How Do You Read Boxscores Today?

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Tue Apr 13, 2010 8:02 am

I'm an old newspaper man, as is Tom, and I've tried to stay loyal to the print medium. Nothing kept me more in tune with baseball each day than the baseball boxscores. I kept my subscription live for years mainly because of boxscores for six months and Packers' coverage for 12 months.

Then last April my local daily newspaper decided to cut out MLB boxscores because advertising was down and space was limited. It had to be the dumbest decision in the history of newspapers and I immediately cancelled my subscription. Tom had given up on the print medium years before me. And even though the editor added boxscores four days into the season because of public backlash, I never renewed my daily newspaper subscription and now get most of my content from the Internet and TV.

But it still doesn't feel the same to read boxscores online. I know that many of you -- and myself included -- probably now get our boxscores online and even through Live Scoring not game-ending boxscores. I'm constantly checking out the in-game boxscores, which seems like cheating when you were used to waking up each morning and "wondering" what your players did the night before. It was almost like a mystery that is now removed!!

So let me ask you: Where do you get your boxscores from?

a) I still rely on the daily newspaper

b) I get them from my fantasy team pages each morning

c) Live Scoring

d) Internet boxscores

e) Other

I'd have to say b and d for myself, although I miss the days of a. I really do. I wonder if anyone else feels that way or if I'm just an old nostalgic freak.

sportsbettingman · Post by **sportsbettingman** » Tue Apr 13, 2010 8:13 am

I have my "home page" set for yahoo MLB scores & schedule every time I open Internet Explorer. (it always changes automatically to the new day)

My favorite way to peruse the days action is going game-by-game via their boxscore...

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/boxscore?gid=300413110

You have that boxscore, as well as the rest on the right column to toggle to. It is simple and very easy to read/user friendly, and loads very fast.

In actual game scenario (fantasy) I always prefer the simplicity of the "My Team" page which includes all of my team stats (live) vs. the more busy "live scoring"

[ April 13, 2010, 02:17 PM: Message edited by: sportsbettingman ]

Scott Boras · Post by **Scott Boras** » Tue Apr 13, 2010 8:25 am

Definitely miss the newspaper box scores. On this note, I am signed up in all of my leagues to receive daily emails and have not received a single one yet. Greg, can you check with IT about this? I have double and triple checked my settings. This has been my way of receiving my player stats every day for the past 5 years. It's less suspicious reviewing email at work than espn

Don M · Post by **Don M** » Tue Apr 13, 2010 8:39 am

I get my boxscores from the MLB website each morning and transfer each players performance into my book.

I don't miss the newspaper route because you always had some late games that you had to wait til tomorrow for and hope you got it then.

DOUGHBOYS · Post by **DOUGHBOYS** » Tue Apr 13, 2010 8:45 am

You're not alone, Greg.

Highlight of the day during summers.

Then on Sunday's when we got the comprehesive stats for everybody in the league...Heaven.

I got up early on Sundays so I can get the sports section before my dad asked for the paper.

Live scores and internet now.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Tue Apr 13, 2010 8:54 am

Originally posted by DOUGHBOYS:

You're not alone, Greg.

Highlight of the day during summers.

Then on Sunday's when we got the comprehesive stats for everybody in the league...Heaven.

I got up early on Sundays so I can get the sports section before my dad asked for the paper.

Live scores and internet now. I hate this damn Internet thingee!!

Ruined everything for us old fashioned farts.

I remember when I got last week's stats from our league commissioner next week and were happy to see 'em.

Now if Live Scoring isn't working I get 50+ emails that night. I get it, but we knew how we were doing back then even before Live Scoring, the Internet, MLB Extra Innings, Baseball Tonight and the MLB Network. Oh well, THOSE DAYS ARE GONE!!

Quahogs · Post by **Quahogs** » Tue Apr 13, 2010 9:10 am

During the week I usually scan the newspaper boxscores into the computer as a .pdf file and read them online. But on the weekends I print out the boxscores from CBS sportsline and read them fresh off the printer.

DOUGHBOYS · Post by **DOUGHBOYS** » Tue Apr 13, 2010 9:13 am

Originally posted by Greg Ambrosius:

quote:Originally posted by DOUGHBOYS:

You're not alone, Greg.

Highlight of the day during summers.

Then on Sunday's when we got the comprehesive stats for everybody in the league...Heaven.

I got up early on Sundays so I can get the sports section before my dad asked for the paper.

Live scores and internet now. I hate this damn Internet thingee!!

Ruined everything for us old fashioned farts.

I remember when I got last week's stats from our league commissioner next week and were happy to see 'em.

Now if Live Scoring isn't working I get 50+ emails that night. I get it, but we knew how we were doing back then even before Live Scoring, the Internet, MLB Extra Innings, Baseball Tonight and the MLB Network. Oh well, THOSE DAYS ARE GONE!! [/QUOTE]Even the long names shortened in the box score was genius.

Kess'ngr...Yastr'ski.

They could have had some fun with Fukudome.

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Tue Apr 13, 2010 10:02 am

The only time I read a newspaper anymore is when I go to my parents' house because they still have a daily subscription. And I find myself bored rather quickly because the paper lacks the scope of stories I find on the Web.

However, I do enjoy looking at the box scores during baseball season. There's still a feeling of accomplishment when I see a player I have in one of my leagues and he posts a line like 4-2-3-5.

Navel Lint · Post by **Navel Lint** » Tue Apr 13, 2010 10:28 am

Originally posted by Tom Kessenich:

The only time I read a newspaper anymore is when I go to my parents' house because they still have a daily subscription. And I find myself bored rather quickly because the paper lacks the scope of stories I find on the Web.

However, I do enjoy looking at the box scores during baseball season. There's still a feeling of accomplishment when I see a player I have in one of my leagues and he posts a line like 4-2-3-5.

Greg,

How many people saw that line and thought…….

3 for 4 with 2 runs scored and 5 RBI

Or how many thought ……….

4 runs scored, 2 RBI, 3 HR’s and 5 SB’s

This should provide you with the answer on how to format the live stats

sportsbettingman · Post by **sportsbettingman** » Tue Apr 13, 2010 10:34 am

Bingo, Navel Lint...except it was Tommy.

Atlas · Post by **Atlas** » Tue Apr 13, 2010 10:38 am

I miss using the paper because I had ALL the box scores to scan at will.

I find the clicking back and forth to each page more time consuming and annoying.

Highlander · Post by **Highlander** » Tue Apr 13, 2010 10:40 am

Newspaper? Sounds historic.....I use my "at bat" app on my Iphone...its the bomb!!!!

Dyv · Post by **Dyv** » Tue Apr 13, 2010 11:41 am

I use the googleweb for boxscores and iphone app for daytime updates when I'm not around a TV or googlemachine.

The googleweb is for real, Greg, I think it's going to be around a while.

husky88fan · Post by **husky88fan** » Tue Apr 13, 2010 11:44 am

I miss using the paper because I had ALL the box scores to scan at will.

Yes! Having all the boxes on one page allowing you to scour each one over and over has yet to be duplicated. That was/is the best part of any good sports section.

Edwards Kings · Post by **Edwards Kings** » Tue Apr 13, 2010 11:50 am

Greg,

We are still newspaper people, especially with my wife Lisa's background, though the Atlanta Jerknal-Consitpation is a shell of its former self. We still get box scores and even after I see how my team did via the website, I still HAVE to grab the boxes and study them for as long as I have time.

In our life time, we will probably go down to maybe half-dozen major dailies (NY, LA, Chicago, Miami, USA Today) with every where else getting regional versions. How sad.

Ryan C · Post by **Ryan C** » Tue Apr 13, 2010 12:19 pm

Having lived in Manhattan for my entire adult life I have long embraced the NY tradition of reading the newspaper daily. We have it better than most with 3 dailies (4 if you count Newsday) and some great columnists. My mornings still involve a cup of coffee and the Daily News sports section where I will always peruse the boxscores. The Times I'll read later in the day, but more for the columns.

At night - if I'm looking for info - I usually go to CBS' game central where you can click on whatever game you like. I like the fact that you can see all the guys that are on the bench there. I haven't bought the mlbtv for this year - but that is fun for video highlights of your players.

I have said it before about the nfbc live scoring - but it sure would be nice if I could click on a button for one of the guys in my lineup and go to a live update of the game he is playing in. This is a big plus with other sites.

For football - espn's live scoring is pretty damn good.

Plymouth · Post by **Plymouth** » Tue Apr 13, 2010 2:14 pm

I guess I am one of the old farts here, one of my favorite things about spring, summer, and fall is getting up and reading the box scores in the Minneapolis Star Tribune each morning as I have my coffee and toast. Can't beat it.

I remember when I was growing up on a dairy farm we were to far out in the country to get a daily paper delivered so I also found a reason to visit the library in school so I could read the sports section.

The good old days.......

whipsaw · Post by **whipsaw** » Tue Apr 13, 2010 2:16 pm

dumbest decision in the history of newspapers? seriously?

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Tue Apr 13, 2010 2:20 pm

Originally posted by Navel Lint:

quote:Originally posted by Tom Kessenich:

The only time I read a newspaper anymore is when I go to my parents' house because they still have a daily subscription. And I find myself bored rather quickly because the paper lacks the scope of stories I find on the Web.

However, I do enjoy looking at the box scores during baseball season. There's still a feeling of accomplishment when I see a player I have in one of my leagues and he posts a line like 4-2-3-5.

Greg,

How many people saw that line and thought…….

3 for 4 with 2 runs scored and 5 RBI

Or how many thought ……….

4 runs scored, 2 RBI, 3 HR’s and 5 SB’s

This should provide you with the answer on how to format the live stats [/QUOTE]I think the new version of the categories in Live Scoring is live now. Or if not, it's done and will be activated soon. At least that's what the Big E told me.

And it does have a boxscore feel to it.

Trust me, several people have their ideas of what Live Scoring should look like and we've had a hundred ideas posted on these boards. I think we need to get back to the boxscore look with the pertinent categories for 5x5 beyond just those 10 categories. I think we have 7 and 7, but ordered better than we had before. Enjoy, if it's live already.

sportsbettingman · Post by **sportsbettingman** » Tue Apr 13, 2010 3:17 pm

What shows up when you hit "Live Scoring" has indeed improved.

If given a chance to add more improvements, I'd simply put the AVG and ERA/WHIP on the farthest right, but it is much better defaulting to daily rather than yearly.

Love to see totals for weekly and yearly at the bottom if possible without having to click.

Sweet...slowly but surely.

KJ Duke · Post by **KJ Duke** » Tue Apr 13, 2010 3:18 pm

Greg, it is box score like, a familiar feel to it.

The only thing out of order relative to an actual box score is having AVG before BB and K. Not sure why you changed that since everything else is standard box score (with HR and SB tacked on to the end, which is a good spot since it doesn't intererupt the standard pattern).

For pitching I think you could dump R and only show ER. Everything would line up better on the page this way since right now you have 9 batting columns and 10 pitching columns.

KJ Duke · Post by **KJ Duke** » Tue Apr 13, 2010 3:21 pm

One more ... box scores show zeros, and online boxes show light gray vertical lines between columns - both of which make them easier to read.

[ April 13, 2010, 09:23 PM: Message edited by: KJ Duke ]

Motorboat Jones · Post by **Motorboat Jones** » Tue Apr 13, 2010 4:08 pm

Originally posted by sportsbettingman:

I have my "home page" set for yahoo MLB scores & schedule every time I open Internet Explorer. (it always changes automatically to the new day)

My favorite way to peruse the days action is going game-by-game via their boxscore...

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/boxscore?gid=300413110

You have that boxscore, as well as the rest on the right column to toggle to. It is simple and very easy to read/user friendly, and loads very fast.

In actual game scenario (fantasy) I always prefer the simplicity of the "My Team" page which includes all of my team stats (live) vs. the more busy "live scoring" I completly agree with this. The Yahoo setup is by far the best I have seen, as it maximizes information available on one page while minimizing the repetitive need to click from one thing to the next on MLB.com and other sites, especially when using an iPhone. Yahoo Box Scores and summaries that go with them are the best to me. Concise and pretty fast to update.

Money · Post by **Money** » Tue Apr 13, 2010 4:35 pm

Originally posted by Motorboat Jones:

quote:Originally posted by sportsbettingman:

I have my "home page" set for yahoo MLB scores & schedule every time I open Internet Explorer. (it always changes automatically to the new day)

My favorite way to peruse the days action is going game-by-game via their boxscore...

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/boxscore?gid=300413110

You have that boxscore, as well as the rest on the right column to toggle to. It is simple and very easy to read/user friendly, and loads very fast.

In actual game scenario (fantasy) I always prefer the simplicity of the "My Team" page which includes all of my team stats (live) vs. the more busy "live scoring" I completly agree with this. The Yahoo setup is by far the best I have seen, as it maximizes information available on one page while minimizing the repetitive need to click from one thing to the next on MLB.com and other sites, especially when using an iPhone. Yahoo Box Scores and summaries that go with them are the best to me. Concise and pretty fast to update. [/QUOTE]I Agree, PLEASE COPY STAT TRACKER AS WELL.

Thanks.