Tuesday, July 12, 2011

1998 vs. 2011: The MLB All-Star Game

July 7, 1998. I was driving (riding in a minivan actually) across Florida with my family on the way to Disney World. Most kids would be elated, but I was far from happy. I was missing the highlight of the summer – the All-Star Game. Growing up without cable, televised baseball games were few and far between. But on one night in the middle of the summer, FOX allowed me to watch all the players I had idolized with posters on my wall, discussions with my second grade classmates, and batting-stance imitations in the Little League on-deck circle. The American League always won, but that just gave me more hope that next year would be the NL’s year (a philosophy that the Cubs had long since ingrained in me).

Thirteen years later, here I am watching the 2011 All-Star Game. The following is a little tribute to my 7 year old self, who was stuck on the highway and missed watching the AL trounce the NL, 13-8. It may be tough to compare the superstars of 1998, when steroids were as prevalent in baseball as chewing tobacco, with the household names of 2011, but here it goes:

American League

  • Catcher 1998: Ivan Rodriguez. 2011: Alex Avila.

Pudge, still playing these days, is one of the best catchers ever. Alex who? Give me Rodriguez.

  • First Base 1998: Jim Thome. 2011: Adrian Gonzalez

Thome is still around in 2011 too, nearing his 600th homer. Even though Gonzalez is having a great year, I have to take the Peoria area product.

  • Second Base 1998: Roberto Alomar. 2011: Robinson Cano.

Alomar was as dynamic as they come at second, but Cano is coming off a Home Run Derby crown. Here’s to you, Mr. Robinson.

  • Third Base 1998: Cal Ripken, Jr. 2011: Alex Rodriguez.

Ripken was playing next to 1998 A-Rod in this game, and was still the classier option.

  • Shortstop 1998: Alex Rodriguez. 2011: Derek Jeter.

’98 A-Rod is definitely better than the 2011 A-Rod who just lost out to Ripken.

  • Outfield 1998: Juan Gonzalez. 2011: Jose Bautista.

Bautista hits just as many homers.. without the ‘roids.

  • Outfield 1998: Ken Griffey, Jr. 2011: Curtis Granderson

Granderson might be the coolest player in the 2011 MLB, but Griffey might be the coolest player in MLB history.

  • Outfield 1998: Kenny Lofton. 2011: Josh Hamilton

Hamilton is a feel-good story, but Lofton was the shit in helping the Cubs win the division in ’03.

National League

  • Catcher 1998: Mike Piazza. 2011: Brian McCann.

I’ll have a slice of cheese Piazza.

  • First Base 1998: Mark McGwire. 2011: Prince Fielder.

McGwire, albeit on steroids, broke Roger Maris’ home run record in ’98. Sorry Prince.

  • Second Base 1998: Craig Biggio. 2011: Rickie Weeks.

Can you imagine Biggio with Weeks’ dreads? Weeks may have better hair, but Biggio is the better ballplayer.

  • Third Base 1998: Chipper Jones. 2011: Placido Polanco.

It’s surprising how many players like Jones are still playing today. No contest here.

  • Shortstop 1998: Walt Weiss. 2011: Jose Reyes.

I don’t know how Walt Weiss made it in the steroid era. Reyes wins out in this match up.

  • Outfield 1998: Barry Bonds. 2011: Ryan Braun.

I hate Bonds; I hate Braun. I guess I’ll take the all time home run leader *

  • Outfield 1998: Tony Gwynn. 2011: Lance Berkman.

Gwynn has 3,000 hits. Berkman never will.

  • Outfield 1998: Larry Walker. 2011: Matt Kemp.

Kemp dated Rihanna, ‘nuff said. Can you imagine Larry Walker dating Rihanna?

Note: I didn’t do any statistical analysis of these matchups, just went with a gut feeling in order to save all the research, mainly.

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Reflections at 3:52 AM, January 1, 2011.

New Year’s Eve seems to be a polarizing event for most people. The most common viewpoint is to celebrate the new year like there’s no tomorrow – which is quite paradoxical since 365 new tomorrows is actually what is being celebrated. Champagne bubbling, people yelling, music bumping; it certainly makes sense to enjoy one of the limited opportunities to recall the year that has gone by and anticipate the one that is to come.

A few, however, have a much different approach to the holiday. Why make resolutions on January 1 when a lifestyle change is available every day of the year? What makes the first day of the year more special than the 33rd or 284th? (The 284th is my birthday, so it really is a little more noteworthy). I saw a Facebook status today that stated the earth is over 14 billion years old – celebrating this new year is like celebrating every time you pee.

My outlook on New Year’s falls in neither of the above categories. I never have been the kind of person to look for an excuse to party until I pass out and hope to never be. Granted, I do like the concept of celebrating the new year, but some of the theatrics are a little overboard. At the same time, I know that there is something significant about the beginning of a new calendar – January 1 is not the same as any other day. Sure, change or reflection can happen at any moment, but moments turn into seconds, then to minutes, to hours. Hours become days, days coagulate into weeks, then months, which are soon years and decades. Life turns into a routine, an algorithm before anyone realizes what is happening. New Year’s is an occasion to interrupt this listless flow of time.

In order to seize this opportunity, 3 basic questions must be asked:

1.)Where am I at right now?

2.)Where was I a year ago? In what have I progressed and regressed?

3.)Where do I want to be a year from now? Where am I going?

This kind of self assessment is an integral part of enigmatically fulfilling life’s limitless potential. As Socrates said, “The unexamined life is not worth living.”