EN ROUTE HOME — Here I am in another airport at 4:30 in the morning, but this time feels different because this time, I’m going home. It has been an extraordinary two weeks chasing around the country for WHY WE LOVE BASEBALL. I’ve met so many of you. I’ve signed so many books. I’ve taken so many planes. I’m so happy-tired or tired-happy or whatever the word is.
Baseball story telling at it's best, with some everyday Life moments is why this is some of the most enjoyable reading sessions of My Blessed & Fascinating Life! Thanks Joe!! Bernie Carbo would have a great time conversing about Baseball & Life with You . . .
Hey Joe, Just finishing up my signed copy of “Why We Love Baseball,” and surprised that the heartwarming story about Cleveland’s Addie Joss didn’t make cut. Ty Cobb led a who’s who of baseball greats at League Park in the first “MLB All-Star Game,” played in Cleveland as a fundraiser for Joss’ widow and family. C’mon where’s the love for the hometown?
The Angels struggles have been almost beyond imagination. Here's the question I have about it all: How bad would the Angels have been WITHOUT Trout and Ohtani?
Joe, you are both a terrific writer AND a great storyteller! Not sure how many people realize it, but these are two different talents that don’t automatically come together. It just so happens that you possess both of these skills to the n’th degree, in addition to apparently insatiable curiosity and the willingness to put in whatever amount of research and effort it takes. What you do so well on a daily basis can never be overstated or overvalued. I for one appreciate and admire every story you write and tell, the way one appreciates great music, without understanding where the heck it comes from. Thank you.
A couple great players have distracted people from the fact that the Angels are a horribly run team. But I can’t figure out their management – the owner obviously is willing to spend some money. But, why not spend money on a farm system, scouting system, etc. in addition to the free agents? Or maybe they have? Don’t follow the angels, so I don’t know any of these numbers
The Angels have been a badly put together stars and scrubs team. The owner overpays for names, mostly batting names. Since drafting Trout, they are 29th in WAR from the draft (only above the Royals)
They are just a poorly run organization overall. I am not a big gambler, but I do like to bet a few preseason over/unders. The Angels are usually a bit overrated because of their stars, and I am cashing my 8th consecutive under bet on them.
People always ask how they could miss the playoffs with Trout and Ohtani - I look at it a different way. When you look at the wins above average per 162 these two players have added, and the wins the team has finished below average per 162 over the same time period, what you realize is that other than those two players, the Angels have been the worst team in baseball the last 8 years, propped up by 1 great draft pick and a guy they bought. The Royals have been the worst team the last 8 years overall with only 491 wins. IF you replaced Trout and Ohtani with 2 (really I guess three, since Ohtani plays both ways) average MLB players, the Angels would have about 485. It is not as those guys don't make a difference, they do. But when you put them on what is otherwise the worst team in the majors, that difference just makes them seem below average instead of the worst.
It also may be worth remembering that the Angels had Mike Scioscia, who managed them well, and Joe Madden, who was successful everywhere else he managed. Perhaps something might be wrong with the ownership and the front office?
Didn't know the Angels' situation with Trout and Ohtani. It reminded me of something
I still can't figure out: In 1998 the Seattle Mariners had Randy Johnson, Ken Griffey, Jr. and Alex Rodriguez and won 76 games. Johnson leaves and they win 79 games in 1999. Griffey, Jr.
leaves and they win 91 games in 2000. Rodriguez leaves and they win 116 games in 2001!
Maybe it's the magic of reading your book right now, but finding things to love baseball even more feels so easy right now. I loved the Logan Porter story, just as I loved being lucky enough to be tuned in during the Rockies' crazy comeback walk-off win over the Giants, or listening as Toronto and Boston duked it out into the 13th inning.
I loved the Grand Illusion chapter from the book that I actually read it out loud to my wife*, who loved it just as much as I did.
* My wife is, at best, a casual baseball fan and only when Cleveland is having a good season, which they are not this year.
Baseball's Goal: To Go Home!
Baseball story telling at it's best, with some everyday Life moments is why this is some of the most enjoyable reading sessions of My Blessed & Fascinating Life! Thanks Joe!! Bernie Carbo would have a great time conversing about Baseball & Life with You . . .
Greinke's reaction to your pitch and the Logan Porter story is exactly why we love baseball.
Hey Joe, Just finishing up my signed copy of “Why We Love Baseball,” and surprised that the heartwarming story about Cleveland’s Addie Joss didn’t make cut. Ty Cobb led a who’s who of baseball greats at League Park in the first “MLB All-Star Game,” played in Cleveland as a fundraiser for Joss’ widow and family. C’mon where’s the love for the hometown?
The Angels struggles have been almost beyond imagination. Here's the question I have about it all: How bad would the Angels have been WITHOUT Trout and Ohtani?
Joe, you are both a terrific writer AND a great storyteller! Not sure how many people realize it, but these are two different talents that don’t automatically come together. It just so happens that you possess both of these skills to the n’th degree, in addition to apparently insatiable curiosity and the willingness to put in whatever amount of research and effort it takes. What you do so well on a daily basis can never be overstated or overvalued. I for one appreciate and admire every story you write and tell, the way one appreciates great music, without understanding where the heck it comes from. Thank you.
A couple great players have distracted people from the fact that the Angels are a horribly run team. But I can’t figure out their management – the owner obviously is willing to spend some money. But, why not spend money on a farm system, scouting system, etc. in addition to the free agents? Or maybe they have? Don’t follow the angels, so I don’t know any of these numbers
Bruce Hurst went to Utah Tech. IIRC, the field there is named after him.
The Angles are where free agents go to die since the 70's and Fred Lynn...
The Angels have been a badly put together stars and scrubs team. The owner overpays for names, mostly batting names. Since drafting Trout, they are 29th in WAR from the draft (only above the Royals)
They are just a poorly run organization overall. I am not a big gambler, but I do like to bet a few preseason over/unders. The Angels are usually a bit overrated because of their stars, and I am cashing my 8th consecutive under bet on them.
People always ask how they could miss the playoffs with Trout and Ohtani - I look at it a different way. When you look at the wins above average per 162 these two players have added, and the wins the team has finished below average per 162 over the same time period, what you realize is that other than those two players, the Angels have been the worst team in baseball the last 8 years, propped up by 1 great draft pick and a guy they bought. The Royals have been the worst team the last 8 years overall with only 491 wins. IF you replaced Trout and Ohtani with 2 (really I guess three, since Ohtani plays both ways) average MLB players, the Angels would have about 485. It is not as those guys don't make a difference, they do. But when you put them on what is otherwise the worst team in the majors, that difference just makes them seem below average instead of the worst.
It also may be worth remembering that the Angels had Mike Scioscia, who managed them well, and Joe Madden, who was successful everywhere else he managed. Perhaps something might be wrong with the ownership and the front office?
PLEASE tell me you will be writing a Zack Greinke biography after he calls it a career. Few reasons for “why we love baseball” top Zack Greinke.
Didn't know the Angels' situation with Trout and Ohtani. It reminded me of something
I still can't figure out: In 1998 the Seattle Mariners had Randy Johnson, Ken Griffey, Jr. and Alex Rodriguez and won 76 games. Johnson leaves and they win 79 games in 1999. Griffey, Jr.
leaves and they win 91 games in 2000. Rodriguez leaves and they win 116 games in 2001!
Dick Butkus and Gale Sayers were great players who never made the playoffs.
Maybe it's the magic of reading your book right now, but finding things to love baseball even more feels so easy right now. I loved the Logan Porter story, just as I loved being lucky enough to be tuned in during the Rockies' crazy comeback walk-off win over the Giants, or listening as Toronto and Boston duked it out into the 13th inning.
I loved the Grand Illusion chapter from the book that I actually read it out loud to my wife*, who loved it just as much as I did.
* My wife is, at best, a casual baseball fan and only when Cleveland is having a good season, which they are not this year.
Thank you. I laughed at J's story a little too much and just loved Porter's story to the point of following his career from now on.
Love the Logan Porter story. Glad you survived the book tour. Great meeting you in SF. Can't wait for the next one.