The Absurdity of It All

by miniboscorino on Feb 20, 2009 4:41 PM EST Comment 27 comments

Hello VEB users!!!

Honestly, this fanpost has nothing much to do with baseball, save for the fact that it involves a bunch of die-hard stat-geek Redbird fans. But here goes anyway.

As a member of the younger crowd here, I happen to use Facebook often, and to my prematurely delighted surprise, they even have an St. Louis Cardinals fan group. Upon investigation of the fanposts and polls in this sprawling mess, I discovered the same disasters of "Sign Manny and Sabathia and Trade Everyone!!!" posts one finds on the Post website, or ESPN. I even ventured to make a comment on one particular Manny poll, which I do not recommend. Upon stating my reason for not signing Manny- we have too many outfielders plus Wallace to begin with- which was simple and rational (you are limited to a 500 character count anyway), all hell broke loose. The main poster running operations jumped on me for my dissent as if I were an ignorant cretan (which I might not refute, ;P). He quickly stated that I needed to learn more about baseball and that Glaus was a better backup plan if Albert left and that Wallace was for sure our permanent 3B of the future.

This blog was not my first home for baseball talk, and I sincerely regret not finding this lovely place earlier than I did. Personally, I enjoy VEB because of the abundance of well informed members and the vast archives of statistics available to its users. I don't post often, much of this is because I am at school or sleeping during the primetime posting hours of morning and mid-day, but another reason is I find no need to; what else is there to say when it's all been said? I don't feel a need to look up statistics, as someone always takes the time I don't have to do so (thank you to all of you, you make things so easy, even though I don't take the time to desciper the meanings of BABIP, FIP, ARM, KFC, ABC, and NBC).

I do not enjoy all aspects of the blog, mainly the fact that people write essays as replies and over time, the same thing is said over, and over, and over (well you get the point) again. Sometimes, especially when I first began posting, I felt suffocated and unwelcome by many of the veteran posters. I know this is not intentional, and I understand that VEB does uphold certain strict rules...but why is it that we can't have a little fun with the first time posters instead of rebuking them and prodding them along with the "The Reply Button Works Well" statements? Often times I feel that posters are given their two cents because of what they know, rather than what they seek to learn (If I am wrong, please state so!) Also, though I believe its only because I have yet to experience a season of posting and only the offseason, sometimes there is a lack of human element in our analysis and we become over analytical of the numbers we gaze at for hours. Sometimes I feel that we forget that baseball players are human, and we forget the greatest thing about the game itself: though statistics can help us predict and project the path a team or player may take, improbability and chance still dictate every single moment of this great game.

Now, I'm going to get off my soapbox before someone kicks it out from underneath me and I will state this: This is a very special blog, a place for very intelligent, mostly unbiased, and very tactful (though I hate to use that word) analysis. The people here are wonderful, and there is a wealthy undercurrent of knowledge amongst many of our users that can be turned up to the fresh air just by asking.

If you disagree with some of my statments, please say something. If you agree with some of my statments, please do so as well. And if you just want to say something about why this place is so great, I welcome you the most!!!

May this be a wonderful season (yeah, I know, its still ST, but I'm excited) and one to remember!!!

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Comments

Regular Season

I agree with a lot of what you say…when it comes to posting here in the offseason. A lot of times, especially at a Cardinals blog, people can not take the fact that baseball is not being played and get a lot more snippy. I try to post less in the offseason unless I see a post I really enjoy.

by stlfan on Feb 20, 2009 4:49 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

What's up Mini.

You might remember me as the commenter formerly known as chrs3084 on ESPN. I just found out about the blog as well and agree with what your saying. While I will be spending more time on this page, I imagine I will still spend some time, during the season, giving the regular Cubs fan on ESPN a hard time. Should be a great season.

by STLRegalia on Feb 20, 2009 5:07 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

indeed I remember you and your fruity silver shirt!!!!

And I will also be bugging the cubs board as well, I dearly miss it.

Chuck Norris bows to no man...but he does bow to The Mang.

by miniboscorino on Feb 20, 2009 7:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I know it serves no constructive purpose

But I sometimes enjoy reading those comments on ESPN, FoxSports, and MLBTR. I don’t have screenames on them, because I know if I did I would try to inform people and it would be nothing but a waste of time at those forums. It does make you appreciate the well-informed and civil VEB community. We should all give ourselves a pat on the back!

Patiently awaiting the day Colby Rasmus does this: .275/.381/.551/.932, 29HR, in St. Louis...

by RunninRedbird on Feb 20, 2009 5:22 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Hehehe,

you should make an account and join myself and STLRegalia when we roam the Cubs game threads on ESPN. It is the NL central’s main board, so we get to converse with all the wacky Brewers, Astros, and Cubs fans…there are no reds, or pirate’s fans. Likewise, the Card’s board is deader than than a graveyard.

Chuck Norris bows to no man...but he does bow to The Mang.

by miniboscorino on Feb 20, 2009 8:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Hey Mini

I haven’t been here long, and like you, I wish I found VEB before I did. Matt Leach’s blog on the Cards’ site wasn’t cutting it for me, so one day I decided to come on here and I thought it was heaven. It’s nice to have a place like VEB, where Cards fans can share opinions and comment on stories, with constant updates. Hope to see you around here!
-ZZ

Welcome to Baseball Heaven.

by zoomzoomj88 on Feb 20, 2009 5:26 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I just want to hit some highlights real quick.

“I felt suffocated and unwelcome by many of the veteran posters.”

I don’t think you are alone in this and this isn’t at all unique to VEB. There’s a sense of ownership to a piece of the blog for members that have been posting for a long time and it’s easy to become overprotective of the way a community was. Sometimes that’s good. We’re consistently going to run vulgar morons off this board. Sometimes, it can stifle conversation for newer members and that’s bad.

“but why is it that we can’t have a little fun with the first time posters instead of rebuking them and prodding them along with the "The Reply Button Works Well” statements?"

I guess this can come across as mean spirited but (as someone who has made comments like this) I don’t think it’s intended that way. At least I would hope that everyone is decent enough not to be a purposeful ass.

“sometimes there is a lack of human element in our analysis”

You’ll find people on both sides of the aisle here. Chances are good that before the first month of the season is done, I will have an extended back and forth with someone about players being human and me treating them like . . . well, robots. It’s probably not something that’s going to change in the near or long term. It’s a topic in which people now have beliefs rather than ideas. Persuasion can change ideas but beliefs are far more stubborn.

“though statistics can help us predict and project the path a team or player may take, improbability and chance still dictate every single moment of this great game.”

I think that’s my favorite part about the season and having a morning post w/ a separate game thread. The game threads don’t have as much analysis of a single aspect of the game. Rather they are purely in the moment. Of course, this can lead to more cursing and rapid flamewars but it also leads to more positive things like catch phrases (the VEB definition of a “Franklin” originated in a game thread I believe) and comradeship.

VEB isn’t going to be all things to all people. There will be parts that you like, parts that you love and parts that you hate. It’s inevitable when hundreds of people try to share one thing that all the preferences can’t be met. If, however, there are times that you think someone is being deliberately and flagrantly antagonistic or breaking a community rule, don’t hesitate to e-mail one of the mods or flag the comment via the actions link. The flags are visible to mods and they get addressed if it’s deemed a problem. We’ll probably have a bunch of new people join around the beginning of the season and sometimes there’s an adjustment period. It’s everyone’s goal, however, to make VEB as much fun and welcoming as possible while providing thoughful and cogent analysis.

Nice Robot

by azruavatar on Feb 20, 2009 6:36 PM EST reply actions 4 recs

well said

and being one who has used the "use the reply button" statements, I have to say that I almost always see it the same way. Sometimes you will see someone that has been around for a few days and still is not using the reply button, I like to think that we all say it to help them keep their conversations going.

And does anyone who has been around for awhile ever set out to be a purposeful ass ? The obvious ones are always gone within a few days.

* sarcasm might be involved in this comment

and....BEN SHEETS!!! **

**not that BEN SHEETS might be involved in this comment, just BEN SHEETS!!!
(BEN SHEETS might be involved in this comment)

by mattyfrommo on Feb 20, 2009 7:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Thank You

for the long reply!!!

I didn’t set out to change any minds in writing this or make any change. I felt I wished to express some ideas, and as I have noticed, there are many new members joining right now and I thought it might be proper to make a post like this.

I am certainly looking forward to the game threads!!! : ^ )

Chuck Norris bows to no man...but he does bow to The Mang.

by miniboscorino on Feb 20, 2009 7:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

one of my favorite things about baseball

is the fact that “improbability and chance dictate every single moment” of the game. I really enjoy the fact that things happen even though, statistically, they shouldn’t have. For instance, it’s absolutely the correct decision in most cases to bring in the lefty reliever to face a strong lefty hitter but sometimes the guy gets a hit or even a homer. That’s baseball — when the correct decision ends up not working anyway or even when the incorrect decision ends up working. Just b/c the stats are on your side doesn’t mean that’s always the way it turns out. I really love that about the game. (and, conversely, hate results-based analysis when people say “see — it was the right decision after all” b/c it worked out.)

by chuckb on Feb 21, 2009 10:36 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs

that's why baseball is my favorite sport

there are a lot of improbabilities that can happen over the long season, and the unpredictable nature of hitting, fielding, etc. there will be players come out of no where and have monster seasons, such as Quentin or Ludwick. It could be interesting to see if both of them can put up similar numbers, and to see which hitters can step it up like they did. will there be any new pitchers that are nearly as good as some of the new talent as last season?

anyway, I think we all appreciate the great job you guys do, one of my favorite blogs.

4B - beer baseball bands blog

by Cards Fan in Chitown on Feb 21, 2009 9:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

How do you

propose we “have fun” with the new people?

I do prod people to use the reply button because it’s easier for the conversation to continue. New people need those little reminders to get the most out of VEB.

by spants on Feb 20, 2009 9:53 PM EST reply actions 0 recs