It's Slap Joe Morgan Day!

ESPN analyst Joe Morgan has long been an object of derision among computer nerd baseball analysts, particularly in the online community, where his chat sessions have become legendary (he remains confused about who actually wrote "Moneyball"). In a pretty damning profile in San Francisco Weekly, Morgan rails on the stathead crowd, claiming that since they never played the game, they can never possibly understand it. The irony, of course, is that the statistical community, when it comes to Morgan's playing career, has always considered Morgan underrated. Not that Morgan cares.

Why would I wanna read ["Moneyball"]? All I'm saying is, I see a game every day. I watch baseball every day. I have a better understanding about why things happen than the computer, because the computer only tells you what you put in it. I could make that computer say what I wanted it to say, if I put the right things in there. ... The computer is only as good as what you put in it. How do you think we got Enron?

We don't have the slightest idea what that means. Morgan also made news this week for announcing that he will not attend the Hall of Fame induction ceremonies for the first time since 1990. This is significant because this year Cubs second baseman Ryne Sandberg will be inducted; Morgan has long blasted Sandberg as overrated and not comparable to Morgan's great career. The good news: At least Morgan, unlike White Sox outfielder Carl Everett, admits that there were once dinosaurs. We think.

Say It Ain't So, Joe [San Francisco Weekly] Another Reason To Dislike Joe Morgan [Cub Reporter]

(By the way, the guy in that picture with Joe is Joey Jam, the self-proclaimed "Entertainer to the Stars." So you know.