Jeff Kent

“If you want to get to know me, you have to get off the baseball field. Because when I'm on the field, and in the clubhouse, I'm doing what I'm paid to do, what I love to do, and man, I hate it when I fail.” - Jeff Kent

"Confidence and cockiness, they’re both tied into success.”    -Jeff Kent

    There’s something beautiful about every aspect of baseball. The mechanics of the pitcher’s stride, the different stages of a batter’s swing, and the fielder’s acrobatic catches. The game was developed to captivate and memorize everyone and anyone who set their eyes on the diamond-like field. Yet, the grind of the game can leave a bittersweet taste in your mouth, especially if it becomes your life. As much as baseball, especially the Major League, seems glamorous to its onlookers-- its not always pretty. That unattractive side is something that I like to call the reality of the game… And one player who’s a perfect example of the hardships of baseball is Jeff Kent. 
    From the very beginning I looked forward to writing about Kent. Not only do I consider him one of my favorite players, but I thought he would be an interesting player to write about. I didn’t expect he’d be so hard to figure out.
    For anyone who’s paid attention to Jeff Kent as a player you’d know he wasn’t always painted in the best light. He was usually portrayed as a short tempered and isolated player whom was “not always a member of the all-interview team.” (3) He gained terrible reputations in several different club houses and did so early in his baseball career. For example in 1992 with the NY Mets, his teammates played a practical joke on him which he didn’t get and reacted poorly. His attitude furthered the distance between him and his teammates; isolation himself, establishing a league wide poor reputation, and deep frustration. (3) His unpleasant club house attitude didn’t stop with the Mets. With the Giants many years later he had unmistakable tension with left fielder Barry Bonds. The tension ran so deep it went as far as the two having a shoving match during the 2002 season in the dugout. (2)
    However, whether you believed him to be an club house A-hole or not, Jeff Kent “has always made it clear that he wasn’t in baseball to make friends.” (3) Despite not being a favorite in most teams’ club houses he managed to earned the respect of his teammates (particularly with the Giants) by being a hard nose player. (3) What made him a hard nose player, aka Dirtbag, was his leadership and determination to succeed.
     Jeff was first and foremost a fierce competitor who refused to fail. Throughout his career he constantly showed how much he wanted to succeed and hated to fail. In an online article, Jeff Kent: his numbers with earn…, Jeff showed his intense competitiveness stating: "I think I take pride more in my defense than I do my offense because it's embarrassing to make errors out there. You let yourself down, you let your teammates down, and you definitely don't want to let a pitcher down. I'm not a great gifted Gold Glover, but I try to play like one." (4)
    He was determined to prove himself over the years as a player. For example in 2000 with the SF Giants, former pitcher Liven Hernandez was working on a no-hitter. With his no-hitter on the line Jeff made several “spectacular defensive plays to keep the bid alive.” (3) Although the no-hitter was broken up, Jeff’s extraordinary plays on the field wasn’t forgotten with his teammates. He showed how hard he was willing to work to help his teammates succeed and was a selfless player by playing hard in order for him fellow teammates to succeed. 
    Not only did he want to prove himself as a fielder but in the batter’s box as well. When playing for the Giants in 1997, Dodger’s pitcher Ramon Martinez nailed him on the left wrist with a fastball. Despite the pain Jeff pushed through it and played; proving he was a competitor and earning respect from his teammates. He never let injuries get in the way of his playing time. In a JockBio online Jeff was quoted saying; "some guys play not to get hurt, and they’re never really as good as they can be. That’s not the way I play.” (3) His all out attitude on the field showed how much Jeff was willing to do to play the game to his best.
    Jeff was taught at a young age by his father to respect the game. His father’s philosophy to life was to never settle for anything but your best and to do a job the right way. From the way Jeff played on the field its seems clear that his fathers words echoed throughout his sixteen year baseball career. (1) He quietly established himself in the ‘Bigs’ with his eliminate all emotions from the game attitude. While his career performance and attitude fluctuated he managed to respectfully lead his team on the field in various means.
    In an online article Jeff Kent’s former manager, Ned Colletti, described Kent as “a no-nonsense player, someone you will never see lead a talkathon, but whose 1-on-1 counsel was invaluable.” (1) His helpfulness earned him a role as leader. One approach that showed his leadership was his ability to re-channeled his frustration into positive energy on the field. For instance when Jeff played on the Mets in 1993, Jeff had committed 18 errors and struck out more times than he’d like to. He wasn’t too happy about his performance, but instead of complaining he used that frustration to heat up his bat. Jeff ended up hitting .375 with eight home runs and 26 RBIs that April. (3)
    While he played for the Giants Jeff’s performance seemed to blossom to its full potential. Despite the fact that in 1998 the Giants failed to seal the wild card spot Jeff had his most successful season. Unfortunately, in June he suffered a sprained right knee but decided to came back with full swinging. Not only did he sustain an month long injury, but he been left off the NL All-star team. This did not make Jeff happy. As a result he took his anger out on the Reds before the month ended. He nailed two homers and seven RBIs in a 12-2 defeat. (3) From that point on he was terrific and turned up the heat in the prime months of September.
    He not only displayed his leadership from re-channeling his energy on the field he used it to respect the game as well. Jeff made it clear his top priority was to respect the game. In the online article, Jeff Kent: his numbers with earn…, Jeff stated: “I'm old school and I play the game that way. I love to play the game, and everything else, I don't care much about." (4) He loved playing and respecting baseball. Specifically, in 1998 during a series versus the Expos Jeff was hit by pitcher Miguel Batista during one of his at-bats.  He considered charging the mound, but decided to “let his bat do his talking.” (3) The next at-bat after being plunked Jeff launched a drove a ball over the fences. This showed leadership and respect because he show consideration for the opposing pitching by not charging him. He showed his teammates that he was able to control his temper on the field and re-channel that negative energy into positive play.
    In addition, his newfound confidence on the field seemed to build a confidence in his club house leadership. In an online bio about Jeff’s career the site described how Jeff took the initiative to become a better leader. In 2001, he did so by requesting to have his locker moved closer to the prospects area. “His goal was to provide an example for players working their way through the organization—though he didn't see any need to socialize with them. While that put off some players, most understood that they could learn a lot simply by watching Jeff.” (3) He took the leadership role by showing the prospects how the game should be played. He didn’t need to tell them he was the leader. He simply showed them through his actions rather than words.
    All in all Jeff was a intense competitor and extraordinary leader in baseball. While he was not loved by all, he loved to play the game and play hard. He showed humility towards his talents on the field and proved himself to be one of the greatest players of the game. He was never an in your face type of player (arguably he was in the club house) nor did he play on a World Series team despite being the spark plug to many playoff runs. Nevertheless, Jeff played the game with respect and heart. To some he may always be known as a self-centered a-hole, but to me he’ll always be a hard nose player who played with passion and self-respect.


References:
(1) http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/22825103/vp/28812158#28812158
--- http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/28775286/
(2) http://thebaseballpage.com/players/kentje01
(3) http://www.jockbio.com/Bios/Kent/Kent_bio.html
(4) http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCI/is_9_64/ai_n15657357/  (4)


Wonderful Quotes by Jeff:
“If you allow yourself as a player to get emotionally involved in every little thing that happens, I don’t think you can stay as consistent as you ought to in this game. I wanted other people to perceive me as a guy who was level emotionally.” (1)

“Those two guys were teammates of mine and we won,” Kent said. “I had run-ins with other teammates. Was it me having a run-in with those guys or them having a run-in with me? It doesn’t matter, we were all teammates.” (1)

“I’ve learned to love and appreciate the fans and even the Jeff Kent haters out there most of all,” he said. “Those are the people who motivate you.” (1)

“I believe I’ve played this game right and I believe I’m leaving this game right,” he said. (1)

"I like to visualize my approach to the game, visualize what I'm going to do in the day. I'm a calm and peaceful player, versus an emotional player. I might show a lot of emotion out there, but inside, I really try to calm my emotions and be peaceful in my play." (4)

"I think a lot of people sometimes might misinterpret how much I care about the game because I don't like to talk about it," he said. "And that's far from the truth. I love this game with a passion."(4)

"When I leave this game, I’d rather be respected than loved.” (3)

“Whatever the situation where the game is on the line, I want the ball hit to me or the bat in my hands.” (3)

"On the diamond I’m driven by the fear and embarrassment of failure. I’m terrified I’ll let my teammates down.” (3)


Jeff Kent Statistics/Awards:
Kent had a .290 career batting average, 1,518 RBIs and a .500 slugging percentage. He was drafted by Toronto in 1989. He also played for the New York Mets, Cleveland, San Francisco and Houston.

A five-time All-Star and the 2000 NL MVP.

He was an amazing second baseman career 2nd baseman home run leader with 351/377 — 74 more than Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg. (1)

He won the 1998 Willie Mac Award for his spirit and leadership.

Kent's contributions were recognized in 2000 (33 HR, 125 RBI, .334 BA, and a .986 fielding percentage) with the National League MVP Award, beating out teammate and perennial MVP candidate Barry Bonds. (2)

Despite missing 26 games in 1998, Jeff established new personal highs in hits (156), runs (94), on-base percentage (.359) and slugging (.555). (3)

In December 2000 Jeff edged Bonds for the MVP award. (3)

Kent had a good 2005 season, was the best year by a Dodger second baseman since Jackie Robinson. (2)

Kent was drafted by Toronto in 1989 and also played for the New York Mets, Cleveland, San Francisco and Houston. (1)

Bonds overshadowed Kent in almost every offensive category, it was Kent's clutch hitting in RBI spots (particularly after an intentional walk to Bonds) that won many games for the Giants that year, and ultimately won him the award. (2)

Andy Van Slyke

“I can only guess that, for guys in their 30s and 40s who watched me play, they understood that the score never mattered and my paycheck never mattered (in relation) to how I played. I played with Little League enthusiasm and professional flair. That's what fans are really looking for.” -Andy Van Slyke

“I always considered myself a winning player, a player who was more concerned about winning than anything else. The reality of it is, you have very little control over those bigger things in the game. It's a lot like life. I think 99 percent of what goes on in life, we have very little control over. The 1 percent, I thought, was going to be big enough for me to contribute to something bigger than myself. It didn't happen. That didn't mean I left anything behind. I had as much or more fun as anyone. I left body parts and skin and sweat all over the United States. I regret nothing.” -Andy Van Slyke

    Baseball is known as a kid’s game. Baseball players from all ages have always been encouraged to have fun when they play the game. If a player is not having fun, he’s not playing the game as he should.  Playing the game is much like the Toys R Us commercials-- You don’t ever want to grow up. This is baseball rule number one.
    Now, I’m very much aware of the fact that I probably know very little about playing the game. If my gender doesn’t make it painfully obvious, I’m sure the fact that I played one year of T-ball and hated it will help my case. However, I’m not one of those idiot fans who don‘t even know the basic fundamentals. I did spend my entire life around a baseball diamond-- most of it against my will. My older brother played from Little League to D2 College (20years), as well as my boyfriend, whom I met his last year of D2 College baseball. Both have given me a personal glimpse to what its like to play the game. Both have said and shown the most important part of the game is having fun. Once your not having fun the game becomes a burden.
    I believe that’s why playing the game like a kid is another characteristic of a dirtbag. As I explore my definition of a dirtbag I realize a dirtbag always plays the game with basic fundamentals. Playing the game with pure pleasure, like a T-baller, is one of them. No other player shows how much fun you can have on the field than Andy Van Slyke.  
    Slyke is famously known for his light-hearted and witty personality. It was only fit he became a part of the Pittsburg Pirates on April Fool‘s Day, 1987. He was a left-handed hitter, a natural five-tool player (speed, range, power, arm strength, and contact), and played the game hard. Defensively, he played aggressive. Although he frequently struggled in the batters box, his arm and capability to “get a jump on the ball” made him a natural contender for centerfield. (1) Overall, Slyke is best described from a quote by former Pirates GM, Syd Thrift, as “a throwback to the old-fashioned player. A bear-down, clutch player. There's no stat for runners held—runners that don't dare try to run on him… He takes pre-game outfield practice even in 100° August heat. You know anybody else who does that? Then he makes it all look so easy.” (3)
    Andy Van Slyke is a player of zing and zest. He’s best known for playing alongside the infamous Barry Bonds. Nevertheless, Slyke’s zany personality amplified most with his on-field relationship with Bonds. His carefree personality with such a superstar is what makes him a perfect and unique It’s rumored that Slyke tried to wave Barry in to shallow left before Francisco Cabrera’s game-winning hit… Which according to Slyke Bonds gave him the finger instead of taking his advice. In an online article, Answer Man: Andy Van Slyke talks slugging Bonds, coaching first, by David Brown, Slyke jokingly reflects back on the incident.  In the article he’s asked if he thought Bonds was ignoring him, he replies, “I always felt that I got a sixth sense on the field that, as an outfielder, I had these premonitions that seemed to come true about half the time.” (4)
    Not only does Slyke goofy on-field personality earn him dirtbag points, but he’s a man of the game. He knows the game, for example, when asked about why he tried moving Bonds to shallow left, he explains… “I just felt, given when I saw, that Cabrera was going to hit the ball to left field and nowhere else. Based on scouting reports, based on the count, and that he had just ripped the ball down the left-field line foul when it was 2-0. I was trying to make Barry move in to not let the winning run score from second. He chose to ignore me. Now, if he had moved in two steps, I don't know if it would have made a difference. I'll never know that. It might have been a harder play for him because the ball was hit to his left a little.” (4)
    This shows that Slyke is a dirtbag because he is aware of his surroundings. He’s aware of other players capabilities, of the situation on the field, and of how to play the game. Any baseball player, young or old, will tell you how important play based on circumstance. Much like Biggio, Slyke’s a dirtbag because he knows basic Little League fundamentals and uses it to his advantage. Slyke just tops it off with his Little League personality. If you have the time I recommend reading the article by David Brown [link provided below]. You can read, first hand, what kind of personality Andy Van Slyke has and if your clever enough, imagine him in centerfield a big grin on his face, glove out, ready to play the game.
   


(1) http://www.thebaseballpage.com/players/vanslan01

(2) http://www.baseballforum.com/pittsburgh-pirates/66424-pirates-player-week-past-present-andy.html

(3) http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1068238/2/index.htm

(4) http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/Answer-Man-Andy-Van-Slyke-talks-slugging-Bonds-?urn=mlb-80289

Craig Biggio

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HVoreWSFD0

  
    I have to admit at first I had a hard time believing Craig Biggio was a dirtbag. After writing about Lenny Dykstra (who I felt was an evident dirtbag) I didn’t know exactly how to approach Biggio.
    At first glance I saw Craig Biggio as a clean All-American player. I initially thought who he was off the field was who he was as a player. I was taken back because this was completely different from who Dykstra is. If you were to take Dykstra both on and off the field most would say he carries the typical negative connotation of the dirtbag whereas Biggio does not. How could Biggio possibly be similar to Dykstra? How do two seemingly different players be categorized as dirtbags?
    First, I had to remind myself that being a dirtbag isn’t about who a player is off the field it’s about the player he was on the field. In addition, I had to expand my own concept of a dirtbag. This meant looking at my own prejudice towards dirtbags and rejecting those stigmas. If I were to approach this project objectively I’d have to start looking at each players independently, not unvaryingly.
    So… How’s Craig Biggio classified as a dirtbag?
    Exploring beyond my immediate impression I noticed Biggio was one of the rare players who has played multiple positions (yes, plural) throughout his career.
    Here’s a VERY brief overview of his career:
    Mid-1988 and 1989 Biggio was a catcher. Though he was a stellar behind the plate; Biggio had wheels and the Astros’ management wanted to use his speed to the fullest. Thus in 1990, he was put in the outfield part-time. In 1992 the Astros finally convinced Biggio to convert to second base. Even though Biggio made his positions transitions look easy, according to craig-biggio.co.tv, “it is remarkably rare for a major league catcher to make a successful transition to middle infielder. If a catcher changes positions, it is usually to first base, or occasionally to outfield or third base.” (4) Biggio would continue to bounce from second base to outfield for the rest of his career with the Astros.
    I bet your wondering exactly how many years Biggio played for the Astros, right? Biggio was a part of the Astros organization from 1988 to 2007. Twenty years. He was and is the heart and soul of the Houston Astros. His scrappy, no-nonsense style of play has been an example for future Astros stars like Hunter Pence. Not only did Biggio stay with a team for 20 years, but according to the Bleacher Report, “Biggio is the epitome of a true loyal team player. He twice rejected free agency. He even rejected a deal to his hometown Mets. He would get more money and would be close to home. But Biggio was loyal.” (2)
    Okay, okay, so I haven’t really explained what makes Biggio a dirtbag. Besides his reliability, flexibility, selflessness, and passion for the game-- Biggio wasn’t afraid to get plunked by pitches. Yes, you read that right, Biggio developed a strategy to get on base by crowding the plate. He did this consistently for 11 seasons, that he began to gain a reputation for being hit by pitches. He was even dubbed by writer, Mike Berardino as the “king of hit batsmen.” (3)
    Yet, despite getting plunked 267 times, Biggio never charged the mount nor had any serious injuries. Why does this make him a dirtbag? He’s a dirtbag because he used the game to his advantage. Biggio clearly stated that he knew “pitchers have to pitch inside and it's going to happen. It's part of the game.” (3) This shows he took basic fundamentals of the game and used it to his advantage. He’s a dirtbag because he’d take a 95 MPH fastball to the cheekbone just to get on base.
    Additionally, Biggio can be considered a dirtbag because of his distinctive teamwork and sacrifice. Biggio expressed, “I take a lot in the back or the butt or the arms, stuff like that. They moved all over, but they don't hurt as bad if you score. That's the truth.” (3) This shows how Biggio was willing to take a hit for his team to win. He was a perfect example of the age old saying, “the name on the front is more important than the name on the back.” That’s why everyone from the Astros organization and beyond loved Biggio. He took whatever it would take to benefit his team over himself.
    As a result, I discovered Biggio showed a different characteristic of a dirtbag. That’s why I believe I found it semi-difficult to write about him. Dykstra showed the typical scrappy style of a dirtbag (the style I mostly identified as a dirtbag), but Biggio showed loyalty, commitment, and sacrifice. Evident positive characteristics that are just as dirtbag as the typical scrappy style.
    Perhaps, Biggio’s style can help all of us understand that a dirtbag can be a positive characterization. There have been many times I’ve called players playing now dirtbags in front of my baseball fanatic family and have gotten strong negative responses. Hopefully, this piece on Biggio has helped shed a light that dirtbags are dirtbags because they posses multiple qualities. Qualities that enhance the game. Qualities that show what the game of baseball is all about. Qualities like loyalty, sacrifice, and teamwork that Biggio used everyday at Enron Field (Minute Maid Park).
  




(1) http://www.tbhof.org/bio/2004/biobiggio.htm
(2) http://bleacherreport.com/articles/101471-the-epitome-of-an-astro-the-craig-biggio-story
(3) http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCI/is_7_64/ai_n15378941/
(4) http://craig-biggio.co.tv/

Lenny Dykstra

A passage from Moneyball by Michael Lewis:

“Physically, Lenny didn‘t belong in the same league with him [Billy Beane]. He was half Billy‘s size, and had a fraction of Billy‘s promise-- which is why the Mets hadn‘t drafted him until the thirteenth round. Mentally, Lenny was superior, which was odd considering Lenny wasn’t what you’d call a student of the game. Billy remembers sitting with Lenny in a Mets dugout watching the opposing pitcher warm up. “Lenny says, ‘So who’s that big dumb ass out there on the hill?’ And I say, ‘Lenny, you’re kidding me, right? That’s Steve Carlton. He’s maybe the greatest left-hander in the history of the game.’ Lenny says, “So what’s he got?’ And I say, ‘Lenny, come on. Steve Carlton. He’s got heat and also maybe the nastiest slider ever.’ And Lenny sits there for a while longer as if he’s taking that in. Finally he just says, ‘Shit, I’ll stick him.” pg 45-46

    I wasn’t big on baseball during my early years. I was a ruffled dress, Barbie loving freak who could care less about baseball. No, baseball was my brother’s job. However, the more I learned about the game, I found myself falling in love with it. In particular, the players. And there’s no other player more distinct than a Dirtbag. Yet, the more I research the concept of “Dirtbags,” the more I was convinced of two things:
    One: Defining a Dirtbag is completely subjective
    Two. Dirtbags are a dying breed
    Thus, I arrived face to face with a decade (or two) of the most scrappy players in the MLB- the 1980’s to 1990’s. This was the height of Dirtbags. Going through the players from these decades, it was hard to keep my list to the maximum I was willing to write. I did, nevertheless, come across one play who’s face (a least to me) define a dirtbag. That face is Lenny Dykstra.
    I was taken back the first time I came across a picture of Lenny. He was a scruffy looking ball player, with a curly brown hair, a huge grin, and a wad of chew in his jaw the size of a fist. I didn’t know what to expect of him based on the photo I came across. Yet, the more I researched about Lenny as a ball player, the more I learned about his distinctive character on the field. Similar to the way Billy Beane describes Lenny Dykstra in the Moneyball excerpt above, I found from the sources I came across, Lenny was "perfectly designed, emotionally" to play baseball. He was a fan favorite while playing for both the Mets (1985-1988) and Phillies (1989-1996). Mets fans even dubbed him the nickname “Nails” because of his “tough-as-nails personality and fearless play.” (nytimes.com)
    From the several sources I came across, I noticed numerous qualities that were consistently associated with Lenny.  He was a sparkplug. He had no concept of failure. He was a surge of energy. He was a “red-light player.” (Baseball Digest) He seemed to be every quality a ball player should be. Even though he lacked range compared to his fellow elite outfielders, he made up for it in other ways like a dirtbag does. He would shimp a ball to left field, dive for balls in the outfield, and get pitchers deep in the counts.
    In a beautiful article about Lenny Dykstra in the September 1995 Baseball Digest Issue, Gregg Jefferies describes how it was to play against Lenny. He says, “He’s a little gnat when you’re playing against him. He’s always around doing things that drive you crazy. But when he’s your teammate, you realize he plays the game the way it should be played.” (37-38)  He took situations and turned them into opportunities. He played the game hard. To me, that’s the first characteristic of a dirtbag. A dirtbag should never accentuate his disadvantages. In his eyes he should have none. He sees every situation as an opportunity. He should know every seam of the game and utilize it to his advantage. That’s what Lenny did on the field.
    Another quality about Lenny I most enjoyed, was described in the Baseball Digest. Gerry Fraley, the author of the article, explains how Lenny had appendicitis during what would have been his second All Star appearance. Lenny is quoted saying, “I could have played, but they didn’t want me to. I guess that was the right thing to do.” (37) I couldn’t help but fall in love with Lenny after reading this. While most players would happily take a day off (especially if he was dealing with excruciating pain, like appendicitis) Lenny was the opposite. He refused, under any circumstances, to sit out of a game. That is a dirtbag.
    Additionally, Lenny was remembered on the field for a lot of different “faces.” All of which could clearly categorizes him as a Dirtbag. I strongly recommend reading the 1995 Baseball Digest article, “Lenny Dykstra of the Phils: This ’Dude’ Comes to Play.” Gerry Fraley writes a wonderful article about Lenny as a player on the Phillies in 1995. I’ll also provide links of other sources I came across below.
    Before I conclude this blog on Lenny “Nails” Dykstra, I’ll leave you with a quote from Lenny about his 1989 trade from the Mets to the Phillies: “For me, this isn't that sad. This is the time for me to make a move. I'm 26 and I've been here nearly five years. Maybe it's time to show I can hit those left-handed pitchers.” (nytimes.com)


Sources:
http://www.thelennydykstrareport.com

http://www.nytimes.com/1989/06/19/sports/mets-get-samuel-for-mcdowell-dykstra.html?pagewanted=print

Baseball Digest Article: http://books.google.com/books?id=ySoDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA36&dq=lenny+dykstra+baseball+digest+1995&client=firefox-a&cd=1#v=onepage&q=lenny%20dykstra&f=false

Welcome!

First off, Thank YOU for reading and following my very first blog!

Originally, I was going to focus this blog on The Dirtbags of July. In theory, I would of picked one “Dirtbag” from the 30 MLB teams, then write about why these players are considered a dirt bag and what defines a dirt bag. BUT as I was researching players to write about -- to my horror-- feature columnist Steven Simon from The Bleacher Report, wrote an article on the same EXACT concept! Witness Below:

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/676863-mlb-tough-guys-the-most-hard-nosed-player-on-all-30-teams#/articles/676863-mlb-tough-guys-the-most-hard-nosed-player-on-all-30-teams/page/2

So I had a choice. I could…
A: Give up and live with the notion that ALL GREAT ideas are already taken.
B: Go through with the blog as I intended, but run the risk of unoriginality, since five of the players I was going to write about were listed (Pence, Pedroia, Victorino, Braun, and Tulowitzki)!
C: Do it better.
Or
D: Tweak the concept a bit so its not exactly the same thing.

I decided to go for options C and D. Thus, I’ll begin researching and writing my blog this month to give you “The Dirtbags of Summer.” From June to August, every week, I’ll entertain your mind with my list of Dirtbags. I don’t want to show my hand too quickly, but I can guarantee it’ll be original. Of course, that is if I don’t find a similar article mid-research. So I hope you look forward to my blog as much as I am!

I’ll see you in June!