Originally posted by CrowleyThe Sweeney used 'em before guns got so popular with the blaggers and they had to start using guns too.
The South Africans use baseball bats to help with hand-eye coordination and for fielding practice too.
Very useful in those situations I expect.
Originally posted by Red NightI didn't once 'bash your sport'. All I did was try to point out the differences and refute some of your ridiculous claims with facts.
Maybe we should just stop bashing each other's sports.
The futility of trying to compare the two sports and the skill sets required by the players is evident by the length of this thread.
Some people will attack baseball and say it's stupid etc. etc., you then use some examples of strange rules and idiosyncrasies to point out how stupid cricket is.
Cricket is a part of my culture as baseball is of yours. Every argument you throw my way, I will throw back in your face and so we will go around and around, never getting anywhere.
I will never understand how you guys can watch baseball and I'm sure you feel the same way about cricket.
What else is there to say?
Originally posted by CrowleyI can understand why YOU would enjoy cricket.
I didn't once 'bash your sport'. All I did was try to point out the differences and refute some of your ridiculous claims with facts.
The futility of trying to compare the two sports and the skill sets required by the players is evident by the length of this thread.
Some people will attack baseball and say it's stupid etc. etc., you then use some examp ...[text shortened]... ch baseball and I'm sure you feel the same way about cricket.
What else is there to say?
The skill sets are actually fairly similiar. It's not like we are comparing Basketball to Soccer.
Cricket is not a horrible game. A little slow for my tastes, but not a horrible game.
I think you would enjoy baseball if you could get past the notion that it is an American game and lay aside your anti-American biases.
Originally posted by lordhighgusNah, truncheons were made out of some hard wood - lignum vitae or something like that. Baseball bats are those things we invented for the yanks to amuse themselves with. 😉
I thought coshes were leather filled truncheons filled with lead doc?
Anyway, folks...
I always do my best to say when I'm wrong... and to say we're all speculating.
RN brought up some facts, and some users are saying things have changed, but don't tell us how that proves that after the changes it is fact that it is harder for an Cricket hitter than an MLB batter.
I've also said I would love for our sports to take an interest, like MLB has taken an interest in Japan.
I've tried to point out why I still think it's harder to bat in MLB.
Points have come up about silly cricket rules where you can do-over, and where you can crush another team but it's a draw because it took too long.
I understand it's probably hard to hit a ball off the bounce, and cricket you have a large flat bat and really don't need to swing, you can block, and the ball will fly off in fair ground. In MLB you always need to put the ball forward.
Why people think cricket batting is harder, I don't buy... and I've said why. It's my thoughts. I keep hearing back that times have changed and now cricket is harder to bat. I don't buy that.
Again, I wish it could be proven once again... and my money is on MLB being harder. I'm in no way treating it like a fact, but would love to see it proven.
So... all we can do is say what we think, and go from there. One thing I do know, and have known all along is that if I was in Old England and not New England I'd be on the side of cricket... but I wouldn't treat things as fact on that side either.
I feel the cricket people think batting is easy in MLB, and it is anything but. I've said given a choice, I'd have a better chance deflecting a ball in cricket over hitting a 90+ MLB pitch. It's my feeling on it, and I don't see how I can be wrong based on...
MLB must hit it forward
Bat smaller
Ball comes in at faster speeds.
No batter protection and an MLB pitcher will force you off the plate. There is a lot of fear involved in MLB batting... you don't want a batter to feel comfortable.
I can't prove any of this, but it seems logical. If someone were pitching MLB to me I'd rather be geared up like a Hockey goalie with a fat stick.
So, let the fight continue if we should... but keep in mind most of this is all speculation on our parts.
Here is another peace offering for my friends over the pond... I tried to emulate a cricket pitch today, and my arm near fell off with that big clock-spin straight arm. Cricket pitcher are sure to have a more flexible shoulder than an MLB pitcher. It IS a very strange motion, and I'm sure I didn't get it right once.
P-
Originally posted by dylWe played it casually at school and I enjoyed it, because I was the best player. All the good cricket players did pretty well at it.
Don't try to compromise. Baseball is a tacky sport with little depth (in comparison to cricket).
But I could never watch it - there is nothing like a test match, delicately poised in the last session on the fourth day after the opposing captain declared sportingly with only a lead of 350. The pitch is cracking up and the spinners are literally licking their lips at the prospect of bowling on it...
Originally posted by CrowleyOr what happened to England thisafternoon. One of the most satisfying wins of my life watching tests.
We played it casually at school and I enjoyed it, because I was the best player. All the good cricket players did pretty well at it.
But I could never watch it - there is nothing like a test match, delicately poised in the last session on the fourth day after the opposing captain declared sportingly with only a lead of 350. The pitch is cracking up and the spinners are literally licking their lips at the prospect of bowling on it...
Great day!