FALLING:  Ellsbury's attempted SB of 3rd last night

This one started was split out from the Big Random Soxian Megathread.  It opens with some pretty good discussion on the percentages in play when Ellsbury took off for third.  There's a kind of boring middle stretch where folks get into a geeky dick-measuring contest and feelings are hurt.  It seems to be back on track, and for what it is worth the conclusions seems to be that he shouldn't have gone for it, strictly speaking, but we like the aggressiveness anyway.  The black hole that is Papi's lineup spot is now warping the fabric of the sabermetric universe.

Key Line:  "I am for trying to steal third at times and generally being aggressive. I am not for stumbling or bumbling or starting and stopping and then running anyway against a strong catcher."  --yecul

RISING:  Nick Cafardo: take the buyout, please

Speaking of sabermetrics, there's no way the Fin would have guessed that a long thread dedicated to chronicling the shortcomings of Nick Cafardo would swerve into a pretty interesting discussion of the current size of the strike zone, but sure enough that's what happens on page nine.  Thanks, Nick!  See you soon on yahoosports.com or something.   

Key Line:  "You know what lazy reporters do? Ask rhetorical questions.
You know what Nick Cafardo does every single week?"  --John Marzano Olympic Hero

RISING:  Tell me why Detroit is successful every year

I don't get by the Porn ‘Stache much (even though my all-time favorite Bruin is Nifty himself) but this little thread is an example of the kinds of good under-the-radar posting that goes on in that subforum.  Nice mix of long, well-written posts, shorter discussion points, good grasp of the factors, no snark.  If it had an animated GIF of Shay Laren pulling on the spoked-B jersey I'd be in love.

Key Line:  "You might argue that the only real failure from the Detroit franchise over the past 10 years or so is Dave Lewis. And naturally that's the one fucking guy from the Wings the Bruins hired."  --Smiling Joe Hesketh

This Week in SoSHstory (May 20)

In 2007 we were asking What is going on with Jon Lester?

In 2005 we were asking Would this team be better with Papelbon in the rotation and Dinardo in the Pen?

In 2003 we were asking Can spot-starter Bruce Chen could beat the Yankees? (Turns out he can, as long as the Yankees counter with Contreras!)

In 2001 we were asking Was Babe Ruth Black?