Baseball

[ando]

The Red Sox take a lot of heat for letting Mookie Betts go, and I can't disagree with it, but he really does disappear in the postseason.

Yeah, he's had a couple of very good postseasons and a few poor; this year was indeed abysmal.

[ando]

Now, of course the postseason makes no sense (the point the below poster attempts to make) but he presents a nice recap of pre-league championship play so far.

[Mapman]

A great (but stressful) win for the Phillies tonight. I'm looking forward to the NLCS against the Diamondbacks next week! And Castellanos was impressive the past two games.

[San Antone]

These days when I watch a game, and when I see those ad patches on the sleeve, and the Spectrum Internet 5 sec spots in between pitches, the giant brand names circling the stadium ... it is obvious how money has corrupted the game.

Because payrolls have swollen to such gargantuan size teams must allow these kinds of revenue to be generated.

The extended playoff schedule is just another distortion - since tv revenue is a huge part of the teams equation, they naturally want the playoffs to be as long and involve as many teams as possible.  However, we will now be playing games in November, hopefully the series will be Texas/Arizona to increase the odds of not playing a game in sub-freezing weather.

I am old enough to remember when the world series was played a week after the end of the season with the pennant winners from each league - and there were only two, with eight teams in each, a manageable league.  With only the very best players, not 30 teams with batting averages hovering in the low .200s for most teams.

If you find an old game, like the 1952 series which is on YouTube, you will be amazed at how the game was much quieter, the pace more relaxed, and how graceful the game seemed to be. No bat flips, no grandstanding, simple uniforms, with black shoes; definitely no advertisements encroaching onto the game.  The commentary was quiet, and just the facts, ma'am.

I am obviously too old for this world.  The "let the kids play" motto disgusts me.  These young players seems to max out their injuries.  Heaven forbid if they foul a ball off their toe, they collapse, and crawl around grimacing in pain like they were snake bit.

Okay, rant over.

[ando]

Love this Castellanos post game interview. What the heck do these pundits expect from ballplayers? A nobel prize speech?!!  

[ando]

... it is obvious how money has corrupted the game.

Since Day One. 

[vers la flamme]

Man, Acuña broke my heart out there last night. Top of the 7th, two outs, bases loaded, 2-2 count, Braves down 3-1, and he hits a big fly ball deep into center field... but not deep enough by a couple of yards. That's great baseball in my book, those kind of high pressure situations which sometimes pay off and more often end in tragedy.

re: San Antone, regarding big money corrupting the game, I really can't refute any of the points you've made. But as a millennial who got into baseball in the early 2000s, watching Cardinals games with my dad, I'm too young to remember a time when it was much different than it is now—still, the greatness of the game was still enough to draw me in. (Though I'm not crazy about the rule changes this year to be honest. I don't mind the distended playoff schedule since it amounts to more games to watch    —but baseball in November is crazy.)

Anyway, excited to see the the Dbacks take the Phillies; both teams are on fire. (Though it looked like Bryce hurt his elbow last night, I wonder whether that will affect his and his team's performance.) Also excited to see what the outcome of the all-Texas ALCS ends up being.

[Mapman]

Though it looked like Bryce hurt his elbow last night, I wonder whether that will affect his and his team's performance.

Harper says that it was just his funny bone. I hope he's right.

[San Antone]

Harper says that it was just his funny bone. I hope he's right.

That was the arm which had TJ surgery; so I really hope it wasn't injured. 

[ando]

In memory of the Killer Bs (wearing my raggedy Craig Biggio tee    can't believe what they're asking for Biggio memorabilia now) I'm rooting for the Stros tonight.

[vers la flamme]

Great game last night, great pitching on both sides. I was happy to see the Rangers take it home despite Verlander pitching about as good as you could have asked for. Can't wait for Snakes-Phils game 1 tonight.  Given that game 1 is at CB Park, I don't know whether the Snakes stand a chance in this series. That home field advantage and an early decisive win could give the Phillies all the momentum they need. Might even be a sweep. We'll see.

[San Antone]

Once again, this game was not shown on Sling; it would appear that none of the Fox games will be. 

After the last time, I contacted Sling who told me they were aware that the game was not available on their platform the previous night, apolgized, and told me there was a temporary work-around until they fixed the "glitch."  My Sling credentials were supposed to work on Fox Sports, but did not.  They then told me to download the FoxNow app, which would make it possible to watch games broadcast by Fox.  This also did not work.

I was able to watch the first three innings on Fox Sports (via Roku) last night, but then was informed that my "free pass" had expired and I needed to sign on (assuming I could).

I was really interested in watching Jordan Montgomery (former Yankee that he is) and was very happy with the outcome.  Kudos to him, and I am sure he's gotten over the devastation he had at first felt at being traded to St. Louis by the Yanks.

[ando]

Once again, this game was not shown on Sling; it would appear that none of the Fox games will be...

Can you get TBS? Looks like they're airing entire NLCS.

[San Antone]

Can you get TBS? Looks like they're airing entire NLCS.

Yes, I get FS1, TBS, Tru, all the other networks broadcasting the playoff games, just not FOX, who is broadcasting the World Series.

My subscription was a 50% waste, since the most important games I won't have access to. It wasn't that expensive, less than half of what YouTube TV would have cost.  But then again, YouTube TV would have shown the Fox games.

It's my own fault since, dumb me, I thought FS1 included the Fox games.

[ando]

It wasn't that expensive, less than half of what YouTube TV would have cost...

I consider getting YTtv every now and then when my desire for watching classic American (b/w) films rises and their inclusion of TCM among the sports channels tempts. But the $70 plus sub is just too high (might as wll have cable). I hear the cheapest Slingtv package has TCM so that might be an option. When your sub includes TCM, WatchTCM, the on-demand version of TCM, becomes available. It isn't without a tie-in sub, REGRETTABLY.

[San Antone]

I consider getting YTtv every now and then when my desire for watching classic American (b/w) films rises and their inclusion of TCM among the sports channels tempts. But the $70 plus sub is just too high (might as wll have cable). I hear the cheapest Slingtv package has TCM so that might be an option. When your sub includes TCM, WatchTCM, the on-demand version of TCM, becomes available. It isn't without a tie-in sub, REGRETTABLY.

Does TCM broadcast the Fox games?

[ando]

Does TCM broadcast the Fox games?

No, Turner Broadcast Network is a Warner Bros. owned classic movies platform. WatchTCM keeps the movies that air on TCM on a monthly (or so) roation.

[San Antone]

No, Turner Broadcast Network is a Warner Bros. owned classic movies platform. WatchTCM keeps the movies that air on TCM on a monthly (or so) roation.

That's what I thought but was confused since we were talking about watching the Fox playoff games.

[ando]

That's what I thought but was confused since we were talking about watching the Fox playoff games.

Well, YouTubeTV has them all, yes? But their prices are nearly as high as a cable tiered subscription. But there's the free week trial! Could wait til the WS for that. 

[San Antone]

Well, YouTubeTV has them all, yes? But their prices are nearly as high as a cable tiered subscription. But there's the free week trial! Could wait til the WS for that. 

I went for it anyway   

I had no idea that Chapman was pitching for Texas.  Same ol' same ol'