Tag Archives: Major League Baseball

George Steinbrenner Dead at 80

BREAKING NEWS

It has just been reported that George Steinbrenner, “The Boss” of the New York Yankees for 30 years, has passed away this morning at the age of 80. His family confirmed the report.

Read the story

No matter what you thought of Steinbrenner, he certainly brought a lot of attention to the game and the world’s most recognizable professional sports franchise. His feuds with Billy Martin and Yogi Berra are well known. His chasing of big name superstars started back with Andy Messersmith, Reggie Jackson, and Catfish Hunter and continued through the years with Mark Teixieira, C.C. Sabbathia, and Alex Rodriguez. He turned the Bronx Bombers back into the polarizing team that makes for great rivalries and intrigue.

Ironic that his passing comes just days after the death of legendary Yankee public address announcer, Bob Sheppard at 99 years old. Sad week for Yankee Nation.

© 2010 Dan Weedin. All Rights Reserved

You Can’t Make This Stuff Up

Last week I went to the Mariners game with my good friend, Vic Ulsh. Vic woks at Bradley Scoot and lives in Bremerton. He recounted a story about a trip he and John Wallen (also a Kitsap guy) took to Spring Training a few years back. The episode was so unusual, I asked him to write it down so I could share it on my blog…

Hey Dan:
Thanks again for the great evening at Safeco last Wednesday.  I mentioned the Spring Training oddity from a few years back.  Here’s the story.  In March 2007 I joined John Wallen on his annual Spring Training trip to the Phoenix area.  John puts together a great trip which always includes visits to various ball parks.  One day we were at Hohokam Stadium in Mesa to see the Chicago Cubs host the San Francisco Giants.  That year the Giants had two guys from Kitsap area high schools.  Both Todd Linden of Central Kitsap High and Jason Ellison of South Kitsap High played outfield for the San Francisco organization.  Coincidentally, they happened to bat back-to-back in that game.  Our gang was sitting along the first base line just beyond first base.  I had walked up to watch from the concourse which wraps around the stadium in the top of the 7th inning as Jason Ellison came to bat.  Ellison fouled a ball down the first base line.  I watched as John Wallen grabbed it.  On the very next pitch Ellison fouls another pitch down the first base line.  This one gets a little deeper into the stands.  It rattled thru the overhead lattice, dropped, and rolled right to me.  What are the chances?  On consecutive pitches in an MLB spring game in Mesa, Arizona a kid from Kitsap County hits consecutive foul balls to two different long time Kitsap residents.
SIDENOTE:  John Wallen promptly gave his ball to the granddaughter of a WWII veteran who were both sitting next to him.  I still have my ball.  John has always been known for taking the high road.  I guess I’m still looking for the on-ramp.  Oh well.  One of these days I’d like to visit with Jason Ellison and have him sign the ball.

Feel free to use any of this.

You just can’t make this stuff up!

Thanks, VIC!

© 2010 Dan Weedin. All Rights Reserved

Imperfection: Call to Stand

I may be in the minority on this one, but I think the decision by Bud Selig to let the arguably worst call in baseball history stand is wrong.

Detroit Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga had 26 up and 26 down with one more for the 21st perfect game in Major League history (already 2 this year). The batter rolled a grounder between 1st and 2nd; Miguel Cabrera fielded the ball and tossed to Galarraga for the final out. Yes, it was a close play. But not that close. 22-year veteran Jim Joyce made what he calls the “biggest call of his life and kicked the @#%% out of it.” It cost Galarraga the perfect game and started a firestorm of controversy.

Commissioner Bud Selig had the chance to rectify it by overturning it and chose not to. Her is why I would have changed the play…

1. It didn’t impact the outcome. The play didn’t result in a game-changing situation.

2. Jim Joyce, a veteran and respected umpire, can get off the hook. He and his family have already been torched by name-calling and criticism. Yes, an honest mistake. But, now this will haunt him and his career forever. To overturn the decision makes it go away relatively quickly. He now joins the ranks of the infamous.

3. Galarraga deserves to have the perfect game. He pitched it. There are no doubts. He will likely never come close again. Once in a lifetime.

4. Joyce admits the mistake. That never happens.

5. Precedence has been established. Former commissioner Fay Vincent went through the record books in 1990 and overturned 50 no-hitters.

Orchids to Galarraga for how he handled the situation. George Brett may have handled it differently, I think. Orchids to Jim Leyland from not going Billy Martin on the field. Orchids to Jim Joyce who apologized to Galarraga personally after the game. Onions to Bud Selig who had an opportunity to create a win/win/win for the player, the umpire, and as Tony LaRussa implied, the game.

To me this is a no-brainer. But, that’s just me. What do you think?

© 2010 Dan Weedin. All Rights Reserved

A Higher Calling…

I read a great article about Oakland Athletics start 23-year old prospect who quit baseball today…to become a priest.

Grant Desme was the MVP of the Arizona Fall League.  He was a bright star in the A’s future plans.  It seems he has plans to be a brighter star in God’s plans.  No, this isn’t meant to be a religiously-based commentary. Yes, I am a Catholic and I appreciate greatly when a young man makes the decision to devote his life to the priesthood, and more importantly surrendering his personal freedoms for serving others.  I do look at this as a pleasant story that finds its way on the the front page of ESPN.com instead of:

  • Tiger Woods fall from grace due to adultery
  • Mark McGwire confess to taking steroids for over a decade
  • Lane Kiffin leaving Tennessee high and dry after only one year
  • Gilbert Arenas pleading guilty to absolute stupidity (bringing a gun to work and pointing it at a teammate)

It’s nice to see a guy who gets it.  No, it’s not about walking away from the game to become a priest. It’s about understanding your own personal calling is bigger than playing a game.  It’s about responsibility and integrity – whatever that means to each individual athlete and coach.  It’s about answering your own call…

Read the story

Dan

© 2010 Dan Weedin – All Rights Reserved

Big Mac Comes Clean…

I can now proudly wear my Mark McGwire jersey again…

Watching his interview with Bob Costas yesterday admitting he used steroids was poignant.  I believe him when he says he used them for healing purposes. The pain in his voice mirrors the pain he must have felt in 1996 when he called his father and told him he was considering retiring due to injuries.  He must feel unburdened with the admission.  I felt great empathy for him in watching the interview.  Here is why I’m so willing to forgive…

  1. He sincerely apologized. We are all in need of some forgiveness during our lives, and I have no problem giving it when it’s asked for with genuineness.
  2. He called Pat Maris (Roger Maris’ widow) to apologize.  That’s a big man.  And, I don’t mean the size of his muscles, I mean the size of his heart.
  3. I like him.  Unlike Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens, McGwire has always been a “good” guy.  This is personal, but it helps for me.
  4. You can’t tell me that there aren’t Hall of Famers who, given the chance to be better or healthier, in their 20’s and 30’s, wouldn’t have pushed the envelope and used steroids.  Many of them admittedly used plenty of illegal substances (BTW – steroids were not illegal at the time) in the dugout and the night before.  It was a sign of the times.  McGwire will always be linked with the steroid era, and perhaps in some small way improved baseball forever by being the poster child for it.
  5. He’s the first of this era’s superstars to voluntarily come clean and apologize.  No, A-Rod didn’t volunteer. He got caught and had to do damage control (although I applaud him for admitting it and not lying).
  6. He was prepared to come clean in 2005, except advice from his attorney prevented him. If you listen to the interview, you will hear the reasons why.  One of the senators on the committee confirmed his wish to confess then.  Had he been granted immunity (meaning he wouldn’t have had to drag ex-teammates and family members before Congress), it would have happened.

I don’t condone what he did.  He knew it was wrong when he was doing it.  I don’t think he belongs in the Hall of Fame.

However, he does belong back in baseball. He does deserve a chance to repair his reputation. And, he did do the right thing regardless of the time it took.

Apology accepted…

Dan

Hall of Fame

Two Hall of Fame notes…

1 – Edgar Martinez garnered 36% of the votes in his first time on the ballot. Actually, that’s not bad. I was expecting worse.  As much as I think that he deserves the HOF due to his production and the fact that he dominated his position for 10 years and may be the best ever at it, I know breaking through the DH enigma in the voting.  It took Andre Dawson about 10 years; it might take Edgar that long, too.

2 – I am shocked and dismayed that Cortez Kennedy didn’t make the 15 semi-finalists for the NFL Hall of Fame.  How did Steve Tasker and Jim Tunney beat out a guy who dominated at his position for a decade (same argument as with Martinez and baseball)?  I know John Clayton has led the campaign for him and I hope that it continues.

3 – That being said, we can now put in our votes as fans.  Click here to submit your selections.  My personal favorite is Ray Guy. He may be the best punter in NFL history. There’s no way he shouldn’t get in.  I also voted for former Seahawks and Vikings standout John Randle.  Keep in mind Jerry Rice (also a former Seahawk albeit less than a season) and Emmit Smith are going to make it in regardless, so consider some of the others who may need your votes.

What are your thoughts on Edgar and Tez?

Dan

The Daily Dan 12 Days of Christmas

(with apologies to the fine 16th century songwriters who penned this classic)

On the first day of Christmas, the Daily Dan told me…Jake Locker for the Heisman Trophy!

On the second day of Christmas, the Daily Dan told me…Cliff Lee is now a Mariner and Jake Locker for the Heisman Trophy!

On the third day of Christmas, the Daily Dan told me, the Seahawks need an O-line, Cliff Lee is a Mariner, and Jake Locker for the Heisman Trophy!

On the fourth day of Christmas, the Daily Dan told me, Man I miss the Sonics, the Seahawks need an O-line, Cliff Lee is a Mariner, and Jake Locker for the Heisman Trophy!

On the fifth day of Christmas, the Daily Dan told me, Sark’s the new Dawgfather, Man I miss the Sonics, the Seahawks need an O-line, Cliff Lee is a Mariner, and Jake Locker for the Heisman Trophy!

On the sixth day of Christmas, the Daily Dan told me, Emerald Downs is fun, Sark’s the new Dawgfather, Man I miss the Sonics, the Seahawks need an O-line, Cliff Lee is a Mariner, and Jake Locker for the Heisman Trophy!

On the seventh day of Christmas, the Daily Dan told me, Zduriencik is a genius, Emerald Downs is fun, Sark’s the new Dawgfather, Man I miss the Sonics, the Seahawks need an O-line, Cliff Lee is a Mariner, and Jake Locker for the Heisman Trophy!

On the eighth day of Christmas, the Daily Dan told me, Jim Mora needs more “dirt bags,” Zduriencik is a genius, Emerald Downs is fun, Sark’s the new Dawgfather, Man I miss the Sonics, the Seahawks need an O-line, Cliff Lee is a Mariner, and Jake Locker for the Heisman Trophy!

On the ninth day of Christmas, the Daily Dan told me, one more year for Griffey, Jim Mora needs more “dirt bags,” Zduriencik is a genius, Emerald Downs is fun, Sark’s the new Dawgfather, Man I miss the Sonics, the Seahawks need an O-line, Cliff Lee is a Mariner, and Jake Locker for the Heisman Trophy!

On the tenth day of Christmas, the Daily Dan told me, No Tiger on the Tour, one more year for Griffey, Jim Mora needs more “dirt bags,” Zduriencik is a genius, Emerald Downs is fun, Sark’s the new Dawgfather, Man I miss the Sonics, the Seahawks need an O-line, Cliff Lee is a Mariner, and Jake Locker for the Heisman Trophy!

On the eleventh day of Christmas, the Daily Dan told me, the Seahawks need a GM, No Tiger on the Tour, one more year for Griffey, Jim Mora needs more “dirt bags,” Zduriencik is a genius, Emerald Downs is fun, Sark’s the new Dawgfather, Man I miss the Sonics, the Seahawks need an O-line, Cliff Lee is a Mariner, and Jake Locker for the Heisman Trophy!

On the twelfth day of Christmas, the Daily Dan told me, Husky hoops to the Big Dance, the Seahawks need a GM, No Tiger on the Tour, one more year for Griffey, Jim Mora needs more “dirt bags,” Zduriencik is a genius, Emerald Downs is fun, Sark’s the new Dawgfather, Man I miss the Sonics, the Seahawks need an O-line, Cliff Lee is a Mariner,

and Jake Locker for the Heisman Trophy!

Merry Christmas!

Monday Morning QB #2 – Time to blow up the Hawks…

1 – It’s clear after yesterday’s debacle, that it’s time to  blow the Seahawks up. Mike Holmgren will not return in any capacity, the team is looking for fresh blood at the GM position, and it’s now time to begin re-building. This is clearly not about effort as many of you may think. This is about one word – talent. Or, lack thereof. Yes, there may be a few who aren’t putting forth their optimal effort. On a 53-man team, that’s inevitable. But the bottom line here is that this time has no talent on the offensive or defensive lines, no consistent depth, and not enough nasty. Other than Max Unger, Ray Willis, and Brandon Mebane, it may be time to overhaul the entire lot…now.

2 – Do we expect any more Christmas gifts from Trader Jack? Jack Zduriencik let us open a lot of packages early last week by delivering Chone Figgins, Cliff Lee, and Milton Bradley. This Mariners team, who like the Hawks were in rebuilding mode just 14 months ago, are now in championship contender mode. You heard me.  Why limit our dreams to a divisional championship. Jack says he’s not done and I believe him. Take what we’ve added to an 85-win team and there is no reason to believe that if we hit the playoffs, we can’t contend for a World Series. What a way to send Junior out, right?  This is a Spring Training that I can’t wait to start!

3 – Steve Sarkisian and his staff are 6 weeks away from announcing their Class of 2010 recruits, led by Nick Montana.  If Team Sarkisian is going to make a lasting legacy on this program, it begins with recruiting. Should be fun to watch the weeks unfold.

As always, I welcome your comments and questions. Let ’em rip!

Dan

Athletes of the Decade

Tiger Woods was just named by the Associated Press Athlete of the Decade, despite his recent “out of bounds” problems.  The voters got it right.  Despite his “transgressions,” what Tiger did on the golf course was truly spectacular. You must separate the two for this type of honor.  Doubt he will get Father of the Year votes, but he’s the man when it comes to purely playing his sport at the highest level.

This got me thinking, though.  As we end this first decade of the 21st century, who are the various athletes of the decade in different sports?  Here’s my list:

Football:  Tom Brady – Four Super Bowl appearances with 3 victories. Two-time Super Bowl MVP.  2007 NFL MVP.

Basketball: Kobe Bryant – Nudges out LeBron. Led his team to 4 NBA championships in the decade. Three time MVP of the league.

Baseball: Albert Pujols – Three-time National League MVP and one World Series ring. Eight-time All-Star. 366 home runs and a .334 batting average in the decade. Gold Glove award in 2006.

Golf: Tiger Woods – Nobody is close. Sixty-four tournament wins, including 12 majors. End of story.

Other Sports: Lance Armstrong – Seven Tour de France wins.

If I were a voter,(which I should be don’t you think), my top three would be:

1 – Tiger Woods

2 – Lance Armstrong

3 – Tom Brady

What about you?  Feel free to voice your comments on this blog. Should make for great dialogue.

Dan

© 2009 Dan Weedin – All Rights Reserved