Stars und Sternchen! » s make it relatively eas

MONTREAL - If the Montreal Alouettes really are better than their 8-10 regular season record, now is the time to show it. The team that finished third in the CFL East Division will get that chance Sunday when they face the second-place Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the East semifinal in Guelph, Ont. "Youre only as good as your record shows, but in our locker-room, we feel we are better than our record," linebacker Chip Cox said Thursday. "We know we still have to get better at some things and that we have to work to win games. "Theyre not going to just happen for us. But we feel were just as good as anybody." Voters for the CFL awards seem to agree. They elected nine Alouettes, more than any team in the division, to the East all-star squad. Coach and general manager Jim Popp has said repeatedly his team had talent that could easily have finished 12-6 if not for some discipline problems early in the season and lots of turnovers and mistakes. There was also the carousel at quarterback after Anthony Calvillo was injured in August that saw Josh Neiswander, Tanner Marsh and, finally, Troy Smith take turns as the starting pivot. Between the four of them, they threw a league-high 28 interceptions. And there was the upheaval of starting the season with coach Dan Hawkins, only to see him fired after five games while Popp took over at the bench. The Alouettes hope the final third of the season, in which they went 4-2, gives them momentum going into the playoffs. Winning in the post-season would erase a load of bad memories from the regular season. "You go 3-0 in the playoffs and no one remembers how we started, right?" said Cox. "Thats the goal now. "We go 3-0 and everybody forgets about this, that and the other thing. Theyll say the Alouettes are the best team in the CFL. Again." It will be the third time in the last four games that Montreal and Hamilton have met. The Alouettes dominated 36-5 at home on Oct. 20 and were up 16-0 six days later in Guelph when turnovers and a spirited Hamilton comeback gave the Ticats a 27-24 win. Montreal ended the season with a 23-20 win in Toronto last Friday, but the Argonauts had benched many of their key players. The first-place Argos have a bye to the East final. Since winning consecutive Grey Cups in 2009 and 2010, Montreal has not won a playoff game. They lost an East semifinal to Hamilton at home in 2011 and lost the division final at home to Toronto last year. Their last East semifinal away from home was a 24-22 loss in Winnipeg in 2007 during Popps last stint as coach. "Nine all-stars is great but weve got to win," said defensive back Jerald Brown. "Were focused on winning. "The only way we can prove people right is by winning. No matter what people say, if were better than what our record is, then we should show that this week. Thats what will settle that score." Its not even a real home game for Hamilton, who are playing in Guelph this season while work is done on their home ground. "I dont care where we play," added Brown. "Were going to have to play in Saskatchewan (in the Grey Cup game) and thats going to be tough. "There are no excuses. We were at home the last two years and lost." The Alouettes defence led the CFL in several statistical categories, including fewest yards per game, fewest rushing yards and fewest first downs allowed. So its no surprise that six of their nine all-stars are on defence. They include Cox, Brown, defensive back Billy Parker, cornerback Geoff Tisdale, safety Mike Edem and defensive end John Bowman, to go with guard Josh Bourke, receiver S.J. Green and kicker Sean Whyte. Cox is also the East nominee for outstanding defensive player after setting a team record of 115 tackles and leading the squad in sacks with 12. "He deserves it and I hope he wins it," said Brown. "He was supposed to get it in 2010, but hes valuable for our defence. "If you look at his stats — tackles, interceptions, sacks — he makes a lot of plays." The defence could be missing a key linebacker as Kyries Hebert missed practice for a second day with a suspected knee injury. Popp is hoping he will be able to practise on Friday to see if he is fit to play. Hebert had 68 tackles and nine sacks. Cornerback Byron Parker is highly doubtful to play with a groin injury, while receiver Eric Deslauriers is out with a cracked rib. Mike Gesicki Jersey .com) - The Vancouver Canucks will try to win two straight games for the first time since mid-January on Monday night as they play host to the struggling New York Islanders. Jason Sanders Jersey . After losing Brett Cecil to groin tightness on Friday, the Blue Jays watched as R. http://www.officialauthenticdolphinsshop.com/authentic-daniel-kilgore-jersey.html . According to a report from CSN Bay Area, the 49ers are bracing for 6-8 game suspension for their outside linebacker. Jerome Baker Jersey . Vonn "reopened" the idea of competing in the season-opening World Cup event on Oct. 26-27 in Soelden, Austria after returning to the slopes last month in Portillo, Chile. Mike Gesicki Dolphins Jersey .Corey Brewer had 19 points eight rebounds, five assists and five steals for the Timberwolves, who snapped a six-game losing streak and won for just the third time since Ricky Rubio went out with an injured ankle on Nov.At Calgarys Scotiabank Saddledome over the weekend, about 70 hockey fans and stat heads packed into a conference room to take part in the Alberta Analytics Conference, an opportunity for like-minded people to share ideas about the emerging wave of hockey analytics. The NHL off-season has often been referred to as The Summer of Analytics - with many high-profile hires in the industry ranging from the Maple Leafs bringing in a whole team of analysts after adding assistant GM Kyle Dubas, to a number of teams adding their own in-house analysts. Rob Vollman, author of Hockey Abstract, was the driving force behind the event. And it fits, as Vollmans Hockey Abstract is all about using objective analysis to evaluate players and teams. With a variety of speakers bringing different experiences, there was something for everyone who might be interested in hockey analytics - from those just wading into the pool and wanting to learn more, to hard-core programmers considering new and different ways of manipulating data. That all said, I got to attend and take a few notes: INTRODUCTION Chris Snow, Calgary Flames Director of Video and Statistical Analysis Whats it about? Snow has been working in the NHL since 2006, when the Minnesota Wild hired him away from covering the Red Sox for the Boston Globe. Snow comes to with stats knowledge and understanding, but also practical experience dealing with NHL teams. Takeaways: - Pushed Sydex Sports to create PUCKS a software system, which connects every play of the game to video. 17 NHL teams use PUCKS, according to Snow. Its more of a video tool than an analytical tool, but it allows NHL video to flow in real time. Snow feels video is the best way to illustrate data to players and coaches, so Flames players have iPads automatically loaded with game video. - Snow feels that the public perception of Brian Burke being anti-analytics -- fostered by Burkes appearances at the Sloan Sports Analytics Conference -- are a gruff exterior; Snow feels that he has lots of support from the organization and recognizes that the only way analytics can work for a team is if there is buy-in from decision-makers -- coaches, GM, President. - Snow had high praise for Jacques Lemaire, who understood analytics intuitively, preaching a lot of these concepts before modern stats took hold. - New Flames GM Brad Treliving reads blogs and knows whats out there when it comes to analytics. This isnt uncommon, as Travis Yost reported earlier this year, Dallas Stars GM Jim Nill regularly consults the blogoshere to check on the latest analytics. More: Snow told a story about playing hockey every day during latest NHL lockout with Flames staff and feels like it helped him gain acceptance with new coaching staff....Even if data/video is the niche, its a human business...Some players called him Rain Man or Moneyball...He has been a one-person staff with the Flames, expects to add interns this year...Stays away from formulas, rather tries to provide lots of context...All teams track scoring chances...SportVu or PowerScout (camera tracking) info will require a lot of thought to figure out what information is useful. THE SINGLE-NUMBER DREAM AND THE MARCH TO WAR A.C. Thomas, Founder of War on Ice Whats it about? In the wake of Extra Skater going offline, new sites are popping up to fill the modern stats void. Takeaways: - Thomas spoke of breaking the game into smaller chunks, in order to determine overall value. Whats a face-off win worth? A very little bit, but its something. Whats a controlled zone entry worth? A little bit, but its something. All those little somethings add up. - Discussion about trying to adjust goaltender save percentage, based on the quality of shots they face (using distance). The adjustments arent major, but still trying to examine locations and whether shots are rebounds and whether that can be included. The challenge is taking care to not add extra just because you can. Need data that can be proved. - Is perfect the enemy of the good when it comes to creating a hockey version of baseballs WAR (Wins Above Replacement)? It is possible to go with the best data available now, recognizing that its not 100% perfect. Regression methods need a lot of data (2-5 seasons, in some cases). DOING MORE WITH LESS David Benard, Sportstec.com Whats it about? Its one thing to have tools and people to analyze data, but first the data needs to be accumulated and these Sports Code offerings make it relatively easy to use their customizable programs to track as many facets of the game as a coaching staff wants. This would seem quite useful to someone embarking on a large-scale tracking project (cc: Corey Sznajder). Takeaways: - Trying to improve data collection, by adding qualitative element to quantitative data collection. Think along the lines of a zone exit with control being different than merely dumping the puck out of the zone. - New Vancouver Canucks coach Willie Desjardins was tracking zone exits, though not differentiating between controlled or not, when he was the Dallas Stars associate coach in 2010-2011. - Australian Rules Football teams invest big money in analytics - analyst is commonly the second-highest paid in operations...There is a Calgary Baantam AAA team using coded video.dddddddddddd OPEN DISCUSSION Bruce McCurdy, Cult of Hockey Blog, Edmonton Journal Whats it about? With the Summer of Analytics taking away some of the most valued resources in the analytics community, including the Extra Skater web site and the work of Tyler Dellow (@mc79hockey), the discussion was about what comes next? Who is ready to step into the void? Takeaways: - During McCurdys discussion, Rob Vollman insisted that there is still plenty of great content, but it may require going to more than five or six core sites. - The big question: Who is going to have the site that welcomes in a broader audience? - More mainstream coverage is expected, in the same way that like something like OPS now gets regular play on MLB broadcasts. - Summer of Analytics would not have happened without fans/bloggers pushing up the hill. PROPOSAL: PITCH TALKS! Ryan Pike, Managing Editor at Flames Nation Whats it about? An idea about holding TED talks for hockey. TED talks are short talks (18 minutes or less) devoted to spreading ideas. Its been done, with some success, in baseball. Takeaway: - It can be hard to work through the noise online. Ideally, a focused topic for these talks would allow for sharing of experiences and ideas without getting lost in the online chatter. TEAM DYNAMICS AND BEHAVIOURAL ANALYTICS Allan Hamernick, Hamernick & Associates Whats it about? This would be considered the softer side of analytics, looking for matching personality types. The challenge, of course, is that we dont have a record of what personality types are necessary for a team to be successful. There may not be just one mix that can be successful. Takeaways: - While it might be difficult for a team to forego measurables in order to improve their mix of personalities, Hamernick has received feedback from coaches who like knowing this information when it comes time to fill out a coaching staff. - Use brain mapping to see subconscious reactions to questions. CFL coaches talked about potential value for use in the Draft Combine. MICROSTATS AND TRACKING RESULTS Justin Azevedo, Flames Nation Whats it about? Azevedo was tracking 26 micro-stats (passes, icings, offsides, for 68 Flames games and taking in all that data presented him with lots of questions. Takeaways: - Questions evolved from tracking: How are Icings Created? Stretch passes - two of three outcomes are negative. 62 of 355 tracked stretch passes by Flames resulted in a shot attempt. We remember the one that works, not the dozens that result in icing. - How many passes should a team make? For the Flames last season, an average of 1.9 passes led to a successful zone entry. SUPER SHOT SEARCH Greg Sinclair, somekindofninja.com Whats it about? A website that tracks shots and locations and offers many graphing options. Takeaways: - For all the discussion of manually tracking scoring chances, Greg has found that using a home plate design allows him to register scoring chances automatically and the counts are very close to subjective counts. Close enough that time could be better spent tracking other things. - There are questions about the "home plate" definition, but any of those adjustments are relatively small in the grand scheme of all the shots that are being taken into account. BEHIND THE PLAYER USAGE CHARTS Rob Vollman, Author of Hockey Abstract Whats it about? Focus was on Vollmans Player Usage Charts, which combine Offensive Zone Start%, Quality of Competition and Corsi to provide a quick understanding of how a player is utilized, and whether or not hes having some success in that role. Takeaways: - Looking at Player Usage Charts, Vollman compared last seasons Oilers and Flames rosters, showing how someone like Mark Giordano didnt have a comparable in Edmonton because Giordano excelled against such a high level of competition. - What is the next big thing in analytics? Maybe its zone entries or shot quality, or it could be something completely different. With so many smart people looking at the game from different angles, the options are nearly endless. ADJUSTING FOR RINK EFFECTS IN THE NHL Michael Schuckers, Stat Sports Consulting Whats it about? Since that vast majority of modern statistics come from NHL play-by-play files, the accuracy of those files is important. Takeaways: - Generally, the NHL data is pretty good, but certainly flawed. Rink scorer bias is pervasive because methods of tracking are suspect and its a difficult process in real time. - From 2007-2008 through 2012-2013, there were four rinks with big issues: Los Angeles, Florida, New Jersey and Toronto. - Calgary has been under-counting hits; Los Angeles typically overcounts (to the benefit of Dustin Brown). Toronto overcounts unblocked shot attempts, while New Jersey typically undercounts unblocked shot attempts. - Schuckers calculations, done in concert with Brian Macdonald (who has since been hired by the Florida Panthers) can level the playing field so that the bias of home scorers doesnt undermine the data. Scott Cullen can be reached at Scott.Cullen@bellmedia.ca and followed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/tsnscottcullen. For more, check out TSN Fantasy on Facebook. Cheap Bruins Jerseys Wholesale Sabres Jerseys Red Wings Jerseys From China Wholesale Canadiens Jerseys Wholesale Lightning Jerseys Cheap Maple Leafs Jerseys Discount Hurricanes Jerseys Blue Jackets Jerseys Outlet Adidas Devils Jerseys Cheap Islanders Jerseys Rangers Jerseys From China Discount Flyers Jerseys Discount Penguins Jerseys Discount Capitals Jerseys Wholesale Blackhawks Jerseys Cheap Avalanche Jerseys Cheap Team USA Hockey Jerseys Cheap Stars Jerseys Wholesale Wild Jerseys Discount Predators Jerseys Discount Blues Jerseys Discount Ducks Jerseys Adidas Coyotes Jerseys Flames Jerseys Outlet Wholesale Oilers Jerseys Discount Sharks Jerseys Cheap Canucks Jerseys Golden Knights Jerseys Outlet Authentic NHL Winter Classic Jerseys ' ' 'www.bluejaysonline.com/blue-jays-paul-molitor-jersey/]Paul Molitor Jersey[/url] . The actual winners on transfer deadline day are those clubs such as Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City who were well prepared and managed to get their main incoming business done well ahead of the transfer window closing. Tottenham were able to add seven players by spending over 100 million pounds and also ensured maximum return for the Gareth Bale transfer to Real Madrid by managing the move superbly. Jesse Barfield Jersey .A. Happ? Happs seven wins are second on the staff to Mark Buehrles 10. Win-loss record is an antiquated stat, sure, but win total is generally an indication of a pitchers ability to work deep into games, enough to be personally affected by the result.HAMILTON, Ont. - The Lake Erie Monsters scored four goals in six minutes of the second period en route to a 5-3 victory over the Hamilton Bulldogs in American Hockey League play Friday. Gabriel Beaupre, Guillaume Desbiens and J.T. Wyman had goals, while Stefan Elliot and Mitchell Heard each had a goal and two assists for the Monsters (8-6-0). Sami Aittokallio made 31 saves. Justin Courtnall, Joonas Nattinen and Mike Blunden scored for the Bulldogs (5-7-3), who have now lost six straight and seven of their last eight games. Dustin Tokarski made 9 savess in relief of starter Robert Mayer, who was pulled after allowing four goals on 19 shots.dddddddddddd Gabriel Dumont showcased his strength and tenacity to create the games opening goal for the Bulldogs. The centre, who was reassigned to Hamilton by the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday, stole the puck from a Lake Erie defender behind the net, and fought off a check to curl out in front. He was unable to release a shot, but Courtnall seized on the loose puck and swept it through a screen and past Aittokallio at 8:27 of the first period. Cheap Bruins Jerseys Wholesale Sabres Jerseys Red Wings Jerseys From China Wholesale Canadiens Jerseys Wholesale Lightning Jerseys Cheap Maple Leafs Jerseys Discount Hurricanes Jerseys Blue Jackets Jerseys Outlet Adidas Devils Jerseys Cheap Islanders Jerseys Rangers Jerseys From China Discount Flyers Jerseys Discount Penguins Jerseys Discount Capitals Jerseys Wholesale Blackhawks Jerseys Cheap Avalanche Jerseys Cheap Team USA Hockey Jerseys Cheap Stars Jerseys Wholesale Wild Jerseys Discount Predators Jerseys Discount Blues Jerseys Discount Ducks Jerseys Adidas Coyotes Jerseys Flames Jerseys Outlet Wholesale Oilers Jerseys Discount Sharks Jerseys Cheap Canucks Jerseys Golden Knights Jerseys Outlet Authentic NHL Winter Classic Jerseys ' ' '