Baseball Pet Peeves

[Andy]

Just a list of my pet peeves as they relate to baseball.

1. Investing more time and energy into disliking another team than into liking your own. For the life of me, I cannot figure out why people hate the Cubs so much they're more interested in the Cubs losing or looking bad than they are in having their own team win. It's bizarre to me. Actually paying for a t-shirt that puts down another team seems like a complete waste of money. Why not put that money toward a t-shirt that supports your team? Screaming "Cubs Suck" after the Cubs beat your team doesn't qualify you as a great fan of your team.

2. Final at bat celebrations. Over the course of the last 5+ years it's become mandatory to celebrate like you just won the World Series every time your team wins in the final at bat. I can understand in some situations and after big hits, but a walk off walk with the bases loaded doesn't necessitate the need to pop a bottle of champagne. If walk off wins were a rarity, it may make a little bit of sense, but they happen daily. So why the big deal? Players down play every loss and tell you that it's a 162 game season, so 1 win or loss isn't that big of a deal. Unless it's a walk off, I guess.

3. Announcers who either have to be the story or are whiny little bitches. Joe Morgan and Thom Brennaman as examples.

[ruby23]

Umpires who think you tuned in to watch them perform.

[Fella]

<!--quoteo(post=48283:date=Jul 6 2009, 10:53 AM:name=Andy)-->QUOTE (Andy @ Jul 6 2009, 10:53 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Just a list of my pet peeves as they relate to baseball.

1. Investing more time and energy into disliking another team than into liking your own. For the life of me, I cannot figure out why people hate the Cubs so much they're more interested in the Cubs losing or looking bad than they are in having their own team win. It's bizarre to me. Actually paying for a t-shirt that puts down another team seems like a complete waste of money. Why not put that money toward a t-shirt that supports your team? Screaming "Cubs Suck" after the Cubs beat your team doesn't qualify you as a great fan of your team.

2. Final at bat celebrations. Over the course of the last 5+ years it's become mandatory to celebrate like you just won the World Series every time your team wins in the final at bat. I can understand in some situations and after big hits, but a walk off walk with the bases loaded doesn't necessitate the need to pop a bottle of champagne. If walk off wins were a rarity, it may make a little bit of sense, but they happen daily. So why the big deal? Players down play every loss and tell you that it's a 162 game season, so 1 win or loss isn't that big of a deal. Unless it's a walk off, I guess.

3. Announcers who either have to be the story or are whiny little bitches. Joe Morgan and Thom Brennaman as examples.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Your number 2 doesn't bother me, being positive and having fun with your teammates after a close win is a good thing to me. I agree with 1 and 3 for sure though.

Whiny announcers who act like they are important really bugs the shit out of me. Too many journalists, writers and broadcasters take themselves way too seriously and think they are a bigger part of things than they are.

As far as the game itself goes, sac bunts really piss me off as I'm sure people have seen in the game threads. They are only successful about 65% of the time they are tried and even when they are it statistically worsens your chance for runs in an inning. Of course the 35% of the time when they aren't then its just a complete waste. Yet, its an old strategy that seemingly everyone still does. I can understand doing it with a light hitting pitcher but otherwise, I fucking hate them.

[Croz]

My biggest pet peeve is the unwillingness by some players to get hit by a pitch.

[Butcher]

<!--quoteo(post=48284:date=Jul 6 2009, 12:16 PM:name=ruby23)-->QUOTE (ruby23 @ Jul 6 2009, 12:16 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Umpires who think you tuned in to watch them perform.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Amen to that.

[ruby23]

Throwback uniforms worn for no apparent reason.

Alternate jerseys.

[The Dude]

<!--quoteo(post=48285:date=Jul 6 2009, 12:16 PM:name=Fella)-->QUOTE (Fella @ Jul 6 2009, 12:16 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->As far as the game itself goes, sac bunts really piss me off as I'm sure people have seen in the game threads. They are only successful about 65% of the time they are tried and even when they are it statistically worsens your chance for runs in an inning. Of course the 35% of the time when they aren't then its just a complete waste. Yet, its an old strategy that seemingly everyone still does. I can understand doing it with a light hitting pitcher but otherwise, I fucking hate them.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

I take the opposite stance. I have no problem with the occasional bunt, but it annoys me that so many professional baseball players don't know the first thing about how to lay down a bunt.

[jstraw]

Alternate jerseys are just about merchandise revenue and I don't care one way or another.

I've been unhappy for a long time with all the we-just-clinched style celebrations for every victory.

I'll chime in on the umpires too. I'm not interested in how stylishly you can yell "heeeek!"

[Jody]

I hate the "game winning" hit or homer in whichever inning that isn't the 9th. I also hate the"walk off" single or double as it isn't really a walk-off if the player has to bust his ass to get home and may or may not be safe.

[MW4]

the DH

[Andy]

<!--quoteo(post=48298:date=Jul 6 2009, 12:50 PM:name=MW4)-->QUOTE (MW4 @ Jul 6 2009, 12:50 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->the DH<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Right on brotha man. Makes the pitcher only 1 dimensional and makes the manager's job way easier.

[Fella]

<!--quoteo(post=48298:date=Jul 6 2009, 11:50 AM:name=MW4)-->QUOTE (MW4 @ Jul 6 2009, 11:50 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->the DH<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Yeah I can agree with that, I hate the DH

[jstraw]

Oh, well...yeah, the DH...and fix the pitchers mound...and teach the umps how the strike zone works...and shitcan the wildcard and interleague play...and make the word uniform mean UNIFORM...and no artificial turf or domes.

And bring back the dead ball.

[rok]

I wish we had a different mascot than the cub.

[PcB]

Nick Swisher