Hot Stove Edition #1

Before leading off this edition, I would be remiss if I didn’t join with Baseball Lovers everywhere in sending out condolences to the loved ones of the great Buck O’Neil, who passed last week at age 94. Buck was one of America’s National Treasures. He came of age at a time when the Big Leagues were strictly a white man’s game. He had a great career as a first baseman then as manager of the Kansas City Monarchs. By the time Jackie broke the barrier in ’47, Buck’s time as a player was long over. But he never harbored any bitterness over not having made it to the majors. In the early sixties, he broke a different barrier of sorts, having been hired as the first black coach in the majors by the Cubs. He later went onto fame by being one of the principal storytellers in Ken Burns’ "Baseball" documentary, then established the Negro Leagues Museum in Kansas City.

Buck provided the world with a perspective of segregated baseball and the incredible athletes who played in that long, (thankfully) gone era. One can only imagine what players like Josh Gibson and Satchel Paige (in his prime) could’ve done in the majors. Buck knew all of them. Last year, the baseball Hall of Fame inducted a large group of players, managers and owners from the Negro Leagues, but Buck was denied entry by just one vote. Whether that was just or not is only a matter of speculation for those unfamiliar with the History of the Negro Leagues. From the outside, it doesn’t make sense not to include the one person who has done more to preserve the legacies of the great ballplayers who were denied a chance to play on baseball’s largest stage solely on account of the color of their skin. If it were put to a popular vote, the red carpet leading from the doors in Cooperstown would stretch to Kansas City. If there’s a hotel bar somewhere in Heaven, I hope that Buck and Casey are enjoying a few cold ones and swapping stories. A great American has left the stage, and we feel sorrow for his passing and gratitude for his contributions.

…and maybe we could all learn something from Buck’s refusal to accept bitterness.

…The Red Sox season ended miserably a couple of weeks ago. The experts (as well as the more intelligent bloggers on the block) have already issued their post-mortems and report cards…however, the sting and disappointment still lingers in this space, so don’t be looking for any commentary on that until the trees are barren and the withdrawal is complete…baseball is a big deal in New England and the Sox are like family. Though Red Sox fans are accustomed to disappointment, the trials and tribulations of The Nine after August 1st were uniquely unpalatable, even for those fans who predate ’67.

Whenever the Red Sox season ends, Joe Castiglione (carrying on a tradition from the late, great Ken Coleman) closes the year by reading from A. Bartlett Giamatti’s classic, "The Green Fields of the Mind". The most poignant line is, "it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone". Perhaps it’s that fear of confronting the loneliness that keeps me from letting go of baseball season. Football’s great, but that’s only once a week. Hockey is fantastic, but there are only three games a week. For millions of New Englanders, there is a rhythm to baseball season that brings comfort, joy, despair and hope. What is the one common ground in a region as culturally, geographically and ethnoreligiously as diverse as New England? I can’t think of any other unifying source than the Red Sox. Not even the weather: It can be sunny in Maine and rainy in Rhode Island, but men and women of all races, creeds and social classes can all connect with the simple question, "How ‘bout them Red Sox?" Most respond with a sigh…

Detroit blew the Yanks away in Round 1 of the American League playoffs, and there were reports that the Mighty Blunderbuss was thinking of canning Torre in favor of Sweet Lou. Maybe George’s media toadies floated a trial balloon that dropped like a bowling ball. Why should we care, anyway? Hey now, don’t start suspecting that I’m a "closet pinstriper". It’s simply a matter appreciating good baseball and respecting good baseball people. A lot of fools despise Jeter and Torre. Why? Just because of the laundry? What numbskulls. These guys are great baseball people. Look, there were no tears shed around here after the Yankers went down in flames. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that I wish certain people who wear "that uniform" ill. Schadenfreude is the province of talk radio nitwits. If there’s one thing Red Sox can never, ever forget is that Karma is a bitch, so it’s a good idea not to piss on the loser’s shoes. Frankly, I have no rooting interest in New York at all, except when they’re playing Boston (when I root for my team to win). Do Red Sox fans constantly watch the moves the Yanks make? Absoulutely.
Didn’t "Don Corleone" say, "Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer"?

But it’s hard to dislike either Torre or Jeter. The respect the game and know how to win with class. Remember, this isn’t like the era from ‘75-’78 when the Yankee lineup was with filled with despicable and loathsome thugs. The crews under Torre’s charge have been as efficient as Bank of America. How could you ever root for something so…corporate and devoid of passion? While I’m at it: whatever’s with those gavones from Boston who regale themselves in Yankee caps and jackets? Maybe someone ought to tell them that "Joltin’ Joe has left and gone away…"

Take off your Red Sox glasses and look at things objectively: Torre is this generation’s Casey Stengel (in terms of managerial record): A guy who was a mediocre manager with several teams before striking gold in New York. As far as Jeter, say whatever you want, but he was the MVP of the League, hands down. He may not possess gaudy power statistics; his game is a steady combination of speed, clutch hitting and good defense. He’s the glue that holds that team together, and regardless of uniform is an enjoyable guy to watch who embodies the storied tradition of his team. Doesn’t he possess all of the characteristics you look for in a great rival? If so, then why disparage the guy?

As far as one pretender ("Miss October") presently wearing the ‘Stripes, a column in Sunday’s Bergen Record pretty much says it all. Just like the Sox, the team 210 miles away has a lot of retooling to do in the offsesaon. We can only hope that The Boy Genius regains his wonder touch, because King George will be emptying his limitless coffers in search of another trip to the dance.
…the League Championship Series are set, Detroit v. Oakland and NY Mets v. St. Louis. The ALCS should be fun, both clubs are clicking in high gear. Over in the NLCS, the Cards barely crawled to the finish line, winning their division on the last day (after almost having blown a lead similar to the ’64 Phillies) while the Mets have the thunder at the plate but have encountered key injuries to the pitching staff. So, appears that the only way the Mets can win is by hoping to club the Cards into submission. Come playoff time, pitching and defense generally rule the day. Now that our heroes have packed up and gone away for the winter and the Villains from The Bronx have been vanquished, let’s simply hope for some good October Baseball. Maybe next year… Get well wishes to Pedro…