AL tonight. I picked the O's and Angels, but I'm rooting for Detroit and KC. Since the Angels are my least favorite ML team I'm going to have to stay up late. Please, no extra's!
If KC somehow manages to win that series I've no doubt they go all the way. It's not the Missouri team I'd prefer, but I'll take it. A few random thoughts: Ned Yost was one lucky sonovabitch for his team to take his dumb ass off the hook....What a beat-down by the Giants last night! The Pirates tease Pittsburgh again. I never saw a crowd go so quiet, like a light switch turned them off when Crawford hit the slam.
That Royals crowd was amazing. Great noise, well timed outbursts, no freaking waves or wagging of those silly ass snot rags that LA and St. Louis love so much, and in the 12th inning all asses were still in the seats. (Dodger fans start exodus in the 8th)
I'll get my first look at Scherzer tonite. I hope he's not on. I hate pitching duels.
Did you guys see this?
The Batter’s Box Rule: “The batter shall keep at least one foot in the batter’s box throughout his at-bat, unless one of a series of established exceptions occurs, in which case the batter may leave the batter’s box but not the dirt area surrounding home plate. (Exceptions include a foul ball or a foul tip; a pitch forcing the batter out of the batter’s box; “time” being requested and granted; a wild pitch or a passed ball; and several others.)
No-Pitch Intentional Walks: In the event a team decides to intentionally walk a batter, no pitches shall be thrown. Instead, the manager shall signal to the home plate umpire with four fingers, and the batter should proceed to first base to become a runner.
20-Second Rule [AT 17 SALT RIVER FIELDS HOME GAMES ONLY]: A modified version of Rule 8.04, which discourages unnecessary delays by the pitcher, shall apply. Rule 8.04 requires the pitcher to deliver the ball to the batter within 12 seconds after he receives the ball with the bases unoccupied. The penalty prescribed by Rule 8.04 for a pitcher’s violation of the Rule is that the umpire shall call “Ball.”
2:05 Inning Break Clock: There shall be a maximum 2:05 break between innings. Hitters must enter the batter’s box by the 1:45 mark. When batters violate this rule, the Umpire may call an automatic strike. When batters are set by the appropriate time and pitchers fail to throw a pitch before the conclusion of the 2:05 period, the Umpire shall call a ball.
2:30 Pitching Change Break Clock: There shall be a maximum 2:30 break for pitching changes, including pitching changes that occur during an inning break. The first pitch must be thrown before the conclusion of the 2:30 period or the umpire shall call a ball. The clock shall start when the new pitcher enters the playing field (i.e., crosses the warning track, or foul line).
Three “Time Out” Limit: Each team shall be permitted only three “Time Out” conferences per game (including extra innings). Such conferences shall include player conferences with the pitcher (including the catcher), manager or coach conferences with the pitcher, and coach conferences with a batter. Conferences during pitching changes, and time outs called as a result of an injury or other emergency, shall not be counted towards this limit. A manager, coach or player will not be permitted to call a fourth time out in violation of this Rule. In such cases, the game will continue uninterrupted, and offenders may be subject to discipline.
That's the AZ league's new guidelines, many of which were already adopted, but never really observed. I don't believe that ANY of them will be followed in the Major's either. If the sponsors had their way the games would last 4 hours.
