Comments on: Olympic baseball rule change alert http://umpbump.com/press/2008/08/06/olympic-baseball-rule-change-alert/ In-your-face baseball commentary Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:15:35 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Jon L http://umpbump.com/press/2008/08/06/olympic-baseball-rule-change-alert/comment-page-1/#comment-56490 Jon L Sat, 09 Aug 2008 08:53:17 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/?p=2665#comment-56490 Sarah: It could have been worse - it could have been a Chelsea scarf who have probably now superceded Man Utd as *the* team to hate. Paul: I can totally understand the reasoning for not sending the big-leaguers to the Olympics as you pointed out but I just can't get over the fact that we *could* have fielded our best players. Such as wasted oportunity. Sometimes people should really open their eyes and have a look what's going on Sarah: It could have been worse – it could have been a Chelsea scarf who have probably now superceded Man Utd as *the* team to hate.

Paul: I can totally understand the reasoning for not sending the big-leaguers to the Olympics as you pointed out but I just can’t get over the fact that we *could* have fielded our best players. Such as wasted oportunity. Sometimes people should really open their eyes and have a look what’s going on

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]]> By: Sarah Green http://umpbump.com/press/2008/08/06/olympic-baseball-rule-change-alert/comment-page-1/#comment-56489 Sarah Green Fri, 08 Aug 2008 22:30:36 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/?p=2665#comment-56489 Plus those USA uniforms are HIDEOUS. America always has such unattractive Olympic uniforms and warmups. Can't we get Ralph Lauren to whip up something nice? Or maybe Calvin Klein? Plus those USA uniforms are HIDEOUS.

America always has such unattractive Olympic uniforms and warmups. Can’t we get Ralph Lauren to whip up something nice? Or maybe Calvin Klein?

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]]> By: Sarah Green http://umpbump.com/press/2008/08/06/olympic-baseball-rule-change-alert/comment-page-1/#comment-56488 Sarah Green Fri, 08 Aug 2008 22:25:41 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/?p=2665#comment-56488 Maybe some day we'll have a real "world" series (you know, where it's not just the US teams and one team from Canada). The problem with the WBC might be solved if US baseball went back to a shorter schedule. 162 games isn't enough for me, but I guess I could learn to live with 150. Sigh. Here's a funny story about Sarah (another raging Anglophile) in the UK: I went up to a pushcart where the vendor was selling soccer scarves. I wanted to get one for my cousin, but I don't really know anything about the different English teams, so I asked which team's scarf I should by. "Oh, Man United, definitely," said the vendor. I ponied up the dough. And when I got back to my hotel, I got totally ripped by everyone for buying the scarf of English soccer's New York Yankees. And unfortunately, my cousin knows a lot more about "footy" than I do, and he was equally repulsed. Maybe some day we’ll have a real “world” series (you know, where it’s not just the US teams and one team from Canada). The problem with the WBC might be solved if US baseball went back to a shorter schedule. 162 games isn’t enough for me, but I guess I could learn to live with 150. Sigh.

Here’s a funny story about Sarah (another raging Anglophile) in the UK: I went up to a pushcart where the vendor was selling soccer scarves. I wanted to get one for my cousin, but I don’t really know anything about the different English teams, so I asked which team’s scarf I should by. “Oh, Man United, definitely,” said the vendor. I ponied up the dough. And when I got back to my hotel, I got totally ripped by everyone for buying the scarf of English soccer’s New York Yankees. And unfortunately, my cousin knows a lot more about “footy” than I do, and he was equally repulsed.

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]]> By: Paul Moro http://umpbump.com/press/2008/08/06/olympic-baseball-rule-change-alert/comment-page-1/#comment-56487 Paul Moro Fri, 08 Aug 2008 21:39:35 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/?p=2665#comment-56487 Jon, I'm with you. I'm an unapologetic anglophile who lived for a few months in Bristol. The entire time I was there, I really missed the game. But there were a few Brits I met who were genuinely interested in baseball and would pepper me with questions. The interest is there and things like the World Baseball Classic isn't enough to drum up international interest. Part of the problem is that big-league players aren't allowed to leave the team to play in the Olympics. But honestly, I can't blame them. There's too much money invested in these guys for them to just up and leave to play games off the MLB schedule during a playoff push. Japan is fielding a professional team, which is nice to see, I suppose. But it's kind of odd if you think about it. Jon, I’m with you. I’m an unapologetic anglophile who lived for a few months in Bristol. The entire time I was there, I really missed the game. But there were a few Brits I met who were genuinely interested in baseball and would pepper me with questions. The interest is there and things like the World Baseball Classic isn’t enough to drum up international interest. Part of the problem is that big-league players aren’t allowed to leave the team to play in the Olympics. But honestly, I can’t blame them. There’s too much money invested in these guys for them to just up and leave to play games off the MLB schedule during a playoff push.

Japan is fielding a professional team, which is nice to see, I suppose. But it’s kind of odd if you think about it.

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]]> By: Jon L http://umpbump.com/press/2008/08/06/olympic-baseball-rule-change-alert/comment-page-1/#comment-56486 Jon L Fri, 08 Aug 2008 20:18:00 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/?p=2665#comment-56486 Olympics and baseball - the marriage of these two things leaves a very sour taste in my mouth. Here's why: Baseball is a seriously up-and-coming sport in the UK (I am English although now a resident of the Republic of Ireland). Baseball has a HUGE following in the UK and has an ever-growing fanbase. There are teams and leagues springing up everywhere and the GB team has done pretty well in recent European competitions. So what was one of the first things the Olympic committee did having secured the 2012 games in London? That's right - scrap baseball from those particular games. Now I know this rant doesn't relate to the above story and I guess some/a lot of you won't really care about the state of British baseball but I do and this was a perfect opportunity to expose more of the British public to the wonderful game that is baseball as well as letting the rest of the world (America in particular) know that we love your game very much and are serious about setting up proper roots for the development of the sport. As I say, sorry for the rant but I just couldn't vent the frustration there. Olympics and baseball – the marriage of these two things leaves a very sour taste in my mouth. Here’s why:

Baseball is a seriously up-and-coming sport in the UK (I am English although now a resident of the Republic of Ireland). Baseball has a HUGE following in the UK and has an ever-growing fanbase. There are teams and leagues springing up everywhere and the GB team has done pretty well in recent European competitions.

So what was one of the first things the Olympic committee did having secured the 2012 games in London? That’s right – scrap baseball from those particular games.

Now I know this rant doesn’t relate to the above story and I guess some/a lot of you won’t really care about the state of British baseball but I do and this was a perfect opportunity to expose more of the British public to the wonderful game that is baseball as well as letting the rest of the world (America in particular) know that we love your game very much and are serious about setting up proper roots for the development of the sport.

As I say, sorry for the rant but I just couldn’t vent the frustration there.

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]]> By: The Minor Links « Bus Leagues Baseball http://umpbump.com/press/2008/08/06/olympic-baseball-rule-change-alert/comment-page-1/#comment-56485 The Minor Links « Bus Leagues Baseball Fri, 08 Aug 2008 04:07:24 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/?p=2665#comment-56485 [...] And you thought that impromptu games of Homerun Derby were the worst possible way to end a tie game; silly baseball fans! (Ump Bump) [...] [...] And you thought that impromptu games of Homerun Derby were the worst possible way to end a tie game; silly baseball fans! (Ump Bump) [...]

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]]> By: Lyndsay http://umpbump.com/press/2008/08/06/olympic-baseball-rule-change-alert/comment-page-1/#comment-56484 Lyndsay Fri, 08 Aug 2008 03:56:09 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/?p=2665#comment-56484 I just like that picture. old men in baseball pants are funny. I still don't understand why they are the only coaches in professional sports who must wear the same attire as their players. it serves no purpose - I don't see Joe Torre jumping in to play right field any time soon. I think they look absolutely ridiculous. and if I were Bud Selig, gaddangit that's the first rule I'd change! I just like that picture. old men in baseball pants are funny. I still don’t understand why they are the only coaches in professional sports who must wear the same attire as their players. it serves no purpose – I don’t see Joe Torre jumping in to play right field any time soon. I think they look absolutely ridiculous. and if I were Bud Selig, gaddangit that’s the first rule I’d change!

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]]> By: Lyndsay http://umpbump.com/press/2008/08/06/olympic-baseball-rule-change-alert/comment-page-1/#comment-56483 Lyndsay Thu, 07 Aug 2008 15:05:35 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/?p=2665#comment-56483 well, I for one think it will be QUITE entertaining. especially if there's basebrawls. I still don't know how Olympic teams can play eachother in two different languages. Paul, I hope there are some roustabouts also included on the U.S. team - wouldn't be fair without. also - Molina brothers. well, I for one think it will be QUITE entertaining. especially if there’s basebrawls. I still don’t know how Olympic teams can play eachother in two different languages.

Paul, I hope there are some roustabouts also included on the U.S. team – wouldn’t be fair without. also – Molina brothers.

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]]> By: Paul Moro http://umpbump.com/press/2008/08/06/olympic-baseball-rule-change-alert/comment-page-1/#comment-56482 Paul Moro Thu, 07 Aug 2008 14:54:52 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/?p=2665#comment-56482 Lyndsay, the US team is comprised of ragamuffins, tramps, vagrants, and tatterdemalions. Basically, prospects like Taylor Teagarden, Matt LaPorta, and Nate Schierholtz mixed in with never-were type guys like Mike Koplove, Brandon Knight, Jayson Nix and Terry Tiffee. Lyndsay, the US team is comprised of ragamuffins, tramps, vagrants, and tatterdemalions. Basically, prospects like Taylor Teagarden, Matt LaPorta, and Nate Schierholtz mixed in with never-were type guys like Mike Koplove, Brandon Knight, Jayson Nix and Terry Tiffee.

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]]> By: Lyndsay http://umpbump.com/press/2008/08/06/olympic-baseball-rule-change-alert/comment-page-1/#comment-56481 Lyndsay Wed, 06 Aug 2008 19:32:33 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/?p=2665#comment-56481 also - who is on the U.S. Olympic baseball team? also – who is on the U.S. Olympic baseball team?

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