Baseball, Sigh!

“Pitchers and catchers report to spring training on Feb. 14, 2003. Three months from now!”

“Icky, stinky old baseball! Glad hockey season runs till June!!!

Baseball

”

“That's Mr. Yuck, not a baseball yuck.

Green baseballs! Must be related to Charley O. Finley!”

“Baseball=Poison!

'Nough said”

“Baseball is not poison. Baseball would be much better if Bud Selig took poison, but baseball is not poison.

Baseball is memories of green grass and bright uniforms, the smell of freshly oiled leather, the crack of a bat, the thump of a glove, the feel of a cap on the head, settling under a pop foul, the ball carrying out of the park on a hot summer night, a 3-2 count with runners on, a play at the plate, a pitcher shaking off the sign and getting taken downtown, hotdogs and beer, peanuts, trying to score from first base on a gapper, and an outfielder snagging a home run just over the fence.

It's little kids getting autographs, sitting in the sun at Cooperstown as your childhood hero is inducted into the Hall of Fame, seeing the uniforms of teams gone by in the cases inside, and having somebody sell you a baseball made in 1876. Baseball is buying up old time gloves in an estate sale for just a few bucks, taking your old man out to the park on Father's Day because he took you to your first game, and sharing memories of days gone by.

Baseball is also about the anticipation of spring training all winter long, even while watching hockey and basketball games. Because when pitchers and catchers start throwing in the Florida sun, spring is coming no matter how much ice and snow are on the ground.

Baseball is life. When the World Series is over, it gets dark. When pitchers and catchers report, it gets light again.”

“Baseball memories yes fine. Baseball today...bench clearing brawls just to try to get some interest going. Not for me. It is not a contact sport!”

“We get a minor league team back this spring.


”

“you're stealing the team from springfield???”

“That's where they got the idea for the team name. Can you believe it?”

“I came back to baseball at the end of this year...

Yeah I sold out a little, but I've been living in the shadow of the Big A/Ed for most of my life and I am still a little buzzed by the World Series win.

I know what you mean about how crappy a lot of players/fans/owners/etc. can be... but really watch a team that's not a bunch of prima donna superstars (like the Angels) and you just might get goose bumps like I did”

“that would be THE BEST TEAM that lost The World Series because they were arrogant and overconfident and are now in disarray”

“I got a Rally Monkey!!

heh heh heh...”

“Yes, rooting for a Major League team is a love-hate relationship. They are not very good stewards of the game, but the history of baseball is one of owners and players trying, but failing to ruin the game.

For all the creeps and morons who get paid exhorbitant salaries to go through the motions, get caught in drug busts, or act arrogantly, there are other players who appreciate the game and play it the way it should be played.

I grew up in the era when baseball stars played hard and took their lumps. Pitchers dusted off the hitters who crowded the plate, and the hitters who got dusted off picked themselves up and stroked a single, double, triple, or home run to pay the pitcher back.

Or their pitcher served some chin music back.

But that was baseball. For every .300 hitter at the big league level, there were three or four in the minor leagues just waiting to take his job. You played all out or you sold cars.

And if a player tanked on the field, well, the fans were close enough to let him know. Then you would find out who had rabbit ears, but that too was part of the game.

Baseball is a contact sport to a degree. Those of us who are or were catchers can attest to that. But again, you took your lumps when they came and worked harder to get the guy out next time.

I took more injuries playing softball than soccer or pickup football. But there was nothing better than making a close tag on a runner at the plate and killing a rally, or throwing a runner out at second base. I lived for that.

Minor league baseball is not as innocent as it seems. I covered a guy playing in AA ball, and the beat writers told me stories that would make you wonder. The "prospects" all wear hats a few sizes too small, and if you could buy them for what they are worth and sell them for what they think they're worth, you would never have to work another day of your life.

But they still cannot ruin baseball, because there are still players who play it the way it should be played. I love watching Jimmy Rollins of the Phillies, and the World Series was great with two really good teams.

It was great hearing Rex "Wonder Dog" Hudler again. His two years with the Phillies were enjoyable because of his infectious love for the game.

And players who take the time to sign autographs for kids before every game (Dale Murphy and Jim Eisenreich were two great examples) should have special places in the Hall of Fame.

I covered a guy managing an independent league team in Allentown, and a center fielder who could not make it in organized baseball was the star of the team. I sat and watched him sign autographs for kids one night until the last kid was gone. "Sarge" Kelly is another unsung hero of the game. What a great guy. Those kids will grow up remembering Sarge signing his autograph for them in the light of the clubhouse door. I hope they still have and treasure that autograph when they grow old.

Above all else, baseball is about kids, lost youth, and a game we once played with abandon just because it was the greatest game there was.

I like football, hockey, and college basketball. I like watching the US Women's Soccer team (yes, I'm a Mia Hamm fan).

But I love baseball.

And the day when pitchers and catchers report, Feb. 14, is the day when life returns from hibernation.

Everybody is tied for first, and there is hope, however unfounded it might be (for Phillies fans).

We are the city where the sign on the outfield wall ("The Phillies Use Lifebuoy") was amended with the words, "and they still stink!"

We are the team of "Boom Boom" Beck and "Losing Pitcher" Mulcahy.

We are the team that won all of 39 games in 1940 when the Mets weren't even a dream on the horizon and Casey Stengle was a failure as a manager. Kirbe Higby said that year, "The fans don't boo us; they don't dare. We outnumber them."

We had the A's when Connie Mack sold off his championship team twice to save money. We had the 1964 Phillies' swoon.

Players have deserted us for greener pastures, we've seen more stiffs, ragarms, and has beens than any city in major sports.

Connie Mack in his 50 years managing the A's racked up more wins than anybody, and had more losses than wins.

The Phillies went nearly 100 years without winning one single championship, and playing in only two World Series.

We know baseball, and those of us who still count ourselves as fans have stuck with it through thick and thin, despite being cheated and hung out to dry.

But they still can't ruin it, and we still go out believing and hoping, just like kids who want and need to believe.

Okay, I'm done.”

“Grrrrrrrr @ bakpac


Shove your monkey!”

“See, even bacpac got a rally monkey. What a game!”

“Speaking before a Congressional committee, Casey Stengle once said in his gravelly voice:

"Baseball ... is the greatest game of baseball ... which is in the game of baseball."

As the ol' perfesser spoke, Mickey Mantle and Whitey Ford were sitting behind him trying not to bust out laughing.”

“Thank you Geobeet...

Those posts were beautiful

Miss LimpAlong, welcome aboard... AND

GO ANGELS!”

“baseball suxs! :P but not as bad as football”

“Go ANGELS????? Someones going to get something broken!”

“The best sport of them all. Baseball.
Go Giants!!!!!”

“I double-DOG dare you Spirit!

GO ANGELS!
GO ANGELS!
GO ANGELS!
GO ANGELS!”

“Jim Thome, Tom Glavine, David Bell, ... sigh!”

“Nobody signed as of this morning (foot tapping rhythmically and impatiently).”

“Baseball sucks...”

“Nah, just Bud Selig.

I once had an idea for a webpage, comparing Bill Gates and Bud Selig, to try and determine who was more evil. Never could get enough ideas though, so I gave up.”

“"I got a Rally Monkey!!

heh heh heh..."
bacpac
05:56:35 PM
11/14/02

So spank it...”

“THE BEST TEAM
(The Giants)
Miss LimpAlong
05:12:00 PM
11/14/02

Not THIS year...”

“I once had an idea for a webpage, comparing Bill Gates and Bud Selig, to try and determine who was more evil. Never could get enough ideas though, so I gave up."
bitpusher
10:02:36 AM
11/15/02

Dang Bit, I think you're on to something here. Separated at Birth! They do have an uncanny resemblance. Maybe they are one and the same. That could explain an awful lot.

I think you need to proceed with your research project. We may need to get a federal grant to conduct this study. I wonder if the Justice Department would be of assistance.”

“Yes, it's frightening. My initial argument was that Bud was more evil, because Bill is only trying to dominate the market for a device which will eventually be superceded by a higher technology, but Bud was ruining the National Pastime.”

“I have to disagree with you on one point: Bud is not trying to ruin the national pastime so much as he is trying to make the Brewers competitive, which highlights the fallacy of electing an owner as the commish. With due deference to Angels fans, it would have been great to see Bud Selig have to hand over the championship trophy to Ron Gardenhire. That would have been one of baseball's golden moments.”

“The Brewers' AA team is here in Huntsville. If their quality is any sign, the Brewers are going to suck for a long, long time...”

“And another thing...an owner should never have been elected commissioner. I only thought it was bad when Bowie Kuhn was Commish...so sorry that Giamatti had to die early.”

“They de facto abolished the position of commissioner and replaced it with The Pretender!

Rex "Wonder Dog" Hudler would have made a better commish!”

“At least Wonder Dog has a soul.”

“Funny!”

“So Geo, I imagine I can guess what you think about reinstating Rose, but at the risk of inciting a bloody battle-thread, what do you think about reinstating Rose?”

“I really don't know. I guess every time I arrive at a conclusion I read something that takes me in the other direction. Maybe baseball should just release the evidence and see where it leads.”

“A few years ago, I read some excerpts from the Dowd report, and it's pretty clear he bet on Reds games. Personally, I feel that he should be admitted to the Hall of Fame, but never allowed to coach or manage a baseball team. I didn't know until recently that the rule which states that players which have been banned may not be elected to the Hall of Fame was instituted in Rose's first year of eligibility. I think however, that if a team wanted to hire him as a talent scout, that would be okay. Any team who wanted to hire him for a front-office position would need to have their heads examined, though.”

“I always loved watching Pete when he was a player. In the last game of the 1970 World Series, the folks in the right field bleachers had been on his butt all game long. When he came out to warm up for the final inning, he tossed the warm-up ball into the stands for a souvenir. We gave him a standing O, then went right back to the catcalls. I think he had a smile on his face.

A great competitor, a fine ballplayer. Bill Conlon of the Philly Daily news said he thinks the worst thing about Pete was not the gambling, but the sleazy creeps he brought into baseball.

Bob Feller was adamant that he doesn't want Pete in the Hall. A few other players have said pretty much the same thing. Others are clearly lobbying for him.

I just feel torn between the two sides. He's become a pretty pathetic character, as did the Black Sox of 1917.

On the other hand, Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays are in the hall and were censured for gambling in Atlantic City.

I will say this: if Pete is admitted, then Shoeless Joe Jackson should also be admitted. There was less evidence for Shoeless Joe than there was for Pete.

I'm just glad I don't have to make the decision.

Also, I thought that interview by that schmuck from NBC before the All Star game in Atlanta was a travesty. Who elected that son of a beeyitch to be prosecutor, judge and jury? I thought Pete was gonna deck him and almost wished he would have.”

“A friend of mine was a big Pete Rose fan. She was always hot to see him play.

As far as Shoeless Joe Jackson goes, I think there is ample evidence he took the money, but no evidence he actually degraded his level of play in order to throw the series. He was apparently a very simple individual, and when given the opportunity to take some extra cash, he did.”

“"SCHMIDT: [WHISPERING] Don't make me look bad, Pete. A lot of people went to a lot of work on your behalf so we could have this meeting today. So say what you were going to say and let's get on with this.

ROSE: Say what?

SCHMIDT: You know. The "thing" we discussed last night with Johnny and Joe.

ROSE: I don't remember.

SCHMIDT: Yes, you do. The "thing."



Is this the same "thing" Santartex is talking about on his thread????”

“LMFAO, if Pete Rose apologizes, Artex celebrates Christmas?

Prayer is the only hope Artex. Get down on yer knees man!”

“Geo: more hot breaking news on Rose.”

“Wow! That is hot.

I have very mixed emotions on this. Until this, there was that element of doubt. I never thought they could get a conviction in court with the evidence they had.

I always loved to watch Pete play. I was watching that All-Star game on TV when he knocked Ray Fosse out of baseball. I was in the right field bleacher in Baltimore for the fifth game of the 1970 World Series, and we were on him the whole game. He came out to warm up for the final inning of the final game of the year, and when he finished he tossed the warm-up ball into the stands. We gave him a standing O, he turned around and crouched, and we sat down and got right back on him. I'll bet he was smiling.

When he came to the Phils I was excited. He played 110 percent all the time. Catching the ball when Boonie dropped it was priceless.

I've always thought Pete was too good not to be in the Hall. If he is admitted, I would hope they'd open it up to Shoeless Joe as well. There was another sad tale.

The simple fact is, there are people who have done worse in the Hall. Ty Cobb was about the meanest person to ever play the game and he's in the Hall. There are drunks and drug users in the Hall. Maybe it's time for the Hall to open up a little more.

Shoot, Scooter Rizutto is in the Hall, so Pete damn well should be as well. It did not sit well with me when Scooter went in and Rich Ashburn took two more years.”

“Just 22 days till pitchers and catchers report!”

“I agree on the Shoeless Joe angle if Pete should be admitted, Geo but do you think he should be allowed to participate in baseball again? I don't because he has been out so long and has just now decided to come clean, something about that makes me think that he should still have to stay in limbo.”