Are we there yet? MLB Opening Day looms
By Punch N. Judy
BaseballBigMouth.com baseball news
As a guy who prides himself on providing baseball analysis by actually watching the game every night, I have to admit that this time is somewhat of a tease. Reliant solely on the observations of the local beat reporters, it’s hard to really offer up a view point that isn’t just about pure hearsay. When you get right down to it any team worth its salt is pretty well set before the equipment trucks are unpacked around the end of February. Sure there’s the odd story of intrigue, but by and large the true contenders are only auditioning for the odd spot in the bullpen or maybe a utility job or two. If you’re anything like me you’re thinking right about now “let’s get on with it already,” as you view the daily highlights of balls disappearing amidst towering palm trees. While the media’s role as a virtual Paul Revere on location stokes our interest in all things hardball back home, a few pertinent stories have landed on Punch’s radar as we hit the three quarter turn heading towards opening day.
Another hustle by poor Charlie? There’s little doubt that Hit King Pete Rose is devoid of shame. We all know that. But seriously, what is this slithering snake of a human being thinking with his latest rendition of his gambling past? By stating in a recent interview that he “bet every game on my team,” not only is Pete contradicting the famous Dowd report – which claims Pete wouldn’t take any action on the Reds if Mario Soto or Bill Gullickson were pitching – he’s showing a.) how poor of handicapper he really is and b.) how little respect he has for both the commissioner’s office and baseball fans themselves. So Pete, come September when some ham and egger out of Triple A was getting his first Major League start for Cincinnati you never had the urge to recoup some serious money by betting against your boys when they were merely playing out the string? Puhleeeze.
The passing of Bowie Prior to reading the late commissioner Kuhn’s thick, somewhat highbrow autobiography, I had only thought the worst of a man who many in the game regarded as a buffoon back in the 70’s. Notice how not one player from his era of rule offered even a brief eulogy of the man who opposed union trailblazer Marvin Miller? I may be wrong here but looking back I think many ball players from that era were brainwashed by the union seal. From what I read, the late Mr. Kuhn was nothing short of a visionary who saw the game through some difficult periods. If militant players were n’t enough to contend with, how about having to deal with the Three Stooges of team owners at that time in the form of Charles O. Finley, George Steinbrenner and of course the man who brought us “Disco Demolition Night” Bill Veeck?
Big Wheel a Rollin’ A recent spring story catching us Tiger faithful up with Lance Parrish sure was uplifting. Now toiling in the low minors as the skipper of the Great Lakes Loons, Parrish traded in Filet Mignon at Morton’s for the value menu at whatever late-night stop the Loons bus driver makes en route to the next 11 hour destination. While making sure not to knock Alan Trammel for accepting his old job four years ago, Tiger manager Jim Leyland applauded Parrish for going about the trade through the proper channels. I couldn’t agree more.
Well, once again I reiterate, let’s get on with the season already. I’m chomping at the bit for an opening day in which the Tigers start the year as defending American League Champs. With the Heckler moving into some new digs in a month, this opener will drop the curtain on the tailgate head quarters known simply as the Corner of Arthur and Seminole. Naming rights for the new location have yet to be announced. Go Tigers!