MSGID: 2:221/6.0 63a4670e   
   REPLY: 2:5015/46 63a2c3a8   
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   TZUTC: 0200   
   TID: hpt/lnx 1.9 2022-07-03   
   Nil Alexandrov:   
      
   NA> This [off the bat] expression comes from the baseball   
   NA> and this is a fixed expression means immediately. The   
   NA> bat is the stick you play with.   
      
   I should say Covid and Batman were off the bat, though.   
      
   NA> There are couple of more baseball terminology is used   
   NA> daily, like let*s touch base (tomorrow and discuss   
   NA> that), (the value is) in the ballpark, etc.   
      
   That reminds me of the immortal number by Abbot&Costello,   
   "Who's on first?" (I have the script handy) --   
      
   A: Alright, now whaddya want?   
      
   C: Now look,  I'm the  head  of  the  sports   
      department. I  gotta  know  the  baseball   
      players' names.   
      Do you know the guys' names?   
      
   A: Oh sure.   
      
   C: So you go ahead and tell me some of their   
      names.   
      
   A: Well, I'll introduce you to the boys. You   
      know   sometimes   nowadays   they   give   
      ballplayers peculiar names.   
      
   C: You mean funny names.   
      
   A: Nicknames, pet names, like Dizzy Dean --   
      
   C: His brother Daffy --   
      
   A: Daffy Dean --   
      
   C: And their cousin!   
      
   A: Who's that?   
      
   C: Goofy!   
      
   A: Goofy, huh? Now let's see. We have on the   
      bags -  we have Who's on first, What's on   
      second, I Don't Know's on third.   
      
   C: That's what I wanna find out.   
      
   A: I say Who's on first, What's on second, I   
      Don't Know's on third --   
      
   C: You know the fellows' names?   
      
   A: Certainly!   
      
   C: Well then who's on first?   
      
   A: Yes!   
      
   C: I mean the fellow's name!   
      
   A: Who!   
      
   C: The guy on first!   
      
   A: Who!   
      
   C: The first baseman!   
      
   A: Who!   
      
   C: The guy playing first!   
      
   A: Who is on first!   
      
   C: Now whaddya askin' me for?   
      
   A: I'm telling you Who is on first.   
      
   C: Well, I'm asking YOU who's on first!   
      
   A: That's the man's name.   
      
   C: That's who's name?   
      
   A: Yes.   
      
   C: Well go ahead and tell me.   
      
   A: Who.   
      
   C: The guy on first.   
      
   A: Who!   
      
   C: The first baseman.   
      
   A: Who is on first!   
      
   C: Have you  got a  contract with  the first   
      baseman?   
      
   A: Absolutely.   
      
   C: Who signs the contract?   
      
   A: Well, naturally!   
      
   C: When you  pay off the first baseman every   
      month, who gets the money?   
      
   A: Every dollar. Why not? The man's entitled   
      to it.   
      
   C: Who is?   
      
   A: Yes. Sometimes  his wife  comes down  and   
      collects it.   
      
   C: Who's wife?   
      
   A: Yes.   
      
   C: All I'm  tryin' to find out is what's the   
      guy's name on first base.   
      
   A: Oh, no -- wait a minute, don't switch 'em   
      around. What is on second base.   
      
   C: I'm not askin' you who's on second.   
      
   A: Who is on first.   
      
   C: I don't know.   
      
   A: He's on  third -- now we're  not  talkin'   
      'bout him.   
      
   C: Now, how did I get on third base?   
      
   A: You mentioned his name!   
      
   C: If I  mentioned the third baseman's name,   
      who did I say is playing third?   
      
   A: No - Who's playing first.   
      
   C: Never mind  first -  I wanna  know what's   
      the guy's name on third.   
      
   A: No - What's on second.   
   C: I'm not askin' you who's on second.   
      
   A: Who's on first.   
      
   C: I don't know.   
      
   A: He's on third.   
      
   C: Aaah! Would you please stay on third base   
      and don't go off it?   
      
   A: What was it you wanted?   
      
   C: Now who's playin' third base?   
      
   A: Now why  do you  insist on putting Who on   
      third base?   
      
   C: Why? Who am I putting over there?   
      
   A: Yes. But we don't want him there.   
      
   C: What's the guy's name on third base?   
      
   A: What belongs on second.   
      
   C: I'm not askin' you who's on second.   
      
   A: Who's on first.   
      
   C: I don't know.   
      
   A&C: THIRD BASE!   
      
   C: You got an outfield?   
      
   A: Oh yes!   
      
   C: The left fielder's name?   
      
   A: Why.   
      
   C: I don't know, I just thought I'd ask you.   
      
   A: Well, I just thought I'd tell you.   
      
   C: Alright, then  tell me who's playin' left   
      field.   
      
   A: Who is playing fir--   
      
   C: STAY OUTTA  THE  INFIELD!  I  wanna  know   
      what's the left fielder's name.   
      
   A: What's on second.   
      
   C: I'm not askin' you who's on second.   
      
   A: Who's on first.   
      
   C: I don't know.   
      
   A: C:       THIRD BASE!   
      
   C: The left fielder's name?   
      
   A: Why.   
      
   C: Because!   
      
   A: Oh, he's center field.   
      
   C: Look, you gotta pitcher on this team?   
      
   A: Now wouldn't  this be a fine team without   
      a pitcher.   
      
   C: The pitcher's name.   
      
   A: Tomorrow.   
      
   C: You don't wanna tell me today?   
      
   A: I'm tellin' you now.   
      
   C: Then go ahead.   
      
   A: Tomorrow.   
      
   C: What time?   
      
   A: What time what?   
      
   C: What time  tomorrow are you going to tell   
      me who's pitching?   
      
   A: Now listen.  Who is  not pitching. Who is   
      on fir--   
      
   C: I'll break  your arm  if you say Who's on   
      first. I  wanna know what's the pitcher's   
      name.   
      
   A: What's on second.   
      
   C: I don't know.   
      
   A: THIRD BASE!   
      
   C: You got a catcher?   
      
   A: Oh, absolutely.   
      
   C: The catcher's name.   
      
   A: Today.   
      
   C: Today. And Tomorrow's pitching.   
      
   A: Now you've got it.   
      
   C: All we've  got is a couple of days on the   
      team.   
      
   A: Well, I can't help that.   
      
   C: Well, I'm a catcher too.   
      
   A: I know that.   
      
   C: Now suppose that I'm catching, Tomorrow's   
      pitching  on  my  team  and  their  heavy   
      hitter gets up.   
      
   A: Yes.   
      
   C: Tomorrow  throws  the  ball.  The  batter   
      bunts the  ball. When  he bunts the ball,   
      me being  a good  catcher, I  wanna throw   
      the guy out at first base. So I pick up the   
      ball and throw it to who?   
      
   A: Now that's  the first  thing you've said   
      right.   
      
   C: I don't even know what I'm talkin' about!   
      
   A: Well, that's all you have to do.   
      
   C: Is to throw the ball to first base.   
      
   A: Yes.   
      
   C: Now who's got it?   
      
   A: Naturally!   
      
   C: If  I  throw  the  ball  to  first  base,   
      somebody's gotta catch it. Now who caught   
      it?   
      
   A: Naturally!   
      
   C: Who caught it?   
      
   A: Naturally.   
      
   C: Who?   
      
   A: Naturally!   
      
   C: Naturally.   
      
   A: Yes.   
      
   C: So I  pick up  the ball and I throw it to   
       Naturally.   
      
   A: NO, NO,  NO! You  throw the ball to first   
      base and Who gets it?   
      
   C: Naturally.   
      
   A: That's right. There we go.   
      
   C: So I  pick up  the ball and I throw it to   
      Naturally.   
      
   A: You don't!   
      
   C: I throw it to who?   
      
   A: Naturally.   
      
   C: THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING!   
      
   A: You're not saying it that way.   
      
   C: I said I throw the ball to Naturally.   
      
   A: You don't - you throw the ball to Who?   
      
   C: Naturally!   
      
   A: Well, say that!   
      
   C: THAT'S WHAT  I'M SAYING! I throw the ball   
      to who?   
      
   A: Naturally.   
      
   C: Ask me.   
      
   A: You throw the ball to Who?   
      
   C: Naturally.   
      
   A: That's it.   
      
   C: SAME AS  YOU!! I  throw the ball to first   
      base and who gets it?   
      
   A: Naturally!   
      
   C: Who has it?   
      
   A: Naturally!   
      
   C: HE BETTER  HAVE IT!  I throw  the ball to   
      first base. Whoever it is grabs the ball,   
      so the  guy runs  to second. Who picks up   
      the ball  and throws  it  to  What,  What   
      throws it  to I  Don't Know, I Don't Know   
      throws it back to Tomorrow -- triple play.   
      
   A: Yes.   
      
   C: Another guy  gets up -- it's  a long  fly   
      ball to  Because. Why? I don't know. He's   
      on third and I don't give a darn!   
      
   A: What was that?   
      
   C: I said I don't give a darn!   
      
   A: Oh, that's our shortstop.   
      
   Litsten and watch also:   
   -- http://www.archive.org/download/otr_abbottandcostello/Abbott_   
   nd_Costello_-_Whos_On_First_Original_30_Min_Live_Rad.mp3   
   -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sShMA85pv8M   
      
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