Comments on FIRE JOE MORGAN: FoxSports Gets Mohr Bad: Another Pun!

Billy Ocean Concert Info Erratum, from David:Since...

2007-08-04T13:03:00.000-04:00

Billy Ocean Concert Info Erratum, from David:

Since you guys are all about accuracy, particularly when it comes to regurgitating gambling commercials on TV, I wanted to point out that the Emerald Queen Casino is at Exit 135 on I-5 in Tacoma. You probably wouldn't want to go there -- a giant pulpwood mill is located a mile or so upwind from the casino, contributing to the world-famous "Aroma of Tacoma."

I am watching the Sox-Mariners' game on Fox Sports...

2007-08-04T00:37:00.000-04:00

I am watching the Sox-Mariners' game on Fox Sports Pacific NW or whatever, and just saw an add for a very grizzled-looking Billy Ocean, live in concert, on something called the Emerald Queen on I-135.

I wholeheartedly apologize to Jay Mohr, whose references are fresh as the morning dew.

Another thing I can't believe I missed, from Joe:I...

2007-08-03T01:58:00.000-04:00

Another thing I can't believe I missed, from Joe:

I can't figure this out for the life of me. Am I on crazy pills?

Isn't this:

"If pitchers hit in both leagues, sure scoring would go down — but getting drilled in the back would be way, way up."

Totally contradicted by this anecdote:

"I don't think Roger Clemens would have decapitated Mike Piazza in the World Series if he was due to lead off the next inning."

Yes. Yes it sure is.

And Slade writes in with another excellent point:I...

2007-08-02T18:40:00.000-04:00

And Slade writes in with another excellent point:

In his article, Jay Mohr makes a statement about Clemens decapitating Piazza in the World Series. The problem is, that didn't happen. The game where Piazza got drilled was the second of a day-night, two stadium doubleheader on July 8, 2000. Here's the boxscore for it.

http://retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2000/B07082NYA2000.htm

The reason the bat-throwing thing in the 2000 World Series got as much play as it did was because of that incident in Yankee Stadium in July.

Reader Eric writes:(1) Wouldn't a better guess be ...

2007-08-02T18:39:00.000-04:00

Reader Eric writes:

(1) Wouldn't a better guess be that HBP would go DOWN if the AL pitchers had to hit? From 1973 to 2006, AL pitchers have averaged .264 HBP/9IP... .248 in the NL. That's all of ONE HBP per 61 games, or about 19 more per season FOR ALL TEAMS COMBINED!

The point that pitchers would hit fewer batters because they are scared of the retaliation is so obvious I can't believe I missed it.

He then continues with some of the best and most instantaneous research in FJM history.

(2) How many players really even remotely fit that [DH] description [of not owning mitts and never playing in the field]?

Harold Baines played the most games as a DH in MLB history [1644]... yet he still had over 1000 games as a position player.

Only counting games at a position since 1973 [so a player who played in the 60s and then DHed late in his career would not get credit for those early games at a position, only those that he might have accrued after the DH came into existance], here are the players who had atleast 2 games at DH for every one in the field, min 300 games as a DH:

Hal McRae 1427 vs 333
Edgar Martinez 1412 vs 591
Willie Horton 753 vs 183
David Ortiz 752 vs 231
Rico Carty 650 vs 133
Ken Phelps 467 vs 131
Tommy Davis 450 vs 5
Travis Hafner 433 vs 61
Reggie Jefferson 433 vs 164
Glenn Adams 373 vs 145
Frank Robinson 321 vs 25

We're talking ELEVEN guys in 34 seasons. Take all the guys with 1000+ games games as a DH together, and they average 41% of their games in the field; 500+ games, 53%; 400+ games 60%; 300+, 64%; etc. Most of these guys DO take the field now and then...