been watching MLB all day....

[philduckworth]

and I can't understand why balls and strikes aren't called by the computer. These umps are the best in the biz and they miss at least 7 calls per game.

 

[bruiser.sixpack]

I understand the Atlanta Braves were eliminated from the Playoff Race last night.

 

[dog12]

and I can't understand why balls and strikes aren't called by the computer. These umps are the best in the biz and they miss at least 7 calls per game.

Because, if the computer is calling balls/strikes completely objectively and correctly, then MLB has less control over which team wins any individual game.

Ever noticed how often MLB playoff series go the maximum number of games?

Seven games of ticket sales, merch sales, advertising, etc. generates much more revenue.

The NBA does this too.

 

[patdog]

Last 20 World Series have gone 7 games 7 times, 6 games 3 times, 5 games 6 times, and 4 games 4 times. Apparently they aren't doing a very good job of fixing the games to play the maximum number of games.

 

[RocketDawg]

The Mets have lifesize (or larger) cardboard cutouts in the stands. I wonder if they're all individuals, or if the same person is in multiple seats. Maybe they're pictures of season ticket holders.

 

[8dog]

You can buy them. Chipper jones bought one of himself for Citi Field.

 

[mcdawg22]

Some teams have fans that pay to have their likeness. Some are putting celebrities.

 

[RocketDawg]

Well, I suppose that's one way for the team to make a little money with nobody there. Not a bad idea. Maybe we should do that for football.

 

[BonzoGoesToCollege]

I, as a Cardinal fan, am already sick of the season. Different year, same old **** having to watch Karpenter and Fowler hit. Those two sacks of horse **** are signed thru next year, for close to 40 mill combined. I know baseball is a business, but it’s mind boggling that the front office plays high priced worthless guys to save face rather than play the young guys and try to win.

 

[mcdawg22]

I, as a Cardinal fan, am already sick of the season. Different year, same old **** having to watch Karpenter and Fowler hit. Those two sacks of horse **** are signed thru next year, for close to 40 mill combined. I know baseball is a business, but it’s mind boggling that the front office plays high priced worthless guys to save face rather than play the young guys and try to win.

I hate that your team is sucking, but damn it’s nice to see someone bitching about actual sports. Feels like home.

 

[UpTheMiddlex3Punt]

That's baseball

 

[Mayor of Little London]

That's baseball

I member.

 

[Dawgg]

Last 20 World Series have gone 7 games 7 times, 6 games 3 times, 5 games 6 times, and 4 games 4 times. Apparently they aren't doing a very good job of fixing the games to play the maximum number of games.

Half of the last 10 WS have gone 7 games.

 

[ronpolk]

I, as a Cardinal fan, am already sick of the season. Different year, same old **** having to watch Karpenter and Fowler hit. Those two sacks of horse **** are signed thru next year, for close to 40 mill combined. I know baseball is a business, but it’s mind boggling that the front office plays high priced worthless guys to save face rather than play the young guys and try to win.

I really don’t think I’ve ever heard you say anything good about the cards. They are 2-1 right now and went to the NLCS last year. It’s not like the sky is falling.

And what young guy do you want playing right now? Bader, O’Neil, Thomas and Edman are all getting playing time. Carlson is likely to get called up once there are enough games played to avoid service time issues. Fowler is obviously a bad contract from a salary standpoint but I have no problem with Fowler hitting 7th in right field. Take him over Bader any day right now.

As for carpenter, I got no problem with his contract. They gave it to him coming off a season where he finished in the top 10 in MVP. And he played a lot of years in St. Louis underpaid. I think his best baseball is behind him but I’m fine with the Cardinals rewarding a player like carpenter.

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

It wouldn’t be the Cardinals if they didn’t over sign a player that’s not worth it. Carpenter is just awful.

 

[DAWG61]

Most teams have half a dozen bad signings in the last five years. You don't have a bad signing you ain't trying or you're just extremely lucky like the Astros lately.

 

[PartTimeGenius]

I'll never be in favor of an electronic ball/strike call. I also hate the "strike zone" graphic being on the screen. There are some things that I'm fine with replay for (fair/foul, etc) but the strike zone should always be called the old fashion way.

Technology plays a significant role in modern era ball, but there is a point where it becomes too much IMO.

I played ball thru college and there are just some aspects of baseball that do not need to change. The human element causes more adjustments to be made, more approaches to change, and keeps good ol baseball traditions alive (see getting tossed for arguing a strike 3 call).

 

[BonzoGoesToCollege]

I really don’t think I’ve ever heard you say anything good about the cards. They are 2-1 right now and went to the NLCS last year. It’s not like the sky is falling.

And what young guy do you want playing right now? Bader, O’Neil, Thomas and Edman are all getting playing time. Carlson is likely to get called up once there are enough games played to avoid service time issues. Fowler is obviously a bad contract from a salary standpoint but I have no problem with Fowler hitting 7th in right field. Take him over Bader any day right now.

As for carpenter, I got no problem with his contract. They gave it to him coming off a season where he finished in the top 10 in MVP. And he played a lot of years in St. Louis underpaid. I think his best baseball is behind him but I’m fine with the Cardinals rewarding a player like carpenter.

Yeh, you're right. I might be a little hard on 'em because I got spoiled during the Pujols era. Not sure if Mo is a puppet or if he's actually making the personnel decisions, but when you look at his track record, it's been less than stellar. The number of his signings (albeit some not for more than 2 years) that have produced absolutely nothing is staggering. Gregerson, Tejada, Mark Ellis, Holland, Wiggington, Pena, and of course Brett Cecil who was paid 30.5 mill to pitch 100 innings over the span of 4 years. The Fowler signing was for way too long (5 years) and the Carpenter extension might have been warranted for his past production, but I hardly think he was underpaid. He's a liability anywhere you put him in the field. He's making 19 mil to DH and he can't hit. The shift basically ended his career.

Agree on Bader. He's now 26 and his approach is the same as it was last year, but his glove is elite. He refuses to go the other way. Not saying Dean, Williams, Thomas, or Carlson will pan out but it's time to move on from what Shildt (Mo) is running out there every day to see what the younger guys can do. You don't see the Braves keeping their rising stars in the minors for 8 years (Acuna, Albies, Riley, Swanson). What the organization did to Carson Kelly is inexcusable (8 years in the minors).

 

[Bulldog Bruce]

I wished there was an electronic strike zone when I played. The hardest part of hitting is not knowing what will be called a strike. if you can make the defined strike zone consistent, it is so much more fair than having the ump doing makeup calls back there. The only times I got thrown out of games was due to an umpire not being able to call a consistent strike.

The reason that the Atlanta Braves got into the playoffs 15 years in a row in the 90s-2000s but only won one world series is because the umps during the season allowed for that 6 inch outside strike. Their catchers setup behind the far batter's box in those days. But when Maddux and Glavine were forced to actually throw the ball over the plate, they were very hittable. Smoltz could live in the strike zone.

So if electronic strike zone eliminates inconsistency and calls the whole strike zone, I am all for it.

 

[PartTimeGenius]

Valid point. The same would go for pitching, you want to know what calls you'll be getting. Just like players, almost every ump is going to have their own tendencies. We almost always knew going into a game what tendencies the ump behind the plate would have. As a hitter, if we knew he was more generous on one corner or another, up or down, we adjusted to that. Same for a pitcher. Did that cause some frustrations? Of course, but that's just part of the game.

I'd venture to say that if electronic balls and strikes become the new norm, you will see batting averages skyrocket along with pitcher ERAs. As one coach used to yell at us "I'm putting it on a tee for ya".

 

[ronpolk]

Yeh, you're right. I might be a little hard on 'em because I got spoiled during the Pujols era. Not sure if Mo is a puppet or if he's actually making the personnel decisions, but when you look at his track record, it's been less than stellar. The number of his signings (albeit some not for more than 2 years) that have produced absolutely nothing is staggering. Gregerson, Tejada, Mark Ellis, Holland, Wiggington, Pena, and of course Brett Cecil who was paid 30.5 mill to pitch 100 innings over the span of 4 years. The Fowler signing was for way too long (5 years) and the Carpenter extension might have been warranted for his past production, but I hardly think he was underpaid. He's a liability anywhere you put him in the field. He's making 19 mil to DH and he can't hit. The shift basically ended his career.

Agree on Bader. He's now 26 and his approach is the same as it was last year, but his glove is elite. He refuses to go the other way. Not saying Dean, Williams, Thomas, or Carlson will pan out but it's time to move on from what Shildt (Mo) is running out there every day to see what the younger guys can do. You don't see the Braves keeping their rising stars in the minors for 8 years (Acuna, Albies, Riley, Swanson). What the organization did to Carson Kelly is inexcusable (8 years in the minors).

I don’t disagree with anything you said. The draft and the ability to develop players is the only saving grace MO has had. His free agency has been **** for the most part. I think if someone can step up in the OF, you’ll see Fowler start to get pushed on playing time. If not for the DH, I’m not sure you’d see carpenter too much. Remember the end of last year edman had basically replaced him.

I’m hoping we are ready to move on from Bader soon. Great defensive player for sure but looks lost at the plate. It’s time to get Thomas more playing time and then Carlson when he comes up. It still kinda makes me sick to think about trading Pham.