History is what happens when no one's looking. So goes the old saying, and it's certainly true at Batter's Box, because when we received our 500,000th visit yesterday, the guy designated to mark the occasion was out of town (sorry about that). We're saving the really big celebrations for our one millionth visit, but until then, this is just a short, heartfelt Thank you! to absolutely everyone who, by their visits, lurks and participation, has helped makes Batter's Box the marvellous baseball community and respected idea exchange that it is today. This one's for you, Bauxites.

In part one of this series, I presented a system for the analysis of NCAA Division I stats for hitters. In that piece, I hinted at but did not actually present a system for analyzing pitchers' statistics. This article will explain the analysis of pitchers a bit more fully and present a top 50 for 2003. A top 50 for 2002 will follow shortly.

Decisions to be made
The good advice of friends unheeded
The best of plans mislaid

Just make sure you're planning to attend our "Baseball Day in Canada"!

While procrastinating writing my A's column, I spent some time flipping through my newly-arrived 2004 Baseball Prospectus, looking for nothing in particular. And "nothing in particular" really means "anything," and "anything," as any fan of The Zero Effect can tell you, is much easier to find than "something." Or such and such, blah blah blah.

Mark Saturday, March 27th, 1:00PM EST off on your calendars. It's the day the Blue Jays Cheer Club is having a coast-to-coast Jays event. Here's how you can be part of the fun:

Today I vow that any Black Sabbath references I make will not look like I'm taking shots at Jays broadcasters. No offence was intended, Mr. Cheek!

Time for some Jays articles!

Mlb radio is broadcasting the first two hours of the Jays-Pirates tilt. The first 5 Jays have reached in the first, but Noah Hall was gunned down at the plate on a Josh Phelps double - the Jays lead 2 zip. Top pitching prospect Dustin McGowan gets the start.

Tom and Jerry and Mike are broadcasting the Dunedin affair versus the Yankees. That game is available to Gameday Audio subscribers. I am one, but since I am completely boycotting the Yankees (and this is not the last you'll hear of it, although there is no cabal) this year, I'll be listening to the Pirates-Jays game.

Fun fun fun in the Batter's Box!

I try. I hunger!

Thanks to the miracle of technology and the relatively advanced state of sabermetrics, evaluating a pool of ballplayers statistically, even one as large and disparate as the NCAA, has become pretty easy if you want to pour in the skull sweat, and can find the data.

I am expecting to win a coffee at "Roll Up The Rim" one of these days.

The unbeaten Blue Jays take on the Yankees in Tampa this afternoon, and it's on Sportsnet. Yesterday, the Bombers delighted a crowd of more than 10,000 by beating the Phillies 7-5 on a Jason Giambi grand slam. Alex Rodriguez looked great at third -- who would have expected anything else? -- and Gary Sheffield threw out a runner at the plate.

It's also spring training for the broadcast crew, so I'll go easy on them today. If you're not in range of the TV, you can listen live on The FAN 590, where the pregame show begins at 12:30 with Tom, Jerry and Mike.

A circumstance when you make your dreams. A song you've heard dozens of times although you may not realize it. Here are some Jays articles, however, that should be new to you:

Someone leans in my direction, quizzing on my story selection

With the previous HJC banished to the archives, it’s time for a new thread. Points to ponder:

Juan Gonzalez starting at DH because his arm wasn’t “in game shape” according to manager Tony Pena. The injury causing him to miss the second half the 2003 season was to his calf...

Brandon Inge as a center fielder...

Jack Wilson as a #2 hitter...

Mike Lowell’s perpetually inflamed right elbow...

The Phillies’ record if Eric Milton stays healthy and effective...

Rob Neyer’s equivocal assessment of the Toronto Blue Jays...

Someone other than Mike Moffatt making an 80's music reference.