"Swing batter swing," the young boy yelled. "I love to say that at a baseball game." The young boy continued to enjoy the game that we know as America's Favorite Pastime. Enriched in the mind of a young boy, is his favorite player making a diving catch or taking a full swing for a homerun. It starts at a young age, and continues throughout live. This is baseball and one of the reasons why I love the game.

My love for the game began when I was young and had the dream of being a Major League baseball player. I loved the nostalgia of the game and what it stands for. Forever in my mind is the bedroom I created when I lived at my parent's home -- I had pictures, stories, autographed baseballs, bats and hats decorated around. I lived the game, dreamed the game, and treasured the game.

"Watching Ferris Bueller?" I asked the little boy, in the scene when they all cut school for the day and attended a Chicago Cub's game. He began to laugh. Of all places, we were at a Long Island Ducks game (members of the Atlantic Professional Baseball League) in the heartland of Long Island, known as Citibank Park. At a time when the politics of the game went on the backburner and the overriding enthusiasm and support of  Long Island to support the Ducks was real, the dream became a reality.

It is for the hot dogs, peanuts and beer and the chance to see up and coming stars and some stars there were in the Major Leagues, but attempting to make a comeback -- Rickey Henderson, Mark Whiten, Carlos Baerga -- to name a few. I also mention in this book a meeting with Jose Rijo of the Reds, he's one of many good ballplayers that I have had the chance to meet and talk with. They are the game, they make the game.

Besides also going to Ducks' games, I have been on baseball road trips to live the reality. I went to see the Glens Falls Tigers (AA-ball) when John Smoltz, now a member of the Atlanta Braves and part of one of the best rotations going and one of the most feared teams of the '90's -- besides the New York Yankees -- carving his craft to become one of the best pitchers in Major League baseball. I traveled to the Toronto Skydome to see the Toronto Blue Jays play against the Yankees, Fenway Park, Shea Stadium, and many minor league ballfields. When I was asked to write a poem for the book Baseball Stories for the Soul, I wanted to write something that America would remember the pastime by. So, I wrote "America's Pastime" and it went like this:

Yesterday there was Willie, Mickey and the Duke.

Today there is the Rocket, Junior and Big Mac.

Tomorrow there is Bip, John and Steve.

It is not music, but a game that makes its own music.

From the singing of the anthem...To the crack of the bat.

To the Duke hitting a homerun in Ebbets, Big Mac taking his swing at

70...80...Junior going downtown.

Each with something in mind -- to win.

America's game -- Baseball.

The National Pastime.

This is why I love baseball, America's Pastime

The new "Girardi" Yankees beat up the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, and probably will go down as "not" one of the best brawls. Newsday, though, has published the best-of-the best and I'll recap in the Dugout for you.

1. Juan Marichal & John Roseboro, August 22, 1965.
2. Bud Harrelson & Pete Rose, October 8, 1973.
3. Pedro Martinez & Don Zimmer, October 11, 2003.
4. Nolan Ryan & Robin Ventura, August 4, 1993.
5. Yankees & Red Sox, May 2, 1976.
6. Braves & Padres, August 12, 1984.
7. Yankees & Orioles, May 19, 1998.
8. White Sox & Tigers, April 22, 2000.

For the complete stories by Ken Davidoff, go to Newsday and get a laugh.

Until then, see ya in the ring!

Hockey in Ruth's House?

There's discussion between the Yankees and the NHL on having an outdoor hockey game at Yankee Stadium. Since this is the last year at Yankee Stadium, discussions have moved forward for a Rangers-Bruins showdown. Good idea? For the game of hockey. They can use the publicity.

The New York Yankees have signed comedian Billy Crystal to a one-day contract to play in a spring training game. Now that's a move the Yankees should have made during the Hot Stove.

The Mets are taking it slow with Carlos Beltran and Carlos Delgado. Beltran, who's been bothered by a sore left knee, still looks uncomfortable at centerfield. Delgado, with a bad hip, didn't look well at the plate striking out twice, however he looked good at first base. The Mets are still getting the kinks out, hopefully they'll be squared away by Opening Day.

Until then, see ya at the park!

Joe Girardi is mad. Real mad. If you were watching the exhibition game of the Yankees vs. Tampa Bay Rays (not-Devil, but in this case, maybe?), Elliot Johnson of the Rays, took out Yankees catching prospect Francisco Cervelli at homeplate. Cervelli sustained a fractured right wrist and will be out indefinitely. What has Girardi fired up is that this is just an Spring Training game and there's no place for this. Good point Joe!

Speaking of no place, can you see Barry Bonds in a Mets uniform? There's speculation that the Mets are considering to signing Bonds, even though they deny it. I know that Bonds and designer Marc Ecko don't exchange Christmas cards. If you remember, Ecko owns Bonds' 756th home run ball and asked America "what he should do with the ball?" The suggestion: ASTERISK!

Boston's entire 40-man roster is under contract, with Jonathan Papelbon being the last holdout agreeing to a $775,000 one-year deal. Is Hank Steinbrenner still considering his membership in Red Sox Nation now? Maybe is comes with a guaranteed perk!

Until next time, see ya at the park!

With Spring Training well under way, Opening Day is getting closer and closer and the sound of "Playball" will be heard to the ears of fans of the game.

I can't wait.

Yes, I've been busy with other things going on such as Baseball Talk with Carl "The Cabbie" & Dugout Joe, the creation of my own website: http://baseballpad.net, blogging for the Asbury Park Press (http://APP.com) and my continuing book writing career. So, I'm back better than ever and ready for this exciting season.

This Week in Baseball History Vida Blue (this comes from MLB.com's history site):

On March 16, 1972, Oakland A's holdout Vida Blue announced that he had rejected the team's latest contract offer and had decided to retire in order to work for a company that made toilet fixtures. The "retirement" of the 1971 American League MVP and Cy Young Award winner didn't last long; Blue would eventually came to terms with Oakland owner Charlie Finley and begin his season in May. Although Blue, who wore the A's cap pictured here, struggled to regain his pre-holdout form for most of the 1972 season, he nonetheless contributed to all three of Oakland's world championship teams from '72-74. In 1973, Blue bounced back to win 20 games as the A's repeated as world champions.

Until then, see ya at Spring Training!