Some questions I have about baseball and baseball cards
frankhardy
Posts: 8,169 ✭✭✭✭✭
There are some questions that I have always had, so I have decided to ask on this all knowing board. You can answer these or feel free to ask your own questions here.
1) Why is a first baseman's glove rounded?
2) Why does it take 3 strikes to be out, but it takes 4 balls to walk?
3) How much would a pitcher be worth (especially an ace) if it were humanly possible to pitch everyday? (Imagine facing Roy Halladay, Adam Wainwright, Cliff Lee, or Tim Lincecum every game for a 3 game series!)
4) Why are there no left handed catchers?
5) Why can't Topps make either all of their cards vertical or all of there cards horizontal (like 1960)? I hate to see a horizontal card mixed in with a set.
6) Why does a starter have to go 5 innings to get a win, but a reliever can face one batter and get a win?
7) How many 1987 Topps cards are there?
8) Will Topps ever stop making reprints? (I hate those things)
9) What would Dwight Gooden's cards be worth if he started his career this year or last year (thinking about Stephen Strasburg; and thinking about a 20 year old pitcher wining the Cy Young)?
10) Where did all of the food issues go?
1) Why is a first baseman's glove rounded?
2) Why does it take 3 strikes to be out, but it takes 4 balls to walk?
3) How much would a pitcher be worth (especially an ace) if it were humanly possible to pitch everyday? (Imagine facing Roy Halladay, Adam Wainwright, Cliff Lee, or Tim Lincecum every game for a 3 game series!)
4) Why are there no left handed catchers?
5) Why can't Topps make either all of their cards vertical or all of there cards horizontal (like 1960)? I hate to see a horizontal card mixed in with a set.
6) Why does a starter have to go 5 innings to get a win, but a reliever can face one batter and get a win?
7) How many 1987 Topps cards are there?
8) Will Topps ever stop making reprints? (I hate those things)
9) What would Dwight Gooden's cards be worth if he started his career this year or last year (thinking about Stephen Strasburg; and thinking about a 20 year old pitcher wining the Cy Young)?
10) Where did all of the food issues go?
Shane
0
Comments
<< <i>There are some questions that I have always had............ >>
1) Why is a first baseman's glove rounded? - To increase the chance of scooping throws in the dirt.
4) Why are there no left handed catchers? - Because most hitters are right handed and it would make throwing to 2nd more difficult.
<< <i>
<< <i>There are some questions that I have always had............ >>
1) Why is a first baseman's glove rounded? - To increase the chance of scooping throws in the dirt.
4) Why are there no left handed catchers? - Because most hitters are right handed and it would make throwing to 2nd more difficult. >>
1) If that were the case, then why don't all infielder's have them because they have to scoop more balls in the dirt? Not saying you're not right. Just wondering.
4) Good point. I guess that is similar to why there are no left handed infielders because of the throw to first.
Shane
<< <i>the longer webbing of a first baseman's mitt also allows the fielder to grab for errant throws, a necessity when you might need that extra inch or two of reach while still keeping a heel on the bag.....other fielder's mitts may be contoured differently because they are regularly able to leap and dive after balls. >>
I guess that it has something to do with getting the ball out of the glove quickly, which is less important for a 1st baseman and significanly more important for every infielder.
<< <i>........1) If that were the case, then why don't all infielder's have them because they have to scoop more balls in the dirt? Not saying you're not right. Just wondering.............. >>
Because after they field that ball they would have to reach into that mitt and pull the ball out to throw it, 95% of the time a first baseman does not. It's easier to get a handle on the ball to throw it with a smaller glove.
<< <i>
<< <i>the longer webbing of a first baseman's mitt also allows the fielder to grab for errant throws, a necessity when you might need that extra inch or two of reach while still keeping a heel on the bag.....other fielder's mitts may be contoured differently because they are regularly able to leap and dive after balls. >>
I guess that it has something to do with getting the ball out of the glove quickly, which is less important for a 1st baseman and significanly more important for every infielder. >>
this is also somewhat true, however, the importance of the the fielding part of a first baseman's position has evolved dramatically since the days of the old trapper mitts.....the quality of hitters has changed and lefty pull hitters keep the corner guy busy.....just watch a guy like Mark Texeira and how quickly he pulls off that transfer when he needs to field and start a play with a throw.
<< <i>There are some questions that I have always had, so I have decided to ask on this all knowing board. You can answer these or feel free to ask your own questions here.
3) How much would a pitcher be worth (especially an ace) if it were humanly possible to pitch everyday? (Imagine facing Roy Halladay, Adam Wainwright, Cliff Lee, or Tim Lincecum every game for a 3 game series!)
5 times their salary
5) Why can't Topps make either all of their cards vertical or all of there cards horizontal (like 1960)? I hate to see a horizontal card mixed in with a set.
they like to iritate us
6) Why does a starter have to go 5 innings to get a win, but a reliever can face one batter and get a win?
5 innings is considered the measure of success for a starter and if you don't give the win to the pitcher of record after the starter comes out, it would be a confusing mess of scoring officials assigning wins based on how they feel.
7) How many 1987 Topps cards are there?
Probably more than the last 10 years worth of Topps sets combined
8) Will Topps ever stop making reprints? (I hate those things)
Repritns are a cheap way to devalue originals while the cardmaker makes money...
9) What would Dwight Gooden's cards be worth if he started his career this year or last year (thinking about Stephen Strasburg; and thinking about a 20 year old pitcher wining the Cy Young)?
Too much given his overall career
10) Where did all of the food issues go? >>
<< <i>10) Where did all of the food issues go? >>
I ate them.
<< <i>9)what is the difference between a basement and a cellar ???? >>
wait wait wait wait, WAIT!!!!!!!!
i got this one.
a basement is where you store stuff that just keeps getting in the way, except of course, your baseball card collection.
a cellar is where you can expect to find the Pittsburgh Pirates at the end of every September.
<< <i>i have some questions also... 5) who was considered the 5th beatle ???? >>
The talented Billy Preston!
PS.I played 1st, was drafted as a lefty pitcher, but never played catcher
(not reading other answers)
1) Why is a first baseman's glove rounded?
Because a square glove wouldnt scoop well
2) Why does it take 3 strikes to be out, but it takes 4 balls to walk?
It didnt at first it took 20 years to become 3/4, at first it was 9 balls, then 8, then 7 balls by 1882, Underhanded pitches before 1884, 3/5 for 1988, and 3/4 in 1889 and ever since. Game was tweeked many many times in the beginning.
3) How much would a pitcher be worth (especially an ace) if it were humanly possible to pitch everyday? (Imagine facing Roy Halladay, Adam Wainwright, Cliff Lee, or Tim Lincecum every game for a 3 game series!)
If your not a knuckler.... It is not Humanly possible, period. You can do it, within a week you would suck and at best be 75% the pitcher you would be fully rested....and be broke down within a month. On average.... You need about 1 day to recover for every 2 innings...
4) Why are there no left handed catchers?
There actually have been a couple times as backups (ie.Dale Long).....Because a lefty arm slot is on the righthanded batters side and there are more right handed batters (more chance to nip him in throw and injure yourself), also the main reason is he would have to twist back to throw to 3rd and lose most of his velocity.
6) Why does a starter have to go 5 innings to get a win, but a reliever can face one batter and get a win?
Because he wouldnt deserve a win in 4 innings of work IMO (game is no where near done), he can get the lose with one pitch though.
8) Will Topps ever stop making reprints? (I hate those things)
Topps is a lame company now, they have copied so many vintage sets (designs) and obviously have trouble thinking of original ideas. BTW they have copied vintage set designs for 60 years now, almost every insert design from the 1950-60s was previously used in at least 1 PreWar set, ie. game cards, diecuts, doublefolders, etc.
9) What would Dwight Gooden's cards be worth if he started his career this year or last year (thinking about Stephen Strasburg; and thinking about a 20 year old pitcher wining the Cy Young)?
Gooden was hyped just as much as any player today, it was different back then, we only had 12 stations on our TV not counting "U"
10) Where did all of the food issues go? MLB License cost $$ not worth it to the company.
Steve
Steve
<< <i>George Martin was considered the 5th Beatle.
Steve >>
According to Paul McCartney it was Brian Epstein. Billy Preston (and Tony Sheridan) are the only people who have gotten joint credit while working on Beatles albums. George was also an important figure in their success.
My vote goes with Billy who I would also consider a member of the greatest rock band ever; The Stones.
wpkoughan@yahoo.com
Collecting 1970-1979 PSA 9 & 10 Baseball Cards
<< <i> 5) who was considered the 5th beatle ???? >>
Preston is 6th at best. I even have a hard time placing him ahead of Pete Best or Stu Sutcliffe both of whom were at one point actual "Beatles."
Post Beatlemania, Jimmy Nichols was the only other person to play an official live gig with the band. The rooftop gig was impromptu, not official.
The 5th Beatles was and will forever be George Martin. Without his arrangement who knows what the run of Rubber Soul, Revolver, and Sgt. Peppers would have sounded like. The piano solo on "In my life." - Martin. The orchestral arrangements on "Eleanor Rigby", "Yesterday", "A Day in the Life" - Martin
He co-wrote, arranged, or played on almost every track from 65-68 which represents the epoch of their greatest output.
Oh, and hi I'm Steven. Some of you guys know me from Net54, those that don't it is a pleasure to meet you.
I think it is a combination between scoop and protection. The majority of the contact that the catcher and first baseman get with the ball is a result of the ball being thrown at them rather than fielded and with much more frequency (and velocity) than other fielders. In the evolution from bare-handed to gloves, catchers and 1st baseman determined that protection was more important than dexterity.
3) How much would a pitcher be worth (especially an ace) if it were humanly possible to pitch everyday? (Imagine facing Roy Halladay, Adam Wainwright, Cliff Lee, or Tim Lincecum every game for a 3 game series!)
Would everyone be able to pitch everyday? (When everyone's super, no one will be - Buddy/Syndrome - The Incredibles) If so, the reamining pitchers either get paid the same (owners pocket the cash) or the total pitching salaries get spread over the remaining pitchers (pitchers pocket the cash).
4) Why are there no left handed catchers?
At this point, where there seems to be an almost equal number of L/R batters.....well....just because.
5) Why can't Topps make either all of their cards vertical or all of there cards horizontal (like 1960)? I hate to see a horizontal card mixed in with a set.
Perhaps they don't know that cards are put in pages rather than spokes?
6) Why does a starter have to go 5 innings to get a win, but a reliever can face one batter and get a win?
I think it has to do with the qualification of being an official game. But does a starter have to go 5 innings? If a road team decides to use 1 pitcher an inning and they throw a shut-out with scoring a bunch of runs in the top of the first, does the scorer have complete discretion in awarding the victory?
<< <i> If a road team decides to use 1 pitcher an inning and they throw a shut-out with scoring a bunch of runs in the top of the first, does the scorer have complete discretion in awarding the victory? >>
No, he/she does not. The victory goes to the reliever who was the "most effective." That's probably a subjective term to use to select one of eight guys who pitched an inning each, but the scorer is supposed to award the victory using that "most effective" criteria, not solely on the scorer's whim.
Two and three: All the rules were designed to create the best product possible. Although the most major steps to put them in place were over 150 years ago, in 2010 the product that best sells must still have a strong attachment to history. If one player was able to dominate eight others so heavily, perhaps other rules would have changed so that wouldn't happen
Of course "humanely possible" and actually achieved are far different things. It is humanely possible to start 36 games and throw 240 innings, but the vast majority of Major League pitchers good enough to do that will hit major obstacles that prevent them from approaching those totals at times throughout their careers. If the Phillies were to hope Halladay can start 159 games, and count on him to start at least 120, the guy who can help keep his arm that resilient would deserve a big chunk of the payroll
<< <i>If you were to eat pasta and then an anti-pasta, would you still be hungry? >>
Depends how much of each. Myself, most likely
<< <i>At this point, where there seems to be an almost equal number of L/R batters.....well....just because.
>>
Not exactly. In 2009, there were 813 RH batters, 372 LH batters, and 110 switch-hitters.
Same reason there are no left handed 2B's, 3B's or SS's. The throws are more awkward. For a Catcher the throw to 3rd is trouble for a lefty. For the other positions, throws to 1st are difficult. If the game were reversed and runners left the box and ran to 3rd the infielders would all be left-handed.
Simsbury Taverneers
My PSA Sets
Kiss me twice.....let's party.
IMO the rules should be changed so that anytime the bases are empty the batter can choose to run to EITHER 1st or what we now know as 3rd base, and the direction they choose will hold until the bases empty again, at which time the next hitter can choose once he hits a fair ball or walks. For a while I thought this would be a great rule change- partially because I'm left-handed, but also because it would make the game one hell of a lot more interesting to watch and would really challenge the fielders.
<< <i>He's not allowed in fair territory. >>
Could he play first base, standing in foul territory. Have the first baseman play in a different position?
Bob
Looking for Bob Uecker cards
My Ebay Auctions
<< <i>Could he play first base, standing in foul territory. Have the first baseman play in a different position? >>
No.
There is actually a catcher's "box" which is no longer drawn in chalk, so I guess it's implied. That is why on an intentional walk, the catcher doesn't just stand to the side of the batter but actually has to move. I believe the catcher must remain in the "box" until the pitcher delivers the ball according to the rules (too lazy to look up...sorry).
EDIT: OK found it:
<< <i>
<< <i>He's not allowed in fair territory. >>
Could he play first base, standing in foul territory. Have the first baseman play in a different position?
Bob >>
4.03(a)"...the catcher must stand with both feet within the lines of the catcher's box until the ball leaves the pitcher's hand."
Bob
Looking for Bob Uecker cards
My Ebay Auctions
<< <i>4) Good point. I guess that is similar to why there are no left handed infielders because of the throw to first. >>
There are no lefthanded infielders because they kept throwing to 3B...
I also like the concept about being able to choose clockwise or counter clockwise. Won't ever happen, but I thought it was very interesting.
Shane