Statements posted here are those of our readers and do not represent the BaseballThinkFactory. Names are provided by the poster and are not verified. We ask that posters follow our submission policy. Please report any inappropriate comments.
I was going to suggest that at the first sign of a visiting pitcher being in trouble, the home fans all need to start making calls to flood the network except that so few of them would probably be T-Mob subscribers that it still won't swamp their nearest cell site.
2.Matthew E posted on January 09, 2013 at 10:17 AM #hit 0 | hit 0
There can't possibly be an advantage to this. The dugout doesn't move around. Neither does the bullpen. So the ability to carry the things wherever you go doesn't factor into it. How could cellphones, be they never so awesome, outperform a dedicated landline? Or do they figure Girardi's going to be playing Angry Birds on the thing while Rivera warms up?
There can't possibly be an advantage to this. The dugout doesn't move around. Neither does the bullpen. So the ability to carry the things wherever you go doesn't factor into it.
Can the phone be brought to the pitcher's mound by the manager when he's out there delaying the game to let the reliever get a few more warmup pitches in?
8.Dale Sams posted on January 09, 2013 at 10:36 AM #hit 0 | hit 0
I look forward to the top ten highlight of a manager borrowing a cellphone from someone in the crowd when the dugout phone doesn't work.
Dugout: Get rivera UPTOWNGIRL
Dugout: Sorry, autocorrect
Bullpen: LOL
11.morineko posted on January 09, 2013 at 10:50 AM #hit 0 | hit 0
It's a sponsorship deal, sure, but it also looks like an interesting new technology. The system this is supposed to run on is geographically limited (so if the phones move a certain distance from their base stations, they stop working) and running on a different part of the wireless network from ordinary mobile traffic. I can see where this would be marketed for use in other situations and I'm interested to find out more about it as it is used (that isn't marketing puffery)
12.tshipman posted on January 09, 2013 at 11:19 AM #hit 0 | hit 0
If you're going to chase stupid corporate tie-ins, and I think we can all agree that MLB is going to continue doing this, then these are kinds of stupid corporate tie-ins to chase.
It does no actual harm to the game, and makes people extra money.
Dugout: Get rivera UPTOWNGIRL
Dugout: Sorry, autocorrect
Bullpen: LOL
This would have given TLR a bit more cover during the 2011 WS.
TLR: Warm up Restitution.
TLR: Warm up Renaissance.
TLR: Dammit. Warm up Retribution.
TLR: Damn autocorrect. Warm up Marc R. The lefty.
14.Matthew E posted on January 09, 2013 at 11:25 AM #hit 0 | hit 0
If you're going to chase stupid corporate tie-ins, and I think we can all agree that MLB is going to continue doing this, then these are kinds of stupid corporate tie-ins to chase.
It does no actual harm to the game, and makes people extra money.
Yeah, until Joe Maddon can't get a signal, and has to call for Fernando Rodney with Connie-Mack-like hand signals, and they get it wrong, and lose a game because Reid Brignac had to pitch to David Ortiz with the bases loaded in the ninth.
Yeah, until Joe Maddon can't get a signal, and has to call for Fernando Rodney with Connie-Mack-like hand signals, and they get it wrong, and lose a game because Reid Brignac had to pitch to David Ortiz with the bases loaded in the ninth.
The system this is supposed to run on is geographically limited (so if the phones move a certain distance from their base stations, they stop working) and running on a different part of the wireless network from ordinary mobile traffic.
Also geographically limited and not running on the network of ordinary mobile traffic: land lines.
The land line is one of the most dependable technologies ever invented, or at least it seems to me.
It was lousy and unreliable for a long time, and even after AT&T and others telcos made it function well in the West it continued to be crap in most of the world all the way until it became obsolete.
It does no actual harm to the game, and makes people extra money.
No harm to the game on the field, but I'm not particularly looking forward to every single pitching change being turned into a commercial for T-Mobile as the result of a manager's "T-Mobile call to the bullpen."
No harm to the game on the field, but I'm not particularly looking forward to every single pitching change being turned into a commercial for T-Mobile as the result of a manager's "T-Mobile call to the bullpen."
Watch them put a femtocell in the clubhouse and one in the bullpen to ensure 100% coverage and no dropped calls. That essentially makes it a cordless phone.
Amazing! Next thing you know, they'll have long-distance wireless transmission of high-quality audio, and they'll use it to broadcast unique genre-specific playlists curated by knowledgeable professionals.
The Braves already have the Verizon Wireless call-to-the-bullpen. I guess now it will be the Verizon Wireless call to the bullpen, brought to you by T-Mobile.
If this ends with a moment like Ozzie Guillen making the "get me the big fat guy" gesture during the 2005 World Series for Jenks I'm Ok with it.
Reid Brignac had to pitch to David Ortiz with the bases loaded in the ninth.
Recent history of left-handed Red Sox sluggers against position players pitching in key spots is not that encouraging.
29.Gamingboy posted on January 09, 2013 at 12:44 PM #hit 0 | hit 0
Jim Leyland will think it witchcraft and refuse to touch it.
30.bunyon posted on January 09, 2013 at 12:44 PM #hit 0 | hit 0
Was there a rule against using cell phones for this before? I mean, the players have their phones and often text/tweet during games. Surely someone in the dugout has the number of someone in the bullpen and could maintain contact that way long before this deal.
Why are there four phones in the picture? If I recall the previous setup they had one phone and a series of different numbers used for contacting other different phones.
Amazing! Next thing you know, they'll have long-distance wireless transmission of high-quality audio, and they'll use it to broadcast unique genre-specific playlists curated by knowledgeable professionals.
They could probably find professionals working the corner, that are more knowledgeable that the ones they are currently employing.
Was there a rule against using cell phones for this before? I mean, the players have their phones and often text/tweet during games. Surely someone in the dugout has the number of someone in the bullpen and could maintain contact that way long before this deal.
AFAIK by rule, there are no electronic devices in the dugout.
I haven't read the article, and the comment above MAY have been in jest, but the question I want to know is... can the manager, pitchign coach, whatever, take the phone with him onto the field? Can they call the bullpen or bench or trainer's room or their bookies or wherever from the mound?
I can't be the only person who immediately thought "I can't wait to see Charlie Manuel trying to use a smartphone". Unfortunately it appears that the cell phone use is optional so he probably will stick with the landline.
"And Maddon is up in the dugout, looks like he's headed for the phone, and that'll be it for McGee. No, he's going to the clubhouse to take a leak."
"Wait, it looks like he's made the pitching change WHILE taking a leak."
It was lousy and unreliable for a long time, and even after AT&T and others telcos made it function well in the West it continued to be crap in most of the world all the way until it became obsolete.
Wait, what? Are you saying the telephone as we knew it was lousy and unreliable? Obligatory
Reader Comments and Retorts
Go to end of page
Statements posted here are those of our readers and do not represent the BaseballThinkFactory. Names are provided by the poster and are not verified. We ask that posters follow our submission policy. Please report any inappropriate comments.
1. Pat Rapper's Delight posted on January 09, 2013 at 10:08 AM # hit 0 | hit 0No, but there is sponsorship money to be gained.
And if I know ballplayers, they will spend most of their time sexting girls in the stands.
Dugout: Sorry, autocorrect
Bullpen: LOL
It does no actual harm to the game, and makes people extra money.
This would have given TLR a bit more cover during the 2011 WS.
TLR: Warm up Restitution.
TLR: Warm up Renaissance.
TLR: Dammit. Warm up Retribution.
TLR: Damn autocorrect. Warm up Marc R. The lefty.
It's too bad Sam Fuld was unavaialble.
Also geographically limited and not running on the network of ordinary mobile traffic: land lines.
It was lousy and unreliable for a long time, and even after AT&T and others telcos made it function well in the West it continued to be crap in most of the world all the way until it became obsolete.
No harm to the game on the field, but I'm not particularly looking forward to every single pitching change being turned into a commercial for T-Mobile as the result of a manager's "T-Mobile call to the bullpen."
They already are for many teams/broadcasts.
Lester S.: LMAO
Dale S.: Im SRS
Lester S.: 4 realz?
The Braves already have the Verizon Wireless call-to-the-bullpen. I guess now it will be the Verizon Wireless call to the bullpen, brought to you by T-Mobile.
Recent history of left-handed Red Sox sluggers against position players pitching in key spots is not that encouraging.
They could probably find professionals working the corner, that are more knowledgeable that the ones they are currently employing.
AFAIK by rule, there are no electronic devices in the dugout.
Anybody else read this as "Major League Baseball dumps land mines..."?
"Wait, it looks like he's made the pitching change WHILE taking a leak."
So when a manager gets pissed and slams one into the ground shattering it into many pieces he has a backup.
Wait, what? Are you saying the telephone as we knew it was lousy and unreliable? Obligatory
Depends on if Ozzie Guillen gets another job.
You must be Registered and Logged In to post comments.