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Baseball?

D

Darkstrike

Return Of The King!
Sep 14, 2007
18,679
408
#1
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?
 
#4
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...
 
#5
i_got_a_mohawk said:
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.
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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).
 
#6
Ray Salamon said:
It's really, really simple. You'd have it down in less than one game easily.
Click to expand...
You may be underestimating my dumbassery... :D
colcifer said:
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...
Click to expand...

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

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.
 
#13
Darkstrike said:
Doesn't sound too complicated, just a little odd!:D
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Exactly. There's more to it, of course, but you'll be able to follow almost everything just fine.

MatticusMania said:
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.
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Yeah, mostly but the good games are so great to watch.
 
#15
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.
 
#16
colcifer said:
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.
Click to expand...
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.
MatticusMania said:
They are, I just can't ever seem to get into it on TV.

Its a great game to play!
Click to expand...

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.
 
#17
Funky Ghost said:
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.
Click to expand...

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

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.
Click to expand...

Baseball is boring to watch unless you're in a group, at least IME.
 
#18
Funky Ghost said:
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.
Click to expand...

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

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