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September 8, 2004
by Derek Zumsteg
Despite not showing up for their scheduled start on Monday against the Yankees, the Devil Rays won't have to forfeit the game. Derek Zumsteg disagrees with that decision.
September 7, 2004
by Derek Zumsteg
It's one thing if a manager believes that intentionally walking Bonds is the best strategy to winning a game. And the game is close. I think the intentional walk is a bad strategy anyway, but I can respect that we have different opinions (me and the manager). But if a team is out of contention, or it's a blowout, they should pitch to Bonds. If baseball is a sport, and it is, it's only sporting to let him hit if the outcome of the game isn't in question.
September 6, 2004
by Derek Zumsteg
There's a new Cuban defector on the market, and he's going to cost a pretty penny to sign. Derek Zumsteg examines the history of Cuban free agents, and concludes that your favorite team might be better off passing.
September 2, 2004
by Derek Zumsteg
Derek Zumsteg answers reader mail on his Occasional Guide to Winning Baseball series. Poker and thinking like an idiot featured prominently.
September 1, 2004
by Derek Zumsteg
The Mariners' move to scrap the center-field landing at Safeco Field may have some nasty unintended consequences. Derek Zumsteg takes a closer look.
August 30, 2004
by Derek Zumsteg
Derek Zumsteg weighs in on Ichiro Suzuki, whose two-month hot streak has produced staggering numbers and a reason to watch Mariner baseball this year.
August 26, 2004
by Derek Zumsteg
Readers contribute more thoughts in the aftermath of Derek's article on the rule changes baseball should consider.
August 25, 2004
by Derek Zumsteg
Ever wonder, when you see a manager make a terrible move, if he has a grander plan? Derek Zumsteg sees method behind the madness, and explores.
August 24, 2004
by Derek Zumsteg
Why does Willie Bloomquist get to have all the fun? Derek Zumsteg writes in with a handy-dandy guide to becoming an MLB ballplayer, and a fan favorite to boot.
August 23, 2004
by Derek Zumsteg
You might think that Derek Zumsteg would be furious about Bud Selig's contract extension. But that doesn't mean that he doesn't understand it.
August 20, 2004
by Derek Zumsteg
How do you confound your opponent's expectations? It's a simple answer with some complicated ramifications. Derek Zumsteg explains it all for you.
August 19, 2004
by Derek Zumsteg
Derek Zumsteg's latest mission: To deploy military force into Safeco Field and eradicate the Moose Goose.
August 18, 2004
by Derek Zumsteg
The Mariners have watched a string of players leave the organization and immediately play better for a new one. Derek Zumsteg examines the phenomenon.
August 17, 2004
by Derek Zumsteg
Derek Zumsteg takes a closer look at Boston's Mientkiewicz-to-second-base experiment, and likes the risk-taking by the Sox.
August 9, 2004
by Derek Zumsteg
The Mariners today announced the retirement of Edgar Martinez, one of the best hitters of his generation and arguably one of the best right-handed hitters of all-time. To celebrate Martinez's career, we're re-running this special edition of Derek Zumsteg's Breaking Balls from last October, when it first looked like Edgar would hang 'em up.
August 3, 2004
by Derek Zumsteg
But I've come to realize that they're inseparable: Tweaking the rules is a smaller move in philosophy, but in implication and consequence can be just as large as the sweeping one. Which in turn is why this is such a fascinating discussion for me.
July 29, 2004
by Derek Zumsteg
I've been avoiding columns on columns lately, because I feel like every time I try, I dig myself in ever-deeper. But I got a ton of email on Tuesday's column, and it ran about:
33%: "That was hilarious, loved it."
33%: "I don't get it." or "I'm tired of your ranting."
33%: "How can you say that Derek Jeter's the AL MVP when he's only ninth in overall offensive value and your own metrics...."
So skip ahead a couple paragraphs to get to the baseball if you'd prefer not to hear the meta stuff.
To 66% who didn't get it: the column was intended to make fun of the sports talk radio Jonah and I had to listen to while we were driving back and forth to the Baseball Prospectus business meetings in San Diego last week. I don't even remember the names of the personalities, but between San Diego and Los Angeles, every time we hit the seek button to get away from one of these guys, we ran into another broadcaster spewing the same stuff. They all talked in circles as they tried to figure out what they were going to say, and when they finally got to the point, you'd think, "I waited two minutes for that?"
July 27, 2004
by Derek Zumsteg
Look, we pulled down the Berlin Wall, and it was once controversial to speak out against that. I like to think time will prove me right. It has in the past, I think that's going to continue. Ideas come and go, and you have to look at them and if their time is past, then so be it, that's how it goes. You can shoot the messenger if you want, but I've been shot at before and I'm still here, still talking to you.
July 20, 2004
by Derek Zumsteg
I got mad once when Ken Griffey Jr. admitted that he didn't try for every ball. If his team was far ahead or behind in a game, he wouldn't try to scale a wall to bring back a home run. It's almost offensive to a fan to see players not try. I can know that the cost of a ticket's not that high, historically speaking, and that it might not have any effect on the outcome of a game. It doesn't matter. I want to see those ground balls run out. Unless the hitter's injured.
The more I watch games, though, the more I'm convinced Griffey was right. Derek Jeter's dive into the stands was dramatic and everything else people said about it, but it was also immensely dangerous. How big of a gap is it, really? When the Mariners told Edgar Martinez not to run out ground balls unless it was really important, was that worth it?
July 15, 2004
by Derek Zumsteg
The team isn't playing that badly. They're unlucky, not untalented. They're hitting the ball hard, but right at people. It'll turn around. We put together a competitive team, but losing streaks happen to even the best teams. We have all the pieces. See, Monday we had pitching, and Tuesday our bats came up big, and on Wednesday we played solid defense. It's just that we can't put it all together. You can see that once we're firing on all cylinders, we're going to win a lot of games.
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