The 2023 Running Baseball Thread

… because Adam Wainwright picked the best possible reason ever to retire.



Puppies for everybody!

 

This is on PBS tonight.
The War on Disco - American Experience

Tonight at 9/8c

The War on Disco explores the culture war that erupted over the spectacular rise of disco music. Originating in underground Black and gay clubs, disco had unseated rock as America’s most popular music by the late 1970s. But many diehard rock fans viewed disco, with its repetitive beat and culture that emphasized pleasure, as shallow and superficial.



Tune-in tonight at 9/8c on PBS to learn what happened when this culture war came to an explosive head on July 12, 1979.

 

Caught the Yogi Berra documentary that finally came to Netflix (and Prime I think).

Enjoyed it. Tight 90 minutes. Helmed by his granddaughter so obviously a love letter.

Perhaps more Nick Swisher and then anyone would want, but good nonetheless.

 

As we've probably discussed, the Mike Veeck documentary on Netflix, "The Saint of Second Chances," has a good bit about Disco Demolition Night.

 

RIP Frank Howard. No not that one.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/2023/10/30/washington-senators-frank-howard-dies/

 

Dang. And with his Senators/Rangers in the World Series.

It's easy to forget how prodigious he was with 44, 48, 44 homers in 1968-70 and MVP votes in five seasons.

 

Would have been a terror as an every-day DH, especially in the all-or-nothing offensive era we're in now. Even though he was a liability in the outfield, Thomas still put up 37-plus career WAR.

 

Damn. Frank Howard. He was front and center in some of my first MLB trips with my local Little League.

I recall that there was real concern that he would pin an outfielder against the wall someday with one of his line drives. Those exit velocities would have been something to see.

RIP.

 

When Howard played right field, between innings he would exchange warmup throws with the left fielder.

 

Frank Howard was a hitting coach with the Brewers when I first starting following baseball. He may have been third base coach too. A large man, but kind of a gentle giant type if memory serves. The greatest of the reborn Washington Senators. RIP.

 

Funny sidebar. I always heard and believe that he was indeed a gentle giant. But one of the first Little League bus trips we took was to RFK Stadium to see an Orioles-Senators doubleheader. And sure enough, first inning Howard hits into a double play, a bang-bang play at first. He went absolutely berserk, had to be held back from going after the first-base umpire, and was thrown out for both games.