baseball

Great picture.

Nice WSJ article about Rick Knapp.

Quoted: With his retro-style glasses, unfashionable gray crew cut and a gut that has stomached too many greasy dinners in two-stoplight towns, pitching coach Rick Knapp doesn’t look like anyone’s sexy offseason acquisition. But to the Detroit Tigers, that’s exactly what he’s turning out to be.

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The future of sports

Quoted: More info: http://www.pinktentacle.com/2009/07/video-robot-baseball/

Good reporting from former GR Press writer Danny Knobler. This issue is finally getting some national attention. It's been under the radar in Detroit, too.

When you look at all the circumstances, a release seems like the most prudent choice. $18 million is just too much to pay Magglio next year, even if he turns it around. But last night's grand slam is a reminder of what a painful decision that would be. And I'm sure Mr. Illitch is attached; Maggs has been a huge asset to the team on and off the field since he got here.

Quoted: How do you know when a once-elite player like Magglio Ordonez is done? Danny Knobler isn't sure -- nobody is -- but Maggs' suffering stats and big salary mean an outright release by Detroit is a real possibility.

Baseball visualizations galore.

Quoted: Flip Flop Fly Ball. Baseball infographics and other visual treats.

Having read much of tangotiger's work, this is great news.

Quoted: Derek noted it in passing in his thread on Blengino's BP interview, but it deserves its own post. The Mariners have hired Tom Tango as a consultant to assist

I wasn't a reader of the Baseball Card Blog until this final goodbye post, but I think I wish I had been. This is great.

Jack Zduriencik continues to get high marks from me. He definitely seems to have a plan.

Quoted: The idea is that the team will receive video of their opponents and have workers in the new department break down each pitch from a statistical viewpoint. They can grade the break on curve balls, tendencies to throw certain pitches in certain situations, figure out what hitters like to swing at, that sort of thing.

Farewell, FJM. You will be missed.

Quoted: Remember, the greatest intangible of all is love. Number two is grit.