Radical Baseball: An Introduction

My name is Kenneth Matinale.  I have been writing my Radical Baseball blog since 2008.  Here is the description:

Stimulating, provocative, sometimes whimsical new concepts that challenge traditional baseball orthodoxy.

Originally, I had written something by that title in June 9, 2006 and thought that I had covered every possible issue that I wanted to address.  However, baseball, especially Major League Baseball (MLB), Inc. is the gift that keeps on giving for an iconoclast like me.  Here are the six topics of that first effort:

1. Start the closer.
2. The Real scandal of the last 16 years: propagation of non-uniform playing areas.
3. Four leagues, no divisions.
4. Walks: a terrible rule.
5. Designated Fielders and the Six-Player Batting Order.
6. Clock, time-outs, … you know, like the other sports.

Those themes are recurrent since first posted in April 2008 along with many new ones.

There are three general topics that I tend to address with some representative posts:

1. Rules: asking why baseball is the way it is and how it can be improved.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 8, 2009 Imaginary strike zone.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2008 Free Substitution

FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 2008 Foul Territory: what good is it?

2. Strategy: how players and teams can deal with the rules.

FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 2012 12 man pitching rotation

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2012 New way to switch hit.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2008 Thinking Man’s Guide to Managing a Pitching Staff

3. Stats: making common sense of them.

TUESDAY, MARCH 13, 2012 Batting Average on Balls in Play: fun, games and common sense.

SATURDAY, MARCH 10, 2012 Clutch hitting on planet earth. Oh, and please explain Bobby Richardson.

FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 2012 Rob Neyer: wrong again on MLB Network Clubhouse Confidential?

You can determine from my bio that I was born in 1948, so my perspective will be different than that of most of the staff writers.  I don’t hide the fact that I’m a New York Yankee fan but my subjects are intended to be universal.  I rarely engage in next day analysis and when I do it’s to make a larger point based on a specific incident.

My style can be sharp but hopefully fair and not (too) mean.  I’ve been very critical of the commissioner and the baseball establishment but also of fans.  We get the baseball we deserve and if it’s flawed it’s probably because we accept those flaws.

OK, enough intro stuff.  Check out my blog and if you like what you read come back to Call to the Pen where I will contribute two articles a week.

Some topics I’m considering:

1. War on WAR and the new orthodoxy.

2. Constitutional amendments for professional American team sports: MLB, NFL, NBA.  Sneak preview: no overtime in the regular season.

You can follow my blog here: Radical Baseball