Author Archives: Patrick

A Game of Forms

I’m not sure I should admit this, because it’ll probably destroy any chance I have of writing for The Classical, but I know nothing about bullfighting. This is at least partially my fault; I have a longstanding rule that when … Continue reading

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You Cannot Live in the Air

At this point    I don’t know At this point                       I don’t know     how there is meaning in everything and this is everything and so there must be a meaning in this but meaning doesn’t      live in a knee    it … Continue reading

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The Argument for the Fair-Foul Bunt

Every afternoon, my Twitter feed is inevitably punctuated with lamentations over a mislaid bunt. It’s an act equated with cowardice, bearing the mark of gray-haired managers conducting mindless and archaic rituals. As a strategy, it’s pointless. As an action, it’s … Continue reading

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Found Poetry: Jose Canseco

 Found poetry is a specific type of poem, particularly common in high school language arts classes, where you take words or phrases from a text and rearrange them to create original poetry. In this case, the following poem is constructed … Continue reading

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The Power Ranking Power Rankings

Note: It’s one of the long-held traditions of Power Rankings that they begin with some sort of preamble. This is not that preamble; that’s why it’s in italics. But if you’re here for the ordinal analysis and want to skip … Continue reading

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Rey Quinones: A Hard Man to Understand

Long ago, when I was an undergraduate, I stopped going to classes. It wasn’t that I had better things to do; I spent a month trying to learn how to play the “B” chord on a guitar. Sometimes I would … Continue reading

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The Reds’ Mane Attraction

Originally from Kentucky, Joshua Lars Weill lives and writes out of Washington, D.C. Follow his take on sports and culture on Twitter at @AgonicaBoss. For things to work out right on a given night, Bronson Arroyo needs the ball to … Continue reading

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More Zen: In Search of Quality in Baseball

Continuing the Chatauqua I began a few weeks ago with the examination of the now-rejuvenated Chone Figgins, I’d like to ride along with Phaedrus, the protagonist of Robert Pirsig’s novel, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. The first part … Continue reading

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Free Baseball Books on the Internet

The setting: it’s spring, and the growl of the lawn mower echoes over the quaint suburban horizon. You’ve finished checking the gutters, the game is on in an hour, and the breeze is decidedly pleasant. You find yourself in need … Continue reading

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Thoughts on a Pack of Baseball Cards

Every once in a while, Rob Neyer used to write an article in the spring in which he would tear open a pack of the newest series of Topps baseball cards and spend a paragraph writing about each player.  I … Continue reading

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