Andy Van Slyke Where Are You?

"Every season has its peaks and valleys. What you have to try to do is eliminate the Grand Canyon." -Andy Van Slyke

Pirates have been in the Canyon: 17 years and counting ...

For the most part I have lost quite a bit of my childhood fondness for baseball as the Pirates have failed to tread water for the better part of the past two decades. I still check the box score now and then, and generally know who the players are, at least until the trading deadline each year. But the summer pastime just hasn’t been the same. The t-shirt slogan, Pirates Baseball – trading veterans for prospects since 1992, has been a sad Groundhog Day like occurrence each July 31st. Even in this fungo abyss, I’m reminded that some good things in baseball still occur. Such is the case with the near perfect game pitched a couple of weeks ago and the storm stirred up by a very human mistake.

The following is a letter drafted by my friend George who knows a little something about playing ball. He wrote this in reply to the Wall Street Journal article written in the wake of the perfect game and the blown call tempest. I liked his letter so much I asked his permission to include it in this Friday’s Note. Enjoy.

Background Article the spurred the letter: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704025304575284512831530640.html

I honestly and thoroughly enjoyed both of Jason Gay’s article’s regarding the “Detroit Disaster”; funny, entertaining, and well stated. But in regards to reviewing umpire’s calls – Baseball should develop some sort of technology solution for umpire review…..just as soon as the PGA allows mulligans. I did like the challenge flag idea included by Mr. Gay; however I would propose a slightly different implementation. Rather than a red flag to throw I would provide the managers (or their designatee) with a red baseball. Then, if an umpire missed a call, if the manager could bean the umpire from the dugout they could challenge the call. It would be much more entertaining, provide a further deterrent to the umpires, and have the added benefit of incenting the managers to keep their arms in shape. How much more satisfying to nail the ump right between the shoulder blades than to have some pansy flag toss…even if they didn’t miss the call.

And I have to agree with Mr. Gay shortstops shouldn’t make $20 million and Grandma would have liked a Viking oven. Technology definitely has it’s place; hockey is so much better in HD. But I find the mental picture of Grandma talking on her Jawbone, setting her Red Bull on the counter, peach cobbler in hand, opening the oven just a bit disturbing.

It’s really not about nostalgia or tradition (though those things are precious in baseball and life) it’s about how you play the game. And let’s remember we’re talking about a game, not brain surgery, not life or death outcomes. Winning is important, however, true champions are those that overcome odds, competitors, disadvantages, distractions, to press on to victory. And, though great physical feats are impressive, great moral feats excel. Isn’t that what we love about sports? Mr. Gay observes that’s’ why Armando Galarraga has received more attention than Dallas Braden and Roy Halladay. His physical feat was appropriately dwarfed by the triumph of his character. In Baseball there have been many great talents and great performances, fewer accomplished by men you would want your daughter to marry (But Dad…Ty is really a nice guy), or have mentor your young son (Ted Williams could have taught him something about vocabulary!).

So what does this have to do with replay in baseball? Only this, technology will not solve all our problems or relieve all our pain. In life, as in Baseball you get bad hops, balls in the sun, and yes, even bad calls. Going to great lengths to eliminate those (as if you could) doesn’t lead to happiness, or winning, or making the game better. I wish Mr. Joyce would have got it right, I wish Galarraga could have claimed that perfect game, but we all were treated to something even more wonderful. True greatness isn’t only about the outcome, it’s about how you deal with the bad calls and overcome with character and grace both within the game and without. It is, after all, how you play the game.

G. Bjorkman



I can think of one other reason to keep instant replay out of baseball. To reduce the documented footage of Pirates baseball.