http://disqus.com/people/35ceb9c14411edb5296a5d6ff4dd0100/enThu, 31 May 2007 17:04:02 -0000http://martinstabe.disqus.com/what_cricket_can_learn_from_baseball/#comment-1927811Ok, this is an exceptionally old post, but this needs to be said. I think this could be yet another one of those comments that has been made without a proper understanding of the game of cricket. <br><br>Granted, baseball coaches are becoming more and more prominent in the game of cricket (in my opinion this is largely due to baseball's superior throwing techniques), but to almost ignore that fact that baseball players carry around massive gloves in their hands is ludicrous. Baseball technique is very important, and is therefore well rehearsed, but when you add a glove into the equation, regardless of technique, catching the ball becomes easier. Cricketers have no mits - catching the ball is undoubtedly more difficult.<br><br>You make a valid point pertaining to relative value of fielding in the two games, but if any player, be he a baseball player or a cricketer drops the ball, the result is catastrophic. As you rightly mentioned, in cricket, runs are far more prevalent. Conversely, outs are far less likely to come by, meaning that a completed catch in cricket is MORE important than its equivalent in baseball. If you drop a baseball batter he runs to the next base (or further) and will not be seen again until his next 'at bat' and catching him would not give him fewer subsequent turns to bat. <br><br>In cricket, batters only get one turn to bat so dropping a batter may result in allowing a batter another 2 days batting - dropping a batter not only gives him a run, but effectively another turn to bat.andyThu, 31 May 2007 17:04:02 -0000