BBTF's Newsblog Discussion :: Walters: 2002 PGA champ Rich Beem strikes out at plate during batting practice with Twins

Baseball Primer Newsblog
— The Best News Links from the Baseball Newsstand

Wednesday, July 08, 2009

Walters: 2002 PGA champ Rich Beem strikes out at plate during batting practice with Twins

Hitting a baseball might be the most difficult thing to do in sports.

Rich Beem agrees.

“Absolutely,” he said Tuesday.

In town to promote the PGA Championship he won in 2002 at Hazeltine National, Beem got a chance to take batting practice at the Metrodome before the Twins’ series opener against the New York Yankees.

“I think hitting a baseball’s got to be the hardest thing ever,” Beem said after batting against Twins manager Ron Gardenhire, who was throwing in front of the mound about 50 feet away.

Gardenhire started out throwing mediocre-speed fastballs.

“It’s just coming right there at you; you can’t really miss it, yet you don’t even hit it half the time,” Beem said. “A golf ball’s just sitting there. Hitting the golf ball’s not hard. It’s frustrating, but it’s not hard. You can hit a golf ball; you just can’t hit it very far. That’s the problem. Baseball, you can’t even hit.”

Is that Hal Lanier rushing off to the Big Bertha Fusion factory?

Repoz Posted: July 08, 2009 at 11:17 AM | 7 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: fantasy baseball

Reader Comments and Retorts

Go to end of page

Statements posted here are those of our readers and do not represent the BaseballThinkFactory. Names are provided by the poster and are not verified. We ask that posters follow our submission policy. Please report any inappropriate comments.

1. Cris E Posted: July 08, 2009 at 01:37 PM (#3245639)

Gardy had more to say in the Notes this morning:

"He did fine. He can actually hit a ball that's moving; that's pretty good," Gardenhire teased. "I threw him some on the outer half. He had no chance. The knuckleball, he had no chance. A couple of curveballs, OK. The fastballs coming in to him, when he was bailing out he had a perfect opportunity to hit."

2. Hang down your head, Tom Foley Posted: July 08, 2009 at 03:01 PM (#3245744)

I don't know who Rich Beem is, so he's not doing too good a job of promoting the 2002 PGA Championship.

3. Crispix Attacks Posted: July 08, 2009 at 03:04 PM (#3245751)

Well, he promoted it successfully to me. Now how do I get tickets to this 2002 PGA Championship?

4. JMPH Posted: July 08, 2009 at 03:04 PM (#3245752)

Was Rich Beem the guy who had the SportsCenter commercial with the big trophy (presumably from the PGA Championship) in the front seat of his car, forcing Scott Van Pelt to ride in the trunk?

5. Tulo's Fishy Mullet (mrams) Posted: July 08, 2009 at 03:52 PM (#3245843)

Beem did the lame little dance after fighting off Tiger Woods who birdied the final four holes.

Beem also is known for a sensitive tummy, carries Pepto and Imodium AD I believe. He is also one of the few open-democrats/liberals on tour.

Hazeltine stinks otherwise.

6. SteveM. Posted: July 08, 2009 at 04:28 PM (#3245914)

Rich Beem was my fraternity brother in college. My closest brush to fame outside my own profession.

7. Dr Love Posted: July 08, 2009 at 04:32 PM (#3245925)

Was Rich Beem the guy who had the SportsCenter commercial with the big trophy (presumably from the PGA Championship) in the front seat of his car, forcing Scott Van Pelt to ride in the trunk?

Yeah, that was him. That was a good one too.

You must be Registered and Logged In to post comments.

<< Back to main

Wednesday, July 08, 2009

Walters: 2002 PGA champ Rich Beem strikes out at plate during batting practice with Twins

Reader Comments and Retorts

Support BBTF

Bookmarks

Hot Topics