In-Game Deflaters

[DOUGHBOYS]

Players do not upset me, nor do they make me feel schmart when they excel. I know the first couple of months, threads are started, reminding us of how badly a Ryan Dempster performed or how wonderful it is to have Ben Zobrist. It's fun to watch the standings after a guy like Zobrist puts up the stats of 14 players.

But, we're in it for the long haul, Dempster will start pitching like Dempster can and Zobrist career day will be a memory.

So, for this thread anyway, screw the players. Let's talk about circumstances. We think we can get a handle on circumstances by ballpark effect. matchups, and hot or cold hitter starts and benchings. But, there is no way we can foresee in game scenarios. So, with that in mind, let's list some in game theatrics that do nothing less than to make us angry.



Some of my pet peeves.....



My hitter gets intentionally walked with runners on second and third.



After reaching first base, my hitter is forced out.



Runners on first and third, no outs, my hitter in the on deck circle. The player up to bat grounds into a double play. Result: My player hits with two outs and nobody on.



Late in a blow out, my best hitter is pinch hit for with the bases loaded.



Hearing about an injury to a starter, minutes after the deadline.



Our starter is struggling, but is getting great run support. With the score 9-5, the Manager takes our starter out after 4 2/3 innings.



Our closer is bypassed in a 5-2 game because he has pitched three days in a row. Worse, the first day he pitched was in a non-closing situation, where he gives up three runs, but his Manager just wanted him to 'get some work'.



After going up to the deadline deciding over one player or another, the player you pick to play has paternity leave.



My hitter is robbed of a home run....By another player on my team.



My player is hit by a pitch....and leaves the game.



My player is walked late in the game, and replaced by a pinch runner. The next hitter hits a home run.



While your pitcher is warming up, the announcer says, "The umpire behind the plate is Hurlit Wright, he has the smallest strike zone in the Majors".



The wind is blowing out for my pitchers, in for my hitters.



While the announcer regales that our hitter gave himself up to move the runner to third, we :rolleyes:



Sacrifice bunts.



In fact, almost every bunt.



Intentional walks by our pitcher....or worse, the Manager having our starter intentionally walk a hitter, then replacing our starter.



In a 5-4 game in the sixth inning, our pitcher is replaced with two runners on base, of course, the reliever gives up a hit. Win and E.R.A. take a hit.



A player is sent down to the minors to 'work on things', we are left to wonder whether the roster space is worth the wait.



Others?



.



[ April 29, 2011, 12:03 PM: Message edited by: DOUGHBOYS ]

[bjoak]

Here's what gets me. The best pitcher on my most important team faces the best power hitter from my most important team. Most scenarios will involve something good for at least one of them that I can be happy about. Then the hitter draws a walk. Ugh.



Of course a three run homer isn't going to help there either. The best outcome, other than a single and stolen base(s) with no run? Solo shot.

[Return of the Aces]

Rain!!!



Your hitter has hit 2 hrs and had a monster day or your pitcher has pitched well with a large lead before the game is official--Rain outs



Your stud pitcher pitches a couple of innings, then a long rain delay, without your pitcher returning.--Rain delays



The game is rained out without a makeup date scheduled. Maybe that "hot" player will not be so "hot" in a month or two or is out on DL or demoted by the make up game--PPD games



[ April 29, 2011, 12:55 PM: Message edited by: Return of the Aces ]

[Ryan C]

-Guy on your bench (ala Justin Smoak ) is hot as heck until your put him in your lineup on Friday only to see the guy you swapped out have a huge weekend instead.



-Starter having a great day - comes out for the 7th - let's a few guys on and the reliever comes in and gives up a 3 run homer to lose the W and mess up the ERA in the process.

[mattjb]

Seattle.

On the rare occasion they are actually winning they seem to go to the 7th + innings with a 3 run lead or less - making me believe my closer Brandon League might finally get another save opportunity. However their bats will suddenly catch fire just in time to take a 4+ run lead into the 9th.



[ April 29, 2011, 01:37 PM: Message edited by: mattjb ]

[Sack]

Having a pitcher in a game that has CB Bucknor is calling balls & strikes. He refuses to call a strike. I'd go up to the plate with out a bat and wind up on firstbase.



Seeing any game that Balk'n Bob Davidson is part of the crew. Always makes himself part of the game - bad trait for an umpire.



Four Finger Fredi Gonzalez calling for an intentional walk for the 8th place hitter. Wouldn't it be nice to start the next inning off with the pitcher? THe 8th place guy is hitting that low for a freakin reason.



Listening to Vin Scully do the final game of any series, knowing full well he is going to tell me once again that Freddy Freeman's Dad used to skip his lunch hour to play CATCH with him and then make young Freddy return to his office to do his homework.



Listening to Suzy Waldman wax poetic about the Yankees and make excuses for John Stirling when he jumps another fly ball into a long home run off of a Yankee bat that doesn't reach the warning track.



Teams that refuse to play doubleheaders and make you pay two admissions for the day/nighter.



The Mets having a chart in which the tickets cost more for games against teams/games they consider "premium". I figure if the METS are playing as part of the game, shouldn't a discount always apply?



Joe Maddon and his lineup cards. Different card each night......just to show you how smart he is!



Ozzie - his act has worn thin.





Jim Christie texting me his last place $60 Slow Draft Team just got a great game pitched by Jeff Niemann!



[ April 29, 2011, 05:59 PM: Message edited by: Sack ]

[swampass]

The Mets having a chart in which the tickets cost more for games against teams/games they consider "premium". I figure if the METS are playing as part of the game, shouldn't a discount always apply?





F-ing Hilarious!!

[Tarpon30]

Long ass work week, Friday finally arrives and the $179 baseball package finally feels worth the coin when your West Coast Pitcher has the 10pm EST start. Kids are in bed and the brews are cold...nothing like settling in for some Late Meaningful West Coast Baseball! 2 outs in the 1st inning with 7 runs already in....the call to the pen is made...suddenly the BEERS DON'T FEEL SO COLD!

[The Mighty Men]

Watching chain-smoking, nicotine-buzzed, Jim Leyland leave his obviously gassed SP in too long and give up the game tying Home Run!!!!

[DiamondKing]

After going o-fer for like a week.Your player comes up with a 4-4 two homer game only to get the day off the next game.Seems like managers have decided player x is going to get x day off.No matter what is going on with that player.

[Rog]

Seeing about 7 of my hitters on the top 10 plays( on the defensive side), that always makes you feel good when you get up at the crack of noon and watch sporstcenter . Both my pitchers going against each other leaving with a 4-4 tie in the 7th and three times this year my closer has blown a win for my starter(axford-gallardo) was 1 of them.Instead of a win and a save you get nothing but some extra earned runs

[Rainiers]

A new one for me happened this week.



With my starting pitcher on the mound, a fly ball ball is pushed over the fence for a home run...



[ April 30, 2011, 10:36 AM: Message edited by: Rainiers ]