Thursday, June 22, 2017
Keeping Score, and Modern Technology
Nothing is certain, but
I think that I will be able to live out my days without a cell phone.
It is a matter of convenience, and expense.
We have a land-based
phone here in Wellington, and one in Florida. When we are absent from
either location, we subscribe to a “Holiday” rate, much cheaper
than the normal rate. Joanne has a cell phone, and she does not go
too far without it.
There is a chance that
I may have to get a cell phone as part of a “package” that will
be much cheaper than the land-based phone. That will be determined
when Joanne's current plan expires. I really do not understand all of
the nuances of the cell phone plans, nor do I care.
Naturally, if I do not
have a cell phone, I cannot “text”. I assure you, that does not
bother me. I do not send out “Tweets” from a cell phone. I do
have a “Twitter” account, but I don't use it.
During a recent Blue
Jay telecast, I noticed that a fair number of fans were busy with
their cell phones, in some way or another. Obviously, it is a
distraction from the game. Then again, not everyone goes to the game
to watch the game. Many could care the less about what is going on
between the lines. The day at the ball park is more of a social
outing.
For those of you who
really enjoy the game, but find there are moments when you have
little to do, I recommend keeping score. There are a fair number of
folks scateererd around the park, keeping score. There is no specific
rule about how you keep score. But at the end of the game, you should
be able to tell what each player did throughout the game.
When I attend a game, I
do not use a laptop computer. I use a score sheet to record the
information. I also use a pencil, and have an eraser handy. Official
scorers tend to change their minds occasionally. Usually, it involes
a batted ball that might be construed as an error. The judgement of
the official scorer is important for those who are keen on
statistics. Keep the eraser close at hand.
I have my score sheet
in front of me from the game I attended a week ago. In the eighth
inning, the Rays scored three runs. It is easy to see how they scored
their first two runs: Evan Longoria singled to open the inning, and
Logan Morrison hit a home run. Two runs scored.
Steven Souza Jr.
followed with a base on balls, and moved to third on a single by
Daniel Robertson. Derek Norris flied out to right field, deep enough
to score Souza Jr. That tied the game. Score that as a sacrifice fly.
Russell Martin led off
the bottom of the eighth, facing relief pitcher Jose Alvarado. His
home run stood up as the GWRBI (Game winning run batted in), and
Roberto Osuna shut the Rays out in the ninth.
Not everyone's cup of
tea, keeping score. Most of the marks on my page were learned in high
school, Homer “Red” Townsend used some of the time in our health
cl;asses to teach us the art of scoring. I am certain he was more
comfortable with that, than dishing out pointers of sex education.
June 21, 2017.
# posted by James Hurst @ 12:14 PM 
