Free For All Friday #27: Giving Thanks Edition

Photo by Joey Kyber on Unsplash

Hello and welcome to Free For All Friday. I hope you enjoyed a meaningful and festive Thanksgiving Day, if that’s a holiday you celebrate.

On Tuesday, paid subscribers received my primer on the raging National Baseball Hall of Fame debates that have consumed a lot of baseball folks over the last 20 years or so—all as a prelude to the Hall of Fame ballot for this year, which the Hall of Fame released on Monday.

In today’s newsletter, I’m giving thanks for all the ways baseball brings me joy. Feel free to add your baseball thanks in the comments.

  • I’m grateful for Sarah Langs—for her baseball stat wizardry, her infectious smile, her love of baseball, and for her strength.

  • I’m grateful for Gary, Keith, and Ron—the best TV broadcast booth in the game outside of San Francisco.

  • I’m grateful for the Last Dive Bar, the Oakland 68s, and all the Athletics fans who tried desperately to keep the A’s in Oakland and for embarrassing A’s owner John Fisher in the process.

  • I’m grateful for Pitching Ninja (Rob Friedman) for all he’s taught me about pitching and for his insane videos and GIFs. Like this one.

  • I’m grateful that my daughter loves baseball as much as I do and that she sends me can’t miss highlights to watch.

  • I’m grateful my son moved back to San Francisco after college and goes to ballgames with me.

  • I’m grateful for all of the incredible women friends I’ve made through baseball writing.

  • I’m grateful for Elly De La Cruz running the bases at top speed.

  • I’m grateful that I live in a city with Major League Baseball. There’s Nothing Like It!

  • I’m grateful that I can travel door-to-door to Oracle Park by foot and streetcar.

  • I’m grateful that Oracle Park is a beautiful and meditative place to watch baseball—despite the $18 beers.

  • I’m grateful for Logan Webb, who takes the mound every five days with the intent of throwing nine innings. Sometimes his manager lets him do that.

  • I’m grateful for Patrick Bailey, especially when he gets his necessary rest. His pop time is something to behold.

  • I’m grateful for three World Series championships between 2010 and 2014 but I’m bored now and itching for more.

  • I’m grateful for Jon Miller, Dave Flemming, Duane Kuiper, and Mike Krukow. Who isn’t grateful for them?

  • I’m grateful for Nolan Jones throwing a ball from the outfield at more than 100 mph.

  • I’m grateful to have the opportunity to write about baseball again and to this community for supporting me and hanging sliders.

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