The Ditch part deux

Not true. They have 4 games to lose.

 

I just edited some of my bad grammar. I'm leaving the rest. I think every sight I've been posting on has an edit feature.

 

I'm sure this was on purpose, but...

*site

 

good policy.

 

lol, nope that wasn't on purpose.

 

Doctor....Docter.....Docter..........DOOOCTER

 

yes, very much. veeeeery verrrry much (in your best Asian accent). agreed.

the ESPN/fantasy sports culture we live in today has brought stats and regurgitation to a whole new level. have you guys watched the mock draft specials running 24/7 on ESPN and the NFL Network? nauseating. talking heads preaching garbage about this guy and that guy and they're wrong for the most part every single year. doesn't stop them from preaching or me from watching though.

Kings winning the Cup and the uncertainty of the NHL playoffs are great examples of numbers not adding up....the Mike Mamula of examples if you will.

 

Patrick Eaves! you Wings guys love Eaves as much as me? Ive been at 'infatuation' since about '02.

 

I just don't get the stat hate, big Hawk Harrelson fans around here I guess.

I like knowing all the stats and probabilities and I'm encouraged that sports fans will spit an accurate statement or request instead of the crap that used to come out of their mouths that didn't make anysense. The fantasy stuff is a substitute for all the guys that used to make 10 and 20dollar bets on every type of b.s. to keep themselves interested.

The "fantasy fans" are a welcome substitute for the meatballs that used to folllow the high priests of cheerleading at games. The high priests (the very enthusiastic yellers screamers, singers, costume wearers, etc.) are fun, what hasn't been fun has been the ones that follow their lead with unoriginal thoughts and yells. I like to think the fantasy numbers tone many of them down and even keep them from doing things like jumping up and down spilling beer on me (unless they're buying me one as compensation) or pounding glass and what not.

But the numbers did add up in many respects because they were never supposed to be an 8 seed and they had one of the top healthiest playoff runs since initial expansion. NJ's run did more to buck trends and probability than LA. You guys need to get into more stats or buy your Hawk Harrelson fatheads.

 

Okay on Hawk:

He's the absolute worst broadcast in N. American sports. I'm a Cubs fan (so bias is a concern) but plenty of others agree:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390444180004578016652376246198.html
http://www.gq.com/sports/lists/201007/five-best-worst-mlb-broadcast-booths#slide=10
http://www.docsports.com/2010/best-worst-mlb-announcers-417.html

I can go on and on throughout the last 20 years. Makes the team in Pittsburgh seem almost bearable. Edwards can't touch Hawk.

Here's some of Ken "Hawk's Harrelson's" magic for those that care:
The beginning, first 45 seconds or so:
http://deadspin.com/brian-kenny-loses-his-shit-on-hawk-harrelson-472678674

Here's the magic where he doubles-down on being an arse:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXYvc1JGcgo&feature=youtu.be


His willingness to remain ignorant is awesome. He's saying instead of knowing the information and choosing not to act on it that it's better to never have it. He talks about gms and coaches getting fired for sabremetrics, but he can't mention any specifics. He knows every available stat on his career (as they were available) but thinks the players now are robots. The display of stoopid is awesome. For people new to Hawk, you may not appreciate it as much. I put Hawk below Grapes too. Nothing more inspiring than a person that refuses to become less ignorant on a topic that they'll get on the air and talk about. Jim Cummins laughed at him (articulated Raffi Torres hit and defended him even though he never saw the hit).

What are Cutter's thoughts on stats in baseball? I thought players like knowing available stats as opposed to not knowing.
He even came up with a new stat category TWTW, and he was really proud of himself.

Ken "Hawk" DOES NOT get ditch space when the White Sox finally decide to remove him.

 

Hell no. I don't think I've been excited about an NFL draft since the "Boz" was on the board.
I'll see the screen in a bar or restaurant or something once in a while but I don't watch ESPN unless it's somebody else's tv, MNF(not another choice really), or if there's fishing on "the Ocho" or something.

I really really don't watch that channel outside of the exceptions I mentioned above. A while back I actually had the channel locked so nobody could turn my tv on and put on ESPN. I would just impale somebody with bar accessories if somebody touched my remote now.

 

The esteemed members of the ditch may have realized that the Kings were a legitimate contender but I would say that the generalized stat fan did not. I don't think the fantasy stat geek would generally take in to account that Richards and Carter were playing healthy hockey and w/ a chip on their shoulders or that Quick was playing in a comatose-like state and guys like Greene and Scuderi are physical beasts and their kind of play lends itself to tough playoff like hockey, yada yada yada. I still think the Devils sold their soul to....themselves in order to get another crack at the Cup. Having a conversation w/ a fan that can explain why numbers may not add up is refreshing but seems to be rare. Loved the 'Bruins have no shot at beating Vancouver' posts in 11 because the Bruins don't have players like the Sedins, Luongo, blah blah puke. Unfortunately for Vancouver they didn't have players like Seidenberg or Marchand and did have a goalie on the verge of a meltdown.

Im just sort of spewing here so take it all w/ a grain of salt. I can admittedly be very bold headed and difficult but here's my take. The stat guy that doesn't truly understand the concept of a game may be difficult to converse with. They'll just continually go back to the stat as the basis of any argument w/out knowing much about the whole picture. Perfect example of this was the Kessel deal out of Boston. Most Boston fans around here, id say 75%, were very unhappy and did not take all factors in to account. The age and progression of the current players, roster makeup, CJ's system, etc... In the end it was clearly a victory for the Bruins franchise on the whole but the numbers guy would tell you that the B's lost Kessel's x# of goals/productions. Numbers can obviously be beneficial when tracking teams and players but it certainly doesn't lend itself as much credence as a legitimate eye test as long as the source is credible. Not trying to be a prick but heres an example, if Mikey tells me that Alex Semin is so great and wonderful now that he is playing in Carolina and is averaging a better +/- this season or whatever, I don't care as much because I still physically see Semin turning the puck over regularly in terrible situations, making horrible line changes, playing apathetic hockey w/out the puck, and just making his line mates have to work that much harder in the D and N zones because of his selfish play. I'll take a player who's game I like and respect in 3 zones as opposed to a player that may look better on the stat sheet but not on the ice. Same reasons why I respect guys like Patrice Bergeron, Toews, and the Wings organization on the whole.

High Priests makes me chuckle. The unoriginal fan is roaming the streets of Boston in droves.

 

I'm anything but. Hawk Harrelson is the biggest homer announcer for any home broadcast this side of Paul Steigerwald and Jack Edwards.

 

Drew Miller is my favorite player on the team but Eaves is up there as well. I don't know what got into him since he got back in the lineup but he's really playing well. He only gets ~10 minutes of ice time per game but he still manages to make an impact.

 

If I report a post as offensive, does it go to Lulz?

What happens if the post is lulz'?

 

Has anyone noticed that not only could all Original 6 teams make the playoffs since 1995-96 (they better), but they all might play each other in the first round? We could get Blackhawks-Wings, Bruins-Rangers and (please let it be so) Canadiens-Leafs.

 

did not notice that Mo (CLVGary). that would be something if they play each other right off the bat. If that does happen i think that one of either the Hawks or Bruins will lose that opening series. My gut tells me that I won't like the outcome.

 

Even though a Blackhawks-Wings opening series would be cool I'd still rather the Wings play the Ducks. That would be a great series and the Wings would have a good chance at an upset. The Blackhawks? Not so much. They'd be playing with nothing to lose but I wouldn't give them much of a chance there, even after they've started really playing well over the past few days. If they somehow win an opening series over the Hawks I'd be on Cloud 9 and a half.

 

Good questions. Is Lulz judge jury and executioner of MudnCleats? I hope so, I want to see someone's account executed. Nevermind the fact that it would probably be mine....dont think mattymcgee56 is being used.

 

it goes to the staff in general.

i'll mine the Sag

^ this.