Now you can have more than just Tom there to validate your existence!

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S3F needs validation, we simply weren't hugged enough as a baby forum. Add us to your MySpace network and we promise to take the pins out of the voodoo doll with your name on it.

http://myspace.com/strike3forums

Strike3Forums.com

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We're looking for people with a creative spark who would be interested in becoming either a full-time writer or podcaster for S3F.
(Read this for more details)

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We are three weeks into the baseball season, and we have had some surprises so far.

The best record in baseball belongs to two teams. One, the defending champion Chicago White Sox, could be expected. The other, the defending NL champion Houston Astros, after losing Roger Clemens, was not so expected. The Red Sox, at 12-7, have the same record as the Tigers, and the Reds. Oakland, a pre-season...

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This is actually the MLB ABCs of 2006... but uh, heavily NL leaning. The topic explains all! Pretend I suck less than I do for the sake of the article, though

A is for Alou. At age 39, he continues to amaze and hit in spite of his age, starting the season off with a .303/.342/.697 line.

B is for Bonds. His OBP is higher than 18 teams' records as of 8:09 PM EST on 04/20/2006, including the...

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Continuing my series of columns devoted to making baseball stats more meaningful and useful to fans, I turn my attention to defense, the forgotten Chinese food of the statistical fridge. Or something like that.

It seems to me that in this day in age, defense can be accounted for pretty easily with two stats. First you have Zone Rating (ZR), which is a play-by-play stat that requires...

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Inspiration: le Lorimier Spectrum 2001

Bert Blyleven should be in the Hall of Fame. It shouldn't even be a question. He was a great pitcher stuck with some awful teams. If he hit 300 wins, you'd be saying the same thing.

Sandy Koufax and Bob Dylan are both guys admired for their amazing careers, yet no one has any idea what they accomplished outside of a 6 year period of the 1960s.

I had...

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Reds OD: A Comedy of Errors

http://strike3forums.com/images/Article_Images/Misc/redsod.jpg
(Photo: AFP/Jim Watson)

*Reactions and random thoughts and humor in regards to the Reds 16-7 loss to the Cubs. I am not forecasting the season based on one game.*

Not Opening Day, Overdose... on just about everything that was predicted of them. Monday, April 3rd...

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In some ways it's hard to believe we're a year old. And then again in other ways, it's not so difficult. I think that's because we might be a young forum, but we're one that's growing and looking to expand. We've experienced our fair share of tough times from the initial need to start up S3F, to the server meltdown a while back. But we're still standing today, and that’s what matters. When...

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Well, it’s been a wild off-season for the S3F, hasn’t it? Threats to move, changes at the top, feelings hurt, bridges mended, and anticipation for the new season. Why, it’s just like (insert team name), now that I think about it. It all leaves me feeling like the first article of the year is my version of reporting for spring training - just before the march 1st deadline no less - and what...

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Julio Franco- I can’t see him leaving Atlanta, could you? For a guy who’s almost 50, he still looks younger than the 25 year-old Otis Nixon.

Scott Hatteberg-Unfortunately, the ill-advised contract extension that Oakland gave him two years typecast Hatteberg as a “Moneyball” type, and that will turn off some teams. Still, Hatteberg has use in a platoon or reserve role, although he probably...

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How does the old saying go? Money talks and something something…

In any case, in the world of baseball, there is no doubt that money wins and GMs/managers spin. There’s no salary cap in baseball, we all know it, we know the effect, and we’ve all heard a certain something spewing forth from the front offices and coaching staffs of our favorite teams as they try to sidestep the obvious (e.g....

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We all know who was a free agent coming into this year, and where they signed. We also now how these players are doing as of now. But so what? What can we expect in the future from these men on which so much is riding? Vinny Castilla is hitting now, but what can we reasonably expect him to do through his contract? Carlos Beltran? Carl Pavano? I will analyze these men, and their reasonable futures...