Joe Madden is a genius. His take on the game becoming all about “me” and the hell with the team is smack on target. He laments the demise of town teams, Babe Ruth, Connie Mack, and the Pony Leagues, which again, is spot on. Madden has been the catalyst for the success of every team he has managed. That is gravitas. The game needs many more people like MR Madden to draw it away from the total bullshit of analytics.
John Smoltz made a good point when he was interviewed recently. If pitchers keep trying to throw harder, and putting more stress on their wrists, elbows, and shoulders, then it doesn't matter how many pitches these guys pitch. They will still run the risk of getting injured. Pitchers need to pitch smarter, not harder. They are putting way too much stress on their arms by continuing to increase their velocity.
I suppose…but his generation was such a benefactor of ridiculous strike zones. It would be really interesting to see how those Braves pitchers would do if they had to actually throw the ball in the strike zone to modern hitters
@@drizzle452 Not ridiculous. Only change since 1988 was in 1996, when zone bottom was lowered from top to bottom of kneecap. Smoltz, Maddux, and Glavine all pitched at least ten years under current zone.
Great MAN and baseball mind/spirit. Close to his spirit as he brought the Cubs to a winner that season of triumph. In an ideal world; leading the Angels with Trevor Bauer on the TEAM as a World Series winner for Maddon AGAIN.
Love Joe Maddon and his book is great!! His critique of the game is spot on, unfortunately baseball doesn't want guys like Joe, thinkers. It used to want this but now, not so much
I thought so at the time, however, I think Ron Washington is a better coach, so I’m glad the Angels made that move. Even though the Angels are having a bad season they’re more fun to watch now and I think the Angels will improve next year with what Washington is doing this year.
I’m no longer a baseball fan. I changed to only NL in the early 70s. The DH ruined baseball. Took away double switches, pitching around the #8 hitter, and the joy of a pitcher getting a hit. Who can forget Orosco’s WS hit in ‘86? Now there’s a clock!! Wtf, there are no clocks in baseball! Putting a runner on second base! WTF…I’m done
Joe totally gets what being a good teammate is all about. The showcase ME concept is not what sports was ever meant to be. I agree with Joe on the over emphasis of analytics. They were designed to be useful tools not the be all and end all. You are still dealing with people who get the job done with their own talents. I disagree on Robo balls and strikes. Umps generally are weak on the outside and the bottom of the zone. And you have catchers who are very good at tricking the eye. It's too hard. Give the Robos a try. If it doesn't work, change it.
Advanced Analytics was one of the reasons why Tampa Bay has had one of the highest winning percentage over the last 16 years with always a bottom 4 ( and many years the lowest ) payroll..
Agree with your comment regarding "analytics". Along with the sports betting that has become widespread my interest has been significantly diminished. I respectfully disagree regarding the notion of "robo" umps. The idea contradics the complaints regarding the over analytics discussion and would take away one more aspect of the human element. If it were to happen it would be the final nail for me.
Agree with Joe on most things but I’m really tired of bad calls by home plate umpires. It’s ridiculous that everyone watching knows the correct call but the guy making it doesn’t have the same technology. That needs to change, and soon.
Best line: They're getting injured anyway. Pitch count rules in high school is ridiculous. Watched a kid get pulled with 2 down in the 7th because he hit his "pitch count". Small school with no ready reliever-game nearly was lost.
Hall of Famer Robin Roberts started 609 games in his career and 305 were complete games. At one time he pitched 28 consecutive complete games.Today's pitchers are a bunch of prima-donna candy asses.
That's because they learned how to pitch you don't have to throw 96 miles an hour all the time that's why pictures arms are shot deepthroat 40 pictures in an inning because they can't hit the strike zone @@johngoldsworthy7135
@@johngoldsworthy7135 You don't need to throw 96+ if you know how to change speeds and hit your targets. Good pitchers can do that. For all the talk about Nolan Ryan's fastball, he had a nasty, nasty curve that would freeze batters.
i don’t understand why some people are opposed to reducing human error in the strikezone. personally i would watch more baseball if there was a truly fair strikezone.
Adds drama to the game, and effects every team. It's great to have that spice of natters, managers confronting umpires. Why not reduce batter error with robot batters? Video game automation..
@kend1964 That was an inaccurate comparison. Robot umps is a matter of consistently getting truth (an actual ball or strike) vs. falsehood (incorrect judgment of the strike zone)
WINNING is more important than 'drama'....who tha' fuck wants some buffoon behind the plate who is just trying to secure a damn pension, fucking up their shot at winning a pennant, because the ump goofed and blew it off as "oh, I just had a bad day"?
Baseball is terrible right now but the NBA and NFL also are on the decline as well. 20th century sports was the peak it’s been a rough last 20 years with the changes to our major sports
So true. Over reliance on analytics is destroying all sports. No heart and no rising up to the moment for an underdog player. Just algorithms and risk avoidance. Boring.
The difference is that the NFL and NBA keep growing financially. Their fan bases are growing internationally while baseball does everything it can to NOT innovate. The fact that a London game is a new concept for the MLB shows how far behind they are.
Pitch clock and removing the shift has helped the game. I think baseball is in a good place, so many people watch and follow teams and don’t have a clue about the game. They watch, buy merchandise and attend games. Purists need to get over it. NFL and especially NBA are difficult to watch. Rule changes, prima donnas, too many advertisements and emphasis on gambling make me an occasional highlight watcher.
I agree with Joe that MLB should keep baseball a human game. If you actually watch baseball you will see that these nit-picky challenges interrupt the pace of the game. Robot umps are the next worst case scenario. Also who says that robots will be fair? Ever heard of voting machines?
ehh you're being a tad dramatic. The minor leage abs challenge system is way further along than you think. Ever watch a tennis match? Ever seen them challenge whether a serve hits the line? It is literally that system. Its fast and gets the crowd involved and no one sots there and shames the ump. Everyone gets it that it was hard to see. Its really a nice system and works perfectly for balls and strikes. Player taps the top of their head, they immediately put the path of the ball across the zone on the big screen so everyone can see. The call is supported or reversed. The count is changed. It literally takes seconds.
I don't know what channel the games are on then im looking around and can't find it then hear its on the computer , so i just gave up! You tube high lights!😮
I can't criticize free agency, because players should make as much as they can. But at the same free agency has destroyed that loyalty between players and fans today. There aren't anymore Tony Gwens' in sports anymore. I think looking out for out one self has some merit, but I feel the fans are still losing out.
Pitchers need to learn how to pitch. How to be deceptive. Think Greg Maddox. As for the strike zone, Nonproblem with the ump calling balls and strikes. However, they should be backed up by tech, and teams should have 3 challenges a game.
If Maddox is pitching rn, he'll have an era of 9. Not surprising most top pitcher today all throw gas... A 92mph fastball in today game just wouldn't work. Hitter bat speed is in whole another lvl where if you ain't touching 96 or with movement, that ball is getting torch. Is a risk and reward for the player and for the team. Look at the Ray's, is not a coincidence why they lose half the starters to TJ each season
I dont think hed have an era of 9 but I do believe he would be worse because he couldnt manipulate umpires or the strike zone the way he used to. Of course a 92 mph sinker is more effective 3 or 4 inches off the plate.
@@drizzle452 A good pitcher can change speeds and control pitch movement, all while hitting his target. Maddux could do that. The strike zone is irrelevant; a good pitcher will adjust his targets to fit whatever the strike zone is. Maddux could do that.
Why would anyone listen to him? Almost managed Cubs out of 2016 World Series and then failed to repeat with incredible core. Media loves because he’s good “copy”. Failed when could have been a Chicago legend.
I've watched several minor league games using the robo-ump and the pace of the game is quicker with a lot less arguing. The pre-game announcement that the robo-ump is being used and be considerate of the actual home plate umpire is amusing.
MLB needs to take advantage of technology with calling balls/strikes. With more movement and speed on pitches umpires can’t keep up. I’ve seen too many blown calls change outcomes of games. At a minimum there should be challenges.
What about umps hear a tone/beep for each of balls and strikes as they occur? Challenge is far from perfect, will slow the game, and still miss many important calls... so what's the point?
Not sure what happened with Angels they just quit on him middle of season. Horrible upper management Artie Moreno and his President really suck maybe they had a hand in it.