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)