Baseball

[DMac]

Saw a stolen base on the highlights, pitcher had thrown over twice, runner took a huge lead on the next pitch and stole second. Not thinking I like this rule.

[Brooklyn]

^ yeah, might be a good idea if it prolongs the game -- we will have to wait and see if it does

[FannOLax]

Saw a stolen base on the highlights, pitcher had thrown over twice, runner took a huge lead on the next pitch and stole second. Not thinking I like this rule.

Hmmm, I haven't been paying attention to MLB rule changes; but my impression is that the powers that be are trying to speed up the game to make it more appealing to potential fans. The thing is, baseball has always had its own slow, lazy rhythm, like dusk slowly setting in over the Green Monster in Boston. No clock, no bedtime for kids since it's summer, and sure the kids get a bit bored, but it's pleasant to wallow in the luxury of boredom. So speeding up the game, trying to adapt it to the fast pace of video games and pop-up ads might just erode what made the sport the "national pastime."

[Brooklyn]

Hmmm, I haven't been paying attention to MLB rule changes; but my impression is that the powers that be are trying to speed up the game to make it more appealing to potential fans. The thing is, baseball has always had its own slow, lazy rhythm, like dusk slowly setting in over the Green Monster in Boston. No clock, no bedtime for kids since it's summer, and sure the kids get a bit bored, but it's pleasant to wallow in the luxury of boredom. So speeding up the game, trying to adapt it to the fast pace of video games and pop-up ads might just erode what made the sport the "national pastime."

Not so Fann. It's just that the game of baseball was never meant to be played at a snail's pace the way it evolved into during the modern era.

The game of baseball was meant to be played at a quick, intense pace. Do some research and you will find that over 100 years ago the average game time was less than 2 hours. For example:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1908_World_Series


The 1908 World Series in which games averaged only about 90 minutes.

When I was a kid growing up in God's Country Major League games were only about 2 hours. Double headers no more than 4 hours. Amateur games (7 innings) were about 75 minutes at most. We played the hybrid game called hard ball* and most games were only an hour. Because of the brevity of the games we often played double & triple headers back in the day. The strike zone was so large that I was able to pitch several double headers - my arm would be exhausted at the end of the day. I would rub it with Ben Gay or Heet. Wrap it up. Go to sleep. And then I would pitch again the next day.

It is no secret why pitchers no longer throw complete games or shut outs like they did in the old days. Let's bring back the old strike zone and you will baseball played the way it was mean to be. Trust me, it is MUCH more fun than the pukie game it became from the 80's to last year.

Local news media reported that the Twins opener last night was 2:35. It if were up to me, I'd pare off another 20 minutes at the very least. That's the real game of baseball to me.


*hard ball was the most fun sport I ever played

[Brooklyn]

I just watched tonight's game between the Mets & Marlins ~ a victory for the latter of 2-1

https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1CAKS ... 14;dt;fp;1;;;

https://stories.mlb.com/live/718771.html

Game took 2:09 ~ that, to me, is absolutely fabulous. That's the type of pace the game was meant to be played in.

MLB calculated that the season openers this year took 25 minutes less time than last year. But, ironically enough, the games had MORE, not less offense than those played last year.


So good to see old school baseball again. I'll do my best to watch plenty of games this season.

[Brooklyn]

sad news ~ Midway youth baseball league in St Paul is no more:


https://sports.yahoo.com/st-paul-midway ... 00803.html
https://www.facebook.com/www.midwaybaseball.org/






Area sandlots gave us Paul Molitor, Dave Winfield, and Joe Mauer who helped establish this league. I attended many a game there at St Paul's Midway section and it was much fun.

[Brooklyn]

Glen Kuiper, A's announcer, suspended for using a racialist term when discussing the old Negro Leagues

https://www.google.com/search?q=glen+ku ... e&ie=UTF-8



My own feeling is that the suspension should be lifted - after all, he has suffered enough, Negro League museum officials have forgiven him*, and his remark was an accident, not a hot mic situation.



*https://www.kansascity.com/opinion/edit ... 97401.html



Thoughts?

[Brooklyn]

Glen Kuiper, A's announcer, suspended for using a racialist term when discussing the old Negro Leagues

https://www.google.com/search?q=glen+ku ... e&ie=UTF-8



My own feeling is that the suspension should be lifted - after all, he has suffered enough, Negro League museum officials have forgiven him*, and his remark was an accident, not a hot mic situation.



*https://www.kansascity.com/opinion/edit ... 97401.html



Thoughts?

Kuiper FIRED. Perhaps there was some history there that we are not aware of.

[Brooklyn]

I love cricket and regret that it is not more popular in the States as it was prior to the year 1900.

Here's a reason why people should watch more of it:


https://youtu.be/R3xh7menalU



What a catch!

[SCLaxAttack]

I love cricket and regret that it is not more popular in the States as it was prior to the year 1900.

Here's a reason why people should watch more of it:


https://youtu.be/R3xh7menalU



What a catch!

I’ll say (to both the game and that catch). My paternal grandfather was a founder of the Brooklyn Cricket Club after immigrating from his native Barbados in 1919. My dad also played for BCC until moving to LI in ‘58. He then played pick-up cricket on weekends at a polo field on the North Shore until us kids took precedence on weekends. I still have his last bat, now over 70 years old.

[DMac]

If you step over the marker there with the ball it's a HR? That's the reason for the toss?
Know nothing about cricket.

[Brooklyn]

If you step over the marker there with the ball it's a HR? That's the reason for the toss?
Know nothing about cricket.

If the batted ball goes over the boundary it is a sixer ~ six runs. The girl there stopped the ball from going over the boundary and caught it before it hit the ground. Therefore, the batsman is OUT.


I love cricket!

[Brooklyn]

I love cricket and regret that it is not more popular in the States as it was prior to the year 1900.

Here's a reason why people should watch more of it:


https://youtu.be/R3xh7menalU



What a catch!

I’ll say (to both the game and that catch). My paternal grandfather was a founder of the Brooklyn Cricket Club after immigrating from his native Barbados in 1919. My dad also played for BCC until moving to LI in ‘58. He then played pick-up cricket on weekends at a polo field on the North Shore until us kids took precedence on weekends. I still have his last bat, now over 70 years old.

GREAT story.

Brooklyn had several clubs in the pro league that lasted up to about 1900. Interestingly, East New York had its own club in that league. We won the Championship in 1894 or 95. I enjoy reading the history of the game in NYC during the 1800s.

I remember a story about a cricket dude who passed away around 1849. His newspaper death notice reported on his great passion for the sport. He lived for his next game. The story revealed a very human side to him and to the sport.

Btw, I recommend the 1924 novel The Cricket Match:

https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/2710397


There was an excellent Bollywood movie entitled "Lagann": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0BQ8MOxCTE
Will need English transcription to understand this splendid movie about cricket and what it means to those folks.

[DMac]

If you step over the marker there with the ball it's a HR? That's the reason for the toss?
Know nothing about cricket.

If the batted ball goes over the boundary it is a sixer ~ six runs. The girl there stopped the ball from going over the boundary and caught it before it hit the ground. Therefore, the batsman is OUT.


I love cricket!

Thanks, helluva play.

[Brooklyn]

I’ll say (to both the game and that catch). My paternal grandfather was a founder of the Brooklyn Cricket Club after immigrating from his native Barbados in 1919. My dad also played for BCC until moving to LI in ‘58. He then played pick-up cricket on weekends at a polo field on the North Shore until us kids took precedence on weekends. I still have his last bat, now over 70 years old.

I bet he greatly admired Sir Garfield (Gary Sobers) of Barbadoes who is generally acknowledged as the greatest all rounder in the game's history:


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garfield_Sobers


https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DaBsrIYXkAA ... name=small




Unlike baseball, in cric players often play dual roles as bowler (pitcher) and batsman (batter). They also play a field position. Except for the wicket keeper (catcher) players do not use gloves unless they are batting as illustrated above.

[Brooklyn]

GREAT story from the world of pro baseball =



Chicago White Sox reliever Liam Hendriks recorded his first win of the 2023 season Sunday, which is also recognized as National Cancer Survivors Day


https://www.si.com/fannation/mlb/fastba ... vivors-day






Let's wish him a LONG and healthy life.

[Brooklyn]

cricket as compared to baseball ~ good summary:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWpbtLIxYBkm

[Brooklyn]

Catholic high school semi from NY:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJft8P6fwAg



rain delay couldn't dampen this classic

[youthathletics]

Great NCAA WS game right now. 6-4 Vols bottom of 7th

[Brooklyn]

As everybody knows, the NY Yankees are the greatest team in baseball and in all sports. Many of the players/managers numbers have been retired:

https://www.mlb.com/yankees/history/retired-numbers


What always puzzled me was why 35 (Ralph Houk's number) was not retired. I understand that he and George Steinbrenner did not get along all that well. Perhaps that is why. Sad because his contributions to the team's great success cannot be denied.





https://baseballhall.org/sites/default/ ... k=kSTT9YaV



https://baseballhall.org/sites/default/ ... k=5imtpVo4