Golden At-Bat "buzz'

[rchurch314]

I like the limits on throws to first. I suspect about 85 percent of those were half-hearted lobs.

I thought I'd hate the pitch clock but have to agree it's been an improvement. Instant replay, too. (Well, replay.)

what? it doesn't matter if they're half-hearted lobs, the idea is to keep the runner close. Sometimes they didn't even throw, that's not the point.

[Edgy MD]

I was OK with a million throws to first. It was all part of the drama.

A pitcher has two opponents to worry about — the batter and the runner. He throws over a few times, gets booed by the crowd, and now he has three opponents on his mind.

If he's actually worried about he runner, and is throwing over in earnest, and the runner steals anyhow, an extra psychological edge is gained by the runner. If the runner is nailed, he gets an extra psychological boost,

A similar game goes down with the batter. If he's lobbing it over to stall or keep the batter guessing, and he gives up a hit to the batter, that's an extra psychological blow. If he gets the batter after that bullshit cat-and-mouse game, that's and extra boost for him, and the batter now has a bee in his bonnet.

Any problems I had with the effect upon the pace of the game, it's better when the fans and the players in the dugout express that by riding the pitcher, not by instituting a rule against him.

That the limit on throws over and the clock are now two new excuses for even shorter workdays for starting pitchers are more of those unintended consequences that such rules create. And the league is trying to engineer even more odd rules to combat that, instead of looking back at the situations they have created that has caused these super-short starting efforts.

[metsmarathon]

Michael Kay, who complained that there should be a Golden AB type of rule because the Yankees had two good hitters, of course supported Manfred when the news broke, and has now backtracked.

The rule is so absolutely beyond stupid.

*Would the hitter being replaced lose his AB? Or would he then get to bat after the golden batter? If you did that, how the fuck would you fix your scorecard?
*What if you pulled a batter off the bench to be the Golden AB. Is he now burned? Or can you still PH with him later on?
*If your Golden Batter reaches, can you pinch run for him? Is he a golden runner? Is your golden runner burned? Or can he re-enter the game?
*If your Golden Batter is on base, who pinch runs for him when he comes to bat? Can you pick anyone to run for him? Or is it the last batted out? Is that runner now burned?
*Can you use your Golden AB to break up a perfect game/no hitter in the 9th? Or does that violate the unwritten rules?
*Can you use a player who has been subbed out as your Golden Batter?
*What if your Golden Batter gets hurt mid AB? Can you sub for him? What would stop a team from sending a HR hitter to take the first two swings, feign an injury, then replace him with a great 2 strike hitter?
*Can you negotiate in your contract that you get to be the Golden Batter? (and that way ensuring more ABs)
*Do hitting records get an asterisk if a player gets 150 extra ABs in a season?
*You announce your intent to use your Golden AB. The other team makes a pitching change. Can you pinch hit for your Golden Batter?
*WHAT IF YOUR GOLDEN HITTER IS THE GHOST RUNNER ON SECOND

the golden batter is such a terrible idea, though it could be fun. maybe it's only fun as a thought exercise.

were it to be implemented, i'd only accept it if you had to swap the golden batter with the tarnished batter in the lineup from then on in the game. if the golden batter is on base, the tarnished batter goes where he was. if the golden batter is on the bench, the tarnished batter takes a seat (but cannot be put back in. no extra pinch hitters here)

ultimately, this would be a fun rule in an exhibition space, like the savannah bananas. not the fucking mlb. get outta here with that nonsense.

[MFS62]

I think this comment from one of my Canadian* friends says it all, "My thought is that this is quite possibly the stupidest thing in the history of stupid things."

Later

* = Canadians are nice people. It takes a lot for them to throw an insult

[Edgy MD]

I propose the Denny's Rule: Free passes every time up if it's your birthday.

[MFS62]

NY Post reporting that Michael Kay is ending his radio show after 22 years.

https://nypost.com/2024/12/05/sports/mi ... x5b-Tu15Gw

IMO, the recent outrageous positions he has taken ("The best booth in NY", the golden At-bat) were his attempt to remain relevant (as if he ever was). Maybe the pushback finally got to him.
I actually heard his first show, by accident. I was stuck in a traffic jam and was searching for a traffic report. He said something about he had never used Ketchup or EZ-Pass. I turned it off and never listened to him again.
He filled the role of pompous blowhard sports radio talk show host very well.

Later

[kcmets]

He had a radio show?