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September 11, 2012

Out of Left Field

Case Study: What Makes a Bad Baseball Game

by Matthew Kory

“The thing I love most about baseball is that on any given play, in any given game, you can see something amazing you’ve never seen before.”

– Anonymous

That is certainly true. While many plays feature banal aspects you’ve seen before, if you make it through those plays, most major league games will yield something worthwhile.

But what if they don’t?

Last Saturday, the Red Sox and Blue Jays got together and, well, it’s a sad state of affairs when, after watching a game, the predominant thought bouncing around in your skull is, “I should have scrubbed the driveway.” Beyond that missed opportunity, if like me, you sat through the five hours of what the Red Sox and Blue Jays passed off as the great American pastime, you might have come away as I did thinking that was maybe the worst major league baseball game I’ve ever seen.

Was it?

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17 comments have been left for this article.

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mschieve

You used the word Hobo. Love it.

Sep 11, 2012 06:40 AM

rating: 1

gjhardy

Great article.
The reactions by all the principals involved in the Arencibia throw after the strikeout are fantastic. Arencibia is mortified, the umpire is irritated and immediately starts looking for more baseballs, because this one is now wet and dirty, and the third baseman...not sure how to describe his reaction. He has a little hop in his step when the strikeout occurs, comes looking for the throw, and then he just absolutely gives up and his body language screams "Disgust!" when the throw is 8 feet over his head. That GIF is a riot.

Sep 11, 2012 07:01 AM

rating: 1

Matt Kory

BP staff

I laughed when I saw the play live on TV. It's a goodie. In fact, the Red Sox announcers laughed too. It was funny in real time.

Sep 11, 2012 23:43 PM

hunterfelt

The GIFs really do make the whole piece come together.

Sep 11, 2012 07:37 AM

rating: 1

lopkhan00

I went to this game - my 2nd ever at Fenway - and had an absolute blast. Due to the rain delays and dwindling crowd, it was easy to move about. So I got to sit on the Green Monster, behind home plate, in Ted Williams 502 foot home run seat and anywhere else I chose.

And as a Californian, I almost never get to see the grounds crew in full panicked action. So even that was fun. But it should have been noted in the article that even the grounds crew screwed up big time. Once they short-sheeted the infield and had to re-roll the tarp and do it again. Another time they inexplicably pulled the tarp off while the rains came down heavily, which only added to the game's length.

The only downer for me was learning that beer gets cut off at a certain time regardless of whether you've gotten to the 7th inning.

Sep 11, 2012 08:02 AM

rating: 3

Matt Kory

BP staff

Glad someone got something out of that game.

Sep 11, 2012 23:44 PM

Greg Ioannou

Any game that pushes the Red Sox into last place is a gem as far as I'm concerned.

And Gose's goofy smile -- which never left his face after he hit his first ML homer in the 9th -- was kinda fun to see.

Sep 11, 2012 08:11 AM

rating: 0

Matt Kory

BP staff

We part ways there, sir, but I certainly understand. Gose should be proud of that homer. It was crushed.

Sep 11, 2012 23:42 PM

R.A.Wagman

I watched a bunch of this game. Even for a Jays' fan, this game was boring. As to your question about draft position, you are correct. I now want the jays to have a very high draft slot, but I still want them to finish ahead of the Red Sox. It is illogical, but really makes perfect sense.

Sep 11, 2012 08:12 AM

rating: 0

newsense

It's the 89 mph fastball that didn't catch up w/Gomez. he swung early, pulling the ball

Sep 11, 2012 09:39 AM

rating: 0

Matt Kory

BP staff

It looked like he swung late to me, but in either case it was a high 89 mph fastball and he missed it by a fair bit.

Sep 11, 2012 23:41 PM

ceadie

Good job. I could feel your disgust all the way to Canada. Scrubbing drivrways sucks but it was better than the game. Very funny ...keep up the good work.

Sep 11, 2012 12:41 PM

rating: 2

Matt Kory

BP staff

Thanks!

Sep 11, 2012 23:39 PM

Ruhee Dewji

I'm a Blue Jays fan, and I was listening to this game on the radio (not even watching it), and I still didn't get through it all. Hahaha. Bravo.

Also, that John Farrell gif is AMAZING.

Sep 11, 2012 12:58 PM

rating: 2

Matt Kory

BP staff

I thank the excellent Ben Lindbergh for that GIF. He's the GIF master (I think it's printed that way on his business cards).

Sep 11, 2012 23:40 PM

Richard Bergstrom

I'm kind of used to these kinds of games. I'm a Cubs fan.

Sep 11, 2012 14:58 PM

rating: 2

DavidVocalDude

Seconded.

Sep 11, 2012 18:21 PM

rating: 0

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<< Previous Article

Value Picks: First, Th... (09/11)

<< Previous Column

Out of Left Field: Bos... (08/27)

Next Column >>
Out of Left Field: The... (09/18)

Next Article >>

Western Front: Césped... (09/11)

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