I did It when I was nine years old

Hi Guys

Shame on all of you for even IMPLYING THAT FOR ANY REASON ONE OF OUR PRECIOUS CHILDREN SHOULD THROW A BALL AT SOMEONE ELSE'S PRECIOUS CHILD.

What a terrible thing to even suggest on this board.

(on the other hand)
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Surely every one of you remember the movie Bull Durham...where the catcher tells the young pitcher to hit the bull.
He told him that on a rare occasion when the pitcher had his stuff and total control.

I posted a message the other day about young pitchers being harrassed to "THROW STRIKES tHROW STRIKES"!!!

A batter should never be so comfortable in the box that he or she simply sits back and waits for the perfect "strike" to hit. We pitchers gotta' keep 'em loose in there. Translation: throw OFF the corners a lot...both corners.

Back before the flood, when I played, I always liked to throw a fastball that hit about ten feet up the backstop during my warm-up pitches on the mound before the game. I knew every opposing player was watching, and sizing me up, so I always did it "by accident". I always showed extreme displeasure with myself for having let it "get away from me".

Hit 'em...no way...but get the seat of their pants dirty...you bet.

Have fun
Kenneth Bean