Sorry to break the news to you, John F. That’s what Mister Dr. Historiann always called Dockers: “pants for guys with big butts,” so I can’t take credit for the line myself. He’s gone with Matt L.’s strategy, and shops at a ranch and feed store called “The Big R” for his Carhart cargo jeans now.

Thanks for all of your insights into the AL/NL rivalry. I think your ideas and historical perspective are really interesting–esp. re: Hotshot Harry’s point about the “beer league,” Buzz’s comment on the stats, and brian’s and Indyanna’s historical perspective. I also want to point out that this thread is quite likely the only all-guy commenter thread in Historiann history! (Well, except for me, of course. Sorry to spoil the no-hitter here!)

So, if Historiann can host an all-XY commenter thread, then the NL has GOT to be able to win in 2010, right?

I can’t imagine what the metrics would be for Dean Moneyball, having given up my weak efforts at being a sabermetrician back there in graduate school!

(There is a great Umberto Eco essay on this…)

What you have to do is pony up for Carhart or Dickies dungarees. They are not fashionable, but you look more grownup.

I must confess I really want bobblehead appreciation night at my Uni. I can imagine some of my colleagues immortalized as bobbleheads. Priceless!

http://community.feministing.com/2009/07/i-will-not-apologize-for-my-au.html

And thought it might be an interesting addition to the “for girls” bits.

I’ve been thinking all day that there’s a possible point of convergence between this thread and the one on the dean and retention offers. A “Moneyball” dean would dispense with unified field theories (or “policies”) on personnel moves, supported by wheezy aphorisms about who comes where to study with who, in favor of more complex algorithms about how faculty members actually contribute to desired scholastic “outcomes.” This might involve withholding a counter offer to a fading star while upping the tip to the pizza kid to improve morale at middling levels; sponsoring department-level Quizo leagues; actually walking the plant floor to meet teachers on departmental linoleum (never known to happen in my world); or–one of my favorite recent promotions–holding annual “Bobblehead Appreciation Days” in survey classes. My kids love them (it’s safer than Disco Demolition Night) and faculties probably would too.

Maybe this would also dry up the flow of smart 30-year old statistical theorists into baseball front offices!

While it is dangerous to extrapolate anything from a series of 1-run wins in the last four All Star Games, I think two related developments are key. First, the AL, long known as the “beer league” of overweight home run hitters, has gradually become a leaner, more athletic, and younger league. Second, (and here’s where money is indeed significant), the AL has vastly superior farm systems through which to develop and cultivate precisely the kinds of players they want. Generally, I think the AL front offices have the lion’s share of baseball geniuses.

As a lifelong Red Sox fan, I for one am glad we’re in a new era. I still cringe thinking about the Red Sox tenures of Jose Canseco, Jack Clark, and Kevin Mitchell.