In addition to Peacock getting games, Apple TV now has exclusive Friday night games.
Keep killing the Golden Goose
I didn’t watch the Nats game last night, but as I understand it, the Apple TV+ broadcasters just wouldn’t shut the hell up. Nats fans in the Facebook group I’m in were ragging on them all night.
The home plate umpiring so far between Toronto and Texas has just been appalling. Not a homer statement; it’s been dreadful for both teams. Pitches way out being called strikes, pitches clearly strikes being called balls, at bats being completely changed. It’s just brutal. Robot umps now please.
I can’t agree with this more. But of course I sat through Laz Diaz yesterday who is one of the worst at calling balls and strikes. At least it wasn’t Joe West.
According to Umpire Scorecards | Umpires Laz Diaz got 16 pitches wrong. The second most so far this season. Last year he was 5th worst behind such wonders Joe West & Angel Hernandez. Greg Gibson & Ted Barrett were the other two.
And Diaz wasn’t even the worst performer on Opening Day; Jerry Layne blew 18. That can really alter a game.
While it’s not always true, the worst performers are usually the older umps, and the best are usually younger.
I’m still amazed that guys that have been notoriously bad for decades get to keep their jobs.
Laz I feel would benefit from the robot pitch calling. He seems OK at the rest of his job. Joe West & Angel Hernandez should have been eased out or fired over 10 years ago. They’re embarrassing to baseball.
I didn’t watch the Nats game last night, because when I tried to sign up, it said my email wasn’t valid. I figured there would be some kind of a glitch.
I cannot think of a professional sport anywhere that is so held up in progress by its referees’ union.
The manner in which baseball is officiated really doesn’t make any logical sense.
I actually like one change- the electronic communication between catcher and pitcher. I think it speeds up the game and makes cheating like the Astros did nearly impossible.
Two wins over Bosox and I’d be feeling good but: not happy with the way the Judge contract was handled and I wish Gallo would try to be more of a contact hitter. Not missing Voit when Rizzo has been productive and definitely not missing Sanchez. I’m liking Donaldson’s enthusiasm and Stanton seems dialed in.
Are they doing that already? I’m fine with it.
I also admit that I was surprised in the Rangers-Jays opener when, after challenges, the umpiring crew chief had to face the press box and announce precisely what had happened and they’d been mic’ed up. “After review, the runner is called out. Three out, Rangers batting, Texas retains their challenge.” It made things clear to the fans what precisely was being called and was also quite dramatic.
Gallo clearly doesn’t even want to try, given that he was the biggest whiner about banning the shift.
The Yankees-Judge thing I just don’t get; what the hell is going on there? Clearly there is some bad blood, right? The Yankees announcing what they offered is really weird and kind of unprofessional, a clear effort to get the fans on their side in what should really just be a business deal, and Judge seemed oddly hurt by it, saying “it stings” that the Yankees only offered him $210,000,000 and by the way anyone who says being offered that much money “stings” can go fuck himself. If you think you can get more that’s cool, but it’s a business arrangement and thinking you’re somehow hurt by being offered more money than whole families will ever see is why the revolution is coming.
I’m not close to the NYC sports media; what the hell happened here?
Yeah they’re doing the electronic sign thing now. Link.
Major League Baseball will permit pitchers and catchers to relay signals via electronic devices during the 2022 season, the league confirmed Tuesday. Use of the devices to coordinate pitch selection between pitcher and catcher would make it all but impossible for opposing teams to steal signals, which has been an issue of increasing concern since the Astros’ sign-stealing scandal came to light.
Don’t worry, the Astros and Bill Belichick are working together to hack the tech.
I really hate to say it, but the smart move is letting Judge sign elsewhere. Or trading him at the deadline if the team is foundering. Paying big money for a 280lb outfielder in his age 30 to 40 decade is almost guaranteed to disappoint. The smart move would have been locking up a few of his free agent years after his 2017 season with an extension. And if it turns out he can’t play in Canada this season, good riddance.
I like Judge, I would have risked the extension that was offered.
At the same time I hope Canada stands by their rules and shame Judge for being the idiot he appears to be.
Elsewhere in baseball, 20-year-old phenom Roki Sasaki pitched a 19-strikeout perfect game, the first perfect game in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), the top pro league in Japan, since 1994.
Any chance we can get him to come to Washington?
Pretty cool. All 19 strikeouts (14 or 15 swinging!)
“Stop trying to strike everybody out! Strikeouts are boring; what’s more, they’re fascist. Throw some ground balls. More democratic.”
–Crash Davis, Bull Durham
But no, seriously, I am impressed. Put a Curly W on this guy, like, as soon as we can, please.
The Orioles are looking at….Matt Harvey?
The O’s have a multitude of problems and Matt Harvey isn’t the solution to any of them.
Well, it was a short season for me. Dbacks drop the next three, reverting to season form. Hello, cellar, we’ve missed you.
is curling on?
A bit of a surprise as far as MLB batting leaders thus far. Steven Kwan is hitting .800 for Cleveland (8/10) after three games, should be a shoo-in for rookie of the year if he keeps that up. The Dodgers may be interested in a trade for Mookie Betts.
Mark Canha of the Mets is hitting .700 (7 hits in 10 at bats), 453 points over his lifetime average.
April is fun.