so i just realized i've been misunderstanding the plot of Attack on Titan for like... years now. i mean i thought eren's powers were way more limited than they actually are. and dont even get me started on the whole 'walls' thing. i feel like i've been living under a rock or something. has anyone else ever had one of those moments where they're like 'wait what's going on' and they have to rewatch the whole series?

I have to admit I was wrong about something pretty basic. For the past few weeks I kept saying the New York Yankees were now part of the National League after that trade deadline rumor started floating around. I even mentioned it in a conversation with a coworker who corrected me on the spot. Turns out I mixed up a tweet about a possible realignment with the actual league structure – the Yankees are, of course, still firmly in the American League.

The mistake slipped in because I was watching a lot of cross‑league games recently and the commentary kept tossing around "AL vs. NL" without explicitly naming the teams. My brain just filled in the blanks. I felt a bit embarrassed when I realized I had been spreading the wrong info on a forum thread earlier this week.

Has anyone else had a similar mix‑up? Maybe a player’s team affiliation or a rule misunderstanding? I’d love to hear your stories – it’s comforting to know the occasional slip-up is part of staying engaged with the game.

I've been experimenting with different grips on my cutter and I'm noticing that the higher spin rate I can get, the more movement I see. Is this just a product of the increased rotation or is there something else at play? I've been using a Tango 2150 rpm on my training sessions, trying to get that late bite. Anybody have experience with this? Or am I just overthinking it??

I've been experimenting with different calligraphy inks and I'm looking for a new one to try. I've heard that some inks bleed too much on certain paper types, so I'd like to know what inks people have had success with. Specifically, I'm looking for an ink that works well with a dip pen and has a high level of lightfastness.Any recommendations would be appreciated.

I've been thinking a lot about the current state of baseball, and one thing that really gets me is the strict pitch count limits we're seeing nowadays. It seems like every time a starter is going well, they get pulled at the 100-pitch mark, regardless of the situation. I understand the desire to protect these guys' arms, but I think it's having a negative impact on the game. We're seeing fewer complete games, and the strategy of the game is suffering as a result. I think it's time for managers to start trusting their starters to go deeper into games, rather than relying on a bullpen that may or may not be able to get the job done. The days of a pitcher throwing 150 pitches in a game may be behind us, but I think we can find a happy medium between pitch counts and letting our starters actually start. What are your thoughts on this?

It turns out there is a little‑known rule that can flip a play in the outfield. When a ball is hit and travels into the outfield, the moment it passes over the pitcher’s position is the key. If the ball simply passes over the pitcher, the ball is live; the defense cannot claim a catch unless a fielder actually touches it. In that case the batter is credited with a hit. However, if the pitcher, standing in the outfield, physically touches the ball before it leaves the field of play, it is a catch and the batter is out. The distinction is made in MLB Rule 2.01(b)(4), which says that a ball is live unless it is caught before it touches the ground. The pitcher’s role as a potential defender changes the play’s outcome. Practically, this means a pitcher in the outfield must be extra vigilant: a single glance can turn a would‑be hit into an out, or vice versa. For batters, this rule can affect the decision to swing early or to attempt a bunt—if the ball might just roll over the pitcher, they may choose to wait. For defense, positioning the pitcher on the outfield line can be a strategic choice on the last few outs of a game. Do any of you recall a play where this rule actually changed the result? Any examples from recent seasons would be great for reference.

i've been yelling "nice pickoff!" in the stands whenever a pitcher does a fake move. feels kinda weird, like i'm making a fuss. anyone else do that, or is this just me being a nerd? does it annoy other fans??

I've been watching baseball for years and I just realized I've been misunderstanding the infield fly rule... like what's wrong with me?? I was watching a game last week and it happened and I'm thinking it's a normal play... then I'm talking to a friend and he's like 'dude that's the infield fly rule'... pretty embarrassing

I've been thinking about how every NL game I watch these days feels like a home run derby. Teams don't care about small ball anymore—just launch angle and strikeout rates. What happened to stealing bases or bunting? It's all about launching moonshots now. Am I the only one who misses the old strategies? Or has everyone just accepted that baseball is now a three-true-outcome circus?

I can’t wrap my head around how many teams are now treating the defensive shift like a permanent fixture instead of a tactical tweak. The other night at the ballpark, the Reds lined up their infield for a left‑hander who had a career‑high average against the left side. They shifted everyone to the right, left the center field practically empty, and still expected the batter to make a solid hit. The result? A line drive that would’ve gone 400 feet turned into a weak grounder that bounced over the shortstop.

I’ve been tracking shift trends all season, and the data doesn’t lie: the average shift angle is up 12 degrees from last year, and the number of games where the shift is used for every single at‑bat has jumped from 34% to 58%. That’s a lot of games where the defense is essentially playing a static version of the same play.

The problem isn’t the shift itself—those pitchers and hitters who can adapt are fine. It’s the blanket application that dilutes the game’s dynamic. Pitchers who rely on the shift to control contact are no longer forced to pitch to the plate. Batters lose the chance to learn how to hit against a normal defense. Fans who love the old‑school feel of a full‑field lineup are left feeling disconnected.

I’d love to hear if anyone else has noticed the same trend in their own ballparks or if there’s a statistical argument I’m missing. Are the shift’s benefits truly worth the cost of stifling offense? Let’s talk it out—no sugar coating, just the facts.

P.S. If anyone has a video that shows a shift in action from last season, I’d like to see the contrast. The more data, the better.

I've been tracking the shift trends and the analytics community is full of hype around them, but I'm looking for concrete evidence. Which teams have actually seen a drop in opponent batting average when using specific shift patterns? What are the key factors that make a shift work or fail? I'm interested in data, game footage, and any insider insights. Also, how do you balance shift risk with other defensive priorities? Any recommendations for how to evaluate a shift before implementing it? Thanks.

i've been practicing my batting stance and i just cant seem to get it right. i feel like i'm shifting my weight too much and it's throwing off my whole swing. maybe someone can give me some tips? i've been watching some vids but nothing seems to be working for me 🤔

Man I just watched the second game of the ALDS and honestly some of those pitcher-catcher signals felt like they were ripped from a tokusatsu anime. But does Diamond no Ace even get the fundamentals right? I'm curious what the die-hard anime fans here think about the realism in their portrayal of strategies like hit-and-run or defensive shifts. Are we talking about art for art’s sake or actual playable tactics?

im looking for a new place to run rn, somethin not too crowded. anybody know any good spots?

I've been following the recent baseball season closely, and one thing that's been on my mind is the increasing use of defensive shifts. It seems like every team is employing some sort of shift, whether it's a traditional shift with the third baseman playing in the infield or more exotic shifts with multiple players out of position. I'm curious to know what the community thinks about this trend. Are defensive shifts enhancing the game or detracting from it? Do they add an extra layer of strategy or make the game less enjoyable to watch? I'd love to hear your thoughts on this.

The first time I watched a minor league game, I became puzzled when a player made contact that clearly advanced a base and wasn’t recorded as a sacrifice. For years, I assumed any out with baserunning progress counted as a sac. Only last week did I see an official definition explaining why contact without force play doesn’t qualify. The realization clarified longstanding confusion between fielder error and actual base advancement play calls. After reviewing rule books and multiple video examples where plays clearly don’t meet criteria, it becomes apparent how easily assumptions form in real-time watching. Have other users experienced similar early misinterpretations of play terminology

I just bought the Coleman 525 4‑season tent last week. The specs say the poles can handle up to 80 psi wind load, so I figured I'd improvise with my spare 28‑inch maple bat from the high‑school lineup instead of hauling the aluminum poles.

I taped the bat into the center hub with a 1‑3‑5 knot (the "triple‑lock" the military 2021‑07 M2105 spec mentions) and set it up in the woods. Within 10 minutes a gust of 30 mph blew the whole thing down. The manual also claims you can use a 75% O₂ breathable mask to keep the canvas from sagging, which didn't help either.

Anyone else tried the bat‑pole hack? Is there a better way to secure the tent without lugging extra poles, or am I just misreading the spec sheet?

• TL;DR: Bat = pole? 1‑3‑5 knot works? Need a fix.

The 2024 AL MVP stats model keeps giving me a number that looks like a spreadsheet error from 1998. I'm watching a team with a 4‑10 pitching staff and the model spits out 78 MPH average spin on a guy that normally throws a 92‑high screwball in a two‑ball count. I keep pointing out that his sinker velocity dips to 76 MPH on a change‑up but the model just averages the splitters. Did anyone else feel that the model's default of 0.5 for off‑speed is off the charts? I'm fed up. Every analyst I see uses the same 1.25 RPM overestimation for a 180‑RPM wrist flick. It's the same thing: a ball's life is defined by the pitcher's hands, not a spreadsheet's greed for numbers. I hate that people think I don't understand pitching mechanics. I'm literally doing real time PITCHFLEX analysis. If you think there's a new velocity‑data‑in‑field problem, I'll show you the raw data. I don't need your sympathy. I need a solution.

To sum it up:

• 2024 AL MVP model over‑values splitters
• Ignores real off‑speed data
• Default off‑speed factor is a bad assumption

Help: Do you see the same inconsistency? Have you fixed it or do you just let the spreadsheets decide the game? My frustration is at a new level and I'm not talking about the pitcher or the staff.

I'm not saying I invented the algorithm. I'm saying that the algorithm isn't working. I want to know why. Or at least someone who can prove the numbers are fine.

Because of that I feel like the baseball community is ignoring the data that actually matters…

so i was at the ballgame last night, the pitcher was like 10 strikeouts outta 30 no offense, and then the manager's decision to pull the closer at 3rd inning? like whyyyyyyyy i cant even focus rn rn my brain is fried tbh the homer was almost a good thing but the ball just lost my respect for the league lol

i was watching some magic videos and i cant help but think that some of these tricks are so lame... whats with all the misdirection? is it really that hard to come up with something that actually fools people? i mean i know its all about distraction but it feels like every Other trick relies on it... what happened to actual skill?...