I can't decide which one disturbs me more, the pig or the cow

ETA: because the pig could at least be seen as spiteful. The cow seems to be filled with glee at her fate.

Baseball's weird.

In our previous game we lost to the last place team. Not only did we lose but they had to invoke the slaughter rule. We lost 17-5. Plus we walked 14 players. Tonight we played the first place team (comfortably in first, I might add), and they pitched their best pitcher (the best in the league) for 4 2/3 innings, and we beat them 3-1. It was also the shortest game this season at 1 hour and 18 minutes.

I had four pitchers going today and we only gave up one run in six innings. They were the same pitchers who gave up 14 walks previously. But today, we were golden. We made so many great plays in the field it was ridiculous. We pounced on bunts and threw people out at first. We threw out two baserunners in one inning. We threw out the fastest kid in the league on a grounder from deep in the hole by one of our littlest players.

It is a mystery.

ETA: because the pig could at least be seen as spiteful. The cow seems to be filled with glee at her fate.

To me, the pig is more insane than anything else. But yeah, that almost makes the cow more disturbing, because she's happy and sane-appearing, despite her horrible fate.

So, I hate to sound totally stupid, but what's the slaughter rule? Does it just mean that you stop playing if you're being beaten badly, or is it something else?

Baseball's weird.

That's one of the fascinating things about sports to me - how occasionally, a player (or even a whole team) is "in the zone" and seems to transcend mere human skill. Like when a basketball player has a hot streak and hits almost every shot - I've read accounts where the player later says the basket just seems huge - like it's almost impossible to miss a shot.

If only we could figure out a way to be "in the zone" on command. Of course, that would take some of the magic out of sports.

So, I hate to sound totally stupid, but what's the slaughter rule? Does it just mean that you stop playing if you're being beaten badly

Yep.

I don't know the exact criteria for invoking the slaughter rule....

it turns out the slaughter rule varies in application

I remember a Diamondbacks game, don't recall who they were playing against, where the dbacks got so far behind they knew they weren't coming back, and for the last inning, they put Mark Grace, first-baseman, on the mound (so the loss wouldn't do any further damage to any of the relief pitchers' records, I think. but I could be wrong. Maybe they just did it for the fun of it). He certainly performed with... well, style over substance, having fun by imitating the various quirks of regular pitchers.

I have seen Big Gay Pirates Strike Back. In fact, I saw it nearly a whole DAY ago!

Who wants to touch me?

t /Cartman voice

Who wants to touch me?

I think the answer to that is "everyone."