Oh Good Lord.

[Guest Anglesault]

http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/s...0404/14fox.html

 

For its nationally televised game between the Yankees and Red Sox from Boston Friday night, Fox Sports will introduce Scooter, an animated, talking baseball, to explain the types of pitches to young viewers. It also will utilize enhanced graphics that will trace the arcs of pitches and hits and use changing color zones for runners' leads.

 

Fox Sports chairman David Hill said Tuesday that the talking baseball concept -- using the voice of "SpongeBob SquarePants" -- resulted from conversations with Commissioner Bud Selig's office about making the telecasts more appealing to a younger demographic. "It's an experiment," Hill said yesterday.

 

The graphics will be used mostly on replays, Fox executives said. Some enhancements echo ones utilized by ESPN.

 

On its Sunday night Giants-Padres telecast, ESPN miked Giants Manager Felipe Alou for live reaction from the dugout and interviewed starting pitchers after they left the game. "We can only sit back and applaud," Hill said.

 

...

 

I

 

...

 

I just don't know how to respond. I keep getting awful flashbacks of that streak that would follow the hockey puck.

[Guest Redhawk]

What's next?

 

In boxing matches, have a little bell (that only the TV audience can hear) go "DING" when a punch lands.

 

In basketball games, put a neon light on the player who's setting a pick so we can see how that works.

 

In football, have a lazer to indicate where the first down marker is -- oh wait, they already have that (and I'm the only person I know who hates it)

[Guest Anglesault]

.

 

In football, have a lazer to indicate where the first down marker is -- oh wait, they already have that (and I'm the only person I know who hates it)

That thing is pretty cool.

[Guest Anglesault]

Another thing. Shock of all shocks, Bud Selig appears to have his fingerprints on this.

 

I'm begining to think the man is half retarded.

[CanadianChris 0]

Another thing. Shock of all shocks, Bud Selig appears to have his fingerprints on this.

 

I'm begining to think the man is half retarded.

Why only half?

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

-It also will utilize enhanced graphics that will trace the arcs of pitches and hits and use changing color zones for runners' leads

 

Thats a pretty good idea.

 

The talking baseball isn't though, although explaining the different pitches would be a good idea if it weren't implemented so stupidly.

[Guest Anglesault]

I don't want to completely insult retarded people.

[Guest Anglesault]

-It also will utilize enhanced graphics that will trace the arcs of pitches and hits and use changing color zones for runners' leads

 

Thats a pretty good idea.

You don't remember the streak, do you?

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Ugh. Yet ANOTHER reason to hate Fox Sports.

 

If they're going to do this, I demand equal time for the talking baseball to explain why the sacrifice bunt is such an idiotic play, and why sabermetrics are the wave of the future. Something kids can USE. I never really gave a crap what a slider did.

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

-It also will utilize enhanced graphics that will trace the arcs of pitches and hits and use changing color zones for runners' leads

 

Thats a pretty good idea.

You don't remember the streak, do you?

Yeah. I thought it wasn't a bad idea at the time.

[Guest Anglesault]

And of course they debut this nonsense during a Yankees/Sox game, undoubtedly the most intense game of the year to this point.

[nl5xsk1 0]

As much as America is ready for the collective circle jerk over the Yanks-Sox series, to say that any game is 'intense' when there's still 150+ games left in the season is a joke.

 

That's like saying the first big third down stop in the Pats-Colts season opener next year is 'the most crucial play so far this football season' ... the season is just too long for ANYTHING to really matter right now.

 

And I know people are going to counter with "potential tiebreaker" or "set the tone for the season" bullshit ... guys, the regular season doesn't end for 5 months. Nothing in April is "intense".

[Guest Wildbomb 4:20]

Apparently you've never been to Yanks-Sox in April @ Fenway. It's fucking intense. Then again, so was the Toronto game I went to this past Saturday where three fights broke out and fourteen people were arrested. Gotta love the bleachers!

 

Speaking of FOX: Figures they fuck up something like Yanks-Sox. How the hell do you screw with that? Bloody hell.

 

I'd rather see the game on NESN. Hell, if I were in NY I'd rather see the damn thing on YES, one of the most despised creations on the planet (only in my mind).

[Guest Anglesault]

I don't think it's on YES or NESN.

[nl5xsk1 0]

Apparently you've never been to Yanks-Sox in April @ Fenway. It's fucking intense. Then again, so was the Toronto game I went to this past Saturday where three fights broke out and fourteen people were arrested. Gotta love the bleachers!

No, I've been to plenty of Sox-Yanks games in April, and May and June for that matter. I've even been to Sox-Yanks games at the Stadium (but I do have to admit it was inthe early 90s when the Yanks weren't as good). It's just that I realize that what happens now has minimal effect on what happens at the end of the year. It's not until post-All Star break can games really be considered crucial or intense.

 

Your scenario shows that being drunk in the bleachers is 'intense' regardless of who's playing on the field. This upcoming series is only borderline more important than the games that they played in spring training.

[Guest Anglesault]

There's a large differenence between intense and important.

[Art Sandusky 0]

The puck streak rocked. I was surprised they were able to do it in the mid-90s. Today it wouldn't be a surprise, but I didn't think real-time effects were that advanced.

[nl5xsk1 0]

note to self::: buy whatever it is that Kotz is high on, and use it all weekend.

 

The fact that the blue streak made it impossible to find see the actual must have been forgotten. I especially liked it when the blue streak (or red for slapshots) gave the impression that the puck was either levitating a few feet above the ice along the far boards or had just traveled through the net. Some 'advances' aren't really worth the cost or effort.

 

The only time that features like the streak, or the crap that they're debuting on Fox this weekend, should be used is for replays. If they add crazy crap during the play, it'll only detract from the game itself.

[Art Sandusky 0]

Well, if the blue streak is where the puck is, just FOLLOW THE STREAK. Or do you need to see the actual puck to know it's there? The players must be hitting SOMETHING around, right?

[nl5xsk1 0]

Yes, I need to see the actual puck. Seeing the puck is advantageous when you're trying to see if it stays onsides. Or if it crosses the goal-line. Or if it was played with a high stick or passed via a handpass. Just knowing the puck is near the blue streak isn't good enough when you're actually trying to follow the game.

 

But FOX only cared about babying new viewers, not taking care of people that actually like and follow hockey.

[Guest Smell the ratings!!!]

In basketball games, put a neon light on the player who's setting a pick so we can see how that works.

that would rule.

 

Since it's a Yankee game, hopefully the talking baseball will help explain the insider terms used by the announcers. Like "revenue sharing", "salary dump" and "BALCO"

[Guest Anglesault]

In basketball games, put a neon light on the player who's setting a pick so we can see how that works.

that would rule.

 

Since it's a Yankee game, hopefully the talking baseball will help explain the insider terms used by the announcers. Like "revenue sharing",

Only if they then show pictures of all the owners who just pocket the money and an address where you can write to them.

[Guest Smell the ratings!!!]

now now, I said salary dump too. I assure you I dislike all the owners equally.

[razazteca 0]

So the voice of Spongebob Squarepants will be discussing baseball basics on tv?

[Guest Anglesault]

During a God damn Yankees/Sox game. Isn't there some meaningless Blue Jay/Oriole game next week that Fox can do this to?

[Guest Anglesault]

Peter Puck

 

This is before my time, so I have no idea what it was, but it sounds equally horrendous.

[DerangedHermit 0]

http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/s...0404/14fox.html

 

For its nationally televised game between the Yankees and Red Sox from Boston Friday night, Fox Sports will introduce Scooter, an animated, talking baseball, to explain the types of pitches to young viewers. It also will utilize enhanced graphics that will trace the arcs of pitches and hits and use changing color zones for runners' leads.

 

Fox Sports chairman David Hill said Tuesday that the talking baseball concept -- using the voice of "SpongeBob SquarePants" -- resulted from conversations with Commissioner Bud Selig's office about making the telecasts more appealing to a younger demographic. "It's an experiment," Hill said yesterday.

 

The graphics will be used mostly on replays, Fox executives said. Some enhancements echo ones utilized by ESPN.

 

On its Sunday night Giants-Padres telecast, ESPN miked Giants Manager Felipe Alou for live reaction from the dugout and interviewed starting pitchers after they left the game. "We can only sit back and applaud," Hill said.

 

...

 

I

 

...

 

I just don't know how to respond. I keep getting awful flashbacks of that streak that would follow the hockey puck.

That's even worse than the claymation Mel Allen chugging a Pepsi.

[Styles 0]

During a God damn Yankees/Sox game. Isn't there some meaningless Blue Jay/Oriole game next week that Fox can do this to?

HEY

 

I think it will be funny if the Stanks and Red Sux get into a brawl again. They can have Spongbob Dumbass explain how flinging an old men down by their head or fistfights with fans in the bullpen work.

 

As for Selig, isn't this guy supposed to step down when his contract runs out? When is that, after this season? Next season? It can't come soon enough...

[razazteca 0]

I just want to see them explain errors while having Patrick & Squidworth doing flashbacks of famous errors and have Spongebob laugh at them.

 

"hahahahaha the ball went between his legs"

[Guest Anglesault]

During a God damn Yankees/Sox game. Isn't there some meaningless Blue Jay/Oriole game next week that Fox can do this to?

HEY

 

I think it will be funny if the Stanks and Red Sux

Oh my.

 

or fistfights with fans in the bullpen

 

He was part of the groundscrew.