Matthew

I've been eyeing that Douglas bio also -- so many good books to read, so little time. Though, when I think of that, I always remember the Twilight Zone episode with Burgess Meredith, Ack!!!!

Thanks for the recommendation! it looks like an interesting read.

Please let us know what you think of the Bates book, I've been interested in that topic for a long time, I'm just starting this book:

Lee Hazlewood: The LHI Years -- Singles, Nudes & Backsides 1968 - 1971

All the Colors We Will See: Reflections on Barriers, Brokenness, and Finding Our Way by Patrice Gopo.

Though, I still think Reggie's doppelgänger is still standing at home plate in Tiger Stadium, watching his homer off Doc Ellis...

So many great, and interesting teams from that era. The Orioles, Pirates, Mets (the 1969 series is very interesting to look back on), Reds, among others. In hindsight, it was a glorious time for watching baseball.

A lot of bad baseball, and teams going into "rebuilding mode" is probably the most serious problem about baseball right now -- who wants to see two terrible teams play terrible baseball for a terrible three plus hours? It's laughable that Baltimore wound up 61!!!! games behind the Red Sox. Talk about the integrity of the sport!

Still feel he never got his due as a player (though what getting his due would look like, I don't know), he was a great one, but he played in an era that had Mays, Aaron, Clemente, Kaline, Mantle, all these great players. Fearsome baserunner, a good manager, just a great baseball guy. RIP.

On the Giants: I can see it in theory, it makes sense, but is that what Harper wants? A team rebuilding with an older nucleus? The Giants farm system is a joke, no one coming up is any good, they are serviceable players, but not ones to take you anywhere, and certainly not beating the Dodgers. And that is a major thing; even with Harper, it will be a tough road to beat them in the coming years. However, they went after Barry Bonds, and that helped turned the team around. I'd love to see it, I always felt it was a good fit, but it seems if Harper comes to the Giants, money will be left on the table, and I don't see that happening. Maybe it will all add up to nothing and Harper winds up back with the Nationals, and it was all much ado about nothing -- we'll see.

Think it still comes down to the Yankees or Philly. Boras is doing his usual thing now, having Harper meet with different teams, just recently, the Giants. It gives the appearance that there's an active market, but I don't believe it. Yanks or Philly is my call.

For me, the DH in the NL is close to being a deal breaker. I've watched and been a NL fan all my life; I think the DH greatly changes the style of play, and I'm not sure if I want to spend a lot of time watching that kind of baseball.

I love the rim-shots that Shaughnessy does throughout.

There comes a time when baseball stops being baseball and turns into something else. Can't say I like too many of these proposed "improvements"