by Hilary Barta
Running late and still under construction
That’s the state of the Cubs’ run production
Plus the seats the bums prize
Though defeat’s no surprise
Their team’s great — but at blunder and suction.
Designated Visitors
by Jim Siergey
Construction at Wrigley’s a mess
Completion by June is best guess
Should league take a stand,
Have Cubs’ home be banned
And make them perennial guests?
For our readers out in the sticks, here’s some background.
Baseball Quickened?
by Philip Pecorino
Baseball’s “Pace of Game” committee
wants to make it more speedy.
But, in an effort to quicken the paces
what may be lost of the game’s subtle graces?
Baseball was once the game
that made the claim
it had no clock.
But, now it seems
there are several schemes
to attend to the tick-tock.
To appease the fans,
mostly not in the stands,
with ever shorter attention spans
there are several initiatives
by baseball executives
to pick up the pace:
one by keeping batters in their place
another still to consider
would discourage pitchers who dither.
Where will it end
to get fans to attend?
Perhaps, better baseball education
leads to better attention.
Philip Pecorino is a Professor of Philosophy in CUNY and SUNY systems and has published several articles in philosophical publications, humanities publications and elsewhere. He is into baseball in a metaphysical way with poems on baseball ontology.
You Make the Call
by the Village Elliott
Ain’t Pete Carroll, but Charlie Dressen,
Made worst sports call. History lesson:
Jints Thompson called, “Thank-a
God, he called Ralph Branca!”
Call Flatbush calls “Bums’ Most Depressin’!”
Minnie Minoso, Your Name is a Song
by James Finn Garner
Minnie Minoso
Your name is a song
And why it took so long
To integrate Chicago baseball
God only knows
But you came and showed
The joy of speed
The command of glove
And changed the game
But why do I love
You, Orestes, besides your name?
The Cuban Comet
You flared and flamed
and lit up the place
Wherever you came
Minnie Minoso
Your name is a song
I hope to recall
My whole life long