Greeting Loyal Airmen. As we write this week's Flight Log, the fourth game of the American League Championship is on and after trailing 4 to 0 in the first six innings, the New York Yankees have scored 6 runs in the top of the 7th.  Just like that.  And it would be a good bet that before the evening is over, the contestants for this year's World Series contest, starting next Wed. night, will be between the Yanks and the Philadelphia Phillies, who won the National League crown last night for the second year in a row.  The Air Chief congratulates both teams and is really hoping for a good championship series.  All of which has brought to mind lots of thoughts we've had concerning American's favorite pastime this past season.

                    
                                 Mom, apple pie and baseball.
First of all some history.  Despite what you might have heard all your life, Abner Doubleday, the Civil War veteran General did not invent baseball.  That story is totally bogus.  Baseball's evolution is not clear cut but most experts believe it came from several British games to include two in particular; one called “rounders” and the other  “stool ball.”  And no, we did not make that up.

                     
                                               The Wind Up
What is the big deal about playing in lousy weather?  The long, six month season (for some teams) begins in April and if they are East coast teams, then the odds are very good they may be playing games in the rain and snow, the fans freezing their collective butts off.  We've seen enough of these horrendous ordeals happening at Fenway year after year. This having been an unusually rainy summer, a record number of games had to be postponed and rescheduled due to inclement weather.  Then we get to the end of the season, and East Coast teams in the play-offs are freezing, the players wearing caps with ear-muffs.  And in the midst of this suffering, the good people of the Minnesota Twins have proudly announced that after they tear down the eleven year old Metro Dome, the new stadium they are constructing will be roof-less!  Whoopee, the baseball announcers have been declaring.  Kiddies will be able to enjoy a baseball game as it should be viewed, under the open sky. And the Air Chief finds himself scratching his head.  Are these people daft?  This is Minnesota!  They have horrible Springs. I wonder how much the Twins fans are going to enjoy getting wet and cold in 2010?  What is truly frustrating is the fact that with today's technology, any ballpark can have the best of both.  Look at the Toronto Bluejays and their retractable roof.  When the weather is nice, its pulled back and games are played under the stars.  When it is raining, snowing or whatever, the roof is closed and the game goes on and the fans never suffer bouts of pneumonia inducing downpours.  No game at Toronto has ever been delayed or canceled because of weather. What the hell is the matter with the other clubs?  Every new field built today should have a retractable roof.  DOH!!

          
                                                                  It's a Hit!!
Another super pet peeve of the Air Chief is the constant belly-aching of baseball officials that games take way too long to play these days.  Oh, really?  Then why don't they stop the silliness we endure night after night and tighten them up.  Does a batter, after every single pitch, have to walk around for a minute to get himself set up again? And what's this constantly asking the Umpire for a time-out?  Are they little leaguers??  Want to speed up the game, then New Rule # 1. Once a batter steps into the batter's box, he can't leave it until he's either hit, been struck out or walked.  Period. And no more time-outs!

           
                                                                  SAFE!!!
And we aren't letting today's Prima Donna pitchers off the hook either.  How many times does a pitcher have to have people come to visit him on the pitcher's mound?  The catcher comes to clarify what calls they are using!!  Wasn't this discussed in the practice sessions?  And when a pitcher starts giving up runs, out comes the Pitching Coach to give him a little pep talk.  Oh, please.  If he's pitching in the Majors, he should have enough maturity to grit his teeth and either get the job done or not.  The only person who should be allowed to go out to that mound once the game has started is the Manager to pull the guy.  Period.  Rule #2, No more visits to the pitcher's mound!  Period. Now adhere to these two rules we guarantee you we've just shaved at least one hour from every game to be played.

                     
                                              JINXED by Ken Leiker
Finally, on a purely comedic note.  What exactly does a Bench Coach do?  Teach people how to sit on the bench?  Looking at the other coaches on a team, it's easy to understand their tasks.  The first base coach is there to advise runners on first.  Likewise the third base coach, etc.  But a Bench Coach?  Is there a right and wrong way to sit on a bench?  And with that thought in your heads, let me end this baseball rant by recommending a truly wonderful little book; JINXED by Ken Leiker. It is a collection of some of the wildest superstitions practice by some of the most famous players in the history of baseball.  It's a small little book that will leave you chuckling on every page.

And there you have it, Loyal Airmen.  Oh, and in the course of writing this log, the Angels have come back strong and are now retaking the lead in the top of the 8th.  It's 7 to 6 in their favor.  And here come the Yankees.  Got to run, Loyal Airmen.  This is getting good.

LAST MINUTE UPDATE –  No sooner did we wrap up this entry then the Angels beat the Yankees 7-6.
So it's on to Brooklyn tomorrow night (Sat.) for game six.  Our money is still on the Yankees.

Ron – Over & Out.