I've got some catching up to do.
In case you are one of the hardy souls that have begun to frequent this page, I'm here to tell you that I haven't lost my inspiration; I've just been on a week of vacation. Now that I am once again in the land of Internet, hopefully I'll be able to put down some of the ideas that have been floating around since my last posting.
If you're in need of some reading material, two members of the Yankees' announcing team have released brief but enjoyable books.
Me and My Dad is the product of former Yankee right fielder and occasional color commentator Paul O'Neill, who became a fan favorite with his hustling defense and consistent bat in New York's run to four world championships from 1996 to 2000. Together with writer Burton Rocks, O'Neill recalls growing up in Ohio with his family through his professional playing days. O'Neill makes sure to highlight his greatest accomplishments within the context of his historic seasons with the Yankees and the Cincinnati Reds (with whom he won another title). However, the primary focus of this work is his father Chick, who was an extremely significant presence for O'Neill throughout his life. Chick O'Neill had been a ballplayer himself, pitching for small crowds in midwestern cities, but opted to become a self-employed construction worker in order to settle down. Paul constantly saw the sacrifices his father made for family, including shaping ballfields for his children and plowing driveways for extra money. For this reason, the younger O'Neill found it all the more rewarding that his always-optimistic father was able to follow his pro career from spring training to the playoffs, giving every indication that his dad was supportive of his baseball aspirations, but never pushed him into them.
While simply written, this book conveys the tremendous love the O'Neills had for each other, and keeps the reader interested with some exciting and humorous on-field memories as well as recollections about the dedication of the Yankee Stadium faithful. Paul O'Neill may not have known how to react when Chick passed away during the 2000 postseason, but this book is a fitting tribute from the heart of a ballplayer who regarded himself as a son, first and foremost.
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Still Pitching serves as the baseball memoirs for 25-year veteran pitcher Jim Kaat, who now is heavily involved with commentary for the YES network. If I appreciated Me and My Dad for the way it exhibited the special bond between father and son, I enjoyed Kaat's book for the author's respectful, yet no-holds-barred, attitude toward the game of baseball. Kaat, who finished his career with 283 wins, could certainly be in the Hall of Fame, although he mentions other ballplayers he believes are more deserving, demonstrating the characteristic modesty I have come to expect from him. During a recent broadcast featuring the Yankees and Kansas City, Royals manager Buddy Bell was seen swinging a bat in the dugout. When play-by-play man Michael Kay joked that Bell wanted to hit for his team, Kaat interjected that Bell could certainly hit his pitches.
Throughout the book, Kaat weighs in on the recent offensive era, the player-owner relationship, and what makes a great teammate. But foremost among his thoughts is the chapter entitled "Throw Strikes...Work Fast...Stay Ahead." This section comprises his philosophy on pitching, culled from his experiences playing, coaching, and broadcasting. Instead of overanalyzing the game, Kaat felt it was his duty, and that of pitchers today, to go after hitters, make them put the ball in play, and pitch low and away.
While admitting that he and George Steinbrenner have had their differences in the past, he goes out of his way to praise Steinbrenner for his drive to win. Additionally, Kaat realizes how fortunate he is to announce for a team that has enjoyed so much recent success. If I could send one excerpt of his book to a few announcers for major league clubs today, it would be the following:
When the Yankees didn't renew my contract after 1986, I interviewed for the Cubs broadcasting job, and they asked me if I had a problem rooting for the home team. I said I couldn't do that in good conscience. There are people tuning in who may not root for the Cubs and are just baseball fans. I'm sure there are people watching Yankees games that hate the Yankees. You have to approach a game like you're not associated with the team.
If you ever watch a Chicago White Sox game on WGN, you will notice how flagrantly its announcers violate this idea. In the last few years, I've heard my share of "Attaboy, Aaron," "Good Guys 1, Cleveland 0," and other blatant pandering to the local team. Broadcasters who behave this way could learn from the longtime voice of the LA Dodgers, Vin Scully, who never uses the term 'we' in reference to the team he covers.
sports
In case you are one of the hardy souls that have begun to frequent this page, I'm here to tell you that I haven't lost my inspiration; I've just been on a week of vacation. Now that I am once again in the land of Internet, hopefully I'll be able to put down some of the ideas that have been floating around since my last posting.
If you're in need of some reading material, two members of the Yankees' announcing team have released brief but enjoyable books.
Me and My Dad is the product of former Yankee right fielder and occasional color commentator Paul O'Neill, who became a fan favorite with his hustling defense and consistent bat in New York's run to four world championships from 1996 to 2000. Together with writer Burton Rocks, O'Neill recalls growing up in Ohio with his family through his professional playing days. O'Neill makes sure to highlight his greatest accomplishments within the context of his historic seasons with the Yankees and the Cincinnati Reds (with whom he won another title). However, the primary focus of this work is his father Chick, who was an extremely significant presence for O'Neill throughout his life. Chick O'Neill had been a ballplayer himself, pitching for small crowds in midwestern cities, but opted to become a self-employed construction worker in order to settle down. Paul constantly saw the sacrifices his father made for family, including shaping ballfields for his children and plowing driveways for extra money. For this reason, the younger O'Neill found it all the more rewarding that his always-optimistic father was able to follow his pro career from spring training to the playoffs, giving every indication that his dad was supportive of his baseball aspirations, but never pushed him into them.
While simply written, this book conveys the tremendous love the O'Neills had for each other, and keeps the reader interested with some exciting and humorous on-field memories as well as recollections about the dedication of the Yankee Stadium faithful. Paul O'Neill may not have known how to react when Chick passed away during the 2000 postseason, but this book is a fitting tribute from the heart of a ballplayer who regarded himself as a son, first and foremost.
--
Still Pitching serves as the baseball memoirs for 25-year veteran pitcher Jim Kaat, who now is heavily involved with commentary for the YES network. If I appreciated Me and My Dad for the way it exhibited the special bond between father and son, I enjoyed Kaat's book for the author's respectful, yet no-holds-barred, attitude toward the game of baseball. Kaat, who finished his career with 283 wins, could certainly be in the Hall of Fame, although he mentions other ballplayers he believes are more deserving, demonstrating the characteristic modesty I have come to expect from him. During a recent broadcast featuring the Yankees and Kansas City, Royals manager Buddy Bell was seen swinging a bat in the dugout. When play-by-play man Michael Kay joked that Bell wanted to hit for his team, Kaat interjected that Bell could certainly hit his pitches.
Throughout the book, Kaat weighs in on the recent offensive era, the player-owner relationship, and what makes a great teammate. But foremost among his thoughts is the chapter entitled "Throw Strikes...Work Fast...Stay Ahead." This section comprises his philosophy on pitching, culled from his experiences playing, coaching, and broadcasting. Instead of overanalyzing the game, Kaat felt it was his duty, and that of pitchers today, to go after hitters, make them put the ball in play, and pitch low and away.
While admitting that he and George Steinbrenner have had their differences in the past, he goes out of his way to praise Steinbrenner for his drive to win. Additionally, Kaat realizes how fortunate he is to announce for a team that has enjoyed so much recent success. If I could send one excerpt of his book to a few announcers for major league clubs today, it would be the following:
When the Yankees didn't renew my contract after 1986, I interviewed for the Cubs broadcasting job, and they asked me if I had a problem rooting for the home team. I said I couldn't do that in good conscience. There are people tuning in who may not root for the Cubs and are just baseball fans. I'm sure there are people watching Yankees games that hate the Yankees. You have to approach a game like you're not associated with the team.
If you ever watch a Chicago White Sox game on WGN, you will notice how flagrantly its announcers violate this idea. In the last few years, I've heard my share of "Attaboy, Aaron," "Good Guys 1, Cleveland 0," and other blatant pandering to the local team. Broadcasters who behave this way could learn from the longtime voice of the LA Dodgers, Vin Scully, who never uses the term 'we' in reference to the team he covers.
sports
posted by Alex at 1:37 PM
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