Right down the pike or pipe?

by lincecuminyourface on Oct 22, 2009 8:08 PM PDT Comment 51 comments

Hey guys this doesn't really have much to do with the Giants but its a general baseball question

For a pitch down the middle, is the expression "right down the pike" or "right down the pipe?" If I'm describing Aaron Rowand's hitting approach, would I say that he "flails at sliders in the dirt and takes pitches right down the pike" or "flails at sliders in the dirt and takes pitches right down the pipe"

Sorry for the repetitiveness of this post I was trying to reach the 75 word minimum haha

This FanPost is reader-generated, and it does not necessarily reflect the views of McCovey Chronicles. If the author uses filler to achieve the minimum word requirement, a moderator may edit the FanPost for his or her own amusement.

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pipe…

FREE BUSTER

by TimLincecumIsGod on Oct 22, 2009 8:13 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Pipe

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Jeremy Affeldt induces DP's

by Giant among Angels on Oct 22, 2009 8:39 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Pardon my language

or also know as “down the dick”

Giant Dirtbags: John Bowker, Steve Hammond. MIA List: Todd Jennings, Brian Anderson
Jeremy Affeldt induces DP's

by Giant among Angels on Oct 22, 2009 8:40 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Or, as my high school baseball coach would say, “cock shots”

by ryanmiles on Oct 22, 2009 11:38 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Always said "right down the cock"

As a young lad I used to say “right down the pipe” because I think I heard it in that movie Rookie of the Year. Truthfully, I have never heard “right down the pike”.

by krukkuipandclint on Oct 23, 2009 4:44 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Pipe

Pike doesn’t really make much sense.

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by Natto on Oct 22, 2009 8:40 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

unless it's

“that ball came right down the (turn)pike, indicating and generally obeying all relevant traffic laws’

by bobnothing on Oct 22, 2009 8:45 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Clearly you've not driven on many turnpikes.

Generally people get the side of the road right, and you count your blessings.

My son is Madison Bumgarner, the Spacebat of pitching prospects. My other son is a Porsche.

by multiphasic on Oct 22, 2009 8:53 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

there was a touch of irony in my statement

by bobnothing on Oct 22, 2009 9:21 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ah, yes, oops.

My son is Madison Bumgarner, the Spacebat of pitching prospects. My other son is a Porsche.

by multiphasic on Oct 23, 2009 10:12 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree with ‘Pipe.’

But a pike is a road, right? And a pitch that’s “Right down Broadway” is down the middle. So pike kinda makes sense to me.

Schadendodgerfreude 2009!

by WhereThere'sAWillieThere'sAMays on Oct 22, 2009 8:46 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, I guess

But it’s not really a commonly used word for that purpose.

by Natto on Oct 22, 2009 8:53 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I mean, I thought of the fish before thinking of a road.

by Natto on Oct 22, 2009 8:55 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

A pike would eat the baseball:

by maysian on Oct 23, 2009 4:17 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

It is a common use of the word… if you live in the hell that is the North East

I R 5

by say hey nation on Oct 23, 2009 6:52 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Pike sort of works, but pipe is just so much better there’s no point in saying “pike”.

by quincy0191 on Oct 22, 2009 11:49 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Read and Learn

http://www.dailywritingtips.com/coming-down-the-pike/

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by S.F. Giangst on Oct 22, 2009 8:49 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

try the following counter argument

http://drvik.com/?p+299
In support of right down the pipe.

by bradleybear on Oct 22, 2009 9:01 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

It depends on where you are from?

Listening to games in the N.Y. area I often heard the expression with the word pipe. But if you go up to Boston, where people routinely drive on the Mass. Pike. I have heard folks talking about pitches right down the pike. For me it seems to be a regional expression, and why it is different with two different similarly sounding words, with different meanings is probably known by someone. Perhaps some linquistics freak can straighten us all out on this one. or at least explain its origins.

by bradleybear on Oct 22, 2009 8:53 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Note on try the following counter argument

If the correct topic does not come up. it was on Dr. Vik on April 7.

by bradleybear on Oct 22, 2009 9:02 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

that is april 7, 2008.

by bradleybear on Oct 22, 2009 9:03 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Right down Broadway!

Still backing Notgardo, wheresoever he may wander. (Don't forget to wriiiite!)

by tk on Oct 22, 2009 9:06 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

this

I prefer broadway as well

Also, “right down the dick” is usually funny, though not often used in broadcast

YOU EAT YOUR DAMN EGGROLL

by heimy25 on Oct 22, 2009 10:19 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Right down the chute?

Right down the middle?

Aaron King is still my homeboy... iffy mechanics and all

McFAQ for all you newcomers out there.

GET THAT VORP AND WHIP SH!T OUTTA HERE!!!

by baetown415 on Oct 23, 2009 12:20 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I always thought it was “coming down the pike” with the origin being the Pike entertainment extravaganza at the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis.

... null, void, invalid, iniquitous, unjust, damnable, reprobate, inane, empty of meaning and effect for all time

by shanghaijim on Oct 22, 2009 9:20 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

OTOH I just remembered a Seattle tour guide tell me once that it came from logs coming down Pike Street.

... null, void, invalid, iniquitous, unjust, damnable, reprobate, inane, empty of meaning and effect for all time

by shanghaijim on Oct 22, 2009 9:21 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well my ex father in-law was a pipefitter

So for him it was right down the pipe.

by bradleybear on Oct 22, 2009 10:49 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I hope you didn’t judge her solely on the occupational status of her father…hey , sometimes you make mistakes.

He apparently did…(Ducks flying pipestand)

"I don’t know why people feel the need to come up with reasons 'why' for everything..." - Missing Barry

by victor frankenstein on Oct 22, 2009 11:54 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

pipe i guess

by sfoakbay on Oct 22, 2009 11:10 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

"Down the pike" is more of a timeframe reference.

"You really need to consider what’s coming down the pike. "
Fuck Aaron Rowand’s approach. Makes me want to hit him over the head with a pipe.

"I don’t know why people feel the need to come up with reasons 'why' for everything..." - Missing Barry

by victor frankenstein on Oct 22, 2009 11:52 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Exactly

I think we all saw the disaster of the Rowand signing coming down the pike, and that assessment has been borne out by the number of times he’s swung and missed at a pitch that was right down the pipe.

"The part of the roster where most of the money is spent, though, is on free agents and guys acquired through trade — guys Sabean did play a big role in acquiring. And they are not good. When you get 2/5 of a pitching rotation for free, you would think you could do better with $76 million than to field the league’s worst offense."
-Taliesin September, 2009

by Lyle on Oct 23, 2009 7:33 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

“Aaron, put down the pipe and hit the damn ball.”

"We're in this thing!" My adopted Giant: "Raptor Jesus" Guzman, "Sweet Jesus" Guzman and Jesus H. Guzman.

by Goofus on Oct 23, 2009 9:00 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Snipe

by positiveuphemism on Oct 23, 2009 1:12 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Its called a MEAT BALL!

I R 5

by say hey nation on Oct 23, 2009 6:53 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Couldn’t this have been a fanshot to avoid pushing interesting fanposts off the front page….

by Missing Barry on Oct 23, 2009 7:26 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Or even a comment in a gameday thread.

by Natto on Oct 23, 2009 10:26 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well, judging by his user name, he is 13-15 yo boy going through an awkward phase…either that or a pornstar. Either way we should be supportive

I R 5

by say hey nation on Oct 23, 2009 10:29 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

thanks bud, appreciate the supprt

Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life, son

by lincecuminyourface on Oct 23, 2009 11:47 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah my bad

I’ve been reading the site for a couple months but I haven’t really posted anything until recently. Still learning the ins and outs of the site. Next time I’ll keep this in mind and not make it a fanpost

Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life, son

by lincecuminyourface on Oct 23, 2009 11:43 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

It’s not a big deal I just tend to only participate in topics that interest me on this site (often few and far between), and there were a bunch that came up the last few days but a spree of fanposts today has been pushing them down/off the front page… :(

by Missing Barry on Oct 23, 2009 11:54 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

SODA!

Brian Sabean strongly encourages you to disregard the drudgery of your employment responsibilities and join him in the consumption of spirituous libations.

by satyricrash on Oct 23, 2009 11:23 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

In Georgia it’s all coke.

... null, void, invalid, iniquitous, unjust, damnable, reprobate, inane, empty of meaning and effect for all time

by shanghaijim on Oct 23, 2009 1:22 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think it’s a Southern thing in general, it’s like that in North Carolina, too.

by Missing Barry on Oct 23, 2009 2:10 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

It is where David Cross is from.

Brian Sabean strongly encourages you to disregard the drudgery of your employment responsibilities and join him in the consumption of spirituous libations.

by satyricrash on Oct 23, 2009 7:06 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Pike!

/ humm Twa Corbies

Who’s brain did you bring me?
Brain SabeanOranother.

by daveinexile on Oct 23, 2009 11:53 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

The expression “coming down the pike” carries a suggestion of uncertainty or lack of control – you have to be ready for whatever comes down the pike. That’s not the meaning intended in a baseball context, so I’m pretty sure pipe is correct.

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by EliminateMe on Oct 23, 2009 2:12 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

+1, -1

You’re right about the pike expression, but wrong about the pipe. There is no such expression as “right down the pipe” other than by people that don’t know or can’t remember the “right down the (turn)pike” saying. Think about it, “right down the pipe” has no historical precedence, and also makes no sense. A pipe has no set size or diameter, so what does it signify for something to come right down it?

In terms of baseball, the correct saying for a very hittable pitch would be:
a. served up on a silver platter; or
b. grooved.

"There ain’t much to being a ballplayer, if you’re a ballplayer." - Honus Wagner

by Fla-Giant on Oct 23, 2009 3:26 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs