Should Non-Players be allowed to play Exibition Games

[zahavasdad]

With Billy Crystal signing a exibition contract with the Yankees and Tom Selleck also playing recently in spring training

Do you think NON-PLayers should be allowed to play in Spring training as a gimmick???

[Old Sweater]

No, unless they work their way up through the minors like most of the players.


Waste of oxygen on the diamond as far as I'm concerned.

[KCGHOST]

I have no problem with it. Spring Training is just an exhibition season. Anybody who feels threatened by Billy Crystal wasn't going to make the team anyway.

[SamtheBravesFan]

I have no problem with it. Spring Training is just an exhibition season. Anybody who feels threatened by Billy Crystal wasn't going to make the team anyway.

Got that right. This is the equivalent of Gordie Howe playing a shift with the Detroit Vipers in an AHL game in 1997 so he could be able to play in six decades.

[Old Sweater]

I have no problem with it. Spring Training is just an exhibition season. Anybody who feels threatened by Billy Crystal wasn't going to make the team anyway.

No it isn't. It's ST for the players who play ST games for the purpose of making the team for some of the players. Like you said, Crystal has no shot so why should he take up space on the field?

[ipitch]

Do you think NON-PLayers should be allowed to play in Spring training as a gimmick???

Yes, but on a limited basis (eg. one non-player every two years, per team).

[Honus Wagner Rules]

No it isn't. It's ST for the players who play ST games for the purpose of making the team for some of the players. Like you said, Crystal has no shot so why should he take up space on the field?

Geez, OS take a chill pill. It's a PR stunt and a thank you to Billy Crystal for being a loyal Yankee supporter for decades. What's wrong with that? I'm sure ST fans would rather see Crystal flail away at 70 MPH fastballs than see some non-descript 10 year minor league veteran who also has no shot at making the big club. Lots of players play in ST games with no shot of making the team. Many players have already reassigned to the minor league camp.

[sturg1dj]

remember when Garth Brooks played with the Padres and hit .038?



as for Crystal and the Yanks, who is trying out for the yanks that won't make it because of Crystal? Its not like there are many unknowns in that camp, even the ones who are are well known by the Yankees management. Spring Training was important back in the day when a farm boy could walk onto the field and wow scouts, but that doesn't happen too much anymore. I guess maybe Josh Hamilton?? but he wasn't an unknown.

chances are the Yankees and MOST teams have already made up their rosters for opening day. And the teams that have not at least know who is in the running and won't be signing any celebrity to take playing time away from them.


so in the end, I do not care!

[Honus Wagner Rules]

remember when Garth Brooks played with the Padres and hit .038?

Well he did hit .125 one ST as well.

[sturg1dj]

Well he did hit .125 one ST as well.

and he also did it for charity, so is that a bad thing? I think not!



and as for Tom Selleck, he could hit!!!

and he put Trammell and Whitaker on Magnum P.I. so it all evened out!


I remember two non-Tigers being shown taking batting practice in the early 90's at Tiger stadium. 1 was Tom Selleck and the other was a young Prince Fielder. They both could hit it out of right field. Prince was like 10.

[Old Sweater]

Geez, OS take a chill pill. It's a PR stunt and a thank you to Billy Crystal for being a loyal Yankee supporter for decades. What's wrong with that? I'm sure ST fans would rather see Crystal flail away at 70 MPH fastballs than see some non-descript 10 year minor league veteran who also has no shot at making the big club. Lots of players play in ST games with no shot of making the team. Many players have already reassigned to the minor league camp.

As soon as you take a reality pill. ST is for the players and players alone, the intent isn't for some PR stunt where a old comedian gets to play dress up. Crystal himself said he didn't want to get in the way of the players. This is said after he has already pulled the political strings to do so. Next thing you know the attention deprived Britney Spears will be making a joke of the game to get some cheap press.

[Pere]

The Pirate pitcher that drills him goes in my personal hall of fame.

[NickU]

As soon as you take a reality pill. ST is for the players and players alone, the intent isn't for some PR stunt where a old comedian gets to play dress up. Crystal himself said he didn't want to get in the way of the players. This is said after he has already pulled the political strings to do so. Next thing you know the attention deprived Britney Spears will be making a joke of the game to get some cheap press.

Is it really that serious? It's definately not a bad thing for the game. Everyone on the Yankees that was supposed to get a look this spring, and they still will. It's not like they are thinking well we were going to give this kid a look, but now we can't since Billy Crystal is here. If anything, he'll suit up for one of the proven guys, take a couple cuts, have a couple laughs, and that's it. The guy is a huge fan, this is a dream come true for him. If someone from the Rockies organziation called you up and asked you if you wanted to take a couple at-bats in their next game, I doubt you'd say no. If anything, this is good for the game. People will tune into a game they would otherwise care nothing about, and maybe some people who wouldn't pay attention to baseball will tune in to see Billy. It's all in fun. It's Spring Training. Lighten up and have some fun. It isn't that serious.

[The_Leff_Fielder]

You know, in general I wouldn't much care. But the Yankees have always bragged about how are the ultimate in class. They always do things the right way. No facial hair. It's all business. Yada yada. Now this? Well, hey, you can't have your cake and eat it too. Either you're the "do things the right way" Yanks or you're not.

Furthermore, Girardi claimed he was going to come in and, unlike Joe Torre, run a no-nonsense ST camp. I guess he meant a little bit of nonsense, then.

[Old Sweater]

Is it really that serious? It's definately not a bad thing for the game. Everyone on the Yankees that was supposed to get a look this spring, and they still will. It's not like they are thinking well we were going to give this kid a look, but now we can't since Billy Crystal is here. If anything, he'll suit up for one of the proven guys, take a couple cuts, have a couple laughs, and that's it. The guy is a huge fan, this is a dream come true for him. If someone from the Rockies organziation called you up and asked you if you wanted to take a couple at-bats in their next game, I doubt you'd say no. If anything, this is good for the game. People will tune into a game they would otherwise care nothing about, and maybe some people who wouldn't pay attention to baseball will tune in to see Billy. It's all in fun. It's Spring Training. Lighten up and have some fun. It isn't that serious.

I guess it's how serious you take baseball/ST and your opponent. How'd you like to be the Pirate pitcher and having Grandpa strolling up to the plate? Goose Gossage said he wouldn't mind, he'd flip him, end of story. Myself if I want to see Crystal, I'll stick in a old DVD.