Basbeball Fans

[Garenth]

Ok, do we have any baseball fans in the house that can answer a question for me.

Why does baseball have a dirt infield?


Baseball is the only sport that has rain delays because they don't want to get muddy or play in the mud.  So why is the infield dirt instead of a different cut grass pattern?

Course I know baseball is not truly a sport more of a pass time that for some reason pays people stupid amounts of money to swat at a ball every so often.  But seriously why are they the only sport that panics when it rains?

[Ramseyer]

Well, The dirt is there because of the simple fact that having the entire infield be grass would be impossible. The wear and tear of playing around 70 games on the same surface would take it down to dirt anyway. Sure in the outfield they are spread out enough that grass can be managed, but in the infield with basemen and base runners all running and moving in the same area inning after inning, its just not feasable. They have tried turf and still use it at some places, but the venues that have it are generally disliked.

[Reddawn]

Baseball isn't a sport? Don't be a dope.

Nascar stops in the rain. Golf has rain delays....and then every other sport not in a dome stops for lightning.

[Snackcakes]

more importantly... why are you watching baseball?

[Stallionite]

NASCAR is a sport?

[Garenth]

Baseball isn't a sport? Don't be a dope.

Nascar stops in the rain. Golf has rain delays....and then every other sport not in a dome stops for lightning.

Again I say baseball is not a sport, all sports play through the rain.  Sure they won't play with thunder and lightning but if its raining they are playing because that is what actual sports do.  If its not played in the rain its not a sport.  Nascar drive fast turn left takes balls but is not a sport, golf takes skill but not a sport.

[BCBrent]

So, your qualifications that baseball is not a sport is the fact that people use bats to swat at a ball every now and then.  Let's see the basis of other sports then.

A rubber ball is bounced around and thrown at a circular hoop.
A "pigskin" ball is passed down a field where someone can run into a rectangular portion of the field.
A ball is kicked into a net.

[Jim Tressel]

Baseball is the only sport I dislike watching more than basketball.  Fucking lame.

[Troyer]

Sport:  an athletic activity requiring skill or physical prowess and often of a competitive nature, as racing, baseball, tennis, golf, bowling, wrestling, boxing, hunting, fishing, etc. - Dictionary.com

Does being indoors make it not a sport?  If so, I call shennanigans on hockey.

[Rakrarr]

Ooooh, I love this argument.  I brought a NASCAR fan to tears of rage once with this discussion.

What is a sport?

If you actually look up the word in a dictionary the definitions are usually very lenient.  They say things like, a pleasurable physical activity or anything where you compete against another person.  I have a hard time accepting that boning your mom or taking a test are a sport soooo....

Some old work friends of mine weren't happy with this so broke into catagories.

This is basically what we came up with.

Actuall sport - an event where the actions of one person or team directly effects the the performance or outcome for the opposing person or team.  The winner is not determined by a judge.

Examples
Tennis - If I hit a sweet shot and you miss then I get a point.
Football - If i throw a shitty pass and you intercept it then you are effecting my game.

Competition - Where you cannont directly effect the performance or outcome for the opposition, Usually judged, not always.

Examples
Golf - If I get a bogey then I get a bogey and there is nothing  you can do about it.  My score doens't effect your score and vise versa
Gymnastics - If Stallionite gets a 8.7 on the uneven bars.  It doesn't matter how hard we laugh we can't change the score.

Race - Using only human power, who can achieve a certian objective first

Examples
-Marathon
-seeing who can shotgun a beer first


A few more examples
Baseball - actuall sport - it kills me to say it but the teams can effect the performance of each other.
NASCAR - operating a gas power machine, not a sport, or a race, just commuting

[Troyer]

NASCAR - operating a gas power machine, not a sport, or a race, just pointless commuting

Fixed.

[gr0n]

Formula One is definitely a sport then.  Did anyone else watch the Grand Prix of China this weekend?  Holy fuck was that madness.  NASCAR is what I'd call "NapCar."  Boring.

The sports that are terrible to watch I actually enjoy playing (Softball/Baseball, Volleyball, Golf, Curling)...and the ones that are fun to watch I really suck at (Football, Basketball, etc).  The only anomaly there is that I really enjoy many forms of racing, both as a driver and as a spectator.  Racing FTW.

[BCBrent]

Ooooh, I love this argument.  I brought a NASCAR fan to tears of rage once with this discussion.... ....Baseball - actuall sport - it kills me to say it but the teams can effect the performance of each other.
NASCAR - operating a gas power machine, not a sport, or a race, just commuting

Your whole summary was quite good and I am having difficulty finding any holes in that theory.  +1 for you.

[Reddawn]

wow...this thread is chock full of gold.

Get off the forums and login to wow please

[Kith]

Alright assholes, shut the hell up.

To Shane's original question and Rams' response I would also add that dirt around the base pads is to reduce injuries from sliding feet first - think about getting a clete stuck in the turf as you are sliding into 2nd at full speed - not pleasent.  Pitchers like to tear up the mound to get the footing that they want when they pitch, so turf on there would never last.  The only answer I have for why some parks have a 1st and 3rd baselines that's a dirt path is style.

So, what sports play through the rain other than football and rugby?  Playing in a dome or an arena doesn't count either. 

Yes, Nascar is a sport.  When was the last time any of these other so-called professional athletes put up with punishment like 120 degree temperatures while they are subjected to 4-5Gs going through the turns?  Now do that moving at over 200mph and closer to your competitors than any of us were to the guy in the next parking space this morning.  It puts alot of stress on your body and takes skill to do it without wrecking yourself and the other 42 guys out there. 

I'll skip the debate on open-wheel vs. NASCAR cause life is too short.  Personally, open-wheel bores the shit outta me but I respect the drivers for their skill.