tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4760967123218143470.post8924715746995546092..comments2023-10-08T05:13:18.117-07:00Comments on wikifray: Sunday Papers 3/4/2007WikiFrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420433870074751645noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4760967123218143470.post-27161246930908144922007-03-06T14:15:00.000-08:002007-03-06T14:15:00.000-08:00there are two sorts of "clutch" players. the firs...there are two sorts of "clutch" players. the first are those who are very good or great players. they always perform well and are often in position to perform in the clutch. being very good to great, they tend to perform well in these situations as well. examples would be riveria or big papi.<BR/><BR/>the second type are those players who pretty much suck, but happen to get lucky in the best of circumstances. molina would be an example. mark bellhorn would be another. they aren't any more clutch than the other group, but the perception of them is somewhat different. with the first group, it's a case of somewhat taking the player's skill for granted. with the second, it's just selective memory.twifferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07019975906761715327noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4760967123218143470.post-7355830901395195702007-03-06T13:11:00.000-08:002007-03-06T13:11:00.000-08:00I'm reminded of the Red Sox ill-fated experiment w...I'm reminded of the Red Sox ill-fated experiment with "closer by committee." It does take a certain something to perform well at the end of a big game. <BR/><BR/>[Brace yourself, this is the only time you'll ever hear me say something not negative about the Yankees].<BR/><BR/>Sure it's about probabilities (who doesn't enjoy a good stat?), but part of the point is that the probabilities change with each player. You breathe more easily if Mariano Rivera is up in the ninth inning, whereas I have most of my career as a fan been stuck with the likes of <A HREF="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armando_Benitez" REL="nofollow">Armando Benitez</A>.augusthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12042512777302374341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4760967123218143470.post-90487671121661459192007-03-06T12:57:00.000-08:002007-03-06T12:57:00.000-08:00I picked a recent, rather than pertinent example. ...I picked a recent, rather than pertinent example. Better examples might be that A-Rod can't perform in the postseason based on a bad five game series. <BR/><BR/>On Molina, <A HREF="http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/stories.nsf/cardinals/story/6E2A52C1CF6398BC862572940012F141?OpenDocument" REL="nofollow">there was an article</A> in Sunday's paper suggesting Molina's postseason heroics will be the springboard to more offensive output.<BR/><BR/>This stuff makes sports more fun to follow -- a story is more fun than random chance. Roullette is not a spectator sport.JohnMcGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07476537916134121570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4760967123218143470.post-74079482422196527762007-03-06T11:54:00.000-08:002007-03-06T11:54:00.000-08:00JMcG: As a die-hard Cards fan who had to watch Mo...JMcG: As a die-hard Cards fan who had to watch Molina's miserable season last year, it's surprising to hear anyone say that Molina was anything close to clutch. To me, Molina's home run was just enough to prop up my dying religious belief for another couple of months. But it turns out there's at least a <A HREF="http://vivaelbirdos.com/story/2007/2/1/83311/88775" REL="nofollow">case</A> to be made that Molina really <I>is</I> clutch. Or at least he sucks slightly less with the game on the line.<BR/><BR/>Don't know what to tell you about Heilman.Archaeopteryxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10627784327758008867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4760967123218143470.post-14364349521866429592007-03-05T21:02:00.000-08:002007-03-05T21:02:00.000-08:00Here's the NYT article.One things I thought about ...<A HREF="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/04/magazine/04evolution.t.html?_r=2&pagewanted=1&ref=science&oref=slogin" REL="nofollow">Here's</A> the <I>NYT</I> article.<BR/><BR/>One things I thought about while reading it, believe it or not, was clutch hitting.<BR/><BR/>We don't want to believe that Yadier Molina hit that home run of Aaron Heliman because random probablilty aligned that way. No, we want to believe that Molina is a "clutch" hitter, capable of performing under pressure, and conversely, that Heilman is a "choker."<BR/><BR/>And, of course, that's part of the fun of it.JohnMcGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07476537916134121570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4760967123218143470.post-69874454862710369482007-03-05T19:10:00.000-08:002007-03-05T19:10:00.000-08:00I read the Times. Still haven't gotten around to ...I read the Times. Still haven't gotten around to the evolution article, but I've a budding interest in matters Darwinian. <BR/><BR/>Mostly, I like to do the crossword puzzle with mrs. august.augusthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12042512777302374341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4760967123218143470.post-2975435670814326672007-03-05T13:49:00.000-08:002007-03-05T13:49:00.000-08:00John: I changed our More... to AddThis.John: I changed our More... to AddThis.Edwardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01779339791093367175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4760967123218143470.post-33216934446360864382007-03-05T12:39:00.000-08:002007-03-05T12:39:00.000-08:00I shared a link to Sullivan's commentary on what I...I shared a link to Sullivan's commentary on what I think is the <I>NYT</I> piece you refer to. Check the Recommended.. widget.JohnMcGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07476537916134121570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4760967123218143470.post-1032658355146294732007-03-05T11:08:00.000-08:002007-03-05T11:08:00.000-08:00As always, I read (or skim) both the New York Time...As always, I read (or skim) both the New York Times and the Philadelphia Inquirer. As long as I don't sleep in, I can be done with both by 10:00. This week, I slept in.<BR/><BR/>I thought of you actually, John. Very interesting article in the NYT Sunday Magazine about whether there is an evolutionary reason for faith in God. Religious belief is so ubiquitous a number of scientists have just assumed it's part of our wiring. If I could figure out how to do a link here, I would. Sorry. <BR/><BR/>The article was fascinating and believers would have no problem with its content. (As the author points out, actually, quotes someone else at the end: a smart God would encourage the hard-wiring of belief.) I lack the time to do it justice here, but I think you could if you wished. Regardsrundeephttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13268692799782942178noreply@blogger.com