Baseball?

Darkstrike · #1 09-13-2011, 03:56 PM

Is it hard to get into?

Recently had new channels added to my sports package, including ones that show US sports, so I'm planning on watching some MLB.

So for a near complete newb(I've seen the Major League movies, A League OF Their Own, Field Of Dreams, and played rounders about 5 times....15 years ago.), what are my chances of getting into this, or picking up a clue to what the hell is going on? I mean I do have a rough idea, home runs, strikes and all that, but I'm wondering about the points system, innings, all that jazz?

i_got_a_mohawk · #2 09-13-2011, 04:01 PM

Competative rounders isn't something I ever got into watching, games take so long too!

Have you tried reading up on wiki? That will likely have a good breakdown of the scoring etc.

Selta · #3 09-13-2011, 04:03 PM

It's really, really simple. You'd have it down in less than one game easily.

**colcifer** · #4 09-13-2011, 04:04 PM

Baseball is a weird sport. Innings are split into a top and bottom half. The visiting team bats in the top half and the home team in the second, with each half lasting until there are three outs. Points are called runs and there are usually few in a game. Over time is called extra innings since there is no set time allocation for a game but rather nine innings, if the teams aren't tied at the end of the final inning.

Good baseball games are a lot of fun to watch but bad games are excruciating.

Edit: Damn, I type slow. Need coffee or something...

Darkstrike · #5 09-13-2011, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by i_got_a_mohawk

Competative rounders isn't something I ever got into watching, games take so long too!

Have you tried reading up on wiki? That will likely have a good breakdown of the scoring etc.

I'll definitely be looking into Wiki soon, I'm not looking for details here, just curious as to how difficult a sport it is to start watching. Like Soccerball or Hockey are pretty dang easy, and American Football isn't, with it's more complicated rules and points system(compared to the aforementioned 2, that is).

Darkstrike · #6 09-13-2011, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ray Salamon

It's really, really simple. You'd have it down in less than one game easily.

You may be underestimating my dumbassery...

Quote:

Originally Posted by colcifer

Baseball is a weird sport. Innings are split into a top and bottom half. The visiting team bats in the top half and the home team in the second, with each half lasting until there are three outs. Points are called runs and there are usually few in a game. Over time is called extra innings since there is no set time allocation for a game but rather nine innings, if the teams aren't tied at the end of the final inning.

Good baseball games are a lot of fun to watch but bad games are excruciating.

Edit: Damn, I type slow. Need coffee or something...

Right, I think I get it. Doesn't sound too complicated, just a little odd!

As for the good/bad games deal, really, I'd say that's true of any sport. Just look at nil-nil/no action draws in Soccerball, or one of those NFL games that ends up having like one field goal, and nothing else.

Selta · #7 09-13-2011, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darkstrike

I'll definitely be looking into Wiki soon, I'm not looking for details here, just curious as to how difficult a sport it is to start watching. Like Soccerball or Hockey are pretty dang easy, and American Football isn't, with it's more complicated rules and points system(compared to the aforementioned 2, that is).

Hockey's rules are more complex than MLB, IMO.

MatticusMania · #8 09-13-2011, 04:21 PM

Baseball is kind of boring to watch, especially on television. Its pretty slow, not a lot of action really. Its more enjoyable in a proper stadium, even then its slow, though.

Darkstrike · #9 09-13-2011, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ray Salamon

Hockey's rules are more complex than MLB, IMO.

To be honest, I probably shouldn't have mentioned hockey, as I'm mostly familiar with street style, I don't know the depth of the rules in serious hockey, but still more than I know about MLB, hahaha!

Selta · #10 09-13-2011, 04:24 PM

For that mistake, you owe me my damn Roscoe back. Jerk.

Darkstrike · #11 09-13-2011, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MatticusMania

Baseball is kind of boring to watch, especially on television. Its pretty slow, not a lot of action really. Its more enjoyable in a proper stadium, even then its slow, though.

Heh, that's alright, slow is my speed...

Darkstrike · #12 09-13-2011, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ray Salamon

For that mistake, you owe me my damn Roscoe back. Jerk.

I'll consider it.

Probably.

**colcifer** · #13 09-13-2011, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darkstrike

Doesn't sound too complicated, just a little odd!

Exactly. There's more to it, of course, but you'll be able to follow almost everything just fine.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MatticusMania

Baseball is kind of boring to watch, especially on television. Its pretty slow, not a lot of action really. Its more enjoyable in a proper stadium, even then its slow, though.

Yeah, mostly but the good games are so great to watch.

MatticusMania · #14 09-13-2011, 04:44 PM

They are, I just can't ever seem to get into it on TV.

Its a great game to play!

Funky Ghost · #15 09-13-2011, 04:57 PM

My biggest problem with baseball is the utter disparity of the teams. Big market teams will nearly always win out. Small market teams are there for comic relief and regional fans who are into sporticide. This year, admittedly, more small market teams are still "in it" and the Angels showed that the "impossible" can happen, but that has certainly been the exception, not the rule.

As much as I love movies about baseball, I've never been able to have more than a passing interest in it as a sport. Even when "my team" has been doing well.

Darkstrike · #16 09-13-2011, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by colcifer

Exactly. There's more to it, of course, but you'll be able to follow almost everything just fine.

Yeah, mostly but the good games are so great to watch.

Perfect! Here's hoping I've picked a good 'un to get started with, Boston Red Sox vs Toronto Blue Jays in a few minutes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MatticusMania

They are, I just can't ever seem to get into it on TV.

Its a great game to play!

That's another think I think is true of any sport, always more fun to play than watch, can't think of any I'd prefer to watch first.

SoonerMatt · #17 09-13-2011, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Funky Ghost

My biggest problem with baseball is the utter disparity of the teams. Big market teams will nearly always win out. Small market teams are there for comic relief and regional fans who are into sporticide. This year, admittedly, more small market teams are still "in it" and the Angels showed that the "impossible" can happen, but that has certainly been the exception, not the rule.

Exactly. I can't wait for the Yankees and Cardinals/Cubs/Phillies/Giants to play each other in the World Series again

Quote:

As much as I love movies about baseball, I've never been able to have more than a passing interest in it as a sport. Even when "my team" has been doing well.

Baseball is boring to watch unless you're in a group, at least IME.

Darkstrike · #18 09-13-2011, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Funky Ghost

My biggest problem with baseball is the utter disparity of the teams. Big market teams will nearly always win out. Small market teams are there for comic relief and regional fans who are into sporticide. This year, admittedly, more small market teams are still "in it" and the Angels showed that the "impossible" can happen, but that has certainly been the exception, not the rule.

As much as I love movies about baseball, I've never been able to have more than a passing interest in it as a sport. Even when "my team" has been doing well.

Kinda like Soccerball then, most of the big teams are big because their owners are also big in the wallet.

SoonerMatt · #19 09-13-2011, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darkstrike

Kinda like Soccerball then, most of the big teams are big because their owners are also big in the wallet.

That seems to be the way every modern sport is with the exception of international teams (FIFA, rugby union, etc).

Darkstrike · #20 09-13-2011, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoonerMatt

That seems to be the way every modern sport is with the exception of international teams (FIFA, rugby union, etc).

I was thinking as much just after I posted, heh.

Kinda hard to blame them in a way, if it's within the rules, and they have the resources, they'd be silly not to use them.