Australia vs Canada baseball

[troypiggo]

I've never been to a baseball game before. Gimme a break, I'm only 37! :)
Held in Brisbane last night. Must say it was quite enjoyable. Not a huge crowd, but was a good atmosphere. Think I counted 3 SLR photogs there. Me with my 30D, a Nikon D200, and a Pentax. That was it I think :)

Dumb question about baseball - how come most of the players batted left-handed, but throw/catch the ball as right-handed? My fiance, who plays womens' softball, said they were taught to do that because it gets you moving in the running direction and can put the pitcher off. Didn't understand that one, because if everyone's doing it how can it put the pitcher off? It shouldn't be a surprise.

Althought I've watched heaps of sport I've never photographed it much, let alone night sport, before either and these were all taken with my 70-200 f/2.8L IS since it's the longest I have.

#1
http://piggo.com/~troy/photos/2008_02_29-Aus_vs_Canada_baseball/500/img_6174.jpg (http://piggo.com/~troy/photos/2008_02_29-Aus_vs_Canada_baseball/1280/img_6174.jpg)

#2
http://piggo.com/~troy/photos/2008_02_29-Aus_vs_Canada_baseball/500/img_6184.jpg (http://piggo.com/~troy/photos/2008_02_29-Aus_vs_Canada_baseball/1280/img_6184.jpg)

#3
http://piggo.com/~troy/photos/2008_02_29-Aus_vs_Canada_baseball/500/img_6200.jpg (http://piggo.com/~troy/photos/2008_02_29-Aus_vs_Canada_baseball/1280/img_6200.jpg)

[cstewart]

As to the right hand - left hand question. To play defense in baseball, you primarily want to have right handed throwers, especially in the infield positions except first base. It simply has to do with the primary direction you are throwing the ball on most plays. It is very hard for a lefty to play 3rd base or shortstop, even second. As such, most players throw right handed (or more precisely, very few left handed throwers play infield).

At bat however, there is an advantage to being able to "switch hit" ie bat either right handed or left handed. Generally, there is an advantage to the batter if he bats the opposite hand of what the pitcher is throwing...you can see the ball better and the angle at which the ball approaches the plate is different. If a right handed batter hits against a RH pitcher, that pitcher's curve ball for example will start as if it is coming right at the batters head (very unnerving) and then break down over the plate. If the batter is a lefty, that same pitch starts outside the strike zone and breaks in to the batter...which in theory makes it much easier to see and hit. SO, if a team is starting a right handed pitcher, you can expect to see more left handed batters in the line up. and vice versa. Often a team will change a pitcher from RH to LH and you will then see the batting team make a batting change to the opposite side hitter...all about strategy and averages!

[shack]

What your girlfriend said about softball is partially true. In women's softball the short game of bunting and slapping (slapping is just that - making a slapping motion to slam the ball into the ground to cause a very high bounce or just over a fielder's head) is much more prevalent and the distance to the base is shorter. Batting from the left side gives the batter/runner that fraction of a second and extra step needed to beat out a fielders throw to first on a bunt or slap.

In baseball it is more about the matchup between pitcher and batter. Most pitchrers throw right handed and one of the most difficult pitches to hit is a ball on the outside corner away from the batter, be it a curve, slider or fast ball. That pitch is much easier for a right handed pitcher to make against a right handed batter because that is the natural motion of his arm and body. That same pitch comes toward a left handed batter and gives him an advantage. You will often see the offensive team trying to get opposite matchup (lefty vs righty) and the defensive team tries to get the same matchup (righty vs righty or lefty vs lefty). Substitutions in the late innings of games often become a chess match of sorts by both sides trying get the "preferred" matchup. The rules of substitutions often make this interesting.

[cstewart]

By the way who won the game...Winners of this series qualify for the Olympics and of course I am cheering for Canada. One of their players (Mike Saunders) is from my city here in BC.

[troypiggo]

I see now. Thanks for the detailed explanations about LH/RH etc. All makes sense.

Canada killed us. Don't know the final score, had to leave at the end of the 8th innings but it was 11-1 at that stage. They were only going to play 9 innings for some reason. Thought there were usually 10? There are 2 more games to go, today and tomorrow.

[texasreddirt]

Coming from somebody who played baseball his whole life.....Those reasons stated above could be true. But thats not "why". The reason a right handed person hits from the left side is because that is the natural direction to swing a bat for a right handed person. Just like a left handed person hits from the right side. And it is not always better to be right handed. You have an advantage being a left handed pitcher for things like....its easier to throw out a runner on first base who has taken a big lead. Also hitters are not as used to hitting a left handed pitcher.

[shack]

They were only going to play 9 innings for some reason. Thought there were usually 10? There are 2 more games to go, today and tomorrow.

Baseball is a 9 inning game...unless the score is tied at the end of 9 and then they will continue to play full extra innings until there is a winner.

As far as someone being a natural yes...maybe...but we had several guys who were natural right handers throwing but hit better from the left side. Then there were a few natural switch hitters who could go either way equally well and would bat based on the pitcher.

[troypiggo]

Thanks for the lesson guys :)

Want to know about cricket, AFL, Rugby League, Rugby Union, tennis, golf, netball? I'm you man there :)

[TheSportsGuy]

I've never been to a baseball game before. Gimme a break, I'm only 37! :)
Held in Brisbane last night. Must say it was quite enjoyable. Not a huge crowd, but was a good atmosphere. Think I counted 3 SLR photogs there. Me with my 30D, a Nikon D200, and a Pentax. That was it I think :)

Dumb question about baseball - how come most of the players batted left-handed, but throw/catch the ball as right-handed? My fiance, who plays womens' softball, said they were taught to do that because it gets you moving in the running direction and can put the pitcher off. Didn't understand that one, because if everyone's doing it how can it put the pitcher off? It shouldn't be a surprise.

Althought I've watched heaps of sport I've never photographed it much, let alone night sport, before either and these were all taken with my 70-200 f/2.8L IS since it's the longest I have.

#1
http://piggo.com/~troy/photos/2008_02_29-Aus_vs_Canada_baseball/500/img_6174.jpg (http://piggo.com/~troy/photos/2008_02_29-Aus_vs_Canada_baseball/1280/img_6174.jpg)

#2
http://piggo.com/~troy/photos/2008_02_29-Aus_vs_Canada_baseball/500/img_6184.jpg (http://piggo.com/~troy/photos/2008_02_29-Aus_vs_Canada_baseball/1280/img_6184.jpg)

#3
http://piggo.com/~troy/photos/2008_02_29-Aus_vs_Canada_baseball/500/img_6200.jpg (http://piggo.com/~troy/photos/2008_02_29-Aus_vs_Canada_baseball/1280/img_6200.jpg)

Oh man................ Baseball is the greatest sport ever!!!

How have you gone so long with out the greatest game in the world? ;)

[troypiggo]

Well it's not as big here in Aus as in North America I guess. Of course I've watched it, but never live. I've never seen so many men patting each other on the ass and spitting in my life. Even the spectators were spitting. What's with that? :)

I'm always up for watching sport live. Particularly ones I've never seen before. But let's not get into a debate about the greatest sport ever, we could be here for weeks :)

[TheSportsGuy]

^ AHaha...

Yea, spitting, butt pats, and players grabbing themselves is just a part of baseball...

eheh

[Carjo]

Canada killed us. Don't know the final score, had to leave at the end of the 8th innings but it was 11-1 at that stage. They were only going to play 9 innings for some reason. Thought there were usually 10? There are 2 more games to go, today and tomorrow.

Australia were the world champions at one stage a few years back, IIRC. That was before the baseball scene here died. :evil:

There are some nice shots here, Troy. If I could have gone either today or tomorrow, I'd have tried to get a wider range of shots. Maybe some base-running action, for example. Like I said, it's nice work nonetheless. :)

[Carjo]

By the way who won the game...Winners of this series qualify for the Olympics and of course I am cheering for Canada. One of their players (Mike Saunders) is from my city here in BC.

I thought Baseball was no longer an Olympic sport, and was replaced by skateboarding or something? Or will that be effective after Beijing? ???

[troypiggo]

Thanks Rob. I did get some other shots, but decided not to post them. Got some bum-patting shots coz I thought it was funny :)

[rcavanaughjr]

Coming from somebody who played baseball his whole life.....Those reasons stated above could be true. But thats not "why". The reason a right handed person hits from the left side is because that is the natural direction to swing a bat for a right handed person. Just like a left handed person hits from the right side. And it is not always better to be right handed. You have an advantage being a left handed pitcher for things like....its easier to throw out a runner on first base who has taken a big lead. Also hitters are not as used to hitting a left handed pitcher.

Coming from somebody that played baseball all his life....your explanation makes no sense.

[pspwa]

Here are a few of my shots when Team Canada played the Perth HEAT at Baseball Park in Thornlie, Perth, Western Australia in November 2007.

Canada took the series 2 - 1

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t99/pspwa/HvC04.jpg

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t99/pspwa/HvC03.jpg

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t99/pspwa/HvC02.jpg

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t99/pspwa/HvC01.jpg


Cheers Matthew

[cstewart]

Coming from somebody that played baseball all his life....your explanation makes no sense.

LOL! Thanks rcavanaugh! I was trying to be nice and not pointing that out too! GO CANADA! We just won some additional games and qualified for the Olympics! One of their players (Mike Saunders) is from our city and went to the high school I pretty much live right next to!