Kevin's Watch

Well, There was one time when the large-headed tennis racquet was quite popular and that didn't seem to make too much of a fuss. Way back in the dim dark ages racquets were made of wood until someone introduced the metal racquet and then the graphite racquet and lord only knows what they are constructed of today.

I'm not attacking the sport, but isn't there room in the sport for an evolution of equipment design?

Or maybe the traditions of the game prohibit any such evolution.

Just wanting to understand the game more.

That's it exactly! Baseball is steeped in tradition like no other Pro sport. Changes mean records must be kept against records that no longer match-if that makes any sense.
Then there's the so-called game within a game; in baseball there are so many things going on at once I couldn't possibly make it sensical in this post. You should get a baseball fan you know to explain. It will fascinate you no end or bore you to tears. Such is the game of baseball.
Many people say (and I amoungst them) that the new, bigger tennis rackets have hurt the game. Finesse is no longer a big part of the game. It's all about power.
Change could really hurt baseball. The owners and the players greed have done enough damage.
This would have to be my longest post ever!

Thanks for the explanation Dromond. One day if I'm ever in your neck of the woods I'd like to see a baseball game, if only on TV and have one of you guys explain the intricacies and nuances of the game.
I don't know any baseball fans over here and I'm pretty sure they wouldn't be familiar with the stats the way you guys seem to be.

Dromond, thankyou for directing me here on the Sosa topic.

another reason that corking the bat is illegal in baseball is because if it were to be legalized now, it would completely change the sport as we know it. it would make it much easier to hit a home run, thus there would not be big heroes who can cream the ball and give us all that excitement. a home run would be a common event, and it would hardly have the power to change the outcome of a game. on a more practical, economic front, to counter this change in the game, stadiums would have to be rebuilt with longer fields to increase the difficulty of hitting a homer. this would make the crowd farther away, reducing their enjoyment of the game as well.

Agreed, Ageless One... and let's not forget that all these new ballparks are already designed as 'hitter friendly', that is homer friendly. I wish the bigger parks would come back into vogue, but that won't happen.

Most of the articles I've been reading say that corking the bat doesn't give one any more distance. There's less mass to the bat if it's corked. What it does is make the ball go a little quicker through the infield, which might have been the thing that Sosa was looking for to get through his slump.

yeah youre probably right...apparently they checked all of his bats and they were clean...and someone who had bought the bat he hit one of his big home runs with earlier cut the thing open to find it clean. i dont know what to think about it. maybe it was just a mistake, i cant really be fair and condemn him when i dont know anything for sure. kinda sad though

Well, of course his other bats were clean!
What need had he of two corked bats? Bats are not like golf clubs, where you need several, to use in different situations. Break one, cork one! Don't get caught with more than one! Say it's the first time!

lol

Infelice wrote:Thanks for the explanation Dromond. One day if I'm ever in your neck of the woods I'd like to see a baseball game, if only on TV and have one of you guys explain the intricacies and nuances of the game.
I don't know any baseball fans over here and I'm pretty sure they wouldn't be familiar with the stats the way you guys seem to be.

Ahh. Baseball is a game best seen 'live' in a beautiful ballpark. It loses much on TV. I hope you get the opportunity.

One of my goals in life is to see the 49ers play live.....I kinda would have liked to have seen Joe play but he retired before I could get the chance.

One day I may be lucky enough, and if I do then maybe I could squeeze in a baseball match as well. But that would be highly unlikely as the two sports are played at different times of the year.

I can always hope I suppose.

Infelice, There is overlap in September between the two seasons. I agree with Dromond about seeing a baseball game live as opposed to on tv, but for pro football it is the opposite. It's much better watching a game on tv rather than going to see it live.

Oh well. Guess I'll just scratch that little life goal of my list. May get to a ball game one day though.

Did anyone watch the Cubs/Yanks Saturday?

Clemens didn't get #300 but maybe could have. He was taken out in the 7th with a 1 run lead, first pitch by his relief? Home Run! I thought he was pitching well and should have stayed in.

Agreed. Torre blew that one. I've always had a pet peeve about managers pulling starters to soon. I want to go back to the good old days when pitchers would routinely throw complete games and then pitch on three days rest!

I hate that ,too. Managers these days seem to go by 120 pitches as some magic number not to be passed. Clemens was in the 80s I think.

Clemens had 84 pitches when he was pulled. He was in trouble that inning, but it didn't seem like anything that he couldn't have worked out of.

White Sox take 4 of 6 from the Cubs. The Sox are finally showing signs of life 2 1/2 months into the season. Fortunately for them they are in the worst division in baseball.

Does this mean a good steak dinner for Damelon?

I think so!

I told her that the day before my birthday would be a good day to pay up.