVP. Nick the Quick has never been slow on the trigger. The chemistry has always been there for the Spurs, but the 3-peat Lakers also tried to become the place where vets came to try and finally get that ring.

It is my belief that the East will win this year, but I'd lay even money on them having to go through San Antonio to do it.