Author Archives: Ray Wyvill

(Last of a two-part series) Any business proprietor will tell you that facing continual challenges is a central element of operation.  Baseball is hardly immune.  The current hurdles staring at the corporate Major League Baseball afterguard are not insurmountable by … Continue reading →

(First of a two-part series) Changes in baseball may happen at a glacial pace, but over time they produce dramatic effects.  Much like any business, baseball as an industry faces constant challenges. Many of them are of their own making.  … Continue reading →

Baseball is a sport of youth.  Few things epitomize that more than the “Rookie of the Year.”  Begun in 1947 on a national basis the award draws attention to the next-greatest-thing in the sport.  Some of the winners, like this … Continue reading →

The nature of baseball itself has a dramatic effect on devotees.  The world has many digital-choice realities that dictate how we live.  For those in the Mid-Atlantic about half of the year is spent in short sleeves. The other is … Continue reading →

Professional baseball dates its origin to 1869.  The game thereafter expanded in uncontrollable fashion.  Various leagues and associations were formed.  The dynamics of capitalism winnowed out losing ventures.  By the early years of the 20th century things had settled, for … Continue reading →

Professional baseball is a system.  Within the confines of the game changes apply pressure to one or multiple components.  The system reacts to the pressure with responses of its own.  This can all happen in a short period of time.  … Continue reading →

One of the most discussed topics around Nationals’ baseball all year has been first-year manager Dave Martinez.  Much of the dialog has closely resembled a scene from old black-and-white horror movies where the villagers gather near the castle with torches … Continue reading →

The very nature of baseball is the absence of frenzy.  It is our only major sport without a game clock.  So it should be no surprise that the game takes its sweet time doing things.  Since the introduction of a … Continue reading →

This is Part 1 of a 2-part series. Baseball changed irrevocably in 1969.  Prior to that year the two leagues were comprised of ten or less teams apiece.  At the end of the year the team with the best record … Continue reading →