11/17/24
October 10, 2004
Now That the Media's Got the Matchup "Everybody" Wanted,: we're going to get a bunch of repackaged stories from or about last year. Instead, let's ponder the important questions:
Does smallball matter?
Is the Curse a myth made up of anti-Semitism?
Why does Mariano Rivera have an electric fence around his pool?
Is Curt Schilling's ankle a lot worse than he's letting on?
Will Johnny Damon's hair bring back the comeover?
I must have one of those Building Character since 1912 shirts. Though, really, it should be 1918.
posted by tieguy at 04:10 PM on October 10, 2004
aren't they refering the year fenway opened?
posted by goddam at 04:23 PM on October 10, 2004
good post. I've been wondering about most of that stuff too.
posted by Bernreuther at 06:19 PM on October 10, 2004
I'm still looking for a shirt that says "Yankees Suck. And I'm Not Too Fond of Southerners Either." (And 1912 is the year Fenway opened, along with the old Tiger Stadium)
posted by yerfatma at 07:10 PM on October 10, 2004
MY apologies to Yankee and Red Sox fans. This was not match up I was looking for. Anytime these two teams are involved in a series: it is over hyped, over rated and over promoted. One cant just enjoy the baseball games, we are bombarded with coverage. You fans of the Teams enjoy it. Over-all fans or fans of other teams dont. I dont care if somebody is batting .320 on odd Thursdays against Pedro. I have hard enough about "the curse" and " the ghosts of Yankee statium." I am not bitter that my team didnt make the ALCS. Sports media tends to cater to the large markets. The Sammy Sosa saga was getting more coverage last week than theBraves or Twins. This time of year, who wants to hear about an over the hill, over paid superstar when there is playoff baseball? I will watch and pay attetnion and enjoy the ALCS baseball action, but this wasnt the match-up I was looking for. Trust me, there are alot more like me around.
posted by daddisamm at 07:41 PM on October 10, 2004
Go NL!!
posted by corpse at 08:06 PM on October 10, 2004
MY apologies to Yankee and Red Sox fans. This was not match up I was looking for. Anytime these two teams are involved in a series: it is over hyped, over rated and over promoted. Don't blame it on the Yankees and Sox; blame it on Fox. They can't show anything without "overing" it, and with the Yankees and the Red Sox, there's plenty to "over". And no, we "fans of the Teams" don't enjoy it. Who enjoys having some dumbass ignoramus pack of idjits "cover" their team? The last Yankees-Red Sox series, if you were watching, the Fox jackasses spent half their time doing stupid interviews with fans in the stands or big-money suckups -- while the game was going on. It makes me seriously nostalgic for the days of Phil Rizzuto. No, sorry, daddisamm, but if you think it would have been any different with any other team, you're mistaken. It's just a matter od degree.
posted by lil_brown_bat at 08:12 PM on October 10, 2004
This was not match up I was looking for. Anytime these two teams are involved in a series: it is over hyped, over rated and over promoted. Sure it's overhyped, but over rated? Hardly. While I admit I'm a red sox fan and biased, it really wouldn't matter. I'm a baseball fan and I live for exciting baseball. Did you see the playoff series last year between these two teams? Great stuff. From watching bucky dent's home run in 78 to boone's home run last year, you really can't argue with the excitement level when these two teams play each other. Do the teams themselves get too much attention? Most certainly. But when they get together, I know quite a few non redsox/yankee fans who make time to watch, and rarely are they disappointed.
posted by justgary at 08:27 PM on October 10, 2004
Comeover? Is this a bukkake thing?
posted by mr_crash_davis at 08:30 PM on October 10, 2004
I know 1912 is the year it was built, but 1918 is the year it started going downhill :)
posted by tieguy at 09:29 PM on October 10, 2004
When my wife visited Mexico for foreign-language instruction during college, she stayed with a reasonably well-off family in Cuernevaca. The stone walls around their house were lined with broken glass to discourage people from scaling them. If Rivera has an electric fence around the pool, I'll bet it's installed for similar reasons.
posted by rcade at 12:05 AM on October 11, 2004
This was not match up I was looking for. Anytime these two teams are involved in a series: it is over hyped, over rated and over promoted. What justgary said. Normally, baseball doesn't hold interest for me, but the Yankees hold 2 of the most memorable baseball moments ever: Juan Gonzolez's hit with the Diamonbacks to win the WS and last year's game 7. We stayed at work late that night with a bunch of student patrons watching the game and going insane. Definitely one of the best TV-sports experiences of my life (Kirby Puckett's domination of the Braves overshadows it, but I digress). And, frankly, the hyped-up nature of the series adds to that moment.
posted by jmd82 at 12:38 AM on October 11, 2004
You guys miss the point. Its not just FOX, Its everywhere. ESPN is out if front leading the way. Anything having to do with the Sox and Yanks, is way over blown. Nobody got tired of the whole A-rod trade sago last winter??? This years season's series was blown up as "must win" games. If I year Pedro calling the Yanks "his Daddys", one more time, I could sream. It was really fun at first, not after the 12,324 time it is replayed! The sports media have become very media driven just like thier cousons in the general news media. You beat a story to death to get all of the mileage out of it that you can get. I wll watch the ALCS and enjoy the baseball. I may have to keep the sound down to avoid the dreadful coverage. Look around, this doesnt happen just in baseball, its seems to be "everywhere"
posted by daddisamm at 05:40 AM on October 11, 2004
If Rivera has an electric fence around the pool, I'll bet it's installed for similar reasons. Yeah, if it's in Panama that's what I expected as well. The article said it was not clear where the incident occurred though. The juxtaposition of electric fence and pool just seemed funny. I will 2nd everything lbb said, but that's as far as I'm willing to apologize for the series coverage. Yes Fox and ESPN and whomever overdo it, but when something is over-hyped, that suggests there was a reason to hype it in the first place. If you think no one but the Northeast cares about a Sox-Yanks series, I have some ratings from last year you can argue with.
posted by yerfatma at 06:11 AM on October 11, 2004
The pool was wired to keep dogs out. The dad jumped in to try to save the son. More here. As far as this being the talk of every major media entity... What yerfatma said... It gets so much damn coverage because people talk about it so much. Look, we have six links and dozens of post here too.
posted by 86 at 07:49 AM on October 11, 2004
Don't forget the expat factor, too. Between them, the Sox and Yanks draw fans from a very densely populated region, and a lot of people from this region end up elsewhere. At least some of them carry their fan-dom with them. I don't think it's so much a matter of people in California (or wherever) being mindlessly dragooned into Sox-Yanks-fandom by the "over-hype" -- I'm reminded of going to see the Bruins play the Sharks at San Jose Arena and seeing a huge number of Big East jerseys in the crowd, which puzzled the Sharks fans to no end. (warning: lengthy rant on the state of baseball coverage follows) I don't have a problem with the amount of coverage -- that's why God made remotes, ya know? -- but I could wish, as I said before, that the quality would improve. Given the pace of baseball, it's natural that the commentators will wander a bit -- Phil Rizzuto used to all the time when he was covering for WSBK, "and today is Josie Incitti's birthday," etc. But he'd get back on the job in a hurry whenever something started to happen. These Fox droids, sheesh. Not only are they not talking about the game -- which is going on, we're not in the middle of a pitching change or something, the pitcher is delivering and the batter is doing or not doing and the count is changing -- they're not showing the game when they blather on about some dumb irrelevancy. Aaagh! As a result, I've really come to enjoy listening to games on the radio rather than watching them, if it's Fox doing the coverage. The radio guys, at least, understand the constraints of the medium, and realize just how stupid they'll sound if they say, "...and, uh, while we were talking about the BALCO scandal and its possible implications, Ruben Sierra just fanned for the fifteenth straight time, and then Jorge Posada came up and hit a blooper single, and things looked kind of exciting, but then Kenny Lofton hit into a double play and that was the end of that." Baseball has a rhythm, and I think it's a beautiful rhythm, and I resent the hell out of networks that feel that the viewing public is too ADD to appreciate it. I hate the exploding graphics with the "whoosh" sound effects, and the stupid irrelevant statistics about how many times David Ortiz has got a hit off Mariano Rivera in the bottom of the seventh in months with no "k" in them, and the endless crowd shots that contribute nothing to the story. Why must they try to make it so damn busy all the time?!?? Baseball has its busy moments, but trying to jack up the whole thing is like taking a classic Model T and putting a hemi in it.
posted by lil_brown_bat at 10:50 AM on October 11, 2004
trying to jack up the whole thing is like taking a classic Model T and putting a hemi in it. Well, the good news is the whole playoffs are on Fox, so they'll definitely slap one of those Clavin-peeing-on-the-abstract-concept-of-Terrorism stickers on the Model T somewhere.
posted by yerfatma at 11:00 AM on October 11, 2004
Well, I'm on the left coast, and I'm excited about this series. I also enjoy watching the Cowboys play the Redskins, and I couldn't give two shits about the Dallas or D.C. areas. A good rivalry is a good rivalry. And who knows, maybe this is the year for Boston?
posted by dusted at 11:40 AM on October 11, 2004
I'm with lil_brown_bat on this one. And Tim McCarver needs to have his mic unplugged. He wouldn't notice and we'd all be happier. But Yankees vs. Red Sox is unbelievably great stuff. These guys actually do seem to have classic game after classic game. I'm looking forward to it, mostly because for once in my life I actually like this Red Sox team. And one should always hate, but respect, the Yankees unless one is a true Yankee fan. End rambling statement.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 12:12 PM on October 11, 2004
I'm with dusted. I'm not necessarily a fan of either team, but a good rivalry is a good rivalry. I don't watch ESPN and whatnot, so I don't get the hype. This is the first time this season I'm going out of my way to watch baseball.
posted by charlatan at 12:37 PM on October 11, 2004
I figured out a long time ago that baseball is better on radio, and that was true even when the TV coverage was halfway decent (i.e., the '80s). Not only doesn't radio give you all of Fox's distractions and irrelevancies, but the medium's "theatre of the mind" really makes for a more vivid, involving experience for the fan.
posted by Motown Mike at 01:12 PM on October 11, 2004
Anything having to do with the Sox and Yanks, is way over blown. I'm in Florida and am a fan of neither team. I still think you can't hype this series enough. The one last year may have been the best baseball playoff series I have ever seen.
posted by rcade at 01:20 PM on October 11, 2004
The problem with radio coverage is that it's often not as comprehensive as TV. Example: I've missed about half of the playoffs so far because my local ESPN affiliate doesn't want to carry all the games (instead, we get Jim Rome and high school football). I don't have a TV, but our Fox affiliate is carrying all the games. Unless you're in a large market, you probably can't get good radio coverage of anything but the local sports. With TV, that's less likely to be true. I'm going to be turbo-pissed if they don't carry the ALCS and NLCS.
posted by rocketman at 01:24 PM on October 11, 2004
I'm a very visual person, so radio just doesn't work for me. The mute key works great, however.
posted by dusted at 01:26 PM on October 11, 2004
it's weird, most non-yankee fans see mccarver as a shill for new york while most yankee fans view him as anti-yankee. (although they do admit he has a man-crush on jeter.)
posted by goddam at 01:33 PM on October 11, 2004
There's got to be decent radio coverage out there on the 'net. I don't know if 'EEI can broadcast playoff MLB games over the net; if they can that would be the place to go (at least for the Sox side of things, though I think Joe and Jerry, among many reasons they're awesome, are fairly unbiased while still wanting for the Sox to win). There's always ESPN radio, at least for most markets.
posted by yerfatma at 01:33 PM on October 11, 2004
goddam, I think the McCarver-as-Yankee-suckoff goes back at least to the first time he declared Scott Brosius to be the greatest player ever at barehanding a grounder up the third base line. And then miraculously, Robin Ventura was #1 all-time after joining up with the Evil Empire.
posted by yerfatma at 01:36 PM on October 11, 2004
Speaking of Fox commentators, did anybody else hear their complaint in last night's Cardinals-Dodgers game about the term "defensive indifference" being too "fancy-schmancy"? Yikes. I can see the game log now: O. Hudson fouled out to third base. One out with V. Wells due up. V. Wells walked. One out with C. Delgado due up. V. Wells to second base 'cuz nobody done care.
posted by DrJohnEvans at 01:41 PM on October 11, 2004
I'm a very visual person, so radio just doesn't work for me. The mute key works great, however. About half the games I watch - in any sport - I'll mute the TV and turn on the radio. Better commentary and you get to watch the game.
posted by Ufez Jones at 01:57 PM on October 11, 2004
Ufez, I've tried that a few times, but the various delays never line up exactly. It's like Kung Fu movies, but less funny.
posted by dusted at 02:42 PM on October 11, 2004
I used to do it all the time, but I get impatient with the radio guys for not explaining what's going on with the TV replays. So I turn on closed captioning on. And then you get information overload. It's an embarrassment of riches with the Sox: turn on the radio announcers, you miss Jerry Remy. The last time I consistently listened to the radio while watching the game on TV was in the days of Johnny Most. Which meant missing out on Tommy Heinson.
posted by yerfatma at 02:54 PM on October 11, 2004
so they'll definitely slap one of those Clavin-peeing-on-the-abstract-concept-of-Terrorism stickers What does the Momma's boy mailman from Cheers have to do with this? I do not need to see any representation of John Ratzenberger's weiner.
posted by wfrazerjr at 02:59 PM on October 11, 2004
Damnit: Calvin.
posted by yerfatma at 03:18 PM on October 11, 2004
rocketman: The problem with radio coverage is that it's often not as comprehensive as TV. Example: I've missed about half of the playoffs so far because my local ESPN radio affiliate doesn't want to carry all the games (instead, we get Jim Rome and high school football). I don't have a TV, but out Fox affiliate is carrying all the games. Unless you're in a large market, you probably can't get good radio coverage of anything but the local sports. Yet another good reason to get satellite radio. Both XM and Sirius carry each and every pitch of ESPN Radio's coverage.
posted by Motown Mike at 03:56 PM on October 11, 2004
Worst case scenario for Boston fans: game 7, tied in the ninth, A-Rod steps into the batter's box... I don't necessarily want it to happen, I'm just saying that it would be perfectly ironic and fitting with history.
posted by dusted at 10:37 PM on October 11, 2004
so they'll definitely slap one of those Clavin-peeing-on-the-abstract-concept-of-Terrorism stickers
What does the Momma's boy mailman from Cheers have to do with this? Boston? My favorite "feature" of this series is the Diamond Cam. "Here's what the game looks like to a mole about six feet from home plate. Next, we'll show you the view from a piece of nacho under some guy's seat in the upper deck!"
posted by dirigibleman at 10:38 PM on October 11, 2004
Clavin = Calvin, I think. By the way, I'm a Blue Jay fan and I hate both teams. But man, am I ever psyched-up by this series. I don't want any silly girly-man basebrawls, but a couple of chin-music specials from both teams will add that extra edge of danger to the series. Next to a Toronto-Montreal NHL playoff series, this is as good as it gets in my sporting world. (the hockey series would be better BECAUSE of the extra oomph those bodychecks would have...)
posted by grum@work at 12:50 AM on October 12, 2004
"My friend's punk band was called John Ratzenberger's Weiner. They had a totally boss logo!" And a Leafs/Habs playoff series sounds absolutely utopian right now. (Thanks, grum. I'm trying to not think about that too much these days.)
posted by chicobangs at 09:47 AM on October 12, 2004
Yet another good reason to get satellite radio. If it isn't free, it isn't radio. I will not pay. Yes, I understand this means I have to suffer incomplete coverage. But I will not pay money to be exposed to more broadcast ads. And regarding the ESPNRadio streams - those are in WMA format, which I can't catch at home (I'm on a Mac).
posted by rocketman at 10:07 AM on October 12, 2004
I still think Clavin is much funnier. I always found Calvin & Hobbes overrated anyhow. I'm absolutely petrified of the Astros, even if their pitching is a bit torn up. Houston won the season series 10-8, and the Cards always seem to find a way to make Lance Berkman into Lou Gehrig.
posted by wfrazerjr at 10:43 AM on October 12, 2004
here's a list of espn radio affiliates that are supposed to be carrying the playoff games.
posted by goddam at 10:47 AM on October 12, 2004
But ESPNRadio affiliates don't have the webcasting rights. Only MLB is doing that (they charge, and broadcast using WMA). Bleh. Anyway, from the sounds of the local morning broadcast, I'll get Game 1 tonight. Just gotta take it day-to-day. Either that or (gasp!) head to the local sports bar.
posted by rocketman at 11:01 AM on October 12, 2004
or drive somewhere where you can pick up a signal from an affiliate that carries all the games.
posted by goddam at 11:06 AM on October 12, 2004
rocketman: it only costs ten bucks to listen to all the playoff games at MLB.com, and they're available in Real or Windows Media, both of which will play just fine on a Mac (see links). I'd go for the sports bar, myself...
posted by dusted at 12:14 PM on October 12, 2004
By the way, I'm a Blue Jay fan and I hate both teams. Raise your hard if you believe that the Red Sox and Yankees should be reassigned to their own separate division. Thank you. (Not that it would've mattered much this year...) And I personally believe that a Sens/Leafs series has much more animosity than Habs/Leafs... but I speak from a Red Sox perspective.
posted by DrJohnEvans at 02:38 PM on October 12, 2004
Sure, the media hype is unbearable. But let's remember they were scalping tickets to the Red Sox-Yankee spring training game. This is the way it was supposed to be.
posted by usfbull at 03:15 PM on October 12, 2004
Raise your hard if you believe that the Red Sox and Yankees should be reassigned to their own separate division. [timidly raises hand] As a sox fan, I'm starting to think they should consider divisional re-weighting, a la soccer; do bad enough, and you go into the second division where you can fight someone your own size. Actually, I take that back- I think revenue sharing a la the NFL is a better solution. Ensure that the total MLB revenue helps all teams, and that each team is required to spend the same amount- no more, no less- on player salary. This would curtail both Steinbrenner's excess, and the catch-up game that the Red Sox try to play, as well as Selig or Pohlad's money machinations, or the way even teams like the Mariners rake in the dough and then go Enron on us, claiming a loss. At the very least, currently the wild card system allows a team to get in with a good record, even if they have the misfortune to play in a division with an overpowering team- a la the Red Sox this year, clearly the best or at least second best team in the league (sorry Twins, Angels). That's an improvement over teams that win 104 games to another teams 105 and don't even make the playoffs... But it does seem that the Yankees + Red Sox are in a Cold War arms race that screws over the rest of the AL satellite nations caught in their wake... bad time to be a Blue Jays fan. But wait- you bastards have two championships in the last 12 years; indeed, in the last decade and a half the Twins and A's each have two championships as well, the Angels have one... Hey, you big buncha whiners! Shuddapayouface!! :) Viva la Salary Cap! Viva la NFL-style revenue sharing!
posted by hincandenza at 05:00 PM on October 12, 2004
last decade and a half the Twins and A's each have two championships as well Twins won in 1987 and 1991. I'll give you an extra couple years to fit the Twins 1st win inside your range. But the A's only won in 1989. That's it. They got their clocks cleaned in 1988 (Dodgers) and 1990 (Reds). You probably meant the Florida Marlins instead (1997/2003).
posted by grum@work at 05:13 PM on October 12, 2004
"God hates us." Reclaim your pain (and be a cool loser) with these Red Sox shirts from The Red Seat.