“Rocketman”

  

I've watched the first 3 episodes of this british series called Rocketman.  They are airing it on BBC America. 

It stars Robson Green as George Stevenson- a man who has a dream.  A dream of sending his wives ashes into space.  She died a year ago, and he's left to take care of his daughter (Angela) and son (Tom.)  He spends all of his time trying to build a rocket to send her ashes into space where they will remain- so they can look up at the night sky knowing that she's up there somewhere. 

The show is completely brilliant, and I'm lucky I saw a commercial for it during another series airing on BBC America.  The title alone is enough to pique ones interest, and I love Robson Green, so I had to set my DVR up to record the show.  It's funny, heartwarming, sometimes serious (not never TOO serious), and just plain fun. 

There are a few subplots involving George's son and finding a way to make sure he does better in school- which leads to a subplot with George himself and his son's teacher helping George learn some things himself…another subplot in Mary, a woman who is adept at the science behind rockets and might be a love interest for George.  Then we have the situation with Barney and his wife who are doing everything they can to have a baby…

All of these subplots are pieced together nicely into a very warm family-friendly series about dreams, family, good friends, and most of all about hope.  The production values are top notch from my pov, the acting is spot on, and the show itself, overall, is just a pure joy.   

Baseball Knowledge

I've no real sports knowledge overall.  I don't play sports (besides going to the batting cages and now bowling, which I will hopefully do regularly), and I hardly ever watch sports on TV.  I played baseball and football when I was a little one, but nothing in high school or even jr. high school. 

I don't usually read the sports news, keep up with the the sports figures, the teams, the books, etc. 

But, I do know much more about baseball, the rules, and how to play effectively thanks to MLB 06: The Show that I play constantly on my PSP.

For example- something I just learned of the game…bunting isn't just the useless idea I always thought it was.  This is what I assume from playing the game, and hearing the reaction from the announcers on the game…and seeing the results in my scoring. 

Bunting is most often used not to get the actual bunter on bag, but to advance a runner somewhere else on base.  If you have a runner on first base, the next batter runs the risk of a double play- the runner from first to second will cause a force out at second and there's always a force out at first on a hit. 

So, you can have a runner on first and bunt to move that runner over 90 feet…even tho the bunter himself is tagged out.  He sacrifices an out to get a man in scoring position (a runner on second or third is considered to be in "scoring position.")  So, tho it seems like a wasted at-bat, it's actually an effective and worthwhile move…especially if you've only 1 out. 

I learned the phrase "suicide squeeze" as well.  This is when you bunt to get a runner on third into score at home.  There are many factors involved with this, and it's not always easy to pull off for various reasons.  First- a squeeze attempt depends on how many outs you have and where the runners are.  If you have 1 out and a runner on first and a bunt- you can more easily throw to second then onto first for the double play.  Then again, when a man bunts, there's little chance you're going to get the double as it is- so the squeeze could work no matter. 

Also- you have to think of what the defense will do.  If you surprise them with a late squeeze attempt (you throw the bat out to bunt at the last second), you increase your chances of getting the man home…because the pitcher or catcher, depending on how far the bunt goes and to which side of the field it flies to, has to get to it and decide whether to throw to get the force out at first or throw home and hope the man covering the plate will tag the runner out. 

It usually helps to have the runner in motion…this way, the runner has a running start to make it past the man covering home plate. 

You have to decide, depending on how many outs you have, what the defense will do.  Also, the score of the game comes into play.  If the defensive team is winning and it's early in the game, they might sacrifice one run scored in on a squeeze just to get the force out at first base.  If there are no outs, they might be more likely to go for the force out and let the run score just to get out of the inning and back on offense quicker. 

On the other hand- if the defensive team is down, their goal is to keep more runs from scoring.  That means, whoever gets to the bunt is more likely to throw home to tag out the runner.  They run the risk of not getting home in time and losing both the possible out at the plate AND the force out at first base. 

I should also note- when choosing where to throw after picking up a bunted ball- you want to make sure that the runners aren't on 3rd or second.  So, if you get the ball quickly on a bunt, throw to 3rd base and make sure the only runner on the bags is on first- meaning you've made sure no man is in scoring position.  This all depends on how fast the baserunners are, how much of a lead off they had, if they were in motion from the start, etc.  Point is tho- make sure you don't have men in scoring position, because a man on 3rd means a simple single hit will easily bring him home most of the time. 

Overall, I've learned that the bunt IS effective and with little information, the act itself might seem pointless- I mean, the guy hardly ever bunts and gets on base, so he's sacrificing an out…but in baseball, the goal isn't always to get on base yourself.  Sometimes, the goal is to move other baserunners forward…runs are what count, and the further a man is around the bases, the better position your team is in period.  It always seemed to be an overall ineffective move to bunt, but it turns out- when done right, the bunt is, indeed, a very effective at-bat. 

Oh, and one final tip on the squeeze attempt- if you have 2 runners on and you try this, and the pitcher or catcher actually catch the ball- you're totally screwed…think about it.  If you're going to attempt the suicide squeeze, you're going to have the baserunners in motion, and if that's the case, they're probably not going to expect the bunt to be caught (it usually isn't.)…so, when it IS caught, they'll have blown so far past the previous bag, they'll have barely any chance to make it back in time to avoid the very rare, but very devastating triple play. 

Batting Cages Part II

We went to the batting cages again tonight. 

But I came prepared, my people.  (Yes, I have people.  Somewhere out there.) 

I bought some batting gloves at Wal Mart  (purchase price $16). 

  

Got there around 9 PM and no one was in the cages- which meant the real bat was available.  They have many small bats and one high school/college regulation size bat (I think it's a 30 oz. bat.)  So, this time I started at 45 mph- the gloves and the real bat helped big time.  I was smacking everyone of them.  I did 3 sets of 16 and did really well.  Worked on my stance and making sure the power of the swing was in my hips and upper body and not my arms- a lesson that I was trying to teach the person with me…golly I'm nice.) 

So, I was smacking everyone of them.  I decided to try the 80 mph balls- didn't seem all that fast.  I guess if you were in a game and the pitcher is purposefully trying to throw the ball as close to your face as possible, it might seem faster…but the machine throws them all pretty well in the zone.  A couple DID come way inside and almost hit me.  Oddly enough, I wasn't really fazed. 

Weird thing tho- I had the batting gloves, but I still got a blood blister (fairly large in fact) on my left hand near the bottom of the palm opposite the thumb.  Not sure what I was doing wrong.  No problems with slamming my wrist bone with my thumb tho, which is good, and the blister doesn't hurt so…

I'm actually learning a lot about baseball from MLB 06: The Show on my PSP (I will list the minor league rankings later- I am the king in batting on the game.)  One thing I learned is the infield fly rule, but I looked up more information on this just to see precisely what the rules are. 

I also didn't realize this- when you swing at a ball, if the pitcher misses and it goes back behind him, you can run.  He can throw you out at first, but you can run without hitting the ball…I'm not sure if this only on a certain ball count or what, but this is how it works on the game and I assume it does in the real game too. 

I need to try to search google in a bit to see what the rules are on this particular move. 

I'm also learning things I probably usually wouldn't think of.  For example- you'd think it's all fine and great to have a man on first and second- but I would assume this is the worst position to be in.  Why?  Well, you have a force out at first, second, AND third- a screw up could cause a triple play.  Unlikely, but it's the only position you're going to be in (as far as I know) that you can be in danger of the triple play.  The best place to have runners is probably on second and third- that way you have no force outs, so a flyball means the runners don't have to move anywhere and make any risks if they don't want to.  Finally, if you have a baserunner on first and nowhere else- the best bet is to lead off and to read the pitch and the batter- if you think there will be a hit, a 'hit and run' is totally effective here, in that it limits the chances of the fielders throwing to second and beating you, which screws them on the double play. 

See- video games are good for something besides mindless entertainment. 

I will update later for with stats from the game…

UPDATE:  I found information on the Third Strike Rule.  You can only run if the catcher misses the ball on the third strike (I thought it was only on the third but wasn't sure)…and only if 1st base is unoccupied or there are 2 outs.  So, I assume it means if there are 2 outs and first IS occupied, The runner can advance the 90 feet to second and the batter can run to first…tho, from the official MLB rules, it still counts as a strikeout for the pitcher. 

Here is the info from MLB.com:

6.09
The batter becomes a runner when_ (a) He hits a fair ball; (b) The third strike called by the umpire is not caught, providing (1) first base is unoccupied, or (2) first base is occupied with two out; When a batter becomes a base runner on a third strike not caught by the catcher and starts for the dugout, or his position, and then realizes his situation and attempts then to reach first base, he is not out unless he or first base is tagged before he reaches first base. If, however, he actually reaches the dugout or dugout steps, he may not then attempt to go to first base and shall be out.

6.09 goes on to cover more on batting, but that's the part regarding this particular rule.

UPDATE 2:  One more thing.  More info here on baserunning.  I remember, as a kid, being taught in baseball that you had to turn right after overrunning first base or else you could be tagged out.  There is actually no rule stating that you have to turn right or left.  You're allowed to overrun first base and not get tagged out as long as you go directly to first base and make no attempt at running to second.   

UPDATE 3:

My MLB 06: The Show stats:

Name: Josh Bozeman
Number: 1
6′3″, 240 lbs.
DH/(1st base after contract renewal)

League stats:
Batting Avg: .591 (#1 in league)
At bats: 225 (most in league)
Runs: 58 (#2 in league behind teammate Jason Botts with 60)
Hits: 133 (#1 in league)
Doubles: 26 (#1 in league)
Triples: 6 (#1 in league)
R.B.I.'s: 73 (# 1 in league)
0 strikeouts (only player in league with this stat)
Slugging percentage: .827 (#1 in league)
On bse percentage: .585 (#1 in league)
Total bases: 186 (#1 in league)
Plate appearances: 229 (most in league)

Batting Cages

I haven’t held a baseball bat in years. I have’t swung a bat in probably 15 years…tonight I went to the batting cages. They have a small arcade next to one of the movie theatres, and they have batting cages and indoor basketball goals (the ones where you can adjust the height to dunk on them.)

So, we went to the batting cages. We had just eaten dinner and I had the idea that batting might be fun. Maybe it’s because the only game I’ve been playing lately on my PSP is MLB 06: The Show (a baseball game, of course.)

They had 16 balls for a dollar. At first I didn’t even see that and only saw the half hour price which was $12.50 and 15 mins for 6 bucks. I picked a bat (they all seemed way too short, but maybe my memory of bat sizes isn’t all too great!) Got one of the small helmets that make you look completely stupid (them’s the rules), and I got up to bat. They had 2 softball cages- one slow pitch and one fast pitch…they had baseball at the following speeds: 35 mph, 45 mph, 5 mph, and 80 mph.) I decided I’d go for 35, since it’s been so long, and I don’t like the idea of round heavy objects flying at my face at fast speeds.

I came up to the box, and I was scared…35 mph can’t be that fast, I was thinking, but still- I have no real idea how fast it truly is…again- heavy objects, fast speeds, my face right there in the way. So, I realized 35 mph is completely slow…so I get closer to the plate. I’ve got both hands together, gripping the bat, not choking up on the thing at all- this is going to be a breeze. Just a matter of how hard I’ll hit them.

Yeah right. Who knew when you swung your arm around, your entire body would want to move forward toward the pitching machine, one leg would go forward, and the worst part- I had no idea the top knuckle bone on my thumb would drive into my right wrist (I bat right handed) everytime I swung the bat. That stuff hurt like a mother and I couldn’t take it…I couldn’t hit a thing either. It’s a slow pitch at 35 mph, but it’s still not easy to just go up there after 15 years and spot the ball well enough to hit it. Swing and a miss…swing and a miss. Luckily, I’ve got 16 balls coming instead of 3 strikes.

I couldn’t for the life of me tell what I was doing wrong- was I thinking it was coming a bit faster and swinging too early over the top or was I too late and behind the ball a bit maybe swinging below it. I have a feeling the pitching machine isn’t throwing perfect or even near perfect strikes as it is. Not that I probably would have hit any better with a perfect strike zone pitch every time. I had to move my hands apart, as the whole bone into bone thing with the thumb and wrist wasn’t all that much fun. So, I have my hands spread apart, and now the pain is in my left hand in the fingers- everytime I swing, the grip makes my fingers tingle. And I’m not even hitting the ball! Just the stress of swinging your wrist around as fast as you can while trying to keep a steady grip on the bat is enough to cause some major pain to the ol’ fingers.

In the end, I did hit a number of them…I did 3 sets of 16 balls. I didn’t hit a single one in the last set, as sad as that sounds. I had a light bat and a heavy bat- the light bat was easier to work with for sure, but I think the light weight made the fingers tingle- I think that’s when I had that problem…not sure why the weight would make all that much difference in your fingers.

It was fun, but it was painful (my wrist still hurts if I push on it.) I think I’ll stick to baseball on the PSP. It seems like such a cinch on the game, and you just automatically think it will be a simple issue of swinging the bat and hitting. Of course, that’s not the case at all, and it’s just not the walk in the park you thought it would be. Funny thing- a major league fastball is up in the 90 mph range, sometimes hitting 100 or more. That’s nearly 3 times as fast as what I was hitting. Some girl at the other end was smacking every single 80 mph ball coming at her, and the girl next to me had a half hour (I think) on the fast pitch softball cage and she was hitting most of them. I couldn’t even bunt the ball at 35 mph (trust me, I tried several times…you think bunting would at least be a breeze!)

Like I said- I think I’ll stick mainly to the PSP baseball. If I can only figure out what I was doing wrong to make my thumb hit my wrist like it did…

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