baseball
Sabermetric analysis of all things baseball - on-and-off the field. Barry Bonds fan club.
Being Willie Mays
In those two months between the end of grade seven and the beginning of the eighth grade, I was agreeably resigned to spending my summer vacation on the family farm, as I had done every summer in my life to that point. There was no wiggle room for negotiation on the matter anyway. My family had no money for travel and there were so many things to manage, including hogs to look after and plenty of summer field work to be done. So, there always had to be at least one adult around and, one adult realistically meant two and, two meant the kids would be staying put as well. For me there were plenty of house and garden chores to go around and, neither did I mind doing barn chores, like feeding the pigs. I actually looked forward to helping as much as I could with the barn-cleaning each morning – carrying straw-bales and pushing wheel-barrows full of manure. You see, my passion was playing baseball and I believed that all this work would provide me a much-needed opportunity to improve and strengthen my skinny little frame, for the game I loved.
By John Oliver Smith5 years ago in Unbalanced
Musings of A Rookie Reliever
Musings of a Rookie Reliever Well, here I am. On the mound. Not just any mound. A major league mound. Man, there are so many people here. Are they cheering? Couldn’t be. I’m their enemy right now. The closer. The evil closer for the opposing team. God, that was a long walk to the mound. Maybe they should have shuttle service just for the closer. Not likely. Ok. Get your mind set. There’s my catcher. I’m so glad they put him in. He knows my stuff better. I think he saw me in Shreveport a few months back with a scout. Jesus, these people are loud. Hello....duh. That’s the point. To throw you off. It’s not happening to me. Not tonight. Mom and Dad are probably taping this back home. Dad will be having a Dixie beer with Uncle Frank and the rest of the family. Hope Mom’s wearing my new team jersey I sent her. They may be in Louisiana but tonight they are rooting for Oakland.
By Andrew Marsh5 years ago in Unbalanced
Hank Aaron made the Blueprint for the Black Athlete
Hank Aaron was how I would have imagined Jackie Robinson to be if he had lived in my lifetime. He was cool, calm and collected despite playing under some of the harshest conditions a human could endure. Robinson was the first to endure the racial harassment that enabled Aaron’s success, but Hank was the one who dominated despite of.
By Vinny B5 years ago in Unbalanced
Mariano Rivera Brings Energy to Appearance at Acura of Bedford Hills
Professional athletes have two things in abundance that most of us do not: time and money. Inevitably, inertia must draw them to causes and foundations, and Mariano Rivera is no different than any other. “I believe in today’s youth. We created this foundation to help kids who are less fortunate and get their focus on school rather than the uncertainty of the streets,” he said at Bedford Hills Acura on Saturday afternoon. But it was the infectious energy and illumination around young fans that made him a man of his words.
By Rich Monetti5 years ago in Unbalanced
Youth Baseball Pitching Instruction
In this day and age of advanced technology and analytical evaluation, it is very easy to be caught in a web of paralysis by over analysis. Many times I have witnessed the young ball player focused on data and information that contributes zero to the advancement of his feel for the art of pitching. This data overload has taken us away from the focus of winning baseball games and in a pitching sense, executing the next quality pitch. The advancement of technology has created an excellent way to analyze performance but it has not improved the concepts of coaching and instruction for youth baseball players, especially pitchers. The concept of analyzing performance is a good one, but the need to understand what the feeling of a particular motor skill or movement pattern that results in a positive performance should be the primary goal.
By James Rooney5 years ago in Unbalanced
Not Yogi
Everyone’s heard the famous Yogi Berra-isms, with their odd syntax and convoluted logic. Even things he didn’t say, but could have, are attributed to him. But amidst all the well-deserved acclaim for Berra, there is a forgotten man. He played second fiddle to Yogi on the field, and now in legacy. He broke the color line for the Yankees, a scant ten years after Jackie Robinson (the Yankees might have been late in hiring a black player, but that had nothing to do with the fact that their fan base consisted of corporate CEOs and Bronx italians...they probably just couldn’t find any talented black players in the 50s). He was number 32, the fairly-good Elston Howard.
By Sandy McKnight5 years ago in Unbalanced
Valuable Pieces Of Information For The Bat Nerds: Batting Cages
Considering the above topic, you would immediately have an idea that what's to be discussed centers around Baseball and Softball. Before diving in deep, let’s briefly take a glance at some background information.
By mckenziejack5 years ago in Unbalanced
Tips to Be a Successful Baseball Player
Becoming a successful baseball player, whether you are aspiring to be on a professional team or just playing for fun, takes a lot of hard work both on and off the field. Believe it or not, most of the hard work needs to be done off the field. Below are some of the best tips to follow to learn how to become a better and more successful baseball player.
By Robert Cordray5 years ago in Unbalanced
Tips to Stay Safe and Healthy When Attending a Baseball Game
Attending baseball games is something many people enjoy during the summer months. However, while you “root, root, root, for the home team,” you need to ensure you keep your own health and safety in mind.
By Paisley Hansen5 years ago in Unbalanced
The Longshot - Part 1
We begin in the clubhouse of the Wenatchee Tigers baseball team. A team who has finished in last place 8 season in a row and 20 losing seasons. Inside the room are four men are whom are seated around the table; Team Manager Stevie Ray, Public Relations Manager Jim Dank, Operations Director Ben Johnson, and Director of Player Personnel Mark Hastings. They are waiting for the new Owner Michael Lust to arrive for the team meeting.
By Michael Lust Productions5 years ago in Unbalanced
5 Basics to Launch Your Baseball Career
The game of baseball as we know it has been played in the United States for more than 150 years. It's played by boys and girls in backyards and sandlots. It's played by grown men and women on pristine grass diamonds and in stadiums large enough to hold the entire population of many cities. All you need is a ball, bat and mitt, and you're ready to take the field. Let's examine the basics to discover why baseball has been called America's National Pastime.
By Mikkie Mills6 years ago in Unbalanced
