2013 MLB Regular Season running thread

Pretty much the most noteworthy thing the Pirates did that year, other than bring up Bonds.

 

I can see Bo Porter, a new manager, getting confused about the rules, but how could four umpires not tell him that Wright had to stay in the game?

The three biggest baseball stories this week included umpires, what's wrong with that picture?

 

If you ask Bud Selig, nothing's wrong.

Reminds me of Kevin Bacon in "Animal House."

"All is well! Remain calm!"

 

We talked about ratings a bit during the postseason last year. It's ridiculous to compare ratings from 20-25 years ago to today because the TV landscape is so different. Then, the Big Three ruled. Fox was barely getting off the ground (and remember how some thought the sky would fall down when it won NFC rights?). Univision was a bit player -- and the only Spanish network out there. The 500-channel universe of today was theoretical.

A more valid comparison, however, would be the overnights and the weekly report. In both those areas, postseason baseball is still getting the lion's share of the audience.

 

JA Happ raises his hand and says "Remember me?.....I just about got my fucking head removed."

 

In the 90s I hardly ever saw my favorite team on TV, even though I lived in its territory. Now I live 1000 miles away and I've watched a dozen games on TV already without even subscribing to the MLB package. I could see them all if I chose to pay for it. I've listened to at least part of almost every one on my phone for a what comes out to pennies a game.

Most big sporting events are moving to cable. The Final Four is going to be on one of the Turner channels soon. The NBA and NHL playoffs are on TNT and CNBC.

There's plenty to criticize Selig about, but the availability of games to watch is hardly one of them.

As far as the travel team stuff, youth basketball is all about travel teams too, but there are slimy sneaker reps and street agents paying for talented poor kids to play. That's a whole other ball of wax which opens of different kids of problems. Youth sports as a whole is something that needs to be examined, it isn't just a baseball issue.

 

You mean batting Sid Bream in the cleanup spot wasn't noteworthy?

 

Oh wait, they did brawl with the Mets that '86 season.

 

It's almost embarrassing for someone to cite this in a vacuum these days.

 

This Jose Fernandez kid on the Marlins is a helluva story. Did some time in prison for trying to flee Cuba, then saved his mom when she fell off the boat they escaped in. Damn, kinda makes you root for him.

 

MLB suspends ump for 2 games after fuck-up in Angels game.

 

It was asking a lot but I wish Houston had won that game so they'd have to replay it.