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July 26, 2024
A comment on comments seeking again to encourage on-topic, productive and polite comments
About a week ago, a commentor started a comment this way: "Wow. Every single time I look at comments in hopes of more insight into the main subject, all I get is a handful of cheap shots at the political parties." Another comment today notes: "Again, this conversation devolved into politics-related mud-slinging." Meanwhile, someone has impolitely started using the same moniker as a frequent commentor, while another person reasonably complains about the "tag graffiti" taking up comment space.
For a host of reasons, I am exteremely disinclined to moderate the comment space. Consequently, I am inclined to close the comment space altogether if there is not a greater effort by folks to only post comments that are on-topic, productive and polite. Especially in these divisive times, I know some folks are very eager to vent their partisan spleens. But there are so many other spaces for off-topic, partisan sniping. Consequently, I hope all folks commenting here will make a sincere effort to only post comments that are on-topic, productive and polite.
Especially since I blog about politics as well as policy, I do not expect or want all comments to be free of all political matters or even that all comments are without some partisan views. But I do want everyone to make a sustained effort to only post comments that are on-topic, productive and polite. I believe everyone can and should do better (myself included), and I sincerely hope that you all will try.
July 26, 2024 at 04:40 PM | Permalink
Comments
Fair enough. On topic only!!
Posted by: anon | Jul 26, 2024 5:11:14 PM
How about those Mets!!!!! ;-)
Posted by: Anon | Jul 27, 2024 9:40:08 AM
Baseball (and golf) commentary is ALWAYS on topic in my book....
Posted by: Doug B | Jul 27, 2024 12:03:38 PM
Re: baseball--rarest plays:
(1) Inside the park grand slam.
(2) Four base error.
(3) Bunt double.
(4) Fourth K in an inning.
(5) Outfield assist to another outfielder.
(6) Outfielder throws out player at first (not a failure to tag, just ordinary force).
(7) Unassisted triple play.
(8) Two bases on a sac fly, no errors.
(9) Triple steal.
(10) Intentional walk RBI.
Any others? I deliberately left off the three bases if player uses equipment other than glove to make a play.
Posted by: federalist | Jul 29, 2024 9:44:48 AM
So Doug, do I get the award for best post evah?
Posted by: federalist | Jul 29, 2024 9:45:17 AM
Everyone gets a participation award if they follow the rules, federalist, including you. But you left out the walk-off dropped third strike.
Posted by: Doug B | Jul 29, 2024 9:53:49 AM
I'll make a return appearance just for this thread: how about hitting for the natural cycle - i.e., single, double, triple, and then home run? By my understanding, it's occurred only 14 times, the last time being in 2006.
Posted by: Da Man | Jul 29, 2024 10:00:07 AM
Isn't that just an ordinary passed ball?
Posted by: federalist | Jul 29, 2024 10:01:49 AM
Da Man, it's not really a play. You could argue that the fourth K in an inning is similar. But I could one up you--four HRs in a game and two grand slams in an inning (only once, Tatis Jr.).
Posted by: federalist | Jul 29, 2024 10:24:00 AM
Bonus question:
Why is it fair for me to include "bunt double"? Why isn't that just an ordinary double?
Posted by: federalist | Jul 29, 2024 11:08:47 AM
federalist: a walk-off dropped third strike would be a pass ball, in the bottom of the ninth, that allows the winning run to score. Many of your examples are "ordinary" plays --- eg, inside-the-park HR, error, bunt, walk, assist, etc --- with extraordinary context/elements.
And that is joy of baseball, as we can go on and on. But this is enough for me here.
Posted by: Doug B | Jul 29, 2024 12:08:00 PM
And inside the park grand slam is an inside the parker plus 4 RBIs. There's a difference between a two base error and a four base error. An outfield assist to another OF is rare as hell, and is part of the box score as such, eg PO8 A 7. (or just 7-8).
Posted by: federalist | Jul 29, 2024 12:45:12 PM
If we are going with rare plays, google Merkle's boner. Game winning run on 3rd, runner on 1st, two outs bottom of the ninth. Clean hit to the outfield. Runner on 1st, thinking game is over does not advance to second resulting in a force out at second from the outfield.
Posted by: tmm | Jul 29, 2024 4:36:30 PM
Yes, but tmm, that's not really what is what I am getting at. Yeah, a force-out from OF is rare, but it's a boner. That's why I didn't include the three base award from a catcher using his mask to corral a ball.
Posted by: federalist | Jul 29, 2024 4:52:08 PM
