Play ball! Do two sweeter words exist? I don't think so. Every year as the Autumn chill gives way to the cold and grey of Winter our hopes and spirits are kept alive by the memory and anticipation of this beautiful phrase. Our minds conjure up the smell of freshly cut grass mingled with the leather of a glove. We can hear the echo of ball meeting bat and the crowd erupting into frenzied cheers as the newest hero of the diamond circles the bases. Today the wait is over and we no longer have to imagine. It is Opening Day! In honor of this, I am going to share some thoughts relating to what makes baseball so great
No clock. If you have one out left you always have a chance.
The Pennant Race. Winning your division is still important and the day to day movement and competition is unmatched in sports.
Redemption. Lose today? There's a game tomorrow. Strike out with men in scoring position? There's another at bat coming.
Take Me Out to the Ballgame. The greatest sports song ever written.
It's really hard. (Have the best players from any other sport try to hit a major league fastball and see what happens)
Game 7's.
Listening to a game on the radio. (Unless Hawk Harrelson is calling it)
The first view of the field as you walk out of the tunnel.
Towering home runs.
The Suicide Squeeze.
The vernacular. Texas Leaguer, going yard, can of corn, bean soup (That last one isn't real but my wife thinks it should be so I included it to make her happy.)
The superstitions. Far too many to list.
Spring Training. "Pitchers and catchers report" : the second greatest phrase.
The hope that springs eternal.
It's the only game where the defense controls the ball. ( I got that from Ken Burns' Baseball documentary)
I could go on and on and on. Please feel free to share your own thoughts. To my fellow baseball fans good luck on the upcoming season. (Unless you're a Dodger fan. I hope your team loses every game.) Play ball!
While driving with my dad on our way to play golf, sometime in May of 2004, he and I listened to one of his favorite tapes, John McDermott singing old sentimental Irish songs, Dad was a sucker for this type of music. Most people saw him as loud, aggressive and competitive but he definitely possessed a softer almost downright mushy side as well. Just before we reached our destination the song I have posted below played. When it ended I looked that over and saw his eyes had begun to well up. When we arrived at the golf course he said, "It's been over 30 years since my dad passed away and I still miss him. Do you think that’s strange?” I assured him that he was normal to feel that way and we got ready to play our round. I don’t remember anything about that round, I wish I could because as it turned out that was the last time he and I would play golf together. That summer he started not feeling well. Nothing serious it seemed,. just a low grade fever he couldn’t seem to sha...
When I went to bed last Tuesday night, things were not looking good for my presidential candidate of choice . By the time I woke up (quite early, by the way), it was over. The voters had made a clear choice. I was, and still am, utterly disappointed. As the reality of it set in, my gut reaction was a desire to confront Trump voters with words similar to the clip below. Fortunately, my intrusive thoughts remained just thoughts (for the most part), and I started asking myself, "What now?" The first thing I decided was that I need to have hope. Here is what I hope: I hope that I am wrong. I don't for a second believe that I am wrong about Donald Trump's lack of character or even decency, but I do hope that I am wrong about some of the policies he says he will put in place. I hope that I am wrong about his tariffs resulting in higher costs for consumer goods, making it even harder for people to provide for their families. I hope that I am wrong about his planned mass depo...
In Christ alone, my hope is found He is my light, my strength, my song This Cornerstone, this solid ground Firm through the fiercest drought and storm What heights of love, what depths of peace When fears are stilled, when strivings cease My Comforter, my All in All Here in the love of Christ I stand The song above was one of my favorites to sing in church. It has a beautiful melody that is complex, yet easy to sing. If you are not familiar with it, you can listen to it here. Lyrically it is both poignant and succeeds in avoiding the sappiness found in many church songs. It has theological depth but is still accessible. It almost seems like a creed. In my opinion it is the best church song from the last 30 years. I would even argue that it is one of the top 10 hymns of all time. I thought about this song one night a while back while driving down the interstate. It popped into my head out of nowhere and I started humming it to myself. Nearly 20 years ago I stepped away from active invo...
Play ball! Do two sweeter words exist? I don't think so. Every year as the Autumn chill gives way to the cold and grey of Winter our hopes and spirits are kept alive by the memory and anticipation of this beautiful phrase. Our minds conjure up the smell of freshly cut grass mingled with the leather of a glove. We can hear the echo of ball meeting bat and the crowd erupting into frenzied cheers as the newest hero of the diamond circles the bases. Today the wait is over and we no longer have to imagine. It is Opening Day! In honor of this, I am going to share some thoughts relating to what makes baseball so great
Vin Scully. Even if you hate the Dodgers. Vin Scully on the radio is the voice of summer.
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