I'd rather be sitting in a ballpark.

Without wallowing in melancholy, I like to look back at milestone anniversaries and add a little of my own context. Fifty years ago, the Cubs abandoned the old and trotted out a bunch of relative nobodies. At the time, we didn’t realize that the advent of free agency would transform professional sports and how we…

I guess most fans would say that teams don’t owe their fans anything more than putting a quality product on the field. But we all know professional teams do more than the bare minimum to entertain and reward their fans. Some might suggest there is a minimum standard. Other than changing their bag policy with…

Each ML organization approaches the need/mix of development and winning differently. It’s dang near impossible to discern what your favorite team’s m.o on any given day. Managers are forced to make pitching decisions that on the surface make no sense. At some point in the season, relievers are going to be inserted in games that…

Years ago, when Oakland called Kane County home, their low-A entry in the MWL had an identity-for most of manager, Aaron Nieckula’s tenure, the team played an aggressive brand of ball-especially on the basepaths. It’s hard to figure what the franchise’s identity is today-other than lousy. While it’s very early in the season, it’s also…

Unless I’m hired to cover a ball game for an elite publication, I’m going to expand and write about the gameday experience. It’s in my blood as a concierge. One can take what you want, but as I hope to contribute to something bigger-an overview or history of the MWL. I learned something years ago…

In an attempt to knock off another MWL ballpark and city off my list, I’ve spent the last 20 hours in Lansing, Michigan. The less than 4 hour drive from Cas Bob made it all the more attractive. Initially, I considered attending Saturday’s 4pm game and Sunday’s 1:05 tilt, but Mother Nature intervened. Thursday night’s…

Titling this Great Expectations would have been a little mean-spirited and inaccurate or incomplete. I was never Stephen Strasburg’s biggest fans, but I want to do the cat justice now that he won’t strike out any Cub hitters again. If a player announces his retirement before anyone realizes that he hasn’t already hung up his…

The joint is jumping, but the real celebration happened before the first pitch. The Cubs are hosting the Dodgers (Betts, Ohtani, Freeman etal) and that’s who people came to see. However, the Cubs, their fans and baseball are celebrating the 50-year career of Tom “Otis” Hellman. MLB has been sticking their foot a lot recently,…

Despite the fact that I am 24/7, 365 days a year, baseball, I am aware of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. While the basketball season ended for me and my team 6 weeks ago, the spectacle of the 3-week event still interests me. The spirit of this blog is that I would rather be sitting…

30-year-old, Ronel Blanco, is baseball’s first surprise story/star. The righty starter for the Astros threw a no-hitter yesterday against the Blue Jays. In only his 8th career start, he tossed the 17the no-no in team history. He’s not a highly touted prospect which might be a little disturbing-that the Astros have found another guy. It’s…