I just finished reading all of the postings in the various strings about how the championship game ended.
I must echo - as loud as I can - the words of Steve Lounello. I had the pleasure of playing with Steve last year on the Peppers and know from that experience that he has it right. Guys, we're all in our 40's, 50's and older. Our competitive days are a thing of the distant past. I play this game in this league because I think it's great that a guy 40 pounds heavier and 25 years after his last glory days is able to put on a uniform, throw and catch the ball and even occasionally hit it hard. I'm in CDMSBL because it's fun, plain and simple.
I stumbled across this league in the summer of 2001 while walking through the Elm Avenue Park with my kids and seeing a bunch of men playing real baseball. One of those teams was the Braves and I watched for awhile and spoke with Jim Jordan, who told me what this league was all about, and he invited me to keep in touch in case some players were needed. Well, after playing with the Braves a few times late that summer, Jim introduced me to Mike Hart, and I’ve been a Pepper ever since.
After playing a few games at the end of 2001, I have now played with the Peppers for the past 4 seasons. It would be wrong for anyone to look at the Peppers record the past few years and think that we must hate playing for a losing team. Quite the contrary - the guys on the Peppers play the game hard, make our share of errors and bonehead plays, have the occasional moment of glory, get dirty, laugh, and keep coming back for more. We pull for each other, do our best, and realize that our bodies just can’t always do the things they could 25 years ago. My kids come with me to a fair number of our games, and in some ways they are Peppers too. It is a thrill for me to be able to play this game I love in front of my kids.
A number of the Orioles were on the Peppers a few years back, and most of those guys who left the Peppers are good guys. I have nothing against anybody wanting to win and being competitive – hey, that’s why we keep score. But I know that a reason that many of those guys left the Peppers was a disagreement with Mike Hart’s philosophy, which in a nutshell is that we are all here to have fun, play hard, to some extent renew our younger days, and maybe if we’re lucky get a W at the end of 7 innings of joy. Mike approach is one that I share – we all paid our money, we all play the game. We start each game wanting, if not always expecting, to win. We play hard, do our best, pull for each other, and hope to end on the plus side. But we don’t gripe when we lose, we don’t lose sleep over a blown umpire call, and we don’t bemoan the fact that one us dropped a ball to let the winning run score.
Guys, there is nothing wrong with wanting to win a game and a championship. But think about it – why are really doing this? What’s the notoriety that comes from batting .400 or from winning a championship? Nobody knows or cares about it except for the guys in the league.
We’ve all griped about bad umpire calls – that’s almost as much a part of the game as the strikeout, the double play, and the triple. But there is no reason, at our ages and presumed levels of maturity, that we should ever forget that we do this because it’s fun, that the umpires, like ourselves, are not perfect (and some umpires, like some of us players, are just plain not very good).
Forget about the way the championship game and the season ended. It sounds like it was ugly. Hopefully lessons were learned and history does not ever repeat itself in this great league that we all are part of. But remember why we are all part of the CDMSBL. Remember that the outcomes of our at-bats and of our games are in the end truly insignificant. I don’t know what my batting average was this year, would not know except by looking at the standings what the Peppers record was this year (but do know that we lost 6 or 7 games by one run and it could have been much different). What I do know is that once again, for the 4th year in a row, I had the chance to play the game I love, with a great group of guys, in front of my kids, did not get hurt, and look forward to doing it all over again.
That’s why I’m here guys. I’d like to think that all of you guys are here for the same reasons. If that’s not why you here, perhaps you’re in the wrong place. If I have it wrong, maybe I’m in the wrong place.
Let me start by saying I'm impressed by all of the opinions, and comments being offered about in this forum. It shows there is quite a passion for this league. As somebody who was actually at the 38 finals, as the pitcher of the Marlins, I thought I should jump in as well.
I want people to understand that are quite a few of us who play this game for more than "fun". Don't misunderstand, I enjoy myself immensely, and it's mostly because I have a tremendous amount of respect for the game itself,and the way it should be played. But when I step between the lines, the battle begins. I, for one, and maybe its because I'm a pitcher, strive on the one on one competition,battle between pitcher and catcher. Basically, I'm still a 28 player, as were a lot of players in that game. There was an intensity in that game, and it's not because we have grandeurs of delusion, it was two teams battling their asses off for PRIDE, and because thats the way baseball is supposed to be played.
I think Dick Stark is one of those guys. And before people pile on him, I know his frustration had alot more to do with some other things,involving these playoffs, besides a missed strike call. Dick has stated, with great class, his remorse for the situation, and that should be enough. The game is over.
There is a huge mix of talent in this league. We've all come from different baseball backgrounds. I know there are a lot of players just happy to put a glove on again, or for the first time ever. There are some,and I put myself in the group, who truly relish the competition, and the satisfaction it brings to nobody else but ourselves. Usually we harness it, until those few times in the season,when we play the game as hard,and as intensely, as we can. When Mike Girard went into second base two years ago, in the National quarterfinals in Florida,and took out the second baseman,literally, on a clean play, that was pure baseball, but it's not something he would do to Jim Jordan(well maybe Jim)during the regular season. I don't throw inside all season, but I can guarantee you, in the 28 playoffs, if someone is out over the plate, they will get the message. I think there is room for both types of players in this league
I keep resisting the urge to comment, in part because so many others are doing it so well. Very impressive and gratifying. I agree with John Martin's basic point. This league is large, there's room for a wide variety of players, all on the field for their own diverse reasons. There's not a right way or a wrong way. And there is also room for the passionate, emotional player who questions calls, snaps back at the ump in disbelief, shakes his head and mutters. Baseball is strong enough to endure all sorts of individuals. We need hot heads, too; they care, intensely, about the game.
All we need to do as a league is establish and empower umpires to enforce a baseline level for field behavior. No one wants to legislate the passion out of the game. It is the excessive carping, bickering, complaining that drains the joy out of the experience for many of us. No umpire should have to endure it. In the sports world today, where referees get threatened and violent incidents occur, it is essential for the health of our league that we act decisively in the future. We neglect this at our peril. After an umpire says "enough," then it must be enough. Period.
Well said, Jon. I agree. Our league does have a wide range of talent and some different reasons for playing and there is room for all. But, I would wager that the majority of us do not play just for fun. It would be an insult to the bastar---ds like Ty Cobb who came before us. Possibly, having fun may be the last thing on our minds - I never thought abnout it but I think we crave the challenge and the 1 on 1 that baseball often presents. Otherwise, there wouldn't be a half-dozen to a dozen guys each year getting there shoulders, elbows and knees scoped and cut open to improve their performance on the field. And there wouldn't be all the guys in the gym or in their basements pounding weights, running, etc. to get the body in better condition to play the game. We don't have any delusions about being able to run as fast as when we were 18, although some like Buckley, Dabney, Skip and others sure come close, but I'll bet everyone does what they can to improve the physical part of game to get as close to our conditioning level that we had at our peaks. Get as strong as you can get and go for it - no looking back! A few of the pitchers in our league throw just 6-7 mph under the average MLB pitchers' velocity. That is not always fun but it sure as hell can be a challenge.
You mentioned the Florida tournament. To get a flavor for what MSBL is ultimately about, all anyone has to do is spend a week down there, or in Arizona, playing in those touraments.
Baeball can be a game of inches and boundaries. The Orioles just temporarily crossed the line the other day - a tough day but I see some good coming out of it. I GUARANTEE that Dick Stark and the Orioles playing under him will make sure that what happened on the weekend - will not happen again. The Orioles have intensity (and a ****lo---d of testosterone and talent) which I'm sure will be harnessed and re-directed next year.
You pitched a great game on Saturday. Congratulations to you and the rest of the Marlins.
