Batter's Box Interactive Magazine Batter's Box Interactive Magazine Batter's Box Interactive Magazine
Spring training is finally over, as the Blue Jays (and most other teams) start the regular season today. And there was much rejoicing.

Spring training at Batter’s Box is over, too. We’ve worked out the kinks in the new Box 3.0, and we’re ready to start a brand new regular season with higher-quality content than ever before. To that end, today we’re releasing and implementing new Guidelines for our Game Threads.

These Game Thread Guidelines are meant to ensure that we have solid, professional records of each of the Jays’ 162 games this year. We have two goals in mind:

1. We want to ensure that the Game Threads provide excellent material from which the next day’s Game Report can be drawn.

2. We want to ensure that the Game Threads, like any other thread here at Batter’s Box, can be read coherently and enjoyably after the fact.

Here’s how we envision the Game Threads – imagine that each participant in the Thread is a spectator in a private box at Rogers Center. It’s a group of knowledgeable fans making insightful comments to each other while enjoying the play on the field below (and maybe a few brewskis and chicken wings while they're at it). The transcript from a gathering like that would give the reader insight into how the game progressed, what were the key developments, etc.

Alternatively, as a Game Thread participant, you could imagine you’re recording an audition tape to become a colour analyst on Jays’ broadcasts. In that situation, you’d want to contribute meaningful and interesting comments, to show your knowledge of the team and of the game. Do you have what it takes to provide analysis next to Jamie Campbell in the Sportsnet booth? That’s what the threads would be like.

Equally importantly, there are certain things we don’t want to see in the Game Threads anymore.

1. No play-by-play. During spring training, when broadcasts were few and far between, it was good having someone supply summaries of the action. But with the arrival of the regular season, most games will be televised and all of them will be on radio; for those without TV or radio, MLB GameDay Netcasts supply the action. So the Game Threads don’t need constant updates on the action or announcements of the facts like “Strike three swinging!” or “He’s outta there!” Remember, you’re playing Warren Sawkiw, not Jerry Howarth.

2. No rants about players or coaches. As fans, naturally it’s disappointing to us when Koskie grounds into a double play or Frasor walks in the tying run. But remember, you’re supposed to be an analyst. You don’t hear Pat Tabler say stuff like “Aw, dammit, Hinske! Another strikeout!” If you want to be a Game Thread participant, you need to check your rabid fandom at the front door and bring an even-tempered approach to the game. You can (and should) still root for the Jays if you like, but you have to do it in a professional manner.

3. No text-messaging comments. You know what we mean. This isn’t a chat room or an IM exchange; you’re presenting ideas to an audience of readers. We’re not expecting you to run every sentence through Strunk & White, necessarily, but we do expect a minimum level of literacy: no sentence fragments, no continuous misspelling of players’ names (even Schoeneweis gets easier to spell with repetition), no consistently lazy approaches to writing.

4. No arguments without backup. If you post an opinion or argument in a Batter’s Box thread, you’re expected to back it up. You’re entitled to feel strongly that JP Ricciardi should be fired for incompetence, but unless you have good reasons to back up a statement that strong, expect to get a lot of static; if you do it consistently, expect to hear from us. We welcome all viewpoints regarding the Jays, both positive and negative, but you need to give good reasons and defend them capably, just like anywhere else.

The Good
So here are some examples of Game Thread entries we’d like to see:

- Doc really has the curveball working today. That third strike to Sheffield dropped like a stone out of the strike zone.

- Great positioning by the O-Dog on that double play! He was already cheating towards second base as the pitch was coming.

- What was Gibbons thinking? This is exactly the situation when you pinch-hit for John MacDonald, especially against a lefty.

- Hillenbrand just looks lost at the plate. He doesn’t seem to be ready to attack the ball. No wonder he’s 0 for his last 13.

The Bad
And here are some examples of Game Thread entries we don’t want to see:

- 2-2 pitch to Adams, grounded to Jeter, one away.

- Stinske you idiot! Choked in the clutch agan! (Note: snarky, juvenile nicknames for players really annoy us)

- why doesnt gibbons use schonwies here. you got a loogy in the pen then use him!

- This team is going nowehere, another loss to the rays. trade batista now!!!!!!!!!

Remember, today’s Game Threads form the basis for tomorrow’s Game Reports. And the Game Report writer will be using material gleaned from the Game Thread, including insightful and timely comments from Bauxites. If you’d like to see your name and comment featured in the Game Report, the best way to do it is to show up and make useful, interesting, analytical or even just plain funny comments.

Bauxites have shown they can deliver these kinds of insights, and we’re going to ensure that such contributions are the norm, not the exception. So we will be enforcing these Guidelines, with gradually increasing degrees of firmness. And it should go without saying that these Guidelines apply to all Batter's Box threads, not just the Game Threads.

Why these Guidelines? It’s pretty simple: Batter’s Box users have come to expect a high minimum threshold of commentary, insight and content from the Batter’s Box roster. We expect the same from our users. Remember what we said when we launched Box 3.0?

What we want is a constructive, literate, intelligent environment that's interesting, insightful and fun, and we're going to do our best to hold everyone to it.

That’s the story, right there. We look forward to your continued participation at and contribution to Batter’s Box Game Threads under these Guidelines. Questions or comments can be sent here. Play ball!

A Whole New Ballgame: Guidelines for Game Threads | 51 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
Gerry - Monday, April 04 2005 @ 12:01 PM EDT (#108902) #
Excellent guidelines Jordan, these should make the game threads more informative. This way the threads will be read, as opposed to skipping over them.
Four Seamer - Monday, April 04 2005 @ 12:05 PM EDT (#108903) #
I second Gerry's enthusiasm for the excellent new guidelines. I hope they're respected by one and all.
Mike Green - Monday, April 04 2005 @ 12:09 PM EDT (#108904) #
Please remember the bullpen thread, which will be posted bi-weekly, and which will have brief comments by me before each game. If you have an incisive thought about the use of the bullpen during the game, it would be great if you could post it in the bullpen thread.
John Northey - Monday, April 04 2005 @ 12:51 PM EDT (#108906) #
Good guidelines but a couple caught me as odd.

What was Gibbons thinking? This is exactly the situation when you pinch-hit for John MacDonald, especially against a lefty.

why doesnt gibbons use schonwies here. you got a loogy in the pen then use him!

One of these was 'good' and one was 'bad'. Very similar comments though. Both wonder why Gibbons didn't do something, both are about replacing a player during a game. Neither is the nicest tone, but I don't see either being out of line. Better wording for the second might be 'Why is Schonwies not pitching against xxx? He is the loogy so he shouldn't be sitting when a leftie is hitting this late in the game.' but I still don't see it as out of line.
Named For Hank - Monday, April 04 2005 @ 01:02 PM EDT (#108907) #
I believe the second was an example of a poorly-written comment, not an unwelcome sentiment.
Jordan - Monday, April 04 2005 @ 01:10 PM EDT (#108910) #
John, NFH has it right. I intentionally used two complimentary and two critical examples in the "good" section, because there's no stricture against complaining about the Jays' players, coaches or front office at Batter's Box -- we do a fair bit of that ourselves. The strictures are against illiteracy, whining, kneejerk criticisms and mean-spiritedness.
Coach - Monday, April 04 2005 @ 01:26 PM EDT (#108911) #
Right on, Jordan. Good friends "discussing" baseball in my virtual living room was the original intent of this site, so the private Box analogy is perfect.

Another suggestion that may help our members adhere to these excellent guidelines: if you wouldn't offer your criticism of a player, manager, executive or media personality in a face-to-face conversation, it's inappropriate here. If I ask "what was Gibby thinking?" in a game thread, you can be sure it's a "first-guess" question I wouldn't hesitate to ask him in a scrum, not an emotional fan's immediate reaction to a move that for whatever reason, didn't work.

Stream-of-consciousness venting may be acceptable on lots of other forums. We're just asking people to think (and preview) before they post. In closing, here's something I've wanted to say for a long time:

Play ball!






NickOfTime - Monday, April 04 2005 @ 01:29 PM EDT (#108912) #
Hey, new name here. I posted as "DocHalladay" and then "Nick" infrequently over this past summer, but I plan on posting more now. Thanks for the excellent guidelines, Jordan. I will try to adhere to them.
Mylegacy - Monday, April 04 2005 @ 01:43 PM EDT (#108914) #
Jordan, if we stick to the rules this should be a great fun year!

Gentlemen, play ball!
BCMike - Monday, April 04 2005 @ 02:03 PM EDT (#108917) #
Are we allowed to talk about other games, or other things that are going on in MLB, within the game threads?
jsut - Monday, April 04 2005 @ 02:07 PM EDT (#108918) #

- Doc really has the curveball working today. That third strike to Sheffield dropped like a stone out of the strike zone.

- Great positioning by the O-Dog on that double play! He was already cheating towards second base as the pitch was coming.

It seems pretty unlikely that someone who is actually going to see the game to observe something like this is going to run to the computer to post about it. Unless of course they are watching MLB.tv and switching back and forth to BB at the same time.

These guidelines almost seem like they are trying to remove the game from the game thread in a way. I liked looking back on them with the PBP included because I could actually figure out at what point in the game one of the more profound insights might have been posted. But I guess as long as there is enough "colour" game related posts you'll still be able to tell where things are at. Just have to wait and see I guess.

Mick Doherty - Monday, April 04 2005 @ 02:08 PM EDT (#108919) #
BCMike, think of it this way ... if you were sitting between Coach and Jordan at a bar watching the game, would you say it?

I think you want to stay on-topic with *baseball* (e.g. no "Didja see the new Star Wars movie yet? Harry Potter fans suck!" comments) but the ebb and flow of baseball really almost requires tangents. If I see Gross is ocming to the plate in the ninth with three homers already, I might mention Mark Whiten or Bob Horner, sure. Or if the Astros give up and trade Clemens back to the Yankees for Tanyon Sturtze while the game is going on, that seems worth mentioning.

Even the odd pop culture reference, as long as the baseball tangent is still there, seems likely to be appropriate -- or else, how would Moffatt participate?
robertdudek - Monday, April 04 2005 @ 02:11 PM EDT (#108921) #
Unless it is very important and breaking news that no one has yet mentioned, it should not be posted on game threads. We are going to make every effort to keep each thread on topic.

There should be roundup threads the next day, in which important news of all kinds may be discussed.
robertdudek - Monday, April 04 2005 @ 02:14 PM EDT (#108922) #
Speaking personally, I don't like posting while I am watching a game, unless it is at commercial time. It prevents me from focusing on the game.

Skills - Monday, April 04 2005 @ 02:18 PM EDT (#108923) #
This is only slightly unrelated, but will we be seeing lyrics accompanying the game reports as we did last season? I really miss the joy of seeing cuttlefish, millions of points, and various other things being awarded.
Pepper Moffatt - Monday, April 04 2005 @ 02:31 PM EDT (#108925) #
Did you see how mad Hinske looked after that called third strike? It was like XTC's Andy Partridge from the video for Dear God!
Pistol - Monday, April 04 2005 @ 02:40 PM EDT (#108927) #
It seems pretty unlikely that someone who is actually going to see the game to observe something like this is going to run to the computer to post about it.

I think you'd be surprised. I believe a majority of the comments in the past game threads came from people that were actually watching the game. I know when I'm at my computer I'm able to watch TV at the same time.

The other thing you could do if you want to know when it happened is give the timing of the play. For instance:

Bottom 3rd: Great positioning by the O-Dog on that double play! He was already cheating towards second base as the pitch was coming.

Bottom 7th: Doc's at 110 pitches and is getting to the heart of the order, Gibby should bring in League here.

King Ryan - Monday, April 04 2005 @ 02:40 PM EDT (#108928) #
I'm pleased with the guidelines, especially the first one. I was hoping the PBP would end with Spring, and now it has to. I don't really have a problem with the rules specifically, but in general I hope they don't take away the fun that game threads were last year.

Also, I would suggest that a link to this thread is posted at the start of every game thread. You know how people are.
Ron - Monday, April 04 2005 @ 02:45 PM EDT (#108929) #
Hopefully the game threads are still fun with the new rules in place.

I personally prefer a more relaxed atmosphere.

Can't wait for the season to start!
A - Monday, April 04 2005 @ 02:51 PM EDT (#108930) #
Thanks, Jordan et al., these are a welcomed addition!

I really enjoyed the banter during game threads in the "pre-million hits" era but I've been less and less frequent here since, as the signal/noise ratio slipped considerably. However, with the addition of the registration system and hopefully these guidelines, things are looking up...The only thing still missing is consistent commentary from Coach.

Cheers to a new season!
Mick Doherty - Monday, April 04 2005 @ 02:58 PM EDT (#108931) #
You guys still haven't figured out that Coach has been posting all along under the pseudonym "Magpie," huh?
Tyler - Monday, April 04 2005 @ 03:08 PM EDT (#108935) #
You guys still haven't figured out that Coach has been posting all along under the pseudonym "Magpie," huh?

Mindboggling, for many reasons, if true. I can't seem to find any Magpie activity from before October though, which is roughly when Coach seemed to disappear.

mp - Monday, April 04 2005 @ 03:11 PM EDT (#108936) #
Long time lurker, first time poster.

Being based in the UK, I don't get to see the games at all and am rarely awake to follow them on gameday. The next best thing has always been to work my way through the gamethread while eating breakfast the next morning! So while I fully agree with the new guidelines, please don't take too much of the game description out of the threads - for some of us it's the closest we get to being there.
subculture - Monday, April 04 2005 @ 03:20 PM EDT (#108938) #
That's another consideration. I'm based in Toronto now, but for a while I was in Hong Kong and enjoyed reading these threads for pbp as well as commentary.

Perhaps it's not eliminating pbp that we need, maybe it's eliminating bad, non-descriptive, redundant and inconsistent pbp?

Ideally, one qualified person could be assigned to do pbp in a concise and accurate manner... of course, I'm probably dreaming...
A - Monday, April 04 2005 @ 03:27 PM EDT (#108940) #
<i>Ideally, one qualified person could be assigned to do pbp in a concise and accurate manner... of course, I'm probably dreaming...</i>

It's called ESPN =)

Seriously though, people get paid to do that so I think it's way above and beyond the volunteer service that the Roster members here already dedicate to improving the way we interact in this setting. Plus, is there really a point in redundantly typing what already exists in ESPN's game logs?
Petey Baseball - Monday, April 04 2005 @ 03:41 PM EDT (#108943) #
Wow its nice to hear Tom, but it pains me to hear him struggling to get words out....:( Get better soon, Tom.
binnister - Monday, April 04 2005 @ 03:44 PM EDT (#108945) #
Plus, is there really a point in redundantly typing what already exists in ESPN's game logs?

One-stop shopping.

I'm sure that there are many people (including myself) that come to da Box first thing every morning. If I can get 'everything' I need here (with in reason), there's no need for me to scoot off to other (albeit, inferior) sites to get the stuff I can't get.

Of course, if you could automate the adding of the current game score with each posting (in the header), you could have a built-in pbp.

(Probably a lot of work. Don't know how fesible that is.)

BCMike - Monday, April 04 2005 @ 03:50 PM EDT (#108948) #
Personally I think pbp clutters up the thread too much and makes actual discussion difficult. I would think that short inning summaries would be a better alternative to pbp.
Andrew K - Monday, April 04 2005 @ 03:54 PM EDT (#108950) #
I hope the box isn't going to be less fun in its new guise. It seems to have lost a lot of focus (where to post roundup-type links? when is the last "hijack"-style thread? what happened to the fun quizzes?).

I'd also like to have something like pbp, but not that much detail, because I can't watch the evening games live in my timezone, and I don't always have time to watch the game on archive the next day. Last year, I would scan through the game thread which would give me a great idea of how the game went as it happened -- "Woodward hits a grand slam!" tells me what happened at the key point of the game, the highs and lows. It's very different from reading a game report, and it's also very different from a dry pbp.

And I hope the game reports will be fully annotated with links, a la old-style roundup. Those are what made the box uniquely good for the morning coffee: one place to get a link to everything you want to read each day.
A - Monday, April 04 2005 @ 04:00 PM EDT (#108953) #
"One-stop shopping." (binnister)

No one's selling anything here. This is a peña. And, frankly, when we all show up here and cause the bandwidth to increase, we're only increasing the costs to Joe (or whoever is hosting the site). No one's making money off of this place so the only thing that matters is an exchange of ideas/opinions.

ESPN, Yahoo!, and who knows how many others do some version of a game log. So I think the question still stands: why would a group of volunteers who evidently have no intention of turning the site into a profit-driven venture, take on the monumental task of providing PBP coverage? To be blunt, why should the Roster care that you have to strain yourself by going to two sites in one morning?
Andrew K - Monday, April 04 2005 @ 04:10 PM EDT (#108954) #
Does anyone know the attendance figure for the game? The stadium looks half empty, as far as I've seen on the mlb.tv broadcast (alas, the away team). Sad for opening day.
Nolan - Monday, April 04 2005 @ 04:17 PM EDT (#108956) #
So is this thread the "official" game thread for today? Or will a new thread be created?

On a different note, the singer of the Star-Spangled Banner was pretty good.
Jordan - Monday, April 04 2005 @ 04:18 PM EDT (#108957) #
The official Opening Day Game Thread is up! Check it out on the front page now.
Petey Baseball - Monday, April 04 2005 @ 04:19 PM EDT (#108958) #
Andrew

Sure is pretty sad buddy. Half full for opening day. It would make it pretty depressing to be a Ray fan. I guess it shows that despite Toronto's lack of support, it is much much better than the Rays.
Mick Doherty - Monday, April 04 2005 @ 04:23 PM EDT (#108964) #
Please note that while spring training was somewhat different, during the regular season, unapproved running PBP is also potentially worth the notice of radio and TV stations who can invoke the "without express written consent" clause and shut down the site. The ROI ain't worth the risk.
Tyler - Monday, April 04 2005 @ 04:36 PM EDT (#108989) #
Please note that while spring training was somewhat different, during the regular season, unapproved running PBP is also potentially worth the notice of radio and TV stations who can invoke the "without express written consent" clause and shut down the site. The ROI ain't worth the risk.

I really don't care about the PBP one way or the other, so I'm happy to defer to the Roster here. I'm curious though, is this the official Batters Box legal position?

Willy - Monday, April 04 2005 @ 05:44 PM EDT (#109059) #
O.K., I'm happy with the guidelines. But I do have a query. Who exactly is this Roster that is from time to time invoked? Does everybody reading this know who "Coach" is? Or "Magpie", or the warm-and-fuzzy "A"? We've all registered, and you have our e-mail addresses. How about some reciprocal provision of information about the people who are calling the shots here? (If I'm a visitor in your living room, am I there under sufferance; or am I welcomed with genuine hospitality?)
Mick Doherty - Monday, April 04 2005 @ 06:42 PM EDT (#109110) #
Willy, for the Roster, it's all here:
http://www.battersbox.ca/staticpages/index.php?page=roster

For the regular users, just click on their name above a comment to see what, if any, information they have provided about themselves.
Keith Talent - Monday, April 04 2005 @ 07:14 PM EDT (#109126) #
STINSKE

I just Searched the Box for this term and I'm the only one to have ever used it. But it was for a newspaper headline, where childish funs are part of the pun. (What!?)

Here here to banning play-by-play and IM and Asianflow.

Hinske looks good. At first and at the plate. I saw him right from his first spring training game and he looked really comfortable at first. I think that throw across the diamond really psyched him out and was on his mind more than it should have been, was sabotaging his overall play.
Rob - Monday, April 04 2005 @ 07:16 PM EDT (#109127) #
Willy, for the Roster, it's all here

Well...not every Roster member is listed there. :)

Willy - Monday, April 04 2005 @ 08:16 PM EDT (#109141) #
"Willy, for the Roster, it's all here:
http://www.battersbox.ca/staticpages/index.php?page=roster";

O.K., thanks, Mick. I didn't know that page existed in this new version of Da Box. (But, as Rob points out, it hasn't been updated to include the new members of The Box.) It's too bad, too, that postings from the earlier versions can't be archived here.

I like to know something about the people running the site--helps me to have a better sense of what sort of "community" this is, if it is one. Of the people I've checked, Moffatt and Mick are to be applauded for the fullness of the information offered. (Moffatt, may the fates save your soul, man: working on a degree in *marketing*--'tis the devil's work!)
Named For Hank - Monday, April 04 2005 @ 08:28 PM EDT (#109145) #
where to post roundup-type links?

In the newest Game Report thread.

Jonny German - Monday, April 04 2005 @ 09:19 PM EDT (#109156) #
It's too bad, too, that postings from the earlier versions can't be archived here.

Joe and Gwyn did a fabulous job bringing everything over, Willy. Is there something in particular you can't find? Have you tried the "advanced search" tool which is found below the Hot Topics list?
Mick Doherty - Monday, April 04 2005 @ 09:30 PM EDT (#109162) #
Well...not every Roster member is listed there. :)

Shut up, rookie. You haven't earned your varsity letter yet. Go get me a doughnut.

Magpie - Monday, April 04 2005 @ 09:59 PM EDT (#109167) #
I can't seem to find any Magpie activity from before October though, which is roughly when Coach seemed to disappear.

Coach and I were in the same room today, sitting at the Hard Rock. There were many witnesses. All of them will say Coach is the one who still has his hair...

Shut up, rookie.

Is that any way to talk to a young Bill Simmons?

Uh-oh. Think I just hung one right over the heart of the plate...

Named For Hank - Monday, April 04 2005 @ 10:11 PM EDT (#109170) #
From what I remember, the hazing was actually quite pleasant. Aside from some carpet burn, I had no injuries to speak of.
Pepper Moffatt - Monday, April 04 2005 @ 10:44 PM EDT (#109177) #
Marketing?!? I wish. They have much better looking women.

I'm in Management Science, which is a lot of really technical business type stuff like inventory re-ordering policy, what prices to sell your goods at, how to decide how many tellers to open up in a store at a given time. Stuff like that. Actually much more interesting than it sounds. Plus it pays really well. :)
Willy - Monday, April 04 2005 @ 11:11 PM EDT (#109180) #
"Marketing?!? I wish. They have much better looking women.

I'm in Management Science, which is a lot of really technical business type stuff like inventory re-ordering policy, what prices to sell your goods at, how to decide how many tellers to open up in a store at a given time. Stuff like that. Actually much more interesting than it sounds. Plus it pays really well. :)"

My mistake, Pepper. On the other hand, from the comments on women and salary your soul is obviously still in peril. *Anyone* at Ivey has placed their soul in jeopardy, surely? :)
Willy - Monday, April 04 2005 @ 11:19 PM EDT (#109181) #
'It's too bad, too, that postings from the earlier versions can't be archived here.'

"Joe and Gwyn did a fabulous job bringing everything over, Willy. Is there something in particular you can't find? Have you tried the "advanced search" tool which is found below the Hot Topics list?"

Yes, I think they did, too, Jonny. I haven't tried the "advanced search" tool yet. I suppose my comment was prompted by noticing that the lists of our posts all seem to begin when this version began. But it's clear that I'm still finding my way around this new arrangement. I like it, and wasn't really complaining--just expressing a mild regret (which may, in any case, be misplaced. I'm still poking around.)

If I wanted to find all the comments made in The Box about, say, Jeff Burroughs, could I do so--or would I be able to search only among posts made in this version? Not a big deal, just something I noticed.
Rob - Monday, April 04 2005 @ 11:32 PM EDT (#109187) #
Go get me a doughnut.

Only because you spelled it the right way.

Joe - Monday, April 04 2005 @ 11:55 PM EDT (#109192) #
You can search the contents of all comments and stories from the beginning of time. Not all comments are associated with the correct account, although in theory I can manually fix that. If you're interested, e-mail me with the name of your current and past Batter's Box aliases, and I'll see what I can do.
A Whole New Ballgame: Guidelines for Game Threads | 51 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.