Thursday, June 21. 1979
3
Local man analyzes box scores to predict the pennant winners
By RICK HELLMAN
Staff Reporter
Summer Session Kansan
Lauging Bill James a baseball fan is like calling Jimi Hendrix a guitar player or Billy Graham a simple, country preacher.
James, 628 Alabama St., is the author, compiler and publisher of "Baseball Abstract," an annual compilation of baseball articles.
James said he got all of his statistics from box scores in newspapers, although in his book, he admits that these stats may not be correct.
In addition to the mundane statistics such as runs, hits and RBI's any baseball fan can read in a newspaper, stats such as runs created, defensive range factor, comebacks and blown leads are commuted. James said.
"I'm certainly not trying to kid anybody that, doing all of the things that I do. Can you maintain the same levels of accuracy that they have?"
**I FIGURE TRAIT** sell two things; an approach that is a novel way of looking at the statistics and the general truths which influence data.
Those truths must be apparent to somebody because James said he sold about 500 copies of the 1979 Baseball Abstract, now in its third edition, since 1977. Some copies were even sold to major league teams.
In addition to his work on the abstract, James said, he has had pre-season predictions printed for the past few years. This year his forecasts appeared in a special baseball issue of the magazine, Esquire.
James predicted that the Royals would win the Western division of the American League for the fourth consecutive year.
"ALL THE ROYALS need is to get four pitchers pitching well at the same time and they can, and will take the division."
But James, who is considered a baseball authority by some, said beating the Yankees was another matter entirely. He said he thought the Royals were "the one organization in baseball that does everything right." "Everything except win pennants.
But, he said, who could beat the Yankees in a short series? Not the Dodgers, not the Red Sox and, up until now, not the Royals. Yet, James said, there is always hope. The Yankees are an ag club the average for the 1078 line-in base in 30 years.
For all his interest in the game, however, James said he still had not attended one game this year. The 29-year-old man supports his "hobby" by working in a boiler room of a factory, which does not leave much time for him to go to the games.
Somehow, there is always time to work on the Abstract, James said. He spends more than 40 hours a week compiling the various sources of information.
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Exterior code questioned
Willis said she had received 6 or 8 calls from people who criticized her actions.
WILLITS SAID she would not release the names of these people publicly until she had agreed to her resignation.
Interpretation and enforcement of Lawrence's exterior maintenance and environmental code is causing complaints by residents of East Lawrens. The city by some residents of East Lawrens.
JEFF KIOUS Staff Reporter
The accusations were denied by Jeff Schultz*, city inspector, who is in charge of enforcing the exterior maintenance and environmental code passed by the city last
The purpose of the code is to regulate the environmental quality of residential neighborhoods, and prohibits conditions which are injurious to the health, safety, welfare or aesthetic well-being.
The president of the East Lawrence Improvement Association, Barbara Willis, said she thought the enforcement of the code had been unfair.
"I think the city is over-emphasizing the entrance of this code in the East Side."
But, one caller, Donald L. Ray, 927 Delaware St., said that although he complied with the city's request that he remove some vehicles from a lot next to his house.
he considered the request to be harassment. He said that he should own, which he owned, a violation of the code.
ENFORCEMENT OF THE code has been concentrated in East Lawrence, Schultz said, but should not be interpreted as punishment for the area.
"I had to start my inspections somewhere," he said. "It just so happens that the East Lawrence area has a higher rate of violations than other parts of the city."
*My attention to East Lawrence should show the area that I am concerned about its safety.*
Schultz said he would respond to a complaint from anywhere in Lawrence.
"I'd respond to a complaint in Alvamar just the same," he said.
BUT ONE COMPAINT that Schultz received was about a house at 1120
Schultz said he immediately returned to the front porch and staped a sign to the front of the house which read "unfit for human habitation."
When Schultz arrived at the house last week, he knocked on the front door. When no one came in, Schultz entered the house and yellow curtains inspected. As he inspected the house, a strong odor captured his attention. In the bathroom, human excrement nearly covered the floor and walls.
SCHULTZ SAID most landowners complied with city requests, although some alleged code violations had been argued in Douglas County District Court. If a landowner does not respond within two weeks after receiving notice of a violation, he is subject to a fine. The same each day he does not comply with the code.
Schultz said that if he had the time, he would let members of the East Lawrence Association accompany him during his inspections.
"I don't think they know what I do," he said.
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