Batter Up June 10th, 2007

The debate has raged for decades, “Is there a there in Oakland”? I won’t attempt to argue that point, but I will tell you there is a darn good baseball team playing there.

The questioned was posed on the radio this week, how come the A’s can win with starting pitching, but the Giants, even with a terrific rotation, can’t?

Batter Up June 3rd, 2007

Baseball has been part of the cultural landscape of America for over one hundred years. Going to a doubleheader on Memorial Day, July 4th, or Labor Day was a welcome family event. Over the past fifteen years or so, the baseball leaders eliminated the traditional holiday doubleheaders (two games back-to-back, one admission) from the schedule. Now some teams don’t even play on the holidays.

How come? Baseball doesn’t want to give up the gate by scheduling two games for the price of one. Yet Bud Selig tells us this 5 billion dollar a year industry is in its golden age. Baseball has its own 700 million dollar cable deals. Attendance and salaries have never been higher.

The loss of revenue from playing a doubleheader is miniscule in baseball’s grand financial picture. It’s time to give the joy of seeing two games in one day (not a day-night affair) back to the fans.

Baseball, hot dogs, and apple pie, the phrase became America’s slogan when referring to the grand old game. Apparently, munching on hot dogs celebrating the national pastime at a doubleheader on a National holiday is not part of that pastoral summer picture.

Batter Up May 27th, 2007

With the 2007 baseball season approaching the one-third mark on Memorial Day things are beginning to take shape.

The Yankees are still very much in the playoff picture. The Bombers will be hard pressed to catch the Red Sox this summer in the East, but the wild card is within their reach.

The Tigers are the class team in the AL Central. Magglio Ordonez could be this year’s AL MVP. The Indians offense is explosive, but the consistency of their pitching raises serious questions.

Batter Up May 6th, 2007

With about 30 games completed this season the AL’s Central Division looks like the strongest group of teams in baseball.

The Cleveland Indians are looking like the powerful run scoring machine that came close to winning the division title in 2005.

Jhonny Peralta, Travis Hafner, Victor Martinez, and Grady Sizemore can hit with any group in the league.

Batter Up April 22nd, 2007

Injuries to key players are an unpredictable part of the game. If a team is going to lose important players for any extended period of time it’s best that happens early in the season.

Right now the Angels are struggling. With Howie Kendrick, Juan Rivera, and Chone Figgins, out of the line up with various ailments, the Halos have become one of the most inept offensive teams in the league.