Indeed. Lifelong SF Giants fan here, who -- after enduring a long, boring winter of not watching the NFL, NBA, or NHL (except for the Super Bowl, which I watch every year because the Constitution demands it as a requirement to retain my US citizenship) -- now awaits the daily drama of baseball with bated breath.
Or is that baited breath?
Details...
I was not in favor of the pitch clock at first, but have come around. If I never have to endure another five-hour RedSox/Yankees game on Sunday Night Baseball, it'll be too soon. The only real downside is that now a guy like Jon Miller (who calls the Giants radio games out here) has less time to tell stories, which is a definite bummer. I don't like the automatic walk rather than throwing four balls to put a runner on first, nor do I like the extra-innings man-on-2nd-base atrocity, but some of the newer rules -- especially the prohibition on extreme defensive shifts -- actually did bring more bunting and stealing bases back to the game, and have marginally diminished the obsession with launch-angle and home runs. Small ball may not dominate, but at least a game is no longer considered a failure if it doesn't feature a home run derby.
Good luck to your Phillies. I hope they win their division, then lose to my Giants in the playoffs.
Indeed. Lifelong SF Giants fan here, who -- after enduring a long, boring winter of not watching the NFL, NBA, or NHL (except for the Super Bowl, which I watch every year because the Constitution demands it as a requirement to retain my US citizenship) -- now awaits the daily drama of baseball with bated breath.
Or is that baited breath?
Details...
I was not in favor of the pitch clock at first, but have come around. If I never have to endure another five-hour RedSox/Yankees game on Sunday Night Baseball, it'll be too soon. The only real downside is that now a guy like Jon Miller (who calls the Giants radio games out here) has less time to tell stories, which is a definite bummer. I don't like the automatic walk rather than throwing four balls to put a runner on first, nor do I like the extra-innings man-on-2nd-base atrocity, but some of the newer rules -- especially the prohibition on extreme defensive shifts -- actually did bring more bunting and stealing bases back to the game, and have marginally diminished the obsession with launch-angle and home runs. Small ball may not dominate, but at least a game is no longer considered a failure if it doesn't feature a home run derby.
Good luck to your Phillies. I hope they win their division, then lose to my Giants in the playoffs.
Go Phils! See you at the game (checks weather and emails)... Friday?