southsider2k5 Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 http://www.theverge.com/2013/1/8/3853454/m...lpen-cellphones T-Mobile and Major League Baseball announced a partnership today that will make the carrier the Official Wireless Sponsor of the MLB. That's mostly a pointless marketing phrase, but it does have one very real effect on baseball going forward: the dugout phone, the one that calls the bullpen to bring in a new pitcher, is about to become a cellphone. The "On-Field Communication System" will eventually expand to other parts of the game and stadium, but only after it's tested in the bullpen at the World Baseball Classic in Arizona — the league needs to be sure that T-Mobile's network lets us tell apart the names of the Astros' relievers before the technology is rolled out more broadly. Major League Baseball has long been ahead of the game technologically, from MLB.tv to MLB.com At Bat. Landlines were the one flaw on its 21st-century resume, and we can only hope T-Mobile's going to bring America's pastime into the present once and for all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swingandalongonetoleft Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 I'm a big fan of their work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Allen Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 Interesting. I wonder if they will be subject to the can't get a signal that is rampant in a lot of parks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balta1701 Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jan 9, 2013 -> 09:35 AM) Interesting. I wonder if they will be subject to the can't get a signal that is rampant in a lot of parks. That'd be great, pausing a game because a team can't get through to call the bullpen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted January 9, 2013 Author Share Posted January 9, 2013 QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jan 9, 2013 -> 08:35 AM) Interesting. I wonder if they will be subject to the can't get a signal that is rampant in a lot of parks. How's that for a great strategy to get your pitcher some more warm up tosses. Walk out to the ump to complain that you can't get a signal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cabiness42 Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 So now MLB is getting into 1990's technology in 2013. How hard would it be to have touch-screen computer terminals in the dugout and bullpen and have the manager or pitching coach just pick from a list of relievers on the screen and have it flash on the bullpen screen? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Allen Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Jan 9, 2013 -> 08:45 AM) So now MLB is getting into 1990's technology in 2013. How hard would it be to have touch-screen computer terminals in the dugout and bullpen and have the manager or pitching coach just pick from a list of relievers on the screen and have it flash on the bullpen screen? Stop with the logic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lasttriptotulsa Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jan 9, 2013 -> 08:35 AM) Interesting. I wonder if they will be subject to the can't get a signal that is rampant in a lot of parks. http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/8826859/...t-deal-t-mobile This article goes into a little more detail. The old "land lines" will still be there for managers that elect to use them. I just can't imagine some of the old-timers whipping out S3s to make a call to the bullpen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chw42 Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Jan 9, 2013 -> 08:45 AM) So now MLB is getting into 1990's technology in 2013. How hard would it be to have touch-screen computer terminals in the dugout and bullpen and have the manager or pitching coach just pick from a list of relievers on the screen and have it flash on the bullpen screen? YOU JUST DON'T GET IT DO YOU? Baseball is an old timer sport and WE NEED TO KEEP IT THAT WAY! YOU KIDS AND YOUR DAMN TECHNOLOGY. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bubba Philips Posted January 11, 2013 Share Posted January 11, 2013 QUOTE (chw42 @ Jan 9, 2013 -> 10:16 AM) YOU JUST DON'T GET IT DO YOU? Baseball is an old timer sport and WE NEED TO KEEP IT THAT WAY! YOU KIDS AND YOUR DAMN TECHNOLOGY. I like the Dh in the american league because without it we wouldn't have seen Frank Thomas but not using the bull pen and dugout phone will ruin the game Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StrangeSox Posted January 11, 2013 Share Posted January 11, 2013 I don't see any reason to go away from a hard-wired phone. It's not like most people don't have phones on their desks at work. Even if they're IP phones, they're still plugged into something. It's just an advertising gimmick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chw42 Posted January 11, 2013 Share Posted January 11, 2013 QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Jan 11, 2013 -> 08:44 AM) I don't see any reason to go away from a hard-wired phone. It's not like most people don't have phones on their desks at work. Even if they're IP phones, they're still plugged into something. It's just an advertising gimmick. Bullpen phones malfunctioned in the 2011 WS and they couldn't get the right pitcher to warm up. Anyhow, it's gonna look weird when the manager takes a cell phone out of his pocket and calls the bullpen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StrangeSox Posted January 11, 2013 Share Posted January 11, 2013 I don't know that we should expect a cellphone to be more reliable than an internal phone line. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chw42 Posted January 11, 2013 Share Posted January 11, 2013 QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Jan 11, 2013 -> 10:12 AM) I don't know that we should expect a cellphone to be more reliable than an internal phone line. Especially T-Mobile. Hell, I have trouble with getting signal inside a building at times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quin Posted January 11, 2013 Share Posted January 11, 2013 I expect this to cause more problems than it solves. Imagine when the phone number for one team's phone gets leaked? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted January 11, 2013 Author Share Posted January 11, 2013 QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Jan 11, 2013 -> 11:15 AM) I expect this to cause more problems than it solves. Imagine when the phone number for one team's phone gets leaked? That could have happened before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StrangeSox Posted January 11, 2013 Share Posted January 11, 2013 I'd be surprised if the bullpen phone was anything but an internal/closed-circuit system, more like an intrabuilding intercom. What would they need an actual phone for, ordering pizzas mid-game? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quin Posted January 11, 2013 Share Posted January 11, 2013 QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Jan 11, 2013 -> 11:34 AM) I'd be surprised if the bullpen phone was anything but an internal/closed-circuit system, more like an intrabuilding intercom. What would they need an actual phone for, ordering pizzas mid-game? This is what I always assumed as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyyle23 Posted January 11, 2013 Share Posted January 11, 2013 QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Jan 11, 2013 -> 11:34 AM) I'd be surprised if the bullpen phone was anything but an internal/closed-circuit system, more like an intrabuilding intercom. What would they need an actual phone for, ordering pizzas mid-game? Well in boston they would order beer and fried chicken Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RockRaines Posted January 11, 2013 Share Posted January 11, 2013 (edited) QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 9, 2013 -> 08:36 AM) That'd be great, pausing a game because a team can't get through to call the bullpen. That happened with the Cubs a few years back. I believe that was Nextel or some s***. I dont understand the need to get rid of bullpen phones. I love how MLB wanted to get "high tech" and they went to cell phones. You could have made an actual jump and went to tablets with video chatting etc but instead, a cell phone. Edited January 11, 2013 by RockRaines Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witesoxfan Posted January 11, 2013 Share Posted January 11, 2013 It's probably going to be a s***ty flip phone from like 1998 too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chw42 Posted January 11, 2013 Share Posted January 11, 2013 QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Jan 11, 2013 -> 11:15 AM) I expect this to cause more problems than it solves. Imagine when the phone number for one team's phone gets leaked? The network this will work over is closed off from your public cell phone network. You won't be able to call it from anywhere else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chw42 Posted January 11, 2013 Share Posted January 11, 2013 QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jan 11, 2013 -> 12:28 PM) It's probably going to be a s***ty flip phone from like 1998 too Nope, it'll be a dumbed down version of a Galaxy S3. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LittleHurt05 Posted January 11, 2013 Share Posted January 11, 2013 QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jan 11, 2013 -> 12:28 PM) It's probably going to be a s***ty flip phone from like 1998 too Hopefully it will be a giant Zack Morris type phone, that would be awesome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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