Warren Schaeffer is doing a great job. Real grit, strategy and joy on this 2026 team
ABS Challenge signal ideas
Currently the signal to challenge a pitch is to tap twice on the helmet (hat). Some commentators have noted that this can be confusing when a player is adjusting their helmet hat.
A few ideas to change the sign:
•Twirl hand
•Ballerina twirl
•Rub head and pat belly at the same time (vice versa works too)
•Tap helmet hat with bat
•Hit umpire with bat
MLB ‘journalism’
I had this post written mentally yesterday. I decided to wait to see how the “best” Astros did today against the lowly Rockies before posting it.
The crack MLB POWER RANKINGS is either lazy, or their algorithm is broken (and they are lazy). www.mlb.com/news/mlb-…
Colorado Rockies fans are well aware of the suffering of last season. To start this year the Rockies have won the series against the Toronto Jays. And managed to fight hard against a Phillies team. They are 4-6 now. Yesterday when the power rankings posted they were 3-7, run differential -2. Compare:
Blue Jays - Ranked #6, 4-6, run differential -20.
Giants - Ranked #22, 3-7, run differential -25.
Phillies - Ranked #8, 5-4, run differential -6.
Chicago White Sox, Ranked #29, 4-6, run differential -25.
Most laughably: Boston Red Sox, Ranked #18, 2-8, run differential -17.
MLB.com editors are so blinded by their love of mascots they have forgotten to look at the evidence: their algorithm for rankings is broken. Or more likely, they are just too lazy to change their small paragraph about “hang in there Rockies fans.” I’ve been hanging in there. I don’t need pity or reassurance. Just give credit where it’s due instead of regurgitating from a flawed gut. It’s a new season, get a new perspective.
Colorado Rockies 9, Houston Astros 7. How sweet it was for those noisy Texas people to quiet down. May it be the same tomorrow.
This season of NFL I have adopted a practice of skipping the first half and checking the score at the second half so see if it’s even worth beginning to watch. Lack of parity is a joke, questionable penalties, and ridiculous commentary has made the NFL broken. Shut up;Let them play.
Why did the Detroit Lions abandon the run game and insist Jared Goff continue to throw? In the run game they were picking up chunks. In the passing game they can’t hit a barn with a shotgun
Referees seem to think I tune into watch them instead of the game
I was today years old when I learned about mobile gym dog training. It’s a treadmill in the back of a trailer. For $50-$100 per session, the business will show up to walk the dog. Track calories, distance, etc. Wow.
Yellowcard Better Days is on my favorite new releases. music.apple.com/us/album/…
49 and raining
Under (Financial) Pressure - Barnes - Financial Review - Wiley Online Library
Analyzing 13,136 defensive penalties from 2015 to 2023, we find that postseason officiating disproportionately favors the Mahomes-era Kansas City Chiefs, coinciding with the team’s emergence as a key driver of TV viewership/ratings and, thereby, revenue.
The NFL is broken. Could robots save it?
57 and cloudy
I am neither confident enough nor foolish enough to be effective at prediction markets.
“Confidence. It’s the food of the wise man but the liquor of the fool.”
Thou shall not pass
MacRumors thinks Colorado is unusual
Apple Hosts Unusual Colorado Event to Showcase Latest Hardware : macrumors.com
MacRumors acknowledges that Apple has hosted other events in other cities and states. What makes Colorado unusual? No idea. As a Coloradan it’s annoying, typical, and oh so satisfying.
Southwest Airlines abandons marketing, goodwill, and unique selling proposition
After I thought more about Warby Parker abandoning a unique part of its business, I thought of Southwest Airlines.
Southwest Airlines abandoned its key differentiator of free checked bags. At the same time, they abandoned the idea of choosing your seat after boarding and their unique check-in system. Southwest Airlines is now choosing to be like every other airline: charge more for less with no unique ideas.
Stunningly, this decision also forced Southwest to abandon millions of dollars spent on marketing campaigns advertising free checked bags. Years spent building customer expectations are now gone. Now they must pour more money into tone deaf ads explaining how they are like everybody else now
Warby Parker abandons Unique Selling Proposition of Home Try-On
I have been a customer of Warby Parker since 2020. The differentiating factor for me was the Home Try-On.
I loved selecting frames, getting them in the mail, trying them on and sending them back. It was fun. There was no pressure. And it worked - I bought 9 pairs of glasses from Warby Parker in 5 years. That’s about 2 pairs a year, or 7 more than I needed. I often recommended Warby Parker to others, especially those who chose cheap online eye glass stores, because of this unique experience.
I did attempt the in-app try-on experience, but there was often major differences in how frames fit in-person vs. in-app.
Over the past few years it has been more and more difficult to find frames for Home Try-On. So many were consistently “out of stock.”
Today, unceremoniously and quietly, Warby Parker emailed me to say that they were doing away with their unique idea of Home Try-On.
Perhaps it will save some postage and perhaps it’s best for the company.
But it’s silly to think that giving up a Unique Selling Proposition, a differentiator, and a competitive advantage is a good idea.
I have never visited Warby Parker stores in person and likely never will - they are far away. And I can’t recommend them anymore for the same reason.
Option 3. It’s a choice and it is available. Many times it’s not even hidden. But it can require additional courage to follow
“Patina” is the salve for perfectionism. Cures scratch anxiety. A realistic view in an idealist-focused society helps zoom out to the big picture and remember the joy of overcoming challenges.
Life happens: deal with it, remember it , move on.
The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten – Benjamin Franklin
Correlation does not equal causation
The phrase “correlation does not equal causation” is a cautionary principle in statistics, science, and everyday reasoning. It means that just because two things happen at the same time, or appear related, doesn’t necessarily mean that one causes the other.
The phrase warns us not to jump to conclusions: correlation is evidence of a possible connection, but not proof of cause.