“My only message is simple,” Steinbrenner said in Tampa, Fla. “The National League needs to join the 21st century. They need to grow up and join the 21st century.”

A pitcher hitting and running the bases is old fashioned and antiquated is the message he seems to be trying to get across. By why stop ay just a designated hitter for the pitcher. Chien-Ming Wang got hurt running the bases. The major leagues are full of slow lumbering hitters. Maybe we should have a designated runner. Get some track star to stand to the side and moment the ball is he, this person can sprint on down the line to first base, most likely in a scant few seconds. Why should fans be forced to see Frank Thomas, Brian McCann, David Ortiz and others “clog up the bases.” Replace them with a designated runner.

While we are at it Hank, why have a player who is a great hitter, but a terrible fielder out on the field. Why not an offensive unit and a defensive unit, like football? Then you have nine designated hitters. Think of the runs, think of the battle. Now, that is 21st century thinking.

I, for one can do without the DH and without interleague play. Let athletes be athletes. The best will rise and will do so by excelling at more than one function of the game.

• Top 20 Memorable Baseball Commercials
• World Series – Which Team Should a Good Jew Root For?
• Why Couldn't This Happen To Me When I Played Little League
• Like a Child
• Uniquely Unified

The best ads seem to feature actual baseball players and it seems like the players must enjoy doing a humorous ad and I think that comes across and gives a sense of a good time that the teams hope to convey with a visit to the ballpark.

It does seem like the smaller market teams end up with the better commercials. Not sure why, maybe the players are willing to be more adventurous, maybe the teams feel the bigger need to market more heavily.

Anyway onto the ads!

20 – Stylin’ For Retro Night

Trevor Hoffman, Brian Giles and Greg Maddux get ready for Retro night. Maddog is a veteran at baseball ads as we will see further down the list. For a craftsman pitcher he seems to also have a sort of comic timing that works well in what he has been asked to do in ads such as this.

Retro Night

19 – Candles

No players, but funny. Personally I like scented candles.

18 – Sungalsses

Mark Kotsay looks like he had some fun in his years with the A’s. The Athletics certainly have a number of humorous and well done spots. This one takes seeing all the way to the end before it become memorable. Still gives me a chuckle even after numerous viewings.

Sunglasses

17 – Joe Mauer-Mean Joe Sideburns

Takeoff of the famous Mean Joe Geene Coke ad from the 70’s however this Joe is not giving up his uniform shirt, but something much more personal.

16 – Man Down

George Steinbrenner gets in the act as part of a Yankees-Adidas ads that I believe ran during the 1998 season. A part of the Boss that we most likely would have rather not seen.

15 – Kollectors

Seattle Mariner pitcher Felix Hernandez makes fans get creative in finding K’s for the strikeouts he amasses. ing ong indeed.

14 – Avis, New York-Boston rivalry

Interesting commercial that is probably hard to understand outside of New York and Boston, however the stereotypical dialect and accents give this a nice subtle touch.

13 – Lipton Ice Tea-Brisk

Claymation ad featuring famous Yankees Babe Ruth, Reggie Jackson, George Steinbrenner and Billy Martin (Martin of course getting fired by the Boss). Funny and just visually interesting the way it was done. Like any great baseball ad, the humor requires a knowledge of baseball, and this one delivers from Phil Rizzuto announcing to the the Boss’ turtleneck.

12 – Carpool

The Minnesota Twins have some very funny ads. I thought this was one of the best, again because of the knowledge of baseball required. Knowing the differences in how Johan Santana and Joe Nathan pitch bring out the humor in this spot.

11 – Sixth Sense

Mark Kotsay again with the Athletics showing how his sense of timing helps him more than just play centerfield.

10 – Pitching is the New Hitting

This one is a call back to a classic ad that we will find a bit further up the list. Mad Dog Maddux is back, motivating the Padre “sluggers” to try their hand at pitching. With Jim Edmonds since being released, neither him nor Adrian Gonzalez bring up memories of a true slugger today (at least not of the level of McGwire), but funny nevertheless.

Pitching is the New Hitting

9 – James Otto-Braves Play Here

Here is one that just spins a good tune, some nice interspersed highlights and the players having fun. Peachtree TV is the local station that just to be TBS and show some of the Braves local games. In actuality the Braves play on SportsSouth much more often than Peachtree TV, but I see this commercial almost daily while watching my Seinfeld reruns, so it has earned a place in my memory.

8 – Beware of Things Made in October

Funny ad for Fox and the MLB baseball playoffs. There were a couple of other ones in a similar vein, however the fire shooting from the leaf blower made this my fav of the 3.

7 – Randy Johnson Dodgeball

Dodgeball can be cruel enough without the ball coming from Randy Johnson in his prime. Humor and violent humor a classic combo.

Dodgeball

6 – Red Sox Mastercard

Not really a commercial, but too funny not to include. Especially like the guy who feels giving up his son is a fair deal (“Go Sox!”)

5 – Yogi Berra AFLAC

Already a classic, and once again funny because knowing the game and the history is the only way to truly understand the humor. Yogi, of course was famous for his malapropism.

4 – Working the Zone

Ichiro in another funny Mariners ad. This version is from Japanese television with some extra portions showing how Ichiro making these throws was actually not far off from the target.

3 – Rolling Rock Baseball “Cup”

Hard not to laugh out loud for this. Certainly rude and full of not so subtle symbolism (see the placement of the baseballs and the overflowing beer bottle at the end. Of course the players would have been wearing cups as well, but that is besides the point. The point is to laugh and remember.

2 – Aquafina – Lou Pinella

Great take on the usually hot tempered Lou Pinella. Once again knowledge of Pinella and his temper tantrums helps to bring out the humor of this spot.

1 – Chicks Dig the Long Ball

All time classic with the remarks from Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine to having Heather Locklear in the ad. And of course with McGwire gone and Glavine and Maddux both still pitching and Hall of Fame shoo-ins, nobody has seen Mark in awhile.

B’H

• Hermeneutics of a Stop Sign
• Just For A Laugh
• World Series – Which Team Should a Good Jew Root For?
• What Goes Around…
• Fatherhood

Check out the video and the site for the full story of the best game ever.

B”H

• World Series – Which Team Should a Good Jew Root For?
• Like a Child
• Song For Shabbat (January 11, 2008)
• Joining the 21st Century
• Top 20 Memorable Baseball Commercials

I am very disturbed by the first “Best Sports Stories of 2007″ entry (the Little League World Series). The young batter who prayed that he’d hit a game-winning homer, and the hooplah about his victory and prayer is sickening and in really bad taste. The article is saying, in effect, that the US player’s god is better than the Japanese team’s god…or that God favored the US team or this batter in the series. This is a lot of claptrap and I wonder if the story about his prayer would have come up if he’d struck out and Japan had won? Would the headline read “God denies Little League player’s prayer!” Give me a break!

God answers prayers. He answers the prayers of those that love Him all the time. I think He answers the prayers of those that don’t love Him so much as well. However, I do not think that the answer is always what we want, nor what we expect. When He answers the prayer, like he did with the winning home run, it does not mean that He favors one person, or team, or country over another. It might have a meaning much greater and deeper than just one hit in one game. It might reach far beyond that game, and far beyond the players in the game. It might touch a life in a way that we can little see, nor expect. That is one thing about God, and the complexity of how He works things out in and around His creation. It is just wonderful how God brings little pieces from here and there, and brings us in the path of others to touch them in a way that may not be revealed for years. So when God answers a prayer, it does show favor, but it does not show favoritism.

Another thing to remember is that the boy who hit the home run trusted in God and even if he struck out, that should not change the outlook on God. The other team, if the players there also put their faith in God, should not feel that God was against them, but said no to their prayers, this time. If my child asks me for something and I say no, I have still given the child an answer and saying no in no way indicates a lack of love. If it is a request that is not possible or the right time for, then it might be denied. A child should understand that a loving parent has the best interests of the child at hand and if the answer is no, then that is for best, and does not mean a lack of love.

In the same way, as children of God, we should trust God enough to know if He allows the other team to win, it does not mean a lack of love, but that for today that answer was no. When we constantly put God to the test every time He seems to favor one over ourselves, we are showing not that God does not love us, but that we do not love and trust God enough.

As to the question of taste, I see nothing wrong with quoting the boy and the results of what he prayed. If the boy struck out and told the same reporter that he had prayed to God, would it be better than to include that in the story? To me both results speak of a boy that trusts God and in both cases would reveal something about the boy…and about God.

The second story listed that was interesting was about the determination of a girl, Claire Markwardt, to finish a track race even after breaking a bone, crawling across the finish line after breaking the bone 200 meters from the finish line. What a wonderful story, and video, showing the determination to not give up and to finish what one has started. I was blessed to read and see the video and watch courage that I could only hope to have under that kind of adversary.

So in a story about great sports stories, two about children were able to touch hearts and become, at least in the eyes of one reporter, great enough to crack a year end top ten list. May we all become like children like this ourselves. (Matthew 18:1-4, Mark 10:15, Luke 18:17)

B”H

• Why Couldn't This Happen To Me When I Played Little League
• World Series – Which Team Should a Good Jew Root For?
• Grace Defined
• The Plan of Salvation According to Howard Dean (Hint: it involves voting for Democrats)
• Does God Believe in Us?

For me, I would be happy for either team, as they are both good organizations with good players. I think the Red Sox have the advantage, having a much more star-laden experienced which won more games in a tougher league and division, but the Rockies have momentum (although we will see what 9 days off did to that). My prediction (and remember i am not a prophet, nor do I claim any gift, especially when it comes to baseball games. A look at my fantasy team results will prove that) is the Red Sox in 6. Play ball!

• Why Couldn't This Happen To Me When I Played Little League
• Like a Child
• Joining the 21st Century
• Top 20 Memorable Baseball Commercials
• It's The End Of The World As We Know It, Or Is It?

• He That Takes Away Your Cloak Forbid Not To Take Your Coat Also
• Like a Child
• Why Blog?
• Hanukkah Fun!
• Truth Is Stranger Than Fiction

I always found the homemade tribute songs much better than official songs like this one

B”H

• A Prayer Under Fire
• Top 20 Memorable Baseball Commercials
• L'shana Tova! 5770
• Spiritual Lessons From Musical Commutes
• How Things Are Not Fair (And How Thankful I Am That They Are Not)