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About Jon
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1) using profanity or any euphemisms for profanity
2) personally attacking other commenters
3) baiting other commenters
4) arguing for the sake of arguing
5) discussing politics
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Zoom!
2006-09-15 07:57
by Jon Weisman

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.

Comments
2006-09-15 08:26:51
1.   Sam DC
That's very cool stuff. Makes me want to ramp up my project to the NIMA and NRO folks to work analyzing the existing Koufax film to clock his fastball.

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

2006-09-15 09:01:47
2.   Eric Enders
Fantastic. I read it the other day but hadn't seen the follow-up -- the best part of which is the comment by Rich's mom!
2006-09-15 09:05:55
3.   Eric Enders
Also, the new Bronx Banter is pretty funny.
2006-09-15 09:11:15
4.   Bob Timmermann
Sorry I'm late to the fair, but my Segway had to be recalled.
2006-09-15 09:15:55
5.   Eric Enders
Does anybody know of anyone who actually has one of those? I sure don't.
2006-09-15 09:39:52
6.   Jon Weisman
5 - The mall security at the Westchester, NY shopping mall rides them.
2006-09-15 09:44:31
7.   Sam DC
There's a company here that organizes Segway tours of National Mall attractions, so you see a squad of like 25 people zooming off on them.

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.

2006-09-15 09:46:56
8.   Bob Timmermann
There's a guy in South Pasadena who rides around on way. He's very much like J.O.B.
2006-09-15 09:56:23
9.   Eric Enders
"Gallimimus Struthimumus"

Didn't he play for the 1897 Boston Beaneaters?

2006-09-15 10:05:49
10.   adamclyde
2 yeah, I'd love to have the pair of shoes she's talking about...

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.

2006-09-15 10:09:41
11.   regfairfield
10 Segways taught us that yes, it is possible to overestimate how lazy the average person is.
2006-09-15 10:14:23
12.   Jon Weisman
I edited several Segway Fever stories during my unhappy tenure at the E-Commerce Times, such as this:

http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/commerce/7017.html

2006-09-15 10:27:36
13.   Daniel Zappala
I think the Segway proves that grownups won't ride a scooter or any other vehicle that exposes them to the elements unless it has a motor on it.
2006-09-15 10:36:12
14.   Greg S
14 The Kierland Hotel in Scottsdale (where the Doders stay) offeres them to their guests to move about the resort. I didn't see many takers. They also apparently offer them for the golf course but I didn't see ANY takers and find it hard to understand how that would work!
2006-09-15 10:40:49
15.   Marty
The L.A. Sheriffs are heavy Segway users at Union Station.
2006-09-15 10:42:45
16.   Jon Weisman
4 - Nice segue, by the way.
2006-09-15 17:58:32
17.   Vishal
[16] but terrible pun, though :P

[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.

2006-09-16 00:25:26
18.   Andrew Shimmin
Why is it that Super Troopers was so good, and all the rest of their movies are so awful? What's that about? People that young don't usually stop being funny all at once.

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