Dave Roberts’ Savvy Strategy Pays Off
If you are a regular listener to the Effectively Wild podcast, or if you are a fan of college baseball, you know there is one strategy that is available to major league managers, but that is rarely utilized. There are multiple (potential) reasons this strategy is avoided: To avoid embarrassment; to give pitchers “clean” batters”;…
Web Gems & Premier Plays Induce Strong Feelings
In the interest of full candor, I have an addiction. I am addicted to great defensive plays. Sure, most of us are. We baseball fans delight in watching highlights of a home run robbery or a player diving into the stands to make a great catch. But my compulsion runs deeper. For instance, I can…
Living My Dream
My nephew is living my dream. Unlike me, who – many, many years ago – had to walk on, he was recruited to play Division I baseball. He did a workout for the coaches, and joined the team. It wasn’t that easy – most things never are. He – like me – had to endure…
Passing The Torch: Part II
I have written here and elsewhere – as recently as a few weeks ago – about the family aspect of my baseball fandom. My grandfather passed along his love of the game and the Red Sox to my father, who bequeathed it to me; I, in turn, gave it to my son. Four generations, more…
Passing the Torch
This article first appeared in the IBWAA Here’s The Pitch newsletter on April 11, 2024 I have written many times in this space about my family connection to baseball. My grandfather, the stalwart Max, lived in Boston and was a Royal Rooter. My father, Saul, grew up in Beantown, sneaking into Fenway (but no hot…
The Swallow Before the Choke
We are deep into Spring Training, which got me thinking about a trip to Arizona we made about six years ago. While visiting Sloane Park in Mesa, I was lucky enough to meet Bill Buckner. Billy Buck, he of the 2,715 hits and career .289 batting average, but also he of the “slow roller up…
Francisco Lindor Is Primed To Be Even Better
*A version of this article first appeared in the IBWAA “Here’s the Pitch” Newsletter on February 16, 2024. Please don’t allow us to forget about or overlook the splendor and greatness of Francisco Lindor. When Lindor was in Cleveland, his brilliance was appreciated. In fact, he was beloved, but always with the jaundiced eye of:…
When Is It Time to Panic?
*This article first appeared in the January 11th edition of the IBWAA “Here’s the Pitch” Newsletter; and prior to the Cubs finalizing their deal with Shota Imanaga and acquiring Michael Busch and Yency Almonte from the Dodgers. When the calendar turned to 2024, the hot stove began to cool. We are just a month away…
The Baseball Diaries
I recently read “Faithful,” by Stewart O’Nan and Stephen King. Sure, I am nearly two decades late to the party; and sure, you might revoke my membership in the Red Sox fan club for waiting so long to read this charming tome, but what can you do? For those of you who have not read…
The A’s Fans Deserve Better: Sell the Team
*This article first appeared in today’s edition of the IBWAA Here’s the Pitch newsletter.* I visited Tropicana Field last year. And, as a glutton for punishment, I gave into to my son’s wish to visit an equally squalid ballpark: The Oakland Coliseum. This wouldn’t check any stadium off my list, but it did seem like…