i don't think the players would have any control over what dumb ads they have to wear?!
― FRAUDULENT STEAKS (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Friday, 11 March 2022 16:23 (two years ago) link
i want a burger king logo right on the butt, B on the left, K on the right
― the world's undisputed #1 fan of 'Spud Infinity' (Karl Malone), Friday, 11 March 2022 16:26 (two years ago) link
NOT Brooklyn, BURGER KANG
burger king pantsbats with the balleverybody's lookin at yall
― Tracer Hand, Friday, 11 March 2022 16:52 (two years ago) link
can't wait for the pearl clutching when a player eventually covers up a sponsor logo for ethical reasons.
― FRAUDULENT STEAKS (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Friday, 11 March 2022 18:47 (two years ago) link
Automatic strike zone in 2023 finally
― calstars, Monday, 21 March 2022 03:11 (two years ago) link
starting to have second thoughts about that. bitching about balls and strikes a pretty integral part of the experience. and do these robot umps really adjust for player height? no doubt it’s all been thought of, just maybe a little nostalgic for a simpler time..
― Tracer Hand, Monday, 21 March 2022 07:45 (two years ago) link
I hear that. But sometimes the calls are just really out of whack…Ultimately it will benefit the game I hope, make things more fair for both the hitters -and- the pitchers
― calstars, Monday, 21 March 2022 11:33 (two years ago) link
now that i'm thinking about it iirc the homeplate umpire can overrule the robocall, so that should provide ample opportunity for the traditional disgruntlement
― Tracer Hand, Monday, 21 March 2022 11:34 (two years ago) link
Ohhhh. Well then 😊
― calstars, Monday, 21 March 2022 11:35 (two years ago) link
A little nostalgic too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ssx1hNSs4TI
― clemenza, Monday, 21 March 2022 12:49 (two years ago) link
pretty impressive to be ejected 91 times
― calstars, Monday, 21 March 2022 13:04 (two years ago) link
Earl Weaver aside, I want them to get calls right. I think about the checked-swing call that ended the Giants' season last year (but that would be outside the scope of a robot ump, no? just balls and strikes?).
― clemenza, Monday, 21 March 2022 15:51 (two years ago) link
i'm not necessarily against robo balls & strikes, but several things worry me:
as of four or five years ago, the automatic zone was not more accurate than human umps. i'm fairly confident that, like the new ball-tracking system, it is better now. but it is also my understanding that mlb's agreement with the umpires union allowed it to unilaterally impose automatic balls/strikes if implemented by a certain date. so i hope the system is actually ready and not just being rushed in while still possible.
with framing skills moot, i'm not sure how catcher valuations will change, but i'm guessing it won't be to their advantage.
be careful what you wish for: there are pitches that are technically strikes -- e.g. something completely unhittable that nicks the zone by a millimeter -- that we've spent 150 years collectively calling balls. there are going to be some *weird* looking pitches called the opposite of what we're used to, and it's going to take time for everyone to adjust to it. fortunately baseball fans are famously accommodating of change.
the system will be easy to abuse. mlb has already shown that it's willing to change the composition of the ball mid-season; there's really nothing to stop them from tweaking the strike zone algorithm to goose preferred outcomes at any moment. you can *tell* umps to call the high strike, but they may or may not do it and they'll be blamed by the fans either way. if the computer says that pitch is a strike (or ball), well, there's no one to argue with, is there?
all that said, iirc there were few complaints when it was tested in the atlantic league a few years ago, so maybe it'll be fine
― mookieproof, Monday, 21 March 2022 19:11 (two years ago) link
also it seems like placing cameras to study check-swings would be fairly simple, but first everyone would have to agree on what a swing actually *is*
― mookieproof, Monday, 21 March 2022 19:17 (two years ago) link
There is a rule in golf about what constitutes a swing, is there not a parallel here?
― calstars, Monday, 21 March 2022 19:33 (two years ago) link
A swing is an attempt at a pitch, that is not a bunt. That includes what is referred to as a “checked swing” or “half swing.” It is up to the judgment of the umpire(s) if the batter attempted at a pitched ball. Contrary to popular belief, a batter does not have to “break his wrist” in order to attempt at a pitch. While noting whether the swing carried the barrel of the bat past the body can aid an umpire on this call, the final decision is based on whether the batter actually attempted at the pitch.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
― mookieproof, Monday, 21 March 2022 21:50 (two years ago) link
Hadn't heard of this before, but sounds a bit excessive and probably nor worth the technical difficulties.https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/03/league-makes-proposals-to-mlbpa-about-sign-stealing-on-field-information.html
"One proposal involves the PitchCom system currently being tested during Spring Training games, as the league is now offering that players can continue to use the system on a voluntary basis during the regular season. PitchCom is an electronic method for a catcher to communicate signs to the pitcher — the catcher enters the desired pitch (or pickoff throw, pitchout, etc.) on a specialized wristband, while the pitcher is wearing an audio device in his hat that tells him the pitch call via an automated voice. The catcher and as many as three other fielders can also be wearing the audio device, to ensure accuracy and to make the information known around the diamond."
― Michael F Gill, Saturday, 26 March 2022 20:05 (two years ago) link
nonononono fuuuuuuck that
― Tracer Hand, Saturday, 26 March 2022 22:21 (two years ago) link
Seriously. Fuck that to hell. Why do people who hate baseball run baseball?!
― FRAUDULENT STEAKS (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Sunday, 27 March 2022 03:09 (two years ago) link
Easier problem to 'fix' than trying to get people under age 40 to give a shit about baseball.
― earlnash, Sunday, 27 March 2022 03:59 (two years ago) link
Is this really such a big deal? QB's have speakers in their helmets, does this ruin football? I'm old school when it comes to baseball traditions, but 50 on-field meetings discussions per game to discuss the signs kind of ruins baseball too.
― NoTimeBeforeTime, Monday, 28 March 2022 07:44 (two years ago) link
i hate it in football too. but football has been a mechanized, militarized game for decades. offensive coordinators up in a luxury box radioing down plays. i don’t want that in baseball.
― Tracer Hand, Monday, 28 March 2022 08:13 (two years ago) link
i watched a spring training game where they were testing out that tech and it seemed fine. i'm pretty sure the calls still have to come from the catcher at this point.
― na (NA), Monday, 28 March 2022 13:57 (two years ago) link
look if it leads to a situation where the opposing team hacks into the broadcast to confuse the pitcher then i'm all for it
― Tracer Hand, Monday, 28 March 2022 16:25 (two years ago) link
Hopefully it speeds things up if they do it. Tho I am sure they will find away to make it take fucking longer
― FRAUDULENT STEAKS (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Monday, 28 March 2022 16:48 (two years ago) link
Automated voice: For the next pitch, throw a……please stand by, looking for secure WiFi connection. Your pitch is important to us. All issues will be resolved in the order they were received.
― Michael F Gill, Monday, 28 March 2022 22:00 (two years ago) link
bluetooth connected
bluetooth, disconnected
― Karl Malone, Monday, 28 March 2022 22:03 (two years ago) link
i’d like buster to explain how any of this has to do with the players union or its ‘engagement’
The Orioles' '22 projected payroll is another example that NOTHING has been done to curb tanking:https://t.co/td0lJ4tZmR The only way this issue can be dealt with, in the next CBA, is if MLB and the union can repair together. Engagement required. Because this is a joke.— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) April 4, 2022
― mookieproof, Monday, 4 April 2022 15:30 (two years ago) link
should we keep using this thread for general 2022 MLB discussion or start a new one?
― na (NA), Monday, 4 April 2022 15:55 (two years ago) link
new one might be fun
― Karl Malone, Monday, 4 April 2022 15:57 (two years ago) link
i don't have any clever names in mind so unless we're ok with "general 2022 MLB regular season thread" someone else can start it
― na (NA), Monday, 4 April 2022 16:23 (two years ago) link
Yes new one would be good. General 2022 MLB Season Chatter including additional designated hitters and ghost runners.
― Michael F Gill, Monday, 4 April 2022 16:27 (two years ago) link
Also bonus wild cards
― Michael F Gill, Monday, 4 April 2022 16:52 (two years ago) link
Ghost Run the WHIP
― Kompakt Total Landscaping (Will M.), Monday, 4 April 2022 17:20 (two years ago) link
i don't really care what it's called as long as 2022 MLB is in the title somewhere for search purposes
― na (NA), Monday, 4 April 2022 17:34 (two years ago) link
^ new thread name. Right there.
― FRAUDULENT STEAKS (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Monday, 4 April 2022 19:05 (two years ago) link
ok I made the new thread!
― Michael F Gill, Tuesday, 5 April 2022 16:06 (two years ago) link
Worth it for the headline:
https://www.theonion.com/rob-manfred-open-to-any-ideas-to-make-mlb-all-star-game-1849179763
Also: "there were no bad ideas...(including) letting teams start with a runner on third base during the fifth inning for no reason."
― clemenza, Monday, 18 July 2022 22:32 (one year ago) link
is it a widespread thing to call the extra-innings runner on second the 'manfred man' y/n
― mookieproof, Friday, 29 September 2023 03:56 (six months ago) link
Before BWittJr, before Adalberto Mondesi (yet after BJackson), there was...
"The Mighty" Mark Quinn "The Eskimo"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EvZstgxmJs
― citation needed (Steve Shasta), Friday, 29 September 2023 04:20 (six months ago) link
re: mookie
yes
― H.P, Friday, 29 September 2023 04:22 (six months ago) link
yeah i think it's too cute for how stupid the zombie runner is
― Its big ball chunky time (Jimmy The Mod Awaits The Return Of His Beloved), Friday, 29 September 2023 16:49 (six months ago) link
I call it the manfred man mainly cos you can do it to the tune of macho man
― I’m going to get fined for being right, again (gyac), Friday, 29 September 2023 17:51 (six months ago) link
i don't know about widespread, but i wouldn't think of using anything other than Manfred Mann. too perfect
― francisF, Friday, 29 September 2023 19:29 (six months ago) link
ghost runner is a terrible thing to use, because anyone who ever played during recess knows the rules of a ghost runner don't apply here
― francisF, Friday, 29 September 2023 19:32 (six months ago) link
lol otm
― mookieproof, Friday, 29 September 2023 19:36 (six months ago) link
that's one of ben lindberg's hobbyhorses - the ghost runner already exists and this isn't it.
― Its big ball chunky time (Jimmy The Mod Awaits The Return Of His Beloved), Friday, 29 September 2023 19:51 (six months ago) link
Also the runners aren’t deceased.
― FRAUDULENT STEAKS (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Friday, 29 September 2023 20:43 (six months ago) link
zombie runner is my preferred
― Its big ball chunky time (Jimmy The Mod Awaits The Return Of His Beloved), Friday, 29 September 2023 20:46 (six months ago) link