Results tagged ‘ Pittsburgh Pirates ’
Heirloom Memories: My Favorite Season
All photos by Randy Stern
What was my favorite season of baseball?
That’s a tough answer. It may take some thinking to get around to an answer…
I could go back to 1975, though I do not recall every moment of it. One instance did put up an argument for the entire year – Carlton Fisk’s home run in Game Six of the World Series. Other than that…that was it.
Perhaps 1979 would be a better answer. The “We Are Family” Pittsburgh Pirates was a team that caught my attention all season long. Add the “Yes We Can” California Angels and it was certainly a year to remember in terms of how baseball could be shaken up from all angles.
There’s probably a few more years to throw out there: 1987 for the first of the division title “Humm-Babe” San Francisco Giants. Maybe 1989 when it was great to live in the Bay Area to have both teams in the World Series – until Loma Prieta decided to change things forever. I could throw in 1991 with both League Champions coming from worst to first – with the Minnesota Twins winning in the end.
Since I’m recalling time era of The Heirloom – 2009 was a natural choice.
It was the year where I stretched my baseball legs more by visiting more ballparks than I usually do in a single season. I returned to Miller Park in Milwaukee after a six-year absence. Then, I made my way to new places, such as U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago, Yankee Stadium in The Bronx and Joe Faber Field in St. Cloud, Minnesota.
It wasn’t about where I went, as it was the experiences I had at these places. Though I was put off by some of the insecurity on the South Side, the ballgame was fine. Being in Milwaukee with an exciting ball club was something I never had to experience earlier in the decade when living in the same state. Even the down home feeling of ballplayers from afar making their home in Central Minnesota was an experience I’ve finally got to witness.
Trumping all of these road experiences would be enjoying an amazing day inside the New Cathedral. Having never been there and heard the horror stories of fans getting hassled inside and out of the old building. Once inside, I noticed a paradigm shift in the way the Yankees fused the old with the new. The new being the attention to customer service by the Yankees staff. Not to mention being around fans that would talk to you instead of threatening you. This new Yankee world was indeed strange, but welcoming at the same time.
But that was not the biggest highlight of 2009.
For the Twins’ fan, that year was a special one. On August 20, I told my fellow local fans to count the Twins out. I was wrong. They came back as they have done a few times over the past ten years.
As soon as everyone thought the Metrodome would become football-only by the end of the regular season, fate gave it an extension. I was there for Game 163 – perhaps the greatest game I ever witnessed in person. There was so much going on since the final day of the regular season that it was beyond amazing. The crescendo of Game 163 was more than any sporting ever experienced in person.
To recall the entire five-plus hours of extra innings baseball would be a waste of bandwidth. However, the only way to describe the resonance of this particular game was “life changing.”
There is another highlight from 2009 I want to add to all of this. However, I’ll save that for another posting…
Maybe, They Were Tired…
Before I go on, here’s a few words from the President of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Frank Coonelly, in a statement presented to the Commissioner’s Office today:
“The Pittsburgh Pirates organization is extremely disappointed by the way its 19-inning game against the Atlanta Braves ended earlier this morning. The game of baseball and this game in particular, filled with superlative performances by players on both clubs, deserved much better. We have filed a formal complaint with the Commissioner.
“While we cannot begin to understand how umpire Jerry Meals did not see the tag made by Michael McKenry three feet in front of home plate, we do not question the integrity of Mr. Meals. Instead, we know that Mr. Meals’ intention was to get the call right. Jerry Meals has been umpiring Major League games for 14 years and has always done so with integrity and professionalism. He got this one wrong.
“For Pirates fans, we may have lost a game in the standings as a result of a missed call but this game, and the gutsy performances by so many of our players, will make us stronger, more unified and more determined as we continue the battle for the National League Central Division.”
What happened? It was the bottom of the 19th inning at Turner Field last night with one out on the board. Scott Proctor of the Atlanta Braves hit off Daniel McCutchen of the Bucs, then slipped on the grass en route to first. Meanwhile, the Braves’ Julio Lugo was charging in from third towards home. The Bucs’ Pedro Alvarez threw to catcher McHenry just short of home plate, who swiped a tag on Lugo.
Meals called Lugo safe.
I can imagine the many post-game arguments that went on in light of this play – a mere six hours and 39 minutes after the first pitch. I know Clint Hurdle was beyond upset. I know the pundits have been chomping at a chance to pontificate on changes in instant replay or making excuses for either team. I can go on playing conspiracy theorist – but, why?
Though there is nothing Commissioner Selig or Joe Torre can do about the situation, Coonelly simply filed a complaint to the Commissioner’s Office on behalf of the Pirates.
Meals had his hands full already that evening tossing out the Braves’ Nate McLouth and Fredi Gonzalez.
No excuses, perhaps? None whatsoever. The game went too long and something had to give.
On a quick note, Ervin Santana of the Los Angeles Angels thew a quick and early no-hitter against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field this afternoon. Too bad those who attended had to go back to work in downtown Cleveland…
Photo of Jerry Meals (above) courtesy of Major League Baseball.
Twitter and the Timex Social Club
Did you hear the one about…? No, but can you stop tweeting and read this!
FOUR TO GO: On Sunday, my roommate, Melodie, took her mother visiting from North Dakota to Target Field in the tropical heat we’ve had (and still having). Little did they know they were in for a treat – a big one.
Jim Thome has been clawing his way to be the next power hitter to reach 600 homers in his career. Not only did Melodie, her mother and 38,700+ others witnessed his 596th jack – it was the longest in the new park’s history. This was tape measured at 480 feet landing at the base of the trapezoidal-shaped second deck over right field. If you saw this, all you can do is just be in awe.
This is only Thome’s seventh homer of the season. Could he get his 600th homer this year? I certainly hope so.
THIS AIN’T 1979, PEOPLE! We knew that the NL Central was going to be a tight one. Yet, were we too quick to write off the Pittsburgh Pirates? They reached .500 in June, now they’re a half-game off the division leading Milwaukee Brewers and tied with the St. Louis Cardinals. To make matters more interesting, last season’s division champ, the Cincinnati Reds are three-and-a-half games off the Brewers’ pace.
Why does it matter to discuss the NL Central in mid-to-late July. We’re two weeks from the August swoon and pennant races usually change next month. Yes, they do. However, the second half offers opportunities for teams to make a move to push towards September where the race truly matters. If a division is tight now, it may not be as tight on September 1.
Before anyone goes crazy over the Pirates being in the thick of a developing pennant race, step back a bit and let it all shake out in the next six weeks. In the meantime, enjoy it!
THE DEADLINE: So, The K-Rod to Milwaukee deal is pretty much done. Francisco Rodriguez is being sent to The Crew. I get it. It absolves the New York Mets the responsibility of a huge payout at the end of this season. My question is to the effectiveness of K-Rod in Milwaukee. Is he the right closer for this division contender? As long as he behaves himself (along with the less-crazy Nyjer Morgan/Tony Plush/Ochocinco-Lite), K-Rod could be the catalyst for September at Miller Park.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Dodgers get Juan Rivera from the Toronto Blue Jays. This was done in concert with the reassignment of Marcus Thames due to injuries. Rivera helps the Dodgers to compliment Tony Gwynn, Jr. as he hits left and provides a second speedster on the pads. This fits in Davey Lopes’ plans of adding the stolen base game to Don Mattingly’s arsenal. Rivera can be a boost for the languishing Dodgers. Hey, I’m pretty positive about this guy!
Another “surprise” was the Boston Red Sox off-loading Mike Cameron to the Florida Marlins. Why it is a surprise? I didn’t think Theo Epstein would want to part with the original free agency deal that ultimately did not work. He did – a smart move, I say! Cameron had been hurt and semi-productive in Boston. The Marlins will get someone who can provide some leadership to a team that needs to climb from the cellar. Yet, I wonder if it’s “too little, too late” for the Fish to get a semi-utilized Cameron. The real winner in the Red Sox – they needed the space for the pennant run.
Who’s next for the late July Trade Deadline sweepstakes? The big name that comes up in the rumor mill is the Colorado Rockies’ Ublado Jimenez. One set of tweets has him moving somewhere. Another set of rumors has him staying in Denver. My take? He’s staying in Denver. He mesmerizes Rox’ fans. He won’t be moving for a while. Neither will Matt Garza. Wandy Rodriguez of the Houston Astros? Maybe. The ‘Stros need help.
Photo of Francisco Rodriguez (as a Met) courtesy of Major League Baseball
Borderlines
There’s somewhat of a Canadian theme to this post. After all, it is that rare weekend where our two countries celebrate our national holidays. Tomorrow, the USA’s big one…right after the All-Star Game rosters are announced.
DOC 5, JAYS 3: Roy Halladay made his first start in the city where he honed his skills in. He did so by drawing 44,000 fans to Rogers Centre – a drop in the bucket considering the Toronto will swell to almost a million people today for the Pride Toronto parade on Yonge Street. Doc went the distance, despite giving up eight wins and seeing his Phils get changed with an error. Amongst his 110 pitches, Doc served up one to Jose Bautista that sailed over the fence. On the flip side, Halladay struck out eight and walked one.
Sure, Halladay felt some nervousness before his Saturday start. Once he hit the mound, he simply went to work. That work took a lengthy pause when John Rauch imploded in the ninth over arguing a call by the home plate umpire. Rauch was thrown out when his jersey came off. After Rauch was tossed, Blue Jays manager John Farrell tried to argue – was also ejected Then, Toronto’s fans began throwing stuff onto the field. All of this before Halladay would take the mound for one final side.
Today, Halladay will amongst the many anxious ballplayers waiting to find out whether they will play at Chase Field this month for the All-Star Game. This performance should help – that is if Bruce Bochy hasn’t made up his mind this morning.
CROSS-BORDER SHENANGIGANS: Early Saturday morning, the Saint Paul Saints were rolling up Interstate 29 en route to a road series at Winnipeg’s Shaw Park. The reality of the minors – specifically, indie league baseball – is the lack of luxury one forgoes when traveling. No private planes for these guys. It was a seven-plus hour drive from The Cities to the banks of the Red River.
The night before, the Saints and the Fargo-Moorhead Red Hawks took a long time to close out their series – the Saints won. The buses had to leave right away for both teams, including the Saints with an extended up further north (the Red Hawks went down to Northwestern Iowa for the Sioux City Explorers). At the Canadian border, the team spent three hours going through customs. There was no explanation given, but reading that tweet yesterday morning made me wonder why would it take so long to cross the border with about 40 or so people in tow.
The Saints will play three more against the Goldeyes before heading back across the border for a home stand with Gary South Shore and the same Winnipeg ballclub.
THIS BORDER, NOT THAT ONE: Minnesota and Wisconsin – as neither state has anything to do but have a rivalry. First, there’s the Gophers and the Badgers, representing two universities of size and importance. Then, there’s the Vikings and the Packers – one is a Super Bowl Champion; the other helped caused the shutdown of the state. Add the Twins and the Brewers to the mix and you have a serious reason to either be proud of Sconnie…or, hate it.
Today is the rubber game of the series with implications on a pennant race. The Brewers are tied with the St. Louis Cardinals in the NL Central, while the Twins have settled into fourth in the AL Central. With All-Star Game selections on the line, you’d think that the Brewers would have a better day. Maybe. Sometime on Thursday, I returned to my Twins fandom knowing what I witnessed against the Dodgers. Not to mention the incentive in seeing those Sconnie blankety-blanks leave town a game behind the Cards.
Oh, look the Pirates are in third place – over .500!
Canadian flag image courtesy of the Department of Canadian Heritage – Government of Canada.
The Golden Child Syndrome
A year ago, Stephen Strasburg captured our imagination. His debut against the Pittsburgh Pirates was document not only here, as well as across the blogosphere. On every pitch…every at-bat…we marveled at what this young man accomplished as soon as he hit the rubber at Nationals Park.
On August 27 of 2010, the honeymoon ended. Strasburg underwent Tommy John Surgery at the tender age of 22. We await his return, but it is taking a while.
The crash of Stephen Strasburg foretold a heed of caution to anyone expecting the same kind of boost the Nationals’ pitcher got in a short period of time. Strasburg was the golden child who broke our hearts when his ulnar collateral ligament broke.
This year’s Amateur Draft yielded some of the same lofty expectations upon the first several picks as we placed upon Strasburg and Bryan Harper. There is so much pressure to out-pitch or out-hit the top picks – the same amount of pressure a top draft pick in the National Football League or the National Basketball Association endures when they hit their respective training camps.
But, why should they take on so much pressure to succeed. When a player is drafted, they get the benefit of the development opportunities a Major League club has. From the Development and Fall Leagues through the farm system, a player learns to hone in their skills towards a Major League skill set along with learning to become a mature member of the community along the way.
The latter point is exactly why everyone went bonkers when Harper blew a kiss at the pitcher he jacked a home run off of this past week. It is also why the Nats are not looking to promote him any time soon. Harper needs work on his maturity.
It is also why Strasburg was given a quick track towards his debut a year ago. At 21, Strasburg had the opportunity to play at a NCAA Division I baseball program. He was taught by one of the best: Tony Gwynn at San Diego State University. His poise and maturity was seen as an asset when he walked onto Spring Training last year in Viera.
Now with Gerrit Cole and Trevor Bauer coming out of UCLA, the same expectations of maturity and the chance to develop their game towards a Major League skill set are heaped upon these young men. Will the Pittsburgh Pirates and Arizona Diamondbacks take heed on the lessons of the Washington Nationals in developing top draft picks? It will depend on how ready Cole and Bauer be for the grind of the Development and Fall Leagues in the next few months – depending on when they sign with their respective ball clubs.
Considering the elevation of Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas onto the Kansas City Royals (and Dee Gordon with the Los Angeles Dodgers), teams can develop players at a pace that ensures player maturity in athletic ability, game skills and personality. Look at how Danny Valencia of the Minnesota Twins and Andrew McCutchen of the Pirates evolved into contributors for the team in their young careers? These things are possible – if only Cole and Bauer can grow into their roles over a good period of time and avoid the “Golden Child Syndrome.”
Photo of Gerrit Cole (above) courtesy of CollegeBaseball360.com
How to Erase Six Years of Uninspiring Baseball with a Walk-Off
Sorry…been busy. There’s too much going on. Even here in baseball…
NL CENTRAL WALK-OFFS: Andrew McCutchen did the one thing that hasn’t happened in Pittsburgh in six years: Walked-off to get the team at .500.
It is significant – not just to the NL Central race. It was a late one against the Arizona Diamondbacks – twelve innings, to be exact. That homer off Zach Kroenke may have done more for the team than just win the game. Things seem to be working right at PNC Park.
Maybe it is by design that Clint Hurdle is the right manager at the right time. His track record states he can lead a team out of adversity and onward into new heights. But, it’s still too early to tell the significance these Battling Bucs will have on the division.
Not to belittle the Pirates, but it just seems that since the departure of Doug Drabek, Barry Bonds and Bobby Bonilla, when things go right, they end up going wrong. June is an elusive time for a rebuilding team. If things go right here, they could have resonance. After all, there are five-and-a-half games between them and the first place St. Louis Cardinals – with the Milwaukee Brewers and Cincinnati Reds sandwiched between them.
Speaking of the Brewers and walk-offs, Nyjer Morgan did his part for Sconnie by hitting a double to score Craig Counsell to beat the New York Mets last night at Miller Park. Not as significant as the McCutchen walk-off, but you have to process this one. It is Nyjer Morgan after all.
NOT ANOTHER NEW ERA COMMERCIAL: The Boston Red Sox is playing the rubber game in the Bronx with the New York Yankees – and it’s been all David Ortiz.
I watched both homers from Big Papi – one from each game so far. He certainly found some “love” in a tough place. The love Ortiz found was from Yankees’ pitching. He returned the love by serving those pitches up over the fence. Both home runs were catalysts for huge wins for the Sox and a spot on top of the AL East – for now.
Yet, both combatants are keenly aware that the division is a tad tighter than before. There are five-and-a-half games separating first from last place. The Baltimore Orioles strong start and improved play current has them two games under .500. Everyone else is squeezed in-between.
Yet, there are two questions lingering: How long will this question continue to be as tight as it is now and how long will the Yanks and the Sox find themselves at the top of the table? There are no clear answers right now…
LEGACIES AT THE DRAFT: The Amateur Draft is history. The Chicago Cubs selected Wayne Gretzky’s son. Also drafted were the sons of Ivan Rodriguez, Shawon Dunston, Steve Garvey, Dante Bichette, Dwight Smith, Kevin Seitzer, Bobby Bonilla, Charlie Liebrandt and Mike Scioscia. Even the grandson of Al Kaline got drafted this week! More compelling was that the Washington Nationals drafted Bryan Harper – Bryce’s brother.
(Speaking of the elder Harper sibling – um, dude, that kiss was uncalled for. Just saying…)
Good draft? That will depend on what kind of lessons the Pirates will take to heart with pitcher Gerrit Cole after the fast tracking of Stephen Strasburg and it’s painful results. Yet, some analysts are saying that the big winner in the draft will be pitcher Trevor Bauer – drafted by the Diamondbacks. Who knows what will happen when these two UCLA arms will meet somewhere on a professional baseball diamond – let alone in the Bigs.
Photo of Andrew McCutchen (above) courtesy of Major League Baseball
Opening Day 2011: The Heirloom’s Guide to Friday’s Festivities
Cincinnati, The Bronx, Washington, Kansas City, St. Louis and Los Angeles – they kicked off Opening Day in their stylish ways. It also meant victories for the Yankees, Braves, Reds, Angela, Padres and Dodgers.
Friday’s slate of openers is nothing to sneeze at, either. There are eleven of them. I can’t go over each one – maybe the ones that intrigue me the most. (Times are Eastern)
1:05PM – PHILADELPHIA: The Phillies start off Friday’s openers being the first to the bell. The NL Cy Young winner Roy Halladay takes the mound against Brett Myers and the Houston Astros. Seriously, who needs a National Anthem or a ceremonial first pitch? Trot out Doc from the bullpen and it’s game on! That’s more than enough to fire up the crowd at Citizens Bank Park!
2:20PM – WRIGLEYVILLE: The Cubs may have improved over the off-season (including ridding themselves of chronic underachiever Carlos Silva), but there is one thing on everyone’s mind: This will be the first Opening Day without Ron Santo. The Cubs will entertain the Pirates – perennial spoilers of North Side fans – with Ryan Dempster getting the ball against Kevin Correia. Would you believe that Robert Redford – Roy Hobbs, himself – is throwing out the ceremonial first ball at Wrigley? Ron Santo, Jr. will do the seventh inning stretch honors. It should be crazy as usual at Clark and Addison – and Halsted, too!
3:05PM – CLEVELAND: While the North Side celebrates baseball, Ozzie Guillen will take his Twitterverse and the Southsiders to Cleveland with a classic match-up between Mark Buehrle and Fausto Carmona. That’s worth more than the price of admission, really. And, truly, with the pre-game tribute to Bob Feller – it would be appropriate to have a serious marquee match-up on the mound. As with the festivities in Philly, just showing up in time for Fausto’s first pitch is good enough to start the season.
4:05PM – ARLINGTON: The Rangers get their AL Championship rings while the Red Sox focus on taking them away in October/November. On the mound, C.J. Wilson meets Jon Lester to start a repeat campaign back to the Series. That’s a nice match-up already. Better still, Jeff Burroughs and Charlie Hough will throw out the ceremonial first pitches celebrating the 40th season of MLB in the Metroplex. MercyMe will sing the National Anthem.
7:07PM – TORONTO: The Twins begin their 51st season in a foreign land. They will fire up another AL Central run in the midst of a Federal election and Rob Ford’s reign as Mayor of Toronto. I’m sure fans will not only be welcomed by the Jays, but by campaigners for the Liberals, the NDP, the Greens and the Tories. Carl Pavano will start for the Twins against Ricky Romero – sponsored by Honda Canada, BTW! And, sold out, too! If you’re the lucky ticket holder at Rogers Centre, you might walk away with a new Honda! The stars of the Toronto production of Billy Elliott will sing the USA and Canadian National Anthems. What? No ceremonial first pitch? Can’t get Don Cherry to insult the fans for a few minutes? Can’t decide which party leader to put on the mound? Is Rob Ford too large to trot out in front of 50,000-plus at Rogers Centre?
7:10PM – SAINT PETERSBURG: After offing some key players from their postseason runs, the Rays come inside The Trop to meet the Baltimore Orioles and Buck Showalter’s big mouth to start 2011. The festivities begin with Florida Governor Rick Scott throwing out the ceremonial first pitch. After that, David Price will take the mound for the Rays against Jeremy Guthrie. It will be Price’s first Opening Day nod. I think that’s a good reason to show up at The Trop on Friday evening.
Chuck Tanner: 1928-2011
Photo courtesy of blackandgoldworld.blogspot.com
Somewhere amongst us is a “greatest managers of all-time” list. We may agree on some names, disagree on others. We’ll even argue as to the standards and benchmarks on what makes a great manager.
In my case, it comes down to three criteria: Championships, managerial style and impact. Two out of three is fine by me. Sometimes, there were exceptions to the rule if a manager meets some criteria – especially involving an indelible memory in my baseball life.
Charles William Tanner was never known as a great manager. Until 1979, he was pretty much looked at as a manager who let personalities run the show instead of him taking charge. This is not exactly true. He was truly a leader.
Tanner was a leader with strategies and buy-ins towards accomplishing goals. Tanner also smiled on the job. That smile was deceptive knowing he was the smartest guy in the room, even as Willie Stargell awarded the stars to be put on the pillbox caps.
The key to his leadership was the word “guide.” In every post-mortem, you will read that Tanner “guided” the 1979 Pittsburgh Pirates to winning their last World Series Championship. But, that’s OK. There’s always room for “wommats” – the Wolof word for “guide” – in baseball.
As a result, Tanner came to the Southside of Chicago and brought them close to a AL West crown in 1972. How short memories often forget about that.
Yet it was in Pittsburgh where Tanner was indeed a wommat – a player’s manager who worked with a group of veterans to lead young players towards an inevitable conclusion. As close as they came in 1978, the light turned green for the Battling Bucs of 1979.
Before Game 5 of the 1979 series, Tanner had another issues to deal with – the death of his mother. In her memory, what could have been a Baltimore Orioles cakewalk that year, turned into one the biggest comebacks in World Series history. In seven games, the Bucs won – and Tanner dedicated the series win to his mother.
That would be my memory of Chuck Tanner – a wommat for a group of players hungry for a championship. He facilitated their ascent into history as guided by spirits. Tanner never had any ego in his soul during the years he spent in the game – at least detectable to the most observant fan.
Rest in peace, Chuck. And, thank you for one of my finest memories in the game.
Of Managers, Future Hall of Famers and Free Agents
Before we round out the Baseball Writers Association of America Awards, there are some pressing issues that need to be discussed.
MANAGERS: I’m not going to list every new or re-signed Managers out there, but a few names that would probably need some further examination. For example, was Ryne Sandberg so bitter that he pursued the Lehigh Valley job because he didn’t get the Chicago Cubs job? The Ricketts and Jim Hendry felt that Ryno would be more effective staying in Des Moines for two more seasons to develop the club into a champion. That is why they kept Mike Quade on to help rebuild the big club. Yet, someone wanted “more.” Are the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs “more?” Can the Philadelphia Phillies provide enough prospects for a championship run in the International League to mollify Ryno for the move from Des Moines to Allentown/Bethlehem/Easton?
There are three silver linings to all of this: Kirk Gibson will stay on as Arizona Diamondbacks’ Manager. Ron Gardenhire has signed a two-year extension with the Minnesota Twins after he won his AL Manager of the Year. But, can anyone agree that Clint Hurdle was the best choice for managing the Pittsburgh Pirates? Of all the new managerial hirings, the Hurdle hiring in Pittsburgh looks like a winner – give or take a few years for the Bucs to strengthen their ballclub after saying goodbye to Zach Duke, Andy LaRoche and Delwyn Young.
“EXPANSION ERA COMMITTEE?!?” Dear National Baseball Hall of Fame, were you drinking Four Loko when you created this new Veterans Committee selection? The point is that twelve former players, executives and managers were selected as a shortlist for easy entry into the Hall by December 6. I’ve heard arguments for and against this selection – the same arguments made for the induction of a dozen or so key figures from the Negro Leagues. I can understand that part – but, the “Expansion Era?” Is the dog really dead?
And, what about the shortlist? Well, George “The Boss” Steinbrenner’s on it. So is Billy Martin, Ron Guidry, labor leader Marvin Miller, Vida Blue, Dave Concepcion, Steve Garvey, Pat Gillick, Tommy John, Al Oliver, Rusty Staub and Ted Simmons. If you ask me, I can see The Boss being inducted into the Hall through this committee. Anyone else? Um…
At the same time, the next Ford Frick Award will be voted on. It’s a good group, but God willing, please don’t vote Tim McCarver in this time! Tom Cheek, I’d vote for. Jacques Doucet, too! Maybe even Bill King. But, McCarver? No way!
OFFING JETER TO PAY PAUL: If The Boss was still alive, would he have allowed both Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera to float into Free Agency as his son and Brian Cashman just did? Now, then Yanks have been pedaling back and forth for an offer to Jeter in retaining his services. Great…but, what about Mo?
I understand how much the Yanks want Cliff Lee and other high profile free agents. But, it just seems that the Steinbrenners and Cashman have some hard choices to make. Yet, Jeter and Mo also need to be realistic. If they want to remain a part of the Yankees’ organization, there has to be a middle ground between what the team is offering and what they will settle for. Otherwise, life in The Bronx may be different for either party. A die-hard Yankee fan would rather not see the loss of Jeter and/or Mo happen at a more critical time than now.
Five Favorites for The Summer – The Heirloom Edition
Been there, done that. Photo by Randy Stern
Oh, wait, why am I crossing over blogs here?
On my other blog (randystern.net), I’ve been running a series of “Five Favorite” posts for the summer highlighting a theme and five favorite automobiles/roads/alternative modes of transport/etc. Well, I figured…why not do a five favorite baseball moments I’ve witnessed live in my lifetime.
Sure…why not?
Here’s how it works: I’ll pick five moments – could be individual games, seasons or an individual career – and try to parse them out as I normally do on that other blog. It should be easy, right?
Try delving into my memory bank for a moment…
HEY, ISN’T THERE ANOTHER MAJOR LEAGUE BALLPARK IN THE LOS ANGELES BASIN? The Los Angeles Dodgers can scream and shout “We were here first!” Well…yeah, in terms of Major League ball clubs. In the old Pacific Coast League, the Los Angeles Angels existed playing as a farm club for the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field (not the one on Clark and Addison, mind you) in South Central Los Angeles (way before Ice Cube and Ice-T made it famous). If you know your history, the Singing Cowboy, Gene Autry went into the owner’s meetings looking for a television contract and ended up with an American League expansion club. By 1966, the Angels moved behind the Orange Curtain to a nice, neat stadium just past Disneyland. So, in 1978, after convincing my mother to take the three of us down to Anaheim, I got to see my Boston Red Sox in action for the first time (an act of teenage rebellion, you know). I learned two lessons from our Sunday venture down the Santa Ana Freeway: Be ready when a foul ball comes right at your face – don’t just stare at it – and Luis Tiant was quite a surly dude back then. I’ve been back to Anaheim quite a few times during my time in California (until I moved back east in 1996).
WE ARE FAMILY/COME ON EVERYBODY AND SING! It’s 1979 and I just finished middle school to be thrown to the wolves (er, Regents) at Reseda High School. I began my love for the Pittsburgh Pirates as an excuse for another act of teenage rebellion in my household. After all, my mother bled Dodger Blue as much as Tommy Lasorda did. I couldn’t squeeze a drop of the blue stuff, though mom did pour some money into the coffers at Chavez Ravine and spent some time on the Field Level by the foul poles for two seasons. Well, I figured the only way to you get me to Dodger Stadium that season is for me to see the Battlin’ Bucs adorned with Stargell Stars on their pillbox caps. My mom delivered: Happy Graduation, son! You’re seeing the Dodgers and the Pirates (with, I think, two families)! Luckily, we went on Camera Day and even the Bucs participated. I have since lost my photo of Bert Blyleven signing my autograph. If that wasn’t enough, I dragged my dad, who lived in the Bay Area, down to Candlestick for a meeting between the Pirates and the Giants. Yes, I was visiting up there (another graduation gift)…and had my first chance to drive (and almost smash up) his Buick Electra. Nonetheless, the Bucs won both games – and, eventually, the World Series that year.
JERUSALEM, MECCA AND THE VATICAN – ALL AT ONCE: By the time I graduated college in June, 1993 – all the ballparks I’ve ever been in were built after 1959. It was said that in order to be a real baseball fan, you have to visit one of the old time ballparks. I had a choice back then: Wrigley, Tiger, Yankee and Fenway. I chose Fenway. Actually, that almost didn’t happen. I thought about going to Montreal instead – party in the Village, go to an Expos game. Then, I thought about it: I haven’t been to the East Coast of my own country, so why cross a border at this stage in my life? Boston it was! The Red Sox accommodated me right at the Green Monster and I witnessed a decent game with the home Sox and the Baltimore Orioles. Here I was: flew out on a red eye out of San Francisco through Cincinnati, had to change at a bathroom at Logan Airport – just excited to be in Boston. I knew I had an evening in Boston before heading to Provincetown. Still, I made it to Fenway. Yeah, there was a game going on – but do I remember anything from it? Nah.
WATCHING THE FUTURE UNFOLD: Two sons of famous former Major Leaguers showed up in South Central Wisconsin during the summer of 2003. Prince Fielder was seen as a different tack on his father, Cecil – except they both exhibited power in their slugging. Tony Gwynn, Jr. was trying to break out of the shadow of his dad, though he resembled him when the former San Diego Padre began his career. The Milwaukee Brewers had their contracts as they scraped their way to Miller Park. I was lucky to catch them at Pohlman Field in Beloit, Wisconsin (on my way back from IKEA in Schaumburg, Illinois) as Prince simply made mince meat of the Midwest League. In fact, I saw Prince just got the best of the Clinton Lumberkings’ pitching. As for Tony Jr., he was Ok that evening. It was great to chat with the Snappers’ General Manager, Jeff, at the time – where he remains today with the Snappers under the Twins’ organization. Memories of Prince and Tony Jr. still resonate in that squat little town by the Illinois border.
GAME 163: That was so last year! Is it worth repeating that it was one of the most exciting moments in my baseball life? You could read about it here…or, ponder the following phrase: Having only been to one postseason game (not a World Series game, mind you) and a few division pennant clinchers in my lifetime – there has never been any game like this where I have been in attendance. It was a proper farewell to the Metrodome – and an excellent segue to Target Field.
Randy Stern
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