I know what you, the devoted readers of this blog, are thinking:

7/19?  That’s certainly a random spot to check in on the MLB standings.  Come on, Bob, you gave us updates on 5/1 & 6/1, WHERE WAS OUR 7/1 UPDATE?????

I don’t mind the agitation.  Given the heat index outside, it’s expected.  However, as always, I have an answer.  Perhaps not THE answer, but an answer.   Allow me to pontificate…

Baseball is a great summer game; often, leisurely in its pace, much like the season itself.  However, there’s a point at which summer itself shifts into high gear.  Granted, people still take vacations, but there’s that great big something looming ahead that makes it tough to fully disengage from that which we’re trying to take a vacation. 

 What is looming ahead?  Obviously, the end of summer.  Because of that, there’s a tendency to race through these final weeks, trying to jam everything in all at once: all the fun, leisure activities you set out to do when summer was about to arrive.  Now, you’re realizing that there’s too much to do and not enough time to do it in.

Likewise, a number of MLB teams are reaching similar conclusions around this time of the season.   There may have been hope in April, May, and even June, but July tends to turn up the heat on those teams that have not been built for the long haul.   Clearly, some other teams have been built better, but in certain situations,  issues largely beyond any one person’s control have been impactful on a team’s  bottom line record.

So, July 1 could have been a point at which to check in on the races, but in my mind, not enough had happened to really separate the teams from where I’d lumped them last.  The All-Star break is ceremonial, and besides, it’s not the mathematical midpoint of the season.

7/19 is a fine time for my specific brand of analysis: we’re into the second series of the “second half” of the season, so there’s a bit more data to look at than there was at the All-Star break, meaning that there’s less likelihood to make knee-jerk analyses such as “the Brewers can’t win on the road.”  Besides, our very own WQOW News 18 website is telling me that today will be “Dangerously hot.”  So, what better day to sit indoors, at home, with the shades drawn, typing away on a computer keyboard?

(Note: the categories have been modified, slightly, from how I’ve grouped teams before)  

Right on track, still on track, and will remain on track: Red Sox (58-37), Yankees (56-38), Rangers (56-41), Phillies (60-36), Giants (57-41).
As was the case on 6/1, each team still has cause for some concern, but it’s the type of concern a millionaire has about the high price of gas.   These teams still have more talent on the field (and especially, in the rotation), than any others in MLB.   Barring any unforseen calamity, these five will be playoff teams. 

What about us, Bob, can we be playoff teams? Huh?  Why not us, Bob?:  Rays (51-44), Indians (51-45), Tigers (51-45), Angels (51-46), Braves (57-40), Pirates (51-44), Brewers (52-46), Cardinals (50-46), Diamondbacks (52-45)
Like annoying children in the back of a vehicle on a long trip, or like the flies & mosquitoes that make any summer outdoor activity irritating, these teams are just talented and well-managed enough to make a run at a playoff spot–but obviously, not all will actually get to the postseason.  Eventually, the kids will be quiet because they have to go back to school (either that or a parent or other adult yells at them), while the flies & mosquitoes will be stymied by that first bout of cool, fall weather (or by some other, more insidious, chemical means).  

Of this group of baseball teams, the Rays seem to be the pestiest; and therefore, the most likely to benefit if some sort of misfortune befalls either the Red Sox or Yankees.   Likewise, the Angels, Braves, and Diamondbacks appear to have enough on each roster to stay relevant through August.  Some team will have to win the AL & NL Central Divisions, which figures to make each race wildly entertaining–especially, a team like the Brewers, if the mercurial and unpredictable Nyjer Morgan continues to get regular playing time as well as regular interviews.

Eternal summer slacking?:  Blue Jays (48-49), White Sox (47-50), Twins (45-51), Mariners (43-53), Athletics (42-55), Mets (48-48),  Marlins(47-50), Reds (47-50), Rockies (46-51).
Like the college kid home for the summer who has yet to start looking for a job through 7/19, there’s a certain level of annoyance with these clubs, all of which have enough talent to be contending in their respective divisions, but are, frankly, not contending.  Granted, I’m painting with a broad brush in this category, so don’t infer that I think laziness is the only issue with all of these teams, or even an issue at all.  All I’m saying is that each of these teams has potential, but all have yet to realize that potential.  Possibly, they never will, much like the mythical college kid who really never gets that summer job, but who still wants money when heading back to school.

Give them an “atta-boy!”: Nationals (48-49)
Washington’s reward this season won’t be a playoff spot, but merely a proverbial pat on the back for formulating a plan, and sticking with it, regardless of the short term results.  More than likely, this is a plan that will pay long-term dividends (especially when Steven Strasburg does return to the rotation, and with Auburndale native and former E.C. Express standout Jordan Zimmermann, will give the Nats a 1-2 pitching punch that will be the envy of many in the NL).

Formulating a plan and sticking with it, regardless of the short term results…could that work elsewhere in Washington, D.C.?  Sorry, that’s a topic for a political blog…perhaps one of those exists elsewhere in the blogosphere?

Still time this summer for a nice garage sale: Orioles (39-55), Royals (39-58), Cubs (39-59), Astros (32-65), Dodgers (42-55), Padres (42-55)
Far be it from me to say that these teams are no longer relevant, because I’m positive that fans of these teams can still go to their respective ballparks and enjoy a game.  What those fans won’t be enjoying is any semblance of a playoff race.  So, whether selling off high-priced (but no-longer needed ) talent is the answer, the fact remains that a playoff race is  just not going to happen this year for any of these clubs.  I won’t even apologize for being the bearer of bad news, since there’s a good chance the average fan already knows that it’s over long before Yogi Berra would think it’s over.   My advice: go to the ballpark with your kid, your dad, your wife, your buddies, or even by yourself, and try to enjoy everything else about baseball that makes it enjoyable, and try not to dwell on the obvious, harsh reality, that your team isn’t going to win anything this year.  Maybe next year, maybe not.  Enjoy what’s left of summer, because it’ll go quickly…it always does.

Your thoughts? Your opinions? Your comments? Please feel free to add them to this blog–I’d hate for this to be a one-sided conversation.

-BOB BRADOVICH

Posted under Hometown Sports

And, when I’ve finished writing this blog, I’ll Tweet that I’ve finished writing it.  In that  Tweet will be a link to this current entry on the Hometown Sports Blog.

In other words, it’s another example of the cross-promotional and self-promotional ways we in the media use social media tools.  (Just for the record, I would never call any of media bretheren “self-promotional tools” or “self-promotional twits.”)   And, even if I were to do so, it’s never a good idea to make blanket, condemning statements like those on social media–especially, if those people are in your own social/professional orbit.

Whether this is good, bad, or indifferent, is a topic for another blog.  In fact, it’s a topic for the philosophical types who are quite removed from the day-to-day dealings of the media.  One thing I do recall from my grad school days is that however far you go back in the history of journalism, some person/pessimist is lamenting the demise of the craft because of some new-fangled technological advance. 

My only hope is that no matter what vehicle we all use, we continue to seek out and tell good stories.  I believe if all we are is a clearinghouse or a conduit for information that someone else dug up (e.g., breathless Tweets that tell someone’s followers that someone else has uncovered a story), then we may not be long for this business–whatever the heck it is we are doing.

I don’t even recall exactly when I signed up for Twitter and began using it, but at this very moment I write this blog, here are some stats:

Tweets: 1,557

Following: 60

Followers: 291

I don’t know if that’s good or bad, nor do I care.  My goal is not to cultivate a cult of followers–what am I going to do with them, anyway?  If you want to follow, great.  You’ll get quite a few local score updates, some links to stories that we’ve done, and a few snarky/silly/sarcastic comments and observations along the way.  Occasionally, there’s a message to a follower or someone specific not aimed at the diverse, mass audience of 291. 

If you don’t want to follow, that’s fine too.  If I had the time or the inclination, I’d do some purging of the spammers who follow me, but what’s the point?  You clowns are trying to sell me something.  I give you information about sports in the Eau Claire area and within the region and state.  I think that’s a decent tradeoff.

Could I campaign for more followers like some have done?  Sure, but again, what do I get but more followers?  Is this a competition?  With whom am I competing? And what’s the payoff?  Show me the portion of the Twitter website where they discuss payouts for getting to a higher level of followers, and I’ll start caring about it.

Which is not to say I don’t care.  Twitter is probably perfect for the things we do in covering local sports.  Generally, if someone isn’t watching an event but wants to know what’s happening, their first question is simple: what’s the score?  Twitter works well in that regard, especially when you link tweets to a live scoring blog, like we at News 18 Sports have done with our friends at the Eau Claire Leader-Telegram.  If there’s something more I’d like to pass along (a written story, a video, or even a blog entry), the Twitter followers will get a link. 

If there’s a downside about Twitter, it’s that it, along with other social media, is so much about immediacy that there’s no room whatsoever for context.  Forget about yesterday’s news; something that happened 10 minutes ago is often old news, buried amidst the latest Twitter trend.  Much like I’m not pandering for followers, my goal is not to start a “viral” Tweet.  Call me old school, but I don’t associate the words “virus,” “viruses,” or “viral” with anything good.   I’m thinking measles and chicken pox, both of which I’ve had, and neither of which was fun.  Speaking of “old school,” I subscribe to the theory that “less is more,” a theory that a lot of Tweeters are blissfully or purposely unaware.

More often than not, on this blog, I’ve passed along some opinions.  With that being said, and given that I’ve philosophized enough about Twitter (even though I claimed I wasn’t going to do that), I’ll give some rankings (which, as we all know, are clever ploys by sports media types to provoke debate, preferably on our airwaves/websites, so as to help perpetuate whatever it is we’re doing).

WHY I FOLLOW THE PEOPLE I FOLLOW
Simply put, to get information, and a majority of those I do follow provide a lot of it.  Some (@TomPelissero), I’m concerned, are going to spontaneously combust in their quest to quickly and constantly provide information.  Others, (@jimmiekaska) are prolific in a wildly random way, and even if they’re not passing along pertinent information, you’re getting completely unfiltered news about everything and everything going on in their lives–sometimes, that’s very entertaining.   

There are those I follow because I once covered them back in the day (@JDahl14, @bkeegan03, @sauve24), and I find it interesting to see how their respective lives are unfolding.   Others are former co-workers (@PMcGonagle, @WLBT_DavidKenney, @jdmiller46, @Kmiecik_NBC15, @Lee_WJFW).  You latter two, since you once worked “for” me, you’ll never shake that dynamic, so here’s even more advice: David, open a new work account because your old one was hacked and I really don’t want THAT much NBA draft information courtesy of your “other” Twitter account.  Lee, start tweeting more.  That should about do it.  

Perhaps the biggest (and only “real”) celebrity I follow is singer/songwriter Matthew Sweet (pretty popular in the 90′s), mainly because I like his music and he’s the brother-in-law of a college roommate.  Still, all Matt (and I get to call him “Matt,” FYI) tweets about nowadays is how he collects pottery.  I guess that’s okay…

WHY ARE THESE PEOPLE FOLLOWING ME?
This means you, spammers!  You know who you are!  Legitimate businesses like @NoahsArkWaterpark and @ECSportsCenter need not worry.  The same goes for good causes such as @Justice4Vets.  At least it sounds like a great cause…

Some of you, I’d like for you to keep following me, only because I’m quite concerned.  I’m thinking most of @nijo101, whose profile reads as follows: basically I drink beer, I drive a truck, and blow sh** up. I always play for keeps and I’m from Wisconsin and oh… I don’t give a F***. 

Sorry, Nick, I had to bleep out (or asterisk out, as it were) the profanity.  I’m not judging, because I do drink beer (in moderation), I have driven a truck, and I have blown off fireworks.  I don’t know what “playing for keeps” means, and while I grew up in an adjoining state to the west,  I now choose to live in Wisconsin. I do give a F***, so regarding the things you say you do, I hope you’re not doing them simultanously.

Next to @nijo101 in my followers list, is @Ethan_ol, whose profile reads: Managing My Misery. Original Thought. The New Endangered Species.  To him I say, “good luck with all that.”

There’s more, but I could go on forever…and probably would, given the opportunity.

For now, I better wrap this blog up so I can jump over to the Twitter website and tweet about this blog.  All of you blog readers and Twitter followers of mine are free to do whatever the heck it is you want to do.  After all, yesterday was Independence Day.

-BOB BRADOVICH

Posted under Hometown Sports