Baseball Jonesing

[FocusYoMindOnDis]

Well, i am here bored at work...and figured i'd start this up. What are some of your favorite things about baseball? Like the stadiums, the game, the crowds...what really makes baseball stand out above all else to you guy?

1. The stadiums...to me there is beauty in the designs and history in most stadiums...i love how the grass looks...i love drinking beers with the friends before we go in, and while we are in the game, and when we leave.

2. The art of pitching...though i want to beat Glavine down with a billy club, he was the first pitcher that made me see how a good pitcher can make a hitter look foolish without overpowering them. Its an art.

3. The videogames. No other sport replicates the sport as well as these videogames do...i mean look at madden (not bashing just saying) that has the look of a high school telecast..not even as good. But baseball nails it.

4. Did i mention the beer?

5. The randoms hot chicks in the summer who go to the games...and the more popular/trendy the teams, the better the stock...makes u wanna shave and shower before u go to the game, u may meet Mrs. Right.

6. Strikeouts rock...

There are more...but what do u guys say?

[bsb13]

Re: Baseball Jonesing

One thing I like about baseball is how you have to be good at so many different things to be an all around great player. You have to be able to hit, throw, run, field and you have to make smart split second decisions. I also like the Chess match between the pitcher and batter. Plus, I like all the above things you mentioned.

[theaub]

Re: Baseball Jonesing

1) Spring afternoons, mid-summer evenings and early autumn nights.

2) Watching a spring training game where 3/4 of the players will never see the majors, and how the 1.1 innings of shutout ball some journeyman reliever threw in the 6th inning may squeak him into going north as the 12th pitcher.

3) The hope and optimism that abounds starting in early February (hey, thats now ) and keeps on going, even if your team goes 8-15 in April.

4) The one team that hasn't been in the playoffs in five years that roars out of the gate, and crowds start filling up again.

5) The early season matchups with Boston and New York, and sitting in a split section that has the feeling of an international soccer game.

6) The first truly sunny and warm Sunday afternoon, where 40,000 people welcome summer back to Canada.

7) Sitting in a section with 10 other people on some mid-July night, chatting with the opposing bullpen and getting some gum thrown up in return.

8) Sitting shoulder-to-shoulder with an almost sold out crowd on some mid-July night, going nuts as the All-Star player just hit a walkoff jack to keep your team in the playoff race.

9) Travelling to one of the cathedrals of baseball, hearing the Bleacher Creatures, sitting on top of the Monster at Fenway, or taking a good, hard look at the now-burnt ivy in Wrigley.

10) The intensity as fans start watching the out of town scoreboard just as much as the game.

11) Top of the 9th, 2 outs, 3-2 count, men on 2nd and 3rd and the home team clinging to a 4-3 lead.

12) Giving a standing O as the home team's starter throws 7 innings of one run ball but is still in line for the loss.

13) Sitting in the outfield, hurling some hurtless insults at the opposing rightfielder, and getting some grins of approval from everyone around you. Followed by the 7 year old in front of you joining in next time getting a laugh from everyone in you section.

14) Cruising down a highway with the windows open, the wind blowing everywhere, and hearing that familiar voice on the radio broadcasting the game to you and the 6 cars around you.

15) Hearing the roar of the crowd, the pagentry, and the sheer intensity of late season rivalry baseball, with division titles or playoff spots on the line.

16) A team in the midst of a playoff race travelling to some 60-90 team where everyone in the stadium knows that its time to play spoiler.

17) Watching everyone on the field acting like they're 10 years old as they pile on each other as they clinch a playoff berth.

18) Hearing Buck and McCarver, the Fox music, or the ESPN radio music that signifies that October is back once more

19) The unbridled joy that players show playing. Griffey gliding back for a flyball, Santana turning some lefty into a knot with his changeup, or Pujols looking about 10 feet tall to some #5 pitcher who's down 3-1 on him with the bases loaded.

20) The fact that no matter if you lose in a heartbreaker, there's always a game the next day. And the second October ends, you're right back in first place for another 5 months.

[Skyboxer]

Re: Baseball Jonesing

One of the main things I like is even though it's a team sport it really is a 1 on 1 game in many actions.
The strategy invlolved: Do I take my heavy hitter from RF to put in a better defensive player in the 8th-9th inning up 1 run? Do I bring in a righty to face a righty? or does the current hitter hit better vs rhp?
Do I bunt to get the tying run in scoring position or go for the big inning.

Just so many things you have to think about.

In the video game baseball world to get the most of this the game has to have the details down, like ratings for example. A player might be error prone according to ratings but if the game setting etc.. don't use it right and the errors never come there's no need to swap for better defensive player.

I mess with sliders and I'm trying to not only get good stats but also good rating works. If no one is making errors for example but the stats look good for pitching/hitting I'm not satisfied. I'll adjust until I have a good middle ground so defensive rating play a part of the game.

Ok I went off the path a little. Sorry.

Basically I'm saying the overall strategy involved and decisions you need to make is what I love the most.

[FocusYoMindOnDis]

Re: Baseball Jonesing

1. The MVP MVP MVP chant...

2. Mets vs. Phillies from now on (its gonna get nasty people, i promise)

3. Road trips and being in a hostile enviroment rooting your team on while trying not to get blindsided by a errant plastic Miller Lite bottle...

4. Reminding the idiot behind u that if he drops one more peanut shell on ur shoulder we are both going out of here in handcuffs, but he gets the black eye to go with it...

5. Foot Longs with cheese and chili...

6. The Upper decks (always better for the comedic aspect)

7. Telling the Time photographer of the year wannabe in front of u to sit his arse down...

8. Razzing the person who dares to wear the opposition jersey to your house

9. The bars afterwards

10. Tailgating wih friends and throwing the football around while the game is set to begin.

[Double-J]

Re: Baseball Jonesing

You have to be able to hit, throw, run, field and you have to make smart split second decisions.

Makes you really appreciate the greatness of someone like Ruth, who was not only arguably the best batter of all-time, but who could send it across the dish nearly as well.

[jct32]

Re: Baseball Jonesing

Since there is no pro team around me I will have to stick with my high school experience.

1. There is nothing better than having a bad day at school then going and throwing someone out at home from the outfield.

2. Playing against crappy teams. You know when you play a JV team and they have hurt players so they call up thier freshman to play on the JV team and the pitcher throws like 30.

3. Baserunning, for some reason I love baserunning. It just feels awesome to steal a base off a catcher.

4. I don't know about anyone else but when you step on that green grass and you warming up before the inning its great.

5. High School chicks coming out and watching during warm weather with not very much clothing on.

That's just a short list.

[nyisles16]

Re: Baseball Jonesing

1 - how it perfectly times the seasons..

2 - seeing the beauty in all the different ballparks (not like the "all the same looking" football stadiums and hockey arenas)

3- catching a game with your dad, girlfriend, best friend, or wife

4- having the opportunity to see something amazing each game

5- a perfectly executed suicide squeeze

6- the fact that there is no time limit in the game

7- the chance that some unknown could make a team/become a star

8- catching a game on the radio (really, is there any other way)

9- the chance of catching a foul ball

10- seeing a kid get an autograph from his/her "hero"

11- watching pre-game warmups

12- having your team with the last at bat with chance to win

13- the smell of a hot dog, beer in the air

14- a grand slam

15-a stolen base

16- keeping score, or teaching someone how

[bravosfan]

Re: Baseball Jonesing

Opening day.

And as Skyboxer alluded to, the 1-on-1 'games within the game'. Thinking along with every situation. Second-guessing the manager.

Seeing the can't-miss prospect make his debut, and that 10-year minor league vet finally get his first glimpse of "The Show" (not the video game ).

Just... the game itself. I freakin' love it. I just picked up the HBO "When it was a Game" set and Ken Burns' Baseball, hoping that will provide my fix (for a liitle while, at least).

[nyisles16]

Re: Baseball Jonesing

Just... the game itself. I freakin' love it.

couldn't say it much better

[chilli311]

Re: Baseball Jonesing

1. The game itself. For those who think it's boring, you just don't get it.

2. Going to the games. The atmosphere is amazing, especially at minor league games.

3. The up's and down's.

4. Being able to trash talk.

5. Seeing someone break out of a slump.

[Bamboospine1998]

Re: Baseball Jonesing

the every day aspect of the game.
NFL once a week
NBA, NHL 2-3 games a week.

MLB 6 sometimes 7 games a week. 162 in about 180 days. If you can get to the ballpark great, if not you have the game on tv or at the pub.

Also the patience involved with the build up of the season. After about week four in the NFL it starts to shape up and something like what the Giants did with the great road record and really jelling is not as common. Usually it is injuries that knock a good team down.

But probably my favorite is the minor league call ups. It isn't so much that a AAA player gets called up and pitches or hits his team to the playoffs, but that if a starter goes down and you have him come up and play well its a bonus and your team my still be in it.

[nyisles16]

Re: Baseball Jonesing

-- being at a game, seeing your team trail by a big score, only to come back & win the game in the ninth... (yup, was at a Met/Cards game in '06 where Beltran won it with one swing of the bat - first pitch too --- place went nuts)..

[huggerorange73]

Re: Baseball Jonesing

I just watched the 2005 WS Box set this week..........

I am so jonesing for baseball it's sick