First of all, I would like
to thank Kevin for making wise use of his time at work to create the code
for the Patrick's Softball Statistics page. Team stats for the last decade
can be found at www.patrickssoftball.com
I am currently missing all stats for the 2003 & 2004 seasons. If anyone
has these, or has information leading to the recovery of these stats,
please let me know.
Upon review of the statistics, I have detected an alarming trend. Sometime
in the last several years . . . we've started to suck. In fact, as the
chart below demonstrates, our "On Base Percentage" has dropped
almost every year for the last decade.
In an effort to reverse this
trend, I would like to offer several suggestions:
There is a direct correlation between our declining run production and
alcohol consumption. Clearly, if we want to reverse this trend, we need
to drink more.
During the time period when run production began to decline, there has
been an observed lack of "Rage" within the team. I suggest we
explore free agency and try to pick up a veteran possessing this quality.
Any suggestions?
Batting averages actually increased in the years immediately after Sullivan
threw Gary's Bette Midler CD out the window of his truck. Gary, if you
have started listening to Bette Midler again, you need to stop. I would
suggest some Skid Row or Metallica on the way over to each game.
Could be our age . . . nah.
Respectfully Submitted,
Mike Tollefson
Dave Zeller Response
As I look through
the numbers for myself, I am observing an alarming downtrend in productivity.
Perhaps this is a contributing factor? If I were still involved in swine
production I would have to say that now would be a good time to cull myself
for production reasons. Since I am not, I can continue to be dis-illusion-ed
about my contributions.
It seems as though we have come to an agreement that we are playing more
intelligently the older we get. The truth might be that we are just saying
this to make ourselves feel better about the slow decline in playing ability.
Some things get better with age, but obviously not softball players...with
the exception of power hitters.
Considering these two possibilities for our decline in on base percentage,
I would recommend the following:
1. Start hitting for power
- if they can't catch it, they can't get you out
- home run hitters always get the chicks
2. Start playing dumber
- there might just be a negative correlation between smart play and OB%
3. Establish a culling criteria
- this might give a few of us the incentive to produce
I plan on playing this week. So I will try to hit with power, the stupid
part is that I will try to hit with power even though I know I can't,
and if I suck you can tell me to just show up for the post-game get-together.
Z