STARBALL'S 23rd Consecutive Season

It All Starts With "The Pill"

2011-04-27T07:14:00.000-04:00

The Duke Of Flatbush

2011-02-27T18:11:00.002-05:00

Duke Snyder passed away today.

Would Mike Or Roy Do This?

2011-02-08T23:46:00.000-05:00

2011 Durham International Starball Launches 22nd Season

2011-02-06T23:37:00.003-05:00

Your Brain On Starball

The football season is over and baseball is on! There is nothing like the excitement of Opening Day and we are only 52 days away. Spring Training starts in just a few days.

The sole purpose of the 2011 season is to make sure Los Lobos do not humiliate us all by managing a threepeat! The Challenge is on.

Los Lobos Rules Starball Second Straight Season!

2010-10-01T10:41:00.001-04:00

Congratulations to Los Lobos owner Wild Bill Miller for a runaway victory! It’s “Back 2 Back” for Los Lobos and your League management has been working hard all winter to make sure there won’t be a Threepeat! Our best thought so far is that the previous year’s champion plays without a relief pitcher the next year... Congratulations, Wild Bill!

The Championship is even more amazing once you realize that we couldn’t even beat the wolves even with an extra player! Yes, that’s right. An extra player. It was discovered that Golden Monkeys played with four outfielders for the season. On one of the switches owner Billy Moran sent in an incorrect switch which was quickly found by the VP of SE and quickly fixed....except that your humble Commish failed to delete the incorrect player from is starting lineup when the correct switch was put in, creating four in the outfield. Mea Culpa!

Thanks to Billy and his Dad for pointing this out once it was realized near season end. Golden Monkeys’ third place finish was therefore voided (he’s out of the money no matter what outfielder is deleted) and those below moved up a place. Thus, money winners in 2010 were:

Los Lobos $550
Spitballers $275
Sharks $137.50
Web Warriors $82.50
Zevonistas $55

The total payout was $1100.00. Congratulations to the money winners! As the season is over the OnRoto site is disabled regarding player movement so I have not been able to make the correction so the standings would reflect the actual final results.

It was a great season, despite LL winning...again. My thanks to all for keeping the Starball tradition alive, especially Starball HOF’er Rob Moran for his VP of SE work (well, except for that fourth outfielder overlook...just kiddin’). It’s unbelievable that we have kept this going 21 years! I’d bet we are one of the longest running Leagues in existence. I am trying to research that.

And now... It's on to Starball 2011, our 22nd Season of hard chargin' baseball.

God Bless Sweet Lou, Too

2010-08-25T20:20:00.002-04:00

God Bless Bobby Thomson

2010-08-24T21:59:00.008-04:00

"Bobby Thomson... up there swingin'... He's had two out of three, a single and a double, and Billy Cox is playing him right on the third-base line... One out, last of the ninth... Branca pitches... Bobby Thomson takes a strike called on the inside corner... Bobby hitting at .292... He's had a single and a double and he drove in the Giants' first run with a long fly to center... Brooklyn leads it 4-2...Hartung down the line at third not taking any chances... Lockman with not too big of a lead at second, but he'll be runnin' like the wind if Thomson hits one... Branca throws... [audible sound of bat meeting ball]
There's a long drive... it's gonna be, I believe...THE GIANTS WIN THE PENNANT!! THE GIANTS WIN THE PENNANT! THE GIANTS WIN THE PENNANT! THE GIANTS WIN THE PENNANT! Bobby Thomson hits into the lower deck of the left-field stands! The Giants win the pennant and they're goin' crazy, they're goin' crazy! HEEEY-OH!!!'' [ten-second pause for crowd noise]

I don't believe it! I don't believe it! I do not believe it! Bobby Thomson... hit a line drive... into the lower deck... of the left-field stands... and this blame place is goin' crazy! The Giants! Horace Stoneham has got a winner! The Giants won it... by a score of 5 to 4... and they're pickin' Bobby Thomson up... and carryin' him off the field!"

2010-08-15T11:38:00.006-04:00

You might enjoy my reminiscence of Chipper Jones on the blog

A Lucky Dog Life

George

2010-07-14T01:04:00.002-04:00

Braves Organist Goes Tweeter

2010-07-10T11:37:00.007-04:00

Atlanta Braves organist Matthew Kaminski has tapped into the social media madness to spice up is "act" as one of the last live organists in MLB. Find out how to Twitter him during the games.

Also
Celebrating baseball through music

Take me out to the rock concert

The Land Of Sugar Cane & Shortstops

2010-07-05T09:55:00.002-04:00

NY TIMES REVIEW

Happy 4th.

2010-07-04T18:04:00.001-04:00

Another No-No: Something's In The Water

2010-06-26T06:12:00.003-04:00

Edwin Jackson threw 149 pitches, walked eight and threw the season's fourth--NO, fifth no-hitter. Ho hum...

2010-06-03T18:20:00.010-04:00

Two men met at home plate today. One was trying to hold back tears as the other handed him Thursday's lineup. It was baseball at it's best. As was Armando Galarraga's perfect game the night before. The Imperfect Call will not be reversed. One of the worst Commissioners ever (not because of this situation) will look into how to keep this from happening again.

Ol' Bud's statement:

First, on behalf of Major League Baseball, I congratulate Armando Galarraga on a remarkable pitching performance. All of us who love the game appreciate the historic nature of his effort last night.

"The dignity and class of the entire Detroit Tigers organization under such circumstances were truly admirable and embodied good sportsmanship of the highest order. Armando and Detroit manager Jim Leyland are to be commended for their handling of a very difficult situation. I also applaud the courage of umpire Jim Joyce to address this unfortunate situation honestly and directly. Jim's candor illustrates why he has earned the respect of on-field personnel throughout his accomplished career in the Major Leagues since 1989.

"As Jim Joyce said in his post game comments, there is no dispute that last night's game should have ended differently. While the human element has always been an integral part of baseball, it is vital that mistakes on the field be addressed. Given last night's call and other recent events, I will examine our umpiring system, the expanded use of instant replay and all other related features. Before I announce any decisions, I will consult with all appropriate parties, including our two unions and the Special Committee for On-Field Matters, which consists of field managers, general managers, club owners and presidents."

ANOTHER Perfecto. To Be Remembered By A Young Pitcher's Demeanor And Class

2010-06-03T06:20:00.010-04:00

I don't like to use the word "class". One doesn't have to be told a person has it--it's known, observed in delicate situations; it's what's not said and done as much as what is said and done.

My new favorite baseball player, Armando Galarraga, the most recent pitcher to pitch a perfect game and who had it taken away by an ump's error, has class and a lot of it. His demeanor upon being robbed of a perfect game was..., well, classy. He turned toward first baseman Cabrerra and smiled, a child-like yet gentlemanly reaction. You'll see that when you watch the videos linked below. I wonder what I would have done.

As Leyland ran out to complain to offending ump Jim Joyce, the skipper was calm and the conversation short. Later, I think he got a little more upset.

For his part, Joyce was classy enough to admit he blew the call and asked to speak to Galaraga personally. In tears, Joyce said "I cost that kid a perfect game." No, he did not.

Just another human mistake, without malice and forethought. A baseball error. And no matter what the record books show, Armando pitched the third perfect game in a month, the 21st in all of baseball. Bud Selig should not step in, MLB does not need replay and it was all taken care of on the field, as it should be, by the one shocked smile of "that kid" Galarraga. And nothing more need be done. The fans will take care of it.

We know. We fans, baseball lovers, members all of the Order of the RED Stitch, we know who really holds the home run record, no matter what the record book shows. We knew, when Pete said he didn't do it, that he did. We know who the all-stars are, even though the All-Star Game has become a mockery thanks to stuffed ballot boxes. For a game that relishes in and whose charm relies heavily on stats and records, as fans we have an uncanny way of making the stats and the history right in our minds and hearts.

We know a perfect game when we see one. Even if the ump is blind. Congratulations, Armando.

Click to see multiple videos about the call

Detroit Free Press

The Greatest Pitch? (More From Japan)

2010-06-01T07:18:00.000-04:00

2010-05-31T08:36:00.005-04:00

"On thy grave the rain shall fall

from the eyes of a mighty nation!"

Thomas William Parsons

Ouch!

2010-05-31T08:21:00.000-04:00

If you can stand the music, there are some boffo collisions to be seen here...Gotta love that Japanese baseball!

Another Perfecto

2010-05-30T06:49:00.029-04:00

Roy Halladay joined the MLB Perfecto Club yesterday, masterfully executing his usual strike-centric pitching style against the Florida Marlins. Twenty-seven up, 27 down. Jason Stark at ESPN contributes interesting observations about Halladay, yesterday's game and how both Cy Young winners and good but not dominating pitchers with .270+ lifetime batting averages can have a perfect day. Do you remember who Dallas Brandon is? Wow. It's not yet June and we've already seen two (of 20) perfect games and a "regular" no-no. Beautiful...

Ying & Yang of Baseball Redux

Like the day Ubaldo Jiminez pitched his no-hitter and in some other plane of baseball reality the Mets and Cards played 20 innings in six hours, flopping up 652 pitches, Halladay's perfect game was juxtaposed against the freak broken leg suffered by Kendry Morales. The fracture happened when he joyously jumped on home plate while celebrating a grand slam walk-off home run! Ugly...

I'm Betting He Liked Baseball

2010-05-30T05:08:00.000-04:00

Dennis Hopper, dead at 74 after a battle with prostate cancer, may be most remembered for his role in Easy Rider (which most don't know he also directed). I saw that movie four times in the theatre the first week it hit town, as I was in my long hair, Levi jean jacket and angst stage. I think I kept going back hoping the ending would change. My mode of transportation as I "searched for America" was an MG B rather than a Harley, but I was into the vibe of that flick, as were many of my age.

A younger-aged film buff may better associate Hopper with Blue Velvet, David Lynch's funky surreal mystery that re-ignited Hopper's career and fueled his cult actor status. Gotta remember to hit up Netflix to see that one again.

Older buffs may remember Hopper's first role in (drum roll, please)... Rebel Without A Cause. You didn't know that?! Well, do you remember him in Apocalypse Now? How about the '56 blockbuster Giant, with Elizabeth Taylor? Hoosiers? Yeh, that was Hopper. Oh, I almost forgot his parts in Cool Hand Luke and True Grit.

He led quite a life. Just ask his five wives.

Sandy Koufax=Jack Nicholson

Bo Belinski=Dennis Hopper

2010-05-28T19:49:00.002-04:00

Strasburg And Harper Battery Mates Soon?

2010-05-16T07:47:00.004-04:00

Have you heard of this 17 year old phenom?

Perfect!

2010-05-09T20:08:00.005-04:00

Bring it, A-Rod.

Final 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Tampa Bay 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
Oakland 0 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 x 4 12 0
W: Braden (4-2) L: Shields (4-1)

Tampa Bay Rays
Player AB R H RBI TB BB K AVG OBP SLG
J. Bartlett, SS 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 .248 .316 .347
C. Crawford, LF 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 .308 .371 .513
B. Zobrist, 2B 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 .259 .331 .353
E. Longoria, 3B 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 .325 .396 .581
C. Pena, 1B 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 .183 .302 .358
B. Upton, CF 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 .225 .306 .396
W. Aybar, DH 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 .273 .289 .455
D. Navarro, C 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 .150 .250 .200
G. Kapler, RF 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 .220 .304 .317
Totals 27 0 0 0 0 0 6 - - -

Oakland Athletics
Player AB R H RBI TB BB K AVG OBP SLG
C. Pennington, SS 5 1 1 0 1 0 0 .269 .358 .417
D. Barton, 1B 5 2 3 0 3 0 0 .296 .418 .417
R. Sweeney, RF 4 0 2 1 2 0 1 .304 .354 .400
K. Kouzmanoff, 3B 4 1 2 1 2 0 2 .275 .310 .367
E. Chavez, DH 3 0 1 0 1 1 1 .239 .293 .318
A. Rosales, 2B 3 0 1 0 2 1 1 .273 .323 .386
E. Patterson, LF 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 .200 .238 .400
L. Powell, C 4 0 2 1 3 0 1 .143 .308 .190
R. Davis, CF 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 .227 .274 .282
Totals 36 4 12 3 14 2 9 - - -

2B: Oak 2, A. Rosales (4), L. Powell (1).

Tampa Bay Rays
Player IP H R ER BB K HR BFP Pit B-S ERA OpBA
J. Shields (L 4-1) 6.0 11 4 2 1 6 0 30 108 36 - 72 3.13 .277
D. Wheeler 1.0 0 0 0 1 3 0 4 19 7 - 12 1.86 .121
A. Sonnanstine 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 4 13 5 - 8 2.51 .200

Oakland Athletics
Player IP H R ER BB K HR BFP Pit B-S ERA OpBA
D. Braden (W 4-2) 9.0 0 0 0 0 6 0 27 109 32 - 77 3.33 .220

Errors: TB 1, D. Navarro (2).

Umpires: HP--Wolf, 1B--Cousins, 2B--Joyce, 3B--Tichenor.
Time: 2:07
Attendance - 12,228

Mets Or Yankees?

2010-05-07T06:50:00.005-04:00

The WSJ's Jason Gay reports on some interesting facts about Mets and Yanks fans in the Big Apple.

...And You Couldn't Find A Cloud In The Sky Even If You Were Looking For One

2010-05-05T05:41:00.010-04:00

Ernie Harwell, "The Voice of Summer", for the Detroit Tigers for a long, long time passed away Tuesday from an incurable cancer. Not long ago I listened to an interview with Bob Costas about his situation and the relaxed stoicism he was displaying was very moving. He also recited for Bob part of his famous Hall of Fame induction speech. It's a gem.

May we all exhibit that grace if we find ourselves in such a way.

Baseball has lost another great voice and, more importantly, a good man.

Baseball: 13 Years In A Cuban Prison

2010-04-25T11:38:00.004-04:00

You should read this story in the NY Times. And we think we love baseball...

Safe At Home!

2010-04-24T15:43:00.001-04:00

The Ying & Yang Of Baseball

2010-04-18T10:11:00.013-04:00

UGLY:
Twenty innings. Almost six hours. Nineteen pitchers used. And two position players pitched, too. A total of 652 pitches thrown. Pitchers in the outfield. Forty six players used. Batters 1 for 25 with runners in scoring position. Final score: Mets defeat Cards 2-1.

BEAUTIFUL:
Ubaldo Jimenez threw the Rockie's first no-no yesterday on 127 pitches--his last still heat, at 97mph. Yet, after 86 pitches he had thrown more balls than strikes. Walked six. After the fifth inning his pitching coach observed that he was pitching better from the stretch. So he pitched from the stretch the rest of the way, retiring every batter the rest of the way.

Only six balls reached the outfield and one was Troy Glaus' 7th inning fly ball that was heroically caught by Dexter Fowler (he gets a Rolex, Ubaldo). Final score: Rockies defeat Braves 4-0.

Starball Stats Are Now Live

2010-04-11T21:42:00.003-04:00

The OnRoto Starball site is now live and updated. Check it out, Starballers.

Life Begins On Opening Day

2010-04-04T07:11:00.009-04:00

It's the Official Day of Eternal Optimists!

Only the fact that it's Easter is MLB Opening Day overshadowed (I must admit I thought the first game was tomorrow). The Yankees and Red Sox get things started tonight and Starballer Wild Bill Miller will begin defense of his title against a group of grisly veteran owners and some young guns, including Billy Moran's Golden Monkeys, Daniel Moran's Dragons and (Mayhem step son) Clay Armstrong's ClayNation. Clay is a late addition and we welcome him into membership of the Order of the Red Stitch. Can't wait to see his ugly team.

Remember all, your rosters are due today. Check your math. Good luck. Hope you come in second.

The Official Charity Of Durham International Starball

2010-04-03T15:41:00.005-04:00

Save 2nd. Base

Ten Questions For Wild Bill Miller

2010-03-25T06:22:00.014-04:00

Starball beat reporter Wally "Beefy" Bullkowskey recently travelled to Los Lobos spring training camp and sat down with 2009 Starball Champ Wild Bill Miller for a pre-season confab. He learned nothing of consequence, but reports the tequila was good.

How did it feel to win your first Starball Championship?

"It felt great of course and also like a gorilla was off my back. As a true, albeit long past, baseball professional, I have never been comfortable losing to a bunch of dilettante couch potatoes, alcoholics, and tech geeks."

What the hell happened all those earlier years?

"My first few years in the league, I was clearly just fodder for the more experienced 'Ballers and knowledge of the real game of baseball is no substitute for this fantasy bullshit, which I had previously vowed never to participate in."

What's your strategy for the 2010 season?

"Who the hell gave me strategic advice when I was new to the league? Seriously, wtf kind of question is this?"

Who is your "must have" player, even if you have to dumb down at some other position(s)? And why is he "the guy"?

"Actually, I do think you have to pick the best player at at least one position, and it does mean going cheap at some of the others. This year I love Pujols and Braun, though I probably won't take either of them. Wanna play poker sometime?"

Is Mauer worth the money? How 'bout Arod? Pujols? Hanley Ramirez? Awe, come on, tell us something...

"Yes, yes, yes, and yes."

Do you have balls enough to go with Strasburg or the Cuban rookie as your 4th starter? Backup for 4th starter?

"No."

Speaking of balls, does a player's penis size dicktate in any way whether you put him on your roster? Why or why not?

"I remember hearing a story about a scout wandering through a minor league clubhouse and seeing Lefty Gomez and saying "A guy with a prick that huge can't pitch winning ball in the major leagues." Or as Casey Stengel said, 'It's not sex that's the problem, it's staying up all night looking for it'."

Did the Commish's Championship check to you bounce last year?

"Oddly enough, the Commish's check did NOT bounce and it arrived just in time for Christmas."

How 'bout them O's? What is your prognostication for the Birds?

"Damn. I think we O's fans will have to suffer another year, although their stock is on the rise. They really need a first sacker with some pop, and maybe a long-term solution at short. Josh Bell, when he arrives will certainly solidify 3B, and they are really strong up the middle with Weiters, BRob (if he's healthy), and Adam Jones. Brian Matusz will be the AL Rookie of the year."

OK Champ, last Question: give us one solid, take to the bank piece of advice to follow for fielding a great Starball team.

"Pitching, pitching, and more pitching."

Thanks, Champ. Can't wait to see your ugly team. Can I have a little more tequila before I go?

It's Almost Baseball For Real

2010-03-23T07:08:00.007-04:00

Two weeks and it's baseball for real. Starballers start getting freaky about this time as putting the ol' final roster together takes on a life of its own. Time is running out.

So, in an effort to keep the confusion going, here's another site called Fantasy Baseball Tools that offers fantasy baseball player outlooks for the season. Pretty good. So, Starballers, take a look and maybe you'll decide to change strategies in a last minute attempt at fielding something other than an ugly team.

Rookie Phenoms

2010-03-20T10:37:00.004-04:00

Feeling lucky, Starballers? Will we be seeing either Stephen or Aroldis on your rosters this year? There are some good, cheap pitchers this year. But these two? Some day, yes. But how about this year?

16 Days!

2010-03-17T07:33:00.002-04:00

Mark Twain And Baseball

2010-03-14T11:47:00.003-04:00

Never knew this, but Samual Clemens was a baseball fan, as this worth reading article in the NY Times reveals. And he enjoyed it and supported it enough to fill a book, as the writer of this piece--Darryl Brock--is writing a non-fiction book about Mark Twain's love for the game. Who knew?

21 days...

22 Days Till Rosters Due And At Least 17 Teams Ready To Go

2010-03-13T14:05:00.014-05:00

It looks like a great 2010 season is shaping up. There is a very good chance well will be back to full strength with 20 teams. It's good to see some great owners back in after a short hiatus. Of cours, if we get to 20 we'll be playing for a share of a $1,000 purse. Humm Baby.

Here is the team lineup as of today:

* returning

? possible

THE MANNY, MOE, JACK & TYKES DIVISION

Morons

Weak Links

Dragons*

Golden Monkeys*

The Brothers Moran return full force and bring back and along the next generation of Starballers. The Kids.

BULL DURHAM DIVISION

Los Lobos 2009 Champions

Dreamweavers

Sharks

Spellbound*

Palisades (?)

Snoop Dogs

Scarlet Greys*

Durham Deacs

Breezy's Bats (?)

BIG BANK DIVISION (FKA CHARLIE MERRILL DIVISION)

Quakes

Zevonistas

Da Gints

Say Hey Kids

Web Warriors

Panthers (?)

ROAD TRIP DIVISION

Mayhem XIII

Butternuts

Rumor! Palisades Return To Starball?

2010-03-06T07:00:00.024-05:00

Call it the Starball Silly Season or something similar but these last few weeks before rosters are due are good for a rumor or two. The latest is that Bob "O'Malley" Stevens is thinking of once again taking his rightful place in the pantheon of fantasy baseball as owner of The Palisades. Well, he's sorta thinking about it, but your ol' Commish is working on him.

Stevens' Palisades were the 2001 Starball Champions--the guy can pick 'em. As a long-time owner and all-around good guy he's missed in the league. He's good for the game, let's say.

And Mr. Bob--as my boys still call him--will always be due a debt of gratitude from The Commish. You see, The Bob is the fellow who got my head straight about scoring a baseball game. Through him I saw the light...

It happened like this: We often go to Bulls games together; Bob is The Official Chauffeur of the Starball Commish. I don't think he trusts my driving after a 16 ouncer every three innings. Anyway, one night years ago he brought along the ol' score book. About the third inning (after fetching my second "16", I quipped to Mr. Bob that he had his head stuck in that scoring book and was missin' a good game.

"No," Bob said, "I'm paying attention." Sure, I thought. But in the fifth inning a batter comes up and Bob says, "our pitcher needs to watch that guy. He's hit it sharp to right for hits both at bats." And then bam!, the ball screams to right.

"How did you remember that", I asked. "I can't remember what the guys did last time."

"Well, it's all here in the score book."

Then, a couple of innings later he quips that our pitcher is about to get the hook. After that batter walked he did get the hook. OK, how did Bob perceive what was coming? I demanded an answer. He was counting balls and strikes in sequence and could see that the pitcher (who had typically been ahead in the count early in the game) was throwing a lot more balls early in the count--a bad sign.

"Lemme see that damn book," I roared. And upon inspection of all the beautiful game information contained on the page (even though I didn't comprehend every hieroglyphic at the time) it came to me in a grand Epiphany that to score a baseball game means you are in the game, not superficially watching. Now, if I am at a baseball game I'm usually scoring. When I don't, like when The Commishette and I might take in a game with another couple, the joy of the game is diminished.

I am a baseball scoring junkie. Thanks to Mr. Bob. My enjoyment of the game increased exponentially through him. The Bob, Palisades owner and all-around good fellow and friend. The kind of chap you don't mind telling "hope you come in first."

Can't wait to see his ugly team.

2010-03-04T06:58:00.003-05:00

It's Baseball! Spring Training games have begun (yesterday) and today a good matchup will be CC vs. The Doc as Philly and the Yanks play.

There are 32 days till Opening Day. How's that ugly Starball team of yours shaping up? Get crackin'.

Pitchers & Catchers Report

2010-02-18T22:26:00.010-05:00

The season is underway and soon we'll be seeing box scores from The Grapefruit League and The Cactus League. That means it's time to start paying attention and start working on that ugly 2010 team.

The Official Launch of Starball 2010

2010-02-07T22:00:00.002-05:00

"The Stupor Bowl is over. Let the baseball begin."

-- Diehard Starballer

As The Commish, it is my honor for the 21st. consecutive season to proclaim the Durham International Starball League launched for the 2010 season!

It's been a long time coming... Starball Spring Training starts tomorrow. This is your call to begin forming your strategies and creating the best team possible. Everything you need can be accessed from this blog (except, of course, a winning formula). You know what to do. Get crackin'.

COMMISH ASKS FOR CONFIRMATION

1. Please confirm to The Commish that you are in for the 2010 season. You can do this via a comment to this post or email me directly. This year's entry fee is $50 towards payout plus the cost of OnRoto divided by the number of teams.

2. Please advise if you have NEW MEAT on the hook so I can add to the email list.

3. It's about time for a new t-shirt. The design is done and it's a great one. The Commish would be interested in your willingness to purchase a couple. Please advise.

4. Please email with any questions or concerns.

Who Dat!

2010-02-07T21:46:00.006-05:00

Don't mess with Madden NFL for Xbox.

Now, on to baseball.

Saints Win!

2010-02-07T12:41:00.005-05:00

Well, at least that's what the Xbox Madden NFL Game has predicted via a simulation game. You can read about it at the BetUs web site. The game has correctly picked the winner five of the last six years. Who knew... Hmm, did the game simulations match the spreads?

Anyway, Super Bowl Sunday is one of my favorite days. But because it is the Official Launch of the new Starball season. So, as far as the Super Bowl is concerned...it's Go Dodgers!

Starball launches, as is the tradition, at the end of the Stupor Bowl. Stay tuned. Hope you come in second.

How To Play Baseball

2010-02-06T09:09:00.000-05:00

Don't Think. Have Fun.

2010-01-31T10:14:00.005-05:00

Here's another dose of confusion as Starballers continue to codify their teams. Baseball Fantasy Dugout offers a ranking of players by position (scroll down the home page a bit and look on the right).

And for a little added attraction, the site has been following the Tiger Woods story. The site is Tiger tail obsessed so you can see pics of all the golfer's extra curricular activity partners in one post.

Spring Training approaches, so get crackin'.

Beisbol in Venezuela

2010-01-26T07:22:00.000-05:00

This one is for Starball Champion Wild Bill Miller who, if memory serves, knew/knows former Durham Bulls manager Buddy Bailey...or was it Dirty Al Gallagher...or both. Buddy has been managing in Venezuela for several years now with great success and the short video on the NY Times site called Baseball in Venezuela has a brief interview with Bailey and offers an enjoyable look into winter baseball, complete with drained and often thrown whiskey bottles. Ouch.

You might want to check out this site about BB in Venezuela. But be warned that there is music attached to the site that shocked the hell out of me once the site loaded.

Is This Why Bert's Not In The Hall?

2010-01-25T06:30:00.000-05:00

Front Row!

2010-01-22T23:30:00.015-05:00

Pic: UNC's renovated and expanded Boshamer Stadium. FIRST GAME Friday 2/19/10 vs. George Washington @UNC 2pm. Also Saturday 2pm and Sunday 1pm.

Team owners and visitors are invited to become followers of the blog, as we've just added the Follow widget. As Bob Uecker says, "Front Row!" Now team owners, you are going to make your Ol' Commish look bad if you guys don't sign up to follow.

And while visiting, leave a comment. Whadaya think of the posts? Add your two cents worth. It can't be any worse than my opinions and observations. And, I'm always interested in the straight skinny on a loose pitcher's elbow or an inside tip on this season's blow-up head case.

Less Than 30 Days!

2010-01-22T06:20:00.008-05:00

OK, children. Class begins. As we are less than 30 days till pitchers and catchers report (!), DIS Blog will begin to highlight fantasy baseball blogs/sites in the hopes that the more information your sneaky ol' Commish provides the more confused you'll get, the more chaotic your research for 2010 will be and thus I will have some advantage and maybe win some money this season. But I'm not holding my breath as I will be rummaging through these sites too, looking for the one gleaming bit of insight that will make the season magical.

Check out TG Fantasy Baseball for 2010 projections and other interesting info including daily pre season transactions and contracts. There is one player projection I'm keenly interested in (I won't tell you who it is, of course); at bats are projected down and I wonder why. But I've gone to the source and hopefully TGF will answer my plea for an explanation.

Get crackin'. It's time to fall in love with our game all over again.

This Offerman Guy, Did He Ever Give Us Any Trouble When He Was In Starball?

2010-01-19T07:18:00.000-05:00

Baseball or Football

2010-01-18T18:30:00.010-05:00

Well, after listening to George Carlin's "Football or Baseball" bit again I'm reminded of why I love baseball and tolerate football. Although Carlin seems to side with football as the more deserving and masculine sport, a non-comedic rendition of his script really describes the majesty, elegance and the individual Mano a Mano nature that is inherent in the game of baseball.

In his 2005 book The Meaning of Sport: Why Americans Watch Baseball, Football and Basketball and What They See When They Do, Michael Manelbaum puts it this way:

It is impossible to isolate and objectively assess the contribution each [football] team member makes to the outcome of the play.... [E]very basketball player is interacting with all of his teammates all the time. In baseball, by contrast, every player is more or less on his own.... Baseball is therefore a realm of complete transparency and total responsibility. A baseball player lives in a glass house, and in a stark moral universe.... Everything that every player does is accounted for and everything accounted for is either good or bad, right or wrong.

A stark moral universe...transparency and total responsibility...sounds very American to me.

The Hawk To Be Enshrined In Hall

2010-01-10T08:07:00.015-05:00

Andre Dawson was elected to the HOF last Wednesday in his ninth year of eligibility, with 77.9% of ballots casted. Andre, aka The Hawk, was ROY in 1977, MVP in 1987 and is one of only three players to accomplish hitting 400 dingers and stealing 300 bases.

Do you know the other two? Only one is in the HOF. Record your answer by commenting on this post and receive an official Starball Attaboy!.

Dawson, who played 21 years, retired with a .279 batting average. He will be inducted in July along with Whitey Hertzog and umpire Doug Harvey (they let in blue?!). Hertzog and Harvey were elected by the Veterans Committee.

Dawson Joins 292 other HOF'ers.

One interesting fact just learned while reading about Dawson is that the HOF, not the inductee, chooses which team hat will be depicted on the HOP plaque. They discuss it, but the final decision is the HOF's. Didn't know that...

PS: You gotta love that sport coat Andre wore in '87 at the press conference announcing he had signed with the Cubs...for $500,000.

Strike!

2010-01-03T10:44:00.000-05:00

Salary Sighting (Hum, Baby!)

2009-12-26T07:51:00.008-05:00

One of the great days of the year. When there is a salary sighting at the Diamond Challenge Baseball site. Right up there with Opening Day. Check out Diamond Challenge for the 2010 season salaries and player positions. Hum Baby!

Now we'll have something important to do with our weekends. For the uninitiated, DIS uses the salaries and player positions from this game but nothing else pertains to Starball.

Only 99 days till Opening Day. Get crackin'!

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-24T06:33:00.000-05:00

Doc Ellis + LSD = No Hitter

2009-12-08T23:12:00.009-05:00

The Curveball: It's All Illusion (?!)

2009-12-06T16:53:00.010-05:00

Now, let me get this straight. According to the winners of the Best Visual Illusions contest--some upstart college kids--the curve ball they say, is a perceptual puzzle. The rotation of the ball causes a gradual deflection of the ball's path but it is often perceived as a sharp break because the batter's vision transitions from the central vision system to the peripheral vision system...

Right. So how come when we sit in front of the TV and the camera angle is from behind the pitcher and he throws the curve we see that big nasty break?

The damn bottom drops out of it!

Season Of A Silent Hero

2009-11-30T00:54:00.001-05:00

Gay Talese writes about The Yankee Clipper. Esquire, 1966.

Baseball's Voice Of God

2009-11-28T11:23:00.003-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving. Let's Eat.

2009-11-26T06:16:00.000-05:00

Starball Welcomes Baseball GB Readers!

2009-11-22T08:18:00.023-05:00

Your humble Commish traded emails recently with one Mr. Matt Smith, Editor of BaseballGB. BGB is a very interesting site devoted to all things baseball in Great Britain. There are also interesting posts on international baseball elsewhere. Starballers and other readers are encouraged to visit this worthwhile and well-written site.

Matt was kind enough to add the DIS Blog to the his site's fantasy baseball links and since that time just a few days ago, 16% of the visitors to our blog have been from The UK. Awesome!
As Commish, I take great pleasure in welcoming those who visit via the BGB site. Speaking for all Starballers, it is an honor to have you visit and we trust you will find the blog "a keeper". We solicit your comments, suggestions and return visits.

And, we hope you baseball fans across the pond will embrace the spirit and simplicity of our Starball game and start your own Starball leagues. As the Original Commish, I would be pleased to correspond with any who want to start a league like ours. It's fun, only as time consuming as you wish it to be (no daily or weekly trading!) and with OnRoto as your stat keeper, it's a snap. Everything you need to start a league can be found from this blog.

The pleasure of logging on to your OnRoto League page each morning to see how your team is doing before trundling off to work is a satisfying start to the day.

This past season BGB put together its first Head 2 Head Fantasy League. In the spirit of the "International" in Starball, I have invited Matt to field a team for the 2010 Starball Season. We've not been truly international since the Canadian contingent dropped out after a MLB player's strike. He says he is considering the invitation and I hope he decides to join us. We always are on the lookout for NEW MEAT! Right team owners?!

It is exciting to think we are sharing our love and respect for the game of baseball with like-minded people in other parts of the world. Baseball is surely the greatest game and we should all be missionaries for something that brings us so much joy and satisfaction.

Welcome, friends who find Starball via BGB. Consider yourself a member of The Order of the Red Stitch. God Bless the Queen (and Grady Little).

British Baseball Federation

Society for American Baseball Research UK Chapter

1965 World Series, Game Four

2009-11-21T20:15:00.018-05:00

Just watched Don Drysdale pitch a complete game 7-2 victory vs. The Twins in the 1965 World Series game four to tie the Series. Drysdale fanned 11 batters, including the third out of the 9th, with a high and tight fastball that was a trademark pitch for him. The batter swung in self-defense. Vindication for the lousy showing in game one, when Drysdale lasted only 2 2/3 innings.

Damn, I love MLB TV.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Twins 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 2 5 2
Dodgers 1 1 0 1 0 3 0 1 X 7 10 0
W: Don Drysdale (1-1), L: Mudcat Grant (1-1)

Swing, Batta, Batta

2009-11-18T07:29:00.004-05:00

What makes a great baseball player great? Read this.

"The physical nature of the game, and especially the speed of some of the things that have to happen means that you just have to have a lot of mental preparation or it would be impossible."

"Baseball is impossible without psychology: impossible to play, and impossible to appreciate fully as a fan. Watch any game, and most of what you see is thinking."

"You have to be one in 2 million to have the total package of physical and psychological abilities required to succeed in baseball at its highest levels of competition."

--Mike Stadler

Author of The Psychology of Baseball

Rangers 30, O's 3 (Sorry, Wild Bill)

2009-11-17T08:06:00.000-05:00

And it happened at Camden Yards, too. August 22, 2007. Texas 30, O's 3. The first time a team scored that many runs in 110 years. In 3 hours and 21 minutes. Texas had 57 at bats. Twenty-nine hits. And when this one was over, the O's had to come out and play another. Double header.

Two grand slams. And Texas batters struck out eleven times...41%...and scored 30.

Sorry, Wild Bill.

Baseball Explained

2009-11-15T00:17:00.000-05:00

This is a game played by two teams, one out, the other in. The one that's in sends players out one at a time, to see if they can get in before they get out. If they get out before they get in, they come in, but it doesn't count. If they get in before they get out it does count. When the ones out get three outs from the ones in before they get in without being out, the team that's out comes in and the team in goes out to get those going in out before they get in without being out.

When both teams have been in and out nine times the game is over. The team with the most in without being out before coming in wins unless the ones in are equal. In which case, the last ones in go out to get the ones in out before they get in without being out. The game will end when each team has the same number of ins out but one team has more in without being out before coming in.

Got it?

1990: LA vs. Atlanta, Pedro's Kid Brother

2009-11-14T18:31:00.008-05:00

It's November 14, 2009 but I am watching the 1990 Atlanta vs. Los Angeles game on MLB TV. It's June 4, 1990. Glavin vs. Ramon Martinez...Pedro's little brother. I am in the midst of watching a strike out record. As I watch, Ramon has 18 K's, which ties Sandy Koufax's record for the Dodgers. Boom. The game is over. Eighteen K's. Awesome.

The Spaceman

2009-11-14T08:26:00.033-05:00

The most casual baseball fan remembers Bill The Spaceman Lee. But even the die hard fan may not realize just what a iconic baseball player he is. Not was. Is, because at 60-plus, he still plays the game. Like in June of '08 when he pitched six solid innings in the annual Midnight Sun game, played on the summer solstice in Fairbanks, Alaska. He played semi-pro when he left the majors, he's played with The Grey Sox, a team of former Red Sox players. He's always looking for a game.

He loves the game. It's in his genes. His father, grandfather (Hollywood All Stars, 1918) and an aunt all played pro ball at some level. As one Lee observer said, "Bill has to play ball. Because he's a baseball player." Indeed. He is a baseball purist who ranted about Astro Turf, polyester uniforms and the designated hitter.

Bill Lee pitched for the Red Sox from 1969 to 1978 before being shipped off to Montreal where he played from '79 to '82. He was traded on December 7th. Pearl Harbor Day. His three consecutive 17 win seasons be damned.

When released by the Expos he was basically blackballed from the Major League game. Something about marijuana use and his willingness to speak out about how a team and the Majors were run... he protested Montreal releasing a .240 hitting, base stealing second baseman who Bill thought was a spark plug of the team despite his average. They let him go, too.

San Diego manager Dick Williams, who managed Lee in Montreal, wanted badly to bring The Spaceman to the Padres. Owner Mrs. Kroc would have no part of it. Too bad. He was good for the game. It's wacky but brilliant conscience, perhaps.

He's still good for the game. But we must reach out and find him, like by watching a glorious and award-winning documentary about his beloved game and the eternal purity of playing because you love it. Watch. Listen. And be closer to the game. And to Bill Lee, baseball player extraordinaire.

Bill Lee (by Warren Zevon from the 1980 album Bad Luck Streak In Dancing School)

You're supposed to sit on your ass and nod at stupid things
Man, that's hard to do
And if you don't, they'll screw you
And if you do, they'll screw you, too

When I'm standing in the middle of the diamond all alone
I always play to win
When it comes to skin and bone

And sometimes I say things I shouldn't
Like...
And sometimes I say things I shouldn't
Like...
______________________________

"Baseball's a very simple game. All you have to do is sit on your butt, spit tobacco, and nod at the stupid things your manager says."
--Bill Lee

"I love Cuba; goddamn, they play baseball for all the right reasons. Because they like it. They don't play it because they can make more money or sell more satellite dishes."
--Bill Lee, from Spaceman: A Baseball Odyssey

Spaceman: A Baseball Odyssey Award-winning documentary. About one hour and worth it.

Five Hour Interview with The Spaceman Five one hour segments.

The Spaceman: Still Crazy After All These Years (Boston Phoenix)

Baseball in Vermont, the Spaceman's stomping grounds

Veterans Day

2009-11-11T20:08:00.014-05:00

The White House

Washington

January 15, 1942.

My dear Judge:

Thank you for yours of January fourteenth. As you will, of course, realize the final decision about the baseball season must rest with you and the Baseball Club owners -- so what I am going to say is solely a personal and not an official point view.

I honestly feel that it would be best for the country to keep baseball going. There will be fewer people unemployed and everybody will work longer hours and harder than ever before.

And that means that they ought to have a chance for recreation and for taking their minds off their work even more than before.

Baseball provides a recreation which does not last over two hours or two hours and a half and which can be got for very little cost. And, incidentally, I hope that night games can be extended because it gives an opportunity to the day shift to see a game occasionally.

As to the players themselves I know you agree with me that individual players who are of active military or naval age should go, without question, into the services. Even if the actual quality of the teams is lowered by the greater use of older players, this will not dampen the popularity of the sport. Of course, if any individual has some particular aptitude in a trade or profession, he ought to serve the Government. That, however, is a matter which I know you can handle with complete justice.

Here is another way of looking at it -- if 300 teams use 5,000 or 6,000 players, these players are a definite recreational asset to at least 20,000,000 of their fellow citizens -- and that in my judgment is thoroughly worthwhile.

With every best wish,

Very sincerely yours,

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Hon. Kenesaw M. Landis, 333 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Illinois.

Baseball In Wartime

Baseball In The Military

1950 World Series

2009-11-07T08:42:00.020-05:00

Saturday morning 7am. Why am I awake so early this morning? Fate. I am to watch the 30 minute World Series Highlights review of the '50 Series on MLB TV.

I wake up and decide to go ahead and get up. I feed the dogs and cats, make the coffee, let go a good fart to start the day, plop on the couch with the laptop to check email and turn on the tube. As I channel surf for listings, MLB TV is about to show the 1950 Series highlights. The year of my birth. Think I'll watch.

I'd forgotten it was Yanks vs. Phillies that year. This should be an interesting comparison to the Series I've just watched over the last days. It was.

We've had MLB TV for a while now, but I am still discovering its glory. I have three complete historic games saved on the DVD, just waiting for some miserable winter weekend when I wish there was a baseball game to enjoy and score: Gaylord Perry's 300th victory; Nolan Ryan's seventh no-no; a game pitched by Sandy Koufax. I pray the channel will show the 1988 WS game one--the one a hurt Kirk Gibson saved for LA with one of the most dramatic home runs ever.

But I've never gotten around to watching any of the WS highlights shows. Until now. For thirty minutes I sat mesmerized, watching Yankee greats like Yogi, DiMaggio, Vic Raschi, rookie Whitey Ford and others take on The Whiz Kids, Philadelphia's young team including Robin Roberts, Ritchie Ashburn, Dick Sisler and Nickname Hall o' Famers Putsy Caballero and Granny Hamner.

It was fascinating to watch. Here are some observations: I'd forgotten how great those baggy wool uniforms looked--with lots of stirrups showing. All the players--even rookie Ford--looks old, with chiseled features. No cherub Jeeter or A-Rod faces. Why?

The fans were dressed up (and the fans look old and chiseled, too. Don't see many kids when they show the crowd). Suits and dresses. Some of the batters seem not to swing through when they hit the ball. Maybe it's me, but some of 'em swing like girls... And the pitchers all use that classic forward thrust windup I loved to imitate when I was a kid. The Yankees pitcher's combined ERA for the four games was 0.73.

[While I am composing this post I'm keeping one eye peeled to the '56 WS Highlights show. Yanks vs. Bums. I just watched The Mick hit a home run and he seemed to not swing through...like a girl. The ball left the stadium, over three decks and landed on the other side of the street outside the park. He won the Triple Crown that year.]

Oh, and one more observation. There were no black players. The 1950 World Series was the last all-white Series...neither team would field a black player for several years.

1950 World Series Recap

1950 WS Memories

Yanks Win

2009-11-05T19:51:00.016-05:00

You know what happened. Arod got plunked thrice during the series, got hot at the plate. Godzilla knocked in six runs in the final game and was named MVP. Pettitte pitched 5 2/3 good innings in game six and was tossed the ball by the home plate ump as he possibly walked off the field for the last time.

The Phillies World Champion t-shirts and hats will be sent to Indonesian children who have lost everything to a massive earthquake.

And Thomas Boswell pretty much sums it up in his Washington Post game six column "Returning to Their Rightful Place":

"When you are a child, you think as a child and imagine that, someday, the Yankees will never win another Series. When you are an adult, you think as an adult and put away childish things. You know the Yankees will always win the World Series. But, ifyou're lucky, only seven times in the last 46 years."

The Yankees have won 27 of 105 World Series Championships.

And, if you have forgotten why Starballer's ask for God's blessings on Grady Little, Boswell reminds us in this column.

Congratulations to the Yanks, and God Bless Grady Little. And Pedro.

Michael Goldsmith, ALS activist and Baseball Fan

2009-11-05T05:00:00.001-05:00

Michael Goldsmith dies at 58

Batting For The Cure

4ALS Awareness

Lou Gehrig

How The Minor Leagues Work

2009-11-04T05:00:00.007-05:00

There is an interesting multi-page web article at the How Stuff Works web site about the minor leagues that uses the Durham Bulls organization to take the reader on a tour of MiLB. Although the piece was presented several years ago and is thus not totally current, it's worth a read. There are interesting parts regarding the history of the minor leagues and the Bulls.

Rhubarbs

2009-11-03T05:00:00.000-05:00

Sporting News Daily...Free!

2009-11-02T12:08:00.008-05:00

The Sporting News Daily is a free--yes, free--daily roundup of sports delivered over the Internet. Just sign up, and they'll send you an email each morning for a click-through to the new edition.

This is a high graphic, awesome freebie. Check it out!

Hub Fans Bid Kid Adieu

2009-11-02T05:31:00.005-05:00

John Updike, who died in late January of this year, is one of America's literary treasures. And, like so many writers, he was a baseball fan. He penned what many believe is one of the greatest baseball stories ever written, about one of the greatest players of all time, Ted Williams.

In the October 20, 1960 New Yorker piece, Hub Fans Bid Kid Adieu, Updike wrote about Teddy Ballgame's last game and his tumultuous career in Boston. King Kaufman of Salon sets up a read of the piece and provides a link to the article.

The link will take you to Kaufman's article and will also land you on Salon's baseball web pages. It boasts 131 pages of literary baseball writing going back to 1997. Who knew...

The 2009 Starball Season: Los Lobos Take The Championship

2009-11-01T10:30:00.025-05:00

Congratulations to Wild Bill Miller and his Los Lobos team for their 2009 championship season! Los Lobos held off Web Warriors by 90 points. During the tail end of the season Wild Bill's stellar lineup pulled away from Mayhem XIII, an early season leader, and Butternuts, who made the late season Big Fade after a strong earlier part of the season. The Sharks rounded out the money winners.

This year, DIS consisted of 13 teams, down from the usual 15 to 20 teams. Mis-communication, some laziness and procrastination on the part of certain un-named former owners contributed to the decline in teams. The 2010 season is expected to have a minimum 15 teams. Twenty teams is the Starball self-imposed limit.

The Los Lobos team accumulated 6,680 points and was the only team to break the 6,600 mark. Through the years it has typically taken 6,600+ points to win. Wild Bill pocketed $325 for his efforts and the priceless right to say he's a Champion Starballer.

Los Lobos led in points scored for runs, stolen bases, hits, complete games and shutouts. The team was well-rounded with a strong mix of power, speed and strong pitching. Injuries--often the downfall of a well-considered team--was not a problem for Wild Bill's minions.

Miller was ecstatic over the championship. "Go to war, Miss Agnes! Ain't the beer cold!", was his exuberant chant, favorite sayings of former Baltimore O's play-by-play man Chuck Thompson.

Now Starballers turn their attention to figuring out what went wrong with their lineups and picking through '09 stats for inspiration for next year. As always, we'll be on "Salary Watch", awaiting the publication of CDM Sport's Diamond Challenge fantasy game 2010 salaries, which is the official salary source for Durham International Starball.

Final Stats can be viewed here. Starball Owners, note that our OnRoto site is still available for viewing.

There Used To Be A Ballpark (Old Blue Eyes)

2009-11-01T00:01:00.004-04:00

There Used To Be A Ballpark (Written by Joe Raposo & recorded by Frank Sinatra)

"Oh, there used to be a ball park where the field was warm and green,and the people played a crazy game with a joy I've never seen.

How the people watched with wonder, how they laughed and how they cheered. Yes, there used to be a ball park....right here....

And the people ate rock candy on a great big 4th of July and the fireworks exploded all across the summer sky.

And the air was filled with wonder from the hot dogs and the beer. Yes, there used to be a ball park...right here....

Now the children try to find it, and they can't believe their eyes, For the old team isn't playing, and the new team hardly tries...

And the sky has gotten cloudy when it used to be so clear and the summer....went so quickly...this year....

Yes, there used to be a ball park...right here.... "

Vin Scully On Dodger Stadium

2009-10-31T14:20:00.014-04:00

“When the sun sets at Dodger Stadium, I am impressed first of all with the mountains because, at this time of year, they are fully defined. It makes me think of some of the great artists who did Western paintings — Frederic Remington, Charles Russell, Frank McCarthy, to name a few — because they must have been inspired by that.

And then the cloud formations. At sunset, they turn pink. And as it continues, the closer you are to sunset, the clouds are still kind of gold. Farther away in center field and right field, you’re away from the sunset and the clouds are turning purple. So you think of an artist’s palette with various colors, and it just takes your breath away.

Down on the field, a ballgame is just beginning. But the sunset becomes a major distraction because it’s so overwhelming it’s hard to take your eyes off it. And then the palm trees — there’s a group of palm trees on the hill behind left field — they are defined against the sky, and they are turning colors with the sunset. You can’t see that anywhere else in a ballpark.”
Vin Scully
Los Angeles Times, August 21, 2003

Baseball Lit 101

2009-10-31T02:02:00.003-04:00

Jane Leavy, author of the recent biography Sandy Koufax, offered these 14 favorite baseball books, as reported by Bob Minzesheimer in USA Today.

Red Smith on Baseball: "His OBP is still the best."
Glove Stories: The Collected Baseball Writings of Dave Kindred. He "can do it all."
Joe DiMaggio: The Hero's Life by Richard Ben Cramer.
The Natural by Bernard Malamud.
The Boys of Summer by Roger Khan. "Always powerful."
You Know Me, Al, Ring Lardner's classic short stories.
Nine Innings by Daniel Okrent.
Late Innings by Roger Agnell. Agnell's and Okrent's essays in these 2 books are "elegant and invaluable."
Last Days of Summer by Steve Kluger. The novel has "unexpected clout."
Can't Anybody Here Play This Game? The Improbable Saga of the New Your Met's First Year by Jimmy Breslin.
Ball Four by Jim Bouton.
The Southpaw by Mark Harris.
Pafko At the Wall (the first 60 pages of Don DeLillo's novel Underworld).
Stengel: His Life and Times by Robert W. Creamer.

And the Commish recommends...
The Brothers K by David James Duncan. A saga of family, baseball, dreams, war, religion and what they give and take away.
The Oldest Rookie by Jim Morris. The book is even better than the movie.
The Universal Baseball Association, Inc., J. Henry Waugh, Prop. By Robert Coover. A dark yet satisfying novel about a lonely man's passion for the game. The ultimate fantasy game... A gem.
The Joy of Keeping Score by Paul Dickson. A small volume dedicated to the ol' 5-4-3.
A Great and Glorious Game by Bart Giamatti. Elegant writing and a true love for the game. If we only had him as Commish now...
The Jerome Holtzman Baseball Reader: The Official Historian of Major League Baseball, Holtzman chooses his favorite articles and essays from over five decades of writing about the game. A treasure.
Baseball, A Literary Anthology, edited by Nicholas Dawidoff. Seven hundred and twenty one pages of delight for the baseball fan. Essays and stories from literary giants, great sports writers and more, Ranging from Haywood Hale Broun to John Updike. Not to be missed.
Baseball Letters by Seth Swirsky. A fan writes and the great ones answer. His follow-up Every Pitcher Tells a Story is a good one, too. And Seth has another one, Something to Write Home About: Great Baseball Memories in Letters to a Fan. Examples: Ray Chapman's (only man killed by a pitched ball in MLB) sister recalls the funeral, Paul Lo Duca writes about his mother who was his practice partner, Mookie Wilson writes about the ball and Buckner. Stories in letter form by those inolved.
The Barry Halper Collection of Baseball Memorabilia, the Sotheby's massive catalogue that presented that massive auction becomes a beautiful, richly illustrated history of the game. Can usually be found at Barnes & Noble.
Baseball Cards of the Fifties, the Complete Topps' Cards and Baseball Cards of the Sixties, the Complete Topps Cards both edited by Frank Slocum. Oh, how I remember so many of these cards, opened by the pack under the willow tree in the front yard. I can almost smell the gum. Wonderful nostalgia. Just page after page of colorful cards and just enough "editorial" to set the stage for each decade's beautiful cards.
Hitting Into the Wind by Bill Meissner. Little stories about the game, mostly just a few pages each. The bedtime book I read over and over. The one entitled The Man Who Rescues Baseballs is worth the price alone. Along with Brothers K, my favorite.

Starball Hall Of Fame

2009-10-31T01:46:00.009-04:00

The Inductees to The Starball Hall of Fame are diverse individuals who in their own unique ways have added much to our great game of Starball.

Jim Danku As noted in the History of Starball, Jim is the Father of Starball. Without him there would be no rushing to the box scores in the daily paper (and now delivered to you via email!) to excitedly see how your guys did the night before. There would be no razz, no winner, no Commish (yikes!) no screwed up, over-the-cap rosters...no Starball...

Rob (VP of SE) Moran The ol' Vice President of Statistical Excellence. Often referred to as the VP of Testicular Excellence. Rob single-handedly has kept the stats for Starball since Day One. Without him there would have been no stats! And no stats means no Starball! Not once has he ever faltered in is duties to the league. Never has he complained about all the work. And it takes a lot of work to do the stats... Although we now enjoy the daily OnRoto Stats updates via the web, there could never be a better set of stats, hot off the ol' computer printer, than those supplied by the VP of SE. Rob also serves as Assistant Commish of Starball. Rob won Starball in 1992 and 1993. Like his Blue Devils, he was "back to back"!

Big Bill Thomas and Glenn "Big Mac" McFarland It seems appropriate that these two long-time Starballers be inducted together since they were fast friends, fielded teams together and unexpectedly passed away within weeks of each other during the 2001 Starball season.

Glenn McFarland was an original member of the Starball fraternity and fielded teams under the Big Mack Attack moniker for many years. The old boy could chow down, so his choice of nicknames was a great one. We think of him as the original Big Mac. As a workmate Glenn could always keep things interesting. There was always someone to "talk Starball" with.

Big Bill came to Starball via his pal Glenn and fielded teams called The Hurricanes. He won Starball in 1996, besting Marty Moran's Weak Links by a slim 52 points. Bill loved the game. In fact, he was quite a chunk in his days in American Legion and semi-pro ball. As a lad he kept score and announced Negro League minor league ballgames at the old El Toro Field in Durham. He could tell some stories...and the hot dogs at Pascal's were never better than when lunching with him.

Theo Vickers Our old pal Theo Vickers was a welcomed visitor at Tharrington's on a daily basis. He became such a fixture sitting in the shoe department that we began to introduce him to customers as our Chief of Security.

Theo was a die hard Yankees fan and was especially fond of Don Mattingly. When it just wouldn't work out that he could choose the entire Yankees starting lineup for Starball he threw in with Perry Tharrington to co-own the Flying Tigers, named after his WWII fighting unit. His daily discourse on how the season was going was always good for a smile. His malapropos were legendary, as was his grace and willingness to be a friend to everyone. Theo passed away during the 2002 season. He is missed by all who knew him.

NEW MEAT: There's Nothing More Ugly Than A Rookie's First Team

2009-10-31T01:29:00.004-04:00

OK, potential NEW MEAT rookies, this is your invitation to join in on Starball's 2010 Season. Leave behind your excuses about not enough time and your inner fears of inferiority...you know you want to play this game.

Starball is a simple and fun fantasy baseball league entering our 21st year. Starball IS NOT A ROTISSERIE LEAGUE! Our game is vastly less taxing, less time consuming and in our opinion, much more fun. There are no daily phone calls, no incessant swapping of players in and out of your roster every day...no daily anything except enjoying the box scores and regaling in baseball. Read on.

The real intensive part of Starball (if you want it to be) is the research time you put in to choose your team. From the day of the Starball season launch (once new salaries and positions are announced) until Opening Day, you'll work to create the most efficient and powerful team you possibly can. But the amount of work is up to you. Work to your schedule and to your time constraints. Many a great Starball team has been created with only a couple of hours of work. Some team owners start right away in January while others get serious when the teams hit Spring Training. And some even wait until a mere days before the season starts to create their team.

Once you've put together that great team, simply sit back and relax. You'll wake up to box scores in the morning news and you can check out our OnRoto Stats website for standing updates and other fun stuff if you wish. At switch time you'll upgrade your team if needed...you might do a little work to decide... That's not too much to ask for a chance to win a million--uh, a few hundred dollars, is it?

If you're like most Starball owners you'll find that the game greatly enhances your enjoyment of the baseball season. OK, so you are in. Then email The Commish to reserve your spot... (you have it). We'll be glad to answer any question, offer advice and de-mystify the game. And we can't wait to see your rotten team...

Check out this Starblog for some links that will be helpful and remember above all else: The two most important things in life are good friends and a strong bullpen...and...It Ain't Over Till It's Over: IAOTIO.

"They cannot beat us. Am en route."
-Blondy Ryan, telegram to the 1938 N.Y. Giants

Starball Rules

2009-10-31T01:16:00.011-04:00

(2011 Rule Changes In Red)
CHOOSING PLAYERS: All Major League players are eligible. A player can appear only once on your roster. Salary cap is $18.5 million. Salaries and positions as listed on Diamond Challenge game. For any player not listed, salary is $500,000, not the $750,000 shown on the DC printout.

(The sponsor of the Diamond Challenge BB game is ceasing operation and closing down their site. As they published salaries prior to this we will use the salaries for 2011. Contact The Commish for salary spreadsheet.)

Choose one starting player at each infield position except pitcher, three outfielders from any outfield position, five starting pitchers, one relief pitcher and one "Joker"/"DH" player from any position except pitching positions.

CHOOSING RESERVES: For each of your starting players, choose two reserves which you will be able to switch in as described below. Reserve players must have a salary equal to or less that your starter or you may use the highest salary of your reserves as the starter's salary. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO INSURE THAT YOUR LINEUP MEETS THE SALARY CAP. AFTER THE SEASON BEGINS ERRORS IN YOUR LINEUP WILL MEAN DISQUALIFICATION OF THE PLAYERS INVOLVED.

RESERVE RULES: You may make four roster changes during the season. Your first switch is a "FREE SWITCH" and must be made no later that April 30th. With this free switch you may (1) substitute in a player NOT on your roster to a starting or reserve position. You must remove a player at that position to make room for the new player. If you bring in a player to a starting position you may make your original starter a reserve if you wish. If you bring in a player to a reserve position a reserve must be taken out. If your free switch involves a pitcher or outfielder, the player you remove must be from the same player/reserve set. If your opening day roster is below the salary cap you may bring in a higher salaried player. But at all times your team may not exceed the salary cap.

Or (2) you may use the free switch as a standard switch (see below).

With your other 3 switches you may move in either of your reserves for a starter. Your original starter becomes a reserve and could be brought back in if a switch remains. Deadline for these switches are: 2nd switch no later than June 30; 3rd switch no later than July 31; 4th switch no later than August 31. If your switch is not in as described above it is assumed you do not want a switch.

SCORING: Lineup with the most points at the end of the season wins. Tiebreaker games count. No playoff or World Series games count.

STARTING PITCHER POINTS:

20 pts for a win
5 pts for a complete game
5 pts for a shutout
1/2 point for each strikeout
25 pts for a no hitter plus all other applicable points

RELIEF PITCHER POINTS:

10 pts for a win or save
1/2 point each for strikeout
Relief pitchers cannot receive any other points even if ML club uses as a starter
No multi-player no hitter points

OTHER PLAYERS: one point each for:

hit
run
homerun
rbi
sb
walk

THE STARBALL STRIKE RULE: At least one major league team must play over 80 games in order for a Starball winner to be named. Whether play resumes or not the switch dates remain as stated above. If the season is terminated with less than 81 games played by at least one team, money (less the stat fee) will be returned.

MISC: Joker/DH points break tie, then 1st, 2nd, 3rd, ss, c, total outfield.

Payout:
1st. 50%
2nd. 25%
3rd. 12.5%
4th. 7.5%
5th. 5%

"I never had to cheat. I get 'em with what I got."
--Dave Winfield

Starball History

2009-10-31T00:47:00.012-04:00

Durham International Starball was founded by Jim ("Jimmy D") Danku and Tom Hardison in 1990. Jim-- a transplanted Cannuck-- saw a wonderful game in the Toronto newspaper called "Starball". The game used only star players and was much less time consuming than the ever-popular Rotisserie games. Just right for this gang!

Jim, Tom and Rob (soon to be V.P. of S.E.) Moran formulated a set of rules that took the best of Toronto Starball and their own ideas to come up with Durham International Starball. While the rules have changed somewhat through the years, Starball has maintained a link to its heritage and continues to be a simulation baseball game that requires a good bit of thought but not the daily commitment of a Rotisserie League.

STARBALL WINNERS THROUGH THE YEARS
2009: Los Lobos (Wild Bill Miller)
2008:
2007:
2006:
2005: Da Jints (Jim Sessoms)
2004: The Web Warriors (Steve Cargle)
2003: The Morons (Rob Moran)
2002: The Undertakers (Eddy Clements)
2001: The Palisades (Bob "O'Malley" Stevens)
2000: The Flying Tigers (Theo Vickers & Perry Tharrington)
1999: The Dreamweaver (Bill Weaver)
1998: The Vagabonds (Tom McGill)
1997: The Raicehorse (Jeff Raice)
1996: The Hurricanes (Big Bill Thomas)
1995: The Raicehorse (Jeff Raice)
1994: Dream Jr's. (Will Weaver, age 10)
1993: The Repeaters (Rob Moran)
1992: Bozos and Bolos (Rob Moran)
1991: The Flamingo (Paul Rodriguez)
1990: The Flamingo (Paul Rodriguez)

"The baseball past is a world the establishment can't touch. They can't cheapen it. They can expand, play on plastic, add wild card-teams to the playoffs, have a DH for every position, start the World Series on Christmas Day, or play the whole season in a studio in Japan, but the lords of baseball and television moguls can't hurt the past."
--Luke Salisbury
The Answer Is Baseball (1989)