NOW WE'LL SEE
Yesterday Roger Clemens signed with the Houston Astros. Clemens previously pitched for the Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, and New York Yankees. The Red Sox, Blue Jays, and Yankees differ from the Astros in one fundamental way, which is neatly captured in Rule 6.10(b) of the Official Rules of Major League Baseball. Namely, "A hitter may be designated to bat for the starting pitcher and all subsequent pitchers in any game without otherwise affecting the status of the pitcher(s) in the game." This means that pitchers do not bat in the American League, while they do in the National League.
There are a few consequences to this, but the one I am concerned about is the hit batsman. See, Roger Clemens is notorious not only for throwing at hitters, but for trying to hurt them. However, he always knew in the American League that pitchers would never have the opportunity to throw at him. Now he will have to decide whether to hit a guy knowing that the rest of the league has all season to get him back. Also, keep in mind that the Cubs, divisional rivals of the Astros, had four pitchers in the top 15 in hit batsmen in 2003, while the Cardinals had two more. Clemens is likely to face guys not afraid to hit people next year. Should be interesting.
BALL DROPPING
The Washington Post ran a great story about the controversy surrounding a book that claims that the Chinese visited the Western Hemisphere in 1421. The author of the book claims that Chinese genes appear from the Outer Hebrides in Scotland to New Zealand and Oregon from this period. This is fascinating in a "we are all descended from Martians" kind of way. However, the two really interesting things are that (a) the lead admiral was a Chinese, Muslim, eunuch (so we know whose genes were NOT spread); and (b) that the Chinese did absolutely nothing with this apparent discovery. While the evidence that the Chinese visited the Western Hemisphere before Columbus is minimal, even if they did, they did not exploit the discovery at all. It turns out (maybe) that the Chinese are as big a bunch of slackers as the Vikings were in the New World.
By the way, the book web page is worth checking out. The author is kind of like Dan Brown, discussed below with reference to his web page. Fact and fiction have clearly become one for this guy. Among the best are the Gallery image of a "Chinese urn" found near the Nevada/Oregon border. I have seen this urn for sale in every Chinatown I've ever been to. It is hilarious that it may be "evidence" of Chinese presence. Also, look at the Flash map showing the various journeys at the bottom of the "Maps" section. You cannot make this stuff up!
Yesterday Roger Clemens signed with the Houston Astros. Clemens previously pitched for the Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, and New York Yankees. The Red Sox, Blue Jays, and Yankees differ from the Astros in one fundamental way, which is neatly captured in Rule 6.10(b) of the Official Rules of Major League Baseball. Namely, "A hitter may be designated to bat for the starting pitcher and all subsequent pitchers in any game without otherwise affecting the status of the pitcher(s) in the game." This means that pitchers do not bat in the American League, while they do in the National League.
There are a few consequences to this, but the one I am concerned about is the hit batsman. See, Roger Clemens is notorious not only for throwing at hitters, but for trying to hurt them. However, he always knew in the American League that pitchers would never have the opportunity to throw at him. Now he will have to decide whether to hit a guy knowing that the rest of the league has all season to get him back. Also, keep in mind that the Cubs, divisional rivals of the Astros, had four pitchers in the top 15 in hit batsmen in 2003, while the Cardinals had two more. Clemens is likely to face guys not afraid to hit people next year. Should be interesting.
BALL DROPPING
The Washington Post ran a great story about the controversy surrounding a book that claims that the Chinese visited the Western Hemisphere in 1421. The author of the book claims that Chinese genes appear from the Outer Hebrides in Scotland to New Zealand and Oregon from this period. This is fascinating in a "we are all descended from Martians" kind of way. However, the two really interesting things are that (a) the lead admiral was a Chinese, Muslim, eunuch (so we know whose genes were NOT spread); and (b) that the Chinese did absolutely nothing with this apparent discovery. While the evidence that the Chinese visited the Western Hemisphere before Columbus is minimal, even if they did, they did not exploit the discovery at all. It turns out (maybe) that the Chinese are as big a bunch of slackers as the Vikings were in the New World.
By the way, the book web page is worth checking out. The author is kind of like Dan Brown, discussed below with reference to his web page. Fact and fiction have clearly become one for this guy. Among the best are the Gallery image of a "Chinese urn" found near the Nevada/Oregon border. I have seen this urn for sale in every Chinatown I've ever been to. It is hilarious that it may be "evidence" of Chinese presence. Also, look at the Flash map showing the various journeys at the bottom of the "Maps" section. You cannot make this stuff up!
posted by David at 1:13 PM
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