Yearly Archives: 2012

July 10, 2012

XKCD on baseball at the speed of light

By
Zeldink
Posted at 12:26 pm

And no, this isn’t a post about Cincinnati Reds flamethrower Aroldis Chapman.

Randall Munroe, the guy behind the web comic XKCD, has launched a new weekly feature where he will answer science questions submitted by readers. Today’s–the first one–just so happens to focus on baseball.

What would happen if you tried to hit a baseball pitched at 90% the speed of light?

Typically, hypothetical questions like this are first responded to by how impossible something like that is. To his credit Munroe decides to skip over that and actually answer the question, and it’s an entertaining read.

The ideas of aerodynamics don’t apply here. Normally, air would flow around anything moving through it. But the air molecules in front of this ball don’t have time to be jostled out of the way. The ball smacks into them hard that the atoms in the air molecules actually fuse with the atoms in the ball’s surface. Each collision releases a burst of gamma rays and scattered particles.

These gamma rays and debris expand outward in a bubble centered on the pitcher’s mound. They start to tear apart the molecules in the air, ripping the electrons from the nuclei and turning the air in the stadium into an expanding bubble of incandescent plasma. The wall of this bubble approaches the batter at about the speed of light—only slightly ahead of the ball itself.

That does not sound or look good, and it wouldn’t be. The results would be catastrophic. Read the whole thing, and be sure to stick around for the footnote.

If you’re a fan of XKCD, you might also be interested in this comic I made a few years back.

Posted in Fun Stuff, Random Ramblings.
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July 10, 2012

Daily Brief: All Star Game edition

By
Amanda
Posted at 7:40 am

Last Game
It’s not exactly a game, but the Home Run Derby was last night. Prince Fielder was the winner for the second time in his career: he also won the Derby in 2009.

Player Team Round 1 Round 2 Subtotal Finals Total
Prince Fielder Tigers 5 11 16 12 28
José Bautista Blue Jays 11 2 13 (2) 7 20
Mark Trumbo Angels 7 6 13 (1) — 13
Carlos Beltrán Cardinals 7 5 12 — 12
Carlos González Rockies 4 — 4 — 4
Andrew McCutchen Pirates 4 — 4 — 4
Matt Kemp Dodgers 1 — 1 — 1
Robinson Canó Yankees 0 — 0 — 0

Giancarlo Stanton had originally be named to the National League Home Run Derby team but was injured and so was replaced by the Pirates’ Andrew McCutchen. McCutchen isn’t exactly a home run hitter, but he didn’t do too badly representing the NLC. I mean, he didn’t get the worst score.

Next Game
The All Star Game is tonight in Kansas City. The Reds’ Joey Votto will be starting at first base and batting cleanup for the National League. First pitch is at 8 p.m. ET and you can watch it on FOX. Here are the line-ups:

National League

  • 1. Gonzalez, Col
  • 2. Cabrera, SF
  • 3. Braun, Mil
  • 4. Votto, Cin
  • 5. Beltran, StL
  • 6. Posey, SF
  • 7. Sandoval, SF
  • 8. Uggla, Atl
  • 9. Furcal, StL
  • SP. Cain, SF

American League

  • 1. Jeter, NY
  • 2. Cano, NY
  • 3. Hamilton, Tex
  • 4. Bautista, Tor
  • 5. Fielder, Det
  • 6. Beltre, Tex
  • 7. Ortiz, Bos
  • 8. Napoli, Tex
  • 9. Granderson, NY
  • SP. Verlander, Det

LaRussa’s Arrogance Is the Real All-Star
The latest All-Star snub Tony LaRussa has handed out is to R.A. Dickey. Dickey is a 37-year old knuckleballer who is having a phenomenal year with the New York Mets. He already has a 12-1 record, 3 complete games, and a 2.40 ERA. He is certainly the pitcher having the best year in the NL right now, and certainly the most interesting story.

But, as you know, LaRussa knows all and sees all, and has instead chosen the Giants’ Matt Cain to start for the National League. Cain’s having a good year and (unlike Dickey) he’ll be a familiar presence to the starting catcher from the Giants, Buster Posey.

To me, all that is well and good. Not what people were expecting, but at least there was rational basis for it (unlike when he snubbed Johnny Cueto). The thing that makes it a classless move is that TLR didn’t even bother to call Dickey to tell him first. Dickey heard about it when someone texted him the news.

I know you’re not supposed to talk ill of the retired, but baseball will be better off finally seeing the back of Tony LaRussa.

What to Say to Sound Smart at the Water Cooler
Prince Fielder is only the second player ever to win multiple Home Run Derby titles. The first was Ken Griffey Jr, who won 3.

Posted in Daily Briefs.
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July 9, 2012

Game 85: Reds 4, Padres 2

By
Amanda
Posted at 9:04 am

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Reds0003001004100
Padres000011000270
W: Cueto (10-5) L: Marquis (3-9) S: Chapman (11)

Boxscore

The Reds wrapped up the first half with a 4-2 win over the Padres last night to take 3 of 4 in San Diego and 6 of 11 in California.

Johnny Cueto was killing it at first, but faltered as the game went on and only ended up serving 5.2 innings. He allowed 2 runs (earned) on 7 hits and 2 walks in that time, but thanks to run support and good relief, he still finished with the win.

Sam LeCure got the next two outs, Sean Marshall the 5 after that, and Aroldis Chapman closed out the last inning. None of the relievers allowed so much as a hit, and Chapman even struck out 2 in the ninth. For the moment, at least, he’s “back.”

The offense was brought to you last night by:

  • Jay Bruce, who knocked Brandon Phillips and himself in with a 2-run home run in the fourth inning for half the Reds’ score. If you’re only going to have one run on the night, why not make it this one?
  • Ryan Ludwick, who also made the most of his single hit by going back-to-back with Bruce in the fourth.
  • Phillips, who broke the 1-hit trend by going 3-for-5 and who also knocked in Zack Cozart in the seventh inning for the Reds’ insurance run.

The win brings the Reds’ record to 47-38. Except for Joey Votto, Bruce, and Chapman, the team is off until Friday when the Reds will host the Cardinals. Mat Latos will take on Adam Wainwright. First pitch at 7:10 p.m.

Posted in Game Wrap, Random Ramblings.
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July 9, 2012

Daily Brief: Welcome to exhibition baseball

By
Amanda
Posted at 7:20 am

Last Game
The Reds escaped San Diego with a win in their final game of the series, of the west coast road trip, of the first half. They roll into the All Star Break with a 47-38 record and in second place in the NLC behind the Pirates.

Johnny Cueto started out strong in last night’s game but didn’t end up lasting very long, pitching just 5.2 innings. He still got the win, though, which was his tenth of the season. Aroldis Chapman got the save with an excellent hitless ninth that featured 2 Ks.

Next Game
It’s the All Star Break, and finishing off the first-half with an 11-game road trip in California must make the team feel like they’ve really earned it. I feel like I’ve earned it as a fan after a couple weeks of having to stay up until 1:30 a.m. if you want to see the end of the game.

The Reds won’t play as a team again until Friday when they host the Cardinals at a decent hour: 7:10 p.m.

Home Run Derby tonight
The Home Run Derby is tonight at 8 p.m. Representing the AL will be:

  • Robinson Cano
  • Prince Fielder
  • Jose Bautista
  • Mark Trumbo

For the NL, it will be

  • Matt Kemp
  • Carlos Gonzalez
  • Carlos Beltran
  • Andrew McCutchen

Keep an eye on the #HRDerby hashtag on Twitter. MLB is encouraging participants in the derby to tweet it out.

What to Say to Sound Smart at the Water Cooler
Joey Votto is the first Red elected to start an All-Star Game since Ken Griffey, Jr. in 2007. The Reds haven’t had a participant in the Home Run Derby since Ken Griffey, Jr. in 2000.

Posted in Daily Briefs.
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July 8, 2012

Charlie Sheen seen shagging with the Reds

By
Zeldink
Posted at 5:49 pm

MLB.com Reds reporter Mark Sheldon captured this image of Charlie Sheen catching balls during batting practice.

Before the game between the Cincinnati Reds and the San Diego Padres today, celebrity Reds fan Charlie Sheen was in the outfield, catching fly balls during batting practice.

Sheen has been a Reds fan for a good long time, hosting a couple notorious parties with the team, once in 1990 and another in 1992. Sheen is more famous now for his drug-fueled rants and erratic, sometimes violent, behavior that saw him kicked off the highly rated “Two and a Half Men” television show.

Given his checkered past, I do have to wonder why the Reds are choosing to associate with him. After all, this is a guy who constantly uses cocaine and other illegal drugs, and also loves to threaten to kill the women in his life. Denise Richards, Brooke Mueller, and Capri Anderson have all been reported to be recipients of Sheen’s anger and threats, with Mueller and Anderson both having been strangled by Sheen.

Maybe this wasn’t the Reds’ decision–Sheen did throw out a ceremonial first pitch–but I don’t like seeing the Reds associated with illegal drugs and beating up women.

Posted in Cincinnati Reds, NL Central, Random Ramblings.
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