Frank White is Fired from Broadcast Booth

By Tim Pafford

        Frank White has been a part of Kansas City baseball since the 1970's.  Even after leaving the field as a player he returned to coach, manage, and work within the broadcasting booth as the fill-in when Paul Splittorff became too ill to continue his work.  Why would any front office let go of a loved, living legend, when he was more than willing to remain and lend his vast knowledge of the game to fans during a year that could be the best in recent Royals history?  I do not know.

        When I presented the news of White's dismissal from the booth, she cried.  I know I also had a feeling deep inside my guts of sad disrespect to one of Kansas City's best baseball players.  The man has 8 Golden Glove awards and is one of only 2 players in Royals history to have their number retired.  (There are three numbers on the wall, but #10 is Dick Howser's number in memory of when he was managing the 1985 World Series victors.)

         Frank White has also been quoted as saying that he will never return to Royals baseball in any form because of this bold dismissal of his commentating talents.  He was said to have been "too negative" in his broadcasts, but I only saw him picking apart the plays as they happened.  He would point out how a play could have been made better by either team's defense.   I never noticed him picking on the Royals any more than their play dictated.  They have finished last, or tied for last, for several seasons in a row in a division that does not have a dominate team.  I don't know of any commentator who could find many bright spots in a team losing that many games a year.  (I also don't remember Paul Splittorff  being particularly cheerful during seasons of 90+ losses on the year.)   So why punish a man for speaking the truth?  I know I would rather hear a commentator speak their mind than platitudes for a team that was not playing well.  I only hope there is an organization out there some where that will take up Frank White's talent and pay his what he deserves.

2011 Draws to a Close

By Tim Pafford

       2011, 2011, 2001!  What a season it was!  The Royals are on their way to being out of the basement for the first time in several seasons.  They may remain on the 1st floor, but it is still not last place.  Some may not see this as a great accomplishment, but it is a huge first step; especially when you consider how much more competitive that AL Central Division became this season.
        Many say that the Detroit Tigers not only boast in having the Cy Young contender for the AL, but also a team with the type of offense that may see the AL Championship and a World Series Birth.  Time will tell if they hold on, but when you consider what has been taking place in Detroit over the last few years economically, a Tiger's win of the Fall Classic will be an emotional victory even to those who aren't baseball fans.  (Think a fiscal version of the 2001 Yankee's.)

        As the season continued on, up and coming players from the minor league system came up to add in the young team's image and performance numbers. Eric Hosmer has impressed all skeptics and has been eyed by even the best prospectors in the sport as one of the next great baseball players of this generation.  It seemed as if he were a young man born to play pro baseball in Kansas City.  (And after his history making 5 for 5 last night, who would argue?)

        Tim Collins started out strong this season with an impressive ERA and pitch delivery.  Though he fought control issues as the season wore on, some see him as a potential "Lefty Specialist" for the Royals of the future.
       But, I think he needs to get over his "Napoleon Complex" and see that his team will not be perfect every time he allows hits.  I found his throwing of the rosin bag at Escobar, during a tight game in July, was totally unprofessional and made Collins look like the short whiner of the team. (Especially after he walked the next two hitters in eight pitches.)  I feel he needs to look to other short Tims around the Majors and see their level of professionalism and decorum, on and off the mound, as an example that being short isn't an excuse for a short temperament.

        Tonight's Game will be the last game Kansas City will get to enjoy until 2012 rolls around.  But it has been a beautiful and fun experience seeing the team grow and see young players being nurtured into pro ball players for years to come.  This last picture maybe how our last visions of the seasons materialize, but I know I can't wait till 2012 to see if the Royals can capitalize on new talents and see the first Play-Off Birth since 1985 when the team won the World Series in only its second appearance in the Fall Classic.

         

#Scrutiny

By Tim Pafford

       Scrutiny is often stated to be an irrational, over stated, objectivity through instinct; and outside of intellect.  It is like a society of Sponge Bob Square Pants trying to tell his mentally challenged friend Patrick, "Do exactly as I do.  Exactly as I do. Exactly as I do, Exactly, exactly, exactly, exactly as I do.  Exactly, exactly,exactly, exactly, exactly, exactly, exactly, exactly, exactly, exactly, exactly,exactly, exactly as I do.  Patrick you will never be what I have become if you don't take my advice and learn from me.  Do exactly, as I do."

        Those who have not seen the episode need to know the feat he was referring to was opening, and re-closing, a jar while working in the kitchen of a fast food-joint.  All Patrick needed to do was open a jar and put the lid back on it.  He couldn't figure out how to place the lid on top of the glass container.  This may not be an article about one's inability to place a lid on a food storage container, but I feel I am talking of people are just as ill mentally as our above mentioned animated characters.  I speak of the "K" security staff.

All I ask is that they prevent this:

        (Where Royals 1st base coach lost hearing in the attack.  Taken from DayCrawler @ www.thedaycrawler.com.)

And not take anything away from this:

 

        I am sick and tired of being treated like some kind of threat as I come to the ballpark.  I am the least likely person to cause an issue there.  I am short, I take an expectant mother with me to the games, I am a respectful observer, I do not drink alcohol at any time (let alone at the park), and I am there to spend money!!  What about those elements seem to state I am looking to harm any one or cause any issues during my desire to observe a professional baseball game?  I just want to see the game and enjoy my stay at the park!

        These bad experience remind me of other times where those who are unhappily working for minimum wage wanted to try to take out their life's frustrations on another.  Such as the time I took my wife to go see the Guitarist Slash:

          As we were getting ready to enter the venue I was patted down and metal detector searched like it was intake at a prison facility.  This was done to me while girls with bright red, dripping noses, an inability to cease speech, constant needs to rub an index finger under their noses, and a hand bag on their person did not even have their hand bags looked into.  The door greater gave the girls a knowing smile and let them right in....  Without a single look or moment of scrutiny.

        I am feeling this was about the "K" staff more and more.  They looked in every possible pocket or corner they could find on me just to find nothing harmful; all while large, and already intoxicated, men in their sloppy and loud finest got into the park with out even a look underneath their hats!!  I would not abject to extensive scrutiny if the same level was bestowed upon all potential admittance into the park equally!

         If this was not bad enough, my wife and I were harassed in the name of "checking seating assignment" more than once!  More than once!!  And a few innings later, while we were up to get refreshments and "suvies", other people found their way into our seats when we got back to them. The event staff did not even step in to try an attempt to roust them from the seats I paid for; even after they had checked for my own ownership on a few different occasions!

       Once again, those who are in place for safety and security are the reason non-plebeian, the non-automatonal, the non-Mid-West-Aesthetic fans can not take in a game in the peaceful and enjoyable manner these wage slaves are supposed to provide.  I am nearly to the point of not wanting to go to the park when I could be spending my time getting greater projects and achievements accomplished instead of spending time and money at my favorite ball team's park.

Have you ever had a similar issue at the park??

  

American as Baseball, and as True as Any Trend.

By Tim Pafford

       America is a country that has been through many hardships, wars, financial crisis, internal conflict, ownership of human beings, financial prosperity, intellectual accomplishment, and great sports.  From not wanting to pay  for Britain's protection of the colonists against the French and Indians, to fighting for independence to be its own country, through two World Wars, and to the current fights and occupations that are causing renewed financial hardships to today's Americans; through those times of woe,  sports brought the American public back together.  From its inception, that sport has been baseball.

        From the days of the Yankee's super star teams of the 1920's, to the Mets winning the World Series with heavy reliance on Kansas Citian  David Cone, to the I-70 Series of 1985,  to the events and stadium draws of today, the common denominator has been the game of baseball.  No matter how hard life and money making happened to be, the game of baseball helped bring Americans back together as a unified group.  Groups would root, root, root for opposing teams.  But they were there to watch those two teams play baseball.  It did not matter if those differing persons in the stadium felt that the conflict of war, or financial struggle, was moral, sane, insane, just or unjust; they were there to put those worries and struggles away for the time it took two teams to play nine innings of America's pass-time, baseball.   They took in each pitch and swing of the bat with their fellow man and they forgot of why they hated each other.

        Political lines blurred. The owner of the factory was in the same park, drinking the same beer, as the husband or wife who worked the line .  The officer and the criminal knew they were "off the job" and could stand united in this one facet of entertainment before life went back to its usual course.  Brothers could cheer together, or take opposing views.  But all in all, they knew it was just a game.

        A game of passion, of sweat, and occasional blood in the name of fame and glory.  "Did you see that catch?"  "Did you catch that no-hitter?"  "Did you see him hit the game winning home-run off that ace pitcher?"  "Is the ace still an ace?"  These are the same questions asked today during our time of renewed struggles.  Once again, it is the game of baseball that brings America back together as a nation of one heart and one competitive spirit.