The last guy to play in the Majors named Whitey was Yankees Hall of Fame pitcher Whitey Ford, real name Edward Charles Ford. The last guy to manage in the Majors named Whitey was Royals and Cardinals Hall of Fame skipper Whitey Herzog, real name Dorrel Norman Elvert Herzog. No wonder he went by Whitey or any other name for that matter.
Anyway, like a previous post on 'Where have all the Rubes gone', where have all the guys named Whitey gone?
Is it too politically incorrect these days to be named or nicknamed Whitey?
How about Blackie? There have been 11 Major Leaguer's nicknamed Blackie, the last one being Alvin Dark whose playing career ended in 1960. Dark is also the last manager nicknamed Blackie when he piloted the Padres in 1977.
Was Dark nicknamed Blackie because of his last name? Like a fat guy might be nicknamed Slim or a tall fellow nicknamed Shorty, might the nickname of Whitey also have worked for Dark who was a white guy? Whitey Dark has a nice ring to it.
Where have all the guys nicknamed 'Blackie' gone?
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Did You Know #2...Broadcasting Edition.
Did you know?
When Ebbets Field opened on April 9, 1913, there was no press box? They forgot to build one so they made the first two rows of the upper deck a makeshift press box.
Did you know that the first game at Ebbets Field was not televised?
Did you know that the first radio broadcast of a baseball game was over KDKA in Pittsburgh on August 5, 1921 and the announcer was Harold Arlin? While many people would list Vin Scully, Red Barber or Ernie Harwell as the greatest baseball announcers of all-time, for one moment in broadcast history, Harold Arlin was the greatest baseball announcer ever.
Did you know that dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully started calling games for the team when they were in Brooklyn in 1950? Still going strong, it’s probably safe to say that Scully has seen more Dodgers games than anyone.
Did you know that when Russ Hodges was calling Bobby Thomson’s home run on radio in 1951 (“THE GIANTS WIN THE PENNANT, THE GIANTS WIN THE PENNANT…), Ernie Harwell was calling that same home run on TV? A lot more people were listening to radio than had TV’s so Hodges call lives on while Ernie’s TV call is, as Harwell would say, “long gone.”
Did you know that my favorite baseball announcer of all time was the Yankees Phil Rizzuto and that I once took a whiz next to The Scooter at old Yankee Stadium?
Did you know that I met legendary Yankees announcer Mel Allen in the Michie Stadium press box before an Army football game? Allen, who once called Army football, chatted with me for about two minutes while downing a roast beef sandwich.
Did you know that I've seen Vin Scully in the Coors Field press box on numerous occasions but I've been too intimidated to even say hello? This despite the fact he is quite gracious to everyone who does.
Did you know that Don Apodaca, the former producer of our radio show, Artificial Turf, shook hands with the great Harry Kalas in the Coors Field press box on April 12, 2009? It was the last game Kalas broadcast for the Phillies. He died the next day and Don is now afraid to shake the hand of any baseball announcer.
When Ebbets Field opened on April 9, 1913, there was no press box? They forgot to build one so they made the first two rows of the upper deck a makeshift press box.
Did you know that the first game at Ebbets Field was not televised?
Did you know that the first radio broadcast of a baseball game was over KDKA in Pittsburgh on August 5, 1921 and the announcer was Harold Arlin? While many people would list Vin Scully, Red Barber or Ernie Harwell as the greatest baseball announcers of all-time, for one moment in broadcast history, Harold Arlin was the greatest baseball announcer ever.
Did you know that dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully started calling games for the team when they were in Brooklyn in 1950? Still going strong, it’s probably safe to say that Scully has seen more Dodgers games than anyone.
Did you know that when Russ Hodges was calling Bobby Thomson’s home run on radio in 1951 (“THE GIANTS WIN THE PENNANT, THE GIANTS WIN THE PENNANT…), Ernie Harwell was calling that same home run on TV? A lot more people were listening to radio than had TV’s so Hodges call lives on while Ernie’s TV call is, as Harwell would say, “long gone.”
Did you know that my favorite baseball announcer of all time was the Yankees Phil Rizzuto and that I once took a whiz next to The Scooter at old Yankee Stadium?
Did you know that I met legendary Yankees announcer Mel Allen in the Michie Stadium press box before an Army football game? Allen, who once called Army football, chatted with me for about two minutes while downing a roast beef sandwich.
Did you know that I've seen Vin Scully in the Coors Field press box on numerous occasions but I've been too intimidated to even say hello? This despite the fact he is quite gracious to everyone who does.
Did you know that Don Apodaca, the former producer of our radio show, Artificial Turf, shook hands with the great Harry Kalas in the Coors Field press box on April 12, 2009? It was the last game Kalas broadcast for the Phillies. He died the next day and Don is now afraid to shake the hand of any baseball announcer.
Rockheaded
Johnny Damon wanted to play for the Yankees this upcoming season. The Yankees wanted him back. So why is Damon looking for another team while the Yankees are stuck with the less than imposing left-field combination of Brett Gardner and Randy Winn?
Damon, coming off a 4-year, 52-million dollar contract with the Yankees was hoping to stay in New York. His agent, Scott Boras, told Yanks General Manager Brian Cashman that Damon wanted 13-million a year and would not take a penny less. While Damon had a great year playing in the New Yankee Stadium, a perfect yard for his swing as evidenced by a career-tying best 24 homers, he is an aging player at 36. His skills have diminished somewhat and the only thing he can throw out with his popgun arm is the garbage. You can't blame the Yankees for not throwing 13-million at Damon.
Boras probably ticked off the Yankees by claiming (bluffing?) that other teams were interested in Damon for two-years in the 19-million dollar range. We'll see about that.
The Yankees last offer to Damon was a one-year, 2-million dollar deal which by market standards is comical.
Inflexibility on the part of the Yankees and Damon means the Yanks will have downgraded in left-field and broken up the 1-2 punch in the batting order of Jeter and Damon. Damon, instead of playing for a contending team, will likely end up playing for a shank team. Maybe his original team, the Royals will scrounge up 4 or
5-mil to bring him back.
This was a deal that should have been done but both sides mucked it up. If Damon wanted to play for the Yankees and the Yanks wanted him back, Boras should have helped make it happen. It would have been alright for Damon to take less money (7-mil?) and play where he wanted.
Damon, coming off a 4-year, 52-million dollar contract with the Yankees was hoping to stay in New York. His agent, Scott Boras, told Yanks General Manager Brian Cashman that Damon wanted 13-million a year and would not take a penny less. While Damon had a great year playing in the New Yankee Stadium, a perfect yard for his swing as evidenced by a career-tying best 24 homers, he is an aging player at 36. His skills have diminished somewhat and the only thing he can throw out with his popgun arm is the garbage. You can't blame the Yankees for not throwing 13-million at Damon.
Boras probably ticked off the Yankees by claiming (bluffing?) that other teams were interested in Damon for two-years in the 19-million dollar range. We'll see about that.
The Yankees last offer to Damon was a one-year, 2-million dollar deal which by market standards is comical.
Inflexibility on the part of the Yankees and Damon means the Yanks will have downgraded in left-field and broken up the 1-2 punch in the batting order of Jeter and Damon. Damon, instead of playing for a contending team, will likely end up playing for a shank team. Maybe his original team, the Royals will scrounge up 4 or
5-mil to bring him back.
This was a deal that should have been done but both sides mucked it up. If Damon wanted to play for the Yankees and the Yanks wanted him back, Boras should have helped make it happen. It would have been alright for Damon to take less money (7-mil?) and play where he wanted.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Duquesne Baseball...going, going, gone.
I played baseball back in the early 80's at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh. It was a huge part of my college experience.
Today, while reading the Denver Post, under the transactions section, I saw that Duquesne was eliminating the baseball program along with wrestling, men's tennis and men's golf. No women's programs were eliminated.
My first reaction? Screw Duquesne and Athletic Director Greg Amodio.
After calming down and thinking things over, my second, rational reaction was screw Duquesne and Athletic Director Greg Amodio.
Reading the bio on Amodio on the Duquesne website, I read about all the glowing and wonderful things he has done in his 3 years on the job, including the athletic department experiencing "unprecedented growth" under his leadership. I hate to use bad language but it is my blog and it is appropriate after reading this unprecedented growth crap. I call bullshit!
Want more bullshit? The press release said "Duquesne University today announced a strategic restructuring of its varsity sports program in an effort to maximize financial resources and ensure sustained athletic success." What? It went on to say, "Focusing on and strengthening a core group of sports will maximize our ability to compete at the highest level, enhance the student athlete experience, and better utilize existing funding." I hope a Duquesne University journalism grad didn't write that crap.
So back to the point, getting rid of baseball will help the basketball team reach the NCAA's for the first time since 1977? I don't see the logic there.
Four men's programs get the boot. Was this a financial issue? Perhaps. Title IX? Could the programs have been saved? If people knew the programs were in danger, probably.
Bottom line is, it is easier to quit and Amodio quit on four programs with the stroke of a pen. Women's programs were not cut because, in my opinion, Amodio didn't want to deal with the backlash that would get.
Quitters quit, that's what they do. And that's what Duquesne did to the athletes involved in those four sports. They quit on them without trying to find a viable solution.
I hope those student-athletes all transfer and earn a degree that has another school's name on it.
Oh, by the way, I'm pissed off and I'm throwing my diploma in the garbage.
Today, while reading the Denver Post, under the transactions section, I saw that Duquesne was eliminating the baseball program along with wrestling, men's tennis and men's golf. No women's programs were eliminated.
My first reaction? Screw Duquesne and Athletic Director Greg Amodio.
After calming down and thinking things over, my second, rational reaction was screw Duquesne and Athletic Director Greg Amodio.
Reading the bio on Amodio on the Duquesne website, I read about all the glowing and wonderful things he has done in his 3 years on the job, including the athletic department experiencing "unprecedented growth" under his leadership. I hate to use bad language but it is my blog and it is appropriate after reading this unprecedented growth crap. I call bullshit!
Want more bullshit? The press release said "Duquesne University today announced a strategic restructuring of its varsity sports program in an effort to maximize financial resources and ensure sustained athletic success." What? It went on to say, "Focusing on and strengthening a core group of sports will maximize our ability to compete at the highest level, enhance the student athlete experience, and better utilize existing funding." I hope a Duquesne University journalism grad didn't write that crap.
So back to the point, getting rid of baseball will help the basketball team reach the NCAA's for the first time since 1977? I don't see the logic there.
Four men's programs get the boot. Was this a financial issue? Perhaps. Title IX? Could the programs have been saved? If people knew the programs were in danger, probably.
Bottom line is, it is easier to quit and Amodio quit on four programs with the stroke of a pen. Women's programs were not cut because, in my opinion, Amodio didn't want to deal with the backlash that would get.
Quitters quit, that's what they do. And that's what Duquesne did to the athletes involved in those four sports. They quit on them without trying to find a viable solution.
I hope those student-athletes all transfer and earn a degree that has another school's name on it.
Oh, by the way, I'm pissed off and I'm throwing my diploma in the garbage.
Attention Spans
Because people have short attention spans, franchises feel they have to entertain people in other ways besides baseball. For example, at Coors Field, on the concourse behind right field, they have video games and stuff for the kids to stay occupied. That is all well and good before the game. I understand not every kid is like I was. I used to love to get to the park early to watch batting and fielding practice. But if the modern day kid wants to play video games or throw a ball into the speed pitch cage, that is fine. But once the game starts, the video games get unplugged. Go watch the damn game.
And while I’m on a roll here, why do so many people visit Coors Field just wander around the concourses not paying attention to the game?
Unfortunately, baseball, at times, takes a backseat to the social experience for a lot of folks at Coors Field. Stop wandering around aimlessly, go to your seat and watch the game.
I sound like an old crusty guy about now don’t I?
And while I’m on a roll here, why do so many people visit Coors Field just wander around the concourses not paying attention to the game?
Unfortunately, baseball, at times, takes a backseat to the social experience for a lot of folks at Coors Field. Stop wandering around aimlessly, go to your seat and watch the game.
I sound like an old crusty guy about now don’t I?
Time
Many folks complain about the length of baseball games. To me, I don’t care how long a game is if it’s a good game. Did anyone complain about the 4 hours and 40 minutes it took to complete game 163 of the 2007 season between the Padres-Rockies. No. Why? Because it was a great game. Now if it was a 9-1 blowout, then yes, 4 plus hours might be somewhat tedious.
But in a close, compelling game, why should anyone care how long it takes? Do you complain that a great movie was too long? Ever finish reading a good book and feel sad that there wasn’t more?
When I was a kid, I used to love slow moving games. It meant more time at the ballpark. Back in the 70’s, games didn’t last that long, especially when compared to the games of today. There are two reasons for the longer game times. One, the game has changed. There are many more pitching changes than there used to be. You can blame the creature known as the left-handed specialist if you must. Yes, I’m talking about you Scott Eyre and those of your ilk. Also, there is a lot more commercial time between innings. So while I’m in favor of cutting down time between innings, I’m not in favor of radically changing the game itself just to make it play out quicker. Plus, they'll never shorten commercial time.
Here is one of the biggest mysteries to me in baseball history. How in the world did the Giants and Phillies play a 51-minute, 9-inning game on September 28, 1919? I have never been able to figure that one out. Plus, New York won 6-1 so there was some scoring involved. It wasn’t a 1-0 affair. I know they didn’t have a plane to catch after the game. Was it the last game of the season? Was it really cold? Was it a collective effort by both teams just to set the record for the fastest game? If I attended that contest I would have felt cheated. 51-minutes? I’d demand my money back.
But in a close, compelling game, why should anyone care how long it takes? Do you complain that a great movie was too long? Ever finish reading a good book and feel sad that there wasn’t more?
When I was a kid, I used to love slow moving games. It meant more time at the ballpark. Back in the 70’s, games didn’t last that long, especially when compared to the games of today. There are two reasons for the longer game times. One, the game has changed. There are many more pitching changes than there used to be. You can blame the creature known as the left-handed specialist if you must. Yes, I’m talking about you Scott Eyre and those of your ilk. Also, there is a lot more commercial time between innings. So while I’m in favor of cutting down time between innings, I’m not in favor of radically changing the game itself just to make it play out quicker. Plus, they'll never shorten commercial time.
Here is one of the biggest mysteries to me in baseball history. How in the world did the Giants and Phillies play a 51-minute, 9-inning game on September 28, 1919? I have never been able to figure that one out. Plus, New York won 6-1 so there was some scoring involved. It wasn’t a 1-0 affair. I know they didn’t have a plane to catch after the game. Was it the last game of the season? Was it really cold? Was it a collective effort by both teams just to set the record for the fastest game? If I attended that contest I would have felt cheated. 51-minutes? I’d demand my money back.
Mark Loretta Hangs 'em up.
After 15-years in the big leagues, Mark Loretta is hanging up the spikes. Not to drift off on a tangent but when athletes retire they always hang something up. A baseball player hangs up the spikes. A basketball player hangs up the sneakers, a hockey player hangs up the skates. Even coaches hang up the clipboard or a referee hangs up the whistle. In real life, we don't see businessmen hang up the tie or briefcase. A mechanic doesn't hang up the wrench. They just retire.
Anyway, Loretta had a solid, if not spectacular Major League career. He ends up with a nice .295 average.
For me, I always liked Loretta because he could play any position, was a productive hitter and seemed to be a team first guy.
He is going into the Padres front office and he will, I'm sure be a huge asset to that franchise. He also might make a pretty good manager one day.
Anyway, Loretta had a solid, if not spectacular Major League career. He ends up with a nice .295 average.
For me, I always liked Loretta because he could play any position, was a productive hitter and seemed to be a team first guy.
He is going into the Padres front office and he will, I'm sure be a huge asset to that franchise. He also might make a pretty good manager one day.
Mr. Cub vs Mr Drug?
Cubs legend Ernie Banks wants former Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa to admit, like Mark McGwire, to steroid use. Does Banks have solid proof that Sosa used illegal performance enhancing drugs?
Well, he was on the list of 104 players who tested positive in an "anonymous" survey by Major League Baseball.
But the real proof is probably his home run totals beginning in 1998...66, 63, 50, 64 and 49. Come on. Looking back does anybody believe that Sosa was clean when he registered those home run totals?
Slammin' Sammy was also caught using an illegal, corked bat during the 2003 season. While some may look at that as gamesmanship, he clearly didn't mind cheating to gain an edge.
He denied using performance enhancing drugs, via a translator, before Congress during the steroid hearings in 2005. Doctors talk about the side effects of steroid use, like your nuts shrinking, but they don't discuss the horrible side effect of forgetting how to speak English. After the hearings, he was able to regain his ability to communicate through the English language.
Sosa is now retired and recently said he will "calmly wait" for his induction into the Hall of Fame. He is eligible in 2013. It could be a long wait.
Well, he was on the list of 104 players who tested positive in an "anonymous" survey by Major League Baseball.
But the real proof is probably his home run totals beginning in 1998...66, 63, 50, 64 and 49. Come on. Looking back does anybody believe that Sosa was clean when he registered those home run totals?
Slammin' Sammy was also caught using an illegal, corked bat during the 2003 season. While some may look at that as gamesmanship, he clearly didn't mind cheating to gain an edge.
He denied using performance enhancing drugs, via a translator, before Congress during the steroid hearings in 2005. Doctors talk about the side effects of steroid use, like your nuts shrinking, but they don't discuss the horrible side effect of forgetting how to speak English. After the hearings, he was able to regain his ability to communicate through the English language.
Sosa is now retired and recently said he will "calmly wait" for his induction into the Hall of Fame. He is eligible in 2013. It could be a long wait.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Dewayne Wise
Dewayne Wise is a journeyman outfielder having compiled a lifetime .216 batting average over seven seasons with four different teams. Pretty forgettable career thus far.
But he does have a signature moment.
His leaping, juggling catch to preserve Mark Buerhle's perfect game last season will likely be what he is remembered for. But in baseball, who knows? Maybe there is another unforgettable moment in the career of Dewayne Wise. But if there isn't, owning "The best catch ever to preserve a perfecto" is a pretty good moment to have if it's your only one.
But he does have a signature moment.
His leaping, juggling catch to preserve Mark Buerhle's perfect game last season will likely be what he is remembered for. But in baseball, who knows? Maybe there is another unforgettable moment in the career of Dewayne Wise. But if there isn't, owning "The best catch ever to preserve a perfecto" is a pretty good moment to have if it's your only one.
Arbitration
Tim Lincecum made $650,000 last season with the Giants. Not much for a two-time Cy Young Award winner. Now, though The Freak will cash in.
Lincecum has filed for 13-million this season in arbitration, the Giants have countered with 8-million. Either way, Lincecum wins. If he loses in arbitration he still gets 8-mil which is a hefty raise. If he is awarded the 13-mil, then he really wins and can afford to get a haircut.
Wouldn't it be nice to have arbitration in everyday life? I'd love to submit a salary demand from my radio station and have an arbitrator decide if I get it. That would be nice. Especially if I won which I think I would since radio stations lowball their employees and an arbitrator would see through that. Right?
Lincecum has filed for 13-million this season in arbitration, the Giants have countered with 8-million. Either way, Lincecum wins. If he loses in arbitration he still gets 8-mil which is a hefty raise. If he is awarded the 13-mil, then he really wins and can afford to get a haircut.
Wouldn't it be nice to have arbitration in everyday life? I'd love to submit a salary demand from my radio station and have an arbitrator decide if I get it. That would be nice. Especially if I won which I think I would since radio stations lowball their employees and an arbitrator would see through that. Right?
Sick...in a good way.
130, 127, 124, 123, 117, 137, 103, 116 and 135. Lou Gehrig's RBI totals? No, but you are on the right track. They are Albert Pujols RBI totals for his first nine seasons in the big leagues.
In 2001, the Cardinals played the Rockies early in the season at Coors Field. I remember Tony LaRussa claiming that his rookie left-fielder was the best prospect he had ever seen. Surely hyperbole on the part of LaRussa, right?
While LaRussa may have been blind and ignorant about Mark McGwire's steroid use, he knew what he was talking about regarding Pujols.
Albert's worst season? 2007. He ONLY hit 32 homers, drove in 103 runs and scored 99 times, all career lows. He did have an elbow problem but, like baseball instructor Ron Stilanovich would say, "Excuses are like poems. They're for sissies and no one wants to hear 'em."
There really isn't much debate now about who the greatest Cardinal of all-time is. Stan "The Man" Musial holds that distinction. You know you are pretty good when they make a statue for you while you are still alive. Musial had 10 seasons of 100+ RBI's. Pujols, 30, will pass that. Musial hit .331 over his career. Pujols is a lifetime .334 homer. The numbers Pujols will end up with will be mind boggling, more so than they are now, if he stays healthy.
How in the world do you pitch Pujols? I have no idea and apparently nobody else knows either. He is the modern day Lou Gehrig.
In 2001, the Cardinals played the Rockies early in the season at Coors Field. I remember Tony LaRussa claiming that his rookie left-fielder was the best prospect he had ever seen. Surely hyperbole on the part of LaRussa, right?
While LaRussa may have been blind and ignorant about Mark McGwire's steroid use, he knew what he was talking about regarding Pujols.
Albert's worst season? 2007. He ONLY hit 32 homers, drove in 103 runs and scored 99 times, all career lows. He did have an elbow problem but, like baseball instructor Ron Stilanovich would say, "Excuses are like poems. They're for sissies and no one wants to hear 'em."
There really isn't much debate now about who the greatest Cardinal of all-time is. Stan "The Man" Musial holds that distinction. You know you are pretty good when they make a statue for you while you are still alive. Musial had 10 seasons of 100+ RBI's. Pujols, 30, will pass that. Musial hit .331 over his career. Pujols is a lifetime .334 homer. The numbers Pujols will end up with will be mind boggling, more so than they are now, if he stays healthy.
How in the world do you pitch Pujols? I have no idea and apparently nobody else knows either. He is the modern day Lou Gehrig.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Best Website Ever
I just spent about 4 hours on www.baseballreference.com. On a Saturday night. I know what you are thinking..."Man, BR lives an exciting life!"
I concur. Good night.
I concur. Good night.
The Great George Brett
The scariest hitter I ever saw was George Brett. Everytime he came up against the Yankees was a very uncomfortable moment for me. The guy just punished the Yanks.
Be it hitting a tying, 3-run homer in the 8th off Grant Jackson in game 5 of the ALCS in 1976 or clinching the 1980 ALCS with a home run off Goose Gossage that took all of 1.4 seconds to get into the upper deck at Yankee Stadium, George Brett was a frightening sight for Yankees fans.
Here's the strange part though. I always liked and admired Brett. He had the most beautiful swing I've ever seen and he hustled every second he was on a baseball field. So even though he scared me I looked forward to watching him hit.
By the way, I was at the pine-tar game at Yankee Stadium on July 24, 1983. I wasn't the only one scared of him that day. The umpires were when he stormed out of the dugout to dispute his nullified home run (off Goose again). Now that was scary. At that moment in time George Brett was the angriest man on the planet, fully capable of taking the lives of four umpires and anyone else who stood in his way.
Be it hitting a tying, 3-run homer in the 8th off Grant Jackson in game 5 of the ALCS in 1976 or clinching the 1980 ALCS with a home run off Goose Gossage that took all of 1.4 seconds to get into the upper deck at Yankee Stadium, George Brett was a frightening sight for Yankees fans.
Here's the strange part though. I always liked and admired Brett. He had the most beautiful swing I've ever seen and he hustled every second he was on a baseball field. So even though he scared me I looked forward to watching him hit.
By the way, I was at the pine-tar game at Yankee Stadium on July 24, 1983. I wasn't the only one scared of him that day. The umpires were when he stormed out of the dugout to dispute his nullified home run (off Goose again). Now that was scary. At that moment in time George Brett was the angriest man on the planet, fully capable of taking the lives of four umpires and anyone else who stood in his way.
Ramifications
When someone is five years old, they don't really think about the long-term effects of their decisions. When a five year old tries to sneak a cookie before dinner, they don't think about years down the road.
Which is why athletes who have used steroids are really mentally five years old. Didn't they think about the long-term health risks of using that crap?
I'm sure a number of athletes declined to take steroids because they don't know the long-term health risks of doing so. Doctors have talked about the serious side effects, both short-term and long-term, and some of the wiser athletes chose to stay away.
Another reason why some athletes don't take steroids is because they have morals and ethics.
The guys who took/take steroids have no such honor or ethics. They are cheaters in every sense of the word. When Mark McGwire said he wishes he didn't play in the steroid era, I wanted to punch his face through the TV screen. While the era may have been deemed the "Steroid Era" he didn't have to take roids. His personal era could have been steroid free like many other baseball players.
While I'm sick and tired of these cheats trying to justify their steroid use and abuse, I'm sure they will be sicker when they learn that their kidneys, liver, pancreas, heart or other vital intestinal organs give out. They thought about home runs and money and fame. They didn't think about the other stuff did they?
Which is why athletes who have used steroids are really mentally five years old. Didn't they think about the long-term health risks of using that crap?
I'm sure a number of athletes declined to take steroids because they don't know the long-term health risks of doing so. Doctors have talked about the serious side effects, both short-term and long-term, and some of the wiser athletes chose to stay away.
Another reason why some athletes don't take steroids is because they have morals and ethics.
The guys who took/take steroids have no such honor or ethics. They are cheaters in every sense of the word. When Mark McGwire said he wishes he didn't play in the steroid era, I wanted to punch his face through the TV screen. While the era may have been deemed the "Steroid Era" he didn't have to take roids. His personal era could have been steroid free like many other baseball players.
While I'm sick and tired of these cheats trying to justify their steroid use and abuse, I'm sure they will be sicker when they learn that their kidneys, liver, pancreas, heart or other vital intestinal organs give out. They thought about home runs and money and fame. They didn't think about the other stuff did they?
A Higher Calling
Oakland Athletics minor league prospect Grant Desme will not play in the Majors this year. Or next year. Or ever.
The MVP of the Arizona Fall League and a guy who belted more than 30 homers and stole in excess of 30 bases in Class A ball last year is done playing baseball.
An injury? No. An illness? No. Grant Desme is retiring from baseball to become a Catholic priest.
Just 23-years old, Desme is saying goodbye to baseball for the priesthood, a process that takes about 10-years.
To me this is shocking. As someone who would have given anything to play in the Major League's I can't understand Desme's decision.
However, taking a closer look at this, I have to realize, it's not my decision. It's Desme's life and he feels this is what he needs to do. He said he thought this over carefully and has no regrets about leaving baseball.
Desme sounds like an honorable guy and I wish him nothing but the best. I just hope years from now he doesn't wonder, "What if."
The MVP of the Arizona Fall League and a guy who belted more than 30 homers and stole in excess of 30 bases in Class A ball last year is done playing baseball.
An injury? No. An illness? No. Grant Desme is retiring from baseball to become a Catholic priest.
Just 23-years old, Desme is saying goodbye to baseball for the priesthood, a process that takes about 10-years.
To me this is shocking. As someone who would have given anything to play in the Major League's I can't understand Desme's decision.
However, taking a closer look at this, I have to realize, it's not my decision. It's Desme's life and he feels this is what he needs to do. He said he thought this over carefully and has no regrets about leaving baseball.
Desme sounds like an honorable guy and I wish him nothing but the best. I just hope years from now he doesn't wonder, "What if."
Chunks of Concrete
I just saw some pictures of Yankee Stadium. The original stadium that they are demolishing, not the new, unnecessary, 1.5 billion dollar stadium.
I wish they would speed up the process and take down the old ballpark already. It's like watching a loved one die slowly of some wasting disease.
Some stadiums get imploded. Three Rivers Stadium, Veterans Stadium and The Kingdome all came down quickly. Boom, gone.
They are painfully dismantling Yankee Stadium piece by piece. One reason might be so they can sell everything possible. As a matter of fact, chunks of Yankee Stadium concrete are going for only $412.50. Display case included!
I'm not kidding, you can buy a chunk of Yankee Stadium concrete for a little more than $400. How they came to $412.50 instead of $400 or $425 is a mystery to me.
Still, if you purchase a chunk of concrete for $412.50 you are an idiot.
Plus, shipping and handling will run that price up. Have you ever tried to ship chuncks of concrete? It ain't cheap.
I wish they would speed up the process and take down the old ballpark already. It's like watching a loved one die slowly of some wasting disease.
Some stadiums get imploded. Three Rivers Stadium, Veterans Stadium and The Kingdome all came down quickly. Boom, gone.
They are painfully dismantling Yankee Stadium piece by piece. One reason might be so they can sell everything possible. As a matter of fact, chunks of Yankee Stadium concrete are going for only $412.50. Display case included!
I'm not kidding, you can buy a chunk of Yankee Stadium concrete for a little more than $400. How they came to $412.50 instead of $400 or $425 is a mystery to me.
Still, if you purchase a chunk of concrete for $412.50 you are an idiot.
Plus, shipping and handling will run that price up. Have you ever tried to ship chuncks of concrete? It ain't cheap.
Friday, January 22, 2010
The Phils Are Giving Away Money!!!
The Phillies signed right hander Joe Blanton to a 3-year, 24-million dollar contract extension. The same Joe Blanton who is 21-20 over the past two seasons? Yeah, that Joe Blanton. More power to JB. Meanwhile, I'll write another post as soon as my head stops shaking like a Joe Blanton bobblehead doll.
M's Playing With Fire
Two seasons ago the Mariners were a mess. They lost 101 games and not much was expected a year ago. Seattle quietly exceeded expectations by turning in an 85-77 season in 2009, a 24-game improvement for those of you who are mathematically challenged and don’t have handy access to a calculator.
Don Wakamatsu, in his first year piloting Seattle (pun intended), should have garnered a lot more consideration for Manager of the Year which went to the Angels Mike Scioscia. Joe Girardi and Ron Washington were the runner-ups.
This week the Mariners locked up dynamic, 23-year old right-hander Felix Hernandez for five years and 78-million buhners. Hernandez finished second (to Zach Greinke) for the Cy Young award and is the ace that every team would love to have.
With the addition of Cliff Lee from the Phillies, the Mariners arguably have the best 1-2 pitching combination in baseball. They added third baseman Chone Figgins via free agency. With him and Ichiro at the top of the line-up they will give headaches to opposing pitchers and catchers.
With things looking so positive this offseason for the Mariners the big question I have is why in the world did they acquire Milton Bradley? Why oh why would Seattle want this me-first, high-strung basket case on their team? It isn’t a question of if Bradley will poison the team, it’s when. I don’t care if he hits 40 homers; he is a bad guy to have on a team. If he hit 40 homers he would be a more tolerable bad guy but his numbers and injury problems suggest he is in decline. Perhaps there is a reason he is on his 8th different team in 10 seasons and with his 6th different franchise in the last six years. Go ahead and get the calculator out again. Here, let me help you. That’s an average of a new team a year for six years.
The Mariners sent underachieving and often injured pitcher Carlos Silva to the Cubs for Bradley last month. It was seen as an exchange of big contracts hoping that a change of scenery will help both players.
The Cubs made out best in this deal. Silva, if healthy, could contribute although he is prone to give up home runs which might be exacerbated at Wrigley Field. For Chicago, just getting rid of Bradley and his huge contract is addition by subtraction.
The Mariners may very well win the West. I don’t think the Angels will be as strong as in past years after losing Figgins and John Lackey via free agency. But I believe they would have been better off going after a free-agent like Johnny Damon, a winner, instead of a loose cannon like Milton Bradley. I guess Parker Brothers wasn’t available.
Don Wakamatsu, in his first year piloting Seattle (pun intended), should have garnered a lot more consideration for Manager of the Year which went to the Angels Mike Scioscia. Joe Girardi and Ron Washington were the runner-ups.
This week the Mariners locked up dynamic, 23-year old right-hander Felix Hernandez for five years and 78-million buhners. Hernandez finished second (to Zach Greinke) for the Cy Young award and is the ace that every team would love to have.
With the addition of Cliff Lee from the Phillies, the Mariners arguably have the best 1-2 pitching combination in baseball. They added third baseman Chone Figgins via free agency. With him and Ichiro at the top of the line-up they will give headaches to opposing pitchers and catchers.
With things looking so positive this offseason for the Mariners the big question I have is why in the world did they acquire Milton Bradley? Why oh why would Seattle want this me-first, high-strung basket case on their team? It isn’t a question of if Bradley will poison the team, it’s when. I don’t care if he hits 40 homers; he is a bad guy to have on a team. If he hit 40 homers he would be a more tolerable bad guy but his numbers and injury problems suggest he is in decline. Perhaps there is a reason he is on his 8th different team in 10 seasons and with his 6th different franchise in the last six years. Go ahead and get the calculator out again. Here, let me help you. That’s an average of a new team a year for six years.
The Mariners sent underachieving and often injured pitcher Carlos Silva to the Cubs for Bradley last month. It was seen as an exchange of big contracts hoping that a change of scenery will help both players.
The Cubs made out best in this deal. Silva, if healthy, could contribute although he is prone to give up home runs which might be exacerbated at Wrigley Field. For Chicago, just getting rid of Bradley and his huge contract is addition by subtraction.
The Mariners may very well win the West. I don’t think the Angels will be as strong as in past years after losing Figgins and John Lackey via free agency. But I believe they would have been better off going after a free-agent like Johnny Damon, a winner, instead of a loose cannon like Milton Bradley. I guess Parker Brothers wasn’t available.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Modern Day Groundskeepers
While watching old All-Star game films on MLB Network last night ("Get a life BR"), I noticed something that I hadn't really thought too much about in the past. That was the fact that the fields in the 50's and 60's were in horrible shape.
Examining pictures from previous decades also showed that the playing fields of days gone by were rockpiles compared to the pristine playing surfaces of today.
In the old days of Yankee Stadium (the original, not the renovated stadium) the fans would be allowed on the field after the game to view the monuments in center field and to exit the stadium through the bullpens. Can you imagine that happening today?
When I took a tour of Yankee Stadium in 2008, they let us walk around the warning track out to the monuments. The tour guide specifically mentioned, several times, that if anyone stepped on or touched the grass they would be removed from the tour and escorted out of the stadium. When I asked, "Is it OK to take a picture of the grass?" I got a dirty look and no answer. He meant business.
I wouldn't have wanted to be an infielder back in the day and play on those fields with lumpy grass and bare patches. Wait, I would. That would have meant I was in the Major Leagues.
Take a look at baseball dimaonds from years ago and compare them to the modern day playing field. There is no comparison. One reason I believe there are better fields today is that only the Athletics and Marlins share a stadium with a football team. Football is not a friend of baseball fields. But the biggest reason though has to be the technology of growing and caring for grass and the maniacal manner in which groundskeepers obsess over their fields. Although I could do without all the designs, other than checkerboard, that groundskeepers cut into the grass. I would even go as far as to say that a beautiful looking field adds to the game day experience for the fans.
Having been on the field at Coors Field many times (while keeping off the grass) it is easily the best playing surface I've ever seen up close. Mark Razum is the head groundskeeper at Coors Field and if I were Troy Tulowitzki, Todd Helton or any infielder, I would thank that guy every day for such a fine surface to field grounders on. The only people who probably don't like current Major League fields are dentists.
As for my mediocre playing career, the two best fields I've ever played on are Doubleday Field in Cooperstown and Sky Sox Stadium in Colorado Springs. I could name all the crappy fields I've played on but it would take a long time to list them all. I will say Arvada High School in Colorado is the worst surface I've ever played on. It is downright scary. Lumpy and uneven with bad grass, rocks the size of chicken nuggets, clumpy dirt, you name it, that place is horrible and dangerous.
By the way, when I was a kid I always wanted to be a groundskeeper. I would marvel at the groundskeepers drag the field, put the lines down, water the infield and put in the bases. That said, I always hated yard work at home. Doesn't make sense does it? I wonder if groundskeepers take as much care of their own lawns as they do at the ballpark? I've heard that professional window washers have the dirtiest windows at home. Maybe that translates to groundskeepers too.
So, I raise a glass and make a toast to the guys with dirt under their fingernails and grass stains on their pants, the groundskeepers of baseball fields.
Examining pictures from previous decades also showed that the playing fields of days gone by were rockpiles compared to the pristine playing surfaces of today.
In the old days of Yankee Stadium (the original, not the renovated stadium) the fans would be allowed on the field after the game to view the monuments in center field and to exit the stadium through the bullpens. Can you imagine that happening today?
When I took a tour of Yankee Stadium in 2008, they let us walk around the warning track out to the monuments. The tour guide specifically mentioned, several times, that if anyone stepped on or touched the grass they would be removed from the tour and escorted out of the stadium. When I asked, "Is it OK to take a picture of the grass?" I got a dirty look and no answer. He meant business.
I wouldn't have wanted to be an infielder back in the day and play on those fields with lumpy grass and bare patches. Wait, I would. That would have meant I was in the Major Leagues.
Take a look at baseball dimaonds from years ago and compare them to the modern day playing field. There is no comparison. One reason I believe there are better fields today is that only the Athletics and Marlins share a stadium with a football team. Football is not a friend of baseball fields. But the biggest reason though has to be the technology of growing and caring for grass and the maniacal manner in which groundskeepers obsess over their fields. Although I could do without all the designs, other than checkerboard, that groundskeepers cut into the grass. I would even go as far as to say that a beautiful looking field adds to the game day experience for the fans.
Having been on the field at Coors Field many times (while keeping off the grass) it is easily the best playing surface I've ever seen up close. Mark Razum is the head groundskeeper at Coors Field and if I were Troy Tulowitzki, Todd Helton or any infielder, I would thank that guy every day for such a fine surface to field grounders on. The only people who probably don't like current Major League fields are dentists.
As for my mediocre playing career, the two best fields I've ever played on are Doubleday Field in Cooperstown and Sky Sox Stadium in Colorado Springs. I could name all the crappy fields I've played on but it would take a long time to list them all. I will say Arvada High School in Colorado is the worst surface I've ever played on. It is downright scary. Lumpy and uneven with bad grass, rocks the size of chicken nuggets, clumpy dirt, you name it, that place is horrible and dangerous.
By the way, when I was a kid I always wanted to be a groundskeeper. I would marvel at the groundskeepers drag the field, put the lines down, water the infield and put in the bases. That said, I always hated yard work at home. Doesn't make sense does it? I wonder if groundskeepers take as much care of their own lawns as they do at the ballpark? I've heard that professional window washers have the dirtiest windows at home. Maybe that translates to groundskeepers too.
So, I raise a glass and make a toast to the guys with dirt under their fingernails and grass stains on their pants, the groundskeepers of baseball fields.
Uni's
Just looked at a picture of Dave Winfield as a San Diego Padre. Man those were hideous looking yellow and brown duds. Seriously, those were eyesores. Not as bad as the mid-70’s all-red uni of the Indians but still really, really ugly. Rosie O’Donnell ugly.
Which got me to thinking, have the Padres ever had a nice looking uniform? The ones they have now aren’t ugly but they aren’t very distinctive either. The Padres have had so many different uniforms, including camouflage, that sooner or later they might luck into nice uni’s.
I think most people would agree with me that the best uniforms are the classics worn by the Yankees, Dodgers, Giants, Tigers (home) and Cardinals.
Here’s one for you. The White Sox have had crappy uniforms for the most part over the years. However, I actually really liked the uniforms with the collars, the old style lettering and the fact that they weren’t tucked in. Do you remember those? Most people hated them. They even wore shorts with those uniform tops for one game. Now that was a bad look although if teams wore shorts during batting practice that might be practical on a hot day.
Which got me to thinking, have the Padres ever had a nice looking uniform? The ones they have now aren’t ugly but they aren’t very distinctive either. The Padres have had so many different uniforms, including camouflage, that sooner or later they might luck into nice uni’s.
I think most people would agree with me that the best uniforms are the classics worn by the Yankees, Dodgers, Giants, Tigers (home) and Cardinals.
Here’s one for you. The White Sox have had crappy uniforms for the most part over the years. However, I actually really liked the uniforms with the collars, the old style lettering and the fact that they weren’t tucked in. Do you remember those? Most people hated them. They even wore shorts with those uniform tops for one game. Now that was a bad look although if teams wore shorts during batting practice that might be practical on a hot day.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Fisk Fires Away
I never liked Carlton Fisk. Thurman Munson was one of my favorite catchers ever and the rivalry between the two extended to the fans of the Yankees and Red Sox. Yankees fans hated Fisk and Red Sox fans hated Munson. Hate is a strong word but it was the good kind of hate.
Not only did I not like Fisk with the Red Sox I didn't like him with the White Sox either. If you went to a game when Fisk was catching then you knew you were in for a long day or night.
Has anyone ever walked on a baseball field slower than Fisk?
Groundskeepers usually drag the infield after the 5th inning. In games that Fisk caught they would have to mow the grass too. When he would go out to the pitcher's mound from home plate it was a good time to hit the restroom, grab a bite to eat (after washing your hands) and settle back into your chair for the resumption of the game.
I haven't thought about Fisk in a while but the Hall of Fame catcher (well deserved I might add. Hurts to say that. Ow!) was in the news today for blasting Mark McGwire. Fisk said to the Chicago Tribune, regarding McGwire's claim that he used steroids because his body was breaking down over the course of 162 game seasons, "Try having your knees operated on and catching for 30 years. Do you think you feel good when you go out there? [McGwire] had to stand around and play first base. So excuuuuuse me."
Fisk also had Roger Clemens in his crosshairs saying to the Tribune, "The reason he got let go from the Red Sox was because he was starting to break down. His last couple of years in Boston just weren't very productive, a la 'The Rocket.' Then all of a sudden he goes to Toronto and he wants to show somebody something. Then he gets two consecutive Cy Young Awards. Come on, give me a bucket. It's obvious to players. You notice that stuff. You know how hard it is to play the game. You know how hard it is to be productive at any age, but especially at an older age. You see guys who are as productive later on as they were early. It offends guys that stayed clean."
Fisk played the game the right way, although slowly. I distinctly remember a game when Deion Sanders, then a rookie with the Yankees, led off a game and didn't run out a ground ball. Fisk yelled at him and was annoyed that Sanders, an opponent no less, disrespected the game by not hustling. The next time Sanders came up to the plate he shook Fisk's hand.
Carlton Fisk was a hard-nosed player. I didn't like him when he played and I believe Munson was the better player in the 70's. Still, I'm starting to like Fisk now that he's older. He doesn't seem to have mellowed out too much. Perhaps I'm the one getting soft.
Not only did I not like Fisk with the Red Sox I didn't like him with the White Sox either. If you went to a game when Fisk was catching then you knew you were in for a long day or night.
Has anyone ever walked on a baseball field slower than Fisk?
Groundskeepers usually drag the infield after the 5th inning. In games that Fisk caught they would have to mow the grass too. When he would go out to the pitcher's mound from home plate it was a good time to hit the restroom, grab a bite to eat (after washing your hands) and settle back into your chair for the resumption of the game.
I haven't thought about Fisk in a while but the Hall of Fame catcher (well deserved I might add. Hurts to say that. Ow!) was in the news today for blasting Mark McGwire. Fisk said to the Chicago Tribune, regarding McGwire's claim that he used steroids because his body was breaking down over the course of 162 game seasons, "Try having your knees operated on and catching for 30 years. Do you think you feel good when you go out there? [McGwire] had to stand around and play first base. So excuuuuuse me."
Fisk also had Roger Clemens in his crosshairs saying to the Tribune, "The reason he got let go from the Red Sox was because he was starting to break down. His last couple of years in Boston just weren't very productive, a la 'The Rocket.' Then all of a sudden he goes to Toronto and he wants to show somebody something. Then he gets two consecutive Cy Young Awards. Come on, give me a bucket. It's obvious to players. You notice that stuff. You know how hard it is to play the game. You know how hard it is to be productive at any age, but especially at an older age. You see guys who are as productive later on as they were early. It offends guys that stayed clean."
Fisk played the game the right way, although slowly. I distinctly remember a game when Deion Sanders, then a rookie with the Yankees, led off a game and didn't run out a ground ball. Fisk yelled at him and was annoyed that Sanders, an opponent no less, disrespected the game by not hustling. The next time Sanders came up to the plate he shook Fisk's hand.
Carlton Fisk was a hard-nosed player. I didn't like him when he played and I believe Munson was the better player in the 70's. Still, I'm starting to like Fisk now that he's older. He doesn't seem to have mellowed out too much. Perhaps I'm the one getting soft.
Fookie
One of my hobbies is reading old box scores. Yes, you can rank reading box scores right up there with sky diving, hang gliding, mountain climbing and barefisted fisticuffs among dangerous avocations. What can I say, I'm a thrill seeker.
Anyway, I always knew that Dick Drago gave up Hank Aaron's last home run. Who doesn't know that? But who was the guy who gave up Hammerin' Hank's penultimate round tripper? And, did the guy who gave up #754 hope that it would have been Hank's last home run or was he glad that someone else gave up Hank's 755th and final home run.
So, I looked up Hank's last home run. Aaron, then with the Brewers, hit 755 on July 11th, 1976, in the second game of a doubleheader against the Texas Rangers at County Stadium in Milwaukee. It was a walkoff home run in the 10th inning to give the Brewers a 5-4 win and doubleheader sweep. The term walkoff was not in use back then. When I saw the name of the pitcher who gave up Aaron's home run I said, "Holy crap, Fookie! I know that guy!"
Steve Foucault served up 754 to Aaron and took the loss in that game. I'm guessing Fookie wasn't too happy.
I met Foucault back in 1995 when he was a pitching coach for the Hudson Valley Renegades of the NY-Penn League and I was broadcasting for them. Fookie molded a fine staff, was a great teacher and interview. He also loved to eat popcorn. Why I remember that I dont' know but he was always eating popcorn.
Currently, Foucault is the pitching coach for the Evansville Otters of the Frontier League.
I'm glad he is still in baseball all these years after his 6-year Major League career in which he was 35-36 with a solid 3.21 ERA and 52 saves for some horrible Rangers teams. Did I mention that he also gave up a game winning homer to the great Hank Aaron?
I'm going to try to contact Fookie to see if he remembers that game almost 34 years ago in Milwaukee. I'll keep you posted.
Anyway, I always knew that Dick Drago gave up Hank Aaron's last home run. Who doesn't know that? But who was the guy who gave up Hammerin' Hank's penultimate round tripper? And, did the guy who gave up #754 hope that it would have been Hank's last home run or was he glad that someone else gave up Hank's 755th and final home run.
So, I looked up Hank's last home run. Aaron, then with the Brewers, hit 755 on July 11th, 1976, in the second game of a doubleheader against the Texas Rangers at County Stadium in Milwaukee. It was a walkoff home run in the 10th inning to give the Brewers a 5-4 win and doubleheader sweep. The term walkoff was not in use back then. When I saw the name of the pitcher who gave up Aaron's home run I said, "Holy crap, Fookie! I know that guy!"
Steve Foucault served up 754 to Aaron and took the loss in that game. I'm guessing Fookie wasn't too happy.
I met Foucault back in 1995 when he was a pitching coach for the Hudson Valley Renegades of the NY-Penn League and I was broadcasting for them. Fookie molded a fine staff, was a great teacher and interview. He also loved to eat popcorn. Why I remember that I dont' know but he was always eating popcorn.
Currently, Foucault is the pitching coach for the Evansville Otters of the Frontier League.
I'm glad he is still in baseball all these years after his 6-year Major League career in which he was 35-36 with a solid 3.21 ERA and 52 saves for some horrible Rangers teams. Did I mention that he also gave up a game winning homer to the great Hank Aaron?
I'm going to try to contact Fookie to see if he remembers that game almost 34 years ago in Milwaukee. I'll keep you posted.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Diane Responds
Yesterday I wrote about discovering an article, written by Diane Grassi in 2006, about the horrendous conditions workers are subjected to in Costa Rica at the factory that makes baseballs for Rawlings and the Major Leagues.
I was curious to see if conditions had improved since Diane's article came out.
She responded to my e-mail by writing, "The Free Trade Agreement between the U.S. and Costa Rica, amongst other Central American countries, a/k/a CAFTA, is still in deliberations years later, as we speak.
But that which was supposed to be addressed, as in all Free Trade Agreements, is workers’ rights. However, even though an agreement might be put in place, largely the language in these agreements is a vague general term such as the country will make a “best effort” to improve the environment and working conditions of their workers. There is no enforcement or mechanism that the U.S. uses to then penalize such a country if they are in violation of the agreement, i.e. China’s human rights violations.
Obviously, there are no labor unions in Costa Rica and abuses of women and children are rampant in these factories, as is the case in many third world countries including China, a member of the WTO.
To spare you a lot of bureaucratic mumbo-jumbo, yes, the conditions as far as I know have not improved. However, Costa Rica, sadly, is hardly the exception.
Diane has agreed to come on our radio show (Artificial Turf, KNUS, Sunday nights from 8-11, streamed at www.710knus.com) on February 14th at 9 p.m. mountain time. It should be an interesting discussion on this topic, a topic not many people are aware of.
I was curious to see if conditions had improved since Diane's article came out.
She responded to my e-mail by writing, "The Free Trade Agreement between the U.S. and Costa Rica, amongst other Central American countries, a/k/a CAFTA, is still in deliberations years later, as we speak.
But that which was supposed to be addressed, as in all Free Trade Agreements, is workers’ rights. However, even though an agreement might be put in place, largely the language in these agreements is a vague general term such as the country will make a “best effort” to improve the environment and working conditions of their workers. There is no enforcement or mechanism that the U.S. uses to then penalize such a country if they are in violation of the agreement, i.e. China’s human rights violations.
Obviously, there are no labor unions in Costa Rica and abuses of women and children are rampant in these factories, as is the case in many third world countries including China, a member of the WTO.
To spare you a lot of bureaucratic mumbo-jumbo, yes, the conditions as far as I know have not improved. However, Costa Rica, sadly, is hardly the exception.
Diane has agreed to come on our radio show (Artificial Turf, KNUS, Sunday nights from 8-11, streamed at www.710knus.com) on February 14th at 9 p.m. mountain time. It should be an interesting discussion on this topic, a topic not many people are aware of.
Another Mike Morgan?
Chad Gaudin was 6-10 last season with an ERA of 4.64 pitching for the Padres and Yankees. He picked up a World Series ring which is nice for the righthander. Better yet, Chad signed a 2.95 million dollar contract for 2010 with the Yankees. OK, that's a reasonable deal for Gaudin who sports a 34-35 career record.
Here is what amazes me about Gaudin. He's just 26-years old and he's already played for six different teams...The Rays, Jays, A's (hey, that rhymes!), White Sox, Padres and Yanks.
The question is, can he equal or surpass Mike Morgan's record of 12 different Major League teams? Morgan pitched for, in order, the Athletics, Yankees, Blue Jays, Mariners, Orioles, Dodgers, Cubs, Cardinals, Reds, Twins, (Cubs again), Rangers and Diamondbacks.
At the age of 26 Morgan had pitched for just four different teams. Gaudin is ahead of that pace. Morgan pitched until he was 42. If Gaudin stays healthy he has a great shot of eclipsing Morgan's record. Hopefully the well-traveled Gaudin will get traded sometime during the 2010 season to another team.
Does anyone else find this as exciting as I do?
Here is what amazes me about Gaudin. He's just 26-years old and he's already played for six different teams...The Rays, Jays, A's (hey, that rhymes!), White Sox, Padres and Yanks.
The question is, can he equal or surpass Mike Morgan's record of 12 different Major League teams? Morgan pitched for, in order, the Athletics, Yankees, Blue Jays, Mariners, Orioles, Dodgers, Cubs, Cardinals, Reds, Twins, (Cubs again), Rangers and Diamondbacks.
At the age of 26 Morgan had pitched for just four different teams. Gaudin is ahead of that pace. Morgan pitched until he was 42. If Gaudin stays healthy he has a great shot of eclipsing Morgan's record. Hopefully the well-traveled Gaudin will get traded sometime during the 2010 season to another team.
Does anyone else find this as exciting as I do?
Monday, January 18, 2010
No More Offerman
Congratulations to the Dominican Baseball League. Jose Offerman, the former Major Leaguer, has been suspended for life from Dominican baseball for attempting to hit American umpire Daniel Rayburn during a game. Offerman was managing the Licey Tigers during the incident Saturday.
My nomination for the next commissioner of MLB is Dominican League President Leonardo Matos-Berrido. He said because of the nature of the offense there would be no appeal for Offerman. Done. Finished.
If Offerman were managing a big league team, he would have been suspended of course. Then there would have been appeals. Then Offerman would announce he was going to take an anger management class, he would have had a teary apology and then would be back in uniform before you knew it.
I say screw these miscreants. This wasn't Offerman's first foray in to repulsive behavior. In an Atlantic League game in 2007, Offerman, while batting for the Long Island Ducks ended the career of catcher John Nathans when he clubbed him in the head after getting hit by a pitch. That should have resulted in a permanent ban from all of professional baseball.
Jose Offerman no longer deserves to wear a professional baseball uniform or an amateur league uniform and for that I commend Matos-Berrido.
My nomination for the next commissioner of MLB is Dominican League President Leonardo Matos-Berrido. He said because of the nature of the offense there would be no appeal for Offerman. Done. Finished.
If Offerman were managing a big league team, he would have been suspended of course. Then there would have been appeals. Then Offerman would announce he was going to take an anger management class, he would have had a teary apology and then would be back in uniform before you knew it.
I say screw these miscreants. This wasn't Offerman's first foray in to repulsive behavior. In an Atlantic League game in 2007, Offerman, while batting for the Long Island Ducks ended the career of catcher John Nathans when he clubbed him in the head after getting hit by a pitch. That should have resulted in a permanent ban from all of professional baseball.
Jose Offerman no longer deserves to wear a professional baseball uniform or an amateur league uniform and for that I commend Matos-Berrido.
Want To Make A Fortune?
Are you looking to make a fortune? Would you like to be stone-cold wealthy? Then invent a machine that stitches baseballs.
Baseballs are still hand stitched. Balls used in the Major Leagues and Minor Leagues are produced in Costa Rica.
The Majors go through 1.8 million baseballs per season. More than 2.2 million baseballs are made each year.
I recently read an article, written in 2006, by Diane Grassi in which she reports on the deplorable working conditions at the baseball production factory.
According to the article, each "sewer" has to sew the covers on at least one baseball every 15-minutes. They also must sew a minimum of 156 baseballs per week.
They work in a building that reaches above 90-degrees with no air conditioning and average 11 hours of work a day for $1.15 an hour. In addition, the article talks about workers needing to request permission to take a bathroom break. With jobs scarce, supervisors know they can work people to the bone and if they don't like it there are many others ready to take their place.
Again, Grassi's article was written in 2006. I've e-mailed her to see if conditions have improved. Apparently Commissioner Bud Selig and then Union leader Donald Fehr were alerted to the sweatshop conditions at the baseball plant in Costa Rica but neither expressed, at least publicly, much outrage.
I've sent an e-mail to Ms. Grassi asking if she knows of any changes have taken place since her article. I would like to know the current working conditions at the baseball factory. If I hear back from her I'll pass that information along here.
Rawlings, the official baseball company of Major League Baseball, should be ashamed of themselves for the conditions that existed in 2006 and if those conditions haven't improved, Bud Selig should do everything he can to find another company to make baseballs and in a much more worker friendly environment.
Getting back to a machine that stitches baseballs, I would say it is probably impossible to produce such a device. Otherwise it would have been invented already, right?
Baseballs are still hand stitched. Balls used in the Major Leagues and Minor Leagues are produced in Costa Rica.
The Majors go through 1.8 million baseballs per season. More than 2.2 million baseballs are made each year.
I recently read an article, written in 2006, by Diane Grassi in which she reports on the deplorable working conditions at the baseball production factory.
According to the article, each "sewer" has to sew the covers on at least one baseball every 15-minutes. They also must sew a minimum of 156 baseballs per week.
They work in a building that reaches above 90-degrees with no air conditioning and average 11 hours of work a day for $1.15 an hour. In addition, the article talks about workers needing to request permission to take a bathroom break. With jobs scarce, supervisors know they can work people to the bone and if they don't like it there are many others ready to take their place.
Again, Grassi's article was written in 2006. I've e-mailed her to see if conditions have improved. Apparently Commissioner Bud Selig and then Union leader Donald Fehr were alerted to the sweatshop conditions at the baseball plant in Costa Rica but neither expressed, at least publicly, much outrage.
I've sent an e-mail to Ms. Grassi asking if she knows of any changes have taken place since her article. I would like to know the current working conditions at the baseball factory. If I hear back from her I'll pass that information along here.
Rawlings, the official baseball company of Major League Baseball, should be ashamed of themselves for the conditions that existed in 2006 and if those conditions haven't improved, Bud Selig should do everything he can to find another company to make baseballs and in a much more worker friendly environment.
Getting back to a machine that stitches baseballs, I would say it is probably impossible to produce such a device. Otherwise it would have been invented already, right?
Haiti
The recent earthquake in Haiti is heartbreaking. The devastation is difficult to accept and comprehend.
I went to high school with many Haitian kids and two things stand out. They loved soccer and hated snow.
I've often wondered how a country that shares an island with the Dominican Republic could produce so few baseball players.
Through the 2009 season, 493 major leaguers were born in the Dominican Republic. Not one major leaguer has been born in Haiti.
Another interesting thing about Haiti is that for many years baseballs were made there. Unfortuately, political unrest in Haiti in the late 1980's prompted baseball to move its production of baseballs to Costa Rica.
Thoughts and prayers to the people Haiti during this tragic time.
I went to high school with many Haitian kids and two things stand out. They loved soccer and hated snow.
I've often wondered how a country that shares an island with the Dominican Republic could produce so few baseball players.
Through the 2009 season, 493 major leaguers were born in the Dominican Republic. Not one major leaguer has been born in Haiti.
Another interesting thing about Haiti is that for many years baseballs were made there. Unfortuately, political unrest in Haiti in the late 1980's prompted baseball to move its production of baseballs to Costa Rica.
Thoughts and prayers to the people Haiti during this tragic time.
Baseball Man Andy Cornell
Andy Cornell always gripes about the length of the baseball season.
Last night, on our radio show, Andy said, "Why not just make the baseball season year round? Pitchers and catchers should report the day after the World Series ends."
Finally, Coach Cornell makes some sense.
Last night, on our radio show, Andy said, "Why not just make the baseball season year round? Pitchers and catchers should report the day after the World Series ends."
Finally, Coach Cornell makes some sense.
MLK Day
Today is Martin Luther King Day.
Whenever I think of MLK, I recall his "I Have a Dream" speech.
Greatest speech ever?
Some people might say so.
Another great speech was Jim Valvano's "Don't Give Up, Don't Ever Give Up" speech.
We can't forget Abraham Lincoln's "Gettysburg Address."
However, I think we can all agree, the undisputed "greatest" speech of all time was courtesy of Rickey Henderson after he broke Lou Brock's base stealing record in 1991.
"Lou Brock was the symbol of great base stealing. But today, I'm the greatest of all time. Thank you."
Whenever I think of MLK, I recall his "I Have a Dream" speech.
Greatest speech ever?
Some people might say so.
Another great speech was Jim Valvano's "Don't Give Up, Don't Ever Give Up" speech.
We can't forget Abraham Lincoln's "Gettysburg Address."
However, I think we can all agree, the undisputed "greatest" speech of all time was courtesy of Rickey Henderson after he broke Lou Brock's base stealing record in 1991.
"Lou Brock was the symbol of great base stealing. But today, I'm the greatest of all time. Thank you."
Sunday, January 17, 2010
NFL Playoffs...Yawn.
I watched the two NFL playoff games yesterday and as I write this I am watching the Cowboys-Vikings borefest (17-3 Minnesota late first half.)
For people who say baseball is boring, I would urge you to check out the NFL playoffs and compare. I'll save you the time. There is no comparison. The drama and excitement in the baseball post-season is far better than the NFL...or NBA playoffs. The NHL playoffs come close, especially overtime games.
By the way, Joe Buck is announcing the Cowboys-Vikes game. Over on MLB Network Joe Buck is also broadcasting Game 4 of the 2006 World Series between the Tigers and Cardinals.
The 2006 St. Louis Cardinals...worst team to win the World Series? I would say so.
I'm looking forward to spring training.
For people who say baseball is boring, I would urge you to check out the NFL playoffs and compare. I'll save you the time. There is no comparison. The drama and excitement in the baseball post-season is far better than the NFL...or NBA playoffs. The NHL playoffs come close, especially overtime games.
By the way, Joe Buck is announcing the Cowboys-Vikes game. Over on MLB Network Joe Buck is also broadcasting Game 4 of the 2006 World Series between the Tigers and Cardinals.
The 2006 St. Louis Cardinals...worst team to win the World Series? I would say so.
I'm looking forward to spring training.
Friday, January 15, 2010
The Buccos
I have a confession to make. I have a soft spot for the Pittsburgh Pirates. I went to school in Pittsburgh and used to go to as many Pirates games as possible at beautiful Three Rivers Stadium. They don't make ballparks like that anymore!
When I think of the Pirates, I prefer to recall Willie Stargell, Roberto Clemente, Al Oliver, The Lumber Company, We Are Family, John Candelaria. Those were players I saw play. From an historical perspective, I think of Honus Wagner, Pie Traynor, the Waner brothers, Forbes Field, Bill Mazeroski, Ralph Kiner and Bob Prince in the broadcast booth.
To think of the current Pirates is depressing. A team with a glorious history has become a laughing stock. A record 17 consecutive losing seasons and counting. A wonderful new ballpark that has seen nothing but Pirates teams stink it up. They have become the modern day Expos with ownership that doesn't want to spend money and prospects shipped out to blossom elsewhere.
In a conversation I had with Rockies Manager Jim Tracy last year, I asked him what went wrong for him when he managed in Pittsburgh. He just rubbed his thumb and index finger together, implying that ownership was too cheap to put a winner on the field. Winning ballclubs are expensive and apparently the owners are content to lose games and make money. I've always felt that winning, while more costly, brings in higher revenues. Why would you be in the baseball business if you didn't want to win?
Colorado has had recent success in a similar size market. Minnesota is successful in a small market. The Pirates can't use the small market excuse forever.
Pittsburgh's ballclub should change their name. They don't deserve to have the once proud Pirates moniker. The should drop the P and call themselves the Irates. Because any fan of this team has to be irate at the crap sandwich continually forced down their throats for the past 17 seasons.
When I think of the Pirates, I prefer to recall Willie Stargell, Roberto Clemente, Al Oliver, The Lumber Company, We Are Family, John Candelaria. Those were players I saw play. From an historical perspective, I think of Honus Wagner, Pie Traynor, the Waner brothers, Forbes Field, Bill Mazeroski, Ralph Kiner and Bob Prince in the broadcast booth.
To think of the current Pirates is depressing. A team with a glorious history has become a laughing stock. A record 17 consecutive losing seasons and counting. A wonderful new ballpark that has seen nothing but Pirates teams stink it up. They have become the modern day Expos with ownership that doesn't want to spend money and prospects shipped out to blossom elsewhere.
In a conversation I had with Rockies Manager Jim Tracy last year, I asked him what went wrong for him when he managed in Pittsburgh. He just rubbed his thumb and index finger together, implying that ownership was too cheap to put a winner on the field. Winning ballclubs are expensive and apparently the owners are content to lose games and make money. I've always felt that winning, while more costly, brings in higher revenues. Why would you be in the baseball business if you didn't want to win?
Colorado has had recent success in a similar size market. Minnesota is successful in a small market. The Pirates can't use the small market excuse forever.
Pittsburgh's ballclub should change their name. They don't deserve to have the once proud Pirates moniker. The should drop the P and call themselves the Irates. Because any fan of this team has to be irate at the crap sandwich continually forced down their throats for the past 17 seasons.
Did you know?
Did you know...
Braves outfielder Melky Cabrera is the only player named Melky in major league baseball history and that Melky is his actual given name?
Al Cabrera, no relation to Melky, is the only major leaguer ever born in the Canary Islands?
Al Cabrera’s entire career consisted of one game and two hitless at-bats for the Cardinals in 1913, thus making Al Cabrera the greatest major leaguer in the history of the Canary Islands?
Former pitcher Mark Knudson, the first Denver native to play for the Rockies, once bought a car from the guy who signed his paychecks with the Brewers, Bud Selig?
Chris Jelic’s only Big League hit was a home run in his 11th and final at-bat with the Mets in 1990?
Aurelio Rodriguez, Aurelio Lopez and Aurelio Monteagudo are the only players named Aurelio in big league history, that their first names contain all five vowels and that all three Aurelio’s died in car accidents?
Jim Palmer, in 3948 innings pitched, never allowed a grand slam homer?
Nolan Ryan allowed the most grand slams ever, 10?
Legendary Chicago Bears owner George Halas played for the Yankees in 1919?
Actor Chuck Connors, best known as The Rifleman, played in the NBA for the Celtics and MLB for the Cubs?
Braves outfielder Melky Cabrera is the only player named Melky in major league baseball history and that Melky is his actual given name?
Al Cabrera, no relation to Melky, is the only major leaguer ever born in the Canary Islands?
Al Cabrera’s entire career consisted of one game and two hitless at-bats for the Cardinals in 1913, thus making Al Cabrera the greatest major leaguer in the history of the Canary Islands?
Former pitcher Mark Knudson, the first Denver native to play for the Rockies, once bought a car from the guy who signed his paychecks with the Brewers, Bud Selig?
Chris Jelic’s only Big League hit was a home run in his 11th and final at-bat with the Mets in 1990?
Aurelio Rodriguez, Aurelio Lopez and Aurelio Monteagudo are the only players named Aurelio in big league history, that their first names contain all five vowels and that all three Aurelio’s died in car accidents?
Jim Palmer, in 3948 innings pitched, never allowed a grand slam homer?
Nolan Ryan allowed the most grand slams ever, 10?
Legendary Chicago Bears owner George Halas played for the Yankees in 1919?
Actor Chuck Connors, best known as The Rifleman, played in the NBA for the Celtics and MLB for the Cubs?
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Louisiana Lightning
One of my "killing time at work" activities is pouring over old box scores on baseballreference.com, which by the way, is the world's greatest website. Some might say I'm slacking, I prefer to call it show prep.
I enjoy going back in time and checking out box scores of games I attended.
This morning I was reading the box score of the Mariners-Yankees game on Friday night, April 29th, 1977. I was one of 15,284 at Yankee Stadium on that chilly night.
It was the first time the expansion Mariners ever faced the Yanks. I remember that morning checking out the pitching matchup and being disappointed that some guy named Ron Guidry was pitching. Who?
The Yankees won the game 3-0. It was Guidry's second career win. I recalled, incorrectly, that he pitched a complete game shutout. The box score told me otherwise. Guidry went 8 1/3 innings with Sparky Lyle coming in to get the final two outs.
Guidry fast became one of my favorite pitchers. He had one of the greatest seasons ever in 1978, going 25-3 with an ERA of 1.74. He added a couple of more wins in the post-season.
Gator, as Guidry was called, collected three 20-win seasons and ended his career with a 170-91 record with a 3.29 ERA.
While Guidry doesn't have Hall of Fame numbers, he was a better pitcher than a lot of the guys enshrined in Cooperstown.
I enjoy going back in time and checking out box scores of games I attended.
This morning I was reading the box score of the Mariners-Yankees game on Friday night, April 29th, 1977. I was one of 15,284 at Yankee Stadium on that chilly night.
It was the first time the expansion Mariners ever faced the Yanks. I remember that morning checking out the pitching matchup and being disappointed that some guy named Ron Guidry was pitching. Who?
The Yankees won the game 3-0. It was Guidry's second career win. I recalled, incorrectly, that he pitched a complete game shutout. The box score told me otherwise. Guidry went 8 1/3 innings with Sparky Lyle coming in to get the final two outs.
Guidry fast became one of my favorite pitchers. He had one of the greatest seasons ever in 1978, going 25-3 with an ERA of 1.74. He added a couple of more wins in the post-season.
Gator, as Guidry was called, collected three 20-win seasons and ended his career with a 170-91 record with a 3.29 ERA.
While Guidry doesn't have Hall of Fame numbers, he was a better pitcher than a lot of the guys enshrined in Cooperstown.
Longevity
I remember when baseball salaries started exploding in the mid-70's with the Catfish Hunter signing paving the way for free-agents to cash in. In 1979 Nolan Ryan became the first big leaguer to earn 1-million a year and salaries only went up from there.
Many pundits said that careers would be shortened because players would lose their hunger with all that money.
Didn't work out that way did it?
With all the money players make, they have more incentive to work out religiously in the off-season (and during the season). They want to keep making the big money for as long as they possibly can.
It's easy for a fan to say, "He's lost a step. He should retire." Fans seem more concerned about a player's legacy than the player. Most players end their careers with a few subpar seasons. If a guy was a perennial all-star and has three poor seasons before he calls it quits (or someone calls it quits for him) I'm not going to dwell on the last years of his career. I'll remember him as a great player.
If I were a major league player, I would keep playing until they ripped the uniform off me. And you would too.
Many pundits said that careers would be shortened because players would lose their hunger with all that money.
Didn't work out that way did it?
With all the money players make, they have more incentive to work out religiously in the off-season (and during the season). They want to keep making the big money for as long as they possibly can.
It's easy for a fan to say, "He's lost a step. He should retire." Fans seem more concerned about a player's legacy than the player. Most players end their careers with a few subpar seasons. If a guy was a perennial all-star and has three poor seasons before he calls it quits (or someone calls it quits for him) I'm not going to dwell on the last years of his career. I'll remember him as a great player.
If I were a major league player, I would keep playing until they ripped the uniform off me. And you would too.
Aubrey Huff
Good signing by the Giants. Huff is a quality major league hitter who had an off-season last year with just 15 homers and 82 rbi's for the Orioles and Tigers. He's a lifetime .282 hitter, averaging more than 20 homers and 90 rbi's per season. The Giants couldn't hit for beans last year so Huff will be a welcome addition. Plus, he comes cheaply and is only 33.
When I think of Huff, I recall last season when he belted a home run off the Yankees Joba Chamberlain in Baltimore. Huff did a "Joba-like" fist pump rounding first base and than another one with a primal yell included when he crossed home plate. It rubbed a lot of people the wrong way but Chamberlain took it well. I kept waiting for Chamberlain to retaliate by drilling Huff in subsequent matchups but it didn't happen.
If a pitcher shows up a hitter with histrionics after a punchout, I see no problem with a hitter doing the same when he pops one out against said pitcher. Still, I would much prefer to see a pitcher with the deportment of Nolan Ryan after a strikeout or Don Mattingly after a home run. Those guys didn't feel the need to showboat, they were just doing their job. One reason I love Todd Helton is because he simply goes about his business like a pro and when he hits a home run he just trots around the bases.
Anyway, I'm still hoping Joba meets up with Huff sometime in the future and plants one in his rib cage.
When I think of Huff, I recall last season when he belted a home run off the Yankees Joba Chamberlain in Baltimore. Huff did a "Joba-like" fist pump rounding first base and than another one with a primal yell included when he crossed home plate. It rubbed a lot of people the wrong way but Chamberlain took it well. I kept waiting for Chamberlain to retaliate by drilling Huff in subsequent matchups but it didn't happen.
If a pitcher shows up a hitter with histrionics after a punchout, I see no problem with a hitter doing the same when he pops one out against said pitcher. Still, I would much prefer to see a pitcher with the deportment of Nolan Ryan after a strikeout or Don Mattingly after a home run. Those guys didn't feel the need to showboat, they were just doing their job. One reason I love Todd Helton is because he simply goes about his business like a pro and when he hits a home run he just trots around the bases.
Anyway, I'm still hoping Joba meets up with Huff sometime in the future and plants one in his rib cage.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Saved Baseball? Really?
Was just talking to a co-worker here at KNUS about McGwire and Sosa. He said, like so many people have said, "McGwire and Sosa saved baseball in 1998."
So, if Anabolic Mark and Steroid Sammy didn't have an epic home run race in 98, the game would have ended? There would have been no MLB in 1999? Little league would cease operations and high schools and colleges would shut down their baseball programs? The minor leagues and independent pro leagues would have gone belly up?
The fraudulent home run chase certainly, at the time, gave a much needed jolt to major league baseball. But to say it "saved" baseball is preposterous.
Baseball has survived gambling scandals, strikes, steroids, incompetent commissioners, 10-cent beer night, disco demolition, bad uniforms and cookie cutter stadia of the 70's and even John Sterling behind the mike. Baseball will always survive. Scandals come and go, so do players, owners and fans. The game will never go away. It doesn't need to be "saved."
Do you know who really saves? Jesus Saves. And so does Mariano.
So, if Anabolic Mark and Steroid Sammy didn't have an epic home run race in 98, the game would have ended? There would have been no MLB in 1999? Little league would cease operations and high schools and colleges would shut down their baseball programs? The minor leagues and independent pro leagues would have gone belly up?
The fraudulent home run chase certainly, at the time, gave a much needed jolt to major league baseball. But to say it "saved" baseball is preposterous.
Baseball has survived gambling scandals, strikes, steroids, incompetent commissioners, 10-cent beer night, disco demolition, bad uniforms and cookie cutter stadia of the 70's and even John Sterling behind the mike. Baseball will always survive. Scandals come and go, so do players, owners and fans. The game will never go away. It doesn't need to be "saved."
Do you know who really saves? Jesus Saves. And so does Mariano.
Book Recommendation
If you are looking for a baseball book that is fast becoming one of the classic baseball tomes of all time, look no further than "The First Fall Classic...The Red Sox, The Giants, And The Cast of Players, Pugs And Politicos Who Reinvented The World Series In 1912."
Written by New York Post Sports Columnist Mike Vaccaro, "The First Fall Classic" is a tremendous look into baseball in the past and what it was like to be an American nearly 100-years ago.
Other worthwhile books by Vaccaro include, "Emporers And Idiots" (an inside look at the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry) and "1941 The Greatest Year In Sports."
Written by New York Post Sports Columnist Mike Vaccaro, "The First Fall Classic" is a tremendous look into baseball in the past and what it was like to be an American nearly 100-years ago.
Other worthwhile books by Vaccaro include, "Emporers And Idiots" (an inside look at the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry) and "1941 The Greatest Year In Sports."
Brett Makes Sense
Brett Davis is a Turf member who, every now and then, between his Oklahoma State rants, sometimes makes some sense. Brett wrote to me, regarding Mark McGwire's steroid admission, "I also loved how his family and LaRussa didn't "know" until yesterday morning. Right, I'm sure they were floored with this news. If Tony LaRussa says that he didn't know until yesterday, then nobody can ever write, comment, or analyze on how smart he is. What a joke."
I'm guessing LaRussa was aware of McGwire's steroid use. At least he had to suspect it. LaRussa simply didn't want to hear about it, think about it or deal with it. It was in his best interest, as a manager, to go about his business and not try to take down one of his best players.
I'm guessing LaRussa was aware of McGwire's steroid use. At least he had to suspect it. LaRussa simply didn't want to hear about it, think about it or deal with it. It was in his best interest, as a manager, to go about his business and not try to take down one of his best players.
Another New Yankee Stadium?
The New York Football Giants are moving into a new, totally unnecessary, stadium next fall. The Giants played 267 regular season games, 11 playoff games and approximately 70 exhibition games at Giants Stadium. That's a total of 348 games.
The Yankees play 81 home games a year at their new billion dollar ballpark. In the first four seasons of playing at the new Yankee Stadium, the Yanks will have played 324 regular season games. Add approximately 24 post-season games over that span and that brings the total number of games to about 348.
If the Yankees were a football team, they might be looking at a new, new Yankee Stadium for the 2013 season. They could build it on the soon to be vacant lot where the old Yankee Stadium is being demolished.
Sure it's farfetched. Just as unrealistic as charging $2,600 for a box seat behind home plate at the new Yankee Stadium.
The Yankees play 81 home games a year at their new billion dollar ballpark. In the first four seasons of playing at the new Yankee Stadium, the Yanks will have played 324 regular season games. Add approximately 24 post-season games over that span and that brings the total number of games to about 348.
If the Yankees were a football team, they might be looking at a new, new Yankee Stadium for the 2013 season. They could build it on the soon to be vacant lot where the old Yankee Stadium is being demolished.
Sure it's farfetched. Just as unrealistic as charging $2,600 for a box seat behind home plate at the new Yankee Stadium.
MLB Network
"People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring." -Rogers Hornsby
I understand completely how Rogers Hornsby felt. Baseball has the longest off-season of all the sports. I miss baseball and college football the most during their off-seasons. The NBA? Not so much.
One thing that has really helped ease the pain of no baseball is the Major League Baseball Network. From classic games to in-depth interviews and the hot stove league, MLB Network is like crack for baseball fans.
Who knew that Mitch Williams would be such a good analyst?
I understand completely how Rogers Hornsby felt. Baseball has the longest off-season of all the sports. I miss baseball and college football the most during their off-seasons. The NBA? Not so much.
One thing that has really helped ease the pain of no baseball is the Major League Baseball Network. From classic games to in-depth interviews and the hot stove league, MLB Network is like crack for baseball fans.
Who knew that Mitch Williams would be such a good analyst?
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Where did all the Rubes go?
Rube Marquard. Rube Waddell. Rube Foster. Rube Vickers. Rube Parnham. Rube Marshall. Rube Kroh. Rube Kisinger. Rube Ellis. Rube Dessau. Rube Bressler. Rube Benton. Rube Melton. Rube Oldring. Rube Schauer. Rube Sellers. Rube Walberg. Rube Taylor. Rube Robinson. Rube Novotney. Rube Lutzke. Rube Manning. Rube Ehrhardt. Rube Adams. Rube Caldwell. Rube Walker, the last "Rube" to play in the major leagues...in 1958!
I actually remember Rube Walker as a coach for the Mets in the 70's.
The question: Where did all the guys named Rube go? How come there hasn't been a guy named Rube in the Major Leagues in over 50 years? Anybody?
I actually remember Rube Walker as a coach for the Mets in the 70's.
The question: Where did all the guys named Rube go? How come there hasn't been a guy named Rube in the Major Leagues in over 50 years? Anybody?
Mark McGwire
So Big Mac decided to come clean and admit his steroid use. I'm shocked. McGwire on steroids?
He actually had to tell his family that he was on the juice? Really.
Here's how that conversation probably went down.
"Dad, I have something to tell you."
"Well son, since you have kids I know you're not gay."
"No Dad, I'm not gay. Do you remember all those home runs I hit back in 98? Well..."
"Stop right there son. You were on steroids. I know. We all know."
"Really."
"Really Mark. And if it wasn't for all the millions of dollars you were making and the car, house and trips you sent me on I would have disowned you."
Now the question is when will Sammy Sosa fess up that he was a roid junkie?
Probably the same day Barry Bonds does. I predict that date will be never.
He actually had to tell his family that he was on the juice? Really.
Here's how that conversation probably went down.
"Dad, I have something to tell you."
"Well son, since you have kids I know you're not gay."
"No Dad, I'm not gay. Do you remember all those home runs I hit back in 98? Well..."
"Stop right there son. You were on steroids. I know. We all know."
"Really."
"Really Mark. And if it wasn't for all the millions of dollars you were making and the car, house and trips you sent me on I would have disowned you."
Now the question is when will Sammy Sosa fess up that he was a roid junkie?
Probably the same day Barry Bonds does. I predict that date will be never.
Mysterious Walker Welcomes You
Hi and welcome to the Mysterious Walker blog. My name is Bill Rogan and I've named this blog in honor an old time baseball player named Frederick Mitchell Walker. Why he was nicknamed Mysterious is unknown. It's downright mysterious!
Walker played two years in the National League (actually just two games, one each year), one year in the American league and two years in the Federal League. His career ended after the 1915 season. The right-handed pitcher ended his career with a 7-23 record and a 4.00 era. Walker was apparently mysterious to everyone except opposing batsman.
As you read this blog, you will come to find that I have an affinity for old time baseball players along with the history of this great game.
I will also share my thoughts, opinions and stories with you.
I've played the game (still do in an Over 35 league here in Denver), written about the game, broadcast the game and studied the game. But most of all, I've been a fan of the game for as long as I can remember. I've never lost the feeling of being a fan. Many media people are quick to point out that they aren't fans. I think that is sad because we all started out as fans of the game and I'm not eager to lose that.
The Mysterious Walker journey has begun.
Walker played two years in the National League (actually just two games, one each year), one year in the American league and two years in the Federal League. His career ended after the 1915 season. The right-handed pitcher ended his career with a 7-23 record and a 4.00 era. Walker was apparently mysterious to everyone except opposing batsman.
As you read this blog, you will come to find that I have an affinity for old time baseball players along with the history of this great game.
I will also share my thoughts, opinions and stories with you.
I've played the game (still do in an Over 35 league here in Denver), written about the game, broadcast the game and studied the game. But most of all, I've been a fan of the game for as long as I can remember. I've never lost the feeling of being a fan. Many media people are quick to point out that they aren't fans. I think that is sad because we all started out as fans of the game and I'm not eager to lose that.
The Mysterious Walker journey has begun.
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