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| Lou Piniella was legendary for his antics as a manager. Photo credit: AP |
He stole 2nd base!! No, he literally has taken 2nd base and tossed it on the field.
No, this is not the work of a drunken streaker at a minor league game but these are some minor league antics. Antics or should I say passionate team management at its finest. Growing up playing baseball, I would have daydreams of hitting home runs and stealing bases that clinched division titles for my team, but secretly I was saving something for later, something later to imitate, something that was my secret favorite part of the game.
By: Omie D
"What Do You Mean He is Out!! Are You Blind!!", I exclaimed as I began tossing my hands in the air in a frustrated manner and running around the infield yelling all kinds of crazy things in regards to a bad call at home plate. As a red dust cloud began to rise from the ground like something from a DragonBall Z episode, home plate disappears and the umpire's wife is thankful that he is wearing black socks. All culminating in an ejection that lands me in the showers.My team is now being lead by my assistant, while fans in the stands got more than their ticket promised them.
Who dreams of getting tossed as a Manager?? This guy, pure emotion, raw outbursts and passion for your team. That fire that was seen in the 80's when mullets were long, baseball was king and some guy with a belly was kicking dirt at some "poor umpire".I miss those days, the glory days of baseball. Before the rules changed, before baseball became polo, when it was a sport for the common man.
That fire that comes from a choice of one individual of the team, who has consciously made the decision to bring some life to his said team. A record of 33-56 is no fun for any team or its fans to experience, but add a manager like Joe Mikulik, where clothes might come off, fans go home with on-field souvenirs and there is a guarantee for every terrible call there will be an ejection. Now looking at that 33-56 record isn't so bad from a fan perspective. At least someone on the team is fired up and showing some passion and emotion.
Maybe that fire will carry into Elvis Andrus as he sits on a big contract with peanuts as results. No, passion, no fire, no heart! It all starts Day 1 with the first speech from the Manager. Sure someone wins the World Series every season, but numbers are down because emotion, raw sports energy is dying. What makes the fans move and get excited about the game? Emotional, passionate people on the field.
