explain to me what is so exciting about it

 

cheap tickets.. outdoors .. :dunno:

i personally find it VERY slow paced.

 

When you know what to look for, you're hanging on every pitch thrown.

There are several pitches that exist. Certain pitchers can only execute a few, some can do them all ... pending on what's on your arsenal, you can keep a batter guessing on what's coming all night long. When a pitcher is on fire, batters look like they're cork screwing themselves into the ground or falling over the plate.

A good fast ball clocks in at 93 to 94 MPH. If a starting pitcher can maintain that velocity for 6+ innings, they've got "good stuff". A pitcher can also have "good stuff" via the "movement" on the ball. They just don't pitch in a straight line, the ball moves and drops due to technique.

Closing pitchers are insane. Not only do they have to protect and "save" the game, they're dealing with an insane amount of pressure. Some closers have devastating "stuff", including 97 MPH fastballs.


As a hitter, your bat speed and reaction time have to be lightning quick. You're trying to make contact with a small object coming at you at 93 MPH. Not only is it coming fast, it can be in a variety of locations.


There's quite a bit of danger too. 96 MPH fastball making contact with your elbow. Line drive hit coming back to the pitcher, etc ...

 

Play it and you will see

 

Trying to field a routine ground ball is much harder than it looks.

Pitcher's ball spin + spin off of the bat + spin off the ground, this thing is everywhere. I took a short hop off my chest. It hurt so bad. h:

 

I took a line drive off the ankle playing the hot corner in softball this weekend. Did not feel good

 

its really fun when you try to catch a fly ball and have the glove right over your forehead and miss :hsugh:

 

There's a load of strategy involved too.

Starting pitchers can't throw forever. You need to make the call on when to pull them from the game and use your replacements. Replacement pitchers put quite a bit of stress on their arms. They pitch for up to 3 or 4 days in-a-row, so you can't always go to the same guys.

So, when do you pull the starter? If so, who's going to hit for him in the lineup? When you use a player once in a game, there is no coming back when removed from the line up.

Do you worry about offensive production or defense? There are some outfielders that just stink defensively that become a late inning liability in close games. (Soriano) There are outfielders that are game breakers offensively and you just can't ignore their plate presence and the effects they have on the opposing team (Soriano)

Offensive strategies include "bat protection". (who is hitting behind the star player. ) Barry Bonds was a prolific homerun hitter. Nobody would want to pitch to him, so they'd walk him intentionally and send him to first base. First base isn't as costly as a home run, ya know?

So who is hitting behind Bonds? Will this hitter make the opposing team pay for the intentional walk?

 

you have to be there and be drunk

 

i like baseball. but i don't have to be drunk.