Baseball Too

  The stadium opened it's doors around twelve, as a gift to their fans, their base if you will. They came early to suck it all in, to bask in the early morning's sun, to watch which of their players are getting in some early work, and of course, in the hope that they might score an autograph. Most of the platers who were in the field, did oblige the die hards signing autographs. It occurred to me, that this early group a couple of hundred strong I'd estimate, was an accurate barometer as to all of the fans who will be at tonight's game, a crowd that will be loud and eager to help push their team to a game one victory at home. But they fill this place to overfill not only for their team, but for their game. People of every type, many different counties of origin, people from different cultures, all coming together as one, all to scream against the sky, all for the love of the game. In our baseball stadiums across this great land, people in the different cities all go through similar celebration and excitement. The reason is for individual teams of course, but the people come for much more than a mere simple game, they come to bask in the glory of a summer's day, they come to watch the best of our beloved game, but mostly they come because human beings are drawn to purity, and although our backgrounds are different, we are drawn to the celebration of purity, and cherish the grounds these games are played on, as these being pure are sacred. People of all type and color, people of differing beliefs. Many different people, united as one. E Pluribus Unum Whether their team wins or loses, they have come to watch as the best of our game make us proud to be a part. Yes ladies and gentlemen, we may be many, we may root for different teams, but when it comes to our game, we look forward to the thrills and chills that come when we gaze upon people who strive to be worthy of the game that has given them so much. More than just huge amounts of money, but rather of a new spirit, the spirit of freedom! They have come here to witness greatness, they have come here to witness the high drama that awaits them, and they wait to watch history being made right before their eyes, but they are more than just watchers of history, they are part of it. God bless our great game, and God bless the United states of America!  

Baseball, the great American Parable

  This is a good time to be writing about baseball, as today is travel day for the two teams, and  they leave behind the icy chill of a New England evening's fall chill, and ready themselves to play the next three scheduled games at the Dodger's home park in the warmth and sun of southern California. Boston leads the series two games to none, having won both of the opening games at their home field at Fenway. But this not about the actual games, but rather as a way of using the game as if it were America. I wrote a little note on my home page about baseball and this World Series in the hope that some would comment on their views of the game. But of course, as usual, no one did. But I digress. Even though like all of us, I have my biases', which, left to themselves, would have me root for one team over the other. Even though things like my natural desire to root for the American league over the National league tug at me some times, for the most part, I have remained agnostic about this game. Of course if my Yankees were playing, then all such constraints would be long gone! What I'd be happy with at this time is a well played game, one played for team rather than self, and may the best team win. For those of you who are unsure what a parable is, it is much like a metaphor but different. Still confused? Sorry. Everything from this sentence on will be talking about baseball's biggest game, but it is really about America at it's best. 

  Hello everyone, it's Clark Kent, your mild mannered sports announcer for WNFF radio, 99.9 on your FM dial. As most of you already know, Boston is up two games to zip, and I know that the Dodgers are very happy to return to LA, and that warm California sun. I've been here at the park early this morning, as a combination of my press pass and hot coffee and an egg sandwich made the security guy at the gate much more understanding of our little group. We didn't get set up until a little while ago, but right now its 12 noon here, and 9AM where you are. Ah the wonder of radio. When we got in a little after 9:30, a small group of players worked  honing their skills, and we marveled at their dedication as the game isn't until tonight. But being just a new start-up station, we spent a lot of time watching the crews from Fox Sports set up the cameras and sets. A lot of work, but pretty cool to watch. The stadium decided to open its gates for the early bird fans at twelve, and a small group of a couple of hundred seemed to appear out of nowhere. As I watched them, I noticed, that so much like the country itself, there were so many different types of people. Like a microcosm of tonight's crowd that will undoubtedly be jammed to the rafters. (End part one)

She's America's Game

  We're talking baseball, the Hammer and the Mick.. (Much better with music). So the National league championship has moved from the heart of America to Tinseltown. Fitting in a bad way using that perspective, but in that light, one side for each in the shame of our current national divide. But baseball thank God, has remained clean of the filth of politics. Unlike the other game capable of filling stadiums to overflow, which has embraced politics over pure sport. Although some of baseballs players are free to their own political point of view, as a game, baseball has remained far from the source of our divide, that being political correctness. 

  As I write this, game three of the National league has already been decided, and Milwaukee being the winner, takes a 2-1 advantage. The beauty of baseball in particular, and all sport generally, is that when it is played within the rules, and within the confines of the fields and lawns on which they are played, it is a beautiful thing. Sport is the best of us, because sport is pure, and allowing for my bias, baseball is the greatest of all sport. I didn't get to bed last night until after the post game show, and then woke up at 4:45 AM. So what else would I do with all this peace and quiet than read or write? Obviously, I chose the latter. 

  Now baseball in and of itself is a great game, but Playoff baseball brings the game to a whole other level. In playoff baseball, what would seem insignificant during the 160 game schedule, can become the subject of furious debate. October baseball, high drama? You bet. Like most fans of the game after our team has been eliminated, we eventually make our choices of who we pull for of the four teams remaining, and love talking about who we think will emerge as the best team in the world. Milwaukee to all but themselves and their fans are seen as the under dog, and as is our benevolent nature, most Americans find themselves rooting for the under dog. Los Angeles with its big market location and its huge salary could be seen as the mighty Goliath standing in the way of little David. C'mon David!

  As for the American league, there is no such glaring difference, as the two teams are as evenly matched with all the factors of the game, so much so that the winner could easily be chosen by a coin flip. Houston of course won it all last year and look now to become another baseball dynasty. Boston too has won it all, and are quite capable of winning this one. As for me, I have no dog in this fight, and I believe that whoever wins the American league pennant, will become the champions of baseball. 

  In the end of course, it makes no difference what I think or what anyone else thinks as there is only one who knows the outcome, and that is God. For him, because he is outside of time, these coming games, their outcomes and their stories, is a matter of history. I wish he'd tell me, but I'd probably do something stupid like look up my old bookie? Play on you boys of Summer, because winter is right around the corner.  

Looking for America

     Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord. ( Psalm 13:12 ). 

  My people my people, what am I to do with you? You strain at the bit while kicking at the goads. Each day you become more like Sodom, saith the Lord. You have become a people at sea, with no rudder to steer. This nation was founded under my name, even your currency says so. But your history remains to be finished. If you look, The United States is not mentioned by name anywhere in the holy scriptures, other then the parallels, which like all things, will come around again. That time is now. You are not mentioned in the bible, because your full history is yet to be determined. When I set this country up to be a beacon to the entire world, a light made bright by the most glorious desires of them all. Freedom! Many people from all over, many different tongues and dialects, all looking to find freedom, from all and any type of oppression.

  A rich country with plenty of room, a country blessed with every natural resource known to man. They did come, and they still look to come, especially those under the boot of tyranny. I gave you a new form of government, one run by the people, because America's strength and power comes from its people. You are a patchwork of people, a quilt of many colors and textures. Yes you are many, but you are one. For with this experiment of government, you should know that by having the power, comes the old saying, To whom much is given, much is expected, and with great power comes great responsibility. So where is America, and what is it she is to become? You see, there is evil at the gates, there are those who tear at the stitches which holds our blanket together, and they have no god but themselves. They look always to accuse, always to separate. They know no better, as they have become blind to the truth, and that is the decision that is up to you the voters. That my friends is up to you, up to me, and up to you! May our God continue to bless this land, there is still time, together we can right this ship, while separated we can do nothing.   

America's pas-time

  As a long time Yankee fan, and as I felt like writing, what lies in draft form is far more important, but it will have to wait, that is, until the intentional interruptions finally leave. By the way, the one waiting to come to a paper near you is called, Looking for America. So, making lemonade out of lemons, I turned to something that is easier.
  I am a fan, but far from a fanatic. I love the game, have so all my life. I'm not going to speak about my Yankees specifically, as I'll leave it to others, but rather about the game itself. For the game by itself is sacred, pure. The thinking man's game for sure, as for me, even though a prefer the designated hitter, I thought the most interesting game from that perspective, was by far and away the Chicago vs. Rockies. (If I'm wrong on the two teams, you can hang me at sunrise). To say that I'm not a fan of the binary efforts as a way to manage a baseball team is an understatement. They are a tool and nothing more. And while I'm off on this little tangent, I might as well go on. There is so much one could say about this subject, as there is a lot. But let me at least say this. May they never take away living breathing umpires! 

  But beyond that, lets dig a little deeper shall we? At its core, baseball is a very easy game to learn. Like any sport, the "game" leads its players to be ever pushing to excel. and as for life lessons learned from a game played.  Life lessons? It, the game, can only make you a better person. Are there exceptions? of course there are, but these are the type players who are into the game for themselves, they don't understand the gift they've been given is a gift from God. Think about the millions of kids throughout the world, who dream of being where these select few are someday. 

Gripes in opinion form. The shift: Because I'm only a fan, take what I say with a grain of salt if you must, but I'll never understand how professional hitters can't hit an outside pitch with authority. You hit baseballs for a living, and you can't stop being a dead pull hitter? I'll tell you a story that I just found out about recently myself. Joe Maddon is a great coach, and when he started using it in Tampa I believe, obviously, he started something. But as Solomon once said, There is nothing new under the sun, and so it is with this. The greatest hitter of all time, Boston's own, Ted Williams, was held to a paltry 116 in the world series. How? The shift.  

  But skipping ahead to more recent times, when Joe's team would go into these switches, their pitching staff were told to stay inside, to entice them into hitting into the switch.  But now, the pitchers throw outside often to these pull hitters. Maybe its me, but I would take that as in insult. I'm a professional hitter, and I can't learn to hit a ball with authority where its pitched?