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Porthos · Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2006 2:08 am Post subject: The Dodgers LOST!

Damn those bums! L.A. is the second biggest market in the U.S., and we can't afford to buy a team like the Yankees. The Dodgers haven't won a champhionship since I was a fetus! That's messed up! Forgive me, I'm venting. You Europeans probably don't like Baseball much anyway.
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Joanne · Moderator Joined: 23 Aug 2006 Posts: 485

Loic · Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2006 5:00 pm Post subject:

I'm not an European, but coming from a country where baseball is virtually a mystery, I'd honestly say that I am interested in learning how to play it. Pitching seems so damn difficult to me - how does a pitcher consistently throw the ball through the batter's strike zone?

If I have the opportunity, I'd definitely want to go to a ball park.
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Joanne · Moderator Joined: 23 Aug 2006 Posts: 485

Easily, if he has a good doctor, takes care of his pitching arm between games, has a coach who uses him on a regular rotation, and a good working relationship with the catcher. :? I think hitters have the harder job, though. How would you like having small, hard leather balls hurtled at you at an average speed of 145 km/h? :shock: Man, I'd squeal and run away like a little girl... :D

Loic · Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 3:45 am Post subject:

145 km/h? Is that the average speed in MLB or do amateurs even hurl the ball as fast as that?

In cricket, bowling speed can be as fast as 90 mph but that's usually for pace bowlers. Unlike baseball, however, it is not compulsory to wear a helmut for the batsman and indeed, most cricketers of the past didn't. Nowadays, almost every batsman wears a helmut even when facing comparatively slower spinners.
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Hillary Clinton is an acquired taste which I have clearly yet to acquire.

Joanne · Moderator Joined: 23 Aug 2006 Posts: 485

Yes, that's the average for MLB and the minor leagues (A, AA, and AAA). I've also seen many college (university, to the rest of the world) pitchers throw in the 85 - 95 mph range :? However, in the lower leagues, the pitches tend to be straighter and have less of a spin. Curve balls don't curve as much, change-ups don't rise as sharply, knuckleballs don't zigzag as crazily, and all that. Pitchers tend to perfect their control of the ball when they get to the majors.

My cousins in NZ and Australia are trying to get me into cricket. They figure that since they can get MLB over there, can quote baseball stats, and talk smack about MLB teams and players, I should be able to return the favor. Of course, being in the US, it's a bit harder for me to watch Test cricket, since it's not shown here and Americans are less recipient to "all them durn forner sports." :wink:

Loic · Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 12:31 pm Post subject:

Baseball is shown on ESPN here as well. In contrast, cricket is only offered by the local subsidiary of Zee Sports and it costs a bomb to subscribe to it at SGD 93 dollars a month. In contrast, ESPN falls into a bundle of other product benefits offered that include other sporting channels such as AXN.

I am afraid I am unable to name you any batting average for baseball. I do remember reading reports about a certain Taiwanese playing in the MLB at present and how he is making a splash at home as well. Baseball is Taiwan's de facto national sport: you can see a picture of their Olympics baseball team at the back of one of their denomination banknotes.

For strangers to cricket, I would not recommend Test cricket as a beginner's guide to the sport. It is too subtle for beginners to appreciate the nuances. A Sri Lankan writer said that Test cricket is not simply a sport, but a way of life: in what other sports do we pause for lunch and tea?

Try one-dayers instead. If the Champions Trophy is telecast in america at present, maybe you'd like to watch an innings if you have the time or even the entire match if you are blessed with infinite patience. For me, I always watch cricket and do my homework at the same time and only look up when the following things happen (in no particular order):

a) A batsman is dismissed in a number of ways such as being clean bowled, caught, run out, stumped or more memorably, committing the hara-kiri of the sport by hitting wicket. Inzaman-ul-Haq once did that so I suppose anything is possible.

b) A batsman has scored a boundary, be it hitting a four or a six. I might even spotaneously applause the batsman for a good cover drive.

c) If a streaker appears.

d) At the end of the innings to look at the scorecard.

So you see, cricket is not for those who are in a rush.
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Hillary Clinton is an acquired taste which I have clearly yet to acquire.

Porthos · Posted: Fri Oct 13, 2006 12:18 am Post subject:

Elaine · Posted: Fri Oct 13, 2006 12:42 am Post subject:

Porthos · Posted: Fri Oct 13, 2006 1:44 am Post subject:

They should really just call themselves the "Orange County" Angels.
_________________
Operation Northwoods - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Northwoods

Favorite languages = English/Spanish
Followed by Italian/French/Dutch

Loic · Posted: Fri Oct 13, 2006 12:31 pm Post subject:

I once tried to watch a baseball match on ESPN and I admit that I didn't stay on that channel for very long. I do not want to sound prejudiced, but I think the uniform worn by baseballers is really ugly - it looks like pyjamas.

Actually, with respect to the hardest game in the world, I'd say golf is harder. Or maybe I am just incompetent - I can't seem to get rid of my slicing disease.
_________________
Hillary Clinton is an acquired taste which I have clearly yet to acquire.

Joanne · Moderator Joined: 23 Aug 2006 Posts: 485

I'm horrible at golf, too. Whenever I go to the club, my husband swears he hears the sound of millions of grass blades screaming and burrowing themselves back into the ground... :lol:

Loic · Posted: Sat Oct 14, 2006 4:20 am Post subject: