Is Manny still being Manny, or is he now being Samson.

Thanks

For example, the Cubs are currently 75-47 (really). So that's called "28 games over .500". But it isn't. The Cubs have played 122 games. A .500 record would be 61-61. So they've actually won 14 games over .500, not 28. It's 28 wins over losses, but 14 games over .500.

The Dodgers are 63-59, also 122 games. So they're 2 games over .500, not 4. But never mind.

The fallacy derives from the fact that .500 is an average, and an average does not remain static when more games are played. Every game played alters the .500 point by half a game. With the team, like the Dodgers, that wins 4 games straight after being .500 at 59-59, the .500 point does not remain at 59 just because the games lost remains at 59. It creeps up by .5 of a game with each game played, until by 63-59 the .500 point is at 61. It just "feels" like it hasn't moved. We're really talking "games lost", not average. (Or "games won", where that's the lower figure to begin with and the team starts losing.)

Have a good Picnic, I think this streak will make for good spirits all over.

By the way, will there be spirits at the picnic.

Example:

1. Dodgers are 4 games over .500. So, to reach .500 the Dodgers must accumulate a net of 4 losses over wins relative to the Dodgers in x games.

2. Dodgers are 9 games over the Rockies. So to reach the Rockies, the Dodgers must accumulate a net of 9 more losses over wins relative to the Rockies in x games.

The meaning of games is the same. the only thing that differs is the object of comparison.

I think Jon said it best. It's just an expression that has several understandable interpretations. Give not worrying about it 110% and you'll not be bothered by it.

That being said, enjoy your picnic. I'm going to Louisville to help film a My Morning Jacket documentary.

Go Dodgers.

If you like MMJ though, know that they are wonderfully nice guys and are extremely humbled by their current success.

Baseball content - they're Cub and Cardinal fans.

The story has taken a bit of the absurd when the Brewers beat writers who maintain a blog has decided to stop responding to comments due to personal attacks. Its an amusing read if only because Tom Haudricourt thinks the world of himself. (at least thats the impression I got from reading his post on this subject.)

Not so much.

>> Rodriguez didn't find out until the day before that he might get the start on Friday. Eric Cyr was scheduled to start but was promoted to Triple-A Las Vegas Thursday night. <<

http://tinyurl.com/5j9dmz

>> Kevin Howard haunted his former 51s teammates Friday night in helping the Tacoma Rainiers cap a four-game Pacific Coast League series sweep in Tacoma, Wash.

Howard, a former Las Vegas second baseman, went 3-for-4 with two home runs and five RBIs in the Rainiers' 10-3 win. <<

## Maza, Lindsey, DeWitt, Hu and Xavier Paul each had two of the 12 hits for Las Vegas ##

http://www.lvrj.com/sports/27047239.html

Manny Stars as Manny in a New Summer Hit

http://tinyurl.com/6gym45

Sabathia thinking blue?

http://tinyurl.com/5nwa79

Kemp, CF

Ethier, RF

Kent, 2B

Manny, LF

Loney, 1B

Martin, C

Nomar, SS

Blake, 3B

Lowe, P

The tri tip and carne asada was amazing. The dodger quiz was a real battle of the minds. Whiffle ball turned into a doubleheader with the first game being slow pitch and the latter game moving to fast pitch.

Awesome time. Many of us are doing this again prior to the start of postseason- right before the Dodgers first game.

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/26232387/

I would like to point out I have a 1.000 OBP in our two league games.... We NEED to hang out and play again soon as I had an incredible time!

Can Webb counter the Manny Effect?

>> With Juan Pierre's playing time cut due to Ramirez's arrival, the speed and havoc-creating presence is missing from the top of the lineup (although Matt Kemp is doing a reasonable imitation, with some power as well). <<

## I would be surprised if Ramirez stays with the Dodgers beyond this season for a couple of reasons. Number one is that Ramirez hired the notorious Scott Boras last winter, and when a player does that, it usually indicates he is looking for the biggest financial gain he can get in the market, no matter where it may come from. ##

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/26202546/