AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2006 > July > 03 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USHow to save baseball and enjoy the Fourth
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Furman Bisher
On this most American of all American holidays, let me address the most American of all American games. Title this “Things Baseball Needs to Do to Become the National Pastime It Was Intended to Be,” as seen by one grizzled observer:
Eliminate the Designated Hitter, an accursed contamination of the game introduced by the American League. This recommendation, of course, is not original. My projection is that if such a measure were put to a national vote, the DH would be dead-headed.
Scratch interleague play, which is nothing more than exhibition games woven into the schedule, matches usually made for gate, television and geographical rivalries, otherwise how often do you see Kansas City playing the Mets, or Seattle playing Pittsburgh? Only way it can ever be fair is when each team in both leagues is matched against each team in the other, and that’s 29 games. How do you work that into the regular schedule? That’s their problem. They (whoever “they” are) thought it up, work it out.
Get tough with an anti-drug policy that tells the Players Union to get lost. Why should the violaters be included in making the rules? They’re hired hands who became grossly empowered when Marvin Miller came along.
Ditch the so-called World Baseball Classic. It digs a hole in spring training for teams trying to prepare for the major league season. If it’s a missionary project aimed at spreading the game around the globe, start down where it counts, at the grass-roots. This is not soccer. There aren’t enough countries playing baseball on the same level to have a World Cup.
Take a lesson from a past mistake, restore the game to the Olympics, but for non-pro players only.
On the college side, replace those bats that go “ping” when struck against a baseball. Back to wood, where the sound is solid baseball.
Ditch that creation from hell, the “closer.” I don’t know where the notion came from that one-inning pitchers are a part of real baseball. It cheapens the game and robs it of one of its stalwart figures, the complete game pitcher. Notice what a news item it is when a pitcher goes nine innings? And why should the ninth inning be any more important than the first, or second, or any other? I know, it’s “playing by the book.” Well, death to the author.
The Pitching Coach — no recommendation here, just asking a question. Do they really make good pitchers out of ordinary ones, or are they just good salesmen? Did Lefty Grove have a pitching coach? Walter Johnson, Dizzy Dean, Allie Reynolds, Bob Feller, any of those guys? And would a pitching coach have made any of them better? Look at Bruce Chen, 13-game winner at Baltimore last season before Leo Mazzone arrived, 0-6 this season. What’s the manager for?
Just something to chew on this Independence Day. Go jump in the lake, catch a greased pig, roast your wieners, do your barbecue, go to the parade and don’t miss the fireworks. You used to have a doubleheader to go to. They don’t do doubleheaders any more, bad for the box office. Otherwise, have a jolly Fourth of July, and express your appreciation for this country of ours and be thankful you have a vote. Exercise it!
Permalink | Comments (7) | Post your comment | Categories: Braves / MLB, Furman Bisher
Comments
By classof74dawg
July 3, 2006 09:29 PM | Link to this
Furman,one of the things I appreciate about the fourth and the great American pastime is that you are still gracing the pages of this newspaper with your commentary. have a great fourth!
By Head Coach
July 4, 2006 12:04 AM | Link to this
Furman , your nostalgic longing for the baseball of years gone past is much appreciated and understood. Unfortunately the almighty dollar rules supreme in the minds of the owners, players and agents. Big league baseball is a multibillion dollar enterprise geared toward separating the comsumer fan from his money. If only we had a time machine to travel back to Ebbets field or the Polo grounds to watch the Brooklyn Dodgers or the New York Giants. You have a great holiday Mr. Bisher.
By BnB
July 4, 2006 12:50 AM | Link to this
Yeah all that and get reporters back to typewriters and the layout room not using computers. Sweet thoughts but never gonna happen. Happy 4th.
By Scott
July 4, 2006 08:16 AM | Link to this
How did this die. How did our Sports Writers not tear this up. Is everyone afraid? What happen to information and the burden of proof. No proof. The following is just one of thousands I have read. Not one shread of evidence was ever produced in any of the allegations against Logan Young or Alabama. No paper trail just the testimony of Phil Fulmer and Tom Culpepper that we know of. Where did you guys go?
All, If Fulmer sought out the NCAA with information only about Alabama then I have a slight problem with that. If there was a quid pro quo agreement between UT and the NCAA for the protection of UT then I have a big problem with that. If Fulmer was just telling the truth as he is obligated to do under the NCAA rules, why all the secrecy? Shouldn’t this be an admirable thing to do? The bigger question remains…The NCAA found the University of Alabama guilty of the vast majority of violations based on allegations they never had to prove. They did not openly dispute the explanations provided by the appeal…they just denied it. If Fulmer really provided all of the information he is supposed to have provided, then UA was not provided the opportunity to really answer those allegations because they didn’t know the source. Unless something changes, the NCAA has the leeway to enforce whatever rules it choses to enforce, on whatever school it chooses to, based on whatever “evidence” it chooses to present. Alabama is only the most recent victim. Alabama is not completely innocent in all of this, by any means, but our program has been gutted based largely on unproven innuendo provided by sleazy college football groupies, and secret witnesses that didn’t have to defend anything they said. It was Alabama today, who’s next?
By Jim
July 4, 2006 10:43 AM | Link to this
Your comments, as always are appreciated. Unfortunately, baseball, like most other stuff nowadays, is driven by a five letter work….GREED!
By Herm Spencer
July 4, 2006 01:27 PM | Link to this
Things at the ballpark would be better if the amount of background noise was reduced. Real fans like to hear the crack of the bat and the cheers of the crowd. The music, the advertisements, and most of what appears on the ballparks’ video screens are annoying to real fans.
By Harry Daughtry
July 4, 2006 03:56 PM | Link to this
Add to your list: Ban whoever allowed the current style of uniforms to come into use. It’s so nice to see various players and teams wearing what should be the standard for all teams in baseball; the uniform of when baseball really was the “National Pastime”.
The next thing we’ll see is some pants about to fall off like all the “boys” wear today. It’s a proven fact that you can’t steal anything and hope to run away from getting caught; be it from first to second or the police catching you in the act.
Bring back the ’30s - 40s look in uniforms.