On The Fly

In this episode – Baseball's New Rules . . . In the final out in a Major League Baseball (MLB) spring training game on Saturday, February 25, 2023, the Atlanta Braves and Boston Red Sox ended in a 6–6 tie after Braves player Cal Conley  struck out  for not getting set in the batter's box "in time." Yes, baseball is back. Spring training began on February 24, 2023, with a few new rules. Let's face it - it's a game, and don't you adjust the rules when you play a game to suit the players? Major League Baseball did this year for a few good reasons. Look at the end of the first paragraph of this post, "In time." That's not a phrase you often hear connected with baseball; get used to it because baseball has entered a new era this season. Overly concerned it's getting overshadowed by faster-paced sports. This year's goal is to speed up the game and generate more offense. These rules include the following;   A pitch clock so pitchers (and hi...

In this episode, The BIG Apple . . . Have you ever wondered how New York City got the name The BIG Apple? What follows is consolidated from Wikipedia & the Interesting Facts e-newsletter. Before it was referred to as The City That Never Sleeps, the term "Big Apple" was an expression that meant a big deal, an object of great desire, or big dreams. The first time New York City was referred to as the "big apple" in print may have been in 1909 when American journalist Edward S. Martin wrote in his book The Wayfarer in New York that those in the Midwest (Kansas) are "apt to see in New York a greedy city. It inclines to think that the big apple gets a disproportionate share of the national sap." - However, the phrase doesn't seem to have been intended as a nickname, especially since the name was not capitalized. A horse-racing column published by the New York Morning Telegraph in the 1920s popularized the term: " The Big Apple. ” “The dream of ev...

In this episode, Jackie Robinson Day . . . What? You don't know what Jackie Robinson Day is? Well, pull up a seat and lend an ear. Jackie Robinson Day is an event in Major League Baseball (MLB) that occurs annually on April 15, commemorating the day Jackie Robinson made his major league debut. This year, the destination is Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA. Friday, April 15, 2022, will host the 75th anniversary. Jackie is celebrated and honored at all MLB ballparks. On that day, players, coaches, umpires, and managers on both teams, wear Robinson's uniform number, 42. On April 15, 1947 (Opening Day), Robinson shattered baseball's color line during the Dodgers' 5-3 win over the Boston Braves at Ebbets Field. His debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers (today's Los Angeles Dodgers) ended over 80 years of baseball segregation. Robinson went 0-for-3 at the plate but handled 11 plays at his new first base position. By the season's end, Robinson had played in 151 games, scoring...

With a mighty swing, crack of the bat, and roar of the crowd Giancarlo Stanton of the Miami Marlins hammers home run after home run before a sold out crowd at Petco Park, in San Diego California during the 2016 MLB Home Run Derby . Sounds of freedom! Stick with me you’ll see what I mean - read on. Monday, July 11, 2016 Lori and I attended this years MLB Home Run Derby thanks to a generous gift from a colleague at Home Depot who for the first time became a season ticket holder for the Padres after retiring from his over 20 years of service. “I’m taking my daughter to the All Star Game this year for the first time,” he said excitedly. “We’re not interested in the Derby and would love to share the tickets with you. I know you’re a big baseball fan. Would you be able to go?” “Absolutely! We would love to go, thanks so very much . . . ” Petco Park, decked out in all it’s glory is this year’s host of the 2016 All Star Game and it’s festivities. Downtown San Diego (Gaslamp ...