h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Getting to First Base in Baseball - A996528
Author: Lochinvar - U168675

One of my favorite lists. This has been around for a while, so it's about time I did something with it. I hope you enjoy.

Lochinvar

Hello Lochnivar. Nice entry. I'm afraid I know almost nothing about baseball; I do have the following comments, though:

- Footnote 1: place immediately after the word 'outs'.
- Perhaps the introduction could do with a brief description of what a baseball pitch is like eg. the bases are arranged in a diamond.
- The list is presented nicely. My only comment is that some of the phrases that you use - eg '...throw to first for the out' - might not be understood by those who have no prior knowledge of baseball. I didn't have much trouble figuring out what you meant, though
- Do you actually have to remain standing on the base, or merely touch it once?
- Perhaps discuss running to the base vs. sliding.
- Are there any players who were famous as first base fielders, or particularly good at making first base? I'm sure that there must be an interesting baseball anecdote that you could use to conclude the entry.
- There are several h2g2 pages that you should reference: A565779 (Baseball Basics), A3178 (Baseball). Also: http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/Search?searchtype=article&showapproved=1&showsubmitted=1&searchstring=Baseball&dosearch.x=15&dosearch.y=15

Good clear entry

I'm sure Jodan will be along later with some comments, so I'll leave it there.

sprout

Okeydokey, then. I've made some changes per recommendation. Take a look now, see what you think, enjoy your holidays.

Lochinvar

Being marginally familiar with baseball, the only one I don't understand is the Fielders Choice.

Everything else seems just fine

Being also marginally familiar with baseball, I like this entry A few good jokes and a few things I never knew (I can't imagine walking someone with the bases loaded... forget the Hall of Fame, that sounds like a real honor!)

I like baseball history more than the actual rules of gameplay of course, so I don't have much to say. Only thing I noticed was in the On Base Percentage formula, you used the word "divde"

You forgot the balk.

Technically, balks only move runners over. That is, if a pitcher balks (does something like making a half throw or faking a throw to a base without pitching), a runner from first will go to second, but the batter will not go to first. So a balk isn't a way to get to first.

What if there's a bal;k and there isn't a runner? Ok,admittedly my memory is shot, but I could have sworn I was at a game where....never mind.

And I though cricket was complicated; this makes LBW look like a breeze....

If I knew the first thing about baseball, I'd probably think this was a very clear and concise entry. As it is, it's certainly concise and makes it about as clear as it can be to an ignoramous like me....

Well done!

*DISCLAIMER*
I'm coming at this from the standpoint of someone who knows some of the basics of baseball but is far from knowledgeable about the game.

"catch the ball in the air"
I reckon you mean 'catch the ball without it having first bounced on the ground', or 'on the full', since you can only catch a ball in the air. If the ball isn't in the air you're not catching it, you're picking it up.

"and throw it to first before the batter gets there"
There's more to it than that - there has to be a fielder at first base to catch the ball doesn't there?

"the hit can become a double, triple"
What does that mean? Actually, I know what it means, but someone else might not. A footnote would probably be fine for this one.

"and his waist, his knees, and home plate."
The strike zone doesn't go down to home plate, it only goes as far as the batter's knees.

"throws the ball into the seats"
Why would he do that? Do you mean 'accidentally throws the ball'?

"5. A Fielder's Choice"
I don't understand that paragraph at all

"would-bethief" - would-be thief


Scout

As soon as these amendments have been made, I'll be able to push this entry through to a Sub...

Paully

Lochinvar hasn't been in lately

Shame, good entry; come back soon L!

Coo-eee! there are some bits and bobs for you to finish off before this makes it into the Edited Guide


* tempts Lochinvar back with and *

If a kind Sub-Editor made these amendments themselves, would that be all right?

I think it's quite likely that this is heading for the Fleamarket anyway

Section 5 still makes absolutely no sense to me If anyone else can explain it simply, send the entry to a Sub-ed. If not, it should go to the FM

Fielder's Choice?

I have some ideas on how to make that section clearer. I'd be happy to help the sub-ed work some things out, but I don't think this needs to go to the FM, because I think Lochinvar deserves solo credit on this, even after some minor adjustments are made.

I find baseball stupifyingly boring, but the article is good!

Your Guide Entry has just been picked from Peer Review by one of our Scouts, and is now heading off into the Editorial Process, which ends with publication in the Edited Guide. We've therefore moved this Review Conversation out of Peer Review and to the entry itself.

If you'd like to know what happens now, check out the page on 'What Happens after your Entry has been Recommended?' at EditedGuide-Process. We hope this explains everything.

Thanks for contributing to the Edited Guide!