Why Do We Do It?

Why? Why do we subject ourselves to this game? Why do we continue to listen to sports talk radio, read every credible blog on the subject, and bookmark our team's home page so that we can pop in every time we sit down to the computer.

I'm asking you, fellow Royals fan. Or you, Mr. Pittsburgh Pirates fan. Or you, avid Seattle Mariners fan. Hey, you... Yeah. You – in the Giants hat... Why do we do it? Maybe you could shed some light on the picture. If you own a Jake Peavy or a Todd Helton jersey... How come? Doesn't it only make it harder when we lose? The last time the Padres and the Rockies played was almost two weeks ago and the game drew over 28,000 fans on a Sunday afternoon, so I know you're out there.

In case you missed it, the Royals lost their tenth straight game last night. But, it's worse than that. The score was 8-3 for the Royals in the bottom of the ninth inning... with two outs. Yeah. Talk about a two-out rally. Ten in a row? Did you know that the Royals have had nine streaks of eight or more losses since 2004 (Incidentally, the same year I became a Royals fan. Luckily, I know I'm not the cause because their futility extends well beyond that span). That's the most of any team. At this moment, the Royals have spent at least a third of the season mired in losing streaks.

It really sucks.
Some of us live and breathe with our teams. It's like those two G.I. Joe characters from the 1980s... the Cobra Twins: Tomax and Xamot. Remember them? They would finish each other's sentences. They were inseparable. If one of them was hurt the other felt it too. It was like they were one person in two bodies. When you live in a Major League town, that's how it is. When the Royals cough up a five run lead in the ninth inning, it's like getting punched in the gut, and then getting an elbow to the head when you bend down in pain.

So, why do we do it? Because it's our team.

The Comeback

The following was recorded in my journal ten years ago today, and is a great example of how great this game can be.

AP tests are over and done. School is coming to a close. But that isn't why I'm floating on air. I'm on cloud-nine because of the wonderful game of baseball.

We began the state tournament one week after the loss to Hunter [High School]. We opened with Mountain View in a 16-team, double-elimination tourney and we dropped it. We gave up eight runs in the sixth and blew a 7-2 lead. Next thing we knew we were in the losers' bracket. We had a long road ahead of us – we now needed to win eight straight games.*

*I remember how devastated we were after losing the opening game of the state tournament, which was our second loss in three games. We knew we were better than how we had been playing, but we couldn't figure out what had gone wrong. That night, after the loss to Mountain View, we could never have dreamed what would follow.

The next day we got our revenge on Hunter, 13-3. The following week, starting Monday, the games were played at Ken Price Park [in Murray, UT]. We beat West Jordan Monday 9-1. Tuesday we met up with Bingham and their lefty ace Sorenson – who had held us at bay for 14 straight innings during the regular season. I couldn't be at this game because of an AP test, and the stress of not knowing the outcome must have taken six years off my life. I had, however, no need to fear; my boys won 9-7.

Wednesday we had a double-header. We started off with a game versus Skyline and took care of them 11-1. Brighton was next in the bracket and also my next scheduled start. I pitched great, allowing only one run on five hits. We won 8-3.

So far our offensive production had been spectacular. Amazingly enough, despite all these runs and the short fences at Ken Price, we had only hit two homeruns in four games.

After the Brighton win, we were guaranteed third place, but that wouldn't be good enough for us. Following a bye on Thursday, Friday brought a venue change to Franklin Quest and a game versus the loser of Alta-Hillcrest (which was played immediately prior to our game that night). We got Alta. We also got to face Alta's ace – Seth Johnson. He had pitched two days prior and due to lack of rest, he was flat. We killed him and Alta, 11-0.

Saturday was incredible. In order to win the state title, we would need to beat a very good Hillcrest team twice that day.

Franco [Pezely] started the initial game. He shut down their high powered offense. Franco deserves the 5-A state MVP, hand down (and he got it). Our bats were also on fire as we won 12-4. Twenty minutes later we took part in the do-or-die championship.

Jake Jordison was on the mound for Hillcrest. Dan Polhamus started for us. We won the flip and elected to be the home team. Hillcrest scored first, fast, and furiously. Dan allowed five runs in five outs before I had to come in and get the final out of the second inning.

Allow me to digress for a moment and tell you just how nervous I was. I was extremely nervous going into Saturday. At the meeting earlier that morning, I asked the Seminary Council to pray with me. It helped calm me down greatly. When I got my chance in the game, I did not forget to thank my Heavenly Father for the talents and opportunities I have been given. And with his help I was able to perform well.

I pitched the third and fourth innings as well. Coach pulled me in the fifth and put sophomore Mike Lewis in to pitch. He did great and so did Mike Beener, who followed him.

Unfortunately, as we pitched by committee, Jake Jordison was shutting us down by himself. We got three runs in the third, but that was all until the seventh inning. Beener was still pitching for us in the seventh inning, but allowed a few baserunners. Bryan Ball came from right field in relief. Bryan had been having trouble all week and letting him throw was a gamble. It paid off. He was stunning. He came in and shut the door.

At the beginning of the bottom of the seventh inning, we were no closer to solving the problem presented by Jordison's split-finger fastball. But there was something in the air. I felt it. The team felt it. The fans felt it – and Jordison would feel the brunt of it.

Nick Ballard led off with a great at-bat and great hustle to force an error on the shortshop, Adam Castleton. Bryan Ball battledadn dropped a ball in center for a hit. Jeremy Huntington fought hard and hit a ground out, moving the runners to second and third. Pezely dropped another ball into right-center, and Johnny Buck strode to the plate with the tying runs on base.

The first pitch to John was a curve ball – swing and miss. John stayed back on the next pitch just long enough to hit it off the left-field wall for a double, scoring both Ball and Pezely. Tie ball game.

Justin DeKorver had hit well all week and his next at bat was no exception. He hit a ball through the left side of the infield. Johnny was on third and Justin on first. Sophomore Danny Wright was up to bat. With one out, they walked him intentionally and pulled Jordison from the game. Replacing him on the mound was Sean Green.

Jason Rupp (our back-up catcher) was pinch hitting for Beener with the bases loaded and one out. Both the infield and the outfield were in to prevent a run. But it did no good. Rupp drove a 1-0 delivery deep to left field for the game winner. After four runs in the bottom of the seventh and final inning, we piled on John at home plate as the 1998 Utah High School Athletics Association State Champs.

It was an incredible end to an incredible ride. I can't express the feeling of joy I had. We won.



Class of 1998, 5-A Utah State Champions
Top: Bryan Ball, John Buck, Jason Rupp, Jeremy Huntington
Bottom: Derk McDermaid, Nick Ballard, Franco Pezely, Jared Maxfield, Me

Starters Can't Win Without Closers

Here in Kansas City, the Royals have recently reached an agreement with Joakim Soria, their young electric closer, to pay him millions of dollars as far as 2014 if he continues to pitch well. This year he has converted 11 of 11 save opportunities. He currently owns a 0.98 ERA. Before his last save against the Florida Marlins he had not allowed a single run, but with one out in the ninth inning, he surrendered a two-run home run. With the Marlins mounting a comeback, that homerun pulled them to within one run. I wondered how he would react to some adversity, seeing as how he hadn't had any all season. He struck out the next two batters to preserve the win.

He has been so good that there has been much debate as to whether the Royals might be better served with him in the starting rotation instead of anchoring the bullpen. So, which is more important, a good starter, or a good closer?

Stat geeks will tell you that there's not much to debate here. A good starter can provide 200 quality innings per season, whereas an elite closer on a good team might only be used in about 70 games. Therefore, there is much more "value" in a starter than a closer.

But I'm not a stat geek, so I don't see things in black and white. I've played the game and I both appreciate and respect the human element, even if it is difficult to quantify.

Let's look at the case of the Atlanta Braves. The Braves won their division an incredible 14 straight seasons (the next highest division winning streak in history is owned by the Yankees with eight). That is 14 consecutive trips to the playoffs. Do you know how many times they won the World Series? Once. One big reason for this was their closer, Mark Wohlers, was at the top of his game that postseason. They had virtually the same starting rotation for a majority of their postseason run including three future hall of famers: Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, and John Smoltz.

Prior to the appearance of El Matador, Joakim "When I pitch, you no Scoria," the Royals had some dismal options at closer. When we moved to Kansas City in 2006, I attended a handful of games towards the end of the season. No lead was safe. Ambiorix Burgos blew a franchise record number of saves that year. He threw really, really hard. Problem was, he couldn't pitch. Then, in the off-season, the Royals picked up a kid from Mexico for a song from the San Diego Padres. A week later, he threw a perfect game in a Mexican Winter League. Before the end of the 2007 season, Soria was the closer, and was doing a great job. The bullpen, which had been a major weakness, had become one of the Royals' strongest assets.

Because the Royals are, well, the Royals, and their offense can struggle to put runs on the board, a lock-down closer is much more important than a starter. Some of the recent Red Sox lineups could afford to close by committee because they could out-hit and out-score most opponents.

Moving Joba Chamberlain to the starting rotation is probably a good idea for the New York Yankees. Their starters are having some trouble and they already have an amazing closer. But moving Soria to the rotation this season is probably not a good idea. Their starters have been good. It's most likely the best starting rotation they've had in years. And, if Soria starts, who is going to close? They have some good pitchers in the bullpen, but right now, they have a bonafide closer who can be counted on to finish games. Closing out games takes a different kind of mentality, and not everyone can do it, no matter how good a pitcher is.

Top-shelf starters are great. But even the best pitchers have to eventually turn the game over to the bullpen. If there's no one to close out the game and preserve the lead, an ace could rack up a load of no-decisions that shoulda, coulda, woulda been wins.

True aces are tough to come by. If you knew for sure that Soria would be an ace, then you should probably find someone to replace him as closer and start the transition. However, there's an old saying that goes something like this: If it ain't broke, don't fix it. For now he's found a niche and he's more important to the club in his current role. But who knows what the future holds?

May I Suggest

I have lived in the Kansas City area for nearly two years now, and I'm almost ashamed to say that I am just now discovering Joe Poznanski, America's best sports writer, as named by the Associated Press Sports Editors. His articles in the Kansas City Star are great, but I prefer his blog. It's more frequent than his columns, for one thing, and there's an friendly informality that I appreciate as well. One day he'll blog about sports in general, the next he'll discuss baseball, and the next day he might just write about the virtues of Italian food.

If you enjoy a good blog and a some terrific sports writing, check out Mr. Poznanski's site by clicking the link to the right.

Perspective

I love baseball.

I love everything that is good about the game. I love pitching duels and home run binges. I love wall-banging, run-scoring doubles, and I love simple ground balls that move baserunners to second and third base. I love the smell of hotdogs, nachos, leather, and pine tar. I love standing at attention, with hand over heart, as the national anthem is sung, and I love standing again six and a half innings later joining thousand of other fans in singing Take Me Out to the Ballgame. I love double-headers and extra innings. I love playing the game and watching the game, on television or in person in an uncomfortable, sticky stadium seat, whether played by kids, students, or the highest-paid professionals. I'll say it again: I love baseball.

But, contrary to a popular line of t-shirts from the 90s, Baseball is not life.

Not even close, really.

For some people, like me, baseball is a means of enjoyment. We can read the latest news from around the league. We can participate in fantasy leagues. We can listen intently to the local sports talk radio for any insight into our home teams. And we love it.

For others, baseball is a means of employment. A job that requires immense amounts of travel and time away from family and friends. The players who make a living playing this game grind out 162 games every year. They hop from jet to jet, town to town, every day like the last, and only getting a few days off a season.

But occasionally life happens, and we are reminded that baseball is a only game, a past time, not the end-all be-all. Some things are much more important.

Perspective can come in the smallest and most fragile of packages. And the miracle of life far out-weighs the feats performed in a ball park, a stadium, or any other sports venue. Last night I met a pair of "rookies" in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit at a local hospital. They were called up to the big leagues a little early and they're spending a little time on the bench. But those two little sluggers show us what true inspiration is, and remind us what is truly important and noteworthy in the game of life.

Best Baseball Food

Last year Kaufmann Stadium sold tater tots covered in chili and cheese goop. This year the aptly named Chili-Cheese Tots are no longer on the menu, and we're forced to make due with Chili-Cheese Crinkle Fries. Crinkle fries are the soggiest fries known to man. They conjure bad memories of dad throwing some frozen fries and fish sticks on a cookie sheet and baking them to mushy perfection. I'm not a big fan. I guess it proves the point that you can make anything more appetizing when you drown it in chili and cheese.

The price of food at the ball park can also make my mouth water (more often than not, however, the price has the opposite effect). A few times a month, the Royals will host a Buck Night featuring hotdogs, drinks, or peanuts for just a dollar. I'm pretty sure I could eat my weight in hotdogs when they only cost a buck.

Now that the Chili-Cheese Tots aren't an option, my favorite Kauffman Stadium treat is the Frosted Chocolate Malt, complete with double-sided wooden spoon. July and August can be killer months with temperatures in the mid-90's and humidity in the high-90's, and this frozen treat is especially nice when you are stuck to your seat and fresh out of Gold Bond powder.

So, what's your favorite baseball treat? Maybe it's a simple sno-cone. Nothing is sweeter than chasing down a foul ball and returning it to the snack bar in exchange for some crushed ice and blue raspberry syrup. The Babe Ruth field back home sells a mean Chicken Sandwich. The hamburgers aren't bad either. Anyone ever had a Dodger Dog? I hear those are really good. Tell me what you have to eat when you're watching a game.

Raytown South Baseball

Our neighbors have two boys in high school and about a month ago I saw them taking batting practice in the front yard with some training gizmo designed to fit on a pole. Since we hadn't ever really introduced ourselves (nor had they, but we have to take some of the blame), I walked over and asked if they were ballplayers. Judging from the baseball bat in their hands, I knew they were, but I had to break the ice somehow. I discovered they played varsity for the local high school, and so I asked for a schedule. The next night they dropped one off.

When the next home game came around, we drove to the high school, but no one was there. We asked some of the kids still lingering around the building if the team played its home games at the school, or at some other location. They had no idea. I knew they wouldn't. Having played high school baseball, I was well aware that unlike high school football, and basketball, normal students don't really support the baseball team. The only kids that would know where the team plays are either really, really, really good friends of a player on the team, or the girlfriend of a player on the team, and in both cases, they would probably be at the game, and not waiting around for a ride after school. Besides those two groups of peers, the only other fans at the games are family. Sure, there's the occasional baseball junkie like me, but we are few in number.

After not really getting an answer from the kids at the school, we went home. I stopped to ask the neighbors and they let me know that the schedule was wrong and the game was actually an away game. But, a week later we were able to see them play. It was a little cold for a game at the end of April, and the wind only made it worse. I was pleasantly surprised to see that not only were our neighbors on the varsity team, but they both started and both played pretty well. They finished the game early winning by 10 runs. I wasn't sure if they were really good, or if the other team was really bad.

We attended another game two weeks later. Our neighbors' team lost that game 1-0. They had chances to tie or win in both the 6th and final innings, but didn't take advantage. The next day I found the high school baseball standings online, and it turns out, the only team worse than they are is the team they demolished the first time we attended.

Most state high school baseball playoffs are coming up soon. Find some time to get out and cheer on your alma mater, or, if your alma mater is too far away, find out when the local high school plays and get out to the ballpark. The game might not be played as fast or be as smooth as it is at the professional level, but the struggle is the same, the moments just as tense, the defeats just as bitter, and the victories just as sweet -- maybe even sweeter.