Michael W

Michael W

About

I live in Greenwood, right outside of Indianapolis where I grew up, a child of the 1970s. Played Little League Baseball, but drifted away from the game in High School. I am a numbers geek and they brought me back to the game. Once back, the history got me. I started working with the numbers and rating players. At that point, I realized that there are some great historians out there, and I, being so good with numbers, could help the cause.

"There I was after the 1912 season, including the World Series I'd won 37 games and lost only 6, struck out 279 men in days when the boys didn't strike out much, and I'd beaten Walter Johnson and Christy Mathewson one after the other. And do you know how old I was? Well, I was 22 years old, that's all...And do you know something else? That was it...My arm went bad...and all my dreams came tumbling down around my ears like a damn house of cards. The next 5 years, seems like it was nothing but one long terrible nightmare...The old zip was gone from the fast ball. It didn't hop any more, like it used to...Still, in 1915 I led the league with an ERA of 1.49...So in 1916 I didn't play at all. I retired. I stayed on the farm...Only 26 years old and all washed up. A has been...I stayed on the farm all through the 1916 season. That fall, though, I began to get restless...I could hit and I could run and I could field, and if I couldn't Pitch why couldn't I do something else?..1917, I was sold to the Indians...all of 27 years old and a relic from the distant past. I'd hear Fathers tell their kids, "See that guy over there? That's Smoky Joe Wood, used to be a great Pitcher long ago."..for 5 years I played the Outfield for Cleveland. In 1921 I hit .366."---Smoky Joe Wood, The best Player in the history of Major League Baseball that is NOT in the Hall of Fame

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  • Buttons Cornell posted 3116 days ago

    Buttons Cornell

    With all the statistics available, is there a way of determining batting average by inning? I've been listening to all the dialogue about relievers and reading tales of glorious hitters of the past. I was wondering if the .350 hitters of the 40s and 50s got better as the game wore on or did the starting pitcher start wearing down in the later innings. Do modern relievers do a better job at handling batters than old starting pitchers did?

  • Frank Contreras posted 3255 days ago

    Frank Contreras

    Yo man! It's been a while. A little late but the Giants won the World Series! Also, I like basketball now. We should catch up later. Hope all has been well.

  • Zeve Lopata posted 3286 days ago

    Zeve Lopata

    Remember me? Zeve Lopata? We used to exchange articles? I'm not going to be writing, just commenting & reading.

    Once I am 13 I will write, remember the incident when I was kicked off for being underage?

    Thanks,

    Zeve

  • Zeve Lopata posted 3286 days ago

    Zeve Lopata

    Remember me? Zeve Lopata? We used to exchange articles? I'm not going to be writing, just commenting & reading.

    Once I am 13 I will write, remember the incident when I was kicked off for being underage?

    Thanks,

    Zeve

  • Jonathan Stilwell posted 3310 days ago

    Jonathan Stilwell

    Michael - are you back? - I miss our communications! - hope you are well! - it has been a while since I wrote - but here is a tribute to Bert Blyleven and his quest for the HOF! - hope you enjoy!
    http://bleacherreport.com/articles/556039-bert-blyleven-pitching-history-and-the-hall-of-fame

  • Jonathan Stilwell posted 3462 days ago

    Jonathan Stilwell

    Hi Michael - Hope all is well - love to hear from you - you get this first - as always - the Detroit Tigers all-time starting rotation - enjoy -
    http://bleacherreport.com/articles/427194-the-detroit-tigers-all-time-starting-rotation

  • Jonathan Stilwell posted 3470 days ago

    Jonathan Stilwell

    Hi Michael - here is a new one - the Cleveland Indians all-time rotation - hope you enjoy when you get the time - your comments are always welcomed -
    http://bleacherreport.com/articles/423540-the-cleveland-indians-all-time-starting-rotation

  • Lewie Pollis posted 3473 days ago

    Lewie Pollis

    Hey Michael,

    I know you do a lot of massive statistical studies, so I'd love to see what you think of the one I just completed:

    http://bleacherreport.com/articles/422086-subjectivity-objectified-measuring-mlb-fans-biases-with-all-star-votes

    Talk to you soon,
    Lewie

  • Jonathan Stilwell posted 3474 days ago

    Jonathan Stilwell

    Michael - Hi here's a posting at anohter site - thought you might enjoy reading this on tony Mullane, who kjust made the Reds HOF -
    http://www.mtrmedia.com/baseball/2010/07/apollo-of-the-box-makes-reds-hof.html

  • Frank Contreras posted 3474 days ago

    Frank Contreras

    Hello Michael, it's been a while. How have you been? Haven't seen any new articles out of you lately. Have you been busy? Brainstorming? Either way, something weird happened to my profile, for some reason it won't let me resign on to my profile but instead takes me to a new one. So if you see two of me, that's why. Talk to you soon.

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