R.I.P Dutch

Lawrence "Dutch" Rennert, 88, died Sunday in St. Augustine, Florida -- and the world of baseball lost a colorful character.

There was never a question about a call with Dutch. He was as animated as they come when calling a strike. Heck, if you were sitting in the upper deck, you heard him.

Dutch was from Oshkosh, WI. A long-time minor-league umpire, he was promoted to the National League in 1973. He worked 2,693 regular season games, plus six NL Championship Series, three World Series (1980, '83 and '89) and two All-Star Games.

I first met Dutch while working with the Oshkosh Northwestern back in the  '70s, heading over to his house to interview him before he headed off for spring training. In the off-season around the Fox Valley, you often saw Dutch (paired with Larry Van Alstine) working high school or college basketball games.

What you saw with Dutch was what you got. He was a real story teller. He loved his job, and he loved people, from fans to players. He told a great story of working games in Montreal when the Expos were there, and a fan who showed up for every game, calling "DUTCHEEEE" to him before the game. He was proud of his work, and humbled by the opportunity.

RIP Dutch. I know you're behind the plate again and loving every minute of it.

Transgender Competiton Creates Questions

Sometimes, things can sorta slip under the radar. Out of sight, out of mind you might say.  So I thank one of my California contacts for bringing this to my attention. When I started covering high school sports in 1969, this sort of thing never entered my mind.

I'm speaking of an incident in Connecticut this past week, when during the State Open track and field championships, one person broke the State Open records for girls in both the 100- and 200-meter runs. That person is a biological boy. Terry Miller of Bulkeley, a transgender, won both events. In the 100-meter dash, the runner-up was Andraya Yearwood of Cromwell -- also a transgender.

The line from the theme song of the Archie Bunker show comes to mind -- "And you knew where you were then....goirls were goirls (loved that Archie accent!) and men were men". But, the time's they are a changin'.

I totally support those of the LGBTQ community. Athletes, non-athletes. Doesn't matter. It's your life, go for it.

That said, I think the whole Connecticut situation will call for some steps to clear up the muddy waters. The only solution I can see -- if an athlete is biologically male, then the athlete competes with the males. It's just not a level playing field if said transgender competes against females. It's just a fact of life.

For example, in the just completed WIAA State Track Meet, the winning time in the girls' Division 1 100 was 11.99 (and only 1 of 11 finishers was under 12.0) while the 200 time was 23.76 (again, the only sub-24.0 time turned in). For the boys, winning time was 10.65 in the 100 and 21.43 in the 200. In both events, all competitors were sub-11.0 and sub-22.0, respectively.

Hey, I don't have the answers here. Just want to get a dialogue going because sooner or later we will need to get to an answer that's fair for all. This isn't a red/blue topic or an across-the-aisle topic. It's a PEOPLE topic. And our families, friends, co-workers, neighbors...well, they all deserve a thoughtful, respectful approach.

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Kneeling, Standing & Everything Inbetween

I'm not a big fan of mixing sports and politics, mind you, but it happens. Sorry, but I just can't ignore this week's events without comment. 

Those of us of a certain age can still picture African-American athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos during their medal ceremony at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City. On the platform, the two of them with a single black-gloved fist thrust into the air, their Black Power Salute.

That 1968 summer saw a lot of racial unrest and violence in America. These men were drawing more attention to it -- I would hope to help correct it.

Fast-forward to this 2018. Players across the National Football League kneel (or on occasion thrust a fist into the air) during the National Anthem. Again, to peacefully protest racial unrest in America. And this week, President Donald Trump cancelled what had been a regular White House event, hosting a sports champion. In this case, he pulled the rug out from under the Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles.

His reasoning? Teams are showing a lack of respect to him -- and, by the way, the National Anthem and the military. Of course, the fact no Eagles knelt during the season was ignored. As was the fact that a significant number of Eagles were not going to attend the White House ceremony. Is it a true disinvite when the invitee chooses NOT to come? Last year's NBA champs, the Warriors, didn't go. And this year's NBA champs won't, either.

Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney blasted Trump's decision, saying "These are players who stand up for the causes they believe in and who contribute in meaningful ways to their community. Disinviting them from the White House only proves that our President is not a true patriot, but a fragile egomaniac obsessed with crowd size and afraid of the embarrassment of throwing a party to which not one wants to attend."

Does the action of professional (or college athletes) during the National Anthem really mean disrespect to the Anthem, the flag or the military?

And do military veterans see it that way?

I reached out to a friend for his thoughts. Mike is a huge sports fan AND from a true military family. His mother and father are both veterans -- Vietnam -- while he served in the Navy and has a son in the Marines. His thoughts?

"As for the kneeling issue, this issue is very well blown out of proportion by the media. I am under the firm belief as a service member that I fought and defended this nation to preserve the rights of citizens. I am grateful to whomever spoke to (Colin Kaepernick) to get off the bench and kneel when he first started to protest.

"Ultimately I am grateful of his choice to kneel and not stand on, burn or mutilate our ensign (flag). The country has seen multiple protests and acts that have spoken out for cause for (INSERT). The great part of our constitution and our country is "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness."

That probably sums it up best. Veterans served to give ALL of us the right to freely and peacefully speak our mind. To disagree with those in power. Somebody needs to tell a certain draft-dodger the facts.

Baseball Still A Big Draw -- In Most Places

In most of the country, baseball is still going strong. Whether this is city based (New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, St. Louis) or regional is anybody's guess. But one thing is clear -- The Florida Project in baseball is not working.

Once upon a time, the Lords of Major League Baseball looked around for markets to expand in. Lo, there sits Florida. Teams draw great during spring training. You have a lot of retired folks from fan bases all over the country settling there. And let's factor in the huge (yes, YUGE) population of people from Latin American countries (including Cuba), where baseball fans go crazy for the sport.

So baseball placed teams in Tampa and Miami. What could go wrong?

Apparently quite a bit. As of May 16th, for example, the Los Angeles Dodgers topped MLB in attendance, averaging 46,663 fans. Milwaukee's Brewers, averaging 32,995 (626, 916 fans through home 19 games, great for a small market club) was 10th. The rest of the Top 10 were St. Louis, the New York Yankees, San Francisco, the Los Angeles Angels, Chicago Cubs, Houston, Colorado and Boston. Boston, by the way, averages 33,564 in Fenway Park, where the maximum attendance is 37,731 for night games and 37281 for day games.

Now, let's look at The Florida Project. Ranked 29th, Tampa has averaged 14,710 (264,795 in 18 games) while Miami is 30th with 245,538 fans in 23 games, an average of 10,675. By the way, 30th is dead last, folks.

On Mother's Day, there were 15 games played. Of those, 14 drew 470,546 fans for an average gate of 33,610. Then there's Miami, which drew a whopping 7,435 for a game with Atlanta. Keep in mind, that's tickets old, not fannies in the seats. That means that just over 30,000 fans showed up dressed as empty seats. (Reminds me of the bad old days of UW football under Don Morton and his "explosive" veer offense -- 45,000 fans dressed as empty seats in a stadium that held 70,000-plus.)

WOW! It seems in Miami, when they have Fan Appreciation Nite, it is just that -- singular. And this is a franchise now headed up by Mr. Yankee himself, Derek Jeter, who came into his maiden voyage armed with dynamite to blow up the franchise (goodbye Christian Yelich; so long, Giancarlo Stanton). Unfortunately, the shrinking fan base has been down this road before. And was especially burned AFTER previous ownership conned them into building fancy, splashy new digs -- then torn down the team yet again.

Over on the other coast, Tampa ownership has been grousing for a new stadium. But if you build it, they probably won't come. History tells us that. Even in years with contending teams, neither city drew all that well.

The only real solution would be for baseball to bite the bullet and move the squads. I continue to be hopeful that relations with Cuba will get to a more normal state. Why? Havana is a baseball-crazy market just waiting for the MLB to tap it.

Random Thoughts On America's Pasttime

It gets a bad rap now and then, because today's perception is that baseball is just too slow. No, the sport is MEANT to be played at a leisurely pace.

What's slowing down baseball? Constant pitching changes, delays between pitches, delays with replay. I do like the move towards a set number of mound visits in a game (call this the "Wilson Contreras Rule" since the erstwhile Chicago Cubs pitcher would make a mound trip on pretty much every friggin' pitch).

But the overuse of replay seems to be taking baseball's soul. Personally, I like the human aspect of the umpire. Right or wrong -- and usually right -- it's nice to have that aspect. Do the Men In Blue need to call the strike zone on a consistent basis? Of course, but as long as they call 'em the same for both teams the whole game, I'm good.

I don't think we'll see a .400 hitter again, nor will we see anyone break. Why? Several reasons. These marks were set when baseball didn't have an outpost west of the Mississippi, when St. Louis was the farthest outpost. Travel was done by train. More leisurely. And less media scrutiny as well. Today's instant news, and need for it, keeps a player in an ever-growing spotlight as he nears records. It's just a fact. 

Here's a tidbit I ran across recently that astonished me. Before the Boston Braves moved to Milwaukee, just as the 1953 season was starting, there was a move afoot to buy the St. Louis Cardinals. In financial trouble, the Cards could have been moved. But the Auggie Bush family stepped forward and saved the day. Who knew?

A Trip In A Baseball Time Capsule

Thanks to a drive with a World War II veteran named Irwin, I was introduced to a Baseball Time Capsule of sorts, something a baseball fan can appreciate.

It's Red Smith On Baseball a collection of columns by Green Bay-born and raised Walter Wellesley "Red" Smith (Sept. 25, 1905-Jan. 15, 1982). Smith was a sportswriter, a columnist for five decades who influenced a lot of journalists. He started his newspaper career with the Milwaukee Sentinel.

The book carries 167 Smith columns starting in 1941 and carrying on through 1981. It's an interesting walk down the halls of baseball history. And a reflection of society as well. After all, Smith started writing about baseball before Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier. He writes a little about the Negro Leagues, but other than Robinson, Larry Doby and the great pitcher Satchel Paige, he doesn't touch on the standout names of that league -- Theodore Roosevelt Radcliffe (better known as Double-Duty after he pitched one game of a championship doubleheader and caught the second) or Josh Gibson or Buck O'Neil.

Granted, as you read his columns from the late 1940s -- Larry Doby has joined Jackie Robinson in the majors -- he does include the terms "colored" and "Negro" to describe these players. Keep in mind this was common for the time. Doesn't make it right, but attitudes needed changing. And unfortunately, continue to need change.

That's the biggest negative. On the plus side, he touches on players like "Losing Pitcher" Mulcahy, as Hugh Mulcahy was known. A pre-WWII thrower with the woeful Philadelphia Phillies, Mulcahy pitched in a then-National League record 56 games in his first season. In the span of two seasons (1938 & 1940) he lost 42 times. But he was a good pitcher saddled with a poor supporting cast. Back then, good players on bad clubs ended up making their money leaving for New York or Chicago or elsewhere. But before Mulcahy could cash in, he was drafted -- and ended up losing his best years to the war.

Other pluses worth noting? Details of re-creating a road game for radio relying on telegraph play-by-play; Hank Greenberg's farewell to baseball; Learning of Babe Ruth's death during a steamship crossing of the Atlantic, and talking about the 53-year-old Ruth's final months; The story of a Lou Gehrig medal, presented by Japan and returned via the Jimmy Doolittle Raid on Tokyo. No kidding...

The list goes on and on from Smith, a storyteller who painted great pictures and told stories in column after column. Recommended reading for the die-hard baseball fan.

A Flip Of A Coin

Just saw this regarding the Phoenix Suns and Milwaukee Bucks; because of the Eric Bledso trade, there  will flip a coin to determine the first-round draft order between the Bucks and the Miami Heat. The winner will get the 16th pick, loser the 17th.

Those of us of a certain age will recall a more memorable coin flip between the Suns and Milwaukee.

Back in 1969, there was no draft lottery (and no real talk about teams tanking). There were 14 teams, compared to 30 today. There were two divisions. Both clubs were expansion teams in the 1968-69 season, with Milwaukee posting a 27-55 record in the East to a 16-66 mark for Phoenix.

The top prize in the 1969 draft was UCLA center Lew Alcindor, who would change his name to Kareem Abdul Jabbar and become the NBA's all-time leading scorer.

Phoenix called heads, the coin came up tails. Alcindor went to Milwaukee, and led them to their only NBA title in 1971 before being traded to the Los Angeles Lakers a few seasons later.

Funny how fate can turn on a coin flip.

Back Away From The Edge

Yes, the Milwaukee Brewers are struggling. But the season is, and always has been, a marathon and not a sprint. The playoffs, and the World Series, are not held in April or May.

Many a team that has been stellar out of the gate has been lost in the dust by the All-Star Break. And the opposite holds true.

In short, people, it's a long, long season. And 12 games don't make a season.

Granted, the offense has been pretty much absent, especially in the 7-game home stand  that produced a 2-5 record with three shut-out losses. And the gloves of stone (and brains much the same) on defense that add up to a league-leading total in errors committed.

Still, April is not the time to panic. New acquisitions Christian Yelich and Lorenzo Cain are injured, as is catcher Manny Pina. And toss in pitcher Jimmy Nelson, who won't be back for several weeks.Then there's the bullpen woes that are, in part, due to All-Star closer Corey Knebel being lost for four-to-six weeks.

Bullpen by committee isn't working out that well for Manager Craig Counsell. Perhaps he needs to expand the roll of left-handed fireballer Josh Hader to eat up multiple innings. As ab aside, every time I see pictures of Hader in those glasses I can't help but think of the Hanson Brothers from the movie "Slapshot".

Of the arms in the bullpen, Jeremy Jeffress has at least held the closer roll with success in the past. Might be time to turn the keys over to him and see where he takes us.

Opening Day At Miller Park

Another Opening Day in Milwaukee, a fourth straight loss for the Brewers. I'm starting to get emails from the Brewers' owner Mark Attanasio asking me NOT to continue my Opening Day Tradition because of that.

Hey, I'm not THAT bad on ODs. This was my 26th, and I do have an overall record of 15-11. Granted, that's just 2-7 in recent history. But, hey, I'm not the guy out there pitching -- or leaving the starter in for a hitter or two too many. That's my story and I'm sticking to it, Stevie!

Despite the loss (to the hated St. Louis Cardinals, no less!) it was a great day. Temperatures in Milwaukee were in the mid to upper 30s, making it more like Packer weather for tailgating. But inside (and I again thank the Baseball Gods for inventing the retractable roof) it was comfy for the crowd of reported crowd of 45,393. It didn't look like that many were on hand, but how many were passed out in the parking lot from too much tailgating? I can't say.

Milwaukee's sweep of San Diego to start the season had the crowd in a positive mood. I'm sure the additions of offensive (and defensive) help Lorenzo Cain and Christian Yelich helped that as well.

In a back-and-forth game, the difference came in the fifth inning in the unlikely form of Cardinals pitcher Miles Mikolas. Two outs, a runner aboard and Mikolas just crushed his first Major League hit, a 407-foot two-run home run to left. Even the two Cardinal fans next to us (Chicago guys who, it seems, prefer coming to games at Miller Park to Wrigley Field) were stunned. Of all the improbable outcomes, that was not one we were expecting.

That made it 4-2, and still not that deep a hole. But a four-run 6th inning made it a deeper hole, and while the team rallied with a pair of runs with two outs in the bottom of the frame, it was too much to overcome.

Milwaukee had home runs from Cain, Manny Pina and Eric Thames, continuing the long ball trend from last year. But they seem to have more contact hitting at the top of the order in Cain-Yelich-Travis Shaw, so I expect better offensive production in 2018.

SPEAKING OF Wrigley Field, and the Chicago Cubs: During the early innings, a gentleman in a Cubs uniform and wearing, for whatever reason, a large sombrero was working his way through the crowd, apparently "hexing" the Brewers and their fans. My thought? That's respect. If the Cubs and their faithful weren't concerned about Milwaukee this year, they would be ignoring us.

Opening Day Brings Happiness

It's early this year. No, not talking about Easter but baseball's Opening Day. All of the MLB gets the season going this week, the earliest ever. They need to to try and get World Series wrapped up before the snows fly.

Personally, I wouldn't mind seeing baseball drop from their 162 game schedule to, say, 154. But for owners to give up those games would mean a drop in revenue (or potential revenue) so it probably won't happen. Still, go that route OR go back to scheduling double-headers here and there in order to get the playoffs starting earlier. Wouldn't mind seeing that.

Love Opening Day at Miller Park. This will be the 24th with G-Man, and probably my 30th plus overall.

Milwaukee's Brewers got the state excited last season, pretty much coming out of nowhere to play meaningful baseball late in September. Picked by Sports Illustrated to win, if memory serves, 74 games. This on the heels of a 73-89 record in 2016.  I picked them 82-80....and they finished 86-76 and just a game out of the Wild Card.

This year, SI picks the team for second 86-76, nine games behind Cubs and two games out of Wild Card. Las Vegas has Milwaukee at 84 1/2 (meaning you bet the over at 85 or the under at 83). ESPN tabs then as 10th in their MLB rankings, with four NL squads (Dodgers, Nationals, Cubs, Cardinals) ahead of them.

As far as this year's record,  I'll be a little more generous and predict the club will be 89-73. While the Brew Crew won't win the division -- those pesky Cubs! -- they will make the playoffs. And finish ahead of the hated St. Louis Cardinals.

Yes, pitching in a BIG Brewer question mark, but isn't that the case for most teams? Milwaukee needs Chase Anderson and Zach Davies to repeat or improve upon, last season. Brent Suter needs to step up, as does Brandon Woodruff, while free-agent addition Jhoulys Chacin will prove to be a good signing. Don't forget Jimmy Nelson is on the mend, and getting him back mid-season will be akin to a trade.

The starters just need to put together at least six quality innings, then turn it over to a very stacked bullpen  and All-Star Corey Knebel. 

Again, pitching will be crucial. But this Milwaukee club should be able to put runs on on anybody and everybody. The addition of Christian Yelich & Lorenzo Cain improve not only the offense but the defense as well. Continued improvement from Travis Shaw and Orlando Arcia will help club. Eric "Old Man River" Thames ran hot-and-cold, but straightened out down the stretch. Domingo Santana gave power, but not necessarily defensive prowess. Can Jonathan Villar get back to his 2016 numbers? Word from Spring Training was he came in with a better approach to the game. Still, I think remains a liability on the base paths unless he starts listening to Manager Craig Counsell. I think the team would be better off playing Eric Sogard.

Odd man out from the outfield is 34-year-old Ryan Braun, starting his 12th season with the big league club. His numbers have been slipping, along with his health. Perhaps limiting him to 100 games (he only played in 104 last year due to various injuries) might help. Not thrilled with the Braun-to-first base experiment -- I think the team is better served getting Jesus Aguilar at-bats instead. But the team can't trade Braun due to that big contract he signed.

The other side of baseball happiness for me is the start of fantasy baseball. I've been a part of, or commissioner of, leagues for 33 years. Was conned into joining by Dan McDonald and the Sports Information Department at the University of Louisiana-Lafayette (now know as Louisiana-Lafayette) in 1985. Fantasy baseball continues to frustrate me, but makes baseball a little more enjoyable -- and gives me the chance to trade trash talk with friends/owners around the country.

Like the others in the league, I hope to uncover that "gem" that the rest of the owners missed and prove my true baseball intellect. This despite the fact that I continue to go without a title: curse you Deric, Bill, Mild Bill, Bartender Doug, Gary, Tyler and Stevie Wonder.