I love baseball

Stealing signs had been an integral part of baseball since it's inception.
You have subs on the bench doing nothing, they need something to do.
Some of them are excellent.
Infielders and outfielders depend on those with the most knowledge to tell them 'come in, play deeper...' their shifting
is communicate by signals from coach of shortstop.
Also, what else do the guys in the bullpen have to do?

The most valuable being the guy that could tell you what pitch was coming in as you were at bat. EVERY player that got to
second base was obligated to signal the batter of what pitch was coming in. Some were good at this, others not.
The catcher switches the sequences of his signs when a opposition player reaches second base=it is part of the game.

Houston placing a telescope in center field seats was pushing it, but the other teams have and will be doing it as soon
as the hooplla dies down.

Goggle says two great sign stealers were Honus Wagner and Ty Cobb, ever heard of them?
It's part of the game which will never change.
 

jerry old said:
Stealing signs had been an integral part of baseball since it's inception.
You have subs on the bench doing nothing, they need something to do.
Some of them are excellent.
Infielders and outfielders depend on those with the most knowledge to tell them 'come in, play deeper...' their shifting
is communicate by signals from coach of shortstop.
Also, what else do the guys in the bullpen have to do?

The most valuable being the guy that could tell you what pitch was coming in as you were at bat. EVERY player that got to
second base was obligated to signal the batter of what pitch was coming in. Some were good at this, others not.
The catcher switches the sequences of his signs when a opposition player reaches second base=it is part of the game.

Houston placing a telescope in center field seats was pushing it, but the other teams have and will be doing it as soon
as the hooplla dies down.

Goggle says two great sign stealers were Honus Wagner and Ty Cobb, ever heard of them?
It's part of the game which will never change.
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I was a pitcher and hiding the signs from the opposite teams bench, and the base coaches was the thing way back. There is a way to end this. Design a catchers' face mask with a microphone that no one can see and a ear piece receptor for the pitcher. They would be audible signals, the pitcher could nod no if he wants to throw something else. Wah La. :)

Boston smashed LA at home...looks a little precarious for LA.
 
Paco Dennis said:
I was a pitcher and hiding the signs from the opposite teams bench, and the base coaches was the thing way back. There is a way to end this. Design a catchers' face mask with a microphone that no one can see and a ear piece receptor for the pitcher. They would be audible signals, the pitcher could nod no if he wants to throw something else. Wah La. :)

Boston smashed LA at home...looks a little precarious for LA.
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Agree a catcher's mike might be a good idea.

Teams and players in every sport who don't play clean hurt their entire sport, not just the team they happen to be playing for or against at that moment. This isn't wah LA, it's wah to all of baseball and wah to parents who are trying to teach their children not only the rules of fair play but the spirit of it. Ask not for whom the bell tolls kind of thing.

It does indeed look precarious for Los Angeles. However, if the Dodgers lose to the Braves I'll find someone to root for during the rest of the post season. Just not the Astros.

As I said, I'm a fan of the game.
 

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WheatenLover said:
Oh, you are super lucky to have Mookie, no doubt about it.

Oh, I like the Dodgers okay, StarSong. A long time ago, I read a novel to the kids in which the main character was a Brooklyn Dodgers fan. The only problem I have since then is thinking of them as being from Brooklyn instead of, is it Los Angeles? I just know that because of that book, I am a little bit fond of your team.

I also like reading biographies or autobiographies of baseball players. It helps that one of my autistic sons loves baseball. His science project in 8th grade was about how the location and design of ball parks effects pitching. Anyway, I've been hearing about the players for years - he makes it very interesting. So I started reading books about them. Too bad being a college professor of baseball (or philosophy or Old English) isn't a good choice if one wants a job. He actually speaks, writes, and reads Old English fluently, can you imagine that? I can't!
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My parents grew up in Brooklyn and as a child my father's heart was broken many times by "dem bums." During the height of the Depression he and his cronies used to slip through a fence to see a game. The cops either didn't care or chose not to chase a bunch of kids, but in any case he got in often enough to make the risk worth his while. He mourned their move to Los Angeles in 1957.

I went to many Yankee and Mets games as a child and collected baseball cards, even studding my bike spokes with the cards of forgettable players. My all time favorite player was Willie Mays. Funny thing, I was on Wheel of Fortune when it first aired and one of the puzzles was "a famous person - I solved it with an M & S. Willie repaid me in full for all my years of fandom.

When we moved to Los Angeles my father soon began going to Dodger games, with paid tickets, mind you. Gorgeous stadium in a beautiful setting with Vin Scully announcing? All was forgiven.

Your son's skills are impressive, both with baseball and Old English.
 
suds00 said:

i love baseball​

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Can't say that I watch or follow it much, but some of my fondest memories of attending sports events have been baseball games.

When I was a student at LSU I used to go to the Baton Rouge Bees games occasionally. They were a not real good local team, but I really enjoyed relaxing in the stands sipping a beer and watching. A very relaxing experience.

When I was a kid my grandfather was a regular at local little league games, he rarely missed one at the park near his home. He always walked to the games. He usually did not know any of the players or parents, he just went to enjoy watching the kids. I remember fondly going with him, it was good for me to learn to relax and watch.

Somehow its just not the same now, watching on TV never has been my thing. I suppose there are some local teams nearby maybe I will try to find one...
 
When I was in Jr Highschool in Florida our coach once got a few of the Yankees on Spring training to stop by and visit us. The visit was in the bowling alley across the street from the school. They gave us some bowling lessons, so I can semi-legitimately claim to have been taught to bowl by Yogi Berra, actually all I got was a few minutes of his time, but it was great. Tom Tresh showed up as well, but Yogi was the one who talked to me.

For a number of years after that I was an avid Yankees fan, despite my natural Southern aversion to the name, LOL.
 
Sometimes I can’t help but wonder if “playoff” sets of 7 games or whatever in any sport are rigged between the team owners so that they’ll have to go the full number, to make a lot more money than if they are over in just in 4, or 5 games? Teams see saw back and forth to keep the crowds interested and the money flowing in?
 
Geezerette said:
Sometimes I can’t help but wonder if “playoff” sets of 7 games or whatever in any sport are rigged between the team owners so that they’ll have to go the full number, to make a lot more money than if they are over in just in 4, or 5 games? Teams see saw back and forth to keep the crowds interested and the money flowing in?
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I wonder that too. I know playing at home is a big deal and has a lot of advantages. But when the series splits and then the very next "move" it splits again....i begin to wonder if these guys are being paid to be the best baseball players and actors. :)
 
Saw something on TV a few weeks ago about the length of MLB games today: evidently the average number of pitches thrown was about 117 per side about 20 or was it 30 years ago. That today it take about 35 more minutes per game for each team to reach this number. This because the pace of the game is so much slower today than it was in the past.

I started to watch a playoff game the other day and it took about 40 to 45 minutes for the first inning to be completed. Yuck. Turned off the darn thing (switched to a quick paced NHL game). MLB's pace is just too slow for me, especially the American league games with their DH.
 
StarSong said:
My parents grew up in Brooklyn and as a child my father's heart was broken many times by "dem bums." During the height of the Depression he and his cronies used to slip through a fence to see a game. The cops either didn't care or chose not to chase a bunch of kids, but in any case he got in often enough to make the risk worth his while. He mourned their move to Los Angeles in 1957.
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My dad (and I) was also from God's Country (better known as Brooklyn to most folks). I well remember him ranting about the loss of Dem Bums to LA. Many blamed Walter O'Malley - in fact for several years if somebody wanted to insult you they would call you a "Walter O'Malley" as his name was held to be more contemptible than that of Benedict Arnold. History, however, shows that it was corporatist Robert Moses who was responsible for the loss of the team. Many of us are convinced he is roasting in Hades for his many lifelong misdeeds.
 
jerry old said:
Stealing signs had been an integral part of baseball since it's inception.
You have subs on the bench doing nothing, they need something to do.
Some of them are excellent.
Infielders and outfielders depend on those with the most knowledge to tell them 'come in, play deeper...' their shifting
is communicate by signals from coach of shortstop.
Also, what else do the guys in the bullpen have to do?

The most valuable being the guy that could tell you what pitch was coming in as you were at bat. EVERY player that got to
second base was obligated to signal the batter of what pitch was coming in. Some were good at this, others not.
The catcher switches the sequences of his signs when a opposition player reaches second base=it is part of the game.

Houston placing a telescope in center field seats was pushing it, but the other teams have and will be doing it as soon
as the hooplla dies down.

Goggle says two great sign stealers were Honus Wagner and Ty Cobb, ever heard of them?
It's part of the game which will never change.
Click to expand...
Two great players of their time.
 
Lewkat said:
Two great players of their time.
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Agreed. Also, "stealing signs" in days of old by being observant was very different from the Astros' shenanigans.

From this January 2020 article:
https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/...to-know-about-mlbs-penalties-against-houston/

What did the Astros do?
As noted in the introduction, the Astros used a camera positioned in center field to steal signs during games. Team personnel would watch the feed in a hallway between the clubhouse and dugout, and would relay what was coming to the hitter by hitting a garbage can. You can watch it play out for yourself right here.

MLB's investigation revealed the Astros initially developed a system using illegal electronics to decode signs so a runner on second base could relay the sign to the hitter. Houston first tried whistling and clapping to relay signs from the dugout before settling on banging a garbage can. MLB's report says the Astros stole signs throughout the 2017 regular season and postseason, and early in 2018 as well.

Why was this a big deal?​

Because it's against the rules -- and not just in the "unwritten" sense, like old-school sign-stealing. Baseball took explicit steps to ban this kind of behavior heading into the 2019 season, limiting the amount of live-feed access available to teams, and not permitting in-house cameras between the foul poles. MLB first warned teams against high-tech sign-stealing in September 2017 and issued several reminders in 2018 and 2019.

What were Houston's penalties?​

There were five major penalties for the Astros from Manfred. Here they are:

· Manager A.J. Hinch suspended for the 2020 season. Hinch was then fired by the Astros.
· GM Jeff Luhnow suspended for the 2020 season. Luhnow was then fired by the Astros.
· Former assistant GM Brandon Taubman suspended one year.
· Astros forfeit their first- and second- round draft picks the next two years.
· Astros fined $5 million, the maximum allowed under MLB's constitution.

MLB's report says the Astros can not skirt the draft-pick penalty through free-agent compensation or any other means. If they surrender high picks to sign free agents, they'll lose picks the following year instead. One way or the other, the Astros will lose their next two first-round picks and their next two second-round picks.
 
oldiebutgoody said:
Saw something on TV a few weeks ago about the length of MLB games today: evidently the average number of pitches thrown was about 117 per side about 20 or was it 30 years ago. That today it take about 35 more minutes per game for each team to reach this number. This because the pace of the game is so much slower today than it was in the past.

I started to watch a playoff game the other day and it took about 40 to 45 minutes for the first inning to be completed. Yuck. Turned off the darn thing (switched to a quick paced NHL game). MLB's pace is just too slow for me, especially the American league games with their DH.
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DH & I record virtually every sport we watch. With baseball, we start watching about an hour after the game starts, zip through the nonsense before the first pitch and then through commercial breaks, and usually wind up on a live feed shortly before the game ends.
 
oldiebutgoody said:
Saw something on TV a few weeks ago about the length of MLB games today: evidently the average number of pitches thrown was about 117 per side about 20 or was it 30 years ago. That today it take about 35 more minutes per game for each team to reach this number. This because the pace of the game is so much slower today than it was in the past.

I started to watch a playoff game the other day and it took about 40 to 45 minutes for the first inning to be completed. Yuck. Turned off the darn thing (switched to a quick paced NHL game). MLB's pace is just too slow for me, especially the American league games with their DH.
Click to expand...
YouTube always has highlights of the games that only last about 10 minutes... all the good stuff. That's how I watch them. :)
 
The Astros went over the top with their sign stealing methods. Old time baseball isn't relevant any more it seems. What a shame. I used to go to games in Yankee Stadium for years with my Dad and enjoyed every minute of each game. Then I discovered the Dodgers over in Brooklyn and fell in love with them. We also had the Giants in the Polo Grounds when the Yanks were out of town. Talk about the best of both worlds. In addition, I'd sometimes hop a train to my mom's home town of Philadelphia when the Dodgers played the Phillies and my cousin and I would go over to Shibe Park to see them. I'd also go see the Athletics when the Yanks were down there. It was strange to see Connie Mack standing at the top of the dugout dressed to the nines in a business suit. Allowed because he owned the team.
 
One more time-stealing sign is a part of baseball, the penalties against the Astro's: I wonder if they were actually enforced.

Okay, back to tonight's game
Dodger bats have been dead, they came alive tonight 6-2, not sure a four run lead is enough, hope it is-go Blue

Addemdi, 10: 45 CNT Taylor three, that three, 3 home runs in one game.
Pollock two home runs
Score 11-2, go Big Blue
 
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StarSong said:
Your son's skills are impressive, both with baseball and Old English.
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I enjoyed reading your baseball stories.
He is autistic and these are a few of his special interests. He's like a walking encyclopedia of several subjects. Baseball is my favorite one. He writes a lot in longhand. I have no idea what he writes about -- it is all in Old English, so I figure it is private since he can't show it to anyone.
 
another exciting game last night with my favorite team,LA Dodgers who staved off elimination by creaming Atlanta Braves 11-2. Braves lead the series 3-2
Games 6&7 are in Atlanta tomorrow, Sun{if necessary}
Once again' Mr Clutch' Chris Taylor did most of the damage with 2 2 run home runs,solo homer, AJ Pollock helped the cause by hitting solo homer, then 2 run homer fun to watch Mookie Betts steal bases just like he did last night
Last yr in the shorten season,Dodgers were down 3-1 and roared back to beat Braves in 7 games
I'm hoping this happens again,considering they don't have 2 key players e.g Justin Turner, Max Muncy out with injuries
The sports announcers on TBS are doing a good job,don't like Fox Sports announcer Joe Buck rest of their team, they will be doing the World Series again
 
Direct TV offers the playoff games as they damn well choose. Got the Dodgers last night, no Redsox tonight.
You don't like it-tough. Purchase baseball channel at a price of megabucks.
Repeat what Irwin said-twice
 
I hate baseball so much thanks to my father. When I was young we only had one TV. During baseball season that was the only thing playing in our house during televised hours. Baseball bores me silly but I did attend a game between a work-friend's team & our supervisor's husband's team. Knowing both men made it a little interesting.
 
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We get tonight's game on TBS. There should be a law where all playoff games are broadcast OTA for free. Taxpayers pay for the stadiums and for the roads that fans use to get to the games, among other things. We're subsidizing these sports organizations, yet in many cases, we're not allowed to watch the games unless we subsidize the giant media conglomerates. It's a f*cked up system.
 
It's the same here in Canada for these playoff games. In the area I'm in right now, there's 6 sports channels on cable service. 5 are free, one you have to pay more for. When there's any other sports game on at the same time as a baseball playoff game, guess which channel they put the ball game on :mad: So you can watch the hockey or football game on 5 free channels (same game on all channels) but if you want to see the baseball game - pony up an additional $7.00.
Pretty sure that's a planned thing too. It's always about the $$!
 

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