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Post by Divebitch on Jul 25, 2015 9:28:23 GMT -5
"A third of the sport is from the Dominican Republic. The Dominican Republic has not been known in my lifetime as having world-class academic abilities. A lot of those kids come from rough backgrounds and have not had opportunities academically that other kids from other countries have." Cowherd got fired for this?!?! You've got to be kidding me. "It’s too complex? I’ve never bought into that ‘baseball is too complex.’ Really? A third of the sport is from the Dominican Republic." Cowherd is definitely implying he thinks the DR is a dumb country. "LOL baseball is such a simple sport, even the Dominicans can play it!" is basically in other words what Cowherd said. But Cowherd was leaving his show in like a week anyways, so ESPN may just be trying to gain points with the public by firing him for a controversial statement before they have the chance to -not- do that. Because if they would've fired Cowherd for making just any dumb and douchey comment, dude would've been fired a longggggg time ago. Technically, he didn't imply DR is dumb. You may 'infer' that that's probably what he believes, but he didn't say nor 'imply' that. Everything he said is true (except that 1/3rd of players are from the DR). However, of course, it was not necessary to spin it that way. I mean suffice it to say, there may be a lot of skill and finesse in certain positions, some more than others. A pitcher can learn a batter's tendencies, and vice versa, but overall there ain't a lot to know or learn. You hit the ball as hard as you can and and run to 1st base, no matter what. It's not rocket science. Either you have it or you don't, and how much one can improve with practice. That's it. There is no playbook, no route trees, no read option, no defensive schemes. The coach even calls every move like take a pitch or bunt, even 3rd base coach says stay or go. I think any player aside from pitcher can be below average intelligence. But I digress, cuz 'lack of educational opportunity' does not mean that.
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Post by saskabronco on Jul 25, 2015 22:59:29 GMT -5
"It’s too complex? I’ve never bought into that ‘baseball is too complex.’ Really? A third of the sport is from the Dominican Republic." Cowherd is definitely implying he thinks the DR is a dumb country. "LOL baseball is such a simple sport, even the Dominicans can play it!" is basically in other words what Cowherd said. But Cowherd was leaving his show in like a week anyways, so ESPN may just be trying to gain points with the public by firing him for a controversial statement before they have the chance to -not- do that. Because if they would've fired Cowherd for making just any dumb and douchey comment, dude would've been fired a longggggg time ago. Technically, he didn't imply DR is dumb. You may 'infer' that that's probably what he believes, but he didn't say nor 'imply' that. Everything he said is true (except that 1/3rd of players are from the DR). However, of course, it was not necessary to spin it that way. I mean suffice it to say, there may be a lot of skill and finesse in certain positions, some more than others. A pitcher can learn a batter's tendencies, and vice versa, but overall there ain't a lot to know or learn. You hit the ball as hard as you can and and run to 1st base, no matter what. It's not rocket science. Either you have it or you don't, and how much one can improve with practice. That's it. There is no playbook, no route trees, no read option, no defensive schemes. The coach even calls every move like take a pitch or bunt, even 3rd base coach says stay or go. I think any player aside from pitcher can be below average intelligence. But I digress, cuz 'lack of educational opportunity' does not mean that. I think you're over simplifying baseball. You don't just swing as hard as you can and hope for the best. A good batter will read how the defence is set up (and there are defensive schemes to some degree) and try to place the ball accordingly. Not every player swings for a homerun every at bat. Batters also need to read the pitch and have to react in an instant to know how to try and handle that pitch. Many times if the ball is close but not what they are looking for, they will intentionally foul the ball off to keep the at bat going. Catcher is probably the most difficult position though, in terms of having to understand each batter and call the pitches for the pitcher to throw. The pitcher and catcher basically have a quick discussion via sign language before every pitch. In terms of defensive schemes, based on the situation, fielders need to play a shift for a pull hitter, set up for a potential double play, prepare for a bunt or squeeze play, etc. Yes the coaches call signals, but how is that any different than football? Receivers don't plan out their own routes and run whatever they see fit. A coach or QB will call a play and the receiver runs what they are told. There are times where improvisation is required, but such is the case in every sport. Coaches need to be smart and so do some players in certain positions for any sport, but most players don't need to be super geniuses. Any high level sport requires memorization of designed plays, an ability to read and react to varying situations, time taken to understand your opponent's tendencies and an intense amount of training dedicated to the specific skills required for your position. Suggesting that baseball does not have the complexity of other sports just shows a lack of knowledge of the sport.
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Post by Divebitch on Jul 26, 2015 7:42:02 GMT -5
I think you're over simplifying baseball. You don't just swing as hard as you can and hope for the best. A good batter will read how the defence is set up (and there are defensive schemes to some degree) and try to place the ball accordingly. Not every player swings for a homerun every at bat. Batters also need to read the pitch and have to react in an instant to know how to try and handle that pitch. Many times if the ball is close but not what they are looking for, they will intentionally foul the ball off to keep the at bat going. Catcher is probably the most difficult position though, in terms of having to understand each batter and call the pitches for the pitcher to throw. The pitcher and catcher basically have a quick discussion via sign language before every pitch. In terms of defensive schemes, based on the situation, fielders need to play a shift for a pull hitter, set up for a potential double play, prepare for a bunt or squeeze play, etc. Yes the coaches call signals, but how is that any different than football? Receivers don't plan out their own routes and run whatever they see fit. A coach or QB will call a play and the receiver runs what they are told. There are times where improvisation is required, but such is the case in every sport. Coaches need to be smart and so do some players in certain positions for any sport, but most players don't need to be super geniuses. Any high level sport requires memorization of designed plays, an ability to read and react to varying situations, time taken to understand your opponent's tendencies and an intense amount of training dedicated to the specific skills required for your position. Suggesting that baseball does not have the complexity of other sports just shows a lack of knowledge of the sport. Thanks for the well-thought out explanation, very kind of you. You might be surprised to learn that I used to follow baseball very closely, and already knew all that. The catcher waving off pitch signals, the outfield moving in, fouling off. Mattingly was KING at that - what do you call it, slugging percentage? No offense, but I've possibly forgotten more about baseball than...nevermind. lol So you're correct, I oversimplified it. Didn't want to write an essay to confuse the issue. Much of what you said echoed my sentiments, namely the abilities to read and react that come with innate abilities and honing of those basic skills. I still stand by my main assertion, that it is a simpler sport, and most plays are textbook. Few play options (vs. football), depending on outs, given personnel, etc.. But it's mostly a matter of execution. And that execution doesn't involve much brain power in the way of intellect. May involve a ton more precision, as far as timing and mechanics. But that's a different part of the brain.
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Post by Juggs on Jul 26, 2015 12:59:09 GMT -5
I'm really disappointed Cowherd is gone, even though ESPN was right in firing him. Take two years off, watch your Patriots, and go back to Sportsnation with Beadle after that man. Better yet, screw ESPN and go help out Fox with FS1 or something. I'll watch/listen no matter how ignorant that comment was, and I did think his apology was at least more sincere than what you'll usually get in cases like this.
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Post by Morkim on Jul 26, 2015 13:01:49 GMT -5
I'm really disappointed Cowherd is gone, even though ESPN was right in firing him. Take two years off, watch your Patriots, and go back to Sportsnation with Beadle after that man. Better yet, screw ESPN and go help out Fox with FS1 or something. I'll watch/listen no matter how ignorant that comment was, and I did think his apology was at least more sincere than what you'll usually get in cases like this. Blah blah blah He's prob gonna be on fox sports by football kickoff
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Post by Juggs on Jul 26, 2015 13:07:07 GMT -5
I hope so! Although, he's never been just a football guy.
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Post by Morkim on Jul 26, 2015 13:24:10 GMT -5
I hope so! Although, he's never been just a football guy. You did know he was leaving ESPN before this right? He announced it two days before he was fired. They were negotiating an early release on his contract so ESPN wouldn't owe him any more money, and fired two days later. Hrm.
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Post by Juggs on Jul 26, 2015 13:39:01 GMT -5
No, I didn't know that.
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Post by Jindred on Jul 26, 2015 14:44:02 GMT -5
Thanks for the well-thought out explanation, very kind of you. You might be surprised to learn that I used to follow baseball very closely, and already knew all that. The catcher waving off pitch signals, the outfield moving in, fouling off. Mattingly was KING at that - what do you call it, slugging percentage? No offense, but I've possibly forgotten more about baseball than...nevermind. lol So you're correct, I oversimplified it. Didn't want to write an essay to confuse the issue. Much of what you said echoed my sentiments, namely the abilities to read and react that come with innate abilities and honing of those basic skills. I still stand by my main assertion, that it is a simpler sport, and most plays are textbook. Few play options (vs. football), depending on outs, given personnel, etc.. But it's mostly a matter of execution. And that execution doesn't involve much brain power in the way of intellect. May involve a ton more precision, as far as timing and mechanics. But that's a different part of the brain. So your is your definition of intellect book smarts instead of applicable smarts then? By your definition then to be a pitcher or catcher you have to be incredibly intelligent. Especially a catcher, catchers call the entire pitching game for the most part and have to be on the exact same page as as many as 12 different pitchers on their team. They also have to learn every tendency for every batter on every team they face and call the proper pitches accordingly. Catchers spend hours upon hours reading up on opposing teams batters, and watching film. The pitcher also has to understand what the catcher is trying to do and as Saska pointed out have to learn to communicate via sign language. All batters also have to watch film on pitchers, learn their tendencies and pitches. So you are trying to say football isn't a reactionary sport? As soon as a play starts everything that happens after is read and reaction no different than baseball.. Really thats just sport in a nutshell. To say baseball requires very little brain power in the way of intellect is doing the sport and incredible disservice.
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Post by Divebitch on Jul 26, 2015 15:15:47 GMT -5
Thanks for the well-thought out explanation, very kind of you. You might be surprised to learn that I used to follow baseball very closely, and already knew all that. The catcher waving off pitch signals, the outfield moving in, fouling off. Mattingly was KING at that - what do you call it, slugging percentage? No offense, but I've possibly forgotten more about baseball than...nevermind. lol So you're correct, I oversimplified it. Didn't want to write an essay to confuse the issue. Much of what you said echoed my sentiments, namely the abilities to read and react that come with innate abilities and honing of those basic skills. I still stand by my main assertion, that it is a simpler sport, and most plays are textbook. Few play options (vs. football), depending on outs, given personnel, etc.. But it's mostly a matter of execution. And that execution doesn't involve much brain power in the way of intellect. May involve a ton more precision, as far as timing and mechanics. But that's a different part of the brain. So your is your definition of intellect book smarts instead of applicable smarts then? By your definition then to be a pitcher or catcher you have to be incredibly intelligent. Especially a catcher, catchers call the entire pitching game for the most part and have to be on the exact same page as as many as 12 different pitchers on their team. They also have to learn every tendency for every batter on every team they face and call the proper pitches accordingly. Catchers spend hours upon hours reading up on opposing teams batters, and watching film. The pitcher also has to understand what the catcher is trying to do and as Saska pointed out have to learn to communicate via sign language. All batters also have to watch film on pitchers, learn their tendencies and pitches. So you are trying to say football isn't a reactionary sport? As soon as a play starts everything that happens after is read and reaction no different than baseball.. Really thats just sport in a nutshell. To say baseball requires very little brain power in the way of intellect is doing the sport and incredible disservice. You know what? Now understanding why Jeffb had to leave. I'm becoming less angry at him by the minute. You've not said a thing that argues anything I've said. Sports in a nutshell. THANKS!!!FYI, catchers don't call the entire pitching game. You don't think they get cues from anyone!?!? lmao
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