Matt Harvey Can't Blame Me

[DOUGHBOYS]

I haven't seen Matt Harvey throw one 'live' pitch this year. I DVR his games now and watch them afterwards. For the last few years, I just can't watch pitchers on important teams of mine throw a game. It drives me crazy and it drives my wife insane watching me.
If a hitter of mine strikes out with the bases loaded, it's just a wasted opportunity. A 'That's alright, get 'em next time' moment.
Pitchers?
If a pitcher of mine gets behind in the count 2-0 to the leadoff hitter of an inning, I'm already cursing the pitcher, the umpire, the batter, or even the tv announcer who I feel is slanted against my best interests.

Last year on a Main Event team, I owned Verlander and Strasburg. That team had one of the best pitching teams in the Overall. I never saw a pitch. Over time, it not only saves me from turning into Mr. Hyde, it also becomes a good luck charm. I was convinced that if looking in on that team's pitching, it would ruin the good mojo.
Stupid?
Yeah, probably.
But at the same time it worked. And it sounds a lot better to say I don't watch my pitchers for fear of jinxing them, rather than 'they drive me crazy'.
Uh, I think.

I have the MLB package and when one of my hitters is up, I like to use my remote to watch the at bats in slow motion. It lengthens the agony or pure joy of the result of the at bat.
Upon release of the ball from the pitcher's hand, it is already a known whether the ball will be a strike or ball.
Sometimes, my hottest hitter will be up, and I'll see the catcher shift his mitt a little up and over the plate and lick my chops knowing a mistake is ready to be clobbered.

Sometimes I'll ask myself, "Self? How can you take five minutes to watch one of our hitters hit and yet not watch one pitch by a pitcher of ours?"
The answer may be 'Chances'.
Once a pitcher has given up a hit or run, it's a done deal. That hit or run can never be taken away. It's already a part of his line.
At the same time, our hitter can strike out his first four times up and come up in the ninth inning for a 'meaningless at bat', hit a homer, and we'll deem his night a success.

This is not even mentioning our pitcher leaving a game with the lead. I can't watch my pitcher's bullpen in this instance either. I already know that his relievers are bent on making my life miserable. Even in preserving a Win, they delight in walking the bases loaded or doing something else as dastardly or devious.
For me, the answer to this question, 'Who is the worst Closer in baseball?' is easy.
It's the Closer trying to secure a Win for my Starter.

Last night, I tracked Harvey's performance by internet scoreboard. I was so tempted to watch the possible perfect game.
But I knew.
I knew that I would be the reason he gave up the hit and what's more, if I had turned on his game, I'm positive that he would have not only lost his perfecto, but his shutout as well.
I know it's stupid.
Matt Harvey does not know I exist.
At the same time, Fantasy Baseball Gods are an unforgiving group. And like Santa Claus was always watching us when we were young, Fantasy Baseball Gods watch us as adults.
And we have to be good and not offend them.
The punishment is brutal.
A lot worse than coal in our stocking.

In our heart of hearts, we know there are no Baseball Gods.
That what happens, happens.
But, we are like that child. It seems far fetched that some dude in a red suit and white beard is 'keeping an eye on us' and as kids, we knew in our heart of hearts that it wasn't true.
But, there is that very small part of us that says, 'What if he were watching?'
Like a small part of us says, 'I'm not gonna be the reason for screwing over Matt Harvey'.

[COZ]

God your sick. I love it! Haha

COZ

[ToddZ]

Sorry Dan, this is one area where we disagree. Not in the whole superstitious mindset. But rather that I love watching great pitching and excluding some would lessen my enjoyment of baseball, which believe it or not trumps my enjoyment of fantasy baseball.

Plus, if I adhered to this, I play in so many leagues that I'd be stuck with watching a shitload of Colorado and Houston games. No thanks

[DOUGHBOYS]

Sorry Dan, this is one area where we disagree. Not in the whole superstitious mindset. But rather that I love watching great pitching and excluding some would lessen my enjoyment of baseball, which believe it or not trumps my enjoyment of fantasy baseball.

Plus, if I adhered to this, I play in so many leagues that I'd be stuck with watching a shitload of Colorado and Houston games. No thanks

I know Todd, it's not a road taken by most. It's just better for my own sanity and certainly more comfortable for those with the misfortune of wanting to be around me.
Plus, I've kinda painted myself in a corner in that if I am alone and get the courage to watch, I'll be the reason for failure.

Last year, with Strasburg on one of my Main Event teams, I thought to myself, 'Screw you, Dan! I'm watching!'
Three hits in a row later, I gave. The realization hit me that Strasburg throws a lot better on my dvr than 'live'.

[ToddZ]

My flirtation with superstition was shattered my senior year in college. It was the semi-finals of the intramural softball playoffs (modified pitch) and we were winning something like 15-0, but the real story was no one on the other team had reached base yet. You could sense the uneasiness with the team when we were at bat -- you usually couldn't shut us up but no one was talking, our friends at the game weren't intermingling with us as usual between innings etc.

One out to go, we're a bunch of statues out there -- the pitcher throws three straight balls.

The right fielder yells "THROW A F&@<!^G STRIKE. WE HAVE A F&@<!^G PERFECT GAME GOING."

Next pitch, one hopper to the first baseman who gloves it and waddles over to tag the base.

I still have that ball.

And yes, we won the championship.