In the tradition of Ask the Rebbetzin and other popular threads... if you've got a question about baseball, post it here, and I'll do my best to provide a good answer. Whether you're watching baseball for the first time, and have basic questions, or have a complex question about angle's of throws in the infield, bring em on!
Posted by Alucard... (Member # 4924) on :
I don't know if it can be answered definitively, but: Is the ball juiced?
Posted by Paul Goldner (Member # 1910) on :
No.
The allowed tolerance on the tightness of the winding in the baseball has been the same every year for a long time now. Although it is possible the meaasured tolerance is being falsely reported, this seems unlikely, and would probably have been exposed by now.
Posted by Book (Member # 5500) on :
I heard recently a guy was at bat for over a half hour, hitting 14 consecutive foul balls, followed by a home run. Is this true?
Posted by Paul Goldner (Member # 1910) on :
Its completely possible. I couldn't verify this. Luke Appling once fouled off 14 consecutive pitches, so someone else doing it is conceivable. Often, in long atbats, the batter either strikes out or gets a big hit, so following up 14 foul balls with a home run is also possible.
However, I can't confirm from any reliable source.
A 14-18 pitch at bat, however, would not take over half an hour, as the pitcher is not allowed more then 20 seconds between pitches. This often isn't enforced, but most pitchers take between 10-25 seconds. Mark prior, who is supposed to have been the pitcher, would have worked faster then 1 pitch every other minute.
[ May 15, 2004, 02:33 PM: Message edited by: Paul Goldner ]
Posted by CO_Titan (Member # 6433) on :
Can the Angels still hold their first place rank even with some injuries to their core players? Its an opinion question actually.
Im an Angel fan though. I love them
They have been doing good. Thay have been winning many games even without Tim Salmon and Garret Anderson. Posted by Paul Goldner (Member # 1910) on :
Losing Tim Salmon and Garret Anderson, if they are out for an extended period, may cost the angels a chance at the playoffs. Oakland will come on strong, and if Texas's pitching stays decent, they have a ton of hitters. With the red sox and yankees in the east, the wild card will be hard to win. On the other hand, the Angels have good pitching.
Don't count the angels out, but their chances are badly hurt.
I think the Yankees, REd Sox, Rangers, and Twins will make the playoffs from teh american league.
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
Paul,
For the past twenty years, I have heard my husband proclaim: "This is the year," in reference to the Red Sox winning the World Series.
My question is: Is this the year? If so, why? If not, why not?
Posted by hugh57 (Member # 5527) on :
Is George Steinbrenner really the Antichrist?
Posted by The Silverblue Sun (Member # 1630) on :
Will Roger Clemens go 32-0?
Posted by Risuena (Member # 2924) on :
quote: Alex Cora also typified the pit-bull demeanor of the Dodgers offense by fouling off 14 straight Clement pitches during an 18-pitch at-bat in the seventh. Cora clawed until he slammed a two-run home run to right and drove Clement out of the game with another persistent sequence of slight, but effective, blows.
I saw part of the at bat Wednesday night and it was very impressive. I can't tell you if it lasted over an hour, though...
Posted by Paul Goldner (Member # 1910) on :
Thanks for the confirmation.
Is this the year for the sox? No. Pedro is not the same pedro who can dominate hitters, and wakefield is a knuckelballer. Means he's very inconsistent. Good, but you never know what you will get. Lowe has not been very strong this year. Arroyo is still young. Schilling is the only pitcher you can truly count on this year in the starting rotation. Red Sox will make the second round of the playoffs, but not make the world series.
Steinbrenner is not really the anti-christ. Baseball does need revenue sharing like football has.
Roger Clemens will not go 32-0. No one is that good. Right now, he is benefitting from being a great pitcher, going through the national league for teh first time. Thats always advantage pitcher. Expect him to slow down once teams see him a second time. 20 wins is very possible, as is the Cy Young. Rocket is one of the 5 best pitchers of all time, and he has built his body to last. He may have another 2 years left after this one.
Posted by hugh57 (Member # 5527) on :
quote: I can't tell you if it lasted over an hour, though...
According to my newspaper, which was quoting the LA Daily News, the at-bat lasted 13 min. 56 sec.
Which, no doubt, seemed like at least an hour.
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
Are baseball players really cuter than other sports players, or is it just the uniforms?
Posted by The Silverblue Sun (Member # 1630) on :
- Paul -
You forgot to mention that in Houston, Roger Clemens is MAGIC. Something about him gives the entire team the belief, balls and will needed to win, win and win again.
Posted by The Silverblue Sun (Member # 1630) on :
quote: Are baseball players really cuter than other sports players, or is it just the uniforms?
Can I answer this one?
Baseball players are the dumbest of all athletes, (yes, they are even dumber than basketball players) so this is why women find them sooo cute.
We all know how much women love dumb guys!
Posted by Paul Goldner (Member # 1910) on :
Silverblue- We'll see. But I'll bet you everything I own roger clemens doesn't go undefeated.
Posted by Paul Goldner (Member # 1910) on :
"Baseball players are the dumbest of all athletes,"
Actually, I bet if you actually looked at high school and college grades, and courses, and standardized tests, you'd find that baseball players are on average smarter then players in the other major sports.
Posted by The Silverblue Sun (Member # 1630) on :
Even I know Clemens will not go 32 and 0, but his season will be MAGIC.
Paul, do you believe in Test scores?
Question #2
Who is the first major ballplayer that will admit he's gay?
<T>
Posted by Mabus (Member # 6320) on :
How long will it be before the Cubs win the World Series?
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
Paul, I am still interested in your answer about the cuteness. Liz
Posted by The Silverblue Sun (Member # 1630) on :
If I had to take a guess at my own question...
I would say that Alex Rodriguez AND Derek Jeter will come out to the public saying that they have fallen madly in love and like to have sexual relations with each other.
Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
Paul, if I build it ... will they come? And are the novels of Susan Sontag really self-indulgent, overrated crap?
Thanks. *tips cap
Posted by Paul Goldner (Member # 1910) on :
Liz- Baseball players are cuter because the sport relies on quickness in the hands and wrists, generating hip power, and upper leg strength. baseball players are generally better proportioned then football players or basketball players, for this reason.
Posted by kaioshin00 (Member # 3740) on :
How do people enjoy watching baseball? Golf is bad enough with 1 person doing nothing, baseball has a whole team of players doing nothing.
Posted by Paul Goldner (Member # 1910) on :
If you build it, someone will come Probably little kids.
A kid in my hometown built a wiffleball replica of fenway park. Every year for opening day, he gets lots of celebrities out. So, the answer to your question is... yes.
As to the novels, couldn't tell ya. Haven't read em. Probably.
Posted by Paul Goldner (Member # 1910) on :
"How do people enjoy watching baseball?"
Because its a mental game. If you understand baseball, there are hundreds of little things happening on every play and on every pitch.
Baseball isn't an "athletes" sport in that you don't need to be the strongest, or the fastest, or the best jumper, to do well. You need to be quick with your hands, have good hand eye coordination, be able to generate short bursts of power. Its a game of staying within your limits. Overthrow a baseball, and it won't go into the strikezone. Overswing at a ball, and you won't hit it. Steady teams that play hard day in and day out, but don't get over-excited often win the most games.
Baseball has history to it. more then any other sport, you can compare players across generations, and the rules stay basically the same, with only minor modification. Baseball competes against ITSELF.
Its a game for people who love numbers. Statistics are the lifeblood of baseball. Who has hit .400 in a season? Whats the record for strikeouts in a nine inning game? Whats barry Bonds slugging percentage? Whats Kerry Woods strike out total? People who like numbers tend to like baseball.
Baseball is a game about "going home." Its not football, where the game is played "in the trenches" or "on the gridiron." Its played on a field, in a park. Its about beauty, and perfection.
Posted by kaioshin00 (Member # 3740) on :
Hmm. I've tried to watch a game, its just seems so boring. Only like 1/4 of the pitches are hit.
Posted by Paul Goldner (Member # 1910) on :
About that, yes. Baseball isn't a game about perpetual action, its a game about perpetual mental battle. The pitcher doesn't WANT the hitter to hit the ball, his job is to make the hitter NOT hit it, or hit it badly.
Would you say basketball is exciting if the defending team let the offense do whatever it wanted?
Posted by ak (Member # 90) on :
I think the cutest players, no contest, are playing on Australian rules football. Watch it sometime and you'll agree.
Posted by JonnyNotSoBravo (Member # 5715) on :
I recently watched a program on TV that talked about the Oakland As and how they have the lowest average salary in the majors yet have a consistently good team that continually makes it to the playoffs (please correct any wrong facts - I'm going on pure memory here). I guess one of the arguments for the team's lack of success in the playoffs is that the playoffs are a big crapshoot. Is this true? And do you think it will ever be likely for a team with lower paid players on average to win the W. Series, even against teams that have 3 times their budget (like the NYY)?
Posted by Paul Goldner (Member # 1910) on :
Well, the marlins did it last year. It happens. The yankees just have better odds, because they can afford to get a lineup of stars, whereas teams like the marlins do it by developing young players and winning before they reach free agency.
Oakland has managed to do well over the last years, with a lower payroll, by being smart. They get hitters who don't look like stars, because they walk a lot, don't hit for high average, but hit some home runs.
Walks and homeruns often make up for a lack of speed and batting average.
Oakland's lack of success in the playoffs is probably attributable to not having as DEEP a team as their opponents. The yankees and red sox and angels and dodgers can afford rosters that are good 1-25, whereas oakland usually doesn't have very many roll players, and has been known to have a suspect bullpen. Against an evenly matched team, having the one extra player to put into the game for a certain matchup, can often mean the difference between a win and a loss.
Oakland is run by a man with good baseball sense, who usually manages to pick up good players, and the organization is devoted to developing good pitchers, and hitters with good pitch recognition skills. This has laid the foundation for good success year to year.
Posted by hansenj (Member # 4034) on :
quote: Can the Angels still hold their first place rank even with some injuries to their core players?
The Braves are sure suffering from this problem right now. They just lost Marcus Giles today to a nasty neck/shoulder injury.
quote: Baseball players are cuter because the sport relies on quickness in the hands and wrists, generating hip power, and upper leg strength. baseball players are generally better proportioned then football players or basketball players, for this reason.
So true, so true. And of all of the positions, the cutest ones are catchers.
I don't have any questions for you right now, Paul, but I absolutely loved your explanation of why people like baseball. It was very eloquent. It's what I always wish I could tell people when they ask me why I like baseball.
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
AK, Actually, soccer players are probably the real cutest, to me. But I see your Australian football players.
Paul, First of all, REALLY NICE reasoning for why people like to watch baseball, and why it is a headsport. Also, really nice explanation for why baseball players have the cutest behinds, equal to soccer players'. I am, honestly, glad there is a biological reason I might think this.
Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
For Paul (one of the greatest movie quotes ever):
quote: Well, I believe in the soul, the [deleted for gentle eyes], the [deleted for gentle eyes], the small of a woman's back, the hanging curve ball, high fiber, good scotch, that the novels of Susan Sontag are self-indulgent, overrated crap. I believe Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone. I believe there ought to be a constitutional amendment outlawing Astroturf and the designated hitter. I believe in the sweet spot, soft-core pornography, opening your presents Christmas morning rather than Christmas Eve and I believe in long, slow, deep, soft, wet kisses that last three days. -- Crash Davis, played by Kevin Costner in Bull Durham
I'm developing a serious thing for baseball movies.
[ May 15, 2004, 10:49 PM: Message edited by: ClaudiaTherese ]
Posted by Paul Goldner (Member # 1910) on :
Have you seen For Love of the Game?
Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
Yep. Costner does a good ball-player. He wasn't too bad in Tin Cup, either, though that's another sport and a whole 'nother genre. I also loved Remember the Titans, though it's also another thing altogether.
Perhaps more than anything, it's movies that are slowly getting me to understand sports.
[ May 15, 2004, 10:54 PM: Message edited by: ClaudiaTherese ]
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
CT, Did you see 61, the movie about Roger Maris?
Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
No, I did not, but if that's a recommendation, you're on. Thanks, Elizabeth.
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
I really iked it a lot. I can't really tell you if it is a good film , but I loved the story and the characterization.
There is also a novel called "My Pal Al," which is pretty old,and may or may not still be in print. My dad gave it to me to read when I was in middle school. It was a funny novel about a ball player in the earlier days of the game. I will see if I can find in on the net.
Edit: OK, the only "My Pal Al" that comes up is a story of a little girl with a bunny. Not the one. I will ask my dad today when i talk to him.
[ May 16, 2004, 08:49 AM: Message edited by: Elizabeth ]
Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :
Has anyone seen "Miracle"? I meant to see it but never got around to it. Heard it was good, though.
Dagonee
Posted by jebus202 (Member # 2524) on :
Paul,
What are all the rules of baseball?
Thanks.
Posted by Paul Goldner (Member # 1910) on :
*beats jebus over teh head with the rule book* osmosis works wonders Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
I was wondering how you were going to handle that one, my Retroactive Date. Nicely done.
I do have one, though, from softball the other day.
If there is a force run to third and the runner overruns tha base(but the ball has not made it to the third baseman yet), does the third baseman have to touch the bag, or is the runner automatically out for overrunning?
Posted by Paul Goldner (Member # 1910) on :
Once the player TOUCHES the bag, its no longer a force play at the base. He can continue running to home, or go back to third, but he must be tagged by the defense in order to be out. A force play only occurs when a runner must advance to the base. Once the player has touched third, he no longer is forced to advance to third base.
Softball does have some different rules, but thats how it would be in baseball rules.
Posted by Paercival (Member # 1408) on :
some of the rules for softball are WEIRD! apparently you can sub in for a player, as in, y goes in for x. In baseball, X would be done. But in softball, X CAN STILL COME BACK IN! its crazy I left my kinda-GFs game early when she got subbed out cause i had to be somewhere, but she came back in, made a sportscenter catch in CF and hit her 4th homer of the day! ARGH!
Posted by Hobbes (Member # 433) on :
On the playoffs, most teams recognize it's a craps shoot. Every GM works to get their team to the playoffs, but once they're there, it's pretty much however the dice roll. The reason for this is simply statistical flukes. Over the season there are over 160 games, a well built, well rounded, and strong team will just plain win more games than an inferior team. But the playoffs are so short that random blips in the statistical patterns determine whole series, and the best team in baseball can be knocked out by the worst because of it.
Hobbes Posted by Paul Goldner (Member # 1910) on :
Hobbes is correct about that. I start to wonder, in cases like Oaklands, if there's something else going on, because statistical fluke should go their way ONCE in a while. It doesn't seem to.
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
OK, Paul, this is 3rd and 4th grade softball. the runner overran third base by going straight and sort of standing there, she did not even make a run for home. ha ha. Now what?
Posted by Ela (Member # 1365) on :
Great thread, Paul.
I love baseball and I love reading your answers.
Here's one for you:
Ths happened early in the season (mid-April), in a Marlins-Philly game. A ball pitched by Benitez in the 9th inning was hit by Palanco. The ball wedged under the padding on the left-field wall. Left fielder Jeff Conine noted the ball was not playable, and the umpire called for a ground-rule double. The Phillies tried to contest the call but didn't get anywhere.
What was the confusion, and why would the Phillies think this play was not a ground-rule double?
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
Question: Paul, what if our retroactive date occured in October of 1987, at Fenway Park. If we yell to Buckner: "Don't let it go through your legs, you idiot!" and he got the out, would the world as we know it be the same?
A related question: Could the general psyche of Massachusetts survive a Red Sox World Series victory?
Posted by Paul Goldner (Member # 1910) on :
Elizabeth- Same rules apply. If the runner overran the bag, she must be tagged out. A force play is only active until the runner reaches the base and touches it. If she missed the bag, then a force out is still active.
Ela- The confusion could be over the understanding of the ground rules. Each stadium has its own set of ground rules, and some of them can be quite odd. Most stadiums do not have a rule for balls being stuck under the padding, so if the ball was stuck, then polanco should have been able to advance. However, the stadium this occured in could have such a ground rule, and the umpire correctly enforced it. A similar play occured at fenway park recently, resulting in an inside the park homerun. My suspicion is that the umpire enforced the ground rules incorrectly, or, alternatively, the phillies did not understand the ground rules.
For example, in wrigley field, a ball is a ground rule double if it is hit into the ivy and lost, but is NOT a ground rule double if the ball is hit into the ivy, visible, and stuck. Every 2-3 years, a ball gets stuck and is an inside the park homerun.
Before each game the managers and umpires go over the ground rules. The most common ground rule is that a ball bouncing over a wall is a double, but every park has its own unique rules based on structure, and sometimes whim.
Posted by Paul Goldner (Member # 1910) on :
October 1986, you mean?
That would be a fun date... until bleeping buckner...
I do not think the collective psyche of new england could handle a world series win. The region would shut down for about a week, and its likely all that would be left is a smoking crater from the mass celebration. If the state survived, there'd be no curse to bemoan, leaving a state full of pessimists, without anything to be pessimistic about.
Posted by Ela (Member # 1365) on :
Thanks, Paul. I had no idea that ground rules varied so much from stadium to stadium.
Seems sort of silly, in some respects. Posted by Paul Goldner (Member # 1910) on :
Well, every stadium is designed differently. Fenway park doesn't need rules about balls hitting light structures over the field, while the Metrodome does.
Rules about balls being stuck under padding should be standardized, but I tend to think its one of the charms of baseball that each stadium is so different. Basketball, Hockey, and Football, all haev standardized playing fields. Baseball has much less conformity between stadiums, so going to different parks can be fun, just to see what, for example, camden yards looks like compared to Jacobs Field, compared to Wrigley, Compared to Yankee stadium, etc. Would baseball be the same without the green monster in fenway, the ivy in wrigley, the fountains in kaufman, or the ocean at pac bell?
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
Argh, yes, 1986.
I agree that Red Sox fans might spontaneously combust if the Sox won the Series.
Posted by Ralphie (Member # 1565) on :
Okay, I have a question for you, Mr. SmartyPants.
Why did I receive this scandalous image/sticker (which I have scanned and increased in size) in my box of Cracker Jacks, which I had purchased not 24 hours ago, oh-so-innocently?
[ May 16, 2004, 03:48 PM: Message edited by: Ralphie ]
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
They are obviously just doing the two-step, Ralphie! What are you implying?
Posted by Ralphie (Member # 1565) on :
There are TWO steps to Baseball Love?
Please elucidate.
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
Now, Ralphie, I shall not be baited into a discussion which takes the Spotlight of Lascivious Thought off of you, and onto me.
Posted by Paul Goldner (Member # 1910) on :
Because thats a famous moment in baseball world series history, when DOn Larsen pitched a perfect game against the Brooklyn Dodgers, in the 1956 world series. Its the only no hitter in the playoffs, and it was a perfect game (no opposing players reached base safely).
Posted by Ralphie (Member # 1565) on :
So, the "love" part of that sticker is just, like, bonus then.
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
"Why did I receive this scandalous image/sticker (which I have scanned and increased in size) in my box of Cracker Jacks"
Maybe you inadvertantly bought a box of Cracker Jocks?
Posted by The Silverblue Sun (Member # 1630) on :
Who is the best ballplayer of this generation?
[ May 16, 2004, 11:40 PM: Message edited by: The Silverblue Sun ]
Posted by Ralphie (Member # 1565) on :
quote:Maybe you inadvertantly bought a box of Cracker Jocks?
You know, there was something fishy about that box...
[ May 17, 2004, 12:08 AM: Message edited by: Ralphie ]
Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :
Posted by T_Smith (Member # 3734) on :
Wow... its like Ralphie's posts fill a void in my life.
Posted by Paul Goldner (Member # 1910) on :
"Who is the best ballplayer of this generation?"
Barry Bonds is the best of the hitters, and Roger Clemens is the best pitcher.
We'll see where A-Rod is in 10 years, he's one of the all time greats as well. Sucks for him he moved from shortstop, especially since he's far better defensively then Jeter, because there's no question he was making a run at best shortstop of all time.
Posted by UofUlawguy (Member # 5492) on :
PG said "About that, yes. Baseball isn't a game about perpetual action, its a game about perpetual mental battle. The pitcher doesn't WANT the hitter to hit the ball, his job is to make the hitter NOT hit it, or hit it badly.
Would you say basketball is exciting if the defending team let the offense do whatever it wanted?"
Although I'm not crazy about baseball, I can understand this kind of description of the game's appeal.
The thing that is so strange to me is how so many American sports gurus and fans lambast soccer for being boring, low scoring, etc., and still find baseball so fascinating for reasons like the above.
I find soccer completely captivating, but I imagine that's largely because I played it for a couple of years and I lived in Central America for a couple more. Exposure and familiarity and a little actual knowledge of the game makes all the difference.
Posted by Bokonon (Member # 480) on :
Paul, I think you are wrong about A-Rod. Derek Jeter is God's gift to the shortstop position. He can hit, bunt, steal, sacrifice, field, and cheer (did I mention he was team captain??) better than anyone. In fact, I heard from my brother's girlfriend's uncle's hairdresser's accountant that he even cooked and served (in the stands!) the best hot dogs on one of his off days.
Plus he has such a cute tookus.
-Bok, temporarily possessed by a Yankees fan
Posted by Paul Goldner (Member # 1910) on :
So, my question is, was there a gun pointed at your head when you wrote that? *Grin*
Posted by Bokonon (Member # 480) on :
Sorry, we're, I mean, I'm the only one who can ask questions here. You can only answer them.
Another question... Why do you all hate us so much? It isn't our fault that your team doesn't want win as much as the Yankees! I mean, sure, we have 10+ million people in our metro area, but why can't your cities just become more attractive for people to move to?
Not that any city is better than New York.
Oh, and don't you think Paul O'Neill a lock for the Hall of Fame? He had all the intangibles needed to keep the team together for the dynasty. He taught Jeter (the BEST SHORTSTOP EVER!!!) everything he knows about being a leader.
-Bok, "So this is what a lobotomy is like?"
Posted by Jenny Gardener (Member # 903) on :
So what, exactly, is a "ball"? I know a strike is a mark against you, three strikes and you're out! But is a ball like a little wee stepping over the line? How many balls do you get? What happens when you reach the maximum number of balls?
Thanks for helping this clueless Jenny get a better appreciation for baseball!
Posted by Godric (Member # 4587) on :
Great thread Paul!
How many seasons do you think Bonds has left? Will he break Aaron's HR record? Do you play APBA?
Posted by Bokonon (Member # 480) on :
Jenny:
When the batter steps into the "batters box" (it's a chalk outlined area to the left or right of home plate, and is the place where you see hitters stand when waiting for a pitch), The umpire creates a mental "strike zone" for each batter. The strike zone is defined as the area, starting at the front of home plate, that is as wide as the home plate, and is designated height-wise as the distance between the letters on a batter's jersey and the bottom of his knees.
Okay, having described that, a strike is any pitch that passes through that zone, starting at the front of the plate, or a strike is any pitch that the umpire feels the batter made an attempt to swing at, regardless of whether the pitch ever actually is in a strike zone.
In reality, umpires have various eyes and abilities, so the strike zone is never exactly the regulation strike zone.
A "ball" is any pitch that is not swung at [EDIT: AND] that does not cross the strike zone. Four "balls" to a batter, and they are given first base (EDIT: This is what is called a "walk").
--- Bonds has 3-4 years, and given that time, he'll break the all-time home run record.
-Bok
[ May 17, 2004, 02:45 PM: Message edited by: Bokonon ]
Posted by Hobbes (Member # 433) on :
A ball is a pitch that the batter did not swing at, and the home base umpire decided is outside the strikezone. If there are 4 of these in one at bat (before anything else like a hit or strikeout happens) then the batter "walks". Meaning that they just walk down to first base. It's like they hit a single without actually having to hit one, with the exception that no players on the bases advance unless they have to (runner on first needs to free up that base for the player who just walked so he would go to second). If the bases are loaded then a walk actually scores a run since each player needs to free up the base they're on for the guy behind them, other than that though, walks don't score runs.
The idea of the walk was implemented pre-19t century. Orginally the pitcher was just there to throw stuff to the batter, who could swing or not swing based on their whim (there was no "strike-zone"). But the games were amazingly slow so the pitcher became a player on the opposing team for a change, the batter only got 3 strikes and then they were out, and to keep the pitcher in check and the game moving smoothly, the 4-ball walk came in.
As a side note, there's another way to walk, if you're hit by a pitch then it's the equivalent of getting a walk.
[EDIT: Well I was beaten to it. Phoey]
Hobbes
[ May 17, 2004, 02:49 PM: Message edited by: Hobbes ]
Posted by Paul Goldner (Member # 1910) on :
I think next year will be Bonds last, if this year isn't.
He's capable of playing longer, if he wants to. But I don't think he does. This, of course, is pure speculation, based only off of informal comments he has made that this is his last year.
He will probably end his career with between 690-730 home runs, unless he does decide that its important to break aaron's home run record of 755.
Posted by Bokonon (Member # 480) on :
Hey, what about my Paul O'Neill question?
-Bok
Posted by Paul Goldner (Member # 1910) on :
If Paul O'Neil gets in the hall of fame, we should burn the place to the ground, because it will have outlived its usefullness.
Posted by Bokonon (Member # 480) on :
But, but, he had Hall of Fame _intangibles_!
-Bok
Posted by Paul Goldner (Member # 1910) on :
Yeah, and that sorta voting has put some really un-worthy players in the hall Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
Paul, How do you really spell "tookus?"
Posted by Zalmoxis (Member # 2327) on :
Question:
Do you think Agassi can help power the Sox to a championship this year?
Posted by Ralphie (Member # 1565) on :
quote: Plus he has such a cute tookus.
That's what I'm on about!
Posted by The Silverblue Sun (Member # 1630) on :
How lame duck is the commisioner of baseball?
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
quote: Paul, How do you really spell "tookus?"
*cough* Posted by Paul Goldner (Member # 1910) on :
With hebrew characters Posted by thrak (Member # 5499) on :
Paul, have you read Moneyball? I assume that you have given your answer to Oakland's success. I just finished it and as a stats person, I found it very informative.
Posted by Paul Goldner (Member # 1910) on :
No, I haven't. I do, however, follow much of the writings of the Sabermetrics community.
Posted by Bob the Lawyer (Member # 3278) on :
Is there any hope that salaries will drop to a level that will allow teams to not have to sell 80,000 tickets a game just to keep a team?
Posted by Paul Goldner (Member # 1910) on :
Not any time soon. With the collective bargaining agreement in place, there's really no incentive.
Revenue sharing would be a great thing for baseball, but I don't see it happening within the next 5 years.
Posted by aspectre (Member # 2222) on :
I like the Brisbane Lions games. Posted by Paul Goldner (Member # 1910) on :
Cubs vs Red sox or yankees.
St. Louis has great fans, but there aren't as many of them. The three teams above have nation-wide followings.
Posted by Paercival (Member # 1408) on :
did you catch any of that amazing game last night? way to go randy
Posted by JonnyNotSoBravo (Member # 5715) on :
![[Blushing]](graemlins/blushing.gif)
![[The Wave]](graemlins/thewave.gif)
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
Probably little kids.![[Frown]](frown.gif)
They just lost Marcus Giles today to a nasty neck/shoulder injury. ![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
![[ROFL]](graemlins/rofl.gif)
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
![[Laugh]](graemlins/laugh.gif)
tookus ![[Hail]](graemlins/hail.gif)