MLB Needs a Pitching Change Clock!

I was recently at Fenway to see the Orioles visit the Red Sox. It was a beautiful night for a ballgame, and the game was going well.

The Sox had a 2-0 lead after scoring two runs in the fifth, and the Orioles were still in trouble. They made a call to the bullpen.

Miguel Castro got the call, and made his way to the mound.

Slower...

Than...

I...

Ever...

Thought...

Was...

Possible.

It was amazing. I have a feeling that they are told to run in, because he was sort of hopping a bit to make sure both feet left the ground every step or two. But, it wasn't speedy in the least. It brought the game to a screeching halt.

Especially since we all knew that just getting to the mound was only part of it. He would still get to throw warm-up tosses once he got there. It was excruciating.

And it always seemed odd to me. In no other sport do they stop the game to allow a sub to get a few practice tries in. Can you imagine bringing in the kicker in an NFL game and giving him a few tries to warm up his leg? An NBA sub getting a few shots at the basket? It's crazy.

But, they do it for baseball pitchers. And, only pitchers. A substitute outfielder doesn't get mid-inning tosses. Not even a catcher. Odd.

So, it occurred to me...those should be treated as a luxury. Something the pitcher has to earn. 

How would he earn them?

By getting his butt to the mound as fast as possible.

A pitching change needs a time limit. From the second the manager leaves the dugout to the time the first pitch is thrown by the new reliever. Say, 90 seconds.

If the manager gets his act together, and calls for the change right away and the pitcher sprints in from the bullpen, he gets to throw a couple pitches from the mound. If either of those two take their sweet time, then he starts losing warm-ups.

That puts the onus on the people on the field to get a move on. 

Even if it doesn't save all that much actual time, at least it will feel like it does. People in the stands won't watch people chatting on the mound, stalling so the reliever can get one more pitch in. We won't watch a guy slowly stroll to the mound. Ten seconds of nothing but watching someone walk to their position feels like an eternity. But, watching a guy hustle in at least makes me feel like something is happening.


Which is really all that baseball needs. Its games aren't long, in themselves. They're no longer than an NFL game. But, there are a few moments, like pitching changes, where it seems like it's taking longer. It also tends to happen at the most exciting times. When a pitcher needs changing, there are usually men on base. It's usually an important time in the game. Tensions are high. Excitement is at its peak.

And you take a break to watch a guy walk to the mound. That's an easy fix.

Get them running.

A Summer Sale!

That's right! The Section 36 store is back on sale!

It's another chance for you to get some great gear at low low prices!

Today through Sunday, the Section 36 store will be on sale! Don't miss this opportunity to show your support for the blog all season long! 

So, head over right now and select something that you like. But, don't delay. Remember, the sale only runs through Sunday! That's right...only a few days before prices go back to their regular levels.

Click Here Now!

And, as always, when you do get an item, send me a picture wearing it for me to share with the world! The blog, Facebook, and even Instagram! Not only would it be a great way to show the world your amazing outfit, but if you have a business or cause that needs promotion, it's an easy way to get a mention on Section 36!

Like Bridget did! (With some help from K. Garcia Productions)

This sweatshirt is on sale!

Or, like Bernadette did to show off how amazing this tank top looks on her.

This tank is on sale!

Or Phil did.

This tank is also on sale!

Or Holly did with her cozy new hoodie.

This hoodie is on sale!

Or Nicolette did with her great t-shirt!

This t-shirt is on sale!

Or like Allison did!

This t-shirt is on sale!

Or, like Sierra did!

This t-shirt is on sale!

But, first you need to buy something you like. There's a lot to choose from.

What will you get?

Aileen Auclair Visits Section 36!

Section 36 has a new visitor! Aileen Auclair is a dancer, a Red Sox fan, and the current Miss Exeter! I was thrilled she was able to visit with us to discuss those topics, and a few more.

So let's see what happens when Aileen Auclair visits Section 36!

How did you celebrate winning the Miss Exeter crown?
I celebrated winning Miss Exeter by going to my director’s house and meeting all of the other girls at a cookout. After that I came home and hung out with my family.

What did you learn about yourself at the Miss Exeter Competition that will help you at Miss New Hampshire?

At the Miss Exeter competition I learned that I am a lot braver than I thought I was. For years I have been a very shy person and public speaking was never my strong suit. At Miss Exeter I pushed myself out of my comfort zone to work on my public speaking skills and meet many new people. This will help me at Miss New Hampshire because I will go in feeling comfortable with the other titleholders and with more confidence in my public speaking abilities.

What made you decide to compete for the Miss Exeter crown?

I competed for the Miss Exeter crown to take an idea I wanted to

work on over the summer and make it something bigger. My platform, Creating a Better Environment Today for a Better Tomorrow, came from my desire to do all sorts of cleanups this summer to better our environment. I decided that as Miss Exeter I could expand this idea so much more and participate in many more activities to benefit our community. 

Speaking of your social impact initiative how did you select “Creating a Better Environment for a Better Tomorrow”?
I selected my Social Impact Initiative due to a community service day my high school had that inspired me. In around four hours, 200 students picked up over 1,200 pounds of trash. This made me realize what an issue littering is and how important each person is in creating a better environment. If every person recycled, or chose reusable options, or picked up some trash they saw, that's one less piece of trash in the ocean or polluting our environment.

As a talented dancer, what do you like most about performing on stage?

As a dancer my favorite part about performing on stage is watching

everything we have been working on for months coming together. The satisfaction of nailing a step you have been struggling with for months on stage is very hard to be matched.

You recently returned from the American Dance awards in NYC. What was that experience like?
American Dance Awards was one of my most valuable experiences of my life. There were dancers there from all over the world and the talent was unlike any competition I've been at. All of the dancers were so professional I would have paid to see them. The experience drove me to work harder and strive to be the best dancer I could be.

Who is your favorite Red Sox player? Why?

My favorite Red Sox player is currently Xander Bogaerts because not only is he a good player, he seems to be a very supportive

teammate and good person.

Is there a feature or activity at Fenway Park that you’d especially like to experience?

If I were to go to Fenway one activity I would be very interested in is trying all the different food. I've heard it is expensive but very good.

If you had an extra ticket to see the Red Sox play at Fenway, who would you take with you? Why?

If I had an extra ticket to Fenway Park I would either bring my grandmother or grandfather because they are both really big Red Sox fans.

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I'm sure they'd both have a wonderful time!

As always, I want to give huge thanks to Aileen for doing this interview, and for providing the pictures to go along with it. They're all so wonderful!

As Aileen continues her time as Miss Exeter, I encourage you to follow her on the official Miss Exeter Facebook page! It's a great way to make sure you know what she's up to!

I also absolutely want to wish Aileen luck this spring as she competes for the Miss New Hampshire crown! Once again there will be several Section 36 visitors gracing the stage. It would be incredible to have her take home the title! 

Thanks again Aileen, and good luck!

Chrome Blaster Time!

I realized that it's been a while since I did one of these posts. I think they're fun, so it's about time I do another one.

I probably should have picked a more exciting box than 2019 Topps Chrome. After all, the design is certainly nothing new that nobody's seen before. But, that's what I have. So here we go!

 It's always striking to me how empty the box itself is. Is this the contents settling like a bag of potato chips? Are there any boasters that use the majority of space available in the box? A bit surprised that companies haven't started making their blasters half sized by now to save costs.

Here's the best card in the first pack. I'm a bit confused by it, though. It sure looks like it's a “negative” parallel. But, according to the pack, those are supposed to be individually numbered. I don't see a number anywhere on the card. Anyone know what's going on?

The best card in the second pack is a Yankee that I've never heard of. That should tell you how bad the rest of the pack was. 

The best card in pack three is a quality card. A very shiny insert of young superstar Ronald Acuna Jr. I like the 1984 Topps style.

The fourth pack didn't exactly jump off the table. But this Matt Chapman is at least an all star with an interesting picture. As you could probably guess, I'm a sucker for his foot extending over the border. Still not sure how they decided which cards to use that technique on.

Finally a Red Sox card! Two Red Sox players even. While the insert set itself is fairly mundane and uninspired, at least the player selection on this card is top notch. 

A nice card of Clayton Kershaw. Going back to the Chapman card, I notice that all of this card is contained within the border. Kershaw’s left hand would seem like a perfect chance to extend beyond the border. But, this time Topps decided against it. I think that would have worked even better than Chapman’s foot. Agree?

Then we came to the extra special super bonus pack of sepia inserts. Another dud of a pack. But here's a rookie of a guy in Cleveland.

So, as you can see, not the greatest results. One Red Sox cards is not what I'm looking for. Hopefully the next packs are better.

Have you opened any of this yet?

Amanda Shoopman Visits Section 36!

Section 36 has a new visitor! Amanda Shoopman is a singer, a baseball fan, and the current Miss Florida Everglades. This makes

her the first visitor to Section 36 from the state of Florida! I was thrilled she was able to visit with us to discuss those topics, and a few more.

So let's see what happens when Amanda Shoopman visits Section 36!

How did you celebrate winning the Miss Florida Everglades crown?

As cliché as it is, I celebrated by going to Everglades National Park the next day! I absolutely love spending any free time I have there, so it was the obvious choice to put on my new crown and sash and visit the River of Grass!

What was your favorite part of the recent Miss Florida competition?

My favorite part was the Onstage Interview portion! I had the opportunity to discuss the importance of the Everglades when the judges asked me, “What would you say to lawmakers to convince them the importance of the Everglades?” It was so amazing to be able to share with not only the judges but also the Miss Florida audience, something that I’m so passionate about.

Is there a specific goal you’d like to accomplish during your remaining time as Miss Florida Everglades?

As I’ll be moving to Northern Virginia to attend school at George Mason University, I’m hoping to take my title to Capitol Hill! Using my title of Miss Florida Everglades, I plan to join Florida lawmakers in lobbying for further protection of the vital River of Grass.

What is your social impact initiative, and how did you select it?

My Social Impact Initiative is Get Back to Nature – Connecting Our Youth to Our Public Lands. It is about the importance of encouraging our youth to get outdoors and experience all of the beauty nature has to offer. I chose this as my impact initiative because I wanted my initiative to reflect something I’m truly passionate about. I am an Environmental and Sustainability Studies major, I have over 245 volunteer hours with the National Park Service, and I hope to one day become Secretary of the Interior. I truly have a deep passion for educating our youth on the importance of our lands, and I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to have a national platform to share what I care about with everyone else. 

As a talented singer, what types of songs are your favorite to sing?

I do not know if I have a favorite type of song! I love to sing just about anything, from Carole King to show tunes! 

What is your personal fitness routine?

I’d love to tell you all about my gym routine and how healthy I eat, but that would be too far from the truth! I tried the traditional workouts, gym visits, and watching everything I ate, but I found that it was creating an unhealthy mindset within. I absolutely dreaded going to the gym, and I was miserably craving sweets that I didn’t even normally eat. I knew I had to change my mindset to live a happier and healthier life.  Now, I love to be active outdoors, hiking, fishing, and the occasional run. I try to watch what I eat, but I never restrict myself when I’m having a sweet tooth craving. 

As a fan of the Nationals and Marlins, who’s your favorite Red Sox player? Why?

After texting my friends from Boston, they told me the ONLY correct answer is Mookie Betts! I followed up polling my friends with some research of my own, and I will say he seems to be pretty amazing! 

Last year you attended the congressional baseball game at Nats Park. What was that like?

It was an absolute blast! During my summer in D.C., I developed a sort of fascination with Nats Park, due to the fact that it is SO different from Marlins Park! I love going to Nats Park because it’s so cool to go to a “traditional” baseball field, as opposed to the more “modern” one we have down here in SoFlo. 

If you had two tickets in Section 36 to see the Marlins play the Red Sox, who would you take with you? Why?

I would take my Miss Florida sister, Miss Osceola, Kylie! During Miss Florida Orientation Week, Visit Central Florida took all of us candidates to a Lakeland Tigers baseball game, and it was such a blast sitting with her watching the game! It’s certainly something we plan on doing again, so if you want to give us the tickets, we’ll be there! 

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Sounds like a great way to watch a game!

As always, I want to thank Amanda for doing this interview, and for sending along the amazing pictures. They really make the post much better.

As Amanda continues her time as Miss Florida Everglades, I encourage you to follow her on her personal Instagram account. It’s a great way to keep up with everything she has going on! 

Thanks again Amanda!