rippleintime17

Well, the end of this episode made me yell "MICHAEL!!!" So, this is officially really like watching actual baseball for me, haha.

And then in the next game, he beat the NBA record for threes. Steph's alright.

I do as well!

The 2014 playoffs featured an 18-inning game. The first nine innings were completed in a little over two hours. The final game time? Nearly SIX HOURS! It was awesome.

They looked pretty similar to some of the real ESPN Body Issue shots, though (like Prince Fielder's: http://theconcourse.deadspin.com/prince-fielders-naked-espn-cover-is-sexy-as-hell-1603146649 or Jake Arrieta's: http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/chicagoinc/ct-chicago-inc-arrieta-body-issue-spt-0630-20160701-story.html). They were just a little darker, probably partially because of television. And I don't know, MPG looked pretty muscular in the earlier scene when he's in the clubhouse and he wasn't posing then. I would imagine he probably looks alright when he's flexing. And yeah, you pitch out of the stretch with runners on! There are SOME things that GInny should know that she doesn't for exposition but I don't think the Wally Pipp thing is a huge one. Most everyone knows about Lou Gehrig but that doesn't mean everyone has to know the name of the guy he played for.

As a Giants fan, loved that this episode featured the real Giants broadcasters, Duane Kuiper and Mike Krukow! Wasn't expecting that even knowing that this episode was going to take place in SF, what a fun surprise. Really liked this episode. I am loving that the team has come around to support Ginny and this week was such a great example. It also seems like they are starting to slooowly work in other players. Sonny, the backup catcher who was always dropping quips with Tommy before he was traded, had a bit of a bigger role in this episode (aside from getting hurt and being the reason Duarte was called up). Duarte's attitude reminded me a bit of what went on with Yasiel Puig when he was still new to MLB. I like that Oscar can relate to what he's going through but is still laying it out for him. I also like that part of Mike's journey here is being pushed away from catching a bit and going to first. My favorite catcher isn't as old as Mike but there's been talk about when he's going to move to first or even play first more for years already just because it might help increase his bat, it'll rest his legs, etc. I also like the flashbacks, as they're a good way to learn about the players. It's nice seeing that the focus doesn't need to be mostly on Ginny for the show to work, as I think that'll be how they continue to keep things fresh if the show gets to stay around.

Are you kidding, it's awesome! I'm so glad he's staying in the NL!

He was part of the Shelby Miller trade. He used to be on the Diamondbacks. He's good! The Braves won that trade.

Buster finally get his Gold Glove! The Yadi reign sure did last a long time. Super happy for Crawford and Panik, who are just delightful to watch and a fantastic double play combo. Pretty cool that the Giants won three! Good crop of winners there, I'm excited to see so many first time winners.

I loved this episode! I feel like this show is really starting to find its stride. There's only so much actual baseball that could be included and keep the show still interesting, in my opinion. There are 162 baseball games a year and yeah, a lot of them end up being just like the one before with the main drama being single plays, individual performances and who ends up winning. It just doesn't transfer as to scripted drama as easily as football (and let's be real, great as Friday Night Lights was, a lot of the in-game football went how the viewers wanted it to). If Pitch was about Ginny striking guys out every episode, that would get boring real fast. This episode had a lot of seeing what is making these people tick and how that's getting to them. I thought it was a good focus. I really loved the scene where they had the intervention for Ginny. Of course those guys have dealt with situations like this before, but because Ginny had never had a moment like that before, it's realistic that she would be nervous about their reaction. That they did not waver in their support for her was great. And that they were proactive in getting her help and making her mental health a priority was refreshing. Still love Blip and Evelyn so much! And I found myself really enjoying the scenes with Mike at his ex's house. He's going through some stuff and I like that she isn't completely shutting him down but is still laying it out. I also just really like JoAnna Garcia Swisher, so I like that she pops up still. I know this show isn't doing well in the ratings but I hope it hangs on. With MLB and Fox Sports so involved, I'm optimistic they will at least keep it on the air for the season.

Booo, this episode hasn't been added to Amazon yet (I have a season pass, since I don't have cable). What the heck, Amazon!

I have a weakness for crying ballplayers, ilu Anthony Rizzo.

That was a great and crazy game! I spent most of it relieved that I did not have a horse in the race and feeling bad that someone had to lose it! Congrats to the Cubs and their fans, so many have waited so long to enjoy this and they deserve it. The Tribe was a fun team to watch and they have a strong future ahead! Glad to see they are taking the loss as best as they can, I'm sure it was disappointing to have gotten there and put up such a fight when they had so many obstacles was still amazing. Man, I am going to miss baseball for these dark months!

This is also a good read what players go through. Matt Duffy is the player I was referring to earlier in the thread as a fan favorite and homegrown everyday player that was traded basically with no buzz/warning. He was traded right before the deadline, but because he was injured, he was not with the team at the time of the trade and was instead with the AAA team in Sacramento while his team was on an East Coast road trip. He was traded from the San Francisco Giants, in the National League, to the Tampa Bay Rays, in the American League. So not only did he not get a chance to say goodbye to his friends & teammates, he also had to relocate all the way across the country to a team very different from the only one he had ever known where he likely barely knew anyone all that well. PLUS, he was still rehabbing his injury so was also being shipped to North Carolina to the Rays' minor league teams to rehab that. There's a lot to adapt to and while it does get more stressful in July since that is when the trade deadline is, trades start right back up again after the World Series ends. But I'd imagine in-season trades are more stressful, simply because you have to re-locate, settle in and get right to work no matter what your situation required of you. Matt ended up not getting back to California (where his family is also from) until after he ultimately had season-ending surgery in September (playing on the turf in Tampa aggravated his injury), and that's also when he got to pop back into the Giants clubhouse to finally see the guys again too. I can only imagine how much more stressful it must be when you have kids and own homes and all of that on top of it!

A side effect of being a Giants fan in this decade is not being able to believe a series is over until it's over. The 2012 Giants came back from 0-2 in the NLDS to win three on the road in Cincy, and then came back from 1-3 in the NLCS to win three in a row (one in St. Louis, two at home). I want the Tribe to win this but I really hope Cubs fans aren't throwing in the towel! It's not like 3-1 leads in have never been blown before! But hey, at least it's not a sweep. I just re-watched the 2012 World Series and sweeps in the WS are kinda weird, even when it's your team doing the sweeping.

This was probably my favorite episode of the series so far, even though it gave me anxiety. One of my favorite ballplayers was traded at the deadline this year with pretty much no warning. When Ginny and Blip were sitting watching the clock countdown, I was basically shouting "don't trust that clock!" because news of that trade broke AFTER the deadline (the deal itself was done prior, but it took awhile for everyone to be notified, it to come out, etc.). Even though he wasn't exactly at Blip's level, he was a fan favorite, Gold Glove-caliber everyday starting player that was drafted by and came up through the organization. So while narrative-wise, I didn't think they'd trade Blip, I couldn't convince myself that he was safe baseball-wise, even though it would have taken a lot to trade him. I loved getting to see Ginny's relationship with his sons, and hope that continues. Even though she clearly wasn't around the family while Blip was up and she was in the minors, I'll buy that she's been very close with them since coming to San Diego. I also loved her scene with Oscar. It's true she probably should have had a better idea of how things work but with everything she's been dealing with, I get why this shook her more than it might have other years when she was in the minors. I also loved Oscar just laying it out. That was a great monologue and great delivery by Consuelos. She needed to hear that and be reminded of that and it also did well to inform/remind viewers how all of this works. I liked the Butch subplot a lot. I wished that we had known Butch a little better at first but when it circled back around, it actually worked really well. I'm kind of bummed about Tommy, since he and Ginny were finally starting to be friends. I wish she hadn't brushed off his son to be worried about Blip though. I liked Jordan and Ginny as well. It didn't even occur to me until he got in the car that his dad was the one that hit Ginny and her father. And yet it makes sense. Only thing is that it's likely Jordan would have been in the truck too but that never would have worked with the original flashback. Either way, it's a good albeit depressing tie in. Ginny's really lost a lot of relationships. It's no wonder she was trying so hard to hold onto the best one in her life that she has right now.

Well, that was also because of Dodgers pitcher Pedro Baez, who even put his own teammates to sleep during the games. I'm pretty sure the earth stops orbiting the sun when he is pitching.

Cubs pitchers aren't so bad at batting. Arrieta hit a three-run homer in the NLDS, and reliever Travis Wood also went deep!

This is going to be a fun World Series! Not really pulling for one team over the other as much as I am hoping for good, dramatic, exciting baseball. Both teams WANT this. It's hard to root against anyone or begrudge the euphoria either fanbase will feel if they win. Congrats to the Cubs, and LOL Dodgers.

It will be nice to eventually get to know a few more players. Right now, all we really see is the three that are focused on, Tommy and his friend who make snarky comments and point things out and the Korean who got sent back down. I think as the show goes on, we will get to know more simply because there will be more room to explore as the other storylines settle in.

I thought they said from the beginning that this show was going to be as much a workplace drama as about Ginny's journey. In that sense, I don't mind that Ginny and Mike might eventually get together because it will create plot once Ginny's been playing for awhile. Once she's settled in, and is accepted more, there will need to be something to fuel the story. And seeing as one of my best friends met her now husband and father of her two toddlers when she was 23 and he was 37, it's hard for me to see a huge issue with that aspect too.

You're basically helping to prove my point that there are some issues with how the mascot is handled, partially because of the organization's reluctance to get rid of it and their continuing to encourage it despite acknowledging that it's an issue. They don't need to have a caricature as a mascot, they continue to do so.

I'm glad your husband's family isn't offended. It's on record that many are. Did you read how the court room today was filled with people there to support the community? Your opinion of it is not the be-all, end-all of the situation. Even the organization clearly recognizes it's an issue or else they wouldn't be demoting its usage. And sorry, but people who dress up like Wahoo at the games is racist, yes.

The Blue Jays aren't gaining much goodwill from me this postseason, that's for sure. And that's coming from someone who likes some of their players and thought I'd be more interested in a tight series with both teams playing good baseball. Now I just want the Tribe to win.

Yeah, I'm not sure why someone trying to get a racist mascot removed is the problem and not the organization that, you know, continues to have a racist mascot. It sounds like the Dodgers didn't stay there this trip because of their refund policies, but Gonzalez personally decided not to stay there on their last trip.