Love Letters: Predictable behavior from midseason predictions
Updated Aug. 22
Quick and dirty this week. I'm going retro one more time, giving voice to a handful of e-mails railing about my midseason grades from last month, letters I hadn't had a chance to get to but ones I'm sure glad I did (and you'll see why by the end). Next week we'll be caught up to real-time e-mails.
From: Gregg S.
Hi Scott,
Upon reflection, are you surprised by how inaccurate your predictions were? That 3,000 miles of spring training games didn't yield a better sense of where we would be in August? Who are you picking now -- the Angels and Cubs I suppose? Thanks for taking a stab, anyway.
Let me just say this: In the annual guessing game known as "predictions," I'm not doing all that badly this season. At least, when measured by this guy at the All-Star break. Check it out.
From: Blaine
(Fired general manager Wayne) Krivsky brought some great talent to Cincinnati, but you fail to mention that the main reason he was fired was for horrible contracts and compiling a bad mix of skill sets. Not so much a knee-jerk reaction when they bring in Walt Jocketty months ahead of time, the writing was on the wall but the timing was poor. If you think they haven't been trying to trade Adam Dunn, then I don't think you know much about the team. He's a beer league softball player who makes an eight digit salary. Regardless of all that, your grade (D) was still dead on.
And the Reds have a better plan now with Krivsky gone? I haven't seen it yet.
From: Larry
C- for St. Louis just goes to show you're an idiot who knows nothing about baseball. Go report on soccer or golf. You get paid for knowing nothing??? Wish I had your job. You're clueless.
Ahem: You were reading my grade for the Cardinals LAST year. This year's was a B+. Check it out again, this time more carefully.
From: Peter I.
You have nothing but good things to say about the Cardinals first half, and you give them a C-? You need to justify that. They are in second place in the most competitive division. You really seem to know what you're talking about.
Psst, see above. Do any of you Cardinals fans know how to read?
From: Darren
You're an idiot. The Cardinals exceed EVERYONES expectations including yours. C- Your a stupid ----.
Anyone from St. Louis for reading comprehension? Anyone?
From: Robert G.
Dear Mr. Miller,
After reading your midseason grades, especially Detroit with an A, I suspect the only reason you have the job with CBS Sports line is that you have a picture of your boss taking a local fluzzie into the same hotel A-Rod uses. Either that or it's time to turn off the hydroponic lights in your closet and stop growing those funny smelling plants. Bob
I gave the Tigers a C-. You were reading last year's grade. You from St. Louis?
From: Matt F.
Hi,
I stopped reading your midseason report about the NY Yankees right after you mentioned that the Rays and Red Sox were much better teams. If you have looked at the last two years this same thing has happened. The Yankees are the best team in baseball for the last two years and have made the playoffs. Their hitting is starting to click and pitching is getting better.
Ya know, I've learned something in this exercise. Lots of folks read my predictions and then write during the season to rub my nose in something. It's sort of fun to read y'all's reactions to my midseason grades a month after the fact ... and note how YOUR reactions and predictions are so far off!
