Every week, journalists from the Sports team answer your questions.
Published at 5:00 a.m.
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Show throw type
In baseball on television, the pitch type is displayed as soon as the ball is received by the catcher. How do they do it? A computer? An expert? It fascinates me.
Jean Robitaille
Response from Alexandre Pratt
Everything is automated thanks to the Statcast system. Using five high-speed cameras installed at various locations around the stadium, ball speed, spin, movement and accuracy can be determined. This data is then analyzed by an algorithm, which determines what type of throw was just made. Seven other cameras also make it possible to follow everything that happens elsewhere on the field, in particular the trajectory of the ball after contact with the stick.
Ballot History
PHOTO OLIVIER JEAN, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
The criteria for exemption from waivers are relatively complex in the NHL.
How long can a rookie player be on waivers in the NHL?
Alain Wood
Response from Guillaume Lefrançois
In fact, it’s the opposite: a young player is initially exempt, but after a certain period of time, he must be subject to it before being demoted to the American League. The criteria for exemption from waivers are relatively complex, as they depend on the number of matches played, the age of the player at the time of signing his entry contract and the number of years that have passed since this signing. Additionally, the scales are different depending on whether it is a skater or a goalie. Note that for players who sign their rookie contract at 18 or 19 years old, the waiver exemption ends when they reach 160 games in the NHL, or at the age of 23. On the other hand, a player who signs his entry contract at age 23 only has to play 60 games before losing his waiver exemption.
Procedure for national anthems
PHOTO ADAM BETTCHER, ARCHIVES ASSOCIATED PRESS
Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz during the Canadian national anthem before a game in Minnesota on November 3
When American clubs play at the Bell Center, we sing the Star-Spangled Banner. However, when the Canadian plays in the United States, do we sing the Canadian national anthem? Elsewhere in Canada, do we sing the Canadian anthem in both languages?
André Beaudry
Response from Simon-Olivier Lorange
First, yes, theOh Canada is systematically sung when a Canadian club is on the ice. As for the bilingual anthem, there is no unilateral practice. Some American organizations take the trouble to sing a few words in French, but not all. And there’s no one-size-fits-all formula north of the border, either.
Statistics and match penalty
PHOTO ISAIAH J. DOWNING, ARCHIVES USA TODAY SPORTS
Matt Stienburg of the Colorado Avalanche leaves the ice after receiving a match penalty against the Tampa Bay Lightning on October 30.
When a player receives a match penalty, how are their individual stats affected? Is this related to the time remaining in the match?
Anonymous reader
Response from Simon-Olivier Lorange
Imposed primarily after a player attempts to deliberately injure an opponent, a match penalty adds 15 minutes to the culprit’s record, or 5 minutes for a major penalty and 10 minutes for the subsequent expulsion. Only the first five minutes give a numerical advantage (incompressible) to the opposing team.
The differential during a penalty
PHOTO NICK WASS, ARCHIVES ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tom Wilson of the Washington Capitals goes to the penalty box during a game against the Canadiens on October 31.
I would like to know if a player’s differential is affected when he is in the penalty box when the opposing team scores a goal.
Suzanne Champoux
Response from Simon Drouin
The differential only applies to players present on the ice. In the case of special teams, only goals scored shorthanded have an impact on the differential (negative for players with an advantage, positive for those with a disadvantage). In short, the only impact for the punished player who sees his team concede a goal while he is in the cell is shame, as goalkeeper Denis Lemieux explained so well to host Jim Carr in the film Slap Shota big plus for all of humanity.
