http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0871135035/marchstreetpress
George Plimpton book containing the original article on sid finch on amazon
Whoosh on all of you. “Must be metric…” was simply a joke. I’m familiar with the Sid Finch hoax.
Those of you who (like me) sit on the couch with a brewski watching baseball should try what I tried this weekend. i went to a batting cage with an Irish friend who wanted to see what it was like to hit a baseball.
We cranked up the machine to 75 MPH. I was 0 for 12 on the first try and hit about 2 out of 50 overall. On the 40 MPH fastball I batted about 300 (where a hit was considered over the cage).
Its amazing to see a ball come that fast. I find it hard to beleive a human can throw a ball at 90 or 100 MPH. You guys should really give it a try.
ps I am a little sore today.
I’ve made it known several times how frustrated I am with my beloved Phillies’ bullpen. Knowing the dearth of quality lefties in the league, especially in the relief corps, I figured that I couldn’t do it any worse than them, being a lefty.
So, when I was at King’s Dominion in Virginia this summer, I stumbled upon a “guess your pitching speed” game on the midway. I had no interest in winning a gigantic Tweety Bird doll, but, damnit, I had no idea how fast I could throw a baseball.
I paid my three dollars. I was handed three balls, and told that after the second one, if I accurately guessed the speed of the third one, I’d win the doll. Screw that, I said. I want to know if I could wear a Phillies hat and get paid for it. I threw the first ball. I barely hit the tarp with the rectangle on it denoting the strike zone. The pitch was 45mph.
The second one was a bit more accurate and faster. 50mph and could be liberally interpreted as an inside strike.
Then, playing averages, I guessed 48mph for my final pitch. I wound up and let loose. I didn’t get a chance to look at the speed reading because I was too busy admiring the perfect strike I’d thrown. “Sorry,” said the guy running the booth.
I looked up and saw my speed. 68mph. Wow. Ed Wade, if you’re lurking, I’m available at michael@chanceofrain.com.
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Montfort *
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Vicente Padilla might be really good some day. As a sidearmer, he’ll need to come up with a change up or another pitch to neutralize lefthanded hitters.
Re the Philly hitters: aside from Rolen, Abreu, Burrell and Lieberthal, I’m not all that impressed. (Travis Lee needs to take a big step up.) As a hitter, Doug Glanville is fast and plays good defense.
Phillies could use a middle infielder who can hit. Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley are two that could pan out.
Re the OP: I once tried to trick a friend into drafting Sidd Finch in my fantasy baseball league. Didn’t work.