I couldn't think of any coherent theme this week. On top of that, I'm feeling a certain inertial disadvantage at the moment. On top of that, I have to wake up a bit early tomorrow (today for you) to attend a hockey game, an 11:30 start. Who do these NHL schedulers think they are? More to the point, who do they think I am? Anyway, apologies for the slip-shoddiness. Your light reading for the weekend:

• Tim Wakefield just retired, and here is the link I want you to read regarding that.
• Also via Deadspin, a Bobby Valentine profile in the New York Times, and the supposed birth of the wrap.
• As we know, Gary Carter recently died. Here's his interview with Leonard Lopate of WNYC in 2008, as shared by VAChisox. I realize that a lot of the stuff I share here takes some commitment, but I try to keep these things quality. Respect a veteran and have a listen.

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On the tails of some (mildly) expressed lurker interest in learning more about sabermetrics during the South Side Sox open house, I've decided to compile some of my personal bookmarks and other useful resources to help simplify things. I share some links ‘round these parts, so naturally I am expert. Perhaps this can be a database. Or just a one-off. Either way, maybe a few more people will ask more questions and really get the sabermetric ball rolling. If you're only vaguely familiar with some of the more obscure terms and acronyms thrown around on here, well, it can be overwhelming. There is a lot to learn, of course, but there are also a host of White Sox fans willing to help with that process. Just read up a bit first, eh? The links below provide a ton of material, but it's all good stuff, I promise. For the sake of brevity, I'll try to keep my comments clipped.

So, new jack, what is sabermetrics? Where to start? What a coincidence. Fangraphs, perhaps the most-cited outside resource on SSS, recently asked themselves that exact question. The rest of the links are focused on the numbers, but it's a larger field than that to be sure. As you'll find, many of the sites mentioned below are extremely interesting; I highly encourage new users to simply dive in. Select a couple favorite players, use the search functions and click away in any and all directions. Reading stat descriptions is fine, but you'll learn a lot more by putting them to work for you.

Next, to start the technical descriptions, this is an excellent primer. Yep, it has 24 articles on 24 subjects, but it's concise (if you can believe that) and very easy to understand. The listed subjects are largely concerned with player value, which is good since that's probably where most discussions and arguments originate. Those articles give us the meat and potatoes background behind concepts such as Wins Above Replacement. For some quick references, use the Fangraphs library. I've linked to a few of more frequently used stats and concepts below.

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Happy "The Big Game" day, folks. For me it just means we're that much closer to pitchers and catchers reporting. Yep, the Sox even come in last in reporting for spring training. I know today is important to many people, so I'll let you get back to drinking fatty foods and eating beer. We lead off with a proper Sunday essay topic: baseball as religion. Soon after the end of World War Uno, Russian-born American philosopher Morris R. Cohen wrote about baseball, and settling differences on the field of play rather than the field of battle, in glowing terms. Perhaps the game didn't strike such hopeful highs, but the article is inspiring nonetheless.

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Hola, amigos. How goes it? It's been a long time since I rapped at ya, and, I tell ya, it's been a rough off-season. We're facing hard facts and swallowing bitter pills, that's for sure. Burls and my man Quentin have left for greener pastures, with only question marks in their places. The acquisition of prospects has become the leading hot stove chatter, football and American football have taken over the off-topic discussions, and quality commenting is down (not helped by these White Sox or ol' TP here, admittedly). I miss baseball, though, you know? Hornsby had it right, but I'm sick of staring out this damn window. Soon enough, folks. Soon enough. Winter is halfway through, surprisingly. Pitchers and catchers report in fewer than six weeks and that's all that matters. Here's a get-me-over edition of the Links, as I get my feet wet again.

We start with a non-baseball link. Of course. Ditch the preconceptions, SSS'ers, we're really your friends. This twelve-and-a-half minute TED talk explains why the acronym IRL should be banished, arguing that online presence is real life, too. This here blog community - it exists.

As part of the grieving process, here I include a radio interview with TCQ on XX1090 in San Diego. He gives more than a couple rote and noncontroversial answers (cough, spacious outfield, cough), and is actually complimented by the interviewer on such responses. However, his seriousness and abhorrence for distractions is very evident. He even explains his disdain for at-bat music, and his hopes to eventually get his masters in education. And that he ruled out becoming a lawyer. Huh.

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