April 24, 2007
Toronto Redeemed
By KarlsieLast year I took Mr. Pi to the second home game of the season where Vernon Wells and his buddies taunted him and the other kids during batting practice, not only that, the Sox lost that night. Fast forward a year to the Youngest's 14th birthday and another game against the Jays.
What a difference a year makes.
First, we go there during batting practice where the mood was light after sweeping the Yankees and making history with 4 homeruns in a row the night before. As the players came in towards the clubhouse, Julian Tavarez stopped to sign some autographs and both Mr. Pi and the Youngest got their hats signed and pushed a couple of little ones forward so they could get their baseballs signed. Tavarez was smiling and accomodating - all in all, just a mensch about it.
Then Toronto took the field.
Continue reading "Toronto Redeemed"April 02, 2007
Mike Mussina through the eyes of HEEB
By KarlsieFor Red Sox fans addicted to HEEB magazine - a guilty pleasure of mine since they first hit the stands in 2001 - there was the distinct sound of chortling when the following appeared in the current issue's "Urban Kvetch" segment:
Mike Mussina
The Yankees signed Mike Mussina for $88.5 million five years ago. Now, they've extended his contract for two more years at $22.5 million. Somehow Alex Rodriguez has come to symbolize George Steinbrenner's evil empire excesses, while this guy gets off the hook. At least A-Rod comes through when the game isn't on the line. Meanwhile, Mussina continues to compile crossword puzzles and earn run averages in the mid-fours. Hey, Mike I think I know 36 across: It's "You suck."
BASEBALL TRIVIA WHIZ-KID ANDREW SCHALL
Andrew - I don't know who you are, but understand that you made a really bad day bearable for me when I read that.
March 16, 2007
Bye Bye Bowie
By KarlsieBowie Kuhn is dead.
In the 15 years he was commissioner we saw the expansion of the leagues (Expos, Royals, Brewers, Padres), introduction of the DH rule, free agency, the decision to play World Series games at night (to "attract new fans") and many, many other controversial changes to baseball. The man who blocked the sale of players from the A's to the Red Sox (which I have yet to forgive him for... how cool was Rollie Fingers?) and banned Willie Mays for being part of a casino promotion - even though he wasn't involved in gambling/bookmaking like others has passed on at the age of 80.
I wasn't a big fan of Bowie's. His attempts to make baseball more appealing the to the genral masses have resulted in changes that have forever altered baseball's landscape... and not necessarily in a good way... but the man did what he believed and, as the generations have grown with and adapted to his vision of attracting more fans, the frustration old timers like me still have between the baseball of my youth and the baseball of today is fading in a curmudgeonly haze.
May he rest in peace as he sits in the commissioner's box in the sky watching the real legends play on an eternal green field under a clear blue sky.
March 04, 2007
Fantasy Sports Math
By leftyFebruary 16, 2007
Spring Training
By KarlsieThis week brought a Nor'ester with ice, snow and arctic cold fronts. But south of here in Fort Myers, pitchers and catchers reported in officially today bringing the hope of green and warmth and flowers and baseball to battered hearts everywhere.
While all the lights are shining all the way from the land of the Riising Sun, I'm enjoying the view of some of the guys who are normally in that position. A quote from Beckett here, a shot of Schilling there - it's all good. But the bottom line is, so long as the cameras are pointing towards our off season foreign acquistions, everyone else can do what they have to in relative peace and quiet.
It won't be long before April 2nd and opening day in KC, but until that day, the reports of sun and Florida will warm my heart until the Sox come home.
January 10, 2007
Stupid HOF ballot
By KarlsieOnce again Jim Rice was denied entry into the Hall of Fame. It could have been worse - at least Ripken and Gwynn belong there and, if Mark McGwire had been voted in over Rice, I'd be on my way to Cooperstown to kick in the doors to demand entrance for Rice.
Don't get me wrong, Rice was a prima dona and his revisionist history of himself as a player has always rubbed me the wrong way, but the man was the gold standard (if not platinum in his prime) up until the last mediocre year.
I am firmly of the belief that if you send in a blank ballot, you shouldn't be sent a ballot in the future. I am also firmly of the belief that the majority of sports writers are idiots. We need more guys like Frank DeFord who tell the story of the game and not just recap the box score. The majority of today's media coverage lacks soul. We have quantity, not quality.
But until we have more real writers in the media instead of sterile morons with the proper degree, we will continue to see incidents like last year and this year when it comes to such things as hall of fame voting.
It's simple folks there are two men who belong in the HOF: Buck O'Neil and Jim Rice... so next year, let's get it right.
December 15, 2006
Mr. Baseball
By KarlsieMy son is slowly emerging from the second stage of Red Sox fandom (the one where you reject the Sox and baseball because you can't bear having your heart broken by them again) by watching movies like "Mr. Baseball" and the Major League series as well as watching games with me to see what swears the players come out with that aren't audibly broadcast. As I say, he is slowly emerging from the second stage of Red Sox fandom - the one where you reject all things baseball because you can't bear to have your heart broken by them again.
The other thing he did was teach himself Japanese so he could read manga and watch anime in the original. This means he has become particularly adept at the "polite" translations into English the majority of us hear. Which is why I asked him to watch the D-Mat press conference with me yesterday.
As I suspected, his translator is very polite.
Continue reading "Mr. Baseball"December 13, 2006
Matsuzaka Updates
By Jack JablinTo update on the story posted earlier, MLB.com is reporting that the deal between Daisuke Matsuzaka and The Boston Red Sox is "all but complete." Earlier claims made by YS.com that Matsuzaka had undergone a physical have been confirmed, and it appears as if the Sox have their new ace.
Cheers,
Jack Jablin
December 05, 2006
Why Baseball
By KarlsieSomeone asked me recently: why baseball? It's come up in a couple of different settings recently. It's a question I find myself trying to answer frequently - so let me try again.
Why baseball? It is something that reaches deep into your soul and releases a breathe of fresh air that lifts the spirit. Most people don't understand the poetry in motion on the field - the subtle position shifts and the dance between the pitcher, catcher and batter that makes West Side Story choreography look like amateur hour. Many miss it because the television cameras don't cover it while others miss it because they don't understand.
But I do and I love watching for it.
It's not only about the big guys - it's about the everyday players that people get. It's about guys like Gabe Kapler, Kevin Millar and so many others who are grateful they get to play baseball for a living and it shows.
It's about watching parents teach their kids how to score a game or watch for the shift. It's about the summer and warmth and time when you were a kid and you used someone's sweatshirt for home, the chair pad for first, the big rock for second (no sliding) and someone else's backpack for third. And yet every time you stepped up to that sweatshirt, you were standing at home plate in Fenway or Yankee Stadium or Municipal Park or Candlestick or where ever.
Baseball is about heart and soul and memory filled with the warmth of the sun, the smell of fresh mown grass and a cold beer on a hot day.
Continue reading "Why Baseball"
