I Wish I'd Thought Of That

The always interesting and thoughtful Arnold Kling recently reviewed a book on Askblog.

The book, High Growth Handbook by Elad Gil, focuses on companies that are transforming from startups to having several hundred employees.  One of Gil's recommendations is for an executive to circulate a document that describes “how to work with me.”  That's something I think would have been useful to do during my working career.  Over the years I had more people working for me and became, at least to some extent, more self-aware of my own preferences and managerial traits.  At times I alerted individual people to these but on reflection it would have been useful to do it systematically.

Kling, who ran a successful startup in the 90s, agrees.  Below are his thoughts.  You'll notice that some are directed towards people he works for, others to those who work for them.  Mine would be different, except for #4 and #9, but you get the idea.

1. Don’t give me too many things to do at once. I need to feel like I have my work under control.

2. If you want me to do something that requires my utmost concentration, let me work on it in the morning.

3. If you want me to do something that I hate doing, find someone else to do it.

4. I often give vague project assignments. Push back with clarifying questions, until you know what to do or until I back off because I realize that I don’t really know what I want.

5. When I give a deadline, it is the last possible moment to complete a project. When you miss a deadline, I am devastated. When you just make a deadline, I am disappointed. Get it done sooner.

6. I hate it when people focus on assigning blame. When something goes wrong, focus on fixing it.

7. I like sharing interesting articles and books that I come across. Feel free to do the same with me.

8. I believe in hiring people for attitude and ability, not for experience.

9. The key attitude is being oriented toward solving problems rather than just complaining. I will not tolerate a chronic complainer.

10. I’ll let a software developer get away with being a prima donna*, if you’ve got the right combination of ability, conscientiousness, and stamina. Show me you can really get stuff done, in which case I’d rather keep you happy and let other employees get annoyed than the other way around.

* [NOTE: I've substituted my footnote for Kling's]
And these times are so hard and it's getting even harder
Tryin' to feed and water my seed, plus
See dishonor caught up between bein' a father and a prima donna
Baby mama drama screamin' on and Too much for me to want to Stay in one spot,
another day of monotony Has gotten me to the point, I'm like a snail
I've got to formulate a plot fore I end up in jail or shot
Success is my only motherfuckin' option, failure's not
Mom, I love you, but this trail has got to go
I cannot grow old in Salem's lot
So here I go is my shot.
Feet fail me not 'cause this may be the only opportunity that I got  
- Eminem (Lose Yourself)

On History And Timing

We've written posts on both Ottoman sieges of Vienna, the first in 1529 and the second in 1683, but what I neglected was their relative historical significance.  If Vienna had fallen in the first siege there was a significant chance that the Ottomans would have advanced further into central Europe perhaps sending the course of history into a new channel, while the city's fall in 1683 would have been an endpoint for the Ottomans, rather than a signal for further conquest.

In 1529 the Ottomans were at the peak of their powers under Suleiman the Magnificent.  After the fall of Constantinople in 1453 they had proceeded to solidify their hold on the Balkans.  Early in the 16th century they turned their attention to the Middle East, quickly conquering Syria, the Holy Land, Egypt, Iraq, and Arabia, becoming the protectors of Islam's most sacred sites including Medina and Mecca.  Returning to Europe they conquered the island of Rhodes evicting the Knights Hospitallers who had been a thorn in their side for decades (read The Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of) and capping it all by destroying the Hungarian monarchy in 1526 bringing them into the heart of Europe.  The Ottoman dynasty was dynamic and its military sophisticated by the standards of the times.

By 1683 the situation was much different.  The mid-16th century was the highpoint of Ottoman expansionism.  Turkish fleets roamed the Mediterranean, in cooperation with the King of France, against their mutual enemies.  On land the Sultan's army seemed invincible.

Then, in 1565, the Ottomans attempted to capture Malta, the new home of the Knights Hospitallers.  It was a disastrous failure, followed six years later by the devastating naval defeat at Lepanto, off the Greek Coast in which the allied Western navies crushed the Ottomans.  After Lepanto, the Ottoman fleet slowly degraded and the naval threat from Constantinople diminished.

On land, while the Ottomans were still effective on the defence, they faced a stalemate in central Europe, where they and the Hapsburgs traded incremental territorial gains back and forth.  It was only in the steppe lands north of the Black Sea where the Turks attained some permanent gains, but in lands with no larger strategic impact.

After Suleiman's death in 1566, the Sultanate was occupied by a series of ineffectual sultans.  Along with the navy's deterioration, the army became resistant to changes in military technology and tactics, areas in which the West was beginning to move ahead.

In retrospect the campaign of 1683 should be seen as nothing more than a large-scale raid, a last effort to reclaim ancient glory.  In the Balkans and Central Europe, the Ottomans followed a tradition of slowly assembling armies in the spring, with the forces meeting near Belgrade and then slowly advancing north along the Danube River.  With its borders now so far from Constantinople, the Ottoman army would usually not reach the frontier until mid-summer leaving little time for campaigning before it withdrew in the fall, which is precisely what happened in 1683.

But what would have happened if Vienna had fallen in 1683?  The city would have been sacked, robbed of its possessions, and its remaining inhabitants ransomed or carted off into slavery.  It is unlikely though that Vienna would have been permanently occupied.  It was well beyond the existing frontier, and difficult to supply and maintain even a small occupying force.  It could have been easily reconquered.  The city's fall would have been a shock to Western Europe, but one without lasting consequences, and one easily reversed.

What the second siege did mark was the definite end of Ottoman dreams of expansion in Europe and psychologically is freed Europe from its fear of the Sultanate.  A counteroffensive led by the Hapsburgs quickly conquered Hungary and though the Ottomans remained in the Balkans for two more centuries their power was broken.

They Can Get You If They Want To

"If there is one thing a defense lawyer knows, it's that the government can get you if it wants to.  Any government.  Federal, state or local.  Law-abiding private citizens do not believe this until some government sets out to get them, and they have to pay good money to a man like me to fight for them, but their disbelief is like unto the very dew of May; it evaporates fast.  Along with their bank balances, cheerfulness, and the order of their lives."

George V Higgins in Defending Billy Ryan

Having been through this experience myself, let me just add Amen.

Poncedeleon Lands

On May 9, 2017 Cardinals minor league pitcher Daniel Poncedeleon was struck in the head by a line drive in a game against the Chicago Cubs team in Iowa.  The injury was so bad that Daniel required emergency brain surgery and was hospitalized for three weeks.  You can read about it here and watch the incident below.


For many pitchers an injury like this can be the end of the line.  Either they never return to the game, or are so marred by the incident that it impacts their ability to pitch effectively.

Poncedeleon returned to pitch in the minors this season and was outstanding.  Called up to the Cardinals he made his major league debut last night, and it was something no one will ever forget as Daniel threw seven innings of no-hit ball before leaving the game.  You can watch here.  What an amazing story!

The Great American Ballpark Ranking

Since THC completed visiting all 30 major league parks, he thought it only proper to present his completely objective ranking of the sun-dappled (except for domed stadiums and night games) fields of play.  Our methodology was to arrive at least an hour before the game (we couldn't do this in all cases), walk the entire stadium, sample the food, and then stay until the last out.  Below are my top three parks, along with the rest divided among three tiers.  You may notice that there are not an equal number of teams in each tier.  I don't care.  This is my post.

Bottom line, any park is a good place to watch a baseball game.

Extra bonus feature - learn which park is best suited for you to survive a zombie apocalpyse!

Top Three

Fenway Park (Boston Red Sox, 1912) - Hey, I'm a Red Sox fan, what'd you expect?

AT&T Park (San Francisco Giants, 2000) - Views of surrounding area, sight lines to field, and food all top notch.

PNC Park (Pittsburgh Pirates, 2001) - Views of the bridge and city.  Good seating and food.

Top Tier

Wrigley Field (Chicago Cubs, 1914) - Some advice; don't go to a June game on a sunny day if there's a brisk wind blowing in from the lake, or at least sit in the bleachers where you are protected.

Petco Park (San Diego Padres, 2004) - Tied for best food with AT&T.  Also like that factory facade built into the stadium.

Safeco Field (Seattle Mariners, 1999)

Kaufman Stadium (KC Royals, 1973)) - An older stadium with a nice feel to it.  Very comfortable and open.

Coors Field (Colorado Rockies, 1995) - I may have been unduly influenced by the magnificent fireworks display at the end of the game.

Busch Stadium (St Louis Cardinals, 2006) - Great atmosphere, great fans and food.  And that's even with us ending up in last row of third deck in left field.

Middle Tier

Marlins Park (Miami Marlins, 2012) - A lot of folks don't like this one but I did except for the stupid statute in center field which they should blow up.  Instead, they blew up the team.

Comerica Park (Detroit Tigers, 2000) - Much better than anticipated.

Dodger Stadium (Los Angeles Dodgers, 1962) - Great location, memorable history, but the park itself is looking old and tired.

Camden Yards (Baltimore Orioles, 1992) - The state of the art stadium when it opened, it's now been surpassed by the competition.

Chase Field (Arizona Diamondbacks, 1998) - I've developed a soft spot for the park of my new hometown team.  Decent in every category, plus you can buy a Paradise Valley Burger there.  On the other hand, team management wants out of the stadium because of dispute with city over deferred maintenance.

Globe Life Park (Texas Rangers, 1994) - Interesting park to walk around with good vantage points.  My advice: don't get seats on third base line for afternoon or early evening games in the summer.  I left some skin.

Target Field (Minnesota Twins, 2010) - Fun place, right near downtown.

Great American Ballpark (Cincinnati Reds, 2003) - Like the river setting.  Good BBQ in left field corner.  So, do you think Joey Votto takes too many pitches?

Miller Park (Milwaukee Brewers, 2001) - Fun place to watch a ballgame.  Also the ballpark best suited for you to survive a zombie apocalypse.

Citizens Bank Park (Philadelphia Phillie, 2004) - Like the promenade and food area around the outfield.

Citi Field (New York Mets, 2009) - If you go try to tie in a visit to the Louis Armstrong House Museum in nearby Corona, Queens.

Nationals Park (Washington Nationals, 2008)

Bottom Tier

SunTrust Park (Atlanta Braves, 2017) - We saw it last year when it opened. It left me cold.

Yankee Stadium (New York Yankees, 2009)) - Yes, I hate the Yankees but hear me out.  I've been to both the original Yankee Stadium and its 1970s replacement and thought highly of both of them.  The new stadium, which I've been to several times, is a nothingburger, and a number of my Yankee friends agree.

Rodgers Centre (Toronto Blue Jays, 1989) - Nothing special in any way.  Needs renovation.  My view is admittedly colored by our seats behind the right field light stands.  Devoted fans however.  48,000 showed up for a mid-week game with the Tigers with neither team in contention.

Progressive Field (Cleveland Indians, 1994) - Impressed on my first visits to the stadium, but it had aged badly by my last in 2012.  The field was renovated in 2014 and 2015 so maybe some of the old glory has been restored.  I hope so.

Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum (Oakland Athletics, 1966) - Last there in 1972.  I'm told it's not gotten any better.

Minute Maid Park (Houston Astros, 2000) - Like watching a game in a shopping mall.  Great scoreboard though. The team is not too shabby either.

Guaranteed Rate Field (Chicago White Sox, 1991) - Winner of Worst Name for a Ballpark award.

Angel Stadium (Los Angeles Angels, 1966) - Low-rated otherwise, but don't miss the bacon and cheese sandwich which comes with a ton of bacon.  This Trout kid may amount to something.  Keep an eye on him.

Somewhere Between AAA and Major League

Tropicana Field (Tampa Bay Rays, 1990) - Like watching a game in a circus tent.  It was so ridiculous I found it enjoyable, at least for one game.

The Dividing Line

“If only there were evil people somewhere insidiously committing evil deeds, and it were necessary only to separate them from the rest of us and destroy them. But the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being."

Alexander Solzhenitsyn