Three for Thursday: SABR Style (Actually, It’s Four)

CLEVELAND — For the first time since game four of the 2006 ALCS, I attended a game at Comerica Park last night. One never tires of paying three-times the amount for a Hot ‘n Ready Little Caesars pizza.

• Talk about a memorable game. Running on just three hours of sleep — mainly because of this — I toughed out the two-hour, 23-minute rain delay with my parents, John Milton and Ian Casselberry in section 107. As luck would have it, our seats were among the three percent of those covered at CoPa. Ian hung around for the finish but the rest of us headed home and saw Sheff’s game winner on TV.
• I’m here today and tomorrow for the annual SABR (The Society for American Baseball Research) convention. One of the sessions this afternoon featured members of the Indians broadcast crews — Rick Manning on TV, Tom Hamilton on radio — and long-time Cleveland sportswriter Russ Schneider. After the session I asked Manning if he thought Jack Morris was a Hall of Famer (yes, I continue to beat this drum). It wasn’t definitive, but Manning replied that he thought The Cat “was real close.” I reported this back to fellow attendee Rob Neyer who, by now, simply takes pity on me — or admires my resilience. Not sure which.
• Speaking of Mr. Neyer, he told me today that the Tigers are his pick to take over the Central before too long — and to hang on. He predicted 85-90 wins, which might be just enough to win the division.
• Been hanging out with Craig Calcaterra, a.k.a Shyster from ShysterBall.com. If you like Craig’s work, you’d like him even more in person, and I say this not because he paid for lunch. He and I are going to take in the Indians/Giants game tonight at Progressive Field or whatever.

I’m hoping to post some brief podcast episodes today and tomorrow based on interviews conducted at SABR. If I can pull it off, check back here and the podcast site.