Around Baseball 2017

[burlingtonbandit]

Well in baseball, the star players are not the focal point of the viewing experience. For example, you will see Trout hit 4 or 5 times in 3 hours. He might catch 5 fly balls, you're lucky if one is a diving catch.

 

If you watch the NBA, Lebron James has the ball for half the game. He's on the court for 80% of the game, he is involved at all times. In the NFL, Brady has the ball half the game.

 

It's sort of the same problem that the NHL has. Sidney Crosby plays 33% of the game. Hockey is a great sport but 66% of it is not played by the star players. I will watch 100% of McDavid's shifts but change the channel immediately when the 4th line comes on.

 

Agree 100%. People say MLB should market their stars more but its not going to make a difference. Not only do single MLB players have a marginal effect on the outcome of a game compared to other sports but hardly any fans are going to watch other teams play.

 

The diehard fans will watch 150 games of their favourite team which is basically every day. The only time they are going to see other star players is when their fav team faces them. Only a very select few baseball fans watch games in which their favourite team isn't playing.

 

Even if you wanted to, its pretty difficult given most teams play at the same time.

[Slade]

The proposed strikezone rule changes couldn't even get it's own thread? I don't get this forums ideology of discussing topics under one mega thread.

[ChrisS]

Whats the likely-hood the PA agrees to change the strike zone?

 

I hope anthems are never removed from pro-sports. I enjoy hearing our national anthem. It was incredible at the wild card game and ALDS game 3. Canada needs more patriotism imo. Do they still sing the anthem in schools?

[Abomination]

Anyway, I wonder if they do raise the zone if it'll hurt someone like Stro quite a bit.

 

It'll really hurt anyone who sinks the ball. This change could actually make a huge difference on the game itself, and the value of certain kinds of players.

[Captain Adama]

Whats the likely-hood the PA agrees to change the strike zone?

 

I hope anthems are never removed from pro-sports. I enjoy hearing our national anthem. It was incredible at the wild card game and ALDS game 3. Canada needs more patriotism imo. Do they still sing the anthem in schools?

 

Oh dear god no.

[burlingtonbandit]

It'll really hurt anyone who sinks the ball. This change could actually make a huge difference on the game itself, and the value of certain kinds of players.

 

It depends if they are raising the strikezone 2 inches or they just shave 2 inches off the strikezone because pitches in the upper part of the zone don't get called strikes as they should currently.

[Jonn]

I always thought it was ridiculous that America would sneak in 2 National Anthems during one game.

[Orgfiller]

The zone should be raised. Too often you see guys paint down and away and it's just too low to do anything with it. If there's a runner on you might as well just go down looking instead of slapping into a DP.

 

2015 Keuchel was a fine pitcher but come on, dude was just living in an unhittable region of the zone. If you have a good framer it's even worse.

 

So let's punish pitchers for making excellent pitches? It takes a lot of skill to consistently throw the ball in a low and away spot, and MLB hitters are pretty good, don't need to make it easier for them.

 

That's like saying: "Greg Maddux was a fine pitcher but come on, all he did was pinpoint all of his pitches in unhittable spots."

[AdamGreenwood]

Romo signed for $3 million on a one-year deal.

Hurts that the Jays couldn't have beat that offer. Even 2 years for $8 million seems like a steal.

 

Apparently, he wanted to stay in California, but I'm sure he could have been persuaded.

Seems like as soon as you're old, even if you had a great season, you're in the discount bin.

[Abomination]

Romo signed for $3 million on a one-year deal.

Hurts that the Jays couldn't have beat that offer. Even 2 years for $8 million seems like a steal.

 

Apparently, he wanted to stay in California, but I'm sure he could have been persuaded.

Seems like as soon as you're old, even if you had a great season, you're in the discount bin.

 

Supposedly he turned down bigger offers (one of which may very well have been us).

[reedjohnsonfan]

It's so cringey that it's customary for everyone to stand and sing the national anthem before a sporting event. The end of that tradition can't come soon enough.

 

lol wow! Can't wait for the day that there's no national anthem before our sporting events! Hopefully you are either trolling or realize how stupid this sounds.

[Jimcanuck]

lol wow! Can't wait for the day that there's no national anthem before our sporting events! Hopefully you are either trolling or realize how stupid this sounds.

 

Not stupid at all. What the hell do national anthems have to do with professional sports events?

[Terminator]

God Bless America in the 7th inning should definitely go away. They can sing it on 4th of July or Memorial Day or other patriotic holidays. I don't mind the National Anthem although it should probably just be for the country the game is played in. No need for the Canadian one in the States and vice versa. But it just kind of starts the game off with the right flow. You s.tand and sing the national anthem, there's a brief warmup afterward, and then the ump yells play ball.

[BTS]

God Bless America in the 7th inning should definitely go away. They can sing it on 4th of July or Memorial Day or other patriotic holidays. I don't mind the National Anthem although it should probably just be for the country the game is played in. No need for the Canadian one in the States and vice versa. But it just kind of starts the game off with the right flow. You s.tand and sing the national anthem, there's a brief warmup afterward, and then the ump yells play ball.

 

The only time the anthem really feels right to me is in international competition. It just seems so bizarre to have 50k sing the anthem together before a regular season baseball game.

[Jimcanuck]

God Bless America in the 7th inning should definitely go away. They can sing it on 4th of July or Memorial Day or other patriotic holidays. I don't mind the National Anthem although it should probably just be for the country the game is played in. No need for the Canadian one in the States and vice versa. But it just kind of starts the game off with the right flow. You s.tand and sing the national anthem, there's a brief warmup afterward, and then the ump yells play ball.

 

Just announce the starting 9 during a warm up before the game, ending with the batterymates, and get on with it. In golf, there is no anthem, just each player is announced before they tee off.

[reedjohnsonfan]

God Bless America in the 7th inning should definitely go away. They can sing it on 4th of July or Memorial Day or other patriotic holidays. I don't mind the National Anthem although it should probably just be for the country the game is played in. No need for the Canadian one in the States and vice versa. But it just kind of starts the game off with the right flow. You s.tand and sing the national anthem, there's a brief warmup afterward, and then the ump yells play ball.

 

I agree that God Bless America is annoying and probably not needed but the National Anthem is a good way to start the game in the country the ball game is being played. I don't think many (intelligent) people would argue that.

[BTS]

lol wow! Can't wait for the day that there's no national anthem before our sporting events! Hopefully you are either trolling or realize how stupid this sounds.

 

I agree that God Bless America is annoying and probably not needed but the National Anthem is a good way to start the game in the country the ball game is being played. I don't think many (intelligent) people would argue that.

 

If everyone debated so intelligently and had such an open mind, this forum would surely grow.

[Bobthe4th]

The proposed strikezone rule changes couldn't even get it's own thread? I don't get this forums ideology of discussing topics under one mega thread.

 

Maybe if it had come up mid season, but it should get enough comments here.

 

Slightly related - there's currently 11 separate fantasy related threads on the front page of the off topic forum - it'd be perfect if fantasy had it's own forum. One for baseball, one for off topic, one for fantasy.

[Boxcar]

lol wow! Can't wait for the day that there's no national anthem before our sporting events! Hopefully you are either trolling or realize how stupid this sounds.

 

I think you might be the only person who thinks it sounds stupid.

[Grant77]

Not stupid at all. What the hell do national anthems have to do with professional sports events?

 

I like being reminded of how lucky we are to live in Canada. The fact that we are able to watch the top athletes in the world is a luxury that very few people have. Locals in Brazil couldn't even afford to watch the Olympics in their own Country. Even the poorest Canadian can see the occasional sporting event thanks to our social safety net. I don't care if you are patriotic or not, but most people are and they shouldn't be criticized for it.

[Nafro]

Not stupid at all. What the hell do national anthems have to do with professional sports events?

 

 

Probably something very similar to what fighter jets flying over or "21 gun salutes" do.

[Olerud363]

The only time the anthem really feels right to me is in international competition. It just seems so bizarre to have 50k sing the anthem together before a regular season baseball game.

 

Both Anthems are awesome. Back in the 90s I went to some games at old Yankee Stadium, and was amazed that a lot of the Yankee fans sang the Canadian anthem, it was a nice sign of respect, and should work both ways. Nothing wrong with singing both Anthems. If people don't like it they can show up at 7:05. A lot of them do anyway.

[CHRIS]

I like being reminded of how lucky we are to live in Canada.

 

Do you really need the anthem as a reminder of this though? Like, you forget how lucky you are until you hear the anthem?

 

Loving and appreciating your country is completely awesome, and I've witnessed some amazing anthem moments at international competitions. Before every baseball game seems overkill to me. Why not every day at the beginning of work? Why not every night before going to bed? Why not before every meal?

 

I think there's a point where the anthem is overdone, and almost becomes a distraction from a true appreciation of the country one lives in. IMO.

[Brownie19]

If we're taking votes. I like the anthem before the game - loath God Bless America in the 7th....although I do like the "take me out to the ballgame" and/or "sweet Caroline" when played at various stadiums.

[Bobthe4th]

I'm so glad that, outside of national teams, sports in Europe like football (soccer) don't have anthems before every game. At least both the American and Canadian anthems are pretty good - the English anthem is a rubbish tune and the words are really bad. It's also about two things I don't believe in - God, and the queen.

[Grant77]

Do you really need the anthem as a reminder of this though? Like, you forget how lucky you are until you hear the anthem?

 

Loving and appreciating your country is completely awesome, and I've witnessed some amazing anthem moments at international competitions. Before every baseball game seems overkill to me. Why not every day at the beginning of work? Why not every night before going to bed? Why not before every meal?

 

I think there's a point where the anthem is overdone, and almost becomes a distraction from a true appreciation of the country one lives in. IMO.

 

You could call it an acknowledgement instead of a reminder. I take the time during the anthem to think about my ancestors who fought in the wars and all of the other things that make the country great. People outside of big city centers feel it is a good thing to do. I've never heard your perspective once outside of this forum. Unless you have season tickets, it's maybe a once a week thing anyways.

[G-Snarls]

[Terminator]

You could call it an acknowledgement instead of a reminder. I take the time during the anthem to think about my ancestors who fought in the wars and all of the other things that make the country great. People outside of big city centers feel it is a good thing to do. I've never heard your perspective once outside of this forum. Unless you have season tickets, it's maybe a once a week thing anyways.

 

Grant- you're thinking patriotic like an American! I like it.

[L54]

You probably wouldn't see them. The umps would still be present, they'd just have the calls relayed to them instantly. As an intermediary, they might have glasses that overlay the strike zone and where the ball crosses to help them out.

 

I understand that they aren't going to deploy some cyborg-esque statue behind the back catcher to call balls and strikes. I enjoy the way the game is played now and much prefer the human element as opposed to a robotic one. Plus, there will be huge resistance from the Players and Umpires alike. I don't see it happening and hope it never comes to fruition.

 

This is coming from someone who will probably never get over the strike called on Ben Revere vs KC in the ALCS. It's part of the game.

[L54]

You enjoy watching them f*** up 15% of the time??

 

Well I enjoy watching the best players in the world f*** up 70% of the time, so sure.