2011 CU Baseball Thread

[Bubba Dawg]

Pitchers and catchers report for the Braves 02/14/11.

I can't wait.

The Braves with win the Pennant this year.

[Bubba Dawg]

When Football is over, Baseball is next.

I know. Daytona 500. NCAA B-Ball Tournament.

But Baseball ain't that far away.

[patriot45]

When Football is over, Baseball is next.

I know. Daytona 500. NCAA B-Ball Tournament.

But Baseball ain't that far away.

I can't wait either! I finally won something! I rule at baseball! :D

[m00]

When Football is over, Baseball is next.

I know. Daytona 500. NCAA B-Ball Tournament.

But Baseball ain't that far away.

Honestly, I don't get sports in general... but I *really* don't get baseball. Can you explain the appeal?

[ralph wiggum]

Honestly, I don't get sports in general... but I *really* don't get baseball. Can you explain the appeal?

I don't have time to write a book but, baseball is the best sport ever. Football has passed baseball in popularity, likely due in part to the short attention span of the general public.

I'll try & write a quick synopsis explaining my reasoning if I have time...

[NJCardFan]

Pitchers and catchers report for the Braves 02/14/11.

I can't wait.

The Braves with win the Pennant this year.

Delusional much? You guys couldn't hold a 7 game lead last season and now you expect to beat a team with arguably 4 of the top pitchers in the league? Good luck with that. :D Seriously, the only team that will beat the Phillies this season will be the Phillies.

[Rebel Yell]

Delusional much? You guys couldn't hold a 7 game lead last season and now you expect to beat a team with arguably 4 of the top pitchers in the league? Good luck with that. :D Seriously, the only team that will beat the Phillies this season will be the Phillies.

Are we using that qualifier againd this year?

[Molon Labe]

Math even a Chowda' head can do

[Bubba Dawg]

Honestly, I don't get sports in general... but I *really* don't get baseball. Can you explain the appeal?

It's a beautiful game. It is also timeless. The pacing is slow and deliberate. There is strategy involved in every aspect of the game. Decisions are made based on stats after stats after stats on top of stats. There are 9 position players and each position required a different set of abilities.

Sure, you throw the ball. You hit the ball. You catch the ball. You run the bases. Basic stuff. But everybody is pushing the competition to the nth degree. How far can the runner lead off the base without getting picked off? Was that his good pickoff move or does he have a better one? Will there be a pitchout?

What's the count on the batter? What is this pitcher's best pitch? What will he throw?

Strength matters, but then so does speed and finesse. Quickness matters. Watching a shortstop like Ozzie Smith go deep into the hold and make a circus catch on a grounder and then throw out the runner by less than half a step is a thing of beauty to behold.

Hitting a major league pitcher's fastball is one of the most difficult things to do in sports. And major league pitchers change speeds and throw wicked breaking balls that dance and drop and move in ungodly ways.

The best hitters will get a hit in about 3 of every ten at bats. It's that difficult. And yet they manage to do it. And when runs are scored and then tallied, a 5 to 4 or a 2 to 1 game is not unusual. When the runs are scored, you appreciate them. You savor them. Then you worry about getting or maintaining a lead. You worry about everything.

The field is beautiful. The ballpark is usually a thing of beauty. Wrigley Field. Fenway Park. And the new generation of dedicated baseball parks are great.

Minor League baseball is also wonderful. Smaller parks. Cheaper admission. Cold beer. Hot dogs. And your guys to root for.

In baseball you are close to the game. You can see and hear, and sometimes touch the players. You can catch a foul ball and maybe get a player to sign it.

You can get nacho's and cheese. You can see a good old fashioned baseball rhubarb and cheer or boo when the manager gets thrown out by the umpire. You can boo the umpire and he will hear you.

Baseball is artful and powerful, graceful and fast. When your team wins, you cheer because you were right there with them. When they lose you say, wait till tomorrow.

George Will wrote a book called Men at Work about baseball. Check it out. Stephen King wrote a book about the Red Sox (He is a huge fan.) with some other guy about the year the Red Sox won the Series and reversed the curse. Thing is, they started writing the book in spring training and didn't know if the Red Sox would even make the playoffs. It worked out for them.

Baseball is a great game. It may not be for everyone, and such is life. But for those of us who love it, and who played it on any level from sandlot to the majors, the date when Pitchers and Catchers report is a big deal.

Come with me sometime to a Braves game. I'll buy you a beer.

[Bubba Dawg]

Delusional much? You guys couldn't hold a 7 game lead last season and now you expect to beat a team with arguably 4 of the top pitchers in the league? Good luck with that. :D Seriously, the only team that will beat the Phillies this season will be the Phillies.

Ya gotta believe. :p

This will be a great year for the Braves. Win the division. Then the pennant. I figure the Phillies for the wildcard.