"And it's a Goner!

Oh, there is nothing like a thrilling and exciting home run call in baseball. To hear the roar of the crowd and the excitement fill the stadium can give fans goosebumps, BUT all this can be ruined by one simple thing: When the batter stands there and admires the home run...here is all I have to say about that-Act like you have hit a home run before, run the bases and let the game continue. I don't think there is any appropriate time for any batter to stand and admire their home run, unless you break the All-Time HR Record or hit the World Series winning run (those are about the only exceptions). Many ballplayers today sit there and watch what they have just done, soaking in the fans cheers while boosting their own ego. Now, let's take a look at the main culprit of this, Mr. Manny Ramirez, who last week basically said trade me from Boston or I won't play. He basically gave up on the Red Sox, did not give his full effort to his teammates and worse to the fans (the Red Sox Nation being one of the most loyal fans in baseball). He needs to get a grip of himself and realize that yes he is a great hitter and he will hit home runs, but once you hit it, run the bases and cross home plate, hi-five your teammates and get focused on the game. I am a huge Albert Pujols fan and it kills me to watch him do it...where as on the other hand guys like Ryan Ludwick (who by the way should be in the starting lineup the rest of the year) and Scott Rolen to name a few when they hit a home run (and know it) the put the bat down and run hard around the bases. It's guys like that, that keep the tradition of baseball alive and respect for the game. I am not saying Manny or Albert do not have any respect for the game, I think a lot of old-time players would not let it happen. I would bet if Manny were to hit a HR off of Dizzy Dean and watch it, the next time he came up, Dizzy would tell him what he thought of his HR...

"The Gashouse Gang" by John Heidenry is a great book about the 1934 St. Louis Cardinals and their improbable run to the World Series Title. It is very imformative about baseball in the 30's and the Cardinals team from that year. I learned a lot about the origins of STL Cardinals beginning with Branch Rickey to Rogers Hornsby and the famed Dizzy Dean. It made me want to go back in time and watch baseball at it's purest state-clean and full of guys playing their hearts out each day, playing through injury and playing because they love the game and not for the paycheck and not with the help of steroids...

On that note, the four Cardinals games that I have been to they have scored a Grand total of 3 runs...not too exciting on the Home Teams part, but the game where CC Sabathia pitched was entertaining because I was only 3 innings away from seeing a no-hitter...that would be something to be able to see a no-hitter by a pitcher live...a baseball fan's dream!