ACES

So what are "Aces" in baseball?  The highest cards in the deck should give you a hint.  How the term is used today is not how it has always been used in baseball.  In the early days (I can hear Aaron saying "you mean the 40s and 50s, don't you" and the answer would be: yes - but not the twentieth century decades)  the word would refer to runs.  A run scored would be an "ace."  Newspaper accounts as early as the 1840s made the specific reference to runs scored as "aces."  However...   

It was not until 1869 that the term began its usage as we know it today.  (Matt, you may already know this; Wacks, you probably do...)  

Asa Brainard was a pitcher for the Cincinnati Red Stockings (the first professional baseball team)  and in 1869 won 56 of 57 games played.   It then became common in the years following for  a pitcher who accumulated a large number of wins in a year to be called "Asa."  Eventually, as the story goes, Asa was converted to "ace" and the word then became one applied to the star pitcher on a baseball team.  Thus, every team in baseball today has an "ace" pitcher, almost always the first in the team's rotation.  For Washington this year it is Stephen Strasburg.

The Nats recently played Atlanta; a team with a wonderful start for this year, so far.  Last Saturday the teams played each other and the starting pitchers were the "aces" for each team.  The "ace" for Atlanta is Tim Hudson.

We won't discuss the game and the outcome but suffice it to say that Hudson proved his "ace" designation that day.

Although the term refers to only one pitcher on the team, Atlanta is fortunate to have a relief pitcher, their "closer" (that discussion for another day), who comes in to pitch for usually only the last inning of the game.  Although only a "closer" and limited to facing only a few batters when he pitches in a game, Craig Kimbrel is usually "lights out" when he pitches for Atlanta and very well could enjoy being called an "ace."   Certainly he is the "ace" among closers in the National League and "aced" (as in tennis) the Nats on April 13.  The pic below shows a unique stance taken by Kimbrel when waiting for his catcher's sign telling him what pitch to throw.  One's first impression is that he needs glasses;  an impression quickly put to rest after he throws.  No Ryne Duren is Kimbrel.  Then again, Ryne Duren is worth further comment on another day.

Next time we'll talk about stadiums;  then the "rubber" and its usage in baseball and whatever else "pops up," so to speak.  In the meantime, lest you think I have all this tucked away in the gray matter, be assured I have help.  The Dickson Baseball Dictionary  (Paul Dickson) is a compendium of almost all anyone would want to know about the general facts of baseball.  Of course, there is much more available in print because for baseball "general" just doesn't even come close.

...til next time...

PUNCH OUT

A picture from last week's opening day game between the Nats and Marlins probably gives as good an example as possible for the baseball usage of the phrase "punch out."  We "punch out" from work when we finish our day (assuming we use time clocks) and, of course, one boxer may "punch out" another in winning the match.  There are other usages of the phrase as well but in baseball the phrase is frequently used to refer to a called strike three (for a couple of you that means the batter didn't swing.)  Over time umpires have become more animated in their calling of the game.  Not only does the umpire call the batter "out" (punches him out) but takes a stance as if baseball has for the moment turned into boxing.  The picture presents home plate umpire, Jeff Kellogg, calling out Marlin's slugger, Giancarlo Stanton, on strikes.  The Nats catcher, Wilson Ramos is getting out of the way; just in case.  It almost appears as if Stanton is showing Kellogg his chin.  Sometimes after striking out a batter might just as well take one on the chin from the ump rather than return to a dugout.  Often I've wondered though why an ump might dare be so animated with someone in front of him holding a bat.  Oh well...

Today is the "rubber game" between the Nats and Reds.  Both teams will be pitching their "Aces" (Strasburg and Cueto).  More baseball phrases: "aces" and "rubber game."   Think about their derivation.

More later...

New To The Nats (2013)

Although much of the team is as it was in 2012 there are some new additions.  One of those is a new president joining Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and T. Roosevelt in the on and off field antics.  Welcome to William Howard Taft.

Taft was an obvious selection to be added to the mix of "running presidents."  It was Taft who was the first U.S. President to throw out the ceremonial "first pitch" at National Park (later to become Griffith Stadium) in 1910.  When it was announced that Taft was the choice many wondered how he would be dressed in a manner that he could run and compete with the others. After all, Taft was, among other things, known for his size.  When he left the White House he reportedly weighed almost 340 pounds at 5' 11" in height.  That may say something for the White House chef back a century ago.  Nevertheless, he managed for himself a diet of sorts that reduced his weight to 270 pounds within two years of leaving the White House.  Still, a tall order to fashion a costume to reflect the true Taft.  As you can see he was "slimmed down" a bit more from his presidential years and sufficiently so that he has been able to keep up with the others in the warning track run but after three home games he remains winless in the presidential races.

On the field there are several additions.  One who is hoped to become a fixture in the future is Denard Span.  Picked-up from Minnesota last Fall, Span is the hoped for center fielder the Nats have been pursuing for years.  It's unlikely he'll have another year like he had in Minnesota in 2009, but if he comes close it will be a plus.  He enjoys good range in the field, speed, and a steady bat at the plate.  Management had eyed Span for some time and now all are hopeful that he will not only provide needed defense in center but will also successfully fill the lead off spot in the lineup for years to come.

A closer is always needed.  It is a demanding position and requires a temperament that few pitchers enjoy.  Arguably the Nats have three capable closers with Drew Storen and Tyler Clippard from last year but now, acquired from the New York Yankees in the off season, they also have Rafael Soriano.  Soriano was a great boost to the Yankees after the loss of Mariano Rivera last year to injury but with Rivera's return, Soriano became expendable.  In five games now he has 2 saves and 1 blown save.  Fingers are crossed!

We'll talk about others later.  

It has been for a while now, sometimes regularly but more often irregularly, that after attending a ballgame I will send pictures I've taken along with thoughts (as I'm seldom without a comment for most anything) to my family and close friends.  For years now they have come to accept that there is meaning in Al Gallagher's comment as it applies to me in that "There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball.  The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit."  At least it may seem that way.  Recently one of my daughters-in-law wrote and suggested that rather than send my pictures and comments by email that I might dedicate a blog to that purpose.  I suspect I was clogging her computer with pictures.

The truth is there are so many resources on the internet for everything and that includes baseball related topics.  I will just add my two cents now and again and, in so doing, save my daughter-in-law's email system. She and you can take a look now and then and share with me a love that in my mind is still properly in third place in my line-up.  Nevertheless, I can hear some of them saying "no way."  For them and those of you who think that's not possible I commend to you the reading of Gary Graf's 2005 book "And God Said, 'Play Ball.'" Coincidentally, that's the year when baseball returned to Washington, the same year they began thinking that I had shuffled my line-up.

Hopefully you'll be able to manage through my comments and enjoy my pics (photography is probably 4th place in my line-up) and find a similar pleasure in what is surely properly called our National Pastime.

So - what better way to begin than by saying "BATTER UP."