HELLO BASKETBALL, GOODBYE BASEBALL

December 1, 2025

December 1, 2025

Once again, this one is for those in the reading audience who bet on sports. And, it’s transition time; it is time to leave a baseball season (particularly disastrous for both Met and Yankee fans) and return to the tainted and corrupt world of college basketball. Both are important to many of us since sportsbooks have now become front and center for the betting public. For me, it’s DraftKings. For others, it’s FanDuel. In any event, here’s how baseball came down for me and what’s coming up with basketball.

BASEBALL. What a season for those of us who are Met fans. It was just as bad for the Yankees (even though they made it to the first round). But, what about my bets? I probably won a couple of bucks only because of partnerships with two of my dearest friends (who are still around). Mary and I naturally had several bets on the Mets. My key bets were on Pittsburgh (ouch!) and a host of other losers. Believe this or not I did have $10 on Oakland and over at 71.5!

I had been spoiled earlier with winning seasons the last five years. Then this year arrived and the roof fell in as I had losers in all sports, not only baseball. To compound problems, I got destroyed during my last visit to the Resorts casino in Monticello after five winning trips in a row. Oh well, that’s gambling. Yet, hope springs eternal.

BASKETBALL. As noted last year, I previously caught Connecticut at 40-1 two years in a row. I’m hoping that the 2025-26 season will start another similar streak.

Keep in mind that there are primarily two types of bets available in sports betting: the point spread and the money line. My recommendation is future bets (that I refer to as seasonal bets). These are bets on a team or individual winning a championship, league, division, award, etc., and the good news is that each of these bets (hopefully) applies over an entire season. In college basketball, it is primarily who is going to win the NCAA Championship or make the Final Four. For me, last year was a disaster. But that was last year. What remains is what do I have for this year?

Here are some of the approximate early future odds to win the NCAA Tournament:

PURDUE        9                                              ILL                  17

DUKE             9.5                                           GONZ             18

HOUSTON     10                                            ALA                25

CONN             12                                            TENN              40                                                           

Do I have any suggestions? Of course I do! I’ll be putting some money on the following teams:

CONN, ILL, ALA, and keying on GONZAGA.

This also hurts: St. Johns will have to be reckoned with this year; but I hope I’m wrong. One of my sources claims (I can’t attest to this) that the Storm shelled out nearly $20MM in their recruiting of this year’s team. I am certain they are going to be tough. Whatever you do, if anything, good luck.

Don’t forget that it is also the season for the NHL, NBA, NFL, and college football. I offer these comments:

NHL:  Tampa and the Islanders (100-1) should be considered. I’ve passed on this early date for the Rangers and the Devils.

NBA:  Pass here.

NFL:  My money is still on Green Bay. My two key bets were the Jets and over, and Steelers         

and under; I mean, how bad can I get?

College Football:  I’m lukewarm on Mississippi (often referred to as Ole Miss) at 25-1. You might

also consider Georgia (10-1) and Texas Tech (15-1).

In any event, good luck if you get involved with any other sportsbook activity.

I haven’t recommended a stock since the turn of the century. Because of my involvement with geothermal energy, I recommended Novell (NOV) three months ago to all those close to me. No one bought. The stock is up nearly 30% and still moving.

Visit the author at:

www.theodorenewsletter.com

and / or

Basketball Coaching 101 on Facebook

NEXT POSTINGS

JANUARY 1:             On Lila’s Gem

FEBRUARY 1:          On Purely Chaste, Pristine and Random Thoughts XXXVIII

MARCH 1:                 On the Ultimate Quiz

1 Comment | Baseball, Basketball, Gambling | Tagged: , , , | Permalink
Posted by The Theodore Newsletter

On the Ultimate Quiz IX

August 1, 2025

August 1, 2025

This 9th edition is another tough one. You are once again asked to provide the correct answer to the following 20 questions. Credit 5 points for each correct answer. A grade of 75 suggests you might be brilliant.

  1. The more there is, the less you see. What is it?
  2. What are the chemical symbols for gaseous hydrogen and water?
  3. Who are the two worst managers in baseball?
  4. Who won the 2025 Super Bowl?
  5. True or false. The first casino in Las Vegas opened in 1943.
  6. Name the author of the $9 book “Winning at Casinos.”
  7. Provide the solution to the following two linear algebraic equations: 2x + 3y = 12; x + y = 5
  8. Name an individual who claimed that “there is no free hydrogen on planet Earth.”
  9. What occurs once in a minute, twice in a moment, and never in a thousand years?
  10. True or false. An electrostatic precipitator is a pollution control device.
  11. What diner that recently closed in Astoria, is alive and doing well in Bayside, and recently opened in Syosset
  12. What two brothers out of Rockaway Beach, Queens, are in the basketball Hall of Fame?
  13. What word in the dictionary is spelled incorrectly?
  14. Does a royal straight flush beat four aces?
  15. Can you use notes, calculators, computers, etc., while gambling at a casino.
  16. Who recently celebrated his 91st birthday?
  17. Who recently celebrated her 58th wedding anniversary?
  18. Whose picture is on a $2 bill?
  19. What is the traditional Greek soup?
  20. Who is the Vice President of the United States?

ANSWERS:

  1. Darkness
  2. H2 and H2O
  3. Full credit, but for me, it is the two New York managers.
  4. Philadelphia Eagles.
  5. False.
  6. It’s yours truly and published by Amazon.
  7. x = 3, y = 2.
  8. Your favorite author is one of them.
  9. The letter m.
  10. True.
  11. The Neptune Diner.
  12. Dick and Al McGuire.
  13. Incorrectly.
  14. Yes.
  15. Surprisingly, the answer is yes.
  16. This one is a giveaway.
  17. The Queen.
  18. Jefferson.
  19. Avgolemono.
  20. J.D. Vance.

Visit the author at:

www.theodorenewsletter.com

and / or

Basketball Coaching 101 on Facebook

NEXT POSTINGS

SEPTEMBER 1:         On Geothermal Energy

OCTOBER 1:             On the Massive Rip-off

NOVEMBER 1:         Hello Basketball, Goodbye Baseball

1 Comment | Baseball, Basketball, Gambling, Uncategorized | Permalink
Posted by The Theodore Newsletter

Hello Baseball, Goodbye Basketball

April 30, 2025

May 1, 2025

In case you are keeping score, I did have winners each of the last three seasonal sports bets. But I still wound up losing. There is no concern since I had a really solid run the last four years, particularly with college basketball.

  1. College basketball 2024-25: I saved some with Florida but had too many early losers along the way.
  2. Pro Football 2024-25: This was a wipeout, but granddaughter Lila saved with the Eagles.
  3. Baseball 2024: The Dodgers really hurt me but I recovered some along the way.

But these three events are behind us, and it is now time to talk baseball, and this season’s baseball bets.

Once again, keep in mind that there are primarily two types of bets available in sports betting: the point spread and the money line. My recommendation is future bets (that I refer to as seasonal bets). These are bets on a team or individual winning a championship, league, division, award, etc., and the good news is that each of these bets (hopefully) applies over an entire season. In baseball, it is who is going to win the World Series, League or Division, as well as under / over on games won for the season.

Here is what I have for this season:

  1. Naturally, the Mets to win the WS at 15-1. I do think Diaz will again disappoint and their manager is a major liability.
  2. Kansas City Royals. I have them over at 83.5 (of 162 games) and also placed taken bets to win their Division, League, and WS.
  3. (Oakland?) Athletics. I have them over at 71.5 with really token bets to win their Division and League.

Do I have any additional suggestions? Of course I do! I’ll probably be putting some money on Baltimore (currently in last place) and L.A. Angels (in second place). I’m also looking at Cleveland and Minnesota in the AL Central Division.

At the local level (for me), this month is decision time on the East Williston School District budget and Board members. Every parent, every senior, every taxpayer, and every youngster of voting age should consider what information is presently available. Our cost per student is nearly 50% above surrounding schools; it is also nearly 50% below other student / teacher ratios. You don’t need a Ph.D. to figure out we are being ripped off by not only the teachers and their union, but also their compliant Board. School taxes and a sinking U.S. News & World Report ranking are now a negative impact on home values.

I recently had lunch with a retired 20+ year EWSD teacher. On mentioning that I have been at “war” with not only the EWSD Board but also their teachers and union, she offered this. “I was always very disappointed with the senseless waste, overstaffing and bloated administration. Their greed still bothers me.” She asked that her name be withheld because she was still on speaking terms with many members of the staff.

Her comments complimented legendary Mathew Haig’s 9/23/23 “white paper” on the defense of his colleague Wes Berkowitz. “We became the envy in our reputation for intellectual creativity and student-centered challenge became well-known, especially in circles of the finest colleges and universities in the country. Beginning in the first decade of the 21st century, the East Williston educational culture began to shift. New school board leadership changed in its fundamental educational disposition … and abandoned its longtime commitment to a ‘whole-student,’ humanistic approach to learning … and foolishly shifted to one based upon statistical analysis, and test-driven measures of both student and teacher achievement … By the first decade of this century, senior teachers, like myself, who saw what was happening to professional morals, its deleterious effect on teacher-student life, and who cared enough to speak out, were targeted. Not coincidentally, over this same period of unfortunate ‘transition,’ Wheatley’s national educational ranking and reputation began a precipitous decline … The second decade of the 21st century began, some of these ‘carpet-bagger’ administrators began to jump ship. They had used East Williston, and Wheatley, for what remained of its once sterling reputation … and now were doing what had rarely been done before in our history … move to districts where they perceived that ‘the pastures were greener’ … Her boorish administrative style had imposed upon Wheatley an abhorrent culture of professional dismissiveness and disrespect never before seen in our district … but, unfortunately, one that took firm root, and persists until today. Today, all Wheatley teachers have to be careful. ‘Instructional staff’ is admonished by Wheatley administrators, not to reach out to students in distress and anything more than directions to the school psychologist’s office, or to the guidance department — Don’t hug them … don’t touch them … don’t offend them … don’t make them feel uncomfortable … don’t express your own opinions … don’t characterize their behaviors … don’t bully them … don’t counsel them.” I think Mr. Haig hit the nail on the head – I could not have said it better.

So, I will once again be voting NO on the budget. And, yes, it’s okay to vote NO. Our kids really deserve better than what has been thrust upon us.

Visit the author at:

www.theodorenewsletter.com

and / or

Basketball Coaching 101 on Facebook

NEXT POSTINGS

JUNE 1:          On Memorial Day VIII

JULY 1:          On a Paradise Lost

AUGUST 1:    On the Ultimate Quiz IV

Leave a Comment » | Baseball, Basketball, Basketball, East Williston, Economics, Education, Gambling, School Board | Permalink
Posted by The Theodore Newsletter

HELLO BASKETBALL, GOODBYE BASEBALL

December 1, 2024

December 1, 2024

This one is for those in the reading audience who bet on sports. Once again, it’s transition time. It is time to leave a truly exciting baseball season (particularly for Met and Yankee fans) and return to the tainted world of college basketball. Both are important to many of us since sportsbooks have now become front and center for the betting public. For me, it’s DraftKings. For others, it’s FanDuel. In any event, here’s how baseball came down for me and what’s coming up with basketball.

BASEBALL. What a dream season for those of us who are Met fans. It was almost better for the Yankee season (even though they made it to the World Series). But, what about my bets? I probably won a couple of bucks only because of partnerships with two of my dearest friends (who are still around). Mary and I naturally had several bets on the Mets. My key bets were on San Diego and Cleveland. Believe this or not but I had $2 on San Diego to win the National League at 180-1! Ouch! *!@#. Both these two bets lost, although I had a $20 pickup on a Cleveland futures over bet. But, baseball is behind us and it is now time to talk basketball and this season’s basketball bets.

BASKETBALL. As noted last Spring, I caught Connecticut at 40-1 two years in a row. I’m hoping that the 2024-25 season will be another good year.

Keep in mind that there are primarily two types of bets available in sports betting: the point spread and the money line. My recommendation is future bets (that I refer to as seasonal bets). These are bets on a team or individual winning a championship, league, division, award, etc., and the good news is that each of these bets (hopefully) applies over an entire season. In college basketball, it is who is going to win the NCAA Championship or make the Final Four. For example, last year, I had a $2 bet on Yale to make the Final Four at 1000-1, and $5 on North Carolina State to win it all at 50-1. But that was last year. What remains is what do I have for this year?

Here are some of the approximate future odds to win the NCAA Tournament:

UCONN (9-1)                         KENTUCKY (25-1)

DUKE (10-1)                          BAYLOR (30-1)

ALABAMA (11-1)                 INDIANA (45-1)

HOUSTON (14-1)                  TENNESSEE (50-1)

NORTH CAROLINA (20-1) ILLINOIS (60-1)

Do I have any suggestions? Of course I do! I’ll be putting some money ($2 – $10) on the following teams: Houston, Illinois, and Tennessee (my key).

Whatever you do, if anything – good luck. Kansas (12-1) and Michigan State (55-1) look good, but I can’t bet them since I believe both coaches should be barred by the NCAA. This also hurts: St. Johns will have to be reckoned with this year; but, I hope I’m wrong.

Don’t forget that it is also the season for the NHL, NBA, NFL, and college football. I offer these comments:

NHL:  Try the Rangers and Devils to win it all.

NBA:  Pass.

NFL:  My money is on Baltimore (AFL) and Green Bay (NFL).

College Football:  I got in early on Oregon, Tennessee, and Mississippi.

Visit the author at:

www.theodorenewsletter.com

and / or

Basketball Coaching 101 on Facebook

NEXT POSTINGS

JANUARY 1:             On My Key to Longevity

FEBRUARY 1:          On Sleep Apnea III

MARCH 1      :           On Purely Chaste, Pristine and Random Thoughts XXXVII

Leave a Comment » | Baseball, Basketball, Gambling | Tagged: , , , , | Permalink
Posted by The Theodore Newsletter

On Purely Chaste, Pristine, and Random Thoughts XXXIV

July 1, 2024

July 1, 2024

We’re off again – this time our 34th. Here are over two dozen of my random thoughts that really don’t amount to much.

  • Thank God I don’t stand alone; I have a host of people to fall back on.
  • I still maintain that the most corrupt organization known to mankind is the NCAA.
  • My latest book, Gambling at Casinos: The Definitive Guide, has gotten some decent reviews. I’m really shocked how few people know what’s going on with dice (or what the industry refers to as “craps”).
  • I have two books in the works – one on hydrogen energy and another on air pollution control equipment. Work on the former has been a nightmare; the latter is a second edition of a 1981 book.
  • Mary and the family threw a gala bash to celebrate my 90th several months ago. Over 80 attended the festivities.
  • I got 90 in. Now hoping for another 5 years, but I’m not nearly as optimistic as I was 5 years ago.
  • I was scheduled to present a paper in Calgary on the air pollution book in late June, but the air fare and hotel rates were prohibitive.
  • Air travel continues to worsen.
  • Sports authorities have yet to figure out that defense is the key to winning basketball games.
  • Sports authorities have yet to figure out the disastrous effects of walks on the results of baseball games.
  • The geniuses that run NYRA have successfully dismantled Belmont Park – the most beautiful racetrack in the world.
  • We vacationed at the beautiful Sandcastle Resort in Sarasota, Florida this past Spring. The bad news? Our 46th year stay at the hotel will end, replaced by a high-rise condominium.
  • Finished reading Willie Nelson’s autobiography. A great read.
  • The recent eclipse? I stayed up all night to see where the sun went and then it suddenly dawned on me.
  • The DOJ? For me, it’s become Droves of Jerks or is it Judges? Apologies to my dear FBI hero, Ernie Haridopolos, who is no longer with us.
  • Seems to me that most doctors attack the effect and not the cause of our problems.
  • Someone once said: “I want to live my life like a light bulb – burn brightly my entire life, and then suddenly burn out.”
  • I believe the key to human longevity is walking and drinking water.
  • My thoughts often return to the first responders during the COVID pandemic.
  • We face a lot of problems in the future. Hopefully, technology will provide the solution(s).
  • I still cannot understand the hatred some people have for Trump.
  • Recently had dinner at the new Greek restaurant Plori in Carle Place. A great experience. I guess it’s the Greek in me since lamb and pastitsio are still my favorites.
  • Survived the last winter but it gets more difficult with each passing year.
  • I still diet one day a week.
  • My two patents on potable water have gone nowhere.
  • It’s amazing how often the media attempts to rewrite history.
  • Had the house painted. Ugh. The money and the clutter.
  • I continue to ask my friends for money instead of taking me out to dinner.
  • Old age may be closing in around me but I still walk a mile a day, bet horses on a nearly daily basis, write books, write these articles, and dine out on a regular basis.
  • We love dining out and listening to the music of two bands: Hambones and Hell or High Water.
  • Had a $10 saver bet on the Panthers at 9 to 1.

Visit the author at:

www.theodorenewsletter.com

and / or

Basketball Coaching 101 on Facebook

NEXT POSTINGS

AUGUST 1:                On Sleep Apnea II

SEPTEMBER 1:         On Vertigo

NOVEMBER 1:         On Hello Basketball, Goodbye Baseball

2 Comments | Baseball, Basketball, East Williston, Economics, Gambling, Health, Horseracing | Permalink
Posted by The Theodore Newsletter

ON GOODBYE BASEBALL, HELLO BASKETBALL

December 1, 2023

December 1, 2023

In case the reader doesn’t already know, I love to gamble. As to the title of this month’s piece, I offer the following: it is that time of year when baseball takes a 5-month sabbatical and  basketball takes center stage for the next (coming) 5 months. Here’s my take on both topics:

BASEBALL:   Baseball concluded its season with some really interesting stuff. As I predicted at the start of the season, Scherzer, Verlander, and DeGrom would turn out to be failures (I also predicted the same for Rodgers of the Jets). There were also some insane payrolls: the Mets, the Yankees, the Dodgers, the Padres, and the Angels. All were loaded but wound up duds. The Rangers and Diamondbacks made it to the series.

How did I fare? Prior to April 1, my key bet was on the Orioles and almost nearly got real lucky. I also had saver bets on the Reds, Tigers, Blue Jays, and Phillies. The grandkids had the Phillies (at 26-1) but Mary cashed with the Diamondbacks winning the National League (at 9-1).

My Mets? Ah, the Mets. I’ve always been a Met fan but I have consistently lost money betting on them. But this coming year may be different. Here’s what needs to be done, having thankfully fired the previous GM.

  1. Keep Cohen out of any decision-making processes.
  2. Bring in a power-hitting outfielder. I don’t think Marte will do the job.
  3. Bring in a 2-inning reliever. Diaz remains the closer even through the won’t be as good as in the past.
  4. Bring in a quality starter.
  5. Bring in a quality hitting coach. Swinging at pitches displaced from the strike zone (in the dirt and 2 feet outside) is simply not acceptable.
  6. Bring in a quality pitching coach. Leading the league in walks is also simply not acceptable…especially in later innings when leading by more than one run.

I’ll probably be betting on them…if the odds are right. Irrespective of Philadelphia and Atlanta (and even Miami) they should be competitive and possibly even more than that.

BASKETBALL:  But that was then and now is now. I got lucky last year with UCONN (45-1), although I also had Miami (90-1). What do I have going this year? Here’s my take.

So many players have transferred that it is  more difficult to make predictions at this time. My sources are telling me that players are being paid upwards of a ½ million to transfer. Good for them. More power to them. But how this is ultimately going to shake out is now hard to assess. Nonetheless, I offer the following:

  1. St. Johns (with Pitino) will flop… at least I hope so.
  2. I put some money on Miami (FL).
  3. I put some money on North Carolina State.
  4. I’ve bet Sacramento Kings 3 years in a row (ugh!). I’ll try one more time.
  5. I couldn’t get a bet in on Yale.
  6. I love the Rangers but they are too short.
  7. I put some money on the Edmonton Oilers.

Wish me luck folks.

I hope you had a happy Thanksgiving and will have an even happier Christmas and New Year.

NOTE: Looking for a unique, inexpensive Christmas gift? There will be a book signing event on my new book ($9 from Amazon) “Winning at Casinos: The Definitive Guide” at the East Williston Library on Tuesday evening, December 5th from 7:00 to 8:30 PM. Beverages and cookies will be served. This could be the book for you if interested in winning at casinos.

Visit the author at:

www.theodorenewsletter.com

and

Basketball Coaching 101 on Facebook

NEXT POSTINGS

JANUARY 1:             On Begin the Beguine

FEBRUARY 1:          The Biden Chronicles

MARCH 1:                 On Zzzabuu VI

APRIL 1;                    On Technical Writing

MAY 1:                      On Purely Random, Pristine Thoughts XXVIII

———————————————————————————————–

1 Comment | Baseball, Basketball | Permalink
Posted by The Theodore Newsletter

ON THE ULTIMATE QUIZ V

November 1, 2023

November 1, 2023

As indicated in IV, this has become one of my favorites. You are asked to provide the correct answer to the following 20 questions. You already know the routine: 5 points for a correct answer. A grade of a 90 indicates that you are brilliant… anything below 25 is, well…

  1. Who authored “Fourscore and seven years ago…”
  2. Who were the stars of the movie Sampson and Delilah?
  3. Who is the greatest basketball player of all time?
  4. What famous singer said: “So when you see your neighbor carrying something, help him with his load.”
  5. What famous New York baseball owner’s motto was: “if you do something good for someone, and more than 2 people know about it, you did it for the wrong reason.”
  6. Unlike healthcare workers, what professional group refused to work during the pandemic because of health concerns and demanded that they be paid.
  7. Prior to 2014, what basketball Hall of Famer had the second highest season scoring average in the NBA?
  8. True or false? The radius of the sun is approximately 900,000 miles.
  9. What baseball Hall of Famer broke the color barrier?
  10. Who was elected President in 1952?
  11. What baseball Hall of Famer started and ended his career with the Boston Red Sox?
  12. What famous Astorian won a gold medal in wrestling and later became boxing’s light heavyweight champion?
  13. What was Connie Mack’s real name?
  14. True or false? Queens joined NYC in 1898.
  15. What has often been referred to as the most Irish town in the US?
  16. What is the currency of Turkey?
  17. What animal is located on California’s state flag?
  18. What city’s cable cars are the only national historical monument that can move?
  19. What city, located on the West Coast, was destroyed by fire and earthquake in 1906?
  20. Where is the Liberty Bell located?

Extra credit (10 points): Explain the difference between pandemic and epidemic.

ANSWERS:

  1. President Abraham Lincoln.
  2. Victor Mature & Hedy Lamar.
  3. Full credit. For me, it is Kevin Durant.
  4. Bob Dylan.
  5. George Steinbrenner.
  6. School teachers.
  7. A tough one here: Rick Barry.
  8. False; according to my files, the answer is approximately half that value.
  9. Jackie Robinson, Brooklyn Dodgers, 1947.
  10. Dwight Eisenhower.
  11. Babe Ruth.
  12. A toughie: Paul Berlanback, 1924.
  13. Another tough one. Cornileous McGillicutty of Brookfield, MA – home of George M. Cohan.
  14. True; and, it was first established nearly 200 years ago.
  15. Full credit here. Butte, Montana, a place our family visited three times (ugh!) on my consulting assignments. Mary still refers to it as Butt.
  16. Lira.
  17. A tough one. A grizzly bear named Monarch.
  18. San Francisco, California.
  19. Once again, San Francisco, California.
  20. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

EXTRA CREDIT ANSWER:

Pandemic refers to “over a whole area, country, and universe,” while epidemic is defined as “prevalent and widespread among many individuals in a community at the same time.” Thus, the difference essentially relates to the size of the affected area.

Visit the author at:

www.theodorenewsletter.com

and

Basketball Coaching 101 on Facebook

NEXT POSTINGS

DECEMBER 1:          On Goodbye Baseball, Hello Basketball

JANUARY 1:             On Begin the Beguine

FEBRUARY 1:          One the Biden Chronicles

MARCH 1:                 On Zzzabuu VI

—————————————————–

Leave a Comment » | Baseball, Basketball, Sports, Uncategorized | Permalink
Posted by The Theodore Newsletter

ON THE SOLUTION TO THE NY METS PROBLEM

September 1, 2023

September 1, 2023

I’ve been a baseball fan all my life…or at least as long as I can remember. I’ve been a New York Mets fan since Day 1. And, it’s a team that has had its ups and downs. But what happened these past two years was not only ridiculous but also embarrassing. And, we have both owner Steve Cohen and general manager Billy Eppler to thank for the present disastrous state of affairs. Why? Here’s why.

  1. They traded away two really good quality players for Lindor and signed him to a $360MM (!!!) contract. Insane? You bet!
  2. They signed Scherzer to a 3-year $130MM (!!!) contract. Two things were a given when he signed: he is not going to get better and he is more likely to get hurt. Insane? You bet!
  3. They signed Verlander to a 2-year $86MM (!!!) contract. Two things were a given when he signed: he is not going to get better and he is more likely to get hurt. Another mediocre pitcher at this point in time. Insane? You bet!
  4. They traded away two fairly good starters and signed two grandad starters. Insane? You bet!

My above analysis was made before the facts … not after the facts. I called all of these disasters before they occurred. In the meantime, check the Met’s performance this past month!

Who made the above decisions? Does it matter? Of course it does. Since it was Billy Eppler and Steve Cohen, the Mets better make sure that these two are not going to be involved in any decision-making processes in the future. 

That was then and today is today. The Mets now have two problems going into the future.

  1. They need to field a competitive team next year (2024).
  2. They need to put a program in place that will bring a World Series for this franchise and its fans.  Can it be done? Of course, and here’s how.

The problem can be solved by applying the Delphi Panel Approach I introduced to you three months ago in my newsletter. In case you have forgotten, here is how the DPA works.

The DPA works for a complex problem that needs a solution. At the simplest level, a group of experts are brought together to discuss the problem in order to reach a consensus as to its most appropriate solution. The procedure is iterative with feedback between iterations and involves five steps once the experts have been chosen. The five steps are as follows:

  1. Select, in isolation, independent solutions and reasons for justification for the solution from the experts.
  2. Provide the initial solutions and reasons of each expert to the other experts.
  3. Allow each expert to revise his or her initial solution and provide the reasoning for any change to their solution.
  4. Repeat Steps 1 through 3 until a “consensus” solution is approached.
  5. Use the “average” of the final solution as the best estimate of the solution to the problem of concern.

The panelists? I suggest retired intelligent baseball professionals in the following six areas:

  1. A manager
  2. A player
  3. An umpire
  4. A corporate executive
  5. A sports writer
  6. An announcer

These six should be able to do the job. The key is to definitely remove Eppler and Cohen from this process. All that remains is for Cohen to foot the bill for the solution that will turn the franchise’s future around.

Forgive me, but I need to close by stating in no uncertain terms that acting alone, I could do the job. Forgive my ego.

Comments?

Visit the author at:

www.theodorenewsletter.com

and

Basketball Coaching 101 on Facebook

NEXT POSTINGS

OCTOBER 1:             On a Dying Sport

NOVEMBER 1:         On Begin the Beguine

DECEMBER 1:          On – Goodbye Baseball, Hello Basketball

——————————————————————————————————————–

1 Comment | Baseball | Permalink
Posted by The Theodore Newsletter

ON PURELY, CHASTE, RANDOM, PRISTINE THOUGHTS XXXII

July 1, 2023

July 1, 2023

Here we go again with another “random” article. This one is strictly devoted to baseball thoughts. I hope you find the following twenty five comments interesting.

  1. DeGrom may have been the greatest pitcher of all time the two previous years. He hardly ever had a start where he was working with a comfortable lead.

2. I predicted DeGrom would flop this year (2023).

3. Why didn’t batters go the other way when the “shift” was on in previous years.

4. Naturally, I bet on the Mets; as is usual, my Met bet almost certainly is doomed. They really are an overrated team but here’s hoping I’m wrong.

5. When will pitchers learn that the key to success is not to walk anyone.

6. Scherzer will flop this year (2023). Why? He’s one year older, more subject to injuries, and another ridiculously high-priced acquisition.

7. Verlander will also flop this year for the same reasons in item 6. For me, the word dumb doesn’t do justice to the word describing the Met owner and management team.

8. My key bet this year (before the start of the season) was the Baltimore Orioles and Cincinnati Reds. Boy, am I looking good.

9. Any pitcher who goes head-hunting (ala Roger Clements) should not only be barred from baseball (and the Hall of Fame I might add), but also arrested.

10. These overpriced aging stars are nearly all overrated. I know this is a baseball article but look for the Jets (who I root for) with Rodgers to disappoint.

11. I find the new timing rules to be bothersome.

12. My favorite pitcher of all time was Sal Maglie. He was a terrific pitcher with great control.

13. I have the key for a youngster to become an immensely successful major league pitcher: just put the ball over the plate and don’t walk anyone.

14. Why can’t they have replays on balls and strikes? Moreso, why not replace the home plate umpire with a video-replay camera?

15. There are simply too many batters getting hit. I suggest that following a hit batsman, the next batter should also be given first base. If the same pitcher hits another batter, both he and the next batter should be given 2 bases. If a 3rd batter is hit by the same pitcher, add ejection and a 1-month suspension for the pitcher.

16. Gloves for all fielders (not including the catcher) should be of a much smaller size.

17. How about scheduling weekend doubleheaders now that it is a faster game? This would result in a later start to the season and an earlier end, providing some cold weather relief.

18 There should be an age limit on a player batting – perhaps 40 or 42.

19. Here’s the scenario: It’s the ninth inning and your team is leading by two or more runs. Your pitcher walks a batter. If I’m the manager, I’d walk to the mound, replace my pitcher, and ship him down to the minors. The same applies if it’s the 8th inning.

20. Here’s another scenario: A batter doesn’t run out a ground ball or a fly ball at top speed. If I’m the manager, the player would be informed that he is being shipped to the minors.

21. I believe that pitchers don’t perform as well after the second go-around because they are tired. That’s why it is especially important for pitchers to be in great shape. Remember that the mound is approximately a foot above the playing field; this means that after 6 innings, the pitcher has walked up approximately 15 flights of stairs.

22. The playoffs do not provide sufficient advantages to those teams that outperform other teams during the season.

23. I guess it’s age, but I no longer have any interest in going to a ballpark or arena. None.

24. Is there anything more boring than sandlot baseball?

25. There should be some entertainment during an extended 7th inning stretch – either live or on the big screen. Baseball also needs some simple form of entertainment between innings.

I just came up with three more.

  1. I love the Met announcers but have had it with their historical / statistical data. Who gives a damn what happened in 1937? Or this is only the 4th time this has happened in the past 19 years? Give it up!
  2. Here’s the scenario: It’s the start of the 9th inning and you are losing by five runs. Your batter is swinging for the fences instead of trying to get on. If I’m the manager, he’s headed to the minors and a seminar to improve his intelligence.

3. Visited the baseball’s Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY. It was a bit of a disappointment and very difficult to get to.

Any thoughts on your part?

Visit the author at:

www.theodorenewsletter.com

and

Basketball Coaching 101 on Facebook

NEXT POSTINGS

AUGUST 1:                On a Broadway Musical Play Revisited

SEPTEMBER 1:         On Technical Writing

OCTOBER 1:             On Begin the Beguine

——————————————————————————————————————–

Leave a Comment » | Baseball | Permalink
Posted by The Theodore Newsletter