It was a Thursday night, 6pm; I was just coming off of another mundane 9 to 5. Typically, I would be at home dreading the next day at work, but that night I was looking forward to my weekly softball game! I know that sounds kind of corny or whatever, but by the time you read the end of this, you will understand.
Slow pitch softball is more than just a bunch of out of shape 20, 30, 40, even 50-something men reliving the glory days. It’s an escape, and a chance to live a small part of the shattered dream we all had as kids…to be a major league baseball player. It’s like a time warp for an hour or two where all of those worries, aches, and pains (bad knees, pulled muscles, gray hairs), are left behind and erased when you step between those lines. You are no longer thinking about that deadline at work, why your ex-wife or girlfriend hates you, or how you’re going to pay next month’s mortgage. You are just playing ball with the boys.
I play in a small town, in a small state, in a league that has no major significance, but I still run hard, slide, dive, and play as if I am trying to win a World Series; not because I am making it out to be bigger than what it is, but because I owe it to myself as the star reaching kid with the big dreams. It doesn’t matter how significant it is or who is watching.
This particular Thursday took softball night to a whole new level for me. It was the bottom of the last inning, one out, runners on second and third, the game was tied and it was my turn to hit. I knew I was going to swing as hard as I could at the first pitch before it left the pitchers hand. As I watched the pitch falling down from the sky towards me, I remember a quick flashback to me as a kid having the same love for the game. The only difference was when I was ten the world was mine to conquer, and I thought I could be a big leaguer; now I am twenty seven with a wrapped up leg, gray hair and no chance at any glory… so this was my moment. I swung all of my frustrations of an average life and crushed the ball to right field for a hit, and we won the game. I remember smiling from ear to ear as my teammates all celebrated by home plate and I felt vindicated, and for that moment, on that night, I lived the dream…and it doesn’t matter how small of a moment it was to the league, the town, the state, or anyone besides the ten of us right then and there, it was our moment and we cherished it. It’s more than just a slow pitch softball game to us; it’s a chance to step between those lines and escape the rigors of everyday normalcy and real life frustrations, take a trip down memory lane and live the dream one more time. So to that and for all of those reasons, as the field lights went down over us sending us back into our average lives, I raised my Busch Light and said cheers to our team….to Putnam House softball….to one more day in the sun.
- Johnny Crash
Friday, May 14, 2010
Monday, April 5, 2010
Opening Day! What Does it Really Tell Us???
On an unusually warm early April evening (a wet dream for Al Gore’s rants), baseball was officially back! The 2010 baseball season kicked off with a main event; out of the gate, pitting the World Champion New York Yankees against their storied rival the Boston Red Sox. The pitching match-up had us prepped for a duel of epic proportions as the big Texan, Josh Beckett faced off against the powerful workhorse and 2007 Cy Young award winner, CC Sabathia. Of course though, its baseball, and all predictions can be immediately thrown out the window. This turned into an old fashion boxing match, with both teams going back and forth, with runs like two heavyweights going punch for punch in the center of the ring. In the end however, it was the Red Sox that came out on top after finally getting to CC, and then tearing up the Yankee bullpen. Chan-Ho Park (aka soon to be on line at the unemployment office) was simply awful, and we didn’t see much better from the newly castrated Joba Chamberlain and lefty Damaso Marte. Sports radio will talk about this loss all day today and newspapers will flood the back cover pages with the most cheese infested play on words or phrases like “Posa-DUH”. We’ve seen them all. What does this all mean? It means there are 161 games left in the season and Yankee fans should relax.
Now that the season is put into perspective, here is what Yankee fans need to do to silence those annoying Red Sox fans. To start off, you simply first tell them to pop in a Mentos to get rid of the Clam Chowder breath because lets face the facts… it is the fresh-maker. Then get down to business, and remind them that last year the Yankees lost their first eight games against the Red Sox, then went on to win the next nine out of ten, and of course win the World Series. Every year, fans and sports media go into a frenzy after the first couple of games, and then when July rolls around and they realize the season isn’t even half over, they probably have already forgotten about what happened in week one. I’ve seen World Series winners start years off 11-19, and I’ve seen teams start off 14-4 and not make the playoffs so let’s all just calm down a bit!
One thing that last night does show us is that the AL East is undoubtedly the beast division in baseball. The Yankees, Red Sox, and Rays are arguably the best three teams in the sport and are all fighting in the same division. It was enjoyable to watch the Yankees and Red Sox duke it out last night because honestly, it is the showcase of the best talent in MLB. If you met someone who never heard of baseball, you would without a shadow of a doubt show them a game between the Yankees and Red Sox because you are always guaranteed a full fledged battle of the best talent in the sport, layered with plenty of moments of sheer excitement and drama. A perfect example of this is game 7 of the 2003 ALCS, when Aaron Boone hit a floating knuckleball off of Tim Wakefield into the left field seats at Yankee stadium to send them to the World Series. That moment literally knocked the wind out of me when it happened! So, does the first game of the year really tell us anything about who is going to win the World Series this year?…..Absolutely not. But it does tell us that we are in store for at least nineteen epic battles between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox, the greatest rivalry in the history of sports.
Now that the season is put into perspective, here is what Yankee fans need to do to silence those annoying Red Sox fans. To start off, you simply first tell them to pop in a Mentos to get rid of the Clam Chowder breath because lets face the facts… it is the fresh-maker. Then get down to business, and remind them that last year the Yankees lost their first eight games against the Red Sox, then went on to win the next nine out of ten, and of course win the World Series. Every year, fans and sports media go into a frenzy after the first couple of games, and then when July rolls around and they realize the season isn’t even half over, they probably have already forgotten about what happened in week one. I’ve seen World Series winners start years off 11-19, and I’ve seen teams start off 14-4 and not make the playoffs so let’s all just calm down a bit!
One thing that last night does show us is that the AL East is undoubtedly the beast division in baseball. The Yankees, Red Sox, and Rays are arguably the best three teams in the sport and are all fighting in the same division. It was enjoyable to watch the Yankees and Red Sox duke it out last night because honestly, it is the showcase of the best talent in MLB. If you met someone who never heard of baseball, you would without a shadow of a doubt show them a game between the Yankees and Red Sox because you are always guaranteed a full fledged battle of the best talent in the sport, layered with plenty of moments of sheer excitement and drama. A perfect example of this is game 7 of the 2003 ALCS, when Aaron Boone hit a floating knuckleball off of Tim Wakefield into the left field seats at Yankee stadium to send them to the World Series. That moment literally knocked the wind out of me when it happened! So, does the first game of the year really tell us anything about who is going to win the World Series this year?…..Absolutely not. But it does tell us that we are in store for at least nineteen epic battles between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox, the greatest rivalry in the history of sports.
Friday, March 19, 2010
2010 MLB Season Projections
Talkin’ Baseball with Johnny Crash: 2010 MLB Season Outlook
The time has come. Spring is in the air, and baseball is finally back! America’s pastime! It’s the time of hope for all 30 Major League teams because everybody has the same record, 0 – 0. Each team has made their off-season moves, and currently shaping their rosters. After assessing a lot of the moves made by teams to improve (and sometimes steer their teams down the toilet) I am offering my outlook on how I see the 2010 MLB season shaking down. First I will start with what I like to call “the league with the extra chromosome” aka, the National League.
- National League East: Philadelphia Phillies
It would be blasphemous for me to not give the Phillies the best odds to run away with this division, and here is why. The New York Mets are like a Jenga set made out of round pieces, they just can’t keep it together. Their entire team is falling apart. Their most athletic player has an overactive thyroid. Is he a 70 year old woman? Did he star in “Murder She Wrote”? Jeez! Other than the Mets, I didn’t see any upgrades from the Braves, Nationals, or Marlins that will convince me they can take down the Phillies. Oh yeah and the Phils just acquired the best pitcher in baseball Roy “Doc” Halladay to put a cherry on their back-to-back pennant sundae.
- National League Central: St Louis Cardinals
Two words. ALBERT PUJOLS Yes, the Latino Babe Ruth (what would that be, El Ruth De Babe?) is probably the only reason you need to go with the Cardinals to take the Central considering he is the greatest player on the planet…but wait, there’s more! They re-signed one of the best hitting left fielders in the game in Matt Holliday, and have arguably two of the best pitchers in all of baseball (Carpenter and Wainwright). Betting against the Cardinals here is like betting against Michael Jackson in a boy touching contest. Look for the Wild Card probably coming out of this division this year though.
- National League West: Los Angeles Dodgers
Even though they have the biggest scumbag player on the planet Manny Ramirez, the Dodgers are stacked with a very potent, powerful young lineup, and pretty decent pitching anchored by stud closer Jonathan Braxton. Add to the fact that they are being run by Joe Torre (4 Rings, show respect) and a mustache-less Don Mattingly, they are taking this division. I need to add that seeing Don Mattingly in a non-Yankee jersey is sadder than the end of the Notebook, which I will admit, made me tear up. (Please return my balls when you are done with them).
NL WILD CARD: Chicago Cubs
…and now for the real show, the American League.
- American League East: New York Yankees
If you were even thinking about betting against the World Series Champs then close this browser. If you have a PC, go to Start, shut down. Once complete, take your monitor and smash yourself in the face. The Yankees have added starting pitching depth with Javier Vazquez who led the NL in strikeouts last year. They have also gotten younger by saying goodbye to Johnny “I negotiated myself out of the Bronx” Damon, and Hideki Matsui (can’t say anything bad, the dude slaughtered the ball in the World Series and made Pedro cry as if he just watched the Notebook…….dammit, again?). The Red Sox will undoubtedly take the Wild Card though, this is pretty much the AL standard over the last decade with both teams going to the postseason.
- American League Central: Minnesota Twins
I gotta go with the Twins to repeat as division champs. They have a new Stadium, a new fresh outlook, the best average hitter/Catcher in the sport, and a healthy Justin Morneau coming back. Sure closer Joe Nathan is probably done for the season, but I think the Tigers got worse, and the other teams in the division just can’t tread water right now in my opinion. Let’s face it, the last time the Indians won the World Series was in a movie (don’t think too hard, the answer is Major League), the Royals are a Royal joke for lack of a better play on words, and I don’t see the White Sox doing all that much.
- American League West: Seattle Mariners
The Mariners spent straight up cash this winter! They made some excellent moves and signings, most notably stealing Chone Figgins from the Angels, and trading for Cliff Lee (2008 AL Cy Young Award Winner). The Angels lost in the same way the Mariners gained, so it is time for them to finally be dethroned. The Athletics are too young, and the Rangers have a coked out manager (literally) and suspect pitching at best so either teams chances of winning the division are as good as Heidi Montag’s chances of not melting when standing next to a lit candle. Ken Griffey Jr. will finally get his chance to go back to the playoffs.
AL WILD CARD: Boston Red Sox
So there you have it folks, my picks for the 2010 MLB playoff teams. Who is going to win the World Series?…..well the Yankees of course! Number 28 is on its way. It will be fun to look back at the end of the year and see how I did anyway, Cheers!
Play ball!
- Johnny Crash
The time has come. Spring is in the air, and baseball is finally back! America’s pastime! It’s the time of hope for all 30 Major League teams because everybody has the same record, 0 – 0. Each team has made their off-season moves, and currently shaping their rosters. After assessing a lot of the moves made by teams to improve (and sometimes steer their teams down the toilet) I am offering my outlook on how I see the 2010 MLB season shaking down. First I will start with what I like to call “the league with the extra chromosome” aka, the National League.
- National League East: Philadelphia Phillies
It would be blasphemous for me to not give the Phillies the best odds to run away with this division, and here is why. The New York Mets are like a Jenga set made out of round pieces, they just can’t keep it together. Their entire team is falling apart. Their most athletic player has an overactive thyroid. Is he a 70 year old woman? Did he star in “Murder She Wrote”? Jeez! Other than the Mets, I didn’t see any upgrades from the Braves, Nationals, or Marlins that will convince me they can take down the Phillies. Oh yeah and the Phils just acquired the best pitcher in baseball Roy “Doc” Halladay to put a cherry on their back-to-back pennant sundae.
- National League Central: St Louis Cardinals
Two words. ALBERT PUJOLS Yes, the Latino Babe Ruth (what would that be, El Ruth De Babe?) is probably the only reason you need to go with the Cardinals to take the Central considering he is the greatest player on the planet…but wait, there’s more! They re-signed one of the best hitting left fielders in the game in Matt Holliday, and have arguably two of the best pitchers in all of baseball (Carpenter and Wainwright). Betting against the Cardinals here is like betting against Michael Jackson in a boy touching contest. Look for the Wild Card probably coming out of this division this year though.
- National League West: Los Angeles Dodgers
Even though they have the biggest scumbag player on the planet Manny Ramirez, the Dodgers are stacked with a very potent, powerful young lineup, and pretty decent pitching anchored by stud closer Jonathan Braxton. Add to the fact that they are being run by Joe Torre (4 Rings, show respect) and a mustache-less Don Mattingly, they are taking this division. I need to add that seeing Don Mattingly in a non-Yankee jersey is sadder than the end of the Notebook, which I will admit, made me tear up. (Please return my balls when you are done with them).
NL WILD CARD: Chicago Cubs
…and now for the real show, the American League.
- American League East: New York Yankees
If you were even thinking about betting against the World Series Champs then close this browser. If you have a PC, go to Start, shut down. Once complete, take your monitor and smash yourself in the face. The Yankees have added starting pitching depth with Javier Vazquez who led the NL in strikeouts last year. They have also gotten younger by saying goodbye to Johnny “I negotiated myself out of the Bronx” Damon, and Hideki Matsui (can’t say anything bad, the dude slaughtered the ball in the World Series and made Pedro cry as if he just watched the Notebook…….dammit, again?). The Red Sox will undoubtedly take the Wild Card though, this is pretty much the AL standard over the last decade with both teams going to the postseason.
- American League Central: Minnesota Twins
I gotta go with the Twins to repeat as division champs. They have a new Stadium, a new fresh outlook, the best average hitter/Catcher in the sport, and a healthy Justin Morneau coming back. Sure closer Joe Nathan is probably done for the season, but I think the Tigers got worse, and the other teams in the division just can’t tread water right now in my opinion. Let’s face it, the last time the Indians won the World Series was in a movie (don’t think too hard, the answer is Major League), the Royals are a Royal joke for lack of a better play on words, and I don’t see the White Sox doing all that much.
- American League West: Seattle Mariners
The Mariners spent straight up cash this winter! They made some excellent moves and signings, most notably stealing Chone Figgins from the Angels, and trading for Cliff Lee (2008 AL Cy Young Award Winner). The Angels lost in the same way the Mariners gained, so it is time for them to finally be dethroned. The Athletics are too young, and the Rangers have a coked out manager (literally) and suspect pitching at best so either teams chances of winning the division are as good as Heidi Montag’s chances of not melting when standing next to a lit candle. Ken Griffey Jr. will finally get his chance to go back to the playoffs.
AL WILD CARD: Boston Red Sox
So there you have it folks, my picks for the 2010 MLB playoff teams. Who is going to win the World Series?…..well the Yankees of course! Number 28 is on its way. It will be fun to look back at the end of the year and see how I did anyway, Cheers!
Play ball!
- Johnny Crash
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