Batting last as a home advantage factor in men's NCAA tournament baseball

In baseball and softball, there is a rule that allows the home team to have the last at-bat and thus the final opportunity to win the game. However, in tournament play, this rule is often set aside and, instead, batting order is decided by other means (e.g. tournament rules, the flip of a coin). The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of the batting last rule on game outcome in NCAA men's regional tournament baseball. It was hypothesized that host (i.e. home) teams would win a greater percentage of the games in which they batted last compared with when they batted first. This hypothesis was not supported. Closer examination of the last inning of play showed home teams were no more likely to have won the game during their last bat than visitors playing other visitors. The results suggest that the batting last rule contributes minimally, if at all, to home advantage in NCAA tournament baseball.     

Batting last as a home advantage factor in men's NCAA tournament baseball

In baseball and softball, there is a rule that allows the home team to have the last at-bat and thus the final opportunity to win the game. However, in tournament play, this rule is often set aside and, instead, batting order is decided by other means (e.g. tournament rules, the flip of a coin). The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of the batting last rule on game outcome in NCAA men's regional tournament baseball. It was hypothesized that host (i.e. home) teams would win a greater percentage of the games in which they batted last compared with when they batted first. This hypothesis was not supported. Closer examination of the last inning of play showed home teams were no more likely to have won the game during their last bat than visitors playing other visitors. The results suggest that the batting last rule contributes minimally, if at all, to home advantage in NCAA tournament baseball.     

Negotiating the cultural and economic outcomes of sport heritage attractions: the case of the National Baseball Hall of Fame

ABSTRACT

Contemporary museums must balance their roles as commercial entities and repositories of various, and often dissonant, heritages and histories. Sports museums in particular often have clear commercial and nostalgic aims, particularly through tourist visitation, though the extent to which they represent more challenging narratives remains unclear. This paper examines how one of the most famous sports museums in the world, the National Baseball Hall of Fame (NBHF) in Cooperstown, New York, balances its dual role as tourist attraction and repository of baseball's sometimes checkered past. It was found that different sections of the museum provide greater or lesser degrees of engagement with more controversial issues, although the commercial outputs and appeal of the museum remains clear throughout. Utlimately, the NBHF demonstrates that balancing veneration and critique in collections can be commercially prosperous, and can provide a template for other sport and popular culture museums who may be wary of incorporating more challenging narratives in their exhibits. Furthermore, the symbiotic relationship between the Hall of Fame and the village of Cooperstown, particularly in creating and maintaining cultural and economic outputs, requires further exploration.     

Clifton Forge and Back Again

Abstract

Coming from small-town Appalachia, Josh Howard reflects on his career as a public historian with a focus on sport. He maps out his recent work at the National Baseball Hall of Fame, Lamar University, and other sport history work in explaining a journey from a background in statistics to one in public sport history. He concludes by offering some suggestions to better develop scholarship on the intersection of public history and sport history specifically through partnerships with professional sport franchises.     

武术博物馆英语解说存在的问题以及对策——以中国武术博物馆为例

中国武术博物馆位于上海体育学院,是全国乃至世界首家全方位展示武术文化和历史的博物馆,是弘扬中华传统武术文化的阵地。中国武术博物馆英语解说是向国外游客宣传介绍中华传统武术的主要手段之一。下文将对武术博物馆英文解说的定义以及功能加以解释,并分析当下武术博物馆英文解说实施过程中存在的一些在内容和方法上的不足,结合实际操作情况,从设置解说内容、定时更新审查制度以及调动多感官解说等方面,提出可以更好地服务于宣传中华武术文化的英文解说方法。     

美国棒球与板球发展消长之谜

多年以来,运动史学家都在争论,何以棒球能在曾为大英帝国殖民属地的美国取得凌驾于板球的发展。板球在美国的迅速式微,无论对于棒球或板球研究来说,都堪称最令人困惑的问题之一。及至今日,棒球与板球关系背后仍然存在许多难解的问题。既有文献指出,板球在美国的发展不仅可以上溯至17世纪,直到1860年代,板球也仍为美国非常普及的运动;但吊诡的是,就在内战之后,当美国社会进入"镀金时代"之后,板球却逐渐式微,甚至沦为美国边缘运动。透过检视美国棒球与板球发展的历史,本文企图指出主流理论的问题,尝试针对美国棒球与板球发展消长的关系提供不同的解释。     

‘Chasing the Elusive Pill’: YMCA Men,the Paris Baseball League and Making Baseball French, 1919–1925

American Baseball was introduced in France in the late nineteenth century, to little appeal. During the First World War, American soldiers immediately began playing the sport for recreation in France, but it was YMCA men in the new Foyers du Soldat, rest and relaxation huts, who truly re-introduced baseball to the French. After the war, Americans in Paris created an amateur league that perpetuated baseball, but the sport still did not resonate with but a minority ofthe French, despite great efforts. It was only in 1924, in the wake of the Olympics, that the French took organisational control of baseball, winning government recognition and establishing firm roots for the sport by making baseball nominally French.     

Throwing in cricket

This paper considers the kinematic characteristics of overarm throwing with particular emphasis on the techniques of throwing and pitching in baseball. The technique is subdivided into: (1) sequential pattern of throwing, (2) lead foot contact, (3) preparatory phase, (4) arm acceleration and (5) instant of ball release. Specific biomechanical principles that underpin throwing and their application within baseball are identified. The paper also presents a case study of the three-dimensional characteristics of throwing technique in cricket. The aim was to compare the skill in cricket to that previously researched in baseball. The findings for throwing in cricket are similar to those reported for baseball, indicating that there is a definite crossover in the rationale of how an individual should throw specific to the demands of cricket and baseball. The differences noted--greater elbow flexion at lead foot contact and less external rotation during the preparation phase--can be attributed to the demands placed on the fielder and pitcher specific to their respective sports.     

Throwing in cricket

This paper considers the kinematic characteristics of overarm throwing with particular emphasis on the techniques

of throwing and pitching in baseball. The technique is subdivided into: (1) sequential pattern of throwing,

(2) lead foot contact, (3) preparatory phase, (4) arm acceleration and (5) instant of ball release. Specific biomechanical

principles that underpin throwing and their application within baseball are identified. The paper

also presents a case study of the three-dimensional characteristics of throwing technique in cricket. The aim

was to compare the skill in cricket to that previously researched in baseball. The findings for throwing in cricket

are similar to those reported for baseball, indicating that there is a definite crossover in the rationale of how an

individual should throw specific to the demands of cricket and baseball. The differences noted - greater elbow

flexion at lead foot contact and less external rotation during the preparation phase - can be attributed to the

demands placed on the fielder and pitcher specific to their respective sports.     

The hongye legend in taiwanese baseball: Separating myth from reality

This paper examines the legend and reality behind Hongye youth baseball. Friendly games against Japan in 1968 created an impact that has a unique place within Taiwanese history. Established both by the government and the media, Hongye was not only hailed as the genesis of Taiwan's baseball, but also as part of a Chinese nation-building project that was acceptable within society. As a result, myths were added to those facts that had become part of the people's collective memory. Such myths still linger today. The truth behind Hongye, as argued here, is that the innovation was actually a tragedy in disguise, both for young players and Taiwanese baseball as a whole [1 [1] This essay employs the Pinyin romanization system, which is used in mainland China and also is internationally recognized, since the systems used in Taiwan are quite confusing. Except for Taipei, and references that are originally written in original fashion, all are in Pinyin style. For example, US-based players Tsao Chin-hui and Chen Chin-feng are written as Cao Jinhui and Chen Jinfeng respectively. ].     

浅析棒球运动在中国的发展之路

中国棒球队直接进入2008年北京奥运会,2002年第1届中国棒球职业联赛和2003年首届中国大学生棒球联赛成功举办,预示着中国棒球运动正在蓬勃发展。采用文献法和历史调查法,通过对棒球发展史以及棒球在中国的开展情况进行调查研究,发现目前中国棒球运动存在“两头大,中间小”的状态———小学覆盖面广、职业棒球队得到大力发展,中学队伍却很少的瓶颈问题,人才培养存在断档现象,针对这一问题提出:要使棒球运动在中国得到普及性的开展,必须搞职业棒球联赛和高校棒球。     

Whole-body vibration effects on the muscle activity of upper and lower body muscles during the baseball swing in recreational baseball hitters

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of whole-body vibration (WBV) on the muscle recruitment of selected upper and lower body muscles during the baseball swing. Participants were recreationally trained males (n = 16, 22 +/- 2 years, 181.4 +/- 7.4 cm, 84.7 +/- 9.0 kg), with previous baseball experience. Subjects participated in three randomized sessions on separate days, consisting of three sets of five swings offa hitting tee. Exercises (upper and lower body dynamic and static movements) with or without WBVexposure were performed between swing sets. During each swing, the gastrocnemius, biceps femoris, gluteus maximus, pectoralis major, latissimus dorsi, and triceps brachii were evaluated for electromyographic (EMG) activity. EMG values were normalized to EMG measured during maximal voluntary isometric contraction. Statistical analysis revealed no significant differences in EMG activity across the three treatments. In addition, the results displayed a specific muscle recruitment order during the swing, starting with the lower body followed by the upper body muscles. This study was the first to report the recruitment order during the baseball swing. Although acute exposure to WBV did not significantly alter the muscle recruitment, these results may prove useful for practitioners looking to enhance baseball swing performance.     

Influence of a baseball glove on the nature of errors produced in simple one-hand catching

The influence of a baseball glove on the positioning and grasping components of one-hand catching was studied under both vision impaired and unimpaired conditions. Skilled softball and baseball players (N = 20) caught tennis balls barehand and softballs with a fielder's glove. In half of the trials, a screen positioned alongside the subject's head blocked vision of the catching hand. All trials were videotaped and errors were categorized by type (position or grasp). Results indicated that with the glove performance was essentially perfect, regardless of the screen condition. Barehand grasping performance, however, was affected by the subject's inability to see his hand to a much greater extent than barehand positioning. We argue that the baseball glove functions to reduce both the positioning accuracy requirements and the grasp timing requirements in simple catching. Peripheral vision of the limb, however, is necessary for controlling the barehand grasp phase.     

The experience of watching baseball games in Korea: an analysis of user-generated content on social media using Leximancer

The current study explores international tourists’ experiences of watching professional baseball games in Korea. Total 152 reviews posted by tourists on TripAdvisor were analyzed through Leximancer, a computer program used in the qualitative content analysis. The software identified three dominant themes of tourist experiences: the distinctive atmosphere of Korean professional baseball games, the diverse services in the stadium, and fanatical cheering behavior for the team. Moreover, it revealed that international tourists were generally positive toward the culturally distinctive style of Korean professional baseball games. This study suggests that the professional sports of a travel destination can be a form of providing international tourists with pleasurable experiences and a way to learn about the distinctive Korean baseball culture.     

中国棒球运动与亚洲职业棒球发展差距的研究

棒球在日本、韩国和中国的台湾省有着悠久的历史和很高的竞技水平,与其职业棒球的发展有着紧密的联系。中国棒球联赛称不上真正意义的中国职棒联赛,只是看到了中国职棒的雏形,成为真正意义的职棒联赛,还需要有一定的时间进行棒球市场的培育与开发,只有队伍规模的壮大,球员水平的提高和拥有一定数量的球迷,真正气候的职业棒球才会实现,竞技水平才能赶超日本、韩国和中国台湾。     

我国普通高校棒球人才培养机制研究

我国普通高校棒垒球协成立已经9年了,但我国普通高校棒球运动发展速度较慢,我国普通高校棒球联赛水平与想象相差甚远。通过对出席2012年7月＂全国棒垒球联赛＂开幕式领导的访谈、及对参加全国棒垒球联赛所有普通高校教练员及运动员调研。经过整理、分析问卷,找出我国普通高校棒球人才培养的途径,提出相应的解决对策。在现实训练、比赛及我国普通高校棒球运动的发展中具有重要意义。     

A Field Study of Traditional and Nontraditional Children's Baseball

Abstract

Nine- to 10-year-old children have difficulty playing baseball using adult rules because pitchers lack the ability to throw the ball over the plate with consistency and batters lack ability to hit erratically thrown balls. Thus a natural field experiment investigated a modification of adult baseball for 9- to 10-year-old children. Instead of one of the players on the opposing team pitching, the coach of the offensive team pitched to the batters. Teams in a league who played baseball by adult rules (traditional league) were compared with teams in a league who played the modified game (nontraditional league), and both these leagues were compared with 11- to 12-year-old teams (older league). Various offensive and defensive activities were recorded by two observers and satisfaction scores were obtained from the players after the games. More offensive and defensive activity occurred in the nontraditional league games than in the traditional and older league games.     

棒球挥击速度的研究

应用高速动态分析仪对部分运动员挥击速度现状的解析参数进行了研究．得出从启动──中球的挥击时间：斜碰撞时是在棒速下降时进行的．现要求棒的挥击时间在１００ｍｓ以内，投手球飞行至本垒前３．４ｍ左右时棒开始启挥．     

棒、垒球运动员流畅心理状态的主要特征研究

结合我国运动员运动竞赛的亲身体验，重新翻译和检验《流畅状态量表》。通过对200名棒垒球运动员的调查，结果发现，棒垒球运动员流畅心理状态最主要的四个特征是：挑战一技能平衡、行动一意识融合、高度控制感和自我意识的丧失；运动员流畅心理状态主要特征与比赛成绩高度相关；棒垒球运动员流畅心理状态的结构特点为：流畅心理较低型占总人数的3396，优秀型和良好型共占总人数的6796；棒垒球运动员流畅心理状态具有一定的稳定性，流畅心理状态主要特征中心坐标95％置信区间值可作为运动员流畅心理水平的评价标准。     

女子垒球运动员竞赛中不良情绪的分析与对策

通过对全国部分女子垒球运动员在竞赛中的不良情绪的分析,指出了对竞赛产生副作用的"焦躁"、"自负"、"紧张"、"松弛"、"淡漠"等5种不良情绪,在分析其成因的基础上提出了对策.