Category Archives: Baseball

2012 Little League World Series: A Running Diary

Posted on August 16, 2012 by Colin Ward-Henninger

This Thursday marked the beginning of the greatest two weeks of the year (and, consequently, the worst two weeks of the year for my wife). That’s right, ladies and gentlemen, it’s time for the 2012 Little League World Series.

I don’t know whether it’s because my dad was born and raised in South Williamsport (he always mutters like a curmudgeon when they incorrectly say “Live from Williamsport” instead of “Live from South Williamsport), or because I never got to play Little League (I was a park league kid through and through…no fancy grass infield or outfield fences for me…they way you knew you hit a homerun is because the field you hit the ball into had to stop play), but I have always had a special place in my heart for the LLWS. Continue reading →

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Seller Beware: A History Lesson From The Houston Astros

Posted on August 1, 2012 by Ryan Kantor

The MLB trade deadline is the great divider. With two months left in the season your team is either going to make a push for the playoffs or sell off veterans and look to the future. Even though a lot can change in two months of baseball, July 31 forces general managers to make these distinctions quickly, so as not to be left in the dust. Some fans even welcome their teams becoming “sellers” to bring in young talent for the next year and beyond. However “selling” is no easy task, so be careful what you wish for. Continue reading →

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Spin Cycle Podcast – Colin Talks With Sow About The First Half Of The MLB Season

Posted on July 30, 2012 by Colin Ward-Henninger

Guess who’s back! I know it’s been a while, but Sow and I are back on the podcast to discuss the first half of the baseball season. We talk about players and teams to watch, and Sow tells us which teams are truly in the playoff hunt and which ones will be an afterthought come September. Continue reading →

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It’s The End Of The Closer As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)

Posted on May 15, 2012 by Colin Ward-Henninger

When Mariano Rivera went down in center field of Kauffman Stadium, clutching his knee and writhing in pain, he not only crushed the 2012 World Series hopes of New York Yankees fans across the world, but he also may have effectively eliminated the closer position as we know it.

It sounds extreme, but Rivera was one of the last legitimate closers that we have left in a league that is increasingly devaluing their role. Continue reading →

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Outlawing Baseball’s Third-To-First Move Makes No Sense

Posted on May 10, 2012 by Colin Ward-Henninger

My wife is Canadian, and had probably watched a grand total of three hours of baseball in her entire life by the time I met her. I, on the other hand, had probably averaged three hours of baseball per day since I was eight years old. Needless to say, the first time we watched a baseball game together I had some serious explaining to do.

She prides herself in being a quick learner, able to pick up foreign concepts swiftly and effectively—and my baseball tutorial was no exception. She figured out things like the infield fly rule, the dropped third strike, and the check-swing appeal with significant aplomb. Continue reading →

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