baseball.........discuss

[Sam]

We could say the same about cricket-I mean really, why the need for all the padding/gloves, etc?

erm - because if they never then if the ball hit their leg they would have a broken leg.

 

[Man of Harveys]

But of course, the USA has the biggest and best league so people assume it is an insular sport, but you only have to take a look at the rosters to see that aint the case.

Besides, I'm told that the World Series is called that because it used to be sponsored by a newspaper called the World.

 

[Simster]

Nice one Brian. The whole argument about Rugby players being real men because they don't wear the protective gear is just bollox trotted out by people who have no comprehension of what US Football is about.

Fair enough about the padding, but how do you justify these aspects of that totally shit game then:
4 hours to play a 60 minute game
The rules change in the last two minutes. All of a sudden you can't run down the clock when the ball goes out of play? Why not?
You need about 40 players to play the game.
The game seems overly reliant on the form of one or two players - the quarterback, and if you're lucky you might have a decent running back.


Interesting that you were having a pop at me for taking an in interest in ENGLAND at the rugby WORLD cup yet you give this pants sport much more time.

 

[Cheeky Monkey]

but to watch...sod off! if watching enormous men run into each other is your thing, go for it, but for me....snooze

You really shouldn't slag off rugby on here Alan, there are a lot of people who enjoy that excuse for a sport. In all sincerity though, rugby, what a load of wank, surely the most base and ill thought out load of shite ever conceived. If you want to snooze go watch Rugby not American Football.

 

[Brixtaan]

Everyone says it's great once you get into it but i cannot see how it's better than cricket for statto's,for starters the ball doesn't bounce which must remove a large part of the game,the interesting part.

 

[CHAPPERS]

I like it.

Go Blue Jays!!

 

[Simster]

Besides, I'm told that the World Series is called that because it used to be sponsored by a newspaper called the World.

Absolutely correct, though you can understand the presumption of arrogance from anyone who doesn't know that fact.

 

[Simster]

Everyone says it's great once you get into it but i cannot see how it's better than cricket for statto's,for starters the ball doesn't bounce which must remove a large part of the game,the interesting part.

But the ball moves in the air. And the interesting part is that a strike is called if the ball flies through the hitting zone OR if the batter plays and misses. This means that you'll find the pitcher trying to draw a swing from the batter even if he has no intention of making the ball hittable.

Cricket and baseball are beyond comparison tactically speaking.

 

[Brixtaan]

But there isn't 3 big sticks to try and smash the shit out of.I'm not impressed, and don't understand how the stats can be interesting in the way that cricket has so many variables(pitch types,spinners,fast bowlers etc etc) .

 

[Bwian]

erm - because if they never then if the ball hit their leg they would have a broken leg.

A baseball is delivered at exactly the same speeds as a cricket ball but you don't see a baseball player padded up to the nines.

Sorry Sam-you're argument has more holes in it than a holey thing full of holes.

As for Why? Put forward your argument if valid but because you've f***ed up is childish.

 

[Tooting Gull]

But there isn't 3 big sticks to try and smash the shit out of.I'm not impressed, and don't understand how the stats can be interesting in the way that cricket has so many variables(pitch types,spinners,fast bowlers etc etc) .

But that is only because you don't know the rules. Apart from the obvious (most hits, home runs, strikeouts) there's stolen bases, bunts, double plays etc etc etc.

If its purely stats you're after, baseball is probably tops. Get your head out of those crap Kent averages and get out more Brixtaan!

 

[Simster]

Not forgetting RBIs. Arguably the best measure of the quality of a batter - you can't practice pressure!

 

[Bwian]

I like it.

Go Blue Jays!!

A few Jays fans on here

 

[Bwian]

Interesting that you were having a pop at me for taking an in interest in ENGLAND at the rugby WORLD cup yet you give this pants sport much more time.

Don't think so-if I did it wouldn't have been serious. You sure it was me?

NFL/CFL aren't my favourite sports from N. America but there is a need to realise that it has its place. There is also a need for protection-it is one rough motherfucking sport despite what a load of people think. I'm not trying to defend the game per se-but Baseball on the other hand I'll defend indefinitely because it is a fine game not to be dismissed simply because 'it's American'.

 

[Juan Albion]

Absolutely correct, though you can understand the presumption of arrogance from anyone who doesn't know that fact.

Sorry but that is an urban myth.

Baseball is great. People on here who knock it obviously don't understand it or haven't seen enough of it.

Some of the anti-baseball comments on here are outstanding cases of ignorance and xenophobia. Just because you don't 'get' something doesn't make it crap.

 

[Simster]

Don't think so-if I did it wouldn't have been serious. You sure it was me?

NFL/CFL aren't my favourite sports from N. America but there is a need to realise that it has its place. There is also a need for protection-it is one rough motherfucking sport despite what a load of people think. I'm not trying to defend the game per se-but Baseball on the other hand I'll defend indefinitely because it is a fine game not to be dismissed simply because 'it's American'.

I was talking to Cheeky !

 

[Bwian]

Everyone says it's great once you get into it but i cannot see how it's better than cricket for statto's,for starters the ball doesn't bounce which must remove a large part of the game,the interesting part.

Have you ever looked at the science of a pitch in baseball?

Without needing the ground to affect it's movement, a pitcher can use the seams and rotation of ball/wrist etc to make the ball move in directions that would impress you.

Let's also remember that all batters are using a ROUND bat to hit a ball smaller than a cricket ball arriving at speeds of up to 97+ mph. There is also not the equivalent of a slow bowler-virtually every pitch is delivered fast even taking into account change-ups and knuckle balls.

 

[Brixtaan]

get your head out of those crap Kent averages and get out more Brixtaan!

Ah well,if it's decades of top-flight stats your after regarding God's County then you've come to the right man............

 

[Bwian]

I was talking to Cheeky !

Oooops!

Getting carried away in defensive mode....

 

[Guinness Boy]

I like baseball. It's fantastic to watch on TV here in Japan. There's a whole other thing going on off the pitch with coordinated chants, thunder sticks and the Hanshin Tigers fans who celebrated their division title by jumping off a bridge into a polluted river and being nice to a statue of Colonel Sanders. It can be dull if you get 2 good pitchers but it can be exciting and tactical. But I prefer cricket. It's what I was brought up with and I've played it so I understand the tactics better and appreciate the difficulty.

Similarly having seen American Football on C4 in the days of William "the refrigarator" Perry and Jim McMahon's mullet I love watching NFL but given a chioce I'd rather watch rugby. Because I'd prefer to see my country win in a true world cup and also, again because I've played it and grew up watching 5 nations on Grandstand when BHA were away.

AFL though, there's a game. Dismissed as arial ping pong it's actually 120 minutes of non stop running, rucking all with zero padding and vests and an incredibly high skill level. There's even mulletts. What more could you ask for?