If Character Counts: Why Dale Murphy Belongs in the Hall of Fame

In a few days, the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame class of 2013 will be announced.  Among those eligible for the first time are Barry Bonds, Roger Clemons, Sammy Sosa, Mike Piazza, and Craig Biggio.  Other’s who have been on the list the past few years include Mark McGwire, Rafael Palmeiro, and Jeff Bagwell.  And then, there is a man who will be on the ballot for the last time, whether he is inducted or not.  A man who when it comes to integrity and class is second to none in the history of baseball.  A man who endured many losing seasons but is regarded by his peers as one of the best of his generation.  A man who also happens to be my baseball hero, Dale Murphy.

Much has been made of the fact that this is Murphy’s last chance to get elected into the HOF by the Baseball Writers of America and his last vote happens to coincide with a couple of lightning rod figures who epitomize baseball during what has been deemed the Steroid Era, Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens.  Bonds, the preeminent hitter, and Clemens, the preeminent pitcher, amassed unbelievable statistics and awards during their playing days but have been the source of much controversy and federal investigation.  Many believe that neither man will be elected to the HOF this year (or ever, for that matter) due to what has become known as the character clause.  It is no. 5 on the voting criteria that voting members are asked to consider when making their vote and it reads as follows:

5. Voting: Voting shall be based upon the player’s record, playing ability, integrity, sportsmanship, character, and contributions to the team(s) on which he played.

So, it stands to reason that if you can keep players whose on the field record are beyond reproach and had playing ability like no other in their generation out of the HOF because of character, shouldn’t a player with borderline numbers who had great ability but played on a bad team yet exhibited the sportsmanship, integrity, and character defined above be given the benefit of the doubt?  That is where Dale Murphy comes into the picture. 

Now, I know all of the objections to letting Murphy in the Hall.  He is a .265 career hitter, he struck out over 1,700 times, and his contributions were negated by the fact that he spent most of his career playing on terrible teams.  I can grant you all of those and admit they are all valid points but when you compare him to two recent HOF inductees, Jim Rice and Andre Dawson, who were contemporaries of his, you can make a great case for the Murph being in, especially with his character being the extra little bit to push him over the top. 

Jim Rice was part of a great outfield in Boston from 1974-1989.  He was a part of a great, young outfield trio that included Fred Lynn and Dwight Evans.  Early in his career, the Red Sox also featured Carl Yazstrzemski and Carlton Fisk and from '75-'88 Boston averaged 88.5 wins per season.  He played in two World Series with Boston and won the MVP in 1978.  Rice was an 8-time All Star and was elected to the HOF in 2009 on his final vote.  

Andre Dawson began his career with Montreal and teamed with Tim Raines to produce the best years in the franchise's mostly dismal history.  Dawson moved on to Chicago in 1987 where he played for another dismal franchise, the Cubs.  But in Montreal, Dawson played with Tim Raines and in Chicago he played with Ryne Sandberg.  Dawson was an 8-time All Star, an 8-time Gold Glove winner, won the 1987 MVP despite playing on a last place team, and was elected to the Hall of Fame on his ninth ballot in 2010.  The Expos and Cubs teams that Dawson played on from '78-'91 averaged 83.4 wins per season. 

Dale Murphy played the majority, and most statistically meaningful, part of his career for the Atlanta Braves before moving onto Philadelphia for a few years.  The teams that he played for from '78-'91 averaged an astonishing 88.6 LOSSES per season.  Bob Horner had some nice years early in his career, but the majority of those 14 seasons were spent with no lineup protection.  Regardless, Murphy was able to win back to back MVPs in 1982-83 along with 5 Gold Gloves and 4 Silver Sluggers.  Murphy was a 7-time All Star and the highest vote total he has received for the HOF came in 2000 when he was on 23.2% of the ballots. 

Below is a chart of the statistical comparison among the three players.  Murphy's and Dawson's stats are from 1978-1991 and Jim Rice's are from 1975-1988, arguably the best 14-year stretch of each player's career.

Player	HR	RBI	Runs	WAR	BB/IBB	Career OPS
Rice	378	1410	1221	45.1	653/77	0.854
Dawson	358	1263	1126	57.5	483/122	0.805
Murphy	394	1229	1183	44.7	973/158	0.815

As you can see, Murphy's numbers are right there with these guys.  He hit more homers over that span than either player and had many more walks and intentional passes as well.  It can be argued that if Murphy had played in the lineup that Rice did, his numbers would have been significantly better and he would already be in the HOF.  Also, Cal Ripken, Jr. is the only player to play in more ball games than Murphy from 1982-91, who only missed 30 games in that span.  And to put the icing on the cake for the statistical analysis, baseballreference.com lists Dawson's all-time rank as a hitter as #82, Murphy as #128, and Rice as #208.

Now, if you are not convinced that his numbers are good enough, let's invoke the "character clause" that many in the know will use to keep the likes of Bonds, Clemens, Palmeiro, Sosa, and any other admitted, convicted, or suspected steroid users out of the HOF.  If it can be used as a strike against players then it must also be used as mark in their favor as well.  Murphy is generally regarded as one of the nicest, kindest, unassuming players to ever don a uniform.  And to prove his merit in the clubhouse and community, Murphy was also named the recipient of the prestigious Lou Gehrig Award and Roberto Clemente Award given to one ballplayer in MLB each year that exemplifies on the field achievements with off the field community service.  I am not saying that Rice and Dawson were not high character guys but neither of them won either of those awards.

My guess is that Murphy will not get in, making him one of only two two-time MVPs whose eligibility has expired not in the HOF, joining Roger Maris.  If this comes to pass, then shame on the high and mighty writers who apparently hold players to an unattainable standard of personal character.  The good news is that Murphy will have a shot to get elected in by the Veteran's Committee and hopefully will someday sooner rather than later.  Perhaps the greatest thing that has come from this debate, however, is the campaign that Dale's sons started to help get their father enshrined in Cooperstown.  One son, Chadwick, wrote an open letter to HOF supporting his father's final bid.  A second son, Taylor, launched an online petition in support of his father.  And a third son, Tyson, drew a comic depicting his father as more than a great baseball player but recognizing him as a great father as well.  All in all, if when Dale Murphy passes, I am sure that he would love for his tombstone to say Hall of Fame baseball player but would find it more meaningful if it said Hall of Fame father and husband.  Here's to you, Dale, who I know regardless of Wednesday's announcement, will remain a classy role model, as you were in your playing career.

Driven by Faith and Results

When I found out that I was diabetic and was asked to lose 100 lbs in the middle of October, one of the first thoughts that I had was, How am I going to lose any weight with the holidays coming up?  I mean, there was going to be Halloween candy, Thanksgiving dinners, and Christmas.  The task seemed all but impossible in my mind.  But as I have been reminded with my new diagnoses, I know where to turn when things seem impossible.  Luke 1:37 tells us, “For nothing is impossible with God”.  And for that, I am indeed grateful.

I have, at least for the time being, developed a steely resolve that has allowed me to be extremely judicious about what I put into my body.  I am very focused on what I eat and what I choose not to eat.  I have been able to pick my battles and know when to walk away from something.  I have become so comfortable with my daily diet that I eat whatever I want, just not always when I want it or as much as I used to eat of it. 

A perfect example of this new lifestyle I am developing came just last weekend when we were visiting with my in-laws.  My mother-in-law fixed a nice lasagna which in the past was one of my favorite dishes.  I could easily put away three to four normal slices (I would usually just eat two ginormous slices, though) in one sitting; and then punish the leftovers over the next couple of days.  But, lasagna and pasta in general have become my arch-nemesis, especially if it is not wheat pasta.  The lasagna smelled heavenly but my stomach turned as I looked at it setting on the table.  At first, I was not going to eat any of it; I was just going to be content with my salad.  But, my wife, Kristy, talked me into just eating the meat and sauce and removing the noodles from it.  I was glad I did.  Eating the salad and filling of the lasagna with a slice of garlic bread more than satisfied me and I was able to avoid unnecessary carbohydrate intake.

Now, there are days when I see something like the lasagna and I really want to have it but I just have to say no.  I have learned how to be comfortable eating most foods that I used to gorge myself on, even potato chips, but I am not there yet with pasta.  And that’s ok.  The new me can take that in stride because I know I am not alone in dealing with this and in time I will be able to enjoy pasta again, if only on rare occasions. 

Because of the steely resolve I have developed, I have been able to get results much greater than I had anticipated.  I set my first weight loss goal at 50 lbs by the next time I go back to the doctor on January 18.  Well, two weeks shy of that date, my weight loss total stands at 48.  I just need to lose two more pounds in two weeks to attain my first goal.  (And through a minor Christmas miracle, I managed to lose 18 lbs from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day, without the benefit of exercise.  Unfortunately, the treadmill occupies the spot reserved for the family Christmas tree so my trusty conveyor has been folded up and shoved aside for the last six weeks.)  Remarkably, it has not been as difficult as I imagined it would be.

Again, through Him all things are possible and for that I am thankful.  I know it sounds cliché but great things can happen when you truly let go and let God instead of trying to do it on your own.  He has placed the right people in my life to help me get through this bump in the road and the results are keeping me motivated. 

Just a few days ago, I decided to try on some old clothes that were in my closet but had not been worn in a few years, or longer.  I was thrilled when some size 42 pants and shorts fit comfortably.  This made me want to try on a pair of shorts that I wore last summer that were size 48.  I was able to slide them on with out unbuttoning, unzipping, or squeezing to get into them.  I smiled as I thought to myself, I may need a new wardrobe this summer. 

All in all, I have decided to look as this whole ordeal as a blessing in disguise.  I lost 70 lbs (80 if you want to count the ten I dropped over spring break in 2009 when I was ravaged with the worst stomach virus I’ve ever encountered) nearly five years ago and was able to maintain for several months.  But I was not able to sustain my progress and began picking up old habits rapidly. 

In 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 we are told, “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?  For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.”  I was most certainly not treating my body as a temple; I was treating it more like a tenement.  And while I still have a ways to go in renovating it into that temple, I have fully grasped that I owe it to my wife and kids and those who care about me to treat my body as I should and to set an example for my kids as to what God wants us to be like physically.

I monitor my blood sugar, I take my medications, and I am judicious about what I allow myself to eat.  My Lord and Savior has helped narrow my focus and redirect the path of my life and the legacy I leave my kids.  I have complete faith that I will see this through.  I have faced serious challenges in other aspects in my life and I overcame them by becoming more disciplined and focusing on the bigger picture and that is what God has guided me to do this time, as well.  And as long as I have the big picture in my sights, I will not get in God’s way as he works his miracle with me.  Thanks to all read and pray for me and may God truly bless you.

You'll Shoot Your Eye Out, Kid

Here we are in the first week of December and those of you who know me best know that I am a Christmas addict.  Yes, I am addicted to Christmas and I am not afraid, nor ashamed, to admit it.  That should come as a surprise to no one.  So, in this season of yuletide splendor, I want to share with you my list of essential Christmas comedies to watch.  And what better way to do it than in a countdown.

10) Christmas with the Kranks-Based on the best-selling John Grisham novel, Skipping Christmas, Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis star as parents whose daughter won’t be home for Christmas because she is on a mission trip in South America.  Feeling some Christmas blues, Luther Krank (Allen) decides that the two of them should skip Christmas altogether and take the money they usually spend on Christmas and go on cruise.  Their decision to ignore all Christmas traditions rankles their festive neighbors and friends and puts the two in many an awkward situation.  Of course, their plan is ruined at the last minute when they get a surprise call from their daughter saying she is coming home for Christmas and is looking forward to the annual family Christmas party. 

9) National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation-Chevy Chase as Clark Griswold; need I say  more?  From the hunt for the perfect Christmas tree to the post-light acceptance speech to the fuming Christmas bonus rant, who could imagine Christmas being any more dysfunctional?  But the real star of the show is Randy Quaid as Cousin Eddie and his unexpected arrival in his RV to spend Christmas with the Griswolds.  (Cousin Eddie’s RV even makes an appearance on my Christmas tree, complete with classic lines delivered by Quaid from the movie.)

8) The Santa Clause-Tim Allen makes his second appearance on the list as a divorced dad who is desperately trying to connect with his young son.  After the real Santa falls off the roof of his house, Scott Calvin (Allen) takes up the mantle by putting on the red coat putting into effect the Santa Clause.  At times hilarious and at times tender, this film explores the depths a father will go to in order to win the heart of his child.

7) Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas-Dr. Seuss, Jim Carrey, and Ron Howard.  It doesn't get much better than that trio.  This live-action version of Dr. Seuss's classic Christmas tale expands on the good docs story and provides some insight on why the Grinch is the way he is.  While it doesn't match the original cartoon version's timeless charm, Jim Carrey is delivers his usual solid performance as the hater of all things Christmas. 

6) Home Alone and Home Alone 2-I realize that I have listed two movies as one here but it is hard to separate the two.  Who could forget how Macaulay Culkin splashed onto the scene with this breakout holiday hit?  He stars as Kevin McAllister, the kid managed to get left behind at Christmas not once but twice.  Kevin's mischievous nature helps him defend his turf from the Wet Bandits, played by the side-splitting pair of Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern.

5) Four Christmases-Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon star as a couple with issues about getting married because both of their parents are divorced.  Their nightmare comes to life when their flight is canceled and they are not able to go away for Christmas and must spend the holiday visiting four houses to see all of the family.  The supporting cast of Robert Duvall, Jon Favreau, Tim McGraw, Kristin Chenowith, Dwight Yoakam, and Jon Voight are stellar as the quirky, dysfunctional family members. 

4) Deck the Halls-Danny DeVito and Matthew Broderick are dueling neighbors as they compete to be the Christmas guy in town.  Buddy Hall (DeVito) is new in town and is looking to make a splash by making his house visible from outer space by decorating it with lights.  Jealous of his new neighbor and wanting to retain all of his family's Christmas traditions, Steve Finch (Broderick) pushes things too far and the rivalry almost ruins Christmas for both families.  Deck the Halls is overlooked by many people but in recent years it has moved up on my list.

3)Fred Claus-Does it get any better than Vince Vaughn as Santa’s upstaged, older brother Fred?  Or Paul Giamatti as Saint Nicholas?  Or Kevin Spacey as the miserly quality control inspector who holds a grudge against Santa?  And who could forget the scene-stealing support group of neglected brothers that features Frank Stallone, Roger Clinton, and Stephen Baldwin. 

2)Elf-Will Ferrell shines in his performance as Buddy the Elf, an orphaned child who makes his way into Santa's sack one Christmas Eve and is raised by an elf (played by Bob Newhart) at the North Pole.  Eventually, Buddy discovers he is really a human and heads off to New York City to find his biological father (James Caan) who never knew he existed.  Buddy's appearance causes quite a stir with his father's family.  He drinks Coke by the 2-liter, guzzles syrup out of a bottle, and can throw a snowball like Nolan Ryan.  And who could forget lines like "Cotton-headed ninny muggins" and "Son of a nutcracker!"

1) A Christmas Story-Christmas is not complete unless you catch this classic tale about a boy named Ralphie who wants a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas and will stop at nothing to get it.  Thanks to Ted Turner, you can catch it on a 24-hour loop every year running from late on Christmas Eve through Christmas night.  This timeless classic can be watched a scene at a time or in whole.  (I think I have only seen the movie from beginning to end in a single sitting only twice.  I usually catch it somewhere in the middle and finish watching it and then watch the beginning when it comes back on.  Thanks Ted Turner.)  Holiday pop culture has made a living off of the leg lamp ("It's a major award!"), the pink bunny suit, sticking your tongue to a flagpole, being a soap tasting connoisseur ("Oh, fudge!"), and the classic line, "You'll shoot your eye out, kid."  But the thing that makes this movie hit home with me is the blonde-haired, blue-eyed Ralphie (played by Peter Billingsley) looked a lot like my brother Greg when we were young kids. 

There you have it.  Let me know which ones you agree with, disagree with, or would have liked to have seen on the list. 

In a Stoop-or

The inevitable came on November 4th when University of Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart released an open letter to fans announcing that after three seasons, Joker Phillips was going to be let go as head football coach.  I was one of the last Joker supporters left standing at that point and up until the announcement was made, I was hopeful that the passionate UK alum could get things turned around at his alma mater.  But even Ray Charles could see what was coming when less than 20,000 people rolled through the gates of Commonwealth Stadium to watch the Wildcats get completely obliterated by the Vanderbilt Commodores for the second consecutive season.  Even though I knew it was coming, I was still not thrilled with the prospects of watching my beloved Cats start a coaching search that I was not convinced would land someone that could truly excite the fan base (a fan base that at times is so misguided that they actually think UK is dream job for elite  coaches).

Well, twenty-three days after the process began, color me stunned and amazed.  The much (mostly unfairly) maligned Barnhart was able to pull off the coup.  By getting Mark Stoops to come to Kentucky, the UK AD was able to get one of the most sought after coaching commodities to commit to Big Blue Nation and the best part of the whole matter is that Stoops approached Barnhart about the job and presented a plan for why and how the Wildcats could win consistently in the brutal SEC.  Yes, the coordinator of the #2 defense in the nation wanted to come to the Bluegrass!  How amazing is that? 

As a lifelong fan of UK football, I could not be more excited about the hire.  While Stoops does not meet some of the criteria that I would have thought essential in the new coach (he has no head coaching or SEC experience),  he more than makes up for it with his resume.  Here are five reasons that I believe that Stoops has the potential to be the perfect fit for the UK football program.

1) He wants to be in Lexington.  As mentioned earlier, he approached Barnhart about the job and he did so with a PLAN.  If he holds true to his brothers' style (brother Bob is the head coach at Oklahoma and brother Mike was the former head coach at Arizona and now is Bob's D-Coordinator) he will be a defensive coach who brings in a talented offensive coordinator with an explosive offense.  The cupboard is not bare at UK like it was in 2002 when Rich Brooks came to town.  The Cats return three QBs with playing experience, a stable of four experienced running backs, and a bevy of nice young receivers.  The rumors that keep swirling is that UK alum and current OC at Texas Tech, Neal Brown, may possibly return to his roots and orchestrate Stoops's offense.

2) He is a defensive coach.  This was very high on my lists of musts (not that Mitch contacted me and asked for my opinion in the matter) but I think it is imperative for the Cats to improve their defense in order to have any kind of success in the treacherous SEC waters.  Stoops, like his brothers (and even his mother if you ask former UK signal caller, Dusty Bonner), has proven that he knows how to orchestrate a defense.  He improved a terrible defense at Arizona when he was brother Mike's DC and turned Florida State's atrocious defense from a laughing stock to the second best in the nation (on paper).  His defensive units are also known for forcing turnovers , which a team like Kentucky must have in order to compete with the elite in the conference. 

3) He has ties all over the country and may be able to tap into some new recruiting markets that have not been open to the Wildcats in the past.  Stoops was born in the football savvy city of Youngstown, Ohio and played his college ball in the Big 10 at Iowa.  He went on to have assistant coaching stints at South Florida, Wyoming, and Houston before landing on Larry Coker's staff at Miami in 2001.  In his three years at the U coaching defensive backs, Stoops was able to win a national championship in 2001 and play for another the following year.  From there, he moved on to Arizona when his brother, Mike, was hired and became a D-coordinator for the first time.  After the 2009 season, he moved on to Tallahassee where he has helped rebuild the Seminoles into a contender.  The point of all of this is that he has ties to certain hotbeds in the recruiting world.  He may be able to get players out of Florida, Ohio, Texas, and the west coast that otherwise never would have considered coming to Kentucky.  He has a reputation as a tireless recruiter which should pay dividends.

4)He has a championship ring.  As mentioned in the previous section, he was the DB coach when Miami won the National Championship in 2001.  He is used to the spotlight and having expectations.  While he has never coached a full season in the SEC, he has a winning record as a coordinator against the SEC (3-1) and his defenses have only allowed 17 points per game and 317 yards per game (two of those wins coming against Florida).  In other words, while he may not have head coaching experience like fellow candidates for the job Mike MacIntyre, Gary Andersen, or Butch Jones, he has coached at high profile universities in high profile games and that means something.

5) He's not Bobby Petrino.  Nuff said.

And for those who were dogging Mitch Barnhart for doing his job in a professional manner and not listening to the rabid fan base, he once again has proven his worth to the university.  While only time will tell if Stoops is a homerun, keep in mind that most rallies are started  not by hitting a long ball but by getting runners on base and getting them over.  So if he isn't a homerun (which can sometimes be a rally killer), maybe he will be a rally starter, which in the long run may prove to be even better.

Changing Focus

As many of you have noticed, I have been on hiatus.  Well, what better day to get back in the groove than Thanksgiving.  Nothing gets me excited like stuffing myself to the gills and wallowing in misery the rest of the day.  Of course, that was in years past.  The days of gorging myself and living in gluttony have come to a screeching halt.  As you will notice, the focus of my blog is going to shift slightly.  I am still going to comment on the goings on in the world of sports (I have missed so much in the last six weeks that has been worthy of discussion) but I will also be discussing recent developments in my life and with the holidays upon us I will have some holiday-themed items as well.

As for the days of gorging myself and wallowing in my own gut-busting misery, there is a reason they have ended and I wish it were just because I had finally decided to whip my tail into shape.  The real reason for this lifestyle change is a negative doctor report.  Suffice it to say I have never felt so miserable in my life as I did when I left the doctor's office on the days of October  10 and 18.  By the time it was all over, I had to deal with certain facts that I was not ready to deal with.  I have been diagnosed as a diabetic with high cholesterol and a messed up thyroid.  Not great news but better than the initial thought that I had heart problems according to an EKG that I failed with flying colors.  (Thankfully, after a stress test, we discovered that the ticker was just fine).  My newly discovered ailments left me feeling out of sorts and struggling to grapple with my own mortality.  I was glad that I was not as bad off as originally thought but I still had major issues to face and daunting obstacles ahead. 

It was at this moment that I decided to turn things over to a higher power and pray for my health to improve but more importantly to find the resolve to face the challenges that lay before me.  I have been guilty in the past of not putting God first in my life and only turning to him in times of desperate need.  Well, this was a time of desperation and my daily life was going to have to undergo a major overhaul so what better time to rededicate my spiritual life as well. 

On this day of thanks, I am very thankful for my health and that I was able to discover these problems before they became too serious.  I am proud to say that in the 43 days since I initially went to the doctor, I have now lost 30 pounds.  I hope to be able to lose another 20 before going back to the doctor in January.  I am also pleased to say that after eating my (paltry but satisfying meal, complete with pumpkin pie), my blood sugar checked in at a cool 98, well within the parameters that the diabetic specialist laid out for me.  Today was a great success in my book.

This ordeal, while difficult, has been a great life lesson for me.  I have played with fire for too long when it comes to my eating habits and now it is time to pay the piper.  I know where the responsibility lays for what has happened and I am well prepared to do whatever it takes to take care of myself so that I can be there for my wife and kids.  And when things get tough, I know that I have a Savior that can lighten my load; and for that I am truly thankful.

So, for those of you who look forward to my sports posts, I am not finished opining on the day-to-day of the ball and stick games, but I hope you will stick around to read about other happenings also.  I really enjoy writing and various topics and I appreciate each and everyone who take time out of your days to read about what I see through my four eyes.  God bless you all and take care of yourself at this most wonderful time of the year.

From Triumph to Tragedy

I am sure most of you have never heard of Pat Neshek and have never had a reason to know who he is.  He is one many great stories on the Oakland A's AL West championship team.  He is a relief pitcher who arrived on the scene with the Minnesota Twins in 2006 and had a great start to his career.  After a not so good year in 2008, he was sidelined with Tommy John surgery the following season.  Since that time, he has bounced from Minnesota to San Diego to Baltimore's AAA club in Norfolk to Oakland the last three seasons.  Since arriving in Oakland, Neshek seemed to have finally found his groove in the majors and was a lock to be on the A's postseason roster.  When the A's clinched a playoff spot, he could not believe his good fortune.  A few days later, he was called away from his club to be a part of the birth of his first child.  The following day the A's finish a sweep of the Texas Rangers and clinch the AL West, one of the most dramatic and exciting comebacks to win a division in years.  How could life get any better?

Just hours after watching his team make a miraculous (in a sports context)comeback, Pat Neshek's world came crashing down.  His son, only 23 hours old, passed away.  There was no rhyme, no reason for what happened.  In a matter of hours, the elation and joy that Neshek was experiencing in both his professional and personal lives had come to a screeching halt.  I can't even begin to imagine what going through such a horrific event would be like.  I am a father of three and to think of the unthinkable happening to them is excruciating.  Neshek and his wife, Stefanee, have gone from being on top of the world to having to pull themselves up from the most devastating of tragedies.  Instead of asking how life can get any better, they have to be wondering when life will get better.

For the foreseeable future, I am sure they will feel like it will never get any better.  They will have to deal with their grief, with the people who mean well but aren't really helping, and the awkward silences from people who don't know what to say.  Inevitably, someone who has never lost a child at birth or shortly after will tell them they know what they are going through, yet don't.  And in all of that, Pat Neshek will have to make a decision about when is the right time to return to baseball.  If he doesn't this year, who could blame him?  It would have to be virtually impossible to stay focused on a game when you are dealing with tragedy.  On the other hand, many athletes find the best way to deal with tragedy is to get back to the their team and make a contribution.  If he does that, who could blame him?  After all, everyone is different and deals with loss in their own way.  Whatever decision he makes should be met with support and well wishes.

Just writing this, I still can't fathom the hell he and his wife must be going through.  I had intended to work on a different blog today but when I read this story, I had to write about it and do what little I could to pass on prayers for Pat and Stefanee.  Before you go to bed to night, please remember this family in your prayers.  Hug your sons and daughters.  Tell them that you love them.  Show them how much they mean to you and don't ever take it for granted.    And if the baseball world has any justice, maybe Pat Neshek will be pitching in the late innings of the final game of the World Series, mowing down hitters, and helping the Oakland A's win a championship.  I know, winning a baseball game could never replace his son, but if winning on the field helps him and his wife heal from their loss off of it, then it wouldn't just be a game for them.  So, here's to you, Pat and Stafanee Neshek.  Surely brighter days are ahead.

Happy Trails to the 2012 MLB Season

The Major League Baseball regular season is almost over and for the players and managers of twenty teams, it will be time to put a bow on things and head home for a little bit of normal life.  The playoffs will sustain us for the next month, weaning us off of our  baseball fix until February.  While the closing of the season is always sad for me, baseball has experienced a resurgence over the past two seasons and that makes me feel pretty good about the future of the game.   This season, just like any other, was packed with spectacular happenings; some good, some not so good.  The following is a list of things that I will take away from this season (in no particular order).

*This season may (and hopefully will) mark the first Triple Crown winner in MBL since 1967 when Carl Yastrzemski of the Boston Red Sox was able to pull of the magnificent feat.  Miguel Cabrera of the Detroit Tigers enters play tonight in sole possession of the lead in all three TC categories (batting average, homeruns, RBIs).  I have never been a big Miggy fan but it would be great if he were able to achieve the accomplishment since it has never happened in my lifetime.  (Heck, it's never happened in my sister's lifetime and that's saying something).

*While looking at some career numbers on Cabrera, which are absolutely unworldly, I was impressed to note that since the beginning of the 2004 season (his first full season in the show) Cabrera has never played less than 150 games in a season and has averaged 158 over that span.  The only thing more impressive is the guy holding down the other corner of the Tiger infield, Prince Fielder.  Since the start of his first full season in 2006, Fielder has missed only 13 ballgames, and 12 of those came in his first three years. 

*The no-hitter lives and can strike at any moment.  With two days left to play, there have already been seven no-nos this season.  Jered Weaver, Matt Cain, Philip Humber, Homer Bailey, Johan Santana, Felix Hernandez, and a combined effort by the Mariners achieved this amazing feat.  In the past three years, there have been 16 no-hitters, five of which were perfect games and one was the second ever postseason no-no. 

*Kris Medlen and Craig Kimbrel have become household names.  Medlen has been the second coming of Greg Maddux since being moved into the starting rotation for the Atlanta Braves.  The Braves have won Medlen's last 23 starts (dating back to 2010) setting a major league record and he has been named NL Pitcher of the Month for August and September.  Kimbrel has been nearly unhittable out of the pen this season, saving 42 games while dominating hitters.  He has struck out 113 of the 227 batters he has faced this season and has an 8:1 strikeout to walk ratio.  Kimbrel has put himself in position to get several votes for the NL Cy Young award.

*Mike Trout and Bryce Harper have proven that they belong with the big boys.  Trout has had such a great season that he will get several votes for AL MVP and may get enough to win.  If he was 30 years old and had ten years experience in the league, his numbers  would be ridiculous but when you consider he is only a 20- year-old rookie, they are almost hard to fathom.  Try this on for size: 30 HR, 83 RBI, .325 AVG, 48 SB (only been caught four times), .910 OPS, and 129 runs scored.  Harper has had a nice rookie season as well, one that could get consideration for the greatest teenage season ever.  Don't be surprised if he puts up Trout-like numbers next year when he's a seasoned 20-year-old.

*R.A. Dickey is an amazing story.  I won't go into his back story here but it is nothing short of amazing.  He finished the season with a 20-6 record, a 2.73 ERA and a chance to lead the league in strikeouts and innings pitched.  Hopefully he can pull down a Cy Young this year to add a final chapter to his amazing tale.

*Three teams have come out of nowhere this season to make the playoffs.  The Nationals, Orioles, and A's have had unbelievable seasons and find themselves playing October baseball.  The Nationals have been the whipping boys of the NL East ever since moving to the nation's capital, but not this season.  They have won 97 games and will probably be the top seed in the NL.  The Orioles are neck and neck with the Yankees for the AL East crown and make their first playoff appearance since 1997.  The A's have played a little moneyball this season and find themselves tied with the Rangers with onehead-to-head matchup left.  All three teams have won with largely unknown players even though the Nationals do have Harper and Stephen Strasburg to boost their name recognition.

*In a storyline fitting of Charles Dickens, Boston and Atlanta are indeed a Tale of Two Cities.  After both historically collapsed last September, many wondered how the two teams would respond.  Boston responded by cleaning house and trying to start over with the controversial Bobby Valentine at the helm.  Needless to say, this year has been a continuation of last September with the Red Sox losing 91 games and dumping much of their roster.  The Braves decided to not make any administrative changes and only slight changes on the field, including hiring a new hitting coach.  Manager Fredi Gonzalez adjusted the way he uses his bullpen and had great results.  As a result, last September is a long-forgotten memory as the Braves have won 93 games this season and will play in the wild card game on Friday.

*Joe Maddon is a great manager.  He has taken a Tampa Bay team that was a laughing stock for their first decade of existence and has led them to five consecutive winning seasons and three playoff appearances.  He has accomplished this feat with largely anonymous players and great young pitching.  He seems like a guy who genuinely enjoys being around the game.  With the job he has done, the Rays deserve much better fan support than they get. 

*Adam Greenberg finally got his first official major league at bat.  If you haven't heard this story, it is truly amazing and inspirational.  Greenberg made his MLB debut with the Cubs in 2005 when he was asked to pinch hit against the Marlins.  The first pitch hit Greenberg in the back of the head and he suffered from post-concussion syndrome for a long time after.  Since he was hit, he never recorded an official at bat.  A campaign was recently started for a major league team to sign Greenberg to a one-day contract to let him get his official at bat.  The Marlins agreed to take him up on the offer and seven years later Greenberg got an official at bat against knuckleball king, R.A. Dickey.  Greenberg struck out but I am willing to bet that it never felt so good to get whiffed.

*Melky Cabrera took a sharp fall from grace; going from All-Star Game MVP to humiliated cheater after testing positive for PEDs.  I have nothing for Melky after spending an uneventful year in Atlanta but he did win some points by asking that a loophole that would have allowed him to win the NL batting title not be put to use.  The Giants also won some points by saying they were not going to add Cabrera to the postseason roster even though he would be eligible after five playoff games.

*The game is better for having Chipper Jones be a part of it the past 18 years.  There are not many like him left in the game.

*Just a few days away from the debut of the Wild Card game and I already don't like it.  There is too much at stake for this to be a one game situation.  Should the team that loses the Wild Card game actually be able to claim they made the playoffs?  It certainly won't feel like they did.

Hopefully October 2012 will be as interesting and fulfilling as October 2011 was and with a little bit of luck, great pitching, and timely hitting, the Braves will send Chipper Jones into the sunset with a second World Series championship.