04/24/24
April 16, 2012
SportsFilter: The Monday Huddle:
A place to discuss the sports stories that aren't making news, share links that aren't quite front-page material, and diagram plays on your hand. Remember to count to five Mississippi before commenting in anger.
I have no skin in these series, but Rangers' Hagelin suspeneded three games while Preds' Weber only fined $2500 for this. I am baffled by the NHL's disciplinary responses, especially making after-the-fact injury a deciding factor. The way they let some of these things go, it's only a matter of time before there's a non-concussion-related career-ending injury.
posted by kokaku at 09:34 AM on April 16, 2012
As if a Bernie Ecclestone-run organization is going to be some sort of paragon of virtue.
posted by feloniousmonk at 10:33 AM on April 16, 2012
The way they let some of these things go
NHL playoffs this year that I've watched are pathetic. Seems every team is resorting to the formula the Bruins used last year - goon the other team's key players. No flow, and the only memorable plays are cheap shots. The league's response to the offenses are equally as baffling as you've already pointed out.
posted by cixelsyd at 11:21 AM on April 16, 2012
This is not baseball.
posted by lil_brown_bat at 11:25 AM on April 16, 2012
NHL playoffs this year that I've watched are pathetic. Seems every team is resorting to the formula the Bruins used last year - goon the other team's key players.
Ironically, you ought to watch the Caps/ Bruins series then. It's been good hockey without much of that.
Well, exciting hockey anyway given the slim margins of victory. I'm hard-pressed to call it "good hockey".
posted by yerfatma at 11:46 AM on April 16, 2012
"This is not baseball."
Wow. That's terrible.
I'm playing as the Marlins in Out of the Park Baseball right now and I had no idea the horror I was inflicting on people every time we dink the ball over the right field fence.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 12:26 PM on April 16, 2012
I have no skin in these series, but Rangers' Hagelin suspeneded three games while Preds' Weber only fined $2500 for this. I am baffled by the NHL's disciplinary responses, especially making after-the-fact injury a deciding factor.
The difference is that Weber is a star while Hagelin is not.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 12:40 PM on April 16, 2012
Diving in football is getting really out of hand now.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 12:44 PM on April 16, 2012
This is not baseball.
Insert Pinball Wizard lyrics here.
posted by NerfballPro at 12:50 PM on April 16, 2012
The difference is that Weber is a star while Hagelin is not.
Come on.
I thought that Weber should have gotten one game for what he did, but to compare the two events like they were equals (with the only difference being the star power of the players) is silly.
Weber pushed his head into the glass from a distance of 1 foot.
Hagelin skated over and leaped at Alfredsson, leading with his elbow, aiming at his head, crushing it into the glass.
The difference in injury potential is seems obvious to me.
posted by grum@work at 01:02 PM on April 16, 2012
I haven't seen the Hagelin hit, my response was more so about Weber only receiving a fine for his actions.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 01:08 PM on April 16, 2012
Yeah, after all Weber missed the back of the opponent's head with the roundhouse right that preceeded the face first shove into the glass. The original act needed to be completed to rate a suspension - he'll need to try harder next time.
It's also a joke that the NHL allows these acts to continue to elevate in severity. A 1,2,5, or even 10 game suspension for deliberately attempting to injure an opponent via an illegal hit (elbow/punch to the head, spearing, diving at an opponent's knees, etc.) don't fit the crime. Teams will continue to lose key players until something is changed, and the quality of product on the ice will continue to erode to the point that we'll be watching the teams with the most effective goons battle for the cup.
posted by cixelsyd at 01:34 PM on April 16, 2012
Red Sox game ended on a strikeout, even though Cody Ross never swung the bat. I think he had an argument . . .
posted by yerfatma at 02:25 PM on April 16, 2012
I love how some people are saying "Boycott Bahrain!" and yet we just raced in China, one of the most oppressive regimes in the world, with nary an ironic titter.
It's just more typical shallow reaction along the lines of Kony 2012.
Should they be racing in Bahrain? No, they fucking shouldn't. They shouldn't be racing in China either. Or any other country with an oppressive human rights record. And before some clown comes in with the list of why, for example, England shouldn't have a race then, I don't recall England ever driving over its citizens with tanks...
posted by Drood at 02:44 PM on April 16, 2012
I saw that Ross at bat. The first two strikes seemed like good calls to my eye (without looking at a tracker), but I was sure the third was a ball.
That was an epic helmet slam afterwards.
posted by rcade at 02:48 PM on April 16, 2012
Diving in football is getting really out of hand now.
What was that for?
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 03:08 PM on April 16, 2012
Should they be racing in Bahrain? No, they fucking shouldn't. They shouldn't be racing in China either.
Which seems to firmly negate the false dilemma in your first two grafs.
posted by yerfatma at 03:09 PM on April 16, 2012
Bees, according to the YouTube headline.
posted by rcade at 03:27 PM on April 16, 2012
Sarah Ganim won a Pulitzer today for her reporting at the Harrisburg Patriot-News on the Jerry Sandusky sex abuse case. At 24, she's the second-youngest reporter ever to win the award.
posted by rcade at 03:32 PM on April 16, 2012
I saw that Ross at bat.
...but did you see the rest of the game? Plate umpire Larry Vanover had a somewhat wide strike zone, but until the 9th inning called nothing that did not at least brush the corner of the plate (inside to a left-handed batter). I do believe he had a lunch date, and he was afraid of extra innings. In high school baseball, we umpires were always advised to keep the zone fairly large from the first pitch, but to keep it there for the entire game. It has always seemed that MLB umpires keep the zone tight early, but spread it out in the late innings. Hitters just don't know what will be a strike. I hate to start the complaints this early in the season, but MLB needs to get consistency in its umpiring, both from umpire to umpire and from inning to inning.
posted by Howard_T at 03:36 PM on April 16, 2012
That's the only at-bat I saw. I was checking scores on MLB.Com and it looked dramatic. The Rangers come to Fenway tomorrow.
posted by rcade at 03:52 PM on April 16, 2012
I hate to start the complaints this early in the season, but MLB needs to get consistency in its umpiring, both from umpire to umpire and from inning to inning.
But if anyone even suggests "Robo-Umps" (computerized ball/strike systems), people just about lose their minds.
posted by grum@work at 03:55 PM on April 16, 2012
...people just about lose their minds.
Myself included. It's not that umpires will miss the occasional call. Most do, but if they are in the right position and making their best effort, then that's the nature of the game. My complaint is that umpires will deliberately change the strike zone within the game and leave the hitters and pitchers completely confused. It detracts from the game and (groundlessly, in my opinion) brings into question the integrity of the game. It can be corrected if a strict rating system can be instituted and enforced.
posted by Howard_T at 06:05 PM on April 16, 2012
Tough call for the umpire to end the game on - especially when the only run was scored on a bases loaded walk!
posted by cixelsyd at 07:37 PM on April 16, 2012
Welcome to Washington, Timmy
posted by tommybiden at 07:48 PM on April 16, 2012
Don't worry, the Bahrain F1 race will happen, no matter who they have to shoot.