BSL: MLB Finally Takes A Stand

Major League Baseball likes to portray itself as this entity that is intertwined with the fabric of our country. “National Pastime” and “America’s Game” are two phrases that many writers, fans, and the industry use to describe the game and its importance to the culture of the United States. And, to a degree, that romanticism is justifiable. The game’s pace allows for conversations in between those moments of great intensity. The history, the numbers, and the personalities make for a nice highlight reel. Baseball fans can often relate those moments on the field to the happenings of their life.

BSL: 2021 MLB Predictions Destined To Go Wrong

The return of the 162 game Major League Baseball season is upon us. While the 60 game sprint offered quite a bit of excitement, there is something comforting about having the marathon of a baseball season back in our lives. The 162 game schedule is the great equalizer; it shows not only good Major League teams, but great Major League organizations.

BSL: Where Are The Innings Coming From?

Major League Baseball’s 2021 season will look different than most seasons. While nothing can top the sprint of 2020, this season will test organizations like never before. Pitching is always a a fragile commodity. Using data from sports website, Spotrac, Major League Baseball spent, as an industry, over $300 million on injured pitcher salaries during its last full season of 2019. The pitcher injury epidemic isn’t anything new for the sport, but the 2021 season puts a completely new twist on the whole subject.

BSL: 2021 Rules Experimentation Likely Impacts Baseball Tradition (In A Good Way)

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred is tasked with keeping a group of owners happy in their millions of dollars of profits, keeping the players happy with their millions of dollars, and making sure that the sport doesn’t lose its audience to the more fast paced sports like basketball or the quick burn of the NFL season.  He even has to contend with professional video game leagues. He has to do all of this while balancing one thing that almost every sport doesn’t have: tradition.

BSL: King Felix: The Romanticism and Reality Of A Baseball Comeback

The romanticism of baseball always gets to me. Give me a highlight of Ken Griffey Jr., Don Mattingly, or Cal Ripken Jr. and I am instantly transported back to being a teenager consuming every highlight I could. Give me a good story like Trey Mancini fighting cancer and looking like he will pick up right where he left off and I’ll have tears in my eyes as he gets a Spring Training ovation.

When Writing Calls

To my almost 13 year old daughter who spends so much of her time lately writing…

I know what it’s like to have something inside of you that just has to come out. It’s an idea that starts from almost nothing. It could be a comment someone says, something you read in a book or on social media. It could be a sign you saw or something you saw on television.

Time To Actually Focus On Students

There is a whole lot of lip service paid to the idea of doing things in the best interest of kids. It makes for cute slogans. It even makes for cute subtitles for a book.

Honestly, it really is true. All of the hashtags, all of the slogans, all of the books, all of the Twitter chats are right; kids should be first in every single decision made in education.

In The Past Four Years The Truth Stopped Hiding

The worst fears of the past four years became true very early on during the Donald Trump era. We saw it during his candidacy as he ridiculed, made racist remarks, and marginalized everyone who wasn’t like him or who wouldn’t blindly follow. Nobody in their right mind thought he would win. Only the savvy few saw the world for what it was, knowing that there were so many like him, hiding and waiting for the right time to pounce.

Mets Must Fire Porter Immediately

The New York Mets were having an unbelievable hot stove season. First, their new owner Steve Cohen came in and made them finally act like a big market team. He hired Sandy Alderson to run the baseball operation end of things and they immediately went to work. They added James McCann, Trevor May, and Jose Martinez via free agency, while re-signing Marcus Stroman. Then, they made their real first act as a big market team by acquiring Francisco Lindor and Carlos Carrasco from the Indians. And, evidently, they still aren’t done.

Stirring Things Up

I was told by a friend that my writing stirs too much up and that he wishes I wouldn’t write. Actually, the “friend” didn’t tell me. Word was sent. I’ve been trying to think of the response to this statement. I’ve been trying to think of the cause of this statement and sentiment.

Brady

Tom Brady wasn’t the best player on the field this past Sunday when his Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat the New Orleans Saints 30–20. In fact, despite his 40 touchdown passes during the regular season, one could see that the 43 year old struggled at times, showed glimpses of his brilliance, and mostly played a the role of solid NFL quarterback. The Bucs defense was the reason they won this past Sunday, just like it has been one of the best units in the league this year.

Why I Am No Longer Pushing My Education Writing On Social Media

I can’t stand Education Twitter.

I’ve revised that sentence 100 times because every version doesn’t seem to match my level of disdain for it. While there are some really good people with great intentions of sharing methods and looking to collaborate, the vast majority of educators on there are interested in two, maybe three things.