With the playoffs beginning today, I wanted to muse on things baseball-related. First, why does a team advance to the playoffs as a wild card when there’s a tie for division champion? I’m not trying to exclude Boston from the playoffs, but it’s a fair question. Boston didn’t win their division. The Tigers and theContinue reading “On End-of-Season Baseball Musings”
Category Archives: Baseball
On Richmond’s New Baseball Team
Richmond is getting a minor league baseball team. The Defenders of Norwich, Connecticut are moving south, to play ball in Richmond. Once home to the Richmond Braves, Atlanta’s AAA franchise, the Diamond will now host the AA franchise of the San Francisco Giants. The team is looking for a new name, and the Richmond Times-DisgraceContinue reading “On Richmond’s New Baseball Team”
On Fixing Baseball
Dear Bud Selig, Today, or possibly tomorrow, but certainly by Wednesday, the Pittsburgh Pirates will set a record for baseball — and a record for the four major sports in North America. Pittsburgh will have its seventeenth consecutive losing season. Seventeen years. Their last winning season was in 1992. There are probably people reading thisContinue reading “On Fixing Baseball”
On Mistaken Names
I watched on MASN2 this afternoon two of the lowliest teams in baseball — the Washington Nationals and the Pittsburgh Pirates. I consider the Nats my “local team.” I think this is common amongst football fans (and by “football fans” I mean “soccer fans”), where there’s a top tier squad that one roots for, andContinue reading “On Mistaken Names”
On WGN, the Cubs, and the Sox
I sat down to watch today’s Cubs/White Sox game. I was looking forward to two of my favorite announcers, Bob and Len, in the booth, talking about the Cubs and baseball. Instead, WGN put the Sox broadcast team — “Hawk” Harrelson and some other guy — on the game. I realized that while I’ve heardContinue reading “On WGN, the Cubs, and the Sox”
On Curt Schilling’s Decision
I wrote three weeks ago that Curt Schilling was considering one more season in baseball, pitching for either the the Chicago Cubs :cubs: or the Tampa Bay Rays. He’s made his decision. Schilling has decided to hang up his cap and retire. I didn’t see a role for Schilling with the Cubs this season anyway.Continue reading “On Curt Schilling’s Decision”
On Curt Schilling’s Future in Baseball
Curt Schilling, baseball journeyman, from the Orioles to the Phillies to the Diamondbacks to the Red Sox, has begun talking about his future in baseball. Schilling thinks he might want to play for the Chicago Cubs. :cubs: Or possibly the Tampa Bay Rays. He’s not sure yet. One or the other, though. Schilling, who hasContinue reading “On Curt Schilling’s Future in Baseball”
On Signs of Spring
Today’s a little dreary in Baltimore. It’s overcast. It’s a little chilly. The air feels like snow. I want spring. I want it now. Fortunately for me, the first signs of spring have arrived. Spring training games began yesterday. And in the game that mattered to me, the Cubs :cubs: triumphed over the Dodgers atContinue reading “On Signs of Spring”
On Baseball Moves
As a Chicago Cubs :cubs: fan, this past week has been confusing. Frustrating. Infuriating, even. First, Jim Hendry makes a trade for a new closer — Kevin Gregg, formerly of the Florida Marlins. What of our 2008 closer, Kerry Wood? Hendry said that “We felt it was time Kerry goes out and does what isContinue reading “On Baseball Moves”
On World Series Speculations
Weather in Philadelphia was miserable last night. Watching game five of the World Series, I can’t imagine why they even tried to play it. I see now that game five, which was to resume tonight, has been put off until Wednesday. As a consequence, if there is a game six, it will be played inContinue reading “On World Series Speculations”