Wednesday, February 15, 2006

Comeback wins!

"Its not over until its over" is probably written off as just another cliched usage. If you think harder, baseball is the only team sport where this is true. Say you are down 5 runs in the bottom on the 9th and 2 outs. Technically you are still alive. The odds are long, but still positive.

American Football, Basketball, Soccer, Handball, Hockey and Rugby are all controlled by the clock. If you are down by 5 scores in the last 2 minutes, you might as well head to the bus. In Cricket, if its not time, its overs. If you are down to 7 runs required from the last ball, technically you are screwed. (barring extras, of course)

A Baseball game can be never-ending. You can't say that about other worldly things. I think I figured out the title for my book : "Time, Space and Baseball"

8 Comments:

Blogger Sayee said...

Well..Basketball & some other sports have overtimes like extra innings..which could technically never end as well.So im not sure whats so different about baseball.

12:17 PM  
Blogger Sriram said...

OK. I exaggerated a bit on the never ending bit. (its still true though not just unique)

But comebacks in Basketball?

If I tried I could mathematically prove that you cannot come from 30 pts behind with 1 min to go and tie/win a game.

12:32 PM  
Blogger Sayee said...

Well..Mathematically you can't..coz it requires 0.3 seconds to get a shot up..and it could take 0.7 seconds to get a steal..and they could also commit a foul..till they run out of it..or the opposing team can step out of bounds..all the time..or travel..and turn the ball over...

So 30 points is totally do-able..!!

Statistically...you can..its propably not gonna happen..jus like a ..down by 15runs..and 1 out to go..ur propapbly..not going to win..Mathematically..ofcourse..you can !!

12:58 PM  
Blogger Sriram said...

interesting! When I said mathematically, I also implied that all 10 players are NOT playing for the same team. Why on earth would a leading team step outta bounds, and that too all the time.

We should argue utillizing the bestcase scenario WITHOUT having the opponents help you win.

They can just stand there and dribble (or not) until they are fouled.

Wanna play hard ball??? ;) Here we go!

Any baseball game can be never-ending. In basketball, only the overtime games can be never ending. Proof: With 1 minute to go, a 601 point game in basketball has to end in regulation (@10pts/sec), but even an infinite run game in baseball can still go to overtime. :)

2:26 PM  
Blogger Sayee said...

You can play as much Hardball as you want..I jus dont think its such a big deal that Baseball can be never ending..that might make baseball different from other games..but who cares ?

Its too boring to watch 9 innings..unless I watch a Playoff game or an Indians game anyway !

2:28 PM  
Blogger Sriram said...

Given that we were comparing anyway, I pulled out that ridiculous stat. No offense meant. Also, taste is subjective. I get it.

I think it is significant that Baseball doesn't depend on time, which appears to be a popular way to determine the winner in every other sport.

3:38 PM  
Blogger dinesh said...

Yes, I agree with you that in baseball, you don't have to combat time as another factor. I have thought about it as well and I do like that bit about baseball. Have you thought about this in football ? With one score up, and when you have the ball, and with a minute and a half to go and all you do is take 4 knees and you win the ball game ? I think a minute and a half is too much time, for you to say "okay, that's fine they won". I don't know how you can rectify this. But I hate it when 2 minutes left in the game, and one touchdown doen, I try to bring my team back, and I throw an interception, and the game is lost ! I think I should have a chance to come back !

1:31 PM  
Blogger Sriram said...

Dinesh, If you have the ball in the last 2 minutes and you turn it over, tough luck. That was your chance and you blew it. I think that's fair enough. You have to see THAT as a lost opportunity.

You can't see just the 4 kneel downs. they earned the win by beating you the rest of the 58.30 secs.

6:42 AM  

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