quote:

ORIGINAL: CPAMAN

quote:

ORIGINAL: Mr. Ed

RIP Jim Fregosi

One of the old Angels players who actually was half-way decent.  He could not have been that old.  Maybe early 70's? 

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ORIGINAL: ewen21

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ORIGINAL: Black 47

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ORIGINAL: SoMnFan

I'd rather have Jeter as my shortstop, captain and leadoff hitter than

Almost anyone
And certainly most on that "list"

He was, is, and always will be a WINNER

I'm sure he has a horrible WAR number
In fact, I HOPE he does.

Could not agree more. Good luck explaining that to the saber-twats. I've always just laughed at idiot Minneaotan's booing guys like Jeter and AJ. So clueless and ignorant. The same idiot fans who a few years ago couldn't stop patting themselves on the back for giving Zumaya a standing ovation when he broke his arm.

It's not Jeter's fault 90% of New Yorkers are assholes. I think a lot of the Jeter hate has to do with that.

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ORIGINAL: SoMnFan

Never understood either of those boo targets.

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ORIGINAL: Dave E

That is completely and totally bonkers.

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ORIGINAL: Stacey King

Ryan Dempster posted a disappointing 4.57 ERA in 171 1/3 innings last summer for the Red Sox and did not get a postseason start, but he was still expected to open the 2014 campaign in Boston’s rotation.

That is no longer going to happen.

According to FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal, the veteran right-hander announced Sunday that he will not pitch this season due to “physical reasons and his
desire to spend more time with his kids.”

“I don’t feel like I am capable of performing to the ability and standard that I am accustomed to,” Dempster told Rosenthal. “I feel it’s in the best interest of both the club but most importantly myself to step away from playing
baseball at this time. The time is right. I’m not saying retirement but I definitely won’t be playing this season.”

Dempster signed a two-year, $26.5 million free agent contract with the Red
Sox last winter. He’ll be placed on the restricted list and won’t get the $13.25 million salary that he stood to earn in 2014.

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ORIGINAL: Black 47

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ORIGINAL: Dave E

That is completely and totally bonkers.

Money ruined the game. Interleague play ruined the game. Nineteen games a season against division opponents ruined the game. Nineteen! Steroids killed the game. Expansion killed the game. This mass marketing of the game to the casual fan killed the game. People don't go to the ballpark for the game. They go for the show.They go to get drunk and stuff their face. Promotions and blaring music has virtually replaced the organ. Nothing bonkers about this take.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Dave E

Money ruined the game: I don't understand this argument at all

Interleague ruined the game: I'm personally not a huge fan, but these games sell out routinely. We might not like it, but it has been enormously popular.

Nineteen games agianst divisional opponents: yeah, this generally sucks.

Steriods ruined the game: laughable. PEDs have long been a part of the game; and Sosa/McGwire was one of the most compelling things in baseball. Several people on this board -- including me -- came back to the game after the strike because of those two. Also, steroids were not the only cause of increased offense.

People don't go to the ballpark for the game: not what I see at all. Sure, ballparks have more amenities. Nothing wrong with that. The Dome did not enhance the baseball watching experience, nor did the awful cookie cutter stadiums (STL/PITT/PHIL/CINC/BALT), if you were ever at one. Way too much astroturf, bad sight angles, etc. Those detract from the game. Now you can go to a stadium like TF and watch a ballgame with an extraordinary backdrop -- it's like I always imagined baseball was in the "old" days (although it wasn't nearly this comfortable or enjoyable).

On top of that...

The wildcard games have improved the playoffs. I was initially against it, but it has made the postseason much more exciting.

The internet has completely changed the way you can understand the game. You can get any type of baseball analysis you want at your fingertips. Want a boxscore from a game from 50 years ago? No problem. Want to watch replays at the game on your phone? Done. Want to watch a baseball game on your phone wherever you are? You can do it. Got cable at home? You can see every single game of your team.

Music v. organ, that's a personal opinion which you are certainly entitled to. Some of the music sucks at TF, sure, but I wouldn't change it for a 75% empty Dome with organ music.

No, the game is simply amazing right now. I'm not a giant Selig fan by any stretch, but baseball is much better off than it was 20 years ago, and it isn't close.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Dave E

Money ruined the game: I don't understand this argument at all

Interleague ruined the game: I'm personally not a huge fan, but these games sell out routinely. We might not like it, but it has been enormously popular.

Nineteen games agianst divisional opponents: yeah, this generally sucks.

Steriods ruined the game: laughable. PEDs have long been a part of the game; and Sosa/McGwire was one of the most compelling things in baseball. Several people on this board -- including me -- came back to the game after the strike because of those two. Also, steroids were not the only cause of increased offense.

People don't go to the ballpark for the game: not what I see at all. Sure, ballparks have more amenities. Nothing wrong with that. The Dome did not enhance the baseball watching experience, nor did the awful cookie cutter stadiums (STL/PITT/PHIL/CINC/BALT), if you were ever at one. Way too much astroturf, bad sight angles, etc. Those detract from the game. Now you can go to a stadium like TF and watch a ballgame with an extraordinary backdrop -- it's like I always imagined baseball was in the "old" days (although it wasn't nearly this comfortable or enjoyable).

On top of that...

The wildcard games have improved the playoffs. I was initially against it, but it has made the postseason much more exciting.

The internet has completely changed the way you can understand the game. You can get any type of baseball analysis you want at your fingertips. Want a boxscore from a game from 50 years ago? No problem. Want to watch replays at the game on your phone? Done. Want to watch a baseball game on your phone wherever you are? You can do it. Got cable at home? You can see every single game of your team.

Music v. organ, that's a personal opinion which you are certainly entitled to. Some of the music sucks at TF, sure, but I wouldn't change it for a 75% empty Dome with organ music.

No, the game is simply amazing right now. I'm not a giant Selig fan by any stretch, but baseball is much better off than it was 20 years ago, and it isn't close.

quote:

ORIGINAL: ewen21

The music at the ballpark is ridiculous. It's so damn loud and such a distraction. Give me an organ over that piped in nonsense. Screw the Kiss Cams and all the other gimmicky BS. Matter of fact, there are too many damn distractions and distracted people at the ballpark. People noodling around with handheld devices nonstop and what have you. It is thoroughly annoying. What ever happened to.....
"I'll be at the ballgame today, catch you later"??
I guess that mentality is more of a societal thing but it certainly effects my time at the ballpark.

The games are also far too long. So many meaningless substitutions because the game has become over specialized. Back in the day you could sit through a game watching it on the TV without it eating up almost four hours of your life. Interleague play is a huge pain in the ass as well.

There are plenty of things that have diminished the entertainment value of the product.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Black 47

Interleague play and imbalanced schedule were implemented to make more money. Thats how money ruined the game. Just because it made the game more profitable doesn't mean it made the game better. MLB sold it's soul to the devil. There was a certain level of mystique, for lack of a better word, when the only times the leagues met was in the world series.

No way do I agree the game is amazing right now. I can only stomach going to a game if I'm wearing headphones listening to it, and now I can't even listen Carneal and Gordon anymore. The endless promotions to entertain today's casual ADD fan is really very sickening to me. The game takes a backseat to everything else.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Black 47

Nailed it Ewen. The specialization and endless substitutions is like a slow death. And gardy is one of the worst offenders. Nobody can empty a bullpen like gardy, and I'm not even referring to the last three years when the starting pitching has stunk. He gets aroused if he can bring in a lefty to face one batter in the 6th inning. One rule I'm in favor of would be any reliever who enters the game has to face atleast three batters.

Four hour games are killing baseball. In addition to the mass pitching changes, the shrinking strike zone is a disgrace. And now they're adding replay to slow things down even more.

quote:

ORIGINAL: CPAMAN

quote:

ORIGINAL: ewen21

The music at the ballpark is ridiculous. It's so damn loud and such a distraction. Give me an organ over that piped in nonsense. Screw the Kiss Cams and all the other gimmicky BS. Matter of fact, there are too many damn distractions and distracted people at the ballpark. People noodling around with handheld devices nonstop and what have you. It is thoroughly annoying. What ever happened to.....
"I'll be at the ballgame today, catch you later"??
I guess that mentality is more of a societal thing but it certainly effects my time at the ballpark.

The games are also far too long. So many meaningless substitutions because the game has become over specialized. Back in the day you could sit through a game watching it on the TV without it eating up almost four hours of your life. Interleague play is a huge pain in the ass as well.

There are plenty of things that have diminished the entertainment value of the product.

Again, agree 100%.  And the younger people cannot argue this because they have nothing to compare it to.  They weren't around in the 80's, let alone the 60's and 70's. 

quote:

ORIGINAL: Dave E

quote:

ORIGINAL: CPAMAN

quote:

ORIGINAL: ewen21

The music at the ballpark is ridiculous. It's so damn loud and such a distraction. Give me an organ over that piped in nonsense. Screw the Kiss Cams and all the other gimmicky BS. Matter of fact, there are too many damn distractions and distracted people at the ballpark. People noodling around with handheld devices nonstop and what have you. It is thoroughly annoying. What ever happened to.....
"I'll be at the ballgame today, catch you later"??
I guess that mentality is more of a societal thing but it certainly effects my time at the ballpark.

The games are also far too long. So many meaningless substitutions because the game has become over specialized. Back in the day you could sit through a game watching it on the TV without it eating up almost four hours of your life. Interleague play is a huge pain in the ass as well.

There are plenty of things that have diminished the entertainment value of the product.

Again, agree 100%.  And the younger people cannot argue this because they have nothing to compare it to.  They weren't around in the 80's, let alone the 60's and 70's. 

Uh...I wasn't around in the 80s?

quote:

ORIGINAL: Mr. Ed

quote:

ORIGINAL: Dave E

quote:

ORIGINAL: CPAMAN

quote:

ORIGINAL: ewen21

The music at the ballpark is ridiculous. It's so damn loud and such a distraction. Give me an organ over that piped in nonsense. Screw the Kiss Cams and all the other gimmicky BS. Matter of fact, there are too many damn distractions and distracted people at the ballpark. People noodling around with handheld devices nonstop and what have you. It is thoroughly annoying. What ever happened to.....
"I'll be at the ballgame today, catch you later"??
I guess that mentality is more of a societal thing but it certainly effects my time at the ballpark.

The games are also far too long. So many meaningless substitutions because the game has become over specialized. Back in the day you could sit through a game watching it on the TV without it eating up almost four hours of your life. Interleague play is a huge pain in the ass as well.

There are plenty of things that have diminished the entertainment value of the product.

Again, agree 100%.  And the younger people cannot argue this because they have nothing to compare it to.  They weren't around in the 80's, let alone the 60's and 70's. 

Uh...I wasn't around in the 80s?

Stop trying to confuse the issue...and get the hell off my lawn!!