Baseball Sucks Now

[Klrdds]

Baseball just takes too long these days but yet I watch it because I love the game and all of its subtleties . Almost 4 hours per game , I remember 2 hour games growing up and the grumblings from fans when the games started to hover around the 2 1/2 hour mark. TV and relief pitching have the changed the game so much that an NFL game is almost less time.
Also where are the bunts and hit and run plays ?
Buck IMO hates silence , he always has to say something and IMO Smoltz has to plan his entry into the conversation because Buck just doesn't stop talking to let anyone else talk.

GO BRAVES !!!

[Tabe]

Originally Posted by Klrdds

Also where are the bunts and hit and run plays ?

It took a long, long time but teams finally figured out those plays are a waste of time.

[doug.goodman]

Originally Posted by Tabe

It took a long, long time but teams finally figured out those plays are a waste of time.

But if those players still existed they would destroy the shift...

[Shoeless Moe]

Well when you have guys like Kyle Schwarber leading off the bunt is highly unlikely.

Not too many Brett Butlers or Mickey Rivers these days, everyone is worried about their exit velocity. Not sure what the ideal exit velocity is on a bunt.

Pitchers still bunt, but in the Post Season rare for a pitcher to even bat these days.

[frankbmd]

1. Here’s the ball. I’ll see you after the game.

2. A rotation of 4 starters with a 50% chance of completing the game.

3. A rotation of 5 starters with a 15% chance of finishing the game.

4. A closer to help the #2 pitchers finish the game.

5. A holder (sometimes called a set up guy) and a closer in most games.

6. 2 holders and a closer in most games.

7. The extinction of the 2 inning relief pitcher, requiring at least 2 more holders in the pen.

8. A starter who can pitch 6 innings becomes a franchise player.

9. Two pitchers on every roster who need or who are recovering from Tommy John surgery.

10. 4 starters on a team with a 50-50 chance of completing 5 innings.

11. Managerial excellence based on his ability to change pitchers every inning after the third and to put the fielding manifesto in everyone’s cap.

12. Despite all of the above, and a lot of travel days in October, a team in the World Series is deemed in good sharp if they have 3 marginal 5 inning starters and 9 100mph cannons in the bull pen.

13. Of course with events like Charley Morton’s broken fibula, baseball’s greatest stage wouldn’t be complete without 2 or 3 bullpen games.

WaJo would look at Marty and say “What the f*** is a bullpen game?”

And Matty would reply "Give me the ball. I'll see you after the game."

[Shoeless Moe]

.....but I'll say this.

I would not even watch a Braves - Astros game if it was regular season,

But in the post season, wouldn't miss it.

Every pitch in the post season is intense.


LOVE IT!

[Shoeless Moe]

Anybody notice how Buck and Smoltz won't even mention "The Chop" war chant in the background.

You clearly hear it.

They clearly ignore and make no mention of it. Possibly instructed not too.

but still a little.........GUTLESS

It's friggin' awesome. Just say it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CiG0CyWTIHY

[Tabe]

Originally Posted by doug.goodman

But if those players still existed they would destroy the shift...

Hit & run would have no effect on the shift. And a bunt against the shift is a win for the defense - why do you think teams don't do it? Also, it's not exactly easy to bunt 98mph.

[doug.goodman]

Originally Posted by Tabe

Hit & run would have no effect on the shift. And a bunt against the shift is a win for the defense - why do you think teams don't do it? Also, it's not exactly easy to bunt 98mph.

Hit and run would have an effect if they got a hit...

A bunt single (or double) against the shift is a far better outcome than an out. I think teams don't do it for various reasons, not the least of which is that the average "hitter" these days can't hit really that well.

It's also hard to get a hit off 98 mph, but these guys are (in theory) professional hitters.

[Tabe]

Originally Posted by doug.goodman

Hit and run would have an effect if they got a hit...

A bunt single (or double) against the shift is a far better outcome than an out. I think teams don't do it for various reasons, not the least of which is that the average "hitter" these days can't hit really that well.

It's also hard to get a hit off 98 mph, but these guys are (in theory) professional hitters.

Lemme ask you - do you really, truly believe that you've figured out the solution but none of the professional folks have considered your ideas?

The whole point of the shift is that it makes hits significantly more difficult to get. It's not like you can just "hit away from the shift". For one thing, that's extremely difficult since teams pitch to force guys to hit into the shift. Bunting is the same thing.

[doug.goodman]

Originally Posted by Tabe

Lemme ask you - do you really, truly believe that you've figured out the solution but none of the professional folks have considered your ideas?

Yes I do.

Doug "insert smiley face here" Goodman

[cardsagain74]

Originally Posted by Tabe

Hit & run would have no effect on the shift.

The best part was always listening to announcers foaming at the mouth screaming "see they stayed out of the double play so it's the best thing evererer" when someone hit a typical sad little grounder on a hit & run.

Not even considering the obvious fact that if you weren't forcing the guy to swing at anything, he wouldn't have to be helplessly slapping those grounders to begin with. It was like even lifelong baseball minds were powerless to realize that you weren't getting the same result from the hitter as a normal approach and cut.

The only worse play was the suicide squeeze. Which of course was also beloved.