Change the name, but the venue’s the same
By Hal McCoy They can change the name of the baseball venue in San Francisco all they want, but Luis Castillo recognizes it. When the park on San Francisco Bay was first opened it was Pacific Bell Park. Then it became SBC Park. Then it was AT&T Park. Now, as Castillo walks to the mound […]
De Leon remembers from where he came
By Hal McCoy Jose De Leon is one thankful pitcher that there was somebody outside his highly supportive immediate family who believed in him. That person is former Southern University baseball coach Roger Cador. “Man, I am what I am today, in part, because of him,” said De Leon on the eve of his second […]
Tejay Antone: A pitcher who loves home runs
By Hal McCoy Like current-day travelers during the pandemic, travel distances by major league baseballs this season were supposed to be limited. MLB allegedly toned down the baseballs so they wouldn’t leave the playing field like launched space shuttles. Don’t try to tell that to Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher Tejay Antone. He watched baseballs easily […]
OBSERVATIONS: Shortstop can be hard to play on Opening Day
By Hal McCoy UNSOLICITED OBSERVATIONS from The Man Cave, perusing some highlights/lowlights around baseball on Opening Day. —Two errors in two innings by Cincinnati Reds ‘new’ shortstop, Eugenio Suarez, led to three runs in the team’s 11-6 Opening Day mishap against the St. Louis Cardinals. As bad as it looked, it wasn’t the worst Opening […]
OBSERVATONS: Jesse Owens had a baseball connection
By Hal McCoy UNSOLICITED OBSERVATIONS from The Man Cave, waiting for baseball to join college basketball, hockey, auto racing, college football, pro golf, soccer and the NBA on my crowded sports TV menu. —As we all know, or should know, Cleveland-born and Ohio State track legend Jesse Owens won four gold medals in the 1936 […]
OBSERVATIONS: It ‘ain’t’ easy making clutch free throws
By Hal McCoy UNSOLICITED OBSERVATIONS from The Man Cave, reading Joe Lunardi’s book on Bracketology. I certainly didn’t learn much because I have two teams left in the Sweet Sixteen and everybody in the free world also has those two team. . .Gonzaga and Michigan. —As I watch players toe the foul line with mere […]
OBSERVATIONS: When LeBron tried to ‘play’ baseball
By Hal McCoy UNSOLICITED OBSERVATIONS from The Man Cave, my head spinning from watching all the bouncing basketballs and listening to folks tear up their brackets. Not even Joe Lunardi could help me. Among all my losers, I did pick Ohio University over Virginia. . .thank you very much, Bobcats. —There is no doubt, no […]
OBSERVATIONS: Did Drysdale fear any hitter? Yes
By Hal McCoy UNSOLICITED OBSERVATIONS from The Man Cave, counting down the days until Opening Day. . .passsing the time with March Madness. —Don Drysdale was as fearsome on the mound as a starving grizzly bear. He feared nobody and hitters stepped into the batter’s box with trepidation. He thought nothing of knocking down hitters […]
OBSERVATIONS: Rose on his Hall of Fame chances
By Hal McCoy UNSOLICITED OBSERVATIONS from The Man Cave, revving it up for March Madness, the best time of year for folks who know nothing about college basketball but can’t wait to fill out brackets (like me). —When Pete Rose speaks, people listen. In the past, he didn’t always speak the truth, but people listened. […]