Baseball Question from Blockade Billy Debut

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thekidd12

Baseball is a good thing.Always was,always will be
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I know Mr King is a huge baseball fan so I hope this question is not out of line or offensive. Just re-read Blockade Billy in Bazaar of Bad Dreams. I enjoy the baseball part of story having played and coached for many years. In Billy's first game, on the play that led to the cutting of runner trying to score in top of ninth, why did the pitcher Dusen throw home? He had struck out first two batters of inning. The baseball play would be to flip ball to first and game is over. But then we wouldn't have a story would we? As always enjoyed the read. Just had to ask.
 

thekidd12

Baseball is a good thing.Always was,always will be
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Welcome to the Board! I am so very much not the person to answer this. Baseball makes my eyes cross. :chargrined:
Thanks for the welcome, longtime troller first time poster. I guess I am becoming just an old nitpicker. Rather than simply enjoying the tale which includes some excellent baseball references I find the one thing that bothers me. Like in the Eastwood movie Trouble with the Curve. The player being scouted in film plays high school baseball in NC. His games are nine innings long. High school baseball in NC only plays 7 innings. Good little movie but every time I see that drives me nuts. Blockade Billy, good easy old timey read, every time pitcher doesn't go to first on that play same thing. Again thanks everybody for welcomes and if you can get Mr King to answer that for me it would be great.
 

GNTLGNT

The idiot is IN
Jun 15, 2007
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Thanks for the welcome, longtime troller first time poster. I guess I am becoming just an old nitpicker. Rather than simply enjoying the tale which includes some excellent baseball references I find the one thing that bothers me. Like in the Eastwood movie Trouble with the Curve. The player being scouted in film plays high school baseball in NC. His games are nine innings long. High school baseball in NC only plays 7 innings. Good little movie but every time I see that drives me nuts. Blockade Billy, good easy old timey read, every time pitcher doesn't go to first on that play same thing. Again thanks everybody for welcomes and if you can get Mr King to answer that for me it would be great.
....it's for drama, nothing more profound....
 

thekidd12

Baseball is a good thing.Always was,always will be
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Drama I like. Bad baseball decisions that is a different story.

Welcome to the Board! I am so very much not the person to answer this. Baseball makes my eyes cross. :chargrined:

Greatest sporting event played. No time clock. No stalling to end game. Big doesn't necessarily mean better. Have to be better than your opponent on that day. Kind of like a good book. There are so many things happening on each play but you have to know where to look.

And thanks for all replies.
 

Moderator

Ms. Mod
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I know Mr King is a huge baseball fan so I hope this question is not out of line or offensive. Just re-read Blockade Billy in Bazaar of Bad Dreams. I enjoy the baseball part of story having played and coached for many years. In Billy's first game, on the play that led to the cutting of runner trying to score in top of ninth, why did the pitcher Dusen throw home? He had struck out first two batters of inning. The baseball play would be to flip ball to first and game is over. But then we wouldn't have a story would we? As always enjoyed the read. Just had to ask.
I sent Steve an email with your question but he said he'd have to reread the passage so this will have to go in the pending file as he doesn't have time to do that now.
 

GNTLGNT

The idiot is IN
Jun 15, 2007
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Drama I like. Bad baseball decisions that is a different story.



Greatest sporting event played. No time clock. No stalling to end game. Big doesn't necessarily mean better. Have to be better than your opponent on that day. Kind of like a good book. There are so many things happening on each play but you have to know where to look.

And thanks for all replies.
...I feel ya, details that crop up in any media that reflect on my interests or occupations-and aren't accurate in my opinion, bug me....
 

Aloysius Nell

Well-Known Member
Apr 1, 2014
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why did the pitcher Dusen throw home? He had struck out first two batters of inning. The baseball play would be to flip ball to first and game is over. But then we wouldn't have a story would we? As always enjoyed the read. Just had to ask.

Even the most talented players make bonehead judgment calls in the heat of things. It happens. I don't think it's Stephen King's mistake, but the pitcher's.
 

thekidd12

Baseball is a good thing.Always was,always will be
Apr 8, 2016
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Even the most talented players make bonehead judgment calls in the heat of things. It happens. I don't think it's Stephen King's mistake, but the pitcher's.
Yes they do. Didn't say it was a mistake just asked reasoning behind the action. Read almost all of Mr King's books/stories beginning in 1980 with a paperback copy of Salem's Lot my girlfriend/now wife gave me to read while away from her for a while. In a King story I believe there would have been something said about it being a bonehead play? Asking him this question has been on my short bucket list I made since my father passed away suddenly 2 years ago. I know it is a trivial point but something itching at me I have to scratch.
 

thekidd12

Baseball is a good thing.Always was,always will be
Apr 8, 2016
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That's fine. Just did not want to end up like my middle child claims to be. Trying to become more of a squeaky wheel. Not in my DNA really but trying to embrace the philosophy. Recent primary results point to it being effective? Go figure.
 

GNTLGNT

The idiot is IN
Jun 15, 2007
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I think the online appropriate thing to say is..... ahem bump?
bump-and-the-soul-stompers-i-can-remember-bw-standing-on-the-outside-2.jpg
 

Brooks

Well-Known Member
Nov 4, 2014
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I know Mr King is a huge baseball fan so I hope this question is not out of line or offensive. Just re-read Blockade Billy in Bazaar of Bad Dreams. I enjoy the baseball part of story having played and coached for many years. In Billy's first game, on the play that led to the cutting of runner trying to score in top of ninth, why did the pitcher Dusen throw home? He had struck out first two batters of inning. The baseball play would be to flip ball to first and game is over. But then we wouldn't have a story would we? As always enjoyed the read. Just had to ask.

It's a rainy day here at Shawshank meaning no yard time so I figured I would reread this chapter and give you my 2 cents.

With two outs in the inning, the batter "beeps it, not a blooper" per SK behind the pitcher's mound which is a difficult throw to first base. Plus the score is 2-1 so if you don't get the runner out at first, the runner is going to score from third and tie ball game. So, my opinion, being that Dusen the pitcher wanted to protect his win, made sure the guy at home was out and not going to score. Just my opinion from playing a few games.

Ok, library's calling. Back to work...

Brooks
 

thekidd12

Baseball is a good thing.Always was,always will be
Apr 8, 2016
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NC
OK not a bad hypothesis but pinch runner for Ted Williams, greatest hitter ever (sorry Red Sox fan since Freddy Lynn's rookie year) but a leadfoot, is Billy Anderson who can run like the wind. Breaking from second on a curveball on the pitch Anderson would have been much closer to plate than Dick Gernert the hitter to first base. Also a throw from behind mound would be closer to first than home. I know, I know nitpicking. For the story to work Billy had to do what he did on the play and walk off field as game was over. I didn't say my question was logical from a storytelling point of view, however as a lover of baseball and reader of one author (I am getting old and set in ways) I gotta ask.
 

thekidd12

Baseball is a good thing.Always was,always will be
Apr 8, 2016
1,791
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60
NC
Alright life got in the way, looks like for around 8 months, and I kind of forgot about the only thread I have ever started on a message board.

Then the other night I was watching the discussion of who might be selected for the Baseball Hall of Fame this year. Somewhere in my now "what did I climb to the top of this ladder to get" brain, a thought began trying to claw its way out.

Not sure if it was this question about Blockade Billy or not.

(See by definition things that run around in your brain while up on the top step often do not make it back to the ground totally intact)

But I am, in the technobabble parlance, "bumping" this thread hoping that it was causing the itch.

Thanks