MLB Off-Topic

[Watson]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Getting into?? This kind of stuff has been around for decades, and that play is just the tip of the iceberg.

The worst I've seen is this play. This is from a college game, but I know high school coaches that teach this play since there's no way a 2 umpire crew will be able to see it.

Yeah I talked to both coaches, players, and the umpire who called the kid out.

After hearing about it, the coach was right but he was wrong. It's legal in theory, but the execution was off. The umpire said if the kid went to the lip of the dirt or a step or two into the grass, then he wouldn't have called him out. He said putting the kid to where the RF was in his hip pocket was outside of the bounds of reasonable basepath. To quote the ump, "the outside of the infield is rounded for a reason."

Honestly, after sitting on it and digesting it...I think the hidden ball trick is by far much more "bush league" and unsportsmanlike than this play. At least here there is no deception involved, just capitalizing on one of those unwritten rules that people believe to be written.

[countryboy]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I'm sure many of us here played organized baseball. Even in highschool level you see teams deploy all kinds of tricks.

Nothing is that new. Depends on the coach and their style.

My high school coach didn't like any of it. Didn't mean we weren't witness to most of it when opposing schools pulled stunts on us.

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Our team motto in high school baseball was "if you aren't cheating then you aren't trying"

[fatleg3]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Getting into?? This kind of stuff has been around for decades, and that play is just the tip of the iceberg.

The worst I've seen is this play. This is from a college game, but I know high school coaches that teach this play since there's no way a 2 umpire crew will be able to see it.

Watching that video brought me to this one. How is that a balk? Is it because the pitcher brought his foot up and down and didnt throw the ball immediately, or because he turned towards 2nd but threw it to 3rd base?

https://youtu.be/jewBHBP_9g4

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[Blzer]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I've thought of every exploit under the sun in the softball world (as a coach), just never thought about abusing them. But just food for thought, every year I re-read/annotate the rule books for high school and travel softball, and two actual rules in there (both of which I thought for several advantageous reasons) are:

- You can't run the bases in reverse order (same kind of thing about not creating a mockery of the sport).

- You can't prep yourself behind a bag in a tag-up scenario to in order to gain extra initial speed upon leaving that bag toward the next base.


Softball rules talk below:

Spoiler

The only rule that I take advantage of in softball is the obstruction rule.

- For one, I let my players know that any time a fielder without possession of the ball is in your path, you may brush them (never knock them down) and/or maneuver out of your direct line, and look for an umpire to raise his left arm outward, protecting yourself between the two bases you are located allowing yourself to aggressively attempt to reach the next bag safely. Even if you are called out in that scenario, the umpire will then use his/her discretion in determining which bag to place you at had the obstruction not occurred.

- Now, I do abuse this rule as well in just one instance. As a defender without possession of the ball, you are not supposed to be able to do anything to impede a runner's progress (things like tagging them, signal "foul ball," etc.). Well on first and third plays, when we're initiating a play that is not a throw to second base, I will have my shortstop clap her hands as if she is receiving the ball, hopefully either forcing the runner to slide or retreat. She would attempt nothing else as a result.

The last thing that I make my players fully aware of is how there is this "look-back" rule in that players must make a decision toward one base or back to the other once the pitcher has the ball in the circle and is not making an action on the other players. Anyway, sometimes players simply forget their counts and they accidentally start taking their base on ball three instead of ball four. If this forces runners over to another bag and this error is caught, that runner is completely unprotected and liable to be put out. So I teach my players as defenders to get her out, of course. As baserunners, I teach them to just continue going. Should they stop or get caught in between bags, they will most likely become out in one way or another.

That runner at first base "play" (or in right field, rather) is one I never would have thought of because you can't lead off pre-pitch in softball. I don't get that tactic, either. Why would you pick off as a pitcher? You have a significantly better chance of a ball put in play to just create a force situation at second base, rendering the other run moot.

By the way, I always wondered if a batter ever intentionally tried to draw catcher's obstruction. That is such an easy thing to make happen, but that is also as bush as it comes (especially when you're thinking about possibly causing injury).

[Jr.]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Watching that video brought me to this one. How is that a balk? Is it because the pitcher brought his foot up and down and didnt throw the ball immediately, or because he turned towards 2nd but threw it to 3rd base?

https://youtu.be/jewBHBP_9g4

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Where is the balk you're talking about in that video?

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[fatleg3]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Where is the balk you're talking about in that video?

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That's what I'm asking. There are a few comments saying the pitcher balked?

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[Suntan Superman]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

jk this decision got reversed by FS North

[Jr.]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

That's what I'm asking. There are a few comments saying the pitcher balked?

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There wasn't one. The pitcher's lift leg crossed over the rubber so once he disengaged his drive foot, he became a fielder and could throw to any base.

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[Majingir]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Big news revealed about the Jays/StubHub about how they receive a cut of the sales from the scalping of their tickets, and nearly half of the tickets for the game today were on sites like StubHub. I'm sure they're not the only team like this.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/tickets-scalping-blue-jays-1.4597286

[CMH]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Does MLB at bat app offer live video of the game?

It's only $2.99 a month? But MLB TV is $24.99?

Is it really $20 more just to watch on your televisions? Feel like I'm missing something.

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[DieHardYankee26]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I'm pretty sure you just get the free game of the day and highlights with At Bat, not full live games.

[CMH]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I'm pretty sure you just get the free game of the day and highlights with At Bat, not full live games.

That makes a lot more sense. Thanks.

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[Blzer]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

One more comment on the screen thing:

There are seats that are likely greatly affected by them, and they are people who the screen is unlikely built for as well. These people would be at such an extreme angle to the netting that their view of the batter will be obstructed with a haze effect.





Pretty much anyone on that line of sight (or the whereabouts, and down the other foul line as well) is really getting the shaft on their view of the batter. Like, take a look at how the netting affects the objects behind it back in this shot again:





My Giants playoff seats were similar to that area, but down the first base line.

This was never an issue with the old configuration, because any part of the field in view was only seen directly behind the netting, not off-angle.

Also, as I said before, I don't think these are the fans they are trying to protect balls hit out of play from. If they are, then they might as well put a netting around the entire outfield, because sliced foul balls don't have nearly as much momentum and weight on them as any fair ball homers.

Of course, I would have to see this in person to really tell one way or the other how that actually comes to be, but protective netting has always been a problem for me regardless. I think where it was, was fine. The one thing I'll give them is that it saves most bats from flying into the stands (which I always thought would be a cool souvenir to take home), because good lord Posey has no idea how to keep hold of one.

Can anyone else report on extended netting at their home parks, now that Opening Day has arrived? Have any gone to this extreme?

[DieHardYankee26]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/news/broad-city-star-plans-a-league-of-their-own-series-w518590

I have almost no details on this, and I'm all in.

[CMH]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/news...series-w518590

I have almost no details on this, and I'm all in.

Finally, a baseball program my wife will watch with me.

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