Love Letters: It's spring -- can you hear the chirping?
Insider | Short Hops | Love Letters
Updated April 12
Is it me, or are all of these freak spring snowstorms making it cold in here?
From: Rick L.
Ah, baseball and Love Letters are back and all the world is right again. Damn, even the Braves beat the Mets two of three at Turner again!
Amazing how quickly things can turn back to normal, isn't it? Even the Cubs are underachieving early again.
From: Steve P.
You are more anti-Cub than some of my White Sox friends. According to you, the season is over already. IT WAS ONE GAME. ... I know they always have problems, but at least give them a chance.
They're the Cubs. How many chances do they get?
From: Keith P.
You are the most overrated and overpaid writer on the planet! Just kidding. Read your Love Letters and fans really need to relax and enjoy sports for what it truly is -- a diversion from life's troubles. They should all read your Josh Hamilton article twice, walk their dog, kiss their spouse, call their kids and relax with a Dead Guy ale. Hang in there.
Hey, everybody, look: It's a normal guy with a healthy perspective! Who let him in the room?
From: David M.
Scott,
I was at opening day in Cincinnati and arrived in plenty of time for batting practice. As the Reds left the field for the visiting Cubs to take BP, Josh Hamilton hung by the dugout steps. I had an opportunity to speak with him and he graciously signed a ball for me. Soon, there were flocks of fans. He stayed as long as he could to greet fans, sign and pause for photos. This young man is facing this season and the crowds with grace and humility. I'm not a sentimentalist, but I must tell you, one cannot help but root for this guy.
I wish him the best as he begins his career, but, even more I hope he finds his footing and continues to build upon his display of maturity. I, like many I suspect, had a lump in my throat when he stood in the batters box. Thank you for acknowledging this fascinating story.
I only hope it continues for a long time -- he's a good kid. And for now, two homers in two days in Arizona -- the fascination grows.
From: David J.
Great story on Josh Hamilton of the Reds. I was there with my two kids Monday and it was an electrifying moment. They put a message on the big-screen that it was his first ML appearance, but the crowd was already responding as soon as he stepped out. His problems had been profiled in the Cincinnati Enquirer so I think most of us there knew what he had overcome to be there. When Lou (Piniella, Cubs manager) changed the pitcher before the inning started, it just added to the excitement. And his line-drive out was nearly a hit, the left-fielder charging hard and diving to make the out. It was a great moment in baseball.
Chills all around, weren't there?
From: Herbert K.
Re: Colorado GM Dan O'Dowd and manager Clint Hurdle (and their two-year extensions). They must interview well.
Or own incriminating photos of Colorado owners.
From: Matt R.
Dan O'Dowd and manager Clint Hurdle shouldn't be fired, and I will tell you why. First off let me say I am not a Rockies fan but an A's fan who is a fan of baseball in general. I see the young talent they have amassed in Matt Holliday, Brad Hawpe and others. From other stories, their farm system is stacked and yanking the GM and manager who to this point have struggled is a mistake. Mistake that it could set the club back a few years while the new GM and manager instill their way of doing things on the team.
How would you be able to tell if the Rockies were set back a few years?
From: Matthew M.
If the Rockies had the revenue of the Yankees, Dodgers, Mets, Red Sox, etc., then an extension for Hurdle and O'Dowd would be a bad move. But Hurdle and O'Dowd have done a great job digging the Rockies out from under the Hampton and Neagle debacles.
Who created those debacles? Oh, yes, GM by the name of Dan O'Dowd.
From: Chioke H.
Dear Scott,
I think the Giants have what it takes this season. Could you see the Giants going to the playoffs this season?
Sure can -- but only if they can trade for Johan Santana, Roy Oswalt, Brandon Webb, Vernon Wells, Alex Rodriguez and Mariano Rivera or Joe Nathan at the July 31 trade deadline. Because the team they've got right now, sorry to say, is a lower-division club.
From: Ryan
Hey Scott,
Derek Zumsteg didn't ask MLB to investigate. He just pointed out what looked like cheating (the Angels' Francisco Rodriguez rubbing a white substance on the underside of the brim of his cap). If you have a problem with guys who write books, just say so. It is so lame of you to criticize a blogger simply because you are jealous that he actually got a book published. Get a life.
Got a life. Not jealous in the least. Thanks for writing.
From: Mark O.
Hey Stupid,
Did you even LOOK at the K-Rod footage? Since when does rosin residue need to be rubbed hard underneath the brim of a cap REPEATEDLY with the thumb? By the way, you seem to have a blog, too. Doesn't that lump you into the same category as the author you're trashing? Oh wait, he actually has a published book to his name.
I heard from several of you sticking up for Mr. Zumsteg. You know what I think is touching? Friends. I've got several myself who would probably drop everything and join a coordinated letter-writing campaign.
From: Will G.
I am sure that referring to Derek Zumsteg as some Internet blogger makes you feel much more legitimate than him. It probably makes you feel smarter and more endowed, too.
Oh, I'm plenty endowed, my friend.
From: Bob M.
You must live in Southern California or someplace warm. As a longtime season-ticket holder with the Indians and one who has attended about 20 home openers I can say without reservation that it would not pain me in the least to have a mid-April or later home opener. Generally it is cold and miserable here in early April. The warmer temps are not the norm but the exception. Suffice it to say that from fan comfort and the quality of baseball games should not be scheduled in northeastern Ohio before the middle of April at the earliest. I understand that the press box is closed and heated, but my seat is NOT.
For the money you pay for your tickets and parking, the Indians -- and other clubs -- should deliver hot chocolate and hot soup to your seat in April.
