@olvidoabsoluto@idobadtakes That is a great observation. When watching the US team, it is obvious that they are playing extremely aggressive defense in an attempt to physically intimidate the other teams. To date, it's been working and it's fun to watch. We'll see how long its effective
@ricardobc@SkylarSkye3 I don't think that the US really cares about being 'out of touch' with the rest of the world when it comes to sports options. When the first week of September comes, most attention will be directed toward college and pro football. Not a slam at soccer, but just a fact.
@SkylarSkye3 I doubt it. Popularity is driven by media and even a World Cup win is not going to vault soccer past college football and the NFL. No network is going to replace college football (or basketball) or the NFL with soccer in prime time.
@gehrenbergdfs Watching soccer has been a great diversion and distraction this summer. The athletes are definitely world class, but the flopping, mystery actual time left at the end of the half and match, and the game suspension for a red card are ridiculous
@_Saxby_ Going to show my age, but a bat flip in the 70's or 80's would have resulted in a 'high and up' fastball the next time that the batter came up. Guaranteed. Now that's an automatic ejection and probable suspension. Just a different time and game now
@GodAtMario@Joe_Fann Great point. If and when the USMNT goes out, rest assured that there will be no civil disorder or second guessing that will last for months or years. A great effort will be recognized and attention will turn to the next sport in season
@Joe_Fann Will be watching and pulling for the US for as long as their run is (hopefully long). The consolation is that regardless of the end result, NFL training camps open in 2-3 weeks. By September 1, the WC will be in the rearview, regardless of what team wins
@maddox_news@TigersJUK This is an extremely intelligent, and one of the best, responses. The US is enjoying the World Cup, but it is a pleasant distraction until NFL Training Camps open up in 2 weeks. Culturally, the WC has been great, but soccer will never outdraw the NFL in the US
@TigersJUK The counter would be that the extra time is usually a result of a bogus injury that causes a player to fall to the ground and wither in pain like he was gut shot. The US attitude toward sports is never to show pain and to get up as soon as possible. "Walk it off.."
@6ixxFN@mrmikeMTL Went to a DC area Catholic HS in the late 70's. This is exactly right. They gave you a live frog that you then 'pithed.' (You can look up the procedure yourself). If that happened now, there would be protests and probably indictments
@SleeperNats Agree. Cavalli said as much when he said, "It sucks.." after the game. There needs to be several call ups/send downs, if only to show the fans that the team realizes that this bullpen can't compete in a major league environment. Parker's next pitch should be in Double or Triple A
@MrNightfoxx@travieballin26 Bryce is holding up the finger (allegedly ring) that will never have a World Series ring on it. The Curse of Bryce Harper is alive and well
@travieballin26 The Tarps Off crew averages about 14-16 years old. They were pushing the line with some of the things that they were saying about Harper. Not worried about him being shocked, but there were a large number of little kids sitting in the adjacent sections.
@JPFinlayNBCS With Eli Willits tearing up the minors, I wouldn't be surprised to see CJ moved at the trade deadline. Perhaps get some major league caliber bullpen help and show potential free agents that DC takes its baseball seriously
@elo_bajo@WFAN660@craigcartonlive Agree. Regardless of what he did in college, you can't carry that over into the NFL. I'm not sure that NFL teams are going to take the risk of affiliating with a rookie who was connected with gambling and if they do, they need to be prepared for the accompanying smoke
I wouldn't be surprised to see the Nats move CJ at the trade deadline in order to get some major league pitching. The Nats SS of the future, Eli Willits, is their first round pick and is absolutely tearing up the minors. Expect to see him, in DC, no later than mid 27
@MarkZuckerman Missed calls, by the home plate ump, seem to be on the rise. The missed calls, last night, were ridiculous and could have easily cost the Nats the game. I hope that MLB is keeping stats on umpires 'missed calls' rate
@Seth_3773 Agreed. For a club that didn't allow their players to have facial hair, for most of their history, this is a 180. Can't be too smart to be playing at a major league level with a stick in your mouth