Balls, Sticks, & Stuff | Phillies, Eagles, golf and other matters of great importance...

An Attempt to Overdose on Baseball and Sunshine

From Thursday through Sunday, this Phillies phan will be down in Clearwater to catch three games and see how the Fightins look this year.  Check back here often starting on Friday for updates, predominantly photographs and videos, but other stuff too certainly.

In the meantime, I've been compiling a reading list for the airports and flights.  Tell me if I am missing anything from the list below.

   

The first listed, "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly", by Phillies beat writer Todd Zolecki is an unauthorized biography of Clint Eastwood. Don't look for Todd to be given the keys to the Gran Torino any time soon. [In all seriousness, Todd has written what he describes as a "bathroom book" about the best and worst moments in Phillies history.  I'm anxious to see what sort of tidbits he'll pass on from recent years, but I'm up for a good anecdote from any time period.]

"High Heat: The Secret History of the Fastball and the Improbable Search for the Fastest Pitcher of All Time" was written by Tim Wendel [had to correct myself three times, my fingers insisted on typing "Turk Wendell"] who also wrote "Castro's Curveball", a fun little piece of fiction that I read about ten years ago in about a day.  "High Heat" is non-fiction, and examines the myths and auras of the fastball in baseball's past and present.  In researching the book, Wendel interviewed everyone from historians to professional pitchers and hitters to physicists.

Batting last is "Philadelphia Phillies Past and Present" by Rich Wescott.  If you've been in the sports section of any Delaware Valley bookstore over the years, you've certainly seen some of Wescott's work.  According to Amazon.com, he's written over a dozen books on Philadelphia sports, mainly concentrating on the Phillies.

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Not on my reading list for the trip, but a book that hopefully will be soon is "Bury Me in My Jersey: A Memoir of My Father, Football, and Philly" by Tom McAllister, who used to blog about the Eagles.  He's a very good writer, trained in the art as a matter of fact and seems like a very nice guy in the emails we've exchanged over the years.  Keep an eye out for it in mid-May when Tom tells me it will be released.

BS&S.com Book Club Interview with Scott Lauber

It's getting to be that time of year.  You're wondering what to get people for the holidays, people are asking you what you want for the holidays.  Fortunately for Phillies fans, there are all sorts of things to give and receive this year.  Sure, you probably have some Phillies clothing, but does any of it have the words, "World Champions" on it? And if you have any books about the Phillies, chances are they don't have anything to do with the 2008 Championship.

There will be a whole slew of these books coming out, you can be sure.  But to my knowledge, the first one to hit the scene is "Phillies Confidential: The Untold Inside Story of the 2008 Championship Season", written by former Phillies player and current broadcaster Gary Matthews and Wilmington News-Journal beat writer Scott Lauber.

Curious about the book, I threw some questions Scott's way and he was kind enough to answer them.  So call up the "Tonight Show" music and read on...

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The book is "by Gary Matthews with Scott Lauber".  If you don't mind, fill us in on how the project got started and what roles you and Sarge each had in the writing process.

In 2007, Triumph Books published "Diary of a Red Sox Season," by Johnny Pesky with Maureen Mullen, a freelance writer based in the Boston area. They wanted to continue the series in 2008, so in May, they chose to do a similar project with the Phillies and Sarge. (Triumph, by the way, is now 2-for-2 on indirectly picking World Series champs, so I think it's safe to take their book choice for 2009 to Vegas.) Anyway, they needed a writer to work with Sarge, and they contacted me in early June.

The book is structured like a diary, with entries for each day that Sarge and I deemed important. Each entry opens with a newspaper-style narrative written by me and explaining what happened and why it was significant. My writing is followed by transcripts of Sarge's thoughts. He offers opinions and insights from his interaction with players and uses examples from his playing and coaching careers to illustrate his points. For me, it was fascinating to get his point of view from the broadcast booth and to see how sometimes it was completely different from mine in the press box. Once we got started, in early July, Sarge and I talked almost daily for at least 20 minutes before batting practice. Our longer conversations lasted more than an hour.

Did Sarge ever let you try on one of his hats?  Did you ever see him wear the same one twice?

No, Sarge didn't let me try on any of his hats, but then, I never asked. Let's just say fedoras aren't my style. I certainly can't pull off the look the way he does. I'm sure he doubled-up on the hats, but in all honesty, he has so many that it's impossible to keep track. My favorite, without question, is his trucker cap with "Vote For Obama" on the front. It looks homemade, although I never asked where he got it.

Chronologically, when does the book pickup and where does it leave off?

The book opens with Sarge throwing the ceremonial first pitch before Game 1 of the NL Championship Series against the Dodgers, but it quickly flashes back to the end of the 2007 season. From there, it continues chronologically through the 2007-08 offseason, spring training, the regular season and each round of the playoffs. It runs through the resumption of Game 5 of the World Series and closes with Sarge's thoughts on the championship and the victory parade through Center City.

Our conversations occurred throughout the season, in real time. So, for me, it's fun to look back now at Sarge's mood during various points of the season. For instance, he really jumped on the bandwagon in mid-September during the four-game sweep of the Brewers at Citizens Bank Park. That's when he was certain the Phillies would make the playoffs. Before that, he wasn't always as sure.

Does Sarge mind getting called Sarge by people who have never met him?

As best I can tell, Sarge loves being called Sarge -- by everyone. For those who aren't aware of how he got the nickname, folks in Chicago apparently began calling him Sarge in 1984 because he had a habit of saluting the fans in the left-field bleachers at Wrigley. Just another example of his unique style, I suppose.

During telecasts, Sarge seems most comfortable talking about hitting, how batters approach plate appearances, hitting styles, etc. What does Sarge have to say about the approaches of various Phillies' hitters at the plate?  Ryan Howard specifically?  Chase Utley?

You're absolutely right. Sarge's forte, obviously, is hitting. He was a pretty good hitter during his career, batting .281 with 234 homers, so his best observations, I thought, were about the Phillies' hitters. Without giving too much away, he talks a lot about Ryan Howard, in particular. Howard is a difficult player to judge, primarily because of the balance that must be struck between his historic power numbers, his high strikeout totals and his declining batting average and on-base/slugging percentage. And, like everyone else, Sarge sometimes struggles to put Howard in the proper context.

Like most people, Sarge is mesmerized by the consistency of Chase Utley's short, compact swing. So, throughout Utley's second-half slump, Sarge wondered with the rest of us about the health of his hip. I found that Sarge always had plenty to say about Jimmy Rollins, and even during the tough times (the ankle injury, the two benchings by Charlie Manuel, etc.), he often likened J-Roll to Willie Mays because of the impact he could have on the team. Sarge also talked quite a bit about Pat Burrell, with whom he has a close relationship, Charlie Manuel, and both Jayson Werth and Shane Victorino, who exceeded everyone's expectations, including Sarge's.

Where can we buy the book?  Barnes & Noble? Local bookstores? Amazon.com?

It's already available on Amazon.com. People also can buy the book at Barnes & Noble, Borders and online at their respective Web sites.

Interview with Chris Coste

As a kid, I owned a powder-blue Mike Schmidt jersey, but since entering adulthood, I've never really felt much of an urge to purchase another jersey.  Despite that, I have to admit, in the last few years, I have felt a little temptation to buy a Chris Coste jersey.

Why?  He's just a great story, one to be proud of as a Phillies fan.  At 33 years of age, after one setback after another, one minor-league town after another, he finally breaks through into the major leagues for the very first time.  Once he's there, he goes 0-14 at the plate, but hangs in there and by the time the season is over, his batting average is up to .328.

Talk about persistence.  It seems to me, because of that, "COSTE" would be a name you could have on your back at the ballpark and feel proud.  The following is an interview I conducted with the one guy whose name I'd still consider emblazoning on my back.

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You spent over a decade playing in the minor leagues and independent leagues.  What was the closest you ever came to saying, "That's it, I've had enough, time to find something else to do"?

I was never close enough to legitimately say that I was close.  At times I explored other options, but I assumed my next job would be as a manager in the minor leagues (with hopes of an eventual big league job), and the best way to gain experience would be to play as long as possible.

What's it like to play for Charlie Manuel?

He is a lot better communicator than fans realize. Also, he has the ability to not add any extra pressure on his players.  In all of major sports, there is enough pressure, so he makes it as easy as possible to succeed.

Charlie always seems to stay positive, at least publicly, no matter what is happening with the team. Does that constant positivity rub off on the players?

When he walks into a room, he has the ability to put smiles on people's faces...he is kind of like your favorite uncle.

Can you confirm or deny reports that you had a Rod Barajas voodoo doll?

That's a good one!!  Honestly, Rod and I were good friends, and to his credit, through all the boos and hard times, he was able to handle it with a smile and ALWAYS remained a great teammate to the entire team!

Ten years from now, you'll be in your early 40's and unless Jamie Moyer gives you the map to the Fountain of Youth, your playing days will be over. What do you see yourself doing?  Still in baseball? Managing? Broadcasting maybe?  Writing?

I might consider getting my teeth fixed and a hair transplant and go into broadcasting, but I have always wanted to be a major league manager.

Hitters are very willing to admit they like playing in Citizens Bank Park , while pitchers like to pretend it doesn't bother them.  In reality, how much does it affect the mindset of a pitcher?

It depends on the pitcher, but I feel that if a pitcher can try to ignore it, he will have more success.  However, it does get joked about a lot in the clubhouse.

I would consider your swing to be a little unorthodox, but judging from the last two years, it certainly gets the job done.  Did a lot of coaches over the years try and tinker with it and make it more orthodox?  In hindsight, did the tinkering hinder your development?

Fortunately, I had lots of success in the minors and coaches realized not to mess with me too much.

Tim McCarver once joked that when he and Steve Carlton died, they would be buried 60 feet, 6 inches apart.  Is there a particular Phillies pitcher that you seem to have a lot of chemistry with?  Do any of the pitchers prefer to work with you more or Carlos Ruiz more?

I had a great relationship with Moyer and Hamels in 2006 and couldn't wait for them to take the mound. Ruiz now catches Moyer, but Hamels is probably the most fun guy I have ever caught!

Philly fans can be phickle.  They seem to cheer the same players they booed the day before and visa versa.  Do the players, most of whom grew up in other areas, think we are a city of manic depressives?

Honestly, as tough as it may be for some players, I think we can all appreciate the fact that we play in a city that cares and has a passion for baseball.  Most cities are not nearly the same, and it is not nearly as fun.

Pat Burrell.  Man or machine?

YEP!

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A final note on Pat Burrell.  After reading through Coste's book, it was interesting to read how seriously Burrell took the news that Chris was sent back to the minors to start the 2006 season after having such a hot spring training.

As a matter of fact, according to Chris, Burrell said he felt somewhat responsible for the assignment to Scranton.  If you recall, Coste looked like a lock to make the team, but at the last second, the Phillies traded for David Dellucci for added outfield depth.  Upon hearing the news Burrell apologized to Coste, saying that if it wasn't for his injured ankle, the Phillies might not have felt the need for insurance.

Just goes to show you that Phillies fans aren't the only ones that were pulling for Chris Coste.  His teammates were too.

Four in a Row

Last week at this time, the Phillies couldn't get a timely hit, much less a win, and Charlie Manuel was arguing with Local Radio Personality and making decisions of desperation like moving the team's opening day starter to the set-up role after just three starts.

What a difference a week makes.

Not to be redundant, but the Phillies have won four games in a row. If you say you envisioned such a scenario a week ago you are either a liar or a fool.  But now, the sun shines every day and the team is blossoming like the trees.  Even the cheesesteaks taste better.

This little winning streak is due in large part to a few players who should not go unnoticed.

• Pat Burrell.  He's got Ryan Howard's back when the big guy is walked and last night, drove in the tying run in the sixth inning with a double.  He's gotten a lot of flack for years now, some in this space, and he deserves some credit for being one of the few Phillies who has been "on" since the start of the season.

• Wes Helms.  He's batting over .300 and has driven in nine runs so far.  What's important is that he is not perpetuating the Perpetual Black Hole that was the bottom of the Phillies lineup over the past few years.

• Aaron Rowand.  Another player who has taken some heat for his past performances has been this guy, but he's hitting over .400 and had several key hits in last night's 6-3 win over the Nats, including a solo home run in the seventh which tied the game again.

• Antonio Alfonseca.  Shifting Brett Myers from the rotation to the pen and the struggles of Tom Gordon have been the focus, but Alfonseca has quietly pitched to a 0.77 ERA in ten appearances.

There are other players that have also greatly contributed to the Phillies turnaround, but these are three that have received a lot of criticism and should be recognized for their efforts.

Tonight, weather permitting, the Phils will attempt to make it five in a row.  Jon Lieber for the Phils and John Patterson (0-3, 7.00 ERA) will represent the Nationals.

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Odds and ends...

...Federal Baseball has a creative and interesting look at the Nationals/Phillies series.

...Inquirer beat writer Todd Zolecki has joined the ranks of Scott Lauber, Mike Radano, Randy Miller and John Finger and maintains a blog of his own.  Other reporter authored blogs can be found in the sidebars of BSS.com.

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Passing ad astra

One of my favorite authors, David Halberstam died in a car crash yesterday.  He was 73.  Though Halberstam became best known for his reporting on the Vietnam War, he also authored several books relating to sports.  His Summer of '49 is a classic to be read by any baseball fan and if you have ever had a group of friends, The Teammates is a must read as well.

He'll be missed.

Book Review: The Graphical Player

One of the most frequently used sayings is, "a picture says a thousand words."  Most of us don't even know who is credited with saying it first (some say Confucius, some say the Russian writer Ivan Turgenev, other say an advertising executive), but we all would agree it's one of the more valid proverbs we use in everyday life.

Graphs are often described as pictures of data.  While tables of numbers can be revealing, a pie chart or a bar graph can drive the point home, giving the reader or researcher a mental image of the take-home message.

Along those lines, if graphs are pictures of data, then The Graphical Player [4th Ed.] by John Burnson is the over-sized photo album of the 2006 season.  Throughout the 219 pages, Burnson displays the individual data of every major league player in 2006, graphically displayed in such a way as to give the reader a real feel for the trends, relative performance, and luck that each player went through.

To a certain extent, The Graphical Player is geared slightly towards the fantasy baseball player as the graphics lend an eye towards projections for upcoming seasons.  For instance, Burnson has crunched some numbers and has developed a statistic called "sim ERA", which is similar to DIPS and FIP ERA in that it looks at a pitcher's peripheral statistics and determines how much of a factor luck was in that pitcher's ERA.  But true to form, the numbers are not regurgitated straight from Burnson's spreadsheet, instead they are displayed on a bell curve of the most probable ERA's for the pitcher and where the pitcher's real ERA fell on that bell curve [Phillies-centric note: most Phillies pitchers had better sim ERA's than their real ERA's, which, while it was a bad thing for 2006 portends good things for 2007].

Graphical player data makes up the bulk of the book but there's more to it than that.  Craig Brown, Marc Normadin, and Jeff Sackmann provide one or two lines of commentary for each player, game logs for each team are displayed in the form of sparklines, and in a very interesting section of the book, Sackmann objectively analyzes each organization's minor-league system by comparing major-league equivalent OPS and age [Phillies-centric note: the Phils' farm system ranks 10th in baseball, far better than most subjective rankings are suggesting].

The subtitle chosen for the book is "The Next Step in Sabermetric Research" which, in my estimation, sells the book short.  In my mind, it's more like the next step in the way baseball fans look at statistics.

Somebody should call Topps and Fleer, because these are the pictures that should be on the back of their cards.

Book Review: Florida Spring Training - Your Guide to Touring the Grapefruit League

For two of the past three years, my two best friends and I have been fortunate enough to be able to attend spring training baseball games in Florida.  If you are a fan to any degree of baseball, or food, or beer, or sunny, 75-degree days, then it's a very worthwhile trip.

We've been to four ballparks so far, and we hope to add to the list in the near future.  With each trip we learn a little more about the Grapefruit League, making mental notes of places to revisit (Clearwater) or avoid (Ybor City) in the future.  There's a certain charm in that process of trial and error as you ramble down the road to your next destination, wondering what lays ahead.  What beer will they serve at the park?  How good are our seats?  Will the food be so good I'll consider discarding my belt?

But if you are looking to cut down on the spontaneity to a degree, I highly recommend Florida Spring Training by Alan Byrd.  The book consists of two major parts and in the first, Byrd breaks down the quality of every Grapefruit League venue in terms of location and directions, parking, ticket costs, programs, seating (including the amount in the shade), food and drink, souvenirs, player accessibility for autographs, pre- and post-game restaurants, bars, and attractions, and of course lodging.  In this regard, Byrd has done a very comprehensive yet efficient job of painting the picture of each town and stadium.

In the second part of the book, Byrd suggests five one-week long itineraries.  Each itinerary has a different theme so whether you are a baseball purist, someone looking for a road trip, or someone looking for a family vacation, you can find a suggestion appropriate for you.  If a week is longer than you planned to spend, the trips can easily be picked apart, ala carte.

More observations on the book:

• In a smaller section of the book, Byrd ranks the 17 Grapefruit League parks and Bright House Networks Field, the Phillies home park, ranks third.

• While reviewing Chain of Lakes Park in Winter Haven, the author mentions how convenient it is that the concession booths for food and beverages are directly behind the seating, making it possible to not miss any of the game action while waiting in line.  In my experience, this isn't quite all it is cracked up to be.  First of all, you are facing away from the action as you wait in line.  Second of all, their is a roof covering most of the seating in the stadium and foul balls have a tendency to ricochet off the underside of the roof and down into the concession area.  To steal a phrase intended for another purpose -- buyer beware.

• At Disney's Wide World of Sports, the home of the Braves, Byrd's highest food recommendation went to the gyro.  While I have not had that, I am hear to tell you, the Italian sausage with peppers sandwiches are legendary.

• Poor Pat Burrell.  He even gets ripped in this book.  In this instance, it's for ignoring autograph seekers.

By the way, pitchers and catchers report in

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Links:
Amazon.com
Spring training at BS&S.com
Books at BS&S.com

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Listing

There is nothing like a good list to spur debate.  The inclusive and exclusive nature of a list means that any given person is going to think parts of the list are on target while some of it is way off base.

As a matter of fact, in the introduction to their new book, "The Great Book of Philadelphia Sports Lists", Glen Macnow and Big Daddy Graham, each WIP-610 radio hosts,  write, "the lists -- in some cases -- are meant to be definitive, and -- in other cases -- we hope they will serve to start debate".  In other words, they want to you debate the lists the book contains.  They expect you to do so, and they will be disappointed if you don't down at your local watering hole.  What a fun idea for a book -- have a beer, have a debate.  It's the American way.

Since the book is a set of lists, I think it's only appropriate to review it with a list [in no particular order]...

The ten best lists in "The Great Book of Philadelphia Sports Lists"

- Harry Kalas writes "My Favorite Phillies Memories" [p.260].  His list probably coincides pretty well with yours.

- The All-time Top 100 Philadelphia Athletes" [p.262].  It's hard to argue with the top three, but Ron Jaworski all the way down at #55?

- "Top Ten Philadelphia Sports Quotes" compiled by Rhea Hughes [p.33].  I've always had a weakness for a good turn of phrase, and number one on this list deserves to be in a movie somewhere, somehow.

- "Worst Trades in Philadelphia History" - There are so many that even the Von Hayes 5 for 1 trade doesn't make the list.  [p.143]

-  Al Morganti's list of "Five Things I Love About the NBA" [p.32].  Me too.

- "Touched by God" [p.124] Alternate title: "Hmph, I guess the gods aren't against us all the time."

- "Greatest Players by Number"  [p.98].  Dr. J edges out the late Johnny Callison among those who donned the number 6.  Will Ryan Howard appear here some day?

- "Most Entertaining Athletes Ever in Philadelphia" [p.94].  Craig Shoemaker does this list and it includes Tony Franklin. Classic.  I think every Sunday for two or three years as a child I asked my father, "how does he do that without hurting his foot?"

- "What if..." [p.236].  If this doesn't make you a believer in the "butterfly effect", nothing will.

- "Best Individual Rivalries" [p.175].  We predominantly watch team games, but one-on-one matchups are the game within the game.

Honorable mentions: The best sports blogs, Johnny Callison's memories of 1964, and things missing from the Philadelphia sports scene [how can there be no PGA Tour tournament, no good bars/restaurants/etc. right around Broad & Pattison, and how can there be no good college football?]

Reading Group: Clearing the Bases by Mike Schmidt

Mike Schmidt's Clearing the Bases has met with mixed reviews.  Some felt Schmidt contradicted himself, others saw the effort as "thoughtful".

While I wouldn't rank this baseball book on the level of The Summer of '49 or Moneyball, it has one interesting thing in common with those two books:  it gives the reader a glimpse into how those within baseball think and feel about the game.

As fans, we certainly have our own opinions about the game, but we are looking from the outside and have little influence on the shape of the game.  The most interesting chapter was the first, where Schmidt goes into detail about his early years in college and professional baseball.  Stop and think about this:  the man that would go on to be the greatest thirdbaseman of all time was a walk on at a mid-major university.  [On top of that, the player taken immediately after Schmidt in the second round of the 1971 draft?  George Brett.]  In writing about himself during that time, Schmidt paints the picture of a young man who couldn't have been happier.

As advertised, this post is an open thread...Go into the comments section and discuss the book with your fellow readers.  Make yourself comfortable, but please try to use a coaster.

Mailbag

Hot topics concerning the Phillies at this point in the spring mostly involve the final composition of the bench and the bullpen.  BS&S.com reader Tim writes,

i can't be the only phillies fan who wants to trade bobby [Abreu] for [Matt] clement and [Willy Mo] pena, can i? it works for both teams if the sox can trade trot nixon as well. just a thought.  can't wait for opening day.

I'm fairly anxious for opening day too.  Watching the World Baseball Classic reminded me of what it was like to watch games that mean something, and my trip to Florida reminded me of how great it is sit in the sun and drink beer while a baseball game unfolds before you on green grass.

Aside from that however, I am not sure I agree with Tim.  Over their careers, Pena and Clement have had relatively average careers.  For instance, in seven seasons of full-time work in various rotations, Clement has only had two seasons with an ERA+ [ERA adjusted for park factors] above the league average.  And if ERA+ is too new and fangled for you, he has a career record of 82-81.  Sure, he has "great stuff" but by his early 30's, shouldn't that be starting to translate into better performance?  And is it me, or aren't those types of pitchers -- good stuff, less good results -- as common as cheese on steaks?

As for Pena, he is still young -- only 24 -- and probably has more upside.  He has good power, but strikes out a lot, 43% of the time in 2005.  He's a nice player, and many teams would do well to have him, but he is a right-handed, plodding, all-or-nothing-swinging batter.  That just doesn't fit with the Phillies when you consider the players that are already on the roster.

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From many readers, I've received missives asking something to the effect of, "how do you find so much time to update BS&S.com?"

Well, I'm not sure I have to much of an answer to that.  Come to think of it, I probably spend too much time on it really, but it's a hobby that I enjoy, so why stop?  One thing that certainly plays into my ability to frequently update the site is the cooperation I get from The Missus.  Either she doesn't really care to interact with me that much, or, she appreciates the fact that I was a sports nut long before I met her.  If it is indeed the latter, then I am a lucky guy.

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Iain writes from France, "I ordered my copy of Clearing the Bases today, hopefully I will receive it in time to take part in the reading group."

Have you ordered your copy in order to get in on the reading group?

Best Laid Plans

Life has been a whirlwind as of late...Florida for baseball, North Carolina for golf.  As of yesterday, one final leg of the journey remained -- back to Philadelphia to catch Mike Schmidt's book signing in Rittenhouse Square.

The Missus works in Center City and thankfully, she selflessly volunteered to get to the bookstore early and reserve a place for me in line while I drove in from my suburban office after I finished up with work.

As much as I want to be a city person, I'm not [you can take the boy out of da coal reejin, but you can't take da coal reejin out of the boy] and navigating solo through the city by car or by foot is never easy for me, particularly at rush hour.  On top of that, the stress of the last few weeks was really beginning to mount...leave X on time in order to be at Y by such and such a time...cross this off that list...etc...

By the time I arrived at the bookstore, I could have really used a stiff drink, but still, despite all the obstacles, things were going according to plan, and I took my place in line, number 94.  The Missus was in line just ahead of me in order to get an additional book signed and then snap a photo of me with The Greatest Third-baseman of All Time.

Suddenly, with just seconds to go before I was to meet Schmidt, I realized that I had nothing in mind to say to the man.  I wanted to say something original, not the standard, "what do you think of this year's team Mike?"  But, as I inched closer and closer to my boyhood hero, my mind was drawing a blank.

Finally, with Schmidt right in front of me, I blurted, "Uh, how's the golf game?"  I'm pretty sure I didn't stutter and my voice didn't squeek, but it might as well have.  On the inside, I was thinking, "did I just say that?!? 'how's the golf game?' where the hell did that come from?!?"

No doubt, it was original.  Schmidt looked at me -- somewhat dumbfounded as well -- and said something to the effect of, "Oh, not bad...Not as good as it could be." I replied uneasily, "Uh, it never is, is it?"  Again, on the inside, "what am I saying?  Is this really you?  For heaven's sake, just shut your mouth."

"Uh, if you don't mind," changing the subject, I point to The Missus, "she's going to take a quick picture."  We both looked at my wife's camera-phone and smiled uneasily.

Exiting the bookstore, I decided that even though I stumbled over my words, at least I'd have a photo to mount on the wall of my study of The Greatest Third-baseman of All Time and myself.  As we flip through her cell phone, we come across the photo:

Apparently, my wife's hand is as steady under pressure as my mouth.  I can't wait until someone looks on my wall and says, "Hey, that's a great photo of you and Barry Bostwick".

Later, over dinner at Pietro's, The Missus, looked up at me and asked incredulously, "So, I left work early, fought for a place in line, just so you could meet your boyhood hero and ask him 'how's the golf game'?"

Sheepishly, I returned to golf parlance, "I guess I hit that one a bit fat, didn't I?"  Better luck next time.  And Mike, if you are reading this, just send me an email, I'll send you a copy of the pic.  It should look great next to your Gold Gloves, MVP Awards, and World Series rings.

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Reminder: In addition to online purchases, Clearing the Bases is now available in stores.  Get your copy and join in the reading group.

The BS&S.com Reading Group

If you are a visitor to this website, I think we can assume three things.  First, that you can read.  Second, you are a Phillies phan.  Third, you have heard of Michael Jack Schmidt.

Having said that, I am now calling to order the first Balls, Sticks, & Stuff Reading Group.  To become a member, you have to obtain the book at right, Clearing the Bases by Mike Schmidt, which will be released on March 14th [you can pre-order it now, by clicking the box on the right], and then come back to BS&S.com in a month and add your comments about the book to an open thread I'll post on or around April 14th.  Pretty simple membership requirements, right?

Notice, I called this a "reading group" and not a "book club".  Oprah has nothing to do with this, we won't sit around drinking chai and eating scones while listening to Anna Nalick's "Breathe", and we won't do any supportive emoting or whatever.

We'll just meet back here in about six weeks and discuss what one of the greatest players of all-time has to say in a book about baseball.

Any questions?  If not, go get the book.

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Admit it, when you read "Michael Jack Schmidt" above, you did so in a Harry Kalas voice.

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Finally, if you are interested, The Greatest Third Baseman of All-Time will be at the Barnes & Noble in Rittenhouse Square to do a book signing on March 15th.

A Brave Book

The Braves GM has a book coming out:

The title of John Schuerholz's upcoming book is "Built to Win: Inside Stories and Leadership Strategies of Baseball's Winningest GM." Another appropriate subtitle might have been: "The Counterpoint to Moneyball." The best-selling book "Moneyball," released in 2003, was about Oakland Athletics GM Billy Beane's approach to running an organization, which relies more on on-base percentage and slugging percentage and less on scouts' collected wisdom, batting averages and other traditional tools. "I'm sort of the poster child for the anti-Moneyball theorists, so they [publishers] wanted me to deal with it, and I do," said Schuerholz, 65, the longest-tenured GM in baseball. "I think there was a lot made of ["Moneyball"] by the author, but I don't think there's a lot there. ... "But it created a buzz, whether it was the title or the interpretation." Schuerholz said the bulk of his book is not centered around that subject, nor is it a tell-all book critical of people he's encountered through the years. "It's about introducing the reader, either a Braves fan or baseball fan in general, into some of the things a general manager does," said Schuerholz, who wrote the book with Orlando Sentinel columnist Larry Guest. "Just a broad-stroke observation of my 40-year career, things that have been impactful on me."  Bob Costas wrote a foreward to the book, which is due out in March.

A look behind the curtain, I can't wait.

Scouting the Bookshelves

Several books are on the Balls, Sticks, & Stuff radar -- one is available now, while another will be available soon.

The latter is The Hardball Times 2006 Annual.  I purchased last year's edition, the inaugural edition, and perused it many times over the winter.  Probably the most interesting article to me was the examination of batted ball types and their value in predicting future performance.  I'm eager to see what types of things Gleeman, Studeman, et al have in store for us in this year's edition.

The other book I am scouting is the 2006 Bill James Handbook, from which several blurbs from columnists have been excerpted.  Peter Gammons reports that James predicts 44 homeruns for Ryan Howard in 2006, and Rob Neyer [a former James research assistant] published this recently:

Matthew LeCroy, who is "built like a catcher, only more so," was 0-for-23 last season on opportunities to take an extra base on a teammate's hit. This comes from a short essay by James, based on comprehensive baserunning data (which is also in the book).

First, "built like a catcher, only more so" is a great line, especially if you have ever laid eyes on LeCroy.  Second, applying objective measures to things like fielding and baserunning are the final frontier of sabermetrics and as usual, I'm curious to know what the new stats have to say about Phillies players.

Most of what is important about batting has already been deciphered, truth be told, OPS is much of what you need to know about an individual player at the plate.  But knowing more about baserunning can help an entire team's offense flow more efficiently, something the Phillies could improve upon.

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Did you vote for Whitey today?

1776, A Very Good Year

I just completed David McCullough's 1776, and just like any other time I've finished a good book, I wish I hadn't gotten to the last page so soon.

I enjoy reading history, but I prefer that it be written like a story, rather than as an academic endeavor penned in an ivory tower.  McCullough's and Stephen Ambrose's efforts are always written as a good story.  In other words, even though we all know how the story ends, it doesn't hurt to create a little suspense and character development.

But now I am left with a dilemna...I want to know what happens in 1777, 1778, 1779, and so on...Does anyone have any suggestions?

Book Review - Richie Ashburn Remembered

Sometimes as a Phillies game progresses, whether the Phillies are winning or the Phillies are losing, I sometimes think to myself, what would Whitey say about that play?

For instance, in Tuesday night's game, Bobby Abreu led off the second inning with a triple, and the next three Phillies came to the plate and failed to score him, ending the inning.  My guess is that Whitey would have said, "Hard to believe, Harry."

After reading Richie Ashburn Remembered, by Fran Zimniuch, it becomes even easier to hear a game in His Whiteness's voice.  Leafing through the 109 pages -- filled with anecdotes, Ashburnisms, pictures, and re-prints of many of Ashburn's columns in the Daily News and Bulletin -- portions of the summers of my youth begin to come back, remembering things that I didn't realize affect the way I watch a baseball game.

When a player gets on base, I try and determine if he looks "runnerish" and when a batter strikes out looking at a curveball, I subconsciously utter, "Froze 'em."  And of course, because of Whitey, we know that is only sensible to get the married men off of the field during a rout.  But we also know that if there is nothing to say during a broadcast -- all of the necessary birthday wishes and get wells have already been called out to listeners -- then silence is perfectly fine, no need to fill in the gaps with idle talk...unless of course Harry has just read the game's trivia question, in which case you can keep on guessing until Harry gives you the answer.

As we all know, Ashburn was not just a broadcaster, he was a Hall of Fame centerfielder for the Phillies in the 1950's, an integral part of the 1950 Whiz Kids that won the National League pennant.  During his career, which closed out with the Cubs and Mets, Ashburn hit over .300 nine times and led the National League in batting average twice. Ashburn led the National League in walks and runs scored four times, and hits and triples three times.  According to Zimniuch, Ashburn got at least one hit in 75 percent of the games in which he appeared.  And he could do more than hit as he led the NL in outfield putouts nine times.

As a matter of fact, Dodger fans know Ashburn more for his throwing arm than anything else.  In 1950, Ashburn threw out Cal Abrams -- attempting to score from second off a Duke Snider single -- to preserve a tie in the final game of the season.  The game went to extra innings and Dick Sisler hit a home-run in the bottom of the 10th to win the game and the pennant for the Phillies over the Dodgers.

Richie Ashburn Remembered is a great book to reminisce about one of Philadelphia's icons, and I recommend it highly.  The book is divided into several parts  which focus on his last days, his playing career, broadcasting career, his family life, and his induction into the Hall of Fame in 1995 after a long wait.

But if you really want to feel nostalgic about Whitey, turn on a Phillies game, mute the sound, and let yourself go.  You might just be surprised at whose voice you hear.

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A Call to Comments

It would be fun and interesting for everyone if all who reads this were to go to the comments section and post their favorite [and if it is already listed, their second favorite] Ashburn anecdote or Ashburnism.

Ladies Day

Certainly someone out there knows the answer, but somehow, at nearly every country club in America, Tuesday is traditionally "ladies' day", a day where the golf course is reserved for the fairer sex until around 4 PM or so.

And at the country club I was raised with a putter in my hand, starting at about 3:45, foursomes of men would sit near the first tee in eager anticipation.  The old saying, "hell hath no fury like a woman scorned" was certainly true if even a single ball was put in play by a male at 3:59 or before

Starting at the age of approximately fourteen, I began working in the club's golf shop during the summers.  One of my responsibilities was to take a member's clubs and place them on the cart they were assigned to prior to their round.  On Tuesdays -- Ladies Day -- the Ladies' golf group would play little one day tournaments, with little prizes at the the end of the day for the winners.  My co-workers and I would get the pairing sheet and begin to place the golf bags on carts according to the pairings.

Inevitably, one of the women would pull us aside and discreetly ask us to put her bag on a different cart.  "But ma'am, you are paired with Mrs. So-and-so today," we would reply, knowing that it would throw the pairings that our old pro had spent the previous afternoon preparing.  "I know," the woman would reply in a forced whisper, "but I'd rather not play with her," apparently still holding a grudge on some previous feud.

The changes would be made, and then the incident would be repeated with yet another female member...and another and another, until finally everyone was paired with whoever it was they wanted to be seen with and not with whoever they didn't care to associate with.

Four hours later, the women would return to the clubhouse where we would remove their bags, clean their clubs, and accept their tips.  All the while, we would overhear complaints such as, "it was so hot today, I don't know why I came", "we should shorten these rounds to nine holes", and "I haven't broken 100 in years, I don't know why I even play, but Harold thinks it's good for me."

And so, when I read an article in the New York Times that Tom Goodman was kind enough to send my way, I couldn't help but think that despite how these women felt a round of golf was sometimes a burden, they should have realized how good they had it.  For in Iran:

The ban on women at Tehran's lone golf course proved superfluous for a couple of decades after the Islamic revolution owing to one simple fact: women found it basically impossible to swing a golf club while enveloped in yards of billowing cloth.

Read on.

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Many fans of the Phillies believe that Jason Michaels should not be allowed to take to the field of play after his "run-in" with the local constable. 

It's my opinion that he should be permitted to play.

If the charges against Michaels prove to be true, then I hope he never plays in the big leagues again.  But until then, we have to let the system take its course.  Perhaps the case is not as cut and dry as the local media makes it seem...Maybe it is the recent holiday or maybe it's because I am halfway through with David McCullough's 1776, but I think we should presume innocence until J-Mike is proven to be guilty.

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Posts regarding the current state of the Phillies have been rather slim on Balls, Sticks, & Stuff as of late.  However, it is not due to a waning interest in the team on my part (though I am certainly discouraged), but due to limited internet access.  But fear not, as this site will soon resume it's normally scheduled programming.

Linkology

From Phillies.com:

Bobby Abreu is picking up steam as All-Star voting heads into its final week.

The last member named to the National League squad last year -- thanks to the fans' Final Vote -- Abreu is leading NL outfielders this season, and is heading toward his first starting assignment.  Many of Abreu's votes come through link on a weblog, Balls, Sticks, & Stuff.

I'll admit, I added that last sentence.  But seriously, no matter where Bobby's votes come from, I'm glad he is finally making the team outright.  It's about phreakin' time.

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Overheard on WIP's afternoon show, from a caller referring to Charlie Manuel:

His press conferences are like listenin' to a guy that don't even know the language.

Classic.  My beverage nearly came out my nose.

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Gavin Floyd finally had a good outing for Scranton/W-B, striking out six and walking none.  Some will say that Floyd's mechanics are off, but in my opinion, if his mechanics are indeed flawed, it is because of his confidence.  When an athlete loses confidence, it is reflected in his athletic motion.

Hopefully this performance will be a spring board to better things.  The Phillies need him.

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Ed Wade [as told to Kevin Roberts]:

"We're making calls. I think we've tried to make a trade every day."

I'm not sure how I feel about that.

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From the Seattle Times:

Seattle relievers were dismayed to find out when they got here that the beautiful, still-new Petco Park does not have a bathroom in the visitors' bullpen, which is down the right-field line, on the opposite side of the field from the visitors' bench.

No one was more dismayed than lefty Matt Thornton, who had go to the bathroom during the game Friday night. To do so, he had to climb over a fence to reach a public restroom, where he had to stand in line.

"I met a guy named Stan, who invented a baseball cap with a handle so you can take it off fast to catch foul balls," Thornton said. "He said he tested it at a batting cage on pitches at 75 mph and caught five before the seams started to give out."

Stan, if you are out there, I would love to make you the next Balls, Sticks, & Stuff interview.

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Thanks go out to Tom Goodman of Swing and a Miss for pointing out a great B.S.& S.-reader comment by Ed Bassett.  This website gets a lot of great comments from readers, but on this particular one, Mr. Bennett took it to a higher level, really hustled, and gave it 110%.

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Leading up to and during the recent US Open, there was much ink-spilt about the late Payne Stewart, who had won the last US Open held at Pinehurst, in 1999.  But none of them can hold a candle to this column, by David Feherty.

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The Braves just continue to reload.  It is a system and culture of winning that is to be admired (and hopefully someday emulated in Philadelphia).

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Remove your caps and let's observe a moment of silence for Shelby Foote, who passed away yesterday at the ripe old age of 88 [hat tip: A Large Regular].  NPR has links to audio clips of past interviews with the great historian...I could listen to Foote talk all day about the Civil War and Stars in Their Courses is one of my favorite books.