Like Barry Bonds, Baseball Widow hasn't retired; she's just not playing.
Enjoy the archives. . .



Wednesday, March 30, 2005

Huh?

Baseball Widow, who readily admits that many nuances of baseball strategy escape her, turns to Hubby and says, "What's the theory behind having someone go from being the potential lead-off hitter of a big league club to losing your spot on the roster?"

Hubby responds, "Are you talking about Endy Chavez?"

Baseball Widow answers affirmatively.

Hubby quips, "I don't know, bad management?"

Well, Baseball Widow must have a better handle on strategy than she thought.
The check's in the email

Hey, Baseball Musings is doing a funds drive this month, and you should contribute.
Why? Funny you should ask, because Baseball Widow has compiled the top five reasons why you should help Dave Pinto out.

1. If you like Baseball Widow, you should contribute, because Baseball Widow gets all her news from Pinto. Otherwise, Baseball Widow might go new-mom on you and start talking about poopie diapers.

2. If you like having Baseball Musings as a free resource, you should contribute. No one would be happy if Pinto went to a subscription-only service, least of all Baseball Widow, who occasionally receives a respite from Baseball Hubby's obsession when he takes time to read what Dave has to say.

3. If you (and every other visitor) can stand to go without two Venti Frappuchinos this week, you'll contribute enough to help Pinto make Baseball Musings a full-time gig for a year. He's only part-timing now, and it's great. Just imagine how awesome it would be if he could focus all his energies to the blog.

4. If you're scared of the IRS or of hackers, you should contribute, 'cause Pinto's a genius with numbers, and if he ever turned to the dark side, we could all be in trouble.

5. Pinto's a Harvard grad, and everyone knows Harvard grads need more cash.

But, seriously, folks, you should read more here, and then you should at least consider donating. (Hey, Baseball Widow makes it a policy to consider just about everything.) And then, if you get money-happy, send Baseball Widow a check too. :)
Signs of the Times

The Braves are on FSN. Baseball Baby is sporting his Braves bib. Baseball Hubby is passed out on the couch, too exhausted by his duties as primary caregiver to watch his beloved team. Baseball Widow, who for once isn't being forced into a baseball discussion by an obsessed husband, is pondering the retirement of Andres Gallaraga, whose homeruns number "only" 399. . .These are signs that the world is changing.

The first comments I've heard seem to be "What a shame!" My question is, "What's the shame?" Is there shame in choosing to end a career when the career's productivity is over, rather than hanging around for a number's sake? Surely not. Is there shame in the fact that 399 homeruns is not good enough for the Hall? Maybe--to the extent that Hall voters tend to focus on benchmarks rather than actual off-bench performance. Of course, 400 homers is increasingly less impressive, so I'm not sure that we'll continue to talk about 399 as "a shame." It's possible that some people feel the homerun era is a "shame," because they prefer a prior era of the game. Or, some people might view the homerun era as a shame because they feel it's a scam brought on by the abuse of steroids. Or maybe people just want something to cluck about.

It's amazing the number of people who have definitive opinions on the shame that is baseball in America. Baseball Widow and Hubby were listening to "Wait Wait Don't Tell Me" the other day (for those of you not in the know, it's a public radio news quiz show, and it's fabulous). One of the contestants was asked about the author of a recent baseball memoir. The contestant responded, "I'm not a baseball fan, so I don't really know." Upon being prompted, the contestant remembered that Barry Bonds had recently been in the news. (Yeah, that's an understatement.) When the topic of asterisking baseball records came up, the contestant responded that, rather than an asterisk, there should be an eraser. Gee, for someone who isn't a baseball fan and doesn't follow baseball, you sure have an opinion. Bet there's something else you and everyone else have one of, too. . .

As far as Baseball Widow is concerned, there's not nearly as much shame in baseball these days as people like to think there is. It's not a shame that some people used drugs, and it's not a shame that stand-up guys like Gallaraga retire when they think they're ready to (to retire, that is. I just couldn't leave that preposition hanging there, naked.). It's only a shame that some people are ready to write off a centuries-old sport because of the latest scandal. Hey, we've been through gambling and we've been through drugs before. We've still got scandals to dish about, too. Collusion is a much bigger deal than anyone has ever fully appreciated. It's just a shame that no one in the media seems interested in talking about baseball, the game, this year.

Well, baseball is still being played, and played well. And the fans, at least, are paying attention, if Spring Training attendance is any indication. Now, of course, the only shame is that Baseball Widow and family aren't in Florida right now.

Friday, March 18, 2005

Mind over Matter
This is Baseball Widow resisting the urge to talk about the Congressional Hearings. Wish me luck.

Tuesday, March 15, 2005

Strike

Baseball Widow thinks she might be on strike.

I haven't been able to watch any baseball coverage without running into a steroid discussion. I'm tired of it. No one is saying anything new, and it should go without saying that no one is saying anything intelligent. Please, someone give Baseball Widow something to write about.

Oh, well, guess it's about time to draft the Eye-Candies. . .

Friday, March 11, 2005

Hot Prospect Finds New Home with Baseball Widow
Check out this five tool player. He's got it all. . .good respiration, high levels of oxygen profusion, steady heartbeat, excellent blood pressure, and baby blue eyes. In case you're wondering, we're very grateful for the performance enhancing drugs that he has taken, and we're so pleased that he's home now.

Jamie is excited to watch his first Braves game on Monday. In case you were wondering, Tim Hudson is his favorite player.

Friday, March 04, 2005

As if the Tim Hudson deal weren't enough good news. . .

Baseball Widow and Hubby are pleased to announce the birth of Jamie, who arrived in the world on Sunday, February 27, 2005 with seven pounds three ounces of adorable baby fat on an almost 20 inch frame. I assume Jamie will join the blog as either Baseball Orphan or Baseball Baby. Seeing as how Baseball Hubby has already promised him season tickets to the Braves, I'm betting on the latter.

Jamie is currently in the Intensive Care Nursery at the University of Tennessee Medical Center, but we're hoping he'll join us home soon, now that Spring Training games are being televised. If you'd like more info on Jamie's status, check out The Jamie News Network