Today’s letter comes from Brian C., who writes:
Just read that the Dodgers signed Tony Gwynn Jr. to a contract and it made me barf a bit in my mouth. Your reaction?
Well, that could be a medical condition. You might want to see a doctor.
Oh, the signing… my bad. Of course, why would you be asking me about the barf in your mouth? It’s obvious now; I feel so foolish.
As it happens, I do have some thoughts on Gwynn… Continue reading ›
In Summer 2007, I drove from San Diego to Cooperstown for Tony Gwynn’s induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame. This is Part 7 of a nine-part series covering the first day of my journey.
I stuck around for a couple innings and then got back on the road. The route north took me through Tonto National Forest — at nearly 3 million acres, it’s the fifth largest in the United States — and Coconino National Forest, past Agua Fria National Monument and Montezuma Castle National Monument.
Agua Fria contains more than 450 ruins left by the Native Americans who inhabited these lands in the 13th to 15th centuries. It’s good to remember that our nation’s history long predates European settlement, and I would have enjoyed a brief visit had time permitted. Continue reading ›
Part 3 of my Epic Pitchers Duels series is up at Hardball Times. This installment covers the 1950s and 1960s. Several members of the 1969 Padres make an appearance (albeit with other teams), including Jack Baldschun, Chris Cannizzaro, Al McBean, and Dick Selma (as a pinch-runner). So does Jack Harshman (Hoover High, PCL Padres). One game, a 16-inning affair, saw Hall of Famers Juan Marichal and Warren Spahn each go the distance, with Willie Mays (who nailed a Braves runner at the plate 12 innings earlier) accounting for the only run on a walkoff homer.
Yeah, I kinda geek out on this stuff. Give the article a read if you are so inclined.
You cannot stop links, you can only hope to contain them. Continue reading ›
With Adrian Gonzalez out of the picture, the Padres have made it clear that they intend to focus on building their next contending ballclub. The question is, How do they do that? Continue reading ›
Word on the street is… it’s on again. Contract extension talks broke down Sunday morning, which put the trade in jeopardy. Gonzalez reportedly wanted an eight-year deal but the Red Sox offered only six. That is no longer a sticking point; Gonzalez will head to Boston without an extension, and the two sides can talk money at some future date.
Ignore this. Read this. Up next, a really long article that was written while all the drama was taking place and that would have been irrelevant if the trade hadn’t happened. Good times…
That stuff you, me, and the rest of the Internet were buzzing about on Saturday? Forget it. Adrian Gonzalez and the Red Sox could not reach an agreement on a long-term deal.
Everyone on all sides must feel very, very loved right now.
Small-Market Sonnet
by Geoff Young on Dec 10, 2010 (9) Comments
Will cash alone make winners of our club?
If only they could sign the brightest stars,
Our city would no longer feel the snub
Of those who congregate in Eastern bars.
Such stars will shine when money sails their way,
Restoring glory to the team we cheer.
They cannot lose if big names come to play,
While those who snubbed us blubber in their beer.
But wealth is naught without judicious plans,
And those who mocked our lack of loaded guns
Will scorn us more when riches fail those fans
Who thought the cash would lead to extra runs.
If wins result from throwing coin at fame,
If wits help not — then how be that a game?