Batter's Box version 3 is very different from its previous incarnation. Most noticeable is that, in order to post comments, you need an account. In this thread, I hope to answer any questions you might have about how to use this new Box.

Upgrades Ensure Continued High Quality Content

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 19, 2005

TORONTO -- You know how some big league ballplayers will kick the chalk line around to re-draw the batter's box to better fit what they want as they step to the plate? Well, it's time for Batter's Box, formerly "Batter's Box Baseball Blog," to kick the technical chalk a little bit, expand its virtual space and continue to grow into its All-Star potential.

As you might have already noticed, Da Box is silent this week. The reason? An upgrade and relaunch!

Very soon now, Batter's Box will be operating with some brand spankin' new software. As a result, there will be a number of spiffy new features and some additional bells and whistles. Amongst ourselves, we've been calling it "Batter's Box 3.0" (a name coined by Coach Kent), and we're hoping it will be the springboard to something better and more interesting -- a better-looking site with more original content and more writing that's worth reading. (It will look similar to what we have now, just better).

NEW! See the end of this message for new query contact information.

As a service to all the forgetful men out there: It's Valentine's Day today.

28 owners took part in the annual vote on rule changes and additions. Among the issues decided were creation of a third division, methodology for replacing departing owners, and roster composition.

And the winners are…

With spring training just around the corner, most teams have their rosters mostly set. There could still be a significant trade or three, and some GM might suddenly realize that the missing piece that will push his team's offence over the top is none other than free agent Brad Fullmer. But for the most part, what you see is what they've got.

While Mike Green leads an entirely different sort of Great Scott Debate in his current Hall Watch thread, it's time to take a look at what is becoming a standard sidebar to these everGreen features ... a Hall of Names roster.

The interesting conundrum in this case (hence "debate") is that of the 124 players in major league history who bore the name "Scott," a full 25 of them had that appellation as their surname (family name) rather than their given or first name, including a few key All-Stars. So which will be better? The last name "Great Scotts" or the first name, um, "Scott Land Yards"?

Let's see.

You know the drill...

If anyone made a big step toward Cooperstown in 2004, it was Scott Rolen. Always a great third baseman, he took a step forward with the bat, hitting .314/.409/.598. He was a clear MVP candidate for the first time in his career.

In Part 1, we looked at Barry Larkin's defensive efficiency on ground balls. In Part 2, we considered his double play efficiency. Today, it's balls in the air- pop-ups, bloopers and line-drives. And it will be much shorter.

Seems like less and less is happening every day...

Our discussions over past two weeks have resulted in nine proposed rule changes and additions. BBFL team owners may now vote on these propositions. Any proposition that has more than two options will be voted on via the Borda Count Method. In voting for such propositions, owners must rank their answers from most favored to least favored.

To vote, send an email to bbfl@scottlucas.com. Please put your team name in the message so I can keep track of who has voted. Use this forum to politick, discuss the upcoming season, or whatever.

Voting ends at 1159pm PST, Saturday, February 12. If necessary, I may push back the trading window until all teams have owners. I'll keep you posted. The window will still be fourteen days.

Today, we're taking a slightly different approach to building a new lineup for Baseball's Hall of Names ... it's the All-Top-40-Hits Team, and everyone is invited to contribute ideas, especially if they can squeeze in a reference to a favorite popular song.

We're looking for ballplayers whose first names appear in the titles (not just the lyrics) of popular songs of the rock era, roughly since the end of World War II. You must provide the title of the song, the artist who performed it and the player you are invoking. For instance, I might submit: "Mickey" by Toni Basil, CF Mickey Mantle (or if we need a catcher, Mickey Cochrane).

There are a few rules ...

Yesterday I looked at the Blue Jays drafts from 1997 to 2003. On average the Jays drafts have produced one major league player per year, about average for the draft. Today I will do the same for the A’s, the Twins and the Indians.

Anyone watch Monday Report last night?