It probably seems obvious, but I doubt many Halos fans are too happy about the 2-5 start the team has had. And why should they be? 

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This year’s Angels team is injured, but sill impossible not to love.

Opening Day has long been my favorite day of the year. Forget my birthday. Never mind Christmas. Even New Years. While those days are exciting, and perhaps more universally celebrated, Opening Day has always held a mystique for baseball fans- the promise of a rebirth, and a new season where anything at all is possible- 100 losses last year could just as easily turn into 100 wins this season.

As a baseball fan I have always found it difficult to believe that others didn’t share my love for the game. I couldn’t understand what I saw, but they didn’t. I chalked it up to not knowing the idiosyncrasies of the game. Or not being able to compare the history with the present day games. Whatever the reason was, it was their fault, not the fault of baseball.

But it is getting difficult to continually blame everyone else for what is now clearly an issue with the establishment itself. Maybe people can’t love baseball because baseball continually cheats on them. I’ve made this arguement before, but it seems irrefutable now that A-Rod has tested positive for steroids.

Maybe baseball isn’t America’s Pasttime anymore because football is more social to watch. Or maybe its because in a bad economy people are hypercritical of players who have 252 million dollar contracts (oh remember the day when it was only 252 million). Or maybe its because there are other things to do that didn’t exist 10 years ago, let alone 100 years ago. Or maybe, for those of you who live in areas where people actually care about the sport I hold so dear to my heart, it is simply a matter of geography. But it seems more likely at this point that the American people, the former fans, the potential fans, and even the true hardcore fans themselves, are fed up with being lied to and misled.

In the past even the most detested guys, like (my personal favorite) Billy Martin used the rules to their advantage to “cheat” instead of trying to gain some unnatural physical attribute. Even the infamous pinetar incident was a mere smugging of the rules, not an insane betrayl of the people. I’ll even take lying to the commissioner about betting on games. Just about anything over an unfair physical advantage, which goes against the true greatness of any baseball story.

According to all my baseball history books, the people have loved the game since it started, not just as a way to entertain themselves by playing, but by watching others play. And while, as briefly detailed above, most eras have had their problems, the people have stayed loyal to the game. But they were could be loyal to the game and loyal to the players because those players were able to achieve something from reletively nothing. The most famous, the most beloved, grew up with very little and represented the everyman, and even if they didn’t have a huge contract they were living the American Dream.

The examples are countless. There is Lou Gehrig- we’ve all seen Pride of the Yankees. His mom working all the time and then he gets accepted to Columbia, and eventually goes to the Yankees even though his parents don’t know the first thing about baseball. DiMaggio with his immigrant parents and countless brothers and sisters. Playing baseball on a playground in North Beach after complaining that fishing with his dad made him sick. Overcoming adversity on his own Pacific Coast League (PCL) team to take his brothers spot. Only to join the Yankees, marry Marilyn Monroe, and become a pop culture icon. Williams barely knowing his dad, clinging to other childrens’ parents and not being on the best of terms with his own mother. Going to his own hometown PCL Padres and after a stop in Minnesota finally getting to Boston where he would go on to become the last player to bat over .400.

And those are just the obvious ones.

Baseball is loved throughout the world because you need a bat, a ball, and a few friends to play. And with a little bit of practice anyone can make it, regardless of size. There have been little people in the league. There have been guys like Martin and Eckstein who were “smaller” than they were supposed to be. And there have been guys who were plenty tall.

In baseball it has always been the size of your heart, not the size of your wallet, that could allow you to showcase your talent and make your way into American History.

Obviously, steroids couldn’t have been an issue in the time of Ruth, for scientific reasons amongst countless others. But it seems to me that even if players in these eras had been able to access performance enhancing drugs they wouldn’t have done it. There was not reason to, the clubs had the power in their hands, even with player’s unions. But now, in a post Messersmith and McNally time period, money and not team loyalty is the main motivation for players- to the point where they are willing to disregard the tradition of the game they play, abandon their moral obligation to play fair, and lie to the fans.

I think I have been in denial over this. I’ve never supported a team salary cap. And I insisted that it was not the money that made Mark Teixeira leave the Angels, but rather his desire to be a part of a legacy with the Yankee franchise. While I don’t think that Tex is ‘roiding it up (which I probably just jinxed it) the A-Rod accusations make it hard to believe that anyone isn’t. They make it hard to believe in the game. And they prove that steroids are a means to the end of what all baseball critics hate, the money of the game. By taking steroids and improving numbers a player not only increases his hitting power, but also his earning power. Creating an unrealistic and highly competitve market.  

And this bitter assessment, you must remember, is coming from the girl who didn’t think that 252 million dollars was too much for a player she didn’t even like. From the girl who defended Roger Clemens, even when the ticker on ESPN said that syringes supplied from his trainer contained his DNA, but not necessarily steroids.

But mostly this is coming from a heartbroken fan who thought, hoped, and truly believed (however unrealistically) that A-Rod could break Bonds’ all time home run record, so that even if it wasn’t someone she loved it was at least someone who was clean. Who had done it like Gehrig, DiMaggio, and Williams.

So it maybe it isn’t football. Or surfing. Or living in California. Maybe its just people who are so sick of being lied to by people that they idolize, that they pay their hard earned money to go see and help pay their huge contracts, they have simply given up hope of seeing an honest game because there is a commissioner who simply doesn’t care. And as a result given up on baseball.

But, not me. I’m hurt. Disappointed. But I’ll get through this. Because David Eckstein is still in the league. And their are others like him, however hard they may be to find.

So here is a call to you Mr. Selig- Fix things before it is too late. Make the steroids policies stricter. Give MLB sanctioned endorsements to guys who have tested clean. Show the world and the non-believers that we can stay true to our roots and that the players aren’t just greedy. Prove to the NBA and NFL that salary caps are not only unnecessary for competitions sake, but because it isn’t just about using steroids to improve numbers, that players earn what they deserve- just like the fans who pay to watch the game.

For the first time, in a very long time, I agree with the baseball writers of America.

They not only managed to elect the right American League Rookie of the Year, but also the proper representative for the National League.

The Amerian League ROY was, what I imagine to be, one of the easiest choices that the writers have had in a long time. Statistical analysis aside (which also sides with Longoria) the man led the team to their first playoff appearance, let alone their first American League Championship. Longoria has the makings of a leader that few players, and even fewer rookies, do. Sure he had a great manager in Maddon, but this team was able to beat the fabled Red Sox and all of thier postseason experience.

While many National League fans seem to be upset with the Soto decision, it went the right way. Again, Soto seems to be a leader. While the Cubs didn’t make it as far as predicted in the playoffs, a rookie catcher anchoring that staff was impressive, and what he did with his bat only helped his cause.

There is no two ways about it, all sentiment aside, the writers did a good job this year picking the most outstanding rookie in each league.

And while the National League Cy Young award was a bit more open to debate, Lincecum was the most solid choice of them all.

It seems that while Francisco Rodriguez’ record setting number of saves should have done wonders for the stock of closers in the league it has none nothing but cheapen what guys like Brad Lidge have done. While a perfect season is nothing to shake ones head at, K-Rod’s saves record is.

The fact that a save can be earned with one pitch makes the entire statistic look cheap. What happened to the days of the three inning save? This isn’t some call for a petition for guys to wear their arms out early, but one pitch is nothing short of ridiculous.

So in, what was argueably, the season of the closer, closers have gotten little respect. Rightfully so. K-Rod was not impressive, he was as inconsistant as ever (perhaps more so than ever) as he continued to walk guys and give up runs. So the question begs to be asked: how are fans to take the role of the closer seriously when the single season saves record holder is a joke?

While Lidge and his perfect season could have represented the best pitching feat in the league this year, it was K-Rod’s imperfect record setting season that may have ruined that chance for him.

And, lets be honest, Lincecum deserved it.

So good job writers, so far at least…

I recently decided to declare a second major here at UCSD- Russian Soviet Studies. The reason I went through with this choice is because I love my Russian language class. I love the friends I have in it, I love the professor, and I love the challenge it presents to me. So when I recieved a call last night from a native speaker regarding our homework I, naturally, told him that I was going to watch baseball.

I was then presented with an interesting question: What is more important to you, Russian or baseball?

And with an almost disdainful tone I replied “Baseball.”

I’m sure he knew what the answer was before he even asked the question. And baseball, despite the Angels’ devistating loss last night, remains more important than any of the various things I should be doing right now.

In order to have some friends over to watch the game last night I, as previously mentioned, had to postpone doing my reading for my Russian language class until today. I’m supposed to be ready to go at noon, but I am still sitting on my couch with my hair in disarry. I just finished breakfast (non-fat organic plain yogurt with dried cranberries and toast) and need to was my dishes before I even think about getting ready to go do my Russian homework. I read for my Media and Disabilities class, but I havn’t done the quickwrite (it isn’t due until tomorrow). And I’m sure there are a million other “more productive” things to do (like read up on caselaw) I could be using this time for.

But again, baseball remains the most important thing.

For those of you who read my blog on a regular basis (or perhaps those of you who know I am a fan of John Lackey) this may seem a little biased, but I really don’t think so. The Angels website seemed to blame Lackey for the loss last night, and I suppose that someone had to be blamed, but it certainly should not have been Big John.

6 and 2/3 innings of 2 run ball is nothing less than a quality start. We, unfortunately as it may be from a baseball perspective, do not live in the 1940′s and cannot expect a guy to go 9 innings of shutout ball every other day. It is unrealistic.

And if the Angels (with the bazillion dollar line-up that they have) could score more than one run, that might be helpful. How can John Lackey be blamed for the (natural) postseason jitters of Howie Kendrick and Erick Aybar? More to the point how can he be blamed for the (not so natural) postseason performance of Chone Figgins.

And perhaps most irritatingly of all, how is it his fault that Vladimir Guerrerro decided he could take two bases on knees that need to be surgically repaired? Vladdy has been a clumsy-at-best base runner since we acquired him (kind of like a wild mustang trying to walk a straight line). And what makes him think he has the right to go, when he doesn’t have a green light. He clearly gets the right (has earned the right) to swing away at whatever pitch he deems necessary, but come on, you are in the playoffs with one out- don’t put your team at risk.

Which isn’t even to mention the fact that, had Lackey not given up two runs he still would more than likely not have gone on to pitch all 9 innings- which means someone (probably Shields) would have still come in to the game. And Shields gave up just as many runs as Lackey. I love Scot as much as the next guy, but his history with the Red Sox speaks for itself.

There is always Friday, I suppose.

I’m currently sitting in my new apartment (good-bye dorms!) and watching the final game at Yankee Stadium. I have a very bittersweet feeling at the moment, but I can’t help to recall today’s events, or maybe even the events of the past few weeks.

I havn’t updated much this summer because I have been literally swamped at work. We are talking about reading hundreds of pages of case law a day. Writing and re-writing legal briefs. And over analyzing opposting council’s briefs. That combined with trying to re-cooperate after having my gall-bladder removed this summer left me with little time, or energy to do much else. So at the end of the day I wanted to watch the game with my dad, and that was about it.

With so much to do and so little time I started to feel a little lost in regards to my passion. Trying to figure out what you are going to do with the next five years of your life is never easy- especially when it comes down to double-majors or going to law school. So I, unfortunately, let all of this overwhelm me.

But on today, of all days, I got a little (that is a severe underestimate) clarity.

I know in my time here in San Diego I’ve given the city a bad wrap. But after a little help from my roommate (a native San Diegan) I found Seau’s- a restaurant/sports bar owned by Jr. Seau. And I must say that the people there not only know their football, but are also some of the friendliest I have had the opportunity to meet since I moved here. They have helped me feel  more at home when I can’t go back to my local sports bar.

So today I went with a friend of mine to watch the end of the Giants’ game and all of the Colts’ game. About half way through the Colts’ game I noticed a guy cheering on the opposing Jaguars… a guy who was accompanied by another man in a Yankee shirt.

Instead of taking the obvious route and talking football I decided that in the spirit of the final game I would mention it with a sadly toned “Your stadium is being torn down today.” To which they both replied that they simply didn’t care… the team was only moving across the street.

This idea shocked me: How could I, a devoted Angels’ fan, care and these New Yorkers didn’t mind at all?

So I responded “But that is where Mantle, and DiMaggio, and Martin all played…” And they seemed intrigued, but still said they didn’t mind- they never saw those guys play anyways.

Surely these weren’t real Yankee fans…

So I inquired further “But you saw Martin manage….?” “Yeah, the first game I ever went to Martin managed,” finally a response I could work with, from the guy in the Yankee shirt, named Tim. And from there we delved into Martin. How BillyBall changed my life. DiMaggio. Ruth. Gehrig. And I showed them the Mantle book I’m currently reading. And told them of the comparisons I’d like to make between Mantle and Maris and Napoli and Mathis.

And then Bill, the guy cheering on the Jags (he had taken them in his football pool) asked if I had ever been to the stadium and I told him only once… “Only once?”… only once. And he told me that his first game was with his dad, at Yankee Stadium. That Lou Pinella came up to bat and everyone was chanting “LOUUUUUUUUU LOUUUUUUUUUU” and he wondered “Dad, why are they booing him?” and his dad told him that his name was Lou. He said he had goosebumps just talking about it.

I thought about it for a moment, and I reasoned that why these two guys who had flown all the way from New York to San Diego to root for their Jets in the Monday night game were less bothered by Yankee Stadium being torn down then the girl who had only been there once was because they had time to enjoy it. They got to live it.

Sure I have memories at the stadium. I’ll never forget the boos when A-Rod made an error. What it was like to see Jeter bat in his home ball park. And the sheer amazement of the awe-inspiring moment when I saw centerfield where DiMaggio himself had played.

I realized when I was talking to Bill and Tim why I love sports so much. It isn’t that I havn’t always known this, but that maybe I had lost sight of it, but sports connect people. They are something to debate. And most importantly they give us memories that last a lifetime.

Its funny that on a day I had nothing more than the expectation of a Colts’ win, I didn’t get that, but I got some real perspective on my passion in life, which try and try as the real world may try to break it remains baseball.

I think that this conversation perfectly embodied what I love about sports, and I can’t thank those two Jets fans (who I hope read this) enough for reminding me just how much I love the game, just in time to watch the final game from old Yankee Stadium, where all my heroes played… even if I never got the chance to see them.

Apparently a few of the Cubbies felt it necessary to voice thier opinions regarding the home team clubhouse at Wrigley- all of which were overwhelmingly negative.

Isn’t it a bit odd that these players decided to say something now? I’ll concede that they just spent time in the Milwalkee clubhouse, and that New Yankee Stadium is bound to have amazing amenaties. But come on, it isn’t as though guys like Jim Edmonds have never seen the inside of another clubhouse.

But the real issue is that these players apparently have no regard for the history that has taken place at Wrigley Field. Building a new stadium, with the same field dimensions (as per Jason Marquis) is not the same as having Wrigley there. It doesn’t even make sense.

Now I understand that many players are not fans of the game itself, a la Garret Anderson’s comments about how he cannot understand why fans get so into the game, but this is an all time low. And why weren’t players petitioning for Yankee Stadium to be torn down, it isn’t as though Pete Sheehy was still running their clubhouse…

At the end of the day it does not take a huge baseball fan to realize the impact that Wrigley has had on the game- it is an icon that should (and hopefully will) stand forever. Wrigley embodies the passion and pain that comes with the game of baseball since its home team hasn’t seen a World Series trophy since 1908. Countless Hall of Famers have played on that field, and countless fans have watched them cement their legacies from those seats.

I’ve never seen a game at Wrigley, but I have been fortunate enough to visit it. The stadium is as much a part of Chicago as… a hot dog. Or pizza. Or the wind for that matter.

Tearing down Wrigley would be a disservice not only to the city of Chicago but to the game of baseball as a whole. Its too bad that people like Mr. Steinbrenner don’t realize this before they make such decisions.

Here is to hoping that money and player disrespect doesn’t win out on this one.