Mailbag Bonanza

I spent last week away from civilization at a camp in the North Cascades here in Washington state. Not only does that tend to cut you off from all baseball, it also stops you from keeping up with email. So not only did the Mariner bullpen blow a couple of games bigtime (which I'm grateful I didn't have to suffer through), but the old mailbag was fairly bulging with a few observations about my All-Star article. My dear readers raise some fair points, so why don't I go ahead and give them the opportunity to say their piece?

First, Daniel writes:

Dear Mr. Paisley,

Pretty formal, there, Daniel. Dave will do just fine. Or "your honor" -- whatever works for you. He continues:

In "Ballot Box Barracudas" you've neglected to include the National League's ROY front-runner, Joe McEwing, in your summation of the NL position players' performance vs. All-Star votes.

National League ROY front-runner? When did that happen? While Joe's doing OK, let's not get too carried away. So far all the main candidates have been running and hiding. But ROY is Jason Barker's bailiwick, so let's not go there right now.

According to my (possibly faulty) calculation of Joe's OPS*PA, he gets a 232.4, ranking him 3rd in general and highest among non-vote getters (he's a write-in, after all).

I don't think you're too far off. However, the thing about OPS*PA is that you have to calculate it for all the players at the same time. As of June 28th, McEwing was sixth among regular NL second basemen, behind Bell, Kent, Alfonzo, Biggio and Boone. Decent numbers, but not exactly All-Star caliber. That said, he's been playing a lot better than scrubs like Wilton Guerrero and Marlon Anderson.

Please let your readers know that there's even one more that's having a better year than Biggio, or at least that McEwing doesn't fit the "dearth of really fine competition" grouping.

Sincerely, Daniel

OK, so it's just "pretty close to a dearth." Thanks for the letter, Daniel. Meanwhile, my relentless razzing of ballot box stuffing prompted this epistle from Cleveland.

Tom writes:

Dave,

 In your recent column you write...

 "Meanwhile, Manny "RBI" Ramirez and Kenny Lofton demonstrate that it doesn't hurt to play for the league leading team in a park that sells out every game. I just bet they have those ushers handing out ballots by the bushel. It wouldn't surprise me if they were handing out pre-punched ballots at the Jake."

I have to agree that playing in front of 43,000 fans every game helps, but it is actually a pain in the ass to get ballots at Jacobs field. You have to request them from the ushers, and then you get maybe 4 ballots, and none after the 7th inning. Most people don't get ballots because they don't know how. Back when the Tribe was in the old Urinal... uh I mean Stadium,... and were struggling to get to 10,000 fans a game, the ballots were in bunches laying around and I could pick them up by the hundreds. Of course, then I'd have to vote for Jerry Dybzinski or George Vukovich or worse if I voted for the home team.

Anyhow, I could hardly care if you bash Clevelanders for voting for their players. It is their right. However, they hardly are the originators of "stuffing the ballot box". And that depends on how you define it anyway. I don't think it's even possible to get 100 ballots at Jacobs field in one game. If that were the case, the Tribe would be starting 8 players at the All-Star game (or 7 and Griffey). And considering that offense, it wouldn't be too bad, would it?

Sincerely, Tom (no relation to Jim Thome)

Well, so far, we have Jim Thome, Roberto Alomar, Manny Ramirez and Kenny Lofton in starting positions, with Sandy Alomar, Omar Vizquel, Travis Fryman, David Justice and Wil Cordero one place out of starting. That would be all nine spots. I have nothing against the first three, and maybe even Lofton, but for Sandy Alomar to be leading Johnson and Ausmus is a joke. Same for Vizquel leading Garciaparra and Rodriguez. And Travis Fryman leading Tony Fernandez and Dean Palmer, never mind Troy Glaus. Don't get me started on the rest.

Are you sure you don't let dead guys vote in Cleveland?

Meanwhile, away from the All-Star scandals, a grateful fan writes in response to my analysis of the Padres a couple of weeks ago.

John writes:

Yes I am a Padres fan and this season has just completely wretched my innards out and wrapped them around my neck very tightly.

Whoa there, John! That's more about your home surgery procedures than I care to know.

Iread your article reluctantly nodding in compliance with tears gathering in my eyes. However, it seems, that the Padres have taken umbrage to your article and have started to kick ass! So do me a favor and the next time the Pads get on a losing streak and can't score runs, write another article telling everybody how badly they stink!

John, WA

(originally from El Cajon)

Well, John, all I can say is that it isn't the first time I've had this effect this year. Every lousy team I've profiled has bounced back, just as every great team has instantly hit a rough spot. I remember my article about the Indians when they were 25-3 or whatever it was promptly caused them to lose a few games over the course of a week. Not much of a blip, but enough to remind me of my weird power.

This effect is well known in my native England -- we call it "Commentator's Disease." It's closely related to Murphy's Law, and comes into play when someone, usually a TV sports commentator, makes a bold assertion. The participants, in whatever sport it is, seem to then be determined from that point on to prove the commentator wrong. My fondest memory of the effect was when a car-racing commentator called Murray Walker declared a particular car in a rally-cross event the absolute, definite winner with a lap to go. The driver, upon whom the commentator's curse now rested, felt compelled to roll his car three times at the very next corner. It'll get you every time.

Of course I'll be happy to boost the Pads again when they start to slip -- just make sure to send the money in unmarked bills.

Meanwhile, maybe it's time for a glowing article on the almighty Yankees?

about the author

Dave Paisley doesn't really resent the overzealous use of the ballot box in Cleveland. Tell him that the silver lining is that with all those Indians getting voted onto the team, he won't have to suffer through seeing an Indians pitcher in the AS game.