Category: Opinion

by AspiDimitrov

PROFILES IN COURAGE

Profiles in Courage

 

The odds of playing Major League Baseball are very long. Those who have overcome either injury, illness, or physical limitations need to be commended.  Today’s column is a tribute to some of those players.

 

Tony Conigliaro was the starting right fielder for the Boston Red Sox at the age of 19, and was a very talented player. In 1964, his rookie season, he batted .290 with 24 home runs, despite missing a considerable time with a broken arm.  In 1965 he led the AL with 32 home runs, and in 1967 he made the All-Star game and at the age of 22 become the youngest player to reach 100 home runs.

 

On August 18, 1967, he suffered a serious beaning which caused considerable damage to his left retina.  The remainder of his career he was legally blind in his left eye.  Despite that, he hit 20 home runs for the Red Sox in 1969 and 36 in 1970.  He played two more seasons, and retired from the Sox in 1975.

 

The career and life of Conigliaro were filled with setbacks and tragedy, but it is truly amazing that he was able to play and contribute on a Major League level with one eye.

 

The Tony Conigliaro award was instituted in 1990 and is given annually to honor the player who has overcome obstacles and adversity.

 

Jim Abbott was born without a right hand.  He was a pitcher and was a talented quarterback in high school.  He pitched in the big leagues between 1989 and 1999, and played for the Angels, Yankees, White Sox and Brewers.  His best season was in 1991, when he went 18-11 for the Angels. In 1992 he won the Tony Conigliaro award. On September 4th, 1993, he pitched a no-hitter for the Yankees against the Cleveland Indians.  He finished his career with 87 victories and a 4.25 ERA, and also managed to get two big league hits. 

 

Pete Gray lost his right arm at the age of six in an accident on a farm.  He made it to the major leagues, and played one season (1945) as an outfielder for the St. Louis Browns, where he bated .218 with 51 hits and 13 RBI.

 

Mordecai “Three Fingered” Brown got his nickname after also sustaining an accident on a farm.  Ironically, he used the accident to his advantage, as the unorthodox grip he utilized allowed him to  put a great deal of spin on the ball.  He pitched for fourteen seasons, was a six time 20 game winner, won 239 games and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1949.

 

There are many others.  Eric Davis (a childhood friend of Darryl Strawberry) overcame colon cancer to hit 28 home runs for the Orioles in 1998.  Mike Lowell overcame testicular cancer and was the 2007 World Series MVP.  Jim Eisenrich played for 15 seasons, had a .290 batting average with 1,160 hits while battling Tourette Syndrome.  These three players were all recipients of the Tony Conigliaro award.

 

We all know how difficult it is to make it to the big leagues, and it is a testament to those who battled through injuries, afflictions, or accidents to continue to contribute and should be an inspiration to others who follow the game.

 

by AspiDimitrov

TO DH… OR NOT

 

The debate has raged since the beginning of time (or at least since 1973). Purists despise it. The modern fan embraces it… Why? Why do we, some 35 years later, still find ourselves embroiled in battle over a rule which has affected only half a game? Can’t we just agree to disagree? After all, that’s what the American League and the National League have decided to do. They’ve each gone their own way, and in my humble opinion… that’s good for Baseball. It allows one city to have two types of fan. It allows a son to disagree with his father without fear of a tanned hide. It paves the way for countless blogs in November as to who really deserves the MVP.

In other words… it’s healthy.

 

Imagine if you will, MLB without the DH rule. Where would the National League end, and the American League begin? How would we differentiate between the two? Why would I be a Yankee fan and not a Met fan? For the uniforms?

I’m an American League guy. Have been since I was 6 (coincidentally 1973). Why?

 

Because of the DH rule. (sorry dad).

 

Of course not for the rule itself, silly. But for the style of play the rule has brought with it.

 

Let’s examine…

 

Home runs. You know you love’m. Not just the long ball by the DH, but the protection offered to the rest of the line up. As a pitcher, you know you’ll face 9 good hitters.

 

Aging sluggers. I’ve lost count of the amount of  big hitters able to extend their careers by becoming a DH.

 

Complete games. A rarity these days… agreed. But less rare in the AL because you don’t have to pinch hit for the pitcher in a tight game. Don’t even get me started on the ever-elusive perfect game.

 

Pitchers. In today’s game, is it even remotely fair to ask a specialist player to be effective at the plate for three at bats every 5 or so days?

 

 

Oh contraire, I hear the purists yell.

 

What about…

 

Strategy. Yes, good old fashioned strategy. Pinch hitting, the double switch etc. The manager should get some credit for the intellectual victory or the psychological meltdown. Not some juiced up has-been (coming soon to a column near you).

 

The intentional walk.Sure they have it in the NL. But it wasn’t a real issue until the advent of this stupid rule.

 

Symmetry.  The game was meant for 9 players. The AL plays with 10. What’s up with that?! They don’t do it in Little League. Why do these prima donnas  insist on making it easier on their pitchers and managers?

 

You may have detected a slight edge in the voice of the purists. I assure you, this is not unintentional. This is based on experience. Not just in the realm of the DH rule, but in regard to most things that have been subject to a fundamental change. Think religion, politics, Social behaviour etc. Eventually it will come to pass that it’s just part of the game. In 50 years, no one will remember it’s inauguration. Sadly, the purists will fade and our children’s children may well choose their league by proximity or (god forbid) their favourite uniform.

 

The DH rule will not hurt you. It will not improve your life. It will just give the pundits filling for their daily musings. More importantly it will give true baseball fans reason to argue in bars and in front of the tv for years to come.

 

Cherish these times. One day… we all might get along.

 

by AspiDimitrov

HEAD WEST, OLD MAN

Head West, Old Man

 

History does have a way of repeating itself.  Fifty years after the Brooklyn Dodgers ventured west to California, native son Joe Torre has done exactly the same thing.  Perhaps the baseball Gods are finally rewarding the Dodgers after losing Leo Durocher to the hated Giants way back when there were three franchises in New York.  

 

It will be very bizarre to see Torre leading the Dodgers.  His reign in New York was outstanding, and will be unsurpassed.  In 12 seasons, he was the all-time winningest Yankee manager.  He had four World Series championships, and 12 straight playoff appearances.  The most impressive fact is that he was able to survive the mercurial Steinbrenner regime for 12 seasons, when there had been 21 managerial changes in the previous 23 seasons.

 

Why would a 67 year old cancer survivor, who has just gone knee replacement surgery, who is financially secure with a legendary track record decide to endure the aggravation?  When one has been at the pinnacle, what else is there to accomplish?

 

The Yankee players certainly did not want him to leave.  He was the perfect buffer between the clubhouse and what is the insanity of the Steinbrenner front office.  He was offered a 1 year incentive laden extension at $5 million, which he rejected.  Why did he thumb his nose at the franchise that made him a legend and decide to start all over again?

 

Perhaps he did have something to prove.  Many sceptics felt that anyone could have succeeded with the Yankees budget and the calibre of players he had.  Prior to joining the Yankees, he had very marginal success at stints with 3 other clubs (Mets, Braves, and the Cardinals).  In 14 seasons, he only reached the post season once and had a .471 winning percentage (894-1003).  There was outrage when he was hired to replace Buck Showalter at the conclusion of the 1995 season and he was derisively called “Clueless Joe” in the press.

 

If he does have something to prove, the Los Angeles Dodgers are the perfect team to go to.  They are very young, have an abundance of talent, and a great mix of veterans and prospects.  They underachived last season, and finished with an 82-80 record.  Many felt that they should have made the playoffs.  They have excellent pitching, anchored by Brad Penny and Derek Lowe.  They have signed Japanese import Hiroki Kirodu, who may be this years Dice-K.  They have an outstanding closer in Takashi Saito, and enough power (Jeff Kent) speed (Juan Pierre) and defense (Russell Martin) to keep them in contention.

 

The big question mark will be Andruw Jones.  Jason Schmidt was the biggest free agent bust in 2007.  Will a change of scenery resurrect Jones’ career, or is he an old 30 and is his .222 batting average a portend of things to come.  Now that the team has two centerfielders, where will be Pierre play and can he get 300 at-bats?  Was there a lot of dissension on the team, and if so, what will Torre bring that Grady Little couldn’t?

 

Finally, there is the issue of Frank McCourt.  He bought the team in 2004, and Torre is his 3rd manager in 4 seasons.  Jim Tracy and Grady Little have been let go.  Torre has brought two trusted lieutenants with him (Larry Bowa and Don Mattingly) but many feel that McCourt has many similar characteristics to George Steinbrenner.  Well, if so, then it’s a match made in heaven.

 

There was truly angst in 1948 in Brooklyn when Durocher left to join the New York Giants.  There was jubilation in the Polo Grounds six years later when the Giants won the World Series.  If Torre can bring a championship to the Dodgers, in a perverse sort of way, history will be repeating itself…..And the Baseball Gods will again be smiling.

by AspiDimitrov

OLDIES BUT GOODIES

 

If you’re over 40 and left handed, it’s a great time to be a baseball fan.  There are several prominent pitchers who serve as role models to my age group.  The list is pretty impressive, and includes Jamie Moyer, Tom Glavine, David Wells, Randy Johnson, and Kenny Rogers.

 

With one exception, none of them can throw over 90MPH.  None of them will ever be accused of using performance enhancing drugs.  All have very impressive career stats.

 

As a youngster, I used to enjoy watching NFL games with my Father, who was a big George Blanda fan.  I never understood why.  Granted, in 1970 at the age of 43 he was voted the league MVP.  To me he just seemed like an old geezer who didn’t belong on the field.  Now, I truly admire his accomplishments.

 

Moyer, who now is the oldest player in MLB, has to be the most fascinating of the group.  Signed in 1986, he was released three times before hooking up with the Baltimore Orioles in 1993.  Since then he has won 196 games and twice has been a 20 game winner.  He was the only member of the 2007 Phillies season-opening rotation not to spend time on the disabled list.  He has more wins that Hall of Famers Jim Bunning and Catfish Hunter.  All with a fastball that wouldn’t break a pane of glass.  Scott Hatteberg was once quoted as saying “Guys I faced in high school threw harder than him”.

 

David Wells has to be the hero of all of the overweight, beer guzzling softball players. He is also a master of ironies. Although quite the iconoclast, he revered tradition, and was very proud of his tenure with the Yankees. As a testament to this, he once pitched with Babe Ruth’s hat, albeit briefly.  Even though he never looked like an athlete, he could dunk a basketball. Even though he never took care of himself physically, he was blessed with a rubber arm, along with great control.  He had a great post season record and always seemed to pitch well in the playoffs, primarily due to his personality.  According to sources, nothing ever bothered him.  He never got uptight, so was able to perform his best when the pressure was greatest.

 

Rogers was the Tigers ace during the 2006 post season run.  His 3 wins far surpassed the performance of the young phenoms like Justin Verlander and Jeremy Bonderman.

The 43 year has 210 career victories, is a four time All-Star and a five time Gold Glove winner.  Although he was injured most of 2007, the Tigers have resigned him and have high expectations that he can duplicate his previous success.

 

Both Johnson and Glavine are shoo-ins for the Hall of Fame.  Glavine is the only member of the group that has reached 300 wins, and was an accomplished ice hockey player, who was drafted as a goalie by the Los Angeles Kings before deciding upon a baseball career.  He also earned the enmity of the fans after serving as the union player rep during the 1994 strike.  Johnson overcame control problems in his career and now stands at 284 victories, and also is the oldest player in MLB history to throw a perfect game (40 in 2004).

 

 

Fans are now being inundated with coverage of HGH, congressional hearings, the Mitchell Report,  BALCO, etc., so it is refreshing to examine players who achieved success without having to resort to performance enhancing drugs.

 

The group just mentioned has amassed 1,266 wins, 275 complete games, 13,398 strikeouts in 18,323 innings with numerous personal accolades.

 

All without a single injection.