Finishing the Breakup Pool (Updated)

Now that I know a little more about what's swimmin' around in you and your girl's heads, I'm changing my vote to she won't dump you.... you're gonna have to cut that cord, my friend... :) HA

At first, I wasn't going to get in on this action but now, I can't resist. I'm going with July 1st.

The term "WHIPPED" comes to mind, when I read the nate way, as of late.

So put me down for "ain't going to happen'"

I think she will have Nate turning off the TV so they can spend quality time talking. Like the "Taking a BREAK" Nate will so be involved in "Quality Conversation"

If you don't break up, why not allow all winners to submit columns, and then post them all at various intervals. Doesn't the idea of not writing for a couple months appeal to you Nate? That way I won't have to feel so bad about handing their proverbial asses back to them on a proverbial platter when I trump them all. Excuse me now while I go help myself to a heaping slice of humble pie.

I am going with July 8th just because there seems to be a decent sized gap there and 4th of july weekend is usually a drunken fiasco that could easily lead to a week of fighting ending in an ultimate end...plus the family thing doesn't help when combined with the drunk thing...

Originally I planned on going with you two staying together, but i refuse to be lumped together with all those others so I think I'll randomly claim August 21st as my own.

Man, I don't really know this Amy chick. But I'm going with September 21, 'cause it's my birthday, and nobody else has claimed it. I also think it's strange that all your friends are betting on when you and your girlfriend break up. Does this mean you've been wanting to break up with her, but you didn't have the balls, you fuckin' pansy? And have whatever kind of day you want:)

Ill take Sept 22 please. No real reason for the date, but you gotta be in it to win it!
I like I like this Amy chick. I do a similar thing with rating sports on how hot the players are. Out here in Oz it goes a little differently though. And its just so damn hard to decide between the sport with the hot players, or the sport witht he better game. sigh. If Amy figures it out, she'll be a keeper for sure.

I'm going to go ahead and say you don't break up for two very important reasons.

1. I don't know you two in the least.

2. I'd much prefer to be in a "write-off" so that I can totally mail it in if I'm too busy or just don't really care anymore. In addition to that, if I do win, my mom will finally have a gold star for her refridgerator after all these years.

John from the west coast Bay Area.

The little snippet from you and Amy watching the game is so true -- and I'm guessing you'll get fed up with her before she dumps you. Since I'm too lazy/untalented to write a column for you I'll not be claiming a date.

I prefer "these rules are infallible" over unflappable; a God complex is never a bad way to complement a huge ego.

July 15th
'Cuz I'll be in Tampa that weekend ;)

So... what's a cycle?

Nate, I'll take care of this one.

A cycle is a single, double, triple, and home run by the same batter all in the same game.

Educate me, baby. So as long as the batter gets all of those in one game it counts as a cycle? Or does he have to hit them in order? And how often does that really happen?

It doesn't have to be in order to count for the cycle, just one of each in the same game.

It happens a few times a year, so it's rather difficult to accomplish, but not a historical feat by any means.

If a player does happen to get the hits in ascending order, it's called the "natural cycle". Unlike menstruation, this natural cycle is very rare.

Oooh ok, thanks Dan.

One last question, Dan, if you're still willing. Does a cycle get mentioned in the player's stats at all or is it just something fans know the batter has accomplished?

Juggs, the cycle is never mentioned in the common stats (like on a player's baseball card) and is, for the most part, something that the fans remember. However, stats go back for a long time (I'm sure Dan can tell you how long) keeping track of every player who's ever done it and when. In a way, cycles are like hat tricks in hockey. Everyone knows, but it's hardly common knowledge (and yes, I know that made no sense).

Sept. 10

Thanks for the explanation, Dan and Nate. I will try to go forth and spread the word amongst other willing-to-learn females.