Oh, those Minor League teams and their kooky ideas

[KingPK 0]

Caught this on Fark:

 

Here’s one for the record books.

 

The first two innings of the July 16th game between the Kansas City T-Bones and the Schaumburg Flyers will be played virtually.

 

Equipped with Microsoft Xbox game controllers instead of baseball gloves and bats, two video gamers will climb into recliner chairs around home plate at CommunityAmerica Ballpark and slug it out on the park’s 16- by 24-foot video screen.

 

Their scores from playing two innings of MVP Baseball 2005 on an Xbox will stand when the T-Bones and Flyers take the field to finish the last seven innings of the game.

 

Mike Stone, commissioner of the minor-league baseball Northern League, said the idea “brings new meaning to the term ‘fan involvement.’ ”

 

The idea for the promotion came from the 6-year-old niece of Bryan Williams, director of community relations for the T-Bones.

 

“It was a fun way to get my niece involved in things I do every day,” Williams said. “Then it just grew and grew and took off.”

 

T-Bones fans began competing last weekend for a chance to take the field. The two finalists will be chosen after competing for high scores at CompUSA stores in Overland Park and Independence. The competition continues through July 6. A playoff for the top 16 players is scheduled for July 9.

 

“There’s never been anything like it in baseball,” said Bryan Stoffel, sales manager at CompUSA’s Overland Park store.

 

In addition to providing stats and players from major-league baseball teams, the Xbox version of MVP Baseball 2005 also allows players to create their own teams.

 

The T-Bones are creating two Xbox teams with the statistics and even facial characteristics of T-Bones and Flyers players, Williams said. The gamers will be allowed to choose their lineups, and the play-by-play will be called by stadium announcers.

 

“Everybody in the world is going to want to do this after us,” Williams said.

 

While the virtual baseball game is a first for professional baseball, flashy marketing isn’t new for the T-Bones. Last year, the team auctioned rights to a night in a fan’s honor on eBay. The winner found his likeness on 3,000 bobblehead dolls.

 

“The Northern League is known for its unique promotions, and Kansas City is setting a new standard,” Stone said.

 

The details are still being worked out, but the Flyers will be allowed to choose which of the top gamers will play for the suburban Chicago team.

 

There will be a lot at stake for the two players.

 

The Flyers came from behind to beat the T-Bones in the best-of-five Northern League playoffs in 2004.

 

“It’s kind of a grudge match,” Williams said.

 

I don't mind to say that I'm actually a bit intrigued at this idea. Hey, if it draws some fans, more power to them. I'll gladly play one of the Yankees fans as the Red Sox if the season comes down to a one-game playoff for the division.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

So what if one player scores 10 runs in the first inning? Do they call it a mercy killing?

[Guest *KNK*]

I agree that it's a nice cute gimmick to draw attention to your franchise.

 

It's the minor leagues. No need to be so serious all the time.

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

What if someone breaks a leg in the 2 inning virtual game..? Do they have to go break the real guy's leg too? I dont even know if that can happen (I have MVP 2005 too, I know in game injuries happen, but I dont know about broken legs..)

[Dr. Tom 0]

Clever promotion. Thumbs up.

 

Odds are, if these players are both good, the score will be 0-0 or 1-1, or something similarly low-scoring thru the two innings they play.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

I hope for a lopsided score so it would backfire in their faces.

[Dr. Tom 0]

Well, yeah, that would be funny.

 

"The Flyers take the field for real now, down 37-2..."

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

I think it's really a good idea to include the fans, but it's very dangerous to gamble even an inning or two on video game players. I score on average 5 runs per inning on baseball video games, so if they were to pick someone of comparable skills, they are essentially making the baseball teams go down a serious hole just for a promotion.

[nl5xsk1 0]

Is it safe to presume that the stats from the virtual players won't hold true in real life? Like, if a pitcher gets shelled on the video game, does the real ERA go up?

 

And if the gamers pick the line-ups, do the real managers have to use that same line-up for 3-9 innings?

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

I think the people in charge would set up the game to fit the real lineups. Though it'd be hilarious to yank the starting pitcher.

[Precious Roy 0]

If it's me, I bean hitter after virtual hitter in an attempt to induce a bench clearing brawl, and maybe a game of street fighter...

[nl5xsk1 0]

I think the people in charge would set up the game to fit the real lineups. Though it'd be hilarious to yank the starting pitcher.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

The gamers will be allowed to choose their lineups, and the play-by-play will be called by stadium announcers.

[The Czech Republic 0]

I think it's really a good idea to include the fans, but it's very dangerous to gamble even an inning or two on video game players. I score on average 5 runs per inning on baseball video games, so if they were to pick someone of comparable skills, they are essentially making the baseball teams go down a serious hole just for a promotion.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

If you're winning video games with 45 runs, why play?

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

I think it's really a good idea to include the fans, but it's very dangerous to gamble even an inning or two on video game players. I score on average 5 runs per inning on baseball video games, so if they were to pick someone of comparable skills, they are essentially making the baseball teams go down a serious hole just for a promotion.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

If you're winning video games with 45 runs, why play?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

To accumulate career stats.

[The Czech Republic 0]

Well three cheers for realism.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

I don't worry about my team's offensive stats. All I care about is my pitcher's stats. That's what I play for, the pitching.

[iliketurtles 0]

That would be awesome if one guy who was playing had every pitcher get ejected for hitting the other batters.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

Now that I think about it, I'm sure even if one player screws around the actual game wouldn't be affected outside the score. The starting pitchers probably would go out to pitch regardless if he got ejected in a fan's video game.

[RepoMan 0]

I would pay to see this but I feel really bad for the washed up players in Independent ball who are being over shadowed by some video game. If it were an exhibition game I'd be all for it, but what is one of the teams misses the playoffs by one game or something because of this? It is litterally a Busch League, but those players sill try hard and take their job seriously and they have to deal with this crap.

[iggymcfly 0]

Oh well. What if they do make the playoffs by one game, but the day before the playoffs start, they get called up to the big league club? I don't think you'll hear any of them crying about the sacrosanct minor league playoffs they missed out on.

[Eclipse 0]

Woah, that's a hot idea, though this will probably NEVER happen in the MLB.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Oh well. What if they do make the playoffs by one game, but the day before the playoffs start, they get called up to the big league club? I don't think you'll hear any of them crying about the sacrosanct minor league playoffs they missed out on.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

This is an independant league, meaning the club is unaffiliated with any big league club.

 

As for the baseball itself, the Northern League is not as bad as you might think. They are closer to AA ball than Rookie ball. Plus, looking over the rosters, the Kansas City club actually has David Segui!

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

The X Box portion will no longer officially count according to the League Office.

[The Czech Republic 0]

Unfortunately, the All-Star Game will count.