I love this line from White Sox’ hitting coach Greg Walker: “We just got down early, and mentally, we panicked. Guysstarted thinking ‘Oh my God, I’m hitting .220,’ or ‘I’mhitting a buck fifty.’ And baseball doesn’t feel sorry foryou. If you start going bad it’ll bury you” (BaseballAmerica). BASEBALL DOESN’T FEEL SORRY FOR YOU. That’s [...]

Rick Ankiel. Chuck Knoblauch. Steve Sax. You? If you fit in that list I’ve got good news for you. If youdon’t fit in that list, good for you! The “Yips.” The “Thing.” “It” It goes by many names this “throwing thing.” It’s cruel andheartless — cancer-like. It cuts down wonderful players in their prime. It [...]

Sidebar: ———————————-Can you believe the Brewers yesterday called up a pitcher named Grant Balfour? I can’t decide if that’s one of the best or worst names ever for a pitcher. One could go with the riddle: “What’s the worst thing you can do to a bad hitter?” (answer: Grant Balfour)———————————- I had a great conversation [...]