A 'lil HooHaa

Messing with the blogging world since 2005

can of corn blogging challenge

Can of Corn 8: 4-6-3

As this shortened baseball season winds down, it’s easy to reflect on how crazy it’s been. 

Just like it started, it will end. Sixty games played, some COVID-19 shutdowns, and still disappointment. 

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It’s like having a big inning cut short by a 4-6-3 double play. 

For those who aren’t baseball aficionados, you may wonder “what in the hell is a 4-6-3 double play?” 

It’s simple, really. 

It’s a double play where a ball is hit to the second baseman, who flips to the shortstop for the first out, and then a throw to first for the second out. 

It’s usually a good rally killer. Two for the price of one, you may say. This is where one of the interesting nuances of baseball comes into play. 

Casual fans understand positions: first, second and third basemen, a pitcher and catcher, shortstop, and three outfielders – left, center and right. There’s often also a designated hitter. 

The fielders, though, also have a number associated with them. While some other sports might sometimes have a number associated with their position (for example, a 2-guard in basketball), the numbers aren’t as known or noted as much as in baseball. 

See below for a chart with the numbers and positions. 

Traditionally, the numbers are used for scorekeeping. It makes it easier to keep score by using numbers, rather than positions. The positions also have shortened abbreviations, as noted in the above chart. 

This is just another nuance of the game. 

Scorekeeping, as I’ve written about before, is quite the personal thing. People can change the way they do it or how they keep track of things, but the numbers for positions is something quite consistent for people keeping score. 

Hence, the 4-6-3 double play. Numbers are scored. It still doesn’t take away that it’s a full rally killer!

Can of Corn Challenge 8: 4-6-3

The Can of Corn Challenge is a monthly blogging challenge that runs from February-October. You can see all information, as well as themes for 2020 by visiting this blog post. Feel free to join us for any and all themes! The linkup will remain live each month for about seven days.

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please “Like” A ‘lil HooHaa on Facebook! You can also follow me on Twitter @softball29!

Can of Corn 7: Popped up

It seems this challenge will have run its course by the end of this year’s version. It’s been so quiet that I even missed the posting date. 

Though nobody has really been participating, so the deadlines aren’t as big. 

Alas, I will finish out this year. I do think the lack of true baseball has led to forgetfulness, but at the same time I’ve tried this several times in the past and not many people have taken part. People just don’t really blog baseball. 

So this year is likely the last year of this challenge. 

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It’s kind of like a great pitch. One of those ones where it catches you right on the hand with a soft swing, or you have committed to a swing on a low, outside pitch and you are basically fishing for the ball. 

What happens?

You get popped up. 

A quick and easy out for the opposing team. 

Pop ups always bothered me. And I had my fair share of them in baseball and softball. It always felt like a wasted at bat. If you got out in other ways, things could fit the narrative a little. 

But a pop up? 

Ugh! 

That being said. Take a look at pop ups. We always get pissy over the batter, but what about the pitcher? You know the one who throws an off-speed pitch and you end up swinging way ahead and popping up because you were way out in front guessing fastball. You have to give the pitcher credit in the situation, too. It’s not always just the batter not coming through.  

That’s baseball – and life – in a nutshell, isn’t it?

Life throws you off-speed pitches and curves and everything else. Sometimes you crush it, other times a weak pop up. 

It happens. 

Then you just have to readjust, and look forward to the next opportunity. It’s the only thing you can do. 

I don’t play ball anymore, so when I’m popped up it’s more metaphorical than anything now. But the idea is always the same. 

Moral of the story? Try and sit on the off-speed stuff so you can get a solid swing. Again, it’s as true in baseball as it is in life.

Can of Corn Challenge 7: Popped up

The Can of Corn Challenge is a monthly blogging challenge that runs from February-October. You can see all information, as well as themes for 2020 by visiting this blog post. Feel free to join us for any and all themes! The linkup will remain live each month for about seven days.

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please “Like” A ‘lil HooHaa on Facebook! You can also follow me on Twitter @softball29!

Can of Corn 6: Hey, nerd!

Baseball is a game of numbers. 

It’s also a game of nerds. 

Though baseball is not an easy game – think of somebody attempting to throw a small sphere at you so you can swing and attempt to hit said sphere with a piece of wood. Once contact is made, other players must attempt to field this sphere and then throw it to another player, who will attempt to catch it to record an out. 

Follow?

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That’s definitely a different way to look at baseball, but it’s the beauty of the game. 

To quote the manager in Bull Durham – 

“This is a simple game: You throw the ball, you hit the ball, you catch the ball. You got it?”

But baseball goes well past simple when it comes to the nerd side of things. I would argue that baseball, more than any other sport, is statistically driven. While all sports have statistics, the analytics and scrutiny in baseball is unlike any other. 

Most casual fans of the sport will understand things like Avg., HRs, RBIs, ERA etc. 

But then it can get crazy. 

Do you know a pitcher’s WHIP? Or how many quality starts they had? And dammit, was that an earned or unearned run? Especially after this batter reached on an error, but it was fewer than two ours, and the next two guys singled, and the third guy scored, but would that be earned?

And those batters. 

That third hitter’s GIDP rate is way too high. Especially because the guy before him has a high OBP, and the guy after him has an incredible OPS. They are just giving runs away!

See where I’m going here?

There are statistics for every little nuance of baseball. But that’s part of what makes it a great game. Keeping those stats is something many baseball nerds do. When I am at a game (and that doesn’t look like it will happen this year), I like to keep a scorebook. Baseball scorekeeping is very, very personal. There are certain things most keep, but it’s also something that allows you to put your own spin on it. You can have your own flare or style. Your own marks. Those most baseball fans can look at a scoresheet and figure out what is going on, there are some that make it very hard for you to figure out their way of doing things. 

Baseball is definitely a game for nerds. I’m not saying you can’t just be casual – you for sure can. That’s the beauty of the game – it does not discriminate. When I’ve been to games, I’ve seen so many people of different lifestyles and it’s really awesome. Baseball is a game where anybody can enjoy it, understand it, and dissect it. 

There’s a lot of sports out there, but baseball is the greatest in my eyes. And I’m proud to call myself a baseball nerd!

Can of Corn Challenge 6: Hey, Nerd!

The Can of Corn Challenge is a monthly blogging challenge that runs from February-October. You can see all information, as well as themes for 2020 by visiting this blog post. Feel free to join us for any and all themes! The linkup will remain live each month for about seven days.

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please “Like” A ‘lil HooHaa on Facebook! You can also follow me on Twitter @softball29!

Can of Corn 5: The Big Screen

There’s a lot of paper in baseball. 

First – I realize now that I am a couple of days late on this one. That being said, it hasn’t attracted the biggest number of participants, so hopefully if anybody is participating, they forgive! 

Now, let’s move along!

It seems like the big screen is the only way to catch baseball now. 

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With everything going on in the world and MLB not being able to agree on how to hold a season (with no fans) because of money and everything else, you have to get your fix some other way.

I don’t get into watching old games for the most part, so doing that doesn’t work. And how much can you listen to the baseball talk shows? Talk about an extended off season! 

But baseball on the big screen – now that stands the test of time. There are so many great baseball movies out there. If you want serious movies, you can find them. Comedies? Check. Bad ones? Definitely. But there are a lot of great ones and if you are looking for some baseball, this might be the escape needed. 

The beauty of baseball movies is people have a varying amount of differences when it comes to what to watch. I’m pretty steadfast on the movies I like best, but placement seems to revolve based on what I might be feeling. My No. 1 is always the same, though. 

So here is my top 10 as of this moment of baseball movies to watch.

1. Bull Durham
This never wavers off the top spot. By far my favorite baseball movie and one that I can watch over and over and over. I’m sure with this blog post coming out, I’ll be watching it soon. 

2. For Love of the Game
Kevin Costner has been in some amazing sports movies, especially baseball. But this is one I can always watch as well. Love the feel of it and the storyline. And I like how there are flashbacks throughout. Just a great overall movie and it tends to move up and down my list. 

3. The Sandlot
If this isn’t in your top five … and you are a baseball fan… well, you’re killin’ me, Smalls. 

4. The Bad News Bears (original)
This movie, as it was written back when, would never make it during our current times. But take it for the time it was made and it’s a classic. Walter Mattheau is gold in this flick. 

5. Major League
I won’t lump them all in here, as the original is still the best by far. And it’s a classic. But I don’t mind the follow-ups to this movie. The original, though, is a great baseball flick, with a good storyline and really good soundtrack/score. 

6. Field of Dreams
If you build it … 

7. A League of their own
There’s no crying in baseball! Well, besides maybe if you are a fan in 2020 … 

8. The Natural
You know you got chills during the end sequence … admit it!

9. 8 Men Out
A very well done portrayal of one of the darkest moments in baseball history. 

10. Summer Catch
This is, by far, not the best movie out there. But … it’s a solid, albeit cheesy flick, that is pretty good overall. It made me have an interest in the Cape Cod League (which I would like to one day see a game or two) and the whole idea of overcoming the past to succeed, is pretty cool. 

Also in the discussion: Pride of the Yankees, 42, Trouble with the Curve, Moneyball.

How about all of you? Is anything missing on this list? What is your favorite? Odds are I’ve likely missed something in my own Top 10, but that happens with so many good baseball flicks. Now, time to get watching!

Can of Corn Challenge 5: The Big Screen

The Can of Corn Challenge is a monthly blogging challenge that runs from February-October. You can see all information, as well as themes for 2020 by visiting this blog post. Feel free to join us for any and all themes! The linkup will remain live each month for about seven days.

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please “Like” A ‘lil HooHaa on Facebook! You can also follow me on Twitter @softball29!

Can of Corn 4: On paper

There’s a lot of paper in baseball. 

You have lineup cards. Press notes. Programs. Notepads. And, of course, scorecards. 

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I’ve blogged about scorekeeping before. It’s something I’ve done at baseball games for much of my life.

It’s not something everybody does, but I do consider myself a bit of a baseball nerd. 

Scorekeeping at a baseball game is an old-school tradition for baseball fans. Though not all do it, most know about it. Scorecards are in most programs. Kids do it. Adults do it. 

The best part about scorekeeping at a game is there is no set style. Though the concept is the same – you record each play in a game on a scorecard – everybody has their own style and way of doing things. 

That’s really cool, too. 

Sometimes when I am at a game and see somebody keeping score and sitting by themselves, I’ll go say hi, just to talk scorekeeping and see how they do things. I’ve seen a lot of cool things. And some people do very little and just keep score on a piece of paper. Some people have full-fledged scoring systems. 

Keeping score.

And thought I enjoy getting in-depth, I like the simplicity of keeping a scorecard. The craziest I seem to get is using colors when a new pitcher comes in.

I have my own system, but in general, I can look back on most of my scoresheets and can take you through a game just from the way I kept the sheet. 

Most programs at baseball games will show you a basic way to keep score. The basics allow you how to keep score and understand the things one needs.

From there, you can develop your own system and style and let it blossom. I’ve changed some things over the years to the point where I feel I have something I like.

Having things on paper at a baseball game is something of the norm. But once you delve even deeper into things, you’ll find that the way of putting some thing on paper is definitely unique and helps tell the story of a baseball game.

Can of Corn Challenge 4: On paper linkup

The Can of Corn Challenge is a monthly blogging challenge that runs from February-October. You can see all information, as well as themes for 2020 by visiting this blog post. Feel free to join us for any and all themes! The linkup will remain live each month for about seven days.

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please “Like” A ‘lil HooHaa on Facebook! You can also follow me on Twitter @softball29!