Anybody else watching baseball...

[Scott Douglas]

I was wondering if you were, are you bugged by the 'artificial' noise Fox is adding to their broadcast?

Watching the Yanks/Nat's game last night, I thought it was too much.

Who says you can't enjoy a nice quiet game?

Maybe we could all come to enjoy the sound of the game that we never get to hear because of the crowd.

[rcooled]

I wonder if they're piping the crowd noise into the stadiums too, or is it just for the TV audience.

The Dodgers have started installing two-dimensional "fans" in the seats to bring a little "life" to the game

They're weatherproof cutouts of the actual season ticket holders who would normally be seen there. Mary Hart is in her usual spot, as well as the guy with the panama hat and radar gun. Anyone can pay a fee to have a facsimile of themselves installed in a seat too. I think they've sold over 4K of 'em already.

[biosurfer1]

It doesn't really bother me but it is odd, because there is a delay in a lot of cases.

Perfect example is the other night the Dodgers got the bases loaded and the Giants pitcher walked the next batter, and it was basically silence as the guy on 3rd walked in, until he touched the plate, then the fake crowd noise pumped up. That isn't even close to reality, the crowd would have cheered right after ball 4 was called.

It's more distracting trying to get used to it

[Seahawk]

I loved playing baseball.

There are a few rules they could add, in addition to some new stuff they are trying (especially the relief pitcher rules and DH), that would get me to watch, other than the play-offs, again:

- No defensive shifts. Yes, I know the hitter should adjust; they haven't and it is boring.
- Batter can leave the box for 5 seconds, has five seconds to get set in the box; he gets penalized a strike after that.. Jesus the fiddling gets old.
- Pitcher has to be ready within 15 seconds of his last pitch or he gets penalized a ball...unless a ball was put into play or there was an out. Throw the f'ing ball without pretending to be a cast member of Glee.
- Relief pitchers get two warm up pitches. They have been throwing for ten minutes for the love of god.
- Three pitches between innings or the commercial break, whichever is shorter.
- Throw at a batters head or anywhere after an "unwritten rule" has been broken, 5 starts is the penalty, period, and the club gets fined 10 million.
- Allow celebrations. See above. There is no joy in the game today.

So much more.

Again, I love baseball. It is simply unwatchable in it's current form. As always, YMMV.

[Baz]

I stopped watching after the post season was cancelled over money.

To each their own....

[nvr2mny]

Nope. Done with ALL pro sports, especially NBA.

[Baz]

I was a huge fan before the walkout.

Back when the Superstation WTBS carried the Braves games almost every night. Wed. night was the Game of the Week on (I think NBC) so they didn't air any Braves games that night - unless it was a Braves game they selected.

Same with the Superstation WGN for Cubbie fans. Great stuff!

That was a great era to be a fan.

Afterwards...not so much. Steroids and battles over free agency and salaries and union disputes - fanes don't need any of that crap nor should they be subjected to it.

It's sad.

Like I said - to each their own.

[red-beard]

I was a huge fan before the walkout/lockout/fan out.

I started watching again about 5 years ago. My dad was really getting into it again and it was infectious.

Yep, Watching a game right now.

Alex Bregman at the plate! Bottom of the 9th, down by 1, 2 out with a man on base.

[red-beard]

AT&T Sportsnet has the noise as well.

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by Baz

I stopped watching after the post season was cancelled over money.

To each their own....

I am with Bazza. Baseball was still the American Pastime when I was a kid. I remember the great players the Giants and A's had. Bonds, Mays, Willie Mac, Marichal. Those ridiculous teams the A's had in the 1970's, Vida Blue, Blue Moon Odom, Catfish Hunter, Rollie Fingers, Reggie, Billy North, Joe Rudi, Sal Bando, Gene Tenace, they were loaded. How can you not be a baseball fan, going to the Oakland Coliseum on a fine summer day to watch the most epic collection of facial hair ever fielded. I remember when Barry came to town, they raised the prices on the bleacher seats, but it was worth it. He was the second coming of Willie Mays. I remember the first time I saw him in real life. He ran about 100 yards caught a ball that was dropping way over in foul territory, totally implausible that a human could cover that much ground. He sprints over, catches the ball, spins and throws a BB to second and gets the guy who was a bit too lackadaisical about making it back to the bag. It looked impossible, turned out looking so effortless, beautiful really. They cancelled the Series like a year or two later, and then the artificially enhanced arms race got rolling. Went from a fan to meh.



Did not realize they were playing. Was flipping channels and saw it was on. Heard crowd noise, saw the goofy cardboard cutouts. It is a little wierd.

Do they play crowd noise for the players? I would rather hear what they players are saying than phoney cheers, if I was going to watch.

[biosurfer1]

Originally Posted by Tobra

Do they play crowd noise for the players? I would rather hear what they players are saying than phoney cheers, if I was going to watch.

Yes, the players hear the fan noise too.

They won't let the player noise be heard, a few too many f-bombs.

[john70t]

Originally Posted by rcooled

I wonder if they're piping the crowd noise into the stadiums too, or is it just for the TV audience.

The last time I was at a real game (many years ago) they were piping sound into the seats and the flashing billboard ring around the field would light up "Cheer!".
Nobody in the stands seemed too enthusiastic.
It seemed like the faster the lights flashed the slower the players moved.
I'm not really sure what happened during that time spent wanting to be somewhere else.

[Scott Douglas]

Sunday Night baseball on ESPN right now doesn't have crowd noise, or if they do it isn't as noticeable as it was on the FS1 game last night.
It's kind of nice as it isn't irritating.

I hear you guys about all the crap that was going on a few years ago, but hey, it's just a game so I don't get to riled up about things like that. I figure they all should be thankful they're playing a game for a living, but I do realize they have to work at it as well.

Edit - I don't think they were piping the crowd noise into the stadium the other night as one of the commentators who was actually at the stadium said it was kind of eerie it was so quiet and you could really hear the crack of the bat when it hit the ball.

[jcommin]

Originally Posted by rcooled

I wonder if they're piping the crowd noise into the stadiums too, or is it just for the TV audience.

The Dodgers have started installing two-dimensional "fans" in the seats to bring a little "life" to the game

They're weatherproof cutouts of the actual season ticket holders who would normally be seen there. Mary Hart is in her usual spot, as well as the guy with the panama hat and radar gun. Anyone can pay a fee to have a facsimile of themselves installed in a seat too. I think they've sold over 4K of 'em already.

Go Cubs go! I'm ok with it. The Chicago White Sox have similar cut outs in the stands as well. Some are family members of the players. Not sure how long this lasts especially if positive cases start happening. Some players have mic'ed up. In second game of the Cubs/Brewers game. there was allot of trash talk between teams - it kinda got heated.

[Pazuzu]

Watched 2.5 games so far! I LOVE being stuck at home for baseball!!

Astros fans are used to a silent stadium, it was that way for a good long time. $7 to get in, end up being one of 3 breathing people in your section...on a Saturday afternoon...end up in the 3 row behind the dugout by the 3rd inning.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

There are a few rules they could add, in addition to some new stuff they are trying (especially the relief pitcher rules and DH), that would get me to watch, other than the play-offs, again:

- No defensive shifts. Yes, I know the hitter should adjust; they haven't and it is boring.
- Batter can leave the box for 5 seconds, has five seconds to get set in the box; he gets penalized a strike after that.. Jesus the fiddling gets old.
- Pitcher has to be ready within 15 seconds of his last pitch or he gets penalized a ball...unless a ball was put into play or there was an out. Throw the f'ing ball without pretending to be a cast member of Glee.
- Relief pitchers get two warm up pitches. They have been throwing for ten minutes for the love of god.
- Three pitches between innings or the commercial break, whichever is shorter.
- Throw at a batters head or anywhere after an "unwritten rule" has been broken, 5 starts is the penalty, period, and the club gets fined 10 million.
- Allow celebrations. See above. There is no joy in the game today.

So much more.

Again, I love baseball. It is simply unwatchable in it's current form. As always, YMMV.

I never really got into playing baseball. It was too cerebral for me. Basketball was better, but really I liked playing football. It was like boxing only with multiple opponents.

But LOL to your post!

I like watching baseball. As it is it's a great opportunity for a Saturday afternoon nap. A baseball game on TV, two beers, and a hot dog and I'm in lala land.

Your changes would speed the game up and completely screw up my Saturday nap time. But they would make the game more interesting.

[smadsen]

I've given up on the NBA too. Just a bunch of posturing millionaire kids arguing about what bumper sticker slogan to carve into their hairdo and whether you're twice as pious if you take two knees during the anthem.

Baseball on TV weekday afternoons would be entertaining as background noise for reading a good book.

[onewhippedpuppy]

I’m having a hard time with all sports right now, since athletes all now think they are activists. Sports are supposed to be where people go to escape from the problems of society. Besides, I don’t need a multi millionaire 20-something lecturing me about my life.

[mattdavis11]

^^^^ this. I do like the shortened season. 162 games is way too many. I have not tuned in yet, but I'll watch the world series, maybe. I'm all in on the little league WS. The kids have better attitudes.

[TimBer]

Originally Posted by Scott Douglas

I was wondering if you were, are you bugged by the 'artificial' noise Fox is adding to their broadcast?

Watching the Yanks/Nat's game last night, I thought it was too much.

Who says you can't enjoy a nice quiet game?

Maybe we could all come to enjoy the sound of the game that we never get to hear because of the crowd.

I always just mute the TV and put on some good music anyway. I'm thankful to have baseball back, especially since premiere league just ended. I'm having a hard time getting excited about NBA, but I'll probably get there by the second round of the playoffs.