2024 Baseball Season

[+ purplekow]

47 minutes ago, samhexum said:

They have the best rotation of any American League playoff team and their bullpen underwent an amazing transformation, even as the team fell apart, in September.  It had been a weakness for almost the whole season and now has coalesced into a strength, even though it's not as good as Cleveland's and not as versatile as Detroit's.  They play great defense.  And they have Bobby Witt, Jr.

They are built to win low-scoring games.

As for the Yankees, he typed disgustedly with a sigh, they have the worst bullpen of any of the remaining teams in either league, a one man starting rotation, and an offense with seven stiffs and two superstars, one of whom doesn't hit in the postseason.

Sorry… six stiffs, one decent to good offensive player who is horrific defensively, and two superstars, one of whom doesn't hit in the postseason.

I'd love it if they pull off the most dominant sweep in baseball history and make me look like a colossal moron, but I don't think they have it in them.

I certainly don't think it's impossible that they win; they just don't inspire much confidence for me. Talent-wise, they are the best team left in the American League.

It's really just box scores and game recaps for me at this point, since the only game that I have watched since they were knocked out of the 2022 playoffs was Jasson Dominguez's debut last year.

I was so disgusted by the greed on both sides during the lockout in 2022 that I didn't watch anything for the first quarter of the season, but that was the year the Yankees got off to an amazing start so I finally got sucked in and then when they fell apart and started playing like shit I was sucked in by Judge's pursuit of the Home Run record. But by the end of that season, they had gotten so boring and lifeless that for the last week or two I basically kept my television on with no sound, kept track of where the game was on my computer, and just went to watch his at bats, so that when they predictably got knocked out of the playoffs right away I just basically realized that I don't enjoy watching baseball anymore. I like following it, reading about it, talking and writing about it, but not watching it anymore.  
 

If you think you do not like watching baseball anymore and you once did, watch a few Mets games.  They are frustarting but you never know what is going to happen.  They win games they should lose, they lose games they should win.  They dont hit for 8 innings and then score 6 runs.  The get 16 hits and score one run.  They have excellent fielders, but make stupid errors that a little leaguer would not make.  Thye have had two heart stopping games this week and a game one in which they suddenly exploded for 8 runs in two innings and did not get a hit in any other inning.  

[BuffaloKyle]

I had Yankees/Padres before the playoffs started and sticking with it despite Joe Musgrove knocked out for the Padres. I don't get the love for the Royals. They had two separate 7 game losing streaks in September and scored 3 runs in two games against the Orioles who honestly stunk down the stretch too and even last year got swept in the playoffs when they went into the playoffs on fire.

[samhexum]

I have followed the NBA for 50 years and I don't think I have ever watched a game all the way through and I doubt I have even watched 30 games total.  I just followed the standings, perused the box scores, and read articles.  The last few years I have "watched" the box scores as they change, since there is much more action in basketball than baseball.

I follow MLB the same way now...  I sit in front of the computer for 3 hours and jump back and forth between box scores.  I am more entertained by following all the storylines going on than by watching the Yankees and watching any other team would be me with my head down, scrolling through box scores on my phone the whole time.

It's also somehow less nauseating how much athletes (and owners) make if you are just looking at box scores and not at the players.

My sister and brother-in-law have had partial season-ticket plans for the Mets the last couple of years and have offered to take me to an occasional game and my response has always been thanks but no thanks.

They have tickets for Oct 8th, which is game 3 of the series.  If they make the NLCS they have tickets for Oct 17th.  That's game 4 of the series.  Then If they make the WS they have tickets for games 3 and 5 of the series.

Edited October 5, 2024 by samhexum
just for the hell of it

[samhexum]

25 minutes ago, BuffaloKyle said:

I don't get the love for the Royals. 

 

It's basically because the Yankees stink, and because the Royals have strong starting pitching and good defense, and because most nights, if you score 3 or four runs, which the Yankee defense and bullpen basically give you before the game even starts, all you have to do is walk Aaron Judge at opportune times and you will hold the Yankees to one or two runs.

 

[samhexum]

Former Texas Rangers hurler Matt Bush has been arrested for allegedly fleeing from Texas police and then attempting to run from the scene of a multi-vehicle crash only to be chased down by bystanders.

Bush, 38, was behind the wheel of his 2023 Lincoln Aviator along Pioneer Parkway at around 8:30 p.m. Friday when an Arlington police officer noticed he was driving erratically and tried to pull him over.

The former right-handed pitcher, however, sped away from and evaded police, prompting law enforcement to put out a “Be On the Lookout” report for the vehicle.

Arlington Police then received a report of a multi-vehicle accident at a nearby intersection and arrived on the scene to find the same Lincoln Aviator that fled from officers minutes earlier.

Police said Bush ran a red light at the intersection, hit a 2023 Chevy Silverado, and then crashed into a 2010 GMC Yukon and a 2008 Toyota Corolla.

The former pitcher then “fled from that crash on foot without identifying himself or exchanging any information” but was stopped by a group of bystanders who chased him down and held him for authorities.

The 41-year-old driver of the Silverado and Bush were then both taken to the hospital with minor injuries, according to police. The drivers of the Yukon and Corolla were not injured.

While at the hospital, police suspected Bush might be intoxicated.

 

The former No. 1 overall draft pick declined a field sobriety test and refused to speak with investigators about the crash.

Investigators then obtained a warrant for a blood sample and sent it to a lab for analysis.

Bush was later medically cleared and booked into the Arlington City Jail.

The former Texas Ranger pitcher was charged with one count of driving while intoxicated, one count of accident involving injury, and one count of evading. His bond was set at $35,000.

Bush, a native of San Diego, began his career as a shortstop and was drafted No. 1 overall by the San Diego Padres in 2004, becoming the first high school shortstop drafted first overall since Alex Rodriguez in 1993.

Struggling at shortstop, the Padres converted Bush to a right-handed relief pitcher — a position he stuck with for the rest of his major league career.

While in San Diego, Bush had several alcohol-related incidents after he was drafted and moved to the Toronto and Tampa Bay organizations before a March 2012 accident in Charlotte County in Florida.

He was accused of DUI and leaving the scene of an accident that seriously injured a 72-year-old man on a motorcycle.

Bush went to prison after pleading no contest but was released in 2015 after serving a three-and-a-half-year sentence.

Upon his release, the Rangers signed him to a minor league deal in December 2015.

He appeared in 180 games for the Rangers and had a 12-7 record and a 3.34 ERA with the team.

From 2015 to 2022, the Rangers signed and released him four times, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Bush was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers in August 2022 and appeared in 37 games over the 2022-23 seasons.

However, the relief pitcher was released by the Brewers in the middle of the 2023 season and re-signed by Texas in July 2023.

Bush never pitched in the big leagues after the Rangers re-signed him, and the organization released him at the end of the season.

 

 

[+ WilliamM]

On 10/5/2024 at 12:59 AM, samhexum said:

I have followed the NBA for 50 years and I don't think I have ever watched a game all the way through and I doubt I have even watched 30 games total.  I just followed the standings, perused the box scores, and read articles.  The last few years I have "watched" the box scores as they change, since there is much more action in basketball than baseball.

I follow MLB the same way now...  I sit in front of the computer for 3 hours and jump back and forth between box scores.  I am more entertained by following all the storylines going on than by watching the Yankees and watching any other team would be me with my head down, scrolling through box scores on my phone the whole time.

It's also somehow less nauseating how much athletes (and owners) make if you are just looking at box scores and not at the players.

My sister and brother-in-law have had partial season-ticket plans for the Mets the last couple of years and have offered to take me to an occasional game and my response has always been thanks but no thanks.

They have tickets for Oct 8th, which is game 3 of the series.  If they make the NLCS they have tickets for Oct 17th.  That's game 4 of the series.  Then If they make the WS they have tickets for games 3 and 5 of the series.

I invited you to see events in New York.

Sure you  remember.

[samhexum]

34 minutes ago, WilliamM said:

I invited you to see events in New York.

Sure you  remember.

what does that have to do with my lack of enjoyment watching baseball?

[+ WilliamM]

59 minutes ago, samhexum said:

what does that have to do with my lack of enjoyment watching baseball

Attending live  events is entertaining 

Edited October 8, 2024 by WilliamM

[samhexum]

4 minutes ago, WilliamM said:

Attending live events is entertaining 

When you enjoy what's being presented.  I no longer enjoy watching baseball. 

[samhexum]

On 10/5/2024 at 12:59 AM, samhexum said:

They have tickets for Oct 8th, which is game 3 of the series.

 

 

[+ Charlie]

On 10/4/2024 at 4:03 PM, TonyDown said:

What would be a more compelling, dramatic World Series?  Enlighten us! 

 

Yankees vs Phillies

or

Yankees vs Mets

 

 

For Lucky and me, it would definitely be Yankees vs. Phillies.

[+ purplekow]

On 10/5/2024 at 12:59 AM, samhexum said:

I have followed the NBA for 50 years and I don't think I have ever watched a game all the way through and I doubt I have even watched 30 games total.  I just followed the standings, perused the box scores, and read articles.  The last few years I have "watched" the box scores as they change, since there is much more action in basketball than baseball.

I follow MLB the same way now...  I sit in front of the computer for 3 hours and jump back and forth between box scores.  I am more entertained by following all the storylines going on than by watching the Yankees and watching any other team would be me with my head down, scrolling through box scores on my phone the whole time.

It's also somehow less nauseating how much athletes (and owners) make if you are just looking at box scores and not at the players.

My sister and brother-in-law have had partial season-ticket plans for the Mets the last couple of years and have offered to take me to an occasional game and my response has always been thanks but no thanks.

They have tickets for Oct 8th, which is game 3 of the series.  If they make the NLCS they have tickets for Oct 17th.  That's game 4 of the series.  Then If they make the WS they have tickets for games 3 and 5 of the series.

Can you fully appreciate Harrison Bader's ass on a computer print out of the game?  How about Giancarlo Stanton's physique in the tight Yankee uniform.  The smooth movements of an outfielder picking up a ball on the fly after it bounces off the wall and throwing out a runner try to make it into second?  How about the sexy lumberjack grimace of Harper of the Phils as he is called out on a close pitch.  There is more to the game than the plays, the elegance of the players and the unexpected turns are more fully appreciated in person rather than as words on a screen.  I have followed games on line at CBSsports.com.  It is like reading the cliff notes of a great novel.  You get the basic story and someone else's analysis of the action, but it lacks the texture and the drama of watching in person.  Not every play goes that way, just as every page is not worth rereading or mulling over, but the fabric of the story and the fabric of the game can never be fully told in a recap or a play by play on line.  Radio announcers can do it to a great extent but their interpretation is colored and designed to have the action be more than it is to hold your attention.    Now that games have been sped up by the pitch clock, they are much more easily watched without long lulls in the action.  As for being at the game, there are plusses and minuses The food and the crowd's excetement are sometimes mitigated by the drink next to you and the traffic getting out of the staidum.  Still, I have been to one World Series game, Mets Royals, which the Mets won, and it was a great evening of entertainment.   Regular season games are a fun night out.  

[samhexum]

15 minutes ago, purplekow said:

Can you fully appreciate Harrison Bader's ass on a computer print out of the game?  How about Giancarlo Stanton's physique in the tight Yankee uniform.  

Yes.

Can you fully appreciate how boring I find baseball to be?

[+ purplekow]

3 hours ago, samhexum said:

Yes.

Can you fully appreciate how boring I find baseball to be?

So it is the statistics you find compelling not the game?

 

[samhexum]

3 hours ago, purplekow said:

So it is the statistics you find compelling not the game?

Yes.  And the storylines around the league, just like with the NBA.  I'm still a Yankee fan, but from afar.

 

[samhexum]

Severe damage to the roof of Tropicana Field from Hurricane Milton.

[+ Charlie]

Sigh! I guess it's time for me to put my Phillies cap back in the closet for another year.😕

[+ purplekow]

19 hours ago, samhexum said:

Yes.  And the storylines around the league, just like with the NBA.  I'm still a Yankee fan, but from afar.

 

Well if you are going to be a Yankee fan being as far away as possible is the way to do it.  That way they can pass the sniff test.

 

[BuffaloKyle]

Yankees took care of the Royals and I'm sure they will take care of the Tigers or Guardians as well. The Yankees play well against all the AL Central teams.

[samhexum]

2 hours ago, BuffaloKyle said:

The Yankees play well against all the AL Central teams.

That's true, though they WERE the first team all season to lose a game to the Chisox by double digits.

 

[samhexum]

I got a text from my sister a couple of hours ago, saying that they have landed, but that my brother in law's bag was never loaded onto the plane.

I have absolutely no idea what that's about, so I am assuming that, in addition to the games at Citi Field that they have tickets to, they somehow got tickets to at least one game in Los Angeles and paid last minute prices for a flight. 

[MikeBiDude]

21 hours ago, samhexum said:

they somehow got tickets to at least one game in Los Angeles and paid last minute prices for a flight

How come I’m not feeling any Dodgers-love in this thread???? Do I need to keep posting pics of my crush and the best catcher in the league to drum up interest? 😉

 

[samhexum]

6 minutes ago, MikeBiDude said:

How come I’m not feeling any Dodgers-love in this thread???? Do I need to keep posting pics of my crush and the best catcher in the league to drum up interest? 😉

YOU MADE A MISTAKE... that pic isn't Austin Barnes.

[samhexum]

On 10/13/2024 at 5:19 PM, samhexum said:

I have absolutely no idea what that's about, so I am assuming that, in addition to the games at Citi Field that they have tickets to, they somehow got tickets to at least one game in Los Angeles and paid last minute prices for a flight. 

Actually, they flew down to Florida to check in with my niece, who works at Disney. In fact, they gave their Mets tickets for tonight to their friends

[+ sync]

On 10/14/2024 at 2:56 PM, samhexum said:

YOU MADE A MISTAKE... that pic isn't Austin Barnes.

I could make do with Will Smith.  😛