Superstitious? Dump the Broom Smiley?

[Texsox]

I just realized the team's slump cold be traced to the broom smiley? Perhaps we need to put that one away for a while?

 

Baseball always seemed to be the one sport where superstitions are rampant. Don't mention a no-no, don't step on the foul line, rally caps, etc.

 

 

Any other baseball superstitions y'all like?

[Y2HH]

Things like this are for Cub fans.

 

I just realized the team's slump cold be traced to the broom smiley? Perhaps we need to put that one away for a while?

 

Baseball always seemed to be the one sport where superstitions are rampant. Don't mention a no-no, don't step on the foul line, rally caps, etc.

Any other baseball superstitions y'all like?

[southsider2k5]

I have about a dozen or so White Sox hats, and if we lose, I won't wear the same hat the next day.

[Texsox]

When I was catching, if the last out was a strike out, I would always toss the ball to the other side of the mound from the opposing team's dugout. After warmups, I would always one hop the ball into second, daring the other team to try and run on me.

[Y2HH]

I'm guilty of this, too...when running off the field, I will NOT step on the foul line, and if I strike out, I will not use the same bat the next at bat even if struck out looking.

 

When I was catching, if the last out was a strike out, I would always toss the ball to the other side of the mound from the opposing team's dugout. After warmups, I would always one hop the ball into second, daring the other team to try and run on me.

[Texsox]

Things like this are for Cub fans.

 

 

I'm guilty of this, too...when running off the field, I will NOT step on the foul line, and if I strike out, I will not use the same bat the next at bat even if struck out looking.

See, I guess there is a little Cub fan in all of us

[Y2HH]

Yes, but this is different...this is affecting my own play. When people get superstitous over the things they do affecting someone elses play, that's a Cub tradition.

 

See, I guess there is a little Cub fan in all of us

 

[Texsox]

touche

[Y2HH]

And by the by...whether you bounced the ball to 2nd on the warmup toss or not, I would have stolen on yer ass.

 

touche

[Texsox]

And by the by...whether you bounced the ball to 2nd on the warmup toss or not, I would have stolen on yer ass.

You would have stolen on the pitcher

[Y2HH]

Touche back at ya.

 

Of course, this isn't at the major league level, but the second I get on base, I can tell whether it will be easy to steal on a pitcher or not. What was your pop time to 2nd, ever get it measured?

 

You would have stolen on the pitcher

 

[Texsox]

Touche back at ya.

 

Of course, this isn't at the major league level, but the second I get on base, I can tell whether it will be easy to steal on a pitcher or not.  What was your pop time to 2nd, ever get it measured?

 

No. What helped me was a very quick release which made up for less than spectacular arm strength. I also had a great coach for 4 seasons playing traveling ball who knew the mental side and the nuances of the game better than anybody. Being ready and knowing in your mind what you will do before the situation presented itself was key.

 

I remember tryouts for a different traveling team and the coaches wanted to see our throws to second. I was up on my toes, instead of back low, so I could be ready for the throw to second. Another kid yelled, hey, he's cheating, he's almost standing. One of the other coaches came over and told me to get low. I looked at him and said, this is how a catcher is suppose to be ready when a runner is on first or second. The guy had no clue. I almost walked off that team a few times that season.

 

The worse was when he asked me to switch hit lefty with a guy on third. I was confused but went along with it. On the next pitch he had the runner try and steal home. Of course the kid was out by 20 feet. I paused and then went down the third base line and screamed

 

Idiot. You want the batter to conceal the runner. I'm the best bunter on the team, at least suicide steal in that situation, and if you really want to try and steal home, look up delayed steal in the dictionary.

 

I sat the next two games

[Goldmember]

I have about a dozen or so White Sox hats, and if we lose, I won't wear the same hat the next day.

 

wear a hat 99% of the time i'm outside of the house. have one hat for each team i like (sox, bears, illini, dale jr.,...etc.). have grown to start switching them out with losses too. we won last night (and hopefully today) because of jr...

[Y2HH]

Never met many catchers who could bunt.

 

I was a 2B (given my small size, 5'7" 147 pounds), and ultra fast.

 

No. What helped me was a very quick release which made up for less than spectacular arm strength. I also had a great coach for 4 seasons playing traveling ball who knew the mental side and the nuances of the game better than anybody. Being ready and knowing in your mind what you will do before the situation presented itself was key.

 

I remember tryouts for a different traveling team and the coaches wanted to see our throws to second. I was up on my toes, instead of back low, so I could be ready for the throw to second. Another kid yelled, hey, he's cheating, he's almost standing. One of the other coaches came over and told me to get low. I looked at him and said, this is how a catcher is suppose to be ready when a runner is on first or second. The guy had no clue. I almost walked off that team a few times that season.

 

The worse was when he asked me to switch hit lefty with a guy on third. I was confused but went along with it. On the next pitch he had the runner try and steal home. Of course the kid was out by 20 feet. I paused and then went down the third base line and screamed

 

Idiot. You want the batter to conceal the runner. I'm the best bunter on the team, at least suicide steal in that situation, and if you really want to try and steal home, look up delayed steal in the dictionary.

 

I sat the next two games 

[Y2HH]

And speaking of what you said, there is so much of that out there, the very VERY bad coaching and improper fundamentals.

[Texsox]

And speaking of what you said, there is so much of that out there, the very VERY bad coaching and improper fundamentals.

 

I started playing for Ron Schmidt as an 10 yr old. First day after tryouts he explained that he knew we would be making physical errors, but we were going to think like major league players and mental errors would not be tolerated. That sounded sooooo cool. We were probably the best coached by a volunteer team in the league.

 

Outfielders, hands on knees, weight balanced, where are you going to throw a fly? Where are you going to throw a ground ball? Be ready, no hesitation.

 

Infielders, gloves brushing the ground, same thing, where does the ball go when you get it?

 

So many lessons he taught. And talk about respecting the baseball traditions.

 

Amazingly, he was a die hard Cub fan. We wore blue pin stripes and he had the bus painted white with blue pin stripes.

[YASNY]

I started playing for Ron Schmidt as an 10 yr old. First day after tryouts he explained that he knew we would be making physical errors, but we were going to think like major league players and mental errors would not be tolerated. That sounded sooooo cool. We were probably the best coached by a volunteer team in the league.

 

Outfielders, hands on knees, weight balanced, where are you going to throw a fly? Where are you going to throw a ground ball? Be ready, no hesitation.

 

Infielders, gloves brushing the ground, same thing, where does the ball go when you get it?

 

So many lessons he taught. And talk about respecting the baseball traditions.

 

Amazingly, he was a die hard Cub fan. We wore blue pin stripes and he had the bus painted white with blue pin stripes.

 

I was respecting this guy, until that last paragraph. :headshake

[Texsox]

I was respecting this guy, until that last paragraph.  :headshake

 

Actually it made being the only White Sox fan on the team more fun. I had to be sharp on my stats, team history, and everything else. Playing in blue pin stripes wasn't so bad. They were really well made as I recall.

 

He also started and ran the local youth football program out of his garage for years until the Park District bought him out. Equipment day was a trip to Ron's house and getting fitted for the gear.

 

He also coached every sport, boys and girls, for the local Parochial School. He didn't have a teaching cert and could not teach in the public schools.

 

Another lesson learned about baseball. late in the game we were losing 0-2 and being no hitted. I was leading off the inning and laid down an almost perfect drag bunt. Is was crossing first when it veered foul. Ron was at the batter's box to "greet" me as I ran back. He whispered in my ear "Never, I mean NEVER break up a no hitter with a bunt. If you do you'll be running laps for days. You can hit this guy." With the new found confidence I returned to the plate, took two more rips, and sat down.

[JDsDirtySox]

Superstitions are a big part of my life... lol.

Honestly, I am a very superstitious person. This is even where my name "JDsDirtySox" comes from. In college, I wore the same pair of socks without washing them for over a year.

 

I could go on and on about the superstitions that I still carry with me to this day, but I enjoy the friendships I have made here, and don't want you guys to think I am a nut job. hehe.

[Texsox]

Superstitions are a big part of my life... lol.

Honestly, I am a very superstitious person.  This is even where my name "JDsDirtySox" comes from.  In college, I wore the same pair of socks without washing them for over a year. 

 

I could go on and on about the superstitions that I still carry with me to this day, but I enjoy the friendships I have made here, and don't want you guys to think I am a nut job.  hehe.

We'd be more worried if you aren't a nut job. As long as everyone here is nuts, we all seem sane. As soon as a normal person gets in, we're in trouble.

[SAVVY18]

I just realized the team's slump cold be traced to the broom smiley?

 

You couldn't be more wrong with this. During one of our early sweeps, someone stated that they wished we had a broom smiley. Since I knew of one, I posted it. Since then we have had the opportunity to use that smiley several times, so don't pick on the broom, man!!

[Iwritecode]

and if you really want to try and steal home, look up delayed steal in the dictionary.

 

What exactly is a delayed steal anyway?

 

I know I stole home a few times when the catcher would lob the ball back to the pitcher. I'd just walk halfway down the line and if they weren't paying much attention I'd just take off the rest of the way.

 

I got accused of cheating by opposing coaches a couple of times.

[SoxFan1]

I am one of the most supersticious guys I know. If the Sox win one game, I'll wear the same wardrobe for that game the next day but only for the game (minus underwear). If I sit in a certain couch for one inning and the Sox pitcher goes 1-2-3, I'll sit in the same spot the next inning. If I am biting my left index fingernail and someone gets a hit or walks, I will stick with that finger. As soon as an out is recorded, I will switch fingernails. Stuff like that...

[Texsox]

What exactly is a delayed steal anyway?

 

I know I stole home a few times when the catcher would lob the ball back to the pitcher. I'd just walk halfway down the line and if they weren't paying much attention I'd just take off the rest of the way.

 

I got accused of cheating by opposing coaches a couple of times. 

 

that's a delayed steal. Watch the catcher, some will make a soft toss to the pitcher, and a lot of times the pitcher will not be paying attention.