The Washington Nationals (the team *I* root for) went on a five game hitting streak August 14-19 scoring 62 runs -- four of those games in double-digit figures -- winning four out of five games. The one game they lost they took into the 14th inning, finally losing 15-14.

So, after this impressive display of batting power, the Nationals took the field yesterday against the Pittsburgh Pirates, who they had defeated 13-0 the night before, and could muster only a single run, in a 4-1 loss.

Now, as I type this, they are playing the Pirates again, and are leading in the top of the 8th, 9-0.

With a 162-game season, Major League Baseball is a game of NOW. Forget yesterday, don't think about tomorrow, just play the game today.

In pretty much every other sport, oddsmakers can pretty well call the shots. In baseball, I'd hate to make book on a single game. A powerhouse team is superior if it wins 60% of its games (97). In other sports, 60% won't get you into the playoffs.

I love baseball!

Baseball? What’s baseball? I know there used to be a game called baseball, but then it morphed into a nightly home run derby. Hit-and-run? Base stealing? Why bother, when every batter is either a strikeout or a home run. I wouldn’t be surprised to see aluminum bats in the future.

MLB needs to be careful that they don’t screw up 140 years of tradition. These tighter balls and smaller parks are ruining the game. Bring back large outfields and in-park home runs.

...and looser balls.

Baseball is my #1.

Soccer is my other #1.

Watching NWSL right now.

Go Thorns!

An amazing second half. Now we have almost everyone heathy, Zim is even coming back. If we had any kind of bullpen we'd be in the pennant race, it is out of the question now, but hopefully we can get play in game. It's looking good right now.

Go Nats!

If MLB adopts the electronic ump, I’m really going to be pissed. I already cannot stand the box showing the strike zone. If they adopt the Nippon style time limit, I’ll loose my mind.

quote:

MLB needs to be careful that they don’t screw up 140 years of tradition. These tighter balls and smaller parks are ruining the game. Bring back large outfields and in-park home runs.

The old Busch stadium was one of the largest parks in baseball. During the "Whitey-ball" era the 1980's Cardinals were a running team, stealing lots of bases and hitting in-park home runs. It was exciting.

I'm hopeful for MLB, over the past 4 years I've moved hard from football to baseball and really enjoy it.

Long suffering Mariners fan here

But we do have some hope for the future now.

Playing hard every night.


Been rooting for the Mets.

Go 'Stros!

How Can You Not Be Romantic About Baseball?



I love the game too and absolutely adore each of the days (and nights) I spent playing it and/or sitting in a MLB stadium watching it. Who am I kidding, I still love watching the tiny tikes play a game on Saturday at the local park.

quote:

Originally posted by sigmonkey:
...and looser balls.

Given enough time....

Baseball is the only team sport that I will watch. I do wish that they'd tighten up the pitching so that the games didn't last so long, though. It seems to me that an awful lot of time is taken between pitches--wasn't that way in the 1950s.

flashguy

quote:

In pretty much every other sport, oddsmakers can pretty well call the shots. In baseball, I'd hate to make book on a single game.

For some reason, that made me think of this, from Star Trek: DS9.

quote:

Originally posted by chellim1:

quote:

MLB needs to be careful that they don’t screw up 140 years of tradition. These tighter balls and smaller parks are ruining the game. Bring back large outfields and in-park home runs.

The old Busch stadium was one of the largest parks in baseball. During the "Whitey-ball" era the 1980's Cardinals were a running team, stealing lots of bases and hitting in-park home runs. It was exciting.

I can’t think of a better baseball town than STL.

Yankee's, looking forward to the playoffs...

Looking at MLB scores every morning I sometimes forget and think I'm reading a NFL scoreboard. The Twins can mash the ball but no decent pitching won't get you far. Same old Twins won't spend money to improve the team. Watching mash ball is fun once in awhile but a entire season of it is no fun to watch.

Oh well the NHL starts soon.

I like baseball, but it's gotten so s-l-o-w that it's unwatchable. I can't watch more than 2-3 innings.

@sigcrazy, I think you're oversimplifying the matter. In last night's 11-1 win over the Pirates, only 1 National hit a a home run.

Base stealing? Check. Trea Turner is a threat every time he gets on base. It's no wonder he's the team's leadoff batter.

Pitching? Check. There are some real horses throwing these days. Hit-and-run? Check. Sacrifice bunt? Check.

I don't find any of these missing from the game. But I do worry about instant replay, automatic strike zone monitoring and those efforts to "speed up the game." Baseball has always been a game by people for people. Let's not screw that up.

College World Series

Regionals, Superregionals, then the CWS. There is no better baseball to watch.