The Sashman Speaks

Living in the world we do today, we aren't a trusting nation, we aren't trusting of ourselves or even each other. How did we get to this place?  All I know is that this is NOT a world that I am enjoying being a part of.  This is a world where we can't seem to trust/believe/love/one another without questioning their truthfulness, the legitimacy of what is being said.  However, we are soo quick to make a judgment/decision not based on what we think or feel, but what we see and hear. We are a country where most of us believe as I stated above that we are more trusting of what we hear or read on social media or from other online sources, rather than actually take the time to research as well as to question what it is what we are trying to figure out, prior to making a decision based on NO evidence. I am truly afraid of the where this country is headed, and this isn't about politics or about whose side someone is on or what they believe.  Yet, it goes to how we were ...

It was on April 15,1997,  fifty years after Jackie Robinson would step onto a Major League baseball field, that then, Commissioner of Baseball, Bud Selig announced at then Shea Stadium home of the New York Mets, that from that day forward the number 42 would be retired by all 30 MLB teams.  While a few players would continue to wear that number, by the time of his retirement in 2013, Mariano Rivera of the New York Yankees would be the last player to wear that number. While Robinson's number being retired is much due to his impact not just on the game of baseball, but also on society as a whole is rightfully awarded, so should another players number whose impact  was similar to that of Robinson's was felt much more off the field by his philanthropic activities than on the ballfield. That player is Roberto Clemente.  Clemente who spent his entire 18-year career with the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1955-1972 saw him go from a little-known player playing in fron...

So.. life has been a bit interesting of late. Umpiring has been put on a temporary hiatus until fall baseball starts up and then hopefully I'll be getting back onto a field soon. Overall my season has been quite successful, from starting way back in February and up to just recently I have been getting a lot of work and have seen steady improvement, so much so that I was able to work a couple of Varsity games this past season and was highly praised for my work by multiple partners assignors, as well as coaches.  While I may be improving on the field, my search for work has continued to come up empty. I have applied for many jobs that I believe I would be good at. However, I have only received meek interest and have only been on one interview.  But, I refuse to give up hope on finding solid work which is why I spend at least a couple hours a day on job sites and updating my resume and applying for jobs with the hope that I may be able to at least get myself an interview a...

So lately, I've been doing a lot of self-evaluation as well as trying to figure out how I can better use my gift of wanting to help people as a potential way of having a career.  I believe this started when I was very young when I asked my parents why they named me, "Sasha"  They told me that it was because they loved the name and that its translation from Russian is "Helper and Protector of mankind.     I truly loved that explanation and I believe that I am meant to help and protect those people who are part of my life, whether that's as a friend or family I've always been that person that people gravitate towards when they are in "times of trouble" to quote John Lennon. It doesn't matter what their trouble may be, I'll always try and help them to not only understand but to hopefully be able to find a solution.   For example, I can remember being in Boston Children's Hospital and in the pre-op waiting room and across from the bed I ...

Earlier this afternoon, the Red Sox officially announced the re-signing of Eduardo Nunez. photo credit: BostonGlobe When last July Dave Dombrowski swung a trade with the Giants to acquire Nunez, he was hoping for a spark to reignite a stagnant offense. Well, that's exactly what Nunez was. In 38 games following the trade to Boston, Nunez hit . 321 average / 53 hits / 12 doubles / 8 Home Runs / 27 RBI / 6 SB, while  playing second, short and third for the Red Sox. Nunez proved Dombrowski's faith rewarded by providing the much-needed spark to the lineup. However, he played in only two games after September 9th, which also included his one and only at-bat in the ALDS against the Astros.  In both of those times, he was helped off the field, due to an injury to his right knee. After the season it was announced that Nunez had strained the PCL ligament in his right knee, and while he would not require surgery, and with rest and rehab would be ready for the 2018 seas...

Why Hanley being both healthy and rejuvenated is important for Red Sox to succeed in 2018 photo credit: BostonGlobe.com Hanley is entering his final year of a four-year pact he signed back in 2015 with the Red Sox.   His three seasons with the Sox have been more frustrating than anything else, which has seen him struggle in two out of three of those seasons, with only producing one big season that was back in 2016, which saw him hit .286 with 30 home runs, drive in 111 and play in 111 games. Yet the past last season saw him struggle with shoulder issues which limited him to mainly just DH'ing and thus prevented him from playing first base albeit for 18 games last season. Offensively even with the shoulder difficulties, he did hit 23 home-runs which is pretty impressive considering what he was dealing with, yet he only hit just .242 with a .750 OPS last season, taking over as the primary DH for David Ortiz.  Yet, while stepping into the same position as the...

With all the hype surrounding whether or not the Red Sox will eventually sign JD Martinez,  Dombrowski made one smart move which was not dealing away JBJ.  photo credit: MassLive.com Throughout this winter, the Red Sox have been hooked up to an ongoing dance with agent Scott Boras regarding his client J.D. Martinez, and whether or not he will agree to the proposed contract offer of 5 years and between $100 and $125 million, Yet, it was Dombrowski's believe in the current outfield arrangement of Andrew Benintendi, JBJ, and Mookie Betts, that had Dombrowski not wanting to break that up. Dombrowski has always been a fan of one player in particular first from afar and now he gets to see this player on an everyday basis. That player is Jackie Bradley Jr. Just two season ago, Bradley Jr, had what I along with many others would consider his "coming out year" That 2016 season saw Bradley Jr, hit .267 with 26 home runs and 87 RBI.  He was rewarded for his pl...