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Baseball Primer Newsblog— The Best News Links from the Baseball Newsstand
Sunday, March 23, 2008
OMG! A Voros and Bannister hook up! This is the greatest meeting of the minds since I vomighted between Tim Warren and Michael Weldon!
After the press got done, I introduced myself and he seemed genuinely surprised to so me there. It’s truly uncharted water for me. Previously the only big league player who I knew had heard of me was this classic response from Derek Lowe when a local Boston reporter asked him about DIPS. Nobody ever did point me out to Derek, and if he still wants to talk, he can e-mail me anytime.
Things changed this spring when I found out Royals pitcher Brian Bannister was actually familiar with DIPS type theories and knew of my existence. To make things even more improbable, he actually approved of them.
So I really wasn’t sure what exactly it is I’m supposed to say. He’s the one with all the talent, I’m just a guy who divided number A by number B once and managed to wrangle a few cool baseball jobs out of it. So I just introduced myself and got an odd response: “are you serious?” I pointed to the name on my press badge, and then we had a nice conversation. I really didn’t want to do an interview, so we just talked baseball a little. He talked about how he thinks he might give up more hits on balls in play this year but he’s also hoping to reduce his walks and strikeouts. I talked a little bit about my experiences in Boston. He has been surprised a bit by the attention his internet interviews have gotten him and mentioned something about doing some posts this year on the Royals website. He seems genuinely relieved that he’s not in a position where he has to fight for a job this year, and can concentrate on going about his business.
Repoz
Posted: March 23, 2008 at 05:26 PM | 15 comment(s)
Related News: General, Sabermetrics, Kansas City
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Seriously, everybody here ought to read his "three pitcher" classification system and his dicussion of how he factors BABIP into his pitch count decisions...or am I the only one who didn't know that Bannister was "one of us?"
All of a sudden I really feel invested in this guy succeeding.
"One of us. One of us."
I guess his father, Floyd, deserves some credit for raising Brian. This is hardly a hard and fast rule, but the experiences I've had with sons of former major leaguers has usually been good. Having been brought up with baseball, they have a little better understanding of what's going on and a sense of the game's history. Not all of them, but a good number of them. Bannister, Aaron Boone, Russ Chambliss (minor leaguer), and Brian McRae are some that come to mind. Griffey has gotten a lot better as he's matured.
Then again, I've never interviewed Barry Bonds. Ah, but that's for another thread.
If you look in the comments of Part Three, you'll see Bannister himself comment on the study. Basically he's hoping to beat the BABIP odds by pitching ahead in the count.
I am a huge Bannister fan, so much so, I'm considering changing my handle.
Oh, you've made it. Now stop reading Internet baseball sites while hanging around in your basement in your pajamas and get out there and find some talent. ;)
Look at it this way: The odds that you'll need surgery on your elbow or shoulder dropped tremendously.
Unless you have to hold a speed gun throughout a Steve Trachsel start...
I think that goes for all of us here. Well, I guess not everyone loves their job...
EDIT: I think that first is a little flippant in comparing any of our success playing baseball to yours. You did great. You wish you'd been a major leaguer as you do your current job. I wish I'd played in college as I do my current job. So, you win. :)
He can consult with Larry Dierker for how well that works out.
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