Author | Lightnews

Ed Sweeney (d.b.a. Knobby Burton) @knobbyburton.bsky.social · 1h

As Phil Collins once said, no more. Good luck Blue Jays/Dodgers fans. Go Jays.

Ed Sweeney (d.b.a. Knobby Burton) @knobbyburton.bsky.social · 2h

I'm watching this stupid baseball game. End! Damn you! this is not fun baseball.

Ed Sweeney (d.b.a. Knobby Burton) @knobbyburton.bsky.social · 2h

i think you're only allowed to throw the last pitch in that situation

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Ed Sweeney (d.b.a. Knobby Burton) @knobbyburton.bsky.social · 2h

Ahoy.

Ed Sweeney (d.b.a. Knobby Burton) @knobbyburton.bsky.social · 2h

No runs scored and game still tied. Excellent. Check back in the morning.

Ed Sweeney (d.b.a. Knobby Burton) @knobbyburton.bsky.social · 2h

Of course fucking Betts gets a single. Two outs bottom 11, runners on 1st and second. dude named Fisher pitching for the Jays.

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Ed Sweeney (d.b.a. Knobby Burton) @knobbyburton.bsky.social · 2h

This dude Fisher is dealing.

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Ed Sweeney (d.b.a. Knobby Burton) @knobbyburton.bsky.social · 3h

'The Desperate Chipper'

That's a funny title for whatever you want. In this case, the phrase was generated from the idea that a Major League Baseball manager once sent a guy (this just happened, now) from first to home after a hit and the poor runner collapsed at home plate and was out.

Ed Sweeney (d.b.a. Knobby Burton) @knobbyburton.bsky.social · 3h

How the fuck do you send a guy like that all the way home. Come on, that's not his place. That poor guy just got fed into the chipper.

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Ed Sweeney (d.b.a. Knobby Burton) @knobbyburton.bsky.social · 3h

Just admonished one of my cats (of two) for not eating the perfectly good dry food in one of the bowls by saying this to her:

"Go on! It's perfectly good. There are kitties out there that would fight for this. You've never even been wet your whole life!"

Readers, she was unconvinced.

Ed Sweeney (d.b.a. Knobby Burton) @knobbyburton.bsky.social · 3h

There's also some drama involved in "awaiting the chains" to determine a first down one way or another. This removes all of that drama. At least most of it. See how they created the video with a slight delay as if a camera were approaching? Like, "oooh, what's happening?" They could cut right to it.

Ed Sweeney (d.b.a. Knobby Burton) @knobbyburton.bsky.social · 3h

I haven't seen it yet - but if I had to predict, this will eventually be something that is sponsored. The NFL will get paid to roll this garbage out with some corporation blasted across the top of the bullshit, computer generated 'recreation'.

I'm not sure time had much to do with it.

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Ed Sweeney (d.b.a. Knobby Burton) @knobbyburton.bsky.social · 3h

That last bit was a joke on how technology never really works in these situations and it only ever creates the need for additional technology to monitor the previous technology to make sure the previous technology isn't incorrect even though itself has another technology on top doing the same for it

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Ed Sweeney (d.b.a. Knobby Burton) @knobbyburton.bsky.social · 4h

Agree on the whole surface having to be covered. At least to, what, a quarter of an inch? But, a-ha! see, there's a gap. Which is why technology doesn't work.

As to when the down or out-of-bounds calls are made, those could be synched up and the data reviewed. Maybe add sensors to Ref's whistles!

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Ed Sweeney (d.b.a. Knobby Burton) @knobbyburton.bsky.social · 4h

The fact that they've introduced a computer generated variation of this post-placement measurement that is likely *LESS* accurate than what they had before is the whole scandal. There is no theoretically logical nor technilogical reason why they needed to introduce this.

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Ed Sweeney (d.b.a. Knobby Burton) @knobbyburton.bsky.social · 4h

That was the whole premise of my original post/rant on this. The problem was never with the chain system - it was always, and may always be, with the physical placement of the ball, on the physical field, by the physical human referee. That's the root cause of inaccurate first down calls.

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Ed Sweeney (d.b.a. Knobby Burton) @knobbyburton.bsky.social · 4h

Right. But that's the whole problem right there. The chains were a perfectly legitimate, mathematically accurate (within parameters) method. They had the sideline markers, pinched the chain, brought it out along a perpendicular line, and transferred the measurment to the middle of the field.

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Ed Sweeney (d.b.a. Knobby Burton) @knobbyburton.bsky.social · 4h

Baseball is a much more fun game to watch when everyone's not just waiting for a home run.

I'm glad I cut my teeth on baseball in the 70s and 80s when the little things mattered. HRs are exciting but double plays are fun. Infield singles are fun. Singles up the middle to move a baserunner are fun.

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Ed Sweeney (d.b.a. Knobby Burton) @knobbyburton.bsky.social · 4h

I read somewhere that 'Boudreau' is French for 'James', so...

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Ed Sweeney (d.b.a. Knobby Burton) @knobbyburton.bsky.social · 4h

Well done.

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Ed Sweeney (d.b.a. Knobby Burton) @knobbyburton.bsky.social · 4h

Ha... I see what you're saying. Yeah, who knows!? I mean, who knows how legit any of this is anymore. Greed is a corrosive element.

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Ed Sweeney (d.b.a. Knobby Burton) @knobbyburton.bsky.social · 4h

Yeah, it's what they use for those cute little videos with the player and ball dots 'running' the play. I like those. But if the accuracy isn't there, it's useless for this particular issue - spotting first downs! Which is how we got here.

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Ed Sweeney (d.b.a. Knobby Burton) @knobbyburton.bsky.social · 4h

I'd be less concerned with this. It could be closed circuit within the stadium or something. I'm just spitballing here, I have no technical background but hopefully you know what I'm getting at. Not saying it's not possible but it would be low on the risk list for me.

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Ed Sweeney (d.b.a. Knobby Burton) @knobbyburton.bsky.social · 4h

Right. It's tricky for sure. A running back (or anyone running with the ball) usually holds it short-way perpendicular to the field - the fat middle of the ball facing the end zone. No one runs with the point of the ball facing north-south. So, the fat part could pass the marker but not the ends.

Ed Sweeney (d.b.a. Knobby Burton) @knobbyburton.bsky.social · 4h

Absolutely. In some way, I think going back to 100% human is the way to go. Well, maybe not with all this recent gambling nonsense. But, practically, yes - it's the way to go. Because unless they're willing to do absolutely everything possible with the technology, it's not much of an improvement.

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