Oh Captain! My Captain! Reflections of a Hero

Oh Captain! My Captain! Reflections of a Hero

 

We all know the story of Neverland and its famous residents. Peter Pan, Tinkerbell, and the Lost Boys all call it home, and today I wish I did as well. If I lived in Neverland I would never have to grow up. My childhood would be an endless loop of current memories playing out over and over again in real time.  What exactly does Neverland have to do with baseball you ask? Let me explain.

Today, February 12, 2014, is a day I saw coming but never wanted to reach its destination. Today was the day that Derek Jeter announced he would be ending his career after this season. I have been a lifelong Yankee fan, and Derek Jeter became a part of my life at the age of 10. When you’re 10 years old you don’t have a care in the world. Adulthood is so many exits away on the highway it doesn’t matter how long the drive is. Take it slow, take it all in, and most importantly, cling to adolescence as hard as you can for as long as you can. I’m almost 29 now and adulthood is front and center sucking the life out of me one day at a time. Gone are the days of Little League and Power Rangers. So too are the days of playing outside until the street lights came on. Everything I loved at age 10 was now an afterthought; everything except for Derek Jeter.

Yankee fans have some practice with having to let go of childhood idols. Last season it was Mariano Rivera who bid us farewell, but this season it’s different. It’s Derek. Maybe it was getting to see him play for 9 innings every day that made him stand out more in relation to Mo. Either way, this one is going to hurt more. The last remaining piece of childhood those my age had left will be no more.  The fight with adulthood was pretty even, with just the slightest advantage to the opposition. However, adulthood has now tired us out and is ready to deliver the knockout punch.

This is where Neverland comes in. If I could live there the end wouldn’t be near. I could continuously live out opposite field base hits, jump throws, The Flip, and The Dive. I would never grow old and neither would Derek Jeter.

The sad part is, just like every other place we wish we could be, or every other path we wish we could have taken in life, its wishful thinking. We grow up, players grow old, times change, it’s inevitable and there’s no stopping it.  

I could go on and on about the stats, the championships, and the class, but we all know full well about that. This isn’t about that. This is about a hero going out on his own terms and taking a piece of all of us with him.

“Never say goodbye because goodbye means going away and going away means forgetting.” This quote from Peter Pan is as good of a way to wrap things up as any. We will not be saying goodbye Derek because we refuse to let you go away or be forgotten. You may not be on the field again starting a baseball game after September 28^th, but you will forever be starting in our hearts and in our minds. “Heroes get remembered, but legends never die.”

 

 

The More Things Change the More They Stay the Same

The More Things Change the More They Stay the Same

 

The old saying goes, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Logic would then tell us that if it is broke, fix it. The sad thing is though, when it comes to the Baseball Hall of Fame, logic left town a long time ago and has yet to resurface. No matter the results of today’s Hall of Fame vote, deserving candidates will  be left out in the cold, and those in the camp of believers that PED users deserve inclusion will be up in arms. There’s no pleasing everyone and there is no happy medium but the point still stands. The Baseball Hall of Fame voting process is broken and no one is allowed to fix it.

Before discussing this year’s inductees and omissions I want to first talk about PEDs. Anyone who has admitted to using PEDs and anyone being followed around by a cloud of suspicion will never get inducted because the Baseball Writers and fans as well have become the morality police. Stop and Frisk is a big problem here in New York City, but in Cooperstown and all across America, Stop and Judge is far worse. Now don’t get me wrong, I am certainly not condoning players usage of PEDs and steroids, but I would like to know why it’s ok to live in a world where these players stories are not a part of the baseball narrative. They cannot be treated as nonexistent, non-contributing entities.

If not for Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa in 1998 who knows what the state of baseball would be now. The strike of 1994 put baseball in the cellar as far as popularity and attendance. McGwire and Sosa brought fans and excitement back to America’s Game. Yes, we now know they cheated, but the debt of gratitude they deserve for helping rescue baseball cannot go unrecognized. Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens get shunned and blackballed for being cheaters even though A) they were Hall of Fame worthy players before picking fruit from the poisonous tree and B) Gaylord Perry gets inducted and celebrated even though he doctored more balls than an urologist. Cocaine was a huge problem in baseball at one time but the players from the coke era could do no wrong when it comes to the “old school thinkers.”So doctoring balls and narcotics are good, but needles are bad.

In television and movies we love the heroes who bend the rules and do whatever it takes to get the job done but on the baseball diamond everyone must be an altar boy who grows up to be a priest, who then performs miracles and ends up being canonized. Baseball may well be America’s pastime, but let’s stop putting it on a pedestal as the be all and end all in judgment.

I’m not even sure there’s reason enough to go into what it will take to fix the process because not only am I not that smart, but even if someone were to come up with a fantastic idea that would be beneficial to all, the curmudgeons will attack in full force because, NO CHANGE!!!!

No matter the player and no matter the road they took to get to the final destination, if they are Hall of Fame worthy they deserve to be in one way or another. Now onto the Class of 2014. Three excellent candidates will gain enshrinement and any arguments for other players, no matter how deserving, should diminish their moment and their glory. Congratulations to Tom Glavine, Frank Thomas, and the greatest right handed pitcher of my lifetime, Greg Maddux. You have entered Heaven without a stay in purgatory and are now Gods walking amongst us mere mortals.

Tribute to a Legend

Tribute to a Legend

 

“If a man can bridge the gap between life and death, if he can live on after he’s dead, then maybe he was a great man.”

 James Dean was the author of that quote, and not only is it a fitting quote to describe his life since his passing, but exemplifies the life of the one and only Jerry Coleman. The average baseball fan may not know who Jerry Coleman was, but to hardcore fans and people who love the game like no other, Jerry Coleman was the standard.

Coleman’s career was postponed at the start when World War II duty called, and later put his career on hold to serve in the Korean War. He is the only player to ever fly combat missions during two wars. He won numerous medals for his service time and achievements accomplished during. Besides being a great baseball player, he was a great American.

When he was playing baseball and not serving his country, Coleman was named the Rookie of the Year in 1949, and followed that campaign up with an All-Star selection in 1950, as well as the Babe Ruth Award, for the Most Valuable Player in the World Series. Coleman would win 4 World Series championships, all with the Yankees, with whom he spent his entire playing career.

Coleman never considered a career in broadcasting once his playing days were over, but a meeting with the great Howard Cosell changed all that. The man who never really thought about broadcasting would go on to win the Ford C. Fricke Award in 2005, given annually by the Baseball Hall of Fame to a broadcaster for major contributions to the game.

 

Jerry Coleman Accomplishments

1949 Rookie of the Year

1950 All-Star and World Series MVP

2005 Ford C. Fricke Award Winner

2007 National Radio Hall of Fame Inductee

2011 International Aerospace Hall of Fame Inductee

2012-Statue erected outside of Petco Park

Recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross

Recipient of the Air Medal

Recipient of the American Campaign Medal

Recipient of the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal

Recipient of the World War II Victory Medal

Recipient of the National Defense Service Medal

Recipient of the Korean Service Medal

Recipient of the United Nations Service Medal

Recipient of the Philippine Liberation Medal

 

When I look at a career, and more importantly a life that fulfilling I can’t help but feel a great loss and a terrible sadness for his family. Even though I didn’t personally know Mr. Coleman, hearing his voice calling games, and hearing the kind anecdotes of every person who did know him, I felt as if I did. The baseball world and the United States of America lost a great man. Rest in Peace Mr. Coleman. You lived a life that most of us could only dream of, and one that makes us say, “Oh doctor! You can hang a star on that baby.”

The Time Has Come

The Time Has Come

Countless innings, at bats, injuries and storylines have finally brought us to where we want to be. The final two teams left standing battling it out in the Fall Classic. Tonight in Boston the World Series begins, pitting two of the most well-known and traditionally rich franchises in baseball history. The Boston Red Sox and the St. Louis Cardinals will battle it out under the lights for the right to be called the best.

This matchup could not embody an old school versus new school dynamic any better. The Cardinals attack the game with an old school ferocity, with a business like demeanor and a traditional throwback approach unlike many others today. Then in the other dugout sits the Red Sox, with their Dirty Water, Idiot 2.0 vibe and facial hair that would help them fit right in at Hipster Heaven. Despite the different dynamics, these two teams couldn’t be any more evenly matched. Great pitching, including a lights out bullpen, timely hitting, and managers that have a tremendous feel for their team and push all the right buttons.

I give the Cardinals a slight edge in the series because Wainwright and Wacha are far superior to any pitcher that Boston will throw out there. These men are on a roll, riding a wave of momentum and a hot streak that should help carry this team to victory. Additionally, Allen Craig’s return will deepen an already strong lineup, and give the Cardinals that spark they need to return to regular season form when it comes to hitting with runners in scoring position. I personally am looking forward to seeing the battle of clutch play out in the form of Carlos Beltran and David Ortiz. No longer having to face Adam Wainwright, Beltran continuously comes through in the clutch when the lights are brightest, and Papi Ortiz, well he's no slouch either.

No matter the outcome of the series it will certainly be one to remember. These teams will throw everything they have at each other and respond accordingly. Body shots and jabs will land with regularity, but let’s see who delivers the official knockout blow and stands victorious. My money is on the Cardinals.

The Magical Ride Continues

The Magical Ride Continues

Everyone knows the story by now. The Los Angeles Dodgers were all but left for dead, manager Don Mattingly’s seat was as hot as it could get, but then everything clicked and they went on a run unlike anything ever seen before. Now, as the ride continues, the Dodgers find themselves in the National League Championship Series, and four wins away from a World Series appearance.

The Dodgers will be facing an NL Central team, the most top heavy division this year, either the St. Louis Cardinals or the Pittsburgh Pirates. These two teams are battle tested and have been fighting all season long for positioning. They are the opposite of the Dodgers. The Dodgers coasted here fairly easily, not having to battle or play a game that really tested their resolve. However, the Dodgers have a confidence and a swagger about them that neither of these two teams has.

Nothing describes this run quite like the events that led to the game winning hit. Yasiel Puig smacks a double down the first base line, bringing Juan Uribe to the plate with no one out. Uribe is certainly not someone that could be described as an adept bunter, so of course Mattingly asks him to do exactly that. After failing in his first two attempts the bunt sign is taken off and Uribe draws the count even. On the ensuing pitch Uribe crushes a home run to left field to give the Dodgers the lead and they never looked back. A moment like that, in that spot, wouldn’t happen to any other team this year.

October isn’t just about talent. Luck and magic play a part as well. There is a lot of postseason left to be played but it’s hard to bet against the Dodgers right now. They are clicking on all cylinders and the ghosts of October seem to be on their side. They’ve written a phenomenal script, now let’s see if they can stick the landing and end it in storybook fashion.

This is Why We Love the Game

This is Why We Love the Game

Last night something magical happened. A playoff game in Pittsburgh transported us all back to a time when baseball was more than just a game. A crowd that was so starved for success came out in force and not only affected the game but brought out the fan in all of us, making us care for a team and a city that we don’t call our own.

Between the crowd energy the players were able to feed off of being unlike anything seen on a baseball field in a long time, and Francisco Liriano continuing to turn back the clock this year and pitching lights out, the Cincinnati Reds didn’t stand a chance. When Marlon Byrd, playing in his first postseason game after 11 seasons in the big leagues hits a home run during his first at bat you knew the night would be unforgettable.

Then there was Russell Martin, a consummate professional and underrated clutch player whom this Yankee fan feels should still be in pinstripes. People balked at his decision to join the Pirates, but all he has done is brought veteran leadership, tremendous game calling, and great camaraderie to a team needing all of the above. Martin hit two home runs last night becoming only the second player in history to have a two home run game in Pittsburgh during the playoffs (the other being Mickey Mantle). Besides the emergence of Jason Grilli as an unstoppable force in the ninth inning, and Andrew McCutchen playing like an MVP, Martin is the biggest reason for the turnaround of this team. His ability to call a game and get the most out of his pitchers is remarkable.

The aforementioned MVP McCutchen had a stellar game last night, introducing himself to the baseball world that knows little about this Pirates team. He reached base in his first four postseason at bats and almost came up with a ball in center that seemed like he ran ten miles to catch. He may not be as widely known as the Cabrera’s and Pujols’ of the world but this postseason that will change.

Having won the wild card game assures the Pirates that their playoff journey will continue and they now move on to face division rival St. Louis in the NLDS. If Pittsburgh can come out of St. Louis with a split, and the crowd shows up for games three and four like they did last night, both of which I fully expect to happen, then Pittsburgh will find itself one series away from playing for a championship.

The magical journey that started in April keeps on moving, and all fans outside of St. Louis, Los Angeles, and Atlanta should pray it continues because this team, these fans and this story are great for the game. I keep using the word journey because I don’t think there’s a better way to describe a 162 game season that continues to the playoffs, and also it’s fitting because after the game last night, that was the band blaring over the speakers in the Pirates clubhouse. Since day one this team hasn’t stopped believing, and after last night, they’ve converted many more on the midnight train to the national spotlight.   

Let The Playoffs Begin

Let The Playoffs Begin

The 2013 regular season has come to an end, after six months and 4,860 games, but in typical baseball fashion, that isn’t enough. Tonight the Tampa Bay Rays visit the Texas Rangers for game number 163 for each team, and a chance to face the Indians in the Wild Card Play-In game. In most seasons the rise and comeback of the Indians to relevance would be the top story of the year, but not in 2013. This season saw the Pirates and Royals both finish over .500 for the first time in eons, with the Pirates even making the playoffs as the top wild card team in the National League. Miguel Cabrera captured the hearts of fans again this season with another Triple Crown chase before nagging injuries took him out of the running. Chris Davis mashed 53 home runs for the Orioles, Clayton Kershaw finished the season with an ERA of under 2.00, and Mike Trout proved once and for all his rookie season was no fluke and he is the best all-around player in baseball.

Being a devout baseball fan and blogger I certainly do have some bias but for my money the greatest part of sports is now upon us. Nothing beats the MLB playoffs as far as drama and suspense. I would love to see the Los Angeles Dodgers win it all and get Don Mattingly the ring that has eluded him in his baseball career.

My preseason predictions went up in flames for the most part so I won’t bother making predictions for the playoffs. I’m just going to sit back and enjoy the games and see how this all plays out. For the first time in a long time there is a wide open field with no clear favorite which will help increase the interest and drama and anyone could walk away with the trophy. Let’s play ball my friends.