November 10, 2008
I’m still on the art kick. Traveled up to LA yesterday to the Museum of Contemporary Art to see what was going on. First off, I forgot how much I loved Los Angeles on Sundays. Any big city for that matter is good on a Sunday. I love the ghost town feel and the fact that you can drive slowly and explore without aggravating people. Anyway, you never know with the museum thing…sometimes, like the other day, the art is just OK. Maybe you don’t get it or it doesn’t resonate. Then there are times like yesterday when it all comes together. Your horizons expand and you discover new things. I’d never heard of Martin Kippenberger or Loise Bourgeois before yesterday so I had no expectations going in. I got blown away. Both of these prolific artists were really throwing it out there using all kind of mediums…sculpture, paint, installations, embroidery, drawing, etc.
The thing I really enjoy about good art is the truth. It’s the same thing that I love about sports. I love the fact that through commitment to one’s craft, some hard work, some courage, and some creativity, the action or the work of art just kind of comes through you. As an athlete, it’s that “zone” feel…when it almost feels like you’re out of your body watching yourself do things that you have no idea how you did them. You’re flowing, just doing it, not thinking or scheming, and the truth comes out. It’s easy to see in sports and a big reason why people are drawn to watch. Art has the same dynamics for me. I really enjoy the fact that someone can commit themselves to something so random and ephemeral as art. Just like the athlete, they do battle with the demons of failure, expectations, personal hangups, doubters and naysayers….and a few persevere to become artists (or athletes), and the truth comes through them. To see someone breathe that rarefied air is a beautiful thing…like the best the human race has to offer. I get the same feeling when I stand in front of a piece of art and say to myrself “wow, where did that come from?” as I do when I turn on the TV and see an amazing play and say “how did he do that?” For me, when those moments happen, the person is out of the way and I get a glimpse of the truth or the universe or God or whatever word you want to use. Hopefully this makes a little sense and isn’t too out there. I guess what I’m trying to say from an athletic perspective (or life perspective) is that seeing great art or athletics inspires me to be more courageous and to reach higher. Crazy, off the wall, whatever…. it’s how I feel. I like connecting the dots.
“Sometimes I sit in my den at home and read stories about myself. Kids used to…mail them to me. I’ll go in there and read them, and you know what? They might as well be about Musial and DiMaggio. It’s like reading about somebody else.” ~ Mickey Mantle
Martin Kippenberger and Louise Bourgeois
November 9, 2008
I got on an art kick yesterday and ran up to the Getty Museum to check out the exhibit of Carlton Watkins. He was one of the first to photograph the West and his work using a camera the size of a small Volkswagen 
is beyond belief. How he hiked that thing up and down the mountains and wilderness is almost as amazing as the images themselves. Highly recommended show if you’re in the area. After that I buzzed on over to the Orange County Museum of Art to see the latest developments in the contemporary art scene. It was a Dud. I don’t think I saw one thing that interested me or one really fresh idea. The show is called the California Biennial (which I have loved in years past) and you’ll miss nothing if you skip it and wait till next season in my humble opinion.
On another non-baseball related side note, I’d like to add another book to my All-Time list. It’s called “Letters To My Son” and I can’t give it enough stars. This book is overflowing with simple, concise wisdom and advice on how to navigate the turning points in one’s life. If I would’ve only had this one when I was 16! Highly recommended for all fathers, sons, and daughters.
November 7, 2008
I’m watching the Clippers play the Lakers the other night, keying in on the excellent point guards that both teams have. Baron Davis for the Clips and a whole bunch of guys for the Lakers – Derek Fisher, Kobe, and Jordan Farmar. As I’m watching these guys, it really occurred to me how much the catching position parallels the guard position in terms of the tempo of the game. Unfortunately, I don’t think that too many catchers understand or see this similarity. In basketball, the point guard can either push the ball up the court or slow it down depending on the opponent, the game plan, or the situation. The same holds true for the catcher. How quickly he gets the ball back to the pitcher and puts the signs down has a direct impact on the pace of the game.
I was always taught to play the game quickly. Get the ball back the the pitcher, put the sign down immediately and get on with it. A whole bunch of positive things happen when you do this. One: the pitcher has less time to think (no offense to pitchers, but trust me, this is a good thing). Two: nobody knows how to play baseball quickly. By pushing the pace of the game, you take the opposition out of their comfort zone. Every hitter likes to have his little routine and it’s good to disrupt that defensively. Three: we’ve all become accustomed to three and a half hour games….why? How about a two and a half hour game? Your girlfriends will love you more and the coaches will appreciate you more. Four: by pushing the tempo, you keep your defense on their toes. It’s hard to play D when nothing is happening. How would you like to play behind Jon Papelbon? I consistently counted 45 seconds in between pitches with that guy. Not fun to watch and not fun to play defense behind. Five: bouncing around, hustling, and taking control of the game sets the tone for the whole defense, is entertaining to watch, and can set you apart from all of the lumps back there that just catch the ball, lob it back, stretch their legs and sluggishly move into their squat.
That being said, use some common sense and realize that there is also a time to take your foot off the accelerator. For example, maybe the offensive has just strung together 3 or 4 hits in a row. Take control of the momentum, slow it down, go out and talk to the pitcher and get things going in the direction that you want them to go. Then there’s always the coach-giving-the-sign-to-the-catcher dilemma. This obviously takes the control out of the catcher’s hands and has a huge impact on the pace of the game. Don’t get me started on this one. I think someone should outlaw the practice of calling pitches from the dugout for a whole slew of reasons, one of which is the pace of game. Maybe this can come up in our next election…let’s call it Proposition 3.5 (for three and a half hour games). Vote NO on Proposition 3.5 if you want to eliminate coaches relaying pitches to the catcher and causing games that last forever! I know that it will get all of the female vote. To summarize and bring this blog in for a landing…. if you’re a catcher or a coach, be aware of the impact that you have on the pace of the game and realize that this is a powerful defensive weapon you have at your disposal. Good luck.
November 5, 2008
Congratulations to our new President Barack Obama. Personally, I had a good time yesterday…it felt good to vote. Plus the stock market went up, it rained in Southern Cal, my wife made a great dinner, and I got to hit some golf balls…what else can you ask for? Whether your guy won or lost, it was fun to see our country swing into action so passionately. I also loved the lack of voting drama. For all of the its faults and shortcomings (will someone remind me why we vote on a Tuesday instead of a weekend like the rest of the free world?) it actually worked and seemed fair. And like I said, whether your candidate won or lost, it felt good to be part of history – to witness someone crossing the minority bridge in Washington is pretty amazing. I also loved how in one day, we as a country reinvented ourselves. Kind of like what Frank Tanana did as a pitcher. He had great success as a flame throwing lefty, but reinvented himself (and made a lot of money) as a soft throwing location guy when his good stuff left him. Alright so maybe that’s not the best analogy, but you get the idea. People in other countries must be tripping out by the fact that the U.S. isn’t just tolerant of minorities, but we’ve elected to have someone other than a white person lead us! It would be like me being the ruler of China or something. America truly lived up to it’s billing as the Land Of Opportunity.
As I look at this picture of Obama, I’m wondering why no one else is going for the board? Did he box out THAT well, or is everyone just kind of letting him win so they can get a window seat on Air Force One? I think a more appropriate question might be can the man hit? Or, since he’s a lefty, can he throw strikes? I found a couple images to support the fact that he might be able to, but we’ll see….
I’ll leave you with this quote from the Jackie Robinson of comedy, Dick Gregory. In addition to being a powerful voice in the civil rights movement, a successful author, and a presidential candidate in 1968, he became the first black comedian to successfully perform for both white and black audiences. The original Chris Rock. Anyway, I always thought this quote was hilarious…
“Baseball is very big with my people. It figures. It’s the only way we can get to shake a bat at a white man without starting a riot.” ~ Dick Gregory
November 4, 2008
NO WRITEY TODAY, VOTEY.
I think that both baseball and the country will endure. ~ President John F. Kennedy
I think there are only three things America will be known for 2, 000 years from now when they study this civilization: the Constitution, jazz music and baseball. ~ Gerald Early
