April 10, 2021
680 THE FAN, ATLANTA – In honor of Larry King who passed away earlier this year, I have put together a list of things that both he and I feel as we get ready to hear “PLAY BALL” 2021!

(Side note before we start: If you have to ask who Larry King is, congratulations on being young!)

1. Welcome back 162 game season…we hope!

2. Albert Pujols is hitting .299 for his career and this pains me!

3. I wish I had a dollar for every time I heard the phrase “Pitcher Workload” this year. I think I’d be able to buy a vacation home in Boca.

4. Man…the Astros got off easy!

5. Welcome back Tony LaRussa.

6. I can’t believe its been 32 years since the film “Field of Dreams” came out.

7. Miguel Cabrera is the best great player who isn’t thought of that way.

8. YouTube is in the Baseball Business. What’s next? Disney +? Hallmark? The WB?

9. There sure are a lot of Ivy Leaguers in The Game.

10. What ever happened to attending “The School of Hard Knocks” and being all the better for it?

11. I’m OK with bat flips…I’m also OK with rib shots.

    

12. I miss managers going nose to nose with umpires.

13. 20 years ago The Seattle Mariners won 116 games. By that time, Randy Johnson, Alex Rodriquez AND Ken Griffey Jr. were gone and they haven’t been back to the Postseason since.

14. The ballpark pretzel is the only thing in the food world that can range in flavor from “life changing good” to “absolutely awful”!

15. Remember when we were just counting down to Craig Kimbrel getting 500 saves?

16. Sandy Koufax is the definition of Regal.

17. Trevor Bauer is making HOW MUCH?

18. Remember when spring training used to be held in Cuba?

19. The first two lines of The Constitution should read,”Where Have You Gone Joe DiMaggio, a Nation Turns It’s Lonely Eyes To You.”

20. I think Rob Manfred and Tony Clark should just fight! Full-on fisticuffs! Lets GO!

21. Mike Trout has 12 ABs in the postseason.

22. Pardon me while I wipe away a few tears…I’m back!

23. Trevor Bauer couldn’t hold Sandy Koufax’ jock, Bob Gibson’s, or for that matter, 50 other guys that I could name off the top of my head!

    

24. 2021 is officially the Dumbest moment in the history of the very Dumb Designated Hitter situation!

25. The “HARDBALL PODCAST” is a gift from The Baseball Gods. Trust me, it’s like you’re in the room with Phil Rizzuto!

26. The world needs more scouts not mathheads in The Game.

27. I have no idea what the hell San Francisco’s ballpark is called, but it’s the best ballpark in The Bigs with the best address in the history of EVER: “24 Willie Mays Plaza”! (Sorry ghosts of everything Dodgers!)

28. Nolan Arenado was born to wear a Cardinals uniform.

29. Jon Lester and Max Scherzer: The two toughest pitchers in baseball reside in Washington!

30. Billy Martin would have loved David Eckstein.

31. Dale Murphy is a heck of a fella!

    

32. Kevin Cash pulling Blake Snell killed a small piece of the Baseball soul in me forever.

33. Marvin Miller is finally getting into the Hall of Fame. I’m hoping his family goes against his wishes and attends, but if they don’t I would like to volunteer to give his speech in Cooperstown.

34. Have you seen Fernando Tatis Jr.’s contract? How’s $340 Million after playing 143 games sound to you? Consider this: Hank Aaron played in 3298 games and made $2.1 Million TOTAL!

35. They should all kiss the Ass of the ghost of Curt Flood AND the Ring of the aforementioned ghost of Marvin Miller!

36. I’m driving to Vero Beach when this pandemic thing is over to just sit on the old pitchers mound and pay my respects.