World Series update: The Giants are doing something of which we had thought them incapable: making the World Series boring. Granted the Texas Rangers have helped immeasurably with a display of ineptitude bordering on the Stooge-like, but still. . . 9-0?!? Where art thou, Sweet Torture?
(Digression: Thus the Rangers prove themselves a true reflection of their former owner: As governor of Texas, George W. earned a reputation as a relatively moderate, competent manager. Only after hitting the biggest of stages did he transmogrify into a world-class incompetent. EOD)
At any rate, the comparative lack of onfield drama gave us time to ponder other baseball minutiae. For example, when a relief pitcher comes into a game, the broadcaster provides the thrower's stats. These include won-lost record, strikeouts, walks, and innings pitched (and possibly additional information like opponent's batting average and favorite jelly-bean flavor). Thus, the graphic might show:
As any baseball fan knows, he has pitched 62 and two-thirds innings; that is, he has gotten three outs 62 times and also retired another two batters. Thing is, though, numerically speaking, 62.2 isn't 62 and two-thirds; it's 62 and two-tenths. Presumably, mathematicians would explain the discrepancy as a natural consequence of baseball's "base-3" organization: The game pretty much revolves around 3's and 9's, and thus .2 would instantly be understood as 2/3. Or they would explain that baseball fans are a bunch of innumerate lackwits--it's all good. Bottom line, though: If you're trying to teach a fourth-grade baseball fan the decimal system, good luck!
(Digression: Thus the Rangers prove themselves a true reflection of their former owner: As governor of Texas, George W. earned a reputation as a relatively moderate, competent manager. Only after hitting the biggest of stages did he transmogrify into a world-class incompetent. EOD)
At any rate, the comparative lack of onfield drama gave us time to ponder other baseball minutiae. For example, when a relief pitcher comes into a game, the broadcaster provides the thrower's stats. These include won-lost record, strikeouts, walks, and innings pitched (and possibly additional information like opponent's batting average and favorite jelly-bean flavor). Thus, the graphic might show:
5-2, 48/20, 62.2Translation: The pitcher has won five games while losing two; he has struck out 48 batters and walked 20; and he has pitched. . . how many innings?
As any baseball fan knows, he has pitched 62 and two-thirds innings; that is, he has gotten three outs 62 times and also retired another two batters. Thing is, though, numerically speaking, 62.2 isn't 62 and two-thirds; it's 62 and two-tenths. Presumably, mathematicians would explain the discrepancy as a natural consequence of baseball's "base-3" organization: The game pretty much revolves around 3's and 9's, and thus .2 would instantly be understood as 2/3. Or they would explain that baseball fans are a bunch of innumerate lackwits--it's all good. Bottom line, though: If you're trying to teach a fourth-grade baseball fan the decimal system, good luck!
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