Tag Archives: WGOM featured

WGOM Half-Baked Hall

Half-Baked Hall: 1909 Election Results

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This post is dedicated to Can of Corn, who seemed in a foul mood last night. Dude, here's my advice. Stop worrying about the present and keep your mind in the past!

Scot has nearly caught up with bios for all of the electees so far. Check them out here. There's even a shout out to Can of Corn in Billy Hamilton's bio. Also, did you know Dan Brouthers once killed a catcher?

So this ballot had an underwhelming set of names. I had heard of Joe McGinnity and Jack Chesbro, but I doubt many looked at that list and was penciling in their YES votes before doing some research. So I thought that might open the door for someone who had been on the ballot for a while.

I was right.

Lady and gentlemen, your 1909 electees!

Jack Glasscock

 

On his fifth ballot, the 19th century version of Ozzie Smith squeaks into the hall with 77% of the vote. He's now the second electee (along with Ross Barnes) who is not in Cooperstown. He also continues a string of awesome staches.

George Davis

That's two shortstops getting elected this go-round. And both held down 77% of the vote. Any chance Honus Wagner can do better?

Remaining on the Ballot (15 Players)

McGinnity breaks the record for highest vote percentage on the first ballot without getting elected. Rusie makes a huge jump, nearly making it in as well. Most players saw improvement this time around, with Jesse Burkett benefiting the most with a whopping 28 point jump. Hall-of-Famer Chesbro is barely hanging on after one ballot.

Players in italics will be on their final ballot next go round. There are three of them. If you want to stump for any of them, now's your chance!

Joe McGinnity: 73%
Amos Rusie: 73% +18
John McGraw: 68% +0
Jesse Burkett: 64% +28
Monte Ward: 45% +4
Jake Beckley: 41%
Pete Browning: 41% +14
Charlie Comiskey: 41% +0
Buck Ewing: 41% +18
Jim O'Rourke: 36% +9
Jimmy Collins: 32%
Hugh Duffy: 18% +9
Sam Thompson: 18% -5
Jack Chesbro: 14%
Joe Kelley: 14%

Falling off the Ballot (14 Players)

None of the five players on their final ballot made it in. King Kelly tried his best. He was between 55% and 67% his entire time on the ballot, but as this isn't Survivor, Daneeka's Ghost just couldn't buy enough votes to get his guy in. One of the best two-way players of all-time, Bob Caruthers, stalls at 50%. CarterHayes' guy Harry Stovey peters out on his final chance.

Bid McPhee, the best full-time second baseman of the 19th century, drops off on his fourth ballot.

Four of the new guys couldn't garner a single vote.

King Kelly: 64% +5
Pud Galvin: 59% +9
Bob Caruthers: 50% +0
Harry Stovey: 32% -4
Paul Hines: 27% +0
Bid McPhee: 23% +5
Bill Dinneen: 14%
Al Orth: 14%
Arlie Latham: 9%
Lave Cross: 5%
Dan McGann: 0%
Claude Ritchey: 0%
Jack Taylor: 0%
Jimmy Williams: 0%

Graphs

Election Results

WGOM Half-Baked Hall

Half-Baked Hall: 1907-1909

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I will be giving a few days for people to make pleas for those on their final ballot.

Date Ballot Sent Out: Thursday, August 21

Date Ballot Due: Monday, September 1

Final Ballot

Paul Hines
King Kelly
Harry Stovey
Bob Caruthers
Pud Galvin

New Pitchers

Jack Chesbro
Bill Dinneen
Joe McGinnity
Al Orth
Jack Taylor

New Hitters

Jack Beckley
Jimmy Collins
Lave Cross
George Davis
Joe Kelley
Arlie Latham
Dan McGann
Claude Ritchey
Jimmy Williams

First Monday Book Day

Bucket List Book

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Gravity's Rainbow was a "Bucket List Book" for me. We've all got "To Read" lists that are far too long, but even on those lists some of the books stand out. I've always been pretty good about working my way through them (I've loved the challenge ever since I took a Great Books class in college), but somehow even among the Bucket List Books, Gravity's Rainbow stood out. Maybe because I adore Pynchon, and this is considered his masterpiece. Maybe because it's notoriously difficult. Whatever the case, it was one of the biggies on my Book Reading Bucket List. And now, I'm glad I've read it. Even if I never really get it all.

I started Gravity's Rainbow in December. I finally finished Sunday night. 8 months it took me. Part of that was a function of some insanity in my life, but that added a couple months at most. Mostly it was that there were many days when I didn't pick it up at all, or when I did I would only read a page or two. I've had this experience with Pynchon before - when I read Against The Day - and like in that instance, finishing the book didn't necessarily leave me with an immediate sense of accomplishment. But I hope that experience proves instructive in a more important way.

When I read Against The Day I frequently felt lost as I read through it. Pynchon's prose can be extremely difficult. He gets lost in asides and transitions, and asides and transitions become the main story, main characters fade entirely from the story, minor characters jump back into essential roles, etc. I read ATD alone, and it was probably the biggest reading challenge I've ever faced. When I was done, I wasn't sure what I'd just finished. But as time passed, more and more things started to click. I feel like I really "get" ATD now. I don't feel that way about Gravity's Rainbow, but maybe in a few months I will. It's also worth saying that, having read both Against The Day and Gravity's Rainbow, that, right now at least, I feel like Against The Day is the better of the two. Gravity's Rainbow was Pynchon's first masterpiece, perhaps, but not his greatest. Maybe I'll feel differently, eventually, when I've had some time to sit with GR.

As for the content itself... My initial thoughts probably aren't worth much. I'm stunned. The ending was anti-climactic. My favorite character was a fairly minor person, I suppose. The protagonist, and indeed, the book, seemed to lack direction. A lot of that was on purpose, but it didn't change the maddening nature of the fact. I want to hear what others have to say about it. I want to sit down and talk about it. I feel like there's so much to be unpacked. It's a rare thing to read a book so dense, that so begs for conversation. I've got several dozen pages dog-eared to comment on. If others are willing, I'd be happy to jot down more specific thoughts in the comments.

For now, let me just say: I'm done. It is good to be done. It is a very good thing to be done with a Bucket List book.

So, how about it citizens? What have you been reading? What are your Bucket List books? Who wants to actually talk about Gravity's Rainbow? Pepper and DG (and others), are you ready for Pale Fire?

MLB

My Favorite Non-Twins

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Things have been a little down around here lately, and not necessarily without reason. But let's not lose sight of the fact that, at it's heart, baseball is fun. And in that spirit, here is my lineup of my favorite non-Twins. Here are my guidelines:

  1. Players cannot currently employed by the Twins
  2. Players can be either NL or AL players
  3. One each of LF-CF-RF (Sorry Adam Jones & Cutch)
  4. As we support an AL team, there is a DH
    • This DH can be any player whatsoever

These are just my favorite players to watch. Not the best, not who I would build a team around, just guys who in their own way bring me some measure of joy when I watch them play ball. And of course, there is no accounting for taste. So y'all should share your favorites too. Follow my rules or don't, it's up to you. I'm not your mother.

WARNING: GIFs abound after the jump
Continue reading My Favorite Non-Twins →

Minnesota Twins, MLB

Where Did It Go Wrong? Playing the Blame Game

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When a team goes through a fourth consecutive noncompetitive season, it's only natural for media and fans to look for someone to blame, especially for a franchise that had previously been used to routinely making it to the postseason.

It's the players' fault. They're overpaid and underperforming.

It's the manager's fault. He's not getting the team to compete.

It's the general manager's fault. He's not bringing in the help we need and was wrong on talent evaluation.

It's the owner's fault. He's too cheap and only cares about making money. Continue reading Where Did It Go Wrong? Playing the Blame Game →

History, Minnesota Twins

The Summer I Learned To Hate Ron Davis

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I was only three years old during the 1984 season. I hated eggs and potty training, but I'm sure I had few thoughts on Ron Davis. The first year I paid attention to the Twins was 1987. That was a good year to start, I think.

Now that I'm older, I understood the hatred for Ron Davis, even if it was irrational. I felt somewhat similar in 2001 watching LaTroy Hawkins blow save after save. It wasn't in September, but he was partly responsible for the Twins fading down the stretch. So I understood it. But I didn't get it.

So I decided to try and live it. I bought the 1984 season for Diamond Mind Baseball and played with the hometown team. Unlike Billy Gardner, I knew that Davis wasn't going to be much good. So I didn't use him as often.

Gardner put him out there for 83 innings, while I could only stomach 55. In real life, Davis blew 14 of 43 save opportunities. He thrived even worse for me, blowing 8 of 18 save opportunities. Overall, though, his statistic wound up about the same with a virtually identical WHIP and strikeout rate.

Why did I even let him pitch that often? Well, the main problem with the 1984 Twins was that all of their relief pitchers were terrible. Some of them had decent ERAs, but none of them could be counted on to close anything as difficult as a cupboard door. Thus, I burned through relievers quite a bit, and Lysander and Filson had even worse luck than Davis. Gardner must have hated his relief options as well, since the Twins threw 32 complete games that year. I allowed them to pitch 42.

How did the season go? John Castino was on fire before I lost him to a career-ending injury. Brunansky led the way with 36 homers. Puckett was brilliant on defense, as expected (he had one of the best seasons ever for a centerfielder that year). Hrbek underperformed his near MVP year, though he still played well. The starting pitching was good, despite Butcher and Smithson allowing 69 homers between them.

In an early series against the Angels, the Twins had blown a 9-2 lead to lose 16-14. The next game was more of the same, blowing a 7-2 lead to go down 15-9.  But a Brunansky grand slam and a clutch Darrell Brown single tied it in the 9th. Hrbek walked off the game with a homer to win 16-15.

Instead of fighting the Royals and the Angels for a playoff spot, they only had the Royals to contend with, the Angels somehow finishing with 102 losses in this simulation. The Twins led the division nearly the entire way, but after a three game-sweep at the Royals in early September, the Twins had blown an 8 game lead and were tied.  All dramatics soon vanished, however, when they swept the Royals at home the week after and reeled off 13 wins in 18 days. They lost three games in a row to end the season, but still finished the division with 89 wins (3 ahead of the Royals) and a division championship.

Of course, the 1984 Tigers were waiting. In game one of the ALDS, Viola blew a 2-0 lead late. But the Twins evened it up with a 7-6 victory in game 2, thanks to a Hrbek come-from-behind blast in the 8th. Game 3 was a 4-3 loss, thanks to Smithson and Filson blowing another lead. And Game 4 ended the series, with another 4-3 loss.

One guess as to who gave up that 4th run.

Games

Pixel Perfect Memories–Super Mario Bros 2 (The Lost Levels)

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So, it's been like eight years since I did one of these, what with the Half-Baked Hall taking up most of my time. But Nibbish and I decided to join forces on our respective blogs. Starting today, we'll be counting down the Top 20 moments from the NES Super Mario games.

We will not be reviewing the game that did not get released in the States for the NES. Super Mario Bros 2 was deemed too difficult for American gamers and thus Nintendo swapped some palettes on Doki Doki Panic and kept the franchise churning along. It was then released on the SNES as "The Lost Levels" as part of the Super Mario All-Stars package.

I've only played a little bit of it. It is very similar to the original SMB game, but indeed significantly more difficult. Have any of you played it? Drop down your thoughts, and of course, what you've been playing lately.

WGOM Fitness

Wet mile.

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I'd been doing 1/3-1/2 mile swims at the club for a long time, and decided about 2 months ago to ratchet it up.

I started adding an additional lap each time and got up to 31 laps, then decided to screw it and go for the mile.  No problemo.

Last 6 times I've done the full 37 laps (1 mile) and it really hasn't been a problem.  Not sure why I had that mental barrier all that time...

Want to do an Olympic triathlon but need to be cool/confident with the distances (1 mile swim, 26 mile bike, 10K run).

Re:  endurance reading:  at pg. 297 of Ulysses.

WGOM Fitness

Back at it.

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Got in an easy 8 miler (was hard) this morning with my running pals.  Great temps and humidity.  Am trying to keep up the mileage Because Atrophy.

This afternoon NBBW and a good friend did a long swim in Lake Terramuggus,  and did the bike route (in advance of next Thursday's triathlon).

Planning to do a long bike tomorrow by the Long Island Sound with NBBW and the BFF.

Re:  endurance reading - on page 223 of Ulysses :  Shakespeare is the happy hunting ground of all minds that have lost their balance.