Cowboy Joe Rips Yankees/Red Sox

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by UMP25

Indeed.

A shiny new nickel to the first person who can tell me the last time travelling was called in the NBA.

1998? 1993?

Every NBA game I have watched. And I do not watch them very often as I am a fan of college and high school more than the NBA. I see that called all the time. What needs to be asked is when was the last time an umpire at the pro or college level enforced the time limit on pitching or being ready to hit the ball in the time limit that is already on the books? That is a better question.

MLB could change this problem tomorrow if they enforced rules and supported their umpires when those rules are enforced.

Peace

[UMP25]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

Every NBA game I have watched....I see that called all the time.

Poppycock. The NBA has become, as the person above stated, a joke.

But back to topic. MLB needs to work on the time issues.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by UMP25

Poppycock. The NBA has become, as the person above stated, a joke.

But back to topic. MLB needs to work on the time issues.

It is clear you do not watch much basketball, so it really is not my concern if you believe it or not. Just know that it is called all the time if you watch games, instead of listen to media people that would not know a travel if it slapped them in the face at any level.

And yes they need to work on their time issue and the reason they lose a lot of people to other sports. Games should not take 4 hours unless there are 20 runs a game between the two teams.

Peace

[UMP25]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

it is called all the time

Sure, once a guy has taken 4 or 5 steps.

[Rich]

I'm a Phillies fan and was watching the home opener on MLB Extra Innings today while trying to get some work done for my day job.

Howard was batting and Paul Schreiber called a ball on a pitch that, according to PitchFX, was at the knee. Two pitches later, Howard got a hit.

Riggleman came out to the mound and waited for Schreiber. He got about 5 words out and Schreiber tossed him. The announcers then spent the next 10 minutes ripping the crew and especially Joe West, who was at the mound coming in to play rodeo clown, if needed after the ejection. It got ugly -- both announcers were ripping West and saying how out of line he was and maybe the games would be quicker if they called more strikes.

For the Nationals, of course.

That loser franchise has a perfect set of (loser) announcers.

[cviverito]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

It got ugly -- both announcers were ripping West and saying how out of line he was and maybe the games would be quicker if they called more strikes.

This is the best comment I've seen on the subject so far. I think the K-zone tracker is one of the main reasons why games take so long. I've heard Pete Rose interviewed and saying "umpires are afraid to call strikes". I think he's wrong but close - umpires are cautious about calling strikes because every pitch is scrutinized first by technology, and then by announcers, few of whom have walked so much as 10 feet in plate shoes. The strike zone has been tightened up by the impact of that technology.

When watching classic games on the MLB network I am reminded of how wide the strike zone used to be. Something like 23 inches or more. Most games back then did not last three hours. I'm not saying it's the answer to the problem - just that it significantly contributes to the problem.

Last year in a semi-pro game with top-notch pitching I told the catchers from both teams that we are calling a 1981 strike zone tonight. The result? 9 innings. 1hr 40 min. Only heard one complaint from one batter - interestingly it was on a pitch right over the heart of the plate where he got fooled.

Sorry guys - I have no opinion on the NBA or when traveling should be called.

[Steven Tyler]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

For the Nationals, of course.

That loser franchise has a perfect set of (loser) announcers.

FWIW-The Montreal Expos used have one of the best minor league systems in all of baseball. They drafted and trained many seviceable major leaguers over the years. Some have made the HOF.

When Jeffrey Loria skipped out of town and bought the Marlins, he took a good portion of the staff and knowledge with him.

MLB took over the franchise and ran it into the ground. It is going to take a major rebuilding job to get them back to respectibility again.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Steven Tyler

FWIW-The Montreal Expos used have one of the best minor league systems in all of baseball. They drafted and trained many seviceable major leaguers over the years. Some have made the HOF.

When Jeffrey Loria skipped out of town and bought the Marlins, he took a good portion of the staff and knowledge with him.

MLB took over the franchise and ran it into the ground. It is going to take a major rebuilding job to get them back to respectibility again.

I spent about an hour talking about the Expos with a friend of mine just a few weeks ago. The strike hurt them more than any other franchise. And the exchange rate (at the time). And Loria skipping town and MLB operating them on a shoestring budget were the final nails in the coffin.

I loved going to Montreal every couple of years for a Phillies series. I was there in September 1993 and was in a packed-to-the-gills Olympic Stadium watching the Phils and Expos play for the division. Phils took 2 out of 3 and won the division and went to the World Series. Montreal came back in 1994 and had the best team in baseball in the one year there was no World Series.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by UMP25

Sure, once a guy has taken 4 or 5 steps.

Just so you know traveling is based on the pivot foot and control of the ball, not steps. But then again you knew that right?

Peace

[UMP25]

Which would explain a lot in the NBA and guys running with the ball halfway around the court with no travelling being called.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by UMP25

Which would explain a lot in the NBA and guys running with the ball halfway around the court with no travelling being called.

Yeah, that happens.

As I said, I do not watch a lot of NBA, but I see this called much more than I see many things called in MLB and the rules are clearly in place. And this might be the reason a lot of people turn off baseball when it comes to TV. At least when the NFL produces Monday Night Football, it is pretty clear when the game is going to be over. MLB during the post season has a game and the kids they claim to target cannot even stay up to watch the games. The NBA has way more marquee players or personalities than MLB ever has.

Peace

[APG]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

Just so you know traveling is based on the pivot foot and control of the ball, not steps. But then again you knew that right?

Peace

To be fair, under NBA rules, a player is allowed two steps after the ball is gathered. So a player could gather the ball with their right foot on the ground and would be allowed to step on their left which would be the pivot foot. In college and high school, that right foot would be the pivot foot. But you are right that travels are called every game.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by AllPurposeGamer

To be fair, under NBA rules, a player is allowed two steps after the ball is gathered. So a player could gather the ball with their right foot on the ground and would be allowed to step on their left which would be the pivot foot. In college and high school, that right foot would be the pivot foot. But you are right that travels are called every game.

I knew that too, but I am not speaking about this with a basketball official. This usually means that individuals allow media perceptions to dominate their thinking instead of reality. And if you watch a basketball game and not just listen to commentators, which BTW talk at the college level as if they know the rules to but do not.

Peace