Quote, unquote

Another beautiful evening for baseball. Not only did we get two games under our belt, we were also able to squeak in the team photos. All that without being either organized or ready, two characteristics which are apparently overrated. Four teams played, two won, two lost, everyone had fun. Few balls taken to the wrong place, some visible signs of injury, but the survival rate was high. All good since we have a long, long way to go. That’s about all I got, but that has never stopped me before. Blogging is not just a senseless collection of words, sometimes it is a senseless collection of other people’s words mixed in with your own inane ramblings (some of us just can’t avoid further comment, won’t say who). Besides, occasionally one finds oneself with little or maybe just less to say, so it is sometimes best to fall back on what others have already said. Never one to go against the norm, so below are some inspirational baseball quotes from some of the greats, with additional personal comments (of course) as to how they may apply in our league. “There are three types of baseball players: those that make it happen, those who watch it happen and those who wonder what happens.” - Tommy Lasorda (player, coach) With our league, most of us are just surprised when it actually does happen. “There may be people with more talent than you, but there is no excuse for anyone to work harder than you.” - Derek Jeter (player) Don’t worry, there’s plenty of excuses. “Baseball was made for kids and only grown-ups screw it up.” - Bob Lemon (pitcher, manager) It's always more fun when you screw it up a little, but most of us never grew up in any case. “It ain’t like football. You can’t make no trick plays.” - Yogi Berra (player, manager, coach) Obviously never seen us play. We can even create them by accident. “A baseball game is a nervous breakdown divided by nine innings.” - Earl Wilson (pitcher) Why we stop at seven.

“Every strike brings me closer to the next home run.” - Babe Ruth (not the chocolate bar) Unfortunately a strike is the furthest thing from a home run. Some of us just don’t have that much time. Hit away.

“Baseball is ninety percent mental and the other half is physical.” - Yogi Berra (not the guy that hung with Boo-boo)

Obviously, it also has little to do with good math skills. Why we try and leave the counting to the scorekeepers and the umpire, and sometimes even that can be an object of regret.

“I think I was the best baseball player I ever saw.” - Willie Mays (player) Why we don’t allow mirrors on the field. Best not to spoil the illusion. “Baseball statistics are like a girl in a bikini. They show a lot, but not everything.” - Toby Harrah (player with probably only two things on his mind, not including baseball)

Or like a man in spandex. Sometimes better to just look away. In any event, always best not to bare all. Good to keep some of the guesswork in play. “Hitting is timing. Pitching is upsetting timing.” - Warren Spahn (pitcher) Know timing is everything but sometimes our pitching is simply upsetting. “When they start the game, they don’t yell work ball. They say, play ball.” - Willie Stargell (player) Little corny perhaps, but probably wholly applicable to our league. Just playing. “I've got a lot of years to live after baseball and I would like to live them with the complete use of my body.” - Sandy Koufax (pitcher) Wait, there’s life after baseball? For some, there may have been a lot of years lived before baseball, but we came back to it. Good call. “If there is one thing I will always remember about my time playing baseball in the Palmerston CoEd Fun League, I doubt it will be the infield fly rule.” - Anonymous Rule is definitely at the bottom of the list.