#Umpshows Can Win Emmy's Too!

Sports is about the human element in having rules and guidelines that are written in the chalk lines that define fair from foul, in-bounds from out-of-bounds, and the definitive human elements that lie inside and outside the lines.  Apparently in Houston, another day of umpires, the officials who hold the rule book, who carry out the actions of legality between the lines and outside the lines, adjudicators of baseball justice, make the wrong call.  The story goes as follows.

Bo Porter calls for a pitching change.  Taps his left hand.  Wesley Wright goes from the bullpen and to the mound.  Takes his warm up pitches.  Bo Porter now has a long discussion with the umpire.  Another pitching change.  Hector Ambriz enters the game.  Then Mike Scioscia realizes what the heck just happened.

I remember this clearly because I remember something like this happening in college.  Don't recall the particulars, but I know we [Polytechnic Fighting Blue Jays] make a change, and then we make another pitching change without the first pitcher pitching to one batter.  We got away with it because I don't think the other team really paid attention.

But Scioscia should be mad.  He makes a corresponding move.  I'm not going to say whether or not as a manager that he needs to make a corresponding move, but he protests the game as the Houston Astros clearly violate Rule 3.05c:

(c) If an improper substitution is made for the pitcher, the umpire shall direct the proper pitcher to return to the game until the provisions of this rule are fulfilled. If the improper pitcher is permitted to pitch, any play that results is legal. The improper pitcher becomes the proper pitcher as soon as he makes his first pitch to the batter, or as soon as any runner is put out.
Rule 3.05(c) Comment: If a manager attempts to remove a pitcher in violation of Rule 3.05(c) the umpire shall notify the manager of the offending club that it cannot be done. If, by chance, the umpire-in-chief has, through oversight, announced the incoming improper pitcher, he should still correct the situation before the improper pitcher pitches. Once the improper pitcher delivers a pitch he becomes the proper pitcher.

Scioscia is legitimate in his inquiry.  For instance when Juan Segura broke baseball a month ago, I think everyone was okay and astonished on what Segura did because it was Segura who made the human element mistake.  But when umpires make the human element mistakes; such as Marty Foster's poor strike zone consistency, the audience sees that this is clear and a blatant inconsistency in baseball.  Angel Hernandez made a wrong call Wednesday night when he neglects to grant a home run; which has a dramatic effect on the game of baseball.

Because social media makes baseball so transparent and when clear things go wrong, the audience is quick to blame.  Technology aids in the accuracy of what really should have been called and the right and wrong is evident.  It seems like many athletes and officials; especially in baseball, due to it's conservative nature and stance when it comes to preservation of the game prefers the human element.  However, because the human element is not what the fans want, but what is desired is accuracy the call for replay and Robot Umpires are cried from the textual masses.  And the textual masses leave one thing clear.  We want it right, and we want it now.

I remember that as people who strike for perfection, I hope that people understand that there is a human element in the game.  I joked on Twitter that this is due to the Internet-celebrity death of Kevin Goldstein; who is now a Scouting Coordinator for the Houston Astros, and like what many people say, we wish him luck and I think he is doing an excellent job of infusing that organization with talent.  I also joked around well, what if we went all Robo-Umpires.  What happens when Robo-Umpire is hacked, gets a virus or worm and compromises the game?  We are looking at a real ump show, and can make the game inherently awkward and less fluid.  There are always human elements in baseball: scouting, playing, and making judgments on calls based on the rules of the game and the actions of those who play and manage it.  Umpires have to make those decisions and have to live with the accountability of making decisions that may be in violation of the rules, but even preserving the spirit of the rule.  If Porter truly got the pitching change wrong, and meant to bring in Ambriz and not Wright, I could see that umpiring crew understand that this is the human element of the game.  Scioscia needs every game that he can get, so if there is a tactical error, he is going to take advantage of it.

I finished writing my inferences, and the game is over.  Protest gets rescinded.  The Angels won anyway.  Baseball lives another day.

It's Been Awhile

Disclaimer.

If you remember one of Staind's best hits, "It's Been Awhile", it was filled with angst and disdain for the world when the protagonist felt that his "significant other" was being minimized for who he was.  Anyway, I do promise that this article will be far from that; although, as some of my blog posts can get that way.

End of Disclaimer.

The last time I wrote something significant was the industry piece I wrote for the NBA.  Today's article is a bit different because when you deal with life, not everything is going to be as peachy as its going to be.  The reason why I write, as well as the reason why analysts put together their inferences into projections, and hypothesis, you want to see how what you wrote is equating to what actually occurred.  I thought I was fairly wrong this year when it comes to a lot of things in life, and sports.  Let me start with what I got right.

NBA
The Oklahoma City Thunder may be the #1 seed in the Western Conference.
The Miami Heat may be the #1 seed in the Eastern Conference.
The New York Knicks would get injured a lot.

In Life...
I don't know.  I honestly got a lot of things wrong since I wrote that industry piece; such as continuous follow up with articles and hoping that I can get my writing off.
The New York Knicks won 50 games (and still have 6 games remaining).
The Lakers not winning as much because Kobe Bryant could not do everything as always.

In the last six months, I have spent myself spending more time reading relationship books such as Lies at the Altar by Dr. Robin L. Smith.  I have downloaded self-help books, reading life stories of R.A. Dickey and Vince Lombardi.  And the key thing about reading those books and having life fail at you consistently reminds me that authenticity and having some level of positive subjectivity needs to be inserted objective analysis.  Authenticity is very difficult in today's age because you can take facts, analyze them and consider them authentic, but in reality any data that you read is laden with bias and limited on the factor of the stat.

The other day I wrote on a Duke of NBA Facebook post that Oklahoma City Thunder, New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers, and Los Angeles Clippers need to worry about the Technical Fouls they have accrued. I always believed that teams that have composure are better equipped to handle situation of success.  Sometimes, we overlook into the stat as well.  In baseball the two types of successful closers are (a) the walking unflappable types who seem to be reassured that everything will be alright, even when stressful situations are disastrous; and (b) the one's who walk the tightrope of mental insanity.  When you have a difference between Mariano Rivera/Trevor Hoffman/John Franco and Jonathan Papelbon/Brian Wilson/Randy Myers.  When you get teams that are too old and still continue to have success: New York Knicks with a 50-26 record, the Clippers with 91 Technical Fouls or Papelbon's stare, they seem to be just as effective as Rivera's stoic demeanor, the Spurs winning unpredictably, and how LeBron James argues so much yet has six Technical Fouls.  There is always a gray area, an out-liner for success, and what is not normal can still be successful.

The last six months I had to learn that you need to understand not only your point of view, but also have to account for the points of views that are directly affected, opposing, and quite frankly those that say "You are not listening to what I am saying."  May be it's the reason why I needed to read so many self-help books, because when you got the ideal that you get these facts, you get self-absorbed into knowing that what you think, and what you can infer is correct.  Sometimes, it takes a bit of insanity and a bit of understanding to meet some middle ground.  May be this will help when I do a scouting report someday in the future.

In the meanwhile, I hope what I learned and what I should use in the future will help develop into further accurate information in the future.  Because very few people get it right, but very few people are daring to learn to see the other side, even fewer people try to utilize the other side, and the rare person or people get it right.  My lofty goal is to get it right before it is all lost.

Industry Piece Exercise

The one thing I see that people always like is rate and review my team.  Rate and review my season; where would things begin and end.  So, I tried to do this.  Because of being in the DukeOfNBA Facebook group, I had some meaningful content about the New York Knickerbockers.  Yes, the Knicks.  They are an old team. The New York Daily News and ESPN team bloggers have overtly discussed the Knicks team age, and their stated concerns.  When Marcus Camby (already injured), Rasheed Wallace, Jason Kidd start showing wear and tear, Knicks fans should be highly concerned, especially when it means diminishing their 2nd unit.

I posted in the DukeOfNBA Facebook group what is considered as an industry piece.  Basically, however way you wanted to pick it apart to determine, who will be playoff eligible, their seeded number, and choosing their conference and NBA finals winners.  These are the results posted below:

Siwale Duke of NBA n00bster Thomas Randy Jay Median Consensus EC 1 Heat Heat Heat Celtics Heat Heat Heat (5) 2 Celtics Pacers Pacers Heat Celtics Celtics Celtics (4) 3 Pacers Celtics Celtics Knicks Pacers Pacers Pacers (3) 4 Knicks Nets Nets Pacers Knicks Knicks Knicks (3) 5 Nets Bulls  Bulls Sixers Nets Nets Nets (3) 6 Sixers Knicks Knicks Nets Sixers Sixers Sixers (3) 7 Bulls Sixers Sixers Bulls Bulls Bulls Bulls (4) 8 Bucks Bucks Bucks Bucks Bucks Raptors Bucks (5) WC 1 Thunder Thunder Thunder Lakers Lakers Thunder Thunder (4) 2 Lakers Lakers Lakers Thunder Thunder Lakers Lakers (4) 3 Clippers Clippers Spurs Spurs Spurs Nuggets Spurs (3) 4 Spurs Nuggets Clippers Clippers Clippers Mavs Clippers (3) 5 Grizzlies Spurs Nuggets Nuggets Nuggets Spurs Nuggets (3) 6 Mavs Mavs Grizzlies Grizzlies Grizzlies Clippers Grizzlies (3) 7 Jazz Grizzlies Mavs Mavs Mavs Grizzlies Mavs (3) 8 T'Wolves Warriors Jazz Hornets Warriors T'Wolves Tie (2) EC Heat Heat Heat Knicks Heat Celtics Heat (4) WC Lakers Lakers Lakers Lakers Lakers Lakers Lakers (6) Finals Heat in 6 Heat in 6 Heat in 6 Knicks in 7 Heat in 7 Lakers in ? Heat (6.25)

There is overall agreement in both conferences.  In the Eastern Conference, there is a prediction that the Miami Heat, Boston Celtics, and Indiana Pacers will win their divisions.  Even with Thomas picking the Knicks as a 3rd seed, he selected the Pacers as the 4th seed as the Central Division champion, but having the Knicks win more games.  Most of us think the Bucks should make it to the playoffs.  In the end, the Heat will emerge from the Eastern Conference.

In the Western Conference, the Northwest and Pacific conferences will be lead by the Lakers and Thunder, and that the Lakers will emerge from the Western Conference, unanimously. However there are many dissenting opinions after this.

Nobody is going to get along between picks 3-7.  In the East, the Knicks were highest set as a 3 seed, and lowest as a 6 seed.  Nets were in the range of 4-6, as the Sixers and Bulls were in the range of 5-7 seeds.  Despite the lack of range, most of us think that the Knicks and Nets will have a Metropolitan showdown in the playoffs.  This is very good for TV ratings, sports talk radio, and fans around the water cooler.  It also clearly shows two very evident things.  That teams such as the Sixers, Bucks, and Bulls who took losses in player talent in comparison from last season, are still playoff bound teams.  Most people think the Nets will just be a far better team, who made strides in improving their talent and core, while the Raptors who did the same, may not fare highly (only 1 playoff selection).

In the Western Conference, this is I feel a more difficult situation.  I think teams are more evenly matched in the West.  The Lakers have probably equaled in experience as what as the Thunder has in talent and ability.  As for seeds 3-8, it tells us that there may be mixed feelings about the Southwest division, as in that the Spurs are not the premier team in that division and won't be securing a 3-6 matchup in the playoffs. Matter in fact, Jay has the Mavs winning that division.  The exodus to the West has been continuous for a while, and it may be a fact that organizations in the West are far better equipped to improve their talent, and willing to maximize their rosters than in the Eastern conference.  This could mean that playoff races again, from top to bottom will not be decided until the final games of the season, with teams with winning records.

A lot of us feel very confident about the Heat winning the championship.  It is a testament that after winning, you look to strengthen your weaknesses while maintain their strengths.  Yes, the Heat did get older, but they also have a young core with Norris, Chalmers, and Harrelson with their 2012 lottery picks.  The Heat will have some difficult choices in narrowing their roster.  But they're addressing the lack of rest LeBron James had during last season.  They're addressing the lack of a healthy shooter with Ray Allen.  A Chris Bosh move to Center allows Rashard Lewis to start at PF, and you have a depth chart that would likely be:

Miami Depth Chart (Projected-15)
PG	Chalmers	Cole	Harris
SG	Wade	Allen	Carney
SF	James	Jones	Battier
PF	Lewis	Haslem
C	Bosh	Anthony	Pittman	Harrelson

So, what does this say for Knicks fans?  Knicks have to deal with a bolstered Boston team in the playoffs or a bolstered Nets team who are confident that they can beat the Knicks.  I do think the Knicks took a Moneyball approach by signing the talent that others were not heavily pursuing.  Rasheed Wallace, Jason Kidd, Kurt Thomas are aged players who yes, when healthy will be able to provide quality numbers.  But they will have to be managed, and you have to depend on your 9-12 man in your rotation. Will Kidd/Felton likely backcourt produce (Shumphert out to January), with tons of experience and tons of  inexperience (probably best blend is with Brewer and Novak, but they have limitations)?  I am not highly sold that the Knicks will be able to get it all together and get out of the first round.

Knicks Depth Chart (Projected-15)
PG	Felton	Kidd	Prigioni
SG	Shumphert	Smith	Brewer
SF	Anthony	Novak	Thompson
PF	Stoudemire	Camby	Copeland
C	Chandler	Wallace	Thomas

Doing this Industry Piece was fun.  I got to look at what other people thought, and put into a bubble what many people were thinking.  I think, we agreed that as viewers of the NBA, we expect rivalry match ups in the playoffs, and there are questions to each team in their level of success.  I expect issues of small sample size, bias, and basing predictions off of an average.  However, this was an exercise, which I will admit can be improved.  But it was definitely something to try, and it would be interesting to see these pieces come into place and narratives develop in the 2012-13 NBA season.

Criticism: Words for Action

Life is about experiencing criticism.  Criticism may be in praise, encouragement, positive reinforcement, admonishment, rebuttal, and negative reinforcement.  Depending on the nature of the environment: whether it is a Facebook group, a post on Twitter, or going to the Media to voice an opinion, there is an underlying level of criticism involved, and in many cases consequences follow.  Unfortunately, in our society, when we think of criticism and consequence it means that you did something bad, and as a result of doing something bad, you get punished.

Listening to yesterday's Baseball Today Podcast they talk about Travis Snyder, Outfielder of the Pittsburgh Pirates.  It's consensus that Snyder is a 4th OF at peak, and may be at his potential, an "AAAA" player who will constantly ride the shuttle between the Major and Minors leagues.  The one thing in question was about his use of his talent.  Snyder has had difficulty handling criticism, especially when he was young and inexperienced, but also naive and stubborn.  The comparison, unfairly, they placed Snyder with Mike Trout; who may be young and inexperienced, but he's insightful and receptive.  The difficulty about this non-sequitor argument is that there are many players where manager would say they have the attributes of Mike Trout and cannot find the results Trout was able to do, or even doing 80% of his capability.  In addition, there is a history of luck involved with obtaining these results.

We could say the same thing about Guard TJ Lang from the Green Bay Packers, or even when a large group of people who think that Deron Williams is a far better PG than Russell Westbrook.

Unfortunately, people make their bed with the end results of these discussions.  It's never going to be just Okay when there are concrete fascinations about the side of the argument one takes.  You can add MVP and Rookie of the Year debates to this because who's better is not an objective task.  Would I say that the difference between Williams and Westbrook is close if both are doing what they supposed to do?  Absolutely.  But I am more critical on Williams because he has completely declined in the defensive aspect of his game, while Westbrook may have had less assists, but overall the things that he does is more valuable for an offense, such as executing the right play, has a dramatic effect on the opposing defender and using his ability to score on a team, who after Durant and Harden, nobody averages more than 9.1ppg.  Not to mention, last season was a great season in this sense; teams were unable to practice, therefore it was a lot of applying natural ability and feel toward the game, which Westbrook showed greatly.  But I digress.

The thing is when criticism is doled  there's a consequence to that criticism, it is important on how it is handled.  Constant criticism that the NFL is taking on with the replacement referee scandal has led to blown games with the New England Patriots and Green Bay Packers; regardless of validity.  The NFL is responding to that criticism by trying to reach a deal with the referee's and not have the consistent impasse's that are affecting each sides BATNAs.  Deron Williams, may be coming into camp in shape and work on his lateral movement, especially on the defensive end.  Travis Snyder, took the alternative by being the protagonist in an article that his coaches unfairly criticized him.  In each event, you can tell how the affected parties has responded to criticism and consequences.  One can hope it lead to the best of solutions, but that takes time to play out.

Crowmania Draft Feedback

Well, I had to really think about this draft, like most drafts that I participated this year because I simply did not prepare.  No mock drafts, barely listened to Fantasy Focus Football or even read the ESPN Magazine.  Simply, I would have angered TalentedMrRoto (twitter: @MatthewBerryTMR) and any other fantasy guru.  Either way, here's some analysis of my Crowmania Draft tonight, and thoughts of persperation and desperation.

Keepers: Hakeem Nicks and Darren McFadden (Run DMC).  I had to a choice of 4: Nicks, RunDMC, Jamaal Charles and Fred Jackson.  By Labor Day, I felt like crap.  I should have moved up in draft picks and really try to sell Charles and Jackson for either a better keeper or better a high draft slot on my 8th pick in the 3rd round.  I kept Nicks because the Giants got rid of Manningham.  I don't think whatever Victor Cruz does affects Nicks.  Eli's [Manning] going to throw the ball because I don't think Bradshaw can run 20 times per game, and their game management has gone similar to Green Bay and New England with a RB committee last year.  Nicks, if healthy for the year could go 1200 yds, 12-15 TDs.  I talked myself to that pick.

RunDMC over Jackson and Charles was difficult.  I honestly don't like any of these backs.  Jackson is on a better team, but CJ Spiller is lurking.  RunDMC gets injured and does not finish games.  Jamaal Charles is coming off of ACL surgery and as much as I don't like Peyton Hillis, Hillis I think can thrive and take away carries.  And oddly, I like Dexter McCluster.  It's why a couple of years ago I named my team the "Dexter McCluster***."  I finished 3-10-1 that year.   Either way, I chose RunDMC because if there's a guy who can be a top 3 RB is McFadden.  Taiwan Jones isn't going to take away carries, and the change to zone blocking isn't going to matter, despite numbers saying otherwise.  Either I run my way into the ground and finish last or attempt to win a playoff game and not be in the middle of the pack.

Before the draft, I debate with the owner of RASix about whether it's unfair to bad teams to snake draft, and  prove that I can do well, when my QBs in the last few years were David Garrard, Trent Edwards, Donovan McNabb.  I nearly started Tyler Palko last year.  I eventually wound up with Dalton and he's been my best QB, since I traded away Peyton Manning (oops).  Anyway, I always thought that this type of league needs more keepers, but for 15 picks, more than two picks owners would consider that a dynasty league and people will just cry, bitch, and moan.

First Pick: 3rd Round 8th Pick: Fred Jackson.  Both of my keepers were there.  Do I go with the Bills will be better and Jackson stays healthy or do I go with Charles, and deal with drafting Peyton Hillis because Charles TDs will be limited.  Easy choice, go Fred Jackson.  Picked.  Sigh of relieft.  I got 15 picks before I draft again.  Now if Charles, falls.  Victory.  Fail.  Fourth Round, Round 1: Jeff Rhoades picks Charles.

4th Round, 7th Pick: Steven Jackson.  Before this pick was interesting because I was debating myself, Gore, Jackson, or blow this whole thing up and draft Robert Griffin III, RGIII.  I couldn't decide and got Autopicked.  Steven Jackson was tops on my list, which I don't think Isaiah Pead is going to do anything.  Another league, Steven Jackson is on my team.  I feel safe about what he's going to give me.  Worth the pick.

So, I'm debating, do I try to blow things up by going RGIII in Round 5.  RGIII gets picked by Jeff Tripplete.    I guess he's blowing things up instead.

5th Round, 8th Pick: Brandon Lloyd.  Brandon Lloyd has been someone I targeted to draft, and got in my league.  I think he's going to be big.  Bold prediction: 1500 yds, 12 TDs.  I know I'm overzealously high, but I like the situation.  At the time, he's the best WR in my opinion on the board, who Demaryious Thomas, Desean Jackson, and Steve Johnson (which ESPN messed up because it's "Stevie") got picked ahead.  I'm thinking about winning this league for once.  Eyes wide open.

6th Round, 7th Pick: Willis McGahee.  I figured if I'm going to attempt to win this league, I need a safety net.  A big safety net.  Torrey Smith gets drafted at the end of Round 5, and I'm reeling a bit.  Maclin, Smith, Austin and Meachem gets drafted, but I don't like Austin and Meachem.  So, I'm second guessing myself for a minute.  I lost out on a good 3WR depth.  I could go Pierre Garcon, but I'd rather wait or flex him.  I go with McGahee because at some point Jackson and McFadden will let me down, and at least with McGahee,  he's going to bail out Manning for when they realize he cannot throw more than 20 yards and the Broncos have to ground and pound to be successful.  Calm.

Between picks, I look at the QB rankings.  The QBs are gone.  The best ones that are left are Flacco and Dalton, which I like in that order, as 1 and 1a.  I sort of prefer Flacco because of Baltimore having a better passing game, and the Bengals are coached by Marvin Lewis, who will essentially mess up some sort of sequence at least ten times a year.

7th Round, 8th Pick: Andy Dalton.  I laugh, but I got a QB in the 14 team league.  Unless Dalton goes insane, I don't think about keeping him.  He's a QB that I just going to have to deal with.  But he's the best QB I had drafted.  Ever.  And I realized that, and I feel pathetic.

8th through 10 Rounds: Nate Washington, Beanie Wells, Eagles-DEF.  I get my 3rd WR in Washington.  He's not going to be good or sexy in this spot, but I can play him some weeks.  I danced with Nate a couple of times before, and got burned in the past, but I get points per reception as well.  As bad I think Tennessee is with their QB with Locker, they need to throw the ball to get the pressure of Chris Johnson and the run game.  I'll worry about WRs a bit later.  So, I go Wells and Eagles DEF.  I got 5 RBs in the first nine rounds because, I am going to safeguard myself from failure at this spot.  I'll laugh, and it could happen, when my only healthy RB is Steven Jackson.  I think the Eagles DEF will score more, and because I feel confident, I'm drafting them now, because I simply just passing on Greg Little and Davone Bess who go the next two picks.

11th through 14th Rounds: Mike Williams (Bucs), Santana Moss, Dustin Keller, Jacquizz Rogers.  Williams and Rogers are depth picks.  I think that Freeman can do better than what he did last year, and when Williams had a competent sidekick, Tampa was successful (remember Kellen Winslows good year).  Santana Moss I think can do well in PPR as he'll be in the slot.  The next two picks I'm debating, do I get another WR, or do I attack depth.  I look at the Insider Ranks and thought about Martellius Bennett.  What is wrong with me?  He's not draftable in the league.  I'm debating between Dallas Clark and Dustin Keller.  The Jets needed to score something.  I think he may be the best receiving option, if he can stay healthy.  I choose Keller.  Rogers is interesting.  I choose Jacquizz because he could give me the Dexter McCluster season that I'm hoping for (which Jamaal Charles had done).  Plus, it's PPR and Rogers could get involved.  I'm taking the chance.

Last round.  I take a kicker.  Because I have to.  I guess I should just take the kicker who can either kick a lot of 40 yarders or can kick 50 yard field goals.  Janikowski got picked up.  I'm going with Shayne Graham for the Texans.  As long as he can put the ball through the upright, I'll take my 7-10 points per week, and run with it.

ROCKAWAY ROCKIES
8	Darren McFadden, Oak RB  K
22	Hakeem Nicks, NYG WR  K
36	Fred Jackson, Buf RB
49	Steven Jackson, StL RB
64	Brandon Lloyd, NE WR
77	Willis McGahee, Den RB
92	Andy Dalton, Cin QB
105	Nate Washington, Ten WR
120	Beanie Wells, Ari RB
133	Eagles D/ST D/ST
148	Mike Williams, TB WR
161	Santana Moss, Wsh WR
176	Dustin Keller, NYJ TE
189	Jacquizz Rodgers, Atl RB
204	Shayne Graham, Hou K

Draft Analysis.  I stacked up on RBs because if I have a shot of getting to the playoffs and winning a game, I will need them to be successful.  I feel OK with Dalton as my QB, but feeling OK in a 14 team league with a QB and an Offensive Player flex position, isn't good.  I got two good WRs, and I'm hoping between Washington, Moss, Williams they can fill in that 3rd spot.  I got a ton of RBs which gives me options for the Offensive Player spot.  As long as the Eagles can be decent and Keller stays healthy, there's some late value, which I can get some points during some good matchup weeks.  Usually, I find a Kicker at some point.  I don't really like Shayne Graham, but Houston will give him opportunities.  He can be stable, but Graham needs to put the ball through the uprights, which he has had problems in the past.  Overall successful, but we'll see how this will turn out.

The Reminder of Relationships

I keep on losing focus at times that I treat myself as an Employment Specialist who just mindlessly drums job application after job application to an employer rather than be a developer and create relationships with business owners, employers, and representatives from companies and corporations who honestly are looking for talent, but are not capturing the full scope of individuals who are within their employment pool.  Last week, I went to a Job Development Training at the Metro DDSO at 75 Morton St.  It was interesting because I attended training sessions for Job Development in the past and like this one, nobody talks about the elephant in the room; just it gets brought up and talks about how negative that our technology of streamlining applications and software to weed out the less desirable for the super, and quite possibly overqualified candidate who's looking for a job to possible give up in seven or eight months.  May be that turnover is good for a company that is willing to promote within and invest with its own human capital, but in the end the Human Resources aficionado depends on this technology because it may make the job easier.

The part of the problem is that a large number of  Human Resource employees are in a high paced, quantitative driven society that if the job applicant does not use the perfect word choice within their resume or cover letter, that individual is deemed unsuitable for employment.  This always winds up with the story, "When I was unemployed?"  So, when this story gets rehashed, it is always because I applied for 10 jobs a day for 9 months, and I did not get a call back.  Honestly, I applied for approximately 60-70 jobs when I was unemployed.  I also used two temp agencies, inquired with about 10 people or so from a few different industries, and I struggled.  I felt that whatever I did I was un-accessible because who I was applying to was denying me access.

Yes, we do live in a post 9/11 environment, and many people will say the amount of security and privacy that is required to not allow a person to even think about walking through the front door of a skyscraper of 100 companies makes it daunting, not to mention, getting turned away the millisecond you ask to speak to a manager or HR representative.  Websites are even worse, because they may even give contacts for Human Resources, who are you contacting in HR?  Are you communicating with a HR representative, like a manager, or an Employment Specialist; is it just contacting a HR member with hopes to hear a contact back, or what I normally get from two varied responses: Nothing at all, OR, the Bot that tells you to apply for a job online.

It lead into a conversation from a friends Facebook thread: "I don't like to talk on the phone!!!..."  The person said to start the thread ..."u call and get no answer take a hint."  Of course someone will say that is rude, but may be the inner therapist in me has to psychoanalyze that there is a deep down fundamental of I don't want to talk to you.  I could see a large corporation with mass numbers of applicants and people emailing to not reply, but when you have a person who does not want to do this, imagine when the small business turns you away.  Usually it is small businesses who require the help to bridge the gaps between "not getting things done" or "getting things done inefficiently" so they can perform better to their bottom line and look better in their community.

Like when you hire a developmentally disabled individual, or an individual which a business does a diversity study of who you are so it can be studied are we hiring enough of a certain grouping may be we are looking good.  But dear business owners, employers, HR aficionados: you are doing it for the wrong reasons.  Look good, but stick to your guns.  Hire the qualified, but also hire the under-appreciated and qualified too, so that you don't have millions of potentially qualified applicants unable to get into a field that is six degrees of separation from the job that someone wants, that is qualified and would not have to think so hard about I'm unhappy because I'm not compensated enough to do this.  I think businesses who just put out a Public Relations statement and say we talked to people does not show the testimonials of actually relating to the situation of the applicant.

So, I will be making a better effort as a liaison to the public to speak to the businesses owners.  But hopefully the employers are willing to talk to the business applicants; whether your are a "Mom and Pop" single storefront or a Fortune-500 corporation.

Inner ramblings...inner thoughts...expounded outward in a questioned thought of society.

Knickerbockering It Up

This is what I call a pregame, showtime and post analysis rant with background. Enjoy.

One of my best rants ever from the DukeofNBA Facebook page. I chalk this up to the one time that I was at a bar and tried to ask a woman out. I was underage, and had little knowledge of what I was doing. I basically was there because my friend was playing a gig at some SoHo bar, and I felt at the time this was pretty cool to do. The best thing that I could do at the time was probably make a fool of myself, as my "game" was laughable to say the least. She was smoking hot, and clearly other guys were trying to hit on her. I tried being cool enough, heck even being somewhat okay just being her friend. After finding out how much I should have ran the opposite way of knowing a bit about this girl; she was probably underage too although I didn't ask for her name and I failed to get a number...even a fake phone number. What was worse is that at the time I didn't have a cell phone, so my game would have been stifled if she called my house and my mom picked up. I thought it would be a total fail from there.

Either way, I talk about a hot mess, because this girl was a hot mess. She had some issues of where she was going, and although was able to muster some conversation, I think she was eyeing some guy who looked like he had drugs on him. And that would be too presumptuous of me, because the scene was all SoHo, and not all people in the punk/indie rock scene drug up. It was cool, because in the end, I got to understand that some of these girls I liked (and by then I had my first relationship) to sum up that women are freaking weird, and that may be I need to learn how to drink, and quote Dane, a floormate from the Poly dormitory, "You need to deepen your voice a bit, because you sound like a prepubescent Michael Jackson with a crackly voice." So I did. And it took me another 2 years to figure out that it can eventually work. So here's how I summed up the Knicks in this debacle.

The front office is terrible with "organization," and the fans are led blind. Not to sound like William and not to piss Thomas off, but this is a developing catastrophe, with the 5 guys that fit D'Antoni's system: Lin, Lee, Jeffries, Stoudamire, Fields who were miscasted and typecasted incorrectly. What really struck loudly was how Dolan said their meeting went and how Dolan believes this team can win. I think D'Antoni resigned because he was getting fired, and got talked into resigning.

**Disclaimer: If you resign from a job, you CANNOT get unemployment.**

I see Knicks fans blindly feel that Lin's the best thing since sliced bread and they're fed by the media and magazine's in Duane Reade's and Brookstone's on the shelf. I think Dolan wants for his team is media attention because that's what sold seats the last 10 years, and not realizing he cannot help orchestrate putting together a team, who they're going to get hit hard with the cap after this season because Amare is looking for his extention or a reworked contract. I think what Knicks feel is winning and what fans think is winning are two different things, and the fans don't realize it because we continue to talk about this maddening piece of crap all the time. The Knicks are the organization to talk about because on face value it looks good, the history is regal (even in spite of winning 2 championships approximately 40 years ago) and it's New York City. However, they got all the problems that I've listed. It's like the hot chick in the bar that looks great, but after knowing her she's a hot mess. The Knicks resemble a hot mess, and there's some sort of fervor with Knicks fans, and it's still remotely possible because they are not eliminated. May be this chick can get her life straight. May be after getting with a good fan like Will, the Knicks could stop going back to Thomas, because the action is good. The Knicks feel good with Thomas. The Knicks have to work hard to have Will. It's easy with Thomas and feels immediate gratitutde. It's hard with Will, but if for once, they can get their head out of their ass and realize that if the Knicks want to win a championship, they need to listen to Will and develop something. Put together a roster and align it with a coach. Get players who want and need to be here. Not some 12 year joke, since 1999 when Van Gundy had to hold on to Alonzo's leg. End of rant.

I mention about the history of the Knicks and fandom. I realized in the end, fandom is liking the girl, lusting over fishnet stockings, exposed bosom, curvy hair and thighs, and Irish pale skin and realizing that with everything external about this girl, like everything external about the Knicks lies a deeprooted, yet public image. I don't know if the Knicks are ready to win and be called a serious title contender, like how this girl whom I lusted and tried to know seemed more deeply interested in what gets her off. And may be I was just bitter because I could never be the person like what the Knicks organization wants out of there fans, someone who believes in the hype. When I get answers from this chick, she's got a lot going on in the way that I don't want it going on. So, I got bitter, knowing me probably self-abused myself in my own machination of what I thought I wanted, yet in the end, I realized that if I wanted to be a human being I needed to like, lust, and potentially do some despicable machinating which any emo-like late-teen person would do. I was bitter, but I was a fan seeking for something greater than just a mind sex. I wanted a relationship which later I would eventually get after realizing that I wanted what Will was seeking in being a Knicks fan and not Thomas was seeking.

Braun Logic: Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc. MLB Approved

I somewhat recall when Sheldon's character in "The Big Bang Theory" (played by Jim Parsons) said, "That is post hoc, ergo proptor hoc" about something Leonard or Penny.  I remember the phrase, and in this case I remember what Ryan Bruan said in his press conference, "The system, in the way that it was applied to me in this case, was fatally flawed."

Ryan Braun's suspension getting lifted does not let me fucking care one iota whether or not he's innocent or guilty.  I care about how we got to the conclusion.  Post hoc ergo proptor hoc.  Kevin Goldstein (Baseball Prospectus / Twitter: @kevin_goldstein) and Jason Parks (Baseball Prospectus / Twitter: @professorparks) are indifferent, but they brought up the stark facts, "The reaction has been weird"...It's stupid beyond embarrassing returning the MVP award, jumping to conclusions.  It was an open story to tell, and it got fucking told.  And the way how the story got told, was great, the analysis was great, which I agree with Kevin.  The conclusion; however, was wrong.  How do you just claim that Ryan Braun did not test positive?  Yes the sample was not handled properly, but in what way or world should it be handled?  He tested positive.  When we lead to the motive, nobody gives a shit.  It's like the fucking meter maid giving you a ticket because you were two seconds past the time your ticket expired.  The meter maid doesn't care if you were buckling up your child.  You should have been driving on your merry way.  Not jerking off extra seconds where someone could be looking for a spot.

So I'm angry.  I understand that there is a fatal flaw and it starts with Ryan Braun and it continues to get pushed by Major League Baseball.

I got pulled to this rant because (1) I've been very angry at work, and I need an outlet to let some information out and (2) while sitting at the table with Leah, I saw the words on the ESPN teleprompter over the ESPN TV that was slightly behind me, "Fatally Flawed."  In my observation Ryan Braun appears to be a likable player, who plays hard, hustles, and does a lot of good things, but when I heard he saying the process is fatally flawed, he just set back Union and Management relations for the next 100 years.  Everyone knows that the process is always fatally flawed.  It just happens that this will get cleaned up and will have continuous litigation for other Major and Minor League Baseball players who tested positive.  When you piss in a cup and it doesn't get proved positive in five seconds, you are leaving to imagination what could happen.  Did that piss suddenly got more potent with stanozolol?  Did the tester or someone working at the laboratory ejaculated into the specimen?  Did Ryan Braun masturbate prior to testing which could elevate testosterone levels?  I don't know, and knowing today's media, everyone jumps into conclusions without following up with all the facts to determine an absolute.

So, I don't have a problem that Ryan Braun tested positive in December.  There was a sample that Ryan Braun pissed in, and the test showed that there was a performance enhancing drug.  But in the end, months later, when getting to the resolution; we can't suspend you because the test was not handled properly does not determine that if the sample was handled properly it would have tested negative.  You are jumping to a conclusion because event A happened, therefore event B is the result of event A.  Ryan Braun tested positive because the tester left the sample on his desk for 44 hours without refrigeration.  Nobody in the media stated that if the sample is not handled properly in that amount of time it causes a performance enhancing drug to form in that urine.  Nobody was able to tell that Ryan Braun is clean.  Ryan Braun used brain to selectively induce the media into stating he's clean using a fallacy argument.  And a lot of people don't get that.  We live in an age where people are hand-fed the information and take it for what it is; not discernment.  What is it taking a prospect list or a projection list for a Fantasy Draft, and stating this is true, this is accurate?  You get assholes like this every year praying at the altars of some writer, some personality to the field and take it as prophecy.

Fans of this media, you continue to get suckered into this sheepish mindset, and become too assuming to believe.  Educate yourself before coming to a decision; else you get proven into a sap, because everything you believe is "post hoc, ergo proptor hoc." End of rant.

The Oliver Miller Redux

I actually spent time looking up information about Oliver Miller.  Yes, Oliver Miller.  And somehow, somewhere a man that once looked like he ate Charles Barkley, sparked interest and feelings from Career Development to the Miami Heat signing Eddy Curry.

The one stomach virus like feeling I am getting about the NBA is that teams who attempt to get their proverbial big-3; teams who can afford it before hitting luxury tax penalties have to look at the Eddy Curry's of the world to see if there's any viability in there.  On the Duke of NBA Facebook page, Gen X Blair discusses how Kendrick Perkins lost 32 lbs to a svelte 267lbs and Gregory St. Fort mentions Eddy Curry's weight loss adventure from tilting over 400 lbs to 320-something.  I do think teams in the NBA look at the standpoint of lineup construction as Career Development, taking out-of-shape NBA players, and in the case of Eddy Curry to the point of being out of basketball for a year, to possibly of being as valued as Jamaal Magloire.

Sports allow us to witness that when someone does something that jeopardizes their ability to maintain a career, whether it's physical health self-devastation such as Curry, Miller, Perkins, and even as recently as Shaquille O'Neal, who had to find semblances of healthy by going to Phoenix as teams treat these athletes as reclamation projects.  Eventually, all athletes retire, bodies betrayed such as Brandon Roy with no cartilage in his knees, Yao Ming with deteriorated feet, and Oliver Miller who could not keep the weight down.  Eventually, we hope that terms of Oliver Miller, we do not wind up with other athletes pistol whipping your girlfriends brother.  See Oliver Miller's Pleads Guilty...

The career development of an athlete is very different from the career development of positions that the average person acquires.  But, often over time, we have to consider who we hire and fire, promote and demote.  For instance, I remember one time, where as an Assistant Coordinator of Athletic Operations, I was on my high horse, and was basically right about this one work-study student who's making his minimum wage dishonestly; he was not doing anything.  And I said to myself, I want to make sure that I hire and get 30 people who would do the job.  Eventually, I couldn't find 3 people because I could not find people who were like me.  You create lofty expectations, sift through work-study students and eventually just wind up miserable and doing the work yourself at 10:30PM at night.

I think the NBA is lucky that for every Eddy Curry who's going to get the chance, if he's unable to succeed, the Heat, I hope will have some accountability, and allow Eddy to get his health back, not to mention his self-confidence, and be what many busted NBA players who leave High School to the NBA do...find a career that matches a skillset for something non-stereotypical such as black Santa Claus.  Eventually organizations have to take accountable measures with their players so that they're instrumental in their employees career development such as telling Brandon Roy he shouldn't play again because his knees would not take it anymore.

And we have to look at players all-the-time, like the real-life person.   Organizations as much as we want to be realistic or delusional need to know that not all employees have the perfect skills at their position.  This is the reason why we get asked questions "What are your strengths?" "What are your weaknesses?" on interviews.  Often, an employer is always looking to hire someone when they recognize they have flaws.  Then when you have someone who has a disability, does those flaws make the hiring choice not attainable for that potential disabled employee.  Unfortunately yes.

I guess when I listened to a B.S. Report Podcast from December 9th, I learned that this is winding up to be a situation where organizations are cutthroat; wanting the best players from each team, because teams don't have the KSA's to build an organization from the ground up.  And then when a team such as Oklahoma City does that as the Phoenix of the Seattle Super Sonics, I think eventually that can all end when they attempt to make their big three trade, for instance dealing Serge Ibaka, Eric Maynor and three first rounders for Dwight Howard.  Although I'm being hypothetical, and probably won't work cap wise, so far this season has been witness to superteam organizations.  So instead of teams building sound, smart organizations in the NBA, teams now create markets to potentially destroy other teams.  Hopefully, those teams who, in turn are the have nots have the awareness to rebuild smartly, replace these dumb teams, before they get swallowed in perpetual losing and eventual contraction.

Then may be we get an awkward looking team, somewhat disabled to win a championship; sort of like an old, awkward shooting Dallas Mavericks team who won it all last year, because they exploited the weaknesses of the Miami Heat.  You win with the talent you acquire to build the team.  You don't build the team that acquires the talent.  Doing the latter gets you nowhere.  Doing the former wins games and championships.

Life as a Mets fan

One thing I will say is that being a Mets fan is not easy.  Normally it does require Pepto Bismol, Malox, and Pink Bismuth for all the ebbs and flows that occur.  It's what's quirky about my favorite team.  It's always interesting from the inconsistencies of the Mets driving in runs at many stretches throughout the season, or even the analysts and play-by-play announcers.  Every night one can go from pure elation to witnessing what Mark Simon calls "#crumbssituations"; an area where you enter at minimum four-letter explicitives for the zany blunders caused from lack of knowledge, overwhelmed by pressure, and sheer dumb coincidence that happens every game.

Q: So, why do I want to expose Micah to the imperfectness of being a Mets fan?
A: Being a Mets fan; likewise a fan of any franchise, requires responsibility to own up to the franchises shortcomings.  Every franchise has one; even the great Yankees with the collapse vs. the Red Sox in 2004, or the worst teams ever, such as the Tampa Bay Devil Rays (now Rays) from 1999 through 2007; where the ballpark was a barren wasteland of misused, underfunded talent, clearly requiring the 2% provided by new infused energy provided by ownership, so well regarded in Jonah Keri's book, "The Extra 2%".  At the end of the day, Mets fans "fandom" is one of those 2% addages; we have an apple that pops up with every home run, and probably that's it.

My best thing I like to discuss with Micah about the Mets with is the history.  Albeit San Francisco and Los Angeles still carry the names of their predecessor NY franchise Giants and Dodgers, the Mets tradition stems from losing those two teams in 1957/58 with a blend of refusal to join the pinstripe black & white Yankee empire.  Something about being relentless, and having something to believe in; not to mention catchy slogans such as "You Gotta Believe" and "Who Let the Dogs Out" is part of a Mets fan DNA.

Q: Are Met fans going to succumb to mediocrity and high number of "#crumbssituations" until the Mets finally get it right?
A: Every season, every team has at least several dozen "#crumbssituations."  #crumbssituations are a requirement of feel, coupled by an event that changes the game negatively.  It's basically when you eat something, and after you eat the food, you realize you got crumbs all over you.  Now you're angry, then dejected, then succumbing to defeat when you are unable to remove the crumbs unless you wash, or dry clean the clothing...if you're lucky.

With the level of youth and inexperience, nights like Saturday, such as Bobby Parnell blowing the save and taking the loss will always happen.

Hopefully I can get to write some more thoughts about sports, fantasy sports, and things applicable to job developing for developmentally disabled individuals some more.  It surely felt cathartic.

You can follow me on twitter: Akil_El; or via Facebook.  Feel free to comment.

Talent and Intangibles

The key foundation of understanding employees comes from the foundation of KSA's: Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. There are other attributes as well, but when we think of the metrics used in sports to define the athlete; it's all about what they are capable of doing, the knowledge of how to do it, their level of success doing it, the possession of the athlete's having to use what they know, the skills possessed. I currently see this in my line of work of job developing, where I am the one looking at the end advocating for people who need to know about the job the could be doing. The gap between what they know and what they don't. So, it's very important; whether it is on the Fantasy Baseball, the real sports level, and the job seeker, that employers know what they are getting and to anticipate what they do not know.

Talent and the Environment

When measuring a talent, you review the KSAs compared to your client (athlete, baseball card, or consumer). When you talk about healthy lineup construction; you try to match the athlete's feasibility: how they learn, apply, and use KSAs to the positions in the lineup and defensively to maximize your ability to have the team perform. In terms of Fantasy Baseball, you look at the construction of the team in respect to your league. Are you playing traditional roto and what you gauge your teams KSAs to achieve the counting and rate stats that makes you successful. With the potential employee, it's the mix: you look for the utilization of KSAs as well as the rate stats to measure how successful that person is. This is why sometimes we look at all of these baseball trades and wonder why some bad deals are done.

Recently, the Texas Rangers signed third baseman, Adrian Beltre to a contract; which now displaces Michael Young from his position, and possibly the lineup. The Rangers say he will be a super-utility guy, primarily playing 1B and DH. The Rangers had moved Young twice, twice for young players in their organization due to Young's inability to play the position well. However, what makes young successful is that he's a team guy. It is the reason why he's still a Texas Ranger. But his skill sets are being phased out. On the real baseball scale, Young will still be viable. On the Fantasy Baseball scale, his average draft position, ADP, should fall because he no longer will play every day. Young won't accumulate 600-650 PAs this season, and thus the counting stats will decline. His rate stats, some say are in decline, while others say the stats are not feasible for him to be the top 10 at any position. Henceforth, the job developer would think that he needs to be traded to somewhere that the Rangers can obtain value, and another team could maintain value; or as the Rangers thought...we will keep this guy around.

The Intangibles to Environment

Michael Young's viability to the Rangers is his ability to be the team guy; the guy who's past his prime and is able to be a measuring stick on how others should view their work ethic. As according to the Baseball prospectus podcast from Wednesday, Jan 26th , those are individuals who continue to get jobs. The example of Mike Sweeney was very noting. Sweeney, a very good player and clubhouse guy; clearly with very limited skills, still gets contracts. It's the reason why Henry Blanco still gets work, Julio Franco had got work, and from listening the Baseball history podcast, even Frank Thomas (not the Big Hurt) continued to get work despite plateauing. They become essential to the team without the statistical sense. It's like sometimes looking at rate stats. ERA, Batting AVG, and WHIP only tell a portion of the game, while stats like WAR (Wins Above Replacement) become huge. General Managers look for these guys to help them win championships; which Fantasy Baseball managers consider these as sleepers; where others don't expect the .280 15 80 that Young could be useful as a replacement Corner Infielder.

When I look at this in my line of work, you look at metrics. You prescreen the applicant. You may review the resume, contact previous employers, find stats on the applicant. The same should be done with GMs, real and fantasy, that help define lineup and roster construction. This also means you look for guys that makes the team successful. I remember one time long ago, I don't need 6 A-Rods and 5 Rogers to win a championship. But I will need the Shane Victorino's, Jose Bautista's surprises, and Mike Leake's limited track record, with the guys who do the things as Cory Schwartz will say "Clockwork Orange." Because in the end, employers get all the information for the known, and anticipate that unknown which makes the Edwin Encarnarcion's different from the Jose Bautista's, the Mike Leake's different from the Jason McDonald's, and the Shane Victorino's different from the Franklin Gutierrez's. The individual talent is only part of a team's dynamic.