Trust and SOM

This team has activated my total lack of trust issues with SOM.

1 Mon, 2/16 @ Red Vipers W 6-1 1-0 Maddux, G.* (R) Greg Maddux and Stuff beat Red Vipers, 6-1
2 Mon, 2/16 @ Red Vipers L 6-5 1-1 Alexander, P.* (R) Dorne Red Vipers beat The Wrong Stuff 6-5
3 Mon, 2/16 @ Red Vipers L 4-2 1-2 Johnson, R.* (L) Dorne Red Vipers defeat The Wrong Stuff 4-2
4 Tue, 2/17 @ Nightmares W 9-7 2-2 Walsh, E.* (R) Babe Ruth blasts 2 HRs in 9-7 loss to Stuff
5 Tue, 2/17 @ Nightmares W 11-2 3-2 Maddux, G.* (R) The Wrong Stuff crush Nashville Nightmares, 11-2
6 Tue, 2/17 @ Nightmares L 6-1 3-3 Alexander, P.* (R) Bob Gibson and Nightmares beat Stuff, 6-1
7 Wed, 2/18 @ Puppies L 8-6 (10) 3-4 Johnson, R.* (L) Paterson Puppies beat The Wrong Stuff 8-6
8 Wed, 2/18 @ Puppies W 8-7 4-4 Walsh, E.* (R) Mike Schmidt hits 2 HRs in 8-7 victory over Puppies
9 Wed, 2/18 @ Puppies W 8-4 (10) 5-4 Maddux, G.* (R) The Wrong Stuff defeat Paterson Puppies 8-4
10 Thu, 2/19 Red Vipers W 10-3 6-4 Alexander, P.* (R) Shawn Green hits 2 HRs in 10-3 victory over Red Vipers
11 Thu, 2/19 Red Vipers W 9-8 7-4 Johnson, R.* (L) The Wrong Stuff defeat Dorne Red Vipers 9-8
12 Thu, 2/19 Red Vipers W 11-9 8-4 Walsh, E.* (R) Larry Walker hits 2 HRs in 11-9 loss to Stuff
13 Fri, 2/20 Puppies W 4-2 9-4 Maddux, G.* (R) Greg Maddux pitches Stuff past Puppies, 4-2
14 Fri, 2/20 Puppies W 7-3 10-4 Alexander, P.* (R) Gil Hodges blasts 2 HRs in 7-3 victory over Puppies
15 Fri, 2/20 Puppies W 7-3 11-4 Johnson, R.* (L) The Wrong Stuff defeat Paterson Puppies 7-3
16 Sat, 2/21 Nightmares W 7-4 12-4 Walsh, E.* (R) The Wrong Stuff beat Nashville Nightmares 7-4
17 Sat, 2/21 Nightmares W 8-6 13-4 Maddux, G.* (R) Mike Schmidt hits 2 HRs in 8-6 victory over Nightmares
18 Sat, 2/21 Nightmares W 8-5 14-4 Alexander, P.* (R) Roy Campanella blasts 2 HRs in 8-5 victory over Nightmares
19 Sun, 2/22 @ Chargers W 6-2 15-4 Hershiser, O.* (R) The Wrong Stuff beat Supersonic Chargers 6-2
20 Sun, 2/22 @ Chargers W 4-3 16-4 Walsh, E.* (R) The Wrong Stuff defeat Supersonic Chargers 4-3
21 Sun, 2/22 @ Chargers W 15-5 17-4 Maddux, G.* (R) The Wrong Stuff blow out Supersonic Chargers, 15-5
22 Mon, 2/23 @ Marlins W 11-9 18-4 Alexander, P.* (R) Kal Daniels hits 2 HRs in 11-9 victory over Marlins
23 Mon, 2/23 @ Marlins W 9-1 19-4 Johnson, R.* (L) The Wrong Stuff crush Mizner Marlins, 9-1
24 Mon, 2/23 @ Marlins W 13-7 20-4 Walsh, E.* (R) Mike Schmidt homers twice in 13-7 victory over Marlins
25 Tue, 2/24 Snow Dogs III L 7-5 20-5 Maddux, G.* (R) Willie Mays blasts 2 HRs in 7-5 victory over Stuff
26 Tue, 2/24 Snow Dogs III W 10-3 21-5 Alexander, P.* (R) Pete Alexander pitches Stuff past Snow Dogs III, 10-3
27 Tue, 2/24 Snow Dogs III W 6-5 22-5 Wood, K. (R) Mike Schmidt homers twice in 6-5 victory over Snow Dogs III
28 Wed, 2/25 Colonials W 10-2 23-5 Walsh, E.* (R) The Wrong Stuff crush Hillsborough Colonials, 10-2
29 Wed, 2/25 Colonials W 9-5 24-5 Maddux, G.* (R) The Wrong Stuff defeat Hillsborough Colonials 9-5
30 Wed, 2/25 Colonials L 10-9 24-6 Alexander, P.* (R) Roy Campanella hits 2 HRs in 10-9 loss to Colonials
31 Thu, 2/26 Ice Kings W 7-4 25-6 Johnson, R.* (L) The Wrong Stuff defeat NYC Ice Kings 7-4
32 Thu, 2/26 Ice Kings W 7-3 26-6 Walsh, E.* (R) Roy Campanella hits 2 HRs in 7-3 victory over Ice Kings
33 Thu, 2/26 Ice Kings L 6-3 26-7 Maddux, G.* (R) NYC Ice Kings beat The Wrong Stuff 6-3
34 Fri, 2/27 @ Is Cold W 8-2 27-7 Maddux, G.* (R) Greg Maddux and Stuff beat Is Cold, 8-2
35 Fri, 2/27 @ Is Cold W 8-7 28-7 Alexander, P.* (R) The Wrong Stuff defeat My pee pee Is Cold 8-7
36 Fri, 2/27 @ Is Cold W 5-3 (10) 29-7 Walsh, E.* (R) Mickey Mantle hits 2 HRs in 5-3 loss to Stuff
37 Sat, 2/28 House Cats L 4-2 29-8 Johnson, R.* (L) Ken Griffey Jr. blasts 2 HRs in 4-2 victory over Stuff
38 Sat, 2/28 House Cats W 12-4 30-8 Maddux, G.* (R) The Wrong Stuff blow out Rooster Falls House Cats, 12-4
39 Sat, 2/28 House Cats W 7-5 31-8 Alexander, P.* (R) The Wrong Stuff beat Rooster Falls House Cats 7-5
40 Sun, 3/01 @ Ice Kings W 6-2 32-8 Walsh, E.* (R) Ed Walsh pitches Stuff past Ice Kings, 6-2
41 Sun, 3/01 @ Ice Kings W 4-2 33-8 Johnson, R.* (L) The Wrong Stuff defeat NYC Ice Kings 4-2
42 Sun, 3/01 @ Ice Kings L 2-1 33-9 Maddux, G.* (R) Walter Johnson and Ice Kings beat Stuff, 2-1
43 Mon, 3/02 @ Snow Dogs III L 14-1 33-10 Alexander, P.* (R) Thunder Bay Snow Dogs III blow out The Wrong Stuff, 14-1
44 Mon, 3/02 @ Snow Dogs III L 4-3 33-11 Walsh, E.* (R) Thunder Bay Snow Dogs III beat The Wrong Stuff 4-3
45 Mon, 3/02 @ Snow Dogs III L 8-2 33-12 Wood, K. (R) Mark McGwire homers twice in 8-2 victory over Stuff
46 Tue, 3/03 Chargers W 10-3 34-12 Maddux, G.* (R) Robin Yount blasts 2 HRs in 10-3 victory over Chargers
47 Tue, 3/03 Chargers W 12-5 35-12 Alexander, P.* (R) Jim Thome hits 2 HRs in 12-5 victory over Chargers
48 Tue, 3/03 Chargers L 8-6 35-13 Walsh, E.* (R) Johnny Mize hits 2 HRs in 8-6 victory over Stuff
49 Wed, 3/04 PianoMan W 4-2 36-13 Darwin, D. (R) The Wrong Stuff beat Long Island PianoMan 4-2
50 Wed, 3/04 PianoMan L 18-10 36-14 Wood, K. (R) Long Island PianoMan crush The Wrong Stuff, 18-10
51 Wed, 3/04 PianoMan L 8-6 36-15 Alexander, P.* (R) Jimmie Foxx hits 2 HRs in 8-6 victory over Stuff
52 Thu, 3/05 Marlins L 3-2 36-16 Maddux, G.* (R) Dwight Gooden and Marlins beat Stuff, 3-2
53 Thu, 3/05 Marlins W 8-2 37-16 Walsh, E.* (R) Ed Walsh pitches Stuff past Marlins, 8-2
54 Thu, 3/05 Marlins W 10-2 38-16 Johnson, R.* (L) The Wrong Stuff annihilate Mizner Marlins, 10-2
55 Fri, 3/06 @ Colonials W 6-2 39-16 Alexander, P.* (R) Pete Alexander leads Stuff past Colonials, 6-2
56 Fri, 3/06 @ Colonials W 7-3 40-16 Maddux, G.* (R) The Wrong Stuff beat Hillsborough Colonials 7-3
57 Fri, 3/06 @ Colonials L 7-4 (10) 40-17 Walsh, E.* (R) Hillsborough Colonials defeat The Wrong Stuff 7-4
58 Sat, 3/07 Is Cold W 10-6 41-17 Johnson, R.* (L) Kal Daniels hits 2 HRs in 10-6 victory over Is Cold
59 Sat, 3/07 Is Cold W 4-0 42-17 Alexander, P.* (R) Pete Alexander (THE) blanks Is Cold, 4-0
60 Sat, 3/07 Is Cold L 8-2 42-18 Maddux, G.* (R) Reggie Smith homers twice in 8-2 victory over Stuff
61 Sun, 3/08 @ House Cats W 15-2 43-18 Walsh, E.* (R) The Wrong Stuff crush Rooster Falls House Cats, 15-2
62 Sun, 3/08 @ House Cats W 8-6 44-18 Johnson, R.* (L) Randy Johnson (THE) whiffs 13, beats House Cats, 8-6
63 Sun, 3/08 @ House Cats W 10-6 45-18 Alexander, P.* (R) The Wrong Stuff beat Rooster Falls House Cats 10-6
64 Mon, 3/09 @ Nightmares W 12-0 46-18 Maddux, G.* (R) The Wrong Stuff blow out Nashville Nightmares, 12-0
65 Mon, 3/09 @ Nightmares W 11-8 47-18 Walsh, E.* (R) Mike Schmidt homers twice in 11-8 victory over Nightmares
66 Mon, 3/09 @ Nightmares W 11-1 48-18 Johnson, R.* (L) The Wrong Stuff annihilate Nashville Nightmares, 11-1
67 Tue, 3/10 @ Puppies L 7-6 48-19 Alexander, P.* (R) Paterson Puppies defeat The Wrong Stuff 7-6
68 Tue, 3/10 @ Puppies W 12-7 49-19 Maddux, G.* (R) Albert Pujols blasts 2 HRs in 12-7 loss to Stuff
69 Tue, 3/10 @ Puppies W 8-3 50-19 Walsh, E.* (R) Mike Schmidt homers twice in 8-3 victory over Puppies
70 Wed, 3/11 Red Vipers L 10-9 50-20 Johnson, R.* (L) Dorne Red Vipers beat The Wrong Stuff 10-9
71 Wed, 3/11 Red Vipers W 9-8 51-20 Alexander, P.* (R) The Wrong Stuff defeat Dorne Red Vipers 9-8
72 Wed, 3/11 Red Vipers W 5-4 52-20 Maddux, G.* (R) The Wrong Stuff beat Dorne Red Vipers 5-4
73 Thu, 3/12 Colonials L 5-3 52-21 Walsh, E.* (R) Hillsborough Colonials beat The Wrong Stuff 5-3
74 Thu, 3/12 Colonials W 12-10 53-21 Johnson, R.* (L) Gil Hodges homers twice in 12-10 victory over Colonials
75 Thu, 3/12 Colonials W 7-6 54-21 Alexander, P.* (R) The Wrong Stuff beat Hillsborough Colonials 7-6
76 Fri, 3/13 @ PianoMan W 7-6 55-21 Maddux, G.* (R) The Wrong Stuff defeat Long Island PianoMan 7-6
77 Fri, 3/13 @ PianoMan L 9-4 55-22 Walsh, E.* (R) Long Island PianoMan beat The Wrong Stuff 9-4
78 Fri, 3/13 @ PianoMan L 5-4 55-23 Wood, K. (R) Long Island PianoMan defeat The Wrong Stuff 5-4
79 Sat, 3/14 @ Marlins W 4-1 56-23 Alexander, P.* (R) Pete Alexander and Stuff beat Marlins, 4-1
80 Sat, 3/14 @ Marlins W 9-4 57-23 Maddux, G.* (R) Fred Lynn hits 2 HRs in 9-4 victory over Marlins
81 Sat, 3/14 @ Marlins W 12-4 58-23 Walsh, E.* (R) The Wrong Stuff annihilate Mizner Marlins, 12-4
82 Sun, 3/15 House Cats W 10-8 59-23 Johnson, R.* (L) Robin Yount homers twice in 10-8 victory over House Cats
83 Sun, 3/15 House Cats W 13-2 60-23 Alexander, P.* (R) The Wrong Stuff crush Rooster Falls House Cats, 13-2
84 Sun, 3/15 House Cats W 2-1 61-23 Maddux, G.* (R) Greg Maddux pitches Stuff past House Cats, 2-1
85 Mon, 3/16 Ice Kings W 3-1 62-23 Walsh, E.* (R) Ed Walsh and Stuff beat Ice Kings, 3-1
86 Mon, 3/16 Ice Kings W 6-5 (11) 63-23 Johnson, R.* (L) The Wrong Stuff defeat NYC Ice Kings 6-5
87 Mon, 3/16 Ice Kings W 7-4 64-23 Alexander, P.* (R) The Wrong Stuff beat NYC Ice Kings 7-4
88 Tue, 3/17 @ Snow Dogs III L 8-4 64-24 Wood, K. (R) Thunder Bay Snow Dogs III defeat The Wrong Stuff 8-4
89 Tue, 3/17 @ Snow Dogs III W 13-10 65-24 Walsh, E.* (R) Frank Thomas blasts 2 HRs in 13-10 loss to Stuff
90 Tue, 3/17 @ Snow Dogs III W 17-14 (11) 66-24 Darwin, D. (R) Mark McGwire hits 2 HRs in 17-14 loss to Stuff
91 Wed, 3/18 Chargers L 10-2 66-25 Maddux, G.* (R) Supersonic Chargers annihilate The Wrong Stuff, 10-2
92 Wed, 3/18 Chargers W 5-3 67-25 Alexander, P.* (R) The Wrong Stuff defeat Supersonic Chargers 5-3
93 Wed, 3/18 Chargers L 6-1 67-26 Walsh, E.* (R) Mike Caldwell and Chargers beat Stuff, 6-1
94 Thu, 3/19 @ Red Vipers W 7-2 68-26 Johnson, R.* (L) Randy Johnson and Stuff beat Red Vipers, 7-2
95 Thu, 3/19 @ Red Vipers L 3-2 68-27 Maddux, G.* (R) Dorne Red Vipers defeat The Wrong Stuff 3-2
96 Thu, 3/19 @ Red Vipers W 9-3 69-27 Alexander, P.* (R) Mike Schmidt homers twice in 9-3 victory over Red Vipers
97 Fri, 3/20 Puppies W 7-0 70-27 Walsh, E.* (R) Mike Schmidt hits 2 HRs in 7-0 victory over Puppies
98 Fri, 3/20 Puppies L 5-4 70-28 Johnson, R.* (L) Pedro Martinez and Puppies beat Stuff, 5-4
99 Fri, 3/20 Puppies L 8-6 70-29 Maddux, G.* (R) Paterson Puppies beat The Wrong Stuff 8-6
100 Sat, 3/21 Nightmares W 12-3 71-29 Alexander, P.* (R) The Wrong Stuff annihilate Nashville Nightmares, 12-3
101 Sat, 3/21 Nightmares L 7-0 71-30 Walsh, E.* (R) Hippo Vaughn (NAS) blanks Stuff, 7-0
102 Sat, 3/21 Nightmares L 10-3 71-31 Johnson, R.* (L) Babe Ruth homers twice in 10-3 victory over Stuff
103 Sun, 3/22 @ House Cats W 9-6 72-31 Maddux, G.* (R) The Wrong Stuff defeat Rooster Falls House Cats 9-6
104 Sun, 3/22 @ House Cats L 9-4 72-32 Alexander, P.* (R) Rooster Falls House Cats defeat The Wrong Stuff 9-4
105 Sun, 3/22 @ House Cats W 14-11 73-32 Walsh, E.* (R) Babe Herman hits 2 HRs in 14-11 victory over House Cats
106 Mon, 3/23 Snow Dogs III W 8-6 (12) 74-32 Darwin, D. (R) The Wrong Stuff defeat Thunder Bay Snow Dogs III 8-6
107 Mon, 3/23 Snow Dogs III W 6-5 75-32 Wood, K. (R) Willie Mays hits 2 HRs in 6-5 loss to Stuff
108 Mon, 3/23 Snow Dogs III W 13-2 76-32 Alexander, P.* (R) The Wrong Stuff annihilate Thunder Bay Snow Dogs III, 13-2
109 Tue, 3/24 @ Colonials W 11-5 77-32 Maddux, G.* (R) The Wrong Stuff defeat Hillsborough Colonials 11-5
110 Tue, 3/24 @ Colonials W 8-7 78-32 Walsh, E.* (R) Home Run Johnson blasts 2 HRs in 8-7 victory over Colonials
111 Tue, 3/24 @ Colonials W 10-5 79-32 Johnson, R.* (L) The Wrong Stuff beat Hillsborough Colonials 10-5
112 Wed, 3/25 @ Ice Kings W 10-7 80-32 Alexander, P.* (R) The Wrong Stuff beat NYC Ice Kings 10-7
113 Wed, 3/25 @ Ice Kings W 6-1 81-32 Maddux, G.* (R) Greg Maddux and Stuff beat Ice Kings, 6-1
114 Wed, 3/25 @ Ice Kings L 8-3 81-33 Walsh, E.* (R) NYC Ice Kings defeat The Wrong Stuff 8-3
115 Thu, 3/26 @ Chargers W 9-8 82-33 Johnson, R.* (L) Robin Yount blasts 2 HRs in 9-8 victory over Chargers
116 Thu, 3/26 @ Chargers W 7-6 (10) 83-33 Alexander, P.* (R) Jim Thome hits 2 HRs in 7-6 victory over Chargers
117 Thu, 3/26 @ Chargers L 9-8 83-34 Maddux, G.* (R) Supersonic Chargers defeat The Wrong Stuff 9-8
118 Fri, 3/27 Marlins W 11-10 84-34 Walsh, E.* (R) The Wrong Stuff beat Mizner Marlins 11-10
119 Fri, 3/27 Marlins W 8-7 85-34 Johnson, R.* (L) The Wrong Stuff beat Mizner Marlins 8-7
120 Fri, 3/27 Marlins W 6-1 86-34 Alexander, P.* (R) Pete Alexander leads Stuff past Marlins, 6-1
121 Sat, 3/28 Nightmares W 5-2 87-34 Maddux, G.* (R) Greg Maddux and Stuff beat Nightmares, 5-2
122 Sat, 3/28 Nightmares L 12-7 87-35 Walsh, E.* (R) Shawn Green blasts 2 HRs in 12-7 loss to Nightmares
123 Sat, 3/28 Nightmares L 12-2 87-36 Johnson, R.* (L) Nashville Nightmares blow out The Wrong Stuff, 12-2
124 Sun, 3/29 @ PianoMan L 10-5 87-37 Alexander, P.* (R) Long Island PianoMan beat The Wrong Stuff 10-5
125 Sun, 3/29 @ PianoMan W 8-4 88-37 Wood, K. (R) Robin Yount hits 2 HRs in 8-4 victory over PianoMan
126 Sun, 3/29 @ PianoMan L 8-1 88-38 Walsh, E.* (R) Long Island PianoMan beat The Wrong Stuff 8-1
127 Mon, 3/30 Is Cold L 13-5 88-39 Maddux, G.* (R) My pee pee Is Cold crush The Wrong Stuff, 13-5
128 Mon, 3/30 Is Cold L 3-1 88-40 Alexander, P.* (R) My pee pee Is Cold defeat The Wrong Stuff 3-1
129 Mon, 3/30 Is Cold L 3-1 88-41 Johnson, R.* (L) My pee pee Is Cold defeat The Wrong Stuff 3-1
130 Tue, 3/31 @ Nightmares L 4-3 88-42 Walsh, E.* (R) Nashville Nightmares defeat The Wrong Stuff 4-3
131 Tue, 3/31 @ Nightmares L 11-4 88-43 Maddux, G.* (R) Nashville Nightmares defeat The Wrong Stuff 11-4
132 Tue, 3/31 @ Nightmares L 5-1 88-44 Alexander, P.* (R) Jeff Bagwell homers twice in 5-1 victory over Stuff

They started off 33-9 and were cruising along at 87-34, until going 1-10 in the last 11 games. Given their performance before hitting the skids, I was optimistic about a 120 win season certainly at least 110 appeared in the offing. I think it is a really good team but probably not as good as 87-34. But the recent prolonged losing streak, the only one of the season so far (previously the worst was 4 losses in a row) has got me thinking, perhaps inevitably, about normalization. I would prefer that it not be an element in the game, and certainly regression to the mean can explain the recent skid, but I just don't have any trust in SOM to actually tell the truth about this issue, or, for that matter, about much of anything else either. If I knew for sure that normalization is not used, I wouldn't be upset about recent events. But not knowing, because SOM just can't be trusted, has left a really bad taste in my metaphorical mouth. This was actually the first team I have been excited about in aeons, and now I am just frustrated and annoyed and seriously considering cutting back my involvement here.

Now that I've vented, I just want underscore one point. SOM is the least user friendly organization I have ever encountered and their attitude toward customer relations totally sucks.

FWIW, here is the link to the team: http://onlinegames.strat-o-matic.com/team/1395596

I have determined the reason for your skid: You haven't played the Dorne Red Vipers lately.

I agree on all of it.....Happens to me all the time....A bit different but here's my vent..and it's not with the outcome..but not knowing how its reached, as is your vent ....A current team of mine started out 37-5 at home...since then they are 19-17....Maybe not the best example but it does makes me wonder......Asking them????? "If" the deemed your inquiry worth their time and did actually answer you, 50/50 on that...the truth is...they honestly don't know...only one who might is so uninvolved at this point...well with ATG anyway, (although that doesn't preclude him from having some clue)...but he certainly couldn't be believed...based on his track record of hiding behind some proprietary cloak of invisibility or some other Harry Potter crap.

Ha ha..... April Fools?

Unfortunately Im not confident we are going to get any answers as to why the game does this quite frequently;

Lots of theories, few answers.

Not possible after the fact. But it would be interesting to have record of dice roll favorings (hitter/pitcher) for these teams. I would think if I were programming normalization my preferred method would be to just give an adjustment toward the opposing team's hitters and pitchers. If over a span of 10 teams or something you could show a clear pattern of swings in those balances you would have something concrete to take to them.

Not saying you are wrong. But just the existence of a bad 12 game streak is insufficient evidence of anything since almost every team probably at some point in season goes through a rough stretch, real life or strat.

http://onlinegames.strat-o-matic.com/team/236352

This team finished 10-13 with 112 wins. I have won 102+ games 6 times with zero championships.

Valen: A 12 game skid during the early or middle of the season would not be an aberration that would suggest normalization. The problem would arise when a team is playing at around a .700 clip and it happens during the last quarter of the season, as that is where one would expect normalization to kick in, if it was, in fact, being used.

Interesting thought, the 'normalization' may explain why wild card teams routinely take out 100+ win teams. HAL is hitting the brakes on the over performing cards (good chance 100+ win teams have a few) and accelerating the under performing cards (good chance sub 500 wild card teams would have a few).

Not crazy, but we'll never get any official feedback on it so it's speculation. It kick-started my brain this afternoon at the very least LOL!

I think those of us who have played this game for many years are always suspicious about this. I remember when the game was hosted by the SN, and someone tracked the HRs being hit, and saw a suspicious drop off. They posted, there was a hue and cry, and (Bernie) looked in to it, and lo and behold, the "Normalization" feature was turned ON for the game; something he stated earlier he was sure was NOT the case. So it was corrected. But, since the game has been moved to SOM, I suppose it's possible that feature could have defaulted to ON again? I think we have all experienced weird streaks of losing, and winning (but we remember the losing more). In a league that finished its season last week, I sent myself a league mail at the halfway point (81 games). Playing in Minute Maid, McGwire was tearing it up at the mid point: 78 games played, .341 Avg, 51 HRs, 104 RBI. He finished the season at 154 games played, .299 Avg (his card avg), 84 HRs and 172 RBI. He missed 5 more games in the 2nd half than he did in the first, and so perhaps the drop off wasn't that unusual. But it was a noticeable drop. I know it doesn't prove anything. I guess it just symbolizes that we are all unsure about the "black box" stuff, and probably always will be.