Okay or not okay to not discuss no-hitter

**DTroppens** · 06-13-2007, 12:37 PM

On TV it's kind of idiotic hokey to me, but doable because of the video.

On radio it's ridiculous. If you are walking in and out and just glancing to the game, you have no clue what's going on. I think Price and Dickerson didn't do their job not mentioning it. It should've been mentioned almost every couple minutes once it got into the seventh so people flipping knew what was going on. I'm sure some people flipped and missed it because it wasn't brought up.

**DTroppens** · 06-13-2007, 12:38 PM

I voted for on both but could live with on radio for sure.

**Tigercub33** · 06-13-2007, 12:40 PM

Originally Posted by DTroppens

On TV it's kind of idiotic hokey to me, but doable because of the video.

On radio it's ridiculous. If you are walking in and out and just glancing to the game, you have no clue what's going on. I think Price and Dickerson didn't do their job not mentioning it. It should've been mentioned almost every couple minutes once it got into the seventh so people flipping knew what was going on. I'm sure some people flipped and missed it because it wasn't brought up.

Honestly, I was listening and was not aware a no-no was going on. I left several times to go down to the garage. when I came back, guys were on-base, I naturally figured someone got a hit. When my wfe turned off teh game in teh 8th, I thought Justin was throwing reallyw ell and was pitching a heck of a game with lots of K's and a shutout.

Perhaps I should have paid more attention, but Dan and Jim could have done a better job as well.

**Ron Burgandy** · 06-13-2007, 12:42 PM

Although silly, I can understand the announcers not wanting to jinx the no-hitter. However, I thought FSN-Detroit went a little overboard when they stopped showing the full line score with hit totals before and after each half inning.

**DTroppens** · 06-13-2007, 12:44 PM

Tigercub,
That's amazing. I did my trash as well during the game and walked out a few times watching it on TV. I didn't just settle down and watch the game until the end until the top of the sixth. By then I thought, I wonder if he is still pitching a no-hitter not expecting he was. When I saw the graphic it tuned me in.

I would feel a bit shafted if I didn't realize it until the ninth wondering "okay he's pitching well but why is everyone so into it."

**tiger337** · 06-13-2007, 12:45 PM

I think it's silly for broadcasters not to talk about no hitters. I can see players not talking to the pitcher himself during a no hitter because it could hurt his concentration. The broadcasters have no effect on the game though and their job is to tell us what's happening.

**lordstanley** · 06-13-2007, 12:48 PM

Apparently ESPN had the no-hitter status scrolling across the bottom of the screen while they were showing the top of the 9th as bonus coverage.

**mancity09** · 06-13-2007, 12:50 PM

I am not a superstitious person at all, except when it comes to baseball. I do not like it when announcers say anything about a perfect or a No-No. I listened to the games on WXYT’s feed online today, and for the last few innings, and Dickerson would give the runs- walks-errors list, he was putting emphasis on the no hits for Milwaukee. So he was going as far as he was willing to not to jinx Verlander but at the same time let people know about it.

**jessman1128** · 06-13-2007, 12:51 PM

Originally Posted by DTroppens

If you are walking in and out and just glancing to the game, you have no clue what's going on.

If you're not glued to the radio for every pitch of the game, then your priorities need some adjusting and if you miss the significance of what is happening it is solely your fault.

I'm kidding, of course. I listened to all of the game on the radio, first at work, and then on my way home from work. I did think Dan and Jim were going out of their way to not mention the no-hitter towards the end, and thought they should have mentioned it more. I don't buy into that notion that talking about it jinxes it.

**One Man's Fool** · 06-13-2007, 12:52 PM

Originally Posted by tiger337

I think it's silly for broadcasters not to talk about no hitters. I can see players not talking to the pitcher himself during a no hitter because it could hurt his concentration. The broadcasters have no effect on the game though and their job is to tell us what's happening.

Exactly.

**thewave84** · 06-13-2007, 12:54 PM

I agree that it is silly, but I like it. It is one of those silly-fun things that are worth keeping. Somehow it adds to the mystique of the event.

**Tigercub33** · 06-13-2007, 12:54 PM

Originally Posted by tiger337

I think it's silly for broadcasters not to talk about no hitters. I can see players not talking to the pitcher himself during a no hitter because it could hurt his concentration. The broadcasters have no effect on the game though and their job is to tell us what's happening.

Yeah, I feel kind of gyped. If Dan & Jim would have made mention of it you can be sure the game would have never have been turned off.

**MelissaG915** · 06-13-2007, 12:55 PM

I was at a meeting last night and tuned into the game in the 6th when I got in my car. Sure they didn't mention "no hitter," but I figured out pretty quickly what was happening.

You've got to honor to superstition, even if it's hokey. Part of the fabric of the game. It's like voting for American Idol, by dialling, you become a part of it. Participating in the tradition of NOT saying it's a no-no, it makes you a part of it too.

**thewave84** · 06-13-2007, 01:00 PM

I don't even think of it as a superstition, just a tradition. It's what you do when a guy has a no-hitter going. Logically, of course it is stupid, but there are lots of things that are worth doing that don't make logical sense (especially in baseball).

**DennisDubay** · 06-13-2007, 01:02 PM

Originally Posted by thewave84

I agree that it is silly, but I like it. It is one of those silly-fun things that are worth keeping. Somehow it adds to the mystique of the event.

Exactly.

**DTroppens** · 06-13-2007, 01:04 PM

I don't know. People keep on saying it's tradition, but I've heard plenty of games that no-hitters were being pitched that finished as no-hitters or didn't and it was talked about during the game.

I can't ever recall watching a game that went the distance and it was never brought up verbally. Does anyone else really remember a specific instance when two crews took it as far as it was last night?

Isn't it more a tradition to the players than the broadcasters? I think people are getting this mixed up a bit.

**Motor City Sonics** · 06-13-2007, 01:04 PM

Gee, I wonder how many times someone didn't mention a no-hitter and the pitcher gave up a hit in the 8th or 9th.

**monkeytargets37** · 06-13-2007, 01:05 PM

Apparently we didnt all feel this way last night. One person said "no-hitter" and at least two people wanted an insta-ban imposed. No one else said the word until after it was over.

**chasfh** · 06-13-2007, 01:07 PM

I didn't vote here, but I think it's OK if broadcasters mention it. In fact, Lee makes a good point about it being broadcasters' job to tell us what's happening.

I think a key determinant as to whether it is mentioned is whether there's an ex-player in the booth at the time. I don't know for sure whether Mario would have mentioned it if a player weren't present, but I know for sure Rod Allen would never say anything about it while it's going on.

**DTroppens** · 06-13-2007, 01:11 PM

I would've mentioned it here just to get people riled up.

**treyKemper** · 06-13-2007, 01:18 PM

There's obviously a jinx, the worldwide leader broadcasts every 9th inning of Tigers' games just in case.

I do think it is comical, but a little fun, how every outlet was talking about the no hitter except the two paid to keep their fans informed

**MichiganFan1717** · 06-13-2007, 01:21 PM

If you are not going to say "No Hitter" then say something along the same lines. But people should at least know what is going on.

**rhino** · 06-13-2007, 01:22 PM

Nope, don't come right out and say no hitter. There are ways to get the info across without saying it. I was listening to Schillings bid for a no hitter last week and the announcers were talking about his 1st no hitter and then, well, you know what happened next.

I think it adds a little fun to honor the tradition, but I can understand the point about a broadcasters job is to be informative.

**monkeytargets37** · 06-13-2007, 01:27 PM

and by the way.....

since when has Jim Price kept us informed on whats going on?

**Yoda** · 06-13-2007, 01:31 PM

I don't believe broadcasters avoid it because they're afraid of jinxing it. I just think they avoid it because they know a lot of fans are superstitious and don't want to make a bunch of people mad. It's silly, but some people take it seriously. This day and age, it isn't too hard to figure out that a no-hitter is going on. They usually give it away with things like "all zeros on the baord" or "the 4 walks have been the only baserunners". That's good enough.

**jbgtigers** · 06-13-2007, 01:33 PM

Yeah, there are ways of getting the point across without actually saying that there is a no hitter happening. For instance, I was in the poker room at Greektown last night about the 7th inning when I realized what was going on and I walked over to my buddy and was like :you might want to watch this but I can't say why" and my buddy and everyone at his table knew exactly what I was talking about right away. Basically, I guess my point is there are other ways to make it known what is going on without saying it.

**NJ Jackal** · 06-13-2007, 01:34 PM

Originally Posted by tiger337

I think it's silly for broadcasters not to talk about no hitters. I can see players not talking to the pitcher himself during a no hitter because it could hurt his concentration. The broadcasters have no effect on the game though and their job is to tell us what's happening.

That is the correct answer.

**DTroppens** · 06-13-2007, 01:35 PM

MonkeyTargets,
Good point. Pretend like you just turned on the radio when an inning ends when Jim Price is doing his innings. Tell me with what did he say if you can answer each of the questions...

1. What inning it is including top or bottom?
2. What is the score?
3. Who is winning?

Usually he misses one or two of these.

**apabruce** · 06-13-2007, 01:35 PM

I can understand fellow players not saying anything to Verlander, because talking about it can affect his mental state.

Somebody needs to explain to me how Mario or Rod talking about it affects Verlander's velocity, or command, or changes the flight of the ball.

**MackAveKurt** · 06-13-2007, 01:37 PM

I am generally not superstitious but I have no problem with tv and radio hinting their way around it. I wouldn't wanna be the one to screw it up, either!

**Yoda** · 06-13-2007, 01:38 PM

Originally Posted by tiger337

I think it's silly for broadcasters not to talk about no hitters. I can see players not talking to the pitcher himself during a no hitter because it could hurt his concentration. The broadcasters have no effect on the game though and their job is to tell us what's happening.

Their job is to appease the fans at home watching. Most don't want to hear the n-word, so it's their duty to not use it.

**DTroppens** · 06-13-2007, 01:40 PM

Yoda,
They can appease the fans by saying they are winning when they are not. That may be a secondary issue, but telling us what the heck is going on is right up there at No. 1.

And they don't appease fans sometimes with their discouraging comments, albeit proper comments on what is going on.

Their job is to tell us what is going on. They can do other things but that's their primary job.

**jessman1128** · 06-13-2007, 01:42 PM

Originally Posted by Yoda

Their job is to appease the fans at home watching. Most don't want to hear the n-word, so it's their duty to not use it.

Isn't their job to inform the fans of what is happening? Personally, I'd rather be informed than appeased.

**travis** · 06-13-2007, 01:43 PM

If Mario or Dan mentions that no-hitter late in the game and Verlander gives it up they are recieving hate mail and everything associated with it. They can't mention it IMO. And its my personal preference that they don't.

**Tigercub33** · 06-13-2007, 01:43 PM

Originally Posted by DTroppens

MonkeyTargets,
Good point. Pretend like you just turned on the radio when an inning ends when Jim Price is doing his innings. Tell me with what did he say if you can answer each of the questions...

1. What inning it is including top or bottom?
2. What is the score?
3. Who is winning?

Usually he misses one or two of these.

I will say this about Jim Price - he makes me very glad I have XM (where they display the score and the inning).

**ypsieast** · 06-13-2007, 01:49 PM

Mario was on the radio this morning and made some interesting comments. He says, of course, on the radio you need to let the audience know what's going on. But with TV, you can clue the audience in without saying "no-hitter".

He said that he wasn't superstitious about saying it, but there are plenty of fans who are, so he (along with Rod, the producers et al.) decided to commentate without saying it. Also, he made another good point. If he "jinxes" the no hitter and a player takes offense to it, then that can affect his job. He doesn't want any ill-will with a member of the team.

That said, Red Barber (a now famous baseball announcer) called Johnny Vander Meer's second no-hitter and Don Larsen's World Series no-no. He freely discussed what was happening, ignoring any kind of "jinx". So, if the radio guy for arguably the 2 most famous no hitters in history ignored the jinx, then I think its OK for anybody.

**Ron Burgandy** · 06-13-2007, 01:57 PM

Originally Posted by ypsieast

Mario was on the radio this morning and made some interesting comments. He says, of course, on the radio you need to let the audience know what's going on. But with TV, you can clue the audience in without saying "no-hitter".

That's true if the video makes it clear that there have been no hits allowed. However, around the 7th inning or so, FSN-Detroit even stopped showing the number of hits on their way in and out of commercials. At that point, you would have had no way of figuring out what was going on.

**ypsieast** · 06-13-2007, 02:00 PM

Originally Posted by Ron Burgandy

That's true if the video makes it clear that there have been no hits allowed. However, around the 7th inning or so, FSN-Detroit even stopped showing the number of hits on their way in and out of commercials. At that point, you would have had no way of figuring out what was going on.

I turned the game on at the top of the 8th, just as they came on. They had V's line right at the bottom of the screen. It got my attention immediately.

**Yoda** · 06-13-2007, 02:04 PM

I think you guys are taking this a little too seriously. Plain and simple, they let you know what's going on without having to say "no-hitter". Both sides get what they want. You know what's happen, those that believe in jinxes don't get pissed off. This isn't that big of a deal.

**wanker** · 06-13-2007, 02:07 PM

I was at work and was able to hear the radio broadcast on and off. I thought they made it quite obvious what was going on. I don't know how many times I heard them say something about verlander having this many walks and that those were the only baserunners. Dickerson did actually say that no hits had been allowed I think during the 8th inning.