Sports Then and Now

The definition of a true hero is not a guy who leaps tall buildings in a single bound but, more realistically, a person who heaps the world’s problems upon his or her broad shoulders without regard for their own personal health or well-being. A person who sees a situation and devises a solution, rather than to turn their backs and complain.

By definition that would qualify Frank Guzman as, more than just a baseball coach, but as a mentor, a leader and yes, a bona fide hero in the eyes of everyone who knows him. When assisting those in a state of crisis from his security position with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Guzman has turned his passion for baseball into a rescue for many of Rochester, New York’s Latin population. Read the rest of this entry →

Zephyr's Strength and Conditioning Coach, Gary McCoy talks about the Road to the Show

“Some of these guys are going to make it. Most won’t. But they all share a dream and passion for the game of baseball. Nobody tells their compelling stories of hard work, determination and sense of tradition better than the players themselves.”

That sums up the story of “The Road to the Show” the much awaited project of co-creator and producer, Larry Richards. “The Road to the Show” tells the real life stories of players as they fight their way through baseball’s minor leagues in hopes of getting their day in the sun as full-fledged Major Leaguers.

Richards, a graduate of Syracuse University, has been working on the “original baseball docuality” for better than two years and continues to work tirelessly to get it into the hands of those who will make his personal baseball dream a reality, as well.

As Richard’s states on the show’s web-site, “Somewhere in the minor leagues is the next legend”. Read the rest of this entry →

Although Jimmy Dugan told me, “There’s no crying in baseball” I didn’t listen the other day. I cried a lot. So did Mark McGwire. Only the difference between me and Mark McGwire is that we cried for two different reasons.

McGwire cried because he had painted himself into the proverbial corner. Caught with his hand in the cookie jar. His lie had taken on a life of it’s own and gnawed into his belly each and every day since…well, since Tony LaRussa offered him a job as hitting coach.

His tears were contrived. His tears were the creation of some Spin City PR guy who told him that in this case, you can cry in baseball.

My tears were spontaneous tears. Real tears. Tears that I have no shame in showing the baseball world. Read the rest of this entry →

By Buddy Biancalana and Steve Yellin

I just returned from the Winter Baseball Meetings in Indianapolis.  The gathering is always an interesting few days for

OBP and OBS are the key baseball stats of the 2000's

me due to my partner, Steven Yellin, and my working to introduce new methods of teaching sports.

Baseball traditionalists, as one general manger told me are very slow to change, whether it has to do with technology or something pertaining to training techniques.  I understand the resistance to new ways in our fast changing world.

A day doesn’t pass for me that I don’t think that I should be taking greater advantage of social media. I know it’s the quickest and most economical way to spread information, but I still don’t utilize it to the degree I could and should. Why? No good reason, except that I just haven’t decided to stretch myself in that direction yet.

Another interesting experience for me at the Meetings was looking around and seeing so many “non baseball looking” people.   The Geeks as we know have infiltrated baseball and have brought great creativity, analytical methods and knowledge. Read the rest of this entry →

Grilli in 2008 photo while pitching for the Detroit Tigers

Though I confess that I already knew, but was sworn to secrecy, I’m excited to officially announce the signing of right-hander Jason Grilli to a minor league deal with the Cleveland Indians with a big-league invitation to spring training.

Grilli will be given the opportunity to compete for a spot in the bullpen. If he makes the big league club, he’ll earn $800,000.

Grilli, who has become a close friend and confidant through his work with the award winning children’s book, A Glove of Their Own, remained tight lipped about who he had officially signed with as a respect to his future employer. He had let a few in his inner circle know that he had signed and had Fed-exed his contract out on Sunday.

“I felt that that was the class way to handle things despite the fact that everyone wanted to know.” Read the rest of this entry →

Andy Strasberg in 1966 with Roger Maris at The Stadium

As I chatted with Andy Strasberg about his new baseball related venture called Fantography™,  I couldn’t help but hum Rod Stewart’s 1971 anthem, “Every Picture Tells a Story”.

In actuality, however, my musical recap of Strasberg’s photographic venture may be best summarized as Paul Simon’s Kodachrome mixed with a few verses of Take Me Out to The Ball Game.

Fantography™ is Strasberg’s recently unveiled undertaking, whose goal it is to harvest centuries of baseball photographs and the wonderful stories that go along with them. These are the photographs, taken not by professional photographers, but by the fans, themselves.

Strasberg sees Fantography™ as the offspring of his five decade love affair with the sport of baseball, a love affair that is not unique to him, but is shared by fans throughout the globe. The project will allow fans to upload their personal baseball memories onto the Fantography™ website to be stored forever and shared with other fans of the game.

“It’s more than just a box score,” explains Strasberg, the former VP of Marketing for the San Diego Padres. “It’s the love affair between a fan and the game of baseball as seen through the lens of a camera.” Read the rest of this entry →