American Major League Baseball Playoffs - 2018

[Forty Two]

Remember their poor soft gentle hands.
At school cricket we were told to use vinegar to harden the hands.

You sound as if you're overcompensating for something. Yes yes, the world can see and acknowledges that the Dutch are the manliest of sportsmen. Dutch cricketers, manliest of all.

[Forty Two]

Can the outfielders catch the ball with their non-gloved hand?

Yes.

If it's anything like catching a cricket ball on the full near the stumps that is being returned from anywhere near the boundary rope, not wearing gloves can be a bruising experience, though.

I was watching one of the baseball bloobers vids, and though it's only a sample of failures, it looks like the glove is actually a hindrance when it's relied on to catch a ball that's coming over the shoulder of the gloved hand - bringing the other hand round would at least place a palm towards the incoming ball, and it'd be easier to try a two-hander.

I'm sure major league baseball players haven't thought of that. I'll mention that in preseason coming up. I always get to see the Yankees in the Grapefruit League in March. I'll let them know that the Europeans think they're pussies, and it's obvious the glove is a hindrance to catching the ball. I bet they never thought about how best to catch the ball.

[Jason]

Maybe if they coated the inside of the mitt with a sticky substance?

[Jason]

Or maybe make the ball and mitt with velcro?

[Brian Peacock]

Can the outfielders catch the ball with their non-gloved hand?

Yes.

If it's anything like catching a cricket ball on the full near the stumps that is being returned from anywhere near the boundary rope, not wearing gloves can be a bruising experience, though.

I was watching one of the baseball bloobers vids, and though it's only a sample of failures, it looks like the glove is actually a hindrance when it's relied on to catch a ball that's coming over the shoulder of the gloved hand - bringing the other hand round would at least place a palm towards the incoming ball, and it'd be easier to try a two-hander.

I'm sure major league baseball players haven't thought of that. I'll mention that in preseason coming up. I always get to see the Yankees in the Grapefruit League in March. I'll let them know that the Europeans think they're pussies, and it's obvious the glove is a hindrance to catching the ball. I bet they never thought about how best to catch the ball.

Ooo. Someone's not getting any custard on their pudding

[Scot Dutchy]

A load of sissies anyway with a big glove. Try being in slips or mid off. You dont feel your hands after a match.

[Forty Two]

Newbie question: Is there a limit to the field size? Some of those far boundaries look about half-a-mile away from the bloke with the stick.

The rules of the game don't specify the shape, height, or composition of the wall, or a specific mandatory distance from home plate (though Major League Baseball mandates a minimum distance of 250 feet (76 m) and recommends a minimum distance of 320 feet (98 m) at the foul poles and 400 feet (120 m) at center field).

The infield is 88 feet to 1st base from home plate, and 60.5 feet from the rubber on the pitcher's mound to the home plate.

Basic dimensions -


The variability of the outfield fence (wall) gives the ballparks character. You can have Wrigley Field with vines and such, and you can have Fenway Park with the "Green Monster."





Or, a classic look of Comerica Park (newer Tiger Stadium) -



The sport has amazing history and character. It has a storied past, legends, myths, rivalries, scandals and the like. And, it has stadiums which are not cookie cutter copies of each other. It's a great game.

[Forty Two]

A load of sissies anyway with a big glove. Try being in slips or mid off. You dont feel your hands after a match.

A denizen of the Netherlands suggesting others are "sissies?" The irony is enough to make a cat laugh. LOL. Let's get this straight - you're denigrating American baseball players because they wear a glove, the standard equipment in light of the way the game is played. But, you make no mention of the padding, faceguards and other safety equipment worn by cricketers (also because of the way the game is played). LOL.

If you're representative of the Dutch, no wonder the country isn't taken seriously.

[Forty Two]

Can the outfielders catch the ball with their non-gloved hand?

Yes.

If it's anything like catching a cricket ball on the full near the stumps that is being returned from anywhere near the boundary rope, not wearing gloves can be a bruising experience, though.

I was watching one of the baseball bloobers vids, and though it's only a sample of failures, it looks like the glove is actually a hindrance when it's relied on to catch a ball that's coming over the shoulder of the gloved hand - bringing the other hand round would at least place a palm towards the incoming ball, and it'd be easier to try a two-hander.

I'm sure major league baseball players haven't thought of that. I'll mention that in preseason coming up. I always get to see the Yankees in the Grapefruit League in March. I'll let them know that the Europeans think they're pussies, and it's obvious the glove is a hindrance to catching the ball. I bet they never thought about how best to catch the ball.

Ooo. Someone's not getting any custard on their pudding

....dude, I mean, your comment was the equivalent of assuming that English Premier League football players hadn't thought of the idea of playing barefoot.

[Forty Two]

That's why they wear gloves. Cricketers dont.

Why do cricketers use such a wide, flat bat? Baseball players don't.

Oh, yeah, I remember. It's a different sport.

[Forty Two]

Why does every thread about an American sport get diverted into some discussion about how the American sport is for wimps and it's really the manly Europeans who are the toughest of all sportsmen? Is this something ya'll worry about a lot?

[Jason]

What is the force imparted by the baseball on the outfielder's mitt when caught? Given the increased velocity and height of the ballistic arc I'm thinking it has a bit more force than a cricket ball.

[Forty Two]

On to the topic of the thread - the real men from Holland (which is known to be the manliest of sources of manly men) and other super-tough-guy countries, might want to sit this one out, and go follow whatever cricket or soccer game is on now (you know, the well known "man sports").

Tomorrow starts the MLB World Series, which features the Los Angeles Dodgers (formerly of Brooklyn) and the Boston Red Sox. The Red Sox are one of the original 8 American League teams - the American League was founded in 1901. They play at Fenway Park, one of the coolest designed baseball stadiums, famous for its "Green Monster."



The Dodgers were formed in Brooklyn in about 1884, and they played there until I think 1957, when they moved to Los Angeles. Another storied franchis, with lots of legendary players.

Here's one of my favorites --

[Forty Two]

What is the force imparted by the baseball on the outfielder's mitt when caught? Given the increased velocity and height of the ballistic arc I'm thinking it has a bit more force than a cricket ball.

There is a wide variance. It's easier to calculate the speed the pitcher throws, and the force off the bat. The speed hitting the mit depends on the angle of the ballistic trajectory of the ball. But, since the ball is generally moving faster, and is fielded often at a "line drive" I agree with you.

Check out some of the line drives here - and the plays by the infielders --

[laklak]

Soccer.


Lol.