Does Baseball Have to Be So Slow?

The Wall Street Journal ^ | May 1, 2014 | BRIAN COSTA

[Mears]

Interesting results—thanks for sharing.

We are all waiting for The Bruins game tonight.I was surprised to see soccer more popular than hockey.

I have one son who adores futbol and has traveled outside the USA to see games.but hockey,football,and baseball still rank highly in my family.

.

[Alberta's Child]

If I could capture the amazing essence of hockey in one video clip, it would be this one:

Shane Doan Goal on the Deflection

Watch it once, then watch it again ... and again ... and again. Especially the replay of the goal starting around the 0:30 mark. This is just one small bit of what makes hockey such an incredible sport. For all the talk about the brutality of the game and fans who "get their jollies out of such displays of testosterone-laden men," the intricate stick-handling and hand-eye coordination of hockey isn't matched anywhere in sports.

Just watch that video again and think of this:

1. The defenseman who fired the initial shot put the puck right where he wanted it to go.

2. The forward who deflected it got his stick down on the ice right where it needed to be, and angled the blade perfectly to deflect the puck right where he wanted it to go -- high over the goalie's opposite shoulder.

3. Hockey is played with sticks, not bare hands. I suspect most athletes in other sports would have a hard time throwing a ball (baseball, football, basketball, etc.) from 50 feet away and hit that spot in the top corner of the net where the puck ended up ... after being shot by one player and deflected by the other. This isn't even just simple hand-eye coordination. It's coordination between the hands and eyes of two different players.

And in case you're wondering ... No, this wasn't some kind of accident. This play was executed exactly as the Phoenix players on the ice planned.

[Vermont Lt]

You were out in 90 minutes because they were shut out.

[Vermont Lt]

Too bad rugby has never caught on. Football, but faster with better hits.

[Vermont Lt]

I used to photograph college baseball.

There is nothing better than a good 5/4 game between two good teams.

There is nothing worse than a 10/9 game between two bad teams.

[Vermont Lt]

Because at least once a season the dumb catcher drops the ball.

[OldPossum]

Thanks, but the video function on my computer does not work. I really need to get it fixed. I am not being smart-alecky about this, it’s true.

I know next to nothing about hockey, having grown up in Birmingham, Alabama. I’m sure that there are many important aspects of the game that evade me; I only have memories of TV reports on games and they almost inevitably showed fights between the players (obviously, the fans love this or the league would put an end to it, hence my comment).

Being Canadian, hockey is a big part of your culture and rightly so. I am sure that it is a fine game, despite the “fights.” My animus is really directed to football, which I loath, completely loath. Long story.

Thanks for your going to the trouble of finding that clip. I intend to get this video fixed within the next few days and will come back and look at it.

Best regards,

OldPossum

[SamAdams76]

I never understood why relief pitchers needed to throw warm-up throws after getting to the mound. Isn’t that why they have bullpens?

[Doomonyou]

The one suggestion I have, although it doesn’t occur very often in a game, is when a pitcher purposely walks a batter....Why not simply gesture to the ump, point to first base and walk the batter. Why throw 3 meaningless pitches?

Well if you don't throw the forth "meaningless pitch" the batter ain't going anywhere.

[Alberta's Child]

Thanks. I've lost a lot of interest in football over the years, too.

I'm not a Canadian (long story, LOL), but hockey is the real deal. It's certainly not for the faint of heart!

The fighting is ludicrous but has gotten less so than the bad old days of the 1970s.

[X Fretensis]

If a pitcher is directed to walk a batter, just hit him with the first pitch, that saves 3 more pitches.

[jjotto]

hehe

Jim Palmer was known to do that when facing a slugger in grand slam situation. Nineteen years in the majors and never gave up a grand slam.

[PJ-Comix]

You want to check out a fast ball game then check out Jai Alai. Fastest and most exciting game I’ve ever seen...but only if you have money riding on the outcomes.

[Mike Darancette]

Maybe they could hang a cage over 2nd base where people from the stands could fight for prizes between innings,

[MinorityRepublican]

You attend a MLB game today and the crowd resembles a nursing home

Are you in Milwaukee? Kansas City? You should come to a Nats game in D.C. Okay, most of the young fans are there to catch up with friends and drink a couple of beers, so it's more of a social scene, nevertheless.

[MCH]

Used to watch baseball as a kid & early adult. Since 2001 when Cal Ripken Jr. retired, I haven’t paid any attention at all. It’s become an intolerant snoozefest populated by spoiled brats.

[miss marmelstein]

Whatever the reason, it was a short game! Yes, they lost.

[Vermont Lt]

It’s ok. Even as a sox fan, I hate when the Yankees have a bad season. It makes hating them more difficult. Ha ha.

[hattend]

People who don’t care for baseball shouldn’t watch or bitch about it.

That’s all the fix it needs.

Yep... BTTT

[kevkrom]

I’d add:

8. You can only dress 18 players for a game (fewer subs, especially pitching changes, means quicker games)
9. Regular season games tied after 9 innings go down as ties.