Advice on Getting into Watching RL Baseball?

[Anthropoid]

Don't see an "off-topic" section so I guess this is the best place.

I haven't watched a real-life baseball game for probably 10 years, and haven't watched with any regularity for probably 20 or 25. If memory serves I was a bit of a St. Louis Cardinals fan as a boy/teenager (originally from Missouri). So I know next to nothing about Major League baseball in 2015. However, this game has reminded me of what a pleasant thing is to watch and to follow, so I'm thinking about 'getting into' watching baseball this season.

So here are my constraints:

1. No cable TV and no intent to ever have it.
2. Not sure which team I should follow, but would lean toward Cardinals or Braves (where I live now).
3. Seems like it could be fun to somehow follow a team and play their season out in OOTP15 and see how the end results differ.

So any suggestions from the baseball fans? In particular, anyone know what my options would be to watch games this year using just internet?

If MLB does NOT stream their games and offer fairly cheap subscriptions to watch them online, live (and/or even cheaper for day old games), they need to hire a marketing President who has a brain in his head!

For that matter, depending on the rights with the various distributors who have aired games over the years, MLB would be fools if they didn't have a "pay for" historical game library, sort of along the lines of Netflix. Heck they could even contract the distribution out TO Netflix . . .

So let me guess, MLB has no such forms of distribution? Or they don't even bother with broadcasting?

[TomVeal]

You can subscribe to MLB TV at Watch Live Baseball Online, Stream MLB Games with MLB.TV | MLB.com: Subscriptions

The price is $130/year or $25/month for as many games as you want to stream. I don't use it myself and don't know all the details, but friends who subscribe are happy with the service.

[RchW]

Wait until Father's Day. I think it goes to $50-60.

Not sure there are any good options outside the package if cable is not considered. Not many teams have local or over air telecasts any more.

MLB.com does show one free game per day.

Another downer, you will be subject to local blackouts. Territories are variable And I hear more complaints about centrally located cities like Atlanta and St. Louis.

[Lukas Berger]

You can get around the blackouts by using a service like Unblock-Us for $5.00 a month. Very reliable, easy and painless to use.

[TomVeal]

Originally Posted by RchW

Another downer, you will be subject to local blackouts. Territories are variable And I hear more complaints about centrally located cities like Atlanta and St. Louis.

But, as I understand it, blacked out games are archived and can be watched later, which is as good as live so long as you either don't look at the outcome or don't mind knowing before you watch.

[DustinthePOWERHOUSE]

Originally Posted by lukasberger

You can get around the blackouts by using a service like Unblock-Us for $5.00 a month. Very reliable, easy and painless to use.

Is this legit? cause that is unbelievable if it's real...

MLB.TV is great, by far the best provider for watching games out of the big 4 (basketball, football included I can't vouch for hockey) I renew it every year and EVERY year I watch an absurd amount of games on it. It's very stable on the phone and laptop/computer and I can watch it at work which is a HUGE plus. I definitely recommed it if you can afford it.

[Anthropoid]

Originally Posted by TomVeal

You can subscribe to MLB TV at Watch Live Baseball Online, Stream MLB Games with MLB.TV | MLB.com: Subscriptions

The price is $130/year or $25/month for as many games as you want to stream. I don't use it myself and don't know all the details, but friends who subscribe are happy with the service.

Ah! Impressive! So MLB executives ARE up to date with 21st century mass media practices!

Might just have to consider that, though for $125 per month I could probably get cable, so it doesn't seem like the wisest option for me . . . watching the archived games might be my best bet.

However, I'm wondering if this sport has transformed into a tragi-comedy that I wouldn't actually want to watch anyway?

Reason I ask is, just spent the last hour or so watching Youtube compilations of "Best fight / Ejection" type videos. Getting pissed and charging a pitcher who beans you . . . yeah I guess I can kinda understand that, depending on circumstances. But arguing Umpires calls, acting like a punk and getting ejected!?

How prevalent is this sort of behavior?

For example:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPE52c5m4J4

Or this, even worse, IMHO, Sabo should be permanently banned.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ft-pWVaRnQ8

Contrast those with:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSQf9ZbSDHE

[Anthropoid]

Originally Posted by DustinthePOWERHOUSE

Is this legit? cause that is unbelievable if it's real...

MLB.TV is great, by far the best provider for watching games out of the big 4 (basketball, football included I can't vouch for hockey) I renew it every year and EVERY year I watch an absurd amount of games on it. It's very stable on the phone and laptop/computer and I can watch it at work which is a HUGE plus. I definitely recommed it if you can afford it.

Hmmm.

• Worldwide: Netprotect Inc, 283 Cashew Row, Sunset Crest, St. James, Barbados | EU: NetProtect Ltd, Grigori Afxentiou, 133 Agios Dometios, 2369, Nicosia Cyprus

Looks like it is an "off-shore" provider channeled through sovereigns who either fly under the radar or just simply do not have standard legal arrangements. I doubt subscribers are liable for piracy or copyright infringement, but the service is almost certainly operating in a "legal grey area" that could get shut down at any time I'd guess.


However, my first rule is to not engage in intellectual property shenanigans much anything that could be construed as "theft;" so I think I'll pass on that one

$125 per year just to watch sports; to me as a moderate sports fan _candidate_ . . . that seems high, particularly when I realize that MLB is a gigantic firm worth gabillions. Still, it is their property, so I'm not gonna breach my general rule just cause I think they don't deserve to make that much. If the market will sustain their $125 per year charge, then it is their money to make!

[TomVeal]

Originally Posted by Anthropoid

Ah! Impressive! So MLB executives ARE up to date with 21st century mass media practices!

Might just have to consider that, though for $125 per month I could probably get cable, so it doesn't seem like the wisest option for me . . . watching the archived games might be my best bet.

However, I'm wondering if this sport has transformed into a tragi-comedy that I wouldn't actually want to watch anyway?

Reason I ask is, just spent the last hour or so watching Youtube compilations of "Best fight / Ejection" type videos. Getting pissed and charging a pitcher who beans you . . . yeah I guess I can kinda understand that, depending on circumstances. But arguing Umpires calls, acting like a punk and getting ejected!?

How prevalent is this sort of behavior?

Just in case "$125" in your message wasn't a typo, the price is 25 dollars a month, though a full year's subscription is a significantly better deal, and the price usually goes down further in June.

So far as I can see, baseball players are no worse behaved on the field now than they were when I was a boy (a long, long time ago). I won't say anything about off the field.

[frangipard]

If it's an option where you live, strongly consider going to minor league game. Much cheaper than the bigs.

The best way to watch baseball is live, with a friend next to you drinking a beer and shooting the ****, or if you want to get into the game, with a radio in your ear.



The enjoyability of baseball on TV is, IMO, very much dependent on the quality of the announcers. If you can get Vin Scully, Jon Miller or someone like that, god bless you. In my area, the best is Joe Angel, the Orioles' radio guy, so I do that more than TV. Some of the national TV people are just unlistenable to me, obnoxious idiotic blowhards.

Granted, I grew up pretending Harry Kalas and Richie Ashburn were my grandfathers, so I may be a bit skewed.

[Number4]

There aren't many fights in baseball. Look for football fights and you'll find also quite many - then remember that baseball is played 162 games a season, football 34-38 depending on league, handegg 16. So you'd expect 4-10 times as many baseball fight highlights if it would be as prevalent - but you don't get that many.

[Lukas Berger]

Originally Posted by DustinthePOWERHOUSE

Is this legit? cause that is unbelievable if it's real...

MLB.TV is great, by far the best provider for watching games out of the big 4 (basketball, football included I can't vouch for hockey) I renew it every year and EVERY year I watch an absurd amount of games on it. It's very stable on the phone and laptop/computer and I can watch it at work which is a HUGE plus. I definitely recommed it if you can afford it.

I guess it depends what you mean by legit.

It's a legit site, I've used it for years. They won't steal your credit card or give you a virus and the service works incredibly well.

I'm not sure it's something MLB or the other sites that it helps you access would consider legit, but that's their problem, no?

[Lukas Berger]

Originally Posted by Anthropoid

How prevalent is this sort of behavior?

Not at all prevalent. Happens a few times a year, if that. You probably won't see it happen at all in a game you watch at all.

[Lukas Berger]

Originally Posted by Anthropoid

Hmmm.

• Worldwide: Netprotect Inc, 283 Cashew Row, Sunset Crest, St. James, Barbados | EU: NetProtect Ltd, Grigori Afxentiou, 133 Agios Dometios, 2369, Nicosia Cyprus

Looks like it is an "off-shore" provider channeled through sovereigns who either fly under the radar or just simply do not have standard legal arrangements. I doubt subscribers are liable for piracy or copyright infringement, but the service is almost certainly operating in a "legal grey area" that could get shut down at any time I'd guess.


However, my first rule is to not engage in intellectual property shenanigans much anything that could be construed as "theft;" so I think I'll pass on that one

$125 per year just to watch sports; to me as a moderate sports fan _candidate_ . . . that seems high, particularly when I realize that MLB is a gigantic firm worth gabillions. Still, it is their property, so I'm not gonna breach my general rule just cause I think they don't deserve to make that much. If the market will sustain their $125 per year charge, then it is their money to make!

There's no piracy involved, the service doesn't provide any content.

All it does is get around blackouts and geographic restrictions from the services/sites you already use. You'd still have to pay MLB for the MLB subscription, this just keeps the games in your area from being blacked out live.

It still might be a somewhat gray area, but I'm pretty certain it's not illegal.

It's really no different than accessing the internet through a proxy.

[Orcin]

Originally Posted by lukasberger

It still might be a somewhat gray area, but I'm pretty certain it's not illegal.

It's really no different than accessing the internet through a proxy.

Which just might be illegal... especially if the purpose of the proxy is to cause harm to someone else, i.e. the provider of the proprietary content.


US court rules proxies, IP switching illegal | bit-tech.net


Beating the blackout rule in this manner doesn't sound "legit" to me.

[Number4]

Your link however shows a different case, an enterprise ignoring a cease and desist letter.

I think it is extremly unlikely that a private user would get in trouble for using a proxy. They can't stop millions of illegal streamers that pay nothing, so why would they be able to stop streamers in a legal gray area? And, considering they would be losing paying customers, would they want to if they could?

[Lukas Berger]

Originally Posted by Orcin

Which just might be illegal... especially if the purpose of the proxy is to cause harm to someone else, i.e. the provider of the proprietary content.


US court rules proxies, IP switching illegal | bit-tech.net


Beating the blackout rule in this manner doesn't sound "legit" to me.

The content is already provided as part of the plan by MLB. The only issue is whether you can watch it live, or have to wait until it's been archived.

It's hard see much "harm" there, since all you're doing is accessing something you're already paying for, just a bit sooner.

There's no block on a site being circumvented, just a time restriction on a service you already pay for. So it's hard to see how your link would apply.

At any rate, it's not really worth arguing. Use the service if you want, don't use it if you don't.

[jpeters1734]

being in germany, i love unblock us

[DreamTeams]

Originally Posted by Anthropoid

Don't see an "off-topic" section so I guess this is the best place.

I haven't watched a real-life baseball game for probably 10 years, and haven't watched with any regularity for probably 20 or 25. If memory serves I was a bit of a St. Louis Cardinals fan as a boy/teenager (originally from Missouri). So I know next to nothing about Major League baseball in 2015. However, this game has reminded me of what a pleasant thing is to watch and to follow, so I'm thinking about 'getting into' watching baseball this season.

So here are my constraints:

1. No cable TV and no intent to ever have it.
2. Not sure which team I should follow, but would lean toward Cardinals or Braves (where I live now).
3. Seems like it could be fun to somehow follow a team and play their season out in OOTP15 and see how the end results differ.

So any suggestions from the baseball fans? In particular, anyone know what my options would be to watch games this year using just internet?

I cut the cable cord long, long time ago, Anthropid. No regrets, except sort of missed sports. But, now streaming makes it possible to get my sports fix over the net. I've subscribed to MLB.TV for about four years now. Chose it because baseball is the longest of the pro seasons so that's a plus, to me. I use Roku as my drop dead easy streaming device because that's where I happen to get the best signal. Again, no regrets. Watch the games live or anytime you want. If you find yourself in a time pinch... stop... go visit friends, shop... work, etc... get back... pick up where I left off or start over or watch later or forget it and watch it or a live game today or tomorrow or next week. Switch to other ballparks and watch those games. You can select to have the final score show or not when you open the program that way no spoils. As with many things digital, you make the call.

[RchW]

Originally Posted by jpeters1734

being in germany, i love unblock us

Do you get blacked out? The one good thing about being in Canada is there are no blackouts for me. The big disappointment when I first bought the service and was traveling in the US was that all Blue Jays games were blacked out, plus multiple adjacent territories to my ever changing US IP. I got a refund because they had no solution. I never got an understandable explanation why if I was near Atlanta and they were away to St. Louis I was blacked out on both streams.