Salute to you, Sir! Happy Memorial Day weekend.

Gonna help with hang gliding launches above Alamogordo today and tomorrow. Then chillin' and grillin' on Monday. A salute to all veterans, living and dead, who have honorably worn the uniform of our armed services and defended our country. Hoo-Ahh!

LOL. With or without tax?

That's good skinny, Tinny. I didn't even know that 'Mericans made brandy/cognac. Think I'd also like to check out the Armagnacs as well. Thanks for your input.

OK, Haus Guests, I've need of yourall's wisdom. Any brandy or cognac snobs out there who can tell me which brand is the best and under $60? I'm buying this for medicinal purposes, of course. ;)

Heartfelt condolences and lamentations and prayers for the poor souls in Oklahoma, where the wind comes sweeping down the plain...

Lord Almighty, we beseech You to provide eternal peace for the dead and succor for the survivors of Your inscrutable and omnipotent will. Amen.

But of course! What's a little credit card debt between friends? BTW, are you up for another lunch at Eddie George's?

;)

Yogi Berra would endorse your comment.

Top o' the morning to you, Sir! I can tell by your keystrokes and comments that the world is once again your oyster.

Concur with your agreement with Tinny. That makes more sense. And here I thought that baseball was such a simple game.

HiYa, DM. Good question. 8.01 didn't elaborate, but my guess is that the switch pitcher indicates to the umpire, batter, and baserunner(s) which arm he will pitch with BEFORE the batter steps into the box. Once the pitcher steps on the rubber, the first pitch must be thrown from that set. Then subsequent switches by the pitcher and batter (one each, max) can be done. If this decision doesn't take place, then you have the musical chairs scenario in D2's above video.

In other words (and if I read this rule corectly), it's incumbent upon the switch pitcher to make an initial declaration and then stick with it for at least the first pitch during the batter's plate appearance. It makes sense to me, if you look upon the pitcher as the defensive player, and the batter as the offensive player. Sort of analogous to a football QB looking over a defensive set, and calling/running a play accordingly. Offense initiates the play; defense reacts.

Now, my question would be as to what counts as a switch on the batter. Let's say the batter is a righty. He's not in the batting box yet. He sees the switch-pitcher go from left arm to right arm, and the pitcher steps on the rubber. The switch-hitter then bats left. Is this his first (and only) switch allowed? Or does the batter get another switch subsequent to the pitcher's switch after the first pitch in the plate appearance? If such is the case, then the batter would ultimately enjoy the advantage. Kinda like who starts first in a game of tic-tac-toe.

Rule 8.01 goes on to state that the pitcher and the batter are each allowed only one switch after the first pitch is thown during the plate appearance.

Interesting conundrum. Baseball reference.com says a new rule was enacted by the Professional Baseball Umpire Corporation for minor league play in 2008 that states that "... a pitcher must indicate to the umpire, batter, and baserunner(s) which way he will begin pitching to the batter." (Rule 8.01)

Now, as to whether the pitcher may then switch arms after the first pitch, I don't yet know. The batter is free to switch any time after each pitch.

No need to say, 84, as we Bucknut conspiracy theorists probably already know, or can at least guess. Round up the usual suspects.

...I-O!

Quit Quad. Guten Nacht.

O-H...!

LOL! I get the tenor of your jibes where TM is concerned. That remains beween he and thee, Norka. But if you're trying to provoke a riposte from the notorious B-i-G, all I can say is... be careful what you wish for.

I know GR, for one (bless his heart), has gently admonished several of us- me included- on the threads when our conduct gets too snippy and ungentlemanly. But it seems to me that a cyber war of words isn't going to be stopped by a third party (unless, of course, RoboMod puts the whack on someone).

I'd like to think that I have cordial relationships with most of the regulars here on FN. Being friends to everybody is likely an impossibility, given the disparate personalities that inhabit this virtual community. However, I can dislike somebody for their lack of decorum, yet still respect them for their insight and viewpoint.

Tin Man and I had the rare opportunity to tear through the Web and actually meet last year in C-bus and see a Buckeyes football game at Ohio Stadium together. I'll admit a bias where that friendship is concerned, as it would be also with TZ Man. Subsequent dialogues on FN are never quite the same after that kind of forthright acknowledgement. I suppose that is why I don't look upon TM's participation on the "...I-O" board with the same lens or jaundiced eye as others might.

At the risk of sounding like a Pollyanna, D2, I wish we could all meet face-to-face on a crisp autumn day at our favorite CFB venues. Then the facades of anonymity, the avatars, the nicknames, the posturing, and the ill-will would be swept away in the recognition of our common humanity and in the warmth of enjoying and sharing a great sporting event. I can dream a little.

I suppose if there is no other venue to cuss and discuss, D2, then OK. I'll stop being a gatekeeper. But you'll notice my fellow Bucknuts are checking in with less frequency as the sniping continues. Guess they don't want to get caught in a crossfire. Neither do I. Being a target sucks.

I like your style, Blood. The Physical Plant director at the WHAC needs your vision. ;)

Let's redirect here and keep this board germane to Buckeye topics of discussion, shall we?

Now go play ball! GO BUCKS!