I love the sport of baseball. I just don’t like it lately…
Some of my best memories from growing up in the 60’s and 70’s have to do with baseball. I played ball from ages 5 to 15 at my local youth organization. After that I still had some choose-up games with friends, and then played softball into my late twenties. These were great times… Harry Kalas’ silky smooth voice on the radio, sitting behind that pillar at Connie Mack Stadium, watching Rick Wise’s no-hitter in my basement on that small b&w TV… with my Dad.
I’ve said before that one of the worst things about getting older is that you can’t get enough guys for a 9v9 baseball game. Even worse is watching the game that is played today. I miss the game of my youth, so here’s MY list of some of the things that I think are wrong with baseball… maybe other sports as well. In no particular order…
Performance Enhancing Drugs – It would be easy for me to point to Alex Rodriguez and make him the poster boy for this issue. But MLB had a “nod, nod, wink, wink” attitude towards PEDs from the beginning. It’s funny now to see them come down so hard on players when they let it happen for so many years. Any entry in the baseball record book in the last 30 years has been rendered meaningless. While I’m not suggesting that all players achieved success with a boost, you just never know for certain. And by the way… A-Rod is still a douche bag.
Free Pete – Cut the bullshit, Pete Rose should be in the Hall of Fame. The absence of one of the top five players in history diminishes the institution. He’s not O.J. Simpson, who’s still in Canton, by the way…
I’m Pro DH – Bring doubleheaders back. Lots of them. And not the day/night crap either. Screw what the player’s union says… they are getting paid millions of dollars to play a kids game. Two games in one afternoon won’t kill them.
I’m Anti DH – Lose the designated hitter. Pitchers are ballplayers and should be made to hit. And if you can’t play the field anymore, its time to retire. But why stop there? Let’s have courtesy runners for players who can’t run the bases. Maybe let them hit off a tee when the hand-eye coordination starts to go. The only thing that the DH rule accomplished was taking a good deal of strategy out of the game. There is nothing more beautiful than a perfectly executed sacrifice bunt… a lost art in the majors.
Jewelry – Oh good God, what is with the jewelry? Seriously? I guess those rope things are fashion statement that I am missing. But wait a doggone minute… I’m reading now that the ropes “stabilize your electric current inside the body” by “allowing the flow of energy.” Sounds like another performance enhancer to me!!
Crappy Game Giveaways – I’ll never forget leaving Connie Mack Stadium that summer day… so pissed that I got a bat signed by Johnny Briggs, and my cousin got Johnny Callison. Bat Day was the best ever, but probably gone because of security issues. I know that’s not baseball’s fault. But giveaways and promotions only exist now to court corporate sponsorship… “Modell’s Sporting Goods Kids Run The Bases”, for example. I’d still like to see a cap, or a ball, or a batting glove adorned only with the logo of my team… not a company. Crap at it’s finest.
All-Star Game – It used to be the event of the summer, full of trash talk and hard play. Now it is a joke, long ago ruined by too many free agents and trades. There was a sense of pride to play for your league, against the “other” league… with nothing on the line except bragging rights. Home field advantage in the World Series is just plain stupid, and clearly hasn’t given the players any incentive. If there is nothing to play for, why play?
Managers In Uniform – This is one of my biggest pet peeves. In no other sport in the world do managers and coaches wear the same uniform as the players. Picture, if you will, the svelte Andy Reid wearing a white Eagles jersey and silver pants during the game. I’m still scrubbing my brain to erase the image of 80 year-old Don Zimmer in that form-fitting Red Sox uni…
Bench Clearing Brawls – Mister Batter, if you’re hit by a pitch, shut up and go to first (watch Chase Utley). Mister Pitcher, that’s a warning… do it again and you’re out of the game (you’re a major league pitcher… have some control). Field players, don’t take one step in or you’re out of the game too. Everyone else stay on the bench and in the bullpen, including coaches. No reason to be on the field anyway. Now all of you… grow up and set a better example for young fans.
Umpires – News flash to all MLB Umpires… not one person in the stadium has plunked down their money to see YOU officiate the game. Stop getting in players faces when they disagree with a call. Stop with the flamboyant signalling of outs and strikes. The fact is… if you have done your job well, no one should even notice you are there.
A LOT of Games – I’m hoping this is the year that the World Series gets cancelled because of snow. Well… not really… but I’d love to see my point proven. The boys of summer should not be playing in the winter. Adding yet another round of playoffs is owner’s greed, pure and simple. Plus… is it all necessary? After 162 regular season games, do we not know who is the best team?
That’s my view… please comment below. And at least give me some props for not mentioning soccer…
Are Your Employees Socially Illiterate? – I hope not. Social Media policies are a must, both as part of your marketing plan and to set employee expectations. As this article suggests, there is an ignored “potential of socially literate employees who use these tools and services to increase their own competence and thus the competence of the business.” Trust in them, and allow your employees to truly be part of your brand.
Wedding of the Century – I often call Joe O’Hagan my faux cousin, when in fact he is my oldest and dearest friend. Our Moms were best friends growing up in Belfast, and travelled to America together on the Mayflower (well… that’s what they led us to believe). So Joe, myself, his and my sisters grew up as cousins. He’s been a swinging bachelor for all these years until the fair Jennifer finally lassoed him to the ground. When I got news of their pending nuptials I expected an epic event, and was not disappointed.
