If you’ve ever watched ESPN, there is a good chance you’ve seen Baseball Tonight. And if you’ve ever seen Baseball Tonight, you’ve probably seen Karl Ravech, who has been the host for the past 17 years. I had a chance to interview him over at Frisco Fastball, the San Francisco Giants blog I write for, and I think it went pretty well. I’d definitely encourage you to check it out if you even have the slightest interest in baseball (and heck, even if you don’t).

Update 11-01-10: Obviously, I stand corrected. The Giants got it together and made me happy to admit that I was wrong. Amazing how quickly the outlook can change.

The San Francisco Giants started off the season pretty hot. They gave us fans hope that we had over come the hitting struggles of last year. They got our hopes up for a playoff berth in 2010.

Then they crushed us.

They reverted back to the San Francisco Giants of last season–perhaps worse. Don’t get me wrong. I still love the Giants. I still have hope. But I have this sinking feeling it will end much the same as least season–so close, but not quiet close enough. Upon looking at the 2010 All-Star Game roster for both the AL and NL, I think I’ve figured out our problem. We need All-Stars. Not former All-Stars like Freddy Sanchez. Not future All-Stars like Buster Posey. Current All-Star players.

But wait? Don’t the Giants have two All-Stars this year? Yes, and they are both pitchers. Everyone in baseball knows pitching isn’t the Giants problem, hitting is. Besides, Tim Lincecum, as much as I love him, wasn’t maybe quiet up to All-Star par this season, at least so far. And Brian Wilson? Well, he’s not called the “Cardiac Kid” for nothing. He’s a tough pitcher, but he’s sure tough on Giants fans too.

There was write-in campaigns for Juan Uribe and Aubrey Huff, both who have been hot this season. But that’s just the thing. They’re not obvious candidates. They’re after-thoughts to the All-Star selection. They may not be after-thoughts to Giants fans. I love them both. But when they are the best hitters on our team in “must have a hit” situations, that is a problem. I think Huff should have been on the roster. I hope he keeps playing like he has been and if he does, he will be an All-Star next year. But that’s next year and we have to hope San Francisco can keep him.

Did you know that Boston and New York Yankees have six players on the All-Star team this year? The Yankees possibly have a seventh in Nick Swisher. You can bet most of those players weren’t after-thoughts.

So, San Francisco Giants fans, listen up. Until the Giants start putting current All-Stars on the field, or until our players start playing like All-Stars all season long, we won’t be seeing too deep of a playoff run, if even that. I’m not saying we should be the Red Sox or the Yankees, but both of those teams have won World Series in the recent past.

Isn’t winning a World Series the goal for a MLB team? Your loyal fans deserve a chance at that.

I’m currently planning my trip to some of the best places for baseball fans on the earth. Boston and Cooperstown. Fenway Park and the Baseball Hall of Fame. The Green Monster and the very best baseball players who have ever lived.

Ever since I had this dream way back in July of 2007 of visiting all the ball parks over the next few years I’ve knocked out 11 stadiums. 11 isn’t a bad number, except that I visited all 11 in 2008.  Last year I decided to go to Spring Training in the Phoenix area for the first time. I also went this year, as it is likely to be a yearly event now. The point is that I’ve lagged off after that first year of excitement.

So this year I resolved to go to at least one new ball park. Since it’s higher on my priority list than say, Kansas City, I decided this was the year for Boston. I also decided since Cooperstown is relatively close, I should go there was well. If you don’t know what Cooperstown is, it is the home to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Of course, I’m doing some other touristy stuff while I’m there like sight-seeing Boston, spending a couple of nights in Hyannis Port, MA, and catching up with some friends.

However, let’s be honest:  This trip is about baseball. And September is the most exciting month for baseball.

]]> http://crumplednotebook.com/boston-cooperstown-and-baseball/feed/ 0 http://crumplednotebook.com/if-i-had-unlimited-time-and-money/ http://crumplednotebook.com/if-i-had-unlimited-time-and-money/#comments Wed, 30 Jun 2010 05:16:33 +0000 mfelkins http://crumplednotebook.com/?p=1225

Google Maps
Someday I’ll get there. 18 more to go after this year!

Home from spring training. I’m starting to become quiet fond of the Phoenix area. I’ll post a few pictures later and what I thought of the Giants and Angels.

Here’s the thing though. I know that I should be disgusted by his behavior. I should think he’s a total scumbag. And I do think that his behavior was disgusting. It makes me sad for him, his wife, his kids and everyone around him who is having to deal with the consequences of his choices. However, I don’t feel the outrage that everyone else seems to be having or even that I think I should have.

Part of that is that I don’t think what he did was so abnormal for a sports celebrity (especially at his level). I think he’s getting more heat because we’ve always seen him as a “good guy” and because he’s managed to protect his privacy more than any other sports star that I know.

But the other reason is this: We all have a Tiger Woods in us.

We all (okay, mostly all) have a side to us that we are terrified of other people finding out. I do. It doesn’t mean that it’s scandalous, it just means that it’s really hard for us to live up to what we like to portray of ourselves.

Over the past month or so I’ve had to take an introspective look at myself. Not of the person I am 10-14 hours out of the day when I’m around other people, but the person I am at the core. The person I am when I’m alone and the thoughts I have that never come out of my mouth. The truth is, I don’t like that person very much. I am disgusted by my behavior sometimes.

I am Tiger Woods. I am willing to bet a lot of other people are too.

I am Tiger Woods not because I have this secret life (and if I did, I certainly wouldn’t tell you). I am Tiger Woods because when I hold myself up to the standard that I portray of myself, and the standard I should live as a Christian, I fail miserably. I hide so many things about myself that it’s pathetic. I run from accountability. I protect my faults more than the gold at Fort Knox is protected.

So I look at Tiger Woods and I see someone who has lost their privacy. I see someone has seen some of his deepest darkest secrets be played out 24/7 in the media for the past two weeks. Someone who is looking straight into the disappointment of most every person around him. Someone who, prior to Thanksgiving, we all thought was one of the “good guys.” I understand that celebrities are going to give up some of that privacy, but this is like someone just stole his underwear drawer and put it out on the front lawn for everyone to see. Should the media leave him alone? Sure, I think so, but that’s not the point of this.

The point really isn’t anything other than it’s a stark reminder for me to not judge. A reminder for me to really be the person I portray–to not hide my faults and to live an open live. That doesn’t mean I need to tell everyone every thought I have or every time I fail to live up to God’s standards. That just means I need to actually try to live up to those standards and know that when I fail, God still loves me and will help me be the person I am to be.

Here is a list of ballparks and I’ve bolded the once I’ve been to already.

• Oriole Park at Camden Yards–Baltimore

• Fenway Park–Boston

• U.S. Cellular Field–Chicago White Sox

• Jacobs Field (now Progressive Park)–Cleveland

• Comerica Park–Detroit

• Kauffman Stadium–Kansas City

• Angel Stadium of Anaheim

• Metrodome–Minneapolis

• Yankee Stadium–New York

• McAfee Coliseum–Oakland

• Safeco Field–Seattle

• Tropicana Field–Tampa Bay

• Rangers Ballpark in Arlington–Texas Rangers

• Rogers Centre–Toronto

National League Stadiums:

• Chase Field–Arizona (been here, but not seen a game)

• Atlanta Braves–Atlanta (saw game at fulton county stadium)

• Wrigley Field–Chicago Cubs

• Great American Ball Park–Cincy (was at riverfront)

• Coors Field–Colorado Rockies

• Dolphin Stadium–Florida Marlins

• Minute Maid Park-Houston

• Dodger Stadium–LA

• Miller Park–Milwakee Brewers

• Shea Stadium–Mets

• Citizens Bank Park–Philly

• PNC Park–Pittsburgh

• PETCO Park–San Diego
  

• AT&T Park–San Fran

• Busch Stadium–St Louis

• RFK Stadium–DC

At this point in the season, these won’t be all that radical predictions. While no team has officially clinched a playoff berth yet, it’ll only be a matter of days probably.

Let’s start with the American League.

East: Um, can we say Yankees? I could be wrong, but I don’t see the Red Sox making up 6.5 games by the first week of Oct. It’s okay though, they’ll likely be the Wild Card. However, with a 7 game winning streak…anything is possible.

Central: Probably Detroit, but Minn has a 4 game streak going. That just sounds weird…AL Central Champs-Detroit Tigers. Well, this isn’t football I guess.

West: Texas fought hard for a while, but the Angels will pull it out.

Wildcard: Boston. No Doubt.

Now the best league, National League.

East: Well the Phillies lead it by 7 games and they are hot right now. Atlanta is hot too, but still 7.5 games back may be pushing it. The Phillies won the W.S. last year. They should get another shot.

Central: Unfortunately St. Louis will likely win this. Sorry Cubs fans, but you’ve had a really unspectacular season.

West: Yeah, the Dodgers will win. I think if we had another month though, the Rockies just may catch them.

Wildcard: Well, every ounce of me wants to say the Giants will pull it out. Logic and this season’s consistency tells me otherwise. But, they are fighting hard, even that 9th inning last night was a fight. So I will say this: If the Giants can sweep the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium this week, yes, they will be the Wilcard. If not, they just haven’t wanted it bad enough this season, and the Rockies will go.

I reason this out to say that the Giants weren’t expected to do this well this season. Next season, maybe, but not this season. This season was a pleasant surprise that caused me a lot of grief and anguish, but moments of pure joy. If they can just get more consistent with their hitting (and they can hit), and get a bullpen to help out Affedlt and Wilson, and back of their amazing starting pitchers, next season will be good.

As for the World Series, well, as much as I hate both the Yankees and the Dodgers, wouldn’t that be a little cool? Joe Torre’s new team versus his old team? It would be my worst nightmare has I’d have to choose a team to root for (or in this case, against).

Do I think that will actually happen? Normally I shy away from those cool/interesting match-ups, but I’m going to say, Yes, it will happen.

If not, it’ll be the Yanks and Philly.

What I’d like to see would be the Giants and the Tigers. We’d just take them down.