Say Anything Blog

Oh how I wish hitting a triple wasn’t the only way to get to third base.

Don’t we all.

When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.

-- Thomas Jefferson

Rob’s recently listened-to songs:

Every one of them a fourth year freshman at Florida State, and they all want world peace and to be a veterinarian, because they love children, and to pay off their plastic surgery bills.  (apologies to Julie Brown?)

Sorry, guys, but this doesn’t exactly add anything to the sport.  If it catches on, you can say “good bye” to the idea that baseball is a thinking man’s game.

I find that professional sports sites are becoming more and more like amusement parks.

The Supreme Court is a bunch of black robed tyrants

Come on.  3 hours of sitting eating peanuts.

Baseball is losing its place as a relevant sport to most Americans who prefer football and NASCAR. 

They need to do something to make the sport interesting again.  Cheerleaders might not be the answer, but what is?  More Homeruns?  Power hitters?  A Lower mound?  Shorter fences?  Batters clocks to speed up at bats?  Aluminum bats?  All Star games to determine home field for the World Series?  Interleague games?  Wild Card teams?

I enjoy baseball, but I am not a purist.  It happens that I certainly enjoy scantily clad 20something hotties more than sports.  The game needs to change or it will die.

Justin, perhaps you’re not the target audience.  IMO, what would get baseball back would be real grass, day games, good concessions at a reasonable price, and dads.  I can hardly think of another sport that is so well transmitted from father to son, and hardly transmitted otherwise.  Maybe golf or hunting would qualify.

And, of course, every team needs ivy on the outfield wall, or at least a “green monster.”

Don’t they like blondes in Florida?

"All the perplexities, confusion and distress in America arise not from defects in their Constitution or Confederation, nor from want of honor or virtue, so much as downright ignorance of the nature of coin, credit and circulation.”
- John Adams

Sorry, guys, but this doesn’t exactly add anything to the sport.

you ain’t queer are ya?

What’s going to happen to US industry when the global warming extremists like John McCain double the price of electricity?  I would think all these factories will close and set up in countries where they aren’t scared of technology.

And, of course, every team needs ivy on the outfield wall, or at least a “green monster.”

Or a center field flagpole that’s in play, or a memorial park just past the outfield wall…

When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.

-- Thomas Jefferson

Rob’s recently listened-to songs:

Or a roof on the stadium that makes it look like the Stay Puff Marshmellow Man lives there.

Oh, you don’t like that?

What’s going to happen to US industry when the global warming extremists like John McCain double the price of electricity?  I would think all these factories will close and set up in countries where they aren’t scared of technology.

Whistler; ask my wife & soon to be five kids.  For whatever reason, I’m simply not that attracted to plastic airheads.

And no, I don’t like the Homerdome, either, Whistler.  To make Rob feel better about my Fenway endorsement, I’m not a big fan of the big blue toilet bowl, either(Shea).

Whistler; ask my wife & soon to be five kids.

Glad to hear it.  That was a joke if you hadn’t figured it out.

I’m simply not that attracted to plastic airheads.

I’m sure they’re all very intelligent. 

I’ve not been in any modern baseball stadiums such as Camden Yards.  Hopefully the new Twins stadium will be a better venue.

What’s going to happen to US industry when the global warming extremists like John McCain double the price of electricity?  I would think all these factories will close and set up in countries where they aren’t scared of technology.

I have to come out of blog slumber for this crucial issue. Are you kidding? The only real sport!?! What about football (and I don’t mean soccer)?

Now that’s a sport: strategy, speed, power. Like the bastard love child of the WWF and chess.

The sissies play once a week for...what...five months a year?

Please.  Football is just something to keep busy with during baseball’s offseason.

When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.

-- Thomas Jefferson

Rob’s recently listened-to songs:

Those fooseball players even wear padded pads and cups and things.

Of course Hockey is the real sport, but baseballs great too.

What’s going to happen to US industry when the global warming extremists like John McCain double the price of electricity?  I would think all these factories will close and set up in countries where they aren’t scared of technology.

They need to do something to make the sport interesting again.  Cheerleaders might not be the answer, but what is?  More Homeruns?  Power hitters?  A Lower mound?  Shorter fences?  Batters clocks to speed up at bats?  Aluminum bats?  All Star games to determine home field for the World Series?  Interleague games?  Wild Card teams?

Not a salary cap, but a WEIGHT CAP. Total team weight, in pounds.

Not very long ago, I was proud of baseball because it was the one sport where any size could play.  From lightweight shortstops (Omar Vizquel) to beer-bellied pitchers (Roger Clemens) and everything in between.  Slow running first-basemen, to “i jes hit de baw” DH’s, everyone had a place on a team.

No longer.  Hard to find a player anymore sporing less than 200lbs of 95% lean USDA Approved (Improved, and possibly Imported) Beef. 

I can’t use baseball to teach my kids that every man counts anymore.

PS: Drug tests before EVEY FREAKING GAME might be neccesary too… God forbid it actually come to that…

[Feet make good soup!]

Not very long ago, I was proud of baseball because it was the one sport where any size could play.  From lightweight shortstops (Omar Vizquel) to beer-bellied pitchers (Roger Clemens) and everything in between.  Slow running first-basemen, to “i jes hit de baw” DH’s, everyone had a place on a team.

No longer.  Hard to find a player anymore sporing less than 200lbs of 95% lean USDA Approved (Improved, and possibly Imported) Beef. 

Skinny Jose Reyes, with 6 doubles and 5 triples already this year, would like to debate you on this.

Drug tests before EVEY FREAKING GAME might be neccesary too… God forbid it actually come to that…

I agree.  And let’s start with that cheating SOB Barry Bonds.  Once he’s tested positive, let’s ban him from baseball and make him live with Pete Rose.

If I were a major league manager I’d have my pitchers bean him every time he came up to bat.

When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.

-- Thomas Jefferson

Rob’s recently listened-to songs:

GO ASTROS!… Stop the pirates!

National League?  How exciting is it to watch the pitcher bunt like a girls softball team?

What’s going to happen to US industry when the global warming extremists like John McCain double the price of electricity?  I would think all these factories will close and set up in countries where they aren’t scared of technology.

Real fun!…

If I were a major league manager I’d have my pitchers bean him every time he came up to bat.

Man that would sell some tickets wouldn’t it?

I love it!

[Feet make good soup!]

How about Roger ‘beanball’ clemens?

That’s one guy I’d be beaning?

What’s going to happen to US industry when the global warming extremists like John McCain double the price of electricity?  I would think all these factories will close and set up in countries where they aren’t scared of technology.

I wish Roger would come back now. You know who I really like is Randy Johnson! I once was an ASTRO. BUT no more. I LOVE Billy Wagner too!

who I really like is Randy Johnson!

What’s with you girls that are only interested in a guy with a pretty face?

What’s going to happen to US industry when the global warming extremists like John McCain double the price of electricity?  I would think all these factories will close and set up in countries where they aren’t scared of technology.

Bad Whistle!… He is such an awsome player though. I wish he were still an ASTRO. Billy Wagner too! I LOVE LOVE LOVE Roy Oswalt! YAY!

I wish Roger would come back now.

Clemens will be playing for the Yankees around the All Star break, I’ll bet.

When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.

-- Thomas Jefferson

Rob’s recently listened-to songs:

That should really shape up their has-been pitching.

What’s going to happen to US industry when the global warming extremists like John McCain double the price of electricity?  I would think all these factories will close and set up in countries where they aren’t scared of technology.

I’d rather see them bring up Hughes and then maybe make some moves to get some other youngsters.

Another aging veteran is not what the staff needs.

When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.

-- Thomas Jefferson

Rob’s recently listened-to songs:

Cheerleaders might not be the answer, but what is?

More Yankee victories! (I’d stick my home team and say the Phillies, but I gave up on them when they lost to those damn Canadians in ‘93).

Ah, a fellow Bombers fan.

Welcome to the dark side.

When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.

-- Thomas Jefferson

Rob’s recently listened-to songs:

Real tough to root for the billion dollar bombers.

How about watching a team develop rather than free agent themselves into contention?

What’s going to happen to US industry when the global warming extremists like John McCain double the price of electricity?  I would think all these factories will close and set up in countries where they aren’t scared of technology.

You know who I really like is Randy Johnson!

I was downtown last night and couldn’t find any parking because RJ was pitching for the Diamondbacks for the first time in three years.  Unfortunately, I was watching Kobe getting beat down like a little bitch. 

Why do you live in Texas, BTW?  I can recommend a good realtor in Phoenix.  No sense missing out on RJ, Camelback, Scottsdale, Mill Ave, ASU, etc.  There is plenty of room, but you have to watch out for all the Californians.

Korean baseball has had cheerleaders for years.

You know who I really like is Randy Johnson!

You know the last time we had a Randy Johnson in the White House, Hillary blamed it on the Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy!

A troll is someone who only wants to stir up trouble, not have an honest debate.  Some signs that a poster is a troll:
* Dodges questions from other posters * Refuses to give sources
* When one of its arguments is shown to be false, either ignores the proof or moves the goalposts.  Heh. (From the LGF faq)

Koreans are so cool…

When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.

-- Thomas Jefferson

Rob’s recently listened-to songs:

So… this thread is about baseball?  Damn!  I took one look at the picture and figured everyone was just waiting around for Howie to say, “Open the case!”

“Poverty of goods is easily cured; poverty of the mind is irreparable.”

Who the hell is Howie?

When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.

-- Thomas Jefferson

Rob’s recently listened-to songs:

Rob,

Howie “Deal or No Deal” Mandel.

“Poverty of goods is easily cured; poverty of the mind is irreparable.”

Oh…

I don’t watch much television.

When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.

-- Thomas Jefferson

Rob’s recently listened-to songs:

Neither do I.  Fox News, Bloomberg, Braves and Yankees, and “24.”

“Poverty of goods is easily cured; poverty of the mind is irreparable.”

The ASTROS lost. 16 innings. They will snap back!…

I was actually interesting in this thread when I saw the picture.  Then you guys started getting all basebally on me…

That’s pretty much pro sports:  Beer, Good food, good friends, & cheerleaders, but sooner or later you get forced into watching a bunch of overpaid dolts fight over a ball.

That’s pretty much pro sports:  Beer, Good food, good friends, & cheerleaders, but sooner or later you get forced into watching a bunch of overpaid dolts fight over a ball.

Overpaid?  I would point out, sir, that all good capitalists pay their employees exactly what they’re worth.  Pro sports team owners make plenty of money, it’s only fitting that they pass some of that wealth on to the highly trained and skilled performers who are central to their business.

When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.

-- Thomas Jefferson

Rob’s recently listened-to songs:

Rob, I’d agree with you on that if the stadiums weren’t massively subsidized.  Can we seriously argue that it’s a coincidence that stadium subsidies and salaries are similar numbers?

So no, team owners are not good capitalists, but really rather fascists, “bundling” their teams with the public purse.  Also, good capitalists don’t pay people what they’re worth, but rather what it takes to keep them there and motivated.  This is somewhat less than what the employee is worth because good capitalists need to make a profit, and no employee is hired because the employer thinks he’ll lose money/profit on the deal.

I’ve been noticing that certain ball parks attendance is real sparce! It seems like the ASTROS, Cardinals, Braves, Yankees and Mets are filled. AND the Yankees I always notice men in business suits…

Rob, I’d agree with you on that if the stadiums weren’t massively subsidized.  Can we seriously argue that it’s a coincidence that stadium subsidies and salaries are similar numbers?

So no, team owners are not good capitalists, but really rather fascists, “bundling” their teams with the public purse.

I don’t disagree.  I oppose public subsidy of professional teams.  But this is hardly the fault of the player.  I often hear ire directed at people like Alex Rodriguez for “making too much money,” but A-Rod is just taking what he can get.

I can’t blame him for that.

When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.

-- Thomas Jefferson

Rob’s recently listened-to songs:

What’s The One Thing Baseball Has Been Missing All These Years?

Answer: strong pitching. The game has been taken over by a springy ball that goes further when hit. Baseball games used to have scores of 3 to 2 or something similar. Now we consistently see games with scores in the double digits. Bring back the heavier ball and a game that tilts the balance back towards the pitchers.

Wait a second; if we have an excessively springy ball and a dearth of pitching, why was the last guy to bat .400 Ted Williams, back in the 1940s?

Lik is a reactionary.

What’s going to happen to US industry when the global warming extremists like John McCain double the price of electricity?  I would think all these factories will close and set up in countries where they aren’t scared of technology.

if we have an excessively springy ball and a dearth of pitching, why was the last guy to bat .400 Ted Williams, back in the 1940s?

Relief pitching?

What’s going to happen to US industry when the global warming extremists like John McCain double the price of electricity?  I would think all these factories will close and set up in countries where they aren’t scared of technology.

Wait a second; if we have an excessively springy ball and a dearth of pitching, why was the last guy to bat .400 Ted Williams, back in the 1940s?

Bad pitchers? I don’t know.

I recently read an article that demonstrated that the balls have gotten more livelier. I usually forward such baseball articles to Rob, but I didn’t forward that one.

why was the last guy to bat .400 Ted Williams, back in the 1940s?

Because it’s not as simple as pitching vs. hitting.

The game has changed (balls are springy, parks are smaller, strike zones are smaller, etc.), but also the approach to hitting has changed.  Not as much emphasis is being placed on things like on base percentage and contact hitting.  Now it’s all about power and hitting the ball over the fence.

Something that, with a few exceptions among the upper-tier players, leads to lower batting averages.

And I wouldn’t say that there hasn’t been good pitchers in the modern era.  It’s just that those pitchers are playing a different game.

When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.

-- Thomas Jefferson

Rob’s recently listened-to songs:

I would argue that MLB has over-expanded, and there simply isn’t a sufficient number of major league caliber pitchers to go around.

As difficult as it is to hit real major league pitching, the physical talent, game knowledge, and psychology necessary to be a major league pitcher is even more rare.  That hitting, particularly long ball, is up, is at least partially due to a paucity of real pitching talent.  There just ain’t enough quality pitchers to fill all the major league rosters.

“Poverty of goods is easily cured; poverty of the mind is irreparable.”

I would argue that MLB has over-expanded, and there simply isn’t a sufficient number of major league caliber pitchers to go around.

Excellent point, one that undoubtedly contributes more to the increased number of home runs in recent years than anything I suggested.

Of course, the different approach to hitting explains the lack of a .400 hitter…

When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.

-- Thomas Jefferson

Rob’s recently listened-to songs:

Yes and no on the hitting thing.  First of all, if we’re going to talk about smaller ballparks and poorer pitching, that should have caused a spike in both home runs and batting averages.  Yet Ruth’s record of 60 homers stood until recently--despite 8 more games to get ‘em than he had.  Moreover, Williams was a good long ball hitter with 521 career home runs, despite being a Marine pilot in both WWII and Korea.

I don’t know that ballparks are smaller, either; consider that Wrigley and Comiskey (the original) both fit in a city block--the Yankees and Mets used to have such stadia as well.

Perhaps a big part of the issue is the development of new pitches--they didn’t previously have curveballs, sinkers, and such to throw well--and the inclusion of blacks and latin America into the recruitment pool.

One (maybe final) thought on this as well; notice that those of us who love the sport have gotten into a conversation that does not involve silicone-filled aerobics queens.  Baseball is all about tradition, and the biggest enemy of that tradition is when we distract from it.  Like, say, with silicone-filled aerobics queens getting in the way of the game.

Robert Perry… You are exactly right. Who needs silicone queens, when there is baseball? It is such a great sport!

Rob told me that he likes that one in the front center’s baseballs.

What’s going to happen to US industry when the global warming extremists like John McCain double the price of electricity?  I would think all these factories will close and set up in countries where they aren’t scared of technology.