The Club | Netting, home field advantage and… the origin of the abbreviation “K” in baseball

Loyal curious readers, here are our latest answers. Send us our next assignments here:

With or without compensation?

What is the difference between restricted and unrestricted free agents?

Alice Methot

Response from Simon-Olivier Lorange:

Generally speaking, a free agent refers to a player who is no longer under contract with a team, otherwise a player who has never been drafted and is not yet under contract. Until a player turns 27, or until the end of his first seven full seasons in the NHL, his team retains his rights if his contract has expired. He is then a free agent with compensation, that is to say that any team can make him an offer – called hostile –, but his home team has the prerogative to match the offer. Take the example of Jesperi Kotkaniemi, during the summer of 2021. The Carolina Hurricanes offered him 6.1 million. After consideration, the Habs decided not to match the offer, and Kotkaniemi became a member of the Hurricanes. His new team, however, had to pay compensation – here a first-round pick and another third-round pick. The compensation is established according to the value of the contract. At 27, after seven full seasons or if his team simply does not offer him a new contract, a player becomes free agent without compensation. He can therefore agree with the team of his choice.

Home field advantage

Is there an advantage other than the crowd for a team playing home soccer (compared to hockey where the home team has the last substitution)? Does the visiting team have to announce its starters before the home team (or both teams reveal their 11 at the same time)?

Steve Barry

Response from Jean-François Téotonio:

When it comes to rules, in soccer, there is no advantage to playing at home or away. Both teams publicly reveal their rosters at the same time, approximately one hour before the game.

However, the local team knows its environment better. Pitch layouts may change from stadium to stadium. Or even the surface, like the synthetic of the Olympic Stadium. The weather also plays a big role. This is why we talk about altitude when CF Montreal or the Canadian team go to play at the Azteca stadium in Mexico City. There may be heat and humidity issues in Florida or Central America. Or freezing cold, like in Edmonton in November.

Otherwise, indeed, it is the crowd that is proof of everything. There is a real hostility against visitors when traveling south in the United States. Stories of projectiles being thrown at players, such as coins or bags of urine, have often been told. Not to mention a level of intensity that can deafen or intimidate opponents.

It’s generally more sanitized in North America. But some stadiums are known for their high decibel level.

Buying and selling in soccer

Hello, can you explain why it’s normal to see so many buys/sells in the world of soccer (like Mihailovic or Haaland, etc.)? It’s completely different from hockey or NFL football…

Martin Levac

Response from Jean-François Téotonio:

It is indeed a completely different model. In North America, players and draft picks are traded. Elsewhere in the world, players are sold and bought for money.

It is that contrary to the Canadian and American sports institutions, the construction of the teams is not based on the repechage. We rather develop our own players through our academy. Or they are acquired by concluding a transaction with another club, which is called a transfer.

The North American model allows de facto more parity. But also, sometimes, long years of lean cows and reconstruction. The other encourages wealthy clubs to spend ever more – and decadently – to retain some level of dominance. Which leaves only crumbs to their opponents. But it also gives rise to the formation of great teams, like Manchester City and its Erling Haaland, who play extraordinary soccer.

The third catch dropped

When exactly can a batter run on a dropped third strike?

Rejean Falardeau

Response from Alexander Pratt:

First base must be unoccupied (in all circumstances) OR first base must be occupied with two outs. Note that if the batter does not realize the catcher has dropped the ball, and does not run to first base, he is out as soon as he leaves the batter’s box.

Special K

In baseball, what is the origin of the letter K to indicate a strikeout?

Rene Godin

Response from Alexander Pratt:

It’s a good little story. When Henry Chadwick invented the score sheet – the one used by scorekeepers – he developed shortcuts for each action. BB, for example, for “base on balls”. Or, S for sacrifice cushioning. However, a strikeout, in English, also begins with the letter S (strikeout). At the time, the verb (struck) was used rather than the word. K being the last letter of the expression, it is she who remained in history to designate a withdrawal on strikes.