Sunday, September 9, 2012

"Counterfactual!" says he.

One of the following two statements is a "counter-factual". The other is not.  See if you, while reading this blog on your electronic device, can pick out which is the "counter-factual."

Statement A: "If Mosser had struck out Berwald instead of giving up a dinger, today, he would have allowed only one run."

Statement 2: "If you disregard the players with fewer than 7 innings pitched, Lindsay is in the top three in pitching in the OW&AC this season."

Can you see the subtle difference in the two statements? One (A) asks you to imagine a scenario which did not occur. The other (2) filters outlier data so that the broader truth is revealed.

To wit:

Clearly, this nameless batter-runner is OUT. He is out because the Umpire said he's out. One might construe this picture in a way to argue that the umpire could also have made another call. But he did not. IF he made a different call, that would be a counter-factual. Besides that batter-runner is a low down weasel and he deserves to be out every time.

[Does that hurt this traitor's feelings? Aww. Rub some hundred dollar bills on it, you'll feel better.]

I digress. There was wiffle today. A tidy little 3 on 2 affair in which Stats and da Commish built a nice lead, and then held on for a close victory in a nail-biting final inning.

Peter brought his camera, so we have an illustrated account. Here goes....

Rookie of the year candidate, Doug Klein gave up two runs in the first. (And another in the fourth, including a rare home run off overhand pitching for Stats.)
Then Kurt allowed two more in the second, including a dinger by Peter. There was a predictable result...
 The indignity of Orioles fandom. 

Pete, not pictured since it was his camera, and Matt held Kurt, Doug and Eric Kvalheim scoreless until the bottom of the last inning when they got two runs in, and then loaded the bases with none out.  At this point Peter bore down, working two K's and a ground out to end the game.

Had Kvalheim allowed a run in the top of the sixth - that would be counter-factual. In the end, only Matt and Eric were unscoredupon.

Peter, Matt - 5 runs, 14 hits
Doug, Eric, Kurt - 2 runs, 12 hits

W: Lindsay
L: Klein

HR: Berwald (4), Lindsay (3)

1 comment:

  1. our philosopher friend is looking a lot like ian anderson, circa "songs from the wood" or possibly "heavy horses". meant as a compliment, natch.

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