Remember that old theory that as long as Bud Selig was Commissioner then the Brewers would be cellar dwellers? Throw it out. Built like the cast of a smash hit television show, the Brewers have assembled a team of guys who are establishing their identities with this team, playing the role they were born to fill.
Tag: MLB
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The MLB April Awards
April baseball may be about as meaningful as the 7th round of the NFL draft (do you really think Ramzee Robinson will have a big impact on the Lions next season?). Still, this opening month of baseball has been quite an eventful one. The Yankees are in last, the Brewers are in first, the Braves have returned, and Barry is back. Here is some hardware for the best (and worst) of April.
He was a black man, living in a white world. A time when the sky was blue, the grass was green, and everything else was white. He had to witness things during that time when racism was at its peak and stirring out of control. Everyday he had to listen to racial slurs being thrown at him, not being able to go to certain places because of his skin color, death threats, you name it the list goes on and on.There was one thing that this man wanted more than anything in life and would not stop until he achieved that dream. That dream was; acceptance. April 15, 2007 marked the 60th anniversary of the day Jackie Robinson broke not only baseball’s color barrier, but this country’s. He not only changed the way we look at sports, he changed the way we look at life.
April 15th is Jackie Robinson Day around Major League Baseball. This is a terrific annual celebration to honor the day that baseball’s color barrier was broken, long before society’s, in 1947. However, on the 60th anniversary of this momentous event, it has turned into anything but a celebration.
by Matt Wells
Well, baseball is finally here. In fact, it has been here for a week and a half already. Spring Training is over, the home fields of all the baseball teams have been opened for the new season (or they are close to being opened). The World Champion Cardinals are attempting to repeat, the Tigers are looking to repeat last year’s success, the Red Sox are trying to dethrone the Yankees in the AL East, and a slew of teams that missed last year’s playoffs are looking to improve on last year’s performances (Indians, Braves, Cubs, etc).
So, one week has been completed. Players have begun to produce, while some haven’t. Teams have won games early, while some haven’t. So, what have I learned from the first week and a half of the regular season? Well…
Can you smell it? It’s the smell of fresh cut infield grass, Gatorade, and newly-oiled leather. Can you see it? The dusty cleats, sunflower seed-covered dugout floors, and brand new jerseys. Can you hear it? The sounds of popping mitts, cracking bats, and Barry Bonds denying. If you can do all these things, well congratu-frickin-lations, you don’t have allergies.
Even though my nose is stuffed up, my eyes water and my ears are plugged, I can still feel the baseball season starting, and that’s all that matters. Also, as far as I know, my allergies do not affect my brain, so I can still put together my annual predictions. So here goes; better late than never right?
Every season, the first week holds a mystical excitement, a throbbing urge to anoint many young players as breakout stars. However, each season holds a bag of tricks and treats, and more than not are tricks.
Surprise, Arizona. A city with a name befitting of Paradise.
Like Boring, Oregon. Lovely, Kentucky. And Hell, Michigan.
Surprise… As in Surprise! We came here for spring break instead of Mexico?!?
My friend McWhite and I had this brilliant idea for an adventure. We would drive non-stop from Seattle to Las Vegas, spend three days there with little sleep, and then head east to Arizona for spring training, the blazing sun, and the Monastery Too.
Although Native Americans entered the world of professional baseball 50 years prior to African Americans, who competed in the Negro Leagues, until Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier by signing his minor league contract with Dodgers in 1945, there have been less than 50 Native Americans of full Indian ancestry to compete in the Major Leagues since 1897.
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MLB 2007: Post Season Predictions
Yankees vs. Twins. Angels vs. Red Sox. Mets vs. Cubs. Padres vs. Phillies. The 2007 MLB playoffs look familiar, yet there’s a couple of differences as well.