No-hitter etiquette

[PhilaYank36]

Tonight, I'm covering a Minor League game where a no-hitter is in progress through seven. As a former pitcher and also someone that hears the idiocy of Michael Kay and John Sterling on a regular basis, I know very well the rule that you are NOT supposed to mention that a no-hitter is in progress. Since I'm not at the ballpark, I call the PR guy for the team that is throwing a no-hitter & leave a message since he's doing the broadcast, too. Once the half-inning is over, he gives me a call and tells me in a pissed-off tone of voice, "Thanks for blowing our no-hitter."

After explaining to him that I know what the protocol is, I tell him that whenever any pitcher is throwing a no-no, I have to contact his team to set up an interview once it goes past the 6th. He says he'll get me the guy, but then strongly asks if we can call him AFTER the game is over if the no-hitter goes through.

Is it just me, or do you guys also think this guy is being a jerk-off?

 

[imjustagirl2]

**** that guy.

 

[lantaur]

I'd ask him: Do you really think anything I say has an effect on the game? And then explain to him that you have a job to do, regardless of stupid superstitions.

 

[PhilaYank36]

Even on the message, I say that the "pitcher has a very interesting game going on and could I talk to him, regardless of the outcome." For cryin' out loud, I didn't even mention the words "no" or "hitter." Calm the **** down, though guy.

 

[donaugust]

this guy is being a jerk-off?

You have my vote.

 

[Rambler]

The guy is a tool.
We had this debate lately. Recently, we had a guy in our town throw a no-hitter but if you were listening to the radio broadcast you wouldn't know it because the two former ballplayers who were announcing didn't want to "jinx" the no-hitter by talking about it.
But unless you'd heard every batter you had no way of knowing it was a no-hitter.
Kind of defeats the purpose of tuning in if the guys broadcasting won't tell you what's going on.
You aren't playing anymore, fellas. Inform and entertain.

 

[ADifferentOkie]

There is no reason to believe that mentioning a no-hitter is going to blow it. That's just silly.
I covered a perfect game a few years back and I asked the kid if his teammates followed the etiquette.
He said, "Hell no. They were in the dugout in the fourth inning going, 'There's no way you can keep a no-hitter going.'"
It didn't seem to bother this kid much on the way to his first perfect game (first no-hitter, in fact).
Screw that P.R. guy.

 

[write then drink]

how do you cover a game that you're not at?

 

[PhilaYank36]

The internet is a wonderful thing.

 

[buckweaver]

Here's my answer:

Three times in his sensational career has Sandy Koufax walked out to the mound to pitch a fateful ninth where he turned in a no-hitter. But tonight, September the 9th, nineteen hundred and 65, he made the toughest walk of his career, I'm sure, because through eight innings he has pitched a perfect game. He has struck out 11, he has retired 24 consecutive batters, and the first man he will look at is catcher Chris Krug, big right-hand hitter, flied to second, grounded to short. **** Tracewski is now at second base and Koufax ready and delivers: curveball for a strike.

Good enough for Vin Scully, good enough for me.

Here's the <a href="http://www.salon.com/people/feature/1999/10/12/scully_koufax/">transcript</a> of that ninth-inning call, and here's the <a href="http://www.doubledogmusic.com/baseball/Scully_Koufax_Perfect.mp3">audio</a>.

 

[txsportsscribe]

Tonight, I'm covering a Minor League game where a no-hitter is in progress through seven. ... Since I'm not at the ballpark, I call the PR guy ...

the question isn't whether the media relations guy is a jerkoff, the question how can you justify saying you're "covering" a game when you're not even at the ballpark? you weren't covering jack.

 

[write then drink]

Tonight, I'm covering a Minor League game where a no-hitter is in progress through seven. ... Since I'm not at the ballpark, I call the PR guy ...

the question isn't whether the media relations guy is a jerkoff, the question how can you justify saying you're "covering" a game when you're not even at the ballpark? you weren't covering jack.

dig

following a game online or on TV isn't "covering" it

 

[RedSmithClone]

Tonight, I'm covering a Minor League game where a no-hitter is in progress through seven. ... Since I'm not at the ballpark, I call the PR guy ...

the question isn't whether the media relations guy is a jerkoff, the question how can you justify saying you're "covering" a game when you're not even at the ballpark? you weren't covering jack.

Wow. To think I actually agree with you on something.

 

[PhilaYank36]

Damn, I'm getting my ****in' balls broken big time on this one, aren't I? I talked to the players and I wrote the damn story. What should I have said instead. Unless you guys are a fresh pair of boxers, get off my ass!

 

[RedSmithClone]

Damn, I'm getting my ****in' balls broken big time on this one, aren't I? I talked to the players and I wrote the damn story. What should I have said instead. Unless you guys are a fresh pair of boxers, get off my ass!

Did you do a byline and dateline?

 

[Bucknutty]

Damn, I'm getting my ****in' balls broken big time on this one, aren't I? I talked to the players and I wrote the damn story. What should I have said instead. Unless you guys are a fresh pair of boxers, get off my ass!

You might as well be a blogger at home with a list of phone numbers...

 

[Cape_Fear]

I'm in the same boat as Phila. So what you are all saying then is when the team is on the road that I don't actually cover them, even though they are my beat?

 

[SoSueMe]

OK.

Baseball and its players and personnel are funny. You could have called and simply said "Could I please speak with starting pitcher Bob Smith after the game? Thanks."

That way, everyone - including you and the strange and superstitious - get what they want.

Did the PR guy go overboard? Yes.

Still, as dumb as it is, I just don't mention it because I don't want to deal with an idiot like you described.

As for calling a game. You always say "in the bottom half of the sixth, no runs, no hits, no errors and no one left on base. Back after the break."

Come back and say "Through six, the Yankees have no runs, no hits and haven't had a runner since A-Rod walked in the first. And the Sox lead 1-0."

There. Everyone with half a brain knows it's a no-no.

As for the "covering the game" part. Come on, you did what we all know as a "phoner" which should not include a byline.

 

[mediaguy]

Let the thread die. Don't post anything else, just let it sink to another page. Egad.

 

[SoSueMe]

I'm in the same boat as Phila. So what you are all saying then is when the team is on the road that I don't actually cover them, even though they are my beat?

Like said, you did a phoner. I do them, but I don't put my byline on it.

We have to do them, as a service to the reader. A service they expect.