Another Testimony

Here is a great story from my Uncle, Sars. He shares some great memories from his first baseball game, and shares a bit about why he loves the game. Enjoy...

Baseball- the game

It was a sunny, but cool day I was excited! Not just because I was going to see a real baseball game. It was 1958, and the New york Giants are now the San Francisco Giants and Willie Mays...Willie Mays, oh man!! Willie!!

But I was going alone with MY dad..now thats a treat!

I remember the walk thru the green grassy park, the trees tall willowly. We walked me and my dad and some of his friends( uninimportant to me! ) to this day I could only speculate who they/ them were. Walking towards the gate of Seals Stadiumn, I can still feel the energy and excitement of the crowd, it was opening day and the Giants were in town!!

It was 1958 I was 10 years old, i was living the dream,, here i am walking into the ball park with my hero Willie Mays in centerfield, and we sre playing the Dodgers, Woa can it get any better than that? We walked and walked excitment and anticipation stiring inside me,. As we began to enter the park I could see other boys high up in the trees, ready from their afforadable perchs to see there heros play too! Secretely I was envious, i wanted to be high in those eucluptas trees myself. But my adventure continued as we msde our way into the  ballpark... ( pinch me!)
We were shown our seats, good ones I know now... Some 54 years later. Box seats.. Real boxes! Not a metal divider! Real wood, green in color. But wow! Theres Willie!, Right then it all became a blissful blur of noise, and smells (hotdogs!!!, peanuts). Red white and blue bunting draped the field adding to that first wonderful day in the middle of april of 1958!

Imagine it... Willie mays! Orlando Cepeda, Willie Kirkland, Jimmy Davenport... I can go on and on but there they were playing baseball! Is that not every mans dream?? And I was 10!!! Hello!!

The game played on , about 4th inning I was on my second hotdog, with Willie to bat, he fouled a ball back to the left of the home plate screen, the crowd around jumped,my dad  MY dad grabbed the ball... Willies ball! Looking  at me, he handed it my way.. The crowd applauding my dad, and me for being the lucky kid to be holding that prized souvineir.
Now today.. So many many years later.. Baseball is so much more than a game. I know that deeply as i touch the ball and feel its crisp seams,  im living again every boys dream...
Play Ball!

This is for you Tommy and Kanan , tonights game was and will remain  a treasure.

I love you guys...

Poppie




Sars

Finding Your Place in a Man's Sport

When I started this post, my idea was to explore the patricentric aspects of the game of baseball.  Baseball, like many sports, is and always has been a boys club; a strict no girls allowed sport.  But I realized that along with lack of acceptance for women, the MLB has an obvious lack of acceptance for homosexuals, and this became my focus and purpose of the post.  There are 30 major league baseball teams, all with a 25 man roster, that makes for 750 major league baseball players.  Most studies say that one out of every ten men are gay; yet there is not one single "out" player currently in the league.  It makes me wonder why this is, I don't feel there could be any possible way that there is not a single gay player in the entire sport, right?  My wonder is why players decide not to put their true self forward.  Are players afraid of the reaction they might get from fellow players, coaches, and fans?  Professional sports in general have always leaned more toward the masculine side.  But why is this?  Especially in our day and age, when we have seemed to have made huge strides to progressed beyond stereotypes and judgments.  A disappointing fact that I learned from my research for this post, is that baseball has not seemed to have progressed in the area of homophobia.  I was able to find a few articles on only two stories of homosexuals coming out as professional players in baseball.

First off, during my research, I found the story of Billy Bean.  Bean was a player with an average career, playing eight years in the Major Leagues from 1987-1995.  Bean came out as homosexual to the public in 1999, years after his baseball career had ended.  He is currently the only openly gay player that is alive today, and is only one of two in baseball history.  In 2003, Bean wrote the book Going the Other Way.  The book is a memoir of Bean's struggle with his secret life; the book was written in the hope that others players would not have to face their hardship alone.  Billy Bean walked away from his career in baseball due to his personal torment of holding his secret; he faced the death of a lover in silence, even playing the day after his passing because he was too afraid to ask for a leave.  Bean's is an inspirational story; he found his happiness, but he could not do it while playing Major League baseball.  This is a sad and discouraging fact.  Billy Bean could have had a much longer career in baseball, opening the door for other players to feel comfortable in their own cleats.

Along with Billy Bean being an openly gay baseball player is Glenn Burke.  Burke was the first ever player to be out to his fellow players and his team owners.  Although Burke was sure that his fellow teammates did not care about his personal life, he received an offer from Los Angeles Dodgers general manager Al Campanis who would pay for a honeymoon if Burke agreed to get married, hiding his homosexuality.  Later, Burke would anger manager Tommy Lasorda by becoming friends with his estranged son, who was also a homosexual.  The Dodgers would eventual trade Burke to the Oakland Athletics, where manager Billy Martin would call him a "faggot" in front of the rest of his teammates.  The A's would go on to later send him back to the minors, ending his contract in 1979.  Glenn Burke felt that his career was forced to fall short, but he felt that he had changed the game forever.  The rest of Burkes life would be filled with drug addiction and eventual homelessness, leading to his death in 1995 due to AIDS complications.  Who knows, maybe if Burkes sexuality had been more widely accepted, he also could have had a much longer and productive career.  Maybe his life would not have been so awful?

Although Burkes story ended in a tragic way, he left us with these inspiring words:

“They can't ever say now that a gay man can't play in the majors, because I'm a gay man and I made it." - Glenn Burke

You can learn more about the story of Glenn Burke through the film "Out: The Glenn Burke Story"

Sadly, these are the only stories that I was able to search out about gay players in baseball.  Out of every player to ever play the game on a professional level, Burke and Bean are the only two to tell their truths, to share their secrets, to try and live in their own skin.  Unfortunately, there is still a misogynistic aspect that is attached to the game of baseball; there is still the "manly" aspect of this sport.  From the outcome of my research, it has become apparent to me that players obviously still do not feel comfortable with making their sexual preference known.  Perhaps the issue of sexuality is not a top priority for many players?  But I really don't think that that is the case.  Being someone who grew up playing the game of baseball, I know first hand that there is little tolerance for anyone who does not fit the "norm".  The pressure starts at the early age; this pressure to act like a man, play like a man, become a "real" man.  It is no wonder that homosexual players are not comfortable with being who they really are.  In sports, boys are told to "man up", and if they can't cope; they are told they won't make it in the majors.  Someone like Glen Burke struggled through out his whole life, and obviously faced many demons, then he was practically forced out of the League.  What kind of message does this send to young players?  It seems to me like a message that says: "If you are different, you are not welcome."

For me, it all comes down to what type of sport you would like to support.  A sport where players are judged strictly on performance; or a sport where players are judged on sexual preference.  I think we need to remember that there was a time when blacks were not allowed to play in the Major Leagues.  We need to remember to embrace change.  We need to remember that in the end, this is just a game.  There is no room for racism and homophobia in this great sport.  This is entertainment, plain and simple.

Plagued By Injures, Again

Recently closer Brian Wilson has made the headlines, again.  Bit this time it has nothing to do with his beard or his outlandish behavior -- both of which is is well know for.  This time, it is for a serious year ending injury.  Wilson will soon undergo his second "Tommy John" elbow surgery.  This is a surgery that can take up to thirteen months to recover from, and being that this is the closers second go, it might take even longer.

Although Brian Wilson was said to have shown up to Spring Training in great shape, he is still susceptible to injury just like any player out there.  Unfortunately, injuries have been an on going problem for the San Francisco Giants.  Injures were the nail in their coffin last year, and they are creeping into the year as well.  Wilson is major force in the Giants bullpen.  He is an intimidating presence, and he has the talent to back it up.  There is no doubt that the Giants will feel the impact of this lose.

But, as they do in baseball, the politics are slowing coming into view.  The 2013 season will be the last for Wilson before he is up for arbitration.  This presents a big decision for the Giants management, there are a few options they can take.  First, they could try and offer him a 20% pay cut, which is the max allowed, bring his salary down to $6.4 million.  Keep in mind that Wilson will still be recovering at the beginning of the 2013 season and he will most likely be limited in the number of innings and pitches he will be able to throw.  Or, they could set Wilson out as a free agent, and then try and bring him back in at a much lower salary.  This is a risky choice, being that they might lose Wilson completely, but that is a risk I think they could live with.

Let's say they send Wilson out into the land of the free agents, and he gets picked up by someone else for a nice long term high money contract.  The Giants still have the option of bringing back Santiago Casilla and Jeremy Affeldt for around the same price that they would pay for Wilson.  Let's not forget that we still have plenty of depth in our bull pen.

But letting a player go in this fashion does not show any loyalty on the Giants part.  It is funny how this can work both ways, how a game can come down to politics.  And, it will not be a pleaser for us fans.  Giants fans and non-fans alike enjoy watching Wilson take the mound to do what he does best; strike people out!  We always want to see our favorite players stay with our team, but this is not always the case.  So only time will tell with what will happen to Brian Wilson over the coarse of the next year.  I for one just hope that he is able to come back from this surgery and still throw well.  And weather he is doing it n a Giants jersey or not, I'm sure we will all still be fearing the beard.

Rules: For Fans?!

So, for those of you who don't know, AT&T Park has a few more rules than your typical ball park.  Some of which I can understand, some of which are just a little ridiculous.  I came across this "Park Etiquette" list on SFist.com.

Now, some of these "rules" I can understand.  Don't scream profanities in front of kids; check.  Smoke your weed outside of the stadium; sound advise that many people need to take into consideration.  But no WAVE!  That is just unacceptable, the wave was my favorite part of the game when I was a kid.  You are waiting in anticipation, hoping that your timing is just right -- then -- you nail it, and you are part of something that each and every fan of baseball experiences.

Now I know this is San Francisco, and you can find Sushi at AT&T Park just as easily as you can find a hot dog, but there comes a point when too many rules can take away the enthusiasm of the fans.  I truly believe that it is every fans right to have a good time in at the game and to do so in a safe environment.  The violence between fans that sometimes comes with a baseball game is purely unacceptable.  I think that there could be more strict rules about the distribution of alcohol.  If someone appears to have had enough to drink, don't serve them anymore, or hire a few more security guards to monitor the hallways. But there is a fine line between monitoring and keeping the peace, and telling the crowd just exactly how they should behave while at the game.

I understand that there are many adults out there that just can't seem to pull it together and act like adults, there will always be a few bad apples.  But in the end, people need to be reminded that this is just a game, it is just a game!  And though I love to see my team win, my life still goes on either way.  I think this article could really be summed up in a few sentences; Don't be an asshole, come on down to the game, have fun with the rest of us, and if you can't handle that, just stay home!! 

Rules can be good, they are there for a reason, but let's not get too carried away.  I would hate to lose some of the wonderful traditions that come with watching a live baseball game.  And one of those is cheering loud and clear, and often.  So let's keep the golf claps, for well, golf, and let us keep our wave!

Here is the article for those who wish to read.  Baseball is about being outside with friends and family in an open friendly environment.  Be kind to other fans.  But be careful what you ask for, pretty soon we will be having a mandatory 7th inning yoga stretch, instead of just trying to get one more beer before last call.

http://sfist.com/2012/04/23/att_etiquette_for_new_giants_fans.php

5 more years of Bumgarner

Once again, the Giants have brought out the big bucks to keep there bullpen stacked.  The very young (22) and very talented Madison Bumgarner was given a $35 million, five-year extension.  The deal includes the option of a two year extension which could keep Bumgarner as a Giant through 2019.  After that, Bumgarner may become a free agent at the age of 30, leaving him plenty of good years left in his career.

     To me, this seems like a no brainer.  Bumgarner has been a strong force for the Giants in his short two years with the team.  His calm and cool attitude has brought his success on the mound, and has played a key role in our bullpen.  These are just a few reasons why Bumgarner has been offered the most lucrative extension given to a player with only two years of pitching in the majors.

     His career 21-20 record has been even with his year record of 1-1.  But he is built like a pitcher that will have a long and lucrative career.  Let's hope that he is not plagued by the Giants curse of injury, and that he keeps throwing great and winning games.

Tailgating

     There is an entire part of baseball (most sports for that matter) that is separate from the game it self; tailgating.  Tailgating consists of BBQ, drinks, and friends all gathered in the stadium parking lot.  It is a way for fans to prepare for the upcoming game, and a chance to get nice and buzzed before you have to spend $8 on a beer inside the stadium.  But tailgating is more than just standing around in a parking lot chugging beer bong after beer bong.  It takes preparation...

So here are some simple things that you need to have a successful tailgate party...

• Find a good spot in the parking lot.  Make sure that everyone in your group knows where the general meeting area is otherwise, you might never find each other.

• Bring a grill and plenty of food to cook.  I would recommend going with the most essential food of baseball, the hot dog.  

• Bring plenty of beverages as you will be out in the sun on acres of hot asphalt, and you will get thirsty.  I would recommend beer, it quenches your thirst and it's made with water so you will stay hydrated.  And just in case it gets cold, I also bring plenty of whiskey which will help keep you warm.  

     Now, the only thing left for you to do is eat and drink and hangout with friends.  Talk about the upcoming game, or your favorite player, or just stand in a circle and shotgun beers.  The choice is yours.  But, make sure that you have a flask to fill up with the left over whiskey that you can sneak into the game.  I would suggest you hide it somewhere the security will not check, any more details would ruin the integrity of this family oriented blog.

And we are off...

Normally, it would be a total let down that we got swept in our first series against the Arizona Diamondbacks.  But, you really have to look at the bright side here...  In the first three games, the Giants scored a total of 14 runs.  This is an average of 4.7 runs per game which is a huge improvement from last year 3.5.  The main focus for the Giants this year is to improve base running -- offense in general -- and most of all runs scored per game.  So, not all was lost in our first series against the 2011 National League West champions D-Backs, they are a tough team to beat and we will have plenty more games against them.  The first few weeks is all about looking toward the future and focusing on the positive.

One of those positives is that Buster Posey proved that he is back in his top performing shape with his first home run of the regular 2012 season.  This has fans in high hopes for our team this year, it was an epic lose last year when Posey was taken out at the plate by Cousins, cutting his year short and facing him with a long and difficult recovery.  But he is already proving that he took the necessary steps to heal well, and heal right.  Now along with the bats of Pablo Sandoval and new comer Melky Cabrera, Giants fans can hopefully look forward to some excitement from the offense.  Let's hope that it no longer lays dormant like it did last season.  Keep your eye on Brandon Crawford and Brandon Belt for some big swinging improvements, i think they will be a huge key in our success.

So, even though we might be off to a slow start, the Giants are still looking good.  Plus, there are still 159 games left to play!  The key for the Giants this year will be to stay injury free, the amount of injuries was just too much to keep us on top last year.  Head coach Bruce Bochy and his staff have always made great decisions on keeping players healthy and performing in top condition.  Let's just hope that the world is turning with us, and that we can stay strong until the end of September... and beyond! 

The Final Countdown

This Friday is opening day!  I cannot wait for the regular season to start.  Although the Giants start season play in Arizona against the Diamondbacks, they will be opening at AT&T Park on Friday April the 13th against the Pittsburgh Pirates.  Click here for there schedule.

I, as usual, will be going to the Oakland A's opener this friday where they'll be playing the Mariners.  It's not quite like catching the game at AT&T, but it's still watching baseball with good friends!  Opening day means alot to fans, it marks the end of a long waited out winter break, and the start of many great games to come.  Hopes are high for fans and players alike at the beggining of the season.  Every team is starting off fresh, and the first couple of weeks is always filled with action. 

So, here is to the return of tailgaiting, bbq, freinds and family, and warmer days ahead.

LET'S GO GIANTS!!

Cain signed through 2017

     The Giants have drawn up a $127 million contract for right hander Matt Cain that will keep him on the team till 2017.  This contract has made Cain the highest-paid right-handed pitcher in baseball.

     This will assure that the Giants will maintain a key part of our fierce pitching staff for the next few years.  As many fans know,  our pitching has been the key to Giants wins the last few seasons.  In fact it is the only thing that has been keeping them alive!  There are a few that think the contract is a bad idea.  Such as this article by Ryan Bothmann from bleacherreport.com.  But I'm not sure that I agree with what he says.  There is more to it than just taking the huge financial risk.  Teams like the familiarity of faces around the club house.  There is a camaraderie that is built between players.  One aspect of a pitchers success is his confidence in a catcher.  Lincecum had a problem with Posey when he was first brought up, his numbers fell drastically in August; something that he said was his unfamiliarity of Posey.  Soon, Lincecum would come to have confidence in Posey, and in himself.  As a fan, we like to see those familiar faces too.  Matt Cain is a pillar in the Giants foundation.

     Although the contract is for a few more years than one might like, and for a few more millions than we can really afford, in my opinion, keeping Cain on the pitching staff is a vital move for the Giants.  He has done nothing but right by us, and he is a hard working right-hander that is moving well into veteran status.  Matt Cain will be a pitcher that others will look up to and look to for advice.  Cain is already proving that he has worked hard in the off season, he is throwing hard and well.

So, I say good for us!  We need to keep control of our strengths, and right now pitching is our strength, and continue to work on our weaknesses -- our hitting.  I think this is a great move by the Giants organization.  Cain is a face and name that all Giants fans know, and love.  He is a positive presence around the club house and in the bull pen.  I am looking forward to the many years that we will get to watch him throw pitches with a Giants jersey on.

Preparation

     It has been far too long since we have been able to sit back, relax, and watch a baseball game.  I am longing for the feel of the sun on my face while sitting in a hard plastic chair, cheering on the Giants at beautiful AT&T Park.  But for all those games you can't make it out to the park, you might want to pick up a few things to make your game viewing at home more pleasurable. 

 

•  First off, everyone needs a good cozy.  This is an essential item to keep your beverage nice and cold during the game.  I suggest getting something that will show your pride in your favorite team, even if you are just watching the game at home alone, it will help your team win, trust me.

• Next, if you have any animals; buy them jerseys for them to wear while watching the game.  Not only will this guarantee your team a victory, but animals love to put on clothes.  To the right is one of my dogs, Bella.  Bella is not only a Giants fan, but she loves to put on her jersey to support her favorite team.  I would also suggest some team apparel for yourself, perhaps some comfy foot wear also.  I prefer a pair of crocks, they are nothing great to look at, but they are comfortable; and do to there softness, they will save you a lot of money if you by chance throw them at the TV in a blind fit of rage. 

• Make sure you have a comfortable place to sit and watch the game.  It is best to choose somewhere were you will have little foot traffic that will block your view of the television.  Give yourself easy access to any snacks or beverage that you will be consuming during the game.  The ultimate goal here is to make yourself as much of a "couch potato" as possible.  I would even suggest that you try one of those crazy beer helmets.  This way you will have two free hands to snack and/or express your excitement during the duration of the game.

      That's about it really.  Just make sure you have enough to drink and something good to snack on.  Easy, right?  But these are just a few of my suggestions to make the most out of your home viewing experience.  Chances are, if you are a fan of baseball, you might already have your own home viewing ritual.  The point is, stick to what works -- if it ain't broke don't fix it right?  Because as fans, we know that without us cheering on our team from the comfort of our own couches or chairs; they would never win.  And though it has been a long and boring winter, rejoice, opening day is just right around the corner!

Let's dispel a myth

     So, it was brought to my attention recently, that people view the average professional baseball player to be a big and out of shape guy, who only needs to do just a little bit of jogging around the bases.  Now, while it is true that there are, and have been, those players who are a little less than fit, Babe Ruth would probably come to mind for most people, and currently, we have Prince Fielder who is a very, well, robust man who hits the heck out of a baseball, the average baseball player is in top condition.  Many players train rigorously all year-round to maintain physical and mental health.  As I have mentioned in earlier posts, physical training extends beyond the regular season.  The risk of injury is so high that these players cannot fall out of shape.

      Baseball is very much a sport of endurance.  While it is not as cardio oriented as a sport like soccer or basketball, it requires huge amounts of energy that are concentrated into short bursts.  Most baseball players body types are built physically different then most other athletes in other sports.  Obviously, the arms are important for throwing and batting, but the real focus is mostly on having lower body strength.  A huge part of power, when it comes to hitting, is generated through the leg muscles.  The legs are the stable part of a good solid swing, opening up the hips and generating power while the arms are really there to guide the bat toward the ball.

     Pitching itself is a whole other kind of endurance.  Putting all mental endurance aside, to be able to throw a baseball up to one-hundred times at speeds of around 90 MPH and making the ball go over a plate that is only 17 inches wide, is no easy task.  Most professional pitchers agree, that the key to success on the field, has everything to do with their training off of the field.  If a pitcher took the mound and was not physically prepared to pitch in a game; he would get eaten alive by the opposing team.

     If you look at a pitcher such as Tim Lincecum from the San Francisco Giants, who is lovingly nicknamed "The Freak" you might understand a little better on how pitching is based not off of bulk in muscle, but it is focused on key areas to create pitch speed, and endurance.  Tim is known as the freak, because with his 5'11'' of height and his small frame (staying around 175 lbs.) he should not be able to throw a ball as hard as he can.  But Tim Lincecum has been conditioned to throw a ball with the perfect mechanics every single time.  There are so many working parts on his body with every pitch that need to cooperate, that the slightest stray from his motion would throw his entire pitch off.  Tim Lincecum is a two time Cy Young Award winner a two time National League All-Star and in 2008, he led Major League Baseball with 265 strikeouts.  You cannot generate these kinds of numbers by being lazy, or out of shape.

     So, while there are a few big guys in the league, and not all players are stacked with muscle, professional baseball players are still in top condition.  They work hard at being in shape and ready to play, after all, they have 162 games to play in a six month period, and that is just regular season!

Steroids

Steroids has been an issue that has plagued the Major League Baseball Association for many years now.  It all started around 2003, when the MLB came to recognize the use of steroids through a tip from a anonymous source.  This brought on great concern that many of the top players in the league might be using performance enhancing drugs.  As a result, the MLB started testing for steroids in 2004.  But testing is really the only measures that the League has taken to create prevention.  Many great players have use drugs to better their performance on the field, and this has been a huge let down to many of loyal fans of the game.  The use of steroids creates an uneven advantage, and it taints the name and record of any player who uses them.  So, why would a player use steroids?  Why was the use of performance enhancing drugs so big that we now have what is known as "the steroid era" in baseball?  Why would a player risk his name, and possibly his career, just to play a little better?

     I have found it difficult to find any information coming from players themselves on why they uses steroids.  Truthfully, none of them want to talk about it.  But I did manage to come across a few articles on Mark McGwire and Barry Bonds.  McGwire is willing to admit to his mistake, he wants to move on with his career and life.  Bonds is a different story; he had denied and denied.  But I was able to find some articles about his use that came through trainers and others that were close to him.

     In 2005, former Oakland Athletic, Jose Canseco released his controversial book Juiced.  The book revealed the rampant use of steroids by not only Canseco himself, but he exposed many other top athletes for using performance enhancing drugs.  The news cast a long and dark shadow over all of professional baseball, one that would remain there for many years.  Pretty soon, most every major slugger in the big leagues was being put under the spotlight, and unfortunately, many of them were using steroids.  Soon after Mark McGwire set the record for number of home-runs in a season at 70 in 1998, he was exposed for using steroids.  McGwire amassed much weight and muscle in a short amount of time raising suspicion amongst fans and major league baseball alike.  His record was tainted when in 2011 he admitted to using steroids on and off for years, he apologized saying that he wishes he never used any drugs to enhance his game.  McGwire still works as a batting coach for the 2011 World Champion St. Luis Cardinals.  I found a great article where McGuire opens up to his steroid use and talks about his mistakes and how he is trying to move on.  I admire that he was able to open up about his mistakes, and talk about them to the world.

     It has proven difficult to find articles on Barry Bonds and his use of steroids.  He just wants to forget that it happened and move on.  But as you can tell, steroids might help players to perform better; but it will keep them out of the Hall of Fame.  It is viewed as cheating, cheap, and unfair.  It is something that will follow players like Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire for the rest of their careers in the Major Leagues, and for the rest of his life.  But McGwire is still working in the Major Leagues?  So what has been the real reproductions for these players?  There is no permanent ban from Major League baseball.  So what is stopping them from using?


     The biggest mark of shame that our beloved San Francisco Giants have had to endure is that of the Barry Bonds saga.  Arguably the best hitter to ever play the game, Bonds holds records for both most home runs hot in a single season, 73, and most home runs hit in a career at 762.  AT&T Park was practically built for Bonds so fans could watch him launch balls over the brick wall and into the water of McCovey cove.  He was a loved by every Giants fans out there, and feared by every pitcher who faced him.  Bonds was born with a beautiful and natural left handed swing, he was a great hitter in his early career, and he became the best while wearing a Giants uniform.  But soon, after it was known that Bonds had used performance enhancing drugs, he became what some felt to be a burden to the team and to the league all together.  But Bonds tried to deny it all the way to the Supreme Court, when everyone knew he was guilty, then he just pointed fingers at everyone but himself.

     So what would drive this naturally talented player to use steroids?  Is it the pressure to be the best?  Advise from trainers?  Here are some words from Barry Bonds on the charges put against him for the use of steroids...

"All you guys lied! All of y'all and the story have lied. Should you have asterisks behind your name? All of you lied. All of you have said something wrong. All of you have dirt. When your closet's clean, then come clean somebody else's ..."

"What did I do? What did I do? What are you going to apologize for when you're wrong? This is old stuff. I mean, it's like watching Sanford and Son. It's just rerun after rerun after rerun. It's almost comical, basically. We've got alcohol that's the No. 1 killer in America, and we legalize that. You've got tobacco, No. 2 or 3 killer in America. We legalize that. There's other issues. It's become Hard Copy all day long. Are you guys jealous? Are you upset? Disappointed? What? ..."

"I don't know if steroids are going to help you in baseball. I just don't believe it. I don't believe steroids can help eye-hand coordination [and] technically hit a baseball."

-- Feb. 22, 2005,
his first public comments after his grand jury testimony was leaked

     As you can tell, Bonds was in no way apologetic for using the drugs, he never even really gave an explanation as to why he did it.  He later came out a said that he didn't know that he was taking steroids, that his trainer was giving them to him unknowingly.  It was sad for many fans to have to deal with this reality.  It was sad for me, and it left a harsh taste in my mouth for a long time.  Here is an article that I found about the known use of steroids by Bonds.  It was known by many that he was using; daily.

     But finally, we are starting to see a time in baseball again where it is uncommon for players to be using steroids.  The last few years we have seen the pitchers shine on the mound as they are bringing the game to the next level  Pitchers like Tim Lincecum who are making the change for the better, who are bringing the excitement the right way, through practice and raw talent.  These new and clean players are restoring a faith once lost in many baseball fans.  They are the heart and soul of the league.  Sure, there will always be meat bags like Alex Rodriguez (and the whole NY Yankee organization for that matter) that will try to tip the scales in an unfair manner; (winning World Series with money) or using steroids.  But there are still many many players out there that shine, and many teams that thrive without the billion dollar budget.  They are the players and teams that speak for baseball.  They are they ones that I want to see play, and see win.

  

A few words from a great fan...

The other weekend, I was having a discussion about baseball with my father.  Fortunately, this is something that occurs pretty often.  So, I thought it would be nice to post a few of his words about how he came to love the sport of baseball...

     "I came to love the game of baseball at a very early age.  My father and a neighborhood father coached a minor league team ages 9 and 10.  I was too young to play (8) so I was the bat boy.  The team did very well going all the way to the district championship game which we lost.  I was devastated and I remember crying my eyes out.  I also remember one of the boys said that the other team deserved to win more than we did to which I vehemently disagreed.  

     That same year, towards the end of the season my Dad snuck me into the lineup and I got to pitch to a couple of batters.  I had a natural curve ball that nobody could hit.  I was hooked.  I knew I would always be a pitcher and continued playing through high school aspiring to attend Santa Clara University to play baseball.  Life (girls and partying) got in the way as I went to one practice in September in the fog at USF and immediately decided that the commitment I would have to make was too much.  No regrets.

     When you boys played (my brother and I) my love was renewed as I got the same feelings just watching you guys as I did playing. 

     And then of course our beloved Giants won it all in 2010.  It seemed as if my whole baseball experience, both playing and watching, was complete."

I am so glad that I can share my love of baseball with my father.  It is something we have always had in common, and at times maybe the only thing.  This, for me, is a true testimonial to the love of baseball.

Cactus League

     Finally, the Spring Cactus League is upon us!  It has been a long winter break, and I know that I, among many others, am ready for the season to begin.  One of the best things about the Cactus League, is that players are eager and ready to play, it has been a long winter break for many of them also!  One great aspect of Cactus League is that some are competing for prime positions on the twenty-five man roster. The competition for a roster spot brings out the best in many players, young and old. In baseball, a signed contract does not always guarantee a starting position, so a player that maybe did not deliver as expected the prior year will come hungry to show that he can still be the best.  And younger players want to get their name out there, they need to leave a good lasting impression, this makes for great baseball!  Players must show up to Spring Training showing that they keep in good shape during the off season, and prove that they came to play.  I will elaborate on the importance of this in a later post.

     This year, competition is fierce.  With Buster Posey and Freddy Sanchez possibly starting off the disabled list, we might have our starting second base and catcher.  But the real competition is for the first base spot...

     We are tied into one more year $11 million contract with first baseman Aubrey Huff.  Huff was a fan favorite in the 2010 season, but suffered a bit behind the plate in 2011 helping the Giants to achieve the less than honorable lowest runs scored all year of any Major League team.  But, we have some great prospects that are battling Huff for the coveted starting first base spot.

     First, there is the returning Brandon Belt who has endured the emotional roller-coaster of going up and down from the majors to the minors.  Belt is looking strong this Spring, and I'm sure he intends to play as hard as he can to earn his spot.  Second, there is the young Brett Pill.  New to the majors, but looking ever so promising and ready, Pill is doing his best to try and outshine both Huff, and Belt for the starting position at first base.

    And, with talk of playing Posey some days at first to relieve the strain of catching everyday, who knows who will end up our constant at the number one bag?  It is all making for some great baseball and leading us fans into a promising 2012 season.

Searching out the facts

If you are interested in the game of baseball and want to get down to the nitty-gritty about it; here are a few things you should be reading.  I like each of them for different reasons.  Some are just the facts and statistics; an easy way to find out team standings or the score of a game.  And some of them have great commentary on the game of baseball, using in depth research, personal opinions, and even humor.

The web page espn.go.com/mlb/ is a great all around source for finding out current facts about what is going on in the baseball world.  There is a great application for your smart phone.  You can search in the general format, or narrow your search by individual teams.  This is perfect for the baseball fan on the go...


http://www.baseball-almanac.com/ is a virtual library on everything from the history of baseball, and every single individual team, to facts about players past and present.  They also include the "Left Field" section which includes humor and games.  This is a great site if you are looking up specific facts about your favorite team or player.

Currently, one of the most popular baseball blogs is mlbtraderumors.com.  The site serves as a source for trade rumors that come from credited and established baseball reporters.  It is maintained by Tim Dierkes.  Tim worked in the search engine marketing field before taking the website full-time in January of 2008.  This site is for the more advanced advocate of baseball, it takes a look outside just the regular baseball season.  I enjoy it because it is useful year-round.

Although http://joeposnanski.blogspot.com/ is somewhat of a general sports blog, Joe tends to focus in on baseball most of the time.  Joe Posnanski is a very credible source due to his position as Senior Writer at Sports Illustrated.  His blog is interesting because he writes about other subjects as just sports, he uses humor in a great way to keep his readers coming back.  Warning:  this blog is definitely for the more advanced baseball fan.  He does not include any background on topics, assuming the reader is up to date on current topics.


Here is a recent article that I found for searching baseball blogs; http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bill-lucey/looking-for-the-best-base_b_480207.html.  This way, you don't have to take my word for it, you can go out and search for your self!

In 2010, I won the World Series.

            What is it about baseball that enthralls so many people?  It isn’t the fastest moving game, and it certainly is not a game of much physical contact -- in fact, there are some players that would not be considered to be in the best physical condition -- games can last for over three hours, and they even have a time to stand and stretch after the seventh inning.  So, what is it about baseball that attracts fans from all over the world? 

     I started playing the sport at the young age of six, and I would continue to play throughout all of my teenage years.  With every sport that has come and gone in my life, baseball has stayed.  The love of baseball was handed down to me as a tradition.  I did not choose to become a Giants fan,  was born into this.  From a very young age, I was going to baseball games with my father, wearing Giants gear, and rooting for my favorite players.  And I am still doing those same things so many years later.

     But baseball is not just a favorite for those of us who had the chance to play; there are diehard fans that have never even felt the dirt of the infield on a new pair of cleats, or smelled the fresh cut grass of the outfield.  But all the same, they love this game.          
   
     Us fans don’t look at our team as being some separate entity, we think of ourselves as being a part of the team.  We are right there in the dugout with the rest of the team, and when they win, we win.  You can feel the anticipation of every pitch, feel your muscles twitch as the batter readies to swing.  It is an emotionally charged game; that is for sure.  But it is also a game that is played in your head.  Baseball is also all about the numbers.  The statistics that are on paper off the field are just as important as the skills that are on the field.  Each and every at bat is a small battle that is being played with both mind and body.  A pitcher is not just thinking about throwing the ball as hard as he can, he is thinking about a batters on base percentage, how well does he hit against a right hander, or a left hander, how well does he hit behind the count, how many runners are already on base?  These are all just some of the factors that go into one of the maybe one hundred pitches a pitcher will throw in a game.

          
     So this is why we love this game so much.  It is more than a simple game of catch; it is strength, speed, endurance, and numbers.  Baseball is a cold beer and a hotdog on a warm spring day, it is a pile of empty peanut shells at your feet, and a voice that is hoarse from cheering on your favorite team.  And most of all, for me, baseball is memories.  It is my brother and I playing catch on the street, pretending to be our favorite players Will Clark and Kevin Mitchell.  It is my first baseball glove that I got to break by placing a ball in it and wrapping it with a rubber band, sleeping with it under my mattress for a week.  Baseball is my youth, and it is the youth of many of us.  It has the ability of unifying people who might not have otherwise had a single thing in common, but we are all behind our team.  And we all came to win.   

     This blog is my attempt to pay homage to this great American pass time.  I will share stories from others about their love of the game, explore what motivates players, look at the numbers side of baseball, and maybe try to bring a new found appreciation of the sport to a few non-believers.  Comments and personal stories about baseball are always welcome.