• Off the bat

    From Alexander Koryagin@2:221/6 to All on Wed Dec 21 07:21:28 2022
    Hi, All!

    In one book (a children adventure novel) I read this:

    ....The message was strange.
    Kate looked hopefully at Reynie. "I don't suppose you
    know what he means, do you? Just right off the bat?"
    Reynie shook his head. "No idea."

    What did she mean with her bat? :)

    Bye, All!
    Alexander Koryagin

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    * Origin: nntp://news.fidonet.fi (2:221/6.0)
  • From Nil Alexandrov@2:5015/46 to Alexander Koryagin on Wed Dec 21 11:23:48 2022
    Hello, Alexander!

    Wednesday December 21 2022 07:21, from Alexander Koryagin -> All:

    Kate looked hopefully at Reynie. "I don't suppose you
    know what he means, do you? Just right off the bat?"
    Reynie shook his head. "No idea."

    What did she mean with her bat? :)

    This expression comes from the baseball and this is a fixed expression means immediately. The bat is the stick you play with. There are couple of more baseball terminology is used daily, like let*s touch base (tomorrow and discuss that), (the value is) in the ballpark, etc.

    Best Regards, Nil
    --- GoldED+/LNX 1.1.5
    * Origin: Linux 2.6.32-042stab145.3 (2:5015/46)
  • From Alexander Koryagin@2:221/6 to Nil Alexandrov on Thu Dec 22 07:53:58 2022
    Hi, Nil Alexandrov!
    I read your message from 21.12.2022 11:23

    Kate looked hopefully at Reynie. "I don't suppose you
    know what he means, do you? Just right off the bat?"
    Reynie shook his head. "No idea."
    What did she mean with her bat? :)
    This expression comes from the baseball and this is a fixed
    expression means immediately. The bat is the stick you play
    with. There are couple of more baseball terminology is used
    daily, like let*s touch base (tomorrow and discuss that), (the value
    is) in the ballpark, etc.

    Yeah, what a game -- a half of the world loves it, and the other part has no idea what it is. :)

    Bye, Nil!
    Alexander Koryagin
    fido.english_tutor 2022

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    * Origin: nntp://news.fidonet.fi (2:221/6.0)
  • From Ardith Hinton@1:153/716 to Nil Alexandrov on Wed Dec 21 23:46:17 2022
    Hi, Nil! Recently you wrote in a message to Alexander Koryagin:

    Kate looked hopefully at Reynie. "I don't suppose you
    know what he means, do you? Just right off the bat?"
    Reynie shook his head. "No idea."

    What did she mean with her bat? :)

    This expression comes from the baseball and this is a
    fixed expression means immediately. The bat is the
    stick you play with. There are couple of more baseball
    terminology is used daily, like let*s touch base
    (tomorrow and discuss that), (the value is) in the
    ballpark, etc.


    Yes. I'd describe these as metaphors referring to baseball, i.e. a sport probably more well-known Over Here... but I like your explanation. :-)




    --- timEd/386 1.10.y2k+
    * Origin: Wits' End, Vancouver CANADA (1:153/716)
  • From Anton Shepelev@2:221/6 to Nil Alexandrov on Thu Dec 22 16:17:58 2022
    Nil Alexandrov:

    This [off the bat] expression comes from the baseball
    and this is a fixed expression means immediately. The
    bat is the stick you play with.

    I should say Covid and Batman were off the bat, though.

    There are couple of more baseball terminology is used
    daily, like let*s touch base (tomorrow and discuss
    that), (the value is) in the ballpark, etc.

    That reminds me of the immortal number by Abbot&Costello,
    "Who's on first?" (I have the script handy) --

    A: Alright, now whaddya want?

    C: Now look, I'm the head of the sports
    department. I gotta know the baseball
    players' names.
    Do you know the guys' names?

    A: Oh sure.

    C: So you go ahead and tell me some of their
    names.

    A: Well, I'll introduce you to the boys. You
    know sometimes nowadays they give
    ballplayers peculiar names.

    C: You mean funny names.

    A: Nicknames, pet names, like Dizzy Dean --

    C: His brother Daffy --

    A: Daffy Dean --

    C: And their cousin!

    A: Who's that?

    C: Goofy!

    A: Goofy, huh? Now let's see. We have on the
    bags - we have Who's on first, What's on
    second, I Don't Know's on third.

    C: That's what I wanna find out.

    A: I say Who's on first, What's on second, I
    Don't Know's on third --

    C: You know the fellows' names?

    A: Certainly!

    C: Well then who's on first?

    A: Yes!

    C: I mean the fellow's name!

    A: Who!

    C: The guy on first!

    A: Who!

    C: The first baseman!

    A: Who!

    C: The guy playing first!

    A: Who is on first!

    C: Now whaddya askin' me for?

    A: I'm telling you Who is on first.

    C: Well, I'm asking YOU who's on first!

    A: That's the man's name.

    C: That's who's name?

    A: Yes.

    C: Well go ahead and tell me.

    A: Who.

    C: The guy on first.

    A: Who!

    C: The first baseman.

    A: Who is on first!

    C: Have you got a contract with the first
    baseman?

    A: Absolutely.

    C: Who signs the contract?

    A: Well, naturally!

    C: When you pay off the first baseman every
    month, who gets the money?

    A: Every dollar. Why not? The man's entitled
    to it.

    C: Who is?

    A: Yes. Sometimes his wife comes down and
    collects it.

    C: Who's wife?

    A: Yes.

    C: All I'm tryin' to find out is what's the
    guy's name on first base.

    A: Oh, no -- wait a minute, don't switch 'em
    around. What is on second base.

    C: I'm not askin' you who's on second.

    A: Who is on first.

    C: I don't know.

    A: He's on third -- now we're not talkin'
    'bout him.

    C: Now, how did I get on third base?

    A: You mentioned his name!

    C: If I mentioned the third baseman's name,
    who did I say is playing third?

    A: No - Who's playing first.

    C: Never mind first - I wanna know what's
    the guy's name on third.

    A: No - What's on second.
    C: I'm not askin' you who's on second.

    A: Who's on first.

    C: I don't know.

    A: He's on third.

    C: Aaah! Would you please stay on third base
    and don't go off it?

    A: What was it you wanted?

    C: Now who's playin' third base?

    A: Now why do you insist on putting Who on
    third base?

    C: Why? Who am I putting over there?

    A: Yes. But we don't want him there.

    C: What's the guy's name on third base?

    A: What belongs on second.

    C: I'm not askin' you who's on second.

    A: Who's on first.

    C: I don't know.

    A&C: THIRD BASE!

    C: You got an outfield?

    A: Oh yes!

    C: The left fielder's name?

    A: Why.

    C: I don't know, I just thought I'd ask you.

    A: Well, I just thought I'd tell you.

    C: Alright, then tell me who's playin' left
    field.

    A: Who is playing fir--

    C: STAY OUTTA THE INFIELD! I wanna know
    what's the left fielder's name.

    A: What's on second.

    C: I'm not askin' you who's on second.

    A: Who's on first.

    C: I don't know.

    A: C: THIRD BASE!

    C: The left fielder's name?

    A: Why.

    C: Because!

    A: Oh, he's center field.

    C: Look, you gotta pitcher on this team?

    A: Now wouldn't this be a fine team without
    a pitcher.

    C: The pitcher's name.

    A: Tomorrow.

    C: You don't wanna tell me today?

    A: I'm tellin' you now.

    C: Then go ahead.

    A: Tomorrow.

    C: What time?

    A: What time what?

    C: What time tomorrow are you going to tell
    me who's pitching?

    A: Now listen. Who is not pitching. Who is
    on fir--

    C: I'll break your arm if you say Who's on
    first. I wanna know what's the pitcher's
    name.

    A: What's on second.

    C: I don't know.

    A: THIRD BASE!

    C: You got a catcher?

    A: Oh, absolutely.

    C: The catcher's name.

    A: Today.

    C: Today. And Tomorrow's pitching.

    A: Now you've got it.

    C: All we've got is a couple of days on the
    team.

    A: Well, I can't help that.

    C: Well, I'm a catcher too.

    A: I know that.

    C: Now suppose that I'm catching, Tomorrow's
    pitching on my team and their heavy
    hitter gets up.

    A: Yes.

    C: Tomorrow throws the ball. The batter
    bunts the ball. When he bunts the ball,
    me being a good catcher, I wanna throw
    the guy out at first base. So I pick up the
    ball and throw it to who?

    A: Now that's the first thing you've said
    right.

    C: I don't even know what I'm talkin' about!

    A: Well, that's all you have to do.

    C: Is to throw the ball to first base.

    A: Yes.

    C: Now who's got it?

    A: Naturally!

    C: If I throw the ball to first base,
    somebody's gotta catch it. Now who caught
    it?

    A: Naturally!

    C: Who caught it?

    A: Naturally.

    C: Who?

    A: Naturally!

    C: Naturally.

    A: Yes.

    C: So I pick up the ball and I throw it to
    Naturally.

    A: NO, NO, NO! You throw the ball to first
    base and Who gets it?

    C: Naturally.

    A: That's right. There we go.

    C: So I pick up the ball and I throw it to
    Naturally.

    A: You don't!

    C: I throw it to who?

    A: Naturally.

    C: THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING!

    A: You're not saying it that way.

    C: I said I throw the ball to Naturally.

    A: You don't - you throw the ball to Who?

    C: Naturally!

    A: Well, say that!

    C: THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING! I throw the ball
    to who?

    A: Naturally.

    C: Ask me.

    A: You throw the ball to Who?

    C: Naturally.

    A: That's it.

    C: SAME AS YOU!! I throw the ball to first
    base and who gets it?

    A: Naturally!

    C: Who has it?

    A: Naturally!

    C: HE BETTER HAVE IT! I throw the ball to
    first base. Whoever it is grabs the ball,
    so the guy runs to second. Who picks up
    the ball and throws it to What, What
    throws it to I Don't Know, I Don't Know
    throws it back to Tomorrow -- triple play.

    A: Yes.

    C: Another guy gets up -- it's a long fly
    ball to Because. Why? I don't know. He's
    on third and I don't give a darn!

    A: What was that?

    C: I said I don't give a darn!

    A: Oh, that's our shortstop.

    Litsten and watch also:
    -- http://www.archive.org/download/otr_abbottandcostello/Abbott_and_Costello_-_Whos_On_First_Original_30_Min_Live_Rad.mp3
    -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sShMA85pv8M

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