The Monroe Doctrine is proud to present a musical interlude. Sung by the CFCL Madrigal Singers, it is to the tune of My Darling Clementine and offered as a dirge.
Oh, Paul Meisters. Oh, Paul Meisters. Oh Paul Meisters, where’d ya go?
You were drafting then you left us, now your 12th place, Meister Boy.
Drafting old guys, drafting old guys, drafting old guys is what you do.
But when they break down, you don’t switch them, now it’s 18 (active) of 23.
You could have traded, could have traded, could have traded expiring studs
But you held on to Alou and Holliday and have no core for next year.
You’ve got Neighborgall, you’ve got Neighborgall, you’ve got Neighborgall, why is that?
He’d miss water from a boat, can you say Nuke Laloosh?
Oh Paul Meisters, Oh Paul Meisters, Oh Paul Meisters, how are you?
When we write you, you don’t answer. Makes us wonder what is up.
Rumors run wild, rumors run wild, rumors run wild around the league.
Either you forgot the Sportsline website or are Jessie Biel’s adult slave.
Are you plotting, are you plotting, are you plotting for next year?
If that’s the case then why not bid point four three on Mark Teixeira?
Are you crying, are you crying, are you crying for the White Sox?
I don’t blame you for a minute, they really suck this year.
Hope we see you, hope we see you, hope we see you more next year.
We really need twelve owners who are on top of their moves.
But we kid, but we kid, but we kid and mean no harm.
Hope to see you at the banquet, where the sausage will be warm.
Monday, August 27, 2007
Monday, August 20, 2007
The Professor Returneth
In our never ending effort to track down any story anywhere, the Monroe Doctrine dispatched Ace Reporter Bubba Whatly to stake out the Raleigh International Airport for the much anticipated return of The Professor. Bubba was able to pin down The Head Ruffin just after clearing customs. After waiting an extra fifteen minutes for the completion of the Suspicious Orifice Search (on Whatley, not Holian), Bubba came away with this interview.
Bubba Whatly: Professor! Professor! Over here! Bubba Whatly with the Monroe Doctrine? Can I ask you a few questions?
Head Ruffin: I’m just a retired businessman living on a pension. Oh, wait, wrong movie. What’s up, Bub?
BW: It’s Bub-ba. My parents paid extra for the second syllable. What took you to Italy during baseball season?
HR: My wife is an art major so we went to all sorts of museums, The Louvre, the Guggenheim . . .
BW: Isn't the Louvre in France?
HR: You ever been to Europe?
BW: No.
HR: Then shut up!
BW: Okay. Was there anything that surprised you about Italy?
HR: Interesting fact. Most people think Italy has a lot of pasta and wine. Actually they serve diet yoohoo and farva beans.
BW: That could explain why Pavoratti always sounds like he’s in pain when he sings. Were you and your wife able to do any site seeing?
HR: We did a bit of site seeing. I was disappointed with the Coliseum. It's nothing like the one in Los Angeles. Walking around Italy was fun though. The street performances were amazing. Mimes are big over there along with puppeteers and Drew Carey impersonators.
BW: You mentioned the cuisine wasn’t what you had expected. Other than that how was your dining experience?
HR: When we would go out for dinner, the music that played overhead was surprising. I was expecting Dean Martin and it ended up being Jerry Lewis.
BW: I have to be honest. The rest of the league was pretty amazed at the lack of activity on your part during the season as you defend your CFCL title. What gives?
HR: You were expecting me to make a lot of trades at the deadline; that makes sense. But I was predisposed. George Clooney had us out on his banana boat on Lake Como as the deadline expired. I kept saying “George, I’ve got some things to do man. Yeah I know we’re bonding and, yes, I agreed to be in Ocean’s 14, but I have obligations.” Didn’t do any good. He wouldn’t dock the damn thing. Of course the upside is that I’m one of his guys in Ocean’s 14. And let me tell you, Brad Pitt is really, really good looking. I’m just saying.
BW: Hey cool! You have a cameo in Ocean’s 14?
HR: Who said cameo? Did you hear me say cameo? I have a STARRING role! I’m the 14 in Ocean’s 14. Cameos are for has beens like Ron Palillo and Marlo Thomas.
Anyway, on top of that I had trouble following baseball and the CFCL. The Internet doesn't work the same way over there as it does in the States. I came packing with AC and all they had was DC. The only time I could get online all my screen would say is "It's going to be a belle sera."
BW: Wow that must have been tough not being able to make moves and try to run at the title again. What did you do with your free time?
HR: Well, we watched the local TV programs. Howie Mandel has been syndicated in Italy. He hosts a show called "Deal or No Deal You Can't Refuse".
BW: On behalf of the CFCL, the Monroe Doctrine and your students, Welcome Back!
HR: Tell me the truth . . . Did I get ripped in the Monroe Doctrine while I was gone?
BW: I don’t think so, it’s hard to remember. Hey, somebody text Mahlan quick to see if these things are archived.
Bubba Whatly: Professor! Professor! Over here! Bubba Whatly with the Monroe Doctrine? Can I ask you a few questions?
Head Ruffin: I’m just a retired businessman living on a pension. Oh, wait, wrong movie. What’s up, Bub?
BW: It’s Bub-ba. My parents paid extra for the second syllable. What took you to Italy during baseball season?
HR: My wife is an art major so we went to all sorts of museums, The Louvre, the Guggenheim . . .
BW: Isn't the Louvre in France?
HR: You ever been to Europe?
BW: No.
HR: Then shut up!
BW: Okay. Was there anything that surprised you about Italy?
HR: Interesting fact. Most people think Italy has a lot of pasta and wine. Actually they serve diet yoohoo and farva beans.
BW: That could explain why Pavoratti always sounds like he’s in pain when he sings. Were you and your wife able to do any site seeing?
HR: We did a bit of site seeing. I was disappointed with the Coliseum. It's nothing like the one in Los Angeles. Walking around Italy was fun though. The street performances were amazing. Mimes are big over there along with puppeteers and Drew Carey impersonators.
BW: You mentioned the cuisine wasn’t what you had expected. Other than that how was your dining experience?
HR: When we would go out for dinner, the music that played overhead was surprising. I was expecting Dean Martin and it ended up being Jerry Lewis.
BW: I have to be honest. The rest of the league was pretty amazed at the lack of activity on your part during the season as you defend your CFCL title. What gives?
HR: You were expecting me to make a lot of trades at the deadline; that makes sense. But I was predisposed. George Clooney had us out on his banana boat on Lake Como as the deadline expired. I kept saying “George, I’ve got some things to do man. Yeah I know we’re bonding and, yes, I agreed to be in Ocean’s 14, but I have obligations.” Didn’t do any good. He wouldn’t dock the damn thing. Of course the upside is that I’m one of his guys in Ocean’s 14. And let me tell you, Brad Pitt is really, really good looking. I’m just saying.
BW: Hey cool! You have a cameo in Ocean’s 14?
HR: Who said cameo? Did you hear me say cameo? I have a STARRING role! I’m the 14 in Ocean’s 14. Cameos are for has beens like Ron Palillo and Marlo Thomas.
Anyway, on top of that I had trouble following baseball and the CFCL. The Internet doesn't work the same way over there as it does in the States. I came packing with AC and all they had was DC. The only time I could get online all my screen would say is "It's going to be a belle sera."
BW: Wow that must have been tough not being able to make moves and try to run at the title again. What did you do with your free time?
HR: Well, we watched the local TV programs. Howie Mandel has been syndicated in Italy. He hosts a show called "Deal or No Deal You Can't Refuse".
BW: On behalf of the CFCL, the Monroe Doctrine and your students, Welcome Back!
HR: Tell me the truth . . . Did I get ripped in the Monroe Doctrine while I was gone?
BW: I don’t think so, it’s hard to remember. Hey, somebody text Mahlan quick to see if these things are archived.
Monday, August 13, 2007
500 And 300 - Which Is More?
Another phone call from the brain trust of the Monroe Doctrine (and by that I mean, the DoorMatts). Whenever Matt has time to think and gives me a call, we end up with an article that causes you to think – like the greatest player of each decade. Whenever he’s too busy to call, we end up with silly fluff – like a tribute to the number 4.
The latest call generated this: Twelve of the twenty-one members of the 500 Homerun club are black or Hispanic. And when A-Rod hits his next homerun it will be thirteen of twenty-two.
Zero of the twenty-two members of the 300 win club are black or Hispanic. When Glavine wins his next it will be zero of twenty-three.
Why?
There have been great non-white pitchers. Gibson, Marichal, Newcombe, Jenkins, Pedro, Vida Blue, Dennis Martinez. But none of them have 300 wins (Jenkins is closest with 284).
It could be the black quarterback syndrome wherein a team puts their most talented player at a position where they can display all their “skills” on a daily basis.
It could be that there was/is a sense of racism (in baseball? No way!) such that management didn’t feel comfortable putting the fate of their team in the hands of a person of color.
It could be that teams wouldn’t give pitchers of color as much leeway to pitch out of jams and thus earn wins. Or didn’t allow them to begin their major league career as early so they had a chance at getting 300 wins. Or wore out their arms (Gooden, Gibson, Martinez) so that their careers were cut short.
Certainly the fact that players of color were not allowed to participate in the Major Leagues until 1947, and then at an embarrassingly slow pace, plays into the fact that a lot of careers didn’t blossom to full potential (Newcombe, Paige, Radcliffe). But in our lifetime we have seen Clemens, Maddux, Carlton, Ryan, Sutton, Niekro, Perry and Seaver (and soon Glavine) eclipse the 300 mark. Why no pitchers of color?
Offensively in our lifetime (and by that I mean when we were old enough to pay attention to baseball) we have seen Schmidt and McGwire pass 500. But also there have been Bonds, Palmiero, Sosa, Griffey, Jackson, McCovey, Thomas and soon A-Rod who have joined the 500 club.
Nine new members of the 500 club and seven are of color. Eight new members of the 300 win club and none are of color. What gives? Perhaps it comes from the adage of why there were so many aggressive hitters coming from the Dominican. “You can’t walk off the island.” Unless you throw a ball 105 mph, it may be hard to impress scouts and truly standout. But if you can hit a ball 500 feet and run like the wind, you have more opportunity to catch a scout’s eye. So maybe players of color are themselves deciding to line up on the offensive side of the ball.
At first I thought it could be economics; that a ballclub didn’t want to pay a player of color more than a white guy. But starting pitchers don’t make as much as the offensive stars, so that theory doesn’t fly.
I honestly don’t have an answer with which to end this column. Since Matt pointed this out a couple of weeks ago, I have wracked my brain to come up with a logical answer. The “black quarterback syndrome” is what Matt and his entourage have settled on. Could be. I have no clear cut answer in my mind.
The latest call generated this: Twelve of the twenty-one members of the 500 Homerun club are black or Hispanic. And when A-Rod hits his next homerun it will be thirteen of twenty-two.
Zero of the twenty-two members of the 300 win club are black or Hispanic. When Glavine wins his next it will be zero of twenty-three.
Why?
There have been great non-white pitchers. Gibson, Marichal, Newcombe, Jenkins, Pedro, Vida Blue, Dennis Martinez. But none of them have 300 wins (Jenkins is closest with 284).
It could be the black quarterback syndrome wherein a team puts their most talented player at a position where they can display all their “skills” on a daily basis.
It could be that there was/is a sense of racism (in baseball? No way!) such that management didn’t feel comfortable putting the fate of their team in the hands of a person of color.
It could be that teams wouldn’t give pitchers of color as much leeway to pitch out of jams and thus earn wins. Or didn’t allow them to begin their major league career as early so they had a chance at getting 300 wins. Or wore out their arms (Gooden, Gibson, Martinez) so that their careers were cut short.
Certainly the fact that players of color were not allowed to participate in the Major Leagues until 1947, and then at an embarrassingly slow pace, plays into the fact that a lot of careers didn’t blossom to full potential (Newcombe, Paige, Radcliffe). But in our lifetime we have seen Clemens, Maddux, Carlton, Ryan, Sutton, Niekro, Perry and Seaver (and soon Glavine) eclipse the 300 mark. Why no pitchers of color?
Offensively in our lifetime (and by that I mean when we were old enough to pay attention to baseball) we have seen Schmidt and McGwire pass 500. But also there have been Bonds, Palmiero, Sosa, Griffey, Jackson, McCovey, Thomas and soon A-Rod who have joined the 500 club.
Nine new members of the 500 club and seven are of color. Eight new members of the 300 win club and none are of color. What gives? Perhaps it comes from the adage of why there were so many aggressive hitters coming from the Dominican. “You can’t walk off the island.” Unless you throw a ball 105 mph, it may be hard to impress scouts and truly standout. But if you can hit a ball 500 feet and run like the wind, you have more opportunity to catch a scout’s eye. So maybe players of color are themselves deciding to line up on the offensive side of the ball.
At first I thought it could be economics; that a ballclub didn’t want to pay a player of color more than a white guy. But starting pitchers don’t make as much as the offensive stars, so that theory doesn’t fly.
I honestly don’t have an answer with which to end this column. Since Matt pointed this out a couple of weeks ago, I have wracked my brain to come up with a logical answer. The “black quarterback syndrome” is what Matt and his entourage have settled on. Could be. I have no clear cut answer in my mind.
Monday, August 6, 2007
The Good Stuff - Forget The Bad Stuff
Major League Baseball is a wonderful pastime with plenty to enjoy. But it doesn’t come without its warts. Here’s a look at what is good – and not so good about baseball.
RIGHT: It transcends generations. You can read about what Lefty Grove and Lou Gehrig did and it still means as much today as it did back then.
WRONG: All-Star game decides World Series home field advantage. It should go to the team with the best regular season record.
RIGHT: Derek Jeter
WRONG: Baseball doesn’t have the guts to deal with Barry Bonds (or any other “star” player). Neifi Perez was suspended for 100 games? Let’s see if baseball even notices.
RIGHT: World Series games that start in the afternoon.
WRONG: World Series games that start at 8pm Central Time and end close to midnight.
RIGHT: Hosing down the infield just before game time.
WRONG: Not allowing players of all colors and creeds to participate from the very beginning.
RIGHT: You can play catch with your dad or child (cue Field of Dreams lighting and music) and have a connection. Can’t do that with golf when I hook my drive into the fairway on the left and my dad searches for his ball in the woods on the right.
WRONG: The Minnesota Humpdome and Tropicana Field
RIGHT: Wrigley Field, PNC Park and Fenway Park
WRONG: Interleague play
RIGHT: No time clock. As long as you haven’t made three outs, anything is possible.
WRONG: Wild Card Playoff system
RIGHT: Vin Scully, Peter Gammons, Rick Sutcliffe, Steve Stone
WRONG: Chris Berman, Chip Caray, John Kruk, Joe Morgan
RIGHT: Any ballplayer legging out a triple
WRONG: ESPN moving the Sunday Night Game of the Week ahead a couple of hours so they can broadcast the ESPYs in primetime (it’s a tape delay!!!! It’s not even live!)
RIGHT: The crack of a wood bat, the slap of a leather glove.
WRONG: The Gold Glove Award is often times influenced by a player’s offensive production.
RIGHT: Organ music or, even better, just crowd noise for ballpark ambiance.
WRONG: Hard rock music blaring from the speakers.
RIGHT: Twelve guys sitting around on a late March Sunday building for the future and enjoying the camaraderie.
RIGHT: It transcends generations. You can read about what Lefty Grove and Lou Gehrig did and it still means as much today as it did back then.
WRONG: All-Star game decides World Series home field advantage. It should go to the team with the best regular season record.
RIGHT: Derek Jeter
WRONG: Baseball doesn’t have the guts to deal with Barry Bonds (or any other “star” player). Neifi Perez was suspended for 100 games? Let’s see if baseball even notices.
RIGHT: World Series games that start in the afternoon.
WRONG: World Series games that start at 8pm Central Time and end close to midnight.
RIGHT: Hosing down the infield just before game time.
WRONG: Not allowing players of all colors and creeds to participate from the very beginning.
RIGHT: You can play catch with your dad or child (cue Field of Dreams lighting and music) and have a connection. Can’t do that with golf when I hook my drive into the fairway on the left and my dad searches for his ball in the woods on the right.
WRONG: The Minnesota Humpdome and Tropicana Field
RIGHT: Wrigley Field, PNC Park and Fenway Park
WRONG: Interleague play
RIGHT: No time clock. As long as you haven’t made three outs, anything is possible.
WRONG: Wild Card Playoff system
RIGHT: Vin Scully, Peter Gammons, Rick Sutcliffe, Steve Stone
WRONG: Chris Berman, Chip Caray, John Kruk, Joe Morgan
RIGHT: Any ballplayer legging out a triple
WRONG: ESPN moving the Sunday Night Game of the Week ahead a couple of hours so they can broadcast the ESPYs in primetime (it’s a tape delay!!!! It’s not even live!)
RIGHT: The crack of a wood bat, the slap of a leather glove.
WRONG: The Gold Glove Award is often times influenced by a player’s offensive production.
RIGHT: Organ music or, even better, just crowd noise for ballpark ambiance.
WRONG: Hard rock music blaring from the speakers.
RIGHT: Twelve guys sitting around on a late March Sunday building for the future and enjoying the camaraderie.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Introducing Cooper Wrigley
There was a time in America when most people thought that black and white TV was enough. But it wasn’t, now we have color/digital/plasma/HD/watch-your-favorite-show-on-your-cell-phone. There was a time when cars that could go 55mph were enough. But it wasn’t and now we have remote key entry/multi CD disc changer/GPS to keep you from getting lost in the parking lot/cars. And there was a time in the Rebel household when the Fair Lady Rebel Kim and her “Boy I Outkicked My Coverage When I Married Her” husband thought that three beautiful daughters were enough.
But the void was always there, and I’m happy to say that last Tuesday (just 17 ½ hours before the trade deadline expired; and I thought Hunter Pence was untouchable) the void was filled when Baby Rebel, Cooper Wrigley arrived. The stem is ON the apple!!! Named for the location of Baseball’s Hallowed Museum and Baseball’s Ultimate Shrine, Cooper arrived exactly 18 years to the day that the Cubs beat Philadelphia (actually the Cubs and Phillies split a doubleheader that night, but I’m focusing on the positive – and to bring things full circle, the Cubs beat the Phillies last Tuesday 7-3) in which Sandberg homered twice and Sutcliffe had a complete game win. Unlike the win that night, Cooper’s delivery was not completed in a snappy two hours and thirty-eight minutes. He made Kim work for 8 ½ hours. And since he arrived nine days before the 19th anniversary of the Cubs first scheduled night game, he also provided me with the best birthday present possible. The lengths Kim will go to not have to go shopping and fight the crowds! Just as we were told in school, the best gifts are homemade, not store bought.
I, being the proud and over-anxious Papa, have already put my name on the waiting list for tickets to next year’s Cub Convention
The girls are beside themselves in maternal joy and cannot wait to teach him things that he doesn’t need to know yet. Like how to hide the cookies for a late night snack, how to throw a Frisbee so that it rocks Papa right in the pills, how to get away with absolute murder with a quick smile and the bat of an eye.
Soon Cooper will round out a formidable lineup during Bentel Infield Practice. With Katelyn covering the hot corner, Ally providing the target at first and Kristi anchoring the keystone, Cooper will fit in very nicely at shortstop (he is, afterall, the shortest of the four).
All the joy and mayhem in the Rebel household has made me truly understand (and unabashedly admit) that I am half the man Dick Van Patten is. Four really is enough.
But the void was always there, and I’m happy to say that last Tuesday (just 17 ½ hours before the trade deadline expired; and I thought Hunter Pence was untouchable) the void was filled when Baby Rebel, Cooper Wrigley arrived. The stem is ON the apple!!! Named for the location of Baseball’s Hallowed Museum and Baseball’s Ultimate Shrine, Cooper arrived exactly 18 years to the day that the Cubs beat Philadelphia (actually the Cubs and Phillies split a doubleheader that night, but I’m focusing on the positive – and to bring things full circle, the Cubs beat the Phillies last Tuesday 7-3) in which Sandberg homered twice and Sutcliffe had a complete game win. Unlike the win that night, Cooper’s delivery was not completed in a snappy two hours and thirty-eight minutes. He made Kim work for 8 ½ hours. And since he arrived nine days before the 19th anniversary of the Cubs first scheduled night game, he also provided me with the best birthday present possible. The lengths Kim will go to not have to go shopping and fight the crowds! Just as we were told in school, the best gifts are homemade, not store bought.
I, being the proud and over-anxious Papa, have already put my name on the waiting list for tickets to next year’s Cub Convention
The girls are beside themselves in maternal joy and cannot wait to teach him things that he doesn’t need to know yet. Like how to hide the cookies for a late night snack, how to throw a Frisbee so that it rocks Papa right in the pills, how to get away with absolute murder with a quick smile and the bat of an eye.
Soon Cooper will round out a formidable lineup during Bentel Infield Practice. With Katelyn covering the hot corner, Ally providing the target at first and Kristi anchoring the keystone, Cooper will fit in very nicely at shortstop (he is, afterall, the shortest of the four).
All the joy and mayhem in the Rebel household has made me truly understand (and unabashedly admit) that I am half the man Dick Van Patten is. Four really is enough.
Monday, July 23, 2007
Decade By Decade
The All-Star Game sparked a lot of things. It sparked a reminder of just how terrible Chris Berman has become. It sparked yet another exciting way for the NL to lose. And it sparked a conversation between the DoorMatts and myself (and here I have to take a timeout a give props to my peeps for planting the seeds of thought for countless Monroe Doctrines. Matt has been a creative contributor to at least five of them).
During the pre-game ceremonies, Willie Mays came out and the announcer made a comment about him being the “Greatest Living Ballplayer”. It got Matt to thinking about about the greatest player from each decade. SIDE NOTE: Our criteria was that the player had to dominate all of the decade. Matt’s contention was that the early years provided easy, big stud winners and that the ‘70’s, ‘80’s and ‘90’s didn’t have the clearcut dominant choice. Here’s what his thoughts and the conversation generated (see if you have any problems with any of these guys being called “The Greatest Living Ballplayer”):
1910’s: Ty Cobb
1920’s: Babe Ruth
1930’s: Jimmie Foxx (This is a Rebel belief although I would be happy with Lou Gehrig. Foxx kicked booty for all ten years, while 1939 was the year Lou had to retire).
1940’s: Ted Williams (A strong argument can be made for Joe Dimaggio, but William’s numbers were just clearly superior.
1950’s: This one boiled down to Musial, Mantle & Mays. When you first look at them during that decade, it seems close. But upon closer evaluation of the top offensive stats, it’s really a two horse race between Musial and Mantle (Mays is a distant third). And for consistency and durability, the 1950’s belong to Musial.
1960’s: Hank Aaron (Willie Mays started to fade at the end of the 60’s although if we had half decades [1956-1965] Mays would most likely dominate).
And here’s where things get interesting. Matt pointed out that each of the previous decades you could point to one massive star (Ruth) or a bunch of really, really great ballplayers (Foxx, Gehrig; Mays, Mantle, Musial; Williams, Dimaggio) and no matter the name - you wouldn’t mind hearing them called “The Greatest Living Ballplayer”. But in the ‘70’s it wasn’t that obvious. Was it because we had seen these guys play and so they weren’t “immortal”? Was it because not only did we see these players in their hey day, we had actually most recently seen them when they were hanging on, unable to consistently catch up on a fastball? Or was the overall talent level lower than previous decades? I would think it’s part of the first two questions. With African-American players and Latin players getting their opportunity, I can’t believe the talent level was lower.
1970’s: This was actually tough to figure out during our conversation. Mike Schmidt came to mind, but the problem is he started slow in the ‘70s and faded in the late ‘80’s. He kicked ass from 1976-1985. Johnny Bench came to mind. Reggie Jackson came to mind. We had decided that Willie Stargell would be viewed as the best of the 1970’s, but statistically evaluating them the same way as Musial, Mays and Mantle, the best ballplayer from the 1970’s was Pete Rose.
1980’s: The issue we face in the 1980’s and 1990’s is that roles seem to have specialized. In earlier decades we had legends that did everything. Ruth led the league in homeruns and batted in the mid .300s. Same for Musial, Mantle, Aaron etc. Once we get to the 1980’s we have Ricky Henderson who dominated in some categories and lagged in others. So for overall performance we narrow it down to Dawson, Brett and Yount. Again, evaluating them the way we did for the other decades, Dawson and Yount tie for the lead. I would love to say “you decide”. But we are all about making a statement here at the Monroe Doctrine, so the selection for the 1980’s is Dawson for year to year consistency.
1990’s: I hate him, he doesn’t deserve what he is about to receive, but in the 1990’s there was no one close to Barry Bonds. I don’t feel bad about including him here because statistically the questions for him arise in 2000 when his numbers should have started to tail off instead of take off.
I would enjoy your thoughts. Don’t agree? I don’t blame you, by tomorrow I may not agree with myself. Post your thoughts to the Forum.
During the pre-game ceremonies, Willie Mays came out and the announcer made a comment about him being the “Greatest Living Ballplayer”. It got Matt to thinking about about the greatest player from each decade. SIDE NOTE: Our criteria was that the player had to dominate all of the decade. Matt’s contention was that the early years provided easy, big stud winners and that the ‘70’s, ‘80’s and ‘90’s didn’t have the clearcut dominant choice. Here’s what his thoughts and the conversation generated (see if you have any problems with any of these guys being called “The Greatest Living Ballplayer”):
1910’s: Ty Cobb
1920’s: Babe Ruth
1930’s: Jimmie Foxx (This is a Rebel belief although I would be happy with Lou Gehrig. Foxx kicked booty for all ten years, while 1939 was the year Lou had to retire).
1940’s: Ted Williams (A strong argument can be made for Joe Dimaggio, but William’s numbers were just clearly superior.
1950’s: This one boiled down to Musial, Mantle & Mays. When you first look at them during that decade, it seems close. But upon closer evaluation of the top offensive stats, it’s really a two horse race between Musial and Mantle (Mays is a distant third). And for consistency and durability, the 1950’s belong to Musial.
1960’s: Hank Aaron (Willie Mays started to fade at the end of the 60’s although if we had half decades [1956-1965] Mays would most likely dominate).
And here’s where things get interesting. Matt pointed out that each of the previous decades you could point to one massive star (Ruth) or a bunch of really, really great ballplayers (Foxx, Gehrig; Mays, Mantle, Musial; Williams, Dimaggio) and no matter the name - you wouldn’t mind hearing them called “The Greatest Living Ballplayer”. But in the ‘70’s it wasn’t that obvious. Was it because we had seen these guys play and so they weren’t “immortal”? Was it because not only did we see these players in their hey day, we had actually most recently seen them when they were hanging on, unable to consistently catch up on a fastball? Or was the overall talent level lower than previous decades? I would think it’s part of the first two questions. With African-American players and Latin players getting their opportunity, I can’t believe the talent level was lower.
1970’s: This was actually tough to figure out during our conversation. Mike Schmidt came to mind, but the problem is he started slow in the ‘70s and faded in the late ‘80’s. He kicked ass from 1976-1985. Johnny Bench came to mind. Reggie Jackson came to mind. We had decided that Willie Stargell would be viewed as the best of the 1970’s, but statistically evaluating them the same way as Musial, Mays and Mantle, the best ballplayer from the 1970’s was Pete Rose.
1980’s: The issue we face in the 1980’s and 1990’s is that roles seem to have specialized. In earlier decades we had legends that did everything. Ruth led the league in homeruns and batted in the mid .300s. Same for Musial, Mantle, Aaron etc. Once we get to the 1980’s we have Ricky Henderson who dominated in some categories and lagged in others. So for overall performance we narrow it down to Dawson, Brett and Yount. Again, evaluating them the way we did for the other decades, Dawson and Yount tie for the lead. I would love to say “you decide”. But we are all about making a statement here at the Monroe Doctrine, so the selection for the 1980’s is Dawson for year to year consistency.
1990’s: I hate him, he doesn’t deserve what he is about to receive, but in the 1990’s there was no one close to Barry Bonds. I don’t feel bad about including him here because statistically the questions for him arise in 2000 when his numbers should have started to tail off instead of take off.
I would enjoy your thoughts. Don’t agree? I don’t blame you, by tomorrow I may not agree with myself. Post your thoughts to the Forum.
Monday, July 16, 2007
Potpourri of Fun
As we enter into the summer season, I offer you a potpourri for your senses.
Homerun call we’d love to hear: Call Pamela Anderson because Bay watches that one fly out of here!
Apparently what happened in Vegas, stayed in Vegas: Bad news to report – After scouring the World Series of Poker website, I could not see that Bob finished in the money in Event #25. (or Event #27) Since Bob appears to be a rather talented poker player, I can only attribute his poor luck to not having a cool poker nickname. A lot of the top players have great names. There’s Mike the Mouth, Amarillo Slim, The Professor (not our own Dave Holian, but Howard Lederer), The Unabomber, Fossilman. I think that’s what is holding Bob back. So to try and help him out, I’ve come up with some sure winners and a couple of alsorans.
* Plainfield Bob (Doesn’t really have a kick to it, nevermind)
* Insaniac (He is a father of four young ‘uns afterall)
* Red Hot Bob (A tribute to his grandfather and the CFCL all wrapped in one)
* Mr. Amazing (How does a guy convince his wife he should go to Vegas for a week and a half and gamble?)
* Dirty Rat Bastard (First year in the league last year and he finishes ahead of me, not to mention that this year he steals Kelly Johnson from me in the draft so I guess it would be . . . )
* . . . Double Dirty Rat Bastard
Can’t be right all the time: It appears that the Monroe Doctrine doesn’t share the same opinion as vaunted Tribune sportswriter, Teddy Greenstein. Teddy kicked out an article in advance of the Cubs/Sox series giving grades to the four baseball broadcast teams. He grades Santo/Hughes as an A-, even going so far as to laud Hughes for his overpronounciation of Matt Murton. I don’t know that they deserve an A, but I do have to give Hughes credit for taking his traditional 5th inning break while the Cubs were in Texas and therefore letting Corey Provis get the chance to call Sosa’s 600th homerun. Hughes obviously saw that Sosa was due up and anything was possible. But he didn’t bigtime Provis. Of course, if I were Hughes, I wouldn’t want to be anywhere near Sosa and his 600th.
Greenstein did get one grade right. He gives Farmer/Singleton a D. If Farmer would show half the class and professionalism that Hughes does working with Santo, the Sox radio broadcast would actually be listenable.
Happy Anniverary: Yesterday to Ryne Sandberg and Bruce Sutter. Twenty three years ago marked the coming out party for Sandberg and the Division winning Cubs. And to celebrate, Uncle Lou managed like Don Zimmer in ’89. A good day all around.
Homerun call we’d love to hear: Call Pamela Anderson because Bay watches that one fly out of here!
Apparently what happened in Vegas, stayed in Vegas: Bad news to report – After scouring the World Series of Poker website, I could not see that Bob finished in the money in Event #25. (or Event #27) Since Bob appears to be a rather talented poker player, I can only attribute his poor luck to not having a cool poker nickname. A lot of the top players have great names. There’s Mike the Mouth, Amarillo Slim, The Professor (not our own Dave Holian, but Howard Lederer), The Unabomber, Fossilman. I think that’s what is holding Bob back. So to try and help him out, I’ve come up with some sure winners and a couple of alsorans.
* Plainfield Bob (Doesn’t really have a kick to it, nevermind)
* Insaniac (He is a father of four young ‘uns afterall)
* Red Hot Bob (A tribute to his grandfather and the CFCL all wrapped in one)
* Mr. Amazing (How does a guy convince his wife he should go to Vegas for a week and a half and gamble?)
* Dirty Rat Bastard (First year in the league last year and he finishes ahead of me, not to mention that this year he steals Kelly Johnson from me in the draft so I guess it would be . . . )
* . . . Double Dirty Rat Bastard
Can’t be right all the time: It appears that the Monroe Doctrine doesn’t share the same opinion as vaunted Tribune sportswriter, Teddy Greenstein. Teddy kicked out an article in advance of the Cubs/Sox series giving grades to the four baseball broadcast teams. He grades Santo/Hughes as an A-, even going so far as to laud Hughes for his overpronounciation of Matt Murton. I don’t know that they deserve an A, but I do have to give Hughes credit for taking his traditional 5th inning break while the Cubs were in Texas and therefore letting Corey Provis get the chance to call Sosa’s 600th homerun. Hughes obviously saw that Sosa was due up and anything was possible. But he didn’t bigtime Provis. Of course, if I were Hughes, I wouldn’t want to be anywhere near Sosa and his 600th.
Greenstein did get one grade right. He gives Farmer/Singleton a D. If Farmer would show half the class and professionalism that Hughes does working with Santo, the Sox radio broadcast would actually be listenable.
Happy Anniverary: Yesterday to Ryne Sandberg and Bruce Sutter. Twenty three years ago marked the coming out party for Sandberg and the Division winning Cubs. And to celebrate, Uncle Lou managed like Don Zimmer in ’89. A good day all around.
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