The Next Six Days

The image of the screen to the left likely isn't something that people will recongize instantaneously, but that will be what I'll be looking it for the next six days. It won't be continuous over those days, but there will be a serious chunk taken out of the time I can watch hockey as the home schedule get underway for the professional baseball season. The image to the left is from a program called Trackman that tracks every ball put in play from the moment it leaves the pitcher's hand to the moment the play is concluded in the field. For stats people, what you're looking at are the stats from a fairly generic change-up that broke down and in from a slightly-elevated three-quarters delivery for a strike.

All that aside, that's what I'll be doing tonight through Sunday as the professional ball team has its home opener tonight as part of a six-game homestand. With the Western Conference Final starting tomorrow, this is going to make watching hockey a little difficult. I guess I'm relying on hightlight shows, online coverage, and game recaps for the next week in order for me to stay informed.

I fully understand that there is always some overlap when it comes to the various professional sports seasons, but the NHL has decided to add two more games next season to its schedule. Yes, they lose the three-week break that was needed for the Olympics this season and the preseason is being reduced to just four games, but do I really need to see an extra game between the Jets and Stars next year?

Frankly, the NHL season is too long as it is when it starts mid-September with preseason games and doesn't finish until mid-June when the Stanley Cup Final is concluded. I understand that some people enjoy every second of it, but I watch other leagues because the NHL season seems to drag on forever. This has allowed me to appreciate other leagues like the ECHL, the AIHL, the EIHL, and the DEL more. They do things a little differently which is needed.

I have zero ability to change anything despite my grumbling, but the tail has been wagging the dog for a while now. I understand the NHL is a business, but I'm close to just wanting the season to end. I'd love to see the NHL carve a month of mean-nothing games out of their schedule, and have the playoff start in mid-March rather than mid-April. We'd end up awarding the Stanley Cup in May rather than June. Give me a May long weekend Stanley Cup celebration, please!

All that aside, I'm off to the ballpark tonight for my first of six-straight shifts where I track 300-or-more plays. I'll be checking the ECHL website for updates on the Fort Wayne-Toledo series, and I'll likely be keeping an eye on the NHL website for updates of both conference finals later this week. SportsCentre, Sportsnet Central, and the NHL Network will have to be my TV choices in the morning to get caught up on what's happening in and around the NHL!

Unfortunately for me due to my scheduling conflicts this week, it'll be one, two, three games I'll miss due to the ol' ballgame!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice and PLAY BALL!