Transcending Time

To say I am a huge baseball fan is an understatement. I think for the true baseball fan, his involvement with the game is part fan, part critic, part player, and part fantasizer. Baseball is the common thread for many people in their lives; it brings families together or makes them rivals. Baseball loyalties run deep and are the most intense. Baseball truly does “mark the time”. People remember lifetime events around baseball - where they were and what they were doing. People never forget the special moments they experience in baseball; they become emblazoned in their memories for all of time. Annie in the movie Bull Durham said it best, “I’ve tried all the religions but the only one that really fills my soul everyday is the church of baseball”. Baseball is spiritual; it’s generational; it’s a friend that’s with you everyday from spring to the falling of the leaves. Fathers and sons pass their baseball legacies on forever. Can anything ever mean more than, “Hey Dad . . .you want to have a catch?”

     My baptism into baseball was like many other kids - my dad took me to a game when I was 9 years old. It was Yankee Stadium, but it really doesn’t matter where – The first time for everyone is a revelation. The magic of the crowd, the color of the uniforms, the crack of the bat, the cathedral like park...”Baseball marks the time”. Kids keep souvenirs for a lifetime, and then pass them on to their children.  As I grew up, my passion for the game blossomed. I really believe the 50's, 60's, and 70's were the golden age of baseball. Mickey, Willy, and the Duke wasn’t just a song. And then there was Hammering Hank, Stan the Man, The Killer Killabrew, and so many more. Lets not forget Bob Gibson, Sandy Koufax, Don Drysdale, and Juan Marichal, just to name a few. It seems like a simpler time, and it probably was. And the great radio announcers of the day added to the romance of the sport with their pictures of words.

     As I got older, I played baseball through high school and have coached, from little league to teenage travel teams to high school. Teaching, coaching, and mentoring young ballplayers has always been rewarding and exciting for me. In addition, I also formed a Nationally Ranked fast pitch Softball Team for adults that won numerous local leagues and National championships.  I have written many articles about baseball and the many events and special moments that have affected all of our lives. Some have been printed in area newspapers and some have been blogged just for my friends. I feel they say a lot and hopefully I can continue do that 'til I can't any longer.

2011 MVP Picks

 To pick a league MVP at the start of a season is difficult, at best. There are many variables that come into play - where a team finishes, team offensive support, injuries, etc. As true as this is, there is still a list of elite players that can be considered. Alex Rodriguez, Miguel Cabrera, Joe Mauer, David Ortiz, just to name a few. My pick for American League MVP for 2011 is Alex Rodriguez. The first issue is Alex’s health, which has been an issue over the last two years. It has limited his at bats and probably his power, as well. Even so, last year Rodriguez hit 30 homers and drove in 125 runs. His RBI total was second in the league. Rodriguez says he is healthier now, and his weight loss can only aid in his long term performance. In addition, Rodriguez’s numbers were based on only 135 games. Pro rating that for the season gives him 36 homers and 150 RBI. Another benefit he will have is that Derek Jeter and Mark Teixeira. who both had off years in 2010, should bounce back and give Rodriguez more RBI opportunities. Jeter's OBP, SLG, and OPS in 2011 were dramatically lower than his career numbers in those categories and with a little more patience at the plate and a shorter swing should, he should improve those numbers significantly. Teixeira would be hard pressed to repeat his dismal start to 2011. Finally, A-Rod seems more comfortable in his skin now and he knows the Yankees need him to perform. He has his ring and the whole team will be hungrier to win this year, especially after flaming out of the playoffs last year.

My pick for National league MVP is Albert Pujols. It may not be original, but it makes sense. The most relevant thing about Pujols, is that for the first ten years of his career he has hit more home runs and has more RBI than anyone in the history of baseball. He has averaged over 40 home runs and 120 RBI a year for his whole career. Depending on how many years he plays, he could be the king of everything. His OBP, SLG, and OPS are off the charts. Maybe the most impressive thing about him is that along with all his power comes at batting average of .331. He still needs support in the batting order, and Matt Holliday and a bounce back year from Lance Berkman will provide that. The Cardinals need to stay in the race and hopefully Wainwrights injury won’t hurt them too much. Another motivating factor for the pick is the fact that Pujols is in his “walk year” and is playing for a new contract. The National league is not as deep offensively as the American League, which makes Pujols, and his numbers, stand out that much more.

For The Good Of The Game

I hadn't really plan on doing this because the problem and resolution involving this case in baseball, in general,  are so obvious.  Everyone's going to get on their soap box and wax poetic for, or against, the issues involved in the fractured perfect game.  There is a simple solution.   The Commissioner should do his job for once, be a true leader, use the most important and powerful phrase in sports "for the good of the game", and give Andres Galarraga his perfect game. Anyone who would argue against that is hiding behind rules or politics, or just plain silliness. If the Commissioner of a sport cannot, or will not, uphold the integrity of his or her sport, what is the purpose in having one.    

Credibility in life is very important.  In sports, it's no different. If  umpires can be above scrutiny and credibility, than what's the use?  Rather then get it right, baseball has chosen to let incompetence rule.  Fans have instant replay and broadcasters have instant replay, so the right call is obvious to everyone watching.  Why not get it right?  The NHL does a great job with replay; the NFL tries their best; baseball's time has come - it's obvious.  Please don't tell me how long it would take.  Fans are not the ones who complain about the length of a game. If it takes a few minutes longer, and it means your team wins the World Series,  who would complain about that?

Baseballs time has come ..."For the good of the game."

Yankee Lore

What truly makes people special is the rare ability to make their performance or deeds meaningful to the masses....to make people care...This can occur in any venue...politics...entertainment...business or...sports. We just witnessed this in sports with the Yankees Captain Derek Jeter. He has consistently provided the Yankees and their fans with moment after moment of special and heroic deeds...His place in Yankee lore is becoming obvious...but what makes Jeter so special goes way beyond his accomplishments...yes, he is a great ballplayer...a clutch ballplayer....a classy ballplayer...but more than that he carries those qualities into real life...He is gracious and humble about who he is and what he's accomplished...In those ways he is more like Lou Gehrig than anyone could have imagined...his commitment to the team...to winning...to being a leader....makes it more than ironic that he has broken the record of the person he is most like...they should be and will be joined together forever because of what they have accomplished...but maybe they should be joined together more so for who they are.

Johnny Gone

soo Damon’s done…Speaking for myself, I am totally bummed…He has proven what a big time player he is when he’s healthy...This ring was not his first go around; we all remember the other one..The big stage doesn't scare him and his clubhouse leadership is very underrated...And besides, he’s a cool guy...what a darn shame...but once again, an agent’s ego, club stupidity, and and player greediness all conspired to screw things up...there is a spin from every side of this disaster - Damon’s demands being too high, other clubs' interest, Yankees on a budget (yeah right), etc, etc.  The bottom line is that everyone acted like morons. The bar was set for Damon when the Angels signed Abreu for $19 million for two years - not bad and certainly appropriate.  Damon's best bet was still the American League, 'cause no one is giving him three years @ $39 million to play outfield in the NL.   Knowing how fragile he is didn't stop his agent Scott Boras, and unfortunately Damon, from playing Russian Roulette with the Yankees.  The Yankees said they wanted him back and made him a $20 million offer for two years, with a club option.  Damon said he would take now... Duh.  But the Yankees squeezed him, now, with $14 million offer for two years.  C-YA...The Yankees say they can’t afford it, which besides that being total jargon, says that for the sake of another $4 million over two years ($18 million for two years instead of 20), they are willing to lose a really great piece of their championship team.  So every one came to the same negotiating point, when push came to shove, but by then things were screwed up and ego’s were hurt and Johnny’s gone...What a shame...Oh and by the way, in my opinion, the Yankees have definitely downgraded, not upgraded - Damon/Hideki Matsui...52 HR...172 RBI...vs...Curtis Granderson/Nick Johnson 38 HR...133 RBI.   Let’s see, Damon and Matsui for Granderson and Johnson - not too good a trade, is it?  And I thought the Yankees wanted to keep the DH spot open?  For Posada, A-rod, etc.   Otherwise, why didn't they just re-sign Hideki?…Sometimes the Yankees are blind, too.  The Yankees still need another starting pitcher, but they didn't want to spend on John Lackey so the Boston Red Sox closed the gap and they are not done - be sure of that...Oh well, such is life and we all have our own realities.  And 2009 was truly magical and very special, and should last awhile…But if the Yankees are done tweaking and are really waiting for the free agent class of 2010 to spend some more money, it may be a tough October…

#27

Wow...an amazing run...Another Great Championship...Oh Where Oh Where to begin...It would be very easy to start with the subject every media person likes to start with...so what the heck....Let's start with the story that never ends....Alex Rodriguez...There are so many levels and many stories to the Alex Rodriguez story...If you're not up to speed...and missed the details, you must have pulled a Rip Van Winkle on yourself....So sorry I can't catch you up now....But suffice to say Alex Rodriguez is truly on a new journey for himself....Destiny has finally touched him, and his performance for the past month has truly been legendary...Game tying and game winning homeruns and basehits...and excuse me CLUTCH...CLUTCH...and more CLUTCH....Oh and in case anyone's forgotten, it was all done in the POSTESEASON....For you stat freaks, let it be known Alex Rodriguez...Tied the all-time record for post season RBI's with 18...his 2 run homer in Game 3 seemed like it won the game because of the momentum it shifted toward the Yankees....and his Damon double off the wall did win the game....For all the shit he's taken I should go on forever....But that would be silly....Ive gone on long enough....and as I like to say....no team is ever about one guy anyway...Every Championship team is always about the team...Girardi had this Yankee edition focused on that from day one. And that's always the mantra of successful teams; This one was no different...But no matter how much you want it, you have to have horses...This Yankee team met every challenge..climbed every hurdle..showed a will to win that wouldn't go away...This Championship was special in many ways as all Championship are... The individual stories and Heroics were many...Sabathia, Petitte, Jeter....well actually you could name the whole team....because as always that's what winning Championships takes...and along the way the Yankees beat their arch rivals by 8 games in the Division....Exorcised their (Devils)...the LA Angels...and beat a Very Very good Defending WS Champion...not bad for one year...I guess life does go on after Joe Torre... Mr. Girardi's Leadership meant everything to these players....and that says it all....and one final note...Has there ever been an athelete that was So lock down...So dominant...So consistent...So big time...So clutch...that everyone would pray for his participation, I don't think so. Because even if there was...they never did it for 15 YEARS...THANKS MARIANO.

To Mr. Tim Smith of the Daily News

It's obvious you are an A-rod hater like many journalists in the media...Of all the players that have been tainted, McGuire, Bonds, Manny, Ortiz, Clemens, Petitte, etc...A-rods the only one who admitted it...Yes he was busted...but he fessed...that has to be worth something...and how come all you media geniuses let David Ortiz deal with steroids by just saying, “oh it must be a mistake, I'll get back to you”... Manny became a hero for being the first Major leaguer to get suspended for 50 games...but you're right A-rod is the only bad one. The ironic thing is you media morons will definitely be voting for players for the HOF who use steroids but just weren't outed...either they all go in or they all stay out and even then roid users will be elected...so your attach on A-rod can only be viewed as a headline grabbing hatchet job that really has no value...nice waste of newspaper space...very original...you are a real Norman Mailer.