Gom

If I wasn't a nice guy, I'd tell you to go **** ********. Seriously, what's wrong with donating to charity? Who's to say I was going to win anyways?

It was no "high horse", just I got tired of the insults that lead to nowhere. Apparently, you have not. If you had actually continued reading, I pointed out the potential problems/issues inherent with what I was saying. The information itself is not determinate, so it is up to us to extrapolate from this information and develop a hypothesis. However, you decided to pick on something outside of the point, which is not surprising. Every time I think you have an inkling of respectability, you never fail to disappoint. I don't know why I bother, since you consistently show yourself to not only be ignorant and clueless, but of poor character as well. Anyone else, I would love to hear your views on my post.

Sadly...

It would be fun to burn it. Seriously, if I won, I would simply ask Yeszir to donate it to a worthwhile charity. There are many who go without.

I'm all ears my man. Send me a PM. Speaking of porn...damn, I just figured out how to connect my PS3 to Spankwire [kudos to a TalkSox member who let me know about the site] and watch porn on my PS3. I love it!!!!

When the series starts, can you make a chart so we can all see where we are?

Pull you pants back up, and it won't happen again.

Sadly, this kid has shown more sense than the clueless trio. I figured since you saw it on the internet, you'd accept it as the God-Given truth. It seems to be a prevalent theme here. Accepting information without any sort of wisdom, just because it's printed. Now, barbs aside.... The long answer makes a lot of sense. The short answer also makes sense. However, this is the best we have. What other way can we compare catchers and their effectiveness behind the plate and their overall impact? As far as I know, there is no other way. When what I see is backed up by statistics, no matter the degree of error/sample size, then I know the formula, which may not be perfect, is on the right track. I acknowledge the statistic, and hope that someone who has more passion and time than I will figure out a more meaningful formula that will coincide with the statistics and what we can see by, yes...watching the games. This is how I feel about CERA, and how it pertains to the Yankees and Red Sox. The reason is that the main catcher is so poor defensively, and the backup is so much more accomplished defensively, the formula will be more or less effective. If you were to have two relatively even catchers defensively, the formula may very well be useless. This formula is to show the disparity between two catchers on the same team, IMO. Because both of our 1st string catchers are so terrible defensively, the contrast is easily seen in the formula, and also for anyone who has an eye for the game...literally. Now, conversely, when a statistic, like UZR, routinely misses players like Tex, Hunter, Adam Jones, etc., and labels them as below average not to their major league counterparts, but to a AAA replacement player, than there is significant error there that renders the formula completely useless. Whether it's mapping of the data, or the formula, or something else is irrelevant. It is useless, and I ignore it. I choose not to waste my time in finding out what is wrong with the formula. Let someone else figure it out and when they do, I will accept it. Another way to look at is as follows: do you use Batting Average to value players? No, because we have more advanced metrics that over time have shown to be more effective. Basically, we are in the formula stage for defense that Batting Average once was for offense. Soon, we will come up with something that mimics OBP and SLG, and the more advanced offensive statistics. We're just not there yet. However, there are others here, like Jacko and Dipre who are screaming out the defensive equivalent "Gardner is better than Arod because he has a better batting average"....when anyone who watches the game knows that such a phrase is pure folly. Similarly, we are in the same place for determining catcher's value defensively, if not even more rudimentary in our knowledge. However, since these people are unable to think for themselves, they take this as an affront to their supposed baseball intelligence. Which, sadly, it is. I digress. So when is CERA most effective? When you compare catchers on the same team, and when the disparity between the two catchers defensively is obvious. These conditions exist on both of our respective teams. Even then, there is a lot of variation and statistical error...but it's the best we have, and more importantly, it mimics what we already know. Cervelli IS better than Posada, and Varitek IS better than VMart. I think you will agree that it's your offense that's primarily the culprit for your slow start. However, your pitching has also been an issue. The question is...why? I realize what I'm about to quote is a small sample size, but it doesn't change the fact that such information is relevant. The sample size will simply determine the relevance. As the season goes on, such information becomes more relevant as you increase the sample size. Last year, in the American League, the league wide ERA was 4.46. I took this from Baseball Reference, I don't make up stuff like others. You can all go check for yourself. A quick glance shows the average to be right around there, about 4.50 for the last few years. This year, it's much lower, at 4.00 exactly. The last season where the ERA was lower was 1992, when it was 3.95. To me, this means that we are more than likely going to see an increase in ERA for teams across the board, relatively speaking, of about half a point. Where are the Yankees? Currently, they sit at an ERA of 3.63. Last year, they were at 4.26. Considering that they have not made any significant pitching moves, if you add that alleged half a point, to their team ERA, they would be pretty much right where they were last year, which would be logical. There is no reason for their pitching ERA to go down. They didn't really improve that much defensively [Gardner from Damon, over the course of a season, is not that significant], and they added no superstar pitchers. Now, to the Red Sox. 2009 saw an ERA of 4.35. However, the emergence of Buchholz, and more importantly with the addition of Lackey and a philosophical shift to run prevention would lead one to believe that the team ERA would drop. However, what has happened so far? A team ERA of 4.29. As of right now, that would be a below average ERA in the American League [currently 4.00 as stated before]. If you consider that league ERAs are about 1/2 a point off, that would mean the Red Sox would end up around a 4.80 ERA. What is the most likely explanation? You could say small sample size, and this cannot be argued. You can also say a team slump, just plain randomness inherent in a season. Fine, fine. Or you could point the finger at Victor Martinez...and it holds just as much water, IMO. Where is Victor Martinez when it comes to CERA? Sitting at a CERA of 4.56. Varitek? 3.90. There are a million things that you can pick apart here. Sample size, normal variation, etc. The list can go on and on. I accept this. However, why is VMart's CERA a half run worse than the league average, considering he is catching one of the best pitching staffs in baseball? This very well may be nothing but randomness. I accept that. How could I not when it's only been two weeks? However...what if the trend continues? I wholly believe it will, but what I think is is really irrelevant. You don't have to believe in this as I do, and I know you don't have to. However... What if the trend continues? I hope you found this post, whether you agree with it or not, to be well-thought out and maybe it opened a few eyes.

Just a question here for Dipre and ORS. Jacko doesn't believe in Catcher ERA. I understand it's limitations, but when comparing catchers on the same team or catching the same pitcher, I think it's extremely effective. Jacko does not feel the same way. Fine...he's out of the conversation. I don't believe in UZR. Everyone has their feelings. However...Dipre and ORS...would you believe it if by the July 1st, the Red Sox ERA between Varitek and Martinez was 0.5 points or more? At what point would it be significant, if ever? Just curious.

Finally, a voice of reason. Kilo and I basically say the same things, but it just stings a lot more coming from me. The Yankees have more money than any other team, but it not limitless. Only a fool would believe that. The Yankees turned down Beltran because Boras wanted too much money. The Yankees really only got involved when Henry dropped the ball...and this is from what I've read. I wasn't there...but then again, neither was anyone else. Only someone foolish believes the "I've always wanted to be a Yankee" crap. Damon said it when he left Boston. ********. Then he said he always wanted to be a Tiger after negotiations fell apart with the Yankees. CC said it....but is there anyone who believes he would have left the Brewers if the money was the same? About the only one I believe was AJ, who was offered 1.5 million more over the entire deal by the Yankees, and that money would have been offset by NY's higher tax rate than if he would have went to Georgia. From what I read, Cashman told Tex/Boras to keep them in the loop. AFTER the Henry fiasco, they took a poll in the Yankee front office: Tex long term, or Manny short term. Tex won. He went to ownership, and they ok'd it. It wasn't a question of payroll [Manny would have cost roughly the same per year] but it was more a question of commitment. Hal/Hank said yes, Tex was a Yankee 48 hours later. The thing is, even if you get AGon, it's only 1/2 to 1 1/2 years on the cheap. Then he cashes in big time. So basically, is it worth it to give up a ton of prospects for him, or just to wait until he becomes a free agent? That's not for me to determine. That's your call as Red Sox fans. Another thing...I don't buy this transition year ********. A team with a 170 million dollar payroll doesn't transition. Period. No ifs, ands, or buts. That's an insult to teams that are transitioning. A lot of you guys are missing the point that you enjoy a significant financial advantage over 28 teams. You don't transition. I can't believe there are some of you who buy this s***.

I did. It was intentional as well. This keeps people from spam-starting and building an "All-Pitching Team" which is what people do in the other league. By spam-starting pitchers, you are guaranteed winning QS and Strikeouts, no matter what else. If you get lucky, you can win one of the other pitching category and you guarantee victory in the pitching section. Last year, in the finals, every day, 5 or 6 pitchers got dropped every day by each team. I took advantage of this rule all season. However, it wasn't fair, which is why I implemented it last year and this year. This forces you to build a balanced team.

For your sake [and my income], I hope the Red Sox wake up well before that.

GOM Fearless predictions: Check. He isn't hitting yet, but he will. About his ability to handle a staff...check. Sorry Dipre, Jacko, and ORS. The three of you can't come close to me on this one. How many runs did you guys score so far today? Check. I never understood strong offense/poor defense catchers. Teams like the Yankees and Red Sox will spend over 100 million on their rotation, and then get a catcher who can't frame a pitch or throw out a runner. It's like buying an Aston Martin and putting Hot Wheel tires on it. It may only be April, but I really think the Rays were better than their record last year, and due to their collective youth, kind of gave up when they got buried early. However, when they won the division, they got off fast, and never looked back. If you guys aren't careful, the Rays will tuck themselves in under the Yankees and run away with the Wild Card. Before you know it, you could very well be 10 games behind us and the Rays.

I love being right.

It's still early. I'm not in mid-season form yet.

It's amazing how drugs made a career. Meteoric rise, catastrophic fall. The anguish of Red Sox fans sustains me.

The balloon goes up on Lackey. He gets bombed today.

Ok, I lost week 2 by a score of 9-0. I feel better now. I usually don't start making my run until the second week of May. See you in the Finals, SFOC.

Yet Dipre quotes UZR. Funny. I think there is really no denying what I'm saying when the Red Sox team ERA is around 4.50 come the All-Star break...but Dipre and Jacko will find a way.

Why not? Molina 2008 ERA: 3.70 2009 ERA: 3.31 Posada 2008: 4.61 Posada 2009: 5.02 Keep in mind, last year, Posada caught CC a lot, and Molina caught AJ. When I said 1/2 a run....I was being generous. Varitek is nothing compared to Molina behind the plate. My one true fear this off-season was that you would sign Molina.