Major League Baseball 2017

[Tigerace117]

:roll:

IF you ask people who their favorite athletes are.... if they do name a baseball player, they will likely say:

Derek Jeter
Babe Ruth
Pete Rose
Hank Aaron

Baseball is yearning for a star. Jeter hasn't played in 2 years. Babe Ruth hasn't played since a 1935.

Nobody is mentioning Kris Bryant or Bryce Harper. Baseball has seriously lagged behind football, basketball, even golf, tennis, even UFC.

Baseball is extremely desperate and they have found that star in Aaron Judge. The best part about Judge is he is pure and doesn't take steroids. They don't have to worry he will shame the league like A-Rod.

Uh.....out of those four, the only one that people still bring up as their "favorite player" is Jeter. Everyone knows who Ruth, Rose, and Aaron are, but Ruth and Aaron played long enough ago that a lot of people only know about them as abstracts and Rose alienated a lot of people.

More likely responses are people like Bryant, Harper and Stanton.

Baseball has plenty of stars, especially since Ruth retired. Don't be silly.

Maybe not in your bubble they aren't, but out in the real world.....

Once again, only in your fantasy land.

Hate to burst your bubble, but baseball does not suffer from a shortage of star power.

 

[Tigerace117]

I have a friend that loves sports - but refuses to even watch baseball. I gave him tickets and to go to a White Sox game and somehow we witnessed a perfect game and he didn't see the appeal of the game.

He told me he would never go to another baseball game again, even if it was free. He found the game boring and didn't understand it.

IMO baseball has been hijacked by analytic geeks. The game is getting crusty, it doesn't appeal to teenagers or young adults. The game is slow, it lacks diversity.

I also think baseball is becoming too regional like hockey. Most of the best hockey players are European or Canadians. Most of the best baseball players are Latino or Hispanic. The problem is the best athletes in the states are playing other sports.

If baseball doesn't make any changes, they will continue to see a depression of talent and ratings.

The White Sox are an awful example. The team is not very good and simply doesn't draw. I'd say at least half of the "White Sox fans" in Chicago who could afford to attend games somewhat regularly don't bother to show up to the stadium.

But working towards the lowest common denominator is not a good idea. Baseball will never attract the ADHD crowd; no point trying.

 

[calamity]

I have a friend that loves sports - but refuses to even watch baseball. I gave him tickets and to go to a White Sox game and somehow we witnessed a perfect game and he didn't see the appeal of the game.

He told me he would never go to another baseball game again, even if it was free. He found the game boring and didn't understand it.

IMO baseball has been hijacked by analytic geeks. The game is getting crusty, it doesn't appeal to teenagers or young adults. The game is slow, it lacks diversity.

I also think baseball is becoming too regional like hockey. Most of the best hockey players are European or Canadians. Most of the best baseball players are Latino or Hispanic. The problem is the best athletes in the states are playing other sports.

If baseball doesn't make any changes, they will continue to see a depression of talent and ratings.

Hockey is a million times more entertaining than baseball. But, hockey's regular season is too long as well. So too is basketball. And, the NFL has too many games on in a week now for anyone to really get excited about that sport's regular season either.

 

[SenorXm/Sirius]

I have 4 daughters, so I won't use them as examples, BUT their husbands, and boyfriends, none are baseball fans. In April and September when they see me they will be polite and try to talk baseball because they know I'm a big fan. But besides that, nada. Let's face it, there's a ton of other entertainment out there nowadays. I think baseball has made some TERRIBLE decisions over the past 30 years, but it's not all their fault.

Society has changed, simple as that. There's a thousand other ways to entertain yourself now instead of sitting and watching a 4 hour baseball game. All televised sports are taking a hit. And that downward trend will continue.

But baseball makes thing worse for itself by having games on FS1, where ever the F that is on your dial, and 4+ hour games that go to 1am on a THURSDAY night like last night's game did, that don't help.

 

[calamity]

I have 4 daughters, so I won't use them as examples, BUT their husbands, and boyfriends, none are baseball fans. In April and September when they see me they will be polite and try to talk baseball because they know I'm a big fan. But besides that, nada. Let's face it, there's a ton of other entertainment out there nowadays. I think baseball has made some TERRIBLE decisions over the past 30 years, but it's not all their fault.

Society has changed, simple as that. There's a thousand other ways to entertain yourself now instead of sitting and watching a 4 hour baseball game. All televised sports are taking a hit. And that downward trend will continue.

But baseball makes thing worse for itself by having games on FS1, where ever the F that is on your dial, and 4+ hour games that go to 1am on a THURSDAY night like last night's game did, that don't help.

9-8 in an elimination game was probably worth it. But, even though I was interested, I didn't watch a single pitch. Just tracked the score until about 10 PM, then read about it in the morning. I figure that if I'm doing it, so are millions of others.

 

[SenorXm/Sirius]

9-8 in an elimination game was probably worth it. But, even though I was interested, I didn't watch a single pitch. Just tracked the score until about 10 PM, then read about it in the morning. I figure that if I'm doing it, so are millions of others.

I watched it. I was flipping back and forth with the NFL game, but I was mostly watching baseball. But damn, by 10:30-11pm my eyes were closing, and I was out. I had no idea who won until this morning.

An east coast team, and a Central time team? They GOT to start those games earlier than 8pm. If it's L.A.? S.F?, the Mountain or Pacific time zone teams I don't expect them to kiss the east coast markets ass and start the games 4pm their time. That's unfair to them. But if they are east coast teams, come on. Start the game at 7pm, maybe even 6:30.

 

[Linc]

9-8 in an elimination game was probably worth it. But, even though I was interested, I didn't watch a single pitch. Just tracked the score until about 10 PM, then read about it in the morning. I figure that if I'm doing it, so are millions of others.

MLB ratings will be through the roof through Sunday. I won't watch much NCAAF until they have an 8-team playoff, with 5 AQs.

NFL has a great matchup in Sunday's 2nd game, PIT v. KC, followed by two snoozers Sunday and Monday nights.

Regular season is now under way for the NHL and NBA, while today's parents are constantly on the run with their children's events through high school. Etc. Quite the load to choose from ...

 

[TobyOne]

This isn't last years Dodgers. This is last years Dodgers + 10^3.

You..... do realize that those same pitchers went up against the Dodgers last year, right?

How'd that go again?

 

[calamity]

I watched it. I was flipping back and forth with the NFL game, but I was mostly watching baseball. But damn, by 10:30-11pm my eyes were closing, and I was out. I had no idea who won until this morning.

An east coast team, and a Central time team? They GOT to start those games earlier than 8pm. If it's L.A.? S.F?, the Mountain or Pacific time zone teams I don't expect them to kiss the east coast markets ass and start the games 4pm their time. That's unfair to them. But if they are east coast teams, come on. Start the game at 7pm, maybe even 6:30.

I was in Phoenix a few weeks ago. The MF football game was already in the 4th Quarter by the time I sat down for dinner at 8PM. Now that, I can live with.

 

[Linc]

I watched it. I was flipping back and forth with the NFL game, but I was mostly watching baseball. But damn, by 10:30-11pm my eyes were closing, and I was out. I had no idea who won until this morning.

An east coast team, and a Central time team? They GOT to start those games earlier than 8pm. If it's L.A.? S.F?, the Mountain or Pacific time zone teams I don't expect them to kiss the east coast markets ass and start the games 4pm their time. That's unfair to them. But if they are east coast teams, come on. Start the game at 7pm, maybe even 6:30.

Alternative starting times give tough vision on the west coast for instance, certainly hurting batters. We don't fall back for 3 more weeks, though lights are taking effect better now in the northeast at earlier times. TV won't allow earlier times.

I want both wild-card games on Tuesday night, starting two LDS series Wednesday and the other two on Thursday. TV won't allow it. Too many days off for both batters and pitchers, IMO ...

 

[TobyOne]

Trump is a Yankees fan.

 

[Linc]

They will be okay next year with a healthy Adam Eaton and Victor Robles as a 4th.

I would trade Gio Gonzalez for depth. Maybe kick around taking Jordan Zimmerman's contract and eating some of his salary.

They have the look of a 105 win team next year. That being said, Its WS or bust next year because if they don't win the WS, Harper is joining Judge with the Yankees.

I see Harper as sick of the East coast media, sick of East coast weather, and sick of Rizzo, who ****ed him on a year's service time. Same thing Epstein did to Bryant, with both Harper and Bryant being from Vegas. Harper's body langauge and responses after game one told me all I needed to see.

Harper's a west coast guy and would live to hit in places like AZ and COL, along with the rest of the western parks during the day. He's biding his time for now ...

 

[polgara]

• 
  How video replay totally screwed the Nationals
  
  

Greetings, Jack. :2wave:

ACK! :thumbdown

 

[Threegoofs]

Anyway that was an interesting 1/2 inning. A pass ball on a 3rd strike, catcher's interference, hits, and a walk. Except for an error I think that is all the ways a batter can reach base? Yes? There was an error in the inning, but that was on Wieters throw on the 3rd strike pass ball, so the batter was already 'reaching 1st base'. Strangest 1/2 inning I can remember.

Just saw this interesting tidbit:

Baseball Reference says none of the 2.73 million half-innings in its database had int'l walk, passed-ball K, catcher’s interference and HBP.

That’s pretty historic.

Additionally, it’s only happened five times in a single game in the entire history of MLB!

 

[Crovax]

Looks like Judge is continuing his strikeouts, anyone know off the top of their head what the record for strikeouts in a postseason is? Im thinking Judge has a good shot at it.

Edit: it's 26. Looks like it's Judge's record if this series goes a few games.

 

[calamity]

• 
  How video replay totally screwed the Nationals
  
  

Pretty lame call.

 

[Bucky]

Just saw this interesting tidbit:

Baseball Reference says none of the 2.73 million half-innings in its database had int'l walk, passed-ball K, catcher’s interference and HBP.

That’s pretty historic.

Additionally, it’s only happened five times in a single game in the entire history of MLB!

lmao.

Brett Favre has the record for most ints thrown in a game.

Guess what, no one remembers him for that.

 

[Linc]

I watched it. I was flipping back and forth with the NFL game, but I was mostly watching baseball. But damn, by 10:30-11pm my eyes were closing, and I was out. I had no idea who won until this morning.

An east coast team, and a Central time team? They GOT to start those games earlier than 8pm. If it's L.A.? S.F?, the Mountain or Pacific time zone teams I don't expect them to kiss the east coast markets ass and start the games 4pm their time. That's unfair to them. But if they are east coast teams, come on. Start the game at 7pm, maybe even 6:30.

Agreed the starting times should be like the regular season, including day games. People have multiple TVs in their viewing areas now, watching multiple games for different sports ...

Fairchild's going according to Hoyle so far as an 'under' umpire. Quicker game so far ...

Names of umpires never released before the first game of a new series. Now the sports books have the rotation ...

 

[Crovax]

lmao.

Brett Favre has the record for most ints thrown in a game.

Guess what, no one remembers him for that.

People certainly remember that he threw a ton of INTs over his career

 

[Bucky]

Trump is a Yankees fan.

A lot of people are Yankee fans. Players go to New York because playing with the Yankees is like a golden ticket. Like being accepted to Harvard or Yale. With New York, you gain access. It's almost like going to a business school.

Look at Jeter - Already an MLB owner. Look at A-Rod; successful career in the media. Mark Teixeira, already an analyst with ESPN. Don Mattingly, a successful manager with the Marlins. Joe Girardi, Jose Canseco, Darryl Strawberry, etc...

Not only do you learn how to win, the Yankees allow players to develop and build their brand name and have success after baseball. Some might say it's a New York thing, however, just look at the Mets. The Mets do not carry the mystique or brand name of their big brother.

It's really quite an experience. Players learn a lot playing for the Yankees.

 

[Bucky]

Trump is a Yankees fan.

Also, Trump is quite knowledgeable about baseball. He was probably good enough to be a pro baseball player. Probably knows more about baseball than foreign policy.

 

[SenorXm/Sirius]

Just saw this interesting tidbit:

Baseball Reference says none of the 2.73 million half-innings in its database had int'l walk, passed-ball K, catcher’s interference and HBP.

That’s pretty historic.

Additionally, it’s only happened five times in a single game in the entire history of MLB!

Yeah, that's what I was thinking while I was watching that inning. Add an error and I think that is all the ways a batter can reach 1st base? Yes? Am I right?

There was a Walk---HBP---Catchers interference--Strikeout passed ball-- And the Cubs had hits that inning. Only thing missing was a Nats error allowing a batter to get on base. The Nats had an error that inning, (Weiter's throw) but the batter got 1st base because of the passed ball, not an error. It was a WEIRD 1/2 inning. Historic indeed.

 

[Linc]

Also, Trump is quite knowledgeable about baseball. He was probably good enough to be a pro baseball player. Probably knows more about baseball than foreign policy.

I had to give you a like here Bucky; pretty good play on words that made me laugh;

Don't forget that the Astros have some of the worst Catching statistics in All of MLB.

As the runs start to score. Gotta admit Houston's a wild-ass loud crowd. Reminds me of old Viking stadium. Almost unbearable decibels.

Defense:

 

[Crovax]

I had to give you a like here Bucky; pretty good play on words that made me laugh;

Don't forget that the Astros have some of the worst Catching statistics in All of MLB.

As the runs start to score. Gotta admit Houston's a wild-ass loud crowd. Reminds me of old Viking stadium. Almost unbearable decibels.

Defense:

I bet it's the TV, it's been pretty dead the few times I have been there

 

[Tigerace117]

This isn't last years Dodgers. This is last years Dodgers + 10^3.

So in other words the same old Dodgers, but with fan fantasies exponentially increased. Noted.