04/20/24
October 02, 2013
SportsFilter: The Wednesday Huddle:
A place to discuss the sports stories that aren't making news, share links that aren't quite front-page material, and diagram plays on your hand. Remember to count to five Mississippi before commenting in anger.
This in a comment from hincandenza
I suppose a hitter could appeal the non-check swing call, but since he'd be turning a ball into a strike, he'd have to be batshit fucking crazy to do that.
got me thinking about the idea, and I somehow remembered Rabbit Maranville, who played shortstop for a number of teams, including the 1914 "Miracle" Boston Braves, for 23 major league seasons. When I say I remembered him, I really mean I remember my dad often speaking of him. Honest, I'm not quite that old. Maranville is in the Hall of Fame, but he was remembered more for his antics than his considerable skills. This from Sports Illustrated's Vault:
The Rabbit was the butt for most of his own gags. When he was in a batting slump, he occasionally trotted up to the plate, chirped, "Strike three," before a pitch was thrown, then went back to the dugout. Upon hitting a high foul, he would mount his bat like a hobbyhorse and attempt to hex the catcher by pursuing him with shrill imprecations.
I guess it's not the same thing as appealing a call that has gone in your favor, but it's still quite unusual. More about Rabbit Maranville here.
posted by Howard_T at 04:53 PM on October 02, 2013
What a fascinating player! Thank you for the links, Howard_T.
posted by Joey Michaels at 07:00 PM on October 02, 2013
I guess I'm in the /v (that is, "verbose") mode today. It's Tim Tebow's turn, and his future employment prospects are the subject of a Business Week report. Is it really that slow a news day in the business world?
posted by Howard_T at 09:37 PM on October 02, 2013
Patrick Roy being.....well, being Patrick Roy
posted by tommybiden at 01:32 AM on October 03, 2013
All that said: Damn it's good to have Patrick Roy back in the NHL. He cray-cray.
Yes. Yes it/he is.
posted by grum@work at 08:20 AM on October 03, 2013
Is A-Rod paying for protesters outside the MLB offices?
In the lead up to today's clash with Manchester United, Jonathan Wilson on Shakhtar Donetsk.