Baseball is back! Time to talk about spring training and opening day. But first a personal note. Continue reading
Hot Stove #188 – Spring Training, Opening Day, Zack Greinke, Ralph Terry and Campy Campaneris
Hot Stove
Hot Stove #187 – St. Patrick’s Day Special – Baseball, Pendergast and Guest Contributor Pat O’Neill
This post is not about the end of the MLB lockout. Anything I write would be eclipsed within a day by news of free agent signings, spring training news, roster moves, Bobby Witt Jr. hitting a homer, etc. A whole winter’s worth of baseball coverage is being compressed into the relatively few days before the season opens on April 7. I can’t keep up. Royals pundit Rany Jazayerli captured this in a clever tweet and photo: Continue reading
Hot Stove #186 – Kansas City Royals – The John Sherman Years (To Date) – Covid to Lockout
In November of 2019, John Sherman and a group of local investors purchased the Kansas City Royals for $1 billion. Everyone was happy. The new buyers. The seller. The players. The fans. The sportswriters. Sherman and his investors were ingrained in Kansas City – the business sector, civic affairs and philanthropy. We celebrated our good fortune. Continue reading
Hot Stove #78 (Updated) – I Stand With Ukraine
This post is not about baseball. Nor about the lack of baseball during the lockout. Why? Because I am distracted by this week’s events in Ukraine. Continue reading
Hot Stove #185 – Royals Spring Training 2022 (Not Yet)
It’s time for the annual Hot Stove spring training post. Pitchers and catchers were set to report on February 15. Position players on February 20. It would be time again to recite Dan Quisenberry’s poem on the “rituals of spring training,” and report on my friends at the games in Surprise, Arizona. Continue reading
Hot Stove #184 – Octogenarian Update – Carole King is 80 Today
The baseball lockout continues, but Lonnie’s Jukebox is open for business and spinning records by a special guest. Continue reading
Hot Stove #183 – I Heard It (the Game) On the Radio
Before I get to my baseball post, I want to pause a moment in remembrance of my long-time friend Wayne Tenenbaum. Wayne died on January 23 at the age of 80. A couple of years ago, I wrote a tribute to Ray Webb who I dubbed the “Most Unforgettable Character I Ever Met.” On reflection, Wayne might be tied with Ray for that title. Or maybe he is the most unforgettable from a different genre. The common trait was that they both made me laugh for decades. Continue reading
Hot Stove #182 – Martin Luther King Jr. Day (2022) – Barrier Breakers
Starting in 2002, I have posted an annual message for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. For the last several years, the message has been part of Hot Stove, and last year’s post was titled “Buck O’Neil on the Mountaintop.” It told the story of how Buck O’Neil, like Moses and King, had been to the mountaintop and seen – but not entered – the “Promised Land.” For Moses, the Promised Land was Israel. For King, equality, as eloquently presented in his last speech, “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop.” For Buck, the Hall of Fame. He was on the ballot in 2006, but did not receive the needed votes. Continue reading
Hot Stove #181 – Octogenarians, Nonagenarians and One Septuagenarian
It happened on August 9 this year. I turned 80. An octogenarian. OMG.
For most of my life, I thought “octogenarian” was synonymous with “old.” Just like this word cloud says.
Hot Stove #180 – Inside The Baseball 100
Looking for a Christmas gift for a baseball fan? Or trying to nudge someone to give you a cool gift? Maybe a good book.