Saturday, July 5, 2008

What I Know and Remember About Baseball - The Eyes Have It

Eating carrots to develop good eye sight is sound advise. Unfortunately there is a little more to developing how your eyes move in relation to playing Baseball. Albeit there are many persons with natural ability use their eyes in tracking there target, still the normal reaction is to move the entire head and in the worst case, the entire body.

Sit for a moment and pick two objects 5 to 10 feet away from you about 6 to 10 feet apart. You should be able to comfortably see both at the same time. Now pick one to focus on. As quick as you can, turn your head to the second object and note the time it takes to select it. Now, start with your original target, hold your head still and move your eyes only to the second target. Unless you have quick twitch muscles throughout your body like a Barry Bonds, you should have noticed that it takes much less time to move your eyes than it does your head. That is because your eyes can move up to 5 times faster than your neck.

The speed at which you tract a target relates to your brain how much information you gather about the target and the perceived speed of the target. Occasionally experts will discuss how great baseball hitters and fielders see the ball well enough to slow it down. By allowing your eyes to make the most of the movement you gather more information and the perceived speed slows down. You now have the information to react sooner, get into position quicker and let your developed eye - hand coordination complete the desired result.

Focus on the object, in our case a baseball, is easier and far more comfortable when you have given some time to teach your eyes what you expect of them. Active vision training is not difficult. As players progress and the speed increases, active vision is essential for the next phase, prediction.

When a pitcher hurls the ball at 90+ mph there is only a fraction of a second with which to pick up the ball and determine where to swing the bat. Some have theorized that the last two one hundredths of a second, when the ball meets the bat, even the best players cannot see that moment. So how do they hit it? The information presented by their vision helps their body predict where the ball will be. More information, better prediction, better batting average.

Baseball vision training does not have to be a grueling process. Simple exercises such as sitting still and tossing a ball in the air and catching it while keeping your head still is an excellent beginning. Then move on to standing with the baseball going higher. Mix it up with left to right movement bearing in mind to track the ball with your eyes only.

An advanced drill that is a lot of fun is to place a ball on three feet of string. Have your player lie flat on their back in a room where you can control the light. As a pendulum, swing the ball back and forth and give the catch command at which point your player grasps the ball quickly with both hands. To add difficulty, swing the ball then have your player close their eyes for a swing or two then give the command. Need more challenge, turn off the light and add a strobe light, laughter will ensue, but it really does work.

Vary the challenges of the drills and the speed of the strobe lights.

For those of the practical persuasion, visit a batting cage. Stand outside the net and mid length of the cage and have your player track the baseball from the machine to the plate. You can seehow the longer flight to follow enables a longer task to work from.

Baseballs, batting cages, rain dripping off the gutter even house flies; the act of being still and letting your eyes do the work will develop the players vision. The more they see, the easier everything becomes.

Mr. Dowdy is the father of 3 and after re-entering competitive baseball with his oldest frustration of finding suitable glove is what lead him to become an Official Distributor for Kelley Athletic Click now for a free catalog or sign up your e-mail for special offers.

You can also visit the Hirsch Group site more news/tips/articles on the subjects of baseball, construction, building codes and more that most will find a quick way to fall asleep.

Thanks for reading my article!

Each 2007 Topps Chrome Baseball Cards Box contains 4 random MLB trading cards per pack and 24 packs in display box.Each box will contain 2 Autographed Rookie cards 2 box loader cards and either a parallel or insert card in each pack. 361 card set with 251 veterans, 55 Rookies, 24 Award Winners and 31 Autographed Rookies (approx 2 per box). White Bordered Refractors-- 330 cards numbered to 499-- 31 Rookie Autos numbered to 200. Refractors-- 330 cards -- 31 Rookie Autos numbered to 500. "Generation Now" 41 cards, "The Mickey Mantle Story" 30 cards, "Mickey Mantle HR History" 29 cards-- all these inserts are available as white refractors numbered to 200 and refractors numbered to 500. 2 Hobby Exclusive box loader packs -- pack 1 will contain either a "SuperFractor Parallel" 1 of 1, a "Red Bordered SuperFractor Parallel" numbered to 90, or a "Printing Plate 1 of 1" including autographed versions--- pack 2 will contain 2 "Arod Road to 500" cards.
Customer Review: I'm in love with Topps Chrome!
I got hooked with Topps Chrome when I bought a few boxes of 1998/99 basketball, when Tim Duncan, Chauncey Billups and others were rookies. I am now into baseball cards much more than basketball,and 2007 Topps Chrome baseball is still a great product! I love the refractors, the signatures and the whole look of the product. Price is very reasonable, too. And being a Red Sox fan, there are some great Sox rookie cards!


Tuesday, July 1, 2008

2008 Upper Deck Series 1 Baseball Cards SUPER STAR PACK - Mini Box (75 Upper Deck Series 1 Cards PLUS Special Pack) GREAT VALUE!

Each Super pack will include 3 card SUPERSTAR pack which will feature autographed SUPERSTAR parallel


Are you shopping for a gift for a female friend or loved one? Well, if you've got a bit of cash to spend, you would probably do well to look for gifts in the fashion area, and there are few things that are more fashionable than an authentic and genuine Coach handbag.

Coach handbags are a very coveted and desired item. Why are they so popular? Well, Coach is an established brand name manufacturer of fine handbags, luggage, and carrying accessories. Coach products run a little on the pricier side, but there are many places where you could purchase them for a slightly discounted price. Before we discuss where you can go to for Coach deals, let's talk about the history of Coach products.

They have been around for more than half a century in the United States of America. The legacy of Coach all started in Manhattan, New York. I bet you wouldn't have the least idea of what the object was that was the inspiration of the first Coach handbag. Well, believe it or not, it was a leather baseball catcher's glove or mitten. The craftsmanship of earlier leather baseball gloves does have a resemblance of Coach leather handbags in its grain and color and stitching. The next time you get a chance to examine an authentic Coach leather handbag or other type of accessory, try examining it to see the similarities between it and a leather baseball glove.

Well, now that you know a part of the history of Coach, where can you go to purchase these great designer accessories for less? Well, there are a few good in-store sales at certain times of the year, however there is a place that you can access from the comfort of your own home that can lead the way to great deals. The answer is the internet. Many online stores offer competitive pricing on a wide range of products including Coach handbags. If you would like to find great deals, try doing a Google search for the specific model or type you are looking for.

Coach Online Outlet Store features nearly every product that Coach makes. You'll be able to find Coach handbags and accessories for less than retail prices.

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Champion Sports Youth Baseball/Softball Uniform Belt

This Champion Sports youth uniform belt for baseball offers a comfortable elastic construction with durable, full-grain leather tabs. It measures 1.25-in wide and is sized 18 in - 32 in.


Certification marks are required on all non-wood bats used in high school baseball play. This certification mark called a BESR-Ball Exit Speed Ratio requirement applies to all high schools which belong to the National Federation High School Association.

There seems to be something strange about the Certification rule. Is this BESR certification requirement based on a guarantee that the bat is safe for use?

Does the rule accomplish a specific intent? Correct the misapplication if the reading of the BESR certification does not state the certification ensures the bats maximum of 97 miles per hour BESR. Is this to be interpreted to mean that the bat is certified tested to stay intact up to the maximum of a BESR of 97 miles per hour. All bets are off if the ball exit speed ratio reaches 98 miles per hour?

In essence the bottom line might be for what purpose does this BESR certification marking on every non-wood bat do for the bat the player or the game of baseball?

The manufacturer of non-wood bats does this certification testing for every bat and placing the certification mark tested to a maximum BESR of 97 miles per hour ensure the bat is safe?.

Do the bat production standards being utilized by the manufacturer dictate that such certification is required?

The average pricing structure for new non-wood bats is at a significant level in comparison to used bats. Is it prudent to assume the certification markings on used bats are as valid as the BESR certification on the original new bat?

Does the National Federation High School Association have any statistics which they could share that supports the real and true value of the BESR certification rule? Based on casual observation with no statistical backup data from the outside simply surmising the value of this BESR rule it appears to be an added cost with no return value.

Disregard my thought process if for some reason such an observation concerning BESR certification requirement is off base and the rule serves a fortunate and common need.

The subject of BESR certification it appears is not something for which the general public and even the baseball fans, parents or players even have an inkling.

BaseballFarming is for real so an Introduction to the concept of baseball farming which includes ideas on strategies, training, and winning! by Major Wiley B. Channell USMC (ret) is available at: http://www.baseballfarming.com

Baseball Lingo is real baseball talk by the baseball world. You can become fully up to speed walk the walk and talk the talk by visiting us at: http://www.baseballfarming.com/BaseballLingo.html

A special invitation for you from Major Wiley B. Channell USMC (ret) to come visit and read the five pages which is my take on the five essential elements of hitting a baseball at: http://www.baseballfarming.com/BaseballHitting.html

If you enjoy your visit with us at baseballfarming then tell a friend and you too come back to visit often.

Monday, June 23, 2008

SNK Arcade Classics Vol 1

Celebrate the history of SNK with the ultimate collection of arcade classic hits. 16 NEOGEO games on one UMD for your Sony PSP. It's a comprehensive stack of popular SNK games. It's a must-have addition to any arcade fan's collection! Re-Live the classics of gaming in these amazing titles from SNK. The list of classics are Art of Fighting, Baseball Stars 2, Burning Fight, Fatal Fury, KOF94, King of the Monsters, Last Resort, Magician Lord, Metal Slug, Neo Turf Masters, Samurai Shodown, Sengoku, Shock Troopers, Super SIdekicks3, Top Hunter, and World Heroes.And you don't even need a roll of quarters!
SNK Arcade Classics Volume I
Metal Slug

Metal Slug
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KING OF FIGHTERS '94

KING OF FIGHTERS '94
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SNK ARCADE CLASSICS: VOLUME 1 will include the following SNK games:

  • ART OF FIGHTING - The first game in SNK's second fighting-game franchise, set in the same universe as FATAL FURY. It was the first fighting game by SNK to feature the character designs of former SNK illustrator Shinkiro, who would go on to do the character designs for the later Fatal Fury and The King of Fighters games.
  • BASEBALL STARS 2 - The sequel to SNK's popular baseball arcade game. Players can create leagues of up to 125 games (6 teams playing each other 25 times) and view statistics such as League Standings, Average, Home Runs, Runs Batted In, Earned Run Average, Wins and Saves. Players can fire players and upgrade them using the same 15-point system introduced in the original Baseball Stars.
  • BURNING FIGHT - New York detectives battle organized crime in this fighter. Duke and Billy, two popular and renowned New York City Police detectives, are hot on the trail of a dangerous Japanese crime syndicate. Their investigation has led them to the mean streets of Japan where they meet a police officer and martial arts expert named Ryu. Ryu agrees to join the NYPD detectives as they track down the crime syndicate bosses and end their reign of terror once and for all.
  • FATAL FURY - First released in 1991, FATAL FURY introduced the two-plane fighting system. The main fighting game feature that the original Fatal Fury was known for was the two-plane system. Characters would fight from two different planes, and by stepping between the planes, attacks could be dodged with ease.
  • KING OF FIGHTERS '94 - The first game in the popular KING OF FIGHTERS series. King of Fighters '94 introduces the series' signature 3-man team system. Instead of a simple one-on-one, two round fight system, a player chooses a team of three characters, then determines the order to play them in. Each fight consists of up to 5 rounds, and each round ends when one of the two fighters is knocked out; the remaining fighter stays and faces the opponent's next character. A fight is won when one of the two players loses the last of their three fighters.
  • KING OF THE MONSTERS - In KING OF THE MONSTERS, giant monsters fight for power in epic battles. Players get to choose any one of six monsters (four in the ports) for battle, and two players can join forces to fight the monsters together. Battles end when one of the monsters is pinned for a three count or if time expires (in which case the player loses)
  • LAST RESORT - A challenging futuristic shooter. The gameplay was heavily inspired by R-Type and its system of pod attached to the player's ship. Its first level remained memorable for its homage to the futuristic Neo-Tokyo depicted in the anime Akira.
  • MAGICIAN LORD - Players help the wizard Elta save his homeworld in this platformer. The player controls the wizard Elta, the last magician lord, on his quest to save his homeland from the evil Gul-Agieze who plans to resurrect the god of destruction using eight tomes of mystical power. As Elta the player must battle through eight levels to find each of the tomes before he can reach the final battle and seal away the evil god once again.
  • METAL SLUG - This run-and-gun side-scroller was the first in the popular series. It's widely known for its sense of humor, extremely fluid hand-drawn animation, and fast paced two-player action.
  • NEO TURF MASTERS - A golf game which debuted on the Neo Geo Pocket Color in 1999. The game included a VS mode and three single player modes, as well as having six players to choose from. You played in one of three countries, USA, Japan and Germany.
  • SAMURAI SHODOWN - Set in the 18th century, SAMURAI SHODOWN features bladed-weapon combat and an international cast of characters.
  • SENGOKU - In SENGOKU, players face off against undead feudal Japanese armies.
  • SHOCK TROOPERS - In this run-and-gun adventure, players save a scientist and his granddaughter from the Bloody Scorpions.
  • SUPER SIDEKICKS 3 - A soccer game featuring teams from all over the world.
  • TOP HUNTER - Bounty hunters protect colonists from space pirates in this futuristic action game.
  • WORLD HEROES - This classic fighter pits players against historical figures in a tournament enabled by time travel.

"With 16 of our most beloved games, SNK ARCADE CLASSICS: VOLUME 1 is a must-have addition to any arcade fan's collection," said Ben Herman, president of SNK PLAYMORE USA CORPORATION. "It's the most comprehensive SNK compilation to date."


Customer Review: Great Collection - Eagerly Awaiting Vol. 2
While the goal here seemed to be to represent SNK's past hits, rather than those that have aged well, this is a nice compilation. The graphics are good, everything controls well (unless you have an original model PSP, as the d-pad inability to perform the complex movements for special moves holds true here, and, while initial load times are quite lengthy, once a game is loaded, it rarely needs to access the disc again, except for some of the newer, more complex titles, like Metal Slug and Shock Troopers. Basically, they are the arcade games, for better or worse, which means there aren't any enhancements (aside from viewing options and the ability to save checkpoints). So the collection will live or die based on the games themselves. Some highlights: Art of Fighting / Fatal Fury / Samurai Showdown / World Heroes / King of Fighters '94 - all are the first entries into SNK's multiple fighting series. Still good games today, but their sequels generally superior. King of Monsters - Wrestling game with giant monsters fighting in Japan's major cities. Trashing the cities during your attempts to take down your rival is fun, but the gameplay is pretty shallow, and huge sections of the city are out of bounds, so the intact buildings sit there and taunt you. Magician Lord - Fun, fantasy-themed platformer, which time has been surprisingly kind to. Metal Slug - Humorous, side-scrolling shooter, inspired by Contra. Best game on the disc; a classic, though nothing has changed from the previously released Metal Slug Anthology version. Shock Troopers - Commando rip-off. Fun, and has a nice level branching system, but not as polished as Metal Slug. Baseball Stars 2 - The many baseball games released after this makes the flaws stand out more than ever, but considering the varying quality of many of those baseball franchises, you could do a lot worse. Last Resort - Total rip-off of R-Type (even has similar looking enemies) down to the high difficulty, but still fun if you liked that series. Overall, a good compilation. Many notable games were missing, such as Nam-75, Crossed Swords, Ninja Combat, Robo Army, Cyber Lip, Mutation Nation, and Super 8 Man. Also, many of these games, such as Art of Fighting, Fatal Fury, Samurai Showdown, King of Fighters, and World Heroes, have sequels that essentially add content and tweak the gameplay, rather than revamping everything, so these are already obsolete. Still, a good value, and a quality collection.


The 2008 Major League Baseball season is officially underway, and it is ironic that an obscure statistician from Kansas is making the news, one who was ridiculed for many years. Today he is a chief decision-maker for the world champion Boston Red Sox, having gaining notoriety throughout professional sports - and acceptance to his metrics continues to grow.

On CBS 60 Minutes, Morley Safer interviewed Bill James, a baseball writer and historian who has written more than two dozen books devoted to baseball statistics, highlighting his unique approach - known as Sabermetrics: the science of why teams win or lose games.

A fair comparison can be made to the retail auto sales and service industry: It's the numbers, stupid.

Bill James helps the Boston Red Sox decide which players to keep, who and whey they play and who gets traded-away in the off-season, in order to improve the team's statistical chances of having a winning year. He also helps them grow champions. But it wasn't always that way.

Working as a night security guard in Kansas during the late 1970's, James began studying box scores (arguably similar to an RO Analysis). He soon published "The Bill James Baseball Abstract" in 1977, by challenging baseball's typical metrics of what determined a great player. He argued that it was not wins or losses (for a pitcher), nor hits, home runs nor batting average.

Instead, he created statistical innovations (the new metrics) such as:
  • Runs Created: Put simply, hits and walks divided by plate appearances.
  • Range Factor: The defensive contribution of a player, assists and putouts divided by games played.
  • Defensive Efficiency Record: The percentage of balls in play that a defense turns into an out.
  • Win Shares: A comparison of players at different positions.
  • Pythagorean Winning Percentage: The relationship of wins and losses to runs scored and allowed.
  • Major League Equivalency - A metric that uses minor league statistics to determine how a player is likely to perform in the majors.

For most of his career, Bill James ideas were either been ignored or rejected by major league baseball teams. Most teams preferred to follow the maxims that were created decades ago, as well as their gut instincts.

The Red Sox hired James in 2004. Using his ideas, they have won two World Championships. In our constantly changing industry of customer counts and sales and dollars made, perhaps we need to take a step back and look at new and innovative ways to measure our success, and that of our people.

In these challenging times, it requires different thinking along with different processes, to become a world champion.

Think about it.

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Saturday, June 21, 2008

Boston Red Sox Official MLB Dog Collar w/ Collar Charm - Size M/L 16-26

Show support of your favorite team with this collar made with woven ribbon sewn on high-tensile webbing and quick-release buckle. ID tag made with engraved team logo, hand polished with silver-tone finish. Your dog's name can be engraved on back of tag. Small - 5/8" width - Fits 10"-14" Med/Lg - 1" width - Fits 16"-26"Matching leash available in our Amazon Store!
Customer Review: total satisfaction
I had a great experience with this order. It arrived before I thought it would. Good item. Looks great on my dog and now just need one for my girlfriend! lol Would highly recommend


This is an exceptional true book that John Grisham has given to his readers. The Innocent Man causes the readers to place themselves in the position of a prisoner when they are not guilty but have been charged as guilty and sentenced to death or life without parole. It is not a place anyone would want to be in but rather be FAR from it. The story occurs mostly in Oklahoma in and near the city of Ada. Peggy Stilwell's beautiful daughter, Debbie Carter, was one that liked to live by herself and do things that she wanted to do without her mother or anyone interfering. She wanted to be independent. Some of the places at which she worked or hung out were not the best places in town but as I said, Debbie was a free spirit.

When Peggy Stilwell found her daughter nude, bloodied, raped, and dead on the floor in her own apartment, she was horrified. The investigation began by tracing her activities from the time she got off work early to when her body was found. In 1982 many of the present day tools for tracing clues were not available but the shoddy work done by the inexperienced police force in Ada did not help the situation at all. Many possible suspects were interviewed, many of which were let go without close investigation. After several months the trail finally got to Ron Williamson. Ron had been a baseball nut, playing for his schools wherever he went and being quite successful until alcohol started dimming his ability to play. He would not accept that his career was over no matter how old he got. His mind always retained that he was a great baseball player and still could play with the best.

As time went on, his drinking and drug use became a huge detriment to his living and his ability to keep friends. His short-term marriage ended. He went from one rehab center to another. Eventually Ron Williamson and Dennis Fritz were arrested and charged with the murder of Debbie Carter and the police suspected they were also involved in some other rapes and murders. Dennis Fritz was not nearly suspected as much as Ron so most of the attention and investigation and some very shoddy police work was done against Ron Williamson.

Ron was out of prison at times but he was repeatedly rearrested, again because of the uncertain evidence gathered by the police. Eventually Ron Williamson settled into his prison life while getting more and more mentally unstable as every week passed. He was sent to various psychiatric hospitals and was interviewed by many shrinks all of who thought he was very unstable. Life in prison was a nightmare for any inmate but especially worse for someone in Ron's condition. He aged very fast even though he wasn't an old man.

This true story will guide you though Ron Williamson's life from youth to his final days and all he endured in and out of prison. Another book that is hard to put down. Knowing it is a true story makes it even harder to absorb and makes one wonder about our justice system. Please read this great story by a terrific author.

Reader review by Cy Hilterman.

Reviewer of many types of books.

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Baseball - Rawlings Unfinished Inseam Baseball Pants

Rawlings Unhemmed Ankle Baseball Pants Custom Fit! This pant comes with an unhemmed 37" inseam so you can tailor to your exact length. Features include a zip fly front with belt and tunnel loop - Softball Pants


In many ways, we can read the history of America on its ball fields, written in the dust of the infield or the chalk of the baselines. Well-suited to lazy summer days by virtue of its leisurely pace, and providing a wealth of statistics to keep its fans amused during the off-season, baseball is a uniquely American blend of action, reflection, and squabbles (called rhubarbs in the vernacular). And in this, the game oddly reflects the culture that gave it birth.

For those whose appreciation of sports extends no further than the city limits of New York or Boston, a book about a team of mere provincials may prove as alluring to east coast sophisticates as a trip to WalMart to mingle with the riffraff. But for those with a love of the traditions and lore of the Great American Pastime, Tales from the Detroit Tigers Dugout offers a welcome and tantalizing glimpse into one of the oldest and most successful baseball teams in history. Fast-paced and tightly written, the book will delight Tiger fans, and enlighten fans everywhere.

As the author recounts, in recent years the team from Motown had fallen on hard times. Tiger fans had begun to measure the time between winning teams in decades, rather than seasons, capped by a team-record 119 losses in 2003. Yet in those dark years, careful behind-the-scenes planning was already laying the foundation for the teams 2006 re-emergence into the upper tier of major league baseball. And the book is filled with past legends and hints of future glory that offer fans the promise of baseball glory in the years to come.

Though often ignored by sportswriters from bigger cities, Tiger legends are among the most gifted and venerated names in the history of the sport. Ty Cobb, for instance, was probably the best player ever to walk onto a baseball fieldand arguably the nastiest and most contemptible human being ever to don a baseball uniform. But other Tigers were almost as skilled, yet often labored in the shadows of their better-publicized counterparts from the coast. Hank Greenburg, Charlie Gehringer, Al Kaline, and other Hall-of-Famers brought off-field class as well as on-field brilliance to the game. As the author notes, their contribution to franchise history is not lost on students or true fans of the game. Though like other stars of Cooperstown, their timeless talents are often obscured by the large salaries and larger egos of todays lesser stars, fans of all ages and eras will enjoy the stories of how and why baseball in Detroit has grown along with the game that is among the treasures of American culture.

All Americans love an underdog, one who can rise from nothing and soldier on through adversity. Win or lose, there is something about the struggles of the common man that speaks to the American heart, giving us hope for ourselves and our future. A book about baseball will not solve the problems of world hunger or global terrorism, but the magic of sports consists of bringing people together through shared adventures in a sheltered world where conflicts are solved through teamwork and effort. And by sharing some of the hopes and dreams of a long-suffering and newly emerging sports team, Tales from the Detroit Tigers Dugout reminds us that miracles are everywhere around us. We only need to open our eyes and hearts to the magic, and sports can bring smiles to our souls, no matter what is happening in the rest of the world.

Jeffrey Caminsky, a veteran public prosecutor in Michigan, specializes in the appellate practice of criminal law and writes on a wide range of topics. Both his science fiction adventure novel The Star Dancers, the first volume in the Guardians of Peace (tm) science fiction adventure series, and The Referees Survival Guide, a book on soccer officiating, are published by New Alexandria Press, http://www.newalexandriapress.com.

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Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Chicago White Sox Franchise Fitted Baseball Cap

Founded in 1946, Twins Enterprise is the creator of The Franchise, their signature cap that is always the perfect fit. Twins has the exclusive rights to create fitted, relaxed caps for Major League Baseball. Several top universities (including Alabama, Texas, Notre Dame, and North Carolina) look exclusively to Twins to create the Franchise cap for their students and fans. When Major League Baseball players celebrate winning their Division or the Wild Card they proudly wear caps manufactured and created by Twins Enterprise. Available in just about every major sport, as well as many impressive companies and brands, Twins Caps are everywhere. You may even be wearing one right now.




MLB has only three captains in uniform on MLB rosters. Two of those three captains square off this year in the Boston Red Sox-New York Yankees rivalry, in Derek Jeter and Jason Varitek (Paul Konerko-Chicago White Sox is the other). No surprise that these two old-school MLB's lead their teams, for the two grand franchises of the game.

Derek Jeter and Jason Varitek - you will not find two more different players in MLB. Derek Jeter, the smooth, above-the-action player that transcends the sport courtesy of playoff glory past. Jason Varitek, the get-down in the dirt Catcher of the Boston Red Sox, whose team goes South every time he is not in the lineup.

Both lead with authority, by example, every day. Both have multiple rings to show for their labor, and both Jeter and Varitek play for cities that expect to win the World Series every year, with hordes of media to back up that challenge.

I was surprised that only three teams in MLB have captains, but it is not surprising that Derek Jeter and Jason Varitek are among them. The title of Captain is a serious one in MLB. As good a player as Alex Rodriguez is for example, and his statistics dwarf Derek Jeter's, A-Rod is just not the type of player that fits as a Captain...too much "me" instead of "we."

The title means a lot to both Jeter and Varitek, and it is one that both men have worn very well in leading their teams, especially in pressure spots.

http://www.fastbreakblog.com

cf baseball card center