Introduction: I have decided to continue my series of what I look for when I watch a baseball game. This post I will be writing about what annoys me while I am watching a baseball game. Some of these things could be obvious, while other things might be small details. Whether it be how players wear their uniform, to not spelling a name right, this post is meant most importantly for a good laugh.
Note: I did not plan on this becoming a series, but I like giving you all a look into what I look for when I watch a baseball game. This way, it is a little more personal than me writing just about baseball news all the time! You all are awesome and make this way more enjoyable for me as well, the support you all give is fantastic! I appreciate you all!!!
All stats and records are through June 13th regular season games.
deGrom, not DeGrom: I have to begin with the one that drives me up the wall the most. When Jacob deGrom is pitching, the SNY network will show Jake's pitch count in the upper left hand corner, just below the score. The network lists the pitcher's last name then their pitch count, for example: deGrom P:90. The SNY network always has DeGrom, not deGrom and then whatever the pitch count is, for example DeGrom P:90. SNY should know this is disrespectful to Jake even though he probably does not pay attention to it. As it is spelt deGrom on the back of his jersey, this should be how it is spelt every time the network mentions his name in a graphic of some sort. I cringe when I see this, he is the best pitcher of this generation, and the Mets TV network cannot even spell his name right, give me a break! Although, if there is one thing, Gary Cohen, the Mets lead broadcaster always says "He struck him out!" after deGrom mows down one of his victims.
Pedro Strop, Fix Your Hat, Please: Pedro Strop is a reliever for the Cubs. When he jogs in from the bullpen to begin his inning of work he looks like a rapper, always having his hat favoring the left side of his head rather than just straight forward. I always know when he is coming in because of his hat and the way he has it placed on his head, it drives me crazy every time I see it. A 13 year veteran by this point, Strop should know how to put his hat on straight by now, but if that is his style so be it.
The Extra Innings Rule: This is the dumbest rule I have ever heard of in my life. When a game goes in extra innings, the runner who was the third out in the 9th inning begins the 10th on second base. Although the run will not be earned to the pitcher if he gives up the run. Baseball is meant to go for however long the game is supposed to go. Baseball games are meant to go three or four hours long if need be, this annoys me so much because the team is supposed to earn the run by getting runners on base by themselves. They are all professionals, they do not need help getting on base.
Dan McLaughlin Overreacting: Dan McLaughlin is the main voice of the Cardinals who I have grown up listening to over the course of my childhood. Something about him getting excited and screaming into the mic after a big play the Cardinals made when they are getting blown out or at anytime for that matter, drives me insane. First off, I would not be celebrating, currently the Cardinals have only won two games over the last 12 they have played. I understand that this is part of his job to get the fans excited who are watching from home, but please have some common sense.
Announcers Calling Players By A Different Name: This one might be worse than SNY spelling deGrom's name wrong. Please explain how announcers can call a player by a different name if they have a lineup sheet and monitors up in the press box to have a closer view of the game? Of course this would different if they had no monitor and had to strictly look for themselves. I often catch this mistake and often am looking at the TV with a confused look on my face. An example of this would be Eddie Rosario and Ahmed Rosario for Cleveland. I have Eddie Rosario in one of my fantasy baseball leagues, so I am familiar with his crouched down left-handed batting stance. The whole situation is amazing to me to be completely honest.
Calling A Player Great When Their Stats Are Awful: This often happens when the game is just beginning and the announcers are going through the "Keys to the Game". Part of this is the announcers being biased to the team that they announce for. Another crazed look on my face type moment, I will often just stare at the TV and say things like: "What?", "You have to be kidding me!", "Oh good grief", and " What did I just hear them say?" I often scratch the back of my head in confusion.
Who is Cleveland's Closer?: This season, Cleveland has two closers I guess you could say in Emmanuel Clase and James Karinchak. As a fantasy baseball player, I currently own Clase in one of my leagues, but always have to bench him because I have no idea who is going to come in to close the game. I always shake my head when Clase comes in for the 9th inning save because it is literally a coin flip on who is going to get the save. The Cleveland bullpen is something I am still trying to figure out and probably will not be able to figure out the rest of the season.
Players Taking Their Hats Off When Running Off the Field In Between Innings: This one is more specific, but I personally do not like it when players take off their hats when going into the dugout in between innings. When they are in the dugout or at least have reached the steps is when they can take off their hats, at least in my opinion. Take for example, Johnny Cueto of the Giants. A veteran in his own right, I bet the majority of people watching a Giants game do not want to see his skull cap fall off his head while taking off his hat in the process when he walks back to the dugout. Another example of this would be Luis Castillo of the Reds. Castillo always gestures to the heavens after every half-inning that he pitches and always takes his hat off, no matter the outcome. I want to be like "Luis, there is nothing to celebrate, your ERA is over 6 on the season. Please get in the dugout and sit down."
Amir Garrett Wanting To Fight Everybody: Amir Garrett is a reliever for the Reds. Already getting in a number of "fights" this season because of either hitting a batter or just for the fun of causing havoc, Amir is a hothead to say the least. Entering the season as the Reds closer, Lucas Sims has taken over the closing duties due to Amir's performance. Garrett will usually scream at hitters after striking them out. A few years ago, he sarcastically ran off the field with his hands up in the air after striking out a batter, as a result this almost caused another fight. His act gets old every so often he decides to create some sort of scene, it is very childish, and he needs to grow up.
Managers Pulling Pitchers When They Have A Low Pitch Count: Imagine your a starting pitcher who is cruising along in your outing and the manager pulls you after 80 or however many pitches. I have given my opinion in my "Greatness of deGrom" post, but man it bothers me a lot. Now, this would be different if the pitcher was getting lit up or if the pitcher got hurt during the outing. When the team's ace is out on the mound every fifth day let him go until he cannot go anymore. The game has changed so much in that pitchers hardly get through six innings anymore and they pitch fewer and fewer innings and pitches as well, it is so aggravating.
NL Pitchers Having To Hit
The Universal DH was the best rule commissioner Rob Manfred came up with for the 2020 season and then dropped the rule this season, which is still mind blowing to me. Here is an idea, let the starting pitchers rest in the dugout and save energy to let them go longer into the games if need be. Even though deGrom and D-Backs pitcher Madison Bumgarner are better hitters than most of their teammates, let them sit in the dugout and rest their arm by wrapping a towel around it. This will cause them to not be fatigued if they reach base and end up having to run. Sometimes I do not understand the logic behind Rob Manfred's brain. We do not need deGrom tripping while running around second base and twisting an ankle or breaking something, that would be awful. As a result, I would probably end up screaming or crying... or both.
Trevor Bauer: For this one I could not decide on a title, so Trevor Bauer it is. I have never seen a baseball player run his mouth so much, it is incredible! No offense to Bauer, but he drives me crazy sometimes. I do not know if I like him or if I do not like him. One day he will make a statement that is great and another day he will be completely dumb. Whether it is screaming at hitters, going through what happened at the end of games, closing one eye while pitching, or throwing a ball over the center field wall, he is quite the character. He has a YouTube channel that I will occasionally watch because he takes his viewers behind the scenes, whether it be pre-game, what he does in between starts, how his body feels by using different colors on a chart, etc. Do not get me wrong, he is a great pitcher and a true ace, but when you film on what he calls "start day", to me that means he is not taking it seriously. Pitching in the major leagues is his job and when you have a camera in front of your face every fifth day before a start would look quite odd. Imagine deGrom or Scherzer having a camera in front of their face on the day they start. How goofy would that look to the fans and their teammates?
Final Thoughts: I hope I have given you all a closer look into what annoys me when I am watching a baseball game. I enjoy doing these because I really have to think of how I want to describe these things, because I just look for these things on a daily basis.
See you at the Ballpark!!!
Adam
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