This team is a total Yawn both on the field and off from top to bottom the Redsox

[jad]

My brother swears that hockey is the most action packed and face paced sport ever. I have never been able to get into it.

 

It absolutely is. And that's why it's less popular on TV than football or baseball (even basketball), where you can do something else while the game is on and not miss anything.

[Thunder]

Does golf have a large following of younger fans? It might also have something to do with golf being an individual rather than a team sport.

 

More and more recently. The youth movement on the PGA Tour and notable efforts to grow the game with children have dramatically increased the number of youth/young adult fans. I know a bunch of people from HS and college that are as crazy into golf (both playing and watching) as I am

[Thunder]

Really? I have never felt that.

 

Probably because you enjoy it and embrace it so much. I think the debate is not over whether or not it is in your face, but whether or not you are bothered by it.

[Thunder]

It absolutely is. And that's why it's less popular on TV than football or baseball (even basketball), where you can do something else while the game is on and not miss anything.

 

Who wouldn't want to watch a bunch of dudes fight each other for 2.5 hours? It's even more fun in person. Boston is a phenomenal hockey city. Can't wait to start going to more hockey games

[jad]

Who wouldn't want to watch a bunch of dudes fight each other for 2.5 hours? It's even more fun in person. Boston is a phenomenal hockey city. Can't wait to start going to more hockey games

 

That's why I don't really follow it: it requires one's full attention. (I confess, though, that the 3-on-3 overtime is fantastic, and on a normal hockey night, I will always check the scores to see if I can catch an OT).

[mvp 78]

Buster Olney @buster_ESPN

4m

RT @jorgecastillo: Bud Black brought up an interesting take on the DH that he said is being discussed: Having the DH eliminated once the starting pitcher is pulled. As he pointed out, that would discourage the use of openers. It also would allow for the traditional NL strategy late in games.

 

 

Interesting idea, for sure. As stated, here's one way to discourage the use of the dreaded opener.

 

Love to pull David Ortiz in the 5th inning.

 

Horrible.

[moonslav59]

Love to pull David Ortiz in the 5th inning.

 

Horrible.

 

It's one of the dumbest ides I've heard.

[mvp 78]

It's one of the dumbest ides I've heard.

 

Let the NL mess around with that for a while.

 

The sky didn't fall in the NL when they used the DH this year. They should just use it going forward. Only masochists want to watch pitchers hit.

[notin]

It absolutely is. And that's why it's less popular on TV than football or baseball (even basketball), where you can do something else while the game is on and not miss anything.

 

Actually I would say hockey fans love the action and fact pace as the reason for the enjoyment in watching televised broadcasts.

 

However, one thing that does hurt hockey that work well for baseball and even football is that those latter two sports are conducive to being broadcast on the radio. Ever try to listen to a hockey game on the radio? It's impossible to follow the action...

[mvp 78]

Actually I would say hockey fans love the action and fact pace as the reason for the enjoyment in watching televised broadcasts.

 

However, one thing that does hurt hockey that work well for baseball and even football is that those latter two sports are conducive to being broadcast on the radio. Ever try to listen to a hockey game on the radio? It's impossible to follow the action...

 

Hockey has been greatly improved with high def wide screen tvs. Watching on little tv's back in the 80's was brutal. I think watching hockey on tv is more fun than watching any other sport.

[Bellhorn04]

Hockey has been greatly improved with high def wide screen tvs. Watching on little tv's back in the 80's was brutal. I think watching hockey on tv is more fun than watching any other sport.

 

And I'm a Canadian who has very little interest in hockey any more. To each their own.

[notin]

Buster Olney @buster_ESPN

4m

RT @jorgecastillo: Bud Black brought up an interesting take on the DH that he said is being discussed: Having the DH eliminated once the starting pitcher is pulled. As he pointed out, that would discourage the use of openers. It also would allow for the traditional NL strategy late in games.

 

 

Interesting idea, for sure. As stated, here's one way to discourage the use of the dreaded opener.

 

Worst.

 

Idea.

 

Ever.

 

That means the use of the DH could depend on the pitch count of the opposing pitcher. And the "NL Strategy" always falls apart because of those pitch counts that negate the decisions that managers used to have to make.

 

The use of openers is really not a problem, but if you do not like this non-traditional strategy, this very solution will increase the use of openers. If I am managing a team who has a potent DH, know that I am pulling my starter very quickly and getting that bat out of the lineup, possibly before he has a chance to swing the bat even one time. This type of rule would actual allow a manager to have influence over the lineup of the other team.

 

Not to mention, the main problem with that NL Strategy is most pitchers do not take hitting seriously. They all know they are not getting paid for their ability to hit. And the pitchers who take it the least seriously are the relief pitchers, many of whom go through entire seasons without ever picking up a bat.

 

Just adopt the DH. The rest of the world uses one. The only leagues that still require pitcher to hit are the Pacific Coast League in Japan and the National League. Any argument for keeping the DH anywhere does run counter to any solution MLB tries to implement that is supposed to make the game more exciting for fans...

[mvp 78]

And I'm a Canadian who has very little interest in hockey any more. To each their own.

 

I'm an American who hates apple pie.

[mvp 78]

Worst.

 

Idea.

 

Ever.

 

That means the use of the DH could depend on the pitch count of the opposing pitcher. And the "NL Strategy" always falls apart because of those pitch counts that negate the decisions that managers used to have to make.

 

The use of openers is really not a problem, but if you do not like this non-traditional strategy, this very solution will increase the use of openers. If I am managing a team who has a potent DH, know that I am pulling my starter very quickly and getting that bat out of the lineup, possibly before he has a chance to swing the bat even one time. This type of rule would actual allow a manager to have influence over the lineup of the other team.

 

Not to mention, the main problem with that NL Strategy is most pitchers do not take hitting seriously. They all know they are not getting paid for their ability to hit. And the pitchers who take it the least seriously are the relief pitchers, many of whom go through entire seasons without ever picking up a bat.

 

Just adopt the DH. The rest of the world uses one. The only leagues that still require pitcher to hit are the Pacific Coast League in Japan and the National League. Any argument for keeping the DH anywhere does run counter to any solution MLB tries to implement that is supposed to make the game more exciting for fans...

 

I think the idea is that a team loses their DH once their starter is pulled, not that the opposing team loses a DH when your team pulls the starter.

[Thunder]

Worst.

 

Idea.

 

Ever.

 

That means the use of the DH could depend on the pitch count of the opposing pitcher. And the "NL Strategy" always falls apart because of those pitch counts that negate the decisions that managers used to have to make.

 

The use of openers is really not a problem, but if you do not like this non-traditional strategy, this very solution will increase the use of openers. If I am managing a team who has a potent DH, know that I am pulling my starter very quickly and getting that bat out of the lineup, possibly before he has a chance to swing the bat even one time. This type of rule would actual allow a manager to have influence over the lineup of the other team.

 

Not to mention, the main problem with that NL Strategy is most pitchers do not take hitting seriously. They all know they are not getting paid for their ability to hit. And the pitchers who take it the least seriously are the relief pitchers, many of whom go through entire seasons without ever picking up a bat.

 

Just adopt the DH. The rest of the world uses one. The only leagues that still require pitcher to hit are the Pacific Coast League in Japan and the National League. Any argument for keeping the DH anywhere does run counter to any solution MLB tries to implement that is supposed to make the game more exciting for fans...

 

Tell us how you really feel...

[notin]

I think the idea is that a team loses their DH once their starter is pulled, not that the opposing team loses a DH when your team pulls the starter.

 

I misunderstood that idea.

 

But either way, the use of the DH becomes dependent on the pitch count of a different player. This is not a good thing.

 

Watching pitchers hit is like watching kickers try to throw passes...

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

No wonder Bud Black hates the DH; he played in over 300 games in the American League and batted zero times. At least he had a craptacular NL: .145 lifetime, no dingers.

[notin]

No wonder Bud Black hates the DH; he played in over 300 games in the American League and batted zero times. At least he had a craptacular NL: .145 lifetime, no dingers.

 

You think that would make him love the DH. One less chance to embarass himself.

 

If pitchers took hitting seriously, I might feel different, but they don't and they have no reason to...

[mvp 78]

I misunderstood that idea.

 

But either way, the use of the DH becomes dependent on the pitch count of a different player. This is not a good thing.

 

Watching pitchers hit is like watching kickers try to throw passes...

 

A very good comparison. It's like when a punter slightly mishandles the ball and has no idea what to do next.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

A very good comparison. It's like when a punter slightly mishandles the ball and has no idea what to do next.

 

He only knows what he wants to do: not get killed.

[mvp 78]

He only knows what he wants to do: not get killed.

 

Same as a pitcher swinging the bat. "Just don't hit me. Just don't hit me."

[Bellhorn04]

A few pitchers can hit a little. Bumgarner has 19 HR and 62 RBI in 679 career PA's.

[mvp 78]

A few pitchers can hit a little. Bumgarner has 19 HR and 62 RBI in 679 career PA's.

 

That doesn't make it right. There are hundreds of pitchers that can't hit for every guy like Bumgarner that can hit (k's 38% of the time, career OBP of .228).

[Bellhorn04]

That doesn't make it right. There are hundreds of pitchers that can't hit for every guy like Bumgarner that can hit (k's 38% of the time, career OBP of .228).

 

I'm not arguing, they should have had universal DH a long time ago.

[moonslav59]

That doesn't make it right. There are hundreds of pitchers that can't hit for every guy like Bumgarner that can hit (k's 38% of the time, career OBP of .228).

 

When Bumgarner pitches, the team should be allowed to DH for the catcher or 2Bman or whatever.

[mvp 78]

When Bumgarner pitches, the team should be allowed to DH for the catcher or 2Bman or whatever.

 

Why would you DH for a guy with a better OPS? Bumgarner hits worse than the backups they have at C and 2B.

[notin]

A few pitchers can hit a little. Bumgarner has 19 HR and 62 RBI in 679 career PA's.

 

And a few kickers can probably throw really well (and were probably QBs in college). But overall, pitchers know what they get paid for and focus on that skillset...

[notin]

When Bumgarner pitches, the team should be allowed to DH for the catcher or 2Bman or whatever.

 

Bear in mind, he just hits well among pitchers. The best smelling pile of poop still does not smell good...

[moonslav59]

Why would you DH for a guy with a better OPS? Bumgarner hits worse than the backups they have at C and 2B.

 

Well, in 2017 he had the 7th best OPS (.721) on the team (30+ PAs).

 

I'm not saying it will happen, but you should be able to do it, if you want.

 

From 2014 to 2017, his OPS was .706 in 292 PAs.

[mvp 78]

Well, in 2017 he had the 7th best OPS (.721) on the team (30+ PAs).

 

I'm not saying it will happen, but you should be able to do it, if you want.

 

From 2014 to 2017, his OPS was .706 in 292 PAs.

 

It's dumb point blank. No reason to put your starter at further risk of injury.