Sport in Pittsburgh (a lot to learn) (college, salary)

[Slartibarfast]

Hello.

I've been looking at the teams in the city... Steelers, Penguins and Pirates and it doesn't look like i'm going to be short of things to go and watch. Now, while i have a fair understanding of Football and Hockey (as a viewer, not a tacticion) i don't have a clue how Baseball works, it makes no sense to me at all. I keep throwing meringues at that wall but they just wont stick! Can anyone please recommend a good site that would teach me the basics, one for kids might be a good idea .

On my readings i've come across some mentions of a "Terrible Towel" and after finding a pic' of one i realised i'd seen one before on the back of an APC of 23rd Infantry in Helmand, must have been a fan .

"There's a frood who really knows where his towel is!" - Douglas Adams.

[BrianTH]

Basic Rules of Baseball - Baseball Rules for Beginners

By the way, there is a pro soccer team, the Riverhounds, which is getting a new stadium (you might be able to see it from PPG Place).

[Slartibarfast]

Hello.

@BrianTH
Right, nice.. i'll have a look at that .

[bradjl2009]

Don't worry too much about baseball. Trying to follow to Pirates may keep you from wanting to even move here. :P

[hinsey86]

I was going to ask if there is a baseball team here. Last game I went to was damn exciting.....some Penquins were there right after winning the Stanley Cup.

[okaydorothy]

We didnt understand baseball until our son explained it to us ; he was probably 5 at the time.

Football ; still dont get it. But its fun to watch.

Baseball is like rounders that we played as kids on the street.

[ditchdigger]

Originally Posted by bradjl2009

Don't worry too much about baseball. Trying to follow to Pirates may keep you from wanting to even move here. :P

Yeah. There's very little evidence that the Pirates understand it either.

[sskink]

One nice thing about the US is that if you show up in a bar and ask someone to explain baseball, they'll try. I recall asking Kiwis and Aussies about cricket when I was over there (and I really wanted to know how to read a box score) and all I got was "hey yank, bugger off and go back to your precious baseball." Bermudians just ignored me.

The Pirates suck. This much is true. But a night at PNC can still be enjoyable. It's not too expensive and they do serve local beer and food.

As to how it works, try this: HowStuffWorks "How Baseball Works"

[gmagoo]

Actually the Pirates played rather well for 2/3 of last season and then it all fell apart. Without salary caps like the other major sports have,small market teams are at a disadvantage. There`s no way the Pirates could pay the $250 million dollars that Albert Pujols was awarded to change teams.

[UKyank]

Originally Posted by gmagoo

Actually the Pirates played rather well for 2/3 of last season and then it all fell apart. Without salary caps like the other major sports have,small market teams are at a disadvantage. There`s no way the Pirates could pay the $250 million dollars that Albert Pujols was awarded to change teams.

They could however attempt to play competively every so often or even fairly regularly like many other small market teams in the league do but unfortunately we are burdened with a terrible ownership that's cares only about lining their own pockets rather then putting anything resembling a successful team on the field.


Back to the original topic, yes, professional baseball, (American) football & hockey here + fairly large college basketball following here with Pitt (this years embarrassing performance notwithstanding), a semi professional soccer (football) team, an indoor (american) football team, and you will also find some amateur rugby & cricket teams about.
Lots of golf courses as well if you're into that.