Bloops: Greatest 21 Days interviews Rick Lancellotti
Posted by Andy on February 24, 2011
Check out a fantastic interview with former big-leaguer Rick Lancellotti over at The Greatest 21 Days.
I have linked to this site before but I'll say it again--it's just about the best baseball writing I have ever read. Each post is thoroughly-researched and very nicely written. (So, you know, just about the opposite of my stuff on this blog...)
February 24th, 2011 at 11:34 pm
I was hired by the Eastern League in August, 1978, making 1979 my first full season.
My first assignment was in Reading, followed by a brief, five, six week stint in Holyoke.
After the July 4th holiday, I was given the choice to go back to Holyoke, or go to Buffalo.
Have you ever been to Holyoke?
So, I spent the last two months of the season in Buffalo, and got to watch Lancellotti in his quest to lead the league in homers.
The EL is a notorious pitchers league, so anyone hitting 30 is an accomplishment, hitting 40 is unheard of.
Not taking away anything from Rick, but Buffalo War Memorial Stadium was a bandbox to right field, probably no more than 250-260 down the rightfield line.
Reading and Bristol were two of the best cities as far as supporting the teams, but Buffalo wasn't bad, either.
At least it wasn't Holyoke...or Lynn.
February 25th, 2011 at 2:21 pm
Were there ny teams that struck out 200 times in a season back in the day? Were there any players that did it? When was the 1st time? My point up top was that the culture in todays game has changed to the point that strikeouts are acceptable, as part of the power game. Its proof that that dont have to be the case by this thread. Not saying they should hit more hr's than k's. But 10 times as many k's as hr's is crazy!! I heard someone on MLB network make a joke about this very subject the other day. I think it may have been Harold Reynolds. I have to agree. If these guys tries to get hits as opposed to home runs, the strikeouts would be down. Thats almost fact in my opinion!!! But its like rappers with shiny gold fat chains, or flashing money in the videos, home runs are similar for some players.
February 25th, 2011 at 2:24 pm
edit above, "any" teams, NOT "NY" teams