Should we hint at minor league no-hitters?

[Mass Haas]

I am not a superstitious sort, I'm of the Jim Powell school -- don't worry about jinxing it, discuss it freely -- and on Friday night hinted that folks should check out (and hopefully tune in to) the West Virginia broadcast and Mike McClendon's herculean effort. Personally, I did not come out and say the words "no-hitter" (which personally I think is silly).

 

It's my opinion that if our readers have the opportunity to listen to the tail end of possible history live, that they should know about it. I would imagine a few of you may have tuned in to Andy "Bull" Barch's audio call during the late innings Friday based on our updates.

 

I know I'd be a bit upset if I had access to my computer and someone did not bring to my attention that a game such as last night's Power game was taking place. It's pretty special to listen to that type of moment live instead of catching audio highlights after the fact.

 

Andy did a fine job last night of letting folks tuning in know through subtle means that something special was taking place, without actually mentioning the no-no. It was a bit funny when Andy said (I think it was in the 8th) that the "Power has eight runs on 12 hits, and the Tourists..." and didn't quite know how to end the sentence he had started, although he spun himself out somehow.

 

I don't believe Andy's a huge fan of the don't jinx method either, but he probably knows there are a lot of folks who would have had fits if he had mentioned it.

 

So why don't you weigh in on this subject within this thread.

 

Not just for how you want us to handle things here on the forum, but how you want your radio / TV announcers to handle it. I'm positive all the folks in the booth up and down the organizational chain will see your comments.

[biedergb]

I agree with you Mass. I think informing folks about what is going on is the right thing to do. I like the way you do it, though, with the subtle (but not too subtle) hints to avoid offending those of the "don't talk about it or you'll jinx it" camp.

[TheCrew07]

I don't have a problem with it, Yo had a no hitter going the other night when I posted his line, but looking at his pitch count it was pretty clear he wasn't going to get through the 9th even if the opportunity presented itself.

[Team Canada]

Obviously it has no effect on the game, but I like to avoid direct mention of it. Like the whole team leaving the pitcher alone while it's going on, I love that. Just fun idiosyncracies that make baseball what it is.

[Never Outhustled]

I don't believe in jinxes because its unlucky to be superstitious, but I do think its just fun to mention no hitters without using forms of the words no and hitters, and its fun to blame others for jinxing the unprobable event.

[homer]

Yeah, I'm with X. Mentioning a no-no on a message board in no way causes a guy to give up a hit, but for some reason I was miffed that someone mentioned it explicitly in the game thread yesterday. It's just kind of fun to tip toe around the subject I guess.

[colbyjack]

Don't change a thing Jim. I know I have given you trouble in the past when no-hitters are creatively mentioned, but I recognize that in no way, shape or form does that mention have some cosmic outcome on the potentially historic event at hand.

 

It's the only thing I'm superstitious about, because I was taught as a young lad that it's the one thing you don't mess with.

 

It reminds me of Kevin Costner in Bull Durham when he told Nuke you don't mess with a winning streak http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif .

[wvpowerblkwel]

Guys....as the jinxer from last nite, I want to offer my opion, and my apologies! I went out to dinner last nite to return in time to check the box, and was amazed at what our Power guys were doing against the hottest other team in the league...when I looked at the thread I didn't really that anyone else was paying attention, and I also figured pitch count would kill it....I am a "rookie" to the board only logging in last year to follow Angel, Lorenzo, Darren and Co. With Braun and Thatcher staring up at the bigs, we guys in Charleston are staring at our first big leaguers in only 3 years affiliated with the Brewers! We are excited, and unaware of "unmentionables" within the board. I applaud the discussion, because I wouldn't have committed the faux paux of last nite had I realized the tiptoe rule was in effect! Serving as host family for Zach Braddock here in WV this season also keeps me extremely interested in the board and you guys opinions on the talent here in WV. I am a 42 year old CPA/baseball junkie, and since the brew crew has been here in our new ballpark, I get to relive some of my childhood passion watching these guys live theirs....Anyhow, again accept my apology for the mention of the taboo words last nite!

[bork]

wvpowerblkwel, don't worry about it. And keep posting. First hand accounts are rare and always welcome around here.

[hawing]

In the context of bf.net, I have come to like the phrase "pitching really well" - as long as it's not vs. the Brewers or another part of its organization.

 

I had my Walkman on at Friday's game and was pleased to hear JP mention Mass Haas and the site, regardless of the context.

[mls4]

I do like to keep with the baseball tradition and have fun not talking about it, although I think personally that to say it's a "jinx" is somewhat silly. On the radio announcer's side of things, they need to say something to let the listeners know what is going on. I agree they may not want to say "no-hitter" directly, but if the above sentence was finished "the Power have 8 runs on 12 hits, and the Tourists... have nothing" I'm all for that. Would that be not subtle enough?

[SenatorShriv]

Count me in the crowd that finds it to be a fun tradition.

 

Creatively highlighting it is important though. In the past I've tuned in to games based off of recomendations in the Link Report.

[bobskube]

I don't think it is big deal. I like to see the kids do well, but I really don't care.

[Mass Haas]

Given last night's event in Detroit, might be a decent time to direct you to a thread I began at the broadcasting site "Callofthegame.com" a few weeks ago. Terry Byrom, one of the folks who chimed in, was once an Ogden Raptor (Brewer rookie league) broadcaster:

 

www.callofthegame.com/bbs...topic=3654