Help me become a baseball fan

[lennytheweedwhacker]

Yeah I'm just saying that doesn't have to be the focal point of this thread

Okay ask away then and we will try our best to assist and develop your love for the game

[Farmer John]

Someone asking to explain the rules is like catnip for baseball fans.

[Simple Torture]

Someone asking to explain the rules is like catnip for baseball fans.

OK, cool. Do players in baseball cycle positions? Like are pitchers always pitchers or are they also batters sometimes?

Players can play multiple positions during a game, yeah. What you'll usually see is a pinch-hitter will come in, and if they're batting in the spot of someone whose position they cannot play, the next inning the manager will have to shift guys around so everyone is in a position they can play. If a guy can play multiple positions effectively and doesn't really have a "primary" position, he's called a "utility man."

Centerfield, shortstop, and catcher are the most "specialized" and highly-valued defensive positions. Catcher is sort of obvious--as others have pointed out in other comments, they've got to both be workhorses physically (squatting behind the plate for 2 hours a night), have a good throwing arm, and have a relationship with their pitching staff and know enough about opposing teams to call a good game. Catchers are often the worst hitters on their team because if they're good enough defensively, they can add value to the team without swinging a good stick. CF and SS both have to be players who can cover lots of ground and have a good throwing arm, so they're often the cornerstones of a good defense.

If you're not in one of those three positions, you're expected to hit, otherwise your defensive value won't be high enough to warrant a lackluster offensive output.

In the first half of the 20th century and in the 19th century, it was pretty common for pitchers to also be accomplished batters, that is, "two-way" players. Babe Ruth is often the first example people bring up, although it's worth mentioning that he was only a pitcher for the years he was with Boston: he started 140 games over a 5-year stretch with the Red Sox, but after being traded to the Yankees, but then only started 4 games for them over 15 seasons. Pitchers had a spot in the batting order in the National League until 2020, but for the vast majority of those years (say, 1950-2020), no one expected much out of pitchers at the plate. The only rare situation where pitchers have to hit now is if a designated hitter is pinch hit for and that player ends up in the field; don't worry, it happens like twice a season over the entire league.

As mentioned elsewhere in this thread, Shohei Ohtani has broken the mold and become the first successful truly two-way player in a number of generations. In 7 seasons, he's won 2 MVP awards, slashed .282/.371/.575, with a 3.01 ERA and 11.4 K/9. It's a lot of work, though, and he's had some injuries--for example, he tore a ligament in his elbow last year so did not pitch at all this year, but he still had 54 HR and 59 steals.

Hope that helps!

[washing machine]

Let’s let our resident Astros fan Reid expound on hand signals.

As mentioned previously, different pitches do different things and batters are left guessing what is coming next.

Hand signals are useful ways a catcher can let a pitcher know what pitch to throw next.

These signals are coded in a way that are unique and hard to guess, but there are times when players on base or in the dugout can crack the code. This helps batters predict when to swing the bat if the signs are guessed or "stolen".

[Simple Torture]

Let’s let our resident Astros fan Reid expound on hand signals.

As mentioned previously, different pitches do different things and batters are left guessing what is coming next.

Hand signals are useful ways a catcher can let a pitcher know what pitch to throw next.

These signals are coded in a way that are unique and hard to guess, but there are times when players on base or in the dugout can crack the code. This helps batters predict when to swing the bat if the signs are guessed or "stolen".

Put another way:

BANG

BANG BANG

[washing machine]

Jorge, what I'm going to highlight about being a baseball fan is very important. You pick a team and you stand by them, thick or thin. Got it? Sometimes they'll break your heart. Often they'll break your heart. Sometimes they'll make you mad. Sometimes they'll embarrass you. But they're your team, right? The good times never last but neither do the bad times. You know next season will be another chance, and you know that you can't control whatever they do on or off the field, so you wear their colors with pride and you don't listen to the haters.

[spike]

Jorge, have you seen Moneyball?

[doug rr]

Jorge, have you seen Moneyball?

kind of funny that I read a bit of the book but I've never seen the movie

[Bammer]

Someone asking to explain the rules is like catnip for baseball fans.

Yeah a lot of know it alls here

[lennytheweedwhacker]

Hey Jorge are you watching it's first day of playoff baseball a lot to watch now

[lennytheweedwhacker]

Jorge, have you seen Moneyball?

kind of funny that I read a bit of the book but I've never seen the movie

I have the book but have never read it

[Farmer John]

Watch baseball movies

List your favorite ones

Lenny you still need to list your favorite baseball movies

[lennytheweedwhacker]

Watch baseball movies

List your favorite ones

Lenny you still need to list your favorite baseball movies

Rookie of the Year
Angels in the Outfield
The Human Centipede
Darude Sandstorm
Wristcutters: A Love Story

[spike]

Jorge, have you seen Moneyball?

kind of funny that I read a bit of the book but I've never seen the movie

I have the book but have never read it

why read a book if there’s a movie of it

[spike]

Watch baseball movies

List your favorite ones

Lenny you still need to list your favorite baseball movies

Rookie of the Year
Angels in the Outfield
The Human Centipede
Darude Sandstorm
Wristcutters: A Love Story

Orlando Centipeda

[Farmer John]

Watch baseball movies

List your favorite ones

Lenny you still need to list your favorite baseball movies

Rookie of the Year
Angels in the Outfield
The Human Centipede
Darude Sandstorm
Wristcutters: A Love Story

Lenny you need to take this seriously

[lennytheweedwhacker]

Watch baseball movies

List your favorite ones

Lenny you still need to list your favorite baseball movies

Rookie of the Year
Angels in the Outfield
The Human Centipede
Darude Sandstorm
Wristcutters: A Love Story

Lenny you need to take this seriously

I'm dying of AIDS

[daft twat]

Baseball movies:

Start with “The Sandlot.” It’s a great introduction to baseball, especially since the protagonist of the film starts with the same amount of knowledge as you. Or you could go with “Bad News Bears.” Just make sure you see the original, though the remake isn’t terrible either.

For the romanticized father/son take on the game, “Field of Dreams” is the only choice.

My favorite baseball comedy, and really one of my favorite comedies ever is “Major League.” Forget the sequels. Oh shit, I forgot “A League of Their Own.” That’s probably the best comedy. It might even be the best baseball movie, if I’m being honest.

“Moneyball” is great for understanding how the game has changed in this century.

‘The Natural” and “Bull Durham” are considered classics by most. “For the Love of the Game” and “61” are probably next tier down.

I’ve never seen “42,” but Jackie Robinson is probably the most important name in baseball.

There are tons of dumb comedies like “The Scout,” and “The Rookie” that are watchable. There are even Rom-coms like “Fever Pitch.” I’m sure I’m forgetting some. If I could only keep three they would be A League of Their Own, Major League, and The Sandlot and leave the serious stuff to Ken Burns and 30 for 30.

[doug rr]

bang the drum slowly...

[Farmer John]

Eight Men Out is a good one. At least I remember it being so from back in the day.