A task for Roger

[klaiggeb]

Roger: You like to do research.

I hate it with a passion.

So here's what I'm asking you to find out.



1-How many gutted fastballs have the giants taken, not fouled back, taken this season.

2-How does that compare, percentage wise, to other teams?

[rog]

Boly, other than watching every game of every team pitch by pitch, I don't know where I can find that information. If someone can lead me in the direction of a reasonable way to find it, I'm game.

By the way, it's not so much that I like doing research (although Boagie chafed when I called it that, so I have changed the word to study). It's that I like getting answers so that I can increase my knowledge.

[Islandboagie]

It annoys me when you present it in a fashion like you're pouring through books in a dim lighted library at 3am. It annoys me because you didn't do the research, someone else did. All you did was click on a website. "Study" doesn't make me feel any different. I'm not trying to tell you how to speak, but I won't pretend that it doesn't annoy me when you act like a pretentious stat nerd either. I don't know why you can't just say "I looked it up." Because that's really what you did.

[klaiggeb]

Darn! I was hoping you knew where to find that stuff, Roger, because with all the games I watch, the quantity of gutted fastballs we take is ALARMING!

And that doesn't even take into account when we swing at them, as McNuthin did 3 times yesterday, and miss them completely.

I've hit enough and played enough to be scratching my head.

This guys are MUCH better hitters than I EVER was, and they CAN'T hit a ball right down the middle?

Once, I get it.

But McNuthin does that a LOT.

Which is one of the reasons I call him that.

[rog]

Apparently leading one's team in RBI's is Nuthin.

[klaiggeb]

If you're impressed with 48 RBIs, Roger, we need to talk.

Once again today, Runner on 3B, no one out, and McNuthin strikes out.

Did it last night, too.

A guy with his skills, and his experience and HIS reputation HAS to do better.

48 RBIs sucks.

For a guy who hit 3rd a lot?


Sucks.

No two ways about it.

[rog]

As for you, Boagie, you're just trying to make trouble.

First of all, you don't know WHAT I do. So perhaps I should tell you.

You are right that I get much of my information from what I read. But I learn (which is what study helps with) in other ways too.

I learn from watching games. I've seen a LOT of them, and I don't necessarily agree with the adage that every game you see something new. But you do see a lot that is new, and you see details you can really get into.

I learn by combing the ideas of others with my own. I learn by just looking things up that come to mind or are prompted by other study. I learn by reading this board.

As for your concept that I'm getting this knowledge by pouring through books in the library at 3:00 AM, that is your concept, not mine. I don't even know of any libraries that are open at that time. And when I go to the library, it is to get books, not read them at that moment.

Actually, I'm joking. When the library closes, I hide in the bathroom so I can access all the books in the middle of the night. That strategy would likely work better though is the bathrooms weren't located OUTSIDE the library. I thought it was a great idea, but in reality I wound up reading the toilet papers.

[sfgdood]

Rog reminds me of that dork in the front row of an American History class who thinks he's smarter than everyone because on his own time he read a Biographical book about Benjamin Franklin that left out all the good bits.

[rog]

I don't know many of the key facts about Benjamin, although my impression of him is that he was a broad and brilliant man who may have been lucky he wasn't killed by lightning.

As for American history, or more accurately eighth grade Constitution, I do remember that the class was taught to all the 8th graders in the school multipurpose room. I have no idea what the question was, but I remember when everyone else raised their hand for "yes," and I raised mine for "no." Turned out "no" was the correct answer. I wonder if there were others who judged the answer but were afraid to raise their hands.

Lest you think I'm tooting my own horn, I also remember as an adult when I told myself I was too tired to vote in a local election. The guy I would have voted for wound up in a tie with another candidate. In the run off, he lost.

So clearly I didn't learn much in Civics class. And was too lazy to make a difference.

Anyway, Randy, you haven't shown much depth of knowledge about anything, and you certainly haven't about me. Although you once had a chance to meet Allen and me but cancelled, you don't really know much of anything about me.

Speaking of another pizza meeting I had with Allen (There were only two.), the Red Sox were playing the Yankees in the playoffs (2003?). Pedro Martinez was pitching. I told Allen Pedro was hurt. Nothing was said during the series, but afterward it was said that Pedro's shoulder was "hanging by a string."

Of course, all I know is numbers, so I must have imagined it.