"The Green Fields of the Mind " by A. Bartlett Giamatti"It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone. You count on it, rely on it to buffer the passage of time, to keep the memory of sunshine and high skies alive, and then just when the days are all twilight, when you need it most, it stops. "
Thanks to my good friend JET from SG for providing the subject for this post. Angie and my sister in law Amanda had their show today, and I was at my Mom's all day with the kids: I had no clue what to write about and had decided to take a break.
When I got home, JET had posted this at Surviving Grady: and it explains how I feel right now to perfection. So I bogarted it: I hope you don't mind, JET.
Yeah, I've watched football all day, and the Chargers/Colts game is on in the background as I type. I'm frustrated my Redskins gacked up a lead in the 4th quarter, and I'm equally frustrated the Yankees of the NFL, the Cowboys, are 8-1.
But I miss baseball. I miss Remy saying "Buenos Noches, Amigos", Manny pimping at home plate after a home run, and Youk slamming his helmet down after a called strike. I miss Beckett cursing at himself, Tek looking up at hitters in his crouch, and Papi's mega watt smile.
I miss Tito rocking back and forth, Lowell picking one out of the dirt at 3rd, and Coco making another circus catch in CF. I want to see that sweet swing of JD Drew, Lugo checking his cup for the 1789th time, and the Munchkin gobbling up an extra base hit at 2nd.
I miss Pap acting like a maniac after closing out a game, the bullpen jug band, and Daisuke waiting on the mound for the next pitcher to come into the game.
Bart Giamatti got it: he understood what a baseball fan felt. Because he was one, and a die-hard Red Sox fan at that. I wonder what the game would look like today if he hadn't had that heart attack 16 years ago, ending his time as Commissioner after only 154 days. Just 8 days after banning Pete Rose from the game for gambling, he was gone.
As you can tell from what he wrote, he loved the game: and he loved his Red Sox.
I'd like to think he's been looking down and smiling the past 4 years. His beloved Red Sox have won 2 World Championships, something they never were able to accomplish in his 51 years on this rock.
Rest easy, Bart.
They did it.
Twice.
*Update: Bill James may be Nostradamus.*
23 comments:
ZZZZZZZ I think I will look threw the travel section of the paper again. You need to eat something late so it will keep you up and give you some new material. Then I will have something to rant about.
I must have locked up Cotton Ball over on his blog.
ok Old Man. When are YOU gonna write a blog so we can critique you?
Ted. great steal! i do love that quote. I wish it felt like winter...but i wore my red sox shorts to the store today....so I miss baseball that much more
HA. I believe what you are humming is" Old man take a look at my life Im alot like you are".
Chills. That gave me absolute chills. It hits so close to the heart. Which I suppose makes me whatever comes after "obsessed fan" but whatever. My addiction is totally legal.
HarrUUUMMMPPHHHHH!!! TED. Im not speaking to Scottie again.
Bub, just because you are elderly and bitter, don't hate the rest of us. Besides, I see the Sooners are in the title hunt: that should keep you busy for a few months.
Tex, thankfully JET posted it: otherwise, I had nothing. All day away from home had me seriously off my game. It was 50 degrees here today: had to make do with the Sox hooded sweatshirt and jeans.
Dawn, it's pretty emotional, no? Giamatti loved the game: he would have been over the moon to see the Sox as the model MLB franchise.
And Bub, did you know Paul Giamatti the actor is Bart's son? You'll say you did, but I call foul.
Tex, remember, he LIVES to get under someones skin. He's a bit of an instigator.
Tex calls me out and then wants to call a foul. No uncontested layups in this league.
Yes we smell the BCS. One more trip south of the border and then tangle with the Poke choke and we are in.
I hadn't seen this quote until JET posted it. Can you imagine Bud Selig writing something like that?
The Bill James stuff is interesting. I'd be seriously miffed if Matsuzaka doesn't improve over this year, after getting used to MLB. And Scenic has a better than even shot at repeating or improving on this year.
I think his career numbers this year have more to do with fully settling in to the AL and his role with the Sox, rather than pimping himself in his free agent season.
Of course, I'd be even more miffed if he did that next year for some other club!
KTMFF: Mikey will sign!
A little birdie told me I received honorable mention in your post. What a thrill :)
I'm glad you posted it here again Ted. He encapsulates the feelings of the season so beautifully, doesn't he?
It's always comforting to read it again each fall, to remind us we're not alone in our pining for the boys of summer.
Scott, as usual, you are all over the map, but I get the OSU reference. Who is the south of the border team you play? I know you've played Texas already.
Horsham, no, I can't imagine in my wildest dreams Uncle Bud saying anything close to that. And I found the Bill James stuff interesting too. It's pretty amazing how close they were to some of the numbers from the guys this year.
JET, thanks again for the inspiration. I'm really glad you posted that: it's pretty moving.
TexAss Tech is left.
ITs a Holiday so I assume you and the HumanMattress took the day off?
if scotties allowed to cuss am I?
Ted, it's only been two weeks.
You are in for a very LONG winter. :)
Gotcha, Scott. And humanmattress may be one for the ages. BTW, I worked.
Tex, if you want to cuss, you go right ahead. ESPECIALLY if it's aimed at Scott.
And Stacy, you don't have to tell me: I'm toast already.
Evening everyone:
Great post tonight..:-)
Ted, I have to tell you , I damn near fell off my chair when I read your posting about your brother cutting you hair..LOL
I'm jumpier than all get out, HOPING this deal goes through with Mike Lowell...doesn't help when I read stuff like "the offer to Lowell was an insult" and "A-rod would be a good idea in Boston"
I wonder if the funny farm offers group rates?
1st weekend of my show went well-we are doing "The Diary of Anne Frank"--and people are really enjoying it...thanks for asking...
I am SO happy for the Munchkin, he really deserved the ROY...:-)
How many MONTHS to baseball? (sigh)
Hope you are well!
Hi Christine,
Been missing you around here, but I figure you've been busy with the show. Glad to hear it's going well, and I'm sure you are knocking them dead.
Yeah, I'm trying to cut corners wherever I can: good thing is the Missus likes the haircut, so I've got that going for me.
The Lowell situation is giving me an ulcer: of course Damon did too, and it worked out OK. I just have a hard time imagining Mikey playing anywhere else at this point. However, in Theo I Trust, so we'll see how it plays out.
And big props to the Munchkin for the ROY: he deserved it. Good to hear from you, and don't take so long to come back around the next time. ;)
Jr take off your hairnet. JourneyMan comes on tonight in 15 min. check it out. I'm fixing you a life after baseball to do list.
I see Tex changed her mind about tangling with "Ponce De leon." I will let you both ponder that one for a few moments. Dollar to the winner.
Fountain of youth: we get it Bub!
I thought you told me that show came on Thursday: I'm watching Hells Kitchen Season 2 online right now.
I'm a little busy.
Hell wins, turn on the TV
You have got to go you know where. Im about to bust a gut.
Oh boy.
I'm wth you, Ted. Toast. This has been the longest two weeks ever. And I don't like this letting Lowell test the free agency waters thing either. Not.one.bit.
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