San Francisco Giants

Our PhD Committee is in beautiful San Francisco.  AT & T Park is spectacular and Farley can’t get enough Gilroy Garlic Fries.  After the fries, Ed, Farley and Mark talk Giants baseball and explore the Bay Area.  Ed interviews John Burbridge about the 1954 New York Giants and the Wise Guys battle it out over Giants’ history.  Our PhD Committee can stay a while, next stop is Oakland.

Who’s in First – September 1, 2010

It’s like deja-vu all over again.

Yogi Berra once said, “it’s like deja-vu all over again“.  The standings for our 2010 MLB Predictions contest are the same today as June 1st.  With the completion of summer, Professor Bruce Bukiet is still in first as he readies his lecture hall for another year at the New Jersey Institute of Technology. Hopefully the Professor’s math department has not been rocked by budget cuts.  Ed Kasputis and Mark Rantala are again tied for second as they were on June 1st.

The Professor has widened his lead.  On June 1st, the Professor had 4.5 points.  Today he has 6 points, meaning that he has chosen 6 of the 8 teams that would make the playoffs if the season were to end today.  Kasputis and Rantala have 4 points.  90 days ago they had 3.5 points.  ”I feel like Gilligan trying to catch the Professor” said Ed Kasputis.  ”I think his lead is too great.”  The Major League Season ends on Sunday, October 3rd.

Giants’ Book of Virtues

This week is Giants‘ week with our podcast featuring the San Francisco Giants being released on Friday, September 3rd.  This is our 100th post.  Baseball teaches great lessons.

In 1993, William Bennett edited a collection of moral stories called the Book of Virtues.  This book was intended for the moral education of the young.  The 4 videos below are intended for the moral education of all Baseball PhDs.  A great Baseball PhD thank you to the Giants for producing these videos.

Embracing Change

Using the Change Up

Loyalty

Team Work

Shot Heard ‘Round the World

This week is Giants‘ week with our podcast featuring the San Francisco Giants being released on Friday, September 3rd.  You can’t talk about the Giants without knowing about the Shot Heard ‘Round the World. October 3, 1951, the Giants are playing the Brooklyn Dodgers in a best of three playoff series.  The winner goes to the World Series to play the Yankees, the loser stays in New York to watch.

Bottom of the 9th, the Giants are trailing by 2.  Enjoy the video.

Ernie Hallway and Red Barber – Shot Heard ‘Round the World

Tampa Bay Rays

Our PhD Committee is in Tampa analyzing why the Tampa Bay Rays are an elite franchise that wins without spending foolishly.  Ed, Farley and Mark explore all things Tampa (and St. Pete)  while Ed interviews super fan, Bill Dunstone.  Ed and Mark then head to the mountains to watch pure baseball heaven – the Little League World Series.  The Wise Guys get in the action as they battle out another episode of baseball history.  Our PhD Committee packs up for their last West Coast road trip of the season.  It’s time for all of us to get ready to leave our hearts in San Francisco.

Tampa

This week is Rays‘ week with our podcast featuring the Tampa Bay Rays being released on Friday, August 27th.  Tampa is on the Gulf Coast of Florida. The Rays play in St. Petersburg, 24 miles to the south.

Tampa is a delightful city (and former home to Yankees late owner George Steinbrenner).  The Rays home, Tropicana Field has a dome and is a great place to watch a game and as you can see from the video below – make friends.

Travel Guide – Tampa

Raymond vs. Wally  - “Why Can’t We Be Friends”

2010 Little League World Series – Day 2

This week is Rays‘ week with our podcast featuring the Tampa Bay Rays being released on Friday, August 27th.  This podcast will also cover the 2010 Little League World Series.  Ed Kasputis and Mark Rantala attended this event of Saturday, August 21st and they’ll be giving their insight during our next podcast. The Wise Guys also attended Day 2 of the Series and we’ll get their kid perspective about this grand event.

This is the 64th year of the Little League World Series.  The first Little League World Series took place in 1947.

This year, more than 7,000 teams started the tournament.  The United States had approximately 6,500 of those teams.  Sixteen teams make it to the Little League World Series.  Eight are from the United States and eight are from abroad.

“Every Baseball PhD needs to come to this event” said Ed Kasputis.  ”There is no charge for parking or tickets and it’s pure baseball heaven.  I can’t believe that these kids are 11 and 12.  They play like little big leaguers already.  What I would give to be 12 again!”

Hope from Hawaii

Little League World Series video game

Florida Marlins

Our PhD Committee is in Miami, checking out Sun Life Stadium and Miami Marlins Ballpark which is currently under construction.  Ed interviews Greg Sherlock from Populous.  Greg is the lead designer for the new ballpark.  Ed shares his story about Little Billie and the PhD Committee talk about chivalry in baseball. Ed then interviews Steve Barr from Little League as the Little League World Series starts today. Ed also shares his experience at the SABR convention that just ended in Atlanta.  Lastly, our PhD Committee gears up to move from the east coast to the west coast of Florida.  Goodbye to Miami and hello to Tampa, home to those dynamic Rays.

Baseball PhD meets Little Billie

One of the great things about baseball road trips are the people you meet.  Little Billie is no exception.  Ed Kasputis was walking outside Sun Life Stadium on August 4th when he met Little Billie.

Little Billie is excited that the Miami Heat added LeBron James and Chris Bosch to their roster.  Please LeBron, don’t quite on Little Billie.  He still thinks that you are more than a Scottie Pippen.

Little Billie at Sun Life Stadium

Miami Marlins Ballpark

The Florida Marlins are counting the days until they move into their beautiful new ballpark in 2012.  The Marlins currently play in Sun Life Stadium which is a multi-purpose stadium located in Miami Gardens.  In 2012, the Marlins will be moving to Miami and playing in a ballpark with a retractable dome.  No more rain outs or rain delays!

Ed Kasputis will be interviewing Greg Sherlock, lead designer for this project during our podcast featuring the Florida Marlins.  This podcast will be released on Friday, August 20th.

Sneak Peak at Miami Marlins Ballpark

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