2004 Season

Edition No. 10

   April 27, 2004     

          As I begin to scribe my version of the “Bullpen” this week, I thought this famous quote was a great way to start.  Even though we are all somewhat miffed and surprised by the early season performance of some of our draft picks, some good,some bad,  I think we would all agree with parts of the above quote as we reflect on the opportunity to start a new HSL Season and the joy and excitement it brings us.  Sure, it may be just a game, but “Boy, what a game it is! “

          I recently received the book “ The Quotable Baseball Fanatic” so I thought it would be appropriate to use some of the quotes to describe my fellow HSL members, so here for your reading enjoyment are my selections:

          “ If you walk backwards, you’ll find out that you can go forward and people won’t know if you’re coming or going.”  Casey Stengel.  After the latest edition of the Bellyflop, this can only describe Bob’s approach to the draft and his perspective of life in general.  Whether from in the car or on his feet!

          “Baseball isn’t a life-and-death matter, but the Red Sox are.”  Mike Barnicle

This can only be attributed to our resident Red Sox fan, Mr. Ted Bridges, proud owner of a new t-shirt and $100.00 lighter.

          “Always have a belligerent, take-charge attitude up there.  You have to cultivate quite a “mad on” while awaiting your turn at bat, a cold determination o ram the ball down the pitcher’s throat.  You’d be surprised how effective it is”  Ty Cobb.  This is undoubtedly the mind set that Mitch uses on draft day.  Although it was easier for him to make a “mad on” demeanor with his old hair style!

          “This isn’t life or death.  We’re like those surfer dudes out on the ocean.  When you get up on a good wave, you ride it out as long as you can.”  Barry Bonds.  This can only describe Itchie’s approach to making a near mockery of our leaue and his recent success.

          “You see, you spend a good piece of your life gripping a baseball; and in the end it turns out that it was the other way around all the time.”  Jim Bouton.  This has to simply quantify a lot of what happens in Ernie’s life.  I mean who else has their own baseball field and spends as much time researching the free agent drafts!

          “If you have some good horses you can win the race, but you can’t win anything with a bunch of mules.”  Eddie Moore.  This can only be attributed to the Irate Pirate and his slow start this year, and last year, and the year before that , and…..Boy am I glad that I didn’t draft Mark Prior! 

          “All I’ve tried to do as a manager of this team is to get the fear of losing the hell out of this clubhouse.”  Felipe Alou.  I think Big Guy has used this little bit of managing insight to scare the hell out of his club right into first place.  Could we have a worst to first burst this year?

          “Just stay away from firearms, Red, and don’t room higher than the second floor.  You might want to jump.”  Frank Frisch’s advice to Red Schoendienst.  Could there be any quote more appropriate for the Redbirds?  If it doesn’t apply to the noose getting a little tighter as time runs out on his ten-year bet with Scott, it certainly applies to the recent success, or lack of, of his team.  Everybody keep your eyes on our beloved Iowegan.

          “I love baseball too much to do anything else.  When the season is over I’m grouchy all the time.  I feel miserable.  I’m always sick.  I get imaginary pains, like a baby.  Only when spring training comes around and I can put the uniform back on do the pains go away.”  Woody Huyke.  How true it is that this quote hits so close to home for all of us but especially the tall one known as Blongo! 

          “If you became a Yankee, you took on the quality of breeding which the Yankees exemplified.  You became a Yankee, and that answered a whole lot of questions.  For some reason you were able to perform a little better.”  Waite Hoyt.  This has to explain the recent success of the Chiefs since the addition of Screech to their management team and his crafty handling of the team!

          “If asked where baseball stood amid such notions as country, family, love, honor, art, and religion, we might say derisively, “Just a game.”  But, under oath, I’d abandon some of those Big Six before I’d give up baseball.”  Thomas Boswell.  This could be applied to our very own Cubs, but if food had been one of the choices, I’m not quite sure where that would rank compared to baseball!

          “…it’s pretty hard to be lucky when your pitching is bad.”  Walter Alston.  It’s hard to admit that this one quote could so accurately reflect the state of my team this year, but I still have faith that someone will be trading me one of their pitchers for one of my hitters or closers before the All-Star break.

WEEK 3 POINT TOTALS

STANDINGS THROUGH

April 25, 2004