Ramblings
June 26, 2009
Flip Flop Fly Ball
"A love of baseball plus a love of infographics equals Flip Flop Fly Ball." Flip Flop Fly Ball has some interesting baseball-related infographics, including Green Monster (comparing the size of Fenway's left field wall), Ballpark Orientation (the direction batters face at each stadium) and Major League Fields (ballpark shapes). 
June 23, 2009
Congratulations Brian & Hilary
An eventful few days makes Brian & Hilary future spouses and future homeowners. Big congratulations to both of them!
Labels: personal
June 22, 2009
Sugar Shack
When we go on vacations and getaways (especially in New England) I always like to hit up fancy chocolate shops. Turns out there's some quality handmade chocolates right nearby. If you're in the Bridgewater area and have grown loath of ordinary confections, get over to Skinner's Sugar House. Damn, that's some tasty stuff! (Made a great Father's Day gift, too.)Labels: random
June 21, 2009
Apple's Hidden Copyright Message
This is probably going take me to another level of Apple/CSS nerdery, but so be it. (I can't be that bad since this has been around for years and I'm only noticing it now.) In the HTML code for Apple's website they have class="sosumi" for the copyright style. Fellow Apple nerds recognize the hilarity of using a system sound name for the copyright.
And yes, I know:
And yes, I know:
Labels: apple
June 17, 2009
"Undo" for iPod's Solitaire
On the train ride I accidentally discovered an unknown (to me) feature in Klondike on the iPod. Sometimes I'm a little too click-happy and wished I could undo a move. As it turns out, you can: to undo the last move, just click and hold the select button for three seconds. (To keep you from cheating too much, the game only allows one undo.)
Labels: apple
June 12, 2009
The Role of the Closer
I don't mean to turn my site into a baseball blog, but when the Yanks and Sox play (especially when they're so close in the standings) I obviously pay closer attention to the games. I'm glad the Sox won last night, but I can't help but think the Yankees could've easily taken it if they didn't leave Mariano Rivera sitting in the bullpen. He wasn't really needed in the first two games (they never had a lead to protect) but last night it was bottom of the 8th inning with New York ahead 3-1.
Despite throwing 120+ pitches C.C. Sabathia was left in to pitch. I understand that: he was pitching well and there isn't much of a bullpen behind him. After a walk and a few hits to score a run and make it 3-2, there's now no outs with Sox on first and second, and manager Joe Girardi decides to go to his bullpen. With Kevin Youkilis and Jason Bay -- the best hitters on the Sox (and, lately, in the entire AL) -- coming up, rather than bring in Mariano Rivera he chooses Alfredo Aceves. Two more hits and a sac fly, now the Sox lead 4-3 and Rivera basically has the night off.
I'm sure sabermetric Yankee fans were pulling their hair out last night. Rather than use their "bullpen ace" to try to stop the Sox in the heart of their order, Rivera sits in the bullpen so he could pitch the 9th and get another save. A "closer" should be a "relief ace" used when he's most needed any time towards the end of the game instead of only being allowed to pitch the 9th inning. By not getting out of the 8th inning without further damage, it made the 9th inning irrelevant: "Theeeeeeeeee Yankees lose!" and no 15th save for Mo.
Despite throwing 120+ pitches C.C. Sabathia was left in to pitch. I understand that: he was pitching well and there isn't much of a bullpen behind him. After a walk and a few hits to score a run and make it 3-2, there's now no outs with Sox on first and second, and manager Joe Girardi decides to go to his bullpen. With Kevin Youkilis and Jason Bay -- the best hitters on the Sox (and, lately, in the entire AL) -- coming up, rather than bring in Mariano Rivera he chooses Alfredo Aceves. Two more hits and a sac fly, now the Sox lead 4-3 and Rivera basically has the night off.
I'm sure sabermetric Yankee fans were pulling their hair out last night. Rather than use their "bullpen ace" to try to stop the Sox in the heart of their order, Rivera sits in the bullpen so he could pitch the 9th and get another save. A "closer" should be a "relief ace" used when he's most needed any time towards the end of the game instead of only being allowed to pitch the 9th inning. By not getting out of the 8th inning without further damage, it made the 9th inning irrelevant: "Theeeeeeeeee Yankees lose!" and no 15th save for Mo.
Labels: baseball
June 10, 2009
The Ballad of Tim Wakefield
Surviving Grady brought this to my attention last month but I didn't mention it here. With Wake's start against the Yankees tonight, I figured now's a good a time as any to mention that Buffalo Tom's Bill Janovitz wrote and recorded "The Ballad of Tim Wakefield". It's not exactly coming-out-of-the-bullpen theme music, but as far as I know it's the only song about a knuckleball pitcher.
June 6, 2009
Kieran Chapman Design Site
Almost a full year after officially starting my own business, I've finally found the time to launch a site that's more than a single page of info. You can visit the site at kieranchapmandesign.com and then hire me!
June 2, 2009
The End of Ortiz?
When great ones go, it might hurt us more than it does them by Bill Simmons (ESPN)
Watching Papi flounder now, I'd believe he's really 36 or 37 (not 33) before I'd believe PEDs are responsible. In a recent game in Minnesota, he couldn't catch up to an 89 mph fastball. Repeat: 89 mph!Whatever the reason, it's a real bummer watching Ortiz come to bat this year. He's got so much goodwill with Sox fans that people haven't called for him to be benched, but I think the next few weeks are his last chance to prove he can still hit.
That's what happens to beefy sluggers on their way out: Their knees go, they stiffen up, bat speed slows and, in the blink of an eye, they're done. Beefy sluggers are like porn stars, wrestlers, NBA centers and trophy wives: When it goes, it goes. You know right away.
Labels: redsox
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