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Zoom!
2006-09-15 07:57
A fine story to save so we'll always know how it started: Tom Lederer (Rich's brother) writing at Baseball Analysts on the origins of the first laser radar gun timing of a pitcher, Nolan Ryan. ... Meanwhile, on an asphalt parking lot at the Rockwell International facility in Anaheim, the Rockwell engineers sought to test their device in a dry run before taking it to the stadium for an upcoming Ryan outing. My father arranged for Angels catcher Charlie Sands, a disabled list victim for much of August, to assist in the test by catching a 22-year-old lefthander whose fastball would be the subject of the trial procedure. I was that lefthander. Although I had enjoyed success as a pitcher -- my high school career ended by winning the Southern California large schools championship and I played a summer for the Anchorage Glacier Pilots, a collegiate league team that included future major leaguers Randy Jones, Craig Swan, Jim Crawford and Bruce Bochte -- I was two years removed from my last competitive season. Following a sufficient warm up on the moundless parking lot, the engineers announced that they were having trouble getting a reading. They explained that they didn't expect to have any trouble getting a reading on pitches that were at least 85 miles per hour. Upon hearing that, Sands could barely suppress his laughter. I clearly remember the incredulity in his voice as he said, "If this guy could throw 85 miles per hour, he wouldn't be out here pitching in the parking lot." So much for that career. Attention for the project then turned to conducting the test during an upcoming home start for Ryan. If successful, an official clocking would be announced and turned into a promotional opportunity for a subsequent start at the Big A. ... Wind up the whole story, and then catch Rich's nice follow to the piece here.
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Meanwhile, I'm Claude Rainesed to find out that Alfonso Soriano appears ready to test free-agency: "'I want to stay here, but there are a lot of things to do with this team,' Soriano said. 'I want to talk with my agent. I want to talk to [Bowden] sooner or later before the season is over. I want to see what they can do from there. . . . If they make a better team, it's possible for me to stay here. There are a lot of things they have to do here. If I see any [changes], maybe I'm back here. If not, who knows?'" from mlb.com
I once got stuck in the middle of a passing swarm with my at-the-time 6 month old, and it felt like that scene in Jurassic Park where the really fast ostrichy ones (Gallimimus, Struthimumus?) run through and around our heroes.
Didn't he play for the 1897 Boston Beaneaters?
6 that's the mall closest to my house, but I haven't noticed them there. They seem to use them at disneyworld and other places where kitsch is the going attraction. Remember when they were oging to revolutionize transportation. slow revolution.
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/commerce/7017.html
[15] DC police too, at the train station there. they look so ridiculous, and worse yet, you can see how cool they think it makes them. it reminds me of super troopers or something.
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