XM radio has messed up another good thing by discontinuing Charley Steiner's show, Baseball Beat. The show aired for the last time this afternoon. Steiner talked with sportswriters across the country and presented reliable information in a chatty and folksy manner. Nothing but class. Baseball Beat also mixed in clever bits of music before and after breaks that always somehow related to topics being discussed on that days show.
The merger between XM and Sirius has prompted the elimination of some of my favorite XM hosts including Mark Patrick, Ronnie Lane, and now Steiner. Replacement hosts have been far from acceptable.
Here are some classic Charley Steiner moments from his days on Sportscenter.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Hillman's Farm Team
Trey Hillman, skipper of the Kansas City Royals, is inviting his infield down to his Texas farm for a mini-camp. Hillman has cleared a goat pasture at his home and turned it into a professionally installed AstroTurf infield.
Hillman preaches hustle and accountability and although he'll probably never get major leaguers to be as disciplined as Japanese players, he did seem to rub off on the young Royals last year*. Maybe this little get-together at the ranch is just want the team needs to kick off something good.
*This statement excludes Jose Guillen
"That used to be the goat pasture," Hillman said. "Now it's a baseball pasture."I like Hillman a lot and hopefully he'll get some tools to work with in KC. Before taking on the job of Royals manager prior to the 2008 season, Hillman managed the Nippon Ham Fighters in Japan. In his five seasons, he took the the previously unsuccessful franchise to 3 post-seasons and won the Japan Series title in 2006.
Hillman preaches hustle and accountability and although he'll probably never get major leaguers to be as disciplined as Japanese players, he did seem to rub off on the young Royals last year*. Maybe this little get-together at the ranch is just want the team needs to kick off something good.
*This statement excludes Jose Guillen
Monday, January 12, 2009
Baseball, Memories, and Place
While I was watching this game between the Pirates and Cubs last night on MLB Network, I couldn't help but think about the last game that I attended at Three Rivers Stadium, this game. I began to think about the game itself but also other events that were going on in my life at the time. Baseball has the ability to connect us to different places, times, and situations through memory. Here are a few examples.
The last game that I attended at Three Rivers Stadium - August 11, 1999. It was my 19th birthday. I had been going through a "hippie phase" for a few years and hadn't really cut my hair since I was in sophomore in high school. Now I was getting ready to begin my second year of college and a few days prior to the game I got my hair cut - basically buzzed. I remember sitting in the lower level along the first base side thinking simultaneously about my head being much lighter and the fact that I had never sat this close to the field at a major league baseball game. I remember that there were some Amish people sitting next to us wearing Reds hats. After a great game and the Bucs rallying to win with two runs in the ninth. The win gave the Pirates an even 57-57 record. I bought a new cap before leaving the stadium. It was the alternative cap with the red bill (the first time around).
Skip ahead to 2005 - my honeymoon. Yes, my wife and I took a baseball road trip for our honeymoon. After getting married in Ohio, we drove up to Cooperstown to visit the Baseball Hall of Fame. We then attended games in Baltimore, Washington (DC), Cincinnati, St. Louis, and Kansas City before returning to our then residence in Kansas.
The game in DC was this one. I remember thinking about how RFK Stadium was a dump. There were, however, quite a bit of fans in attendance and reasonably so because the Nationals were in first place at the time. We sat in DEEP right field (upper deck) behind the foul poul. Before the game I remember looking down over the railing at Pirates catcher, David Ross, warm up starting pitcher Kip Wells. Lloyd McClendon was ejected from the game for arguing with the home plate umpire. Earlier that day we visited the WWII Memorial and I had my picture taken in from of the West Virginia monument.
A few days later, we attended this game at GABP in Cincinnati. Luke Hudson started for the Reds and gave up 6 H and 6 ER in 2 innings of "work." The Astros started Andy Pettitte. We didn't know it then but Houston would win the NL Pennant that year. Willy Taveras started in centerfield for the Astros that day... he will most likely start in that same position for the Reds on Opening Day 2009.
Our baseball road trip honeymoon was complete on July 4 with this game in Kansas City. The Royals were shut out - a complete game by Ryan Franklin. Ichiro got three hits for the Mariners. I remember watching batting practice before the game in right field. I have never caught a ball of any sort (BP, foul, homerun, etc.) at a baseball game, but I almost did this time. I was really the only one in that general area of the stadium. A ball was hit about 7 rows behind me. When I turned around to run for it, I forgot about the stairs leading up the aisle and tripped. Laying there on my stomach, I laughed at myself and smiled as I watched a gaggle of children running for the ball. I then heard my new wife call out, "Are you okay?" from our seats.
The last game that I attended at Three Rivers Stadium - August 11, 1999. It was my 19th birthday. I had been going through a "hippie phase" for a few years and hadn't really cut my hair since I was in sophomore in high school. Now I was getting ready to begin my second year of college and a few days prior to the game I got my hair cut - basically buzzed. I remember sitting in the lower level along the first base side thinking simultaneously about my head being much lighter and the fact that I had never sat this close to the field at a major league baseball game. I remember that there were some Amish people sitting next to us wearing Reds hats. After a great game and the Bucs rallying to win with two runs in the ninth. The win gave the Pirates an even 57-57 record. I bought a new cap before leaving the stadium. It was the alternative cap with the red bill (the first time around).
Skip ahead to 2005 - my honeymoon. Yes, my wife and I took a baseball road trip for our honeymoon. After getting married in Ohio, we drove up to Cooperstown to visit the Baseball Hall of Fame. We then attended games in Baltimore, Washington (DC), Cincinnati, St. Louis, and Kansas City before returning to our then residence in Kansas.
The game in DC was this one. I remember thinking about how RFK Stadium was a dump. There were, however, quite a bit of fans in attendance and reasonably so because the Nationals were in first place at the time. We sat in DEEP right field (upper deck) behind the foul poul. Before the game I remember looking down over the railing at Pirates catcher, David Ross, warm up starting pitcher Kip Wells. Lloyd McClendon was ejected from the game for arguing with the home plate umpire. Earlier that day we visited the WWII Memorial and I had my picture taken in from of the West Virginia monument.
A few days later, we attended this game at GABP in Cincinnati. Luke Hudson started for the Reds and gave up 6 H and 6 ER in 2 innings of "work." The Astros started Andy Pettitte. We didn't know it then but Houston would win the NL Pennant that year. Willy Taveras started in centerfield for the Astros that day... he will most likely start in that same position for the Reds on Opening Day 2009.
Our baseball road trip honeymoon was complete on July 4 with this game in Kansas City. The Royals were shut out - a complete game by Ryan Franklin. Ichiro got three hits for the Mariners. I remember watching batting practice before the game in right field. I have never caught a ball of any sort (BP, foul, homerun, etc.) at a baseball game, but I almost did this time. I was really the only one in that general area of the stadium. A ball was hit about 7 rows behind me. When I turned around to run for it, I forgot about the stairs leading up the aisle and tripped. Laying there on my stomach, I laughed at myself and smiled as I watched a gaggle of children running for the ball. I then heard my new wife call out, "Are you okay?" from our seats.
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