Another baseball season has come and gone, and as the San Francisco Giants celebrate their sweep of the Detroit Tigers to win the World Series, it is time for me to look back and reflect on what, if anything, I have learned over the past seven months.
1. One player does not a team make. The Washington Nationals made it to the playoffs without Stephen Strasburg being available to pitch in the last month of the season. The Giants won the World Series despite Tim Lincecum's lousy year. The Los Angeles Angels did NOT make it to the playoffs this year despite having Albert Pujols on their team. This is why baseball is a team sport - it takes a nine-man lineup and a strong pitching staff (bullpen included) to win (or lose) a baseball game.
2. David Freese and Marco Scutaro are both very good baseball players. This past season, Freese hit .293 with 20 homers, 79 RBIs, 70 runs scored, and three stolen bases. Meanwhile, Scutaro his .300 for the season, with 7 home runs, 70 RBIs, 87 runs scored, and 53 stolen bases. These two guys are true athletes and also performed very well during the playoffs.
3. They sell very yummy quesadillas at Nationals Park. While many people go to baseball games and indulge in the traditional hot dogs or Cracker Jacks, I like trying out new things, and the chicken quesadillas at the "Taste of the Majors" concession stand were delicious!
4. Baseball umpires really do a good job, and the playoffs were no exception. While they are human and do make mistakes, there weren't any real major controversial calls this year. Some may call that boring; I call it effective.
5. The double play is still my favorite play in baseball. Never mind the grand slam; never mind a player stealing home (that IS exciting, but it just doesn't happen very often). Watching a well-executed double play just doesn't get old. Speaking of double plays...
6. The "infield fly rule" is dumb. For those of you unfamiliar with it, the infield fly rule is intended to prevent infielders from intentionally dropping pop-ups in order to turn double or triple plays. Without this rule, a defense could easily turn a pop fly into a double play when there are runners at first and second base. If the runners stay near their bases to tag up, the defense could let the ball drop, throw to third base and then to second, for a force-out at each base. If any of the runners stray too far from their bases, the defense could catch the pop-up, and double-off any runner who failed to tag up. What's wrong with that? It's called strategy, man! If you are the runner, you need to pay attention; if you get doubled-up, that's your own darn fault!
7. It is possible to get so consumed and caught up in a team's successes during the season that it affects your moods, your appetite, and your sleep pattern. Then when that team is done for the season because of a heartbreaking loss during the playoffs, it also affects your moods, your appetite, and your sleep pattern. Luckily there are four months left until Spring Training, so you have plenty of time to get your moods, appetite, and sleep pattern back to where they should be.
8. Tim McCarver needs to retire from doing color commentary for the FOX network during the playoffs. He may be a former catcher, but he's old, crotchety, and he jinxed Ryan Vogelsong's no-hitter in game 6 of the NLCS. I'm not the only one who thinks so either; Don Cherry of the Huffington Post (www.huffingtonpost.com) said that Tim McCarver "has lost his feel for baseball." Now, I know that the Huffingon Post is not the top authority in all things baseball, but I had to find someone out there who agreed with me. Hang 'em up, Tim; your glory days are long-gone!
9. On the flip side, MASN Sports' Bob Carpenter and FP Santangelo really grew on me this past season (not just because I got to meet them!). They are funny, lighthearted, knowledgeable, and Santangelo (the former player) doesn't get all anecdotal nor does he bore us with stories of "back in the day when I used to play" (which has been my problem with Jim Palmer and the main reason I have to watch Orioles games on "mute" when he's announcing). Since the days of Joe Morgan and John Miller doing the ESPN game of the week are gone, Bob and FP are now my favorite broadcast team.
And finally...
10. Stan Musial (91) and Bobby Doerr (94) are not dead. Other old basebll players I was surprised to learn are still alive include Ralph Kiner (90), Red Schoendienst (89), and Sandy Koufax (only 76). Who knew? Willie Mays is still around too - he's 81 and still saying "hey!"
I hope you enjoyed my blog posts during this past season - I am definitely grateful for you all reading them and therefore putting me above 2,000 views in only two seasons. I will probably post a few times during the off-season as trades and free-agent signings start happening (and hopefully after Bryce Harper gets the Rookie of the Year award or Gio Gonzalez gets the Cy Young), and I will fill you in on the World Baseball Classic, which is played every 4 years and will be expanded for the 2013 season. In the meantime, watch some football and enjoy the upcoming holidays with your family. Signing off for now,
Mudville Mom :-)
Monday, October 29, 2012
Saturday, October 13, 2012
In the Blink of an Eye...
Hello, my friends. I
know I haven’t posted in a while, but I was so caught up in the baseball
playoffs that I wasn’t sure what to write about – the surprising Oakland A’s,
the feisty Orioles, the Strasburg-less Nationals… But as a true Nationals fan, I have to accept
what happened Friday night, and I’m hoping that by writing about it, I can move
on and look forward to next year’s baseball season.
The Nationals went into the post-season with the best record
in baseball – 98 wins that surprised many skeptics who had said that the
Nationals were too young, too inexperienced, and relied too much on their
pitching. But regular-season records and
statistics are erased come October, when everyone starts with a clean slate
(including major-league-leading 21-game winner, Gio Gonzalez, who was less than
stellar in his two post-season starts).
In game 1 of the National League Division Series (NLDS), the
Nationals beat the St. Louis Cardinals by a score of 3-2. This despite Bryce Harper going 0-5, Gonzalez
walking 7 batters in 5 innings, and 10 runners left on base. It was Tyler Moore’s 2-run single in the 8th
inning that made the difference, and it was all the Nats needed to squeak by
the Cards, who also didn’t play particularly well on that day.
In the second game, the Cards won by a score of 12-4, thanks
to two home runs by outfielder Carlos Beltrán.
The Nats left 9 runners on base that night – again, a game they did not
play very well.
For game 3, the Nationals came home to DC but still lost
8-0. The Cardinals had 14 hits, and
their starter, Chris Carpenter, pitched 5 2/3 innings very well despite having
missed most of the regular season with injuries. This time, the Nationals left 11 players on
base (are you sensing a pattern here with the LOB?). For sure, the Nationals were playing so lousy
that they were certain to be eliminated in game 4.
However, in game 4, after Jordan Zimmermann and Tyler
Clippard each struck out their 3 batters in relief, Jayson Werth hit a towering
home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Nationals a 3-1
win. It was one of those moments you’ll
never forget, whether you were one of the lucky 45,000 fans to be at Nationals
Park that night or whether you were watching at home. It’s right up there with Kirk Gibson’s home
run in the NLCS back in 1988 and Curt Schilling’s bloody sock in the 2004
postseason. The Nationals were still
alive, and all of a sudden everyone thought they could beat the Cardinals in
game 5 and move on to face the San Francisco Giants in the NLCS.
But as memorable as game 4 was because of Werth’s home run,
game 5 will go down in Nationals infamy as the biggest heartbreak in the team’s
short history. In the top of the ninth
inning, with the Nationals leading 7-5 and one more out to go before they could
clinch their division, Nationals’ closer, Drew Storen, loaded the bases. Then the Cardinals’ Daniel Descalso ripped a
two-run single off the glove of shortstop Ian Desmond, bringing in two runs to
tie the game. Pete Kozma then followed
with a two-run single to right, and before you knew it, the Nationals trailed
by two.
The Nationals were unable to get on base in the bottom of
the ninth, so just like that, the Cardinals move on to the NLCS. It was a stunning and crushing loss, and some
of us still can’t believe that the team that we supported all season is all
done for the year.
So now what? With
both the Orioles and the Nationals being eliminated on the same day, what are
DC/Baltimore fans supposed to do now?
Well I, for one, am going to root for the Detroit Tigers (though I
seldom root for an American League team).
I’m going to keep watching the next 2 weeks of baseball (hoping that the Yankees choke and that Verlander, Cabrera, and Fielder can put on a good show), and I’m going
to look forward to next year, when my husband and I can buy another five-game
ticket plan, pitching ace Stephen Strasburg will hopefully be able to pitch for
a full season, and most of the players in the Nationals team will be returning
next year. Their fans will still be here
(including the new ones who joined the bandwagon this season); wearing our
Nationals jerseys with pride and showing off our NATTITUDE.
So stay tuned, amigos - I'm sure I'll still have plenty to say during the playoffs! :-)
Thursday, September 27, 2012
"You Don't LOOK Hispanic!"
One of the many great things about sports is that people of different races, religions, and ethnic backgrounds can play together regardless of their differences. Gone are the days when Jackie Robinson was spit on by racist fans. Blacks and whites, Hispanics and Canadians, Christians and Jews - they can all play together in unified harmony. Rivalries exist between cities and their teams - not races and their skin colors.
But despite integration, some ethnic groups still like to single themselves out, and they do so with plenty of pride. For example, each February during Black History Month, the media floods us with movies, biographies, and stories of great African-American people in history. In September, which is Hispanic Heritage Month, different cities around the country have "Latino Festivals," baseball teams have "Hispanic Heritage Day" at their ball parks, and newspapers feature stories of Hispanic activists who have made a difference in their communities. We like blending in with the masses, but we also take pride in who we are and from where we came.
In commemoration of Hispanic Heritage Month, Major League Baseball polled a "series of experts" to put together the "All-Time Latino Team." Being a proud Puerto Rican, I was very interested to see how many of my fellow islanders had made the list and if I agreed with everyone who was selected. As I read down the list, I pretty much agreed with the "experts" on the different legendary players chosen. It wasn't until I got towards the end that my face got red, my eyes bulged out of my head, and I got downright angry. I was so taken aback by two of the selections that I had to go down to the basement so my kids didn't see how upset and wound up I was (I know; it's only a list, but you know me - I'm pretty passionate about all things baseball). Here is the All-Time Latino Team - see if you can guess what set me off:
Manager - 1994 Manager of the Year Felipe Alou. It was probably between him and Ozzie Guillen, so I was OK with Alou.
Right-handed pitcher - Juan Marichal. With his career ERA of 2.29, he deserves to be there over Pedro Martinez.
Left-handed pitcher - Fernando Valenzuela. Yeah, I can see that, even though "Lefty" Gomez and Johan Santana could have made it too.
Relief pitcher - Mariano Rivera hands-down. That guy is some sort of alien or superhuman or something. I wouldn't be surprised if he came back after his knee injury and pitched game 7 of the World Series this year.
Designated hitter - Edgar Martinez, whose .312 career batting average and .418 on-base percentage make him worthy of being on the list (though some would argue that "Big Papi" David Ortiz is also qualified).
Catcher - 12-time All-Star Iván Rodriguez. Hello! No-brainer! If "Pudge" hadn't been selected, I would have exploded. Javy Lopez, Yadier Molina, Jorge Posada and Manny Sanguillen would have also been good choices, but Iván deserves it, hands-down (actually, one hand behind your back and the other framing the next pitch!)..
First base - Three-time National League MVP, Albert Pujols. I'm OK with this one. It would have been nice to see Orlando Cepeda or Vic Power, but Albert is a true talent, so he deserves to be there.
Second base - 2011 Hall of Famer Roberto Alomar. Another no-brainer, though Robinson Canó is turning out to be just as good.
Third base - Alex Rodriguez. Sigh! Whatever. I was still feeling OK at this point despite not being a fan of A-Rod. Plus, A-Rod is not worth my time, so I refused to stress out about that one.
Shortstop - Nine-time Gold Glover Luis Aparicio. That's fine, though Omar Vizquel is the best shortstop of my generation. Still feeling OK with the list so far.
Right field - Roberto Clemente. Duh! Again, if he had not been chosen, I would have had such a fit that I would have requited a massive dose of sedation.
OK, now here's where I have a problem with the list. The other two outfielders selected were Ted Williams and Reggie Jackson! Who??? What the heck?!? Since when are THEY considered "Latinos?" Apparently Ted Williams' mother was "of Mexican descent," and Reggie Jackson's father was half Puerto Rican. What about current players like José Bautista and Carlos Beltrán? Or past players like Minnie Miñoso, Vladimir Guerrero, Rubén Sierra, Bernie Williams or José Cruuuuuuz? Ted and Reggie... really??? Ted Williams admitted that he didn't speak Spanish or seek to embrace the Hispanic culture in order to prevent prejudice or tension (a valid point back in the day, if you're a coward!). Reggie Jackson speaks some Spanish and his first wife was Hispanic, but at no point during his time playing winter baseball in Puerto Rico was it publicly acknowledged that he was a Latino. I thought "If they're considered Hispanic, then I'm the 'reina de Inglaterra' (Queen of England, for those of you who don't "habla español)." So I went to bed in a tizzy, promising myself to write about it the next day.
So it's now the next day, and I've had some time to ponder. What makes one person more "Hispanic" than another? Is it the quantity of "hispanicness" in your genetic makeup, or the quality of your life and the way you were raised? I am 100% Puerto Rican, with parents whose ancestors date back to the native Taíno Indians who lived on the island before Christopher Columbus arrived or back to the Spanish "conquistadores" who brought African slaves with them and settled on the island. But it's not so cut-and-dry for other Hispanics. My kids, for example, have a Puerto Rican mother and a white-as-can-be father. Are they any less Hispanic than me? How about the people I knew when I lived in Massachusetts, whose parents were both Puerto Rican but they themselves were born on the mainland and had never been to Puerto Rico - are they less Puerto Rican than Roberto Clemente, who was of African lineage? They speak the language, eat the food, and listen to the music of their fellow Puerto Ricans, but are they less "boricua" because they've never been to Puerto Rico? Don't try to tell them that they are - they will run you out of town while furiously waving their one-starred flags!
I guess what bothers me the most is that, while Williams and Jackson were great players in their time, did they embrace their Hispanic heritage? Were they Latinos first and foremost? Do they know the National Anthem of their country and proudly fly its flag? They don't have to be fully bilingual nor do they have to eat re fried beans (which I don't eat myself); they just need (or needed, in Williams' case) to embrace their culture, take pride in their heritage, and represent their ethnicity with dignity. While some would argue that ethnicity should not matter, It does matter to those of us who take pride in ours, and if you don't want us to single ourselves out, then don't be putting together an all-time greats list that singles out a certain ethnicity.
Stay tuned for my analysis and opinion after Major League Baseball releases its "All-Time Jehovah's Witness Team" and "All-Time Vegetarian List."
But despite integration, some ethnic groups still like to single themselves out, and they do so with plenty of pride. For example, each February during Black History Month, the media floods us with movies, biographies, and stories of great African-American people in history. In September, which is Hispanic Heritage Month, different cities around the country have "Latino Festivals," baseball teams have "Hispanic Heritage Day" at their ball parks, and newspapers feature stories of Hispanic activists who have made a difference in their communities. We like blending in with the masses, but we also take pride in who we are and from where we came.
In commemoration of Hispanic Heritage Month, Major League Baseball polled a "series of experts" to put together the "All-Time Latino Team." Being a proud Puerto Rican, I was very interested to see how many of my fellow islanders had made the list and if I agreed with everyone who was selected. As I read down the list, I pretty much agreed with the "experts" on the different legendary players chosen. It wasn't until I got towards the end that my face got red, my eyes bulged out of my head, and I got downright angry. I was so taken aback by two of the selections that I had to go down to the basement so my kids didn't see how upset and wound up I was (I know; it's only a list, but you know me - I'm pretty passionate about all things baseball). Here is the All-Time Latino Team - see if you can guess what set me off:
Manager - 1994 Manager of the Year Felipe Alou. It was probably between him and Ozzie Guillen, so I was OK with Alou.
Right-handed pitcher - Juan Marichal. With his career ERA of 2.29, he deserves to be there over Pedro Martinez.
Left-handed pitcher - Fernando Valenzuela. Yeah, I can see that, even though "Lefty" Gomez and Johan Santana could have made it too.
Relief pitcher - Mariano Rivera hands-down. That guy is some sort of alien or superhuman or something. I wouldn't be surprised if he came back after his knee injury and pitched game 7 of the World Series this year.
Designated hitter - Edgar Martinez, whose .312 career batting average and .418 on-base percentage make him worthy of being on the list (though some would argue that "Big Papi" David Ortiz is also qualified).
Catcher - 12-time All-Star Iván Rodriguez. Hello! No-brainer! If "Pudge" hadn't been selected, I would have exploded. Javy Lopez, Yadier Molina, Jorge Posada and Manny Sanguillen would have also been good choices, but Iván deserves it, hands-down (actually, one hand behind your back and the other framing the next pitch!)..
First base - Three-time National League MVP, Albert Pujols. I'm OK with this one. It would have been nice to see Orlando Cepeda or Vic Power, but Albert is a true talent, so he deserves to be there.
Second base - 2011 Hall of Famer Roberto Alomar. Another no-brainer, though Robinson Canó is turning out to be just as good.
Third base - Alex Rodriguez. Sigh! Whatever. I was still feeling OK at this point despite not being a fan of A-Rod. Plus, A-Rod is not worth my time, so I refused to stress out about that one.
Shortstop - Nine-time Gold Glover Luis Aparicio. That's fine, though Omar Vizquel is the best shortstop of my generation. Still feeling OK with the list so far.
Right field - Roberto Clemente. Duh! Again, if he had not been chosen, I would have had such a fit that I would have requited a massive dose of sedation.
OK, now here's where I have a problem with the list. The other two outfielders selected were Ted Williams and Reggie Jackson! Who??? What the heck?!? Since when are THEY considered "Latinos?" Apparently Ted Williams' mother was "of Mexican descent," and Reggie Jackson's father was half Puerto Rican. What about current players like José Bautista and Carlos Beltrán? Or past players like Minnie Miñoso, Vladimir Guerrero, Rubén Sierra, Bernie Williams or José Cruuuuuuz? Ted and Reggie... really??? Ted Williams admitted that he didn't speak Spanish or seek to embrace the Hispanic culture in order to prevent prejudice or tension (a valid point back in the day, if you're a coward!). Reggie Jackson speaks some Spanish and his first wife was Hispanic, but at no point during his time playing winter baseball in Puerto Rico was it publicly acknowledged that he was a Latino. I thought "If they're considered Hispanic, then I'm the 'reina de Inglaterra' (Queen of England, for those of you who don't "habla español)." So I went to bed in a tizzy, promising myself to write about it the next day.
So it's now the next day, and I've had some time to ponder. What makes one person more "Hispanic" than another? Is it the quantity of "hispanicness" in your genetic makeup, or the quality of your life and the way you were raised? I am 100% Puerto Rican, with parents whose ancestors date back to the native Taíno Indians who lived on the island before Christopher Columbus arrived or back to the Spanish "conquistadores" who brought African slaves with them and settled on the island. But it's not so cut-and-dry for other Hispanics. My kids, for example, have a Puerto Rican mother and a white-as-can-be father. Are they any less Hispanic than me? How about the people I knew when I lived in Massachusetts, whose parents were both Puerto Rican but they themselves were born on the mainland and had never been to Puerto Rico - are they less Puerto Rican than Roberto Clemente, who was of African lineage? They speak the language, eat the food, and listen to the music of their fellow Puerto Ricans, but are they less "boricua" because they've never been to Puerto Rico? Don't try to tell them that they are - they will run you out of town while furiously waving their one-starred flags!
I guess what bothers me the most is that, while Williams and Jackson were great players in their time, did they embrace their Hispanic heritage? Were they Latinos first and foremost? Do they know the National Anthem of their country and proudly fly its flag? They don't have to be fully bilingual nor do they have to eat re fried beans (which I don't eat myself); they just need (or needed, in Williams' case) to embrace their culture, take pride in their heritage, and represent their ethnicity with dignity. While some would argue that ethnicity should not matter, It does matter to those of us who take pride in ours, and if you don't want us to single ourselves out, then don't be putting together an all-time greats list that singles out a certain ethnicity.
Stay tuned for my analysis and opinion after Major League Baseball releases its "All-Time Jehovah's Witness Team" and "All-Time Vegetarian List."
Monday, September 24, 2012
Our Last Trip to the Ballpark (maybe!)
This past Saturday, my husband and I went to our fifth and
final Nationals game of the regular season.
It was a warm afternoon, and Nationals Park was packed with over 40,000
fans hoping to watch Nationals’ pitcher Gio Gonzalez earn his 20th
win of the season, this time against the Milwaukee Brewers. Yes, the “Brew Crew” was in town, the team leading
the Majors with 150 stolen bases and an impressive 188 home runs (despite
losing Prince Fielder in the off-season).
The team with Ryan Braun, Rickie Weeks, and Jonathan Lucroy. This was a great day to be at the ball park.
Gonzalez and the Nationals did not disappoint. Not only did Gio pitch 7 great innings with
no earned runs and 5 strikeouts, but the Nationals’ bats were on fire, with
Ryan Zimmerman and Ian Desmond both hitting 3-run homers in the same inning
against former Nats’ pitcher Liván Hernandez.
Poor Livo’s fastball doesn’t go over 85mph and his curveball travels
slower than a car on the interstate at 63mph.
Time for Liván to retire, perhaps?
The Nationals beat the Brewers by a score of 10-4 and have a
“magic number” of six in order to clinch the National League East
division. Gio Gonzalez has undoubtedly
been one of the reasons the Nationals have spent most of the season in first
place in their division, and is a top contender for this year’s Cy Young
award. I did recently hear former Red
Sox player Nomar Garciaparra comment on TV that Gio doesn’t deserve the Cy
Young award because he pitches for a winning team. He believes that the Mets’ R.A. Dickey, a “one-trick
pony” with a knuckleball that hitters have started to decipher, should get the
award because he’s pitched well despite playing for a losing team. Sorry, Nomar – you don’t know what you’re
talking about, you fool! It’s going to
be a toss-up between Gio and the Reds’ Johnny Cueto – who both pitch for
winning teams (the Reds just clinched the NL Central).
So anyway, back to Saturday’s game… yes, it was our last one
of the regular season, and we opted to not buy tickets for the postseason just
yet, since they’re only selling tickets for the division series and we’d rather
spend our money on tickets for the NLCS (one of those unfortunate decisions that
responsible adults have to make). We are
very happy that we bought a five-game flex plan for the first time this year,
and that we were able to watch baseball greats like Stephen Strasburg, Derek
Jeter, Joey Votto, and Ryan Braun. We
always had very good seats, and getting in and out of the park (whether we took
Metro or parked in a nearby lot) was never an issue. Despite Saturday’s sellout crowd, Nationals
Park is roomy enough where we did not feel cramped or too crowded (something I
don’t suspect happens at Fenway, Wrigley, or Camden Yards) and the lines at the
concession stands moved quickly (unless the lady behind you takes your food
before you can grab it – that witch!) If
you get a chance to catch a playoff game at Nationals Park, go for it. You’ll get to watch racing presidents, the
atmosphere will be electric, and hopefully, like the Nats’ radio announcer Dave
Jageler would say, you will witness the Nationals putting “another curly ‘W’ in
the books.”
Monday, September 17, 2012
"Steeee-rike one!"
In the 100-plus posts that I've published as Mudville Mom, I have tried to cover many aspects of the game of baseball - my joy in watching a perfectly-executed double play; the hobby of collecting baseball cards; my fascination (or infatuation!) with catchers; and how much I dislike the Phillies and Yankees. But there's one topic I haven't covered yet, and watching yesterday's Washington Redskins/LA Rams game gave me the inspiration to write about officiating (I won't get into the terrible job that the replacement refs are doing in the NFL - that's a whole other can of worms!).
According to MLB.com, Major League baseball umpires get around $120,000 per season when they start out in the big leagues, and senior umps can earn upwards of $300,000. Between spring training, a 162-game schedule, and the postseason, being an MLB umpire is a job that takes up most of the year (unlike NFL refs, who can hold other jobs - and if I'm not mistaken, is one of the issues they're dealing with in these ongoing negotiations between the NFL and the referees' union). So despite not making as much money as the baseball players themselves, umpires are well cared-for while on the road. Each ump gets a $340 per diem to cover hotel and food, and when they fly, it's always first class. Working a full postseason can tack on an extra $20,000, plus expenses. They also get four weeks of paid vacation during the regular season, which I think is quite excessive when the season is only six months long (I work a 180-day schedule at a high school - imagine if I asked my principal for four weeks of paid vacation during the school year!).
These guys hang onto their jobs, too; on average, there's only one opening for a new big league ump each season. Joe West, for example, has been umpiring Major League baseball games since the days of Pete Rose and Johnny Bench (34 years) and Derryl Cousins has been calling plays for 33. Umpiring can run in the family too - Harry Wendelstedt umpired for many years, and his son, Hunter, is an umpire now as well.
But one thing these guy aren't is perfect. They have been known for making bad calls countless times, most recently in last Saturday's Nationals-Braves game, where the first base umpire claimed that Adam LaRoche's foot was off the base when Martín Prado reached the base, when we know it really wasn't. The problem is, the reason we know that LaRoche's foot was indeed on the base is because we saw the replay at least six times, including in very slow motion. Umpires don't have the benefit of replay (except in home run calls, when a team can appeal the call and the umpires go into their clubhouse and review the tape). Often times the play is so close that they have to make a guess, and other times they have to judge by the sound of the ball hitting the glove instead of by looking at the play.
While we love to boo and heckle umpires, I think they do a pretty good job overall. While some people believe that instant replay needs to be expanded and umpires should be allowed to review calls other than in home run situations, I think having them go off into the clubhouse to review every disputed play would make a baseball game last an eternity. Instead, I do think that they should show a play on a scoreboard's Jumbotron or Diamond Vision or whatever it's called. That way everyone, including the umpires, can see a replay in a timely manner and umpires can change the call right away. This wouldn't take long, but then I wonder if umpires would rely on it too much. Although nothing shatters an umpire's ego more than having to admit a mistake and change a call.
One of the reasons that many of us die-hard baseball fans enjoy the game so much is that in many ways, it has gone unchanged over the years. Yes, the Designated Hitter has only been around for 39 years, and yes, the new Wild Card and playoffs formats are ridiculous. But the managers don't wear headsets or use iPads - they still tap their ball caps, point to their noses and ears, and brush their shoulders to send signals to their players. And the umpire is still the big guy behind the plate - the one who decides fair or foul, swing or no swing, go to first or go sit down. Day in and day out (except for those 4 weeks of vacation), whether you like them or not. boo them or cheer their call, spit on them or kick dirt on them, umpires will always be there to make the call. Now whether or not it's the right one... well, that depends for which team you're cheering!
According to MLB.com, Major League baseball umpires get around $120,000 per season when they start out in the big leagues, and senior umps can earn upwards of $300,000. Between spring training, a 162-game schedule, and the postseason, being an MLB umpire is a job that takes up most of the year (unlike NFL refs, who can hold other jobs - and if I'm not mistaken, is one of the issues they're dealing with in these ongoing negotiations between the NFL and the referees' union). So despite not making as much money as the baseball players themselves, umpires are well cared-for while on the road. Each ump gets a $340 per diem to cover hotel and food, and when they fly, it's always first class. Working a full postseason can tack on an extra $20,000, plus expenses. They also get four weeks of paid vacation during the regular season, which I think is quite excessive when the season is only six months long (I work a 180-day schedule at a high school - imagine if I asked my principal for four weeks of paid vacation during the school year!).
These guys hang onto their jobs, too; on average, there's only one opening for a new big league ump each season. Joe West, for example, has been umpiring Major League baseball games since the days of Pete Rose and Johnny Bench (34 years) and Derryl Cousins has been calling plays for 33. Umpiring can run in the family too - Harry Wendelstedt umpired for many years, and his son, Hunter, is an umpire now as well.
But one thing these guy aren't is perfect. They have been known for making bad calls countless times, most recently in last Saturday's Nationals-Braves game, where the first base umpire claimed that Adam LaRoche's foot was off the base when Martín Prado reached the base, when we know it really wasn't. The problem is, the reason we know that LaRoche's foot was indeed on the base is because we saw the replay at least six times, including in very slow motion. Umpires don't have the benefit of replay (except in home run calls, when a team can appeal the call and the umpires go into their clubhouse and review the tape). Often times the play is so close that they have to make a guess, and other times they have to judge by the sound of the ball hitting the glove instead of by looking at the play.
While we love to boo and heckle umpires, I think they do a pretty good job overall. While some people believe that instant replay needs to be expanded and umpires should be allowed to review calls other than in home run situations, I think having them go off into the clubhouse to review every disputed play would make a baseball game last an eternity. Instead, I do think that they should show a play on a scoreboard's Jumbotron or Diamond Vision or whatever it's called. That way everyone, including the umpires, can see a replay in a timely manner and umpires can change the call right away. This wouldn't take long, but then I wonder if umpires would rely on it too much. Although nothing shatters an umpire's ego more than having to admit a mistake and change a call.
One of the reasons that many of us die-hard baseball fans enjoy the game so much is that in many ways, it has gone unchanged over the years. Yes, the Designated Hitter has only been around for 39 years, and yes, the new Wild Card and playoffs formats are ridiculous. But the managers don't wear headsets or use iPads - they still tap their ball caps, point to their noses and ears, and brush their shoulders to send signals to their players. And the umpire is still the big guy behind the plate - the one who decides fair or foul, swing or no swing, go to first or go sit down. Day in and day out (except for those 4 weeks of vacation), whether you like them or not. boo them or cheer their call, spit on them or kick dirt on them, umpires will always be there to make the call. Now whether or not it's the right one... well, that depends for which team you're cheering!
Friday, September 7, 2012
A Tale of Two Teams
Baseball fans in the Baltimore/Washington, DC area have not had much to cheer about in the past few years. In Baltimore, once Cal Ripken retired, sports fans shifted their attention to football and the Baltimore Ravens. In DC, the team that came over from Montreal had some pretty lousy seasons, and the hopes of glory faded in 2010 when pitching ace Stephen Strasburg required season-ending Tommy John surgery.
But wait! Who is that team currently tied for first place in the AL East? It's the Baltimore Orioles, under the leadership of former Yankees manager, Buck Showalter. With the never-give-up attitude and 28 home runs by Adam Jones and the recent power surge from the previously-slumping Mark Reynolds, the Orioles are playing meaningful baseball for the first time in about 15 years. The "birds" are filling their cozy ballpark with excited fans and unveiling statues of past Orioles greats like Frank Robinson, Eddie Murray, and their most recent addition, "Iron Man" Cal Ripken. Orioles fans, born and bred in the suburbs of Baltimore or in the Charm City itself, grew up cheering for these legends, and their storied past (forget the 1969 World Series!) has had many loyal fans who love to tell "I remember when..." stories about their team.
Then there's the other baseball team just as far from my house - the First-place-in-the-NL-East Washington Nationals. They have led the National League in ERA all season long, and the team features superstars like Gio Gonzalez (my pick for this year's Cy Young award - forget the Reds' Johnny Cueto), teen phenom Bryce Harper who has hit 17 home runs in his short time in the Majors, and of course that Strasburg guy who has recovered very nicely from that elbow surgery he had 2 years ago. But the Nationals don't have a storied past - most people like to forget that the team came here from Montreal, so they have no memories of nail-biting games, pennant races, crazy uniforms in the 1970s (those blue things the Expos wore back then don't count), or slug fests in the early 1990s. While the Nationals do have die-hard fans, we did not grow up following the hometown hero or the long-time franchise player. Our only "I remember when" moments refer to the few years the Nationals played at RFK Stadium, which are years we'd rather forget.
Another problem that the Nationals have attracting fans is that many residents of the DC area are transplants from somewhere else. Many government employees end up here because of work - military personnel from Ohio (who follow the Indians or Reds); NIH doctors who were brought up as Yankees or Red Sox fans; Pentagon employees who can't tell you what team they root for or they'd have to kill you; and IRS employees who don't follow any teams (because they don't have any fun doing anything but auditing us baseball fans).
While the Orioles have no trouble selling out their park, the Nationals have had very few sellouts this season. Go to Philadelphia on a Tuesday night and the park will be full. Do the same thing at Nationals Park and you're lucky if you have 22,000 people there (and the expensive seats are full of uptight government workers who won't take off their ties and spend the entire time texting during the game). DC is still lukewarm about the Nationals, which is a terrible shame for a team that has been so consistent and is so talented. When the Orioles play at Nationals Park, half the stadium is wearing red while the other half is in orange and black. But when the Nats go to Camden Yards, there is only a handful of Nationals fans who choose to make the quick drive into Baltimore.
Yankees and Red Sox fans are known for being passionate and outspoken. Orioles fans are notoriously excited any time their team wins anything. Phillies fans - they're just obnoxious. But Nationals fans seem to be just "there" - we need to get more excited, more united, more animated. Why? Because this team is going to the playoffs, and we need to fill the seats with red shirts and loud cheers. In this case, quantity is more important than quality - I don't care if you're a bandwagon fan who only wants to root for the Nats when they win (us die-hards will still be here in 20 years). The team's slogan for this season has been "Ignite your Nattitude," and that's something we need to do more of as the playoffs get closer.
But wait! Who is that team currently tied for first place in the AL East? It's the Baltimore Orioles, under the leadership of former Yankees manager, Buck Showalter. With the never-give-up attitude and 28 home runs by Adam Jones and the recent power surge from the previously-slumping Mark Reynolds, the Orioles are playing meaningful baseball for the first time in about 15 years. The "birds" are filling their cozy ballpark with excited fans and unveiling statues of past Orioles greats like Frank Robinson, Eddie Murray, and their most recent addition, "Iron Man" Cal Ripken. Orioles fans, born and bred in the suburbs of Baltimore or in the Charm City itself, grew up cheering for these legends, and their storied past (forget the 1969 World Series!) has had many loyal fans who love to tell "I remember when..." stories about their team.
Then there's the other baseball team just as far from my house - the First-place-in-the-NL-East Washington Nationals. They have led the National League in ERA all season long, and the team features superstars like Gio Gonzalez (my pick for this year's Cy Young award - forget the Reds' Johnny Cueto), teen phenom Bryce Harper who has hit 17 home runs in his short time in the Majors, and of course that Strasburg guy who has recovered very nicely from that elbow surgery he had 2 years ago. But the Nationals don't have a storied past - most people like to forget that the team came here from Montreal, so they have no memories of nail-biting games, pennant races, crazy uniforms in the 1970s (those blue things the Expos wore back then don't count), or slug fests in the early 1990s. While the Nationals do have die-hard fans, we did not grow up following the hometown hero or the long-time franchise player. Our only "I remember when" moments refer to the few years the Nationals played at RFK Stadium, which are years we'd rather forget.
Another problem that the Nationals have attracting fans is that many residents of the DC area are transplants from somewhere else. Many government employees end up here because of work - military personnel from Ohio (who follow the Indians or Reds); NIH doctors who were brought up as Yankees or Red Sox fans; Pentagon employees who can't tell you what team they root for or they'd have to kill you; and IRS employees who don't follow any teams (because they don't have any fun doing anything but auditing us baseball fans).
While the Orioles have no trouble selling out their park, the Nationals have had very few sellouts this season. Go to Philadelphia on a Tuesday night and the park will be full. Do the same thing at Nationals Park and you're lucky if you have 22,000 people there (and the expensive seats are full of uptight government workers who won't take off their ties and spend the entire time texting during the game). DC is still lukewarm about the Nationals, which is a terrible shame for a team that has been so consistent and is so talented. When the Orioles play at Nationals Park, half the stadium is wearing red while the other half is in orange and black. But when the Nats go to Camden Yards, there is only a handful of Nationals fans who choose to make the quick drive into Baltimore.
Yankees and Red Sox fans are known for being passionate and outspoken. Orioles fans are notoriously excited any time their team wins anything. Phillies fans - they're just obnoxious. But Nationals fans seem to be just "there" - we need to get more excited, more united, more animated. Why? Because this team is going to the playoffs, and we need to fill the seats with red shirts and loud cheers. In this case, quantity is more important than quality - I don't care if you're a bandwagon fan who only wants to root for the Nats when they win (us die-hards will still be here in 20 years). The team's slogan for this season has been "Ignite your Nattitude," and that's something we need to do more of as the playoffs get closer.
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Not Just on the Fence, but WAAAY on the Fence!
I'm the type of person who can't always make up her mind about certain things. At times, when my husband asks me where I want to go out to eat, I give him the dreaded "I don't care." When he asks me where I want to go for a leisurely run, I'll say "I don't know; wherever." That's not to say that I'm always indecisive - when I crave a certain food, that may dictate the restaurant I would like to visit. Or if I can't decide between which two pairs of shoes to buy, I can usually make up my mind pretty easily (buy both pairs; duh!). But this situation with Nationals' pitcher Stephen Strasburg has me in a real quandary.
For those of you unfamiliar with "Stras" and his current situation, here's a little bit of background: The Washington Nationals drafted Stephen in the first round of the 2009 Major League Baseball draft out of San Diego State University. Stras had two years of collegiate pitching experience and was part of the 2008 US Olympic team that lost to Cuba in the Beijing Olympics. He was the most closely-watched pitcher in draft history, and when the Nationals signed him ($15 million for 4 years), great things were expected of Strasburg.
So the kid gets to make his Major League debut in June of 2010 and is an instant sensation. He struck out 14 batters in his debut on June 9 and 32 batters in his first 3 Major League starts. The guy was practically unhittable! Well, in August of that year, Stephen ends up tearing a ligament in his throwing elbow, which required Tommy John surgery (a procedure where they take a ligament from somewhere else in your body or from a cadaver and attach it to your elbow). This surgery requires a lot of rehab - usually a year or so.
So in August of 2011, Strasburg made his comeback by starting a rehab assignment with the single-A Hagerstown Suns (a game that my husband and I attended). Stras made 5 other minor-league starts and moved up to the majors in September, where he pitched 24 innings in 5 starts. Strasburg was doing OK; his elbow had healed nicely and big things were expected from him for the 2012 season.
So how has Strasburg done this year? Pretty well, thanks. The rightie is 15-5 so far, with a 2.85 ERA and 183 strikeouts in 145.1 innings pitched (leading the National League in Ks). Stras was named to this year's All-Star team, and he has even had one home run as a batter. Now here's the big dilemma: Because of his recovery from Tommy John surgery, Nationals' General Manager, Mike Rizzo, has said since the beginning of the season that he is going to pull Strasburg after reaching a limit of 160 or so innings. This is what they did to Nationals' pitcher Jordan Zimmermann last year after having had the same surgery in 2009. Zimmermann was pulled last August and no one seemed to notice. However, because the Nationals are in first place in the NL East and are more than likely going to the playoffs, this is, by far, the most heated debate going on in the DC area today (despite being an election year).
So is Mike Rizzo right in pulling Strasburg before the season is done? (The way it looks now, Strasburg probably only has 2 or 3 more starts left). This is where many ardent Nationals fans have their definite opinions. I, however, ardent a fan as I am, am very indecisive as to what the right thing to do is. Those who agree with Rizzo think that Strasburg is an investment that needs to be managed carefully (like that stock you may have bought in Facebook - don't you feel stupid now?). If he pitches too much too soon after surgery, he could injure his shoulder or suffer from fatigue next year (Jordan Zimmermann, in this his first full season since his surgery, is starting to exhibit signs of exhaustion, and they will definitely need him during the playoffs). The Nationals have plenty of pitching depth in the minor leagues, and with other excellent starters like Gio Gonzalez (who is having a Cy Young-type of season), they should be fine in the playoffs.
On the other side of the debate are those (like my husband and my friend Bernie) who think it's preposterous to sit the guy out during the playoffs, an event that DC fans have been waiting for since the team moved here from Montreal in 2005. If Strasburg is shut down and the Nationals don't make it too far in the playoffs, the 2013 season will be a long one, and it will be full of high expectations. The Nationals will be under the type of pressure under which they've never been, and if they don't make it to the playoffs in 2013, a lot of the bandwagon and casual fans will lose interest. It's a "now or never" attitude that many Nats fans have - pitch him now or we'll never ever be in the playoffs again!
Some people have even opined that because the world is going to end on December 12 according to the Mayan calendar, he should be allowed to pitch because he's not going to be back next season anyway. I had to laugh at that one! Others have said that Strasburg should be shut down now and then brought back in October. That may work for a veteran pitcher, but remember, this guy is only 24 years old and is still learning how to pitch in the Majors. You don't just sit there for a month and then be expected to perform at your best right away.
So what do I think? As a former Athletic Trainer, I understand Mike Rizzo's argument. He has been crystal clear about Strasburg's pitch count since Spring Training, and he has not backed down from his decision. He also gets credit for being up-front with the media and with fans, which is something that GMs are not normally known for doing. But then again, I am a very competitive person (ask my husband, who knows how cranky I get when I lose in "Seinfeld Scene-It"), and I of all people really really want the Nationals to go on to the World Series. Does one guy make a difference in a 25- or 40-man roster? I'd like to think not. Plus the Nationals have a very strong bullpen, so even if the starters can't get it done, the bullpen can save the day. It's not like I'm neither here nor there about it - that would mean I didn't care. I'm just weighing the pros and cons and just can't come up with a definite opinion. I bet Stephen Strasburg will be shut down, and us fans are just going to have to accept it. Here's to the last six weeks of the regular season, and to the Nationals hanging in there (with or without Strasburg) and making it to the playoffs. The best of the season is yet to come!
For those of you unfamiliar with "Stras" and his current situation, here's a little bit of background: The Washington Nationals drafted Stephen in the first round of the 2009 Major League Baseball draft out of San Diego State University. Stras had two years of collegiate pitching experience and was part of the 2008 US Olympic team that lost to Cuba in the Beijing Olympics. He was the most closely-watched pitcher in draft history, and when the Nationals signed him ($15 million for 4 years), great things were expected of Strasburg.
So the kid gets to make his Major League debut in June of 2010 and is an instant sensation. He struck out 14 batters in his debut on June 9 and 32 batters in his first 3 Major League starts. The guy was practically unhittable! Well, in August of that year, Stephen ends up tearing a ligament in his throwing elbow, which required Tommy John surgery (a procedure where they take a ligament from somewhere else in your body or from a cadaver and attach it to your elbow). This surgery requires a lot of rehab - usually a year or so.
So in August of 2011, Strasburg made his comeback by starting a rehab assignment with the single-A Hagerstown Suns (a game that my husband and I attended). Stras made 5 other minor-league starts and moved up to the majors in September, where he pitched 24 innings in 5 starts. Strasburg was doing OK; his elbow had healed nicely and big things were expected from him for the 2012 season.
So how has Strasburg done this year? Pretty well, thanks. The rightie is 15-5 so far, with a 2.85 ERA and 183 strikeouts in 145.1 innings pitched (leading the National League in Ks). Stras was named to this year's All-Star team, and he has even had one home run as a batter. Now here's the big dilemma: Because of his recovery from Tommy John surgery, Nationals' General Manager, Mike Rizzo, has said since the beginning of the season that he is going to pull Strasburg after reaching a limit of 160 or so innings. This is what they did to Nationals' pitcher Jordan Zimmermann last year after having had the same surgery in 2009. Zimmermann was pulled last August and no one seemed to notice. However, because the Nationals are in first place in the NL East and are more than likely going to the playoffs, this is, by far, the most heated debate going on in the DC area today (despite being an election year).
So is Mike Rizzo right in pulling Strasburg before the season is done? (The way it looks now, Strasburg probably only has 2 or 3 more starts left). This is where many ardent Nationals fans have their definite opinions. I, however, ardent a fan as I am, am very indecisive as to what the right thing to do is. Those who agree with Rizzo think that Strasburg is an investment that needs to be managed carefully (like that stock you may have bought in Facebook - don't you feel stupid now?). If he pitches too much too soon after surgery, he could injure his shoulder or suffer from fatigue next year (Jordan Zimmermann, in this his first full season since his surgery, is starting to exhibit signs of exhaustion, and they will definitely need him during the playoffs). The Nationals have plenty of pitching depth in the minor leagues, and with other excellent starters like Gio Gonzalez (who is having a Cy Young-type of season), they should be fine in the playoffs.
On the other side of the debate are those (like my husband and my friend Bernie) who think it's preposterous to sit the guy out during the playoffs, an event that DC fans have been waiting for since the team moved here from Montreal in 2005. If Strasburg is shut down and the Nationals don't make it too far in the playoffs, the 2013 season will be a long one, and it will be full of high expectations. The Nationals will be under the type of pressure under which they've never been, and if they don't make it to the playoffs in 2013, a lot of the bandwagon and casual fans will lose interest. It's a "now or never" attitude that many Nats fans have - pitch him now or we'll never ever be in the playoffs again!
Some people have even opined that because the world is going to end on December 12 according to the Mayan calendar, he should be allowed to pitch because he's not going to be back next season anyway. I had to laugh at that one! Others have said that Strasburg should be shut down now and then brought back in October. That may work for a veteran pitcher, but remember, this guy is only 24 years old and is still learning how to pitch in the Majors. You don't just sit there for a month and then be expected to perform at your best right away.
So what do I think? As a former Athletic Trainer, I understand Mike Rizzo's argument. He has been crystal clear about Strasburg's pitch count since Spring Training, and he has not backed down from his decision. He also gets credit for being up-front with the media and with fans, which is something that GMs are not normally known for doing. But then again, I am a very competitive person (ask my husband, who knows how cranky I get when I lose in "Seinfeld Scene-It"), and I of all people really really want the Nationals to go on to the World Series. Does one guy make a difference in a 25- or 40-man roster? I'd like to think not. Plus the Nationals have a very strong bullpen, so even if the starters can't get it done, the bullpen can save the day. It's not like I'm neither here nor there about it - that would mean I didn't care. I'm just weighing the pros and cons and just can't come up with a definite opinion. I bet Stephen Strasburg will be shut down, and us fans are just going to have to accept it. Here's to the last six weeks of the regular season, and to the Nationals hanging in there (with or without Strasburg) and making it to the playoffs. The best of the season is yet to come!
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