04/19/24
April 13, 2005
Hurlers in Chief: Since President Taft started the tradition in 1910, every president except Jimmy Carter has thrown out the first pitch on opening day in Washington or Baltimore. President Bush continues the tradition in the Washington Nationals' home opener tomorrow.
posted by kirkaracha to baseball at 10:21 AM - 15 comments
I guess I would figure Taft as a hard thrower, because of his size, and Clinton as a junk baller, always trying to fool people...Bush would be like a guy who is getting ripped all over the place, but the game is still close, and you wonder why no one is up throwing in the bullpen.
posted by chris2sy at 11:08 AM on April 13, 2005
Bush would be the guy with the 5.38 ERA, lead the league in walks and hit batters, and then get a new 5-year deal worth $55 millon from the Rangers. In short, Bush would be Chan Ho Park.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 01:18 PM on April 13, 2005
You mean, a new 4-year deal.
posted by DrJohnEvans at 01:53 PM on April 13, 2005
Bush would declare all opponents as part of "The Axis of Evil"
posted by mayerkyl at 02:35 PM on April 13, 2005
Any chance Bush will smirk and throw another pathetic "Curveball" ...?
posted by the red terror at 03:10 PM on April 13, 2005
When Bush threw out the first pitch at Yankee Stadium (I think it was a WS game against the D-Backs.) after 9-11 he smoked a fast ball right down the pipe belt high (from the pitcher's rubber) while wearing a bullet proof vest that limited his movement. John Kerry bounced the ball to the catcher even though he was standing in the grass in front of the pitcher's mound. Not that it matters that much but Bush is seemingly a pretty decent athlete.
posted by ZDYOLDMAN at 03:19 PM on April 13, 2005
Because in matters of state, it totally matters who can throw a fastball and who can't.
posted by rocketman at 03:37 PM on April 13, 2005
Bush would go and have the other teams bats checked for suspicion of being corked, then after the bats are all sawed in half and no cork was to be found, he would blame the pitching coach and say it was a good thing because the other team needed newer better bats anyway... John Kerry bounced the ball to the catcher even though he was standing in the grass in front of the pitcher's mound He does everything so slow I'm surprised he got it there at all, no arm speed.
posted by chris2sy at 03:39 PM on April 13, 2005
Because in matters of state, it totally matters who can throw a fastball and who can't. Instead of debates, we need to start just having them take batting practice against each other on three separate occasions.
posted by chris2sy at 03:44 PM on April 13, 2005
chris2sy, I fear we'd learn as much from BP as we do the extraordinarily staged debates.
posted by ZDYOLDMAN at 06:14 PM on April 13, 2005
*clueless Brit* So what happens when Hillary Clinton gets elected in 2008? Everyone knows that girls can't throw... *can't imagine Tony Blair bowling a sizzling outswinger to Mathew Hayden on the opening day of the Ashes*
posted by afx237vi at 06:21 PM on April 13, 2005
Instead of debates, we need to start just having them take batting practice against each other on three separate occasions. Why don't we just give 'em all bats and let 'em beat the shit out of each other?
posted by lil_brown_bat at 07:11 PM on April 13, 2005
Why don't we just give 'em all bats and let 'em beat the shit out of each other? Even better.
posted by chris2sy at 09:55 PM on April 13, 2005
>Because in matters of state, it totally matters who can throw a fastball and who can't. I'm surprised politicians risk this. 1974 federal election campaign, Robert Stanfield dropped the ball in North Bay. Photo, photo. Vladimir Putin was thrown by a child in a martial arts match, but this site spins it in his favour (12th paragraph).
posted by Philfromhavelock at 02:31 PM on April 14, 2005
Carter did throw out the first pitch at the 2002 Cuba All-Star game. Baseball Almanac has presidential baseball firsts and attendance records and quotes.