baseball

My pitch to manage the Phillies (if they hadn’t hired Girardi!)

October 25, 2019

(Note: The Philadelphia Phillies hired Joe Girardi to be their next manager. I’m quite stoked about this and hope it’s what the Phillies need. Too much talent to just be 81-81. That being said, I had drafted this up … you know, in case they still needed a manager. So, this is my pitch from all my years of managing adult softball to come out of “retirement” and be the manager of the Phillies!)

Dear Mr. Klentak,

Coming out of my managerial retirement wasn’t something I had planned on contemplating, but as they say – when opportunity knocks, answer the door!

While I am sure you are seeking somebody with big league experience for the next manager of the Philadelphia Phillies, I still felt it necessary for a life-long Phillies fan to see about the possibility, especially somebody with the managing pedigree that I bring.

What I bring is a championship background and would love to bring that to the dugout of the Philadelphia Phillies. For nearly 30 years, I built and managed an adult softball team in my area that went on to do well not only here, but at the state and national level. Success took a little time (hey, it’s not easy starting with a “rebuild” and having to recruit players right away!) but once we reached the highest level, we stayed there.

You could say was somewhat of a GM/manager/player (probably why if I can ever afford the Phillies Phantasy Camp, I’ll want to do so with the GM part), and I feel that experience could lead to a successful run as skipper of the Phillies.

Over the 28 years I managed, we had a constant flow of players and personalities. It’s not easy to juggle all of that, especially if they are coming straight from work or had a cold one in them. We played modified pitch, which is as close to baseball as it comes – and we lived on small ball. We had some power, and good pitching. And we were usually pretty solid in the field (not if I was out there – hitting was my prowess. Fielding, not so much).

And, of course, we had some egos and tempers and everything else. I feel I handled it all well. And I know pitching is something of a sore spot to people, as well. But I have to be honest – I manage pitching with git instinct. I want pitchers to test their limits and become old school of sorts. To be fair, we only really had one pitcher over the last 19 years I managed. I pitched some, too, but the old knuckleball didn’t always work and that proved to be tough at times. And, our pitcher 60 in my final year, but he could still go.

Some of my credentials:

7 league championships
More than 400 victories (estimated)
Belief in the youth movement
Letting players be players

And, Mr. Klentak, I can’t lie – I can second-guess current managers with the best of them (though, to be fair, I don’t really do it online, so maybe it doesn’t count?) as I attend anywhere from 40-75 live games a year between the minors and majors.

I’m also a baseball nerd (have scorebook, will travel) and love all the analytics of the game. Though, to be fair, I tend to manage more by seeing how the game unfolds more so than worrying about whether or not a guy facing a certain player a third time would be bad. If a guy is dealing, I want him to keep dealing. I’m sure with more analytics, I’d be all over it. There’s not many scouting reports, though, in upstate New York for an over-35 dynasty. We just win!

My salary requirements won’t be too crazy, I promise. I’ll bring fire, that’s for sure. I’m a supporter of the Phillies in many ways – from traveling to see them play to even taking part this past year in the Phillies 5K to getting many clothing items – and I’ll continue to do so as manager (though, a uniform and such will be free, right?) I also believe in the system and have been a supporter at the minors and have a good feel for what’s in the system (prospect guides rule)!

I’m ready for my eighth championship to come with the Phillies.

References available upon request. I look forward to discussing this possibility.

Sincerely,

P.J. Harmer

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please “Like” A ‘lil HooHaa on Facebook! You can also follow me on Twitter @softball29!

Can of Corn Challenge: Fall Classic (October)

October 18, 2017

It’s that time of year.

The fall classic is upon us as baseball playoffs are in the full swing. So far, the playoffs have been pretty exciting and I have a feeling the World Series will be pretty good this year. I know who I am pulling for, but I’ll keep that away from the blog for now.

This also will mark the end of the Can of Corn Challenge for 2017. The odds are, too, that this will end the Can of Corn Challenge. It was a good two-year run, but it hasn’t brought in any other people. And for a writing challenge to succeed, then it needs more than one and, occasionally, a couple of others checking in. The idea of this challenge was to try and attract others who would like to write about baseball, but it never did that well … so it’s been fun, but time to move on.

But the Fall Classic.

I was still young when the Phillies won the World Series in 1980. I have some small memories of it, but not vivid. I slightly remember the Phillies losing to the Orioles in 1983. And 1993 … well, Joe Carter can go pound a serious amount of salt.

But then there’s 2008.

World F’N Champions.

If you wonder why I added that “F’N” – well, just Google Chase Utley’s speech after the championship parade.

Baseball is a funny sport. There are times when you feel like things go your way and 2008 was that way for the Phillies. They battled bad weather and everything else to fend off the Tampa Bay Rays to win the World Series and set up a crazy parade down Broad Street.

The team was filled with colorful players and was an incredibly fun team to watch. They played the game in an old-school way and played it right. There was solid pitching, defense, and hitting. It was just great.

Heck, all of the playoffs were great. There were some amazing moments. And it’s something I’ll remember for a long time. I might never see the Phillies win another World Series. I always said that if I had the chance to see my teams win championships in my lifetime, I’d be happy with one. Yes, I thought they should have won more than one during their run – but they won the one.

Baseball is a great sport. Playoffs are as good, if not better, than hockey. And that says something considering the fact that hockey playoffs are amazing. It doesn’t matter the level though – minors or majors – playoffs are great.

But 2008 was special for me. It’s a Fall Classic I’ll never forget.

Link up below if you want to take part in this month’s challenge!

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please “Like” A ‘lil HooHaa on Facebook! You can also follow me on Twitter @softball29!

Can of Corn Challenge: The voice of baseball (September)

September 20, 2017

When I was a kid, I could get broadcasts of the Philadelphia Phillies on AM radio.

And while it’s true that maybe the weather had to be right, or I had to point the antennae a certain way, I could – in upstate New York – get Philadelphia’s flagship radio broadcast later at night.

And that brought me the soothing voice of Harry Kalas.

Harry’s soothing voice brought great description of the game, allowing me to feel like I was there. Baseball it truly a sport made for radio, especially when announcers can bring you there.

Harry did that for me.

He was the voice of the Phillies and one who tried to hear as often as I could. But there were other greats – such as Vin Scully.

Honestly, it depended who your team was.

In days gone by, voices were synonymous with a team. If you heard that popular “Holy Cow!” you had to know it was Phil Rizzuto and the Yankees. Ralph Kiner’s “unique” delivery could tell you the Mets were playing. There was Harry Caray, Jack Buck, and Ernie Harwell. Bob Uecker is still delivering in Milwaukee, and Marty Brennaman in Cincinnati.

The list could go on and on. Even some of the newer ones are really great.

But everybody has a favorite and Harry was mine.

Years ago, I was at a Baseball Hall of Fame event where he was the guest. At the end, he took questions. I asked him about doing a home run call because it had been mentioned a few times. He asked my name and before I knew it, I was whisked off to my childhood, listening to Harry calling the came on a small radio.

This time, though, I was the one at the plate.

A 3-2 count was on me and I connected and it was as if I was a kid drifting off to sleep … “That baby’s outta heeeeeere!”

How about you? Who was your voice?

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please “Like” A ‘lil HooHaa on Facebook! You can also follow me on Twitter @softball29!

Can of Corn Challenge: The designated hitter (August)

August 16, 2017

Oh, the designated hitter.

One of those positions that people either love or hate and the opinions will differ as strongly as what those people think.

Personally, I’m a traditionalist. And being a fan of the Phillies and the National League, I think you can see where I am going with this.

I don’t like the designated hitter.

Look, in amateur sports or adult league softball – I have no issues. In some instances, it’s a great thing as it allows maximum participation. However, when you are getting paid to play the game …

Come on.

Pitchers throughout time have hit for themselves. And they’ve done it well.

In 1973, that changed for the American League with the addition of Major League Baseball Rule 5.11, which allows teams to have one player (the designated hitter) to bat in place of the pitcher.

The DH has extended people’s careers. It probably got some people into the Hall of Fame, and it hurt other candidates by likely keeping them out. But it’s been a part of the game, that’s for sure. Alas, not everybody likes this rule.

I’m sure, eventually, the National League will adopt this rule as well. I can hope that it’s not something I will see.

The designated hitter prolongs careers. Take David Ortiz as one recent example. But it doesn’t mean it’s something one has to like.

These players are professionals being paid millions of dollars to play a game. There are a lot of pitchers who hit well and who love to hit. Others you can tell don’t love it at all.

But you are paid to play baseball.

As noted in Bull Durham, there are three aspects to the game – you hit the ball, you catch the ball, you throw the ball.

Three items.

It’s time to stop worrying about getting rid of an intentional walk process to speed up games and start going back to the game how it used to be. Make the pitchers hit!

What say you on the DH? Yay or nay?

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please “Like” HooHaa Blog on Facebook! You can also follow me on Twitter @softball29!

Summer of Baseball: Hagerstown gives you an old-school baseball setting

July 25, 2017

It’s nice to know there are some throwback baseball stadiums out there.

As baseball’s minor leagues get more and more popular, some places are having a hard time holding onto their teams. Take for example Oneonta in my area — the longtime Yankees and then Tigers short-season A affiliate bolted town before the 2010 season when new owners took over and lied about how long they’d stay to “try and make it work.” Instead, they moved the team to Connecticut where, yes, attendance went up but makes one wonder if it was worth it for the large bump in rent.

The moon over Municipal Stadium during a game.

But, I digress.

Hagerstown is that throwback. A stadium dating back to 1930 with not a lot of bells and whistles. It feels old in there. There isn’t a lot of pomp and circumstance and, if you’re there for the baseball, then it’s going to give you the experience you want.

I’ve found, in time, that some of these stadiums are hard to visit. But Municipal Stadium has gone through enough renovations to keep it nice, yet still keep its old-school charm.

What’s nice here is the ambiance of the park as a whole. The older “feel” to the ticket booth and the souvenir stand, as compared to a store. The fan services are also being a stand, rather than walking in somewhere. I loved that not all the food was out of a stand, rather having one spot where you could get something grilled right on the spot.

There were also two beers made locally — one for the team — which gave it a cool feel.

Sight lines are good as it didn’t seem there was a bad seat in the house. There weren’t a lot of fans that night, so I didn’t feel squeezed anywhere. People were friendly (including a few fans I had interactions with) and, overall, it was a nice experience.

The night I was there, they announced an attendance of 704, and that was probably being quite kind. It’s a shame, too, It’s a baseball experience that is going quickly by the wayside. With newer stadiums popping up with many amenities, these smaller stadiums and towns are bolting for bigger areas in the hopes of making more money. We can hope baseball will stay in areas like this, but it’s getting harder and harder for teams to maintain their presence.

Though my ratings are average, and I enjoyed myself and my trip to Hagerstown. I’d visit again if given the opportunity. If you have the chance, check it out in case it eventually is too late.

Park Notes:

Municipal Stadium
Hagerstown, Maryland
Home of the Hagerstown Sun (Single-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles)
Visited on: July 20, 2016
Opponent: Columbia Fireflies (Single-A affiliate of the New York Mets)

Ratings (out of 10)

Stadium: 7/10
Concessions: 7/10
Parking: 9/10
Ambiance: 6.5/10
Friendliness: 8/10

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please “Like” A ‘lil HooHaa on Facebook! You can also follow me on Twitter @softball29!