Ken+ State Baseball

[Zipmeister]

Shame on you, Zipmeister Long live "the Beta"!

While I can appreciate your loyalty to the greatest video recording technology of all time, you are demonstrating just how old you are by mentioning it. Pay attention on your next trip to Blockbuster and you will notice a very limited selection available on Beta. Just a suggestion 84, if you want to stay young at heart, it helps if you keep your recording equipment state-of-the-art like me. My prediction for the ball game today - Can't State 6, Gators 5.

[Dave in Green]

Sometimes it's hard for old geezers like me to keep up with the flow of modern social conversation. But as best I understand it, the theory being advanced here is that when all of us old folks die off, local TV news will disappear, baseball will fade into obscurity and future generations will still be arguing over whether or not soccer will take over as America's national pastime. Is that about right?

Since I won't be around at that time to discuss the situation, I'll try to monitor it as best I can from the nether regions, where I expect to be residing.

[GP1]

Sometimes it's hard for old geezers like me to keep up with the flow of modern social conversation. But as best I understand it, the theory being advanced here is that when all of us old folks die off, local TV news will disappear, baseball will fade into obscurity and future generations will still be arguing over whether or not soccer will take over as America's national pastime. Is that about right?

Your summary is correct with the exception of one point. As long as there are old people with a desire to watch a story about a house fire before turning out the lights for the night, there will always be the 6:00 evening news.

[Spin]

You guys forgot newspapers. Nobody reads newspapers anymore, for some they prefer the intraweb, for others we just don't have the time to read ANYTHING in today's fast paced society...

[Dr Z]

I happen to have Fox 8 on in the garage while I was loading up the beer fridge for Father's Day Sunday morning.

Fox 8 did a recorded piece at Flannery's Pub in downtown Cleveland. Apparently they had a Ken+ themed party for the game.

They interviewed about 4 or 5 fans. They must have stayed for the whole game, because they showed the fans from their pregame

"high" to the end of the game "low." If I had to guess, it looked as though 15 people were in their urine colored yellow shirts at the Pub.

[GP1]

I happen to have Fox 8 on in the garage while I was loading up the beer fridge for Father's Day Sunday morning.

Fox 8 did a recorded piece at Flannery's Pub in downtown Cleveland. Apparently they had a Ken+ themed party for the game.

They interviewed about 4 or 5 fans. They must have stayed for the whole game, because they showed the fans from their pregame

"high" to the end of the game "low." If I had to guess, it looked as though 15 people were in their urine colored yellow shirts at the Pub.

Did it run before or after the house fire story?

[MDZip]

Did it run before or after the house fire story?

With an 8-1 loss, I'd say in conjunction.

[LZIp]

Can't knocks #1 Florida out of the CWS.

Also, it should be no surprise to any of you that this run is getting more publicity than our soccer teams. Which sport is more popular in America?? Not even close.

On top of that, they have a well known alumni who plays professionally locally supporting them. Maybe one of our alumni should step up when we are having good post season runs.

[bobbyake]

Which sport is more popular in America??

It depends which age category you ask. According to ESPN, soccer is more popular than baseball for the 12-24 age range.

[skip-zip]

Can't knocks #1 Florida out of the CWS.

Also, it should be no surprise to any of you that this run is getting more publicity than our soccer teams. Which sport is more popular in America?? Not even close.

On top of that, they have a well known alumni who plays professionally locally supporting them. Maybe one of our alumni should step up when we are having good post season runs.

Having a famous alum changes nothing. Cleveland stations were making plans to send sportscasters to Omaha while they were still in the Sweet 16. We can't even get sportscasters from Cleveland to follow our soccer team when we are in a national championship game. It speaks volumes about the difference between the two sports in this country.

By the way, I think Florida got robbed tonight, if anyone was watching the game. For a 3rd base umpire to overrule the home plate umpire, and wipe out a 9th inning walk that ties the game, and leaves the bases loaded with only one out, is ridiculous. That call changed everything. Ken+'s pitchers couldn't hit the ocean with a beach ball in those late innings.

[Zipmeister]

The guy with post #51 on this thread is a prognosticating genius. Congrats whoever you are.

[LZIp]

Having a famous alum changes nothing. Cleveland stations were making plans to send sportscasters to Omaha while they were still in the Sweet 16. We can't even get sportscasters from Cleveland to follow our soccer team when we are in a national championship game. It speaks volumes about the difference between the two sports in this country.

By the way, I think Florida got robbed tonight, if anyone was watching the game. For a 3rd base umpire to overrule the home plate umpire, and wipe out a 9th inning walk that ties the game, and leaves the bases loaded with only one out, is ridiculous. That call changed everything. Ken+'s pitchers couldn't hit the ocean with a beach ball in those late innings.

The call wasn't ridiculous at all lol. He clearly swung. Shame on them for getting a call right

And I've actually heard a lot about Cribbs forking over money so that more Can't State fans could make the trip.

Soccer is definitely growing in the country, but still isn't close to baseball. It is what it is, not saying the differences in coverage are right, but is to be expected.

[bobbyake]

The call wasn't ridiculous at all lol. He clearly swung. Shame on them for getting a call right

And I've actually heard a lot about Cribbs forking over money so that more Can't State fans could make the trip.

Soccer is definitely growing in the country, but still isn't close to baseball. It is what it is, not saying the differences in coverage are right, but is to be expected.

As the Hispanic population continues to grow, so will soccer.

College baseball is very popular in the south but forgotten here in the north. I'm not sure what Can't's revenue split will be for the CWS, but they don't make anything for the years they don't make it. In fact, they make less than both women's basketball and soccer.

I don't understand why we're even comparing soccer to baseball here. The local coverage for the National Championship in 2010 was all over local news. A few of the stations did specials for it. They brought camera crews to the barley house. I understand their target market is geared towards the older crowd and appreciate the coverage we received.

There are a few older posters on this board that come over to the soccer board every now and then to express their grumbles towards the sport, it happens a lot with the older crowd. The Rubber City Brigade group has had soccer watch parties at local bars and we've seen old men complain about soccer being on, "this sport isn't American." We pack bars for soccer watch parties and I think that angers the soccer haters the most, that times have changed. I bet these local news stations receive tons of soccer bashing emails when they cover it.

I for one hope Can't's success can help boost the popularity of college baseball in this area so Akron can charge for games and have an additional revenue source.

Can we all at least agree that Can't's success is creating more discussion about Akron's baseball team? This could be the longest baseball related thread on Zipsnation. Let's not spoil it with soccer vs baseball.

[johnnyzip84]

The guy with post #51 on this thread is a prognosticating genius. Congrats whoever you are.

Kudos to the mystery man. I'm still shocked his predicted spread wasn't 14.

[K92]

The soccer versus baseball popularity pissing contest doesn't surprise me at all.

2 out of 3 Zips fans rooting for Can't does.

[zippy5]

I don't understand why we're even comparing soccer to baseball here. The local coverage for the National Championship in 2010 was all over local news. A few of the stations did specials for it. They brought camera crews to the barley house. I understand their target market is geared towards the older crowd and appreciate the coverage we received.

Yet you write a paragraph comparing them.

The CWS is drawing 23,000+ per night. On ESPN/ESPN2 prime time each night. One could make an argument Can't's super regional win got more coverage (which is what this argument is all about) than Akron's soccer championship.

[Dr Z]

Ken+ Getting National Exposure

By Elton Alexander, The Plain Dealer

Omaha, Neb. -- It's fair to say that what Can't State has reaped, in terms of branding and recognition from its NCAA College World Series appearance -- not to mention advertising value -- has been a plus for the university. There's no doubt Can't baseball has received a lot of exposure. Certainly more than a college volleyball, soccer or hockey championship run made by other Mid-American Conference schools in recent years.

First time I watched a college baseball game (on tv) last night. Watched the 5th through the 9th. Good game. I'm shocked Ken+ got out of the 9th. I would have pulled that pitcher. He was awful.

No Fl@sh in The Pan

George Thomas Tweeting Away About Khent

[Captain Kangaroo]

A few of the stations did specials for it. They brought camera crews to the barley house.

Channel 5 sent a crew to Omaha.

[skip-zip]

The call wasn't ridiculous at all lol. He clearly swung. Shame on them for getting a call right

And I've actually heard a lot about Cribbs forking over money so that more Can't State fans could make the trip.

Soccer is definitely growing in the country, but still isn't close to baseball. It is what it is, not saying the differences in coverage are right, but is to be expected.

Do you even know the rule on this? The bat needs to cross the plate. It has nothing to do with whether he "swung" or not, as you say.

EDIT: I should have added that this was compounded by how bad the call was on the pitch right before, which was way out of the strike zone, and was called a strike.

Nonetheless, since we have so many discussions about the officials deciding a game, this would be a prime example. Overruling the home plate umpire on that call, in the bottom of the ninth inning, is clearly a call where an official decided the outcome of the game. In basketball, I'd compare this to a referee away from the play changing the baseline referee's call from a block to a charge with 3 seconds left in a two point game as the shot falls in the basket.

[Dr Z]

Do you even know the rule on this? The bat needs to cross the plate. It has nothing to do with whether he "swung" or not, as you say.

"He broke his wrists", "The bat went past the front of the plate." Many people believe those two statements are written in the rules or are written as official interpretations of a strike. They are not. A strike by definition is "a pitch that is struck at by the batter and is missed." It is purely a judgment made by the umpire as to whether the batter "struck at" the pitch. Breaking the wrists or the bat moving beyond the front of the plate or the batter's body, are factors that the umpire may use to make the judgment. Factors is all they are; not definitions. It is not automatically a strike when a batter holds the bat over the plate preparing to bunt and does not pull it back when the pitch goes by. The same judgment applies. Did the batter "strike at" the pitch? It is not automatically a strike when a batter is ducking an inside pitch and he spins around and the bat crosses the plate. The umpire must judge if he was avoiding the pitch or striking at it.

Source: Rule 2.00 Strike

You can download official baseball rules here. See page 27.

[skip-zip]

"He broke his wrists", "The bat went past the front of the plate." Many people believe those two statements are written in the rules or are written as official interpretations of a strike. They are not. A strike by definition is "a pitch that is struck at by the batter and is missed." It is purely a judgment made by the umpire as to whether the batter "struck at" the pitch. Breaking the wrists or the bat moving beyond the front of the plate or the batter's body, are factors that the umpire may use to make the judgment. Factors is all they are; not definitions. It is not automatically a strike when a batter holds the bat over the plate preparing to bunt and does not pull it back when the pitch goes by. The same judgment applies. Did the batter "strike at" the pitch? It is not automatically a strike when a batter is ducking an inside pitch and he spins around and the bat crosses the plate. The umpire must judge if he was avoiding the pitch or striking at it.

Source: Rule 2.00 Strike

You can download official baseball rules here. See page 27.

Without reading the rule definition, it still doesn't change the much bigger circumstance, which is the critical juncture at which a run scoring was overruled. You mention the word "Umpire" several times in your post. And the "Umpire" called it a ball.

It's very interesting considering the number of times that we talk on this forum about officials changing a game. It's a prime example.

[skip-zip]

Channel 5 sent a crew to Omaha.

Thank you. The Cleveland media sending TV crews to Omaha just because Ken+ MADE the baseball tournament, and simply sending TV crews to an Akron bar for a soccer national championship game would be an example of a clear difference between how the media views the stark difference in viewer interest in the two sports.

[RootforRoo44]

Do you even know the rule on this? The bat needs to cross the plate. It has nothing to do with whether he "swung" or not, as you say.

Nonetheless, since we have so many discussions about the officials deciding a game, this would be a prime example. Overruling the home plate umpire on that call, in the bottom of the ninth inning, is clearly a call where an official decided the outcome of the game. In basketball, I'd compare this to a referee away from the play changing the baseline referee's call from a block to a charge with 3 seconds left in a two point game as the shot falls in the basket.

You never "overrule" the home plate umpire. The umpire correctly got help on the call and it was made correctly, especially in the situation. Also, Henrichs (third base ump) was the crew chief and is a highly-respected umpire that has spent years in professional and college baseball.

Point being, he was not in any way away from the play, as he had the best angle of the play. It's more comparable to a basketball official getting help from the clock official at the scorers table on a questionable shot clock reset. And as far as the rule goes, there is no official rule on what is and is not a "checked swing". Most umpires go by the "breaking of the wrists" rule rather than the "bat crossing the plate" line of thinking. Of course while some do use it to supplement the call, it's basically just a judgement call.

Oh by the way, here's a nice article about that umpire and how he battled back from some health issues.

*EDIT*...didn't see your post Dr. Z. Well said.

[RootforRoo44]

Thank you. The Cleveland media sending TV crews to Omaha just because Ken+ MADE the baseball tournament, and simply sending TV crews to an Akron bar for a soccer national championship game would be an example of a clear difference between how the media views the stark difference in viewer interest in the two sports.

EXACTLY. It's not even comparable...and it's understandable, but I HATE it. I'm still hoping Can't gets drubbed in the next one.

[skip-zip]

EXACTLY. It's not even comparable...and it's understandable, but I HATE it. I'm still hoping Can't gets drubbed in the next one.

I know. I hate it too. Like I've said many times, this is one of those instances where I wish soccer was more popular.

And thanks for the additional thoughts about that call that got Ken+ the victory. As I said, regardless of whether it was right or wrong, I still believe that's a very, very tough spot in which to jump in and make such a judgement that wiped away a run, and did indeed directly lead to a team's loss.