The 5.5 Hole

Home runs are exciting. They can shift momentum or bring a crowd to its feet. They can set records, and they end games. Yet there has been something so dark about home runs up until recently.

The home run race between Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa of 1998 brought fans back to baseball after so many had left following the 1994 strike. But those two also contributed to another black spot in baseball history. Steroids destroyed the competitive balance and eliminated all meaning behind home run figures.

Fortunately, baseball's much belated steps to eliminate steroids have worked This has ushered in a new era of competition. Pitching is king.

Let's take a look at home run figures in recent years.

2004 - 5,451
2005 - 5,017
2006 - 5,386
2007 - 4,957
2008 - 4,878
2009 - 5,042
2010 - 4,613
2011 - 2,106 (half way mark) 4,212 estimated total.

This leads me to one conclusion. Everyone was cheating. Now, obviously there are players who have always been clean, but one look at the numbers tells me a lot of players were using steroids.

Prior to 2005, there was no punishment for steroid use. Baseball finally implemented a testing and punishment system in the beginning of 2005, then made it more harsh at the end of 2005.

As you can see, the home run totals have been on a steady decline (except for an anomaly in 2006 and 2009) since the end of the '04 season. We are on pace for 1,000 fewer home runs in 2011 than 2004. 1,000!

Pitchers have benefited from the reduction in steroid use (I won't say elimination since players like Manny Ramirez prove arrogance can still trump penalty). The 2004 season saw an average of 716 earned runs per team. In 2010 that number was down to an average of 653 earned runs per team.

Pitchers do not have an advantage now, they are simply playing on a level playing field. And yes, I am aware plenty of pitchers were busted for steroids. But there is a big difference between a little extra juice behind a fast ball and a little extra juice off a batted ball.

We have entered into a golden era of baseball. The pitcher's era. Maybe I'm crazy, but I'll take six no-hitters in one year over a 70 home run season.

As I was thinking about some of the greatest baseball songs of all-time (John Fogerty's "Centerfield" wins hands down), I thought about the Red Sox fight song, Tessie. The song was such an integral part of their success in 2004, I wanted to learn more.

The 2004 American League Championship Series is the greatest postseason story in the history of baseball. No arguments, no questions, no maybes. It just is. No team had ever come back from 3-0 to win a best of seven play-off series. More so, no team had ever come back from a 3-0 deficit while trailing in the bottom of the ninth of game four. Dave Robert's stolen base, David Ortiz's heroics in extra innings, and Curt Schilling's bloody sock are indelible images burned into the minds of every baseball fan in America. Combine that with the 86 year championship drought the Red Sox were faced with, and no story can ever top this one.

Well, Red Sox fans have the Dropkick Murphys to thank. However, that story really begins in 1902.

The song Tessie, sung by Dropkick Murphys during the 2004 World Series run for the Sox, originated in the 1902 Broadway play "The Silver Slipper." At that time, the song was called You Are The Only, Only, Only. A far cry from its use as a rallying cry for the Red Sox Nation, the song was about a woman singing to her parakeet.

The Boston Pilgrims, who would later become the Red Sox, were heading into a best-of-nine series against the Pittsburgh Pirates to decide the first ever World Series. In anticipation and support of their beloved Pilgrims, a rowdy bunch called the Royal Rooters adopted "Tessie" as their anthem.

The Royal Rooters were a group of baseball-loving Irishmen led in part by JFK's grandfather and Boston mayor John Fitzgerald. They cheered their team to success while singing "Tessie" from the stands. With the Royal Rooters at their back, the Pilgrims won the series five games to three.

The team went on to win five World Series between 1903 and 1918. Then, just as quickly as the magic began, Tessie was gone. The Royal Rooters disbanded and the sounds of Tessie were no more.

The Red Sox didn't win another World Series until 2004. Is it coincidence this was the year Dropkick Murphys re-made "Tessie?"

The very anthem that had carried the Sox to five titles had haunted them in its absence. With its revival came postseason success. The Red Sox won the World Series in 2004 and 2007, and they are no longer buried beneath curses and failed expectations.

I am far from being a member of Red Sox Nation, but love a good baseball story. I will be able to tell my son that I watched the greatest comeback in sports history unfold live. So count me as a fan of Dropkick Murphys, because Tessie, I couldn't live without ya!

Johnny Bench, Yogi Berra, Carlton Fisk, Roy Campanella, and Gary Carter can breath a sigh of relief. They will be able to retain the title as some of the best catchers in history with little to no competition from current and future players. Their statues can be roped off at Cooperstown and the position of catcher can be left off the ballot for future Hall of Fame votes.

Catcher is one of the most demanding positions on the diamond. And those who play it well for their entire career are a dying breed. Injuries are inevitable. So when a team strikes gold in a talented catcher, they need to protect him. Unfortunately, money rules all. Not many teams are going to invest hundreds of millions on a player susceptible to injury who plays 140 games a year or less.

Teams are more willing to pay less and implement a platoon at catcher. This limits the wear and tear on each catcher and generally gets the job done. But what are we missing out on?

Joe Maur could have been one of the greatest catchers of all-time. But we will never know. Because of the investment the Twins made in him, Maur will soon be scooping out short-hops at a first base bag near you. He's not your prototypical first baseman. He doesn't hit for power. He averages one home run every 39 at bats. That's about one every ten games. But he's tall, and first base seems to be a easier transition for a catcher than outfield.

It hasn't yet happened with Buster Posey, but the whispers started almost as soon as his leg bent backward under the force of Scott Cousin's collision. Obviously Posey will need time to heal before talks of a position change heat up, but injuries usually ignite these conversations.

The catch-22 of it all is the fact that I agree with moving a valued player away from catcher. It's sad to say, and all things being equal, I'd rather see Joe Maur and Buster Posey gunning down runners deep into their thirties. But circumstance won't allow it.

If Joe Maur is going to live up to his contract, he can't be on the bench. No one wants to see a $184 million cheerleader. If Buster Posey is going to be the face that washes away Barry Bonds' stain, he needs to be on the field.

My romanticized view of baseball, its history, and greatness tells me to leave the catchers where they are. But my desire to be a fan and see great players have long career tells me that the abuse catchers take in this "non-contact" sport has finally caught up with them.

It is the time of year when certain Major League players must take stock of their situation. Some may be looking for new luggage in preparation for a quick move. Some may be socking away funds for a stint in the minors. And some may be rolling out the welcome mats for a savior to lead their team to the post-season.

July 31st is a little over a month away, so it's time to figure out who's buying and who's selling.

Let's start with the sellers.

The Houston Astros are the worst team in baseball right now. They may be moving to the American League, and they are up for sale. They have no reason to be buyers or even holders. That being said, the team is still trying to attract an owner. Don't expect them to give up all of their veteran talent.

The Kansas City Royals started the season playing respectable baseball. Now, they are struggling to stay above the Twins who are surprisingly still in last place. The Royals have a lot of young talent and are one good farm crop away from an above .500 season. The Royals are likely going to be sellers looking for young prospects in return.

After a 90-win season, the 2011 Padres have completely reverted. They brought up Anthony Rizzo as a last ditch attempt at competing, but that didn't help. The Padres are sellers with one of the hottest products on the market for the second year in a row. Expect to see Heath Bell closing out games for a contender come August.

Finally, we come to Oakland. They are in the basement of a bad division and will likely be dumping talent if they can. That is, if they can figure out where they'll be playing baseball in the near-future. With their lease on the Coliseum expiring soon, the A's may be too preoccupied to jump heavily into the seller's market.

The buyers are always more fun. These are the teams vying for play-off spots or battling for respect. These are the teams that will throw caution to the wind even if it's not in their nature.

The Yankees and Red Sox are always buyers so there's no need to break them down.

The Phillies may need (or want) another arm with the injury to Roy Oswalt. Otherwise, while old, they might not need anything else.

The Twins are a proud franchise, more proud than many people believe. This Twins team was picked by most to win the Central and by some to make the World Series. Yet they are dead last. Their pride will make them buyers. It will be a tough go to make the play-offs but with a little help to fill injury holes, they can earn back some respect.

The Diamondbacks and the Giants will both be looking to add the finishing touches to their title hopeful teams. There have already been rumors involving David Wright going to the Dbacks from the Mets. The Giants could use a second baseman or catcher down the stretch.

Finally, the Pittsburgh Pirates will be buyers. That's how important a finish above .500 is to the team and the city. Their fans are packing the park and national media is taking notice. They have already sold out as many games so far this year as they did all of last year.

Things will heat up as July 31st gets closer. As the mercury pushes toward triple digits in many Major League cities, the trade rumors will be hotter. For now we predict. In a month we react. But either way, it signals the official start of pennant races.

Jim Rigleman is a quitter. Plain and simple, he left his team in the middle of the season. But it's not plain and simple is it?

After asking Washington National Gerneral Manager Mike Rizzo if they could discuss his 2012 contract option, and after essentially being told no, Rigglemen quit after two seasons with the Nationals. And he is getting killed for it in the court of public opinion. But is that really fair?

Jim Riggleman felt he was not getting the respect he deserved. He was guiding a perennial loser to a winning record. In fact, the Nationals are over .500 this late in the season for the first time since 2005. He was part of a buzz in D.C. not seen since the World Series-bound Washington Senators of 1933.

Riggleman was part of it and felt he deserved more than a string of one-year deals.

Maybe he had a point, but you wouldn't guess it by reading ESPN.com or listening to Nationals outfielder Jayson Werth.

David Schoenfield of ESPN.com wrote in his blog, "Riggleman wasn't the reason for the recent surge; the players were. Players win and lose games. All you want is a manager to not screw things up."

Really? Casey Stengel, Tony LaRussa, Sparky Anderson, Joe Torre, and many other great managers were just sitting in the dugout with the goal of not screwing up? The player must execute. Absolutely. But the manager is the driving force. The manager sets the line-up, pulls the pitchers, makes a double switch.

In 2003, was it Pedro Martinez who is blamed for not executing deep into Game 7 of the ALCS? No, Grady Little had to answer for his decision to leave Pedro in.

Jayson Werth echoed Schoenfield's sentiment with his quote, "It's not going to change anything in here. We're the ones that have been making the pitches and hitting the balls and winning the ballgames, so we're going to keep going."

It's tough to find credibility in Werth's statement considering Mike Rizzo is the one who signed him to a ridiculous $126 million contract. He and Jim Riggleman have had trouble all year, so I wouldn't expect Werth to step up in Riggleman's defense.

Right or wrong, Jim Riggleman did exactly what many of us have wanted to do at one point or another in our lives. Almost all of us have felt disrespected at work. Almost all of us have felt under appreciated and worth more. And almost all of us have had day-dreams of walking into the boss's office, quitting, and walking out.

This was probably something Riggleman had been thinking about for a long time, and contrary to speculation and stories from those with "inside knowledge," only Jim Riggleman and Mike Rizzo know exactly what was said during their meetings.

But consider this; Jim Riggleman has not had the luxury of even a subsequent year guaranteed on his contract. When operating as essentially an interim manager, how can anyone expect to earn the respect of their team?

Jim Riggleman walked away in the midst of a successful run. Yet the success was that of the organization. Riggleman can be proud of what he helped accomplish, but pride only goes so far without reward. In life, most people expect compensation, promotion, or some other reward when they are doing well and helping the organization succeed. When they don't get it, often times people look for employment elsewhere. Yet, when Jim Riggleman does this he is a pariah. He is on his way to being blacklisted from management.

But don't worry about Riggleman. He knew what he was doing and the consequences that would come with it.

As fans of the game it's easy to forget this is a job for those involved. When a job loses its value and causes stress, it's time to move on. Whether you agree or disagree with Jim Riggleman's decision, at least respect the fact that he had the fortitude to walk away on his own terms.

With most teams anywhere from 4 to 7 games away from officially completing half their regular season games, I thought it was as good a time as any to make my second half predictions.

The All-Star Game's completion usually signals the start of the trade season. That very small window from the middle of July through the end of July can change the game. A team on the outside looking in might be thrust into the play-off race. Or a play-off contender may pull off the most bone-headed trade in history and fall out of contention.

Either way, I'm not waiting. With half the season in the books I intend to make irresponsible predictions without knowing what each team will loom like come July 31st. And don't lie, you're doing the same thing.

Let's start with the American League East. The Red Sox have a 0.5 game lead over the Yankees, and the Rays are 3.5 back. As impressive as the Rays are considering their payroll, the Red Sox have finally become the juggernaut we all thought they'd be. The Yankees have the best shot at overtaking the Sox, but I don't see it happening. So my pick for the AL East is the Red Sox. And I expect them to win it by at least 5 games.

The AL Central is the strangest division in baseball. The Twins are playing better but are still so far back in the division they're feet can touch the bottom (otherwise known as the Royals). The Indians and Tigers are perched at the top with the Indians holding a one game lead. Hats off to the Indians, but I expect them to fade by the end of July. They will remain competitive and within a good winning streak's distance of first, but the Tigers are ultimately going to win the division. Justin Verlander is the best pitcher in baseball and should put them on his back the rest of the year.

The AL West is similar to the NL West of 2005. There is only one team above .500 in the division and that's the defending AL Champion Rangers. Seattle is a nice story, but they just don't have the talent yet to make a run at the division crown. The Angels are always a tough team to beat, but they've already passed the torch to Texas. Much like last year, I expect the Rangers to run away with it.

And that brings us to the Wild Card. For the fifth straight year the Wild Card will come out of the American League East. No other division will have a strong enough team. The Yankees will win the AL Wild Card narrowly over the Rays who will make it interesting down to the last week of the season.

Ok, if you haven't done so yet, take a bathroom break, get a drink, or stretch your legs. It's time to move on to the National League.

Much like the AL East, the NL East is powerful. The Phillies are the clear favorite and will run away with the division. Sorry Fredi Gonzalez, your redemption year with the Braves will be good, but not enough for a division title. The Marlins will get back to winning with Jack McKeon, but their terrible June will haunt them all season.

The National League Central is the best division in baseball. They edge the AL East slightly based on having one more division opponent and four teams at .500 or better. The Brewers have come a long way and will be in a dog fight to the finish with the Cardinals, but they will win the division by a narrow margin. The Reds, while still a good team, will finish third. And get ready for a celebration 18 years in the making, the Pirates will finish over .500 for the first time since '92.

The NL West is really a two-horse race. While everyone, including myself, gave the Rockies a chance at the division crown, they haven't capitalized on their talent. Kevin Towers at GM and Kirk Gibson at manager is a winning combination for the Diamondbacks. That and their bullpen is no longer standing at home plate holding the door open for the opposing team. The Giants have carried on admirably in the midst of an injury-plagued season and with the struggles of Tim Lincecum, but they will not repeat at division champs. The Diamondbacks will win it in a race with almost as much excitement as last year.

The NL Wild Card is coming out of the Central. The Cardinal will be rewarded for the turnaround they made from 2010 to 2011. The Braves will give us something to talk about, but they have nine games left against the Phillies. Six of which are in September, down the stretch.

So there you have it. My prediction that will surely be wrong. Bring on the Summer Classic and bring on the pennant races.

There is something magical about listening to a ballgame on the radio. It's not for everyone, and I certainly don't want to give up my High Definition television broadcasts. But if you have the passion for the game and can sit through a radio broadcast, you will hear something wonderful.

When I think about baseball on the radio, I think of lazy summer days. I imagine porch swings and ice-cold lemonade. I can picture old men and young kids alike gathered around a barely audible radio trying to tune the game. Clearly these are images of a time long gone, a time I never had the pleasure of enjoying. However, an occasional baseball game as heard told over radio can be a relaxing treat.

I grew up with Ted Leitner and Jerry Coleman as the radio broadcasters for the San Diego Padres. During those times as a kid when I couldn't plop myself down in front of the television (you know when I had to tag along for grocery runs and other chores), or during the games that weren't televised, I would listen to Ted and Jerry explain the intricacies and details of the day's game. Jerry Coleman and his scratchy, deep voice had the unique ability to tell of playing days during World War II with the Yankees. But he could just as easily explain today's game with the love only a former player can have.

It takes a unique individual to be able to describe a baseball game and make you feel like you're there. If you close your eyes and just listen, you can have any seat in the park. You can feel the energy of the crowd as your team threatens to score. You can see the batter swinging for the fences. Voices like Jerry Coleman's and Vin Scully's, Ernie Harwell's and Jack Buck's add a level of respect to the broadcast. They know what they're talking about, they deliver it in a no nonsense way, and they teach.

One of the biggest differences between a radio broadcast and television is what you get between the action. On the television broadcasts you may get some baseball stories, but you will also hear about the kid in section 210 who just dropped his ice cream. Or you will hear about the two kids that just got engaged on the big screen. With a radio broadcast you will hear of behind the scenes stories experienced by the broadcaster. You will hear of chance encounters with some of baseball's greats. And you will learn about the game.

The next time you find yourself away from your television or on the road, turn on the radio. Let the soothing sound of baseball filter through your speakers. Let the voices of experience and knowledge tell you a story. While radio might be a medium of the past, let those voices from the past carry you away to a ballpark near or far.

Any headway made with the McCourts' divorce settlement last week was completely undone by Bud Selig and Major League Baseball. The Dodgers' owners had agreed on a one day trial to essentially determine if Frank McCourt was the sole owner of the Dodgers or if Jamie McCourt had rights. All other aspects of the divorce and what would happen after the trial decision had been agreed upon. Then MLB dropped their bomb and voided an agreement between Frank McCourt and Fox Sports for long term broadcasting rights. The deal was worth $2.7 billion and would have helped Frank McCourt continue to make payroll.

Instead, it is looking more and more like Major League Baseball will seize control of the Dodgers. And that's exactly what they should do.

There are two main questions associated with such a takeover. How can MLB takeover and sell a team that an owner spent so much money on? And what business does MLB have in voiding a contract between two consenting entities?

The answers are simple and really reflect business 101. Each Major League club is a franchise. Major League Baseball is the corporation. Think of it like McDonald's.

The McDonald's Corporation controls the overall activities of the company but franchises each restaurant. The owners of each franchise put down a substantial amount of money to own one of these franchises, but they also agree to run it in accordance with McDonald's policy.

What do you think McDonald's would do if it learned one of their franchise owners couldn't pay his employees? What do you think they would do if they found out the owner was using profits for his own personal gain rather than making payroll? Now imagine this is a successful McDonald's franchise in a prime location. The corporation isn't just going to shut it down or let it fail. They are going to find a new owner.

According to Baseball Reference, the Dodgers attendance last season was 3,562,320. That was good for second in baseball. A quick calculation of their 2010 payroll puts the figure at $94,188,516. Now let's calculate the average ticket price at Dodgers Stadium.

Obviously more tickets will sell in the lower price points than the higher ones, so taking an average is difficult. To be fair, I took an average of the ticket prices under $100. Using this rough calculation that clearly underestimates the actual ticket revenue, we get an average ticket price of $39.29. Multiplying the 2010 attendance figure by this average ticket price gives us an estimated ticket revenue of $139,963,552.80.

Throw in concession revenue and advertising revenue and the number grows quickly. So please don't tell me the Dodgers were operating at a loss. Instead, Frank and Jamie McCourt used profits for their own pleasure. To the point of running one of baseball's great franchises into financial ruin.

While I don't often like the moves Bud Selig makes as baseball's commissioner, he needs to seize control of this team. For those in support of Frank McCourt's continued ownership you are basically saying you support a greedy man who cares more about personal gain than his team.

As for the Fox Sports deal, don't be naive enough to think the deal is dead. If Major League Baseball takes over the Dodgers and sells the team, you can bet on the new owner getting that deal approved. So why wouldn't Bud Selig approve this deal and allow Frank McCourt to save his neck? It's simple.

If the owner of a Major League franchise has to resort to a major media deal to overcome his financial disaster and make payroll, he is not the right guy. Do you think a McDonald's franchise owner could sell ad rights on their storefront just to make payroll?

No corporation in their right mind would allow a franchise owner to continue running their company the way Frank McCourt has. It's bad for the Dodgers and bad for baseball.

Edwin Rodriguez is not a quitter. He is a man fed up with frustrating baseball and frustrating management. In the case of the Florida Marlins, it wasn't Rodriguez's management that was a problem, it was the front office.

Rodriguez's escalation from Triple-A manager to the Marlins manager was a quick one. Maybe he was ready, maybe he wasn't. Maybe he wanted this, maybe he didn't. The fact is, the Marlins and their quick trigger finger forced this.

Fredi Gonzalez was a good manager. He is proving that with the Atlanta Braves right now. And let me tell you, the Braves weren't just going to throw anyone in there to replace Bobby Cox. Yet the Marlins, only one game under .500 at the time last year, fired Fredi Gonzalez. The Braves are currently seven games over .500 with Gonzalez at the helm.

The trend doesn't stop there. Joe Girardi was a rookie manager taking over for a veteran Jack Mckeon in Florida in 2006. He guided the Marlins to a respectable 78-84 record and won manager of the year. He was promptly fired. Girardi had the youngest team in the league and the lowest payroll according to Baseball Reference. He kept the team in contention most of the season and helped unify an inexperienced team. But in the end, the Marlins pulled the trigger and let him go.

The Florida Marlins are a team that will be on their 9th manager when they promote Rodriguez's replacement. In their 19th year of operation, Marlins managers average just barely over two years before being cut loose. For a team that always seems the be in contention for the title of "lowest payroll in baseball", this seems wrong. For a team with two World Series titles, this seems illogical.

As a comparison, the Pittsburgh Pirates, a team without a winning season since 1992, have only had six different managers during the same time period. The Kansas City Royals, with only two winning years since 1993, have only had seven different managers. And the Washington Nationals/Montreal Expos, who have seen only six winning seasons since 1993, have used just four different managers.

While the Marlins front office is busy installing their revolving door to the manager's office, they are letting good managers get away. As such, the Marlins will be on the outside looking in at the success of former skippers. Jim Leyland took the Tigers to a World Series and is locked in a battle for first place this season with the Indians. Joe Girardi won a World Series in his second year with the Yankees. And Fredi Gonzalez has his team in the wild card hunt and within striking distance of the red-hot Phillies.

Major League managers rarely get the chance they deserve. They are often tasked with the immediate turn-around of terrible teams. "Worst to First" is the motto slung around their necks whether fair or not. Yet the Florida Marlins take this to a whole new level.

My advice to the new Marlins manager is simple. Manage your expectations. Keep your resume close at hand, because those expectations should revolve around a short tenure with a team always looking for the next best thing.

As a new father of a beautiful baby boy, I find myself thinking about the bond between father and son through baseball.  Perhaps there is no better personification of this unique bond than the closing moments of Field of Dreams in which Kevin Costner's character says, "Hey Dad, you wanna have a catch?"

The game of baseball has always had a special place in the lives of father and son.  Baseball is an opportunity to teach, to learn, to love, and to laugh.  It is a place where fathers can dream and sons can hope.  A simple passing of knowledge becomes so much more as an admiring son hopes to one day be like his dad.

I remember the first game my father ever took me to. Fernando "El Toro" Valenzuela was pitching for the Padres.  It was the end of his career and I couldn't have known at the time that this was a pitcher who once dominated the 1981 season and helped to lead the Dodgers to a World Series.  I may not remember the specifics of the game, but I remember being in complete awe.  And I remember enjoying spending time with my Dad.

My love of baseball only grew from there.  My father took me to countless games and taught me how to understand the game by showing me how to score it.  In what other sports do boys come to the park excited about keeping the stats of the game and feverishly hoping that their score of a certain play matches up with the official scorer's?

I remember standing in the outfield bleachers of Qualcomm Stadium during batting practice and catching "home run" balls.  Or at least trying to.  I only ever caught one, but still loved every second of it.  The only reason we were at the park early enough for this to happen was because of my dad's love of the game.  He wanted to get there and watch batting practice.  He wanted to see who was swinging a hot bat and who was blasting monster home runs.  That was a time where, when not attempting to catch home run balls, my dad and I could sit and talk baseball in the hours leading up into the game.

And when the games were over, what did I want to do?  I wanted to go play.  Even with his busy schedule and odd hours, my father found time to take me to the local parks and play catch.  Or he'd teach me to stay in front of a ground ball.  He'd pitch to me and help me work on my batting.  Even as an errant curve ball from my dad hit me in my un-helmeted head one day, I still loved being out there with him.

As I got older, going to the games with him took on even more meaning.  I was able to understand some of the nuances of the game better, and soon it became a competition of who's knowledge of the game was better.  He'd always tell me if I memorized my school work half as much as I memorized baseball stats, I'd be a genius.

Some of my best memories are of being with my dad at the ball game.  And this is no slight to my step-mom or my sister, but the times when it was just my father and I at the ball game were truly special.  I think back to those days and wonder if baseball made my time with my dad more interesting, or if being with my dad made baseball that much better.  And every time I think about it, I know the latter is true.

So on this father's day, my first as a parent, I think ahead to one day teaching my son the beauty of a game with different rules in each league, the wonder of catching a baseball hit from a Major Leaguer's bat during batting practice, the difference between a two-seam and a four-seam fastball, how to dig a short-hop out at first base, the importance of using two hands in the outfield, and always hustling on every play.  I look forward to the bond we may share while talking about who the best pure hitter in the game was, who is the career leader in stolen bases, where Hank Aaron ranks amongst the home run hitters of my son's generation, and why Cal Ripken Jr.'s consecutive game streak will never be broken.  I hope for the day when my son comes up to me and asks, "hey dad, wanna have a catch?"

Through life and through baseball, my dad showed me what it meant to be a man.  And with those lessons I enter fatherhood more prepared.  Thank you dad and happy father's day!

The electricity is building. The lights feel a little brighter. The sound system crackles to life. In a collective moment of pure excitement, every Padres fan in attendance rises to their feet with the first toll of AC/DC's Hell's Bells. The bullpen door swings open and Trevor Hoffman jogs across the outfield grass toward the pitchers mound. The deafening roar of the crowd signifies "Trevor Time."

For 18 years, 15 of which were spent in San Diego, Trevor Hoffman dominated the ninth inning. And as San Diego has announced plans to retire his number, I began thinking of his place in baseball history.

Hoffman is perhaps the most under-hyped, under-rated holder of a major record in baseball history. With 601 career saves, Hoffman crushed Lee Smith's previous record and put enough distance between himself and Mariano Rivera that his reign may last for decades. Yet his name rarely comes up when talking about the game's greats.

There are a few reasons for this. He pitched almost his entire career in San Diego. The big city lights and media attention of New York City often dwarfed the regional coverage Hoffman would get. Also, as his career came to a painful close, Hoffman simply held on too long. In doing so, the most recent memories fans have are of an aging pitcher with a fastball topping out in the low 90's on a good day and an eventual demotion from the closer role he maintained for so long. Finally, he never achieved that clutch player status for post-season performances that so many greats can hang their hats on.

But those aren't the lasting memories I have. I remember sitting at Qualcomm Stadium with my dad, watching as Trevor Hoffman, who had already tied the consecutive save record, readied himself to break that record. I remember the anticipation building as my father leaned over and said, "you're about to see history."

While Hoffman may have gone on to blow the save in that game (to this day I think my dad jinxed it), I remember his dominance. This is a closer who spent the majority of his career on a losing team. Save opportunities were not abundant. But when he got the chance, Hoffman delivered.

I remember a ridiculously high leg kick delivery and a devastating change-up. I remember season after season of complete faith that the ninth inning was safe with Trevor Hoffman in the pen. I remember a player who should not be punished for a lack of opportunity in the post-season.

Most of all, I remember the feeling of watching Trevor Hoffman come into a tight game and dominate. The goosebumps on my arms would multiply as he stepped to the mound and AC/DC's classic guitar riff overlapped the tolling bells.

Trevor Hoffman may not make the Hall if Fame on his first ballot, but he is clearly a Hall of Famer in my eyes. The most dominating closer of all-time on an underachieving team deserves more respect. And on August 21, 2011 Hoffman will get some of that respect as his number 51 is unveiled above the centerfield wall in San Diego.

Put away the parkas and wool coats, unfold the lawn chairs, lather on some sunscreen, and stock the cooler. It's June 16th and it's baseball's second opening day. The day isn't marked by a specific calendar date, but rather an event.

Last night the Boston Bruins won the Stanley Cup, effectively ending the hockey season. A couple nights ago the Dallas Mavericks won the NBA championship and completed the basketball season. The NFL is in the midst of a contract dispute laced off-season. So as of today, Major League Baseball has fans to itself. As the only one of the four major sports leagues currently playing, baseball can bask in the glory of coverage.

Your team is mired in a losing streak and sitting in the basement of its respective division? Who cares? At least people will talk about it because they have nothing better to do. The season is almost half over and the dog days are quickly approaching, but this is one of the best days in a baseball season.

The primary focus of sports coverage can shift to MLB. Now, rather that a flash across ESPN's Bottomline or a quick 30 second highlight, a two-hit shutout or a multiple home run performance can garner the attention it truly deserves.

For a true baseball fan, this is when the season really takes shape. The hot stove is getting hotter, the trade deadline approaches, and divisional races are becoming a little more clear.

For fans in the Midwest and on the East Coast, fear of snow covered seats and sub-zero wind chills are a distant memory. Fans in Minnesota can enjoy their beautiful new ball park in rays of gorgeous sunshine while counting the days before Joe Maur's return. Indians fans can focus on first place instead of frozen seats.

Yes, the summer sport has entered summer. Full scale coverage can begin. Bring on the front page articles about trades in the works. Bring on the All-Star Game and Home Run Derby. But most importantly, bring on the dreams of division titles, league pennants, and World Championships.

Baseball's second season of pure entertainment starts now, so settle in and watch the magic unfold. Because true entertainment isn't told with a laugh track or perfectly timed lines, it is told in balls and strikes. It is told in stolen bases and plays at the plate. It is told in division leads and play-off implications.

Happy Opening Day Part Deux.

You would think a state with a nickname as appropriate as The Sunshine State would embrace the boys of summer with a passion usually reserved for long lost loves. But the sun-splashed seats in Miami and the echoes heard at Tropicana Field in Tampa prove otherwise.

This is a state with three World Series appearances since 1997 and two Championships. This is a state with four play-off appearances since 1997. While the Marlins and the Rays have not been the poster children of success, consider the alternative.

The Pittsburgh Pirates, Kansas City Royals, Baltimore Orioles, Toronto Blue Jays, and Washington Nationals/Montreal Expos have a combined one play-off appearance in the same time period. The Marlins have been competitive for a number of years now, and the Rays have managed to stay competitive even after they gutted their team last year.

So where are the fans? While there may be plenty of parks that don't fill their seats, none rise to the level of vacancy that the Florida Marlins do. Rumor has it a batter can hear a heckler shouting from the outfield bleacher seats. The Rays are not much better. With perhaps their best team in their short history trying to make a run through the 2010 play-offs, players were resigned to take to social media outlets in asking what it takes to fill the seats.

I think it's time for a change of venue. If not for both teams, at least one. Assuming Las Vegas is not an option what with the rampant gambling, I've thought about the viable options and here's what I've come up with:

1) Raleigh/Durham, NC - The North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland area of the east coast is a highly populated region. Travel through this region brings thousand upon thousands of visitors in addition to the residential population. The city has already proven itself able to sustain minor league baseball and professional hockey.

2) Memphis, TN - With professional basketball as it's only real sports competition, Memphis could definitely support Major League Baseball. They would have to move the Triple-A ball club already there which could be troublesome. Another option would be Nashville, TN.

3) San Antonio, TX - If the 7th largest city in America can't support a professional baseball team, I would be shocked. And at only 80 miles away, a team in San Antonio would essentially be a home team for Austin as well.

4) Sacramento, CA - With less competition from the coastal California cities, Sacramento could provide an exciting alternative to their NBA franchise in the form of a Major League Baseball team. The city is clearly large enough and they could bring fans from nearby Stockton and Modesto.

These are just a few alternatives. And while size of the city does not alway matter, as proven by Miami, each of these cities has a large enough population to support baseball theoretically. Whether it's one of the above cities or somewhere else, it's time for Florida to let go.

The Chicago Cubs are heading south. And I don't mean south for their upcoming interleague series with the White Sox. There is a very well written article by Jon Greenberg of ESPNChicago that discussed the disintegration of anything resembling baseball on Chicago's North Side and who's to blame.

While there is plenty of blame to go around, it's sad to see this happening in such a great city, at a ballpark of historic proportion. Step past Ernie or Harry on the outskirts of Wrigley, pass through the gates, and walk into history. Once inside, you can hear the whispers of stories told by fathers to sons of a wonderful game played against a backdrop of ivy, you can see the hopeful faces of a fan base with short memories and dreams of breaking curses, and you can feel the collective history of a team and ballpark that has hosted hall of famers and the average Joe alike.

Yet even with the mystique of Wrigley Field propping up a beleaguered city, something must be done to correct the current path the Cubs are on. The terrible play of the Cubs over the last few years is starting to put a dent in the long-faithful attendance Chicago has boasted. Part of the drop off is surely due to the economy, but for a team that was on a short list of teams that could sell out their park through thick and thin, the numbers are troubling.

According to ESPN.com the attendance figures have been slowly dropping over the last four years as you can see below:

2008 - 3,300,200
2009 - 3,168,859
2010 - 3,062,973

And if the current numbers for 2011 are extrapolated over the course of the season, the Cubs are on pace to draw just 2,831,037. That would be the lowest total since 2002.

What's wrong with the Cubs? It looks like they are a big market team that doesn't know how to spend its money. Sometimes just throwing money at players and building a team around former all-stars works. But when it doesn't, why keep doing it?

The Cubs are desperately in need of a cohesive clubhouse, one with young talent and true leaders. Yet in an effort to win now, they are wasting money on one year, $10 million contracts. They are throwing away cash on what could be rather than investing in what works.

The Chicago Cubs need a complete overhaul. With the Red Sox winning two Championships since 2004, the laughable curse of the billy goat just isn't funny anymore. There's no excuse for not winning. In a city like Chicago and the resources at hand, the Cubs should be perennial challengers. There is a breakdown in the management of this team from top down, and unless it's corrected there will be fewer and fewer fans singing during that famous 7th Inning Stretch.

The past 12 months have possibly been the most scandalous in NCAA history. From Bruce Pearl to Jim Calhoun, from Oregon to Ohio State, violations of NCAA rules are the new campus trend.

There are a myriad of ideas for solving the unethical and irresponsible ways college athletics are handled. However, the most popular idea, and the one with the most momentum, seems to be some form of payment to athletes. And before you all clamor to support this idea, think about the effect it will have on non-basketball and non-football sports. Think of the domino effect such a scheme will have on baseball.

It's no secret that college football stars and, to a lesser extent, college basketball stars bring un-godly amounts of money to universities. It makes sense that these stars, who know they're going to make millions in the Pros, feel jaded at the idea that a college scholarship is compensation enough for the millions they bring in to their schools. It makes sense that players want to get paid for their talent as soon as possible. But it can't happen.

Based on the above logic, college football players and college basketball players should get paid the most while players of sports that don't generate as much money get paid less. The NCAA is already in a hole here. If they pay every athlete the same to avoid favoritism, stars are still going to be offered, and accept, impermissible benefits.

And what happens if the NCAA chooses to allow players to be paid based on the money they generate for their schools? Picture this: Boosters from the biggest, most popular universities contribute money to pay star players. In turn, recruiting becomes a money game and all but a select few schools will fall by the wayside.

Then there's the issue of losing talent for sports like college baseball. In a world where college athletes are so talented, they are often recruited for and play multiple sports. Yet in a step-pay hierarchy, talented baseball players may choose basketball or football in hopes of making a little cash sooner rather than later. This would lead to a diminishing talent pool in baseball. The league would be faced with drafting more high school talent, or drafting more international talent.

One might ask, if a player is so talented, why not continue playing both sports in college? Money, that's why. A powerhouse football program that is now paying for it's star athlete isn't going to risk him on the baseball field.

This logic goes for many college sports. Hockey, track and field, soccer etc. Paying athletes will hurt sports. It will surely hurt baseball.

Our American Pastime would soon lack experienced players and would look more like minor league baseball than a multi-billion dollar industry. The death of amateurism in college will be the death of Major League Baseball.

The National League Central may be the most exciting division in baseball.  The Cardinals have rebounded from a 2010 that saw the upstart Reds take the division.  And the Reds were not a fluke.  With Johnny Cueto, Brandon Phillips, Jay Bruce, and reigning NL MVP Joey Votto, they are built to compete.  Even the Pirates are dangerously close to breaking the ever elusive .500 mark.  Yet the most compelling story may be the Brewers.

A team that has made the play-offs only three times in the last 30 years, the Brewers are poised to take control of the NL Central and make some noise in the play-offs.  Centered around Ryan Braun, Prince Fielder, and the newly aquired Zach Greinke, this new Crew hast staying power. 

The Brewers have already made it clear that Ryan Braun is the face of the franchise with the $105 Million contract they threw his way.  While there seems to be talk every year about Prince Fielder being traded because the team can't afford to keep him, you'd be surprised how success seems to deepen the pockets of owners.  If the Brewers compete and make the play-offs, you can bet on a new contract for Fielder.  And then there's Greinke.

Zach Greinke may still be adjusting to the National League, but his time with the Royals is going to serve him well.  He has the talent, that much is clear.  If he can stay healthy, he is going to dominate National League hitting.  The one good thing Greinke got out of playing with the Royals was pitching in the American League.  Starting your career in the AL seems to translate to more success in the NL.  Not because NL hitters are inferior, but because the AL has the Designated Hitter. 

It may not seem like much, but over the course of 35 starts, with three at-bats per game, AL pitchers are facing a true hitter 105 times more than NL pitchers.  Sure, there is the occasional slugging pitcher (Carlos Zambrano, Livan Hernandez, etc), but a "slugging pitcher" equates to a batting average hovering around the Mendoza Line and being able to put the ball in play.  That's a far cry from AL Designated Hitters putting up 30-plus home run seasons and knocking in 100 RBI's.    

At 6-1 on the season, and a little more than half the year to go, Zach Greinke's ERA will come down, his wins will pile up, and his strike-outs will mount. 

Sprinkle in the talent of Rickie Weeks and Corey Hart and this Brewers club is a beast.  They have a chance this weekend to take over first place in the NL Central, and while baseball is a funny game with ups and downs, don't be surprised if they don't relinquish that spot the rest of the year. 

The fans deserve a competitor and now they finally have one.  And great fans they are.  I've had the privilege of attending a Brewers game, and these are some of the best fans in baseball.  Over-shadowed by their neighbors to the south in Chicago, the Brewers fans are just as passionate, just as vocal, and just as excited to see their team play game in and game out.


So Brewers fans, sit back, relax, and crack open a Brew.  The Crew is good!

I came to my computer today with the intention of making the undebatable case that youth wins championships and is a better recipe for success. I even had a catchy title (Forever Young...At Heart) and plans of attacking the Yankees relentless pursuit of older talent and inability to groom young players within their organization. With Joba Chamberlain's season-ending Tommy John surgery being scheduled, it seemed appropriate to discuss whether the Yankees could develop young talent and find success.

The game is getting younger. At least that was my blind opinion and premise going in. The Yankees of old (pun completely intended) were going to have to shift their player mentality to keep up. It makes sense right? While the Yankees can boast 5 championships in the last 15 years, teams with young talent were catching up. The Rays, the Giants, the Diamondbacks, and the Indians all seem to be getting younger. Gone were the days of trading away talent for seasoned veterans in an attempt at another ring.

But then I did my research. Thanks to baseball-reference.com and their vast amount of player info, I was able to calculate the average team age of each of the last 16 World Champions.



Keeping in mind that these ages include any players that made the roster throughout the course of the season, it is possible that late season additions or injured player replacements may cause a slight skew, but not enough to affect our conversation.  As you can see, of the previous 16 World Series Champions, nine of those teams had an average age over 29.  And of the Yankees five championships during this period, only two of those teams had an average age over 30. 


So really, what are the Yankees doing that other teams aren't? Some teams may be spending less money to do it, but youth is not the sole ingredient for success.  The current leaders in each division are split evenly with three teams having an average team age over 29 (Red Sox, Phillies, and Giants), and three teams with an average team age under 29 (Indians, Rangers, and Cardinals).

The Indians are doing it with a talented group of young players (their average age is just 27.34), the Red Sox and Phillies are doing it with a core of successful veterans (both teams have an average team age over 30), the Cardinals; Rangers; and Giants are doing it with a combination of young talent and experienced veterans.

Will the trend eventually turn toward younger and younger talent?  I think so.  The Indians, floundering for over a decade, seem to have turned it around.  The Rangers made it to the World Series last year with a core of young players.  The Giants and the Padres battled until the last game of the season last year, both with teams built on youth.  While there will always be teams trading for veteran players and relying on experience over youth, parity in baseball will continue to grow as younger players are developed and utilized properly. 

While we may not be looking at a league with a "Forever Young" mentality yet, teams like the Marlins, Rangers, Indians, Giants, and yes even the Pirates are blurring the line between youth verse experience.  TV executives turn your heads now because you shouldn't be surprised if we are looking at a Pirates verse Indians World Series in the near future.  And that's great for baseball.     

Let's start by covering my biases (or bases if you will). I've already admitted to being a lifelong cynic. Strike one. I'm also a Padres fan. Strike two. I'm in the hole 0-2, but we'll see if I can connect on this post without flaunting my glaring biases too much.

Last night, the San Diego Padres debuted their prized first base prospect Anthony Rizzo. Rizzo, one of two highly touted prospects to come over in the Adrian Gonzalez deal with Boston, had been destroying the Pacific Coast League with Triple-A Tucson. Not since Ben Davis, Matt Clement, or Sean Burroughs has there been a player so highly anticipated by Padres fans. Perhaps he has even surpassed that hype based on articles nation-wide about his promotion.

Unlike the past flops of Padres prospects, I fully expect Rizzo to develop into a star. He is a big kid with a sweet swing and a lot of power. He is similar to the force of a first baseman he was traded for and will likely contribute early to this woeful Padres offense. But the true question is, can he be a long-term solution as many have already dubbed him.

Jim Bowden, in his blog for ESPN The GM's Office, provides the scouting report on Rizzo and suggests he is in fact the long-term solution the Padres are looking for at first base. (See it at http://espn.go.com/blog/the-gms-office/post/_/id/302/rizzo-arrives-to-the-show) I guess that depends on your definition of long-term and your definition of solution.

If your definition of "long-term" is 4-5 years, then sure Rizzo is long-term. If you definition of "solution" is to build a solid ball player who you will eventually trade for prospects, then Rizzo is indeed the solution. Unfortunately this is the trend with small market clubs. It's not just the Padres, all the small payroll teams deal with this phenomenon. Just look at the history of Padres players:

-Roberto Alomar: Signed as an amateur in 1985, traded away five years later.

-Andy Benes: Drafted in 1988, traded away seven years later.

-Gary Sheffield: Trade to the Padres in 1992, traded away in 1993. (However, this worked out pretty well in the acquisition of Trevor Hoffman)

-Derrek Lee: Drafted by the Padres in 1993, traded away in 1997.

-Jason Bay: Traded to the Padres in 2002, traded away in 2003.

-Xavier Nady: Drafted by the Padres in 2000, traded away in 2005.

-Jake Peavy: Drafted by the Padres in 1999, traded away in 2009.

-Adrian Gonzalez: Traded to the Padres in 2006, traded away in 2010.

So there you have the trend. While I'm excited to see Rizzo at the Major League level, I'm realistic in knowing that, should he have some success, the Padres will have to trade him away.

As frustrating as it may be, this is not necessarily a formula for disaster. Small market clubs can compete and do compete under these circumstances. It's a matter of getting the most out of young talent before trading them away, then getting good prospects in return. Once they've done this, the vicious cycle can start all over again.

As Rizzo was welcomed to the show by a nasty Livan Hernandez curve followed by a devastating cut fastball, and as I watched him adjust in his next at bat to blast a triple off the base of the wall, I think I will enjoy watching this kid play in San Diego for a few years. Then, when he's traded, I can enjoy the next prospect.

For those not already impressed with Nolan Ryan's ownership and handling of the Texas Rangers, look no further than the story of Jonathan Taylor. It's surprising that this story has only received minimal coverage considering it encompasses everything beautiful and heartbreaking about sports and about baseball.

In a split second Jonathan Taylor went from a Major League prospect to a cautionary tale for outfielders and players everywhere. Taylor, a junior left-fielder for the Georgia Bulldogs, was partially paralyzed March 6, 2011 in a collision with with teammate Zach Cone.

Yet even as Taylor begins a long road of rehabilitation, as he struggles to re-teach his body things it's done for years, as he learns his new normal, there is reason to celebrate. While the game that Taylor loves took so much from him; his legs, his career, his hopes and dreams; the Texas Rangers were able to give a little back. They drafted him in the 33rd Round of the First-Year Player Draft. (Of note, the Rangers also drafted Taylor's teammate, Zach Cone, who was involved in the fateful collision)

In drafting Taylor, the Rangers made more than a simple gesture. He may never walk again, but his life will go on. He will be able to look back on his life and tell his children and grandchildren of how he was so good a Major League team drafted him even when he couldn't use his legs. He will be able to relive his glory days with the knowledge that he made it. He was a Pro.

This is a story of commitment, honor, and doing the right thing. The Texas Rangers have long had their eye on Jonathan Taylor. They had always planned to draft him. A life-changing injury didn't stop that plan. The Rangers gave Taylor a gift no doctor could ever give.

Jonathan Taylor will go on. Baseball will go on. But in one touching moment the sport that took so much was able to help him heal, even if just a little bit.

In the immortal words of Alice Cooper:

I'm Eighteen
I get confused every day
Eighteen
I just don't know what to say
Eighteen
I gotta get away

The drama and debate surrounding Bryce Harper and the "kiss heard 'round the world" is an interesting testament to the 2010 number one overall pick's legend. For those who haven't seen it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApkT5TZd9gA

Bryce Harper is eighteen, playing Single A ball (playing very well I'll add), and he showed up a pitcher that may or may not ever make it to the show. Very few doubt Harper's eventual promotion to the Nationals everyday roster, but for right now he is a Single A outfielder playing in Hagerstown, Maryland.

While I completely agree that Harper's action was wrong and needs correcting, let's remember he's eighteen. This is barely a college aged kid playing under a microscope. If blowing kisses were the worst thing eighteen year olds did, we would be living in the movie "Pleasantville."

Don't misunderstand me, I fully subscribe to the unwritten rules of baseball and not showing up the pitcher after a home run is one of those rules. Cockiness is never an attractive quality for fans of baseball, and Harper will need to correct this before reaching the big league club. But for now, let the kid be eighteen. He'll figure it out.

And if he doesn't? He'll be learning another unwritten rule pretty quick. Fastballs off your upper back hurt.

Years ago, early in the adventure I call elementary school, I was faced with a major career decision. Should I become an actor, a director (as if I knew what this was at 8 years old) or an astronaut? Well it turns out I'm not a big fan of the spotlight, don't have a clue how one becomes a director, and I'm not too keen on flying. 0 for 3 on career choices. But that's the point. How many of us have been able to live out childhood dreams and turn them into careers? Well I can tell you one kid who did just that; Derek Jeter.

As we approach a milestone, reached by only 27 other people in baseball history, we should think about Jeter's place in history. Every other player to reach 3,000 hits who is eligible is in the Hall of Fame (except of course the banned Pete Rose), and Jeter will surely follow in that path. He went from a boy with pinstripe hopes and big city dreams to the face of the most popular and profitable sports franchise in America.

He wasn't flashy, he wasn't larger than life. He has always been the humble kid who just tries harder than everyone else. Jeter was not blessed with a crushing power swing or blazing speed. He was not touted as one of the rare five-tool players. Yet what he lacked in hype, he made up for with heart. With the eyes of the world upon him, he carried on as a consummate professional and just simply worked.

A member of a dying breed of players who have spent their whole career with one team, Jeter lives among the giants of Yankee lore. The Yankees are a team who have had almost as many villains as they have heroes. While marred by the villains of the steroid era, they are still a team where the ghost of Mickey Mantle patrols center field, a team where Lou Gehrig and his microphone still stand at home plate, and a team where Joltin' Joe is still collecting hits.

As we stand at the brink of yet another Yankee milestone and Major League milestone, let's all take a moment to appreciate the beauty of Jeter's career. Unlike Alex Rodriguez, who will likely collect his 3,000th hit sometime next summer, the world will be watching Derek Jeter's every swing this summer with a sense of pride and admiration in anticipation of history.

To the Steinbreners, Brian Cashman, the Yankees brass, and any others who doubted Jeter's worth during his ugly contract negotiation during the off-season, remember this; Even if Derek Jeter's stats are trending down as his career slowly draws to a close, he will single-handedly sell tickets to his quest for history.

And when his career does come to an end, you can expect to see his trademark number 2 hanging on the outfield wall, leaving the number 6 as the only un-retired single digit number for the Yankees.

I am a cynic. There's no question about it. I come from a long line of cynics bred throughout generations of Scotch-Irish ancestry. But it kills me to be cynical about this. Sports in general, and baseball especially for me, is the one place where, cynicism be damned, I'm going to blindly cheer success stories, root for the underdog who suddenly finds success, and blindly hope at the beginning of the season that "this is our year."

Unfortunately that blind hope is gone in baseball. Jose Bautista should be receiving round-the-clock coverage from sports writers. Last season he came out of nowhere and hit 54 home runs. This year he is again leading the league in home runs. Yet there is a cloud.

No matter how much success Bautista has, the thunderheads of doubt will continue to build above him. Just take a look at the numbers:

Career games (2004-2009): 575
Career home runs (2004-2009): 59
Career RBI's (2004-2009): 211

Now the 2010 stats...

Games: 161
Home runs: 54
RBI's: 124

5 less home runs in 414 less games? The cloud builds. I would love to cheer the remarkable turnaround of a player whose previous career high in home runs was 16. I would love to be tuning in to ESPN everyday to see if Bautista hit another. But instead, the question lingers. How'd he do it?

While Jose Bautista may have every right to be angry at suggestions of steroid use simply based on performance, he shouldn't direct that anger at the fans. He should be angry at Jose Canseco, Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Roger Clemens, Alex Rodriguez, and a slew of others. He should be mad at those who soiled history, at those who crossed out the accomplishments of honest, hard working players, and those who left a black stain on the facade of history.

Bautista may look for the benefit of the doubt. But in this new world of cynical baseball, I say no way Jose.

The rhetoric and debate behind Buster Posey's gruesome, season-ending injury has reached a boiling point over the weekend. And the truth is, it's time for an honest heartfelt apology. But not from Scott Cousins.

In fact I would rather Cousins not apologize every time he addresses the play and the injury as he has done to this point. He has apologized enough and can hold his head high as the bigger man. Unfortunately, he really can't hold his head high. No, he has to keep it down, hope this blows over, and try to move on. Not just for his playing career, but for his safety and the safety of his family.

We live in a world where every threat must be taken seriously. In the wake of every vitriolic-inspired workplace or schoolyard shooting, in the wake of the near murder of a fan named Bryan Stow in a Dodger Stadium parking lot, and in the wake of the death threats received by Scott Cousins, Buster Posey and Brian Saeban and the entire Giants organization need to apologize for the way they have handled this situation.

I can understand being upset about a season-ending injury and not wanting to be best friends with the guy who did it. But when this "malicious" and "violent" player immediately tried to comfort you on the field and provide support after the injury, maybe you forgive him. When this villainous rookie who was clearly out for blood sheds tears for all of America to see after learning the extent of the injury he caused, maybe you forgive him. And when he calls and sends multiple text messages apologizing and seeking forgiveness, maybe you forgive him. And even if none of those are enough to elicit an acceptance of his apology, maybe you do so anyway when you learn "fans" of your own team are threatening his life. Knowing the rookie from Florida has family in the bay area, and knowing your general manager just essentially played judge, jury, and executioner on a radio program, maybe you should publicly apologize for the way you have handled this event and publicly accept Scott Cousins' apology.

I'm sure Scott Cousins would much rather worry about a retaliatory fastball at his ear hole than worry about the safety of his family and his own safety. A few simple words from Buster Posey, Brian Saeban, and the Giants organization could repair this whole situation. I'm sure Bryan Stow, a Giants fan who is sitting in a coma simply for being a Giants fan would agree; rhetoric and vitriol should be left out of baseball.

How many Major League teams would love to have a slugger whose average was in the top 40% of the league? How about the top 10% in RBI's? Or the top 10% in Home Runs? What if one player had each of these statistics, wouldn't that garner some attention?

Normally these numbers would be accompanied by a shower of praise from the media, fans, and the league. But not if you're Albert Pujols. As of today he is in the top 40% of batting average and the top 10% of RBI's and Home Runs. Yet that's not enough? While a two Home Run performance yesterday will surely quiet many of the critics, the articles, radio stories, and SportsCenter headlines were piling up in regards to Pujols' "slumping" season.

We've all experienced this before in our own personal and professional lives. We become victims of our own success. Johnny Tree Trimmer is so fast at cutting down trees, he is automatically expected to take on more work. Sally the Bookkeeper is so good with numbers, friends and family believe she will do their taxes and accounting for them. Kyle the Car Salesman sells 20 cars in a month and is expected to sell 25 the next month. However, when we can't accomplish the unrealistic and ever-increasing goals set upon us by our success, there must be something wrong, right? That's the way we operate. No accomplishment can be set aside and viewed on its own merits. It has to be compared with past accomplishments to see if you are falling short of your own success.

So even as Albert Pujols is projected to have another 30+ Home Run season and another 100+ RBI season, he is slumping. Even as he is on pace to make another All-Star Game appearance, he is slumping. Even as he has helped lead a short-handed Cardinals team to first place in the National League Central, he is slumping. None of this will matter as he is standing on the podium in 10-15 years from now accepting his first ballot Hall of Fame induction, but it matters now.

The truth is, every question about Pujols' declining numbers this season is a compliment to his career. By year's end, when Pujols has had another Pujolian season (I'm trademarking that phrase, thank you), sports writers like Jayson Stark of ESPN will post articles about how great Albert Pujols is and how he knew all along that Pujols was the same slugger he has always been. They will forget about the stories posted in late May and early June about non-existent struggles and manufactured slumps. So as Albert Pujols should take these small digs as compliments to his success, so should we in our own lives. As victims of our own success, we have to always be improving, always increasing productivity, and never slumping. But when questions about our performance arise, think of them as subtle congratulations for past work, then move on and strive to do more.

That's a two part question, whether you know it or not. What is the 5.5 Hole in terms of baseball, and what is the 5.5 Hole in terms of my random ramblings?

Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn was probably the most famous player to use the 5.5 Hole. As a left handed batter, it served him well. He would carry his hands through the strike zone first as he swung and slap the pitch the opposite way, splitting the shortstop and the third baseman. While a right handed batter can go the opposite way with a pitch and hit it between the first baseman and the second baseman, it doesn't carry the same aura. Tony Gwynn was so prolific at doing this, his final swing of his major league career was an attempt at this 5.5 Hole. He grounded out, but mystique is still there. (More on Tony Gwynn at a later time)

For the curious few out there who want to know why this area on a baseball diamond is called the 5.5 Hole, I'll tell you. It's pretty simple actually. For scoring purposes, each position player on the field is assigned a number. Pitcher - 1, Catcher - 2, First Base - 3, Second Base - 4, Third Base - 5, Shortstop - 6, Left Field - 7, Center Field - 8, Right Field - 9. Therefore a hit between the Shortstop (6) and the Third Baseman (5) is considered a hit in the 5.5 Hole.

Now for the second part of the question, what does this mean in terms of my thoughts about baseball? The 5.5 Hole is often forgotten, not used as much as possible, and relatively obscure in today's style of hitting. Players would rather turn on a pitch and try to knock it out of the park rather than play finesse baseball and simply get a hit. Just look at all the players in which opposing teams impose a defensive shift. A simple opposite field hit could change a game, but some players are so set in their ways, they refuse to go the opposite way. In a world where power hitters can strike out over 200 times per season, players simply do not just try to make contact. So as the use of the 5.5 Hole may now be unconventional, many of my thoughts, opinions, and anecdotes may be as well.

Enjoy!