Lower the Shoulder is ok in Baseball?

Lower the shoulder? To get to home plate? It's a good thing when LaPorta came up next in a 1 run game in the 8th or he would have been eating some dirt of his own. If you didn't see this play, see here for yourself.  After being leveled with a shoulder to the head, Treanor tried to get up and was as wobbly and dazed as I had ever seen a ball player. To his credit he did get the out and held the one run lead.

To me he was not trying to touch home and score but simply trying to harm. If his hands went in first and not the shoulder then I may feel differently. In my opinion, this runner should be out regardless. Period, the end. Sit down.

TONY DEJAK | The Associated Press

 

 While reviewing this play, I may have had an idea on how to avoid these injury causing plays. The umpire should rule the runner out if he is not in the process of attempting to touch the plate. I felt this way before I saw this picture but seeing this and leading with the shoulder, that is what makes this a dirty play in my opinion.

Last week the Royals shortstop Escobar was cleated on a dirty spikes up slide at 2nd, last night Billy Butler was nearly decapitated after a Cabrera grand slam with a fastball at his eye balls. I hope they keep playing good baseball and giving that 110% like Treanor did. I also hope Matt will be okay and return soon, that was a rough hit.

Soria Body Language

Did anyone else notice the concerned body language of Soria after giving up a run in the top of the 9th last night? Even after the heroic bottom of the 9th home run by Hosmer, Soria seemed incredibly troubled by something... I am suspicious still of an injury.

The big hit on the top of the ninth was a 2 strike fastball if you can call it that... at 88 mph. That is NOT the Soria of old. Anyone else care to comment?

Twin$ and $ox - Indians and Royals

From this article on MLB.COM ...And it also bears mentioning that the Opening Day payrolls of the Indians ($49.2 million) and Royals ($36.1 million) can be combined and still not equal those of the White Sox ($127.8 million), Twins ($112.7 million) or Tigers ($105.7 million)

Ok, can we now say that talk of big market vs small market is a non issue? For years, Royals fans have complained about the Yankees spending 100+ million for salaries. The Royals are proving, along with other teams that it is NOT all about the money. Teams are building winning organizations with out spending 20 million for one player.

The real question may be... when do the Yankees, Red Sox and White Sox and yes Twins figure out you don't HAVE to go out and throw cash around. Sure it's only 2 weeks into the season, but I think that teams have shown it is not necessary to pay the obscene salaries to star free agents. If Cleveland and Kansas City keep it up this season, will this effect the mammoth Pujols negotiations?

Go Royal$ !! Now, time to shut down the 49.2 million dollar Indians !!!

Royal Opportunity Wasted - 8 out of 11

The Royals always have trouble against the Minnesota Twins and we all went in to this short 2 game series with hope. Hope that the team has made steps to take advantage of opportunities to win against a good team. The game Tuesday night had such a situation after the Royals tied the game.

Down 1 run going into the 7th, the Royals get a lead off infield single from Alcides Escobar. Then on an attempted sac bunt by Chris Getz, Twins pitcher Brian Duensing air mails the throw over the first baseman and Escobar goes to 3rd, Getz to 2nd. Excellent, the Twins make an unusual critical error and try to and the Royals the lead on a silver platter. Next up Melky Cabrera lines one off the knee of Duensing, Escobar scores, Getz to 3rd.

1st and 3rd with nobody out, tie game in the 7th inning with Alex Gordon, Billy Butler and Jeff Francoeur due up. 3 tries to get one run across. Then an amazing thing happened. Those 3 men swung at 8 of the next 11 pitches ( all fastballs by the way )... 3 quick outs, game still tied. The last strike was a fastball middle in that Francoeur watches to end the inning. They seriously could not get ONE ball it on the ground, or in the air far enough for a sacrifice? These are the games that good teams win. I know this team technically is not a "good" team.

The best we can hope for is that this inning will be used as a "teaching opportunity" at all levels of the organization. I don't blame the bullpen for this loss, I blame the offense for failure to execute.

It's the little things that great teams do... let's be great.

Take Me Out To The Ballgame... on Radio !

There is something very nice about listening to a baseball game over a portable AM radio. It evokes thoughts of sitting on a porch swing in the shade on a summer evening. Even if you are inside and it's cold and wind in April.

It's nice because you can have it going in the background, and it doesn't take over your thoughts unless you WANT it to. Then the announcer gets that edge of excitement and you know it's time to listen. If you don't quite catch the action, you can listen to the crowd because that inner "clock" in your mind tells you that your team is batting or in the field.

Also interesting to me is the companies that advertise, and how that changes based on region. Imagine hearing a commercial for John Deere or a farmers coop during a radio broadcast in New York or Los Angeles. I guess it would be like hearing a commercial on Kansas City for surf boards.


It is different than watching on TV obviously, but I think radio is the best way to experience a ball game, other than being there anyway. With radio, you are there in your mind and heart. It kind of goes back to the old time simplicity of the game. Simple game for a simple time. Well we can always hope right?


"7th inning stretch time at Kauffman Stadium" says Bob Davis on the Royals Radio Network.

Take me out to the ballgame...

Bob Davis, Denny Matthews and Steve Stewart
will broadcast games this season from the
radio booth. (Chris Vleisides/Kansas City Royals)

Somebody Pinch Me ?

How exciting it was to see the Royals come right back to tie it at 4 in the 2nd inning after giving up 4 quick runs in the top of the 1st. Nice to see this team keep bouncing back and playing aggressive as a double steal lead to a 2 run single by Melky Cabrera. Too bad Luke Hochevar could not make a few key pitches and keep them at 4. He leaves after 6 down 6-4.

Comeback kids do it again on a game tying home run in the bottom of the 8th. Billy Butler crushed one into the water in left. Again Soria comes in to the 9th in a tie game. Risky but it worked last time. Hopefully it will again. I like the 2 hand catch on the pop up to Escobar. Seems I remember Yuniesky Betancourt last year one handing a pop up, dropped it and it led to a loss.

The Royals are set up for another come from behind win against a tough team.

Wow... walk off again on an extra inning game winning single from Melky.. can this team be for real ?

Empty Seats in the Cathedral ?

Did anyone else notice that at the Twins/Yankees game Monday night at Yankee Stadium, that about one half of the seats were EMPTY? No rain, no blizzard and no signs of a valid reason. This just stuck me as very odd that the first week of the season and the Yankees cannot fill the place? I wonder if anyone has an idea as to what the reason may be?

Weather: 57 degrees, cloudy.
Wind: 5 mph, In from RF.
T: 2:38.
Att: 40,311.

It can't be that the Yankees are horrible, since they are the Yankees after all and they always win and draw fans. Now I am sure the 40,311 listed officially, did not all show up. There were empty seats spread out all over the ballpark.

Very odd... anybody have an explanation?

The Fauxhawks Win in 13 !! Oh and KC is in FIRST PLACE ?

Play Ball !!Windy day in KC with SSW wind... 79 degrees, Beautiful. Thanks Denny, I love the picture you paint with words.

Swing and a miss, 2 out. A Sunday afternoon game in August, forget about it, but Sunday in April, nice. Ground ball with 1 on by Hunter and the inning is over with only 13 pitches. As Denny says, "After half an inning, the Angels nothing, the Royals coming up".


Mike Aviles leads off and is nicked by the pitch and is on first base. After a steal and ground out, Aviles is at 3rd with one out. Critical situation for a good team, score the run from 3rd with less than one out. And Alex Gordon comes through with his first RBI of the season. BALK ? Boy the Angels seems to be struggling. Gordon at 2nd with 1 out. Billy Butler hits it hard but at somebody, runner on 2nd with 2 out. Kila Ka'aihue works a 3-0 count and you can hear the crowd buzz. Ball 4. Jeff Francoeur has a chance to add to the 1-0 lead as $12 million dollar pitcher Scott Kazmir struggles. Base hit! Royals up 2-0.

In the bottom of the first, the Royals are making contact putting the ball in play, being aggressive and Kazmir has thrown 26 pitches, many not even close to a strike. Wilson Betemit hopes to keep it rolling as it looks like the Angels will get into their bullpen early today!! Another stolen base by Frenchy, I like this. Ball Four and the bases are full. Alcides Escobar grounds to first for the 3rd out and Kazmir throws 36 pitches. Nice.

After 1 inning - Angels 0 Royals 2

Now a critical inning for Bruce Chen and the Royals. After a long inning, it will be key for the Royals to shut them down again and get Kazmir back out there as quickly as possible. A lead off walk is not the way to kick that off. A double play right here would be nice, but a little pop up works, 1 out and no runner advance. Double down the line, runners at 2nd and 3rd and Jeff Mathis fouls out. 2 out and close to getting out of it. Swing and a miss, inning over. Well done.

BOMB, Melky Cabrera ! Then Gordon drills one off the wall and he is at 2nd with 2 out and Kazmir is up to 58 pitches on the 2nd inning. Might be a long day. Wind blowing out, we'll need more than 3 to win this one. And like last year, Billy get beaned, again. Think it would be nice to see Kila pound one and he does... Vernon Wells could not hold on to a drive over his head and the Royals are up 5-0. Still probably not enough. But Angels manager Mike Scioscia has seen enough. Pitching change! Holy cow, a BALK before the replacement throws a pitch. Easy pop fly out and the inning is over. Again 5 will not be enough today.

After 2 innings - Angels 0 Royals 5

Ok, 3 batters into the 3rd, it's 5-2 after back to back home runs and a walk. Chen needs a double play very badly, but Tori Hunter is up and this could get ugly fast. After a doubling Bobby Abreu off of first on a pop up, Chen and the Royals are out of the inning......... after losing my internet, it is now 5-4 Royals and Chen seems like a different pitcher than he was in the first 2 innings. Then after a MUCH too quiet inning for KC, the Royals.....scratch that, I spoke too soon as Butler Pounds one out with 2 outs and it's 6-4 Royals. 426 feet.

After 4 innings - Angels 4 Royals 6

And after taking some care of some things at home, the Angels have the lead in the bottom of the 9th 9-7. Lead off walk to Gordon,  Butler at bat and the Angels closer seems to be a little wild and almost blew the save on opening day. Fernando gets some help on a hard line drive that was headed towards the gap that was picked off my the shortstop. 1 on and 1 out, and the tying run standing in the box. Could Kila do it again? Not this time, but he does work a walk to put 2 on with only 1 out.

Here we go kids.... showtime !! Betemit lines one that is almost caught. Key word "almost" but 2 runs score and the game is tied with the winning run at 3rd and one out.

Escobar is up with the chance to be a hero and accepted as part of the future in KC. First pitch ball, then a strike. Then 2-1 count and he squared to bunt and took a strike. 2-2 count, fans on their feet. Angels have 5 infielders hoping to cut off a grounder. Ball 3, this is getting FUN! The 3-2 pitch is fouled off... would be great to be in the ballpark right now! Shock.. another walk and the bases are loaded again. Last minute roster addition Matt Treanor is up now. He grounds into a force out at home after Callaspo bobbles it to lose the chance at an inning ending double play. Next pitch is grounded right at third. 3 outs and after 9, it's even at 9. The Royals missed a golden opportunity to take a gift win and will now rely on the bullpen for the hold.

After 9 innings - Angels 9 Royals 9

Soria gets a ground out on his second pitch thanks to a good play by second baseman Aviles. Tough part of the order for the Angels. A base hit by IzturisIzturis and a walk to Kendrick but then Abreu singles. Angels have 1st and 3rd but Soria makes a great pitch to end the inning, still tied. An uneventful bottom of the 10th and we are on to the 11th.

After 10 innings - Angels 9 Royals 9

Tim Collins comes in for the 11th. And he is throwing strikes, working fast but after getting a strikeout, he gives up a single. Now would be a good time for another couple of strikeouts. A good test for a rookie reliever and he is passing so far. Short foul pop up and he has 2 outs. The bullpen for the Royals has been very good so far this short season. The 2-2 pitch to Mathis is swung on and missed and Collins continues his 1+ strikeout per inning.

This is exhausting... Betemit walk and steals 2nd, then for some unknown reason tries to advance to 3rd on a pitch in the dirt. Then 2 walks and the Royals have 2 on with 2 out. Can we end it here men? Of course not, Aviles strikes out. Painful.

After 11 innings Angels 9 Royals 9

Collins starts off the 12th with a strikeout, what else! A ground out and ANOTHER strikeout and Kendrick and the Angels are done in the 12th. Now that was efficient, hopefully the offense will respond. But nope...

After 12 innings Angels 9 Royals 9

Lead off single is cleaned up with a double play and another strikeout by Collins and time for the bottom of the 13th. This has become one of those games you are stuck following. After about 11 innings you have to stay tuned in to see how it ends. 

Top of 13th uneventful... In the bottom half, Getz  tried to take the game over with a walk, stolen base and boldly advanced on a ground out to 3rd. But we was caught in a run down after a tap to the pitcher. But then, it was WALK OFF time again... Treanor slams a game winning 3 run home run and the Royals are 3-1. Second best story of the game is the performance of Tim Collins...  check this line out.  3 IP, 2 hits, 5 k's and the WIN.

Great job in this first series by the bullpen... or what MLB.com reports, they are called the Fauxhawks !!

photo from MLB.com

Getz vs Pujols?

 The Royals stand at 2-1 to open the season against a tough team, many picked to win the Western Division in the LA Angels. Two wins in come from behind late game heroics, impressive. Just as Royals fans should not get too excited, fans of other teams should not worry about their teams poor start.

My brother wrote on Facebook today...

At least he understands it's a long season and his team the Cardinals are having a rough start on and off the field. Injuries have hit them hard in a season that is very important to the organization. To give you an example of why it's good to keep looking forward, here is a  comparison...

Team Pitching	W-L	ERA	K's
Kansas City	2-1	2.67	4th in MLB
St. Louis	0-2	6.75	9th in MLB
Player	BA	OBP	RBI
Chris Getz	.429	.500	2
Albert Pujols	.222	.222	1

Now the truth is somewhere in the middle, but in years past these numbers could have been easily reversed. This Royals team will not end up with this kind of comparison and I am pretty sure that Pujols will have better numbers than Getz, by next week. But I guess my point is and will be all season is, hang on Royals fans it's going to be a fun, and entertaining ride.

It might be hard to argue though that this 2011 team is much better than those in recent history, even without Zack Greinke. This team seems to be playing to win and playing with confidence. An excellent transition from the really bad teams to the future full of talent and winning.

I have had a busy weekend, both with my "paying" job and with a daughter that is getting married soon and HAPPY as I have seen her in some time. Life is good... how can it not be. It's April 2 and the Royals are 2-1.

As the season progresses, I will be watching close for the fire and desire to win that has been missing. See my post on i70baseball for more on that. If  you see examples of players playing with intensity, post them here.

Lets go get a winning April ! And Mike, your Cardinals will be just fine!

KILA MONSTER !!

KILA MONSTER !!

"Take Me Out to The Ball Game" on Opening Day !

Yep, it's that time !! Time to PLAY BALL !! It's been a long and cold winter that has been hard to give up here in Kansas but move over cold, it's time for the game of Summer.

I can't be at the ballpark today in person, so I will be listening to the radio all day, then watching TV. I will be there in my mind, too bad my paying job comes first. I just might have to see what I can do about that and soon.

The first pitch is scheduled for 3:10 pm. An unlikely opening day starter Luke Hochevar will get the honors this year. For his sake I hope he makes the best of it because it's doubtful he will get the top honors next season. Not impossible, but not likely.

Opening day is magical. Just being at the ballpark is special on this day. The kids, who obviously should be in school but nobody gets in trouble. Employees who are always looking  around hoping to NOT see somebody who knows they called in sick. Fans of all ages and dedication levels. A sellout! Usually a flyover from our great military machines ( if we're lucky again, it might even be a Stealth! ). A great version of our National Anthem and honored guest throwing out the first pitch. This year if you have not heard, it will be Mike Sweeney.

Fans will celebrate, laugh and have fun at the old ballpark.

Take me out to the Ballgame..... Go Royals !!

Play Ba..... uh wait, SNOW ?

Perhaps it's fitting that the weather here in Kansas is supposed to break, on Thursday! I would think the "Big Fan" upstairs, is aware that Thursday is the unofficial national holiday known as "Opening Day". Nothing like it. The one day of the season where it's nice to win, but the W means much less than just knowing that baseball is being played.

With that thought comes the reminder that warm days and sunshine are within sight. You can leave after an opening day win and be on cloud nine. But with me, even after an opening day loss I still leave the ballpark with a smile. It's baseball again, and no more snow.

As winter hangs on and drops some fresh snow out of the sky as a reminder that it won't be long until it comes back after October, and after baseball. As I write this, it is 3 days before the first pitch. I woke this morning to a light blanket of snow. Not much, but yes Old Man Winter you are still here although not for long.

Kind of like this season will be for Royals fans, the Royals will lose often but the future is bright. This little bit more of losing will be like a March snow reminder and will make the outlook even better. There is an excitement, you can feel it. The talk is there, the blogs are heating up and the fans are ready. Ready for sunshine, warmth and winning.

Maybe winning on opening day 2012, we WILL need to see a win and please for Thursday, no more snow!

Spring Training vs World Champs

Friday March 25 and today Mike Sweeney signed a one day contract so he could retire as a Kansas City Royal. Nice move, by a nice man. Sweeney spent many days giving 100% all of the time. And something that set him apart from many was his faith. He wore it on his sleeve with pride. Thank you Mike and best wishes for your next adventure.

First pitch from Vin Mazzaro, strike. Nice strikeout on 5 pitches. A failed double play ball, led to a run and too many pitches in the 1st. Hopefully that will be limited as the season starts as the pitchers are not good enough to keep overcoming a poor defense.

1-0 Giants Middle of the 1st

3 up and 3 down for KC in the bottom of the first. The Giants load the bases in the 2nd. Now two nice strikeouts by Mazzaro later and then a one hopper to first and lots of pitches but no damage.

1-0 Giants Middle of the 2nd

Mazzaro has nice movement on his pitches but is struggling a little. He has shown the ability to get out of jams with strikeouts and ground balls. From what I have seen this far, it's too bad we could not have gotten a little more in the trade for David DeJesus. A few well placed hits and the Giants put 2 more up on the board.

3-0 Giants Middle of the 3rd

A nice hustle triple by Bryan Pena. Here is as good test for the team to get the runner in from 3rd with less than 2 out. Ground ball to short from Escobar, not getting it done there. Chris Getz has a chance with 2 outs but this team did what it can't do. Failed to score an easy run. I am anxious to see live baseball, to get the sounds of a game and playing games that count.

Gordon and Kila pound some hard drives to the gaps and  the Royals score 2. And with a 2 run bomb from Frenchy, the Royals take the lead. While the Royals were driving the ball all around the ballpark, Frank and Ryan interviewed Mike Sweeney. He told a great story of how Ryan Howard treated him during the playoffs last year in Philadelphia. Howard remembered how Sweeney treated him when he came up, and returned the favor by letting Mike pop the first bottle of champagne in celebration.


8-3 Royals Top of the 6th

It was funny when Ryan was talking about the Giants bringing two number 85's and two number 83's... and how bad it is for you when you have a number like that, no name on your jersey and there is another guy in the dugout, with the same number as you. Pretty funny... but like Frank said, they can at least say they got in the game. Isn't that something a lot of us can say? One way or another, we got in the game.

First impression of Lorenzo Cain... looks good at the plate. Showing a good eye and has worked a 3-1 count. Ball four, he took some close pitches. Too short of a look but I hope to see more this year of Lorenzo. 4 walks and a few hits and when you look up, the Royals are ahead by 10.

13-3 Royals top of the 7th

Overall I like what I have seen in the game. Good pitching, good defense , good at bats and great attitude. A confident relaxed young team that appears to be ready to kick off what should be an interesting and good season.

15-3 Royals top of the 9th

Soria in, game over.

Denny Matthews in March

Ahhh... Denny Matthews. What a perfect voice to hear on the radio in March. The Royals are playing the Reds under the lights in Arizona. Mostly regulars in the lineups for both teams and it's a perfect 84 degrees in the desert. When Denny decides to retire, listening to a game on an AM radio ( or in this day and age, my iPhone ) will never be the same. Still baseball but not Denny. He truly IS the voice of the Royals.

Butler slams a singles and the next up Kila Ka'aihue belts a bomb and right away it's 2-0 Royals. Inning over after an easy pop up. But a great start against a top pitcher in Bronson Arroyo.

Middle of the 1st 2-0 Royals

It's going to be a fun summer for sure! So many interesting story lines both in Kansas City and as well as Omaha and NW Arkansas. So many prospects, so much to be excited about. Youngster Mike Montgomery is throwing strikes in the bottom of the 1st. Seven pitches and six strikes and an out. If the Royals are to make any noise in the AL Central, it will require a few surprises from the starting pitching as that is easily the weakest part of the team for 2011. I am not hoping for a lot of noise from the team this season, mostly because they are taking a good approach to the prospects and not rushing anyone up. Double play, Aviles to Getz to Ka'aihue.

End of the 1st 2-0 Royals

Red hot Alex Gordon hits one of the wall for a lead off double. How many times can we say, maybe Gordon will "find it" this year. He just might, hate to give up on a player like him with the team building as it is. Gordon scores on a single by newcomer Alcides Escobar. Close play at home but the Royals are forcing the running game which is well over due. This team is being built for speed, defense and pitching. Power may be on it's way in 2012 and 2013.

Middle of the 2nd 3-0 Royals

Gotta cut this one short.... early day tomorrow and hey, it's my Spring Training too !

End of the 2nd 3-0 Royals

Go Royals !!

Buck O'Neil, Outstanding!

This an excerpt from my post on i70Baseball.com. Please check out this site, it's a great place for Royals and Cardinal fans alike!

Enjoy...


In the induction ceremony speech in 2006 he said, “I can’t hate a human being because my God never made anything ugly, but you can be ugly if you wanna boy, but God didn’t make you that way.” Then he asked the people there to hold hands and had them sing after him, “The greatest thing in all of my life, is loving you.” and closed with “Now I could talk another 10 minutes, but I’ve got to go to the bathroom” and like he always did he walked away with everyone smiling. God certainly did good work with Buck O’Neil.
Buck O’Neil played an instrumental role in getting others into the Baseball Hall of Fame and then what seemed like an insult to us, could not gather 9 out of the 12 votes required for his own induction. He was honored to simply have been asked to give the speech for his friends on their induction day at Cooperstown.

Super Sunday & 7 Days Until Spring Training

Green Bay 14-3

It's Super Bowl Sunday and what I am excited about is that in just 7 days, pitchers and catchers report to spring training for the Kansas City Royals. I survived January and baseball is in sight. After a long winter of heavy snow, cold and some interesting moves by the Royals, it is almost time to play ball!

Green Bay 21-3

This score reminds me about one of the differences between other sports and baseball is the clock. A team with the lead can simply run the clock and net allow the other team the chance to win the game. I love that about baseball.

Green Bay 21-10 Halftime

I thought this would be good practice and warm up. I am not good at stringing together long thoughts and maybe because the sport I am watching does not inspire me like watching baseball. I love the pace of baseball, pauses in between pitches and sometimes long pauses between any action it allows the mind time to wander. Now I also realize another difference... halftime shows! How bad was that one? Did they set up the drum machine and play 5-6 times with the same beat and sound? Any way, maybe my age is showing. With baseball,  you get on the field and play until the game is done.

Green Bay 21-17

I think one of my faults is that I try to write something everyone wants to read rather then just write my thoughts. I will work on that. By the way, back to the game and that was a horrible field goal attempt, not even close. Didn't even hit the pull up football saver screens. Heaven forbid that someone actually get a souvenir football like they used to. Heck if you sit there, you ought to at least have an option like they did in little league where you can turn the ball in for a snow cone! But nope, they don't even let the balls go in to the hands of a fan.

Green Bay 21-17 End of 3rd Quarter

Green Bay 28-17

Earlier there was a "coaches challenge" and this is something I think baseball could use. Maybe not leave it up to the coaches and like they do in football and only use it with limits, but how? Only for fair/foul calls? Or for bang-bang plays at first? Or do you EVEN perhaps consider using technology for calling balls and strikes? It would be a bold move that might not slow the game like reviews would.

Green Bay 28-25

Green Bay 31-25 2:00 warning

Final Green Bay 31 Pittsburgh 28
It's been fun and a good exercise for me, thank you for reading and checking in. Football season is now DONE!

It's time...

PLAY BALL !!

.

Baseball Is...

Baseball is needed in January. The one month of the year where I miss it the most. For me, winter is over on January 2 and it's time for baseball. The countdown begins for Spring Training. This posts is designed to carry me through January.

Baseball is memories of my Dad. Baseball is a game that gave me one of my fondest memories of my father, even though no ballgame was actually part of it. About 15 years ago, I was sitting in the dining room of mom and dads home in the country. I remember it like it was last week. I think they even still had the white round dining table, or at least that is the image in my head. I told Dad this, "I am thinking of making a trip to Wrigley Field to see the Cubs, would you like to go?". And while his answer was a pretty quick "naa, I don't think I'd be able to", his unspoken reaction left an impression on my that bubbles up every time I think about him or even see an old photograph. He seemed to light up in his quiet subtle way he that had the ability to do. He almost smiled and maybe it was a smile from the inside that you just felt, but may have not actually seen.

It was like it made his day, just to be asked to go. From that moment on I have had the same impression of that conversation. It was like suddenly I was seen in a different light by my father, which in turn let me see him in a different light. We did not have the most open or communicative of relationships but after that talk it was like we understood and accepted each other. Maybe I put too much into this, but regardless, it impacted me. There are a few moments in my life that have left lasting impressions, mostly the good ones and a lot of them relate to baseball, and my dad.

Baseball is the best of team and one on one competition. This game, on every play, like no other starts with one on one challenge. The pitcher throws the baseball and the hitter tries to hit it. Then the team comes in with defense, and the other 8 players potentially being involved from fielding and throwing to double plays and errors. If the batter fails to hit the ball, then the team is not needed but more often than not some contact is made which would then involve the team. But the team wins, and you play the game knowing that if your team of individuals do not perform well them you will probably not win. Like life, individuals must perform and succeed as separate pieces first or the team does not win.

Baseball is humbling. I remember being humbled, by none other than Buck O'Neil himself. As he did until his last year or so alive, buck would sit a few rows directly behind home plate at Kauffman Stadium. Always a beacon of smiles and happiness, he drew fans of all ages to him. A stadium usher would watch the isle and only let people without tickets go down to speak to him or to get an autograph, in between innings. It was my turn, 3rd out was made and she nodded her head. It was ok for me to follow the steps down with my KC Monarchs hat in hand like I was taking my written list to see Santa Clause. I lowered myself beside him and unable to speak or perhaps just assumed no speech was necessary, I handed my hat to him. Buck looked up at me with a stern voice and said "Now you ASK me for that autograph young man". Stern at the beginning but in a way that only Buck can do, we was smiling ear to ear by the time the sentence finished.

Lesson learned. I said "may I please have your autograph sir?" And still smiling he said "SURE CAN!" He signed his name and that hat is still a treasure of mine along with that memory. Both the autographed hat and the humbling lesson learned is a manner not many people are able to teach any more. This was a decent man, full of live and full of love for baseball and people most of all. But I imagine baseball fans held a special place in his heart like he has in mine.

Baseball is fair.  One of the great things in baseball is it's fairness. There is no clock and no time limit. Everyone gets 3 outs per inning, and no more. But I know some Cardinal fans that dispute this fact for some odd reason. The only thing that can prevent a game going the full nine innings is God himself, or at least some help from Mother Nature! If the home team is trailing after the top of the ninth, they always get a chance for a victory. Winning is not guaranteed but the opportunity is available if you can take advantage of the chances you are guaranteed.

2011 New Year - New Project

I had the idea to start a blog and write a little something about each game of the Kansas City Royals 162 game season. I think the 162 is safe as it is very doubtful that they will be playing beyond that in 2011. With no Greinke and no true proven stars (ok Butler might count if he starts hitting with power) and an organization loaded with talent at AAA level and below, the prospects for an "interesting" season is high.

Is interesting good enough? No, but us Royal's fans know the drill... stay tuned as I will be posting before the season begins. If at anytime you would like to become a contributor to this blog, let me know and I give the lineup some thought.

How many days until Spring Training ? Too many...

PLAY BALL !!