Case Study Blog

In thinking of what type of writing I would ever pursue if I would want to make it a career, I felt the choice would be easy. As you could possibly guess, I am a giant fan of sports. Growing up, I played football, basketball, and most importantly, baseball. I mean, my first baby picture was taken with a cubs outfit on. As I grew older, my knowledge of baseball has expanded exponentially throughout the years. With playing experience through college, I can relate to major league players that someone who may not have played could not. Also, being involved in coaching junior high baseball expanded my knowledge in writing about baseball as well. Being able to relate to major league managers, though on a small scale, would also influence my writing by having knowledge on the managing aspect as well as being a player. My style of writing would be most beneficial in a sports magazine. I think with the insights I could offer because of my knowledge of playing and managing, my writing could be refreshing in the opinionated Sports Illustrated. Being able to write with the players and managers in mind rather than bashing them, in most cases, could create more friendly relationship between players/managers and writers.

Week 9 Blog

Every year, awards are given out after the baseball season like Most Valuable Player for both the National and American leagues, Silver Slugger awards, Gold Glove awards and also Rookies of the Year. One award imparticular has lost its luster and importance because of a change in how people are voting for the Cy Young award. In recent years, the pitcher who wins the award is not the pitcher who best leads his team to victory but the pitcher who can put up the best statistics to appeal to voters. While these new statistical categories have been very beneficial for Major League teams for scouting purposes, they should not play the deciding factor in voting for the Cy Young award. I feel that rather than basing one's vote on statistical categories for the Cy Young award, the award should be given to the pitcher who best leads their team to victory.

In recent years, the Cy Young award has not gone to the pitcher who has best led their league statistically and leading their team to victory. In this year’s voting for the National League Cy Young, statistics like strikeouts and earned run average skewed voters into voting Tim Lincecum the Cy Young award winner rather than Adam Wainright, who led his team to the playoffs and had four more wins than Lincecum. Also, pitcher Zack Greinke won the American League Cy Young award with a record-low 16 victories. The two pitchers who led their respective leagues in wins this season with 19 a piece lost their deserving award because of these baseball voters who are now enamored with statistics that do not mean nearly as much as wins or winning percentage.

Rather than a pitcher who has good statistics, I feel the deserving winner should be a pitcher who puts his team in the best overall position to win each and every game that he takes the mound.

Week 7 Blog

It's almost baseball season again. If I can remember correctly, this could possibly be the 103rd year in-a-row that the Cubs will not win the World Series. After hearing of the letdown against San Diego in 1984 and the awful showing in '89 against the San Fransisco Giants from my dad as just a young kid, I thought, there is no way the Cubs are cursed...it must just be coincidence. And then there was 2003. Talking about that year in Wrigley Field could get you kicked out. Finally being able to see the Cubs and their ability to underachieve made me really start to believe the curses that surround them.
The most known curse is the curse of the billy goat. In 1945, the Cubs were playing in the World Series and had won 2 of the first 3 games. But in the fourth game, a man had two tickets and decided to bring his goat. After he and the goat were initially allowed in, people were complaining about the goat's stench and they kicked him out. The man cursed the Cubs that they would not play another World Series in Wrigley Field again, and to this day, it has not happened. The curse took affect that day, with the Cubs losing the game and the World Series.
I think from that fateful day in 1945, the Chicago Cubs have been cursed. For instance, in 1969, the Cubs had the most dominant team in the entire Major Leagues. But in September, against the New York Mets, a black cat had been released on the field. Everyone knows the curse of the black cat, and from that day on, so did all Cubs fans. The cat made a bee-line for the Cubs dugout and cursed them, and because of that, the Cubs lost 17 of the 25 games in September and missed the playoffs completely.
While I can understand how people will think this may just be a huge excuse for 102 years of mediocrity, but the evidence in undeniable. For those fans of other sports teams, I have some advice: never complain about a person's goat. It could result in over 100 years of heartbreak.