The best idea for baseball games since Dippin Dots
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
It should be as easy as it sounds. It really should be a no brainer.
There should be no way in the devil's fiery home that Albert Pujols should destroy the baseball each and every time he steps up to the plate at Great American Ball Park.
I know, he is our Babe Ruth; in fact, The Bambino may be his generation's Albert Pujols.
There is a very simple way to keep the greatest player of anyone's generation from putting the most possible damage to any team when he steps up to the plate.
You don't have to be dirty and hit the man for no reason; there is even a simpler way. A way to save your pitcher's arm in the process and keep it fresh.
The way? Are you listening, every manager in MLB?
I mean, this is so simple, the words are basically typing themselves.
The way to keep him from ripping your team's heart out each time he gets into a batting stance is to just roll the ball to the plate.
Yep, that's right. Just roll the freakin' baseball, not challenge a guy four times and lose four times. Don't give up two home runs on the first dang game of the year. If you get behind in the cold, just roll the baseball.
Just let the good times roll and take your chances with Matt Holliday.
From 2001 through the first game of this season, the prince of St. Louis has hit 368 home runs, with his highest total coming in the '06 season with 49 in 143 games played.
That is reason enough right there for any team's pitcher to give their best PBA impersonation and just let the good times roll.
So, the amount of home runs hit not enough to convince you to stop challenging the man who wears No. 5 for the red birds? The new Sultan of Swat has more miles traveled in air than Southwest Airlines.
The former outfielder, now first baseman, has 1,721 career hits, 1,115 RBIs just in the regular season. He has led the NL in runs scored four times, and in home runs twice.
Now, in the postseason, Mr. Pujols (who has a World Series ring) has 13 home runs, so he is even clutch after the regular season is completed.
You may be saying, well, not to challenge a hitter is a disgrace to the game.
Please!
MLB has almost went Kurt Cobain on itself on more than one occasion with scandals, strikes and steroids, so don't give me the Golden Era of baseball argument, because even though I care about how the sport is perceived and taken care of doesn't mean that the folks who run the game do.
Back to stopping the man who has been selected to play in seven All-Star games. (Did you know in the Mid-season Classic, Pujols has played left field, first base and designated hitter?)
The Sporting News' No. 1 ranked player headed into the '10 season started the season with the aforementioned massacre of the Cincinnati Reds on Opening Day, so barring any injury, he will keep his numbers in the same spectrum as they are accustomed to.
So why do teams, especially in the NL Central, insist on challenging the best thing that has stepped into the ball park since a vendor took the first step into the stands with the greatest ice cream invention of all time, Dippin Dots? (Dippin Dots are little dots of ice cream that are served in a package that resembles a Capri Sun.)
The answer?
They have their heads buried in the pitcher's mound. But seriously, just don't give him any opportunity to hurt you. In all the facts given about the Prince of St. Louis, his batting average hasn't even been listed in my argument.
He has batted over .300 each year in The Show and is a three-time NL MVP but should have more if it wasn't for players using steroids and inflating the numbers.
So, in the case of keeping Pujols from causing the maximum amount of damage, just keep the ball on the grass, in the dirt, and as far away from the plate as possible.
If any manager can do that, they should win an award.
Really, it’s that easy.
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of The Highland County Press.[[In-content Ad]]
There should be no way in the devil's fiery home that Albert Pujols should destroy the baseball each and every time he steps up to the plate at Great American Ball Park.
I know, he is our Babe Ruth; in fact, The Bambino may be his generation's Albert Pujols.
There is a very simple way to keep the greatest player of anyone's generation from putting the most possible damage to any team when he steps up to the plate.
You don't have to be dirty and hit the man for no reason; there is even a simpler way. A way to save your pitcher's arm in the process and keep it fresh.
The way? Are you listening, every manager in MLB?
I mean, this is so simple, the words are basically typing themselves.
The way to keep him from ripping your team's heart out each time he gets into a batting stance is to just roll the ball to the plate.
Yep, that's right. Just roll the freakin' baseball, not challenge a guy four times and lose four times. Don't give up two home runs on the first dang game of the year. If you get behind in the cold, just roll the baseball.
Just let the good times roll and take your chances with Matt Holliday.
From 2001 through the first game of this season, the prince of St. Louis has hit 368 home runs, with his highest total coming in the '06 season with 49 in 143 games played.
That is reason enough right there for any team's pitcher to give their best PBA impersonation and just let the good times roll.
So, the amount of home runs hit not enough to convince you to stop challenging the man who wears No. 5 for the red birds? The new Sultan of Swat has more miles traveled in air than Southwest Airlines.
The former outfielder, now first baseman, has 1,721 career hits, 1,115 RBIs just in the regular season. He has led the NL in runs scored four times, and in home runs twice.
Now, in the postseason, Mr. Pujols (who has a World Series ring) has 13 home runs, so he is even clutch after the regular season is completed.
You may be saying, well, not to challenge a hitter is a disgrace to the game.
Please!
MLB has almost went Kurt Cobain on itself on more than one occasion with scandals, strikes and steroids, so don't give me the Golden Era of baseball argument, because even though I care about how the sport is perceived and taken care of doesn't mean that the folks who run the game do.
Back to stopping the man who has been selected to play in seven All-Star games. (Did you know in the Mid-season Classic, Pujols has played left field, first base and designated hitter?)
The Sporting News' No. 1 ranked player headed into the '10 season started the season with the aforementioned massacre of the Cincinnati Reds on Opening Day, so barring any injury, he will keep his numbers in the same spectrum as they are accustomed to.
So why do teams, especially in the NL Central, insist on challenging the best thing that has stepped into the ball park since a vendor took the first step into the stands with the greatest ice cream invention of all time, Dippin Dots? (Dippin Dots are little dots of ice cream that are served in a package that resembles a Capri Sun.)
The answer?
They have their heads buried in the pitcher's mound. But seriously, just don't give him any opportunity to hurt you. In all the facts given about the Prince of St. Louis, his batting average hasn't even been listed in my argument.
He has batted over .300 each year in The Show and is a three-time NL MVP but should have more if it wasn't for players using steroids and inflating the numbers.
So, in the case of keeping Pujols from causing the maximum amount of damage, just keep the ball on the grass, in the dirt, and as far away from the plate as possible.
If any manager can do that, they should win an award.
Really, it’s that easy.
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of The Highland County Press.[[In-content Ad]]