All-Star Break: Waiting, Day 4

Posted on July 11, 2019 by Jackie, The Baseball Bloggess

As settlers pushed into the unsettled Great Plains in the 1800s to open the land and start new lives, the harsh living conditions, backbreaking farm work, often deadly weather, and near-constant isolation took an enormous toll, often leading to mental breakdowns. They called it “Prairie Madness.”

So, all things considered, going four days without baseball is really no big thing.

And, on the plus side, the Baltimore Orioles haven’t lost a game in four days. Continue reading →

All-Star Break: Waiting, Day 3

Posted on July 10, 2019 by Jackie, The Baseball Bloggess

Save the bullpen. That’s what they say, right? Don’t use up all your pitchers. You might need one later.

So, it wasn’t a surprise, but it was still a bummer, that John Means – the Baltimore Orioles lone All-Star rep last night – never got to play. Both sides saved some pitchers.

The American League won.

Whatever.

Embed from Getty Images

At least John Means was available to play. He could have pitched.

The poor Washington Nationals had two All Stars – an unavailable pitcher and an injured position player.

The only Nationals that saw action last night were the Racing Presidents. Continue reading →

All-Star Break: Waiting, Day 2

Posted on July 9, 2019 by Jackie, The Baseball Bloggess

Waiting to catch a ball …

A record 312 home runs were hit at last night’s All-Star Home Run Derby.

People got really excited about all the homers, but if you ask me, it’s sort of just a glorified batting practice and the home runs aren’t even really home runs … no one runs anywhere, no one scores a run.

According to MLB.com: “There were 24.8 miles of home runs hit in the 2019 Derby — the 312 homers totaled 130,779 feet.” Vladimir Guerrero, Jr., of the Toronto Blue Jays, alone hit 91 homers – 7.3 miles of them. (Dear Toronto Blue Jays Fans, That’s 11.75 kilometers worth.)

In case you missed it, Vlad, Jr. lost in the final round to the Mets’ Pete Alonso.

Sure, 24.8 miles of batting practice home runs is impressive. I guess.

OK, people, time for some Babe Ruth talk. Continue reading →

All-Star Break: Waiting, Day 1

Posted on July 8, 2019 by Jackie, The Baseball Bloggess

Four summer days without baseball. That’s what the All-Star Break is.

Maybe you count tonight’s Home Run Derby and tomorrow’s All-Star Game as baseball. My friend Jay doesn’t.

All I have to do each July is send Jay this email: “Do you still hate the All-Star break?” and I get a fast reply, like this:

“I HATE the all-star break – and the all-star game which causes the all-star break. Especially now that they have extended that break to 4 days. The best thing about baseball is that it happens (almost) every day.”

I don’t mind the All-Star game, even if just one Oriole will be there. Sure, the game is sort of pointless. But, it’s sort of cute, too. Like a puppy.