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Post by Hiram on Jun 14, 2011 20:24:28 GMT -5
I am currently lamenting the death of the routine defensive play. I see "web gems" every night on TV, but with every game I watch, I see poor defensive play and a lack of fundamentals. Infielders boot routine ground balls and outfielders throw to the wrong base or air-mail baseballs over the heads of cut-off men.
In recent years past, managers have been willing to sacrifice defense for offense. As pitching becomes more dominant each season, I'm hoping the gurus of the game will start to realize that solid defensive play is essential to being successful in baseball.
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Post by Allen Wiener on Jun 14, 2011 22:26:08 GMT -5
Agreed, but I wouldn't hold my breath. When the lowest scrub on the bench is earning over $1 a year, and ticket prices average around $30, managers are virtual paupers and usually expendable. How does a manager maintain discipline or control players? If the team fails, it's easier to fire one guy than 25. The Os under Weaver excelled because they spent countless hours on those very fundamentals and Weaver didn't take any crap from anyone, no matter how much they earned, and that included Reggie Jackson, who actually behaved himself the one season he played in Baltimore. It's one of the uglier sides of the game these days.
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Post by Hiram on Jun 14, 2011 23:51:16 GMT -5
Pirates 2nd baseman Neil Walker and HOFer Roberto Clemente are forever linked by a single decision made one New Years' Eve. Here's the story:t.co/YWzSZEb
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Post by Hiram on Jul 7, 2011 22:23:07 GMT -5
HOF manager Dick Williams died today, age 82. Williams and Lou Piniella share the distinction of winning 90 or more games with four different teams. For Williams, it was the Red Sox, Athletics, Padres, and Expos.
He was the skipper of the Red Sox during the Impossible Dream season of 1967, and won back-to-back World Series titles with Oakland. Williams had a well-deserved reputation as a "no-nonsense" manager, but he knew how to manage a ball club and he knew how to win ballgames. Williams is the sixth HOFer to pass since May 2010.
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Post by Allen Wiener on Jul 8, 2011 8:49:24 GMT -5
Remember him well; a great example of the principle that managers really do make a big difference. RIP.
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Post by Hiram on Nov 8, 2011 18:10:59 GMT -5
A belated post. Bob Forsch, who pitched two no-hitters for the Cardinals passed recently. Forsch was third all-time in franchise wins behind Gibson and Jesse Haines. Bob's brother Ken also pitched a no-hitter, making them the only siblings to toss no-nos.
Forsch died of an aneurism days after throwing out the ceremonial first pitch in Game 7 of the Series. Ironically, Bob was standing in for Whitey Herzog, who was recovering from a fall.
bit.ly/sPsSXv
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Post by Allen Wiener on Nov 9, 2011 10:50:03 GMT -5
I remember both Forsch bros.; very sorry to have read about this. Very sudden.
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Post by Allen Wiener on Dec 31, 2011 10:18:02 GMT -5
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Post by Allen Wiener on Jan 7, 2012 16:00:00 GMT -5
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Post by Allen Wiener on Mar 22, 2012 8:39:24 GMT -5
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Post by Hiram on Apr 27, 2012 17:29:02 GMT -5
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Post by Allen Wiener on Apr 28, 2012 0:30:03 GMT -5
I remember Skowron very, very well from the halcyon Yankee days. I met him once or twice with Phil Rizzuto when Rizzuto owned the American Shops clothing stores, including one in my home town in New Jersey. Rizzuto would be there on weekends and greet people, sign autographs, chat with us kids as long as we wanted to; he even let me interview him once for a school project. Skowron was a very nice guy very friendly and down to earth toward us. These guys were stars, yet were paid chicken feed compared to the salaries that bench-warmers get today. Someone once asked Mantle how much he'd ask for if he were playing these days; he said he'd just knock on Steinbrenner's door and say "Hi, partner."
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Post by loucapitano on Apr 29, 2012 11:49:52 GMT -5
All of Baseball will miss Moose Skowron and the fine player and person he was. I was young enough to wonder why the crowd"booed" him when he came up. My Dad had to nuckle my head and explain they were yelling "Moooooossse." It was a tough time for him during the four years when the Dodgers left and the mets came in. He had to watch Yankee games. Dad left us in February, a few days after the Giants Superbowl. Now he can see all the players and legends he loved so much. Let's never forget this Cornfield of legends. Lou from Long Island
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Post by Allen Wiener on Apr 29, 2012 13:03:14 GMT -5
Your dad sounds a lot like mine. Ironice that, in those days, I was the Yankee fan and he was the Dodgers fan, so we divided our time between Ebbets Field and the Stadium, with a few trips over to the Polo Grounds, too. Sorry to hear of your dad's passing, but he and my dad are both shmoozing with those earlier stars right now. I do know that I was very, very lucky to live in the NY area in those days, which may have been baseball's best years. I remember little things about those games. Kids wore a coat and tie to a Sunday game and no player ever refused an autograph or charged for one.
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Post by Valerie Hyatt Martin on Aug 13, 2012 20:49:02 GMT -5
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