Thoughts from Diamond MindObservations about the baseball season and occasional discussions about our ongoing baseball research.<p>Red Sox musings- October 30, 2004 With the Red Sox parade about to begin, I've found myself thinking about the dramatic 2004 postseason and various events that set the stage. There are so many ways the ALCS could have fulfilled the expectations of curse-believers everywhere. Tony Clarhttp://www.diamond-mind.com/weblog/2004_10_24_archive.htm#109914449512596045 <p>Who's on first- October 26, 2004 The big question for game three of the World Series is who the Red Sox should play at first base. With the game in a National League park, David Ortiz cannot be used as the designated hitter, so do you put him in at first base or leave him on the benchhttp://www.diamond-mind.com/weblog/2004_10_24_archive.htm#109880825160404515 <p>Four days and nights at Fenway- October 19, 2004 For the past four days and nights, I've spent most of my waking hours getting to Fenway Park, sitting in Fenway Park, and getting home from Fenway Park. And I've spent some normally-non-waking hours doing those things, too. With everything that hashttp://www.diamond-mind.com/weblog/2004_10_17_archive.htm#109822510252749608 <p>Going through New York- October 7, 2004 For the past ten days or so, folks on Boston sports talk radio have been asking each other, "Do you want to see the Sox play the Yankees in the ALCS" The answers: 1. Of course. 2. No way. 3. Who cares Some folks in the "of course" camp are therhttp://www.diamond-mind.com/weblog/2004_10_03_archive.htm#109717895851336281 <p>Designated what- October 7, 2004 Through the first two games of the YankeesTwins series, the designated hitters are a combined 0 for 18 with 1 walk, 7 strikeouts, and 11 men left on base. Maybe they should let the pitchers bat for themselves in game three.http://www.diamond-mind.com/weblog/2004_10_03_archive.htm#109717592084739997 <p>Torre's decision- October 6, 2004 Last night, I wrote, "Torre sent runners from first and second ... I would argue that it was a very poor decision ... the result was an easy double play when Bernie Williams took a called third strike ... if Terry Francona had done this, it would be chttp://www.diamond-mind.com/weblog/2004_10_03_archive.htm#109707316975190589 <p>Division series musings- October 6, 2004 9:08pm Eastern time -- In the bottom of the first inning, Joe Torre chose to send the runners from first and second with a full count and one out on the hitter. For those who haven't already seen it, we did an analysis of this tactic during last year's Ahttp://www.diamond-mind.com/weblog/2004_10_03_archive.htm#109702716387335460 |