tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188749836930008240.post9140715690999625807..comments2024-03-11T08:27:47.879-07:00Comments on Meschery's Musings on Sports, Literature and Life: Stolen Base Gone like the DinasaurTom Mescheryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08728515431034043832noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188749836930008240.post-75709961013512840812018-10-03T11:41:48.002-07:002018-10-03T11:41:48.002-07:00Fielders, not pitchers were supposed to get outs w...Fielders, not pitchers were supposed to get outs when the game was created, balls were supposed to be put into play. I liked that version of the game better than the "homer or strike out"version. And it's a lot harder to steal against a guy throwing a 95 mph fastball than against a guy with a Frank Tannana curve.Rich Engleharthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16672653159508068524noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188749836930008240.post-51514344640843489582018-08-26T13:53:41.025-07:002018-08-26T13:53:41.025-07:00In baseball the game has been reduced to walks, st...In baseball the game has been reduced to walks, strikeouts, and home runs. The ball put in play (the poetry of the game) has been diminished. Has the same thing happened to basketball? The NBA used to flow like jazz players improvising off each other. Now you can either have the three pointer off a pick or a dunk (or layup) off a pick. The two point shot (the equivalent of baseball's ball in play) is no more. Farewell to ebb and flow of ball movement, surgical passing, the ignition of the outlet pass, the thrill of the fast break, posting up, the yeoman's work of offensive rebounding, and centers restoring order after the lane has been lawlessly violated. The dunk (just a layup with an exclamation point usually) is basketball's home run. Once majestic and now so common as to produce a yawn. I love both sports, I respect the athletes and their abilities, but I say both games have had their artistry very much reduced. DTB-56https://www.blogger.com/profile/09249274624852764515noreply@blogger.com