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 So, Billy Crystal struck out yesterday, kind of. Each and every one of you would take the opportunity to take one at-bat in a Major League uniform wouldn't you? I can't sit here and blame the fella and I can't sit here and say that he did a bad job in his at-bat....especially for a 60-year old man. Kudos to Crystal for his effort and to the Yankees and MLB for letting him get a shot at doing it. He's helped out baseball, not only the Yankees, by being a minority owner of the Arizona Diamondbacks and by reminding people of what Roger Maris went through the season he hit 61 homers. You may not realize it, but he's brought a lot to the game of baseball and isn't that what Spring Training is supposed to be about, having fun??
As for his at-bat....he did a pretty good job. The strike zone was way tight and you can't fault the guy for striking out. I was surprised he even touched the ball, but his swing didn't look bad. I'm sure Paul Maholm is feeling a lot better today now that he can watch SportsCenter and see himself striking out Crystal instead of giving up a hit.
I have my own story of my battle against a professional pitcher. When I was making my return to college baseball a few years ago I decided to grab my Dad and my Uncle and head down to the local field for some batting practice. My Uncle had just finished up his season and was still in good shape so he said he would throw me some BP while my Dad shagged in the outfield. Not a big deal.
As anyone who has taken, or seen, BP before would know, my Uncle was throwing to me at probably 75 mph (maybe) right down the middle of the plate as I hit the ball all over the yard....I even hit a few out. Well, being the professional athlete that he was at the time....I'm guessing my Uncle started to feel a little competitive and just as I was sitting back waiting for another 75 mph meatball....he comes with what I believe was his slider (I'm not 100% sure, I barely saw it). It was considerably faster than any pitch that he threw before and the fact that it not only buckled my knees, but also made me bail out of the batter's box (while my Dad rolled on the outfield grass laughing) reminded me of just what MLB players are dealing with on a daily basis. I think I'll give Billy Crystal credit for just making contact.
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2008 Cubs Preview
When I was in college back in the early 70s, I had the opportunity once to step into the cage against Jim Bibby. He lived here(and may still) during the off-season, and did his pre-Spring Training workouts with the Lynchburg College team(he also was a part-time student for a few years). Anyway, he threw me three pitches, and I saw only one of them. I never had a chance...
Yeah, I heard the hum of the pitch but didn't see much of it.
I have no problems with Crystal getting an AB. I mean, that's what fame and fortune is for, right? Getting to do stuff that you've always wanted to do? That's what I'd do with it!
I would use it to take over small islands and countries
Growing up in my small town, most of the better baseball players in our school district would play on the Waynetown baseball team. At the time, our group of 12-13 year olds would practice a couple games with the 14-15 year olds. The older team had two pitchers that at 14 and 15 were throwing 70-75. One was a lefty and the other a righty. As a 13 year old, seeing a curve ball come at your head about 60 mph made you bail out real quick...just in time to see it cross over the plate.
Fast forward a few years. The right hander is being drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 7th round and the lefty is setting our high schools record for era in a season. I can't remember the exact number, but it was like 0.6. He also threw 5 no-nos that year. Tried out for the Royals, threw one pitch that hit 88 gun and was told they only want lefties that throw 90 or better. ONE PITCH!?!
Funny you say that, the Uncle in my story was, I believe, going to be a Senior in HS and went to a Cincy Reds tryout camp over the Summer. He walked on the mound and pumped in a fastball......93 mph. The scout pulled him off the mound right then, wrote his name down and called him in (meaning passing along his info to the Organization). One pitch and done.
Other than the Cubbies, what team would you want to play for, for a day?
What pitcher would you want to face?
I'd want to face Greg Maddux because I'd know the pitches would be slow enough to hit and they'd be strikes....connecting with them is another story. I could only play with them for a day and it can't be the Cubs?? I don't think I'd really care.
If I was making a career out of it I'd have to be on the West Coast or Arizona, I hate the cold weather.
What about you?
If not for the A's, probably the Dodgers or Tampa Bay. I'm like you, I prefer the warm weather. I'd like to be one of those guys that plays for one team their whole career though.
I think I'd want to face Satchel Paige. In his prime.
Satchel Paige in his prime??? I guess you aren't wanting to get a hit?
How much does it suck to be the pitcher in that situation? He would have been laughed at for years if Billy did anything. You try to hard and people give you grief. I hate Billy Crystal and would have thrown at his head just and yelled at him to stop doing that stupid impression of the black jazz singer at every benefit concert. It wasn't funny at Comic Relief 1 and it sucks even more today. Buster Olner commented this AM on how annoying he is in the Yankee locker always walking up and interrupting interviews cause he's famous and arrogant.
nope, I would want to see if he could throw as hard as the historians say.
If the pitcher does his job, it shouldn't be too nerve-wracking. He was facing a 60-year old guy. Just blow it by him or throw those finger jamming sliders, which he did.
While part of me would like to face Gibson, there's no way I'm brave enough.
Maddux or someone like Wakefield would be hard enough to handle.
You'd have to have a death wish to face Gibson. You would immediately get one in the ear i'm sure.