Awesome Interview; Berg/Murphy
Highlight of the interview:
Berg: There’s a sense about you among Mets fans about your businesslike approach to the game - it’s almost a cliche at this point... Do you think there’s something about you that makes people think that way...
Murphy:...The business approach? I don’t know. Do you take your job seriously?
Berg: Vaguely. Probably not like you do.
Murphy: I’d say you do, just more people watch me. I mean, I have fun. You know, Delgado makes that play [Wednesday] and everybody’s cheering him, I’m laughing out in left field because I know what it’s like. I’m working hard and I feel like I’m getting a lot more comfortable, and I take the game seriously because it’s my form of work, but I’m going to have fun. Fans aren’t able to hang out with me outside the stadium…
Berg shouldn't have put the "almost" in "almost a cliche" in regards to fans calling Murphy business-like, but I really liked Murphy's response. I used to think that Murphy understood what the media and fans wanted a Ballplayer (tm) to act like and was kind of living up the persona he knew they wanted. But we've seen him smile during games plenty of times now and with this interview my mind has changed. Murphy isn't some dick like Eckstein who sprints to first on a walk (the media loves that shit) or Torino who dishonorably throws elbows; he's a hardworker (as most major leaguers are) who the media and fans lazyily and clichedly (it's a word) labeled while overlooking other players who work hard in their own ways.
6 months ago
Sokojoe
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weird
so the whole point of this interview was to talk about murphy’s fifth-grade picture? i know it’s too perfect that he wanted to be an insurance salesman when he was in fifth grade, but did that really warrant an interview?
by englishgrey on May 8, 2009 1:19 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Haha
No, it certainly didn’t. But I was there for Johan’s start anyway and I wanted to make sure he wasn’t about to mean business on my head if I posted that picture without his permission, so I figured I might as well ask him why any fifth grader would want to be an insurance person. Funny dude — didn’t translate as well as I’d hoped in text form.
Anyway, thanks as always for the link and love.
by TedBerg on May 8, 2009 1:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
yea, I figured it was more of an informal, off-the-cuff interview
just a little too People magazine for my tastes, that’s all…
by englishgrey on May 8, 2009 2:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Does anything really warrant an interview?
Q: How’d you feel out there tonight?
A: Well, I threw the ball pretty good, I didn’t have my best stuff but that’s why you have 8 guys behind you, just tried to keep the ball in the zone and trust my defense to make plays.
Q: You hit two home runs, blah blah?
A: Well, I feel real comfortable at the plate, not trying to hit home runs just trying to make solid contact.
Really most interviews are fluff pieces. It wouldn’t be in a players best interest to honestly say what they’re thinking at the plate, what pitch feels really good this year or give the media a non-canned response that they can run with to create a constroversy. So, to me at least, I rather see an interview like this where there isn’t a question that can be anwsered with some canned comment. So, kudos to AA’s favorite somewhat mainstream writer, but of course nothing beats this interview.
by Sokojoe on May 8, 2009 1:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
i agree
post-game interviews and the like are pretty useless. i just thought the topic of this interview was a little silly. but there’s nothing wrong with having a little fun, especially if the player is game.
by englishgrey on May 8, 2009 2:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wow.
How had I not seen that before?
“There’s no better feeling.”
by JohnPeterson on May 8, 2009 5:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Good stuff
Nice work, Ted Berg. Murph’s response to the question about the safety badge is pure gold.
Also nice to know that my life followed the same path as the Hammer’s. In fifth grade, I wanted to be a professional baseball player, with my back-up plan of being a lawyer. Just like Murph, my back-up plan won out in the end. I’m not sure if I want to laugh or cry . . .
'Oh yes, I know all about that duty-of-a-citizen stuff. It doesn't go. There are exceptions to every rule, and this was one of them. When a man risks his liberty to come and root at a ball-game, you've got to hand it to him. He isn't a crook. He's a fan.'
by Catsmeat Potter-Pirbright on May 8, 2009 1:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I agree with your thoughts
Yeah, Daniel Murphy means business – but so do almost all major leaguers, who are in the top 0.1% in the world at what they do.
by James Kannengieser on May 8, 2009 1:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Everyone misunderstands
It’s not that Murphy takes his job more seriously than everyone else, but the words “Daniel Murphy” means business in Elvish. Or so Shane Victorino told me.
by Mount17 on May 8, 2009 2:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Has anyone updated the Irish Hammer...
Guiness HR Tracker?
"I used to be legit. I was too legit. I was too legit to quit. but now I'm not legit. I'm unlegit. And for that reason, I must quit."
by jaronson5 on May 8, 2009 1:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Yeah good point
I haven’t seen any Guinness Blue Collar Blasts™ posted in a while.
"The definition of edge is going out there and getting a few wins, and then all of a sudden you don’t have to worry about anyone talking about edge anymore."
by Catsmeat Potter-Pirbright on May 8, 2009 1:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I apologize to James if I'm stepping on his toes
by Sokojoe on May 8, 2009 2:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Is the helmet a new addition?
If so, it’s a good touch.
"The definition of edge is going out there and getting a few wins, and then all of a sudden you don’t have to worry about anyone talking about edge anymore," Wright said. "That's a thing in the past. Go ask Omar about that."
by Catsmeat Potter-Pirbright on May 8, 2009 2:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Time out.
Why is Eckstein a dick for sprinting to first? Do you think he does that just to get the media to sweat him?
by SQUAD on May 8, 2009 2:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Faux-intensity
meaningless, stupid, fake. What exactly does sprinting to first accomplish?
by jasondg on May 8, 2009 2:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
How do you know it's faux-intensity?
Do you know Eckstein personally?
by SQUAD on May 8, 2009 2:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
And maybe it's his way of reminding him to always outwork everyone.
I’m sure Eckstein is aware he isn’t the most talented player, but the guy got where he is by busting his butt and working hard.
by SQUAD on May 8, 2009 2:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
sorry, this post exceeds the cliche quota, does not compute
Do you honestly think the rest of Gritstein’s competitors, the bulk of professional baseball players who perhaps happen not to be 5’2" but still spent their entire lives being better at baseball than everyone else they ever played against, are just lazy good-for-nothings who were born with “insanely good at baseball” genes? This is crazy talk.
by anonymous on May 8, 2009 2:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
This is the problem here.
That is NOT what I am saying. That is what YOU are reading my comments to say.
I am really starting to get annoyed with having to write a War and Peace length post qualifying everything I post.
Does anyone really want to argue with me that Eckstein ISN’T less talented than the majority of his peers? The point that I am trying to make is that Eckstein is in the bigs because he worked really, really hard. Probably harder than someone like Jose Reyes had to work. Am I saying that Jose Reyes doesn’t work hard? NO, that is NOT what I am implying.
But yeah, you were too busy thinking of a snarky, wannabe FJM, witty response so that you could virtual high-five all your buddies. Instead of reflecting on your own life experiences, where you would probably notice that some people who are more talented don’t have to work as hard to achieve success as others who are less talented than them. I know I’ve seen it. I saw it when I played HS football (I saw a kid who would just go through the motions during workouts get a scholarship to a Big 10 school because he was a super athlete, while the kid who would bust his butt in workouts barely got a sniff from a lower division school). I’ve also seen it in school, where some of my colleagues start studying weeks before final exams, yet don’t do as well on the tests as someone who started studying during the study period before exams.
by SQUAD on May 8, 2009 2:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Dude, here's the thing
Eckstein is CONSTANTLY fellated for this. I don’t think he’s a dick, but why shouldn’t other players be recognized for their hard work like he is? Running to first on a walk is pointless; not something worthy of shameless over-praise.
by jasondg on May 8, 2009 3:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
So what?
Who cares if he is fellated? I understand you’re point, but I think it’s messed up that there is a certain group of people who have made it their personal mission to tear the guy down and constantly pick on him. Seriously, who the heck is anyone else to decide who merits praise and who doesn’t? There is a reason why Eckstein always gets praised: People like his story!
What’s ironic is that people like you think he gets too much attention, but all you end up doing is giving him more attention! I actually think it’s mind blowing that Carlos Beltran, perhaps the best CF in baseball, is underrated in the media… and he plays in New York!
As for the running to 1B thing. Who knows why he does it? Maybe it means something to him. Why does Ollie hop over the line? Why does Reyes have a million handshakes? I just think you guys are too hard on him.
by SQUAD on May 8, 2009 3:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Simple
In tearing down Eckstein, people are tearing down the sports MSM and its antiquated, simplistic “journalism.” It’s what people do with regard to Jeter’s defense; and also, now, with Vic Torino. Though, I do actually dislike Torino.
I don’t hate Eckstein personally — I’m annoyed by some of the things he does — but my point is that sprinting to first isn’t anything worthy of anyone’s praise, and to be honest, there’s no good reason for him to be doing it. His “story” isn’t anything different than anyone else’s who’s worked hard to make it to the bigs; he just happens to be short, white, and super-gritty, from what we’re told. Meanwhile, he is what he is — a below-average, limited baseball player. Same thing he would be if he were 6’2" and had the same skill set he has now. Hell, Pedro is short as hell and was the most dominant pitcher in the game. Heart? Work ethic? Talent?
by jasondg on May 8, 2009 3:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Look, I understand what you guys are saying.
And you’re mostly right. I just think calling him a dick was a little much. I also think the Eckstein bashing gets a little ridiculous at times.
by SQUAD on May 8, 2009 3:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm not the one
who called him a dick. Only one dick here, and it’s Vic Torino.
Eckstein’s just like the law school gunner who sits in the front, raises his hand 46 times per class, asks earnest and over-the-top questions, goes to office hours religiously, and gets a B-.
by jasondg on May 8, 2009 3:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Haha, nice analogy.
But the same thing applies. I don’t understand why people hate on those guys. They are what they are. I find that crap amusing.
And I know you’re not the one who called him a dick. Victorino, who I actually think he a pretty good ballplayer, is definitely a dick.
by SQUAD on May 8, 2009 3:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm the one that called him a Dick
I thought it would be funny, I don’t actually dislike the dude and definitly don’t hate him. But, like I mentioned, I think it’s a dickish move to show up a pitcher like that just as I think it’s a dickish move to elbow a player in order to exploit a technicality in the rulebook, however, both of the latter examples will be used by the media as a gritty, hardworking player, which I thought Murphy would become, but I’m warming to his personality, I guess that’s really the point I’m trying to make.
by Sokojoe on May 8, 2009 3:37 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I'm sure some people thought it was funny.
I thought it was a bit much. Not really a big deal. Then I find out that defending Eckstein gets you railroaded around these parts.
by SQUAD on May 8, 2009 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That's fair, eveyone's got their own sense of humor
and I defintly see your point, it is becoming why past cliche to mock Eckstein/edge/heart, I was more looking for worse case scernarios for Murph if he really thought of himself as the “Ultimate Gamer” and the two play (note I wasn’t thinking players) exemplify that. I know from your other comments you’re not some Scottie, but what I wanted to get across was that all ballplayer work hard and it’s impossible to say the Eckstein works harder than any given ballplayer, except Carl Pavano.
by Sokojoe on May 8, 2009 3:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You're right.
And I didn’t mean to imply that other MLB players don’t work hard, they obviously do. But is it a stretch to say Eckstein worked harder than guys who never made it out of the minors? Or guys who are bench players? I don’t think so.
I also think people should stop paying attention to the media. My dad actually asked me if I would trade Beltran for Rowand and Cain after Beltran didn’t slide into home plate. My heart almost stopped beating. I told him to turn off WFAN. The Murphy thing is a good example, I was kind of shocked that you were getting that impression of him.
by SQUAD on May 8, 2009 3:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
"The Murphy thing"
I think was a confluence of factors — last year when he came up there was the whole “Daniel Murphy means business” meme starting, he preferred being called “Daniel” not “Dan” or “Danny”, his comment about the locker room smelling like “wins”, the fact that he did, for the most part, look pretty stoic on the field and at the plate after coming up last year. All this stuff, I think, led to the impression that he was maybe a hard-ass, lunch pail, whatever you want to call it kind of player. I think Mets fans just haven’t gotten to know much of anything about the kid yet because, hell, he hasn’t even been here a year yet. That Ted Berg interview isn’t a bad start.
"The definition of edge is going out there and getting a few wins, and then all of a sudden you don’t have to worry about anyone talking about edge anymore," Wright said. "That's a thing in the past. Go ask Omar about that."
by Catsmeat Potter-Pirbright on May 8, 2009 4:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I really find this interesting.
When you think about it rationally, why the heck would him preferring to go by “Daniel” translate to him being a lunch pail type player?
Also, I would argue that Beltran looking stoic on the field hasn’t helped him get the “he’s a gamer” rep.
Finally, if it had turned out to be true, what’s wrong with being “a hard-ass, lunch pail, whatever you want to call it kind of player?”
by SQUAD on May 8, 2009 4:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Okay
for one thing, Beltran’s not white — I hate that it matters, but it does. What’s the difference between Castillo and Eckstein?
Plus, Beltran’s freaking awesome. You very rarely hear these labels applied to elite players.
Nothing’s wrong with being a lunch-pail player per se, but it’s just a BS image. All MLBers work really, really hard.
by jasondg on May 8, 2009 4:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
There's nothing wrong with being a hard worker or fiery player
but I think that many fans/bloggers made the jump from “hard-ass lunch pail” to “guaranteed to OPS .950”.
by James Kannengieser on May 8, 2009 4:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
My name is Daniel
but I don’t care if people use Dan, Danny, Danno, whatever. Telling folks that you want to be called Daniel and only Daniel suggests to me perhaps a certain seriousness in how you carry yourself; you don’t cater to this informal shortening of your name.
I can’t quantify any of this (obviously) so it’s amateur psychology on my part. It’s my opinion of how folks might have had that impression of an overly serious, all work/no fun player, which Murph appears to be trying to dispel somewhat in the interview. Like I said above, I believe that all of these items, the name, the stoicism, etc., came together to create an impression of the hard-ass, lunch pail, super serious, no bullshit kind of guy. And I’m not suggesting that there is anything wrong with it; I was endeavoring to offer an answer to your question as to where that impression might have come from.
"The definition of edge is going out there and getting a few wins, and then all of a sudden you don’t have to worry about anyone talking about edge anymore," Wright said. "That's a thing in the past. Go ask Omar about that."
by Catsmeat Potter-Pirbright on May 8, 2009 4:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
A summer associate
at my firm last year came in insisting everyone call him “Daniel.” By the end of the summer, he was “Danny” and “Dan.” Not sure what my point is, but thought it apropo.
by jasondg on May 8, 2009 4:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
yeah whatever you say, Danno
HELLO HELLO MR WILPON. WE WANT THE MANSION NOT THE CONDO.
by kendynamo on May 8, 2009 4:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
what about daniel-son?
that would be pretty annoying
by englishgrey on May 8, 2009 4:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
yeah that's on the list too
"The definition of edge is going out there and getting a few wins, and then all of a sudden you don’t have to worry about anyone talking about edge anymore," Wright said. "That's a thing in the past. Go ask Omar about that."
by Catsmeat Potter-Pirbright on May 8, 2009 4:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
on the other hand
he might just not like the way it sounds shortened. for instance, I generally introduce myself as “Josh” but if I’m introducing myself using my full name I’ll use “Joshua” because “Josh” tends to run together with my last name. obviously it’s not exactly the same, but it could be something as simple as aesthetic preference rather than any particular attitude.
by JoshNY on May 8, 2009 5:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sure
Hey, it’s just a theory as to where an impression might have come from. I sure as hell ain’t asserting the correctitude of my thesis.
"The definition of edge is going out there and getting a few wins, and then all of a sudden you don’t have to worry about anyone talking about edge anymore," Wright said. "That's a thing in the past. Go ask Omar about that."
by Catsmeat Potter-Pirbright on May 8, 2009 5:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
you should call eckstein a dick. he is one.
he’s a stupid little jagov who sucks and is an idiot. i dont know him perosnally but how can anyone watch him play baseball and not come to the same conclusion? screw that little piece of crap.
and eckstein or any other professional athlete does not need any assistance defending thier themeslves. they all lead rediculously awesome lives, playing baseball for a living, doing hot babes all the time, and getting paid dumptrucks full of cash. the least we can do is point out their short comings, as meager as they are, to make oursleves feel better about our own crappy existences.
anyway, not a rant agasint you SQUAD. i feel where youre coming from. but i’ll be g.d.‘ed before i’ll let anyone take away my right to mercilessly disparage pro atheletes who totally suck and should just shut up and go to hell (ie eckstein, jimmy rollins, everyone to ever where an atlanta braves uniform, etc).
HELLO HELLO MR WILPON. WE WANT THE MANSION NOT THE CONDO.
by kendynamo on May 8, 2009 4:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Haha, well, when you put it that way...
who am I to argue?
by SQUAD on May 9, 2009 3:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
yeah sorry about that
wasnt having a very productive afternoon.
HELLO HELLO MR WILPON. WE WANT THE MANSION NOT THE CONDO.
by kendynamo on May 10, 2009 4:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hey SQUAD,
It is my belief that while players can go through the motions at lower levels (HS) and perhaps even in other sports like football and basketball. Baseball is more of a skill sport than a natural talent sport. That’s the reason that players need to spend years in the minors honing their skills while in football and basketball, players can be impact ones right out of the draft. Do I think Reyes is more naturally talented than Eckstein, probably, he’s faster and throws harder. But up until a few years ago, Reyes was not a great walker and not selective at the plate. Also, Reyes’ defense was pretty bad the first couple of years. He has tried to improve that by working very hard.
I cannot say that Reyes works as hard as Eckstein but I also cannot say that Eckstein works harder than Reyes, what proof is there of that. Maybe they work equally as hard but since Reyes is more naturally gifted he’ll end up with ~800 OPS while Eckstein will be more like ~700 OPS, it’s impossible for us to say who works harder. My point in regards to the sprinting to first base is that it’s a subtle way of showing up the pitcher. There is something about it that irks me and I kind of do think he knows that’s what the average media/fans want to see. I’m sure most people were exposed to something like the following, my father coached my little league team and one of the first things he taught us was if a pitcher hits or walks you, put your head down and sprint to first. Eckstein carries that little league mentality to a major league level where all players but him jog to first. This difference in going down to first has to be noticed by the pitcher, especially when the pitcher knows he just walked a batter with no power who should always have to put the ball in play.
by Sokojoe on May 8, 2009 3:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You guys kill me.
“Do I think Reyes is more naturally talented than Eckstein, probably, he’s faster and throws harder.”
Come on, there are times when you don’t need to hedge. Jose Reyes is definitively more athletically gifted than David Eckstein. I really don’t think this is something that needs to be debated.
“I kind of do think he knows that’s what the average media/fans want to see.”
Practice what you preach guys. There is no way of proving this. This is what you “feel” about Eckstein. Like I’ve said, maybe he does it as a reminder to himself to always hustle, etc. Who knows. But until we find out the reason why he does it, I think you guys should put away your Jump to Conclusions Mats.
by SQUAD on May 8, 2009 3:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think you're the one who's jumping to conclusions
You don’t know David Eckstein works harder than anyone. I mean the guy was a successful college baseball player he obviously has a ton of talent and he probably works harder than a lot of people.
However, Joe, and whoever else, knows that Eckstein runs to first and he thinks its a dorky move that shows up the pitcher. Yea were attacking Eckstein, no it’s not because anyone here thinks intangibles like hustle don’t exist or they hate the guy.
I feel like you’re trying to pick this fight every chance you get and it’s pointless. YES well all think intangible qualities exist in sports. NO we can’t quantify them or compare them across players, that’s why they’re called intangibles. And YES we make fun of the excess citation of intangibles by mainstream media, but that’s NOT because we deny their existence in our personal lives or whatever, it’s because tons of people in the specific context of the New York Metropolitans use them to excuse phenomenon that have explanations if properly researched.
King of the bling come to lay down the evidence//Not George Bush, L-Millz be da president
by Sam Page on May 8, 2009 6:40 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
and I just read the rest of the thread
and you’re going to tell me to mock the MSM and not Eckstein then, to which I say: “Fair enough”
King of the bling come to lay down the evidence//Not George Bush, L-Millz be da president
by Sam Page on May 8, 2009 6:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
right, that's why I read AA, to "reflect on my life experiences"
Casting yourself as the honorable defender of all that is good and right because people call you on regurgitated bullshit cliches is a real stretch, and I’m getting tired of the instant recourse to ad hominems, too. A bunch of stories about high-school sports does not give you special claim to the Deep Truths. Seriously, the problem here is that your tone of po-faced moral superiority is combining in a really unpleasant way with a defense of the most shallow, stupid cliches. The problem with cliche bullshit about Eckstein is not, as you seem to think, that it’s an arbitrary whipping-boy for snarky neerrrds who think they’re funnier than they are. Apart from the natural value in mocking all stupid cliches — which is a worthwhile enterprise in itself — it’s worth pointing out how lazy-minded and simplistic the cliche storylines are because they insult the legions of other ballplayers who don’t fit the Disney motivational-movie stereotype (often, I’d hasten to add, this is arguably because of race).
by anonymous on May 8, 2009 3:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Let's pull back a bit.
My point is that mocking cliches and spending time tearing down Eckstein does not help bring attention to more deserving ballplayers. Further, mocking and being snarky is one thing, but calling him a dick? Come on, that’s a bit much. Your vitriol should be aimed at the MSM who write their stories on him, not the man himself. He’s just a guy who happens to be short, white, and, as someone called him, a limited athlete/ballplayer. He doesn’t seek out the attention he gets.
And what cliche am I defending? So you mean to tell me that less talented people don’t succeed by either outworking or outsmarting their way to the top? This doesn’t happen?
by SQUAD on May 8, 2009 3:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Also, I just want you to know.
That I was vehemently against the Mets signing Eckstein in ‘07, so it’s not like I think he’s the magic ball of grustle the Mets need or anything. My favorite player on the team is probably Beltran, and that’s probably because he’s so underrated and I leap to his defense anytime anyone criticizes him for not having “heart” or whatever.
I think you misunderstand my motives sometimes. I am am defending all that it good and right, I’m defending a guy who doesn’t deserve all of the negativity that you guys spew his way. Your mocking and wit is misdirected. It should be directed at the MSM, not David Eckstein.
by SQUAD on May 8, 2009 3:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Grustle, excellent
Synonym for grission
by James Kannengieser on May 8, 2009 4:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
A couple things:
1) I totally agree that the mainstream sports media (MSSM?) deserves plenty of mocking for the way they treat Eckstein and “grustly” teams/players generally, and I think that happens here. Hell, check out any of the game threads from the San Diego series (Ron was atrocious when he talked about Eckstein) or against Philly (G/K/R were all pretty atrocious in lauding the Phillies’ grit/hustle/etc.).
2) However, I fully reserve the right to think Eckstein is a dick for running to first after walks, because I think it to be showy and unnecessary, and I will forever think he’s a dick for that bullshit point-and-hop balk scenario with Pedro F. I understand that it was technically a balk, but the sight of Eckstein pointing and hopping like he just ratted out the spitballed in the back of the classroom was too much.
"The definition of edge is going out there and getting a few wins, and then all of a sudden you don’t have to worry about anyone talking about edge anymore," Wright said. "That's a thing in the past. Go ask Omar about that."
by Catsmeat Potter-Pirbright on May 8, 2009 4:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I like MSSM.
1) Agreed on Darling’s performance during the San Diego series. I found the incessant Eckstein praise annoying as well.
2) I didn’t mean to insinuate that people couldn’t think of Eckstein as a dick, I just happen to disgree. He’s certainly an annoying dude to play against.
by SQUAD on May 8, 2009 4:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
okay, that's fair.
I probably overreacted there, and you’re right that the MSSM are more deserving of scorn than little Davy himself — but I do still think we’re allowed, as fans, to hate ballplayers if we want to, and I also think Eckstein is a fair target. After all, he’s profited massively from the nonsensical media coverage, using it to get pay out of proportion to those of many other ballplayers with equal or greater talent, and riding it to ill-deserved celebrity status.
by anonymous on May 8, 2009 6:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I actually spent a few minutes doing a Google
to see if he had ever been asked about it/explained it. I didn’t find an answer. I did, however, find this:
Angels fans were literally in tears at word of [Eckstein’s] release. In a fan base reaction not seen perhaps since Gehrig left the Yankees has a group of fans been traumatized by the loss of their hero.
"The definition of edge is going out there and getting a few wins, and then all of a sudden you don’t have to worry about anyone talking about edge anymore," Wright said. "That's a thing in the past. Go ask Omar about that."
by Catsmeat Potter-Pirbright on May 8, 2009 3:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Just curious.
What do you think of Malcolm Gladwell’s most recent article? Bunch of cliched BS?
by SQUAD on May 8, 2009 3:51 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Not necessarily
Just wouldn’t say it has much application to professional baseball.
by jasondg on May 8, 2009 3:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think this is pretty interesting and I don't understand why it would be cliched BS
I mean there are some flaws at defining “Goliath” in warfare by armed might and population as the first three years of the American Civil war and the entire American Revolution showed, especially the Battle of Cowpens. But basically the common theme is that superior strategy beats numerical superiority. Alexander the Great was probably the first general to demonstrate the latter using superior cavalry tactics and flanking maneuvers. I think this does have application in professional baseball as the theme is basically the theme of Moneyball. Goliath: superior armed might and population, Yankees: Superior financial resources. David: Superior Strategy, Oakland A’s: Superior strategy.
by Sokojoe on May 8, 2009 4:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well, the whole "David overcomign Goliath" theme.
But yeah, good points and I dig the analogy.
by SQUAD on May 8, 2009 4:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
it would be cliched BS because it's by Malcolm Gladwell.
The day the guy has a real idea, I’ll eat my hat. He specializes in oversimplifying complex situations and dressing the results up as though they were social science. Simple-minded ideas passed off as deep insights. He’s more articulate than Joe Morgan, so the baseball analogy is probably more like Tim McCarver’s pseudointellectual claptrap.
by anonymous on May 8, 2009 6:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Noted
and I agree, but McCarver is just straight up wrong ala more runs score when via a leadoff walk than a leadoff HR while Gladwell is a least right in this regard but yes it’s oversimplified as I alluded to. Still your point stands and I would consider Gladwell more of a intellectual hack.
by Sokojoe on May 8, 2009 7:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I like Gladwell
but more for his writing than anything. I think he tells interesting stories, but at the end of Blink I was really disappointed. He throws these ideas out there, tells a story about it, but doesn’t really go as far as I think he needs to go. I hope that explanation made sense, but I think anyone who has read him would know what I’m trying to say.
by SQUAD on May 9, 2009 3:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, agreed.
I feel like he puts a lot of interesting ideas out there and has some cool anecdotes, but he doesn’t make any real points.
"I dunno. I never smoked any Astroturf"
-Tug McGraw
by squid92 on May 9, 2009 3:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Gladwell is really dumb
He seems to know he’s dumb also. He’s just as amazed as dynamo that there are others so dimwitted that they think anything Gladwell has to say is worth anything more than a drop of roach spray.
I will not allow the denigration of the life essence
by GenJackRipper on May 8, 2009 5:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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