Good post, Andy. Just reading that made me think of my own childhood baseball dreams, which were pretty much exactly the same, with a couple of exceptions. Of course, my visions always involved the Twins. but also, in my visions, the bases were always loaded! I mean, who wants to hit a 3-run homer to win the World Series, when you can hit a grand slam, just by adding one more base runner to your imagination?

I also miss the Little League/Teener days. I never made it to Legion ball because working and making money for college had to take precedence. But I was able to stay in the game by being a Little League umpire, and if there was one thing I grew to appreciate more than any other, other than seeing how much the young players enjoyed playing the game, it was watching how much the coaches of these Little League teams would teach their players. Unfortunately, it seemed like more coaches were out to win ball games at all costs, rather than to teach kids fundamentals. So, if you have kids who love to play the game, do what you can to encourage that. On the other hand, if they have talent, but don't seem to display that love for the game, then maybe take a closer look at what seems to bother them when they play (and I'm not talking about mosquitoes).

Happy Holiday Weekend!!
- Radiooo

Andy's Rant on Baseball

Baseball, Fourth of July and Apple pie, it doesn't get more American. From the smallest little league to Major League Baseball nothing says summer like a good game, whether you are sitting on some make shift bleachers or in the stands at a huge stadium you can't be American and not love baseball. I found myself, the other night, watching Teener Baseball and thinking back to my youth. We played baseball when we were small and every year we dreamed of playing in The World Series, game seven, bottom of the ninth, runners on first and second, two outs and a full count in a game with your team, for me it was The Houston Astros, down by two. The dream is that the pitcher stairs in and gives a grin then nods his head, he rocks back and lets loose and ninety plus mile an hour fast ball and I swing as hard as I can making contact. I take off for first base and see the ball rise over monument park at Yankee Stadium to win the first ever World Series for The Stro's. I remember thinking I was going to do everything in my power to make this dream come true. The level of dedication was great in those days, as I remember them. Baseball was not just a way to stay out of trouble and have something to do in the summer, no Baseball was as important as any organized school sporting event. We all played football and basketball we ran track and some of us swam for the school swim team, but when summer began we all played baseball. As the Teener game progressed I found myself looking to see which of these kids had the same desire to be a future hall of famer. I know it is a lot to ask for out of kids that are thirteen and fourteen years old, but I saw some good things and some not so good things. For the most part the kids were happy to be playing the game but, there were times during the game when a total melt down occurred. The desire to win was lost the dedication to team was gone and the love for the game turned into detest. I only hope that the kids will learn at this early stage of their careers, that baseball is more fun if it is played with enthusiasm and dedication to the team. All though I never got to play for the Astros and now I am a die hard Twins fan I will forever love the experience I had playing baseball in the summer. I hope that the memories these kids are making now will be as strong as the ones I have from the years playing the game I love.