Random Thoughts Thread Part 4

Higga · Post #281 » by **Higga** » Thu Nov 5, 2015 6:46 pm

My problem isn't so much that we hired Baker but how the process went down. We wanted Black, low balled him because our owners hate paying Managers, then had to go to our 2nd option an older guy who's been out of the game for too long.

At the end of the day though, if Baker gets the guys to play up to their potential, we can still contend for a ring. And that's all that matters. If we win 90+ games next year nobody will remember how it all went down.

Post #282 » by **TheSecretWeapon** » Thu Nov 5, 2015 7:24 pm

Higga wrote:My problem isn't so much that we hired Baker but how the process went down. We wanted Black, low balled him because our owners hate paying Managers, then had to go to our 2nd option an older guy who's been out of the game for too long.

At the end of the day though, if Baker gets the guys to play up to their potential, we can still contend for a ring. And that's all that matters. If we win 90+ games next year nobody will remember how it all went down.

I'm puzzled by this "out of the game too long" thing. What do you think Baker lost in terms of baseball knowledge, leadership ability, strategy, etc. in the two years he hasn't been managing?

AFM · Post #283 » by **AFM** » Thu Nov 5, 2015 7:26 pm

I agree, he still probably has memory of the arcane knowledge that if you hit the ball with a bat very very hard it'll go over the fence and you get a point

dobrojim · Post #284 » by **dobrojim** » Thu Nov 5, 2015 10:37 pm

Really out of sorts right now.

Just learning over the last few days that a very dear friend just a few years older than
me probably has pancreatic cancer. This is not good.

Chocolate City Jordanaire · Post #285 » by **Chocolate City Jordanaire** » Mon Nov 9, 2015 11:51 pm

My father would have been 85 years old today.

Life is not the same without him.

fishercob · Post #286 » by **fishercob** » Tue Nov 10, 2015 1:12 am

Hang in there -- both of you.

Higga · Post #287 » by **Higga** » Tue Nov 10, 2015 3:37 pm

TheSecretWeapon wrote:
Higga wrote:My problem isn't so much that we hired Baker but how the process went down. We wanted Black, low balled him because our owners hate paying Managers, then had to go to our 2nd option an older guy who's been out of the game for too long.

At the end of the day though, if Baker gets the guys to play up to their potential, we can still contend for a ring. And that's all that matters. If we win 90+ games next year nobody will remember how it all went down.

I'm puzzled by this "out of the game too long" thing. What do you think Baker lost in terms of baseball knowledge, leadership ability, strategy, etc. in the two years he hasn't been managing?

Sports are ultra competitive and in today's world of advanced metrics and alanytics, being out of the game for even one year can make a huge difference. This on top of the fact that Baker has always been known to be stubborn and unwilling to look at the advanced numbers. Very Matt Williams-like in that regard.

Post #288 » by **TheSecretWeapon** » Tue Nov 10, 2015 3:53 pm

Higga wrote:
TheSecretWeapon wrote:
Higga wrote:My problem isn't so much that we hired Baker but how the process went down. We wanted Black, low balled him because our owners hate paying Managers, then had to go to our 2nd option an older guy who's been out of the game for too long.

At the end of the day though, if Baker gets the guys to play up to their potential, we can still contend for a ring. And that's all that matters. If we win 90+ games next year nobody will remember how it all went down.

I'm puzzled by this "out of the game too long" thing. What do you think Baker lost in terms of baseball knowledge, leadership ability, strategy, etc. in the two years he hasn't been managing?

Sports are ultra competitive and in today's world of advanced metrics and alanytics, being out of the game for even one year can make a huge difference. This on top of the fact that Baker has always been known to be stubborn and unwilling to look at the advanced numbers. Very Matt Williams-like in that regard.

I don't think baseball changes that dramatically, that quickly. We'll see, of course.

Induveca · Post #289 » by **Induveca** » Wed Nov 11, 2015 4:28 pm

FanDuel/DraftKings designated as illegal gambling in NY State......should be interesting.

Higga · Post #290 » by **Higga** » Wed Nov 11, 2015 6:43 pm

Happy Diwali

Chocolate City Jordanaire · Post #291 » by **Chocolate City Jordanaire** » Fri Nov 13, 2015 12:38 am

Just saw an @SportsCenter tweet showing Steph Curry shooting left handed during pre game shooting. I had figured this out on my own.

If you're teaching or coaching shooting, make your students or players fully develop their non-dominant hand. Low dribbles, figure eights, one hand set shots, one hand bank shots, and last, opposite hand layups should be as close to 50 percent of the one hand shots taken.

When a person can swish consecutive one hand free throws then move them beyond the arc.

I warm up left hand, right hand, and then my regular shot using my left as the guide hand. I envision an equilateral triangle. My base may not actually be two sixty degree angles but my balance on my shot may as well be. I'm pretty much an old man now. I WISH I trained smart when I was young and reasonably athletic! Fundamentals and love for preparing the right way are so much easier when you're old. ...

Steph Curry has simply mastered shooting with either hand and he's adept at floaters and runners off his wrong foot. He's made so many threes that his muscle memory is hard wired to make that shot. He's got wisdom packed in to his young body.

The single thing that makes him so much better than others is he's fast. His balance and form are based on essentially ambidextrous movement. He's so much on balance and his form is so flawless that it's like autopilot for him now. He's learned the right way.

Coach little kids on becoming comfortable with repetitive misses with the weaker hand until it's second nature to shoot either way.

Some other tips: use all kinds of under inflated or over inflated balls. Shoot in windy, sunny, cold, hot conditions--but make sure it's fun! Why? Because in good gyms with regulation equipment the ball goes through the hoop easy compared to street ball! Practice shooting when you're tired and under tougher than game conditions! Get sky high confident indoors.

Have a playlist of good tunes to listen to and sets of different shooting drills. Sometimes count shots, say 100. Other times shoot straight in, bank, either hand, under hand--whatever. Time your work and chart your shots if that works for you. Just track attempts at first and practice from many distances. Remember it's not the shots you make, it's the shots you take. You miss a bunch before you make a bunch, so enjoy the process all the way.

Solitary practice at first, provided good form is practiced is much better than running pickup.

Steph Curry has a shooting guard dad and a volleyball player and school principal mom. Administration and organization and shot mechanics are what makes this kid elite. He's geek smart in preparation, faith driven, and ultra modest. He's the best because of how he prepares.

His off hand work is key.

closg00 · Post #292 » by **closg00** » Fri Nov 13, 2015 12:49 am

The new Missy Elliot.....Fire!!
http://youtu.be/KO_3Qgib6RQ

dobrojim · Post #293 » by **dobrojim** » Fri Nov 13, 2015 5:12 pm

I'll be carrying the number of my friend (who is probably cancer stricken and can't run)
tomorrow in the Stone Mill 50. I'll be running when you eat breakfast, still running at
lunch time and hopefully done sometime around sunset.

Tonight my younger daughter Jacqui, now aka Max, plays her first game as a collegiate (DIII)
on the anniversary of her being cut from the varsity HS team last year. She LOVES
her coach at Hollins. I'll get to see her play 2 games next weekend as Hollins will
be in DC and Baltimore for games. She couldn't be more thrilled. Obviously I
am very happy for her and proud of her. She works hard at it.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhPgxrmoQLE[/youtube]

In one of those small world things, her very young coach is the niece of
the 2 sisters-in-law that make up the Stewart Sisters who I play music with.
The team struggled just a little bit last year going 3-23. Ouch. They almost have
to be better this season.

Higga · Post #294 » by **Higga** » Fri Nov 13, 2015 7:03 pm

Got free tickets to the Skins-Saints game on Sunday. Not even sure I really want to go, hate going all the way to FedEx especially since the team sucks, but hey its free so I'll just go to tailgate and whatever happens during the game is whatever.

Chocolate City Jordanaire · Post #295 » by **Chocolate City Jordanaire** » Fri Nov 13, 2015 8:56 pm

Go. Saints are bad defensively.

Skins could win a shootout. The receivers probably will hold on to the football this game. Cousins should have a big day.

So should Drew Brees.

Should be exciting, either way.

AFM · Post #296 » by **AFM** » Sat Nov 14, 2015 4:26 am

Didn't Drew Brees throw 7 touchdowns 2 weeks ago? This could get ugly.

Chocolate City Jordanaire · Post #297 » by **Chocolate City Jordanaire** » Sat Nov 14, 2015 10:18 pm

AFM wrote:Didn't Drew Brees throw 7 touchdowns 2 weeks ago? This could get ugly.

Of course it could.

Eli Manning threw 6 TDs, and his team lost!

Chocolate City Jordanaire · Post #298 » by **Chocolate City Jordanaire** » Sat Nov 14, 2015 10:21 pm

Just spoke with my son who is in Georgia. Good news. His HS football varsity team coach resigned. My son only made JV this year

I think their varsity won 2 games last season and only 1 this season. Good athletes on the team but no unity according to my son....

It's completed the trifecta. Randy Edsall, Norm Chow, and my son's former coach. Gone. Good riddance to all three.

AFM · Post #299 » by **AFM** » Sun Nov 15, 2015 5:10 am

Glad to hear that CCJ. How often do you get to hear from your son?
Living in Hawaii must be tough. Are you retired?
I know the cost of living there is pretty high.

Anyway,
Why is DC rap so awful?
NY, CA, Phi, MI, CHI, even southern rap is better than DC rap.
Practically every major city in america has better rap scene than DC.
Wale sucks and so does this guy
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M10j_Pc6sR8[/youtube]

Shy Glizzy sucks, but the beat go hard, so I can bang this at the gym

Post #300 » by **montestewart** » Sun Nov 15, 2015 5:43 am

AFM wrote:Glad to hear that CCJ. How often do you get to hear from your son?
Living in Hawaii must be tough. Are you retired?
I know the cost of living there is pretty high.

Anyway,
Why is DC rap so awful?
NY, CA, Phi, MI, CHI, even southern rap is better than DC rap.
Practically every major city in america has better rap scene than DC.
Wale sucks and so does this guy
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M10j_Pc6sR8[/youtube]

Shy Glizzy sucks, but the beat go hard, so I can bang this at the gym

skinny jeans Panera snowball fights CVS treasure hunts Starbucks yuppie scum no pants kickball rap