12/22/24
May 02, 2012
SportsFilter: The Wednesday Huddle:
A place to discuss the sports stories that aren't making news, share links that aren't quite front-page material, and diagram plays on your hand. Remember to count to five Mississippi before commenting in anger.
So how does that work Bismarck? Does the batter get to advance to first or is it just a free shot from the catcher?
posted by apoch at 11:04 AM on May 02, 2012
Catcher owes the batter a case of beer. It only hit him in the helmet, so it can be domestic.
posted by Etrigan at 11:14 AM on May 02, 2012
Sorry, Apoch, but everything I know about baseball I've learned from the last four weeks of playing Out of the Park Baseball 13... Ask me about the Rule Five Draft*!
As yet my stupid Catcher, (John Buck?), hasn't doinked a hitter in the helmet, so I don't know the answer. Although he has a BA of something like .179 in 2014, so if he could do it, it'd be one of the only things he's hit this year.
* Don't actually ask me about the rule five draft
posted by Mr Bismarck at 12:20 PM on May 02, 2012
Rutgers Defensive Lineman Eric LeGrand signed by Tampa Bay.
"LeGrand was paralyzed in a 2010 game when he was playing for then-head coach Greg Schiano, who now coaches the Bucs.
"Leading up to the draft, I couldn't help but think that this should've been Eric's draft class," Schiano said in a statement. "This small gesture is the least we could do to recognize his character, spirit, and perseverance. The way Eric lives his life epitomizes what we are looking for in Buccaneer Men.""
...
LeGrand adds "I believe I will walk again. I do. When that happens, I already know what I'm going to do. I'll go to Giants Stadium and find the exact spot in the field where I went down. I'll lie there for a second. And then I'll get up on my own power and walk away."
posted by Mr Bismarck at 12:25 PM on May 02, 2012
You can bet on an NBA game during the game over whether the team down by 27 will come back and win?
posted by rcade at 12:46 PM on May 02, 2012
Rutgers Defensive Lineman Eric LeGrand signed by Tampa Bay.
Dammit, Mr Bismarck. Why did you have to throw all this dust into the room?
posted by Etrigan at 02:22 PM on May 02, 2012
Does the batter get to advance to first or is it just a free shot from the catcher?
The batter gets nothing but a headache and the right to make faces at the catcher. The catcher gets the right to tell the batter to get his head out of the way next time. Unless it's a new ball being placed in play by the umpire after a dead ball, and the batter has remained in the batter's box and not interfered with the throw, the ball is live, and any runners may advance at their own risk.
One of the more difficult calls for a plate umpire is to have a runner attempting a steal, a left-handed batter swings and misses and then steps toward the plate as if he has lost his balance. The right-handed catcher hits him with the throw. The same holds for a right-handed batter and a left-handed catcher. Accident or not, the batter is out and the runner(s) return to the base(s) previously occupied. The call is obvious, but what is difficult is to try to explain it to the coach of the team at bat. They will never accept the ruling until after the game when you show them the rule book.
posted by Howard_T at 05:13 PM on May 02, 2012
The same holds for a right-handed batter and a left-handed catcher.
Ha. There hasn't been someone playing catcher left-handed in MLB in over 20 years (as a one-inning replacement), and one hasn't even started a game in over 100 years.
posted by grum@work at 05:50 PM on May 02, 2012
RACISM!
posted by yerfatma at 06:44 PM on May 02, 2012
A current NFL player (supposedly) comments on the NFL Network's player ratings for 2012.
posted by yerfatma at 08:16 PM on May 02, 2012
"Who's ready for another round of #NFLTop100? Blow-by-blow by your's truly!"
"Sproles (!)... is def a guy you have to prepare for. Trust me."
Some in depth analysis right there.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 08:36 PM on May 02, 2012
Well, Dr. Genius is about 2 weeks away from outing himself anyway. He's a defensive player and former first-round pick who (I think) plays in the NFC. Few more reviews and we should have his home address too.
posted by yerfatma at 09:01 PM on May 02, 2012
Ha. There hasn't been someone playing catcher left-handed in MLB in over 20 years (as a one-inning replacement), and one hasn't even started a game in over 100 years.
Baseball newbie. Is there a reason for this? Something to do with helping pitchers' location/consistency?
posted by owlhouse at 10:07 PM on May 02, 2012
Baseball newbie. Is there a reason for this? Something to do with helping pitchers' location/consistency?
I may be totally wrong, but I always thought it was because most batters are right-handed, and would be in the left-handed catcher's way for throws back to the mound and to second base...
posted by MeatSaber at 10:49 PM on May 02, 2012
There are more right-handed batters, which means they stand in front of the left arm of the catcher behind the plate. If a catcher wants to throw out a runner stealing 2nd base, it'll be easier if they don't have to worry about the batter (legally) standing in the way of the throw.
As well, snap throws to first base (to catch a runner leading off too much) are easier for a right-handed throwing catcher.
Edit: Or, what Meatsaber said in the time it took for me to look up the stats to confirm my suspicion about LHB/RHB.
posted by grum@work at 10:54 PM on May 02, 2012
From 1993-2012, there have been 2527 players batting right-handed, 1124 players batting left-handed, and 383 switch-hitters in the major leagues.
posted by grum@work at 11:06 PM on May 02, 2012
The Washington-New York game has been incredible. At this point I won't be sleeping until it's over.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 11:48 PM on May 02, 2012
I want the game to keep going forever just for the adorable reactions that Holtby's mom is having during the game. The CBC cameras LOVE showing her oooh- and ahhing after every save her son makes. She's pure Canadian hockey mom.
posted by grum@work at 12:08 AM on May 03, 2012
Never mind.
posted by grum@work at 12:17 AM on May 03, 2012
Wow, incredible finish.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 12:19 AM on May 03, 2012
Switched over from the end of the hockey (great stuff) just in time to see the top of the ninth inning of Jered Weaver's no hitter. Not a bad sports night.
posted by holden at 12:39 AM on May 03, 2012
And the Phillies lost a game where Halladay started and they scored 13 runs.
posted by grum@work at 01:26 AM on May 03, 2012
With an assist from the ball girl.