The Anthony Rizzo DongFest Thread

[SKO]

This guy is insane. I can't remember a Cub who had his awareness of the strike zone before. It seems the only time he ever Ks is when the ump is clearly wrong.

Speaking of the umps, why does it seem like the umps are wrong so much this year? Are they bad, or it is just noticeable now that we have a team that takes more pitches?

I think it's probably the latter, also I think TV broadcasts use that K zone thing more than ever before and it's more accurate than it used to be, so we see their fuck ups definitively.

It's gotten to the point where I trust Fowler, Rizzo, Bryant and Montero's judgment of the strike zone more than I do the umps. Soler was in that category in spring training and earlier this season but he's got some work to do to get back onto my Smarter Than the Umps dry erase board.

I laughed heartily at Miggy once again sprinting to first base after his pinch-walk.

[Powdered Toast Man]

This guy is insane. I can't remember a Cub who had his awareness of the strike zone before. It seems the only time he ever Ks is when the ump is clearly wrong.

Speaking of the umps, why does it seem like the umps are wrong so much this year? Are they bad, or it is just noticeable now that we have a team that takes more pitches?

I think it's probably the latter, also I think TV broadcasts use that K zone thing more than ever before and it's more accurate than it used to be, so we see their fuck ups definitively.

On that note, ESPN's new K-zone is the tits.

They can zoom/pan and it stays overlaid right where it should be. I don't know what sort of wizardry they did to make that happen, but it's awesome.

Since the inception of this K zone thing my nitpicking brain has wondered if the depth of home plate is taken into consideration?
The view we see on the screen is two dimensional yet home plate is three dimensional. 17 inches square with two corners cut off. Does the view we see reflect the front of the plate, the middle, the back or some super complex algorithm that encompasses all of its depth? Even though 17 inches isn't that deep I would suspect that there are times when a pitched ball with lots of movement could miss the plate at the front but cross over at the rear or vicey versey. It bugs me and I want answers.

When ESPN does slow motions replays, sometimes they do show an isometric, 3D view of the K Zone...it's cool.

Quick GIS, but...

[Tony]

This guy is insane. I can't remember a Cub who had his awareness of the strike zone before. It seems the only time he ever Ks is when the ump is clearly wrong.

Speaking of the umps, why does it seem like the umps are wrong so much this year? Are they bad, or it is just noticeable now that we have a team that takes more pitches?

I think it's probably the latter, also I think TV broadcasts use that K zone thing more than ever before and it's more accurate than it used to be, so we see their fuck ups definitively.

On that note, ESPN's new K-zone is the tits.

They can zoom/pan and it stays overlaid right where it should be. I don't know what sort of wizardry they did to make that happen, but it's awesome.

I really don't like looking at it in the live view. Maybe I'll get used to it though.

Me too. It's distracting. Love it on replays though.

[InternetApex]

This guy is insane. I can't remember a Cub who had his awareness of the strike zone before. It seems the only time he ever Ks is when the ump is clearly wrong.

Speaking of the umps, why does it seem like the umps are wrong so much this year? Are they bad, or it is just noticeable now that we have a team that takes more pitches?

I think it's probably the latter, also I think TV broadcasts use that K zone thing more than ever before and it's more accurate than it used to be, so we see their fuck ups definitively.

On that note, ESPN's new K-zone is the tits.

They can zoom/pan and it stays overlaid right where it should be. I don't know what sort of wizardry they did to make that happen, but it's awesome.

I really don't like looking at it in the live view. Maybe I'll get used to it though.

Me too. It's distracting. Love it on replays though.

I'm not watching games on ESPN unless they're Cubs games I can't otherwise see. Fuck them and their little box bullshit.

[Powdered Toast Man]

This guy is insane. I can't remember a Cub who had his awareness of the strike zone before. It seems the only time he ever Ks is when the ump is clearly wrong.

Speaking of the umps, why does it seem like the umps are wrong so much this year? Are they bad, or it is just noticeable now that we have a team that takes more pitches?

I think it's probably the latter, also I think TV broadcasts use that K zone thing more than ever before and it's more accurate than it used to be, so we see their fuck ups definitively.

On that note, ESPN's new K-zone is the tits.

They can zoom/pan and it stays overlaid right where it should be. I don't know what sort of wizardry they did to make that happen, but it's awesome.

I really don't like looking at it in the live view. Maybe I'll get used to it though.

Me too. It's distracting. Love it on replays though.

I'm not watching games on ESPN unless they're Cubs games I can't otherwise see. Fuck them and their little box bullshit.

The best way to watch MLB games is through MLB.TV where you can get the local broadcast (unless you're a White Sox fan, then you can watch the opposing team's feed as opposed to Hawk). The team-specific broadcast is very well done and the announcers know a lot more about the teams than the generic bullcrap that ESPN announcers give.

If you don't have MLB.TV, MLB Network's games are usually simulcasts of one of the team's specific broadcasts...the rub is if you're watching the Cubs, you might get their opponent's broadcasters. Still not terrible as they usually are better informed than the ESPN knuckleheads.

[SKO]

This guy is insane. I can't remember a Cub who had his awareness of the strike zone before. It seems the only time he ever Ks is when the ump is clearly wrong.

Speaking of the umps, why does it seem like the umps are wrong so much this year? Are they bad, or it is just noticeable now that we have a team that takes more pitches?

I think it's probably the latter, also I think TV broadcasts use that K zone thing more than ever before and it's more accurate than it used to be, so we see their fuck ups definitively.

On that note, ESPN's new K-zone is the tits.

They can zoom/pan and it stays overlaid right where it should be. I don't know what sort of wizardry they did to make that happen, but it's awesome.

I really don't like looking at it in the live view. Maybe I'll get used to it though.

Me too. It's distracting. Love it on replays though.

I'm not watching games on ESPN unless they're Cubs games I can't otherwise see. Fuck them and their little box bullshit.

The best way to watch MLB games is through MLB.TV where you can get the local broadcast (unless you're a White Sox fan, then you can watch the opposing team's feed as opposed to Hawk). The team-specific broadcast is very well done and the announcers know a lot more about the teams than the generic bullcrap that ESPN announcers give.

If you don't have MLB.TV, MLB Network's games are usually simulcasts of one of the team's specific broadcasts...the rub is if you're watching the Cubs, you might get their opponent's broadcasters. Still not terrible as they usually are better informed than the ESPN knuckleheads.

Yo, fanboat, if anyone of us in Illinois or even Iowa (fuck you, MLB) tries to watch the Cubs game on MLBN we can't because of stupid blackouts. Your state's complete lack of proximity to professional baseball is a boon to you.

[InternetApex]

This guy is insane. I can't remember a Cub who had his awareness of the strike zone before. It seems the only time he ever Ks is when the ump is clearly wrong.

Speaking of the umps, why does it seem like the umps are wrong so much this year? Are they bad, or it is just noticeable now that we have a team that takes more pitches?

I think it's probably the latter, also I think TV broadcasts use that K zone thing more than ever before and it's more accurate than it used to be, so we see their fuck ups definitively.

On that note, ESPN's new K-zone is the tits.

They can zoom/pan and it stays overlaid right where it should be. I don't know what sort of wizardry they did to make that happen, but it's awesome.

I really don't like looking at it in the live view. Maybe I'll get used to it though.

Me too. It's distracting. Love it on replays though.

I'm not watching games on ESPN unless they're Cubs games I can't otherwise see. Fuck them and their little box bullshit.

The best way to watch MLB games is through MLB.TV where you can get the local broadcast (unless you're a White Sox fan, then you can watch the opposing team's feed as opposed to Hawk). The team-specific broadcast is very well done and the announcers know a lot more about the teams than the generic bullcrap that ESPN announcers give.

If you don't have MLB.TV, MLB Network's games are usually simulcasts of one of the team's specific broadcasts...the rub is if you're watching the Cubs, you might get their opponent's broadcasters. Still not terrible as they usually are better informed than the ESPN knuckleheads.

Yo, fanboat, if anyone of us in Illinois or even Iowa (fuck you, MLB) tries to watch the Cubs game on MLBN we can't because of stupid blackouts. Your state's complete lack of proximity to professional baseball is a boon to you.

I have had MLB.tv for years. I love it.

[SKO]

This guy is insane. I can't remember a Cub who had his awareness of the strike zone before. It seems the only time he ever Ks is when the ump is clearly wrong.

Speaking of the umps, why does it seem like the umps are wrong so much this year? Are they bad, or it is just noticeable now that we have a team that takes more pitches?

I think it's probably the latter, also I think TV broadcasts use that K zone thing more than ever before and it's more accurate than it used to be, so we see their fuck ups definitively.

On that note, ESPN's new K-zone is the tits.

They can zoom/pan and it stays overlaid right where it should be. I don't know what sort of wizardry they did to make that happen, but it's awesome.

I really don't like looking at it in the live view. Maybe I'll get used to it though.

Me too. It's distracting. Love it on replays though.

I'm not watching games on ESPN unless they're Cubs games I can't otherwise see. Fuck them and their little box bullshit.

The best way to watch MLB games is through MLB.TV where you can get the local broadcast (unless you're a White Sox fan, then you can watch the opposing team's feed as opposed to Hawk). The team-specific broadcast is very well done and the announcers know a lot more about the teams than the generic bullcrap that ESPN announcers give.

If you don't have MLB.TV, MLB Network's games are usually simulcasts of one of the team's specific broadcasts...the rub is if you're watching the Cubs, you might get their opponent's broadcasters. Still not terrible as they usually are better informed than the ESPN knuckleheads.

Yo, fanboat, if anyone of us in Illinois or even Iowa (fuck you, MLB) tries to watch the Cubs game on MLBN we can't because of stupid blackouts. Your state's complete lack of proximity to professional baseball is a boon to you.

I have had MLB.tv for years. I love it.

Do you have a way around the blackout restrictions or do you just use it to watch non-Cubs games? Because if so tell me your secrets. I mostly use Stream2Watch.me to watch Cubs games because Des Moines is literally the most fucked town in America for blackout restrictions. The Cubs/Cardinals/Sox/Twins/Royals are ALL blacked out on MLB.TV here. But if there's a way around them I'd gladly pay for MLB.tv just to not have to deal with annoying pop ups and bad connections.

[R-V]

This guy is insane. I can't remember a Cub who had his awareness of the strike zone before. It seems the only time he ever Ks is when the ump is clearly wrong.

Speaking of the umps, why does it seem like the umps are wrong so much this year? Are they bad, or it is just noticeable now that we have a team that takes more pitches?

I think it's probably the latter, also I think TV broadcasts use that K zone thing more than ever before and it's more accurate than it used to be, so we see their fuck ups definitively.

On that note, ESPN's new K-zone is the tits.

They can zoom/pan and it stays overlaid right where it should be. I don't know what sort of wizardry they did to make that happen, but it's awesome.

I really don't like looking at it in the live view. Maybe I'll get used to it though.

Me too. It's distracting. Love it on replays though.

I'm not watching games on ESPN unless they're Cubs games I can't otherwise see. Fuck them and their little box bullshit.

The best way to watch MLB games is through MLB.TV where you can get the local broadcast (unless you're a White Sox fan, then you can watch the opposing team's feed as opposed to Hawk). The team-specific broadcast is very well done and the announcers know a lot more about the teams than the generic bullcrap that ESPN announcers give.

If you don't have MLB.TV, MLB Network's games are usually simulcasts of one of the team's specific broadcasts...the rub is if you're watching the Cubs, you might get their opponent's broadcasters. Still not terrible as they usually are better informed than the ESPN knuckleheads.

Yo, fanboat, if anyone of us in Illinois or even Iowa (fuck you, MLB) tries to watch the Cubs game on MLBN we can't because of stupid blackouts. Your state's complete lack of proximity to professional baseball is a boon to you.

I have had MLB.tv for years. I love it.

Do you have a way around the blackout restrictions or do you just use it to watch non-Cubs games? Because if so tell me your secrets. I mostly use Stream2Watch.me to watch Cubs games because Des Moines is literally the most fucked town in America for blackout restrictions. The Cubs/Cardinals/Sox/Twins/Royals are ALL blacked out on MLB.TV here. But if there's a way around them I'd gladly pay for MLB.tv just to not have to deal with annoying pop ups and bad connections.

The only site you'll ever need.

Caveat - this stopped working for me for NBA after a while, and we got lazy and went back to Comcast after a few months cable-free. I'm 90% sure it stopped working for me because of VPN stuff related to logging in to do work at home, which isn't a concern for you, because you're a hobo squatting in the storage shed of a college dorm.

[SKO]

This guy is insane. I can't remember a Cub who had his awareness of the strike zone before. It seems the only time he ever Ks is when the ump is clearly wrong.

Speaking of the umps, why does it seem like the umps are wrong so much this year? Are they bad, or it is just noticeable now that we have a team that takes more pitches?

I think it's probably the latter, also I think TV broadcasts use that K zone thing more than ever before and it's more accurate than it used to be, so we see their fuck ups definitively.

On that note, ESPN's new K-zone is the tits.

They can zoom/pan and it stays overlaid right where it should be. I don't know what sort of wizardry they did to make that happen, but it's awesome.

I really don't like looking at it in the live view. Maybe I'll get used to it though.

Me too. It's distracting. Love it on replays though.

I'm not watching games on ESPN unless they're Cubs games I can't otherwise see. Fuck them and their little box bullshit.

The best way to watch MLB games is through MLB.TV where you can get the local broadcast (unless you're a White Sox fan, then you can watch the opposing team's feed as opposed to Hawk). The team-specific broadcast is very well done and the announcers know a lot more about the teams than the generic bullcrap that ESPN announcers give.

If you don't have MLB.TV, MLB Network's games are usually simulcasts of one of the team's specific broadcasts...the rub is if you're watching the Cubs, you might get their opponent's broadcasters. Still not terrible as they usually are better informed than the ESPN knuckleheads.

Yo, fanboat, if anyone of us in Illinois or even Iowa (fuck you, MLB) tries to watch the Cubs game on MLBN we can't because of stupid blackouts. Your state's complete lack of proximity to professional baseball is a boon to you.

I have had MLB.tv for years. I love it.

Do you have a way around the blackout restrictions or do you just use it to watch non-Cubs games? Because if so tell me your secrets. I mostly use Stream2Watch.me to watch Cubs games because Des Moines is literally the most fucked town in America for blackout restrictions. The Cubs/Cardinals/Sox/Twins/Royals are ALL blacked out on MLB.TV here. But if there's a way around them I'd gladly pay for MLB.tv just to not have to deal with annoying pop ups and bad connections.

The only site you'll ever need.

Caveat - this stopped working for me for NBA after a while, and we got lazy and went back to Comcast after a few months cable-free. I'm 90% sure it stopped working for me because of VPN stuff related to logging in to do work at home, which isn't a concern for you, because you're a hobo squatting in the storage shed of a college dorm.

I'll give it a go. Thank you

[Powdered Toast Man]

Let's not forget that ridiculous defensive pay he made. Bourjos made it from first to third on the play, but it was a great stop by Rizzo.

[SKO]

Tony Ballgame has a .400 OBP going back to the start of last season, over 732 PAs.

I heart him.

[flannj]

This guy is insane. I can't remember a Cub who had his awareness of the strike zone before. It seems the only time he ever Ks is when the ump is clearly wrong.

Speaking of the umps, why does it seem like the umps are wrong so much this year? Are they bad, or it is just noticeable now that we have a team that takes more pitches?

I think it's probably the latter, also I think TV broadcasts use that K zone thing more than ever before and it's more accurate than it used to be, so we see their fuck ups definitively.

On that note, ESPN's new K-zone is the tits.

They can zoom/pan and it stays overlaid right where it should be. I don't know what sort of wizardry they did to make that happen, but it's awesome.

Since the inception of this K zone thing my nitpicking brain has wondered if the depth of home plate is taken into consideration?
The view we see on the screen is two dimensional yet home plate is three dimensional. 17 inches square with two corners cut off. Does the view we see reflect the front of the plate, the middle, the back or some super complex algorithm that encompasses all of its depth? Even though 17 inches isn't that deep I would suspect that there are times when a pitched ball with lots of movement could miss the plate at the front but cross over at the rear or vicey versey. It bugs me and I want answers.

When ESPN does slow motions replays, sometimes they do show an isometric, 3D view of the K Zone...it's cool.

Quick GIS, but...

Couldn't open the image at work so it took me awhile to see your GIS. That is pretty cool but even ESPN admits that it's only a graphic representation. I'm not saying it's not accurate because apparently they do triangulate cameras for the shot but it would be be cool to see a plumb line view from directly above home plate. That probably only works in stadiums where there is at least a portion of a roof directly above home plate. Although I'm all for using new technology and for calling out umpires for channeling Eric Gregg but the photographic geek in me remains sceptical about the 3d accuracy especially if the real appeal to ESPN is that they can just throw shit out there (and use it FOR EVERY FUCKING PITCH) without backing it up.

Oh wait...

[flannj]

This guy is insane. I can't remember a Cub who had his awareness of the strike zone before. It seems the only time he ever Ks is when the ump is clearly wrong.

Speaking of the umps, why does it seem like the umps are wrong so much this year? Are they bad, or it is just noticeable now that we have a team that takes more pitches?

I think it's probably the latter, also I think TV broadcasts use that K zone thing more than ever before and it's more accurate than it used to be, so we see their fuck ups definitively.

On that note, ESPN's new K-zone is the tits.

They can zoom/pan and it stays overlaid right where it should be. I don't know what sort of wizardry they did to make that happen, but it's awesome.

Since the inception of this K zone thing my nitpicking brain has wondered if the depth of home plate is taken into consideration?
The view we see on the screen is two dimensional yet home plate is three dimensional. 17 inches square with two corners cut off. Does the view we see reflect the front of the plate, the middle, the back or some super complex algorithm that encompasses all of its depth? Even though 17 inches isn't that deep I would suspect that there are times when a pitched ball with lots of movement could miss the plate at the front but cross over at the rear or vicey versey. It bugs me and I want answers.

When ESPN does slow motions replays, sometimes they do show an isometric, 3D view of the K Zone...it's cool.

Quick GIS, but...

Couldn't open the image at work so it took me awhile to see your GIS. That is pretty cool but even ESPN admits that it's only a graphic representation. I'm not saying it's not accurate because apparently they do triangulate cameras for the shot but it would be be cool to see a plumb line view from directly above home plate. That probably only works in stadiums where there is at least a portion of a roof directly above home plate. Although I'm all for using new technology and for calling out umpires for channeling Eric Gregg but the photographic geek in me remains sceptical about the 3d accuracy especially if the real appeal to ESPN is that they can just throw shit out there (and use it FOR EVERY FUCKING PITCH) without backing it up.

Oh wait...

DPD

Also, that virtually straight line that represents the flight of the ball?
Fucking ballistics, how do they work?

Gravity's a bitch.
(I'm sure Wheezer will correct me on all of this though)

[Yeti]

This guy is insane. I can't remember a Cub who had his awareness of the strike zone before. It seems the only time he ever Ks is when the ump is clearly wrong.

Speaking of the umps, why does it seem like the umps are wrong so much this year? Are they bad, or it is just noticeable now that we have a team that takes more pitches?

I think it's probably the latter, also I think TV broadcasts use that K zone thing more than ever before and it's more accurate than it used to be, so we see their fuck ups definitively.

On that note, ESPN's new K-zone is the tits.

They can zoom/pan and it stays overlaid right where it should be. I don't know what sort of wizardry they did to make that happen, but it's awesome.

Since the inception of this K zone thing my nitpicking brain has wondered if the depth of home plate is taken into consideration?
The view we see on the screen is two dimensional yet home plate is three dimensional. 17 inches square with two corners cut off. Does the view we see reflect the front of the plate, the middle, the back or some super complex algorithm that encompasses all of its depth? Even though 17 inches isn't that deep I would suspect that there are times when a pitched ball with lots of movement could miss the plate at the front but cross over at the rear or vicey versey. It bugs me and I want answers.

When ESPN does slow motions replays, sometimes they do show an isometric, 3D view of the K Zone...it's cool.

Quick GIS, but...

Couldn't open the image at work so it took me awhile to see your GIS. That is pretty cool but even ESPN admits that it's only a graphic representation. I'm not saying it's not accurate because apparently they do triangulate cameras for the shot but it would be be cool to see a plumb line view from directly above home plate. That probably only works in stadiums where there is at least a portion of a roof directly above home plate. Although I'm all for using new technology and for calling out umpires for channeling Eric Gregg but the photographic geek in me remains sceptical about the 3d accuracy especially if the real appeal to ESPN is that they can just throw shit out there (and use it FOR EVERY FUCKING PITCH) without backing it up.

Oh wait...

DPD

Also, that virtually straight line that represents the flight of the ball?
Fucking ballistics, how do they work?

Gravity's a bitch.
(I'm sure Wheezer will correct me on all of this though)

Only Vicente Padilla throws a ball like this