Monthly Archives: February 2009

WHGB: Once more unto the breach

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There’s nothing quite like the first week of Spring Training games.  From the players to the fans, everyone has a smile on their face as the sport comes out of hibernation once again. 

As the players are busy running through training drills to prepare for the season ahead, this also seems like a good time to start preparing for our season here at BaseballGB (not that we really have an off-season).  So treat this as a Spring Training edition of my feature column: ‘Weekly Hit Ground Ball’.  Continue reading →

BaseballGB Fantasy League closing soon!

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Hello all,

The Baseball GB Fantasy League currently has 12 teams taking part – many thanks to all those who have shown interest in the league and joined.

In order to get things organised ahead of draft day, we will be closing the league to new entries in the next few days.

If you want to get involved, don’t delay, email baseballfeedback@yahoo.co.uk today!

Further details about the league can be found in earlier posts on this website.

Bonds vs A-Rod

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I always find it hard to work out how to introduce myself to a new set of readers. You can often sound like you are part of an AA meeting “My name is Russell Dyas and I am a writer”. Even worse I could sound like a marketing person “Hi I’m Russell Dyas, you may know me from…” but no matter, here is my attempt. 

I have been a fan of baseball for a long while and to me this is what makes a good baseball writer as if you are not a fan then your writing can become very dry.  I am a writer, IT Professional and Educational Technologist but the importance of this article is to focus on me being a writer.  I have written about various subjects, from technology to sports such as F1 and baseball. I hope that I have not sounded like either of the examples above and we can now move onto the important stuff… baseball.  Continue reading →

You Are the Scorer: Number 17

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YouAreScorer

Scenario: The first two batters of an inning strike out. The third hits a soft grounder that hops up into the pitcher’s glove. The pitcher has plenty of time to make the out but throws the ball wide of the fielder, allowing the batter-runner to reach first safely. The fourth batter punishes the pitcher for this error with a home run. The fifth hits a grounder straight to the second baseman, who, just like the pitcher, has plenty of time to make the out but directs the ball wide of the fielder, allowing the batter-runner to reach first safely. The sixth batter capitalizes on the second baseman’s error by hitting the team’s second home run of the inning. The seventh batter lines out to the third baseman.

As the official scorer, how many of the 4 runs do you charge as earned runs against the pitcher?

A – 0.
B – 1.
C – 2.
D – 3.

Highlight the text below to reveal the answer:

Answer: A – 0.

Rule 10.16 states:
… In determining earned runs, the official scorer shall reconstruct the inning without the errors …

Rule 10.16(e) states:
An error by a pitcher is treated exactly the same as an error by any other fielder in computing earned runs.

Treating the pitcher’s error like any other error, the inning should have finished when the third batter grounded to the pitcher, at which point 0 runs had scored.

Spring Training games begin today

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Give it a week or so and Spring Training games will seem to be irrelevant, save for news of any injuries that occur.  However, right now the thought of listening to or watching some live baseball can’t help but make any baseball fan excited.  The games begin today and Gameday Audio/MLB.tv subscribers in Britain will be eagerly logging on for the first time in 2009 this evening.  Continue reading →

For some of us, paper and a pencil is the best baseball equipment

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Being a scorer for the Croydon Pirates - a team that sometimes struggles to get nine players to the ground in time for first pitch after a heavy session the night before - I have developed the specialist, and possibly unique, role of “pinch-filler”. In this role my job is to keep a spot in the line-up open for the ninth Pirate to show up. Since I typically end up in right field and bat ninth, it’s fitting that my roster number is 99. Continue reading →

Baseball GB fantasy league update

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So far we have 10 teams taking part in the first ever Baseball GB fantasy league.

The league has got off to a quick start, and all of us at Baseball GB are pleased we have had such a good level of interest so quickly.

If you are thinking of getting involved, there are still places up for grabs.

You can find further details on the league in previous posts on this website.

If you would like to take part, please email baseballfeedback@yahoo.co.uk

Launching the IBAF scoring modules

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The scoring system recommended to official scorers in Great Britain is the one promoted by the International Baseball Federation. It is perhaps not the most visually elegant of systems, but its thoroughness and flexibility more than make up for that.

A large manual is available to cover every detail of this system, and this is fine for scorers wishing to learn about the system who already have some experience of keeping score. However, the level of detail in the manual may be quite daunting for total beginners, so to complement the manual I am launching a series of modules to assist scorers looking to get up to speed. These modules can be found here on the GBBSA website. Modules one and two have just been published.

Free-to-download scoresheets for the system can also be found on the GBBSA website (an A3 9-inning scoresheet and an A4 7-inning scoresheet are both available).

If you are interested in these modules, then there are two things you could do to help make them as useful as possible. The first is to let me know of any technical difficulties. The second is to suggest ideas for modules. Please leave comments below.

Baseball in the north: a new structure for 2009?

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With only two teams completing the National Baseball League North season last year (stripping any excitement from the competition for the two berths in the Final Fours), a big question for this off-season was how the teams in the north would be structured in 2009.

According to Matthew Norburn, the Northern Senior League Commissioner, writing on his recently established blog, we could see a total overhaul of the existing multi-division set-up, with the introduction of a single-division “super league”. Norburn’s plan is to have around 22 games per team, played as double-headers.

One point not covered by Norburn, though, is how many teams from the “super league” would qualify for the finals. Another question that remains is whether the National Baseball League South will drop the last word from its name.

Norburn wrote his post nearly 4 weeks ago, so there should have been developments since then. It will be fascinating to see the full details once they are worked out.

Thanks to Mark Tobin of www.britishbaseballdata.co.uk for drawing my attention to the story.

Q&A with Alan Smith

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GbAlan Smith has been General Manager of the Great Britain Seniors since 2004. As a player, he enjoyed success for a number of top-tier teams in the London area, particularly on the mound, over a span of more than two decades.

Thank you to Matt for helping with the questions and to Alan for kindly taking time out of his busy GB schedule to talk to BaseballGB.
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