Comments on: I only want 2 see you laughing in the purple rain http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/10/28/i-only-want-2-see-you-laughing-in-the-purple-rain/ A Rough Draft Blog Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:16:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Tadhg F. http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/10/28/i-only-want-2-see-you-laughing-in-the-purple-rain/#comment-38170 Tadhg F. Thu, 30 Oct 2008 03:18:42 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/10/28/i-only-want-2-see-you-laughing-in-the-purple-rain/#comment-38170 I could not be more glad the Phillies got it done for you, Joe. Happy Halloween! I could not be more glad the Phillies got it done for you, Joe. Happy Halloween!

]]> By: JeffSol http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/10/28/i-only-want-2-see-you-laughing-in-the-purple-rain/#comment-38157 JeffSol Wed, 29 Oct 2008 21:43:02 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/10/28/i-only-want-2-see-you-laughing-in-the-purple-rain/#comment-38157 Justin, totally agree that the shootout is silly, and thank god it hasn't corrupted the playoffs. I was just objecting to the idea that expaning to warm weather markets, which good or bad represent almost all of the growth in the US population, was a bad idea because people there don't like hockey. Justin,

totally agree that the shootout is silly, and thank god it hasn’t corrupted the playoffs. I was just objecting to the idea that expaning to warm weather markets, which good or bad represent almost all of the growth in the US population, was a bad idea because people there don’t like hockey.

]]> By: Man in Black http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/10/28/i-only-want-2-see-you-laughing-in-the-purple-rain/#comment-38154 Man in Black Wed, 29 Oct 2008 20:56:18 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/10/28/i-only-want-2-see-you-laughing-in-the-purple-rain/#comment-38154 LB- Awesome work. 'And he would not have had so many imbecilic spawns of Satan around him to cloud his judgment while commish.' That line is pure genius. LB- Awesome work.

‘And he would not have had so many imbecilic spawns of Satan around him to cloud his judgment while commish.’

That line is pure genius.

]]> By: Ethan http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/10/28/i-only-want-2-see-you-laughing-in-the-purple-rain/#comment-38148 Ethan Wed, 29 Oct 2008 19:50:16 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/10/28/i-only-want-2-see-you-laughing-in-the-purple-rain/#comment-38148 I've gotta say this, because I so rarely get to say it while being on topic: There was an alternative solution to the All-Star tie game, that nobody in baseball seemed to recognize. Question: What happens in the regular season when a team runs out of pitchers? Answer: A position player pitches. (For that matter, what happens in a pick-up game when a team's pitcher gets hurt? Again, the answer: A position player pitches.) I am aware that it's the ASG, and people expect to see high-level baseball being played, but surely bringing in one of the outfielders to pitch a cup of coffee is preferable to a TIE, right? Not to mention the fact that, as evidenced by TPJ earlier this year, position players have something like a 110 ERA+ over the history of baseball. Also, baseball fans like quirky baseball events (part of, I suspect, the allure of baseball trivia), and they LOVE it when position players pitch. I’ve gotta say this, because I so rarely get to say it while being on topic:

There was an alternative solution to the All-Star tie game, that nobody in baseball seemed to recognize.
Question: What happens in the regular season when a team runs out of pitchers?
Answer: A position player pitches.
(For that matter, what happens in a pick-up game when a team’s pitcher gets hurt?
Again, the answer: A position player pitches.)

I am aware that it’s the ASG, and people expect to see high-level baseball being played, but surely bringing in one of the outfielders to pitch a cup of coffee is preferable to a TIE, right? Not to mention the fact that, as evidenced by TPJ earlier this year, position players have something like a 110 ERA+ over the history of baseball.
Also, baseball fans like quirky baseball events (part of, I suspect, the allure of baseball trivia), and they LOVE it when position players pitch.

]]> By: Richard Aronson http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/10/28/i-only-want-2-see-you-laughing-in-the-purple-rain/#comment-38142 Richard Aronson Wed, 29 Oct 2008 18:35:50 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/10/28/i-only-want-2-see-you-laughing-in-the-purple-rain/#comment-38142 Zero chance Hamels pitches tonight. ZERO! The Phillies will either go to the their well rested bullpen or bring back Blanton or Moyers, probably Blanton IMO. Remember, the Rays need four innings, the Phillies only three; that's a fairly big difference for almost every bullpen. Myers will start game six and Hamels game seven, if needed. Given game five finishes Wednesday, and assuming that there is an off day to travel tomorrow, then game six on Friday and game seven on Saturday gives Myers a start with some extra rest and probably Moyers available for early relief and major pitch type contrast between the two (i.e. going from a hard throwing righty to Moyers will be the biggest change, benefiting Moyers) and then Hamels will start Saturday on normal rest. So in one real sense, the rainout benefits the Phillies: it means the best starting pitcher in the World Series will get three starts on normal rest. I could see Hamels relieving if and only if the Phillies get a decent lead into the ninth, Lidge gives up some or most of it, and only one or two outs will be needed. Why risk Hamels breaking his routine in a tie game? Why risk pitching Hamels (a young likely overworked pitcher) on short rest at all if they can win the series without it? The real disaster will be if there is rain in Tampa Bay Friday or Saturday. No way Fox would give up an NFL game for the World Series, so that could lead to postponement of "Treehouse of Horror!" Oh, the humanity! Zero chance Hamels pitches tonight. ZERO! The Phillies will either go to the their well rested bullpen or bring back Blanton or Moyers, probably Blanton IMO. Remember, the Rays need four innings, the Phillies only three; that’s a fairly big difference for almost every bullpen. Myers will start game six and Hamels game seven, if needed. Given game five finishes Wednesday, and assuming that there is an off day to travel tomorrow, then game six on Friday and game seven on Saturday gives Myers a start with some extra rest and probably Moyers available for early relief and major pitch type contrast between the two (i.e. going from a hard throwing righty to Moyers will be the biggest change, benefiting Moyers) and then Hamels will start Saturday on normal rest. So in one real sense, the rainout benefits the Phillies: it means the best starting pitcher in the World Series will get three starts on normal rest. I could see Hamels relieving if and only if the Phillies get a decent lead into the ninth, Lidge gives up some or most of it, and only one or two outs will be needed. Why risk Hamels breaking his routine in a tie game? Why risk pitching Hamels (a young likely overworked pitcher) on short rest at all if they can win the series without it?

The real disaster will be if there is rain in Tampa Bay Friday or Saturday. No way Fox would give up an NFL game for the World Series, so that could lead to postponement of “Treehouse of Horror!” Oh, the humanity!

]]> By: Justin http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/10/28/i-only-want-2-see-you-laughing-in-the-purple-rain/#comment-38115 Justin Wed, 29 Oct 2008 14:00:26 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/10/28/i-only-want-2-see-you-laughing-in-the-purple-rain/#comment-38115 There's nothing wrong with a commissioner trying to grow the game of hockey, but in Bettman's case, he tried to grow it in non-traditional markets and has since made changes to the game to try to sell the game in those markets. The shootout's all fine and good for non-hockey fans, but could you imagine the uproar if Selig said that if baseball games were tied after nine, they'd play the tenth and if the games weren't settled, they'd go to a home run derby format to determine the winner? It would probably appeal to more casual fans/non-fans - just look at how well the derby does during the all-star break - but it wouldn't be baseball. There’s nothing wrong with a commissioner trying to grow the game of hockey, but in Bettman’s case, he tried to grow it in non-traditional markets and has since made changes to the game to try to sell the game in those markets.

The shootout’s all fine and good for non-hockey fans, but could you imagine the uproar if Selig said that if baseball games were tied after nine, they’d play the tenth and if the games weren’t settled, they’d go to a home run derby format to determine the winner? It would probably appeal to more casual fans/non-fans – just look at how well the derby does during the all-star break – but it wouldn’t be baseball.

]]> By: LB http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/10/28/i-only-want-2-see-you-laughing-in-the-purple-rain/#comment-38095 LB Wed, 29 Oct 2008 08:32:36 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/10/28/i-only-want-2-see-you-laughing-in-the-purple-rain/#comment-38095 Bush loves the game of baseball. And he would not have had so many imbecilic spawns of Satan around him to cloud his judgment while commish. I am not saying Bush would have been a good commish, but he more than likely would not have been horrible and probably would have been only slightly less capable than what Selig has given us (potentially his equal and with a bit of luck maybe better). The greater good would have been that someone else would have been President who would not have screwed over the world to the extent that W has. Bush loves the game of baseball. And he would not have had so many imbecilic spawns of Satan around him to cloud his judgment while commish. I am not saying Bush would have been a good commish, but he more than likely would not have been horrible and probably would have been only slightly less capable than what Selig has given us (potentially his equal and with a bit of luck maybe better). The greater good would have been that someone else would have been President who would not have screwed over the world to the extent that W has.

]]> By: buckweaver http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/10/28/i-only-want-2-see-you-laughing-in-the-purple-rain/#comment-38092 buckweaver Wed, 29 Oct 2008 07:59:30 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/10/28/i-only-want-2-see-you-laughing-in-the-purple-rain/#comment-38092 @Paul White >>>I don’t want to hear any noise about west coast audiences not having a chance to watch, because hardly anyone outside of Philly and Tampa is watching this series anyway.>>> Paul, this is an inaccurate claim. According to AP, the *highest* television audiences outside of Philly and Tampa are coming from ... the West Coast, at least for Game 3. http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3665791 Those of us on this side of the country don't need any more of that so-called East Coast Bias in TV programming, thankyoumuch. ;) @Paul White

>>>I don’t want to hear any noise about west coast audiences not having a chance to watch, because hardly anyone outside of Philly and Tampa is watching this series anyway.>>>

Paul, this is an inaccurate claim. According to AP, the *highest* television audiences outside of Philly and Tampa are coming from … the West Coast, at least for Game 3.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3665791

Those of us on this side of the country don’t need any more of that so-called East Coast Bias in TV programming, thankyoumuch. ;)

]]> By: CASEY DOUBLEDAY http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/10/28/i-only-want-2-see-you-laughing-in-the-purple-rain/#comment-38072 CASEY DOUBLEDAY Wed, 29 Oct 2008 02:39:07 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/10/28/i-only-want-2-see-you-laughing-in-the-purple-rain/#comment-38072 Loved the idea about moving up the start time to 5:00 or 6:00 for Monday's craptacular weatherfest. Problem is the more fans like an idea (like having a weekend afternoon game) the more the bigwigs at Fox and TBS loathe it. BTW kudos to Joe & Tim in the Fox booth for quickly noticing the ump didn't call the infield fly rule in the sixth inning. If No Chip off the Block Caray and TheBullS**t crew were working Game 5, I think they probably would have picked up on that sometime during Game 8. And it's great working classic 70's references like Schlemiel and Schlemazel into a blog post. I'd like to add another (and another that starts with the letters SCH) that reminds me most of Commissioner Selig--how about Schleprock from the not-so-memorable Flinstones spinoff 'Pebbles and Bam-Bam'? If there was anything memorable about P&BB, it was the little guy with the big hat who talked in a funny voice and always had a gray rain cloud looming over his head. Everytime I see Selig during one of his confused moments on camera I think of Schleprock, for whom bad luck never trailed far behind. Loved the idea about moving up the start time to 5:00 or 6:00 for Monday’s craptacular weatherfest. Problem is the more fans like an idea (like having a weekend afternoon game) the more the bigwigs at Fox and TBS loathe it.

BTW kudos to Joe & Tim in the Fox booth for quickly noticing the ump didn’t call the infield fly rule in the sixth inning. If No Chip off the Block Caray and TheBullS**t crew were working Game 5, I think they probably would have picked up on that sometime during Game 8.

And it’s great working classic 70’s references like Schlemiel and Schlemazel into a blog post. I’d like to add another (and another that starts with the letters SCH) that reminds me most of Commissioner Selig–how about Schleprock from the not-so-memorable Flinstones spinoff ‘Pebbles and Bam-Bam’?

If there was anything memorable about P&BB, it was the little guy with the big hat who talked in a funny voice and always had a gray rain cloud looming over his head. Everytime I see Selig during one of his confused moments on camera I think of Schleprock, for whom bad luck never trailed far behind.

]]> By: Isaac Lin http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/10/28/i-only-want-2-see-you-laughing-in-the-purple-rain/#comment-38071 Isaac Lin Wed, 29 Oct 2008 02:34:38 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/10/28/i-only-want-2-see-you-laughing-in-the-purple-rain/#comment-38071 Minor correction: tie games after five innings were called as "Tie games" and had to be replayed, prior to 2007. Minor correction: tie games after five innings were called as “Tie games” and had to be replayed, prior to 2007.

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