You go--we go; they're gone!

By Vince Alexander

Good pitching. Good defense. Good power. All those things are needed to be a World Series baseball champion.

In my opinion, a good lead-off man should be added to that category--especially if you are a Chicago Cubs fan.

I'm a die-hard Chicago Cubs fan.

Nobody was happier when the Chicago Cubs broke their 100-year World Series championship drought by winning the 2016 World Series. The Cubs did it thanks to their good lead-off man Dexter Fowler.

Fowler is now with the rival St. Louis Cardinals, who have a four-game lead over the Cubs in the National League's North Division. As for the Cubs, they are dangling like a baby tooth for the final Wild Card Playoff spot with a 79-68 record.

Not bad, but without a legitimate lead-off man you have a better chance of winning a scratch-off lottery ticket.

Since Fowler left the Cubs, they have played a lot of losing numbers: Albert Almora, Jr., Anthony Rizzo, Jason Heyward, Ian Happ, and Ben Zobrist all trying to replace Fowler in the lead-off spot. Great players but not lead-off men.

The Cubs are one of the most powerful teams in the Major Leagues. Six players have more than 20 home runs heading into October. Kyle Schwarber (35), Javier Baez (29), Kris Bryant (28), Rizzo (26),  Willson Contreras (23), and Heyward (21) make for a potent lineup.

The problem is the Cubs are slow, turtle slow. Baez (11) is the only Cubs player with more than 10 stolen bases.

Speed is important for the lead-off man. First you have to get on base. Next, you have to be a threat to steal second base. Last, you have to be able to score on a single from second base, or tag up and score on a fly ball from third base. A lead-off man has to be fast.

In 2016, Fowler did these things. He was on base 39 percent of the time. In only 125 games, he scored 84 runs. Translation: he scored a run in about 75 percent of the games he played.

That's a problem for the Cubs. When the Cubs go into a power-hitting slump, they struggle to score runs. They don't have the ability to manufacture runs with sacrifice-fly balls, taking walks, and advancing to the next base without a long ball.

When Fowler played for the Cubs, Manager Joe Madden told Fowler, "You go--we go!" This meant, if Fowler got on base, the Cubs had a good chance of scoring runs and winning the game.

But with Fowler playing for the "Red Turds" (Cardinals), it means "You go--they go--and we watch them win the division championship."
And that's not cool!

Kind of a sports story

By Vince Alexander

            It happened more than 40 years ago. Still, I’ll never forget it. We were all sitting in the living room, and the telephone rang. It was a Little League coach. He called to tell my older brother that he was chosen to be a member of his baseball team. My mother had mixed feelings about the situation. She was happy for my brother, but she was wondering why I didn’t get a call.
            I was 9 years old at the time.
            “What about Vincent?” my mother said to the coach.
            The coach told my mother to wait because Vincent may get a call from a coach from another team. I didn’t get that call, but my mom’s words still burned in my memory:
            “What about Vincent?” she said.
            To this day, she’s the only person who calls me “Vincent.”
            I have since vowed that my mother will never have to vex about Vincent again. I tagged along to my brother’s first practice. The coach, Mr. Wynn, liked me. He told me that I could be his bat boy. I wouldn’t get a full uniform like the other players on the team, but I’d get to wear the team’s hat.
            That summer, I practiced hard with the team. During the team’s games, I lined up bats and helmets. I ran hard after every foul ball that went into the street or near the river behind the back stop.
            I knew the only reason I got cut was because I wasn’t prepared. I hung out with older kids, and I was always picked last in pick-up games because I was the youngest, and the baby of the bunch. So my mother wouldn’t have to worry about Vincent, I spent the summer practicing throwing, fielding grounders, catching fly balls, and hitting.
            The next summer, I was chosen by my brother’s team. I was 10, on a team with 9, 10, 11, and 12-year-olds. That year, I made the All-Star team, played center field and developed a reputation of having the strongest arm in the league. The word was, “Don’t run on Vince. Vince will throw you out!"
              Momma didn’t have to worry about Vincent again.

Note--As a teacher I try to model reading and writing by demonstrating my skills to my students. When I do this, I tell that if I can learn to do this--you can too. This story was inspired early one morning when I was teaching a lesson on memoir writing, hoping to get my students to share some of their memorable moments. The story was posted and read aloud on my Promethean board.

Rufus is a Sosa fan

By Vince Alexander
            I was at home sitting in an old lawn chair with a freshly lit Cuban dangling from the corner of my mouth, and out of nowhere, I saw an old friend sauntering down my driveway.
            It was him alright. The bowed legs and the “half-fro” gave him away.  Over the years, baseball was one of the few things that kept bringing us together.
            We were a part of a dying breed: Black men who still love baseball.
            On this day, Rufus was wearing a white Sammy Sosa jersey.
            “What’s happppppppnin? Rufus asked, revealing a gold tooth surrounded by yellowing teeth.
            “You,’’ I said.
            “Sosa?  You are probably the only person in Indiana to still have a Sammy Sosa jersey. I gave mine to a used clothing store years ago.”
             “I’m campaigning,’’ Rufus said. “I’m trying to get my boy elected to baseball’s Hall of Fame. I done called everybody.  Bob and Tom.  J-M-V.  ESPN. But I can’t get no air time.  But I’m tellin’ you, Sammy Sosa should be elected to the Hawlah Fame.”
             I reached into my case and gave my friend a stogie. It was already cut. He placed it against his nostrils and inhaled. Then he smiled broadly. As with any cigar connoisseur, he gave it a good lick, and placed it between his lips. I struck a match, and it was lit. Moments later, I offered him a chair and a sympathetic ear.
            “Yeah, man, Sammy gave us some exciting times,’’ I said. “He has 588 career home runs, and in the ‘90s he was great. Remember when he hit 66 home runs in 1998 and 63 in 1999?  ‘Slammin’ Sammy’ could flat out hit. He may have been one of the greatest home run hitters of our time.”
             “That n… should be in the Hawlah Fame!” Rufus said between puffs of smoke.
             Then Rufus brought a smile to my face. The old-timer stood up and did his best Sosa imitation, kissing his fingers, tapping his chest three times, and throwing up a peace sign just like Sammy did after he circled the bases after clobbering a monster home run at Wrigley Field.
              “I get it,’’ I said. “You can only remember the good times. But don’t forget--Sammy was popular during the Steroid Era—linking him to admitted steroid users like Mark McGwire, Barry Bonds, and perhaps Roger Clemens.
               “Also, don’t forget about the corked bat incident. Sosa snapped his bat in two during a game, revealing a cork. He said that the corked bat was his batting practice bat that he accidently used in the game.”
            Rufus flicked his ashes and got in defensive mode.
            “That’s some bull,’’ Rufus said. “Cork in a bat doesn’t help you hit home runs. Talent helps you hit home runs.
            “Check this: “Remember the pine-tah incident with George Brett. Using a pine-tah bat illegally didn’t stop voters for voting for George Brett.
               "Besides, there's no proof that Sammy used steroids!’’
             "OK," I said, "but remember in 2004 when Sosa found out that he wasn’t in the starting lineup during the last game of the season, and instead of sitting on the bench to watch his teammates, he left the stadium without telling his manager or his teammates? I don’t think Sosa has spent much time in Chicago ever since.”
             After I told him that, ol’ Rufus was speechless. Neither of us had much to say after that.
             It was that awkward silence that most people hate. So I broke the silence.
             “Hey, Ruf, I got a Carlos Zambrano jersey you can have," I said sarcastically.
             He didn’t find it funny. He just got up and his bowed legs walked away.

Cub fans continue to "wait until next year"

By Vince Alexander

              It is half way through the Major League Baseball season, and many people are still following the Cubs.

            Or is it “The Flubs,” as my brother, an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan, calls them.
            Despite the funny names the Cubs have been given, many fans keep following them because they are eternal optimists. In their eyes, it’s going to rain soon, the grass will turn green again, the sun will come out, and we will all be enjoying our gardens soon.
             Just be patient.
             Everything will be fine.
             Although the Cubs haven’t won a World Series championship in more than 100 years and are currently 19 games under the .500 mark, there are several reasons to continue to watch the Cubs.
             Just be patient.
             Everything will be fine.
             First, there’s Anthony Rizzo. The Cubs have been touting Rizzo for several months, and they finally called him up from their Class AAA minor league team in Iowa. Rizzo hasn’t been a disappointment. In his first 12 games, he has four home runs and 12 RBI. The Cubs have won eight of those games and Rizzo’s hits have come at critical times, seemingly putting a few blooms on a dying rose garden.
             Watching Rizzo hit is worth it. With the exception of the slight wiggle with his hands, his mechanics are perfect. He doesn’t have any wasted movements and his swing is lightning quick as he consistently drives the ball with his legs and core. If you like home run hitters, Rizzo is your next perennial power hitting slugger.
             Rizzo’s stance and hand placement is reminiscent of three players: Former Cub greats Ernie Banks and Billy Williams and former San Francisco Giants great Willie McCovey. If you are too young to remember these guys, look at their statues.  Also, you should research (google) their career statistics. These players were awesome hitters.
             Rizzo, 23, has been batting third in the Cubs’ lineup. In front of Rizzo, batting second, is Starlin Castro. Castro is one of the most exciting young shortstops in the league. Although he’s 22 years old, he was called up to the Cubs when he was 19. Yes, he made a lot of errors at shortstop, but his defensive improvement must be applauded.
             But it is Castro’s bat that keeps fans glued to the Cubs. Castro is a versatile hitter, and fans love the fact that he has speed. He has seven home runs, seven triples, and 10 doubles. When he gets a single, he is a threat to steal second. He has 16 steals in 23 attempts. With Castro, baseball is not boring. For the second straight year, he has made the National League All-Star team.
            Bryan LaHair is another reason to watch the Cubs. After spending almost a decade playing in the minor leagues, LaHair is finally getting a chance to play regularly in the big leagues. After playing most of the season at first base, he was moved to right field to make room for Rizzo. But it is LaHair’s bat that keeps fans interested in the Cubs. LaHair, 29, made the All-Star team by hitting .286 with 14 home runs and 30 RBI. He also is a candidate for the NL’s Rookie of the Year, but he may have to beat out Rizzo.
            LaHair is a great Cubs story. Go unnoticed. Work your butt off. And get rewarded.
            So what if it has been more than 100 years since the Cubs have won a World Series championship.
            Just be patient.
            Everything will be fine.
            And one day, “The Flubs” will also be called a World Series champion!