Olde Man’s Tavern: Thanks for a Great 2010 Season

With Thanksgiving Day behind us now, I thought for this week’s Tavern I would stay at the family stead and reflect back on the 2010 season. For some, holidays means a little rest and relaxation. The Olde Man is no different. Plus, I really do need the R&R.

Ah…the couch. Need this time to gather thoughts about the 2010 baseball season. What? There’s more turkey? Hold on a minute.

All right. I’m ready now.

*Ahem*

I am deeply thankful for the Great American Pastime. It’s one sport which starts with a one-on-one confrontation that could ultimately be determined by the team as a whole. There are no isolation plays. There isn’t a pit crew. There isn’t a goalie. There isn’t a safety lurking for a poorly thrown pass.

But the 2010 season provided us so many moments in which we should give thanks. It all begins with Opening Day. The parades. The bunting (not the actual act, but the decoration). The mantra that everyone’s 0-0. Everyone has a shot.

The 2010 season commenced and we didn’t have to wait long for its first real highlight.

Thanks, Mark Buehrle. The video quality isn’t exactly the best, but the play sure is!

Seemed like all the other spectacular defensive plays we saw in 2010 were lame compared to this.

Thanks, Dallas Braden. Not for your perfect game (which was spectacular), but for standing up to Alex Rodriguez. While retreating to first after a foul ball, A-Rod dared to cross the sacred territory of the pitcher’s mound. Regardless if people thought you were out of line or being a massive jerk for hollering at him for the path he chose, sometimes even superstars need to be put in their place. Kate Hudson couldn’t even do that.

Thanks, Jim Joyce and Armando Galarraga. Both displayed complete class and dignity after Joyce completely blew the call that would have given the Tiger hurler a perfect game. He manned up after the game saying he “kicked the sh*t out” the call. Galarraga could have moped and whined about being hosed. He didn’t. He and Joyce made amends that evening. Maybe even went to Little Caesar’s afterward. They have even appeared together at certain events. Odd seeing a player and ump together anywhere except the field.

Thanks, Ozzie Guillen. Well, just for being Ozzie Guillen.

Thanks, Scott Boras. After I published a piece a mere couple of weeks ago attempting to deflect possible bad vibes, a report emerged that you provided possible illegal financial aid to a Dominican prospect with “nominal interest”. And exactly what is that interest rate? Wink, wink. Nudge, nudge.

Thanks, Josh Hamilton. Your story has be told on so many occasions, but it bears repeating. Battling addiction and alcoholism is a daily battle, but you have found the means to do such. For your efforts, you were awarded the AL MVP. Your shoulders have now been broadened. You do serve as an inspiration to millions.

On a similar subject…

Thanks, Nolan Ryan. Not so much for submitting the winning bid to buy the Rangers (and, in the eyes of some, keeping that evil Mark Cuban out of baseball), but for your handling of the Ron Washington situation. You called the organization a family. That was all the support Washington needed knowing his boss had his back. Some owners and/or GMs would sent him packing. Not you. I suppose everything really is bigger in Texas, including a man’s heart.

Thanks, Carlos Gonzalez. You provided perhaps the best offensive year in the bigs (.336 BA, 34 HR, 117 RBI, 26 SB) outside of Josh Hamilton. For your efforts, the phrase “home and away splits” evolved into everyday lingo. Not totally your fault. Coors Field, despite the “humidor effect”, still manages to surrender a plethora of runs. All anyone has to do is venture over to Baseball Reference and see that your home field clearly defines the term “hitter friendly”.

Thanks, Bo the Bailer for making the rest of us guys look severely manly when we do catch a foul ball…or at least attempt.

Wow. What a douche!

Thanks, Nyjer Morgan. Or shall I say, “Tony Plush”. First, throwing your glove to the ground in frustration and not paying attention to where the ball landed. Would that be a form of ADD? Add the tossing of a ball at a Phillies fan (you were cleared on that incident). Add the severe lack of judgment in attempting to ram Cards catcher Bryan Anderson on a play that was meaningless. There was also separating the shoulder of Marlins catcher Brett Hayes on what Marlins player deemed a dirty play. The following evening, you were plunked for the play the previous evening. Did you let it all go? You went on to steal a base in a perceived “non-stealing” situation. The “see me” attitude you displayed to the few Marlins fans in attendance after you were ejected for charging the mound when you took one a second time for that steal. (You also took a devastating clothesline from Gaby Sanchez. Hey, Gaby. Did you learn that from John Cena?) After all of that, you provided every MLB beat writer and blogger enough material to last at least a couple of weeks. Some even more.

Thanks, Buck Showalter. After you left the worldwide leader, you actually showed everyone that the Baltimore Orioles can win a game. The Birds were 32-73 when you entered the picture. The O’s went 34-23 after your arrival to avoid a 100 loss season.

Thanks, Ichiro. OK, it’s Ichiro Suzuki. Well, for being the best player to grace our land from your land. 200+ hits in every season since you came to MLB. Imagine if he a previous five years added to his already HOF numbers. That would be another 1,100 hits to add to his already astounding total of 2,244. Would Pete Rose‘s record be safe? Ah, the old “what if” game. Speaking of the Hit King…

Thanks, Pete Rose. Thanks for finally finding it within yourself to publicly acknowledge to your former teammates that you were wrong. Wrong for betting on baseball. Wrong for your years of denial. It may take one or two of your former teamies the same amount of time to totally forgive you. At least you’ve finally come clean.

Thanks, Bud Selig. Once again, baseball is presented an opportunity to evolve into the present age of technology with replay and you steadfastly bury your head in the sand. Baseball may have survived another postseason with numerous questionable calls, but for how much longer can this act prevail? This issue cannot be tabled forever. One day, fans. One day.

I’d like to mention something here.

Personal thanks to Wally Fish who brought me into the FanSided family in July. I started as the Co-lead of Blog Red Machine and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. Shortly thereafter, we opened the Tavern. I appreciate Wally having the confidence in me to produce this feature. Takes a lot of trust and Wally exhibits that to each and every one of us on staff here at CttP.