TigerHoya
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Post by TigerHoya on Apr 21, 2008 9:04:34 GMT -5
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TigerHoya
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Post by TigerHoya on Apr 21, 2008 15:08:35 GMT -5
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Post by HometownHoya on Apr 21, 2008 21:58:47 GMT -5
That is just awful and I can't believe that it isn't against the rules. At least it makes me feel better about peeing on their brand new baseball stadium one day after a HS lax tourney at Duke
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Post by HoyaSinceBirth on Apr 22, 2008 9:35:34 GMT -5
it was a real dick move, can't say i'm surprised, but based on the intro I was expecting something a lot worse.
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hifigator
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Post by hifigator on Apr 22, 2008 11:50:18 GMT -5
The whole issue of ties in baseball has been a hot topic down here. The SEC has a rule for the getaway (Sunday) game, that no inning can be started after a certain time. It has to do with the traveling team having plenty of time to make their travel plans to return Sunday night. With the budget for baseball being what it is, most schools don't have charter flights like most football teams do. Like you mentioned the intent of the rule is fine. These are student-athletes and they want to make sure that the beginning to the week's classes and test schedules aren't disrupted. But it opens the door for an entirely new can of worms Just last year Florida was playing an SEC team and had a 2 run lead in the bottom of the eighth, with only 6 minutes until the deadline. It would have been very easy to take your time, step out of the box and take lots of pitches and kill 6 minutes. In fairness, the Gators almost bent over backwards to avoid that. I think 2 of the 3 batters swung at the first pitch and the other only took one. As it worked out, we were able to just start the ninth inning, and we retired the opponent, so there was no real harm done. But everyone was all hot on the topic for a while. One suggestion was to play 2 on Saturday. Another was to start the Sunday game at 11am or even 10 am if necessary. Some even suggested playing a scheduled 7 inning game. Of course none of us like any of those options, but the issue kind of disappeared. THen just this past weekend it popped up again. I think 3 games were affected in such a manner. The UF-Kentucky game had a 4 pm curfew. Even with a pitcher's duel keeping the score at 2-2 through nine, the 1pm start time and a few delays along the way caused the curfew to come into play. As it worked out, Kentucky scored in the bottom of the tenth but they were in a great position since they couldn't lose. They could throw literally everything out there and not have to worry about it since there wouldn't be a top of the eleventh to worry about. I'm not blaming them in any way. They made the plays to win the game. But the point is that teams shouldn't be put in that position.
Georgia finished with a tie this past Sunday as well for the same reason and the Miami-FSU was dangerously close to being in that same situation. I don't have a solution for the problem since I understand the importance of getting the kids back to campus in time to not disrupt a good night's sleep before Monday's classes and tests.
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moe09
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Post by moe09 on Apr 22, 2008 13:18:45 GMT -5
Haha, yeah, HoyaSinceBirth, I was expecting that they were marching with crosses burning in white hoods the way that it began. Fact of the matter is, they called a questionable rain delay, obviously to hold onto their place in the standings, but who outside of Clemson really gives a Edited. Let's not start the Hitler comparisons over a baseball game that nobody cares about.
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hifigator
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Post by hifigator on Apr 22, 2008 13:22:05 GMT -5
moe, unfortunately you are all too correct. As a fellow college baseball fan, I really wish the sport could get more coverage and general interest. But it is almost an afterthought. That's sad to me, as one who thoroughly enjoys the sport. Heck, I can't believe the season is winding down already. That being said, it sure looks like Duke played their trump card for sure.
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moe09
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Post by moe09 on Apr 22, 2008 13:23:13 GMT -5
Also, no one gives a about Florida baseball, either. I, for one, know I won't get to sleep tonight over that dreadful Kentucky-Florida game..
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hifigator
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Post by hifigator on Apr 22, 2008 14:07:19 GMT -5
moe, that is beside the point. We all care tremendously more about the teams we follow. The fact that GU isn't a D-1 power in baseball, obviously squelches your interest. But aside from that, the sport just isn't taken seriously. A lot of people find baseball "boring." I have heard that many times through the years. But still, major league baseball is sort of considered on par with the NBA and the NFL as far as credibility is concerned. But college baseball is thought of as something beneath NCAA football and basketball. Again, I know that not as many people follow the sport, but the distinction between college baseball and either college football or basketball is far more noticeable that any differences between MLB and the other pro sports. That is all I am saying.
This board might be a perfect illustration of that. Tiger is a Clemson baseball fan who at the least, casually follows his team. I absolutely love Gator baseball, but will also watch other interesting games if they are on TV. I think I remember hearing Austin say that he followed Texas baseball, but I'm not positive. OTher than those 3 members, I don't remember anyone else even bringing it up, regardless of team. That is my point and what I thought your point was as well. Sorry for any confusion. I'm certainly not trying to put words in your mouth.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 22, 2008 15:13:51 GMT -5
1) Why not just start Sunday games at 10 or 11 am? These guys are all young, prime-of-their-lives athletes. I think they could handle it. If not, they don't deserve a scholarship.
2) Wake me when they stop using metal bats.
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hifigator
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Post by hifigator on Apr 22, 2008 15:26:18 GMT -5
1) Why not just start Sunday games at 10 or 11 am? These guys are all young, prime-of-their-lives athletes. I think they could handle it. If not, they don't deserve a scholarship. 2) Wake me when they stop using metal bats. That was one of the many suggestions and if Saturday's game gets rained out, then they do normally schedule two 7 inning games for Sunday starting at 10am. I don't think the problem is with the players being ready, but rather from the impact of the church crowd. Baseball fans are largely local families, unlike basketball and football which are usually half full of college students. A Sunday morning game would drastically cut attendance. Personally I was against the idea, since Sunday pregame is our traditional tailgatoring. We normally get out there about 9:30 and fire up the grill by 10am. I think what makes it even worse is that there is no uniformity to it. Last weekend, we were playing in Lexington, so our travel arrangements were taking a bus to Cincy where we caught our flight home. Had we been playing Georgia however, then we would have been on a charter bus and travel wouldn't have been an issue at all. Additionally, flight options from the likes of Starkeville, Oxford, Fayetteville and Auburn are severely limited. For that matter, Georgia is really the only campus close enough to a truly major airport to have a lot of options. Athens is an hour and a half from Atlanta give or take. I guess the bottom line is that it all comes down to the mighty dollar. If they had an unlimited budget, then they could just charter a plane to all games and then it would never be much of an issue.
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moe09
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Post by moe09 on Apr 22, 2008 15:49:41 GMT -5
What is the deal with the aluminum bats anyway?
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Post by HoyaSinceBirth on Apr 22, 2008 15:54:44 GMT -5
I think part of the problem is that 1) a lot of people find baseball boring. 2) If the game is already boring and all the really good players have gone to the pros after highschool what's the point of watching the not good enoughs play a boring game. 3) the use of metal bats makes college ball seem less pure, where as i think that's what people enjoy about college basketball over the NBA.
now i like baseball ( although it is a million times better in person than on TV). and if georgetown played on campus i'd go all the time. I have managed to make 2 baseball games. but i think some of what i've said above deters people.
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TigerHoya
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Post by TigerHoya on Apr 22, 2008 17:57:33 GMT -5
Aluminum bats is a money thing.
Even if the big programs got them given by sponsorship deals, the thought is that the smaller schools wouldn't get them.
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Jack
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Post by Jack on Apr 22, 2008 18:44:07 GMT -5
Many high school baseball leagues, including the league I played in (during the old aluminum days) have switched to wood for safety reasons. A family friend (and promising lefty) nearly lost his eye thanks to a vicious line drive back through the box before a change was made. It is only going to be worse on the college level.
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hifigator
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Post by hifigator on Apr 23, 2008 12:57:45 GMT -5
Jack, that's a very valid point, but I think they can tinker with the bat specs to adress that problem, sort of in an opposite way to what modern golf clubs have done.
The aluminum bat is definitely the choice because of money. Wooden bats get broken often. Conversely, I have seen exactly one aluminum bat broken during a swing. Gavin Dickey, who was also a QB for the Gators, broke an aluminum bat a couple of years ago. I'm sure it's happened more than that, but it is certainly a very rare occurence.
As for the sport itself, I think a lot of purists don't like college ball much because of the aluminum bat. They think it cheapens the game, and I guess in a sense it does. But the NCAA changed the bats about 8 years ago. In the nineties, 12-11 games were common. Now the scores on average are much more similar to pro scores. That is pretty much 100% because of the changes made to the bat. It seems like a similar change could minimize the potential injuries and dangers that Jack mentions.
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TigerHoya
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Post by TigerHoya on Apr 23, 2008 15:17:58 GMT -5
Many high school baseball leagues, including the league I played in (during the old aluminum days) have switched to wood for safety reasons. A family friend (and promising lefty) nearly lost his eye thanks to a vicious line drive back through the box before a change was made. It is only going to be worse on the college level. NYC passed a law related to that a year or two ago if I remember correctly.
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Jack
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Post by Jack on Apr 23, 2008 15:51:28 GMT -5
I also wonder, if cost truly is the issue, whether MLB would be interested in underwriting some of the difference to give them a better read on college players. They already do so with elite summer leagues like the Cape Cod league (though the agreement is in doubt due to some wrangling on licensing issues).
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moe09
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Post by moe09 on Apr 23, 2008 16:08:35 GMT -5
I think part of the problem is that 1) a lot of people find baseball boring. 2) If the game is already boring and all the really good players have gone to the pros after highschool what's the point of watching the not good enoughs play a boring game. 3) the use of metal bats makes college ball seem less pure, where as i think that's what people enjoy about college basketball over the NBA. This is exactly right, hoyasincebirth. I have no problem with baseball, it's always great to go down to the ball park and watch a game, but the fact is that college ball doesn't have the players the majors do. Anybody's who's anybody jets for the pros, and it's not as hard to do so since you can always be relegated to a AAA squad if you don't make it. This makes all of college baseball boring. No good players means no intrigue. There are no Yankees of the 30's/40's, BoSox of today, Pirates of the 70's, etc. Even the controversies are boring. Look at this thread. You're telling me that people are writing articles this ferociously over a game called for rain? Or a rule that prevents teams from playing past a certain hour on Sunday? This is truly laughable. It's embarrassing. This thread is the perfect example of why nobody pays attention to college baseball, there's no excitement. Maybe someone should start passing around some HGH...
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hifigator
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Post by hifigator on Apr 23, 2008 16:48:08 GMT -5
Jack, I think you are pretty much correct. I love the game, but if I hadn't been able to attend so many games in person, I doubt I would be much of a fan. Sure, I'd watch the postseason or something, but that would probably be about it. But about 9 or 10 years ago, when I started going to the games about 1/2 way through the season, I became hooked. Now I go out of my way to catch as many games as I can.
Last week I was on vacation and only 1 of the 4 games was televised. To make matters worse, the local Gator affiliate didn't carry baseball games, and I don't have a laptop. So for the three games that weren't televised, I called the radio station and had them put me on hold. When you are on hold, you get the AM850 feed. I then put my phone on speakerphone and sat and listened to the games.
I certainly wouldn't be doing that had I not been able to go to games in person.
In any case, I would encourage anyone to give live college baseball a shot. If you have a team in your area, go to a game.
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