For anyone interested in MLB pitching and how the pitches 'move' or what they do should go to www.wikipedia.com
search each of these:
knuckleball
curveball
slider
changeup
sinker
fastball
slurve
gyroball
Eephus pitch
They are all great to read about, especially the last few.
One of my favorites to watch is Tim Wakefield with his knuckleball. It never fails that when I'm watching a game I can ask someone in the room, "Do you know who Tim Wakefield is?"
If they say "No" I say,
"Watch this"
When they see his pitch they always ask, "Is this a joke?" or "What the heck?" It looks like he's playing catch with his kid or something. The ball starts head or chest high, and if he's having a great day the ball will start to wobble in the air... and often drops straight down just before it reaches the batter.
Sometimes they shell him, and they take Tim out... but when he's on, it's great.
Now, as for Cricket... I wonder if it gets some of the movement based on where the seam hits the ground and how? I'm sure that's got to have a lot to do with any movement on this ball. I also think it probably would get a lot more movement than a baseball if it were thrown the same as a baseball pitch... isn't the seam rather large?
Originally posted by Phlabibit Now, as for Cricket... I wonder if it gets some of the movement based on where the seam hits the ground and how? I'm sure that's got to have a lot to do with any movement on this ball. I also think it probably would get a lot more movement than a baseball if it were thrown the same as a baseball pitch... isn't the seam rather large?
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Exactly, this is why the batsmen needs the protective gear.
Fast bowlers try to get swing through the air and movement off the pitch. They attempt to get the batsman to commit to a shot and then deviate the ball off the pitch in order to hit the wickets or induce a false stroke that might be caught by a fielder.
An example of fast, seam bowling:
YouTube
Spin bowlers use the seam to get the ball to spin off the pitch in a more pronounced manner than the faster guys.
This fat bastard can sure bowl:
YouTube
The cricket ball seam is not very large, but the stitching protrudes further than a baseball and it's also 'harder'.
Originally posted by Crowley Exactly, this is why the batsmen needs the protective gear.
Fast bowlers try to get swing through the air and movement off the pitch. They attempt to get the batsman to commit to a shot and then deviate the ball off the pitch in order to hit the wickets or induce a false stroke that might be caught by a fielder.
An example of fast, seam bowling:
http:/ ...[text shortened]... s not very large, but the stitching protrudes further than a baseball and it's also 'harder'.
It's also worth mentioning that the distance between bowler and batsman is shorter than that between pitcher and batter. This means that the time the batsman has to see and play a ball is shorter. Also the movement off the pitch can be a lot more deviated than the curve of a ball through the air in baseball.
Originally posted by Starrman It's also worth mentioning that the distance between bowler and batsman is shorter than that between pitcher and batter. This means that the time the batsman has to see and play a ball is shorter. Also the movement off the pitch can be a lot more deviated than the curve of a ball through the air in baseball.
Yes, but in baseball you have a thin bat... and actually try to hit for distance.
Cricket, they seem to be protecting rather than trying to 'slug' the ball. It's really silly.
Originally posted by Phlabibit It doesn't take skill to swing as hard as you can with a thin bat at a ball moving 100 mph?
Actually, you're right about ALL AMERICANS.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M989KVW-NNU
Baseball is the best.
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WTF is 4 all about?!
If you watch a game of cricket you'll see that top order batsmen don't swing the bat as hard as they can - if they did they'd have no control. To me it seems Baseball is all about swinging the bat as had as you can, cricket is more about the skill of the shot, guiding the ball into areas of the field over all 360 degrees where the fielders aren't placed. In fact swinging the bat as hard as you can in cricket is looked at as poor technique.
Originally posted by ElleEffSeee To me it seems Baseball is all about swinging the bat as had as you can, cricket is more about the skill of the shot, guiding the ball into areas of the field over all 360 degrees where the fielders aren't placed.
Don't listen to Phlab, he's just goading you. Indeed, there is a lot of subtleties when swinging a bat. To say it's merely about power is ridiculous and you all fall into Phlabby's little trap.
That being said, power hitting is important in baseball because, as opposed to cricket, runs come from "cashing in" runners on base but it is no more important than being able to place the ball, like you say, where there are no fielders to get those runners on base in the first place. There are all kinds of hitters in baseball - power hitting is only one chapter in the large book, my friend.
Originally posted by darvlay Don't listen to Phlab, he's just goading you. Indeed, there is a lot of subtleties when swinging a bat. To say it's merely about power is ridiculous and you all fall into Phlabby's little trap.
That being said, power hitting is important in baseball because, as opposed to crickets, runs come from "cashing in" runners on base but it is no more inmporta ...[text shortened]... s of hitters in baseball - power hitting is only one chapter in the large book, my friend.