tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7823625636675642409.post1432456718610731945..comments2024-03-14T04:07:39.792-07:00Comments on Earl Pomerantz: Just Thinking...: "Pest"Earl Pomerantzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16963705121297866334noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7823625636675642409.post-9134576570221960832015-06-02T18:03:38.814-07:002015-06-02T18:03:38.814-07:00You and me both! It's not that I don't li...You and me both! It's not that I don't like you're solution to the Rose/HOF dilemma, but I've got another proposal. As soon as MLB rules Shoeless Joe eligible and he is voted into the Hall, then Rose will become eligible. Just to review, Joe and 7 of his teammates are accused of accepting a $5,000.00 bribe to throw the 1919 World Series. While 5K seems like a pittance, according to the inflation calculator, that 5K is worth $71,155. in 2015. According to the excellent movie, Eight Men Out, Jackson admits to taking the money, but not to throwing the Series. However, in interviews following his ban from baseball, Jackson stated that he refused the money not once, but twice during the series. His teammate, Lefty Williams reportedly tossed the money on the floor of Jackson's hotel room. Joe then attempted to tell team owner Charles Comiskey about the bribe, but he refused to meet with Joe. In later years, the other 7 players admitted that Jackson was never at a single meeting with the gamblers. In the Series, Joe had a record 12 hits, an average of .375, no fielding errors, and he threw one runner out at the plate. Although all 8 defendants were acquitted, the newly appointed commissioner banned all of them from ever playing again. <br /><br />And we know Jackson's never going to be in the Hall. <br /><br />Mark Buehrle goes tomorrow for the Jays. Get your stop watch ready. I know, I've already stated my opinion on the pitchers who take so much time between pitches. I'm also against the batter being allowed to step out of the box between pitches, most of whom are re-grouping their thoughts. They can do that in the batter's box. The current rule, I believe, requires the pitcher to make his delivery within 30 seconds of the umpire telling him he's on the clock. However, with runner(s) on base, there is no such requirement. Right now, I'm watching Estrada pitching for the Jays; bases loaded, 25 seconds between pitches is his norm. All the fielders have long since done their 'what if' preparations, so now, they're just trying to stay awake. <br /><br />The plan to hurry-up the pitcher won't speed the game up much, but it will give it some flow and rhythm. <br /><br />The worse I've seen this young season, was Baltimore's Miguel Gonzalez. Usually a fairly quick worker, he turns sloth-like when there are runners on and he's laboring. I forget who they were playing but by the 6th, it was clear he was really struggling. I wasn't counting time between pitches until, coincidentally, what turned out to be his last pitch, he took 56 seconds before throwing ball 4. Finally, Showalter had seen enough, too; and I'm sure his pitching coach is watching the stopwatch. Sure, that's an extreme and it involves a bit more posturing than just watching Miguel stand on the mound. But overall, it's pathetic and it's a killer to the fielders who have to stand there and watch him do nothing! <br /><br />We have had the pitching specialists for a long time so we're not going to be adding any more time to the game's length by changing pitchers 5 or 6 times per game. My proposal: 20 seconds to deliver pitch, runners on or not, 20 seconds is plenty. Don't allow the batter to step out of the box after every pitch. They don't need to adjust their batting gloves after every pitch; and they surely don't need to step out and psyche themselves up. If they aren't psyched when get to the plate, having a little meeting with their id isn't going to help. Rhythm and flow. It's important in every undertaking. Even baseball! <br /><br />And MLB.TV is one heck of an invention! <br />Billy Ray Monboquettenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7823625636675642409.post-37962320815093525492015-06-02T17:55:42.818-07:002015-06-02T17:55:42.818-07:00Not only should Pete Rose be let in the Hall of Fa...Not only should Pete Rose be let in the Hall of Fame but he is owed a huge apology from MLB for making him such a scapegoat because he had a gambling problem. MLB then swept steroid drug abuse under the table for as long as they could. Franknoreply@blogger.com