Top Ten Shortstops Right Now/Ten Greatest War Movies

strether is clearly WRONG if he is implying that the above two stat lines are not drastically different. However his realizing this and admitting it are two drastically different things.

It's 8:05 in the morning and Bombers is already typing in all-caps. He gets all worked up so easily...

I never implied the two stat lines weren't drastically different, although I wouldn't use the word "drastic." "Significant" is more apt. As I said in my earlier posts, the difference doesn't denote drastically different legitimacy in production or statistics. Since Bombers didn't read those posts well, I don't expect him to realize or admit that. As to statistical anomalies, I never said any of Tulo's production were statistical anomalies. So, Bombers is just babbling, which is precious.

It's pretty comical to watch Strether backtrack from "arguably the greatest of all time" to "the greatest to play the position" to "potentially" the greatest SS ever while claiming that he has been consistent all along, while simultaneously claiming that a 150-point OPS boost from Coors field isn't a massive advantage. It's not like completely regular people -- even those that Strether suspects lack a college education -- haven't been able to detect a massive Coors advantage going back 20 years and enjoyed by completely ordinary ballplayers like Vinny Casilla, Dante Bichette, or Andres Gallaraga. And then there's that pesky free speech, taking one's thread boldly to new, unexpected frontiers not approved by the management. Cue Star Trek music...

The idea that Tulo will suddenly get both healthier and better with his peak years of 25-29 behind him and realize his "promise" of being the greatest shortstop in history is also giggle-worthy.

One of the great things about metrics like W.A.R.P. is that it IS a comprehensive measure of all aspects of a players career, which explicitly includes each offensive component, defense, base running, pitching, while incorporating park , league and era adjustments. One doesn't have to elevate W.A.R.P. to infallibility as Strether constantly does for his own opinions to nonetheless see its obvious, comprehensive nature. This contrasts it with limited and team-dependent stats like batting average and r.b.i. that Strether stubbornly clings to like Ahab white-knuckling the mast of his ship. And the thing is, WARP confirms what most people's simple instincts tell them about Tulo: that he's been a truly great player when he stays in the lineup, but the amount of time that he misses easily disqualifies him from the discussion of the best shortstops ever. It's not an argument that is occurring in the world outside of these boards.

I know, I know, quote a couple of previous data-free , opinion only paragraphs to blow my comment out of the water and return Strether to his proper place atop analytical Olympus. I know, trust me, I know...

It's pretty comical to watch Strether backtrack from "arguably the greatest of all time" to arguably the greatest to play the position to "one of the greatest to play the position" while claiming that he has been consistent all along, while simultaneously claiming that a 150 point OPS boost isn't a massive advantage.

First of all, TN, you spend way too much time thinking about what I say or what I will say. For your own sake, I suggest you stop that; it's odd.

Secondly, I didn't "backtrack" from anything. I made it clear what I meant by "greatest ever" on the first page. I never said he had the greatest career. Somehow you've forgotten it:

That being said, Tulowitzki absolutely is in the argument for best ever. The only SS who has ever displayed the same raw offensive talent and defensive prowess at the position is A-Rod, and hes has played many years at 3b. He has hit 20-30 hrs in 6 of his 8 seasons, he has a career line of .299/.373/.517, and he has won two Gold Gloves. So, he is one of the greatest to play the position.

As to WAR, I have no idea why you brought that up. However, I will repeat again: WAR is not the end-all/be-all statistic, and it's not a perfect one. That's why all baseball people and most baseball publications, including Baseball America, still use WHIP, ERA, BA, OBP and other statistics. As I said before, you need to get over your WAR-worship and do the same.

Interesting list. You clearly have a better knowledge of Japanese films than I; I'm pretty much limited to Kurosawa and Ozu. So, it would be cool if you could tell the forum a bit about the first three. I also like how you included the excellent The Great Dictator and The Searchers on the list. Although they aren't literally war movies, The Great Dictator is an excellent (and daring) film about WWII's beginnings, and The Searchers is arguably the greatest post-Civil War film ever made.

Thanks for sharing.

The Burmese Harp is about a Japanese soldier who is so distraught by what he sees during WWII that he leaves the army and becomes a Buddhist monk and reads the funeral sutra over every body that he finds. Said like that, most of you will run away from this film, but if you have three hours and are ready to be overwhelmed and quite possibly have your life changed, then by all means try this film.

Graves of the Fireflies is an animated film about the end of the war in Japan. A profoundly moving film.

Floating Clouds concerns two people united during the war in Japanese-occupied French Indochina and what happens to them when the war finishes. The movie moves back and forth between past and present. It is not really a war movie per se (neither is Muriel which is about the Algerian war in the late 50s and early 60s) but how war truly has an effect on every level of society.

I might gently disagree with you about the Great Dictator not being a war movie (but that would be a quibble). Sure there are no bloody battles and the annexation of Austria happens with a few words, but war begins in the inability to communicate and Chaplin's message is all about the need to communicate.

The Searchers too is not about war, but about how war continues even after the signing of an armistice.

And how could I have forgotten 4/5/6 of Star Wars?

Bill

Thanks for the descriptions. I had heard of Graves of the Fireflies but had forgotten. Apparently Hollywood wants to make a live-action film of it, and there is controversy that the cast might be white.

As to The Great Dictator, I completely agree that it, The Searchers, and even The Best Years of Our Lives, qualify as war movies. That's why I said they weren't "literally" war movies since they don't actually have battles, although The Searchers has some Indian conflicts. Since you're a fan of The Searchers, I'd be curious to read your top ten Westerns on that thread if you have the time, sometime.

All of the "defensive metrics" indicate that Tulo is good but not great in the field. I think he was a 1 when he was younger, but the last 3 years or so that "1" has been a gift, he's probably really a "2"

It's 8:05 in the morning and Bombers is already typing in all-caps.

Do share with us the appropriate time that we can type in all caps so we may be able to more align with your wishes.

By the way. 8:05 your time is 11:05 my time which is on the right coast. Is that late enough for all caps???

I was hoping you would figure it out as a rational person, Bombers. I should have known that was too much to ask. Unless called for, all-caps is always inappropriate. It displays that excessive display of emotion you are so good at...

So evidently you were wrong earlier when you suggested that all caps typing was allowed during certain hours of the day west coast time. I see now.

At least this thread has proven that Tulo doesn't belong anywhere near the list of greatest SS in the history of the game. That's at least something.

Evidently your reading of posts is as terrible as ever...

I suggested using all-caps in the morning, even at 11:05, is even more disturbing than using them later. Again, your reasoning "skills" are adorable. And if you think this thread showed Tulo doesn't belong on that list, they're even more charming.