Re: Target area size?

Posted by ESC on September 04, 2002

In Reply to: Re: Target area size? posted by R. Berg on September 04, 2002

: : : Hi All,
: : : New to the discussion group, and need help. Why, in baseball particularly, does an errant pitch strike a player "on the leg," "on the arm," but if above the shoulders it is "in the head?"

: : : Thanks,

: : : Eric

: : Isn't it simply a question of available target area, rather than body geography?? The head is fairly large compared to the arm and certainly the lower leg, and "in" probably therefore means "within the boundaries of". I bet if some pitcher hurled a ball at a batter and hit his midriff, he'd be said to have been "struck IN the stomach". Similarly one is punched on the shoulder, but punched in the chest, back or face. Any other opinions?

: If target area is the criterion, we should hear "punched on the eye."

I've got one lonely sports reference book and it wasn't in there.

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