I can think of fewer causes less worth one's time than saving the HOF Game. Hands across Iceland, perhaps, or the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to E. Coli.

Freak occurrence last night: Pat Burrell AND Ryan Howard hit triples last night. Burrell's was high off the LC wall and bounded away at a crazy angle. There was a lot of laughter in the Phils' dugout. Burrell could have made it standing but I think he slid just so he didn't have to run any more. Howard's had a wicked hook to it and it kept curving away from Ellsbury. It hit off the edge of his glove and by the time they tracked it down Howard steamrolled into third. The sight of Howard rounding second and coming into third when shot from the dugout from behind, is a genuinely scary sight. Once he's moving, he is not the slowest guy around and it's frightful.

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I can think of fewer causes less worth one's time than saving the HOF Game. Hands across Iceland, perhaps, or the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to E. Coli.

I can think of think of fewer efforts more meaningless than complaining about how one guy is wasting his time trying to save something he loves. Posting on a message board, perhaps.

There should be a HOF game at the time of the induction ceremony. There most definitely should be baseball played in Cooperstown during that time frame.

Who plays in that game is of lesser importance.

There should be a HOF game at the time of the induction ceremony. There most definitely should be baseball played in Cooperstown during that time frame.

Who plays in that game is of lesser importance.

Some kind of Town Ball re-enactment would be kind of fun.

3. Alex Gordon's #1 Fan Posted: June 17, 2008 at 10:56 AM (#2822652)
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Take it to the lounge.

I can think of think of fewer efforts more meaningless than complaining about how one guy is wasting his time trying to save something he loves. Posting on a message board, perhaps.

Someone actually loves the HOF Game? Do tell, Captain Sarcasm. I suppose Cooperstown locals do because it helps their economy. I'm here to tell you nobody else gives a ####.

Some kind of Town Ball re-enactment would be kind of fun.

Or Jim Bouton's old-timey re-enactment league. Except they don't want fun, they want major leaguers they can brag about seeing in their little park and folks to spend money in Cooperstown. They won't get either of those without MLB teams.

Someone actually loves the HOF Game? Do tell, Captain Sarcasm. I suppose Cooperstown locals do because it helps their economy. I'm here to tell you nobody else gives a ####.

Wow, you're not coming across as a guy who doesn't give a ####, but someone who is passionate about getting rid of the HOF game. Which is even stranger than passionately supporting it.

What would make too much sense would be an annual Cooperstown game along the lines of the old Cracker Jack Old-Timers. That would actually be interesting and develop its own storylines and annual traditions, as opposed to seeing the B-squads of the Royals and Pirates have at each other. Have Rich Gossage give his speech and then have him go out there and try to pitch to George Brett or Mike Schmidt.

Someone actually loves the HOF Game? Do tell, Captain Sarcasm. I suppose Cooperstown locals do because it helps their economy. I'm here to tell you nobody else gives a ####.

I have a hard time believing that anyone who has been to a HOF Game doesn't love it, but setting aside that argument, is it not sufficient cause to fight for something if it contributes, in fashions entertaining and economic, to an entire community? Good lord, please make a list of things that concern you, Doc, so we can all set our priorities accordingly.

My solution to the Hall of Fame Game is to invite all Major Leaguers to play in a "Barnstorming Game" in October on a scheduled off-day from the post-season. Take the first 30-40 players who respond (presumably from non-playoff teams). Put the players up in the main resort there for the weekend, give them free food, drinks and rounds of golf, then have them play a pick-up game with a casual, nostalgic feel. Have the teams picked and managed by Hall of Famers. (Additionally, I think that it would be cool if, afterwards, the Commissioner ceremoniously stepped in and "fined" all the players some modest amount for participating in "illegal barnstorming," with the proceeds going to the Hall of Fame.)

It's a work-in-progress-in-my-head, but I really love this idea. The number of potential hooks (like abusing the last player picked in some fun way) I think makes this a slam dunk.

Aaron Miles has a career 72 ERA+ and a career 73 OPS+. Is it wrong of me to want an 0-for-4 for a player on my team?

The number of potential hooks (like abusing the last player picked in some fun way) I think makes this a slam dunk.

When the last guy picked comes up to bat, the opposing team gets to play a 10th man in short center.

Schtick, I like your thinking. I would guess you want that game in early October.
But how do avoid the wrath of Hank if one of his players goes down?

But how do avoid the wrath of Hank if one of his players goes down?

I consider this scenario a feature, not a flaw. (Not players going down so much as Hank moaning about the game generally. That's free publicity!)

I think the best day would be the Monday following the start of the LDS, so, yes, early October. This year, that date would also be the last day of the Hall of Fame Fantasy Camp, which I think would make a great send-off perk for the campers as well.

Hall of Fame Fantasy Camp
Yikes. For $8,495, I'd need Alyssa Milano personally instructing me on each of the 7 ways to score from third base.

Wow, you're not coming across as a guy who doesn't give a ####, but someone who is passionate about getting rid of the HOF game. Which is even stranger than passionately supporting it.

Well, if I didn't keep hearing how great it was, I wouldn't care. But today I finally closely read the stuff on that link, and jeez, give me a break. We have to do this so the Cooperstown kids can raise money for a trip to D.C.? How selfish can they get? What about the kids where I live? Can we have an MLB exhibition here so they can take a trip somewhere?

Can we have an MLB exhibition here so they can take a trip somewhere?

Oh, c'mon, Doc. Now you're just being obtuse. What do you suppose the chief industry of Cooperstown is?

Why don't they play one of the minor league All-Star games there? Hell, play three of 'em and make it an Olde Tyme triple-header.

Oh, c'mon, Doc. Now you're just being obtuse. What do you suppose the chief industry of Cooperstown is?

Lying about the origins of the game of baseball?

Lying about the origins of the game of baseball?

Yes, perhaps it is this deception that has led Doc to a life of bitterness and hatred toward things like exhibition baseball games and the education of children.

Hop farming.

I think the best day would be the Monday following the start of the LDS, so, yes, early October.

I like your idea, Shtick, but, um...you do know it gets cold in upstate New York in October, right?

Courtesy of weather.com -- Temps for Oct.
Chances are good for a crisp fall day. I don't know where to find info about chances for snow but I'm guessing it would be freakish for that time of year.

Yes, perhaps it is this deception that has led Doc to a life of bitterness and hatred toward things like exhibition baseball games and the education of children.

YES! 8-)

I like the idea of minor league all-star games there.

I like your idea, Shtick, but, um...you do know it gets cold in upstate New York in October, right?

I do, of course, but if it's not stopping the HOF from holding a fantasy camp at that time, then it shouldn't stop this event. I would guess that it's no colder in Cooperstown in the first week of October than it would be in, say, Yankee Stadium on November 1.

I like the idea of minor league all-star games there.

I do, too, but not as a replacement for the HOF Game. Cooperstown is a close neighbor of Oneonta, which has an Eastern League team. Minor League baseball is not a novelty (or crowd drawer, or revenue generator) in that area like the HOF Game was.

On edit: One should note that Cooperstown is further south than Boston, too.