Wow, didn't see this coming. Astros lose the first two at home with Cole and Verlander on the hill, then comeback to win three straight at Washington?!?!
World Series: Nats vs. Astros
- Thread starter rick64
- Start date
First time in WS history that the visiting team has won the first five games, I think.
I love baseball, but the game is committing suicide with 3 minutes between every half inning and 4 hour games. On pace to have another record low TV audience (I think I read). It is a shame, I hope that the powers that be can make changes to the game and the setups to make it go faster, otherwise it will be a niche sport in 10 or 15 years, even now I hardly heard anyone discuss the series and I was at Keeneland on Friday and the UK game Saturday night.
I love baseball, but the game is committing suicide with 3 minutes between every half inning and 4 hour games. On pace to have another record low TV audience (I think I read). It is a shame, I hope that the powers that be can make changes to the game and the setups to make it go faster, otherwise it will be a niche sport in 10 or 15 years, even now I hardly heard anyone discuss the series and I was at Keeneland on Friday and the UK game Saturday night.
1996. Yankees' clinching win in Game 6 was only win by the home team.
That has a lot to do with it being a team that moved leagues from a state where football is king vs. a former expansion team from Canada that moved to a place that isn't technically a state. When hate-able teams play or big market teams play, it does better. Not great, but better. Yankees v Red Sox and Dodgers v. Cardinals would be great TV no matter who made the Series. My Reds, if God ever provided them a chance to be in the WS, vs. say the Rangers would be watched by nobody at all outside of Ohio and the good parts of Kentucky.
Thanks, so if Strasburg can outpitch Verlander in game 6, that would be the record. But 5 in a row is still amazing.
Start times are entirely too late. I get that TV ad revenue controls all sports nowadays but first pitch should be no later than 7:30 on weekdays, 7 on weekends.
Sorry Funk, but Johnny Bench, Pete Rose, and Eric Davis aren't walking through that door.
Houston is the 5th biggest metro area by population in the USA and the DMV metro area is no. 6. And . . . Washington has not had a WS since 1933. If it was Kansas City vs. Cincinnati, for example, then I could agree with you but there is more to it than just small market teams in the WS.
My point is, they're not the biggest story in either area. There are at least 3 more 'popular' baseball teams near DC (Yanks, Sox and Phillies) that would be a bigger draw than the Washington under any other circumstances. Also, these aren't the Senators. There's no long history of Nationals fervor. They just happen to be playing in the world series and the stadium is full. The Nationals aren't a nationwide draw. As for the Astros, I'm pretty sure most people in Texas couldn't name the starting infield. There are certain teams that are big draws across the country. These two aren't them.
^
By the way, I too am a Reds fan, hell I would settle for any of the Nasty Boys to walk through the door, much less the Big Red Machine. :weary:
By the way, I too am a Reds fan, hell I would settle for any of the Nasty Boys to walk through the door, much less the Big Red Machine. :weary:
Lots of things could be done to speed up play - time clock that's enforced, a relief pitcher must face a certain number of batters, etc. What can't be fixed anytime soon is the total lack of action. The game has become a strikeout/homerun league. Do any teams steal a base or hit and run or bunt much anymore? Way too much time is watching the flamethrowing pitcher trying to strike out the 40+ HR, 200+ K hitter. Most teams don't have a batter who would be considered a 'contact hitter'. Not nearly enough balls put into play so each at-bat, each inning just drags and drags. Went to 3 or 4 Rockies games this year and didn't see the end of any. I think the 'quickest' game I attended, the sixth inning rolled around at about the 2:30 mark. Hard to stay interested for 4 hours in a game with such limited action during most games.
X1000 on style of play. Even Marty Brennaman, who finally retired this season after 40+ years as the Reds announcer, says he just doesn't enjoy the way the game is played anymore, just way too many pitches in every inning, with 40% of at bats being a K, a HR or a BB, meaning the ball is not in play.
I’d say the lack of excitement in each individual game hasn’t helped either. They’ve mostly been blowouts that were decided early.
Agree that the 3 outcome at bat has really hurt the watchability. When launch angles, barrels, and exit velocity became more important than putting the ball in play, the game really took a downturn IMO.
Agree that the 3 outcome at bat has really hurt the watchability. When launch angles, barrels, and exit velocity became more important than putting the ball in play, the game really took a downturn IMO.
It's not on the pitchers. It's batters stepping out & then adjusting their cup or whatever before stepping back in. Not on pitchers.
With runners on base, pitchers forever looking over & throwing over. Limit the lead allowed at 1B & that would stop that - mostly. That's why softball so much faster. Don't have to worry about leadoffs.
Was rooting for Houston but that Nats PS run was incredible, good for both Strasburg and Sherzer.