2021 Blue Jays Season Thread

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

sure, but then you literally have to call that a different sport if this is how you play "baseball". It couldn't be a more bastardized version of the game. No thanks.

I know that is super extreme and dumb. Wonder if a pitch clock would ever work.

BTW in Japan a game is not allowed to go past 3 hours 30 minutes or 12 innings which ever comes first. Shows how fast those games are.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

I know that is super extreme and dumb. Wonder if a pitch clock would ever work.

BTW in Japan a game is not allowed to go past 3 hours 30 minutes or 12 innings which ever comes first. Shows how fast those games are.

I dunno, I'm a traditionalist. I don't mind the pace of the sport. It's perfect for laid back summer days. Sure, you want to encourage quicker pacing, but it can be managed without being timed. I don't want it to turn into football because they end up using every single second of the timed clock which actually slows the game down.

[jayswin]

I have to admit as much as I love this sport, it's a bit of chore just sitting on the couch watching mostly pitchers slowly getting ready for the next pitch. If you took that away and they were throwing a pitch within ten seconds of receiving the ball from the back catcher I'd be 100 times more excited to watch and would watch many more games.

And I'm a fan. They NEED this for casual fans. 90% of sports fans that I talk to that don't watch baseball say they don't watch because they take forever to pitch and the game drags on.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

I know Buck is all about catchers and can be a bit harsh on them, but Sanchez really is a bad defensive catcher.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

I dunno, I'm a traditionalist. I don't mind the pace of the sport. It's perfect for laid back summer days. Sure, you want to encourage quicker pacing, but it can be managed without being timed. I don't want it to turn into football because they end up using every single second of the timed clock which actually slows the game down.

- Yes, the game is fine for a traditionalist.
- It can't be managed without timing, it would remain exactly what it is now
- Them using every second of a ten second clock would be fine because they're way over that on almost every pitch right now

[Cali Panthers Fan]

See, I don't think 10 seconds is reasonable. Also, when do you start the clock, when the catcher throws the ball back? Honestly, I like the strategy of the game that comes with pitch calling. 10 seconds doesn't give you much time to think. This is a game that is not based purely on skills and physical abilities, and that's what I like about it.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

See, I don't think 10 seconds is reasonable. Also, when do you start the clock, when the catcher throws the ball back? Honestly, I like the strategy of the game that comes with pitch calling. 10 seconds doesn't give you much time to think. This is a game that is not based purely on skills and physical abilities, and that's what I like about it.

I appreciate that perspective for sure. (And yeah I was thinking when the pitcher catches the ball from the back catcher, clock starts). It's tough, cause I love the sport, and I know we're in for a major reckoning for pro sports so I'm trying to think of ways for it survive.

3.5 - 4 hours games will keep someone like you for the rest of your life likely, while slightly less traditionalist and more easily distracted fans like myself will definitely keep following and watch games here and there. But this sport needs a change in timing if it wants to survive long term and attract new fans, imo.

[KelVarnsen]

8 > 8 according to Buck

[jayswin]

In a world where the new generation is even less engaged in long term entertainment options than we were needs to be extremely alarming to all sports leagues. New fans of any sport or e sport aren't following a sport that requires sitting in one spot and watching for 4 hours straight. You will die if that's your sport in 5, 10, 20 years.

[jayswin]

For example the pace of Zeuch on the mound is pretty good, they don't even have time for random crowd shots during his pitches.

Also, Dan and Buck are incredible together. What a treat to have them as our announcing team.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

I thought Zeuch looked really good for a guy pegged as the 6th starter. Good first outing. Mostly kept men off base, which is what you want if you pitch to contact. You never know when a ball could be hit out for a homer with that type of pitcher.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

that's Vladdy's ball. Semien had no shot at it. Bad effort by Vladdy.

[flamingred89]

That would’ve been an incredibly tough play for Vladdy. Semien had a better angle. Just placed perfectly. The Yanks have had more than their fair share of bloops so far this series.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by flamingred89

That would’ve been an incredibly tough play for Vladdy. Semien had a better angle. Just placed perfectly. The Yanks have had more than their fair share of bloops so far this series.

Tough, no doubt, but he stopped running halfway through. He takes a few more steps he at least has a good shot at it.

[flames_fan_down_under]

Thornton looked...not great

[flamingred89]

I wrestle with the idea of shortening the game because on one hand I agree with everything Cali has mentioned above. I'm a traditionalist too and love the game within the game. And I have no problem with a Friday night game going 4+ hours and I can get my buzz on. On the other hand when you get low scoring games, like the previous two, that run near 4 hours, you have to wonder how that happens. And I can definitely see that being the downfall of the sport. I like to place some of the blame on the Joe Madden overly analytical style that has swept baseball. Much like the trap of the 90's in the NHL. Every at bat has so much more thought about pitch placements, shifts, and pretty much everything under the son, that you don't really get the "here's my fastball, what can you do with it" at bats. I think the pitch clock would address the issue nicely. Doesn't fully take the analytics out of the game, it just means that you have to be more prepared by the time the batter comes up.

[jayswin]

Thornton, buddy, we're having a pretty good outing today against the Yankees. Could you go ahead and not throw that all away. Thanks, man!

[flames_fan_down_under]

Good pull by Montoyo. Thornton was all over the place. I definitely appreciate the story of him coming back from elbow surgery, it’s a big moment for him. But ya, that was a bit of a mess.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by flamingred89

I wrestle with the idea of shortening the game because on one hand I agree with everything Cali has mentioned above. I'm a traditionalist too and love the game within the game. And I have no problem with a Friday night game going 4+ hours and I can get my buzz on. On the other hand when you get low scoring games, like the previous two, that run near 4 hours, you have to wonder how that happens. And I can definitely see that being the downfall of the sport. I like to place some of the blame on the Joe Madden overly analytical style that has swept baseball. Much like the trap of the 90's in the NHL. Every at bat has so much more thought about pitch placements, shifts, and pretty much everything under the son, that you don't really get the "here's my fastball, what can you do with it" at bats. I think the pitch clock would address the issue nicely. Doesn't fully take the analytics out of the game, it just means that you have to be more prepared by the time the batter comes up.

Much like golf where traditionalists say you can't introduce a stressful amount of time as it takes away the skill and strategy of shot/club/pitch selection. I disagree.

I see that as the next evolution of a skilled pitcher/golfer/back catcher. Strategy is great and will still be a huge factor, but now we introduce the need to action that strategy in a timely manner, and the cream will rise to the top as it always does and we'll have a faster game that can survive long term with new fans that won't entertain the idea of a 4 hour sit down.

It's not choosing strategy vs time, it's strategy fitting into time.

[flamingred89]

Bullpen doing their part. Would like to see the bats do a little more damage and get some insurance runs.