I haven’t watched any baseball today. Sorry, everybody, but I have been watching this screen instead, watching little letters pop up on it in correspondence with the little keys I tap with my fingers. I also went to the UPS Store. My credit card for our mailbox there wasn’t processing.
I haven’t watched any baseball today, so I still don’t know exactly how the pitch clock works. Which makes it possible for me to still express the following hope:
Just don’t let me see it.
I don’t think I actually want baseball to be without time. I like the concept, I like that feeling, but the games are too damn slow. It’s not that they’re too long, either—this is the problem with that argument, it misses the point, length of game is arbitrary—it’s that they’re too slow. Get on the mound. Get in the box. Throw the stupid pitch.
I do, however, want baseball to feel like it’s without time. I want fast-moving games that feel like they could go on forever, not slow-moving games that feel like they’re already going on forever.
And so, what I really want is this:
Don’t let me see the pitch clock.
I’m fine knowing it’s there, I want to know it’s there, but keep it inconspicuous.
Thank you.
We Aren’t Getting Andy Enfield
USC missed a big opportunity for a loss last night, and even a loss tomorrow against Utah wouldn’t help us much, because they so thoroughly pulverized the Buffs. So, USC’s probably missing the NIT. There’s a chance they don’t (it was pretty inexplicable the last time they made it, which is why the whole beef with Andy Enfield began in the first place), but they’re probably going to Andy Enfield’s preferred climes, which are very similar to Andy Enfield’s preferred crimes. Good riddance. We’d rather have UNC and Wisconsin anyway.
UNC and Wisconsin
We’ll have more on this tomorrow, but out big interests with UNC and Wisconsin this weekend are that they each lose—Wisconsin at Michigan, UNC at home against Virginia—and that…well, that’s kind of it. There are other bubble teams who play a big role, but there are so many of them. It’s unwieldy. Let’s just hope on our friends Wisconsin and UNC to lose. That’s what friends do, right? Cheer for each other to self-sabotage? Let’s be good friends.
Everyone Wants Sean Payton
Sean Payton is becoming the favorite coach of everyone who doesn’t know their favorite coach when asked. He’s the vague shape of a coach upon whom everyone can project the characteristics of their ideal coach. Today the report is that Russell Wilson wanted him in Seattle before the Seahawks said “you’re an idiot” and traded him to Denver. Not that Sean Payton’s a bad coach, but…come on. Get a little more creative. Demand Byron Leftwich.
MLS Starts Tomorrow!
I’m being told MLS starts tomorrow. I don’t know why I put an exclamation mark there. I’m not particularly excited. That said, I promised I’d try to get into Austin FC this year (whom I promised, I’m not sure), so we’ll at least put it in the schedule and try to remember it’s happening.
Farewell to Auto Club?
It’s looking like Sunday is the last race at Auto Club Speedway, with NASCAR selling a huge portion of the property and having already indicated they’d be doing a big reevaluation of the speedway. The thought had been that they were replacing it with a short track, and that had people disappointed, because Auto Club was unique. Now that they might be getting rid of it altogether? Honestly, might be better. If the race isn’t drawing enough fans to make it worthwhile, why not just go to the next best spot? Especially if these cars aren’t going to be fun on short tracks.
**
The weekend menu, aside from NIT action which is getting its own three posts (visit the homepage for those, they’ll be posted daily):
Saturday, 2:00 PM EST: Texas @ Baylor (ESPN)
Saturday, 7:30 PM EST: DePaul @ Marquette (FS1)
Shaka Smart’s Marquette plays the ultimate trap game, but DePaul is hopefully bad enough that there is nothing to not see coming. Texas plays the ultimate non-trap game. Longhorns need to win this one. I personally do not think they will.
Friday, 8:00 PM EST: Nets @ Bulls (League Pass)
Sunday, 3:30 PM EST: Wizards @ Bulls (League Pass)
We’re a Patrick Beverley blog.
Friday, 7:00 PM EST: Senators @ Hurricanes (ESPN+)
Saturday, 7:00 PM EST: Senators @ Canadiens (NHL Network)
Tomorrow’s is big. Have to take care of business there. Tonight’s? I don’t know. The Canes are good. Also I’m writing this after the Sens already fell behind 2–0 because we’re running a little bit late today. I have already punted.
Saturday, 3:05 PM EST: Padres @ White Sox (MLB TV?)
Sunday, 3:10 PM EST: White Sox @ Angels (MLB TV?)
First: Joe Kelly might not get into these, because he was facing live hitters today (and looking electric on video), but we will keep tabs on the situation.
Saturday, 3:05 PM EST: Giants @ Cubs (MLB TV?)
Sunday, 3:05 PM EST: Cubs @ Dodgers (MLB TV?)
Second: You can watch Spring Training on MLB TV, right? I’m going to level with everyone: I’ve never tried to do this. We’re all growing here.
Saturday, 10:00 AM EST: Huddersfield Town @ Burnley
The Burnleys are at Turf Moor this weekend, just trying to grow the gap. Huddersfield’s down in relegation territory.
Saturday, 8:30 PM EST: St. Louis City @ Austin FC (Apple TV)
Austin FC is nowhere near as good as Burnley, and nowhere near as close to my heart. Let’s get all of that straight.
Sunday, 3:30 PM EST: Pala Casino 400 – NASCAR Cup Series at California (FOX)
Should NASCAR fix its California problem with the stock car equivalent of CaliCar?
