11/05/24
August 04, 2002
It's just not cricket.: In an effort to ingratiate myself over here, (and with the nipper) I thought I would try and learn a bit about baseball. I found out that even the very best only average one hit every three balls. Jesus, the thing doesn't even bounce, every ball is a full toss and still most of the buggers miss. It's no wonder the game is in crisis.
posted by Fat Buddha to baseball at 05:19 PM - 7 comments
Ted Williams once said (and I paraphrase), the hardest thing in sports is to take a round bat and hit a round ball squarely.
posted by trox at 06:27 AM on August 05, 2002
I played cricket in India once, how can you ever miss? You're swinging a door for chrissakes! And the ball is half a basketball, and it's hard as a rock? Any AA player would hit a "sixer" every time.
posted by djacobs at 08:58 AM on August 05, 2002
I've always wanted to play cricket. Especially after watching Lagaan.
posted by corpse at 09:29 AM on August 05, 2002
The ball is half a basketball? What kinda funky cricket were you playing?? I remember when I used to play softball, now there was a large target to hit..
posted by Mossy at 06:47 PM on August 05, 2002
The Fastball Reaction Time game at the Exploratorium's site is really cool.
posted by kirkaracha at 09:16 PM on August 05, 2002
As an Australian who has played baseball at a decent level and cricket at a not so decent level I can let you in on my observations. In cricket it is easier to make contact with bat on ball generally. However, in baseball once making contact you have a higher probability of hitting it a long way. This is probably due to the fact cricket introduces the variables of bounce and the run-up plus in baseball you are hitting in a 40 degrees (?) radius rather than 360 degrees. Both great sports to play...
posted by brove at 01:08 AM on August 06, 2002
That 'full toss' link was a great one. I strongly recommend the Seattle Cricket Club's Cricket for Baseball Players first, though.