It’s amazing that there has been next-to-zero opposition to netting now degrading the viewing experience for 2/3rds of a baseball crowd in exchange for mitigating the 0.0001% risk someone will get killed by a baseball.
Say what you will about the bubble. I’m really grateful they brought the nba back in the pandemic. I was struggling during that time and getting even a weird version of the playoffs helped me get through shelter in place in a tiny apartment with two small kids. I think I watched almost every single game (albeit often on DVR after the kids were asleep) and then listened to my man Nate Duncan’s pod after. The lack of crowds was weird and maybe helped AD with his jumper but that lakers team was awesome too. And I hate the lakers. Everyone played under the same circumstances, Altho the rest probably helped the old teams more. Too bad the clippers choked (Altho I get that the mental health stuff affected different people in different ways) and we didn’t get to see the epic lakers clippers show down everyone had been anticipating that entire season.
Straussie, I think the Lakers bubble title is more legit than the Dodgers one. I say this as a biased honk for both teams.
My thinking is, LAL had the second best record in the league — and best in the Western Conference — through a mostly full season. They ultimately traded home court advantage for extra rest for LeBron. So LAL winning in 2020 isn’t that big of a stretch.
One thing about the Dodgers winning in 2020 that I think most people overlook is the lack of fans probably helped notorious playoff choker Clayton Kershaw. I think he gets nervous, and his awareness of “the narrative,” coupled with the crowd’s vibe, makes him implode once things start going sideways. Cheers
Save for Reagan, Clinton and Obama it’s amazing how mediocre our presidential candidates have been for the past 45 years. Dole? Dukakis? Mondale? Trump? Just a Murder’s Row of “woof”.
Kamala has to be the luckiest politician ever. At best she’s replacement level, she had the fortune of possessing the correct combination of chromosomes and melanin during the height of a nationwide moral panic, she’s literally the only person who can take the mantle without causing an intra-party civil war once Biden got whacked by Pelosi and then all of a sudden the same corporate political media that doggedly chased down Biden’s infirmity challenges decides to take a prolonged vacation after it’s clear that she’s the nominee.
That’s said she’s very flawed and she won’t be able to run from that for long. Even in the absence of political media doing its job voters will still internalize her shortcomings.
I agree with your point, but I'd actually add Romney to the list. Not nearly the politician as those others, but seemed to be more credible and competent than almost anyone we've had. If i needed someone to run a major job, or business or large agency, he might be my #1 of all candidates during that time period. And I don't even like him that much.
I don't think very many people care that Harris hasn't given an interview. The only people I've seen complain about it are journalists and hard-core Trump supporters. Everyone else is like yeah that makes sense if she is still being coached up on what to say so she doesn't accidentally go viral on tiktok because nobody actually watches full interviews anyway.
How many of Ethan's NFL takes are simply to support his Brock Purdy take? Tua has looked great under a Shanahan tree scheme, so actually he's not overrated, because that suggests that scheme is important for QB production. To be honest I don't have a view on Purdy one way or the other, but I did find that amusing.
I’m all for honoring history but I cannot wait until free throws are gone and TDs are worth six points and you can either take the automatic extra point or risk it and go for two.
Ethan should talk about the new pitching machines that can throw any pitch at all different arm angles - if the pitching injuries continue apace, using pitching machines that only throw strikes is the revolutionary change that should come.
Can’t remember if this was the podcast where the baseball ratings was mentioned so apologies if it’s the wrong one. Kids in school has thrown my life into chaos.
But whenever you made that comment i immediately thought of your earlier comment about sports likely being more popular during election season rather than politics.
I’m a basketball fan and a football appreciator but find myself eager for football to start. Likely because of nostalgia and wanting an escape.
I would hazard a guess that maybe baseballs increase in viewership may be due to the same? An escape from the current news cycle and not due to what the sport is doing to try to gain fans back?
As much as I enjoy (most) of all the other stuff I don't know if this thing works if Ethan isn't such a hardcore consumer of sports content. I really enjoy the random sprinkling of bits like the Bonds/Maddox duels or Anthony Davis' fluke Bubble shooting.
Also, any Packer fan will confirm that the criticism of Rodgers for his entire Green Bay tenure was his constant strategic decision to take sacks rather than risk interceptions which made his stats look immaculate for casuals as Green Bay lost to inferior teams in the playoffs time after time.
There is the term “taking the top off of the defence” which is similar to what he’s talking about. But it’s specifically in Reverence to extremely fast receivers getting downfield so I can see why Aiyuk doesn’t qualify
It’s amazing that there has been next-to-zero opposition to netting now degrading the viewing experience for 2/3rds of a baseball crowd in exchange for mitigating the 0.0001% risk someone will get killed by a baseball.
Seriously? I don’t even notice the netting.
Same. Was just at a game right behind it and it essentially disappears after a few minutes.
It’s like me driving my car with my dirty glasses and a dirty windshield . The brain adjusts.
These takes are the unique product of the American sports fan who has been conditioned over decades to “adjust” to increasingly worse product.
I'm considering ritualistically self immolating in front of Petco Park to put an end to this degradation. Who is with me?
Say what you will about the bubble. I’m really grateful they brought the nba back in the pandemic. I was struggling during that time and getting even a weird version of the playoffs helped me get through shelter in place in a tiny apartment with two small kids. I think I watched almost every single game (albeit often on DVR after the kids were asleep) and then listened to my man Nate Duncan’s pod after. The lack of crowds was weird and maybe helped AD with his jumper but that lakers team was awesome too. And I hate the lakers. Everyone played under the same circumstances, Altho the rest probably helped the old teams more. Too bad the clippers choked (Altho I get that the mental health stuff affected different people in different ways) and we didn’t get to see the epic lakers clippers show down everyone had been anticipating that entire season.
Straussie, I think the Lakers bubble title is more legit than the Dodgers one. I say this as a biased honk for both teams.
My thinking is, LAL had the second best record in the league — and best in the Western Conference — through a mostly full season. They ultimately traded home court advantage for extra rest for LeBron. So LAL winning in 2020 isn’t that big of a stretch.
One thing about the Dodgers winning in 2020 that I think most people overlook is the lack of fans probably helped notorious playoff choker Clayton Kershaw. I think he gets nervous, and his awareness of “the narrative,” coupled with the crowd’s vibe, makes him implode once things start going sideways. Cheers
Not sure what the Maddux conversation was - there was no pitch clock until very recently.
I meant to say scoreboard.
Save for Reagan, Clinton and Obama it’s amazing how mediocre our presidential candidates have been for the past 45 years. Dole? Dukakis? Mondale? Trump? Just a Murder’s Row of “woof”.
Kamala has to be the luckiest politician ever. At best she’s replacement level, she had the fortune of possessing the correct combination of chromosomes and melanin during the height of a nationwide moral panic, she’s literally the only person who can take the mantle without causing an intra-party civil war once Biden got whacked by Pelosi and then all of a sudden the same corporate political media that doggedly chased down Biden’s infirmity challenges decides to take a prolonged vacation after it’s clear that she’s the nominee.
That’s said she’s very flawed and she won’t be able to run from that for long. Even in the absence of political media doing its job voters will still internalize her shortcomings.
I agree with your point, but I'd actually add Romney to the list. Not nearly the politician as those others, but seemed to be more credible and competent than almost anyone we've had. If i needed someone to run a major job, or business or large agency, he might be my #1 of all candidates during that time period. And I don't even like him that much.
It’s not great optics to run a private equity guy right after a financial crisis.
Also the 2012 GOP field was so, so bad.
I don't think very many people care that Harris hasn't given an interview. The only people I've seen complain about it are journalists and hard-core Trump supporters. Everyone else is like yeah that makes sense if she is still being coached up on what to say so she doesn't accidentally go viral on tiktok because nobody actually watches full interviews anyway.
How many of Ethan's NFL takes are simply to support his Brock Purdy take? Tua has looked great under a Shanahan tree scheme, so actually he's not overrated, because that suggests that scheme is important for QB production. To be honest I don't have a view on Purdy one way or the other, but I did find that amusing.
I’m all for honoring history but I cannot wait until free throws are gone and TDs are worth six points and you can either take the automatic extra point or risk it and go for two.
Ethan should talk about the new pitching machines that can throw any pitch at all different arm angles - if the pitching injuries continue apace, using pitching machines that only throw strikes is the revolutionary change that should come.
Also anyone who thinks any QB can be great in a Shanahan offense should have watched the Niners with Jimmy g throwing 4 yard outs on third and 10
Can’t remember if this was the podcast where the baseball ratings was mentioned so apologies if it’s the wrong one. Kids in school has thrown my life into chaos.
But whenever you made that comment i immediately thought of your earlier comment about sports likely being more popular during election season rather than politics.
I’m a basketball fan and a football appreciator but find myself eager for football to start. Likely because of nostalgia and wanting an escape.
I would hazard a guess that maybe baseballs increase in viewership may be due to the same? An escape from the current news cycle and not due to what the sport is doing to try to gain fans back?
As much as I enjoy (most) of all the other stuff I don't know if this thing works if Ethan isn't such a hardcore consumer of sports content. I really enjoy the random sprinkling of bits like the Bonds/Maddox duels or Anthony Davis' fluke Bubble shooting.
Also, any Packer fan will confirm that the criticism of Rodgers for his entire Green Bay tenure was his constant strategic decision to take sacks rather than risk interceptions which made his stats look immaculate for casuals as Green Bay lost to inferior teams in the playoffs time after time.
There is the term “taking the top off of the defence” which is similar to what he’s talking about. But it’s specifically in Reverence to extremely fast receivers getting downfield so I can see why Aiyuk doesn’t qualify
But it has the impact of creating space for other players by forcing a safety to play deep