Nor do Red Sox fans, but for different reasons
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MLB 2022
- Thread starter pachyderm
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I don’t feel sorry for the Yankees either. I just thought it was interesting that they lost 5 straight ACLS.
Since the Yankees are out... Philly all the way!
Well, that Yankees vs. Dodgers rivalry will have to be renewed sometime in the future. I wonder when the last WS featured the two best records in each league. That would be Astros vs. Dodgers this year, of course. The playoff format makes the odds of the "survival of the best" in both leagues a long shot.
I was shocked to learn Verlander was 0-6 in World Series games. And now he blew a 5-0 lead, 5-5 currently.
Same, but then David price had similar woes. I guess some pitchers either cannot stand the glaring light of the playoffs (I kind of doubt that in Verlander's case), or just bad luck
Mostly I agree with you, but I think #4 makes sense by and large. What releif pitcher rules are you complaining about? The only rule I'm aware of the requirement that the relief pitcher has to see three batters. Personally, I love that rule, as it did away with the nonsense of one pitcher for each batter and we definitely were seeing that in prior years.
I generally don't watch the WS simply because the game slows down even further and its annoying as anything.
As for the 6 umpires, more eyes can be viewed as a good thing, but might a bit superfluous given managers can ask for a review.
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So you're fine with the runner getting in the way of a throw to the base they are running to?
The only thing I kinda agree with is #5.
We're only talking about first base here, and the batter, who has become a baserunner. If the runner is not in the base path, he's called out. If the runner is in the base path, and is hit by the ball thrown by the catcher, he's out. So yeah, I'm ok with the runner running in the base path, as per the rules. If the catcher can't get the ball to 1st base without hitting a runner who is legally in the base path, that's the catcher's problem. He's got to get in a position to make the throw and clear the runner when he is legally in the base path.
This is the only thing on my list that I consistently hear the broadcasters complaining about. It's a dumb rule, that, as I've heard them say, needs to be fixed.
@maflynn
They didn't need extra eyes for the foul line beyond the infield even before there was replay review. When you see a shot down the line, it's ridiculous how close that extra umpire is to the base umpire. The regular season games are fine without two extra umpires. You've never heard anyone complain about not having them. It's an umpire's union thing, I suppose. Two more umpires get paid.
And yes, the three batter limit or to the third out is what I don't like. It further dilutes strategy that the dumb DH has already eroded.
my perspective, while it certainly does impact strategy, I think the game had evolved to a point where having one pitcher for one batter was intolerable. Particularly during the playoffs. I feel that like the shift, moving pitchers out like that had such a negative impact on the overall health of the game and its watchability (if that's a word).
I agree with you on the DH, I used to watch national league games more then AL games simply because they had to employ strategy regarding the batting order, i.e., the pitcher has 70 pitches, but he's going to be the next at bat, should they use a pinch hitter or not? Now there's really no strategy
Great points. With pace-of-play being all the rage these days (timing pitchers, etc.) the whole one pitcher for one batter thing was annoying at times. And watchability is the perfect word for it!
On your second point, that's why I grew to enjoy NL games more, and eventually became a "full-time" Cardinals fan about twenty years ago. This season with the DH was okay for me with Pujols making a run for the 700 HR mark, but in the future, I totally agree that the strategy in the NL game is now severely diminished.
Why is the DH dumb? There's no strategy in watching a pitcher ground out. Especially now, with pitchers being pulled early and often.
Nah that rule needs to stay. The rule is used to keep runners from going out of their way to interfere with the throw, or the receiving of said throw.
I think your argument is ridiculous,and frankly, hard to understand. If any announcers are making the same point they are being silly too.
Well, I guess you don't understand. I hear the comments about it being a bad rule almost every time I see it happen. If the rule is used as you say, then I agree with it. So if the runner is entirely on the grass in fair territory, he is out of the base path, and should the ball thrown by the catcher hit the runner, the runner should be out for interference. But when the runner is in the dirt, thus entirely in the base path, it is egregious to call him out. He's running to first just like he would (and should) on any batted ball. Why should he be out in this one case while legally in the base path? He is not going out of his way to interfere with the throw. He's abiding by the rules, but is called out. Dumb rule, or at least, it's not being applied properly. If he's in the base path and the catcher hits him with his throw, the runner should be safe, and it's an error charged to the catcher, not a hit.
The way it's being called, the runner is always out if the thrown ball hits him. So, if the first baseman is late getting over, all the catcher has to do is throw the ball so it hits the runner, and he's out for interference, even though legally in the base path. Otherwise the outcome is in doubt until either the runner or the first baseman gets to the bag first. So to guarantee an out, intentionally hit the runner with the ball. Then you get to see both benches clear. Bonus!
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The bunt has all but disappeared, since it was usually the pitcher trying to lay down a bunt. But if there are two outs, the manager has to decide if that run is more important than sending his pitcher back out when he's been really sharp. The strategy is in the deciding, not the execution.
The bunt has all but disappeared because the sabermetricians have determined that giving up an out to advance a baserunner is inefficient. You could say the same for the stolen base: it's an inefficient way of generating offense because the risk of getting caught stealing is too great for all but the most elite base stealers.
With the pitcher batting, the strategy is in when to send up a pinch hitter, execute a double switch, etc.
I fully acknowledge the statistical inefficiency of "small ball", but those teams like the Cardinals and Astros of the late 70's and early 80s were still a lot of fun to watch. Now all teams set up pretty similarly, and I find that less interesting to watch overall.
With the pitcher batting, the strategy is in when to send up a pinch hitter, execute a double switch, etc.
I fully acknowledge the statistical inefficiency of "small ball", but those teams like the Cardinals and Astros of the late 70's and early 80s were still a lot of fun to watch. Now all teams set up pretty similarly, and I find that less interesting to watch overall.
That takes me back to my argument about pitchers being pulled early now. Guys get yanked now in the 5th or 6th innings, throwing no hitters. In your scenario, most managers will have no issue going for the run. When it come to pitching, baseball has devolved into "next man up." If a pitcher is hot? Doesn't matter, next man up.
Yea all the the batter wants to do is book it to first. Neither rule makes sense. Maybe if the 1B fielded it and the runner dodged way out of the way then out. But otherwise if he;s dumb enough to go the long way... And since LL I've always been told just concentrate on the next base and listen to the base coaches.