Monthly Archives: May 2009

Welcome Back, Spaghetti-Arms

Posted on May 29, 2009 by Eric

When he managed the Dodgers, I had a strange fascination with Jim Tracy. For one, he has exceptionally long arms that dangle like spaghetti when he walks to the mound for a pitching change. For another, he had (and I … Continue reading →

Posted in Conventional Wisdom | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Poem Of The Week: Polo Grounds

Posted on May 26, 2009 by Eric

If you’ve heard of Rolfe Humphries, it’s because of his work as a translator. Many people consider his translatio nthe definitive English version of Ovid’s Metamorphoses. But this poem is about another kind of mythology – that of baseball and … Continue reading →

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Americanizing The National Pastime

Posted on May 25, 2009 by Eric

Today is Memorial Day and the streets of Manhattan are eerily empty. I’ve always appreciated the imagery of this holiday –Naval fleets ashore at major cities, barbecues, three-day camping trips, and lots and lots of flags, even though I’m not … Continue reading →

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Dear Rick Reilly, What The Hell Is That?

Posted on May 20, 2009 by Eric

I’m not usually one for ripping on people. When I was about twelve, I had a year-long sports radio phase, in which I listened to all sorts of clowns and callers berate athletes. Sports radio gave way to sports reading … Continue reading →

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Poem of the Week: “Listening to Baseball in the Car for James Tate”

Posted on May 19, 2009 by Eric

This semi-divine poem by Gail Mazure celebrates the Red Sox and hope and honors fellow poet James Tate. It encapsulates the fallibility of baseball and the futility of a fan watching or listening but not playing. When you’re done, check … Continue reading →

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What We Talk About When We Talk About Steroids

Posted on May 14, 2009 by Eric

Baseball is a self-dichotomizing sport. Rivalries like Red Sox and Yankees, Giants and Dodgers, Cardinals and Cubs are organic and intuitive. The first place team and the last place team seem generations apart. The American League and National League coexist … Continue reading →

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Poem Of The Week: Baseball’s Sad Lexicon

Posted on May 12, 2009 by Eric

This is perhaps the second most famous baseball poem of all time. If not, it contains one of the most famous lines: Tinker to Evers to Chance. Enjoy Franklin Pierce Adams’ work here, and try to remember that there was … Continue reading →

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Sponsor a Baseball-Reference Page: Ben Grieve

Posted on May 11, 2009 by Eric

Say yes to outfielder Ben Grieve and you can transform his legacy. Ben Grieve, of the A’s and Rays, is one of thousands of ex-big leaguers waiting for a sponsor. His page is wide open and for $10 – that’s … Continue reading →

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Request

Posted on May 8, 2009 by Eric

Would the person who found this site by searching “Joe Adcock Prick” please come forward? I would like to inquire about your motives. His wikipedia entry makes no mention of prickish behavior.

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Much Needed Perspective

Posted on May 7, 2009 by Eric

Passed along by Dodger Thoughts: Hi everybody, and a very pleasant Thursday evening to you, wherever you may be. The Dodgers and the city of Los Angeles and all of California and for that matter, all of baseball, still shocked … Continue reading →

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