Baseball Bookshelf Recommendation #5

We live in a world with incredibly high access to the baseball players and teams we root for. From websites, Twitter, MLBFanCave and even a show ("The Franchise) going behind the scenes with the Giants - we can almost get to know players off the field more than on the field now. 

But despite all this access, most of us will never really know or understand what it's like in the Brotherhood of Professional Baseball Players. We'll never really be able to know what it's like behind the clubhouse doors or in the dugout as an insider. 

Part of that brotherhood is "The Code". You know, the unwritten rules about not running up a score in a blowout, not mentioning a no-hitter or perfect game while it's underway, and many other intricate, debatable rules that govern the game of baseball on the field and unofficially. 

For an excellent sneak peek behind the clubhouse curtain, check out The Baseball Codes: Bean balls, Sign stealing and Bench-clearing Brawls: The Unwritten Rules of American's Pastime by Jason Turbow. 

Whether you believe in the existence or relevance of "The Code", Turbow offers some great anecdotes about the different aspects and executions of players policing themselves. He definitely also offers some great material to spark debate about the place of "the code" into today's game of baseball.

Above all, The Baseball Codes is an enjoyable read filled with great stories from the last fifty years of baseball from the player perspective.

Definitely passes the I.T.C.B. Baseball Bookshelf reading-worthy test.

Can you smell Spring Training yet fellow fans? 

JaysGirl5

Ready, Set...MEET!

Early December is always an interesting time of year on the baseball calendar. Most players start getting back to their workout routines, if they haven’t already. The new baseball season seems so much closer than it did when the World Series ended. And, oh yeah, there’s this little matter of the yearly GM meetings taking place.

This year’s festivities are set to start today in Dallas, Texas. I’m always intrigued to see what might come out of them, but this year seems a little different. A lot of that has to do with the new CBA that has officially been ratified between MLB and the MLBPA. (In general, I have an interest in collective bargaining agreements and employer/union relations. It’s the nerd in me, and my past experience I guess.)The other part of me is just the continual curiosity I have about what creative move AA is going to pull out of his bag o’ tricks next.

Other than the new CBA, the offseason to-date has been pretty quiet. Sure, Papelbon signed with the Phillies (thoughts on overpaying/not overpaying?) and there have been numerous rumors about where Pujols will end up. On the Jays front, it’s definitely been quiet. A few small moves (Brad Mills to Anaheim for Jeff Mathis, Luis Valbuena from Cleveland for cash) have been made, but all’s quiet on the blue bird front. Until now.

By all accounts, AA is looking to make some majorish moves, or at least start the ball rolling on the “big” moves we’ll see coming out of Toronto this offseason. I refer to them as “big” because I don’t see any of them being huge blockbuster deals like we’ve seen in the part. Looking around the roster, there are some key spots to be filled (2^nd base, closer), but nowhere near the amount of holes we’re seen before. Our core roster is strong and young, will a whole host of awesome guys working their way up through the minors.

The one “move” I will comment on that a lot of Jays fans have been backing is bringing Prince Fielder to Toronto. Especially now with an unconfirmed report that Toronto’s on Fielder’s short  list for places he’d like to play. Not surprising as from all accounts I’ve heard, he enjoyed visits here while his dad trolled the outfield for us.

I wholeheartedly do not support this move. Part of it is his possible asking price, but on within the context of his role on the team. I am a LindyHop enthusiast. I have enjoyed watching Adam Lind grow as a player since he made his debut back in Sep ’06. I like him at 1^st and believed for a long time before he moved out of the DH spot that he would find a home there.  

Not all Jays’ fans share my Lind love, and that’s okay. But what I don’t get is the call to heave him out of 1^st after only one full season (minus a month missed for back issues). Some point to his defensive skills, some to his drop off at the plate. Well, you try playing a fielding position for a full season for the first time in the Bigs after being a part-time outfielder/mostly DH for your career, then see if YOUR production doesn’t suffer. Adam said as much near the end of the season. It’s a more difficult physical and mental grind having to transition to playing every day, instead of just walking to the plate 3+ times in a game.

There’s no denying that Fielder is incredibly productive at the plate. It’s an attractive, attention grabbing quality on his résumé; having that much homerun power could be a great protective agent behind Bautista. But, what about the possible hit we’d take in the field? Maybe this is a reflection of me being a pitching and defense kind of person, but I’ll take Lind’s defense over Fielder’s any day. For those statistically inclined readers, here’s my backing to that statement.

In 2011, Fielder had the lowest fielding% among all 1^st basemen, at .990 (159 games). Lind was 6^th at .996 (109 games). Remember, this was Adam’s first full season at an infield position. I will also concede that Fielder did play 50 more games than Lind, with 411 more total chances. But, I’ll still take Lind. You can also compare both their first full seasons at first, in which Fielder did have more games, but I didn’t want to overload with numbers here. If you’re interested, just search Fielder and Lind’s stats on the MLB site. I will note however, that Prince has had only one season with a fielding percentage over .996 (2010; .997) and I foresee LindyHop getting better next season.

There’s also talk about bringing Prince to Toronto to DH, but I also balk at that idea. He’ll only be 27 as of opening day 2012. That is so incredibly young to move someone into the DH spot, and part of the reason Lind (28) is now at first. The Jays didn’t want to make him a career DH before he hit 30. Fielder might not be my favourite option as a new team member in T.O., but I also don’t think it’s time for him to leave the fielding part of his game behind.

I honestly get the draw and (some) of the reasons why bringing Prince to Toronto is being so highly talked about, and not just bandied about in the fan world. But I honestly don’t see the fit. We have other, more pressing concerns (see above) to worry about without getting into replacing guys that have/will contribute to the team’s success.

I am an Adam Lind fan, just as I am a Travis Snider, Eric Thames, and Edwin Encarnacion fan. We have an overabundance of guys that could play great roles filling places in the roster where we need them. Unfortunately, that doesn’t apply to all positions, but we’re in a pretty comfy (and soon to be very successful) place right now Jays' fans. Obviously AA is aware of that and is about the start workin’ his GM magic.

Pull up a chair Jays fans. It’s going to be a pretty neat next couple of days at the Winter Meetings.

Just wanted to send out some congrats/ROCK ONs to:

• -         Arencibia and Lawrie being named to the 2011 Topps All-Star Rookie Team
• -          And the following guys for being chosen by the BWA’s Toronto chapter Award winners:

o   RickyRo – Pitcher of the Year

o   JoBau – Player of the Year (Neil MacCarl Award)

o   JPArriba – Rookie of the Year

o   Janssen – Most Improved Player

o   McGowan – John Cerutti Award (given to a person who shows the cooperation, goodwill and character Cerutti was known for.)

Happy Early Holiday Season readers! I wish you and your loved ones the merriest, baseball filled (as much as possible in Dec/Jan) times!

JaysGirl5

P.S. the 2012 season is getting closer!

Werk It Boys!

In case you’ve been living in a sports world blackout the past two days, the Jays introduced their new logo and jerseys on Friday. They also introduced some very snazzy looking major league models, too.

I’m sure when @RickyRo24, @jparencibia9, @JoeyBats19, @blawrie13, @2Morrow23, Yunel Escobar and Adam Lind all became members of the Jays, they didn’t imagine they’d be putting on a fashion show someday.

Well, obviously they thought wrong. Sportsnet has been kind enough to host the whole thing online for those of us who couldn’t be there. (Scroll ahead to around the 10 minute mark to see the new jerseys.) Also check out some of the tweet histories for the guys above to see some pretty cool candid photos.

For all intents and purposes, I’m not really sure what number logo to call this. Technically, the first two logos of the organization aren’t really that different from each other. Plus, the current logo is an amalgamation of those two with a little updating. There’s also the one we just got rid of, and the bird of steroids that was an “interim logo”.

Regardless, this new logo and return to blue jerseys is pretty much a no brainer. The more the change settles in, the more it feels like the last piece to cement the AA years. (Although, I’m sure he wouldn’t want them to be called that.)

I’ll admit that nearing the end of the JP years, specifically around the time of Docgate, I had some pretty harsh words for and about the previous GM. I totally stand by them, but time (and a great somewhat realistic look at a GMs life in Moneyball) has a great way of allowing me some perspective. But here’s the best way I think I can describe how I feel about now (AA years) versus then (Ricciardi years) - They were like a jersey that just didn’t fit. For a multitude of reasons it was never right, and no amount of trying was going to change that. It finally feels like the Jays-verse can breathe again and has gotten back to having the right fit. I swear, Scott Carson explains it better than me.

This may not be the best summation of my reaction to the new logo, but I’m still kind of in the middle of it, you know? I love it, can’t wait to see it at the Home Opener and think it’s about time. I also can’t wait to get my new hat and jersey.

There’s change and excitement in the air, Jays fans! 

Here’s to wishing the boys “werk” it on the field next year as much as they “werked” the new jerseys yesterday.

JaysGirl5

Reality Check

Amidst the wonder and joy of being a sports fan, there are times when we get a cold, hard dose of reality.

For hockey fans this year, it was the deaths of three players in a very short span this off-season.

For us baseball fans, it’s the recent kidnapping and rescue of the National’s rookie catcher Wilson Ramos.

As news broke early last Thursday morning, the whole baseball world started holding its collective breath. Outpourings of well wishes, prayers, and tweets went around the world hoping that Ramos would be returned safe and sound.

As we now know, Ramos was taken at gunpoint in front of his family’s home on Nov 9th. His kidnappers eventually came to rest at a secluded house in the mountains of Venezuela’s central Carabobo state. Ramos was told he would be ransomed and was left alone. Almost three days later, and after a 15 minute gun battle, Ramos was able to return to his family physically unscathed and overcome with appreciation to everyone who played at part in his return.

This isn’t the first time baseball and kidnapping have crossed paths, although to MLB’s knowledge this is the first time a player has been taken. Mothers and children of pro baseball players have been taken; one’s cousin was killed a few years ago. And there are more stories.

As lovers of the beautiful game, it’s easy for us to get caught up in enjoying what happens on the field, and the rumours/drama/gossip that happens in the off-season surrounding free agents and whatnot. We forget sometimes that the guys we enjoy watching so much go back to real lives. We lose sight that making it to “The Show” doesn’t mean life just turns into a fairy tale or that all problems go away. In some cases, like that of Wilson Ramos, it can actually make you a target. And in the end, he was lucky.

I’ll admit to having a very slight, general knowledge of the crime issues in South American states, but my eyes were blown pretty open when reading about the current state of things throughout the Ramos story coverage. If you haven’t read any, start. Read from the beginning to get a glimpse of what I’m talking about.

I know that baseball is only a game and am very aware of the role professional sports play and should play. But when the inevitable splash of reality comes in, I’m reminded of how lucky I am in general. My love of baseball (for many, many reasons) affords me an incredible love and appreciation of life in general.

Every day, I think of how lucky I am to have baseball in my life. Every day. And days like last Wed and Sat…they just put it all in perspective.

Be grateful and thankful fellow fans.

JaysGirl5

Sharing the Wealth

A few days ago, I was telling someone about the initial reason I started blogging...so many summers ago now. At the time, I wanted to offer my friends and family a break from the single-mindedness that consumes me during baseball season. I freely admit my posting record has been inconsistent, but I'm proud of how I.T.C.B. has evolved and grown over the years. Along the way, I like to (or choose to?) think I've offered at least a chuckle, a grin or maybe some thought provocation to anyone who's taken the time to stop by. (Which, by the way, THANK YOU for doing!) 

But back to my original direction...

My online Camera Bay still offers my loved ones a reprieve, but I'm also lucky to have friends and family who are supportive enablers of my love of baseball. They come to games with me, talk Jays with me, and best of all...somehow anything baseball that crosses their paths gets sent along mine. (This has happened many times with free tickets and memorabilia, and it's awesome!) So, here's where I send some of what this blog's title implies to you. In the last couple of months my mom, dad and brother have all sent me some pretty neat baseball videos, which now I'm sharing with you. The first three were the ones my family loving sent, the rest just some fun added by me. Enjoy!

Now, I'm still not 100% convinced about this one, but it's still really cool.

By following the link below, to the best of my knowledge and investigation, no harm will come to your computer. The website's embedded video player has some great black and white footage with a really old "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" track. Be warned, the video quality is a little low.

The Roots of Baseball

I found this extended video of Josh's trick from above, with a little somethin' extra.

And no baseball video collection would be complete without...

I loved getting to sit and watch Abbot & Costello on repeat while I was in the Wax Museum in Cooperstown last summer. Anyone who calls themselves a baseball fan should watch that video at least once in their lives.

That's about it for me folks. A little delayed, but congrats to the Cards for winning it this year. I don't think I've ever watched a better playoffs and World Series. Only good things are coming for baseball, I think. Speaking of good things and sharing the wealth...Mactastic has left the Dome for good, but has signed a very nice 2yr contract in Arizona. Love him well DBack fans. He's one of a kind. Although, I think you know that by now.

Happy off-season so far baseball fans! (Is it February yet?)

JaysGirl5