I am done.

[Assembly Hall]

Officially waving the white flag and ready for football season.

[KronoRed]

Indiana has a football team?

:D

[westofyou]

Baseball in 29 other cities... check it out

[dougdirt]

Baseball in 29 other cities... check it out

Watching Mike Trout and Bryce Harper play whenever I want to is worth the price of MLB.tv.

[Assembly Hall]

Indiana has a football team?

:D

LOL.....Notre Dame does!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Assembly Hall]

Baseball in 29 other cities... check it out

Doesnt work that way on my end. Just sayin'.

[RedTeamGo!]

http://s3.amazonaws.com/images.hitfix.com/assets/8518/nobodycares.gif

[westofyou]

Doesnt work that way on my end. Just sayin'.

It's a religion, until you know all the saints you can't be saved.

[WrongVerb]

I got that way last year only because the Reds weren't buyers OR sellers at the trade deadline. I'll continue to watch as long as they continue to compete and try to improve the team. But if they think somehow this team as it's currently constructed is going to make some sort of run, then I'm out too come August.

[RedFanT]

I'll never be done with my team, but I've known for well over a month that this club was going nowhere. They've needed to hit the nuke button and trade everyone and everything not nailed to the floor to make this organization better for at least the past month. Unfortunately, we can't move the two worst contracts (Homer's and Votto's), but we should be able to get rid of the tradable commodities they have now. The sooner, the better (yes, even before the ASG, if a good trade proposal comes along).

[WVRedsFan]

Baseball is king. I watch the Reds every night they play (except when I'm in Myrtle Beach where I get to see the Braves while I'm there and sneak out a couple of times to watch the MB Pelicans in their awesome ball park). Football means cold weather, winter coming, and a long time until spring. I squeeze every ounce out of baseball. If my Reds are playing, I watching and rooting for them. I may gripe and criticize and fire the manager, but they're my team. I long for college basketball season in the gap between the World Series and roundball. Then I tolerate it until Spring Training when all attention goes to the Reds and baseball. I hate the NFL with a passion and only tolerate the college game. Now, I've said it so take your football and, well..:)

[Ghosts of 1990]

Watching Mike Trout and Bryce Harper play whenever I want to is worth the price of MLB.tv.

This.

I've found myself doing this more often than ever during this miserable and non-interesting season. I love baseball, so it's okay to flirt with the great talents around baseball. Harper, Trout, Correa, Bryant, Rizzo, Abreu, the Dodgers at home when Vin Scully is calling the game, Stanton. There are so many great things to watch on the schedule each night.

It will never be as magical as when we are relevant. But I am not ready for baseball season to end yet.

[WVRedsFan]

I'll never be done with my team, but I've known for well over a month that this club was going nowhere. They've needed to hit the nuke button and trade everyone and everything not nailed to the floor to make this organization better for at least the past month. Unfortunately, we can't move the two worst contracts (Homer's and Votto's), but we should be able to get rid of the tradable commodities they have now. The sooner, the better (yes, even before the ASG, if a good trade proposal comes along).Noticed that Walt said Frazier was untouchable.

[mikdavrut]

I hate football (must be the ONLY one in the country) - but I loathe that game. I was the same way with the NBA for a long time, but I have been enjoying it the past couple of seasons. I enjoy college basketball. But football? I don't get it. What is it that makes that game SO great and the most popular game in the US? Seriously? What IS IT about Football? It bores me.

[Banshee]

I'm a lifer. Love football, both college and NFL, but MLB is and will always be king to me. Started out in '74 rooting for this team, had a miraculous 40'ish yrs., and have enjoyed most of them. Even the 80's. Not that I'm liking or loving what I've seen the last few yrs., or others, but reds baseball to many of us IS summer. And always a hopeful autumn. Enjoy them folks, there's nothing better than MLB baseball if you have the temperament, patience, and appreciation for what's happening during this glorious 6 months/ yr. When it goes south, the youth movement is coming. It's now upon us, and as distasteful as that is, it's also exciting. WS champs or bust. Go redlegs.

[GADawg]

Baseball in 29 other cities... check it out

I can and will watch any baseball game on any level but no matter how hard I try I can't even fake the enthusiasm I have for watching the Reds.....I've even tried to adopt an AL team the last couple of years, learn as much about them as possible, and even went so far as to buy a hat a hat once.....nothing...no feeling at all

[Redsfaithful]

What IS IT about Football? It bores me.

Assuming you actually want an answer, for me it's the incredible athleticism and the violence. It's the most American of all sports.

I'm excited for football this year with Ohio State so good and the Bengals at least being contenders, but I would never wish away summer. The Reds have been dead since April, but I'm excited to see what they do at the trade deadline. One way or the other it'll be interesting.

[Ironman92]

This.

I've found myself doing this more often than ever during this miserable and non-interesting season. I love baseball, so it's okay to flirt with the great talents around baseball. Harper, Trout, Correa, Bryant, Rizzo, Abreu, the Dodgers at home when Vin Scully is calling the game, Stanton. There are so many great things to watch on the schedule each night.

It will never be as magical as when we are relevant. But I am not ready for baseball season to end yet.

Perfectly said IMO

[SunDeck]

I watched the Nationals play the Giants a couple days ago on ESPN and was struck by the color commentary of John Kruk and Curt Schilling. It was refreshing to hear a couple of guys talk about what was going on from inside the players' heads. There was some joking around, mostly by Kruk, but all of it was about the game, the players, what was going on in the stadium; no talk about where they golfed yesterday, how much ice cream Kruk was going to eat, etc.

You want to know what I'm done with? Except maybe for Welsh, the entire Reds broadcasting team.

[Red Rocket]

Baseball is king. I watch the Reds every night they play (except when I'm in Myrtle Beach where I get to see the Braves while I'm there and sneak out a couple of times to watch the MB Pelicans in their awesome ball park). Football means cold weather, winter coming, and a long time until spring. I squeeze every ounce out of baseball. If my Reds are playing, I watching and rooting for them. I may gripe and criticize and fire the manager, but they're my team. I long for college basketball season in the gap between the World Series and roundball. Then I tolerate it until Spring Training when all attention goes to the Reds and baseball. I hate the NFL with a passion and only tolerate the college game. Now, I've said it so take your football and, well..:)

What are you some kind of Commie?

[Assembly Hall]

I watched the Nationals play the Giants a couple days ago on ESPN and was struck by the color commentary of John Kruk and Curt Schilling. It was refreshing to hear a couple of guys talk about what was going on from inside the players' heads. There was some joking around, mostly by Kruk, but all of it was about the game, the players, what was going on in the stadium; no talk about where they golfed yesterday, how much ice cream Kruk was going to eat, etc.

You want to know what I'm done with? Except maybe for Welsh, the entire Reds broadcasting team.

Love your post.......where are Bill Brown and Ray Lane when you need them? LOL

[Red Rocket]

Perfectly said IMO

Vin Scully?!

He has a fascinating skill to be sure, but it's not 1912 and I'm not listening on the radio. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

[cincrazy]

I'm more interested this year than I was last year. The team is officially at a crossroads now, and it'll be interesting to see which path they chart. Big change is coming no matter what they do. I don't watch because I expect them to win, if that were the case I wouldn't watch a game for another three years probably. But even when they're terrible, I still enjoy it. Last night when they hit 4 batters, walked a run in, and balked a run in, I actually found it enjoyable. I mean, that is HARD to do. That's a special performance. I tip my cap.

[Norm Chortleton]

I'll always watch. But it's all about expectations. I had high expectations all thru the playoff years.

I hoped for good results last year with the "accountability" promises, but quickly realized injuries were too much.

I had zero expectations going into this year, given the holes in the lineup and awful bullpen issues that weren't addressed. If the front office tries to improve by making a few deals for prospects/controllable players, I'll hang in there. If they stand pat and try to ride it out, I'll tune in for an inning or 2 a night at best.

[Ironman92]

Vin Scully?!

He has a fascinating skill to be sure, but it's not 1912 and I'm not listening on the radio. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Never do I do radio and MLB Network cutting into Vin doing a game a handful of times is great. I'm more interested in all of the young stars in the game. They are everywhere and a pleasure to watch.

[RedlegJake]

I have the Royals, too, I guess, but compared to the Reds it's a lukewarm fandom. Funny how a childhood team is so deep in one's blood but a team you start rooting for as an adult doesn't seem to gain the same emotional hooks. When the Royals lose it's like eh, so what. Get em tomorrow. When the Reds lose it can ruin my mood until the next win. This year, as they flounder, I've found milb.tv to be a blessing- I am watching the farm teams a lot more this year. Now I can spread the misery among half a dozen teams and hopefully find one that is winning. That has also skewed my perception of prospects. Used to be I was "I'll believe he's good when he makes the Reds" - now - I see them and think "how can he not make the Reds some day?" Which, of course, means about 90% of the kids I watch will ultimately disappoint.

[RichRed]

During seasons like this, I admit that I revert to living in the past a bit. Spend a few minutes watching Eric Davis highlights on YouTube, for example, and things don't seem so bad.

[ac084c]

You could always come to the dark side..... we don't have cookies though, and if we did they'd be filled with PEDs.

[HokieRed]

I've been watching Reds baseball since 1955; I love baseball; I think about it all winter and can hardly wait for it to begin in the spring; I follow the minors every day and look at the MLB boxes too. I never get tired of it. That said, this is certainly one of the least interesting Reds teams I have seen--despite the fact we are seeing some terrific individual years, Frazier obviously and even Zack before his injury. Certainly part of the problem for me was the bullpen early, as I'd watch the games just waiting for the implosion. My complete lack of faith in the manager is also a part of it. When the most engaging thing about the team is how the FO will part with some of the team's best assets, the team's in trouble--at least from the interest standpoint.

[RedlegJake]

You could always come to the dark side..... we don't have cookies though, and if we did they'd be filled with PEDs.

NEVER!! LOL. My mom, bless her poor misguided heart, was a Cards fan after the Reds because she lived in Saint Louis in the early fifties while Dad was in the army at Ft Leonard Wood. She moved there to be closer so he could visit on weekend passes. She told me she passed a lot of lonely hours watching Cardinal games (she was a lifelong baseball fan) so she became a Reds fan first and Cards fan second. Which wasn't so bad until the Cards and Reds became division rivals - then I told her she had to end this tawdry affair going on behind the Reds backs.

[westofyou]

Assuming you actually want an answer, for me it's the incredible athleticism and the violence. It's the most American of all sports.

I'm excited for football this year with Ohio State so good and the Bengals at least being contenders, but I would never wish away summer. The Reds have been dead since April, but I'm excited to see what they do at the trade deadline. One way or the other it'll be interesting.

Unsure how Football can be the most "American" of sports.

It's like almost all the other sports in the world, back n forth, back n forth. It derives from Rugby and the real Football, it's goal is simple (get to the other teams side.. like checkers) and like all the other back n forth sports the offense holds the ball.

Sure, it's like war, guys smashing each other over a possession while an old guy yells at them on the sidelines to do better but that's not unique in any form to me, that's a lot like life. Plus it happens in essence once a week, and to boot on the weekend so maybe stealing time from the workers leisure hours is the uniquely American thing about it.

Now baseball has been around for more than half of the country's existence, there are films, songs, poems written about it, Presidents go to games, immigrants strive to come to the US to play it and get rich (now THAT's American) plus it's a game that doesn't go back n forth and one that defense holds the ball. That's unique, not many games like that anywhere in the world.

Is football the most popular sport in the USA today?

Yes it is.... but the most American of all the games, I think not.

[BCubb2003]

Even though they haven't quite done it yet, this is what tearing it down and rebuilding feels like. Like Miami and Tampa Bay in the in-between years.

[ac084c]

Unsure how Football can be the most "American" of sports.

It's like almost all the other sports in the world, back n forth, back n forth. It derives from Rugby and the real Football, it's goal is simple (get to the other teams side.. like checkers) and like all the other back n forth sports the offense holds the ball.

Sure, it's like war, guys smashing each other over a possession while an old guy yells at them on the sidelines to do better but that's not unique in any form to me, that's a lot like life. Plus it happens in essence once a week, and to boot on the weekend so maybe stealing time from the workers leisure hours is the uniquely American thing about it.

Now baseball has been around for more than half of the country's existence, there are films, songs, poems written about it, Presidents go to games, immigrants strive to come to the US to play it and get rich (now THAT's American) plus it's a game that doesn't go back n forth and one that defense holds the ball. That's unique, not many games like that anywhere in the world.

Is football the most popular sport in the USA today?

Yes it is.... but the most American of all the games, I think not.

All this post needs is the Terrence Mann "People Will Come" speech, and it would be perfect.

[Roy Tucker]

It's tough as a fan when you wave the proverbial white flag. I think at the start of every Reds season I have hopes of success. I used to be able to fool myself and have real honest to goodness hopes when it was against all reason. And, my baseball soul would get crushed when an inexorable tide of ineptitude would drown those hopes.

But now that I've been to more than a few rodeos, it's not as bad. After seeing a lot of baseball, I've gotten better at managing my expectations. And like woy, I've developed as a baseball fan and can derive some satisfaction from watching the sport and appreciating other teams/players. It's nowhere near the same satisfaction and sheer thrill as the Reds winning, but pretty good nonetheless.

So I have some mild disappointment in this Reds season, but I'm certainly not shocked. Its going to be hard to see guys like Cueto go. I have more than a little doubt about the current front office to reassemble the team and compete. The Reds kinda fooled themselves for a couple years tginking they could compete and they are going to pay for those sins now. The NL Central I'd particularly tough so I think we're in for a rough go of it for a couple years.

But I've seen bad times before and losing stinks, but it's still Reds baseball. There are new stories to develop and the one thing I've learned about baseball I'd that you never know.

[_Sir_Charles_]

All this post needs is the Terrence Mann "People Will Come" speech, and it would be perfect.

I totally read that post in his voice though. So that counts for something. :O)

[CySeymour]

I guess I don't understand why someone needs to start a thread declaring they're done with the season. If you're done with the season, stop posting. Just declaring your decision and then defending it is extending your attention to the current season.

[RedTeamGo!]

Unsure how Football can be the most "American" of sports.

It's like almost all the other sports in the world, back n forth, back n forth. It derives from Rugby and the real Football, it's goal is simple (get to the other teams side.. like checkers) and like all the other back n forth sports the offense holds the ball.

Sure, it's like war, guys smashing each other over a possession while an old guy yells at them on the sidelines to do better but that's not unique in any form to me, that's a lot like life. Plus it happens in essence once a week, and to boot on the weekend so maybe stealing time from the workers leisure hours is the uniquely American thing about it.

Now baseball has been around for more than half of the country's existence, there are films, songs, poems written about it, Presidents go to games, immigrants strive to come to the US to play it and get rich (now THAT's American) plus it's a game that doesn't go back n forth and one that defense holds the ball. That's unique, not many games like that anywhere in the world.

Is football the most popular sport in the USA today?

Yes it is.... but the most American of all the games, I think not.

I like your post and agree with a lot of it, but doesn't baseball derive from the British game of roundball like football derives from rugby?

[westofyou]

I like your post and agree with a lot of it, but doesn't baseball derive from the British game of roundball like football derives from rugby?

I think you mean rounders, this guy played "roundball"


http://goholycross.com/legends/cousy/Bob_Cousy_Legend_photo2.jpg

Yes it's derivative of a bat and ball game like rounders and base. But those games were never organized, no leagues, no set rules, they were townball games.

Football was invented (like Vollyball and Basketball) in an era that was producing sports to promote athleticism and exercise, it was then honed every year with new rules by Walter Camp.

Basketball is probably the most "native" American game but that too is a back n forth game, like team handball



http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site36/2009/0812/20090812__20090813_C02_SP13HANDBALL~p1.JPG

[WVRedsFan]

I think a couple of people nailed why they like football. The violence. "Knock their heads off." "Kill him." I just don't care about that and besides, the game is played mostly in cold. Wear three layers of clothes to watch a game is not for me. I hold season tickets to a college team's season. I went twice last year and probably will go a couple of times this year in September. I grew out of it.

Guess that's why the resurgence of boxing, rasslin' and all that.

[OnBaseMachine]

NFL sucks! Football sucks.

I love baseball. I'm obsessed with it. I would rather watch Spring Training baseball between the Phillies/Brewers over the Super Bowl.

[villain612]

I really enjoy college football. I don't even care that much about pro football anymore - too many games, too many TV timeouts, not enough passion. The passion is what makes college football my favorite. Every minute of every game the crowd goes nuts over every play, because the entire season essentially acts as a playoff to determine the champion. One loss and you could be done.

With that said, there's just something special about baseball. The history, the stadiums, the fact that there games almost every day for 6 months. Once the season starts, its a frenzy for me. I don't need cable...because every day I have the Reds game to put on.

What I love about baseball is that there is no timer. When you have a lead, you cannot "kill the clock" like other sports.You still have to get 3 outs each inning, which means you still have to throw strikes and give the other man his chance.

[Red Raindog]

Football?
Lingerie football
Now that's must see TV

[Chuckie]

LOL.....Notre Dame does!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, at least they used to.

;)

Go Bucks!

[Chuckie]

I really enjoy college football. I don't even care that much about pro football anymore - too many games, too many TV timeouts, not enough passion. The passion is what makes college football my favorite. Every minute of every game the crowd goes nuts over every play, because the entire season essentially acts as a playoff to determine the champion. One loss and you could be done.

With that said, there's just something special about baseball. The history, the stadiums, the fact that there games almost every day for 6 months.

What I love about baseball is that there is no timer. When you have a lead, you cannot "kill the clock" like other sports.You still have to get 3 outs each inning, which means you still have to throw strikes and give the other man his chance.

I went to a Bats-Clippers game in Columbus this year. There was a "shot clock." It was so surreal. (A countdown clock so the batter and pitcher didn't take too much time between pitches. Literally right after a pitch, the countdown clock starts from 20 seconds and works its way down. It's so weird to see at a baseball game. Because, as we've heard our entire lives, baseball is timeless.)

I think this is the first or second year minor league baseball is doing this. I hope it's never adopted by MLB. Not that a team could "kill the clock" -- which was your point -- but it's just so strange to see a timer at a baseball game.

[Crumbley]

I've watched less this year than ever before. Price's comments about Cincinnati knowingly being the Cardinals' fluffer was just too much, made the season seem pretty pointless. Not that he was wrong.

[KittyDuran]

I went to a Bats-Clippers game in Columbus this year. There was a "shot clock." It was so surreal. (A countdown clock so the batter and pitcher didn't take too much time between pitches. Literally right after a pitch, the countdown clock starts from 20 seconds and works its way down. It's so weird to see at a baseball game. Because, as we've heard our entire lives, baseball is timeless.)

I think this is the first or second year minor league baseball is doing this. I hope it's never adopted by MLB. Not that a team could "kill the clock" -- which was your point -- but it's just so strange to see a timer at a baseball game.

I think there is a clock but I don't know what it's for (it's above the Reds BP @ GABP).

[villain612]

I support the speeding up the game rules but yeah, hopefully no clock for MLB.

Is there a clock at the MiLB games because it's not really feasible to be fining minor league players like you can major leaguers?

[757690]

I don't enjoy watching other MLB teams, when the Reds are out of it , but mostly because it reminds me that the Reds are out of it, and that depresses me.

But I love minor league ball. Outside of a Reds game, I prefer it to MLB games. It's raw, it's stripped down, it's pure baseball, played by guys, playing for the love of then game, with all their heart.

Assembly Hall, it seems you are near a few minor league teams. If you're done with MLB games, I suggest taking a trip to one of them. Tickets and concessions are cheap, and the stadiums are small, some every seat is a good one. Or, just subscribe to MILB.com, and watch some games online.

[Redsfaithful]

Yes it is.... but the most American of all the games, I think not.

Of course there are films, books, etc. about football also, presidents have attended (Nixon was the first, and in my cynical moments I think he was the quintessential American president), done coin tosses, and presidents have played the game in college, but I don't think that has anything to do with which game is more American.

Like I said, the violence and raw athleticism. The speed. The power. We are the only country that truly cares about it, which is very American. Many countries like baseball. Football is a less romantic game, and I don't think America is a romantic country, I think it's one founded in blood and violence and based on power, and that's football.

[Brutus]

Could you imagine the horror if every poster on this forum started a thread when they were gonna waive their own white flag? I cringe.

[Big Klu]

I think you mean rounders, this guy played "roundball"


http://goholycross.com/legends/cousy/Bob_Cousy_Legend_photo2.jpg

Yes it's derivative of a bat and ball game like rounders and base. But those games were never organized, no leagues, no set rules, they were townball games.

Football was invented (like Vollyball and Basketball) in an era that was producing sports to promote athleticism and exercise, it was then honed every year with new rules by Walter Camp.

Basketball is probably the most "native" American game but that too is a back n forth game, like team handball



http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site36/2009/0812/20090812__20090813_C02_SP13HANDBALL~p1.JPG

Wouldn't lacrosse actually be the most "native" American game?

[Always Red]

Wouldn't lacrosse actually be the most "native" American game?

Played between rival villages in huge open spaces, over the space of days. No shot clock, no pitch count. No TV timeouts. ;)

[westofyou]

If we get pedantic about ball games, violence and what's uniquely American then you can't go wrong with the Mayans game of ball and its meaning to the losers


https://mzhou2.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/mayanball.jpg

[Chuckie]

I support the speeding up the game rules but yeah, hopefully no clock for MLB.

Is there a clock at the MiLB games because it's not really feasible to be fining minor league players like you can major leaguers?

I don't know, but it's the weirdest damn thing I've ever seen at a baseball game. And I've seen a team use a naked clown as its catcher. (OK, I've never seen that.)

[Strikes Out Looking]

I am not done with baseball for the season, but I am done with thinking that the current Reds management and ownership can turn this thing around this year and probably at least next year. I'll be at two games this week in D.C. and I'll still be rooting for the Reds hoping they don't break my heart (again and again).

I'd like to see Walt and Price shown the door because you just can't fire 24 players (I'd keep Frazier).

[dougdirt]

I don't know, but it's the weirdest damn thing I've ever seen at a baseball game. And I've seen a team use a naked clown as its catcher. (OK, I've never seen that.)

Chuckie - you're a weird dude.

The clock is in the 1st year. The clock goes away at the pitchers first move to come set or to begin his wind up if no one is on base. At 20 seconds, that literally means you get 20+ seconds between each pitch. Hardly anyone takes that long as it is. They can see the clock. IF they aren't ready, they can step off and the clock resets. It's really not that big of a deal.

[reds1869]

Of course there are films, books, etc. about football also, presidents have attended (Nixon was the first, and in my cynical moments I think he was the quintessential American president), done coin tosses, and presidents have played the game in college, but I don't think that has anything to do with which game is more American.

Like I said, the violence and raw athleticism. The speed. The power. We are the only country that truly cares about it, which is very American. Many countries like baseball. Football is a less romantic game, and I don't think America is a romantic country, I think it's one founded in blood and violence and based on power, and that's football.
I can't remember where I read it, but the following has always felt true: baseball is the America we long to be, football is the America we actually are.

[RedFanT]

Noticed that Walt said Frazier was untouchable.

No one should ever be untouchable. The only thing that should matter is making a team better to win within the resources the organization has. Unfortunately, this team doesn't have those resources (and the ones we do have will soon be gone), so it is time to at least get the farm system that can produce the players this team needs to win in the long run. If that includes trading Frazier, so be it.

[corkedbat]

I don't know, but it's the weirdest damn thing I've ever seen at a baseball game. And I've seen a team use a naked clown as its catcher. (OK, I've never seen that.)

Leave your fantasy life off the board! :evil:

[BluegrassRedleg]

Indiana has a football team?

:D

I think so. It's better than its basketball team. :D

[Assembly Hall]

I think so. It's better than its basketball team. :D

Rough crowd!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[KronoRed]

It's possible to like both baseball and football and to like them at the same time.

I've always liked football because it's more of a team sport, in baseball, basketball even hockey and soccer an individual can just take over and pretty much win a game, you don't really see that in football, a RB isn't going to be able to take over if his blockers leave the field.

[BluegrassRedleg]

Rough crowd!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:p Couldn't resist.

[Edskin]

Little bit of a rocky start to this thread, but I like where it wound up going... I like these discussions when people share how the games impact them personally.

For me, I think I've come to realize that I love the Reds more than I love baseball itself. It doesn't mean I don't love baseball-- I don't think you can follow a baseball team as closely as I do, invest as much as I do, and NOT love the game they are playing.

But I'm a bit of an oddity (hold the jokes). Baseball was not my first love. I fell for football first-- literally no memories of my life without having a passion for football/Redskins-- it is as if I was born with it. Basketball followed shortly after. In 1985 I first "noticed" baseball for real. Pete Rose setting the record. Decided if I liked baseball I'd root for the Reds. Other than my Grandfather, no one in my family cares for baseball-- and growing up where I did, baseball is a far distant third behind football and basketball as a spectator sport. So there was nothing "natural" about my love of baseball- it all came from me and an increasing interest in the Reds. Saw Field of Dreams at the theater and started to "get it" a bit more-- the romance and history of the game, etc..

I agree with WOY....to a point. Baseball is the most American of sports.....or maybe it WAS. Baseball probably reflected the speed and culture of America best back in the 20'-60's. Then, I believe football (and to a less extreme degree, basketball) started to reflect America TODAY much more. But that is what I LOVE about baseball and why I don't care if they speed it up or add bells and whistles. Baseball should NOT be competing for the young fan in the sense of changing the game so that it resembles something it isn't. Instead, it should embrace what it IS and do their best to promote that-- get the sport in more urban areas, etc. Walk-up music and Country Night at the ballpark doesn't really do a dang thing in my mind to capture the young fan who may be more drawn to football or basketball.

But as I've gotten older, baseball has become the most difficult of the sports for me to follow. With a busy work and family life, I can manage football weekends. I have season tickets to the Thunder (my favorite thing in the world to do these days) and I can manage that. Baseball is harder. It's non-stop, and to really invest in a team, you need to follow closely daily. I don't have any interest in checking the box score the next morning to see how the Reds did. I want to experience the season start to finish as much as possible. I now go WAY out of my way to follow the Reds. I follow on my phone, I use the DVR, I will make an "appointment" on the couch for a Sunday afternoon and clear the schedule to do so. It's a lot of work. Obviously, I enjoy it. But to echo the OP, once the Reds are competitively done for a given season, my interest and energy level drops quickly. I hold on as long as I can--- I'd say these upcoming 7 games before the AS break is "as long as I can" for 2015. If they end strong here, I might still have enough juice left to be into them after the break-- but more than likely, they will struggle on this trip, and then I will struggle to jump through the hoops to follow them.

And yeah, if the Reds are toast come August, I do find myself ignoring baseball as football starts up-- if there are good/interesting series/stories in October, I definitely will watch-- but even then it's a tough sell--- by then I'm already pushing my limits with football overload on weekends. And I am a HUGE NBA fan-- HUGE. I got to 25+ games per year in OKC and all playoff games. I write a game by game blog for them as well. 99% of the people I know follow football and baseball closely and most don't care much at all for baseball-- so baseball is an individual pursuit for me. And when the Reds aren't competitive or interesting, I find it really hard to keep that pilot light lit deep into the summer.

[Chuckie]

Chuckie - you're a weird dude.

The clock is in the 1st year. The clock goes away at the pitchers first move to come set or to begin his wind up if no one is on base. At 20 seconds, that literally means you get 20+ seconds between each pitch. Hardly anyone takes that long as it is. They can see the clock. IF they aren't ready, they can step off and the clock resets. It's really not that big of a deal.

Doug, I bet you're even weirder. ;)

It's very strange seeing it in person for the first time and any baseball fan would agree. I understand the logic behind it -- and I'm fully supportive of speeding the game up -- my point is that is highly weird to see a "shot clock" at a baseball game. Especially when seeing it for the first time.

[BurgervilleBuck]

Bring on the Blue Jackets.

[dougdirt]

Doug, I bet you're even weirder. ;)



You're probably right Chuckie, but I keep it off of public message boards! Lol

[tomnuetten]

I still watch reds games, doesn´t mather how bad they are. yet I do watch less often (especially during the week, only day games)

staying awake all night (and be tired at work) is hard. If you have (almost) no hope to see them play good baseball it is tough to motivate

[cumberlandreds]

I still watch them even though they are dreadful most nights. I try to pick out certain players to watch and keep an eye on. Right now its the young pitchers. I hope Iglesiais is back after the ASG and that will make things better. I also hope they bring Yorman up and just stick him LF for the last two months. I'm not counting on that though. I also like watching other teams and players. When the Reds are out of contention it makes it easier to turn over to another game and watch someone like Trout,Harper,Cabrera,Stanton etc......
I'm not big into football anymore. I find the NFL nearly unwatchable. If it weren't for the Redzone channel I probably wouldn't watch it at all. I find college football a little more tolerable mainly because you can switch to about thousand different games on a Saturday afternoon. I can't stand the NBA. I just don't care for it at all anymore. I still like college basketball but except for the NCAA's in March I mostly just watch Kentucky games. So baseball has come back to being king of sports for me even if the Reds are not any good this season.

[TRF]

I live in Texas, so I have access to a lot of Ranger fans and a few Astro fans. I've become enamored with the Astros, so I am trying to pay as much attention to them as i can.

[Tom Servo]

There's nothing like following a baseball team through a 162 game schedule, it's been a part of my life for over a decade now and I still love it, taking the peaks and the valleys as they come. Football is alright for something to watch on Sundays (and Saturdays when the mood strikes me) when baseball season is over but it doesn't come close to baseball.

[M2]

What's football? It's July. Baseball's the perfect radio game when you're grilling in the evening or sitting at a campsite or letting the day wind by next to a body of water. So what if your team is out of it. Every day it's another pitcher and your favorite players get another chance to show their stuff.

[Assembly Hall]

There's nothing like following a baseball team through a 162 game schedule, it's been a part of my life for over a decade now and I still love it, taking the peaks and the valleys as they come. Football is alright for something to watch on Sundays (and Saturdays when the mood strikes me) when baseball season is over but it doesn't come close to baseball.

Go Hoosiers.......follow them just as closely as I do the Reds.........Go Colts.......follow them just as closely as I do the Reds. I am a sports fan and have my favorites. Baseball is just one of them.

[westofyou]

Go Hoosiers.......follow them just as closely as I do the Reds.........Go Colts.......follow them just as closely as I do the Reds. I am a sports fan and have my favorites. Baseball is just one of them.

Problem with football is it's 6 days of talk, 3 hours of action, then 6 days more of talk.

It's like talking about a barbecue all week and then pigging out.

Baseball is like eating all week long, morning, noon and night and then getting up on Monday and doing it all again.

[_Sir_Charles_]

My problem with football is all the freaking down time. People complain about baseball being a slow game...football is MUCH worse. A nfl game runs, what....3 hours? I bet less than 15 minutes of that is actual football being played. So much standing around. Yes, when the action is on, it's full bore. But I find it as fun to watch as golf. Baseball any day of the week. If I can't get baseball...NCAA basketball please (or the rare treat of 6v6 volleyball).

[Caveat Emperor]

What's football? It's July. Baseball's the perfect radio game when you're grilling in the evening or sitting at a campsite or lettig the day wind by next to a body of water. So what if your team is out of it. Every day it's another pitcher and your favorite players get another chance to show their stuff.

Watching the kids pitch and dreaming of better days in the future -- you can quit on the emotional rollercoaster without quitting on the team, I think.

Plus, EPL kicks off in 4 weeks.

[WrongVerb]

I look at it like this: as long as this team is trying to improve, they'll have my full attention. If they blow it up for a bunch of near-ready kids, I'll watch in anticipation of the future. If they add talent at the deadline, I'll watch in anticipation of them turning it around and making the playoffs (not likely). But last year they didn't do anything at all, and that got to me to the point that I stopped watching for the remainder of the season. I'll do that again this year if the Reds do nothing.

[IslandRed]

It's possible to like both baseball and football and to like them at the same time.

Agreed. I love both, and for entirely different reasons.

[M2]

Problem with football is it's 6 days of talk, 3 hours of action, then 6 days more of talk.

More like 11 minutes of action with three hours of filler around it.

[Chuckie]

Picking between baseball and football is akin to saying which of your children is your favorite. Just impossible to do. Both are wonderful sports.

That said, football gets the slight edge (just like my oldest does over my youngest ... just kidding ... maybe).

;)

[marcshoe]

I'll take the one that doesn't, by its very nature, give kids brain damage.

:help:

[villain612]

Cakes are done.

People are finished.

Surprised it took so long in this thread for that to be pointed out.

[WrongVerb]

Baseball is my favorite sport.

I do enjoy football though. And I differentiate between my enjoyment of college football, where the big play and high scoring games rule, and professional football, where it's all about the chess match between coaches.

[TRF]

I love baseball, and my grandson is in t-ball now. Got a game to go to tomorrow.

I like College Basketball, and geek out over March Madness even though I have no particular team to root for.

I'm starting to like Hockey. I need a team though, and may go with the Stars because of proximity.

I loathe the NBA but for some reason I like the Spurs.

Football is filler between the day after the World Series and the week or so before Pitchers and Catchers report.

I watched the last 15 minutes of the Women's World Cup last night. I watched around 8-10 matches in the Men's World Cup. I can't name 5 players, but the drama, my god the drama.

[Roy Tucker]

Baseball fandom is like your kids. You may not always like them, but you do always love them. In the interregnum between pennant chase to development mode, I have to mope and sulk for a bit. Once I'm over that, im ok.

[M2]

I'm starting to like Hockey. I need a team though, and may go with the Stars because of proximity.

Probably makes sense to stick with the local team. They've got to be pretty much the only real hockey you can go see. Plus, Tyler Seguin is a pretty slick player.

[tomnuetten]

love baseball, great game and fun to see your team (almost) every day but I think that I´m still a bigger soccer fan.

love both sports, just prefer the atmosphere in german soccer stadiums over mlb/nfl/nhl games...

[Wonderful Monds]

Tuned out about a month into the season again this year. Just don't have it in me to invest the time or energy to watch a team already going through the motions, having a comically bad season that has included comically bad luck and making comically embarrassing headlines. The biggest point of interest this season will be watching what happens when the best pitcher to ever play for this team and one of my favorite Reds ever get traded. This season is kind of the exclamation point at the end of the sentence declaring our competitive run early this decade over.

So...uh. Yeah.

[Rojo]

Slow-moving, pastoral, tradition-minded, emotionally-muted, it's hard to imagine anything less American than baseball .

And baseball's kinda for losers. For the NFL, big groups gather at the bar on Sundays. College football/basketball has alumni associations. The NBA is urban glitz centered around superstars who jump, twirl and stomp.

But there' so dang much baseball. It really fills the voids for people that have big voids to fill.

[RedFanT]

I'll take the one that doesn't, by its very nature, give kids brain damage.

:help:

Or the one in which there is always a definitive winner (i.e., no ties) at the end of the game.

[ac084c]

Probably makes sense to stick with the local team. They've got to be pretty much the only real hockey you can go see. Plus, Tyler Seguin is a pretty slick player.

Just don't pick the Blues unless you're a glutton for punishment.

[Always Red]

nm

[Drugs Delaney]

I'm more of a Reds fan than a baseball fan these days. Just can't get into a regular season game that the Reds aren't playing in.

And seasons like this where it is pretty obvious the Reds aren't going anywhere are rough. It's even rougher than normal this year because of how loaded the Cards and Cubs look going forward. Doesn't feel like next year will be any better...

[RedsBrick]

Vin Scully?!

He has a fascinating skill to be sure, but it's not 1912 and I'm not listening on the radio. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

I'd listen to Vin Scully call yard darts.