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My first live (spring training) game of the season will be march 5th. My Tigers play Pittsburgh. People laugh at the Tigers, but who would have thought that the bucs could win a superbowl, and they pulled it off...and Boston won a world series, curse and all. Posts: 1901 | Registered: May 2004
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Weren't the Bucs deep in the playoffs for at least three consecutive years before winning the Superbowl?
Posts: 13680 | Registered: Mar 2002
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I'm counting down the hours until Boston plays their first spring training game. We play Boston College and then Northeastern, but the Pirates are our first real game. I love baseball season. Posts: 1789 | Registered: Jul 2003
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And the White Sox won a World Series too, meaning that in terms of cursed teams, it's the Cubs' turn for a victory.
But it would be cool if the Tigers won too. As a Red Sox fan, you know what I'm going to say here: anybody but the Yankees! Posts: 484 | Registered: Feb 2006
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Oh, and I lied. The Red Sox are playing Minnesota first. And Kristen, I completely agree. But now that they have Johnny Damon *shudder* who knows what could happen? Then again, we have Coco Crisp, so I think we're going to be just fine.
Posts: 1789 | Registered: Jul 2003
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Yay baseball is back! Mankind's entertainment cure for insomnia!
lupus, you're a Tigers fan? Where do you live/where're you from?
I gotta say, it wouldn't matter to me if the Tigers were the defending world series champs, I can't stand baseball, it's like golf with a bigger ball for me.
I wish I did like it though, my mom's boss has season tickets in the Tiger's Den.
Posts: 21898 | Registered: Nov 2004
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I'm from lakeland (where the Tigers have spring training). I grew up watching the Tigers spring training (and the lakeland tigers during the regular season).
I was even able to be a bat boy for the Tigers for one of the spring training games when I was a kid.
I did drift away from the major league a bit when the strike canceled the world series (though I still watched the minor leaguers)...I couldn't stay away for good.
Annoyingly, to watch the Tigers games I have to get them online...since not all that many of them are televised, but mlb.com has decent quality. It is still nothing like going to the game though.
Posts: 1901 | Registered: May 2004
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quote:Originally posted by Lyrhawn: You ARE talking about the DETROIT Tigers right?
Keeping with that assumption, if you're ever in Detroit, I'll get you tickets.
Yep.
The lakeland tigers are a minor league team for the (major league) Detroit Tigers. The Detroit Tigers have their spring training at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland...which is where the Lakeland Tigers play during the regular season.
I'll definitely let you know if I ever end up in Detroit...that would be fun.
Posts: 1901 | Registered: May 2004
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mlb.com is the most awesomest major league sports website ever. That is all.
I also use it to watch baseball games, and when you factor in the very reasonable price, it is fantastic. Posts: 13680 | Registered: Mar 2002
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kwea, if she ever meets him again, she must get a Tek autograph for me. I will pay almost anything.
Dewey, Tek, and Pedro. My baseball triumvirate.
Oh, and reverse jinxes don't work here, Icarus... The Yanks have a murderers row out there (even with overpaid guys like the "20-million-dollar man who let yet another seeing-eye single through the hole" ), while the Sox will likely go Snap and crackle, but not as much pop.
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I have a question about the physics of hitting a baseball:
Assuming that the same bat is swung with equal force in each of the following cases, which case results in the ball travelling the farthest when struck, and why?
1. Fast pitch 2. Slow pitch 3. Struck from a stationary tee
Posts: 2655 | Registered: Feb 2004
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You can wade through the science, or skip down to the conclusion.
"~6! The optimally hit curve ball will travel farther than both the fastball and knuckleball, because of beneficial topspin on the pitched curve ball that is enhanced during impact with the bat."
but
"~9! For a given pitch type, range increases with pitch speed."
The conclusion also states that "Range is most sensitive to bat speed, which suggests that a batter ought to work on bat speed before anything else to increase the range of his/her hits."
Posts: 413 | Registered: Apr 2003
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quote:Assuming that the same bat is swung with equal force in each of the following cases, which case results in the ball travelling the farthest when struck, and why?
Do you mean, "assuming that the same bat is swung with the same momentum"? If so, then a good test might be to try throwing a ball at a brick wall. You'll find that the faster the ball is thrown the farther it will bounce. I think this has something to do with the conservation of energy. (It's been a while since my last physics class, so I can't remember all the details)
Posts: 1256 | Registered: May 2005
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Ugh, is baseball season starting already? What do they have, like 4 months off? Only 4 months of all sports media sources not being completely flooded with baseball stuff?
Posts: 879 | Registered: Apr 2005
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Summer means softball season for me. I play every year. Just hope maybe I can pitch this year...
Posts: 1164 | Registered: Feb 2006
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quote:Originally posted by Hamson: Ugh, is baseball season starting already? What do they have, like 4 months off? Only 4 months of all sports media sources not being completely flooded with baseball stuff?
I only get 3 months off school.
Posts: 1164 | Registered: Feb 2006
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If I am the runner on first, and the batter hits a grounder fielded by short stop or the second baseman, I know I'm out. Do I run anyway?
Do I always run immediately after I hit the ball? How do I overcome the tendency to want to stand there and see how far the ball goes?
Posts: 2655 | Registered: Feb 2004
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quote:Originally posted by skillery: Thanks for the info Avatar300.
Now I have a couple of beginner-level questions:
If I am the runner on first, and the batter hits a grounder fielded by short stop or the second baseman, I know I'm out. Do I run anyway?
Yes, you never know when someone will make a mistake. Never give up until you are actually out.
quote: Do I always run immediately after I hit the ball? How do I overcome the tendency to want to stand there and see how far the ball goes?
If it is low...or if there are 2 outs, you run at once. If there is air under the ball, and it might be caught before hitting the ground...you don't go to far from the base, since you need to tag up if it is caught before it hits the ground.
The reason you run at once no matter what if there are two outs, is it doesn't matter to the runner if the ball is caught, because if it is caught there are 3 outs anyway and the at bat is over so there would be no need to tag up.
As for overcoming the tendancy to stand there...you won't be playing for very long if you do something like that...so I'd say the fear of being benched could be a motivator. Posts: 1901 | Registered: May 2004
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But if I'm at bat do I run immediately? If it's a foul ball, and I've stepped out of the batter's box, am I fair game? Can they tag me out on my way back to the plate?
It seems like I've seen pros watch their hits before they run.
Posts: 2655 | Registered: Feb 2004
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On a ground ball, a runner on base (1st, 2nd, or 3rd) is never automatically out. If the runner is being "forced" (either because the batter is running to first, and the runner is on first, or if the runner is on another base, but all the runners behind them are forced to run), they should always run to the next base, because the fielder could have trouble fielding, throwing it to the base the runner is running, running to tag the base the runner is going to (which is what causes an out), or may throw to a different base to get another runner out. If the runner on base is not forced (there is no runner behind them that is being forced to run to the base they are on), the runner does not need to run. This is the case, for instance, if a runner is on second, and no one is on first.
If the ball is hit in the air, it is actually best to listen to your 1st or 3rd base coach to tell you when to run. On a ball in the air, no one is forced to run (aside from certain exceptions, like the fielder dropping the ball, which turns the batted ball into a ground ball, essentially). Of course, as noted above, you should run on contact when there are two outs in the inning.
A batter should generally run on any contact, even if it is obviously foul. This helps them remember to be quick out of the batter's box.
Foul balls are a weird case. There are two separate categories: if the foul ball has travelled beyond the first or 3rd bases, or if it is "inside" of them. Lets start with the "beyond" case. If it is a fly ball, the ball isn't considered foul until it lands. So a ball could start foul, but the wind could blow it fair, or more commonly, fair ball can be pushed foul. A slight exception to this is if a fielder touches the ball, the ball is fair or foul depending on whether the fielder is in fair or foul territory. In the beyond case, a ground ball is fair if it passes 1st or 3rd base in fair territory, foul otherwise (the bases themselves are in fair territory.
In the "inside" case, fly balls follow the same rules as above. Ground balls, however, are only judged fair or foul once the ball is touched, or the ball stops moving. If it stops in fair territory, it is fair, foul otherwise. Similarly wherever the ball is, when a fielder touches it, determines the balls condition. Notice that this is different than the fly ball case, since even if a fielder is in fair territory, if the batted ball last touched the ground in foul territory, it is foul. So you will often see weak ground balls being followed by a fielder, who hopes it will roll foul.
Major league baseball has too many loud drunken fans, expensive tickets which are sold out everywhere but the bad seats at the start of the season, calluous players, $5 beers...
Going to a Joliet Jackhammer's game for an entire cost of less than $20 (including train fare), and getting 6th row seats, is a great way to spend a lazy Saturday.
Posts: 484 | Registered: Feb 2006
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*ahem* It's the Braves turn to win the World Series this year. Thirteen years straight of winning their division, and yet they haven't won the World Series since 1995. It's about time! Posts: 1635 | Registered: Aug 2002
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quote:If I am the runner on first, and the batter hits a grounder fielded by short stop or the second baseman, I know I'm out. Do I run anyway?
You have to run, because you never know when the fielder will commit an error. Also, if you get down the line quickly enough a good slide can help to break up the double play.
quote:It seems like I've seen pros watch their hits before they run.
I think you usually only see this when they know it's going to be a homerun. This gives them a chance to pose for the camera. Also if they know the ball is going to be fouled into the stands. There's usually less posing in the latter situation, however.
Posts: 413 | Registered: Apr 2003
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quote:Originally posted by hansenj: *ahem* It's the Braves turn to win the World Series this year. Thirteen years straight of winning their division, and yet they haven't won the World Series since 1995. It's about time!
Actually, the Twins will win this year. Santana and Liriano should each win about fifty games. Then, over the course of the playoffs they'll both throw about five no-hitters.
Posts: 413 | Registered: Apr 2003
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quote:Santana and Liriano should each win about fifty games. Then, over the course of the playoffs they'll both throw about five no-hitters.
...and the average final score of each game will be 200-0. That's assuming we get Ditka as an assistant coach.
Posts: 1256 | Registered: May 2005
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My cousin is studying in America on a baseball college scholarship. I wish I was better at the it. Posts: 1138 | Registered: Nov 2005
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quote:Originally posted by Avatar300: a good slide can help to break up the double play.
You mean the second baseman will have to jump out of your way to avoid broken bones? So you're out, but you become a projectile.
Posts: 2655 | Registered: Feb 2004
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quote:Originally posted by Avatar300: a good slide can help to break up the double play.
You mean the second baseman will have to jump out of your way to avoid broken bones? So you're out, but you become a projectile.
Broken bones, or, if you've got good spikes, severe leg lacerations. Not only are you a projectile, you're a sharp one (especially if you happen to be named Ty Cobb).
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*humph* That can't be right. The Red Sox will totally win the wild card spot, and you know it. Just wait and see.
Posts: 1789 | Registered: Jul 2003
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Nope. Yankees are in first, and... yep, Detroit is leading the wild card race. Oh, definitely gonna be a bad year for Boston. Posts: 2911 | Registered: Aug 2001
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My theory is the White Sox are going to make up for all those years without titles by adding another this year. It's fun to be a Chicago fan and an optimist for once without feeling as though it will jinx the team.
Posts: 291 | Registered: Jun 2002
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quote:Originally posted by plaid: Nope. Yankees are in first, and... yep, Detroit is leading the wild card race. Oh, definitely gonna be a bad year for Boston.
I doubt that.
Bok, if she asks for an autograph she gets fired, so no can do. If he offers, I am sure it will be made out to Jenni. Posts: 15082 | Registered: Jul 2001
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Woo! Fun Yankees game tonight! The Rangers got out in front 9-0, then the Yankees came back to win it 14-13 with a two-out home run in the bottom of the ninth... neat!! Posts: 2911 | Registered: Aug 2001
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Interesting article about how the Nat'l League teams are comparing (pretty badly) to the American League teams this year: link
quote:The junior senior circuit By Dan Wetzel, Yahoo! Sports June 30, 2006
In the last two World Series, the National League representatives won nary a single, solitary game. The Boston Red Sox swept the St. Louis Cardinals in 2004, and the Chicago White Sox swept the Houston Astros in 2005.
...
It may only be June, but after another week of getting blasted by the best of the American League, the writing for Fall may be on the wall. The National League is terrible, quite possibly without a single team that could even qualify for the playoffs if any of them played in the AL.
...
It is not even that the Mets, Cards and 'Stros are a combined 14-25 in this wave of interleague play. It is the way they lost. AL teams outscored those teams 225-168. ...
Thanks to a 131-79 advantage in interleague play, there are only five teams in the AL under .500.
Even the dredges of the AL are having fun. The Royals and Tampa Bay Devil Rays – a combined 41-85 against AL teams – are nonetheless 18-12 against the NL.
You don't need to wait until next week's All-Star game to figure out the better league. The Oakland Athletics, Toronto Blue Jays and Yankees, none of which is in the top three of the AL, might be better than anything the NL has.
...
League dominance is cyclical – both have had their runs of dominance – but the AL's cycle doesn't seem likely to end this year unless the NL contenders make some serious roster additions.
The three most likely AL pennant winners – the Tigers, White Sox and Red Sox – are a combined 39-6 against the NL. The three most likely NL pennant winners – Mets, Cardinals and Reds – are a combined 14-22.
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Hell yeah the Tigers are leading [correction] all of MLB!!
10 games up on the Yankees, a couple games up on the White Sox and the Red Sox. Booya! Maybe this is Detroit sports apologizing for the Wings and Pistons.
I saw them play the Astros last tuesday night. Awesome game. I don't know what got into the Tigers, but I hope it's here to stay!
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Aww man, I'd forgotten how much I love baseball. I caught the end of a Cubs V Brewers game here at camp the other day while waiting for the staff meeting to start. 9th inning, Cubs down one and it was their last at bat. Brewers caught out the first on a foul ball, got the second to 3-2 then walked him after a couple of fouls. He stole second on a missed catch and then they struck out the final batter. Not that exciting for baseball, but since I was rooting for the Cubs it was enough to put me on edge.
I need to start watching baseball again.
Posts: 3295 | Registered: Jun 2004
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