29 Sep 2009, by Ted
It might surprise you that the latest RBI term comes from writer Jim McManus, a devout White Sox fan, but its content is no shocker to the rest of us. This time out, McManus is preaching truth about some revisionist history.
A supposedly solid player and student of the game who was actually an inconsistent shortstop and banjo hitter with a big mouth--and an even bigger strike zone--during his once promising but ultimately forgettable career.
McManus is the author of numerous kick-ass books, including Positively Fifth Street and Physical: An American Checkup. His latest, Cowboys Full: The Story of Poker, hits stores in late October.
29 Sep 2009, by Eric
Our 11th celebrity rogue is a double-duty blogger, over at Blue Jay-themed Ghostrunner on First, and seafood on treadmills themed Walkoff Walk (anybody notice the WoW sandwich today?). His passions, besides Vernon Wells, include deep analysis of the strange body language that accompanies major league defense.
When an infielder responds to missing a grounder through the legs via a bad bounce by staring dejectedly to the heavens, as if to blame the orbiting moon and prevailing gravities for affecting the path of the ground ball. The head back, wide-legged stare is held long enough to convey victimhood, but just short of interrupting regular cutoff-man duties for fear of angering the baseball gods further.
Similar to I'm At A Loss, as both events are tragic outcomes born from the routine.
See also:
The outfield equivalent of the Cosmic Carom, the yin tot the I'm At A Loss yang. With a runner on second base, an outfielder charges a base hit with "outfield assist" on his mind. Should thoughts of unloading the canon supersede thoughts of fielding the batted ball, the Hidden Chin will result. The ball sneaks under the fielders glove, rolling unmolested to the fence. The fielder stops, turns, and sprints head down to retrieve.
Tomorrow, alas, marks the end our Rogue Parade. We'll bring you terms termed up by men who have written actual books -- not just on the internet, but on paper. As always, for more, see the Rogue's Baseball Index.
28 Sep 2009, by Eric
Phil Bencomo of The Baseball Chronicle brings a little Chicago flavor to the Rogue's Baseball Index. No, not Italian Beef or Chicago-style Pizza. More to do with that goddamn north-side baseball team.
A derogatory nickname for the Chicago Cubs, used typically by Cubs fans after witnessing losses and poor play. Almost always accompanied by a long, mournful sigh, an exasperated look of defeat and a curse word lightly tinged with rage.
Sample usage: "Looks like the goddamn Flubs showed up today..."
Si quieres leer mas del Rogue's Baseball Index, hay bastante aqui mismo.
28 Sep 2009, by Eric
The Rogue's go marching on as we introduce to you a term by philosopher and scribe Kris Liakos of Walkoff Walk. His term is pure WoW, and reminds me of that time he emailed me during the first week of Pitchers and Poets' meager existence with the headline "Who the fuck are you guys?"
Creampuff (n), Kr-eem-puff: The baseball player equipped with all necessary tools aside from a functioning body. Clearly meant to play baseball by virtue of his status as a major leaguer, a level not reached by just any dope, his nemesis is the very vessel that got him there. Creaks, cracks, aches and breaks accompany the Creampuff around the bases as often as his cleats. For him, the infield hit isn't a hustle play, it's a stupid move that taunts a heretofore healthy hamstring. He knows it, the manager knows it, the hamstring knows it, and you do too.
Notable Creampuffs include:
- Rich Harden
- Mike Hampton
- Milton Bradley
For more of such wisdom see the Rogue's Baseball Index.
25 Sep 2009, by Eric
Corban Goble, editor of the silky smooth Epilogue Magazine, brings us two terms this afternoon, representing the opposite ends of a man's social spectrum. First a term for the kind of guy you know too well, and never want to become . Second, a modern spin on an ancient metaphor.
There are a handful at every game. A transplanted Northsider obstinately donning his deep blue Cubs jersey at an Orioles-White Sox doubleheader. That guy wearing a Dimaggio jersey perched behind the Rockies' dugout. The fan that resisted wearing anything else in their entire wardrobe in order to make a resonant statement while attending the cathedral of another man's religion, resolute to fly their flag in any company. Perhaps they'll speak openly about their childhoods (the Cardinals are my father's favorite team, RIP) or allude to some vague pastoral. Oh, and they're usually jerks.
Babermetrics is the general study of collecting, analyzing, and deciphering deep hook-up related stats typically ignored by the mainstream, far too concerned with base-counting and "home runs" rather than consistency and other critical components of hooking up with girls. Notable babermetrics statistics include Bar Factor, The College Coefficient, and VORB (value over replacement barfly).
For more of these gems be sure to hit up the Rogue's Baseball Index.