Major League Baseball has always traded heavily in its history and nostalgia. The tendency to romanticize and sentimentalize the past has been a characteristic of a lot of baseball fans, and MLB […]
Myth-making: a national pastime
Real estate guys are the MVPs
How does and why does one city or metropolitan area get a major big sports franchise, another one does not? Why did Los Angeles – the second-largest city and market in the […]
Astros: 2020 “Sinderella” team?
Like all gods, the Baseball Gods are fickle and inconsistent when it comes to handing out divine justice in this world. “Anything can happen” is the commonplace phrase when describing the MLB […]
Long ball can be short-sighted
It’s September and there are certain traditions to be observed. The leaves are starting to turn, the kids are sort of … electronically … back to school and the Dodgers are in […]
Ain’t nothing like the real thing
Before this simulated season of empty ballparks I would arrive at Angel games in Anaheim a little early. Anaheim Stadium is one of the older ballparks in the major leagues and isn’t […]
Rams look ready for prime time
What a great time to be a Southern California sports fan! Despite the dislocations and tragedies brought on by the coronavirus, for those of us who try to gain some escape from […]
Dodger dynasty and Angels agony
Last July a writer for Sports Illustrated made a surprising World Series prediction, perhaps under extreme duress “during the stress of these times,” that inspired in me an afternoon of wistful pipe […]
Did one call decide the game?
If you follow sports, or even history, a common theme is “turning point.” We’re talking about a home run, or turnover or military mishap that changed the conflict/contest around. That’s a convenient […]
The mystery of the strike zone
Dear Mr. Howard, The Umpire-Defender has logged on. I am the guy that turns on the game to see the umpire. We exist. We are valid. Apparently that’s news to you. When […]
Angels get (a bit) closer to heaven
The beginning of September is traditionally the start of the stretch run of the baseball pennant races. For the Los Angeles Angels, their chances of making the post-season are about as good […]
