Around Baseball 2017

[L54]

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.

 

I agree with most of what you've said ITT over the last 24 hours. I proudly sing our National Anthem whenever it's played. It has nothing to do with the length of game anyway since it's not broadcasted on TV- the audience that the length of the game effects. Nobody is going to stop going to MLB games because they sing the National Anthem and conversely, I could see Americans taking a stand and boycotting parks if that was to ever take shape.

 

Patriotism is great- it's what has always made me such a big fan of the United States.

[King]

MLB.TV is now back for 2017. Just got the email.

[King]

New Features

- Watch the World Baseball Classic LIVE (U.S. Only)

 

lol

[Brownie19]

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.

 

I heard similar arguments that "pitchers will never approve a change that raises the strike zone". I asked myself - why the f*** would you even ask them? If you've reviewed evidence that making a chance is going to improve the game - then make the change. Obviously if you ask that parties that will be negatively affected by the change if they like it - they will say no because heaven forbid anyone make a decisions that best for the overall health of the games even if it's to the detriment of themselves.

 

(for the record - I'm not for or against changing the strike zone as of this moment...just referring to the principle).

[Grant77]

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

 

It's hardly an American invention, but it is the thing that I admire most about your countrymen. Being proud of where you come from and who you are makes you a happy person and a good person.

[Abomination]

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.

 

I don't see why the players would object at all. I could see some of the umpires being unhappy depending on how it was implemented. If it was done in a way that assisted them without upstaging them, most probably wouldn't have too big an issue with it.

[Captain Adama]

It's hardly an American invention, but it is the thing that I admire most about your countrymen. Being proud of where you come from and who you are makes you a happy person and a good person.

 

[KevinGregg]

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.

 

Care to elaborate on this? Do you also not support challenges/umpire reviews?

Do you enjoy pitchers spending the first 3 innings of the game feeling out the umpire's strike zone, throwing it farther and farther off the plate until they stop getting the call? How is a batter supposed to know if a pitch on the corner will be a strike? Wouldn't it be a lot more fun to have all players actually get to know one strike zone, and not have to figure it out each game? I watch baseball to see great movement on pitches, bat flips, super man catches, etc. Not to see umpires blow games on ridiculous calls like the Revere one you mentioned. I for one would not miss plays like that.

[Jonn]

 

Legend.

[L54]

I heard similar arguments that "pitchers will never approve a change that raises the strike zone". I asked myself - why the f*** would you even ask them? If you've reviewed evidence that making a chance is going to improve the game - then make the change. Obviously if you ask that parties that will be negatively affected by the change if they like it - they will say no because heaven forbid anyone make a decisions that best for the overall health of the games even if it's to the detriment of themselves.

 

(for the record - I'm not for or against changing the strike zone as of this moment...just referring to the principle).

 

How do you know it will improve the game? And you don't have to ask them but I guarantee they'll let their voices be heard. Twitter is a thing.

 

It's usually in a business' best interests to keep employees happy. Yes, they could say f*** all of you and implement it but that would be met with outrage.

[L54]

I don't see why the players would object at all. I could see some of the umpires being unhappy depending on how it was implemented. If it was done in a way that assisted them without upstaging them, most probably wouldn't have too big an issue with it.

 

Except when their salaries are cut because all they are is a relay from a computer to the game.

[L54]

Care to elaborate on this? Do you also not support challenges/umpire reviews?

Do you enjoy pitchers spending the first 3 innings of the game feeling out the umpire's strike zone, throwing it farther and farther off the plate until they stop getting the call? How is a batter supposed to know if a pitch on the corner will be a strike? Wouldn't it be a lot more fun to have all players actually get to know one strike zone, and not have to figure it out each game? I watch baseball to see great movement on pitches, bat flips, super man catches, etc. Not to see umpires blow games on ridiculous calls like the Revere one you mentioned. I for one would not miss plays like that.

 

Elaborate on what? Preferring the human element to a robot?

 

The whole argument that hitters need to know the strike zone is garbage to me. We're literally talking about halves of inches 90% of the time. Acting like the strike zone fluctuates so dramatically every game that guys don't know what to expect is completely overblown. Leave the game alone, it's fine as it is.

 

Hitting 101: if the ball is on the plate (even the corner) it's a strike. Sometimes you'll get lucky and it won't be called one! But if you have two strikes, you better protect.

[Spanky__99]

Except when their salaries are cut because all they are is a relay from a computer to the game.

 

Their Union wouldn't stand for that. Regardless, I don't see it happening anytime soon.(If ever)

[HERPDERP]

chris carter signs 3m, 1 year deal with yanks

[Brownie19]

How do you know it will improve the game? And you don't have to ask them but I guarantee they'll let their voices be heard. Twitter is a thing.

 

It's usually in a business' best interests to keep employees happy. Yes, they could say f*** all of you and implement it but that would be met with outrage.

 

And that's what's wrong with the world today. We actually care about ignorant, bias opinions.

 

 

Teachers in Ontario are overpaid (some of the highest paid in North America). Ontario is broke. Reducing their pay while maintaining the level of education is a fairly obvious solution.....but we make the mistake of asking the teachers and their union and low and behold they don't see the big picture and are against taking a pay cut. Shocker. They kick and scream and hold the children hostage...and when it's all done, I get to hear about how both my neighbours took a "sick day" to get their f***ing flu shots.

 

If they don't like it, fire them and hire one of the abundant number of part time/supply teachers who'd LOVE a full time job. Similarly, if pitchers don't want to make a simple adjustment, while making millions of dollars - send them to Korea and call up the next arm.

 

There have to be big picture people at the top who can review all the information and make good decisions without fielding opinions from those who will clearly be bias on the subject.

[Brownie19]

Their Union wouldn't stand for that. Regardless, I don't see it happening anytime soon.(If ever)

 

Then fire them and hire new umpires. If all they do is relay the call from an ear piece, then they are extremely replaceable. Who gives a F what the union says.

 

 

I'm going to move on from this/my rant now....sorry guys.

[Terminator]

chris carter signs 3m, 1 year deal with yanks

 

Nice deal for the Yanks. Meanwhile Smoak is signed for 2 years, 8.4 mil.

[Spanky__99]

Then fire them and hire new umpires. If all they do is relay the call from an ear piece, then they are extremely replaceable. Who gives a F what the union says.

 

 

I'm going to move on from this/my rant now....sorry guys.

 

lol

[Spanky__99]

Nice deal for the Yanks. Meanwhile Smoak is signed for 2 years, 8.4 mil.

 

Hindsight, bro. I too would've loved Carter manning 1B over Smoak(when he plays).

[BigCecil]

Nice deal for the Yanks. Meanwhile Smoak is signed for 2 years, 8.4 mil.

 

Not sure ill ever really understand the need for that move when they did it. I THINK I get the rationale at the time, but its Smoak. Almost the definition of replaceable. Oh well.

 

Sweet deal for the Yanks.

[L54]

I'm still struggling to understand how a higher strike zone improves the game. It's not going to improve pace, casuals don't really give a s*** and it may slightly enhance the entertainment value of the 1% who are OCD about every single call being exactly right.

 

To me it's the equivalent of the NHL having 3 guys upstairs calling every penalty they see, because heaven forbid someone faces some adversity.

[L54]

Then fire them and hire new umpires. If all they do is relay the call from an ear piece, then they are extremely replaceable. Who gives a F what the union says.

 

 

I'm going to move on from this/my rant now....sorry guys.

 

You can't just fire someone from the union.

[Terminator]

Not sure ill ever really understand the need for that move when they did it. I THINK I get the rationale at the time, but its Smoak. Almost the definition of replaceable. Oh well.

 

Sweet deal for the Yanks.

 

Yeah he walks and he hits the ball hard so there was some upside I suppose. Problem is those skills don't translate very well to his results and there was a glut of better players available this offseason.

 

On top of it, if CC for 3 mil makes Smoak's 8.4 mil look bad, it does the same to Morales' 33 million. I still don't get that one. Otherwise I think it's been a good offseason.

[glory]

Justin Smoak better be a late bloomer. Rarely see such a low AAV by baseball standards ($4m) look so terrible.

[BigCecil]

Yeah he walks and he hits the ball hard so there was some upside I suppose. Problem is those skills don't translate very well to his results and there was a glut of better players available this offseason.

 

On top of it, if CC for 3 mil makes Smoak's 8.4 mil look bad, it does the same to Morales' 33 million. I still don't get that one. Otherwise I think it's been a good offseason.

 

Ya. I think Morales was just a clear misread on the one dimensional power market, and a panic reaction to deal with Edwin and his agent also misreading it. At the time they also thought Jose was toast. When they looked at Trumbo, Carter, Napoli etc I'm sure they wanted someone who could hit from the left side. They got stung with an extra year and more AAV than they needed to pay...but just about everyone was wrong on that market so I can't fault them. I hope to f*** he is good in the RC, and healthy.

 

I struggle with the Smoak thing more even though its a much smaller deal, because it was an isolated self inflicted wound.

[Frenchsoup]

I'm still struggling to understand how a higher strike zone improves the game. It's not going to improve pace, casuals don't really give a s*** and it may slightly enhance the entertainment value of the 1% who are OCD about every single call being exactly right.

 

To me it's the equivalent of the NHL having 3 guys upstairs calling every penalty they see, because heaven forbid someone faces some adversity.

 

The curveball gm's probably want the higher strike zone.

[wk680]

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

 

While I understand the point you are making, the 70% to which you refer also includes times where they may hit the ball well but just unlucky to be hit right at a defender or someone makes a good defensive play to take away a hit. Thus the emergence of advanced stats on % of balls in play with hard contact, barreled balls, etc.

 

I am in favor of using automation to help with improving the accuracy in ball/strike calling. But the adoption of such a system won't be without it's downside/pitfalls. For example how will the system account for players of differing stature? Or will it just submit Altuve and Aaron Judge, for example, to the same generic strike zone?

[Brownie19]

You can't just fire someone from the union.

 

Caterpillar never had any issue with it.

[Brownie19]

I'm still struggling to understand how a higher strike zone improves the game. It's not going to improve pace, casuals don't really give a s*** and it may slightly enhance the entertainment value of the 1% who are OCD about every single call being exactly right.

 

To me it's the equivalent of the NHL having 3 guys upstairs calling every penalty they see, because heaven forbid someone faces some adversity.

 

I think you're confusing and combining issues here. They are proposing to raise the strike zone to increase the number of balls put in play and/or in the air. The thought is the zone is so low now that pitchers can get strikes called on pitches that hitters can't do s*** with (or something like that - I'm paraphrasing a ton).

 

You're talk about OCD and NHL refs calling penalties from the booth sounds like you're referring to robo umps. They aren't proposing that - people on here are simply discussing it because it's seen as a big issue.

[Grant77]

Ya. I think Morales was just a clear misread on the one dimensional power market, and a panic reaction to deal with Edwin and his agent also misreading it. At the time they also thought Jose was toast. When they looked at Trumbo, Carter, Napoli etc I'm sure they wanted someone who could hit from the left side. They got stung with an extra year and more AAV than they needed to pay...but just about everyone was wrong on that market so I can't fault them. I hope to f*** he is good in the RC, and healthy.

 

I struggle with the Smoak thing more even though its a much smaller deal, because it was an isolated self inflicted wound.

 

They must have expected teams like the Nationals, Brewers, Mariners, Yankees, Royals, etc. to be more heavily involved in the DH market. Otherwise, there were many more quality hitters than available spots. Many of us on this forum were preaching patience with Edwin because of this obvious fact. I'd love to hear an honest explanation some day because it still makes no logical sense at all.