Baseball - a mystery to europeans

*Anarky* · 07-09-2005, 08:50 PM

Good morning everybody,

it's 6am here and because I couldn't sleep all night due to me coughing all the time, I was more or less forced to watch TV. So, first I watched "Idle Hands" then "Equilibrium" (again) and then I watched the rerun of a movie with Keanu Reeves. It's called "Hardball" and it's all about a bunch of ghetto-kids who play baseball. About halfway into the movie I suddenly realised...

... I have no freaking idea what Baseball is all about.

Seriously. All I know is that some people throw a ball, then another player hits it with a bat (which I imagine to be really difficult) and then he runs like hell to a base. Apparently there's between 3 and 5 bases in total and a strike is, when the batter misses the ball. That's about all I know.

So here's my question: How does Baseball work?

I know this must sound really silly to you americans, but over here, soccer is THE game, or tennis (depends on who's more succesful).

And now, I shall be off to swallow even more pills in the hope that I can finally get to sleep.

Good night. See you tomorrow.

**ThirdMarioBro** · 07-09-2005, 09:27 PM

I dunno, I hate sports

*damnhooligan* · 07-09-2005, 09:41 PM

Baseball's probably one of the easier American sports to understand. American Football however, that's one helluva mindf*ck. I don't even think I understand that sport enough to follow along.

Essentially... two teams, nine players each. There are a total of nine innings, in which one team hits and another pitches.

The pitcher's job is to throw the ball so that it manages to get over the plate and in the "strike zone" (zone between the batter's knees and belt, generally) without the batter hitting it. If he fails to get it between that zone (and sometimes that means hitting the batter) it's called a "ball". If a pitcher gets three strikes, the batter's out. If the pitcher throws four balls, the batter gets to advance to first base.

The batter's job is to hit the ball and advance to a base without being tagged with the ball. There's no limit as to how far he can run. If the ball he hits is caught in mid air, he's out. If the ball he hits goes outta bounds, its a 'foul ball' and he goes back to the home plate. If he hits it out of the park or into the stands where the opposing team can't get it, it's a home run. He and all of his teammates who are on bases complete the circuit and advance to home base.

You've got a total of four bases. Home, First, Second and Third. For every man that successfully completes the circuit from home base and back again without getting tagged, that team wins a point.

There's a lot more too it, but that's pretty much the basics to understanding baseball. When in doubt, listen to the umpire (referee dude that no one likes). He'll tell ya when someone gets a strike, ball, foul ball, etc.

*XERO* · 07-09-2005, 10:04 PM

And all it took was somebody from Germany...

Very nice, damnhooligan.

**GK Punk** · 07-10-2005, 01:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Benvenuto

And all it took was somebody from Germany...

Very nice, damnhooligan.

Ah, but unless I am mistaken, DH isn't from Germany, but is just living there currently. (Unless I am remembering wrong?)

07-10-2005, 02:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThirdMarioBro

I dunno, I hate sports

I love you even more, TMB!

*Sewer Bull* · 07-10-2005, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryo

I love you even more, TMB!

*pssst, Jester, here lies your chance

*

*damnhooligan* · 07-10-2005, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alison Chains

Ah, but unless I am mistaken, DH isn't from Germany, but is just living there currently. (Unless I am remembering wrong?)

You're dead on, AC. I'm just here on a temporary basis. Gone in a couple months.

*XERO* · 07-10-2005, 11:18 AM

It's just the nature of the joke, that's all.

**Jester** · 07-10-2005, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryo

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThirdMarioBro

I dunno, I hate sports.

I love you even more, TMB!

Me to....I loathe sports....bad...bad I say....

thanks Rob...

*cqb101* · 07-12-2005, 06:59 PM

Anybody else watching the all star game right now?

**Jester** · 07-12-2005, 07:39 PM

My dad is while I post....

07-13-2005, 12:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jester

Me to....I loathe sports....bad...bad I say....

thanks Rob...

*sighs*

Go away.

**Jester** · 07-13-2005, 12:36 AM

Oh...ok....I can see when I'm not wanted....

07-13-2005, 12:43 AM

Don't play the pitty game.

I don't think I need to explain what the problem is.

**Jester** · 07-13-2005, 12:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryo

Don't play the pitty game.

I don't think I need to explain what the problem is.

What...I don't like sports....I really don't...they make my brain, and other parts hurt....

Dinny · 07-13-2005, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThirdMarioBro

I dunno, I hate sports

Don't worry man, Mario Baseball will teach you all you need to know.

07-09-2005, 08:50 PM	#1
Anarky Outlaw Hero Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Tannhauser Gate Posts: 4,867	Baseball - a mystery to europeans Good morning everybody, it's 6am here and because I couldn't sleep all night due to me coughing all the time, I was more or less forced to watch TV. So, first I watched "Idle Hands" then "Equilibrium" (again) and then I watched the rerun of a movie with Keanu Reeves. It's called "Hardball" and it's all about a bunch of ghetto-kids who play baseball. About halfway into the movie I suddenly realised... ... I have no freaking idea what Baseball is all about. Seriously. All I know is that some people throw a ball, then another player hits it with a bat (which I imagine to be really difficult) and then he runs like hell to a base. Apparently there's between 3 and 5 bases in total and a strike is, when the batter misses the ball. That's about all I know. So here's my question: How does Baseball work? I know this must sound really silly to you americans, but over here, soccer is THE game, or tennis (depends on who's more succesful). And now, I shall be off to swallow even more pills in the hope that I can finally get to sleep. Good night. See you tomorrow. __________________ Because it's... I dunno... brutal.

07-09-2005, 09:27 PM	#2
ThirdMarioBro Tea Time! Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 8,905	I dunno, I hate sports __________________

07-09-2005, 09:41 PM	#3
damnhooligan Mad Scientist Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Dorksville, USA Posts: 1,745	Baseball's probably one of the easier American sports to understand. American Football however, that's one helluva mindfck. I don't even think I understand that sport enough to follow along. Essentially... two teams, nine players each. There are a total of nine innings, in which one team hits and another pitches. The pitcher's job is to throw the ball so that it manages to get over the plate and in the "strike zone" (zone between the batter's knees and belt, generally) without the batter hitting it. If he fails to get it between that zone (and sometimes that means hitting the batter) it's called a "ball". If a pitcher gets three strikes, the batter's out. If the pitcher throws four balls, the batter gets to advance to first base. The batter's job is to hit the ball and advance to a base without being tagged with the ball. There's no limit as to how far he can run. If the ball he hits is caught in mid air, he's out. If the ball he hits goes outta bounds, its a 'foul ball' and he goes back to the home plate. If he hits it out of the park or into the stands where the opposing team can't get it, it's a home run. He and all of his teammates who are on bases complete the circuit and advance to home base. You've got a total of four bases. Home, First, Second and Third. For every man that successfully completes the circuit from home base and back again without getting tagged, that team wins a point. There's a lot more too it, but that's pretty much the basics to understanding baseball. When in doubt, listen to the umpire (referee dude that no one likes). He'll tell ya when someone gets a strike, ball, foul ball, etc. __________________ Last edited by damnhooligan; 07-09-2005 at 10:32 PM.*

07-09-2005, 10:04 PM	#4
XERO Hybrid Theorist Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Alamo City Posts: 8,184	And all it took was somebody from Germany... Very nice, damnhooligan. __________________ "Travel at the speed of light... then hit the nitro!"

07-10-2005, 11:18 AM	#9
XERO Hybrid Theorist Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Alamo City Posts: 8,184	It's just the nature of the joke, that's all. __________________ "Travel at the speed of light... then hit the nitro!"

07-12-2005, 06:59 PM	#11
cqb101 Cinephile Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Salem, MA Posts: 8,489	Anybody else watching the all star game right now? __________________ Facebook

07-12-2005, 07:39 PM	#12
Jester Rat-faced Dude-guy Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Arkansas Posts: 26,298	My dad is while I post.... __________________ "Clearly, you're Ninja Turtling incorrectly." - Leo656

07-13-2005, 12:36 AM	#14
Jester Rat-faced Dude-guy Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Arkansas Posts: 26,298	Oh...ok....I can see when I'm not wanted.... __________________ "Clearly, you're Ninja Turtling incorrectly." - Leo656

07-13-2005, 12:43 AM	#15
Ryona Guest Posts: n/a	Don't play the pitty game. I don't think I need to explain what the problem is.