Comments on: The Twelve Random Thoughts of Christmas http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2007/12/22/the-twelve-random-thoughts-of-christmas/ Curiously Long Posts Fri, 19 Mar 2010 05:41:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Jeff http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2007/12/22/the-twelve-random-thoughts-of-christmas/#comment-4167 Jeff Wed, 02 Jan 2008 01:57:53 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2007/12/22/the-twelve-random-thoughts-of-christmas/#comment-4167 As for the Ryne/Lou debate I'll take Bobby Grich over both of them. His ops+ was better than both and outside of his 30 game rookie year he never has an obp under .350. As for the Ryne/Lou debate I’ll take Bobby Grich over both of them. His ops+ was better than both and outside of his 30 game rookie year he never has an obp under .350.

]]> By: Dave E. http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2007/12/22/the-twelve-random-thoughts-of-christmas/#comment-4091 Dave E. Mon, 31 Dec 2007 20:32:10 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2007/12/22/the-twelve-random-thoughts-of-christmas/#comment-4091 Joe, I think you and I lived in the same apartment complex in Blue Ash. To para-quote Homer Simpson, "Mmmmmm, Skyline." Joe,

I think you and I lived in the same apartment complex in Blue Ash. To para-quote Homer Simpson, “Mmmmmm, Skyline.”

]]> By: Brian http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2007/12/22/the-twelve-random-thoughts-of-christmas/#comment-3914 Brian Fri, 28 Dec 2007 02:52:33 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2007/12/22/the-twelve-random-thoughts-of-christmas/#comment-3914 I've been reading this blog for a while now, and have thoroughly enjoyed it, but haven't been moved to comment until I had a few thoughts on the random thoughts of this post: - Aside from his game-planning and motivational techniques, I think one of Belichick's greatest strengths is one of the things he gets the most criticism for - not playing the media's game. Why should he give out any information he doesn't want to divulge just to keep the writers happy? Also, in his news conferences, he displays a bone-dry sardonic wit, which I think just sails over the heads of those hoping for snappy quote. - I think a point of grammar that is being missed in the "if not" discussion is that the "if not" modifies the definite article. "One of the goofiest" is indefinite, but "THE goofiest" is definite. There also seems to be an implied "just" in the first part. With this in mind, another way to re-write the sentence is "If you are not just one of the goofiest writers in America, you are THE goofiest." Not that I agree with the sentiment, but that's how I've always understood the construction. - Skyline Chili is indeed a mysterious substance. I have friends here in Boston who are from Cincinnati, and every time the return from a visit home they bring a case back with them, which they are generous enough to share. Now, I've only had the canned version, so this may be different from what you get in the restaurant, but this is what I've found so strange about it: up until a certain point, it is the greatest thing ever. But once I've had too much, it's just intolerable. - Tina Fey is a smart guy's "babe". Stereotypically, brunettes are smarter than blondes, and women with glasses are smart, too. Put glasses on an already attractive and witty brunette, and it's a "perfect storm". Then again, I like to consider myself smarter than the average bear, and I think Tina Fey is the bee's knees, so the above may be self-serving. Also, I don't mind that she's not that into chocolate, and the fact she sometimes wears black high-top Chucks is another point in her favor. I've been impressed for a while by the intelligence of the comments here, and hope that I didn't bring the level down too much. I’ve been reading this blog for a while now, and have thoroughly enjoyed it, but haven’t been moved to comment until I had a few thoughts on the random thoughts of this post:

- Aside from his game-planning and motivational techniques, I think one of Belichick’s greatest strengths is one of the things he gets the most criticism for – not playing the media’s game. Why should he give out any information he doesn’t want to divulge just to keep the writers happy? Also, in his news conferences, he displays a bone-dry sardonic wit, which I think just sails over the heads of those hoping for snappy quote.

– I think a point of grammar that is being missed in the “if not” discussion is that the “if not” modifies the definite article. “One of the goofiest” is indefinite, but “THE goofiest” is definite. There also seems to be an implied “just” in the first part. With this in mind, another way to re-write the sentence is “If you are not just one of the goofiest writers in America, you are THE goofiest.” Not that I agree with the sentiment, but that’s how I’ve always understood the construction.

- Skyline Chili is indeed a mysterious substance. I have friends here in Boston who are from Cincinnati, and every time the return from a visit home they bring a case back with them, which they are generous enough to share. Now, I’ve only had the canned version, so this may be different from what you get in the restaurant, but this is what I’ve found so strange about it: up until a certain point, it is the greatest thing ever. But once I’ve had too much, it’s just intolerable.

- Tina Fey is a smart guy’s “babe”. Stereotypically, brunettes are smarter than blondes, and women with glasses are smart, too. Put glasses on an already attractive and witty brunette, and it’s a “perfect storm”. Then again, I like to consider myself smarter than the average bear, and I think Tina Fey is the bee’s knees, so the above may be self-serving. Also, I don’t mind that she’s not that into chocolate, and the fact she sometimes wears black high-top Chucks is another point in her favor.

I’ve been impressed for a while by the intelligence of the comments here, and hope that I didn’t bring the level down too much.

]]> By: Sven http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2007/12/22/the-twelve-random-thoughts-of-christmas/#comment-3902 Sven Thu, 27 Dec 2007 17:49:38 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2007/12/22/the-twelve-random-thoughts-of-christmas/#comment-3902 If not, use context :) You are one of the ugliest, if not THE most ugly people in America. If the jury likes you, you may be acquitted. If not, you're going to jail If not, use context :)
You are one of the ugliest, if not THE most ugly people in America.

If the jury likes you, you may be acquitted. If not, you’re going to jail

]]> By: john http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2007/12/22/the-twelve-random-thoughts-of-christmas/#comment-3872 john Wed, 26 Dec 2007 21:25:38 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2007/12/22/the-twelve-random-thoughts-of-christmas/#comment-3872 I think if you use your methodology from the Rice/Murphy/etc. blog a while back you'd see why Sandberg is in and Lou isn't. You need to have a prime with truly elite seasons to be a HOF and not just build up stats. I thought that Lou should have gotten more support but its hard to say a player was a HOF without any truly elite seasons on your resume. Sandberg's end to his career was poor and brought down his career rate stats quite a bit but since his prime was good enough and long enough he's in. And yes I'm a Cubs homer. And guys dig Tina Fey because she's different. She actually gains from how jacked out the rest of hollywood actresses have become in appearance and everything else. I think if you use your methodology from the Rice/Murphy/etc. blog a while back you’d see why Sandberg is in and Lou isn’t. You need to have a prime with truly elite seasons to be a HOF and not just build up stats. I thought that Lou should have gotten more support but its hard to say a player was a HOF without any truly elite seasons on your resume. Sandberg’s end to his career was poor and brought down his career rate stats quite a bit but since his prime was good enough and long enough he’s in.

And yes I’m a Cubs homer. And guys dig Tina Fey because she’s different. She actually gains from how jacked out the rest of hollywood actresses have become in appearance and everything else.

]]> By: mdpeter http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2007/12/22/the-twelve-random-thoughts-of-christmas/#comment-3871 mdpeter Wed, 26 Dec 2007 18:41:29 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2007/12/22/the-twelve-random-thoughts-of-christmas/#comment-3871 The Sandberg-Whitaker debate is very similar to Kirby Puckett / Albert Belle. After all of the analysis is done, Puckett basically smiled a lot more than Belle, and he was friendly to the reporters. Jose Canseco stated in his book that Albert Belle emphatically did not use steroids. If that is true, then he put up ten years of dominant, drug-free stats while competing in the height of steroid-fueled numbers. The Hall requires that a player be active for ten years, which Belle was. DiMaggio, Kiner, Puckett, Koufax, etc all had relatively short careers, and Belle losing the MVP in '95 was an injustice that was result of baseball writer bias. Belle was still an amazing hitter when he retired due to a bad hip. Puckett got sympathy and extra votes when the same thing happened to him. I'm not saying that Belle belongs in the Hall, but he does compare favorably to Kirby Puckett and Jim Rice. Without the ridiculous grudges that the baseball writers hold against certain players, Puckett, Rice and Belle was all be considered borderline candidates. Having Puckett elected in his first year of eligiblity was a joke. He was elected since he was a "good guy" to the writers and reporters, but his life after baseball that it was an act and should have had not bearing on his performance on the diamond. The Sandberg-Whitaker debate is very similar to Kirby Puckett / Albert Belle. After all of the analysis is done, Puckett basically smiled a lot more than Belle, and he was friendly to the reporters. Jose Canseco stated in his book that Albert Belle emphatically did not use steroids. If that is true, then he put up ten years of dominant, drug-free stats while competing in the height of steroid-fueled numbers.

The Hall requires that a player be active for ten years, which Belle was. DiMaggio, Kiner, Puckett, Koufax, etc all had relatively short careers, and Belle losing the MVP in ‘95 was an injustice that was result of baseball writer bias. Belle was still an amazing hitter when he retired due to a bad hip. Puckett got sympathy and extra votes when the same thing happened to him.

I’m not saying that Belle belongs in the Hall, but he does compare favorably to Kirby Puckett and Jim Rice. Without the ridiculous grudges that the baseball writers hold against certain players, Puckett, Rice and Belle was all be considered borderline candidates. Having Puckett elected in his first year of eligiblity was a joke. He was elected since he was a “good guy” to the writers and reporters, but his life after baseball that it was an act and should have had not bearing on his performance on the diamond.

]]> By: Dwight K. Schrute http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2007/12/22/the-twelve-random-thoughts-of-christmas/#comment-3867 Dwight K. Schrute Wed, 26 Dec 2007 16:34:28 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2007/12/22/the-twelve-random-thoughts-of-christmas/#comment-3867 Joe, have you ever spoken with Belichick? His press conferences are pitifully boring but there are moments where a writer asks a very specific football question and he goes off on eloquent (at least in football-speak) tangents on generally mundane topics like blocking a punt and the two-gap technique. He also has "treated" the writers to film sessions before with all of the greats he coached for and against. It would seem that the only time he would be bearable as a writer is when someone piques his interest, because he's God-awful with injury reports and post-game comments. One more thing. Obviously I'm biased towards the Patriots, but looking objectively, if they end up going 19-0 (in no way an easy assumption), they will have beaten four division leaders, the #1 seed in the NFC, the #2-3-4 seeds in the AFC and potentially the #6 seeds in each league as well (Cleveland, Washington), in the regular season alone - not to mention any combination of Indy, SD, Jacksonville, Pittsburgh, Dallas, Green Bay, etc. in the playoffs. I'm jumping way ahead but that's a pretty significant accomplishment if they make it that far. Oh, and SpyGate was a bit overblown but Belichick is an arrogant jack*** for repeatedly breaking the rules and thinking he could get away with it. Joe, have you ever spoken with Belichick? His press conferences are pitifully boring but there are moments where a writer asks a very specific football question and he goes off on eloquent (at least in football-speak) tangents on generally mundane topics like blocking a punt and the two-gap technique. He also has “treated” the writers to film sessions before with all of the greats he coached for and against.

It would seem that the only time he would be bearable as a writer is when someone piques his interest, because he’s God-awful with injury reports and post-game comments.

One more thing. Obviously I’m biased towards the Patriots, but looking objectively, if they end up going 19-0 (in no way an easy assumption), they will have beaten four division leaders, the #1 seed in the NFC, the #2-3-4 seeds in the AFC and potentially the #6 seeds in each league as well (Cleveland, Washington), in the regular season alone – not to mention any combination of Indy, SD, Jacksonville, Pittsburgh, Dallas, Green Bay, etc. in the playoffs. I’m jumping way ahead but that’s a pretty significant accomplishment if they make it that far.

Oh, and SpyGate was a bit overblown but Belichick is an arrogant jack*** for repeatedly breaking the rules and thinking he could get away with it.

]]> By: Travis http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2007/12/22/the-twelve-random-thoughts-of-christmas/#comment-3850 Travis Tue, 25 Dec 2007 23:53:32 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2007/12/22/the-twelve-random-thoughts-of-christmas/#comment-3850 Tina Fey... Yes! Tina Fey… Yes!

]]> By: Jackie Ballgame http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2007/12/22/the-twelve-random-thoughts-of-christmas/#comment-3845 Jackie Ballgame Tue, 25 Dec 2007 21:27:37 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2007/12/22/the-twelve-random-thoughts-of-christmas/#comment-3845 Book recommendation: "Tree of Smoke" by Denis Johnson. (and "Jesus' Son" by the same author, for that matter). Reading it now and felt inspired to share news of a good book with the Poz readers. Book recommendation: “Tree of Smoke” by Denis Johnson. (and “Jesus’ Son” by the same author, for that matter). Reading it now and felt inspired to share news of a good book with the Poz readers.

]]> By: SEJ-3D http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2007/12/22/the-twelve-random-thoughts-of-christmas/#comment-3841 SEJ-3D Tue, 25 Dec 2007 17:31:18 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2007/12/22/the-twelve-random-thoughts-of-christmas/#comment-3841 Joe nailed it with the Ryno-Sweet Lou comparison. Whitaker was dismissed so quickly, it was baffeling. The best American League 2nd baseman in the 80s and early 90s barely gets a sniff from HOF voters? Weak. I hope he gets in eventually with the Veterans commitee. Of course, I still don't understand why Trammell is not in yet. Joe nailed it with the Ryno-Sweet Lou comparison. Whitaker was dismissed so quickly, it was baffeling. The best American League 2nd baseman in the 80s and early 90s barely gets a sniff from HOF voters? Weak. I hope he gets in eventually with the Veterans commitee. Of course, I still don’t understand why Trammell is not in yet.

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