Wednesday, April 14, 2010

The definition of "indisputable"

Tuesday night, April 13, 2010
To:  the Atlanta Cracker
From: the Nachoman

Thanks for obtaining prizes for last weekend's physics fights.  I especially liked the hanging tomato grower!  Oh, and the umpires used a 5 minute replay review to reverse a Jay Bruce home run, even though the Reds broadcasters thought the ball was fair from their replay. (I was watching on extra-low def internet video, so I couldn't tell.) Now the game is tied at 8 in the 8th, 'cause a reliever walked a guy with a three-run lead and then gave up a tying homer.  Guh. 


To: the Nachoman
From: the Atlanta Cracker
Nice. What's the definition of "indisputable" again? Or is that word not in the MLB replay policy?


To: the Atlanta Cracker
From: the Nachoman

No idea. The MLB replay policy appears to be identical to that of the NFL, NCAA football, and NCAA basketball -- Stop the game and take 5-10 minutes to agonize over an issue that could be resolved in 30 seconds if the organization were willing to say "Can't tell, let's move on."


P.S. The Reds game went to extras, then the Reds took advantage of the Marlins reliever who gave up two walks, and would have had more than two runs but for an amazing catch on a Cabrera drive.  F. Cordero actually looked good getting the save.

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Rays Haze

I just watched the video highlight of Carl Crawford's walkoff double to defeat Peter Angelos.  Sure, it's an exciting baseball play, well-called by the play-by-play man.  What ELSE do you notice?

I thought there was old-fashioned TV static on my internet video.  On further reading, I found out that a haze had settled in over the Trop, St. Petersburg's indoor stadium that is second only to old Olympic stadium for charm.  Why the haze?

During player introductions, the Rays used elaborate smokey special effects to heighten the excitment of opening day.  (Traditionalists such as the Nachoman scoff scoffingly at such gimmickry.  If a fan needs more than organ music to feel excited on opening day, than he is no fan.)

Problem is, the Trop is an indoor stadium.  INDOOR!  I've been annoyed at Reds games in an OUTDOOR stadium when the brief smoke effects after a home run drift into the crowd and reduce visibility for a half inning.  The Tampa smoke hung around until the end of the game.

I continue to wonder at how baseball manages to survive when marketing geniuses like these are in charge.  I'd rather watch Schotzie the Elephant.

NM

Monday, April 5, 2010

How far will YOU go to avoid Joe Morgan's commentary?

Okay, that was exciting... I'm listening to the Yanks-Sox in Spanish via Gameday Audio. No, I don't speak a word of Spanish, but nevertheless this is far more enjoyable than Joe Morgan. The call of Granderson's home run was especially fun (possibly because Mr. Granderson is on my fantasy team). Not that I knew what the announcer said, but he said it well.


FYI, I did the same thing for World Cup 2006. I entered the room with some (American) friends to watch the US game, and an Argentinian had the Spanish broadcast on. She offered to switch, and every one of us said, emphatically, "NO!" We all preferred to hear knowledgable, experienced, and properly trained broadcasters in a different language than random ignorant American play-by-play man who's trying his best with random-veteran-of-1994 USA team who has no ability on air but got the job anyway.

That's today's rant. Back to grading ray diagrams.