My Pipe Smoking / Softball Analogy

[newbroom]

When I consider my exploits and adventures in pipe smoking, I realize that there's a similarity in my sense of excitement when I get into the batter's box to when I pick a pipe and tobacco and get ready to smoke a bowl.
I play on a field that is not that much of a challenge to hit the ball out of, and it's still called a Home Run!

Whenever I step into that box, I'm charged with anticipation of a solid connection with that ball and hitting a Home Run.

Sometimes, I get too excited or may have other distractions and forget simple and well practiced mechanics and fail to deliver the bomb. I usually do get hits though. Some are triples that I have to work hard to achieve but they're very satisfying in their own right. I almost always at least get a double if I haven't hit the triple or homer, and I pop up more often that I'd like to.
When I smoke a bowl, I'm anticipating a nice relaxing, easy burning and tasty experience. That would be, pretty much, a home run. If I fail in some of the obvious mechanics and my bowl in turn is less than satisfactory, well, it then falls within the spectrum of the analogy. Any pop out is more often than I'd like, but the reality is that I am human and I forget the basics sometimes.
So....keep y'er eye on the ball, and don't forget to tamp once in awhile!
Mike

 

[warren]

I had to read this based simply on the thread title. Interesting and nicely done analogy. Good on you!
Slow pitch? Harder to hit the ball long when the batter has to generate most of the force.

 

[apiperisdown]

I like it @newbroom. Based on the analogy though I'm smoking about a 280 to a 310 average and only when I pick the correct bat (pipe) and am selective with my pitches (tobaccos). Being a rookie, I've finally learned to hit for average as opposed to swinging for the fences (pace) and as long as Pease is not on the mound too often I stand a chance of a good game. ::

 

[mephistopheles]

Great analogy, Newbroom. I played baseball for most of my life and you're totally right. :clap:

 

[puffy]

In my teens I played baseball.I thought it was a mans game.Then one summer I got talked into joining a softball league.Believe me that was a humbling experience.It was very much harder than I had imagined.It gave me a new respect for those who do it.I'm much better at smoking my pipes than I was trying to play softball.

 

[dottiewarden]

as long as Pease is not on the mound too often I stand a chance of a good game

@apiperisdown
Are you suggesting Pease will strike you out nearly every time?
Or that Pease is usually a Home Run.
Although I have never tried anything from Pease, the reputation of his blends make hime a living legend in the pipe smoking world, thus I think a good game would include his tobacco (pitches).

 

[newbroom]

warren:

Slow pitch? Harder to hit the ball long when the batter has to generate most of the force.

I practice from home plate with a bucket of balls off a tee sometimes. I can still hit it out. I don't try to, because it's a pain in the buttocks to retrieve them. I just practice making good contact and the balls all end up at the base of the fence for easy pick up. The air 'o dynamics of ball flight sometimes overtake my 'blasts' in a 6/12 rotation giving them more lift and carry.

 

[mephistopheles]

Yeah, I've never had any issue plowing them either. The worst part of dealing with softballs is the "recoil" though, haha. I remember being a little kid and my aunt - a veteran softball player - tossed me a softball to hit for the first time. It was like a boulder compared to a baseball. I had to switch to a bat with more shock absorption. Yeeeowwww. :evil: