CINCINNATI, OHIO - JUNE 21: Elly De La Cruz #44 of the Cincinnati Reds attempts to steal second base against Connor Kaiser #56 of the Colorado Rockies at Great American Ball Park on June 21, 2023 in Cincinnati, Ohio. De La Cruz was out on the play (Photo by Jeff Dean/Getty Images)
The other day, I wrote an article referencing how I felt the “Chase for 61” between Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire saved MLB from the brink of death in 1998. Unfortunately, as a result, I think that may have also done-in “small ball.”
Was I a Traitor?
Growing up a Chicago Cubs fan, I vehemently hated the St. Louis Cardinals, but as I aged and learned more about the game, the more I adored Whitey Herzog, the then Cardinals’ manager. In the mid 1980’s to early 1990’s there wasn’t a manager who was better than Whitey in managing the game and getting production out of players who didn’t really have an immense longball game, and as a result they were the predominate team in their division year in and year out.
I’ve been criticized and berated up and down on my personal Facebook page several times over the years as I will occasionally make a post asking people who their all-time teams are, and then I give my examples. People get all upset because there isn’t a lot of power on my teams. Given the choice, I’m about small ball. If I could pick my dream team from players in my era, here is my lineup.
1. OF RICKY HENDERSON
2. OF VINCE COLEMAN
3. OF TONY GWYNN
4. DH EDGAR MARTINEZ
5. 1B DON MATTINGLY
6. SS DEREK JETER
7. 2B RYNE SANDBERG
8. 3B WADE BOGGS
9 C PUDGE RODRIGUEZ
10. SP GREG MADDUX
Fundamental Base Running is Key
You don’t have to hit the ball out of the park to make the game exciting, not at all. Stealing bases has been a dying art over the past 30 years and only now, with the advent of the pitch clock does it seem to be increasing the stolen base production. Sure, watching a ball fly over the “Green Monster” in Fenway Park or watching one fly out onto Waveland Avenue at Wrigley Field is awesome, but there is something electric about a double steal in a tie game that gets the fans on their feet.
The White Rat
Whitey Herzog was always my favorite manager of all-time even though I wasn’t a Cardinals fan…well that was until 2016 when Joe Madden took my Cubbies to the promise land. That being said, there was no better Manager who understood Small Ball better than “The White Rat”.
I Said What I Said!
This might get me some serious backlash from my die-hard Cubs fan family, but that’s ok. I said what I said.
I look forward to hearing your comments and feedback. Feel free to email me anytime at Thebigtykie@gmail.com follow me on Twitter @BigTykie Much Love to you all, until next time!
