This fantastic two-parter jogged my memory about an article I read in the 1984 Bill James Baseball Abstract. For whatever it is worth, Mr. James didn’t use the words “winning ugly,” but he did explain why he believed one particularly effective regular season strategy the White Sox used did not translate to playoff success. He notes that the Sox were 38-13 against the four worst teams in the AL while their LCS opponents the Orioles were only 29-20 against those same teams.
His advice to the White Sox skipper: “You said going into the playoffs that you thought baserunning might be the difference in the series, and it was, Tony. It sure as hell was. Aggressive baserunning does not work against a good team; the same baserunning move that is a ‘positive’ percentage move against a bad team is often a ‘negative’ percentage move against a good team. You [try to take an extra base] all year, and all year it helps you win ball games — you beat the crap out of the Seattle Mariners and the Minnesota Twins — and then you do it against the Baltimore Orioles and it helps them win ball games.”
Love this, Brent! Great share. I could certainly see how much the Sox took advantage of their terrible division by racking up wins against beating up on bad teams, and this goes one level deeper to look at the mechanics of those victories.
It also brings me back to the 2024 White Sox, whose existence contributed greatly to the postseason presence of both the Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals, who had the good fortune to play more games against their divisional opponent in Chicago. Behind every great team are a couple really bad ones.
Nice to get an early glimpse of Jim Leyland - universally beloved throughout baseball world. During my 36-1/2 years in Chicago, this was the closest they ever came to being on top - close, but no cigar. Of course, the lovable loser Cubs didn’t get it done either.
Thanx Paul; a fun & educational read. I’ll never look at Pizza Hut the same anymore. I’m just wondering if the Dodger’s payroll will bring them the success they are striving for. We’ll find out in just a few more weeks.
Thanks Jeff. Not knowing how you looked at Pizza Hut before, I hope I haven't ruined a good salad bar for you (not sure if they still do that!)
Having spent a good bit of time thinking about the contrast between the 1976/77 Dodgers and Yankees, the prospect of a 2024 Dodgers and Yankees Series is really interesting. The Dodgers have become the NL version of the Yankees. It's the Empire versus the Other Empire.
I always thought of Pizza Hut as even worse than fast food but it's kinda hard I guess to screw up pizza besides being under cooked. I take that back... maybe a Subway Series in NY... lol Some people consider the Yanks as the Evil Empire.
Paul, this issue was full of great stuff: how about those uniforms! You’re right, the number on the hip was a little weird! I loved the reference to Cal Ripken Jr. at age 22 and that the O’s won the World Series that year. On the Floyd Bannister Pizza Hut placemat, I think you mean kitsch instead of niche. Maybe it was dictated and the voice recognition got it wrong? Anyhow, I enjoyed this account of a worst to first team, even if the first was just the division. Meg
Thanks Meg! Niche was the word I wanted--Substack joke. Creators are assured that readers want "niche" content, i.e. content that is as distinct as you can make it from everything else out there. I thought combining Renaissance painting and Pizza Hut was a good example of just how "niche" things can get if you let them. Kitsch certainly also applies, though.
Two years ago I didn't know who Jim Murray was. The first time I came across him, I was puzzled. Why does this guy seem like he's trying out five or six different one-liners and putting them all in the same article right next to each other? I have come to realize that this was his gift to future writers who'd come looking around for the perfect quote. His pieces are akin to that guy who sells watches from inside his trench coat. "Here, take your pick."
This fantastic two-parter jogged my memory about an article I read in the 1984 Bill James Baseball Abstract. For whatever it is worth, Mr. James didn’t use the words “winning ugly,” but he did explain why he believed one particularly effective regular season strategy the White Sox used did not translate to playoff success. He notes that the Sox were 38-13 against the four worst teams in the AL while their LCS opponents the Orioles were only 29-20 against those same teams.
His advice to the White Sox skipper: “You said going into the playoffs that you thought baserunning might be the difference in the series, and it was, Tony. It sure as hell was. Aggressive baserunning does not work against a good team; the same baserunning move that is a ‘positive’ percentage move against a bad team is often a ‘negative’ percentage move against a good team. You [try to take an extra base] all year, and all year it helps you win ball games — you beat the crap out of the Seattle Mariners and the Minnesota Twins — and then you do it against the Baltimore Orioles and it helps them win ball games.”
Love this, Brent! Great share. I could certainly see how much the Sox took advantage of their terrible division by racking up wins against beating up on bad teams, and this goes one level deeper to look at the mechanics of those victories.
It also brings me back to the 2024 White Sox, whose existence contributed greatly to the postseason presence of both the Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals, who had the good fortune to play more games against their divisional opponent in Chicago. Behind every great team are a couple really bad ones.
Nice to get an early glimpse of Jim Leyland - universally beloved throughout baseball world. During my 36-1/2 years in Chicago, this was the closest they ever came to being on top - close, but no cigar. Of course, the lovable loser Cubs didn’t get it done either.
Thanx Paul; a fun & educational read. I’ll never look at Pizza Hut the same anymore. I’m just wondering if the Dodger’s payroll will bring them the success they are striving for. We’ll find out in just a few more weeks.
Thanks Jeff. Not knowing how you looked at Pizza Hut before, I hope I haven't ruined a good salad bar for you (not sure if they still do that!)
Having spent a good bit of time thinking about the contrast between the 1976/77 Dodgers and Yankees, the prospect of a 2024 Dodgers and Yankees Series is really interesting. The Dodgers have become the NL version of the Yankees. It's the Empire versus the Other Empire.
I always thought of Pizza Hut as even worse than fast food but it's kinda hard I guess to screw up pizza besides being under cooked. I take that back... maybe a Subway Series in NY... lol Some people consider the Yanks as the Evil Empire.
Paul, this issue was full of great stuff: how about those uniforms! You’re right, the number on the hip was a little weird! I loved the reference to Cal Ripken Jr. at age 22 and that the O’s won the World Series that year. On the Floyd Bannister Pizza Hut placemat, I think you mean kitsch instead of niche. Maybe it was dictated and the voice recognition got it wrong? Anyhow, I enjoyed this account of a worst to first team, even if the first was just the division. Meg
Thanks Meg! Niche was the word I wanted--Substack joke. Creators are assured that readers want "niche" content, i.e. content that is as distinct as you can make it from everything else out there. I thought combining Renaissance painting and Pizza Hut was a good example of just how "niche" things can get if you let them. Kitsch certainly also applies, though.
Well done. Tell your spectral pal Jim Murray to drop by my place someday soon. If I can dial him up like you I might have a future in sports writing.
Two years ago I didn't know who Jim Murray was. The first time I came across him, I was puzzled. Why does this guy seem like he's trying out five or six different one-liners and putting them all in the same article right next to each other? I have come to realize that this was his gift to future writers who'd come looking around for the perfect quote. His pieces are akin to that guy who sells watches from inside his trench coat. "Here, take your pick."
LOL.That last sentence is like a quote. He was always fun to read, even about sports stuff I didn’t care much about. The LA Times could use him now!
Oh, I see. I misunderstood. 😊