don't get the Big Joe McGinnity-era 9-game WS suggestions, wtf?
― your generation appalls me (Dr Morbius), Monday, 25 April 2011 21:38 (thirteen years ago) link
i think it'll backfire on them pretty quickly ratings-wise when, say, a 95-win red sox or yankees wild card team loses the one game playoff to a 87-win oakland team
― ciderpress, Monday, 25 April 2011 21:42 (thirteen years ago) link
You can have your seven-game series as long as the dunk tanks and ice cream stay.
xpost
― Andy K, Monday, 25 April 2011 21:46 (thirteen years ago) link
is it really going to be a one-game playoff??
― call all destroyer, Monday, 25 April 2011 22:34 (thirteen years ago) link
decided by a coin toss.
― got electrolytes (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Monday, 25 April 2011 22:47 (thirteen years ago) link
home run derby imo
― call all destroyer, Monday, 25 April 2011 22:48 (thirteen years ago) link
guys, how can the owners make more money unless the playoffs are expanded.
THINK ABOUT THE OWNERS HERE
― secretariat on demand (Z S), Tuesday, 26 April 2011 01:14 (thirteen years ago) link
I'm basically okay with adding a second wild-card team.
Just one more, bringing the total number of WC teams to two, i.e. total number of teams in the playoff per league to five? Do you suggest a bye round/play-in game?
― Matt Groening's Cousin (Leee), Tuesday, 26 April 2011 02:11 (thirteen years ago) link
I haven't heard Shulman say too many stupid things, but Ike Davis is the Mets' prime "untouchable," not Wright? He's wacky in Shastaland.
― your generation appalls me (Dr Morbius), Monday, 2 May 2011 01:10 (thirteen years ago) link
a) he's canadianb) he's served his time as dick vitale's play-by-play man
so he's ok in my book
― mookieproof, Monday, 2 May 2011 01:13 (thirteen years ago) link
I guess b) means he won't be challenging Orel on "productive outs", being grateful he's not working with a talking-dog analyst anymore.
― your generation appalls me (Dr Morbius), Monday, 2 May 2011 01:27 (thirteen years ago) link
Do ILB'ers think in-market/out-of-market distinctions and "local" blackouts will last, or are they going the way of the dodo eventually?
― Stomp! in the name of love (WmC), Monday, 9 May 2011 02:26 (thirteen years ago) link
justin.tv imho
― it's time for the fish in the perculator (Steve Shasta), Monday, 9 May 2011 02:33 (thirteen years ago) link
I know about justin.tv; that wasn't the question.
― Stomp! in the name of love (WmC), Monday, 9 May 2011 02:35 (thirteen years ago) link
eventually we're all dead
― mookieproof, Monday, 9 May 2011 02:42 (thirteen years ago) link
everyone's in a helpful mood today!
― got electrolytes (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Monday, 9 May 2011 02:55 (thirteen years ago) link
I think local blackouts and such will exist until the current model sustaining them collapses. I speculate that it will collapse (and they will subsequently ceases to exist) before baseball itself disappears, and sooner than Western civilization ceases to be, and sooner than humanity will cease to be. If I had to prognosticate I'd guess that we'll be done with blackout local games sometime before 2025.
― Mordy, Monday, 9 May 2011 02:58 (thirteen years ago) link
and that'll be the least of our problems
― resistance does not require a firearm (Dr Morbius), Monday, 9 May 2011 03:32 (thirteen years ago) link
mordy otm
― mookieproof, Monday, 9 May 2011 03:37 (thirteen years ago) link
betancourt made a crazy glove flip double play tonight
― You Get Hoynes (bnw), Tuesday, 10 May 2011 02:24 (thirteen years ago) link
Do ILB'ers think in-market/out-of-market distinctions and "local" blackouts will last, or are they going the way of the dodo eventually?― Stomp! in the name of love (WmC), Sunday, May 8, 2011 10:26 PM (Yesterday) Bookmark
― Stomp! in the name of love (WmC), Sunday, May 8, 2011 10:26 PM (Yesterday) Bookmark
if you follow the logic behind blackouts it's pretty comical:
i can't view a local game online because it's blacked out, i also can't get to a tv set right now. that blackout protection is in place to prop up the nielsen ratings and make sure that online and portable devices don't erode those numbers. media buyers use those nielsen numbers (established in the 1960's) to determine the size of audience, and commensurate value and dollar amount they are willing to pay to reach that audience.
so an outdated broken metric plus the fact that no one knows how to consolidate online and mobile audience numbers into the tv viewership numbers is why you can't watch your local team wherever and whenever you want to.
― sanskrit, Tuesday, 10 May 2011 02:52 (thirteen years ago) link
Maury Brown from the Biz of Baseball has covered this issue very well for the last few years (also a map to see who get what):
http://www.bizofbaseball.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5155:mlb-extra-innings-and-mlbtv-consumers-deserve-better-treatment-by-mlb&catid=26:editorials&Itemid=39
Since this is the beginning of the season, the annual rite of passage hits my in-box and Twitter feed. "Is MLB going to do anything about the blackout policy?" Here’s the short answer: No.And, it’s not just, "No" this year, it’s likely to be years to come – maybe never – before the Lords of Baseball decide to do the right thing for its best customers. When asked if the topic of the blackout policy had been a serious topic for the owners to discuss as part of any recent agenda items, a high placed MLB source said, "It has certainly been a topic of conversation at owners meetings but it is a complicated issue with the regional TV networks that have contractual rights to specific territories."To that I say, bollocks...
And, it’s not just, "No" this year, it’s likely to be years to come – maybe never – before the Lords of Baseball decide to do the right thing for its best customers. When asked if the topic of the blackout policy had been a serious topic for the owners to discuss as part of any recent agenda items, a high placed MLB source said, "It has certainly been a topic of conversation at owners meetings but it is a complicated issue with the regional TV networks that have contractual rights to specific territories."
To that I say, bollocks...
― Bee OK, Tuesday, 10 May 2011 03:07 (thirteen years ago) link
Was watching the Civil Rights Game ceremonies, and I think Jesse Jackson is losing it as far as cognitive abilities (shaddup Morbs). He did ok introducing Ernie Banks (though the intro was only one sentence), but kept trying to put a medal around Banks' neck while Banks was trying to get a hug and a handshake first.
― Stomp! in the name of love (WmC), Sunday, 15 May 2011 17:41 (thirteen years ago) link
Oakland general manager Billy Beane became the first MLB executive to issue a directive to a catcher on his team in the aftermath of the home-plate collision that ended the season of Giants catcher Buster Posey.Beane told A's catcher Kurt Suzuki he wanted him to avoid putting himself in harm's way."I said to him, 'I don't want you planting yourself in front of the plate waiting to get creamed. You're an Athletic catcher -- be athletic,' " Beane told ESPN."I don't subscribe to the theory you should be a crash-test dummy," Beane said he told Suzuki. "I don't want to lose you for six months."Beane said he joked with Suzuki that he can only think of a couple runs in major league history that would make it worth taking such a risk.The directive, which Beane shared with A's manager Bob Geren, takes the onus off Suzuki, who will now not have to worry about criticism if he steps to the side and opts for a sweep tag.There have been similar discussions in other organizations that have not yet been made public, according to major league sources.As for any potential rules changes to protect catchers, which have been suggested by some after the Posey injury, an MLB source said there haven't been a lot of conversations in the league office, but that the Giants today reached out to discuss their ideas.
Beane told A's catcher Kurt Suzuki he wanted him to avoid putting himself in harm's way.
"I said to him, 'I don't want you planting yourself in front of the plate waiting to get creamed. You're an Athletic catcher -- be athletic,' " Beane told ESPN.
"I don't subscribe to the theory you should be a crash-test dummy," Beane said he told Suzuki. "I don't want to lose you for six months."
Beane said he joked with Suzuki that he can only think of a couple runs in major league history that would make it worth taking such a risk.
The directive, which Beane shared with A's manager Bob Geren, takes the onus off Suzuki, who will now not have to worry about criticism if he steps to the side and opts for a sweep tag.
There have been similar discussions in other organizations that have not yet been made public, according to major league sources.
As for any potential rules changes to protect catchers, which have been suggested by some after the Posey injury, an MLB source said there haven't been a lot of conversations in the league office, but that the Giants today reached out to discuss their ideas.
― A Chuck Person's Guide to Mark Aguirre (Andy K), Wednesday, 1 June 2011 12:30 (twelve years ago) link
"you're an Athletic -- be athletic" would be a good season rolling thread title
― johnny crunch, Wednesday, 1 June 2011 13:50 (twelve years ago) link
mlb draft coming up in a couple days. kinda excited for it even tho my team is now controlled by mlb and unable to sign players over slot. that being said Ive read that the draft is crazy deep and I think we can still get value without "cheating".
― strongly recommend. unless you're a bitch (mayor jingleberries), Wednesday, 1 June 2011 19:24 (twelve years ago) link
http://www.plunkeveryone.com/
― mookieproof, Friday, 10 June 2011 22:33 (twelve years ago) link
that's a great site.
― magic punani (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Saturday, 11 June 2011 00:24 (twelve years ago) link
i sometimes want to start a thread in the vein of "local announcers subtly phrasing things in awesome ways" thanks to my local guys.just a few minutes ago they were talking about the Yankees game and how Tex had just got plunked and then went on to say that the yankees "did not cope with that well" in regards to the subsequent scuffle. made me laugh.
― magic punani (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Saturday, 11 June 2011 00:29 (twelve years ago) link
24/30 teams have btwn 28-36 wins
― johnny crunch, Saturday, 11 June 2011 15:51 (twelve years ago) link
no wonder some ppl can't tell which teams are "awful"
― already president FYI (Dr Morbius), Saturday, 11 June 2011 21:19 (twelve years ago) link
Opinions on possible realignment?
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=6651634
― Huey "Keytar" Smith (WmC), Monday, 13 June 2011 01:01 (twelve years ago) link
15/15 doesn't make sense to me. I don't like the idea that some team will be doing interleague on the last three days of the season.
― polyphonic, Monday, 13 June 2011 01:08 (twelve years ago) link
Two highly ranked executives believe the Houston Astros would be a possibility, because a switch to the AL for Houston would foster a rivalry between the Astros and the Texas Rangers.
Oh, boy. Can't wait.
― A Chuck Person's Guide to Mark Aguirre (Andy K), Monday, 13 June 2011 01:22 (twelve years ago) link
why not send Milwaukee back?
― magic punani (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Monday, 13 June 2011 01:25 (twelve years ago) link
Q: has the '...to foster a rivalry' method of alignment/scheduling ever worked?
A: No
― Elegant Bitch (Jimmy The Mod Awaits The Return Of His Beloved), Monday, 13 June 2011 05:06 (twelve years ago) link
i think that it has, actually, although it won't matter until the rivalry teams are both good, which i don't see the astros being for a while
*does not apply to professional sports teams in florida
― mookieproof, Monday, 13 June 2011 05:13 (twelve years ago) link
to prev. question: why would there have to be an interleague game "every day"?
― Elegant Bitch (Jimmy The Mod Awaits The Return Of His Beloved), Monday, 13 June 2011 05:42 (twelve years ago) link
i honestly don't understand why that would be a thing
16 vs. 14 = even15 vs. 15 = odd
odd = at least one team in each league that would need to play interleague game.
― it's a meme i made and i like (Steve Shasta), Monday, 13 June 2011 05:48 (twelve years ago) link
cause you'd have 15 teams in each league, ie 7 play 7 in each league then the 15th teams play each other.
neyer suggested pitting shitty teams (based on the previous season's record) against each other in the final week for the interleague teams. it'll bite you sooner or later, but whatever.
― mookieproof, Monday, 13 June 2011 05:50 (twelve years ago) link
you wouldn't HAVE to have interleague every day but the alternative is staggering the schedule in a goofy way such that teams have weekend days off. right now every team plays every fri/sat/sun which is of course the optimal thing financially.
― ciderpress, Monday, 13 June 2011 05:53 (twelve years ago) link
it wouldn't be literally every day -- probably skip some mondays/thursdays -- but yeah
― mookieproof, Monday, 13 June 2011 06:09 (twelve years ago) link
just create two more franchises, duh
― sanskrit, Monday, 13 June 2011 19:45 (twelve years ago) link
It would probably be better to get rid of two franchises.
― earlnash, Tuesday, 14 June 2011 22:16 (twelve years ago) link
Nah, they're too profitable. Even the Pirates are raking in the dough.
Are there any clubs in the red besides the Dodgers?
― it's a meme i made and i like (Steve Shasta), Tuesday, 14 June 2011 23:05 (twelve years ago) link
i think it would be more fun to guess what B-grade cities might qualify for a MLB franchise.
― magic punani (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Tuesday, 14 June 2011 23:07 (twelve years ago) link
Las Vegas, Portland, Sacramento
― it's a meme i made and i like (Steve Shasta), Tuesday, 14 June 2011 23:08 (twelve years ago) link
Hartford, New Jersey
― magic punani (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Tuesday, 14 June 2011 23:09 (twelve years ago) link
hamilton, winnipeg, fremont
― mookieproof, Tuesday, 14 June 2011 23:12 (twelve years ago) link
Watching the Rangers-Rays game, I realize I'm close to the point where Buck Martinez's voice is nails-on-a-chalkboard for me, maybe because I've put in extra time with him on local Jays broadcasts.
― clemenza, Monday, 3 October 2011 22:31 (twelve years ago) link
yeah the announcers have been terrible so far. the only decent one is Brian Anderson. maybe this is just because fans of the teams watch so many games and thus are exposed to so much more, but it's crazy just how often these guys are totally off base on just about everything. it's not enough that they suck at calling the games!― frogbs, Monday, October 3, 2011 5:46 PM (53 minutes ago) Bookmark
― frogbs, Monday, October 3, 2011 5:46 PM (53 minutes ago) Bookmark
I've liked him fine during Brewers telecasts, but he has been absolutely terrible during the ALDS.
― A Chuck Person's Guide to Mark Aguirre (Andy K), Monday, 3 October 2011 22:43 (twelve years ago) link
Would Jason Giambi make a good commentator? He's got to be approaching the end (though all signs point to him being on the Rockies' 25-man in 2012) and seems to be full of personality - I understand he's one of the most popular players in the locker room.
― Mark C, Tuesday, 4 October 2011 14:19 (twelve years ago) link
I'm 100% in favor of Giambi as commentator if he throws "Your wish is granted, long live Giambi" out there at least once a day.
― Antonio Carlos Broheem (WmC), Tuesday, 4 October 2011 14:22 (twelve years ago) link
how so? tbh I thought the ones going the NLDS for Milwaukee/Arizona were awful because they knew absolutely nothing about the teams but kinda yammered on about them anyway, at some point just making things up. I suppose I wouldn't really know if the other announcers were doing the same things...
― frogbs, Tuesday, 4 October 2011 15:25 (twelve years ago) link
Michael Kay -- I mean Brian Anderson -- on Garcia having to remove a bracelet:"...the Tigers searching for any possible advantage..."― A Chuck Person's Guide to Mark Aguirre (Andy K), Sunday, October 2, 2011 3:37 PM (2 days ago) Bookmark
"...the Tigers searching for any possible advantage..."
― A Chuck Person's Guide to Mark Aguirre (Andy K), Sunday, October 2, 2011 3:37 PM (2 days ago) Bookmark
Also, Brian Anderson: Tiger Stadium has been demolished. The Tigers do not play there.― A Chuck Person's Guide to Mark Aguirre (Andy K), Sunday, October 2, 2011 3:39 PM (2 days ago) Bookmark
― A Chuck Person's Guide to Mark Aguirre (Andy K), Sunday, October 2, 2011 3:39 PM (2 days ago) Bookmark
Cabrera ranging too close to second has been a "constant theme for the Tigers this year." Probably the first time I've seen it happen all season. It was a problem when Cabrera first converted from third, though (years ago).― A Chuck Person's Guide to Mark Aguirre (Andy K), Sunday, October 2, 2011 3:57 PM (2 days ago) Bookmark
― A Chuck Person's Guide to Mark Aguirre (Andy K), Sunday, October 2, 2011 3:57 PM (2 days ago) Bookmark
He wasn't bad for game three, but there are several other things I could have posted about, including his reaction to Russell Martin making a routine block on a pitch in the dirt. Something like "For a catcher, that's like hitting a home run!" It's not like preventing a runner from advancing?
― A Chuck Person's Guide to Mark Aguirre (Andy K), Tuesday, 4 October 2011 15:42 (twelve years ago) link
Yeah I admit that what he says doesn't really line up with the facts sometimes but really very few announcers do that. I like BA because he has a good sense of the moment and has a good voice for TV, plus he can inject a little humor sometimes which is always welcome (at least, on the Brewers broadcasts). A lot of national announcers may not be terribly different but they don't really have "the voice". He's always struck me as fairly knowledgeable though. I guess it must be hell to have to suddenly announce another team as there are so many things to learn. It annoyed me on the NLDS broadcasts because the announcers were giving shit to the Brewers for doing things like "watching their home runs", c'mon nobody on the Crew does that (outside of Braun's big one that clinched a playoff berth), that's the Cardinals! I mean you can give them shit for untucking years ago, or the "beast mode" thing, or whatever Nyjer Morgan does, but come on, if you're gonna rail on a team at least get the facts right
― frogbs, Tuesday, 4 October 2011 15:47 (twelve years ago) link