Thursday, June 19, 2008

A Good Way To Waste Your Morning

Reader/blogger themarksmith forwarded me a link to this game that lets you try to hit balls from a very close pitching machine because he hates me and wants me to get fired from my job due to lack of productivity.

Fun: you get to pretend to be Chipper Jones.

Not fun: I think the thing is rigged, because I went 0 for my first 40, so in my case it was more like pretending to be Matt Diaz.

Post your best score in the comments. Remember: we're all gentlemen (and few ladies) here, so I'll trust that you are being entirely honest.

26 comments:

  1. 18. You have to look at the pitching machine. When the ball pops in right under the wheels, it stops for a moment then is pitched. Then swing. You have to look at the machine, or else it is really hard.

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  2. OK, that's way easier. I just got 12, and was really getting the hang of it at the end of the last batch.

    I'm about the worst game player of anyone of my generation, so I really appreciate the advice.

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  3. And I don't hate you. I was just trying to give you something that didn't require mental fortitude. Geez ... you try to help a guy.

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  4. Was 2 for my first 40 and then went 10 for 20.

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  5. 6/20. BUT I did hit the first pitch 395 feet. Like Manny, I spent so much time admiring my moon shot that I missed the next pitch.

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  6. 2 for 20, then 10 for 20.

    It doesn't give distance for the 20th pitch if you hit it.

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  7. 15. It took me a while to figure out (even with Mark's hint) because it seems like the ball is too far back when I hit it. In fact, after an 0-50 run, I accidentally swung late, and hit the ball.

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  8. I pretty much went Jack Cust on that. I hit the 3, but they all went more than 400 feet. I also took a couple of pitches. Turns out that doesn't work so well in this game.

    Why does the game have to make some pithy comment when you finish? It told me i should find another sport. I think I did pretty well by most advanced metrics. And doesn't it know anything about small sample sizes?

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  9. Seriously. I just went 9/20, and all 9 hits were 380+ (I'm assuming that the ones under 400 went down the lines, so I'm claiming that they were all home runs). The message: "I know you can hit better than that."

    Chipper isn't even hitting at a 9 for 20 pace right now!

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  10. Eight

    Clearly the problem is that Chipper is only a contact hitter from the right side. If they had him batting left, I would have done much better.

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  11. I am trying to figure out my BABIP on 13 hits.

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  12. I got a 1 out of 20 on the first batch, then a 12 out of 20 on the second batch and the message at the end told me that I should probably contemplate suicide. That wasn't very nice.

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  13. Damn you, Mark! I found that swinging when the ball was at his beltbuckle worked for me, rather than watching the machine.

    Hit 12 in my 3rd attempt. O-fer in the first. Five in the 2nd.

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  14. I think your advice is better, Jason. I just played again, this time focusing on the belt, and I got 16.

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  15. 3 out of 20 then 13 out of 20, although most of my 13 were Eckstein-like in that they went about 295 feet. But I was hitting at the Polo Grounds and I'm a dead pull hitter, so they all went out.

    My OPS was 3.250. Take that Bonds.

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  16. I just looked at Chipper. When the ball was about to "hit" him, I swung. It took about 6 tries but I got 12 out of 20. Longest: 409 feet.

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  17. Swear to god, there are times when you miss and there just isn't any apparent reason why.

    Can't crack 15/20, for the record.

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  18. 12/20
    longest was 410'

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  19. The programming's actually sort of clever--when you miss one, it turns into Roy Halladay and immediately fires a fastball, tries to sneak one past you.

    I've gotten one 19/20, but mostly it's 14 and 16 and stuff...

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  20. 19.

    Marksmith is exactly right.

    Stare at the machine, and your timing will be perfect.

    The one I missed was when I had to refocus, and I got all discombobulated.

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  21. 18 for 20. Start your swing when the ball gets to the "n" and "c" in "Distance".

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  22. Wow, I had no idea what this would cause. I have to say seeing some of you trying to figure out babip and such is hilarious. I'm glad you all enjoy the game. I'll have to stare at the buckle next time, but I've had success looking at the machine.

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  23. I found it best to focus on the just when the ball gets past the "D" in distance on the little green box in the middle. I tried both the belt and machine ways and did better looking at the box.

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  24. 0-20. Then 0-20. 0-20 after that. Then 15-20 with a 402 long. I kinda hate this game. I will continue playing.

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  25. I got 17 on my fourth try. So I'm done.

    I actually am using the green background with the vertical stripes as a guide.

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