Don't you just love baseball!

[G R 'Scott' Cundiff]

I have to say that baseball is my favorite spectator sport. I often watch games on TV while I do other things and once in awhile we shell out the money so we can go to the ball park and watch our Astros play.

Something cool happened last night. Astos pitcher Roy Oswalt came up to bat with one man on base and hit his first ever major league home run. He has been in the league around 5 years so you can imagine what a big deal it was.

Then, his team mates did something really funny. When he returned to the dugout after circling the bases to the roar of the crowd, all the players kind of ignored him, as though he hadn't done anything special. He walked through the whole team, and when he got to the water cooler, they mobbed him with high fives. The crowd was still cheering, so he did a curtain call on the steps.

It was just one of those baseball moments that makes this such a fun sport to me.

Let me tell you another one -- this from last week. A foul ball was bounced off the tarp that is used to cover the field. This is a huge tarp, and rolled up, it is probably chest high. Several fans tried to catch the ball, but with the weird bounce caused by the tarp it got by everyone...except for one kid, around 10 years old. He had is ball glove and, after the strange bump off of the tarp, that kid shatched it out of the air as though he does it every day.

The announcers replayed it over and over, and then, toward the end of the game, announced that it was the "play of the day." I agreed!

I love baseball!

[Gary Swartzlander]

While football is by far my favorite sport, I have had a renewed interest in baseball this year with the success of the Detroit Tigers. I have often thought about posting regarding the great year they are having, but have been afraid that I would somehow be responsible for them falling apart. This far into the season I'm feeling better about the possibility of them having a complete and successful season. It has been fun to watch after so many years of futile efforts. (I know, it's nothing compared to the poor Cub fans)

Baseball has done a nice job of coming back from the problems that it faced a few years ago.

[Charlene Clevenger]

My husband and excited about the Tigers too, Gary. He wants another 1968.

About 25 years ago we were in Minneapolis at a Twins game, sitting way, way up in the stands. A little boy in front of us had his mitt on, not concerned about the distance a ball would have to travel to reach him. Every once in a while he would call out to Kirby Puckett (as if he could hear him) "Hit one heah Kewby!" The multigenerational involvement--that's something I like about baseball.

[G R 'Scott' Cundiff]

This looks like so much fun! Vintage Base Ball. I think this is going to be a success -- it is a league that plays baseball as it was played in the late 1800's with the same equipment and rules.

There are photos, rules, etc. here:
http://www.vintagebbf.com/photos

[Marg Webb]

YES!! I love baseball.
My Daddy made us a radio and when the Tigers were playing, well if anyone was playing and we were pulling weeds out of a huge garden, he would run a speaker out to the garden just for us.
Yes made us a radio.
This was the thirtys and very few had a radio in our tiny town. Men would come to the gas station of my Grandfather's and listen to the fights. Max Baer and all of those men. Does anyone remember Joe Louis knocking Max Schmelling out? There certainly someone out there as old as we are.:)
I was not allowed to listen to that.
I still hate boxing. Absolutely senseless.
The Tigers are doing great this year!!

[Roland Hearn]

One of the coolest moments in my life happenned in Arlington TX. This discussion gives me the opportunity to share it. I took this from the book that Brad and I have written, I don't think I have broken copywrite by doing it.
"Right behind home plate, about 10 rows back, one of my closest friends, his daughter, three year old son and I sat watching the Texas Rangers play in a regular season home game. We were at The Ball Park in Arlington, Texas. This was probably my fifth or sixth occasion to witness a major league baseball game. This day, however, for an almost bizarre reason, would mark a significant moment for me. In it I would recognize the transition that has taken place in my understanding of how I see myself in relationship to God and his love.
It was around the sixth inning. Don, my close friend, had taken his son to the bathroom. A batter was at the plate. I have no idea who it was now and at the time I remember wishing I had taken note for as he swung he tipped a fly fowl up over his head. It shot like a rocket almost 20 feet above our heads and continued on its path toward the upper deck. I watched with a level of excitement as it disappeared and wondered who might catch it and what that person may have to do to take a hold of it. At that point it cannoned into the safety rail above us. It shot back over our heads and proceeded towards the seats about three rows in front of us. However, as it was beginning its downward descent I could see that, while its trajectory would take it well clear of our reach, it was definitely coming in our direction. I remembered thinking, “this ball is mine.” It shot back over us and struck, with some force, the seats about three rows in front. It ricocheted from the seats and came back at us like a shot from a gun, with as much noise. I stuck out my left hand just above my head, my left unprotected hand I may add, and it was at that time that my years of back yard cricket, as a child, returned instinctively to me. The ball struck the palm of my hand and my fingers closed softly but safely around it. I had it. It was mine. As fast as I could I stuck the ball in my jacket pocket and sat down as if nothing had happened. My plan at that point was to act the uneducated child of the cricket world and as we were leaving the park nonchalantly pull the ball from my pocket and say to Don, 'I caught this ball; where should I go to give it back?'"

[Marg Webb]

Wonderful memory to share!!! Do you still have the ball?

[Barbara Moulton]

I don't watch baseball but I used to bake apple pies for major league umpires.

When we were first married, Carl was going to school and worked part-time security for the Blue Jays.

He guarded the umps door sooooo I made them some pies :-)

That's the most contact I've had with the sport in my entire life.

[Roland Hearn]

Wonderful memory to share!!! Do you still have the ball?
Absolutely it sits on my desk reminding me to celebrate the good things that happen in life. It helps keep me centred. Good and bad things happen in life and God's role is not found in the causing or not causing of such events it is found in the way His love intersects them all.

[Brad Mercer]

He guarded the umps door sooooo I made them some pies :-)

That's the most contact I've had with the sport in my entire life.

Barbara, that puts you closer to sports than I've been. Sports is the great divide between Roland and me. I wouldn't have thought any sport could be more boring to me than baseball until Roland introduced me to cricket, from which baseball is apparently in some way descended. Nothing gets a harmless but very real rise out of him better than when some American asks him in my presence to explain cricket and I jump in before he can answer and explain that baseball is the hyper-fast-paced, souped up, concentrated, condensed version of cricket, refined down to just the exciting parts, so it can be played in three hours instead of five days.

:bannana

And yet still, somehow, he embodies grace and self-discipline by continuing to be my friend and not knocking my non-athletic body across the room.

Brad

P.S. I just wanna be a blessing.

[Bruce Carriker]

Scott asked, rhetorically: Don't you just love baseball!

Absolutely, unequivocably, no question about it. There is baseball. A distant second is hockey. And then there is everything else...except for professional basketball, which ranks somewhere below poker and NASCAR as a spectator sport, IMO.

[Roland Hearn]

and I jump in before he can answer and explain that baseball is the hyper-fast-paced, souped up, concentrated, condensed version of cricket, refined down to just the exciting parts,
Well it isn't in fact but what can you do with an uneducated heathen. There are none so blind as those that will not see.

[Brad Mercer]

Oh, thank you! I've waited eagerly for your response. ;-)

Tragically, though, I must confess that as you sat and explained to me all week long during that test match what was happening and why it was noteworthy, I did start to find it a little interesting.

I didn't respect myself the next morning, though. ;-)

Brad

Well it isn't in fact but what can you do with an uneducated heathen. There are none so blind as those that will not see.

[Roland Hearn]

Oh, thank you! I've waited eagerly for your response. ;-)

Tragically, though, I must confess that as you sat and explained to me all week long during that test match what was happening and why it was noteworthy, I did start to find it a little interesting.

I didn't respect myself the next morning, though. ;-)

Brad

Well Brad, I have some bad news for you. You arrive on the last weekend of regular season for Rugby League (please don't anyone think I'm talking Rugby this is a different game entirely) and the next month is play offs. It is going to break my heart to take you to the beach this weekend and miss my home teams final match.
Then it is cricket season and the papers are counting down to the series with England. 85 days to go will be the sports headline today.
Now, I apologize to Scott for the side track this was intended to be about baseball and Brad suckered me in, sorry.
So Scott I really tried to get into the mind of the baseball fan when I was in Texas, going to a live game is actually very cool, but I could never quite grasp the things I should be looking for. I understand a home run no problem but it was the finer things of the game that were beyond my grasp. Perhaps you could tell me what it is that you most enjoy when watching a game.

[G R 'Scott' Cundiff]

Roland, I never got into cricket, but did enjoy Aussie Rules Football quite a bit. I think the rules are simpler and one doesn't need to understand the finer points of the game to recognize the flow of the game.

I think that, like cricket, baseball is a thinking person's sport. It is also a game of execution. In American football, the key component of the game is to confuse the other team. However, in baseball, everyone on both teams (and, to a great extent, those watching the game) knows what needs to be done in any given situation -- the challenge is in doing it!

For instance, as we watched a game I mentioned to Jackie the other night that on a given play several players had a job to do. The hitter hit a ground ball to the right side of the infield. The first baseman had to field it, so the pitcher needed to run to first base to take a throw -- and meanwhile the catcher moved to back up the pitcher in case the ball got by.

Meanwhile, the runner was trying to beat the pitcher to first base and create a hit when it should have been an out.

In this case, the hitter was a very speedy runner and the pitcher had thrown a hard fastball and it follow through took him toward third base instead of first.

The runner beat the pitcher to the base on what should have been a routine out.

That's the kind of stuff I love about baseball.

Well Brad, I have some bad news for you. You arrive on the last weekend of regular season for Rugby League (please don't anyone think I'm talking Rugby this is a different game entirely) and the next month is play offs. It is going to break my heart to take you to the beach this weekend and miss my home teams final match.
Then it is cricket season and the papers are counting down to the series with England. 85 days to go will be the sports headline today.
Now, I apologize to Scott for the side track this was intended to be about baseball and Brad suckered me in, sorry.
So Scott I really tried to get into the mind of the baseball fan when I was in Texas, going to a live game is actually very cool, but I could never quite grasp the things I should be looking for. I understand a home run no problem but it was the finer things of the game that were beyond my grasp. Perhaps you could tell me what it is that you most enjoy when watching a game.

[Roland Hearn]

I think that, like cricket, baseball is a thinking person's sport. .
Well there you go we can each only have so much time to watch thinking sport's as our brains get to taxed. Therefore once you have learned one of these sports it is too hard to grasp another :basic05 . I do think you are right in this observation and precisely why football is so embracing, you don't have to think too much to watch it and probably why I could never quite grasp baseball becuase I wasn't aware of those things I needed to be thinking about.

For instance, as we watched a game I mentioned to Jackie the other night that on a given play several players had a job to do. The hitter hit a ground ball to the right side of the infield. The first baseman had to field it, so the pitcher needed to run to first base to take a throw -- and meanwhile the catcher moved to back up the pitcher in case the ball got by.

Meanwhile, the runner was trying to beat the pitcher to first base and create a hit when it should have been an out.

In this case, the hitter was a very speedy runner and the pitcher had thrown a hard fastball and it follow through took him toward third base instead of first.

The runner beat the pitcher to the base on what should have been a routine out.

That's the kind of stuff I love about baseball.

Ok, well I can certainly buy into that, that makes a lot of sense then. So Scott how does a person make the decission to run to second. It seems to me that the distances and throwing capacity of certain fielding positions are pretty standard so I was wondering is there a point on the field, a distance from home plate, that makes it essential to try for the extra base or bases or is it a matter of watching the fielders while you run?

[G R 'Scott' Cundiff]

So Scott how does a person make the decission to run to second. It seems to me that the distances and throwing capacity of certain fielding positions are pretty standard so I was wondering is there a point on the field, a distance from home plate, that makes it essential to try for the extra base or bases or is it a matter of watching the fielders while you run?

That question is another example of what makes the game so interesting. Trying to turn an obvious single into a double is contingent on many things. First, there is the speed of the runner. Second, the skill of the outfielder who is handling the ball. Some outfielders are on the team mainly for their ability to hit the ball. They are not known for having strong, accurate throwing skills. Or, on the other side of things, a very capable outfielder might be a bit nonchalant in handing the ball and the runner sees that -- or, at the other end of the throw, the person who is supposed to cover second base might be out of position.

Also, the game conditions will influence the runner. If it is late in the game and the opposing pitcher is having a very good game, a runner might risk taking second base to be in a better position to score a run. Generally speaking, a runner who is on first when there is a base hit will make it to third, but a runner who is on second will make it to home. Therefore, getting to second when there are no or just one out greatly improves the chances of getting home.

In some ways, every play in baseball is it's own little chess game.

[Roland Hearn]

That question is another example of what makes the game so interesting. Trying to turn an obvious single into a double is contingent on many things. First, there is the speed of the runner. Second, the skill of the outfielder who is handling the ball. Some outfielders are on the team mainly for their ability to hit the ball. They are not known for having strong, accurate throwing skills. Or, on the other side of things, a very capable outfielder might be a bit nonchalant in handing the ball and the runner sees that -- or, at the other end of the throw, the person who is supposed to cover second base might be out of position.

Also, the game conditions will influence the runner. If it is late in the game and the opposing pitcher is having a very good game, a runner might risk taking second base to be in a better position to score a run. Generally speaking, a runner who is on first when there is a base hit will make it to third, but a runner who is on second will make it to home. Therefore, getting to second when there are no or just one out greatly improves the chances of getting home.

In some ways, every play in baseball is it's own little chess game.

Ok, I'm finding this conversation very interesting because of course I can relate those issue to cricket and before I saw the game as very predictable. I knew it couldn't be but I couldn't see the things I needed to see. It's a bit like Ice Hockey, I watch the game and just know I should be loving it but can't for the life of me work out what is going on.
So a batsmen gets a hit, the split second between him hitting the ball and getting into a running position is probably going to limit him to one base, most of the time - on the other hand a watchful runner on second base can take off as soon as the ball is struck - is that right? Thus while the batsmen is making one base he can probably make two. So I'm guessing in that situation it is more important to get the ball back to home base to stop the run scoring but then if you do that does that open it up for the batsmen to make it to second while the ball is getting back to home so you are better off taking the sure option - going to first and getting the out then perhaps getting the ball that extra 20 yards or so to home? Or do you stop a run at all costs?

[G R 'Scott' Cundiff]

Pretty good! There are some other issues. First, since only 1 player may occupy a base at a time, the player on second only has to run if there is also a player on first. In that case, the with runners on both first and second, all a fielder has to do is touch third while holding the ball and the runner coming in from second is out.

However, if first base is empty, a runner on second has to be actually tagged with the ball before he is out.

The lone base runner on second then has a real advantage when the ball is hit -- he can stay put, or he can run to third, or he can continue to home. He can also run part way home, recognize that the ball is being thrown to home ahead of him and retreat to third. Or, of course, he can see that the fielder is just gettting to the ball and that he has a good chance of making it to home before the player at home can catch and then tag him out.

You don't necessarily stop a run at all costs. If you are late in the game with a 3 run lead you are more interested in getting outs than you are in stopping runs. A team might gladly give up a run in that case.

However, if you have just one run lead or even a tie, you might pass up an easy out to try to get the runner at home.

On the other hand, the team with a runner on third and just one out, will "sacrifice" the hitter by having him try to hit a fly ball to the outfield where it will be caught, but will allow the runner to beat a throw home after the catch.

I wish we could attend a game together -- we would have a great time talking about the "chess match" of baseball.


So a batsmen gets a hit, the split second between him hitting the ball and getting into a running position is probably going to limit him to one base, most of the time - on the other hand a watchful runner on second base can take off as soon as the ball is struck - is that right? Thus while the batsmen is making one base he can probably make two. So I'm guessing in that situation it is more important to get the ball back to home base to stop the run scoring but then if you do that does that open it up for the batsmen to make it to second while the ball is getting back to home so you are better off taking the sure option - going to first and getting the out then perhaps getting the ball that extra 20 yards or so to home? Or do you stop a run at all costs?

[Wilson L. Deaton]

I have to say that baseball is my favorite spectator sport. I often watch games on TV while I do other things..

Do I love baseball? Not so much.

It is good for watching while doing other things because baseball consists of 9 minutes of action spread out over 3 hours! Plenty of time to do other things...

If there is a special event or group outing or something I might go to one game every season or two. TV baseball for me consists of 2 or 3 World Series games a year if they fall at a relatively convenient time.

I like to watch the not-so-popular-as-USA-spectator-sports like cycling, nordic skiing, marathons, triathlons, and soccer. In fact, because this was a winter games year I've watched more curling this year than baseball!

Wilson

[Roland Hearn]

I wish we could attend a game together -- we would have a great time talking about the "chess match" of baseball.

All right, it's a deal. Next time I get to the States you and I will go to an Astros game - that would be way too cool just from a fellowship perspective but also for the chance to learn about the game. I have some more questions yet but I have to go to work.

Then of course the next time you are in Brisbane in summer I'll take you to a cricket match and do the same for you as you are doing for me :)

[G R 'Scott' Cundiff]

I just saw the end of the Astros/Brewers game tonight and the way it ended was a great example of what we have been talking about in the thread today.

The score was 0-0 in the bottom of the 9th inning.

The Astros had bases loaded with just one out.

The ball was sharply grounded almost straight to the first baseman.

At that point he made the mistake that cost his team the game.

With bases loaded, there was a force out at home. All he had to do was throw the ball home and the runner who had to run from third would be out. Instead, the first baseman touched first base which meant the hitter was out -- but it also meant that there was no longer a force out at home. The runner came home just after the catcher caught the ball while standing on home base -- but, now that there was no force out at home, he had to tag the runner with the ball. He didn't do it, the Astros scored, and the game ended 1-0.

This is a great example of the thinking aspect of baseball.

[Gary Swartzlander]

I just saw the end of the Astros/Brewers game tonight and the way it ended was a great example of what we have been talking about in the thread today.

The score was 0-0 in the bottom of the 9th inning.

The Astros had bases loaded with just one out.

The ball was sharply grounded almost straight to the first baseman.

At that point he made the mistake that cost his team the game.

With bases loaded, there was a force out at home. All he had to do was throw the ball home and the runner who had to run from third would be out. Instead, the first baseman touched first base which meant the hitter was out -- but it also meant that there was no longer a force out at home. The runner came home just after the catcher caught the ball while standing on home base -- but, now that there was no force out at home, he had to tag the runner with the ball. He didn't do it, the Astros scored, and the game ended 1-0.

This is a great example of the thinking aspect of baseball.



The second game of the Tigers and Yankees game tonight was one for the books. Actually both games they played today were great games, but would have been better if the Tigers had won both. However the win for the Tigers tonight was a great win with a Craig Monroe home run in the 9th.

[G R 'Scott' Cundiff]

Here's more on the odd way the Astros/Brewers game ended last night. There were even scenarios that I knew. For instance, this was one of the strange moments in baseball when a player could have been tagged out while standing on a base!

http://houston.astros.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20060830&content_id=1637427&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=hou

[LoraineStanton]

I have always enjoyed baseball as a spectator sport! This year I LOVE baseball, since my Detroit Tigers are #1!

I grew up in a house where my dad would watch the game on tv, listen to the replays on the radio, and have Sporting News open in his lap! I didn't have much choice but to like baseball!

[Doug Kitchen]

Well there you go we can each only have so much time to watch thinking sport's as our brains get to taxed. Therefore once you have learned one of these sports it is too hard to grasp another :basic05 . I do think you are right in this observation and precisely why football is so embracing, you don't have to think too much to watch it and probably why I could never quite grasp baseball becuase I wasn't aware of those things I needed to be thinking about.

Ok, well I can certainly buy into that, that makes a lot of sense then. So Scott how does a person make the decission to run to second. It seems to me that the distances and throwing capacity of certain fielding positions are pretty standard so I was wondering is there a point on the field, a distance from home plate, that makes it essential to try for the extra base or bases or is it a matter of watching the fielders while you run?

A couple from Guyana has been teaching our church to play cricket on Sunday nights this summer. It's been great fun. Since there isn't a baseball strike zone, no fouls and we use a bouncy, handball everyone (except our teachers) is pretty bad at the game but everyone can contribute. Also, you don't drop the bat after you hit(more than one batsman has lost a run or two because of that)

The configuration of our church parking lot makes it interesting too - the ball can bounce off a shed, the church or some overhead wires.

Cricket purests would be completely embarrassed by us - but we still have fun.

We follow cricket with volleyball - overall we are at church for about 3 hours and our attendance doubled!


Doug Kitchen

[Roland Hearn]

Well that is certainly the beauty of cricket. It is designed to be played on an oval shaped field 180-200 yards across but you can play it in your back yard or even the hall way of your home, which we use to do a lot with a rolled up sock for a ball and a shoe for a bat.

[Roland Hearn]

Here's more on the odd way the Astros/Brewers game ended last night. There were even scenarios that I knew. For instance, this was one of the strange moments in baseball when a player could have been tagged out while standing on a base!

http://houston.astros.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20060830&content_id=1637427&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=hou

Well you are going to have to explain that one Scott, I read the article and it is all still confusing to me, but now you have said that someone can be out even while on a base I've got to know how.

[G R 'Scott' Cundiff]

Well you are going to have to explain that one Scott, I read the article and it is all still confusing to me, but now you have said that someone can be out even while on a base I've got to know how.

It isn't as strange as it seems.

Only one person can occupy a base at a time. So, if a person is on first base and the hitter puts the ball in play, the person on first has to attempt to advance to second.

If, for some reason that player continues to stand on first, even while the hitter is running to first, the player who is standing on first is no longer safe there and can be tagged out.

The other night the Astros had bases loaded and the hitter hit a hard ground ball directly to first base. Seeing the ball fielded the man on first never left the base, even as the hitter ran to the base.

At that point, he was no longer safe on first, and had the fielder touched him with the ball he would have been out. Instead, the fielder touched first, which made the runner out, but immediately, the man on first no longer had to run. If he had touched the man on first and then touched the base, both of the players would have been out.

If you don't get it don't feel alone. The major league first baseman didn't do it right -- and the Astros players were still talking about how to game ended today.

[G R 'Scott' Cundiff]

We just got home from an Astros game. Sad to say, the good guys lost and they are pretty much out of the hunt for a Wild Card position in the playoffs.

However, the good news is that they played with the top open at Minute Maid park tonight! I think this is just the second game they have played with the top open since late last spring. And it means that fall is finally on its way to the Texas Gulf Coast.

Coming home I noted that the temps were around 68 degrees -- finally below 70 for a nighttime temp. Whew - come on fall!

Here's a photo of Minute Maid with the roof open. It is a terrific place to watch a ball game.

[Gary Swartzlander]

Anyone who follows baseball knows that Peter Gammons, of ESPN took ill back in June. He is returning tonight and his first article is on the ESPN website.

For those who struggle with sports being to much of a business this article helps us to understand what is good about sports, family, friends and the world in general. It's just a nice feel good story.

http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/insider/columns/story?columnist=gammons_peter&id=2594637&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fmlb %2finsider%2fcolumns%2fstory%3fcolumnist%3dgammons _peter%26id%3d2594637

[Dave Hershberger]

I don't know if you saw what followed not long after this game. Andy Pettitte had never homered and hit his first one in his next start to match Oswalt's feat. I notice that Roger Clemens has never homered in 23 years in the major leagues and he only has a couple more starts this year. Anything is possible. One of my fondest memories is seeing him pitch against Nolan Ryan in Arlington in 1989. Since we were working for their Triple-A affiliate we got great seats the night before when Charlie Hough was throwing about 50 miles per hour. Unfortunately, for the Ryan and Clemens showdown we were about as high up in the general admission bleachers as you could imagine. There was still electricity in the 100 degree Texas air that day even from that distance.


=== This is an automatically generated message ===

This is my first post. My Welcome thread is here. Please post all my welcome messages there.

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[Gary Swartzlander]

Who'd of thunk it. After loosing 103 games just 3 years ago, the Detroit Tigers wrap up a playoff spot today. First time in the playoff since 1987. Very happy for a good bunch of guys.

[G R 'Scott' Cundiff]

Who'd of thunk it. After loosing 103 games just 3 years ago, the Detroit Tigers wrap up a playoff spot today. First time in the playoff since 1987. Very happy for a good bunch of guys.

Congragulations to the Tigers and their fans! They have had a terrific year.

Our Astros just finished a great home stand, but their play off hopes are pretty dim. They have sure made things interesting though.

[Bruce Carriker]

Well, looks like my Cardinals will back into the playoffs in a surprisingly weak NL Central division. And the Royals...well...what can you say? A week ago it looked like they might avoid 100 losses. But now a 6-game losing streak (including a humiliating sweep by the Tigers - the games weren't even close), and a 7-game road trip to close the season (starting with a 4-game set in Minnesota) all but guarantee 100+ losses for the third straight year.

[Jeff Scott]

My greatest baseball moment occured on August 11, 2003. I caught a home run ball off the bat of Doug Mirabelli on the Green Monster at Fenway Park. A surreal experience! Bare-handed, no bobble!

[Gary Swartzlander]

Looks like your Astros may be a part of history here in the next couple days.
The Cardinals are on the verge of the largest last moment collapse in Major League history.

I'm sure a lot of Houston baseball fans are keeping fingers crossed but the Astros are playing so well and the Cardinals are playing so bad.


Good Luck.

[G R 'Scott' Cundiff]

Looks like your Astros may be a part of history here in the next couple days.
The Cardinals are on the verge of the largest last moment collapse in Major League history.

I'm sure a lot of Houston baseball fans are keeping fingers crossed but the Astros are playing so well and the Cardinals are playing so bad.


Good Luck.

It has sure been an interesting end of the season! We have had Clements pitch his "last game" at Minute Maid Park not once, but twice, and it may not be over yet!

No matter how the Cardinals/Astros thing comes out, it is clear that our Houston club deserves a lot of credit -- they beat the St Louis team 4 in a row and are matching every St Louis loss with a Houston win.

I know that it isn't over for St. Louis by any means. All they have to do is win 4 games and it won't matter what the Astros do. They have a make up game scheduled with San Francisco that, if needed would take place on Monday evening when everyone else will be finished with their regular season. I can imagine that game deciding the fate of the Cardinals for 2006.

[Bruce Carriker]

The Cardinals are on the verge of the largest last moment collapse in Major League history.
Good Luck.

Greater than the 1964 Phillies?

[Jim Severns]

It's not often that the musings of George Carlin would be appropriate for NazNet, but this one fits.

George Carlin on the differences between Baseball and Football:
http://www.baseball-almanac.com/humor7.shtml

[Paul Slater]

Hopefully our San Diego Padres will hang on to get into the playoffs.


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[G R 'Scott' Cundiff]

I've been enjoying baseball again in this 2007 season, although my Astros aren't up to speed yet. Knowing them, they are waiting till sometime mid-August to make their run again.

How about some baseball trivia? For a pitcher to pitch a perfect game no hitter on the opposing team can reach base - no hits, walks, hit batsmen, or errors. It is 27 up and 27 down.

In 1917 a pitcher named Babe Ruth took the mound, as the Boston Red Sox took on the Washington Senators. Ruth and the umpire got into a shouting match from the very beginning. When the umpire, Brick Owens, called four straight balls, thus walking the lead off batter, Ruth was enraged and Brick Owens ejected him from the game. In fact, police officers had to remove Babe Ruth from the field by force.

A pitcher named Ernie Shore came into the game with no outs in the top of the first inning. The fellow who had walked to first tried to steal second but was thrown out.

Ernie Shore proceeded to retire every hitter he faced the rest of the game, 26 up and 26 down. However, the only record book recognition Shore got for his feat is that the record shows that he and Babe Ruth combined for a no hitter! Babe Ruth, who never got a single out shares the "no hitter" with Ernie Shore!

I'm sure there is a sermon illustration in there somewhere!

[Pete Vecchi]

I've been a baseball fan my whole life -- mostly the Chicago Cubs. I still follow thm when I can, but I have become a fairly regular attender of Minor League baseball games.

My family has 2 17-game-plan tickets to the Dayton Dragons games.

In the past several years, I have tried to attend minor league games in as many different ballparks as possible. I try to get a souvenier "logo" baseball from the home team's ballpark. The baseballs are now on a shelf in my office. In alphabetical order of the teams, they are:

Akron (Ohio) Aeros
Beloit (Wisconsin) Snappers
Columbus (Ohio) Clippers
Dayton (Ohio) Dragons
Fort Wayne (Indiana) Wizards
Indianapolis (Indiana) Indians
Lexington (Kentucky) Legends
Louisville (Kentucky) Bats
Richmond (Indiana) Roosters (now defunct)
South Bend (Indiana) Silverhawks
Tennessee Smokies (based just outside of Knoxville in Kodak)
Toledo (Ohio) Mudhens

I enjoy the games. If things work out for our planned vacation this year, we hope to get back to see the Tenessee Smokies (who are now affiliated with the Chicago Cubs) and the Nashville Sounds. My next Dragons game is scheduled for June 5th.

[Dana Grant]

I don't watch baseball but I used to bake apple pies for major league umpires.

When we were first married, Carl was going to school and worked part-time security for the Blue Jays.

He guarded the umps door sooooo I made them some pies :-)

That's the most contact I've had with the sport in my entire life.

Did you happen to drive a Chevrolet, as well?

If so, you're more American than you think.........

You know.......baseball, apple pie, and Chevrolet.


OK, nevermind.

LOL

[Brad Mercer]

No. Not even a tiny bit. Next question. :bannana

The first "State of Origin" Rugby League game was played in Brisbane last night. It's a 3-game series and in Brisbane at least, it's like the Superbowl, World Series and NBA Championship game all rolled into one. They say the blast of sound from the cheering throng in the massive statium is so loud that it feels like a literal blow to the chest and face of the players running out onto the playing field at the start of the game.

I dutifully watched the 1st 30 minutes of the game last night and then went up stairs and played on the computer, then read all about the game in the paper this morning so I could sound reasonably knowledgable about the only topic anyone in Brisbane wants to talk about this morning. And I find Rugby League massively more exciting than baseball.

It's a terrible character flaw and social disability to be a total-non-sports fan. It's a sign of Roland's sinless perfection that he can love me anyway.

I feel better about making that confession to the community of faith occasionally. Thank you for letting me get it off my chest.

Brad

P.S. I just wanna be a blessing.

[Mike Schutz]

It's a terrible character flaw and social disability to be a total-non-sports fan.

Thanks for your confession. I developed my love for sports while having absolutely no athletic ability as I wanted to talk to my dad about something.

Now, the most passionate, burdened, on fire for God person I know, my 16 year old son, has no interest in sports at all.

So he shakes his head when he walks through the family room as his dad screams in agony as my beloved Red Sox lost to the Yankees tonight.

grace and peace

[Brad Mercer]

Thanks for your confession.
grace and peace

Thank you. It's just such a relief to receive absolution after such a confession. :basic03

[Jim Franklin]

I read in the sports pages that possibly neither Hank Aaron or Bud Selig will be around when Barry Bonds breaks Aarons all time home run record. What do you think?

[G R 'Scott' Cundiff]

I just watched Houston's Craig Biggeo get his 3000th hit. He has played his entire career with the Astros and is known as a solid ball player and good family man.

My only complaint is that he didn't wait till tomorrow or Saturday night - as we have tickets to both games!

Actually though, tonight is Nazarene night at the Astros - I think there are 1000 Nazarenes at the game tonight! What a good night for Nazarene night!

[Faith Maddox]

Scott,

I can't believe you didn't go tonight! I bought our tickets about a month ago at church. We had been anxiously waiting for tonight as Biggio got closer to #3000. But my husband had to go out of state for his job yesterday morning and I had to take my daughter to the doctor this morning to be treated for strep throat. So we had to stay home and watch it on tv.:( My son and his family got to go and sit with everyone else from LHCN. And what a way for the Astros to win - two outs in the bottom of the 11th, Astros down 5-4, Biggio beats out the throw to first, Pence 0-5 for the evening hits a grounder up the middle, Berkman gets hit by a pitch to load the bases and Carlos Lee hits a walk off grand slam to win the game.

[G R 'Scott' Cundiff]

My son and his family got to go and sit with everyone else from LHCN.

My son and his wife were also there tonight -- from the pictures he sent me they were sitting way up there! We probably got a better view on TV -- but then again, we can't say we "were there!"

Glad to see the 'stros have a good night -- they haven't had much to cheer about lately!

[Gary Swartzlander]

One of our music ministers and his son were at Comerica Park a couple weeks ago when Justin Verlander pitched his no-hitter. They said it was an experience of a life time.

With the history that is the Detroit Tigers and 107 years of baseball I was surprised to learn that it was only the 6th no-hitter in Tiger history and I think only 3 of those had been pitched in Detroit.

[Ryan Scott]

I once saw Tony Gwynn go 0-4 and in a separate game, saw Ichiro Suzuki hit the first pitch of the ballgame over the fence. While they might not seem spectacular, both of those events are pretty rare.

[G R 'Scott' Cundiff]

The game was meaningless so far as post season was concerned, with both Houston and Atlanta out of the mix and just playing out the season. However, it was Craig Biggio's final game after 20 years in the Astros lineup. He'll be in the Hall of Fame in a couple of years, and, I'm pretty sure he'll be hired to coach or do something for the Astros organization.

The guy is really a class act...known for playing hard, every day and for loving baseball. He's a family man, active in church - a real asset to the community.

His final at bat was delayed as the fans cheered and and he stopped to wipe tears from his eyes. A half hour after the game, the fans wouldn't leave and he finally took a lap around the field, touching the hands of thousands of fans. Pretty cool!

[Pete Vecchi]

The game was meaningless so far as post season was concerned, with both Houston and Atlanta out of the mix and just playing out the season. However, it was Craig Biggio's final game after 20 years in the Astros lineup. He'll be in the Hall of Fame in a couple of years, and, I'm pretty sure he'll be hired to coach or do something for the Astros organization.

The guy is really a class act...known for playing hard, every day and for loving baseball. He's a family man, active in church - a real asset to the community.

His final at bat was delayed as the fans cheered and and he stopped to wipe tears from his eyes. A half hour after the game, the fans wouldn't leave and he finally took a lap around the field, touching the hands of thousands of fans. Pretty cool!

Biggio's been a "Cub Killer" most of his career, but I've often found myself pulling for him to do well when the Astros haven't been playing the cubs.

In this day and age, it is nearly unheard of for a player to have spent 20 years with one Major League team. What's really been amazing about Biggio's career is that it began with him as a catcher, then became an outfielder, and then became a 2nd baseman--all as part of a career that included over 3,000 base hits.

I didn't know about the fact that he's active in church. That's also encouraging. Hopefully we'll see him voted into the Hall of Fame in 5 years when he becomes eligible for election.

And hopefully the Hall of Fame will get his batting helmet on display!

[Ryan Scott]

Not to mention the tight NL races that went down to the wire. The Phillies finally made it in. Usually they are the team with the disappointing finish; good to see them doing well.

There's also a nice story in the Colorado Rockies. I've been following their games the last few days and all of a sudden my wife goes "since when do you like the Rockies?"

I've always been supportive of the team that was closet to me in high school, but they were so far out of the race, even two weeks ago that I hadn't bothered to pay much attention. 13 wins in 14 games later and they have a shot to win the wildcard in the playoff game tonight. There's a lot of young talent on this team, so it could be a great October story.

[Dennis M. Scott]

My greatest baseball moment occured on August 11, 2003. I caught a home run ball off the bat of Doug Mirabelli on the Green Monster at Fenway Park. A surreal experience! Bare-handed, no bobble!


It was a great moment for us all! So great, in fact, that the video replay shows the fat guy next to you falling off his seat. That was me! Don't think you'll ever get those seats again for $50.

[Pete Vecchi]

Don't think you'll ever get those seats again for $50.

$50? That's one reason why I've really taken a liking to minor league baseball. I've started a collection of logo baseballs from each team in whose home parks I've attended a game.

So far, the teams I've seen play at home (some of them more than one time) include:

Akron (OH) Aeros;
Beloit (WI) Snappers (also saw them as the Beloit Brewers);
Columbus (OH) Clippers;
Dayton (OH) Dragons;
Fort Wayne (IN) Wizards;
Gary (IN) Southshore Railcats;
Indianapolis (IN) Indians;
Lexington (KY) Legends;
Louisville (KY) Bats;
Nashville (TN) Sounds;
Richmond (IN) Roosters (team now defunct);
South Bend (IN) Silver Hawks;
Tennessee Smokies (they play in Kodak, TN);
Toledo (OH) Mudhens

You can generally get seats for most of these teams' games for under $10, and I have thoroughly enjoyed myself going to the games.

I grew up going to Wrigley Field, when I could get bleacher tickets for $1.00 to see the Cubs games in the 1970's. I could also go up to Wrigley Field the day of the game and get box seat tickets for as little as $4.00. My parents and my one grandfather also took us to old Comisky Park several times. The only other places I've seen Major League Baseball games have been at old Riverfront Stadium (later called Cinergy Field) in Cincinnati a few times, and one game in old County Stadium in Milwaukee (when the Brewers were still in the American League).

As for catching baseballs that come into the stands, I don't have anything nearly as dramatic or memorable as catching a homerun on the fly bare-handed in Fenway Park. I never got one until about 3 or 4 years ago in Louisville, KY when I caught one that first went off of the arm of a lady seated behind me and to my left, which then bounced down off the ground in front of me and I just stuck my hand out and pulled that spinning baseball out of the air. I didn't see it hit the lady, but when I was told it had it her, I offered it to her, but she said (referring to the mark the ball had already left on her arm) that she was going to be seeing more of that ball than she'd want to for a while. So I gave the ball to my teenage son, who was with me at the game.

Then just this past August, a high popup came towards my wife and me in Dayton. I generally bring my glove with me, because our seats in Dayton are somewhat in line drive territory. When I caught the popup, my wife said I saved her from getting hit by the ball.

So, those are some of my baseball stories.

[Ian Gentles]

Lovely way to end a playing career :)

[Bruce Carriker]

$50? That's one reason why I've really taken a liking to minor league baseball. I've started a collection of logo baseballs from each team in whose home parks I've attended a game.

So far, the teams I've seen play at home (some of them more than one time) include:


Pete, I note that you're missing the following teams:

Altoona Curve
Fredrick Keys
Hagerstown Suns
Harrisburg Senators

Once I get moved to PA (December) you'll need to plan some summer preaching trips to south-central PA, Maryland, northern VA, WVW. Then you can combine baseball with ministry. All those teams are within an hour of where I'll be living.

[Pete Vecchi]

Pete, I note that you're missing the following teams:

Altoona Curve
Fredrick Keys
Hagerstown Suns
Harrisburg Senators

Once I get moved to PA (December) you'll need to plan some summer preaching trips to south-central PA, Maryland, northern VA, WVW. Then you can combine baseball with ministry. All those teams are within an hour of where I'll be living.

Well, since I've been serving as a pastor for a little over three years, I'm really not planning many preaching trips (although I've been asked to hold revival services at a church in West Virginia this coming March -- too early for baseball).

I enjoy going to minor league games, but probably won't go way out of my way to go to stadiums I haven't been to all that often. I did it this past April when no one from my family could go with me during my week's vacation, so I saw games in 3 stadiums that were new to me. But it was COLD! Remember back in April some of the Major League games were snowed out in some northern venues, and the colder than average weather held on for another couple of weeks, just without the precipitation.

I currently get 3 vacation weeks per year, and try to space them out where I get 1 week about every 4 months. Right now my "rotation" includes only one month (July) when Minor League baseball is played -- at least anywhere near where I live.

[Mike Schutz]

Pete, I note that you're missing the following teams:

Altoona Curve
Fredrick Keys
Hagerstown Suns
Harrisburg Senators

Once I get moved to PA (December) you'll need to plan some summer preaching trips to south-central PA, Maryland, northern VA, WVW. Then you can combine baseball with ministry. All those teams are within an hour of where I'll be living.

Don't forget the Lancaster, PA Barnstormers. the Wilmington, DE Blue Rocks, and the Aberdeen, MD Iron Birds (This team is owned by Cal Ripken).

[G R 'Scott' Cundiff]

Jackie and I just got home from an Astros game. We had very good seats and it was a good game. They beat the Braves with a home run in the bottom of the 9th.

I saw something unusual in the game. The Astros center fielder is Michael Bourne and that kid can really run. He was on 2nd base when the ball was hit to deep center field. Their ball park has, I think the deepest center field in baseball. Anyway, the Braves fielder retreated and caught the ball at around 420 feet. Bourne tagged up and took third, and then kept running -- he scored from 2nd on a fly ball.

Now, that's impressive!

The weather was wonderful and the roof was open tonight. It's hard to believe that two weeks ago tonight we were in 100 mph winds!

Following the game they did impressive Friday night fireworks.

Two weeks ago, we didn't like living in the Houston metro area. Tonight, we like it just fine!