Still Keeping Score

So one of the coolest moments in my existence was also the most awkward. I met one of my childhood sports heroes.  And I met him in the underwear sales section of a department store. Wait. We’re going to need some context. And maybe a robe or something. First, the who. The best pitcher in the history of baseball is Jim Palmer.  He had 268 career wins, a lifetime ERA 0f 2.86, first ballot Hall-of-Famer with 92.6 percent of the vote, 6-time American League All-Star, four Gold Gloves, eight 20-game winning seasons,  THREE time CY Young Award winner (finished second in the voting twice and third once as well), and THREE times a World Champion with the Baltimore Orioles. The other who in this is me, of course. Born in Maryland wearing an Orioles T-Shirt.  It is a medical miracle to jump out of the womb wearing clothes.  Superman had that famous red blanket he turned into his cape.  My superpower was fandom.  A gift of Orioles fandom handed d...

Troy Tulowitzki is gone, and it may be in part because he simply lacked the patience of his former teammate Todd Helton. The five time All-Star shortstop who won a pair of Gold Gloves and Silver Sluggers, and helped the Colorado Rockies to their only National League pennant has been shoved out the door. He said he was shocked, and I take him at his word, but when the dust settles, I don't know that he will always feel the same way.  And this next sentence is not a critique in any manner, merely an observation. While Troy Tulowitzki is the very best at his position in all the game, he is no Todd Helton. If he stays healthy, Tulo will be one of the best to ever play the position.  He may yet obtain the championship rings he desires, and pile up many more silver and gold plated trophies.  However, some guys can only be at their very best when in contention.  The Rox have been unable to get themselves back into a title hunt, and that was wearing out the incredible ...

There was a day when it was extremely cool to be a fan of the Baltimore Orioles.  I remember, because I was one of them.  We were legion.  The O's always won, they had the best pitching in all of baseball and a defense that was a perennial spectacle of efficiency.  They were so good, so often with a system in place called "The Oriole Way."  Teams at every level all over the country attempted to emulate the pitching, defense and yes, the occasional three-run homer style of baseball played in Baltimore. This quick historical review is how I have to explain things to my kids, who thought I was only joking when I talked about the O's as a powerhouse in Major League Baseball. They spoiled me rotten, those three time World Champions did. They won the Fall Classic in 1966, 1970 and 1983, to go along with six American League Pennants and eight division titles.  They battled among the AL elite, and frequently dispatched the mighty New York Yankees with ease, and ...

As one of craziest nights of baseball wrapped up last night, ESPN baseball guru Tim Kurkjian said he essentially witnessed the "greatest regular season night in the history of the game."  A bold statement indeed, but it only took me a few moments to completely agree with him. I know, a blog is supposed to kick up some dust, throw a little controversy on an otherwise glorious occasion.  However, I am choosing to enjoy the afterglow. A lot of tight races down the stretch, and yet nothing like four teams staying alive for two wild card playoff spots on the last day, deadlocked in the standings.  Both the American and National Leagues had slated not one, but two extra games today if needed. As if that wasn't drama enough, most of the games lived well beyond expectation in the thriller department.  The relentless run of the St. Louis Cardinals provided the only timely result by putting away the Houston Astros 8-0 on the road.  The only person who believed the Card...