Nil Alexandrov:
This [off the bat] expression comes from the baseball
and this is a fixed expression means immediately. The
bat is the stick you play with.
I should say Covid and Batman were off the bat, though.
There are couple of more baseball terminology is used
daily, like let*s touch base (tomorrow and discuss
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_and_Costello_-_Whos_On_First_Original_30_Min_Live_Rad.mp3
--
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sShMA85pv8M
---
* Origin: nntp://news.fidonet.fi (2:221/6.0)