How Do You Spell Relief?
Cidu Bill on Sep 30th 2008
I’ve heard of a relief pitcher “warming up,” but that doesn’t seem to be what’s going on here
Filed in Bill Bickel, CIDU, In the Bleachers, Steve Moore, baseball, comic strips, comics, humor | 12 responses so far
Kit Sep 30th 2008 at 12:47 am 1
Maybe a comment on the “Boys of Summer” playing until mid-October?
David N Sep 30th 2008 at 02:49 am 2
So … why is everyone wearing short sleeves then? Hmm. And I guess the reliever isn’t a “fireballer” or “flamethrower”.
Me, I’d be just a smidgen nervous about exactly where he’s pointing that torch …
meep Sep 30th 2008 at 05:01 am 3
They had a pitcher on ice?
CaroZ Sep 30th 2008 at 07:17 am 4
Hmmm… I think “relief pitcher warming up” really is the joke. Not a very good one, though.
LD Sep 30th 2008 at 10:37 am 5
Ted Williams!
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/12/20/national/main533849.shtml
LD Sep 30th 2008 at 10:38 am 6
Search for Ted Williams and cryonics.
Judge Mental Sep 30th 2008 at 10:45 am 7
“Warming up the pitcher” is the joke. They just are still quite a way from him being “warmed up”. In order to stall for time, the manager or pitching coach will many times indeed take his time in going out to talk to the current pitcher, kick some dirt, talk to the umpire, etc. In this case, they need a lot more time than usual.
Powers Sep 30th 2008 at 11:09 am 8
If “warming up” is the joke, why use the phrase “thawing out”? It just obscures the joke.
heather Sep 30th 2008 at 12:05 pm 9
I think it’s just the suggestion that their spare relief pitchers are kept in cold storage until needed…
eisenhomer Sep 30th 2008 at 12:27 pm 10
Powers - They haven’t even gotten to the point that he can warm up yet - He has to be thawed first, then warm up, hence the request to stall for as much time as possible.
Michael Sep 30th 2008 at 02:00 pm 11
I’m a baseball season ticket holder and I see this comic explaining “what you don’t see going on behind the scenes…” I can’t tell you how interminably long some pitching changes can be. First the catcher comes out to talk to the pitcher, then the pitching coach trudges out to the mound, maybe they’ll intentionally walk a batter, then the coach meanders to the hill for a discussion. Finally they signal to bring in the reliever. As a fan you’re sitting there thinking, “what could possibly be taking them so long getting the next guy ready?” Now we know.
Cindi Sep 30th 2008 at 02:47 pm 12
My vote goes to LD - even though Ted Williams was an outfielder IIRC - still that is the only way that comic is remotely funny.