So apparently Madison Bumgarner has been secretly competing in rodeo events for years

yahoo ^ | 2/23/2020 | Jack Baer

[cowpoke]

Arizona Diamondbacks starter Madison Bumgarner has a double life, according to a bombshell — and yet, not shocking — report from Zach Buchanan and Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic.

For years, the four-time All-Star has reportedly been competing in team-roping rodeo competitions in secret, under the alias “Mason Saunders” and possibly others.

Yes, really. According to The Athletic’s interview with Bumgarner, the former San Francisco Giants southpaw has been competing as Saunders with different partners as far back as March of last year, and possibly longer.

The participation of the 2014 World Series MVP is apparently an open secret in the rodeo community, given that Bumgarner is one of the most recognizable faces in baseball. It’s also reportedly a known fact among all of Bumgarner’s MLB acquaintances.

Bumgarner just kept it a secret from the media to avoid outside attention, for obvious reasons. He didn’t sound happy with The Athletic as he explained to them why he used an alias and how he arrived at Mason Saunders...MORE

[allwrong57]

no, a thumb, when you dally the horn and the thumb gets caught under the rope, and steer hits the end of the rope. A lot of them are missing a thumb, which eliminates the problem forever. Fortunately, it’s the weak side thumb however.

[Hebrews 11:6]

Didn't seem to hinder ol' Three Finger Brown.

[a little elbow grease]

LOL........ thanks for old Mordecai

I guess that’s all you really need to throw a baseball.

Some pitchers today actually MUST try to avoid a finger or two from touching the ball as it is delivered. Too many fingers affect the rotation (at times).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgYrT7AcTYI

.... for laughs

[cowpoke]

Usually the thumb, but other fingers have been smashed and lost. Not sure what you mean by “the weak side thumb”. If you are right-handed, you throw the loop with your right hand, jerk the slack with the right hand and dally with the right hand, so its a digit on your right hand that is at risk. The left hand holds the reins and the coils of the rope.

[Hebrews 11:6]

That's why Bob Uecker waited until it stopped rolling and then picked it up.

[a little elbow grease]

ROFL ...... funniest guy I ever heard.

[Hebrews 11:6]

If you've never seen Bob's Hall of Fame induction speech, or even if you have, you won't regret the 18 minutes of watching Reggie and George and Don and Willie and Eddie laughing until they cried.