Friday, March 30, 2012

Happy 20th: Oriole Park at Camden Yards

   This season will mark the 20th anniversary for the beautiful Camden Yards, nestled in the heart of Baltimore, Maryland.  Minutes from the Inner Harbor this stadium has been the home of the Baltimore Orioles since April 6, 1992.  Camden Yards is considered to be the first of the retro-classic ballparks, and has served as an inspiration for the designs of many other stadiums being used today.  Camden Yards incorporates a majestic view of the Baltimore skyline along with one of the most noticeable features of any stadium in baseball, The old B&O Warehouse. 
   The warehouse was completed in 1905, and is the longest brick building on the East Coast. Built next to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad's Camden Station, and Eutaw Street the 8 story warehouse stored over 1,000 boxcars full of merchandise.  It has been described as a classic turn of the century railroad warehouse, and was used by the B&O Railroad until the 1970's.  By then, however, newer more convenient warehouses were built, and the railroads were being replaced by trucks as the main form of shipping in the country.  The abandoned warehouse was saved and renovated, except for a small section that was removed, to be incorporated as part of the ballpark.  Today, the historic B&O Warehouse is the location for the Orioles front office, a private club for the team, the Orioles team shop and ticket offices, and even a banquet facility that hosts weddings and other events.  It stands 432 feet from home plate and provides the backdrop for the right side of the stadium.
   When the "classic turn of the century" railroad warehouse was built nobody would even dream that it would become the most noticeable ballpark feature in Major League Baseball.  When fans stroll along Eutaw Street, located between the outfield stands and the warehouse, bronze plaques can be seen positioned where home runs have landed since 1992.  The plaques look like a baseball with the players name, team, date, and distance of the shot that reached Eutaw Street.  There is only one plaque mounted on the warehouse wall, however, and it contains the name of Ken Griffey Jr.  During the 1993 All-Star Home Run Derby, Junior drove the ball 445' and became the one and only player to this point to hit the warehouse on a fly.  Besides the plaques, Eutaw Street provides the fans with many choices of food, beverages, and souvenirs.  Included is Boog's BBQ, owned by All-Star first baseman, and 1970 American League MVP, Boog Powell.  During many Orioles home games lucky fans will even get the opportunity to meet this great player and get his autograph. 
   Oriole Park at Camden Yards was the first stadium to break away from the designs of the cookie-cutter parks of the 1970's and 1980's.  Although it has never hosted a World Series game, this park has been featured in movies including Major League II. It was also the place where Cal Ripken Jr. became the "Iron Man" of baseball, surpassing Lou Gehrig's consecutive games streak in 1995.  During that record setting year for Cal Ripken Jr., a banner was placed on the warehouse and counted down the games until the record was broken.  Scenic Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland continues to be one of baseball's most treasured diamonds.  With the conveniences of today combined with the aura of the historical ballparks of the past, fans who get the opportunity to see a game there are in for a real treat, and an experience that will not soon be forgotten.

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Opening Day 2012.....Where?

   The 2012 Major League Baseball regular season kicked off this morning at 3:09 a.m. on the west coast.  The game wasn't played in Cincinnati, home of professional baseball's oldest team, it wasn't played in the Nations Capital or in "The Birthplace of America", the opening of the 2012 season was hosted in Tokyo, Japan.  This marked the fourth time in the history of baseball that the season opener was held in Japan, and those fans who were sleeping missed out on a 11 inning nail-biter between the Oakland A's and Seattle Mariners.  Major League Baseball is becoming more of a global game, but it will always be America's "National Pastime".  Somewhere the game is benefiting from doing this otherwise it would not happen, but it doesn't make sense to hold opening day in another country between two west coast teams when it is the middle of the night in those markets back home. 
   The game itself was a classic pitcher's duel with the game knotted up at 1 until the Mariners went ahead in the 11th inning.  Ichiro Suzuki thrilled the Japanese crowd by going 4 for 5 with an RBI, and this game was the much anticipated debut for Oakland outfielder Yoenis Cespedes.  The Cuban born Cespedes collected his first Major League hit in the game, and most of the baseball fans in America were still asleep. 
   If Major League Baseball wanted to showcase games in Japan they should have played strictly exhibition games and left the regular season alone.  Instead, after the Mariners and A's play two regular season games they will return home to continue their spring schedule before playing the rest of the regular season.  Furthermore, the home fans of these teams are missing out on opening day at their ballparks. Opening day is one of those occasions in the game that makes baseball so special.  It marks a day where every team is in first place and every fan has high hopes that this will be their year.  Opening the season in a foreign country is just ridiculous, and proves that baseball is trying too hard to incorporate the whole world while at the same time cheating the fans that made the game "The National Pastime".  Tomorrow morning the A's and Mariners will play game two of the regular season, and if anyone is interested they will have to be awake at 2:10 a.m. on the west coast and 5:10 a.m. in the east.  Baseball fans that want to watch this contest might be forced to call out from work, assuming that they are lucky enough to still have a job with the increasing rates of manufacturing jobs also being sent overseas.

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

The Quotable Side of the Game

These quotes come from the Hall of Fame player and manager,  Leo "The Lip" Durocher.  Durocher, being the ultimate competitor, made the line, "Nice guys finish last" famous. These are other quotes of his that demonstrated just how badly he wanted to win at all costs.

"If I were playing third base and my mother were rounding third with the run that was going to beat us, I'd trip her. Oh, I'd pick her up and brush her off and say, 'Sorry, Mom, but nobody beats me.'"

"I never did anything I didn't try to beat you at.  If I pitch pennies I want to beat you.  If I'm spitting at a crack in the sidewalk I want to beat you."

--This is from Durocher's book Nice Guys Finish Last.

Sunday, March 25, 2012

Small Ball: The Key to Success for the Phillies

   The 2012 Philadelphia Phillies have already been crippled by injuries this spring, but they still have the best chance to win the National League East.  They still have the best pitching staff in baseball, and the most underrated catcher behind the plate in Carlos Ruiz.  With Ryan Howard and Chase Utley unable to play at all, however, the power numbers for the Phils will be substantially lower than in the past.  It is that fact that prompted manager Charlie Manuel to come to the realization that this season the Phillies are going to have to play more small ball to score runs.  Manuel realizes it, but can he add this to his managerial philosophies and implement the plan on gameday?  He was a hitter when he played and enjoys seeing a home run as much as the fans in the right field grandstands.  This season has to be different though;  in order for his team to win, the Phillies need to steal bases, sacrifice the runners over and claw for runs to give his all-star pitching rotation a chance. 
   Since the 2008 Championship season the Phillies have lost in the 2009 World Series, 2010 NLCS, and 2011 NLDS.  In all three seasons the Phillies were arguably the best team, but could not generate enough runs to win.  This brings up the question, what took Charlie Manuel so long to realize that a home run is not going to win as many games as small ball?  In 2009 against the Yankees Chase Utley hit 5 home runs to tie Mr. October, Reggie Jackson for the most in a World Series.  The Phillies lost that series, however, in six games.  The following season the Phillies' bats went dormant against the Giants, and last season it happened again in the NLDS against the Cardinals.  In Game 2 of last season's Divisional Series the Phillies scored 3 runs in the first inning, 1 in the second and that was it in a 5-4 loss.  In Game 4 they scored 2 in the first, and were shut out until they came up with 1 in the eighth in a 5-3 loss.  Then there was the decisive Game 5 when the Phils were shut out 1-0 and eliminated from the playoffs.   The losing pitchers in those games were Cliff Lee, Roy Oswalt, and Roy Halladay.  Any manager in the league would want those three pitchers on their staff, but without run support they become very limited in what they could do to win ballgames.  The Phillies outscored the Cardinals in that series 21-19, but still lost because of the timing of the runs scored.  While the Phils were waiting for the big hit, the Cardinals were getting hits at the right times to score runs when they needed them. 
   The home run might be the most overrated part of a baseball game.  The key to winning games is good pitching along with producing base runners to manufacture runs.  Charlie Manuel is a smart manager and possibly the best in Phillies history.  He knows what it takes to score runs, but cannot be too stubborn to call for the hit-and-run or stolen base when that will win the game.  The 2012 Phillies have the pitching to go all the way, but with their biggest power threats injured, and the National League East becoming more talented it could be a long, hot summer in the "City of Brotherly Love".  The Phils need to utilize their speed and fundamental abilities to make things happen to win ballgames.  If they can create chaos on the basepaths it will force the opposing teams to beat themselves with mistakes.  The home runs will happen, but it will have to be a bonus and not a staple for this Phillies team to have success in 2012.

Friday, March 23, 2012

Farewell Season For One of Baseball's Special Players

   Ted Williams a Yankee, Stan Musial a Cub, how about Mickey Mantle with the Sox.  Unbelievable and unthinkable were these scenarios before free agency became part of baseball.  If these players were in the game today, however, this could have been a reality.  Nobody ever thought that Albert Pujols would leave St. Louis, but he did and for an astronomical amount of money.  That is what makes Chipper Jones such a special player for the Atlanta Braves and for the entire game of baseball.  Jones announced that he will retire at the conclusion of the 2012 season and that will end a Hall of Fame, 19 year career played entirely in a Braves uniform.  Throughout his career he has always prided himself on playing the game the way it was meant to be played.  He will always be a special throwback player, arguably the greatest third baseman of all time, the greatest switch hitter since Mickey Mantle, and a sure first-ballot Hall of Famer.  Chipper Jones has always demonstrated the respect and loyalty to the game and although he might have been able to sign a contract for more money somewhere else he remained in Atlanta.  He deserves this farewell season for himself.  The fans who were lucky enough to have seen him play know that he is a one of a kind player that brings back the memories of the old-time greats.  Baseball fans everywhere should stand and cheer this season when Chipper Jones steps onto the baseball diamond because this will be the end of a great career of a true throwback future Hall of Famer.  Ted Williams will always be with the Red Sox, Stan Musial will always be a Cardinal, Mickey Mantle always a Yankee, and Chipper Jones will always be an Atlanta Brave.

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Can Braun Handle the Pressure?

   Ryan Braun of the Milwaukee Brewers, and reining National League MVP, is 1 for 17 this spring and has seen limited action.  In the offseason he tested positive for elevated testosterone levels, suspended by Major League Baseball for 50-games, and won his appeal based on the way the test was delivered to the lab.  He remained quiet for most of the winter until he addressed the media from the Brewers spring training camp regarding his successful appeal.  Braun might have been successful in his appeal process, which is a problem that might be too large at this point for baseball to clean up, but the emotional distraction is starting to show on the field.  It is only spring training, and he has been nursing a groin strain but the distraction of the offseason along with the added pressure of being without Prince Fielder is proving to be a factor.  Already this spring he has been booed and called a cheater, but the worst is yet to come once the regular season begins.  When he plays on the road the fans in cities such as St. Louis, Philadelphia, and Chicago just to name a few will pay to sit in left field and make sure Braun knows how they feel about him.  Each time that he comes to the plate he will hear the boos and taunts and there is nothing that he can do about it but try and get the job done.  Each time, however, he will come to the realization that he did cheat but got away with it based on a technicality.  In contrast the fans in Milwaukee will be on his side, or at least keep their disapproval to themselves until all of this distraction gets to him and his numbers fall off.  Once this happens, like it already has this spring, there will be no excuses worthy enough to keep the home fans from also turning on him.
   To be fair to Ryan Braun he did win the appeal, and this should negatively reflect more on Major League Baseball than on him.  The test was positive, but he was granted an appeal and anyone in Braun's position would be a fool not to take advantage of that right.  So don't put the blame completely on Braun himself, Major League Baseball and their drug testing policy also played an important role in the bitterness of baseball fans everywhere.  This is a real problem and baseball knows it.  Now that Braun has won his appeal based on a loophole how many other players are going to do the same thing.  Baseball is so far behind on the drug testing policies that it is going to take years before it is corrected, and this has already proven to leave a black mark on the game.
   Opening day for the Brewers is April 6th against the rival St. Louis Cardinals, and this will be the real test to see if Braun can handle the pressure created this offseason.  For his sake the season opener is in Milwaukee, and not before a hostile crowd in St. Louis where the Cardinals' faithful might turn Busch Stadium into the Roman Colosseum.  Time will tell if Braun can get through this and produce on the field despite all of the pressure, but if he can't he has nobody to blame but himself.  After all, he knows the truth and that fact might be the heaviest weight on his mind all season.

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

The Respectable Decision of Andy Pettitte

   Andy Pettitte threw 50 pitches on Tuesday in his first bullpen session of the spring.  Pettitte retired from the Yankees but didn't want to have any regrets about it, so he signed a contract last Friday giving him a chance to comeback with the team.  It's tough to leave a game that has become a way of life for these type of players, just ask former NFL quarterback Brett Favre.  Pettitte reported that after throwing that session in Tampa he felt good, and impressed everybody in camp as he will continue on his quest to pitch in New York this season. 
   This quest that Andy Pettite has returned to accomplish is a far cry from that of some free agent players such as Roy Oswalt who is also at the tail end of a very good career.  After eleven seasons with the Astros and  Phillies, Oswalt filed for free agency in October.  He hasn't signed with any team as of yet although the Red Sox, Rangers, and Cardinals have all shown interest.  His agent, Bob Garber, stated that "Roy has every intention of pitching for a contending club at some point this season."  At some point this season?  After spring training when a young player earned his spot on the roster?  The fact that Oswalt wants another chance to pitch in the postseason is understandable at this point of his career.  Pitching for a contender with a chance to play in the World Series surely made Andy Pettitte's decision to return with the Yankees that much easier, but there is a right and a wrong way to go about everything. 
   Oswalt intends to wait and see who the contenders will be before announcing his decision, and the Cardinals and Rangers are at the top of his list.  It has been reported that he could possibly make his return in June, however that's nearly half way through the season.  Andy Pettitte joined his team in spring training, put on the pinstripes and went to work.  He didn't leave his team guessing into June whether or not he feels like being there.  He showed up and even made the comment, "It's weird to say, but I feel like I never left."  His teammates feel the same way, and if they don't that feeling will be present when the Yankees break camp and head north.  He is helping the Yankees by eliminating the distraction of his return from the regular season when winning is the main goal.  He didn't wait until June to create a whirlwind around the team, to announce his return from retirement. 
   Whatever team signs Roy Oswalt will without doubt be getting a determined pitcher ready to help the club reach the postseason.  However, the events surrounding such an announcement will also create a stir around the team that if the decision backfires will only produce an uneasy environment inside the clubhouse and among the fans.  What about the pitcher who made the team out of spring training, that will end up in the minor leagues whenever Oswalt decides to sign a contract? Andy Pettite stated that he felt a little "embarrassed" when he announced his desire to pitch with the Yankees after a year of retirement.  As stated earlier, however, there is a right and wrong way to do everything and Andy Pettitte should in no way feel embarrassed about continuing his dream and pursuing it in a respectful manner.

Monday, March 19, 2012

Bryce Harper and "The Mick"

   On Sunday the Washington Nationals sent Bryce Harper, their 19 year old phenom, to AAA Syracuse.  This spring he was in the process of moving from right field to center to make the club full of talent in the outfield, but fell a little short.  He just needs more professional experience before he is ready for the Major Leagues, and his demotion to the minors shouldn't have any negative impact on this sometimes overconfident young man.  Starting the season in the minors will fine tune his great talents and help this already special ballplayer on his path to a level only few Major Leaguers reach in their careers.  Harper has already been on the cover of Sports Illustrated when he was 16 years old, has converted from catcher to the outfield without any problem, has won numerous awards, and has been compared to one of his idols, Mickey Mantle.  In fact Harper chose to wear number 34 because 3 plus 4 is 7 the same number Mantle wore when he played for the Yankees.  All this and Harper is still only 19 with the confidence, work ethic, and raw talent to someday soon start to make a prominent impact in the Major Leagues.  He is also smart enough not to let this little speed bump distract him, it will only make this very good ballplayer great when it is time and he gets the call to join the big team.
   The comparisons being made between Bryce Harper and his idol Mickey Mantle goes beyond that of his talents on the field.  There was obviously no way that Harper has ever seen Mantle play except in old baseball films, but as special a player that Harper will become Mickey Mantle was just as special in the 1950's and 1960's.  Just like Harper, Mickey Mantle joined the New York Yankees in spring training when he was 19 years old.  Mantle impressed manager Casey Stengel and was assigned to the Yankees as a right fielder because centerfield was already occupied by Hall of Famer Joe DiMaggio.  Mantle was said to be Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and Joe DiMaggio rolled into one and was even assigned uniform number 6, (Ruth-3, Gehrig-4, DiMaggio-5, now Mantle 6).  After Mantle went into a slump to start the season he was demoted to the Yankees top farm team in Kansas City.  The pressure of playing in the big leagues and being compared to Hall of Fame talent proved to be too much for a 19 year old to handle, and he even considered quitting baseball.  His father talked him out of it, telling him that if he wanted to quit he could come back to Oklahoma and work in the mines.  Shortly after that "talk" with his father, Mantle broke out of his slump and the rest is history.  The demotion almost ended a career before it had a chance to develop.  If Mantle would have went back to Oklahoma the glorious history of baseball in the 1950's and 60's would not nearly be the same.
   Harper is trying to make the transition from right field to center because right is already occupied by high priced talent, Jayson Werth.  His talents have already been compared to Mickey Mantle and is arguably the best prospect since Ken Griffey Jr.  Harper, however, has an advantage over Mantle because he will not be rushed into the Major Leagues.  He will go through injuries and slumps throughout his career, but the pressure of playing in the big leagues, with the fans and media dissecting every move that he makes, will be more manageable after going through the maturing process at all levels in the minors.  He will get more at bats against professional pitching and will eventually be an impact player at baseball's highest level.  Baseball almost missed out on one of the best players ever, and the Nationals management should be given credit for taking special care with the development of their great prospect.  Mickey Mantle proved that he was human, but also with his determination and courage proved everybody right when he made his impact on the game.  Bryce Harper is a long way from being Mickey Mantle but the comparisons are too close to ignore.  Harper is a "can't miss" Major Leaguer, and maybe someday he will prove everyone right by making his impact on the game just like Mantle did 60 years ago.
  

Saturday, March 17, 2012

Irish Impact on Baseball in America

   Everybody knows that the National Baseball Hall of Fame is located in Cooperstown, New York, but how many people know of the one located at Foley's NY Pub and Restaurant on West 33rd Street.  This is the home of the Irish American Baseball Hall of Fame as well as "The Bar That Banned Danny Boy".   The Irish American Baseball Hall of Fame was created by baseball historian and owner of Foley's, Shaun Clancy in 2008 and honors the players, managers, executives, writers, and entertainers with Irish roots who have made an impact on the game of baseball.  The inductees are honored in the hall with plaques and include such names as Red Foley, the famed baseball journalist and inspiration for the naming of Foley's pub, Connie Mack, Tug McGraw, Kevin Costner and many more.  There are four criteria to be met prior to enshrinement in the Irish American Baseball Hall of Fame.  First of all, is the impact the person has had on the game of baseball.  Next, is the person's popularity on and off the field.  Third, is the contributions that the person has had on society, and last of course is the person's ancestry and connections to the Irish community.
  
The following is a list of inductees to the Irish American Baseball Hall of Fame since 2008:

2008: Sean Casey, Kevin Costner, John Flaherty, Pete Flynn, Connie Mack, Tug McGraw, Mark  McGwire, Red Foley, Jeff Horrigan.
2009:  Walter O'Malley, Steve Garvey, Paul O'Neill, Vin Scully, Jim Joyce, Ed Lucas.
2010:  Tim McCarver, Brian Cashman, Bill James, Bob Murphy, Mike "King" Kelly.
2011:  Nolan Ryan, Big Ed Walsh, John McGraw, Gene Monahan and Steve Donohue, Terry Cashman, Chuck Lennon.

   The 2012 nominees include two former managers from South Amboy, New Jersey:  Tom Kelly, and Jack McKeon.  Also on the ballot is Peter O'Malley.  O'Malley is the former owner of the Dodgers and is also responsible for donating $140,000 toward the building of a baseball facility in Clondalkin, West Dublin.  Many other names are listed on the ballot, but it will be up to the past inductees and a panel of baseball experts to decide who will be the next group to be enshrined on July 27, 2012.
   Irish Americans have always made outstanding contributions to the game of baseball.  Even though Mark McGwire might never get into The National Baseball Hall of Fame he will always have a spot in the Irish American Baseball Hall of Fame.   This St. Patrick's Day if you're in New York,  The Irish American Baseball Hall of Fame is the place to gain respect for and learn more about the many contributions Irish Americans have made in shaping baseball's rich history.



Friday, March 16, 2012

Let the Players Get Ready

Ty Cobb once said that he would only hit about .270 against modern day pitchers, but further commented "you have to remember, I'm over seventy now".  The Phillies' Roy Halladay isn't 70 but he will turn 35 before opening day and the media is concerned about a few bad spring training outings.  Halladay was removed from Wednesday's game in the third inning after giving up five runs on seven hits and his fastball topped out at 89 m.p.h.  There is concern about his velocity and his lower than usual release point, indicating that he might be nursing an injury.  It is still March and opening day still three weeks away.  Isn't spring training the time to get into shape for the regular season?  Halladay is a veteran and arguably the best pitcher of his generation, he knows what he needs to do to get ready for April.  Spring training has no impact on how a team or player will play once the regular season starts, but for the players like Roy Halladay people expect to see him pitch like a two time Cy Young Award winner every time he steps on the mound.  Once the season starts however, he is the type of pitcher who can throw a no-hitter at any time, just like in 2010 when he was perfect against the Marlins then followed that by no-hitting the Reds in the playoffs.  He even admitted that as he gets older it takes him longer to get going in spring training, but nobody on the Phillies are concerned about him being ready for the regular season.  With all of the video and scouting reports available why shouldn't a veteran pitcher try new things to throw the hitters off, and what better time than spring training to do it.  Halladay was understandably upset when he was questioned about his health and even fired back at the media stating:  "That's poor reporting at the extreme end of poor reporting, it couldn't be further from the truth."  That type of comment isn't typical of Roy Halladay, but what do you expect from the 14 year pro, trying to get into shape for when the games matter.  So instead of expecting the veteran right hander to be at the top of his game in March, just enjoy the Florida sun and watch Doc go to work in April.  Who knows, he might surprise everyone with something new that he discovered while working out in spring training.


Wednesday, March 14, 2012

A Matter of Pride: The Evolution of Baseball Uniforms

  When fans enter a Major League stadium to take in "America's Pastime," one of the first things that they notice are the freshly laundered bright home white or visiting grey uniforms standing out in a never ending sea of emerald green grass, and perfectly manicured dirt.  The front of the jerseys are emblazoned with the team name or city they represent, and the fans see this with a sense of pride of who to root for or against that day.  The reverse side is the fans identification of and connection to their heroes-the names and numbers of the players that they fill the stands to see.  Uniforms are as unique a piece of baseball history as are the players who wear them. 
   Uniforms have been in baseball since the mid-1800's and were first worn by the New York Knickerbockers.  By 1882, the uniforms included different colored stockings so the fans could differentiate between clubs.  The caps and shirts were designed with different patterns and color schemes, each representing the players' positions on the field.  For example, the opposing pitchers on a given Sunday afternoon would wear matching light blue shirts and caps, even though they played for different teams.  This was understandably confusing however, and only lasted one season.  By the turn of the century, all Major League teams were wearing uniforms.  They were made of wool and cotton, and must have been almost unbearable in the summer heat compared to the synthetic and more breathable fabrics of today.  The home team wore white and the visiting team grey.  There were no names, numbers, or designs until 1907 when pin striping was introduced.  This was the start of a gradual process of trends that eventually led to modern baseball uniforms. 
   Numbers first appeared on the back of major league uniforms worn by the New York Yankees in 1929.  Prior to that, many players were opposed to the idea because they said it made them feel like convicts.  That did not stop the Yankees however, and the numbers represented the players' positions in the batting order (i.e., Babe Ruth wore number 3 and batted third in the Yankee line-up).  The fans embraced this idea, and by 1932, all Major League uniforms included numbers.  This idea also boosted teams' revenue from the sale of scorecards; fans in attendance could now match the players names to the numbers on their jerseys.  Names on the back did not exist until 1960 when Chicago White Sox owner and baseball visionary Bill Veeck introduced the concept, and many teams quickly followed.  Veeck felt it was unfair that fans watching the games on television could see the players' names on the screen, but the fans in attendance at the ballpark could not.
   Color schemes, graphics, patches, and gimmicks have also been around since the early 1900's.  Though they were not as flashy as the trends of the 1970's and 1980's, they were just as important in identifying the different clubs.  Could you imagine Babe Ruth striding to home plate wearing the White Sox Bermuda shorts that were introduced (and phased out nearly as fast) in 1976?  Fans could now better identify with their team's logo.  Patches are still used to this day to commemorate special events.  From the patriotic pride patches during World Wars I and II, to the initials of passing members of an organization, patches have been a part of Major League uniforms since 1907.  They were first worn by the Chicago White Sox to brag about their World Championship in the 1906 series against the cross-town Cubs. 
   Big league uniforms have come a long way since the original baggy, wool ones, but the sense of pride and accomplishment players derive from wearing it remains the same.  Fans flock to purchase their favorite team and player's jerseys and caps.  It has become a huge source of revenue for ball clubs and has helped spread the popularity of "America's Pastime" to other parts of the world.  Whether it's Bill Veeck's sometimes ridiculed Bermuda shorts idea, the Houston Astros' often criticized rainbow scheme or the traditional Yankee pinstripes, the basic concept has not changed.  Uniforms are a simple way for fans to identify one team, and one player from another.

Monday, March 12, 2012

Proud Moment for the History of Baseball

   Last Friday the Houston Astros announced that the Houston Colt .45's throwback jerseys that they are going to wear this season will feature the smoking gun just like the original design from 1962-1964.  The Astros are entering their 50th anniversary season in Major League Baseball and want to honor this by featuring all of their past uniforms throughout the season.  However, when they tried to get approval from the league for the Colt .45's jerseys they were originally denied unless the pistol was removed from the front.  This understandably upset many of the Houston fans, and last Friday the league surrendered to their dissension.
   Major League Baseball was hesitant at first to approve the logo with fear that they would offend people by featuring the pistol.  What they accomplished instead was the complete opposite, they managed to offend people by trying to edit the team's history.  This is an example of Major League Baseball falling into the trap of political correctness that at times just makes them look foolish.  They try to cater to as many different people as possible, but changing the history of the game is absurd.  Major League Baseball already changed the Tampa Bay name from Devil Rays to Rays, there has also been talk of changing the Braves, and Indians team names, now they have attempted to change the Astros historically correct throwback jerseys.  It's about time for baseball and society as a whole to realize that people are not always going to be happy and agree with everything, but that is what makes this country of free thought so interesting.  No matter how many attempts are made history cannot be changed, and the foundation of  baseball will weaken if the Commissioner's Office continues to feed into society's need for everyone to have a happy day.  That is why the decision of Bud Selig to listen to the fans, and allow the Astros to feature the original Colt .45's jerseys is a step in the right direction. It proves that the people have a voice that matters and will be listened to if they go about it the right way.  The games on April 10th and April 20th of this season will produce two more proud moments in Astros' history.  When the home team takes the field, they will be wearing the Houston Colt .45's jerseys as they were intended to look.  The Houston Astros, baseball fans, and Bud Selig should be applauded for their roles in preserving history, and demonstrating the reasons why baseball is America's National Pastime.

Sunday, March 11, 2012

Bobby V. Taking His Act to Boston

      Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine stated that he is not a believer in pitchers using the windup as part of their delivery, according to the Boston Red Sox website.  Valentine stated that pitching exclusively from the stretch position is common in Japan, where he has served as manager on two separate occasions, and he doesn't get why the windup is so common in Major League Baseball.  Last month Valentine banned alcohol in the home clubhouse at Fenway Park and on return flights home.  Then he fired a shot at the rival New York Yankees, stating that Derek Jeter was out of position on the "flip-play" in the 2001 ALDS, and also made the claim that there was no way Jeter practiced that play.   All of this talk, and the first pitch of the 2012 regular season has not even been delivered yet.
   Pitchers utilize the windup to create a rhythm for themselves, distract the hitter with all of the motion, and create more momentum by shifting their weight backward than forward toward the plate.  When a batter is waiting for the pitch, it is definitely a distraction seeing the pitchers arms, legs, and body all move then deliver a 90 mph fastball toward the plate.  It creates deception by the pitcher which is an important part of getting hitters out.  The windup is a perfectly legal way to distract and hide the ball from the batter.  Furthermore, when a pitcher uses the windup it can help him concentrate on the target rather than using a slide step then rushing the pitch.  Everything in baseball happens in a split second, so just a little extra time to pick up and see the target could be the difference between a strike on the corner or a fastball that catches too much of the plate and ends up in the seats.  A windup might not create more speed on a fastball but with the deception of the arms, legs, and body a pitcher will appear to be "sneaky" fast and the pitch will seem to have more velocity when it reaches the plate.  Valentine also stated that it is common for the pitchers in Japan to only throw from the stretch, but how many Japanese pitchers had great big league careers?  The answer is none.  Hideki Irabu, Hideo Nomo, Daisuke Matsuzaka, came into the league and were good but not as great as the hype generated.  They had good seasons and Hideo Nomo even pitched a no-hitter, but it will be a long time before a pitcher from Japan is elected into the Hall of Fame, and the windup vs. the stretch position has nothing to do with it.  Yu Darvish still has the opportunity to prove this fact wrong, but if he follows the trend he will be another Japanese pitcher who will have a good not great career in the major leagues.
   Bobby Valentine also banned alcohol from the Red Sox clubhouse after last season when some of the pitchers were drinking beer during games on their off day.  This is an understandable move and other teams already have this rule in place, however the former manager of the Red Sox, Terry Francona thinks that it was a P.R. move and he might not be that far off.  Remember that it was Bobby V. back in 1999, as manager of the Mets, who was ejected from the game and returned to the bench wearing a fake moustache and sunglasses.  That stunt got him fined $10,000 and suspended for two games, but worse of all ridiculed for making a mockery of the game.  This is also the same Bobby V. who was at the helm when Mets players Rickey Henderson and Bobby Bonilla played cards in the clubhouse during a game, rebelling against the philosophy of their skipper.  Bobby Valentine has been proven to run a loose clubhouse, so for Terry Francona to call his latest rule a P.R. event might prove to be fact.  What is the policy going to be if the Sox win in the playoffs, no champagne or beer?  Valentine can talk as much as he wants, after all he has been a manager on and off in the big leagues since 1985.  However, time will tell if he can win in Boston, his players respect him but Bobby Valentine has a way of letting his ego get in the way.  Just like the pitchers that he managed in Japan, he will go down in baseball history as being a good not great manager, and a long way from being a Hall of Famer.

Friday, March 9, 2012

Summer School

I know that summer is for barbeques, swimming, the beach, going to ball games, and the last thing on a youngster's mind is school and homework.  There will be no homework assigned but this lesson is based on baseball, where math is especially important.  There is a lot that can be learned from the game, and it doesn't feel like work at all. 

Lesson # 1:  Geography

Baseball is America's Pastime but it is actually played all over the world.  You will find that Major League players come from all over including Japan, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, and many other locations where a scout might find the next young prospect.  Until the early 1950's there were no teams west of St. Louis.  In 1958 the Dodgers and Giants both moved from New York to California, and this started a trend to expand Major League Baseball to cities across the United States and even into Canada.  Today there are 30 teams in Major League Baseball spread across 17 states with 1 in Canada, and 1 in Washington D.C.  Can you name the 17 states where you can watch a game?

Lesson # 2:  Language

As I stated earlier baseball players come from many different countries.  To play in the Major Leagues a player truly needs to be one of the best in the world.   As a result, this can create a language barrier where communication on the field is essential to a team's success.  When a player comes from another country he usually has a translator with him for press confrences, however this does not help in the bottom of the ninth with the tying run on base, and the catcher from the Dominican Republic is trying to tell his Japanese hurler how to pitch to the next batter.  That is why, before they come to the United States they at least know baseball terms and they understand hand motions to be able to communicate on the field.  After that it is a real struggle for many foreign players to adapt to life away from the diamond. 

Lesson # 3:  History

Baseball is based on tradition and history, and part of American History is based on baseball.  The many different players, managers, coaches, teams, games, and how all of this has a place in making baseball America's Pastime.

Lesson # 4:  Math

Baseball is tracked, and the history of the game is based on stats.  It is statistics that are the measuring stick to be able to tell if a player will have a long career in professional baseball.  They determine who is an All-Star and who is a Hall of Famer, and it is all based on mathematical equations.  Some of the most important equations will be highlighted here.

Batting Average-- Number of Hits divided by Number of At Bats.
Note:  A walk or Sacrifice does not count as an at bat.

On-Base Percentage-- (Hits + Walks + Hit by a pitch) / (At Bats + Walks + Hit by a pitch + Sacrifice Flies)

Slugging Percentage--This stat determines how many extra base hits a hitter gets, and is used to determine power numbers.
Total Bases divided by At Bats

Earned Run Average--This determines how many earned runs a pitcher averages over 9 innings.
                                       (Earned Runs x 9) divided by innings pitched.

Winning Percentage--Wins divided by (Wins + Loses)

Magic Number-- The magic number is used to determine how close a team is from reaching the playoffs. 



Interesting Baseball Fact:  In 2001 Barry Bonds set the single season homerun record by belting 73 roundtrippers.  Knowing that the bases are 90 feet apart and there are 5,280 feet in a mile.  You can determine that Bonds ran an extra 4.97727 or 5 miles circling the bases after hitting those 73 record setting homeruns.




Thursday, March 8, 2012

A New Way to Hear the Game

     In yesterday's spring training game between the Indians and Diamondbacks, Major League Baseball positioned over 60 microphones on the field to broadcast live audio of the game.  Among those wired for sound were the players, managers, coaches, umpires, and other key action spots to let the fans hear what a game sounds like from the field.  There was limited commentary from the broadcast booth and the people tuning in were able to hear the umpire's calls, some conversation between players, the crack of the bat and other sounds of the game not normally heard during an average broadcast.  There was a slight delay and some of the conversations were understandably omitted because of language.  The audio also did not include conversations on the mound, or chatter from the bench away from the manager and coaches.  There was only need for one announcer in the booth and even the announcements of the hitters were overheard from the speakers at the ballpark. 
    According to MLB Network CEO, Tony Petitti, the goal of the audio enhanced broadcast was "to make the presentation of the game of baseball as exciting and as new as possible."  To the fan who doesn't already see the game of baseball as being exciting, this was a great move in the right direction.  However, from a traditionalist's point of view the replacement of commentary from the booth with on field sound, and even at times no audio at all is just annoying and quite frankly, boring.  If this on field audio version of the game enters into the regular season, is the network going to tell the great Vin Scully to take a night off?  There have been many great announcers throughout the history of baseball, such as Red Barber, Mel Allen, Jack Buck, and Harry Kalas just to name a few, who have made hall of fame careers broadcasting games.  These men put in the work to describe the game in such a way that fans tuning in can close their eyes and picture exactly what is happening in perfect detail. 
   If Major League Baseball wants to provide the viewer with on field audio it should be during the replays and not in place of the broadcaster describing the action.  Part of the game of baseball that makes it so intriguing are the stories of the teams and players both past and present, and a mix of opinions toward them.  These stories are made even more memorable when told by some of the greatest announcers to sit behind the mic.  Their jobs should not be compromised in any way when they are the people adding the color to the commentary.

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Small Ball: A Lost Form of Art?

   A home run in baseball is arguably the most exciting moment during the course of a game.  That brings up the question; if a team is losing a game by six runs how much does that solo shot in the ninth really mean?  The answer is nothing at all except to the batter's overall stats.   The team still loses by five runs, and if the player is happy about padding his stats in a five run loss he should question his loyalty to the club.  A home run might be exciting for the fans, but it's what a team does before that big blast that is the formula for success in baseball.
   The dead-ball era occurred between the years of 1900 to 1919, and teams averaged just over 3 runs per game.  In those nineteen years, the game was won or lost based on the strategies of the hit-and-run, bunting, stealing bases and other tricks of the trade that have now become known as "small ball".  Teams of that era were built around pitching and offensive speed.  A club might only score three runs in a game, but that was all that they might need to post a win in the standings.  Now teams rely too much on the long ball to produce runs, and steer away from the strategies essential to win games.  Stealing a base, a hit-and-run, or a well placed bunt forces the other team into mistakes that might cost them the game. 
   On February 29,  A.J. Burnett of the Pittsburgh Pirates broke his orbital bone near his right eye in a bunting drill.   The injury required surgery and the Pirates lost the pitcher for at least 3 months.  This just proves that teams, at all levels of the game, do not practice "small ball" enough and bunting is becoming a lost art form in the game today.   Some fans might argue that an injury like that is evidence to support the case for the DH to be adopted by the National League.  The rule produces a different type of game centered around hitting, and takes some of the strategy away from the manager.  Late in the game a manager doesn't have to worry about pinch hitting for the pitcher with the DH in the lineup, and a sacrifice bunt to move the runners up is out of the question unless the manager wants to take the bat out of another hitter's hands.  This pitcher-as-a-hitter strategy is basically restricted to the National League. 
   Since the strategies of "small ball" are becoming a lost art form in the game today, so are the strategies set to defend against them.  Why should this part of the game be phased out?  Baserunners, speed on the bases, and a baseball genius in the dugout will win games.  Sacrifice bunts to move the runners over will produce the runs to win games, and the big hitters will still hit their home runs.  When the power hitter comes to the plate however, how much better would it be to have two men in scoring position?  Now a base hit could mean two runs with a runner still on base.  A stolen base, another hit, and all of a sudden the rally needed to win that game has been ignited.

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

You Can't Tell the Players Without a Scorecard

   After the last out is made, and the game is over, fans file out of the stadium with their programs in hand.  They recount the game and the different plays that took place that day.  Ask these same fans 10 years later what happened in that game and most of them probably couldn't tell you.  Inside of that gameday program that they bought is a scorecard.  If it was filled out, fans at that day's game would be able to tell you play by play for as long as they have it.
   Scorekeeping dates back to the 1800's.  Not only is it a fun way to track the game, but it also preserves the tradition and history of baseball.  However, it seems to be a dying art form in today's game.  Teams have an official scorer, and the people in the press box keep their scorecards, but how many fans, either at home or at the game, keep one?  Maybe people now are too busy or too preoccupied to sit with a pencil and scorecard and track the whole game.  Maybe they simply were never taught how to.  There is so much going on at the stadiums now that sometimes it seems like the game is a mere sideshow, lost in a carnival atmosphere.  Sure, people know who won or lost the game, and even who hit a home run, but how many people know exactly what happened for the rest of the game?  That's why the fans who keep a scorecard are a rare breed, and hold information that would otherwise become lost in time and memory.
   Keeping a scorecard may seem difficult and intimidating but is actually pretty simple.  Each position is assigned a number;  1-pitcher, 2-catcher, 3-first baseman, 4-second baseman, 5-third baseman, 6-shortstop, 7-left fielder, 8-center fielder, and 9-right fielder.  Once you understand this, and know K is a strikeout, the rest is pretty much personal preference and a scorer's own personal stamp on a game.  Some scorers might record a great diving play by the third baseman to get the runner at first as 5-3*.  The asterisk means that it wasn't just another ground out, third to first, but a great play to get the out.  The scorer can make notes during the game to highlight key points to be remembered.  Like I stated earlier, keeping score is about personal preferences and documenting the game any way that you want.  Although the basic concept of keeping score is the same, no two scorecards are alike, and that is what brings the fan closer to the game, and the game closer to the fan.
   Keeping score of a baseball game, in person or at home, is a fun way to connect fans with part of the tradition of the National Pastime.  Even though it may seem like a dying art form in this fast paced world that we live in, keeping a scorecard is essential to preserving the history of the game.  It is amazing how a simple piece of paper with a grid on it could give you so much insight into and a keepsake of the players and games of years gone by.

Monday, March 5, 2012

A Young Baseball Fan's Rite of Passage

   A young fan's first Major League Baseball game is always a special occurrence that is unlike anything experienced in the game.   Players take the field and have long careers in the big leagues, but they always remember being a fan first and going to the games.  Whether it was your father, mother, grandfather or whoever took you to your first game, the feelings of excitement and awe are never forgotten.   A 10-year-old fan tunes into the games on television  just to be able to catch a glimpse of his heroes.  A lazy, Sunday afternoon in the summer gathering around the television with his dad, and grandfather hoping that Mike Schmidt will hit another moon shot, or make another spectacular play that will provide the dinner conversation for that evening.   He sees the stadiums, hears the crowd, and wonders what it is really like to be there in person.  Then one season the schedule comes out and he gets to pick a game to see.  Finally, he gets to experience first hand the sights, sounds, and smells of the ballpark that have been restricted to his young imagination. 
   For a young fan of the National Pastime, the first time through the gates feels like a rite of passage into the grown up world of professional baseball that he has heard the "old timers" talk about.  He hands his ticket to the attendant, and steps into the home of his present day heroes and can sense the spirits of the other great players that have played there.  "PROGRAMS...GET YOUR PROGRAMS!!!!" For a small fee, his father buys him the magazine that holds the information and names of the players set to step onto his "field of dreams" and play in that night's game.   Finally, it's time to find the seats and settle in for the game.  His first sight of the playing field provides an overwhelming feeling of just how enormous it is.  Who can hit a ball that far?   Then without warning, over the buzz of the anxious crowd,  a voice from the speakers above reads the starting lineups for the quickly approaching contest.  The young fan, frantically scrambles to fill in the scorecard with his inexperienced, shaky handwriting.  He takes a moment to look at the diamond just in time to see the home club take the field, and to hear the fans approval of that special moment.   They look like giants out there, much bigger than on the television.
   Now the National Anthem is over and at 7:35 sharp the home plate umpire provides the greatest announcement of the day.  It is finally time to play ball.  The young man sits in awe as he watches foul balls reach the upper deck, 90 m.p.h. fastballs speed toward home plate and dazzling breaking balls baffle the best hitters he has ever seen.  He acknowledges his fathers skillful insight about a batter's stance at the plate, where the fielders are positioned, and the stains left on the turf by a certain hard-nosed, tobacco chewing center fielder.  He sits and takes it all in, filling in his grid using the tiny pencil provided when he received the program.  Have you ever noticed that a hot dog tastes better at the ballpark?  The game continues on until the last out is recorded, and it is in the books.  Just one more game in the history of baseball, but that particular one provides that young man with memories that will last a lifetime.
   That was me over 21 years ago.  On August 28, 1990 I experienced my first Major League Baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia.  I remember it like it was yesterday, and the thing that never seems to stop amazing me is how baseball has a way of bringing you back to those moments in time.  The good times, where everything is perfect even if that feeling only lasts for nine innings.  Since then I have been to a countless number of games, but the feelings of wonder and excitement never seem to change when I enter a big league stadium.





Sunday, March 4, 2012

The Quotable Side of the Game

Today's quotes come from the Hall of Fame owner Bill Veeck.   Veeck was a brilliant visionary and promoter in a game built on tradition.   His induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991 proves just how much of an impact he has made on the game.  Included in his many contributions was the signing of Larry Doby to become the first African American to play in the American League.

"To compare baseball with other team games is to say the Hope Diamond is a nice chunk of carbon.  The endless variety of physical and mental skills demanded by baseball is both uncomparable and incomparable."

This one is from Bill Veeck's book The Hustler's Handbook .

"Baseball's unique possession, the real source of our strength, is the fan's memory of the times his daddy took him to the game to see the great players of his youth.  Whether he remembers it or not, the excitement of those hours, the step they represented in his own growth and the part those afternoons--even one afternoon--played in his relationship with his own father is bound up in his feeling toward the local ball club and toward the game.  When he takes his own son to the game, as his father once took him, there is a spanning of the generations that is warm and rich and--if I may use the word--lovely."

Exploding Scoreboards and Other Gimmicks That Have Shaped the Game

   Baseball has always been a game grounded in tradition, and it has been played basically the same way since the 1800's.  Players gain respect from each other and the fans for being hard-nosed, tough, and by playing the game the way that it should be played.  The managers and coaches are admired for being "old school" baseball guys.  However, as time goes by, and the rules and the game evolve, there is that special place for the characters and innovators that make the National Pastime so intriguing.  Many ideas, such as the designated hitter, free agency, and interleague play have become part of the game today.  Then there are the other, sometimes notorious, ideas and gimmicks that have become part of the folklore that adds spirit, and color to an "old school" game.
   One of the free spirits in baseball was Hall of Fame owner Bill Veeck.  He introduced the first "exploding" scoreboard to the game when one was installed in Comiskey Park, the former home of the Chicago White Sox.  The scoreboard was created in 1960, and featured pinwheels on the top, and different electrical and sound effects.  The most notable feature, however, was how it would set off fireworks each time a White Sox player hit a home run. 
   The same Bill Veeck who introduced the "exploding" scoreboard to Major League Baseball, also used 3 foot 7 inch Eddie Gaedel for a pinch hit appearance in 1951, as owner of the St. Louis Browns.  Twenty six year old Gaedel was sent up to the plate as a promotional stunt wearing number 1/8.  He was walked on four pitches, was promptly pinch-run for, and that ended his major league playing career.  Even though this stunt was declared to be "not in the best interest of baseball," Gadel's 1/8 Browns jersey is displayed at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.  Another stunt, as the owner of the St. Louis Browns, also took place in 1951.  Veeck let 1,115 fans, seated behind the Browns dugout, make decisions during that days contest.  The "grandstand managers" made calls during the game using either "yes" or "no" flashcards whenever the Browns coaches presented them with questions pertaining to the strategy.  The fans decided to warm up relief pitchers and even benched two Browns players.  Veeck also installed showers behind the speaker horns at Comiskey Park for fans to cool off on hot summer days, introduced the picnic area to baseball, and no White Sox fan could ever forget Disco Demolition Night at the stadium.
   "The Night Disco Died" occurred on July 12, 1979, at Comiskey Park.  A crate full of disco records was blown up on the field, and spurred a riot that caused the White Sox to forfeit the second game of a doubleheader to the Detroit Tigers.  This event proved to be one of the most notorious promotional events since the Cleveland Indians hosted "Ten Cent Beer Night" in 1974.
   Many other gimmicks introduced to the game of baseball are still in use today.  For instance, what would a trip to a Phillies game be like without the Phillie Phanatic and his zany performances throughout.  Other ideas have become a part of baseball's past.  The bullpen vehicle became part of the game in 1951 and was used until the Milwaukee Brewers drove baseball's last relief pitcher to the mound on a Harley Davidson with a sidecar in 1995.  Then, there was Marge Schott's St. Bernard with the Reds, and Charlie Finley's mule, Charlie-O, with the Athletics.  Finley also introduced a mechanical rabbit with a basket, named "Harvey", to pop out of the ground, and provide the home plate umpire with baseballs during a game, and a pitch clock to keep the game moving.  Whether any of the gimmicks and promotions were well received, or found to be "not in the best interest of baseball," is irrelevant.  From 3 foot 7 inch Eddie Gaedel in 1951, to the big, green Phanatic in Philly, promotions and gimmicks have always been part of the game.  They give color to the line score, and provide great stories to be passed on from generation to generation.  

Saturday, March 3, 2012

The Greatest Baseball Movies of All Time

   Baseball has been the topic of more great movies than any other sport.   The first of which was released in 1898 by Thomas Edison entitled, The Ball Game.  The movie was about two amateur baseball teams playing in Newark, New Jersey. Since then many ballplayers have even acted in films.   For example, Babe Ruth played himself in The Pride of the Yankees, and Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris both starred in the 1962 movie Safe at Home!  After the season that both Mantle and Maris had in 1961, where they went head-to-head in the home run race until Maris broke the single season record, who wouldn't want to see a movie starring both of the M & M boys?  Just like the game itself, baseball movies hold a certain place in the hearts of people everywhere.  That is why there is even an exhibit, entitled Baseball at the Movies, on the first floor of the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.  This exhibit features video clips of the greatest baseball movies of all time and some of the props used in them.
   Since the Major League season is still a month away, there is still time to catch a movie.  The following list that I have compiled, provides the greatest baseball movies ever created.  So sit back with your peanuts and Cracker Jack and enjoy the show.

Top 10 Baseball Movies

                                                                1.  Bull Durham-1988
                                                                2.  Field of Dreams-1989
                                                                3.  For Love of the Game-1999
                                                                4.  Eight Men Out-1988
                                                                5.  Moneyball-2011
                                                                6.  The Stratton Story-1949
                                                                7.  Major League-1989
                                                                8.  61*-2001
                                                                9.  Cobb-1994
                                                              10.  Kill the Umpire-1950

Honorable Mention:
A League of their Own-1992
Safe at Home!-1962
The Pride of the Yankees-1942
The Babe Ruth Story-1948
Pastime-1991
The Fan-1996
It Happens Every Spring-1949

For the Kids:

Everyone's Hero-2006
Angels in the Outfield-1994
Rookie of the Year-1993

Friday, March 2, 2012

Update: Wild-Card Round, Good or Bad?

   Major League Baseball has approved the new playoff format for the 2012 season.  One twist, however, is that the first two games of the Divisional Round will start at the lowest seeded team's home park.  This is a short, best-of five series already and this new rule immediately hurts the better team.  What is the advantage of having the best regular season record, except for the fact that they do not have to play an extra playoff game?

The Quotable Side of the Game

These quotes come from the Hall of Fame pitcher of the St. Louis Cardinals, Dizzy Dean.  "Deanism", as they have become known, produce a perfect example of how witty, and brash this great pitcher of the 1930's and 1940's was.  Dean is the last National League pitcher to win 30 games in a season, and was the ace of the 1934 World Champion, St. Louis Cardinals nicknamed the "Gas House Gang". 

"It ain't bragging if you can do it."

"Let the teachers teach English, and I will teach baseball.  There is a lot of people in the United States who say isn't, and they ain't eating."

-Dizzy Dean was often criticized for not using proper English during his years as a broadcaster, but that didn't stop people from tuning in just to hear what he would say next.
 

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Wild-Card-Round, Good or Bad?

   Major League Baseball is planning to add an extra wild card team from each league to the playoffs.  The fourth round will be a winner-moves-on game between the two wild-cards.   This could be great for baseball fans especially after last years exciting end to the season.  However, baseball should not be about one game.  It's tradition was built on a long season and winning a series of games to prove who is the best team.  Sure the team that wins their division has an obvious advantage entering the playoffs, but now a third place team in that division has the chance to win the World Series. Furthermore, pitching staffs are set up for a series.  Unlike the NFL where you know who the starting quarterback will be for one game, a pitching rotation might mean that a team will lose that game by not having their ace on the mound.  In a best-of-seven series a team's ace will pitch two maybe 3 games.  If you can beat the other team's best pitcher two or three times you definitely earned the right be called World Champions. 
   This new format will give teams such as the Pittsburgh Pirates, Toronto Blue Jays, and Washington Nationals a chance to reach the playoffs quicker.   This is great for the fans of these teams if they get into the playoffs, but what does it really mean?   If they lose that one game in the wild-card-round it just might mean that they were the best third place team that year.  If they win that one game it makes it easier for the team that they face in the Divisional Round, thus watering down the playoffs.  Does the best third place team still get champagne? 
   Another issue with the new playoff round is that it will take away from the drama at the end of the regular season.  Last year the Boston Red Sox missed the playoffs by losing to the last place Baltimore Orioles on the final day of the season.  The Orioles season was over and the Red Sox were not only playing to get into the playoffs, but also to avoid the biggest collapse in the history of the game.  Were the Orioles a better team than the Red Sox?  Of course not, but they won that day, the Sox missed the playoffs and the collapse is in the books.   One game does not sum up an entire 162 game, marathon season, and should not be used between playoff teams.  In the case of the 2011 Boston Red Sox, the final month sealed their fate.  If the regular season standings end in a tie, than a one-game-playoff between two teams, that have battled all season, is great.  What baseball fan could forget the 1978 tie-breaker game between the Red Sox and Yankees.  Bucky Dent became an instant hero that day and the Yankees won the American League East by one game.  The Red Sox season was over and the Yankees went on to win the World Series.  Would a casual fan of the game even know who Bucky Dent is if that game never happened, and both teams just got into the playoffs?
   A new format of the Major League Playoffs produces both pros and cons.  Just like anything else that disrupts tradition, some people will like it and some will not.  We will just have to wait and see, and who knows a new hero of October might be born this season in the Wild-Card Round.  

  

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