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Posted: Sun Aug 29, 2004 6:19 pm Post subject: Some questions about Baseball

There is coverage on the SF vs ATL game right now on Five and I have some questions;

1) Why are the people in the stands so obsessed with catching home run balls? Are they not the same balls you can buy in shops?
2) Why are a lot of the players fat? Is running around the bases not that much of a deal? I thought you would need to run quite fast, most of these guys have pot bellies.
3) Why do loads of the players and people in the dugouts chew? Is that just gum? I see a few of them spitting which means they might be chewing tabacco. Is that right? It doesn't seem much sense to ban ciggarette advertising if the players chew tabacco.
4) How long do these games last? There seems to be alot of just standing around with the occasional pitch. I can imagine these games dragging on if they have a certain amount of players who must be put out before the sides switch.
5) Are the tight pants traditional? Can you choose to wear something else if you wanted or are they forced?

Big Dog Joined: 17 Mar 2003 Posts: 3441 Location: KERNOW

What on earth are you doing watching Five?!

Posted: Sun Aug 29, 2004 6:46 pm Post subject:

Don't question me pup.

</has no legitimate excuse>

EEps · Posted: Sun Aug 29, 2004 7:49 pm Post subject: Re: Some questions about Baseball

West wrote:
There is coverage on the SF vs ATL game right now on Five and I have some questions;

1) Why are the people in the stands so obsessed with catching home run balls? Are they not the same balls you can buy in shops?

It's about getting something that's been smacked all the way from home plate...and it's free! The one in the shops cost money and wasn't smacked all the way from home plate. It's like getting the free bra/panties at a strip club. You could go the the local shop and buy the same thing but it's not the same method of delivery... Wink Smile

West wrote:
2) Why are a lot of the players fat? Is running around the bases not that much of a deal? I thought you would need to run quite fast, most of these guys have pot bellies.

Not sure on that one...maybe it's because they sit around alot. I think they're just all big-boned. Wink Smile

West wrote:
3) Why do loads of the players and people in the dugouts chew? Is that just gum? I see a few of them spitting which means they might be chewing tabacco. Is that right? It doesn't seem much sense to ban ciggarette advertising if the players chew tabacco.

Chewing tobacco was outlawed some number of years ago. Most of the players have switched over to bubble gum and they still spit. Shocking Smile

West wrote:
4) How long do these games last? There seems to be alot of just standing around with the occasional pitch. I can imagine these games dragging on if they have a certain amount of players who must be put out before the sides switch.

They last until someone wins. Or the game is called and someone is determined the winner by stats.

West wrote:
5) Are the tight pants traditional? Can you choose to wear something else if you wanted or are they forced?

If I recall correctly, most pro sports (like the military) have standard issue clothes. Players can be fined and suspended if they don't meet the requirements of the uniform... Shocking Smile

Posted: Sun Aug 29, 2004 8:09 pm Post subject:

ok now that bam has slightly distorted baseball let me try to explain some here

1)agreed its much more fun to get a ball hit over the fence than one just bought out of a store. the scuff marks and rubbings tell a story.

2) yes, some are fat those are mostly older players that have basically let themselves go. yes it looks bad. unfortunatelty in the last decade the thrill of the game has become the thrill of watching those big fat guys hit homeruns instead of sliding into 3rd with a triple.
to quote or paraphrase Ty Cobb(the baseball legend) why would i want to hit home runs like Babe Ruth? hes a fat ass. it takes talent to get get a triple and none to get a home run".

3)yes they chew gum and apparently most players have bad allergies thus their constant need to spit out their expectorated phlegm.

4) in my memory (early 70's to present) games are taking almost twice as long to play as 30 years ago. the main reason is revenue. players are told to take their time getting on and off the field as well as at bat. the reason is simple. the longer you take coming on and off the field the more commercial time that can be sold and the longer you keep someones fanny in a seat the more food and drink they will consume. simple economics really. but it makes for 1 boring game.

5)prior to some point in the early '60s player wore extremely loose fitting uniforms. the idea being that any part of a player or his uniform that is struck by a pitch is a hits batsman and a walk. in modern ball the bulky uniforms looked bad some would say shabby so they made them a bit more form fitting and with stretchy materials made it comfortable to wear when going through any possible motion on the field.

Posted: Sun Aug 29, 2004 8:10 pm Post subject: Re: Some questions about Baseball

BamZipPow wrote:
West wrote:
4) How long do these games last? There seems to be alot of just standing around with the occasional pitch. I can imagine these games dragging on if they have a certain amount of players who must be put out before the sides switch.

They last until someone wins. Or the game is called and someone is determined the winner by stats.

Last I knew, baseball had 9 innings. For each inning, both teams have a chance to bat until 3 of their players are 'out'. After 9 innings, the team with the highest score wins. If its a tie, they go into extra innings, blah blah.. Sometimes the game is called in the middle of the 9th inning if the team about to bat has the higher score, so has therefore already won the game (at least I think they can end it there?)

Posted: Sun Aug 29, 2004 11:46 pm Post subject:

And they shew sunflower seeds now..spitting out the "shells"

Guide Dog Joined: 08 Nov 2003 Posts: 8128 Location: MN

2 is very much related to 4 .....

base ball is a slow game... and profesional sports are always slower still because of the need for commercails....

If you really want to see how much slower a game is watch some highschool sports where they don't have commercails... heck footballl (the american brand) is almost exciting when they don't take 20 minutes to get lined up...

EEps · Posted: Mon Aug 30, 2004 12:09 am Post subject:

skildude wrote:
bam has slightly distorted baseball

Did someone call? Big Smile

Didn't think that was possible. Let me check with the Union... Evil Smile

Posted: Mon Aug 30, 2004 4:04 am Post subject:

Ok thanks for the answers.

Posted: Mon Aug 30, 2004 5:35 am Post subject:

btw if rain occurs before the 5th inning, and the game cant be finished it is replayed in its entirity. if rain occurs after 5 complete innings and play cannot be resumed it is considered a complete game and the scores stand. SO damned many rules you'd think they were the gov't

Posted: Mon Aug 30, 2004 5:42 am Post subject:

Baseball is a slow game with lots of waiting, thats why its a good thing the ballparks serve so much alcohol...

Posted: Mon Aug 30, 2004 6:13 am Post subject:

seca111 wrote:
Baseball is a slow game with lots of waiting, thats why its a good thing the ballparks serve so much alcohol...

Thats why if I watch baseball at all, its on headline sports. The whole game reduced to about 15 seconds of highlights. I don't miss anything, and I'm less bored.

Posted: Mon Aug 30, 2004 6:27 am Post subject:

Man this post was hilarious. No offense intended at all, but as a die hard baseball fan it's so interesting to get the perspective of someone who doesn't know much about the game. Sersiouly awesome.

Moderator Joined: 26 May 2001 Posts: 8155 Location: Borneo

West, it is the American version of cricket and just as entertaining.