Slapping w/2 strikes

[tcannizzo]

No one could argue that he wasn't a switch-hitter.

[tcannizzo]

How about this one....Runner hits 1st at the same time the 1st baseman catches it. You hear parents and others watching the game yell, " tie goes to the runner ". What will a good ump say? They will say there is no such call. They are either safe or out, no tie going to the runner.

Not sure what a "good umpire" would say, but my answer would be, "Coach, I did not see the ball beat the runner to the base."

[MTR]

In 1808 an ace pitcher steped on the mound and the first batter he faced fouled 40+ pitches off to tire the pitcher so he would not be effective....hence the rule of being out when bunting a ball foul with two strikes.

That's pretty good since the first rules were not published until 1845 and the first recorded game in 1846.

BTW, in softball bunting was illegal for years in all softball games.

[MTR]

How about this one....Runner hits 1st at the same time the 1st baseman catches it. You hear parents and others watching the game yell, " tie goes to the runner ". What will a good ump say? They will say there is no such call. They are either safe or out, no tie going to the runner.

Not sure what a "good umpire" would say, but my answer would be, "Coach, I did not see the ball beat the runner to the base."

Which would be correct. While the result may never be a tie, if there is a tie, the runner, by rule, is safe.

[MTR]

2. Foul Balls and Strikes
Initially, under the Cartwright Rules, a foul ball was not a strike. Therefore even a mediocre hitter could foul off ball after ball, just waiting for that perfect pitch. So, in 1858, a rule was created that made all foul balls strikes unless there were already two strikes on the batter.

Actually, though developed by Alexander Cartwright, they are often referred to as the Knickerbocker Rules. And bunting isn't mentioned, but a ball knocked out of the field or range of first and third base was referred to as a foul strike.

As expected, these "developed" rules are very similar to that of the game Rounders which is what town ball or baseball was before Messrs. Rawlings and Cartwright claimed it was DL Adams or Abner Doubleday who when asked about the game said "Huh?"

Now, you wanna talk about how Jackie Robinson was not the first black player in professional baseball?