September 28, 2011

Most baseball fans recall September 28, 2011 as one of the best, single nights in the history of the sport, and who could blame them.  It was truly an extraordinary set of circumstances involving so many teams and scenarios with an ending that even the best writers in Hollywood couldn’t have scripted. 

As September approached, with only one wild-card spot available in each league at the time, the playoff spots seemed set in stone without much hope of late season drama to look forward to.  The American League division leaders were the Red Sox, Tigers and Rangers and the Yankees holding down the Wild Card spot, but only 1.5 games behind the Sox for the A.L. East.  The Tigers and Rangers held secure leads over their second place rivals and the nearest wild card contender to the Yankees was 7.5 games back (Tampa).  The National League was eerily similar. The Phillies, Brewers and Diamondbacks all holding command leads in their respective divisions and the Braves had a 9 game lead over the Cardinals for the Wild Card spot.  The only drama seemed to be between the Red Sox and Yankees deciding the East and the Wild Card. 

As the month played out, the N.L. leaders continued their winning ways without working up a sweat on their way to division titles, but the Braves started to falter and the Cardinals caught fire.   The Red Birds seemed to be winning in magical ways while the Braves looked like a second division club and jinxed with every game they played.   That stretch included a Cardinals sweep of the Braves in early September and then the Braves losing five of six in the last week to set up a final game against the Phillies while the Cardinals were in Houston. 

The American League almost mirrored the N.L. as the Tigers and Rangers also ruled their divisions without much of a challenge, but the A.L. East was getting interesting.  The Yankees and Red Sox had flip flopped and were clearly heading in opposite directions, but still not much fear of the Devil Rays (yes I called them Devil Rays, get over it!) catching the Sox for the wild card.  Well this is baseball and these are the Red Sox, and never say never as they lost six of seven to the Devil Rays over a nine day span to suddenly make things interesting and put Tampa right in the middle of the playoff chase.  The Red Sox would finish the last two weeks of the season with a 4-9 record including losing four of six to the last-place Orioles heading into the final game in Baltimore. 

September 28 brought with it the ultimate stage for baseball fans around the country, even those who didn’t have a dog in the fight.  The Cardinals and Braves were tied for the N.L. Wild Card and the Red Sox and Devil Rays were tied for the A.L. Wild Card.  Pop the popcorn and line up the T.V. sets next to each other because this was baseball nirvana with the following line up of games that had playoff implications:

Cardinals @ Astros  – an afternoon game giving the ‘Birds an advantage should they win

Phillies @ Braves – Phillies had nothing to play for and Braves everything to play for

Red Sox @ Orioles – Win and hope for some help from the Yankees to win the Wild Card

Yankees @ Devil Rays – Rays need a win to stay even and hope for a one game playoff

The last three games all started around the same time adding to the excitement, and each one trying to top the other on the drama-meter.  The Cards won easily in Houston to put the weight of the world on the Braves while they relaxed in unison in the visiting clubhouse of Minute Maid Park awaiting their travel plans

·         The Braves would take a one run lead in to the ninth and their all-star closer on the mound with hopes of forcing a one-game playoff with the Cardinals to determine the wild card winner.

·         The Red Sox would take a one run lead in to the ninth and their all-star closer on the mound and also a 77-0 record when leading after eight innings.  A win puts them in the temporary lead to win the wild card and at a minimum forces a one game playoff for the wild card spot

·         The Devils Rays, trailed the Yankees 7-0 in the eighth inning…..then scored six in the eighth to trail by one also heading into the ninth inning

Then it really got interesting….

Kimbrel, for the Braves, blows the save and the Phillies tie the game.  The Devil Rays were down to their last out, down a run to the Yankees when Dan Johnson goes yard to tie the game.  Dan Johnson, who had not had a major league hit since April, ties the freaking game. The Braves/Phillies were headed to extra innings as were the Yankees and Devil Rays.  The Sox/Orioles game seemed to drag on despite the low scoring affair while the other two games of importance moved along much more quickly. 

As those two games moved on into the twelfth innings, the Sox blew a chance for some insurance runs in the top of the ninth by not capitalizing on a bases loaded, one out situation.  Still 3-2, the Sox headed to the bottom of the ninth.  Papelbon cruised through the first two batters and needed just more one out to put it away.  At the same time the Yankees had runners on first and third with no outs threatening to go ahead in the twelfth.  I remember looking at the clock and thinking “The Red Sox might actually pull this out and get a reprieve from the baseball gods.”  Comebacks in 2004, 2007 and almost again in 2008 gave me hope that the baseball gods were done punishing the Sox and their fans.  It was exactly midnight. 

This is what happened in the next five minutes.  The Orioles Chris Davis Doubled, Nolan Reimold Doubled (tie game now), Robert Andino singled, Orioles win.  Just as quickly as that…no joking.  Robert Andino now occupied a spot reserved previously for the likes of Bucky Dent, Aaron Boone and Ray Knight.  Robert Andino had three huge hits in the last eight games, all late in the game, all against the Red Sox.  I then switched the channel to root for the Yankees (yes those words came out of my mouth) and hoping they had scored to gain the lead.  Within one minute of realizing it was still tied, Evan Longoria homered to win the game.  It was 12:05 a.m.  Rays in, Sox out, go outside to throw up, back inside to find the nearest adult beverage and back outside to listen to the silence of the night. 

Minutes later the Braves lost in thirteen innings to at least share the debacle that was the great collapse of 2011, but at that point, it really didn’t matter.  As it turned out, Chicken and Beer in my man cave might have been a more appropriate post-game meal following the reports involving certain Red Sox players and their retreat to the clubhouse during games to enjoy KFC and Sam Adams during the September Swoon that produced a 7-20 record.    

Red Sox fans might finally be able to look at September 28, 2011 in the same light as other fans, but it took a full 730 days to let that bitterness go and move forward.  That seems like a short time considering I was bitter about Bucky Dent for 26 years, give or take a few days.  This year’s team, no matter what the outcome is, helped erase that bitterness of 2011 and 2012, with its clutch hitting, high five city and of course the beards and the bonding.  Boston Strong and go Sox!

And that's what it is in the world of the Sports Grapevine .......

Mid-Summer Classic Memories

The Major League Baseball All-Star game always brings back some great memories whether it was when I was little, or years later when I worked in baseball and I was able to attend a few Mid-Summer classics. 

I was fortunate enough to be in Fenway Park, July 13, 1999 when they introduced the All-Century team followed by the Ted Williams tribute and his first pitch.  Words simply cannot describe those moments and the scene at Fenway. The greatest living players all assembled in one place and Teddy Ballgame creating one last memory in Boston….just plain AWESOME.   All of that was then followed by possibly the most dominant starting pitcher performance in many years as Pedro Martinez tore through the NL striking out five of the six batters he faced including Barry Larkin, Larry Walker, Sammy Sosa, Mark McGwire and Jeff Bagwell.  Only Matt Williams made contact off “Petey”.  The rest of the game was fun, but never matched the fireworks from the pre-game ceremonies and the dominant pitching.  Nomar’s standing ovation when he came out of the game was pretty cool though. 

In 2000, I was able to take my dad to the game in Atlanta.  Seats were not great, but we were in the ballpark for the home run derby and then the game. It was all about being able to take dad to the event and sort of repaying him for all of the games he had taken me to as a kid.  Walking around fan fest, enjoying the different activities and taking dad across the street to the spot where Aaron hit 715 was much more fun than the derby and the game, but it is always fun to be at these games.

One of my fondest memories of the all-star game was in 1983, thirty years ago and long before I ever dreamed of working in baseball, let alone attending multiple all-star games.  The Hamilton (IL) Pony League team was local force on the field, pretty much dominating most of the local teams in the tri-state area of Illinois, Southeast Iowa and Northeast Missouri.  We had two solid pitchers, good hitters and great defense.  I was the starting centerfielder.  Ed Ray put together a pretty good group of kids and we had fun and won a lot of games. 

Unfortunately, we were scheduled to play on the night of the ’83 All-Star Game that was being played in the old Comiskey Park in Chicago which is where the first all-star game was played fifty years earlier on the same date.  Our game, in Kahoka, MO about 30 miles away, started late afternoon so I was hoping to get back in time to see the game, but realistically knew  I not would get to see much of it. 

As our game ended with us beating them pretty easily, we made our way back home.  Since Coach Ed’s son Jon was one of my best friends, I had traveled to the game with them along with Chad Gilpin who was just as good a friend and our catcher.  The three of us were not only good baseball players, but we loved the history of the game too, so as soon as we got into the car we immediately turned the game on the radio. Honestly, I was one of those kids who enjoyed listening to games on radio (still do by the way) and this was waaaaaayy before smartphones, laptops and the internet so it was radio and t.v. as our options and we were in the car so radio was our only option and that was fine with me.

The game had started as we headed towards Keokuk to get dinner and then across the bridge home to Hamilton.  Please remember this was thirty years ago and some of my game facts may be off but this is a recount of my memory of the broadcast and the conversations in the car.  The American League had not won many games in the previous 20 years despite equal talent. This was back when this game was still all about the pride of the league you played in and didn’t determine any post-season home field advantage. 

I think Dave Stieb started for the AL, but don’t recall who started for the NL.  I clearly remember Atlee Hammaker, who was having a great first half for the Giants, came in to pitch the 3^rd inning and Jim Rice was leading off for the AL in the bottom of the third.  Rice was my man.  To this day #14 has always been my favorite player, followed by Lou Brock and a few others.  He was the most dangerous hitter of this era of baseball.  He followed Fred Lynn in the American League lineup, who now played for the Angels after roaming the Red Sox outfield with Rice for seven years previously.  They were known as the Gold Dust Twins when they came up in ’75 and combined to have two of the best rookie seasons on record.

As the third inning started, we were hoping to get back to Hamilton to see the game, but as anyone who lived in Keokuk or Hamilton at that time knew, all schedules were dependent on the bridge that connected the two towns.  An old, narrow low-level bridge that spanned the mighty Mississippi and it had to be opened for barge traffic and then closed to resume car traffic.  It was part of life dealing with the bridge and all of its unique qualities good or bad.

As fate would have it, there was a grain barge coming out of Lock and Dam 19 and the Ed Ray mobile did not have Speed Racer Mach 5 super powers to help us navigate this poorly timed event.  The bridge swung open, the cars stopped and we continue to listen to the third inning as it unfolded.  The conversation between the three youth of us and Coach Ed, was just as memorable as the other events that were happening simultaneously.  AL vs. NL, Rice is better than Andre Dawson, Willie McGee should have been starting, etc. just to name a few of the debates.  Typical banter among kids and adults who loved America’s National Past Time.    

Rice started off the now famous 3^rd inning by homering off Hammaker to left field.  The radio broadcasters described it as a ball that never got more than 20 feet off the ground but was hit so hard that it carried easily over the left field wall at Comiskey.  I was crushed not being able to see it, but video later proved their description to be very accurate.  Hammaker completely unraveled after that as it seemed everyone and their dog got a hit off the all-star pitcher.  As bad as he was pitching, I remember him intentionally walking Robin Yount to load the bases and pitch to Fred Lynn.  Jon, Chad and I couldn’t believe that he would put another man on base to face one of the better hitters in the game, but it did set up a Lefty vs Lefty situation and I am sure Hammaker was looking for any advantage he could get at that point.  Quite honestly I was also shocked that Hammaker was still in the game at this point and I don’t recall if there was anyone warming up for NL.  The announcers seemed just as stunned as we were, but now the bases were loaded.

Fifty years of all-star games and there had never been a Grand Slam…never.  Each year during the game, the T.V. broadcast would always make note of that fact.  The radio guys were now doing the same song and dance and we were anticipating some all-star history as the water traffic in front of us slowly eased out of the locks heading south down river further delaying our ability to visually see what was happening on the Southside of Chicago.  None the less, the radio description was awesome and our lifeline to history.

Fred Lynn proceeded to hit that historical first Grand Slam as he socked a Hammaker pitch over the right field wall to put the American League in total command and in position to win their first game in years.  His slam was a big deal at the time and is still the only grand slam in the history of the MLB All-Star game. 

I am sure that the people in the car line behind us must have wondered what we were listening to as the three of us in the back seat of the car erupted with excitement and then calmed down so that we could hear the broadcast and crowd noise in the background as Comiskey once again enjoyed baseball history.  

We made it back home to watch the rest of the game, but honestly it was all pretty anti climatic at that point.  We were merely watching to see replays of Lynn’s dramatic slam and of course I couldn’t wait to see the replay of Rice’s home run which started it all off.  Hammaker’s career was never the same after that game unfortunately. 

That car ride experience with Coach Ed, Jon and Chad contained many more memories than I am sharing with you since this post is already longer than expected.  Memories that were made even more special with Jon’s passing in 2005.  Jon’s family was my family too and the three of us young boys spent numerous hours watching, playing and discussing the game of baseball.  I don’t know if kids today do anything like that anymore, but we sure did and I am thankful for that time during my youth. 

Enjoy the All-Star game tonight and that's what it is in the world of the Sports Grapevine .......

P.S.  Last week during the Atlantic League Minor League All-Star game in the stadium that I helped build (not physically build) and promote for the Blue Crabs when they started up, my oldest son Sam provided me with another all-star moment by throwing out one of two first pitches for the game.  Roger Clemens was the other first pitch by the way.     

Credit Where It Is Due

Certain athletes come along that take the game to a new level and carry the league on their shoulders, but I still can’t find a way to like them.  It can be their personality, something they did or simply the uniform they wear.   We all have them.  You will never hear me criticize their skill or importance to the league they play in and where they stand in history.  I just don’t like them.  Jeter, Bird, Magic, Isaiah, Knight, Swann, etc.   Over the years history may change some of that (Example Magic Johnson) but in most cases, the dislike carries on. 

Bryce Harper falls into this category for me.  He plays for the local MLB team (Nationals) and is quite possibly the best pure talent to come along since Ken Griffey, Jr.  He plays the game hard and understands its history.   It is nice to have him and other young stars on the Nationals so close to us so that Sam can see them play and hopefully Grayson too. 

Maybe it’s the taunting of opposing pitchers, or the WWE style eye-black and quite simply maybe it’s the arrogance shown in certain situations.  All of which could be by products of immaturity as he is only 20, but still old enough to know that he was wrong by most standards.  There is a part of me that thinks he might agree.

Yesterday, Harper scored some big points with me.  Not that he cares or needed to do anything of the sort. It just happened.  

My oldest son Sam has a lot of my traits especially when it comes to sports.  One of my favorite things to do as a kid and later on during my years of working in baseball was to just simply watch batting practice (B.P) before each game.  Sam loves to do this as well.  Since last year we have been to ten Nats game either at home or in Boston and we have been lucky to watch Harper impress the crowds during B.P.  

As we were headed to Nats Park in a driving rain storm, Sam duly noted that with it 1)being a Sunday,   2) a getaway day (the day that the visiting team leaves town) and 3) a lot rain, that we most likely wouldn’t get to see B.P.  Smart kid he is.  Still, we had many bright spots to look forward to with the rain leaving and Bryce Harper bobble heads waiting for us and two seats at the Red Porch for a little pre-game meal , but the prospect of missing batting practice bummed him out a little bit.  As we entered and secured the highly sought after promo item, that is already going for $100 on eBay, we quickly noticed the batting cage and “L” screen were sitting in their proper locations, ready for batting practice.  Amongst the clouds was a little ray of sunshine for the boy!

Harper is currently on the disabled list and hasn’t played in more than three weeks so the thought of him taking B.P. never entered my mind especially with his scheduled re-hab dates coming later this week at Single-A Potomac.  It was clear that the whole team was not participating, and looked to be only four players hitting.  One of them waiting his turn… a lefty in a black t-shirt that clearly was Bryce Harper.  Over the next twenty minutes Harper put on a display of spraying base hits all around the outfield and sent the crowd into a frenzy with more than a dozen “no-doubters” to all parts of the outfield stands including one ten rows up in the second deck in Center Field.

Harper clearly didn’t need to take batting practice on this wet, humid day and with him still nursing a sore knee, part of the leg that is critical to a hitter especially one like Harper who generates so much torque with his swing.  But he understood that this crowd bought tickets several weeks ago to watch him, then they stood in the rain waiting to receive a seven inch resin replica of him with a head that bobbles.   There he was paying respect to the fans when most athletes would have taken the easy way out and played it safe.  Good for you Bryce Harper, good for you. 

I don’t know for sure if that is why he did it, but I am pretty it played a part and for that I applaud him for his efforts and I am sure a few thousand fans feel the same way.  You won’t find me running for president of the Harper fan club, but that went a long way with me and I hope, for Nats fans, that he stays in D.C. for many years.   

That's what it is in the world of the Sports Grapevine ......

By the way, regarding the bobble heads we have in our house ….one of the funniest things Sam has ever said was following the earthquake in 2011 and we were on vacation…..”The one time that the bobble heads would have been fun to watch and we missed it”