Did that seem to you all like an awful lot of broken bats for one game?
Must be the damned humidor.
The length of the game didn’t matter to me since I was working, proofreading, throughout it and looked up at the TV only when what I heard indicated something interesting had happened.
[QUOTE=EddyTeddyFreddy]
The length of the game didn’t matter to me since I was working, proofreading, throughout it and looked up at the TV only when what I heard indicated something interesting had happened.
[/QUOTE]
I was doing pretty much the same thing, and the late hour of the finishing doesn’t really worry me too much.
But one of the reasons that i choose to do other stuff during games, rather than sit and focus solely on the game itself, is precisely because there’s so much downtime during these playoff games.
[QUOTE=mhendo]
Another outrageously, ridiculously long game. Four hours and 19 minutes. Two hundred and fifty-nine fucking minutes for nine innings of baseball. I know that higher-scoring games tend to go longer, but even a 10-5 game shouldn’t take anywhere near that long.
According to the retrosheet-provided game stats i have on my computer, which only go up to the end of 2004 (i need to update my database) there were 993 games with a 10-5 scoreline between 1886 and 2004. Of those, we have game times for 539 games, and the average time for games with a 10-5 scoreline is 173 minutes, or under three hours.
If we look only at more recent games, in order to account for overall changes in the way baseball is played and run, we still get an average of only 185 minutes for the 169 10-5 games played in the ten seasons 1995-2004 inclusive. That just a tad over 3 hours. This game took a full hour and a quarter longer than the average, regular-season 10-5 game.
In fact, this was the fifth-longest 10-5 game ever, and the four games that went longer all went well into extra innings.
June 19, 1987 NYY-BOS 13th 302 minutes
June 5, 1994 MON-CHC 13th 283 minutes
Sept. 12, 1980 CHC-NYM 14th 268 minutes
Aug. 7, 1994 CHW-CAL 12th 267 minutes
No wonder non-fans say that baseball is slow and boring. It’s not the game itself that’s slow; it’s all the interminable shit that they put in between, including FOX getting extra commercial time between half-innings and pitching changes. It sucks.
[/QUOTE]
I’m with you on this. The World Series is supposed to be baseball’s showcase. Instead, the coverage is deadened by so much filler and inaction. Like when FOX slips a handful of “brought to you bys” in between the second out and next at bat in an inning. It takes at least 30 seconds for Joe Buck to read that ad copy. What happens if the pitcher throws to the batter–do we just miss that pitch (and any potential outcome)? No, probably not, because I’m guessing they have the umpire hold up play until the shilling is done. *And that’s in the middle of an inning. *Small wonder then that the games slow down and last too long. And then everyone sits around scratching their heads over why the games set yet another record low in ratings.
A few observations:
I figured out why I’ve been so annoyed with the Red Sox bullpen and their impromptu symphonies: making noise is supposed to be the province of the fans, not the players. Certainly not professional players. You figure just about any dugout or bullpen in the game can make that sort of noise in any given game. Usually, they don’t, I suspect because most players would consider it bush league. In fact, given how concerned baseball players are about being “shown up,” I’m amazed that there hasn’t been any comment (or even action) from the other team. The whole thing says a lot about the Red Sox, and why a formerly admirable team has lately become such a turn off. They’re out there making all that noise to draw attention to themselves, and that’s been Boston’s m.o. for several years now. This series has been the Rockies vs. the Cockies, and I’m just not a big fan of that second team.
Jason Varitek is really egregious about catching the ball and bringing his glove into the zone (as opposed to “framing” the pitch). Lots of catchers do that, but he does it on almost every pitch. Worse, sometimes he gets strike calls by doing that. You’d think the ump would at least show us the courtesy of actually watching the pitch pass in or out of the strike zone, instead of taking visual advice from the catcher on his call. After all, he is getting paid to watch that himself.
OK, I’m convinced: Matt Holliday, M-V-P. I know the vote is based on the regular season, but the way he turned on that pitch and took it out to center, in such a crucial moment, won me over. If he takes the award instead of J. Rollins, I’ve got no complaints. That holds true even given his last at bat, where his drive fell short.
In fact, I’d say that’s pretty much the verdict on the Rockies in this series: just falling short. Just not quite good enough. Too many balls they didn’t quite get to, too many drives to the warning track, too many base runners who didn’t quite score. Almost but not quite. But they look like they have a bright future, so there’s some consolation.
But this is enough for me. This Series is over, and I can’t see myself watching tomorrow night’s game when I think it’s a foregone conclusion. Congratulations to the Red Sox and all that. Time to rest up until next Spring.
Later.
[QUOTE=John DiFool]
3-0. I don’t think this team can be stopped.
[/QUOTE]
I’m a Yankee fan, talk to me about a team looking like it was unstoppable with a 3-0 lead.
Not that I expect the Rockies to come back, but we already know that anything is possible.
Jim
[QUOTE=Not A Tame Lion]
I’m with you on this. The World Series is supposed to be baseball’s showcase. Instead, the coverage is deadened by so much filler and inaction. Like when FOX slips a handful of “brought to you bys” in between the second out and next at bat in an inning. It takes at least 30 seconds for Joe Buck to read that ad copy. What happens if the pitcher throws to the batter–do we just miss that pitch (and any potential outcome)? No, probably not, because I’m guessing they have the umpire hold up play until the shilling is done. *And that’s in the middle of an inning. *Small wonder then that the games slow down and last too long. And then everyone sits around scratching their heads over why the games set yet another record low in ratings.
A few observations:
I figured out why I’ve been so annoyed with the Red Sox bullpen and their impromptu symphonies: making noise is supposed to be the province of the fans, not the players. Certainly not professional players. You figure just about any dugout or bullpen in the game can make that sort of noise in any given game. Usually, they don’t, I suspect because most players would consider it bush league. In fact, given how concerned baseball players are about being “shown up,” I’m amazed that there hasn’t been any comment (or even action) from the other team. The whole thing says a lot about the Red Sox, and why a formerly admirable team has lately become such a turn off. They’re out there making all that noise to draw attention to themselves, and that’s been Boston’s m.o. for several years now. This series has been the Rockies vs. the Cockies, and I’m just not a big fan of that second team.
Jason Varitek is really egregious about catching the ball and bringing his glove into the zone (as opposed to “framing” the pitch). Lots of catchers do that, but he does it on almost every pitch. Worse, sometimes he gets strike calls by doing that. You’d think the ump would at least show us the courtesy of actually watching the pitch pass in or out of the strike zone, instead of taking visual advice from the catcher on his call. After all, he is getting paid to watch that himself.
OK, I’m convinced: Matt Holliday, M-V-P. I know the vote is based on the regular season, but the way he turned on that pitch and took it out to center, in such a crucial moment, won me over. If he takes the award instead of J. Rollins, I’ve got no complaints. That holds true even given his last at bat, where his drive fell short.
In fact, I’d say that’s pretty much the verdict on the Rockies in this series: just falling short. Just not quite good enough. Too many balls they didn’t quite get to, too many drives to the warning track, too many base runners who didn’t quite score. Almost but not quite. But they look like they have a bright future, so there’s some consolation.
But this is enough for me. This Series is over, and I can’t see myself watching tomorrow night’s game when I think it’s a foregone conclusion. Congratulations to the Red Sox and all that. Time to rest up until next Spring.
Later.
[/QUOTE]
Jeez, what a case of sour grapes.
Even when the Yankees were at the height of their arrogance, I didn’t try to pick on little things they did to explain my hatred.
[QUOTE=Not A Tame Lion]
But this is enough for me. This Series is over, and I can’t see myself watching tomorrow night’s game when I think it’s a foregone conclusion. Congratulations to the Red Sox and all that. Time to rest up until next Spring.
Later.
[/QUOTE]
This is hardly the attitude of a real fan.
I recall watching the sixth game of the World Series in 1986. My brother, a Mets fan, decided he didn’t want to watch the final out of the ninth inning and see the Red Sox gloat and went to bed. As a result he missed most of the comeback. I (a Yankee fan) had to go wake him up so he could see the Mets’ final victory.
As Yogi said, It ain’t over till it’s over.
I’m rooting for the Rockies. Although I agree they are the longest of long shots, I’ll still be watching tonight.
Will somebody please explain why Manny won’t just leave the damn helmet on his head? That’s the weirdest habit I think I’ve ever seen.
[QUOTE=Colibri]
This is hardly the attitude of a real fan.
[/QUOTE]
Who are you to tell other baseball fans who is and is not a “real fan?”
Everyone has their own preferences in terms of how much and what baseball they’ll watch. Nothing wrong with that, and there’s no correct “Attitude.”
And in A-Rod news:
Tick… Tick… Boom.
[QUOTE=storyteller0910]
And in A-Rod news:
Tick… Tick… Boom.
[/QUOTE]
I don’t care where he goes, as long as he doesn’t stay in New York, I’ll be happy.
[QUOTE=fachverwirrt]
Will somebody please explain why Manny won’t just leave the damn helmet on his head? That’s the weirdest habit I think I’ve ever seen.
[/QUOTE]
Didn’t Ted Williams used to get hats a half-size too big so that it would fly off when he ran the bases? This was before helmets, of course.
[QUOTE=storyteller0910]
And in A-Rod news:
Tick… Tick… Boom.
[/QUOTE]
Woo-hoo!
Let’s Go O’s! Let’s Go O’s!
Wonder how Bill Gallo feels? This is what he wrote less than 24 hours ago:
[QUOTE=storyteller0910]
And in A-Rod news:
Tick… Tick… Boom.
[/QUOTE]
I am sincerely surprised.
Oh, I had thought, briefly, that he might leave NY, but I had talked myself out of it.
Is there any chance he could still go back to the Yankees after a renegotiation?
[QUOTE=jsgoddess]
I am sincerely surprised.
Oh, I had thought, briefly, that he might leave NY, but I had talked myself out of it.
Is there any chance he could still go back to the Yankees after a renegotiation?
[/QUOTE]
It’s possible, but before this the Yankees had very clearly stated that they would not negotiate with him if he opted out of this deal. They lose out on some money from the original deal with Texas if he opts out.
Gotta dig it! The wife won her pre-season Vegas bet, so we will eat fine the next trip.
The rookies come through.
Although I’m not really a fan of baseball, I always love success stories, I am glad that the boys from Boston proved that the Curse is dead. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE RED SOX!
It’s interesting that ever since the Yankess won the last World Series of the first millennium baseball has existed (2000), they haven’t won since, and unlikely teams or those who haven’t really had dynasties have won: Arizona (first), Anaheim (first), Florida (second, defeated Yankees), Boston (first since 1918), Chicago (first since 1917), St. Louis (first since 1982), and now Boston again (first dynasty of the 21st century). Now here’s to the Cubs in 2008!
[QUOTE=RickJay]
Who are you to tell other baseball fans who is and is not a “real fan?”
[/quote]
I’m a baseball fan. Of course I’m entitled. Who are you to tell me otherwise?
Watching the game is not the issue. It’s fine if you don’t want to watch because you are bored or you just don’t care about the game that much. But deciding that any game, or any series, is a foregone conclusion and not watching for that reason is just foolish, as has been shown often enough. That’s the attitude I was talking about, and I would think that you above all would appreciate that.
[QUOTE=storyteller0910]
And in A-Rod news:
Tick… Tick… Boom.
[/QUOTE]
Next year you’ll see on of two things…
or
I’d love to see him go to LA to give Vlad some protection. Seeing as I’m a Boston fan, I obviously wouldn’t be against him becoming a Sock, I just don’t see that happening unless they drop Lowell or something.
[QUOTE=silenus]
Gotta dig it! The wife won her pre-season Vegas bet, so we will eat fine the next trip.
The rookies come through.
[/QUOTE]
The Sox don’t win without the kids contributing, simple as that. Putting a September callup in CF in the middle of a postseason series when you can’t afford to lose another game? 95% of all ML organizations would never have even thought about doing that no matter how bad the veteran was doing. Watching young talent develop like it has this season for Boston makes all the worry and heartache worth it.