1999 Post Season

10-25-99 -Back from game 2 of the World Series. Wow. The game was not all that entertaining and I have not seen the Jim Grey/Pete Rose interview yet. I have read about it and though I am not a big Pete Rose fan, obviously Jim Grey went too far. It is too bad that this interview has overshadowed what a wonderful gathering took place after it. To have that much talent on the field was incredible and might never happen again. I am proud to say that I was there and I even have the honor of saying that I was on the sam e field as those greats as well. I made sure to step out of the camera well to take a couple of pictures when they were all there so that I could say I was on the field at the same time as them. It was very moving. As I did during the All-Star game, I got a little choked up when Ted Williams was helped to the stage. Willie Mays and Ken Griffey, Jr. helped him. That was great to see those two greats help another to his chair. I did think the reaction for Pete Rose was a little over the top. I think he deserved a good hand, but when he received almost a minute ovation compared to the hand that Jackie Robinson, Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe D. and even hometown hero Hank Aaron received I actually winced. Come on, breaking the color barrier in baseball or being bann ed from the game for betting on baseball (yes, yes, I know he is the all-time hits leader and belongs in the Hall of Fame). It was interesting to watch Bud Selig during all of this. He was to my right on the field. As each player was introduced, Selig wou ld applaud for them and smile with Frank Robinson and Len Coleman who were at his side. When Rose was introduced, however, he stood with a solemn look and refused to clap. As the ovation reached almost a minute Selig finally broke down and gave a half-hear ted round of applause. Another great moment was before Hank Aaron threw out the first pitch, he played catch with Mike Schmidt and Mays. I was really hoping that the team would walk around the warning track to give the fans, and myself, a chance to see them together upclose. Fortunately I don't have to pay for my tickets, but I would have just to have been there last night. Go Yanks.

10-24-99 - I am sorry that I have been so lack on updating this page over the last two months. I have been very busy at work and then the post-season hit and I have had little time to keep this thing up to date. We are getting ready for game two of the Wo r ld Series tonight. Though Rickey is not in the Series, it is still great. A re-match of 1996, a great series, between the two best teams in baseball this year. Even thought I live here in Atlanta, I am rooting for the Yankees. They have always been my sec o nd favorite team behind the A's. Enough of that though, let's talk about Rickey. I am going to avoid touching on the topic of Rickey and Bobby Bonilla hiding out in the Mets clubhouse during that incredible Game 6 playing cards. If it is true, I am very d i sappointed. Regardless of how you feel about your manager or what he did to you in a prior game, that is your team out there playing their hearts out to stay alive in the playoffs. You had a great game, go out and root on your team. It is not only the rig h t thing to do but certainly the professional thing to do. Besides that, what a up and down post-season for Rickey. He killed the D-Backs. He has always played well against Randy Johnson (still the ugliest man in baseball). While he might not always get th e hits against the Big Unit, he has always managed to get on base and distract him. The NLCS, however, was a different story. I think that there was too much made about his lack of getting on base in the series though. Who else besides John Olerud and Melvin Mora did anything offensively in the NLCS? Piazza didn't, Ventura didn't, Alfonzo didn't. They each had one or two good at bats, but that does not make a series. The Braves have an incredible pitching staff, they have the ability to shut people down, an d that is just what they did to the Mets as a team. I do have a thought or two about where Rickey will be next season, because I don't think it will be in New York. Until the playoffs I think Rickey and Bobby V. had a pretty good relationship. After the pl a yoff with the Reds they interviewed Rickey and he said how wonderful it was to be able to get Bobby V. into the playoffs finally. Then the whole issue of pulling Rickey just before the start of the inning in the NLCS arose. Bobby V. apologized but Rickey d id not want to hear any of it. Couple that with the whole card playing incident, I don't know that Bobby would want him back nor would Rickey like to come back. Ofcourse, Bobby might not be back in NY himself, but from what I hear he will be. I think this opens up the door for Rickey to return to the A's. The Mets have an option on Rickey this next season, so we shall soon see what they do with it. Rickey said in an interview on FOX earlier this season, that while he enjoyed playing in New York his "heart is still in Oakland." I think it would be a good fit. While I like Rich Be cker, he is not a major-league lead-off batter. Rickey would also give them so speed to balance out all the power they have. Unlike power, speed never goes into a slump. Oakland coul d probably get him for under 2 million and ensure that when he goes to the Hall he would be in a A's uniform. Well, that's going to do it for this installment. I have a lot more to say but I am going to hold off a day or two and let you digest this one. I have a big time rant about John Rocker in me, but I think I want he to struggle a little bit more in the World Series before I let that one go.

Hosted by www.Geocities.ws