Family Good Stuff – Page 4

A Whole New World for ThreeUnassisted

For those of you who have been faithfully reading this blog, get ready for a slight change. OK, maybe it is more than a slight change. Since I have returned to the business of writing about baseball, I have had internal struggles about the direction of my writings. I would love to be able to comment eloquently on every single thing going on in the game. Majors and Minors. Past and Present. Free agents and Trades. But the truth is, there is so only much that this big brain can hold without getting fired from my day job. So I have decided that this blog should be more aligned with its name. Instead of being a crackpot analyst or a a keyboard operator without a clear direction, this change will have each of you seeing a little bit more of “me”. To wit, the name of this blog should reflect my actual experience.

Any ballpark is a happy place for my family. Photo from my collection.

Three Unassisted:

Three Kids.

Three Teams.

One blog.

Simple, right?

I’ll still be writing about teams, players and occasionally issues but it will be coming from a perspective of my family and me. It’s more conversation than profiles, focused than scattered. As the name states, we are dealing with three kids and their three teams along with my baseball (choose your adjective) knowledge, nerdom and memory. The introductions:

Tom (me)-Yankees

Beatrice (wife)-??????

Ryan (kid #1)-Yankees

Caitlyn (kid #2)-Phillies

Matthew (kid #3)-Mets

Much of the material written will be from the interaction among the five of us. With three teams and three different perspectives, there is so much material I can cover. I will write about our conversations, whether it’s providing historical depth or the concerns expressed by them about their respective teams. Even though most of you do not know me, I feel as though my writing will provide enough entertainment and information, as well as a personal connection. to say, “I should subscribe to this wonderful blog”.

Which is exactly what I think you will be doing.

Immaculate Grid Superstar: Goose Gossage

Generally, when you think of a Hall of Fame player, you think of someone that spent his entire career with one or two teams, three at the most. However, that’s not really the case with pitchers, especially those hurlers who played in the 1970’s and later. Dennis Eckersley pitched for five teams, Fergie Jenkins, four. Gaylord Perry was a frequent traveler, as he was a member of eight teams. The King of the well traveled Hall of Famers is the subject of this week’s Immaculate Grid Superstar, Rich “Goose” Gossage”.

Goose Gossage, charter member of the Immaculate Grid Hall of Fame. Photo from CBS Sports.

Goose’s career spanned three decades for a total of 22 seasons. He started with the Chicago White Sox where in 1976, the year after he led the American League in saves with 26, he became a starter, going a less than stellar 9-17 with a 3.94 ERA. He did finish with 15 complete games. That was the last year the Goose started a game as he returned to his All Star reliver form in 1977 with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He then became much more recognized nationally beginning in 1978 when he joined the New York Yankees. Gossage registered the final out of the one game playoff, the American League Championship Series and the World Series as the Yankees repeated as champions. He then flew to San Diego and helped the Padres to their first World Series appearance in 1984.

It was after his time with the Padres that Gossage really moved around. He went to five more organizations (including a second Yankee stint) before finally calling it a career after the 1994 season. He finished with 310 saves and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2008. If there was a Hall of Fame for Immaculate Grid, Rich Gossage would be a charter member.

Life in the Citi

Man, it feels like forever since I last posted. That’s what happens when other things in life pull you in multiple directions. Work, Lake George, Saratoga and kids’ sports occupy much of my time. However, we did take time out to head to Citi Field for our (potential) last game of the year. On July 11th, the New York Mets went for the sweep against the division rival Washington Nationals. The Mets were rolling at this point, kick started by Grimace and Jose Iglesias’s, “OMG” becoming their vibe for 2024. Would the good times continue?

Section 109 is a great view at Citi Field. Photo from my collection.

The Mets’ David Peterson and the Nats’ MacKenzie Gore matched zeros for the first four innings. After Washington was held scoreless in the top of the fifth, the Mets erupted for five runs, highlighted by Brandon Nimo’s three run double. J.D. Martinez and Pete Alonso produced RBI singles to give New York their fourth and fifth runs. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Mark Vientos and Harrison Bader drove in Martinez and Alonso to give the Mets a 7-0 lead. Adam Ottavino came on to get the final three outs but this being Ottavino, it came with a lot of drama. He managed to load the bases but preserved the shutout by striking out James Wood and Jesse Winker to end the game. The Mets would then close out the schedule leading up the All Star Break by winning the first two games against the Colorado Rockies before losing the finale on Sunday.

It was a day that saw the excessive humidity finally break in the New York City area. However, we sat in the sun all day and by the end of the game, we were fried. Still, if you head to Citi Field one day, section 109, row 22 is a pretty good area to watch the game. After visiting Citi Field, Citizens Bank Park and Yankee Stadium, the kids still agree: the Bank is the best.

Hanging Out at the Bank

This past Saturday, June 29th saw our family attend the second of our three game “road trip” this baseball season. In May, we went to Yankee Stadium to watch the New York Yankees hand the Chicago White Sox yet another loss. Saturday had us head south to Philadelphia as the Phillies hosted the Miami Marlins. Once again, the weather cooperated almost fully. A little bit of humidity couldn’t stop us from enjoying ourselves as we had some great seats down the left field line. It’s too bad the home team could not taste victory.

Our seats down the left field line. From my photos.

The Marlins walked away with a 3-2 win on the strength of two Nick Gordon RBI’s. Aaron Nola pitched reasonably well, allowing two runs over 6 2/3 innings but could not get the one big out. With two outs in the top of the 7th and the Phils leading 2-1, Nola gave up the tying hit to Miami backup catcher Nick Fortes, who was hitting .158 at the time. It was the right decision by manager Rob Thomson to leave Nola in the game. Trust the veteran pitcher to get out the #9 hitter and go into the home half of the inning with the lead. It didn’t work out and then the next batter, Jazz Chisholm, Jr. ripped a single to close out the scoring. On the bright side, we saw Garett Stubbs hit his first home run of the season. My daughter says Stubbs is the best backup catcher in baseball and would start for a lot of other teams. Who am I to disagree?

My family has been to three ballparks: Yankee Stadium, Citi Field, and Citizens Bank Park. They all say the same thing: the Bank is the nicest of the three. I’m not sure if I agree 100% with that assessment but there are some things about Citizens that are solid. It is so easy to get in and out of the place compared to the New York parks. There were no escalators and ramps like the other two places. We literally walked into the stadium and entered on the same level as our seats. There is also a little bit more of a retro feel at Citizens. The overall experience at the stadium also seemed to be less of a hassle than at Yankee Stadium and Citi Field. All of them are unique in their own special own.

Up next is Mets-Nationals on July 11 at Citi Field. Maybe next season we can expand our horizons but going to either Baltimore or Boston. It would be great if one day, we can say we have seen all 30 Major League stadiums.

The Phanatic staring down the Marlins. Photo by me.

Dave Winfield and Ron Kittle Gave Me a Great Birthday Present

It’s very hard to remember Major League Baseball games in the regular season. Sure, no hitters, perfect games and heroic individual offensive displays (think three or four home runs by the same player) are certainly memorable. There are literally thousands of games that I have born witness to either by viewing them or reading about them over the past 44 years. However, there are a handful of contests that stick out to me for extraordinary circumstances. One such game took place on my 14th birthday, June 29, 1987.

Thank you, Dave Winfield. Photo from Sports Illustrated

I had just graduated 8th grade. The New York Yankees got off to a wonderful start to begin the season but in typical 1980’s Yankee fashion, they faltered in the second half. Dare I say that this game on the night of June 29th was the high point of their season? The Yanks beat the Toronto Blue Jays by a score of 15-14 but it was how they did it that made it such a classic. Two Yankees in particular gave me a 14th birthday to remember: Ron Kittle and Dave Winfield.

In the top of the first inning, Kittle, the 1983 American League Rookie of the Year for the Chicago White Sox, lifted a fly ball to right field that confounded the Blue Jay outfield. By the time the ball was retrieved and thrown in, Kittle, not exactly a burner, raced around the bases for a two run, inside the park home run. I’m telling you, that play felt like it took five minutes from beginning to end. That gave the Yankees an early 4-0 lead. It was the beginning of a slugfest for the ages as New York tacked on four more runs for an 8-3 lead after two innings. After the Blue Jays scored a run in the fourth inning, the Yanks scored three more times in the top of the sixth for an 11-4 lead. It was then Toronto’s turn to pile on the offense, scoring four runs in their half in the sixth and then pouring on six more to take a 14-11 lead going into the eighth inning. It was then that Winfield delivered the biggest blow, a grand slam that was the difference in the game, ending it at 15-14.

To show you that memories can be fuzzy, I thought this was the game that Yankee closer Dave Righetti, after giving up a late home run, threw the ball over the fence in frustration before being taken out of the game. Alas, that happened in June 1986. Nevertheless, on the day of birthday number 14, Dave Winfield, Ron Kittle and the Yankees gave me a night and a present to remember.

Immaculate Grid Superstar: Tommy Pham

In my first two posts about Immaculate Grid go to guys, I selected Paul Lindblad and Joe Morgan, two players who have long since retired. For today’s edition, I think it is about time we choose someone that is still active. There are no shortages of players to choose from, with quite a few having stints with five teams or more. I’d like to start a round of current players with a guy I have grown to admire over the past year, Tommy Pham.

Tommy Pham with his ninth team in 13 years. Photo from the Chicago Sun-Times.

This isn’t the first time I’ve written about Mr. Pham. Nearly three months ago, I wrote that it was nearing late March and he didn’t have a team. It was highly disappointing that Pham was still unemployed despite the fact he could potentially be a missing ingredient for a playoff contender. He eventually signed with the Chicago White Sox, who currently have the worst record in baseball. Chicago represents the eighth stop in Pham’s Major League odyssey and considering the plight of the Sox, team number nine is just around the corner. With a .313 batting average in 31 playoff and World Series games, expect Pham to be playing deep into October once again.

Position players aren’t usually known for bouncing around between that many teams. Relievers are usually the ones who switch teams every two years or so. However, Pham is an exception to this rule and at this time next year, he very well could hit double digit organizations.

Immaculate Grid Superstar: Joe Morgan

When playing Immaculate Grid, there are a number of “go to guys” I use whenever I am stuck on a particular box. Guys that have bounced around like Edwin Jackson, J.D. Martinez and any left-handed reliver with a pulse are good options when trying to go Immaculate. One surprising player that I have used frequently over this past year is in the Hall of Fame, and arguably the best player ever to have played second base: Joe Morgan.

Joe Morgan checks many boxes for Immaculate Grid. Photo from CBS News.

The two-time Most Valuable Player winner started his career with the then Houston Colt 45’s in 1963 before shockingly getting dealt to the Cincinnati Reds in 1972 where he had his best seasons. After his time with the Reds was complete, he went back to Houston for the 1980 season before hopping to the Philadelphia Phillies, San Francisco Giants and the Oakland A’s to close out his legendry career after the 1984 campaign. Not only does Morgan check a number of team boxes, he also fills out categories such as MVP, played one game at second base and All-Star. You don’t think of Hall of Famers as options from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s when playing Immaculate Grid. However, I seem to use Morgan to fill out my grid at least once every ten days.

If there was an Immaculate Grid for baseball announcers, Morgan would fill in nicely there as well. He has worked with broadcasting icons John Miller and Bob Costas on ESPN and NBC. He’s a Hall of Fame player and one of the great Immaculate Grid superstars. He’s Joe Morgan.

A Beautiful Day at Yankee Stadium

The Lynch family ventured out for our first baseball game of the year on Sunday, May 19. We saw the New York Yankees take on the Chicago White Sox with the Bronx Bombers looking for the sweep. I would describe the game as a ho hum affair as the Yanks are really good and the White Sox, not so much. New York would win 7-2 thanks to home runs by Aaron Judge and Jon Berti and six solid innings pitched by Carlos Rodon.

It was a picture perfect day at Yankee Stadium. After what seemed to be an endless array of cool and rainy weather, we were treated to a gorgeous, sunny 72 degree day. We sat in Section 331, first row, near the left field foul pole, pretty high up but able to see all the action on the diamond. It really is my happy place: my family with me watching the great game of baseball. Even transportation, long the bane of a sports fan’s existence, was a good time. Taking the train to the Stadium is super quick and convenient and for entertainment, we were treated to a drunk fan passing out on the ride home. The one odd sight, though common in the new Yankee Stadium, is the scores of empty seats as many fans opted to indulge in the restaurants and bars on the lower level. I understand wanting to shelter on a cold day in April but a picturesque Sunday afternoon? No place better than outdoors.

We have two other games to go to on our calendar: Philadelphia at the end of June and Citi Field in mid-July. We hope that, just like the Yankees, the home teams win both of those contests. No matter the result, going to a ballpark with the family is always a beautiful day.

Immaculate Grid Superstar: Paul Lindblad

Earlier this year, I wrote about my daily activity of playing Immaculate Grid. With my oldest son coming home from college in a couple of days, our playing family will be complete. From time to time, I will be featuring players whom I consider Immaculate Grid Superstars. This can be someone who has bounced around from team to team, thereby making certain grid boxes easy. Or, it is a player whom I know will get a low percentage of respondents. Today’s post features the latter option: former pitcher Paul Lindblad.

It is amazing that I even would think of Paul Lindblad. After all, he retired after the 1978 season when I was five years old. Yet, he sticks out because back when I first started collecting baseball cards, I needed two players to complete my Topps 1979 New York Yankees: Lindblad and Gary Thomasson, two players who saw extremely limited time with the Yanks. Lindblad was the proud owner of three World Series rings, two with the Oakland A’s in 1973 and 1974 and one with the Yankees in 1978. He also pitched for the Washington Senators who later became the Texas Ranges. Three teams may not seem like a lot for Immaculate Grid but if you get stuck in a grid, Lindblad will provide a nice low score as my picture above demonstrates.

Besides the three championships, other notable career accomplishments for Paul Lindblad include a combined no hitter for the A’s on September 28, 1975. While with the Rangers in 1972, he led the American League in appearances with 66. The lefty was a valuable member of the Oakland bullpen in 1974 sporting a 2.04 ERA in over 100 innings pitched. Paul Lindblad enjoyed a successful 14 year career in the Majors and is now your first Immaculate Grid Superstar.

MLB in South Korea Brings Pandemic Flashbacks

On Monday morning, I was watching an exhibition game between the Los Angels Dodgers and the South Korean national team. Professional baseball at 7 AM in South Korea? I and millions of other fans saw this movie four years earlier. While viewing Max Muncy hit a run scoring double, my mind flashed back and I couldn’t help but remember that it was at this very spot on the couch that we were introduced to pandemic baseball.

Daniel Palka played KBO baseball in 2020. Photo from si.com

Back in that May of 2020, my kids and I would have the same routine as began our new lives. We would eat breakfast in the living room and watch live baseball from South Korea. During those early days of the pandemic, this was was the only live sporting event to watch. Not only did we see the best of South Korea in a nearly empty stadium, but we saw some familiar faces playing in the KBO. Aaron Altherr, whom we watched at Citi field hit his first New York Mets’ home run, became one of the best power hitters in the KBO with 31 home runs. There was former Arizona Diamondbacks’ prospect turned Chicago White Sox first baseman Daniel Palka trying to work his way back to the Major Leagues. On the mound, former Philadelphia Phillie David Buchanan posted a stellar 2.54 ERA in 31 starts.

Back then, it didn’t matter if there were MLB players in Korea or not. We were just excited to watch professional baseball. Seeing names we recognized was the cherry on top. It was a new world with a lot of confusion and sadness. Being able to watch three innings of baseball before departing to our respective areas for work and school made this new reality a little bit more bearable. It allowed us to bond a little bit more over our love for baseball. Four years later, we will be watching professional baseball under much better circumstances: Opening Day!