The April meeting of the Rogers Hornsby Chapter will be held on Tuesday, April 16 at the home of Bill and Evelyn Gilbert at 104 Snapper, Lakeway, Texas. The festivities will kick off between 5:30 and 6:00 p.m. Spouses are welcome. Please RSVP to Jan Larson at jan.a.larson@gmail.com if you plan to attend.
March Meeting Wrap-Up
A group of 11 members and guests gathered for dinner at Iron Works BBQ to discuss the World Baseball Classic, the upcoming 2013 season and various other baseball-related topics.
Jim Baker discussed his heretofore unsuccessful attempt to monetize his "Predictatron" contest. New member Mike McNulty described the elation that long suffering Red Sox fans felt when the Sox finally won a World Series championship in 2004. Other topics discussed included the Astros’ 2013 outlook, the preponderance of retired Yankee uniform numbers, Nelson Figeroa’s career, Ted Williams’ managerial career and Joe Dimaggio.
Dan Walsh presented a fun Hall of Fame quiz. Bill Gilbert took first prize with a score of 17 of 20 correct.
Bill and Evelyn Gilbert graciously offered to host the April meeting at their home in Lakeway, TX. The date has been tentatively set for Tuesday, April 16. More information will be forthcoming.
Hall of Fame Fun
Hall of Fame Fun
by Dan Walsh
Presented at chapter meeting March 19, 2013
Name the Hall of Famer described by the two word phrase. The first letter of each word in the phrase is also the initials of the player. For example: If I say Fourteenth President", you mgiht answer "Franklin Pierce" or you might say, "Huh? Who does he play for?"
(Move the mouse over the blank space to see the answer)
| 1. | Outstanding Shortstop |
Ozzie Smith |
| 2. | No-hit Ranger |
Nolan Ryan |
| 3. | Lippy Dodger | Leo Durocher |
| 4. | Terrific Slinger |
Tom Seaver |
| 5. | Giant Pitcher |
Gaylord Perry |
| 6. | WhiteSox VIP |
William Veeck |
| 7. | Homer Artist |
Henry Aaron |
| 8. | Dodger Slugger |
Duke Snider |
| 9. | Winning Southpaw |
Warren Spahn |
| 10. | Yankee Backstop |
Yogi Berra |
| 11. |
Strikeout King |
Sandy Koufax |
| 12. | Homerun King |
Harmon Killebrew |
| 13. | Boston Hitter |
Billy Hamilton |
| 14. | A’s Slugger |
Al Simmons |
| 15. | Poisoned Whacker |
Paul Waner |
| 16. | Pirate Thirdbaseman | Pie Traynor |
| 17. | Managing Catcher |
Mickey Cochran |
| 18. | Fordham Flash | Frankie Frisch |
| 19. | Chicago CEO | Charles Comiskey |
| 20. | Catcher Manager | Connie Mack |
March Meeting
We will be gathering at Iron Works BBQ located at 100 Red River in downtown Austin on Tuesday, March 19 starting at 6:00 p.m.
There is a small parking lot on-site, a larger lot on the south side of Cesar Chavez plus large pay lots across the street to the east. Please RSVP to Jan Larson at jan.a.larson@gmail.com if you plan to attend.
Book Review: Trading Bases
Trading Bases
A Story About Wall Street, Gambling and Baseball
(not necessarily in that order)
by Joe Peta
A Baseball Book Review
Monte Cely
(512) 310-9777
“To Caitlin, an 8 WAR wife, with a replacement-level husband.” Reading this opening dedication to the author’s wife, I knew I would probably enjoy this book. I wasn’t disappointed.
Trading Bases is essentially an autobiography by Joe Peta, a Stanford MBA and baseball fan. Due to circumstances beyond his control, Peta finds himself physically disabled and unemployed after a 15-year career as an equities trader. To keep himself financially and emotionally sustained while recovering from a serious automobile accident, the author decides to use sabermetrics and risk-management principles to “invest” in a baseball betting fund.
Peta uses Bill James’ “pythagorian theorem”, WAR and other sabermetric approaches, along with a concept he calls “cluster luck”, to develop a betting edge against Las Vegas baseball oddsmakers. He has solid success in 2011, leading to his creation of a baseball betting “fund” and the writing of this book.
Peta’s story is filled with anecdotes and examples of his equity trading experiences and how those informed his approach to the development of his baseball betting model. He gives concrete examples of his use of sabermetrics to find inefficiencies in the odds developed by Las Vegas sports books. He then reports month-by-month results for his baseball betting “fund”. He does all of the above with humor and a flair for the dramatic. He makes the math very accessible via numerous well-chosen examples.
This book is a quick read and should be an enjoyable one for a baseball or investment fan, and definitely a must-read for anyone who is both!
Here are the key statistics:
Book: Trading Bases – A Story about Wall Street, Gambling and Baseball
Author: Joe Peta
Author’s Credentials: Peta is a former Wall Street market maker and hedge-fund stock trader. This is his first book
Published: 2013, Dutton; ISBN 978-0-525-95364-7 Length: 369 pages
Price: Retail list – $27.95; Online – from $17.95 + shipping.
Ready for Baseball at February Chapter Meeting
Thirteen members and friends of the Rogers Hornsby SABR Chapter met at Iron Works BBQ in downtown Austin Thursday night, February 21.
Jan Larson reported on his visits to spring training sites in Arizona earlier this week. Jan was at the Reds/Indians complex in Goodyear and the Diamondbacks facility in Scottsdale. Jan brought a batting-practice home-run ball that he corraled, plus spring training rosters. Jan had opportunities to speak to sports reporter Tim Kurkjian and Indians OF/1B Nick Swisher, among others.
Monte Cely reported on his visit to Hermosillo, Mexico for the 2013 Serie del Caribe. Highlights included the new Estadio Sonora, sell-outs on all seven days of the tournament, and Mexico’s dramatic 18-inning victory in the final game to take the title on their home turf.
Jim Griffin will be visiting Kissimee, Florida for a collegiate softball tournament and some Astros spring training.
The quiz topic, in keeping with the Caribbean Series having been hosted in Mexico, was "Beisbol Latinoamericano, con un sabor mexicano" (Latin American baseball – with a Mexican flavor). Jim Baker took the prize, an official 2013 Serie del Caribe – Hermosillo ball cap, with a very good score of 15 correct answers out of a possible 25. See the quiz here.
Other topics included remaining free agents to be signed and the prospects for everyone’s favorite teams.
Our March meeting will be Tuesday, March 19 at 6pm back at Iron Works BBQ.
Beisbol Latinoamericano – con un sabor mexicano
Beisbol Latinoamericano – con un sabor mexicano
"Latin American baseball – with a Mexican flavor"
(presented at the monthly meeting on Feb. 21, 2013)
(Move the mouse over the blank space to see the answer)
| 1. | This year’s Serie del Caribe was held in Estadio Sonora in what Mexican city? |
Hermosillo, Sonora, Mex. |
| 2. |
Match the four countries’ playoff winners to their home cities Yaquis Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic Navegantes Magallanes Caguas, Puerto Rico Criollos Cuidad Obregon, Mexico Leones del Escogido Valencia, Venezuela |
Yaquis de Ciudad Obregon, Mex Navegantes Magallanes de Valencia, Ven Criollos de Caguas, P.R. Leones del Escogido, Santo Domingo, D.R. |
| 3. |
The Mexican winter league is officially called the Liga Mexicana del Pacifico (abbreviated LMP) and consists of eight teams. Match the team nicknames with their host cities: Aguilas Mazatlan Algodoneros Culiacan Caneros Hermosillo Mayos Los Mochis Naranjeros Mexicali Tomateros Ciudad Obregon Venados Navojoa Yaquis Guasave |
Aguilas de Mexicali Algodoneros de Guasave Caneros de los Mochis Mayos de Navajoa Naranjeros de Hermosillo Tomateros de Culiacan Venados de Mazatlan Yaquis de Cd. Obregon |
| 4. |
The LMP has some colorful and unique team names. Match the team nickname to its English translation: Aguilas Sugar cane growers Algodoneros A native tribe and a river in Sonora Caneros Eagles Mayos Deer Naranjeros Cotton growers Tomateros Orange growers Venados A native tribe from the north of Mexico Yaquis Tomato growers |
Aguilas-Eagles Algodoners – cotton growers Caneros – sugar cane growers Mayos – a tribe and river in Sonora Naranjeros – orange growers Tomateros – tomato growers Venados – deer Yaquis – a tribe from the north of Mexico |
| 5. |
What Mexican-born player has hit the most career MLB home runs? |
Vinny Castilla – 320 |
| 6. |
What Mexican-born pitcher has the most career MLB wins? |
Fernando Valenzuela – 173 |
| 7. |
Name the Mexican-born player to win an MLB batting title. |
Beto "Bobby" Avila – .341 with ’54 Indians |
| 8. |
The site of the 2013 Serie del Caribe, Estadio Sonora, will replace a 40-year-old stadium in Hermosillo for next season’s LMP games. That stadium was named for the "Mexican Babe Ruth", the all-time Mexican Leagues home run champ. Name him. |
Hector Espino, who hit 783 professional HRs |
| TB |
Rodrigo Lopez started the championship game of the 2013 Serie del Caribe on the mound for Mexico. He is also the active leader in MLB wins by a Mexican pitcher. How many does he have? |
81 |
February Meeting
We will be gathering at Iron Works BBQ located at 100 Red River in downtown Austin on Thursday, February 21 starting at 6:00 p.m.
There is a small parking lot on-site, a larger lot on the south side of Cesar Chavez plus large pay lots across the street to the east. Please RSVP to Jan Larson at jan.a.larson@gmail.com if you plan to attend.
Who Were the Most Productive Offensive Players in 2012?
Bill Gilbert’s analysis of the most productive players in 2012 based on “Bases per Plate Appearance (BPA)” may be found here.
SABR Day Lunch
A small but enthusiastic group of Hornsby Chapter members met at Romano’s Macaroni Grill in the Arboretum area in Austin on Saturday afternoon, January 26 to celebrate SABR Day. Various topics were discussed including the recent Rangers Caravan luncheon that was attended by Monte Cely and Monte’s upcoming trip to the 2013 Serie de Caribe (Caribbean World Series) in Hermosillo, Mexico. Mike Dillon (Florida) and Jan Larson (Arizona) also reported on making plans to attend Spring Training.