Comments on: An Announcement

By: Nuss

Nuss — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 16:13:43 +0000

Do you think that the smaller sample sizes (32 games in hoops vs 162 in MLB) and wider point swings (20 point blowouts in hoops vs 1-2 run games in MLB) would make it much less reliable from a statisctical persepective?

One thing about Pomeroy is that he doesn't deal in raw point margins; he deals in efficiency margins, based off of adjusted points per possession. It's still a bit flawed, in that we know teams can either artificially run up the score late or draw close(r) late, but it's a surprisingly accurate measure of the strength of a team. If you look back at previous years, Pomeroy's ratings -- which are designed to be predictive -- have predicted outcomes in the NCAA Tournament far better than any other metric measure. Oh, and if you're looking for an edge in your bracket, read this and look here.

By: MattThompson

MattThompson — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 00:58:50 +0000

Wow, congrats Dave. Now, despite all those who think bloggers live in their parents’ basement, it is pretty obvious that blogging is a meritocracy. The best writers, in the long term, are recognized as such. It’s pretty cool to see you get this gig and drive that point home. Though how you haven’t been offered an analyst’s position in a Major League front office by now is beyond me.

By: Typical Idiot Fan

Typical Idiot Fan — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 00:20:30 +0000

Seriously, where do you find the time? Newlywed, Fangraphs and here, and now the WSJ?

By: Patrick517

Patrick517 — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 23:29:24 +0000

This is great news! Congrats on the new gig.

It’ll be fun to read your take on sports other than baseball.

By: TomTuttle

TomTuttle — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 23:22:09 +0000

Way to go, Dave.

By: marinerfaninpdx

marinerfaninpdx — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 23:03:20 +0000

Congrats. I had no idea you were so versatile.

By: naviomelo

naviomelo — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 22:23:55 +0000

Wow, that’s awesome news Dave. Congratulations. I’m so happy for you.

By: rcc

rcc — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 20:42:39 +0000

I must add my congratulations as well. I hope that your analytical skills and writing abilities take you to even greater heights.

By: BobbyAyalaFan4Life

BobbyAyalaFan4Life — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 20:32:46 +0000

So then who should I pick in my bracket Dave? Congrats!

By: decatur7

decatur7 — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 20:22:04 +0000

Seeing my favorite sports writer (that’s you, Dave) get a WSJ gig is like watching my favorite pitcher (King Felix) shut out the Yankees. Congradulations! I’d also love to see this new WSJ gig set you on the path to BBWAA membership, Dave. But if the WSJ got you some good media credentials, how would you want to use them? Correct me if I’m wrong, but I get the sense that you’re happy as a clam living where you are and have little desire to do traditional sports media-type things (at-the-ballpark interviewing and reporting, for example). What (and this is for everyone) are the biggest deficiencies in baseball reporting today that a few new reporters pulled from the sabermetric community could remedy? Are media credentials a good avenue for fixing these?