Here we go again.

[Paperipper17]

Joe West's crew is working the Rays-White Sox series. Top 3, 2 down, Carl Crawford at bat, 2-1 count, Crawford tries to call time. Angel Hernandez doesn't grant it, CC steps out, strike. Maddon comes out, Crawford's pissed, play-by-play guys pissed (of course), drawing comparisons to the Joe West comments earlier this year. Well, watch the replay, and you see that when Crawford called time, Buerhle was well into his motion. The color man for the Rays, Brian Anderson, came to Hernandez's defense (I almost had a heart attack). Still, play-by-play man is talking about how several hitters last night weren't granted time, and this is all related to West's comments...

How do they pick these clowns?

If you're granted time when the pitcher has already started his delivery, something is wrong. I'm about to start muting the TV when the Rays play on SunSports.

Edited April 22, 2010 by Paperipper17

[mstaylor]

Just see if you can get his address so you can send him a clue because he doesn't have one.

[Paperipper17]

Same blowhard who last year got all pissed because, when a ball hit by Zobrist bounced into a ball bag, the umpires gave the correct reward. Doesn't matter that R1 was already rounding third, and Zobrist was headed that way. The umpires made the correct call, especially considering it was the Rays' bullpen that left the bag out. Anderson (again) said over and over that the rule for that situation is two bases from TOP. He came back with "Well...That's a bad rule. They would have scored two on that play instead of one. They really should have allowed the Rays to take the result."

Oh, right. I forgot about the fairness to the home team rule. A rule is a rule-unless it goes against the home team.

[Umpire in Chief]

Rays can go to all the World Series they want, but they still don't qualify as a MLB team until they play in a baseball stadium.

[Guest]

Rays can go to all the World Series they want, but they still don't qualify as a MLB team until they play in a baseball stadium.

Haha. I laughed the other night watching a game when I noticed that instead of your traditional fireworks, they use the Lighting's old goal horn when one of their guys goes yard.

[Paperipper17]

Rays can go to all the World Series they want, but they still don't qualify as a MLB team until they play in a baseball stadium.

They've been trying to get the funding for an oudoor park right on the water, a la Pac Bell in San Fran, for several years. Last I heard, it's in the works. I hate that place. And I hate talking about it with a Rays "fan" and hearing them say, "But the restaurants are great and there's so much to do!"

That isn't why you go to a big league game!

About the only plus of the place is the seats and the refreshments are the cheapest in the league...you can still get a dog, nachos, and a beer for under $10.

And the bullpens on the field thing pisses me off. They built perfectly nice bullpens, then put a picnic area in each one that holds maybe 40 people and moved the pens onto the field. What the hell's the priority here?

and don't even get me started on the "fans." Maybe if they'd show up for anything but a series opener the team could keep Crawford or Pena for next year. I live in Jacksonville (4 hours away) 10 months out of the year and Gainesville (two) the other two, and still make it to 5-10 games a year. Since '98. Biggest fairweather fans you'll ever see.

Sorry lol. What I meant to say was, I second that.

Haha. I laughed the other night watching a game when I noticed that instead of your traditional fireworks, they use the Lighting's old goal horn when one of their guys goes yard.

I was at the season opener...They had fireworks and effects on the field for pregame. The smoke never dissipated. Whole place smelled like gunpowder and there was a haze over the field the whole game.

Baseball isn't meant to be played indoors....:no:

Edited April 22, 2010 by Paperipper17

[kcfan102]

Paperipper,

I believe you're talking about this play?

And I heard about the new stadium they want. I think it's one of the neatest designs I've seen in a while. You guys get a crap load of rain down there so It doesn't surprise me that they want a dome, or at least an awning.

Bright sunny day in St. Pete

Oh, wait, here comes the rain!

At least, I think that's what the awning is there for.

They put millions of dollars into Kaufman Stadium here in KC over the past two years. They added the "outfield experiance" which is complete with merry go round, the little K (where kids can take BP), and a bunch of other carnival type rides and attractions. It's neat I guess. But I agree, you go to the ball park to watch the game. But in a way, it's genius. Something has to distract us from a 90+ loss team.

[Paperipper17]

that's the one! I was looking and couldn't find it. You got the ESPN clip though...I was watching it on Sunsports and they are decidedly homer in their calls .

That is a pretty cool design for an awning, I must say. I hadn't seen that. I'd be interested to see how it actually works.

I've heard some great things about Kauffman...a buddy of mine played AA for the Royals and got to go to a few games and said it's really a shame more people don't go, as he loved the park's atmosphere.

[Big Red]

Lived in Tampa the last couple of years and made it to a couple of Rays games. Gotta agree w/ all your points Paperipper and lets not forget the pool of rays swimming around in said picnic area! And each time I flew in/out of Tampa and over St Pete, I always looked down on that stadium and laughed as it looks like a discombobulated anus from the air!

I agree about playing ball outdoors, but seeing as how it storms almost every day there from May to August, especially in the evening, I can see the usefulness of a stadium.

Too bad for the new stadium as I don't know if it will ever happen...you're right about the fairweather stuff...everybody wants the team, but nobody wants any money spent to keep 'em or improve things.

On a related "they are decidedly homer" announcer note, I found this clip from last year when the A's skipper, Geren, was ejected for arguing calls/strikes by Johnson.

http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=5797121

I don't know who the ass-clown of an announcer is for NESN...obviously a former pitcher and Buck/He-who-shall-not-be-named wanna-be...but he's a 1st-class moonbat stuck on stupid.

To wit:

"When I was a rookie, I'd come halfway to home plate thinking they were trying to stick it to me just because I was a rookie!" Ahh, just like the "home team" rule, we have the "rookie rule."

And this classic, "He didn't even think twice about calling this ball. This guy's got the smallest strike zone going. He's got alot of nerve kicking anybody out with that strike zone!" :smachhead:

[Paperipper17]

Lived in Tampa the last couple of years and made it to a couple of Rays games. Gotta agree w/ all your points Paperipper and lets not forget the pool of rays swimming around in said picnic area! And each time I flew in/out of Tampa and over St Pete, I always looked down on that stadium and laughed as it looks like a discombobulated anus from the air!

I agree about playing ball outdoors, but seeing as how it storms almost every day there from May to August, especially in the evening, I can see the usefulness of a stadium.

Too bad for the new stadium as I don't know if it will ever happen...you're right about the fairweather stuff...everybody wants the team, but nobody wants any money spent to keep 'em or improve things.

On a related "they are decidedly homer" announcer note, I found this clip from last year when the A's skipper, Geren, was ejected for arguing calls/strikes by Johnson.

http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=5797121

I don't know who the ass-clown of an announcer is for NESN...obviously a former pitcher and Buck/He-who-shall-not-be-named wanna-be...but he's a 1st-class moonbat stuck on stupid.

To wit:

"When I was a rookie, I'd come halfway to home plate thinking they were trying to stick it to me just because I was a rookie!" Ahh, just like the "home team" rule, we have the "rookie rule."

And this classic, "He didn't even think twice about calling this ball. This guy's got the smallest strike zone going. He's got alot of nerve kicking anybody out with that strike zone!"

Wow. What a moron. Typical umpire-hater. Someone with no idea how difficult that job is. He needed to be fined for that crap. I want the announcer to announce the game, not flood me with his half-brained opinions.

[Thunderheads]

Same blowhard who last year got all pissed because, when a ball hit by Zobrist bounced into a ball bag, the umpires gave the correct reward. Doesn't matter that R1 was already rounding third, and Zobrist was headed that way. The umpires made the correct call, especially considering it was the Rays' bullpen that left the bag out. Anderson (again) said over and over that the rule for that situation is two bases from TOP. He came back with "Well...That's a bad rule. They would have scored two on that play instead of one. They really should have allowed the Rays to take the result."

Oh, right. I forgot about the fairness to the home team rule. A rule is a rule-unless it goes against the home team.

Wait a minute, ....the play was posted here, and I watched it, that ball wasn't hit, ...it was thrown .........what's the situation here on the overthrow into the Sox bullpen???

Thanks..........

[Paperipper17]

Wait a minute, ....the play was posted here, and I watched it, that ball wasn't hit, ...it was thrown .........what's the situation here on the overthrow into the Sox bullpen???

Thanks..........

that was the one I was referring to, I had it mixed up...it wasn't hit by Zobrist, it was bunted by Aybar and thrown into the Rays' bullpen. Zobrist was running from first and eventually was sent back to third, Aybar to 2nd.