Previewing the American League Playoffs

In the American League, the playoff teams seem fairly set. The Boston Red Sox, Cleveland Indians and Houston Astros are the division leaders, with the Oakland Athletics and the New York Yankees appearing to be the wild card teams.

All five teams are formidable and would be a challenging team to play in the playoffs. While it is difficult to predict the outcomes of game and of series', we can analyze and compare the different teams.

Boston has the highest team batting average at .269. They have also scored 705 runs, which is the most in the American League. Cleveland has the second highest batting average at .258. The Indians' 648 runs is the third highest total in the American League. Houston's .256 batting average is the third highest average in the league. Their 642 runs are the fourth most in the American League. Oakland's .251 batting average is the 7th highest in the American League, and their 620 runs scored is the 6th most in the league. The Yankees' .254 batting average is the 6th best in the American League, while their 674 runs scored is the second most in the league.

All five teams as expected are among the best hitting teams in the American League. All five teams can score runs and put pressure on opposing pitchers.

Houston has the best team ERA at 3.13. Hitters are hitting a league low of .218 against the Astros' pitchers. Boston has a team ERA of 3.54, which is the second best in the league. Batters are hitting .233 against Red Sox hurlers, which is the fourth lowest batting average against in the league. The Yankees have a team ERA of 3.69, which is the fourth lowest in the American League, while hitters are hitting .232 against them, which is the third lowest batting average against in the league. Cleveland's ERA is 3.85, which is the 6th lowest in the American League. Batters are hitting .244 against Indian pitching, which is the 6th lowest batting average against in the league. Finally, Oakland's team ERA is 3.73, which is the fifth lowest in the league. Batters are hitting .238 against the A's pitchers, which is the 5th lowest batting average against in the league.

So, all five teams have good pitching as well. All five teams are capable of holding their own in a pitcher's duel.

Houston is 16-11 against the other four teams, including 10-4 against Oakland. New York is 17-13 against the other teams, with a 5-8 record against Boston. Cleveland is only 8-15 against the other four teams. Finally, Oakland is 14-19 against the other teams. Boston is 14-13 against the other teams. So, Houston has the best winning percentage of the 5 teams in games among each other, with New York having the second best winning percentage. Based on this, Houston would be seen as the favorite to repeat as American League champions and possibly as World Series champions.

Of course, in a playoff series anything can happen. Past success does not guarantee future achievement. However, Houston and New York have been the best two teams when these 5 teams have played against each other.



Boston has been on a historic pace. At one point, the Red Sox were on pace to win 120 games. Based on their historic pace, many see them, and not the Astros, as the favorites to win the American League.

The Red Sox are lead by two MVP candidates. Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez are having arguably the best years of their careers during the same season. Timing is everything, and when two players are having career years during the same season this can be an immense help for a team. The Red Sox are benefiting from two players who are hitting their stride simultaneously.

Martinez is hitting a robust .337 with 37 home runs and 110 runs batted in. Betts is hitting .335 with 27 home runs and 64 runs batted in. Andrew Benintendi, Xander Bogaert, Eduardo Nunez and Rafael Devers are all having solid seasons.

Betts, Benitendi and Jackie Bradley jr. have provided some speed on the base paths. Between the three of them, they have 58 stolen bases. The Red Sox have a good combination of power and speed in their lineup.

Chris Sale has a 1.97 ERA, the best among Boston's starting pitchers. He also leads the team with 219 strikeouts. Sale is a proven ace who can help a team go deep into the playoffs. Unfortunately, this season Sale experienced inflammation in his left shoulder which could impact him the rest of the season. He had two stints on the disabled list during the month of August. The Red Sox will be patient with him and save him for the playoffs.

Rick Porcello is 15-7 with 164 strikeouts. Porcello is a good number two or three pitcher for Boston. His ERA is 4.18, which is not great, but decent. However, he has not pitched as well during the month of August. The Red Sox are hoping that both Sale and Porcello can get back on track for the playoffs.

David Price is 14-6 with an ERA of 3.50. He has pitched well for Boston this year. Since the All Star break, he has been one of the best pitchers in baseball. If Sale, Porcello and Price are all pitching well for Boston once the playoffs start, Boston will be a tough team to beat.

Eduardo Rodriguez has been injured, and is looking to resume his season in early September. Rodriguez is 11-3, with an ERA of 3.44.

Craig Kimbrel has been a good closer. He has 37 saves this season. Matt Barnes, Joe Kelly and Heath Hembree have all been solid out of the bullpen. The Red Sox bullpen has pitched well and helped the Sox to close out games this season.



The Houston Astros are the defending world series champions. They have a chance to win again this year. They are formidable and have been consistent this year.

Jose Altuve has been the team's best player. Altuve is hitting .332 with 10 home runs and 50 runs batted in. He also has 15 stolen bases. He has been the best all around player for the Astros for a few years.

Alex Bregman is hitting .289 with 25 home runs and 83 runs batted in. Bregman leads the team in home runs and runs batted in. Additionally, Bregman has 10 stolen bases. He should score 100 runs this season.

George Springer is hitting .249 with 19 home runs and 60 runs batted in. Springer struggled with a quadriceps injury earlier. The Astros are hoping he will be completely healthy by the time the playoffs begin.

Carlos Correa has struggled with injuries this year. Correa is hitting .252 with 14 home runs and 58 runs batted in. This year, Correa has only stolen two bases. However, in 2015 he swiped 14 bases and he stole 13 bases in 2016. So, he is capable of providing the Astros with some speed on the base paths. Correa is a talented player who can help Houston get back to the World Series.

Justin Verlander anchors the pitching staff. Verlander is 13-8 this season with a 2.72 ERA. He has struck out 229 batters. Verlander has been reliable this year, as he has started 28 games. 21 of those outings have been quality starts.

Gerrit Cole is 12-5 with and ERA of 2.85. Cole has started 27 games, with 17 of them being quality starts. He leads all Astros pitchers with 234 strikeouts. Cole gives up few home runs and has been a good pitcher for Houston this season.

Dallas Keuchel is 10-10 this season with a 3.54 ERA. Keuchel has started 27 games, and he has had 17 quality starts. Keuchel has been good this season, but not quite as good as previous seasons. He has been a durable number three pitcher this year for the defending champions.

Charlie Morton is 13-3 this season with a 3.05 ERA. Morton is having one of his best seasons. His ERA this season is more than one run lower than his career ERA. Addionally, Morton has struck out 182 batters. Morton has been the third best picher for Houston this season. He has provided depth to their staff, and he should help them as they try and defend their championship.

Hector Rondon leads the team with 14 saves. However, the newly acquired Robert Osuna is now the team's closer. Ken Giles, the team's closer to begin the season, has been traded to Toronto. Additionally, Joe Smith, Brad Peacock, Collin McHugh and Tony Sipp have all pitched well out of the bullpen for the Astros.

The Astros have the talent to repeat as world series champions. If they play like they are capable of playing, they could win the World Series again. The competition will be difficult, but Houston has the hitting and the pitching to defend their title.



The Cleveland Indians are poised to win the American League Central. They have been the best team in the division by a wide margin. The Indians are a talented team who could reach the World Series.

Francisco Lindor and Jose Ramirez have been American League MVP candidates for the Indians this season. Lindor leads the team with 151 hits. Lindor is batting .286 with 29 home runs and 78 runs batted in. He has already scored 106 runs. Ramirez leads the team with 37 home runs. He also leads the team with 91 runs batted in. Both have contributed a lot to the Indians' offense this season.

After two injury plagued seasons, Michael Brantley has a bounce back season. Brantley is leading the team with a .301 batting average. Additionally, Brantley has 14 home runs with 69 runs batted in.

Yonder Alonso and Edwin Encarnacion have provided some power for Cleveland this season. Alonso as 22 home runs with 74 runs batted in. He has added depth to the lineup. Encarnacion has had 28 home runs with 87 runs batted in. Both Alonso and Encarnacion have been run producers for the Indians this year.

Corey Kluber has had another good season for Cleveland. Kluber is 16-7 with a 2.91 ERA. Kluber has struck out 172 batters this season. He has been a consistent pitcher for Cleveland.

Despite Kluber's consistency, Trevor Bauer has been Cleveland's best starting pitcher. Bauer leads the team with a 2.22 ERA. He also leads the team with 214 strike outs. Kluber and Bauer provide Cleveland with two strong pitchers to begin a playoff series with. Both are capable of winning playoff games, which could give the Indians the early advantage in a playoff series.

Mike Clevinger and Carlos Carrasco have also had good seasons for Cleveland. Clevinger is 9-7 with a 3.30 ERA, while Carrasco is 15-7 with a 3.55 ERA. Clevinger has had 16 quality starts and Carrasco has had 15 quality starts. Both give the Indians options for game 3 or game 4 of a playoff series.

Andrew Miller has missed much of this season with an injury, which has hurt the Cleveland bull pen. The Indians are hoping he will be back for the playoffs. Cody Allen leads the team with 25 saves, however, his ERA is 4.42, which is high for a closer.
They will need more consistency from Allen during the playoffs. Brad Hand and Adam Climber were acquired to add depth to the bullpen.

A lot of attention has been given to the Houston Astros, Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees. The Astros are the defending world champions. The Red Sox have a chance to win more regular season games than anyone in major league history. The Yankees added Giancarlo Stanton to the team in the off season and are among the best teams in baseball. It's understandable that those three teams receive a lot of attention. However, the Cleveland Indians have flown under the radar, and they may be just as good as those three teams.



The New York Yankees experienced some changes during the offseason. Manager Joe Girardi was replaced by rookie manager, Aaron Boone. Giancarlo Stanton, the reigning National League MVP, was acquired during the offseason as well. The Yankees scored a lot of runs last year, but the addition of Stanton has made their offensive even better. Currently Stanton leads the team with 32 home runs and 82 runs batted in. Stanton also leads the team in hits with 141. Stanton has been everything the Yankees had hoped he would be, and he has kept the Yankees' offense strong in the absence of Aaron Judge, who is dealing with an injury that has kept him on the DL for four weeks.

At the time of his injury, Judge was hitting .285 with 2 home runs and 61 runs batted it. He was having another good season. The Yankees are hoping to get Judge back within a week or two. The Yankees will need Judge for the last part of the season and the playoffs. The Yankees' offense has not been the same in his absence.

Miguel Andujar and Gleybor Torres are both rookie of the year candidates. Andujar is hitting .301 with 21 home runs and 72 runs batted in. Torres, who recently returned from an injury, is hitting .269 with 20 home runs and 58 runs batted in. Both players need to improve their defense. Torres has made 15 errors and Andujar has made 13 errors. In the playoffs, both players will need to play better defense.

Luis Severino anchors the pitching staff. He has a 3.27 ERA, which is the lowest for Yankee starting pitchers. He leads the team with 17 wins and 189 strikeouts. For much of the year, Severino has pitched like an ace. However, for the past month, Severino has been hittable and inconsistent. He has struggled so much, that he may not start the wild card matchup that the Yankees will probably play in. The Yankees are hoping that Severino can regain his earlier form.

Masihiro Tanaka is 9-5 with a 3.97 ERA. Tanaka has 11 quality starts and 22 starts overall. Tanaka has not been a consistent ace since the Yankees acquired him, however, he has been a valuable member of the Yankees' pitching staff. He has been a decent number two starter for the Yankees this season. If the Yankees can win their one game playoff, then Tanaka would fill an important role in a post season series.

CC Sabathia is in his ninth season with the Yankees. He and Brett Gardner are the only remaining members of the 2009 World Series championship team. Sabathia has battled an injury to his right knee this season. However, he is off the DL now, and the Yankees are hoping he can contribute for the rest of the year and into the playoffs.

The Yankees made a trade for J.A Happ at the trade deadline. He has made five starts for the team since his acquisition. Happ has pitched so well that he may start the team's wild card playoff game. 3 of his 5 starts for the Yankees have been quality starts. The Yankees are hoping that Happ pitches well the rest of the season and into the playoffs. IF the Yankees advance to a playoff series, Happ would be needed in order for the Yankees to be successful.

The Yankees have a strong bullpen. Aroldis Chapman is the closer. Chapman has 31 saves and an ERA of 2.11. Currently, Chapman is injured and will be evaluated in one or two weeks. David Robertson, Dillon Betances and Chad Green are serving as closers for New York in Chapman's absence. Robertson, Green and Betances have been effective this season. All three have served as set up men.

Jonathan Holder has also been effective this season. Zach Britton, acquired from the Baltimore Orioles at the trade deadline, struggled initially, but is now pitching well.

The Yankees could go to the World Series this season. They will need Didi Gregorius and Judge to return from injury in order to be World Series contenders. Additionally, they will need their starting pitchers to pitch better. So far, Severino and Tanaka have not been as consistent as they need to be. As front line starters, Severino and Tanaka need to pitch better more consistently. Happ has helped to stabilize the rotation, and may be needed for the wild card game against Houston or Oakland.



The Oakland Athletics have been surging lately. Once thought of as a team battling for a wild card spot, the Athletics now have a chance to win the Western division. They are only one game in back of the Astros.

Outfielder Khris Davis leads the team in home runs and runs batted in. Davis has hit 39 round trippers and driven in 103 runs. He has been their best player this season. Davis has provided power to the Oakland lineup. He will need to continue to play well if the Athletics want to advance to the World Series.

Third baseman Matt Chapman has also been solid for Oakland. Chapman is hitting .280 with 21 home runs and 52 runs batted in. Chapman leads the team with a .364 on base percentage.

Shortstop Marcus Siemen leads the team with 137 hits. He has also stolen 13 bases this season. Additionally, he has driven in 60 runs, which is the most of his career.

Sean Manaea has been the team's best starting pitcher this season. Manaea is 12-9 with a 3.59 ERA. Manaea leads the team with 108 strikeouts. Additionally, Manaea has been reliable enough to start 27 games and pitch 160 innings. 15 of those starts have been quality starts. Manaea will need to continue to lead the staff if the Athletics are going to advance in the playoffs.

Trevor Cahill has been fairly effective for Oakland this year. He is 5-3 with an ERA of 3.44. He has started 16 games this season, with 8 of them being quality starts.

Daniel Mengden has made 16 starts this year mainly because other A's pitchers have struggled with injuries. Currently Brett Anderson and Manaea are struggling with injuries, so Mengden will have to pitch well in order to compenstate for the injuries to Anderson and Manaea. Mengden has 7 quality starts this year. His overall record is 6-6, with a 4.28 ERA.

Edwin Jackson has started 12 games for Oakland this season. He is 4-3 with a 3.03 ERA. In Jun of this year, Jackson signed a minor league contract with Oakland. He was called up to Oakland in late June. Oakland is Jackson's 13th major league team, which ties a major league record. Jackson utilizes two main pitches - a fastball and a slider. The A's are hoping Jackson can continue to pitch well as they try to make a run for the World Series.

Blake Tienen leads the team with 33 saves. His ERA is an excellent 0.95. Treinen has been one of the best closers in baseball this season. The Athletics need him to continue to lead the bullpen. Lou Trivino, Yusmeiro Petit and Ryan Buchter have also pitched well out of the bullpen this season.

Considering how inconsistent the Oakland starting pitching has been this year, the Athletics need to continue to score runs and pitch well out of the bullpen during the playoffs.

The 2018 American League playoffs should be interesting and exciting. All five teams have good players and will be difficult to beat.

Sometimes music runs in families

In 1962, Jan and Eugenia Van Halen, along with their young sons Alex and Edward, emigrated by boat from the Netherlands to the United States. Jan was a musician who had played in different parts of Europe. He continued to play music when he settled with his family in California. However, he also worked multiple jobs to make ends meet.

Eugenia hoped that her two young sons would not pursue music as a career. However, Alex and Edward both caught the music bug and wanted to have careers as musicians. Both were inspired by hearing their father practice the clarinet frequently. They wanted to have musical careers of their own.

Alex soon took up the drums, while Edward chose to play the guitar. Both became proficient at their instruments. While in high school, they formed a rock band called "Mammoth" which became a staple of the Los Angeles music scene.

In 1974, the band changed their name to "Van Halen." Michael Anthony and David Lee Roth joined the group the same year. Roth would handle the vocals, while Anthony would play the bass. Anthony, Roth and Alex Van Halen were 20 years of age. Edward Van Halen was 18. As young men, the four had settled on a music career and they were in a good place to pursue a career in rock music.

Van Halen produced six albums with this lineup. Their fifth album, "Diver Down", had five cover tunes because the band felt pressure to release an album quickly after the success of their single "Pretty Woman," another cover song.

"Diver Down" features a cover song called "Big Bad Bill is Sweet William Now," which features Jan Van Halen on clarinet. It is the only time Jan Van Halen's performance is featured on an album. Roth originally came up with the idea of doing the song and of including Jan on the record. All of the band members were glad that Jan Van Halen could have his moment in the spotlight. He did well with that moment and played a memorable solo for the song.

Things have come full circle for the Van Halen family. Today, the bass player for the group is Wolfgang Van Halen, Edward's son. He has been the band's bassist since 2006.



Jose Santana was a violinist and a guitarist in mariachi bands. He and his wife, Josefina had 7 children - Carlos, Antonio, Jorge, Laura, Irma, Leticia and Maria. He taught Carlos how to play the violin at age 5. By age 8, Carlos was learning how to play the guitar. Carlos inherited the musical ability of his father.

Carlos referred to his father as an "efficient teacher." He is grateful for the discipline that his parents gave him when he was growing up. He saw how much his father was respected when he performed. Carlos wanted to receive that same kind of respect when he played.

Carlos dedicated his memoir "The Universal Tone: Bringing my story to Light." to his mother. Carlos believed that her prayers helped to make him a better person.

Carlos began playing in his father's mariachi bands when he was 12. When he was older, he formed the "Carlos Santana Blues Band," which eventually became known simply as "Santana." In 1983, Carlos recorded an album entitled "Havana Moon," which featured his father's mariachi band.

Carlos passed on his love for music to his son, Salvador, who began playing piano at age 5. Salvador would later learn how to play percussion, typani drum and piano. Salvador plays in the "Salvador Santana Band" and has released a few albums and an EP.



Daryl Hall's father was a professional musician and his mother was a vocal teacher. Daryl has said that the best musical advice he ever received came from his mother. She told him to sing from the diaphragm and not the throat. She explained to him that the diaphragm would never wear out, whereas the throat could wear out. Daryl has always tried to follow that advice. It has served him well, as he has had a successful singing career.

Todd Rundgren, a good friend of Daryl's, said that Daryl "began singing when he was in the high chair." Rundgren's quote shows how early music became a part of Daryl's life.

Betty Hohl, Daryl's mother, received the 2007 Community Service Award from the Owen J. Roberts School District for her volunteer work in the field of music.

In an interview in 2007, Mrs. Hohl said "I've always been a friend of the arts. I grew up with singers, people who like to sing. We used to sing all the time..My mother and father, my family was musical, and when I had my children we did the same." Hohl pointed out that when she and her husband took their family on trips they would sing in the car.

Hohl pointed out that Daryl played trombone in the marching band when he was in school. She said that Daryl played in different musicals for the school and the community. When speaking of his singing, Hohl said "I didn't have to push him. That was something he loved to do. He loved music, and naturally drifted into anything that was musical."

Hohl said that her parents also promoted a love of music. She remembers singing from a young age. She said that she liked different kind of music. She said that "I also like classical music. I enjoy the opera. So, all kinds of music. If it is music, I love it."



Pop singer Charlie Puth was introduced to music by his parents. Deb Puth, Charlie's mother, began giving him piano lessons when he was 4. She also taught him about classical music. She began teaching her three children how to play the piano when they were 5. She told them that when they reached 8th grade they could choose another instrument. However, she wanted to introduce them to music and the piano at a young age.

Deb noticed that Charlie at a young age had an interest in noise. Deb noticed that Charlie had perfect pitch as a nine year old. She said "I mean he's looking at me telling me the B flat, or he could name multiple notes simultaneously. If you play a chord, a standard triad chord, which is three notes, and if you play them with both hands he could tell you all the notes. He could tell you anything. Perfect pitch - that's a gift. That's a gift from God. That's not something that was learned. I wanted to foster that growth so I found ways to train him. You get the best people, and it certainly wasn't me." She noticed Charlie's musical talent at a young age and helped to foster or develop it.

While Deb Puth encouraged Charlie to develop his musical abilities, she did not apply too much pressure. She says "I also believe if you want something, you don't have to be the best at it. There are levels and there are tiers. There are levels and there are tiers within whatever you want to do that you can succeed at. You don't have to be at the highest level...but you can certainly participate and write music and write scores for Broadway, or a television show, or whatever it is that you want to do. Parents should stop worrying about their kid being the best. Not every kid will be the best at everything." Deb Puth suggests that situations should always be put into the proper perspective. It is good when young people strive to be good at something, but it is not necessary to be the best at something.

Charlie Puth, age 26, has already achieved considerable success. In 2009, he started his own youtube channel. In 2010, he independently released an EP entitled "The Otto Tunes." Later that year, Ellen DeGeneres signed him to her label eleveneleven. In 2013, Puth released his second EP, which was entitled "Ego."

In 2015, he signed with Atlantic Records. During 2015, he released an album entitled "Nine Track Mind." The album was successful and sold many copies. It reached number 6 on the billboard top 200. In 2017, he released "Voicenotes," his second album. He has released three singles from the album.





Michael McDonald, of the Doobie Brothers, began singing with his father when he was four years of age. McDonald told "The Daily and Sunday Express" that his parents introduced him to music. McDonald said "My dad was a singer-not professionally, but he sang in pubs - and whenever he got home I'd ask him to sing a song. It was usually Danny Boy, and he loved old ragtime songs from the 1920's and 30's. I was about four when I started singing with Dad, and I learned to play the banjo to accompany him. I leaned the piano, too, but in lessons I struggled to pay attention so I was mainly self taught."

McDonald sang with Steely Dan and joined the "Doobie Brothers" in 1976. In 1982, he embarked on a solo career which produced nine albums. McDonald has won 5 Grammy Awards.

In 1980, McDonald produced his wife Amy Holland's solo album. "How Do I Survive," a single from Holland's album, became a hit song. Additionally, he worked on his son Dylan's album as well. "Dylan McDonald and the Avians" have released an album recently and are touring to promote their work.

Music continues to be passed down in the McDonald family.



When he was four years of age, Dave Brubeck took piano lessons from his mother. She played Frederick Chopin's piano pieces, which Dave would alter and modify. Brubeck would re arrange the music to sound more like jazz.

When he was 14 years old, Brubeck started to play gigs with a band.

Brubeck's father was a cattle rancher. Brubeck went to college for verinary medicine. However, one of his professor's noticed that Brubeck was much more interested in music, so he encouraged Brubeck to change his major to music. The professor noticed that Brubeck wanted to spend most of his time practicing at the conservatory. So, a switch to music made the most sense.

Brubeck was drafted into the Army. He played at a Red Cross concert which was well received. The performance was so popular that Brubeck was asked to form a band. Brubeck was taken out of combat duty due to the popularity of his band.

In 1951, Brubeck formed a Quartet. The quartet recorded two albums in 1953 and one in 1954. Brubeck was on the cover of "Time" magazine in 1954. In 1959, the quartet recorded another album. One of the most successful albums by the quartet was a live recording from Carnegie Hall in 1963. In the 1960's there were some years when the Brubeck quartet released as many as four albums a year.

Brubeck married Iola Whitlock in 1942. They had 6 children together. All 6 took music lessons. Darius, Michael, Christopher, Catherine, Daniel and Matthew all became musicians. All 6 continued the Brubeck musical legacy.

Darius Brubeck, Dave's oldest son, studied music in college. He wrote music and became a bandleader. He went on to teach music in college as well. Matthew Brubeck, his youngest son, is a cellist who released two albums in the 1990's. Daniel and Christopher are also active musicians.



Harry Connick jr. was immersed in music at a young age. He started piano lessons when he was 3 years old. By age 5 he was playing for audiences in the community. When he was 10 years of age, he made a recording with a local jazz band.

Connick's father is a singer who performs in his community. Connick, Sr. was influenced by music at a young age as well. He was particularly impressed by the music of the Glenn Miller orchestra. He was nicknamed the "Singing District Attorney" because of his singing in the local community. Connick Sr.'s wife, Anita, was a very good flute player. Additionally, the Connick family owned a record store when Harry Connick Jr. was growing up.

Harry Connick Jr's parents passed on their love of music to their son. Connick, Jr. made a soundtrack for the movie "When Harry met Sally." The soundtrack was very successful.

In 1992, Connick Jr. recorded an album entitled 25, which was a collection of solo piano music. The album featured piano standards such as "Stardust," "On the Street Where You Live,", "Tangerine", and "Caravan." The album showcased Connick, Jr.'s piano playing ability.

In 1994, Connick Jr. recorded an album entitled She. The successful album featured New Orleans funk music. After the album was released, Connick Jr. toured the United Kingdom and China in order to promote the album.

In 2003, Connick Jr. recorded an album entitled Other Hours Connick on Piano Volume 1. In order to promote the album, Connick Jr. The songs featured Connik Jr. on piano and three other jazz musicians. The album was the first that Connick ever recorded as a member of a quartet.

Connick jr. has done a lot with his musical talent. He has added to his family's musical legacy.



Paul McCartney may be the best song writer in pop music over the last 50 years or so. McCartney's work with the Beatles, and his efforts after the Beatles represents some of the best song writing pop music has ever seen. Even today, the Beatles represent the gold standard for pop music. Their music seems almost as relevant today as it was when it was first composed and recorded. McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr all showed themselves to be capable song writers and musicians.

McCartney was born in 1942 to James McCartney and Mary Patricia McCartney. James McCartney played in ragtime and jazz bands when Paul was growing up. James McCartney had a record collection that he would play for his family. Additionally, he played songs on the piano for his family. When he and his family listed to the radio together, James would talk to his children about the different musical instruments in the recording.

James McCartney encouraged Paul to play the piano. James encouraged Paul to take music lessons as well. Nevertheless, Paul preferred to learn by ear and soon gave up the music lessons. Paul wrote the song "Let It Be" in 1968 in order to honor his mother.

Joe McCartney, Paul's grandfather, listened to the opera and played the tuba in a local band. Joe McCartney also played double bass and sang. Joe McCartney hoped to pass on his love of music to his family.

Paul McCartney's first group, "The Quarrymen", rehearsed in his parents' home at night. Later, after the Beatles disbanded, Paul recorded a song called "Walking in the Park with Eloise", which had been written by his father.

Paul McCartney's success with the Beatles has been well chronicled. The Beatles contributed a lot to the history or popular music. There many hit songs have become a part of popular culture. Their songs have been covered by many bands and artists. Their music inspired many to learn how to play musical instruments and form musical groups. The Beatles' music continues to be a part of our popular culture.



Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was born on April 29th, 1899 in Washington, D.C. Duke Ellington's parents, James Edward And Daisy Ellington, were both piano players. Daisy played parlor songs, while Edward played operatic music. Duke Ellington began taking piano lessons at 7 years of age. His parents encouraged him to learn from ragtime pianists.

When the family took summer vacations, Duke's parents encouraged him to learn from the pianists that the family would meet during their trips. As he grew older, Duke learned how to read music and began performing in bands. His parents' tutelage and encouragement instilled within him a love for music and the piano. Duke was growing as a musician.

Duke would work a job during the day and play music at night. In the 1920's Duke performed in Broadway clubs as a bandleader. At one point, the band had 10 musicians. Some of Duke's famous songs include "Concerto for Cootie," "Cotton Tail," and "Ko-Ko."
Two of his most famous songs are "It Don't Mean a Thing if it Ain't Got That Swing," and "Satin Doll." Some people consider "Take the A Train," to be his most famous song.

Duke married Edna Thompson in 1918. They had one son named Mercer Kennedy Ellington. Mercer wrote a piece of music called "Pigeons and Peppers," which was recorded by his father. Mercer attended the Julliard School. Mercer followed in his father's footsteps and became a bandleader as well. Mercer composed music for his father. At various points, Mercer played in his father's orchestra.

The Ellington family had three generations of musicians. Of course, Duke Ellington became the most famous of the Ellingtons. Duke benefited from his parents' encouragement and help. He passed on that encouragement and help to his own son, Mercer.




Martha Reeves was born in 1941 to Elijah Joshua Reeves and Ruby Lee Gilmore Reeves. She was born in Eufaula, Alabama and raised in Detroit, Michigan. The family participated in a church that was pastored by her grandfather, Reverend Elijah Reeves. In addition to participating in the church, the family also sang in the choir. Elija played guitar in the choir, while Ruby sang. Elijah and Ruby passed on their love of music onto their children.

While in high school, Martha began taking singing lessons. As she got older, Martha worked during the day and sang at night in the most respected clubs in Detroit.

Martha joined a group called the "Vandellas" after a couple of members left. Eventually, the group became known as "Martha Reeves and the Vandellas." Some of their hit songs included "Dancing in the Streets," "Come and Get These Memories," "Heat Wave," "Wild One", "Nowhere to Run," and "Jimmy Mack."

After Martha left the Vandellas, she would go on to sing concerts with her sisters Lois and Delphine. The musical foundation that her parents gave Martha and her sisters had come full circle.

These are just 10 examples of families who passed on their love of music to the next generation and in some cases multiple generations. The history of music and of popular culture is richer because of the tutelage and guidance of these parents and families.

Accuracy is foundational for NFL quarterbacks

NFL scouts say accuracy is the most important quality in a quarterback. When drafting a quarterback out of college, scouts look first for accuracy. Inaccuracy produces incompletions and interceptions. Accuracy leads to completions and touchdowns. A quarterback needs to be accurate in order for a team to move the football down the field.

In the 2018 NFL draft, scouts said that Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen needed to become more accurate passers. This may have effected their standing in the draft. In contrast, the scouts complimented the accuracy of Josh Rosen and Sam Darnold. Rosen went later in the draft than many predicted, but it was not because there were questions about his accuracy. Darnold went 3rd overall to the New York Jets.

Baker Mayfield was the most accurate quarterback in division 1 college football last year. Mayfield, while playing for the University of Oklahoma, completed 70% of his passes. He was drafted fourth overall by the Cleveland Browns. The Browns are hoping his high completion percentage will continue in the NFL.

Last season, Darnold completed 63.1% of his passes, and Rosen completed 62.6% of his passes. Allen completed 56.3% of his passes, while Jackson completed 59.1% of his passes.

Drew Brees, of the New Orleans Saints, is the most accurate quarterback in NFL history. Brees has completed 66.9% of his career pass attempts. Chad Pennington has completed the second highest percentage of his passes at 66%. Kurt Warner and Kirk Cousins both completed 65.5% of their passes. Peyton Manning and Tony Romo completed 65.3% of their passes.

Brees has had three of the most accurate four seasons for a quarterback. In 2017, Brees completed 72% of his passes, which is the highest completion percentage for a single season in NFL history. Brees also completed 71.2% of his passes in 2011 and 70.6% of his passes in 2009. Sam Bradford completed 71.6% of his passes in 2016, which is the second highest completion percentage for a single season in league history. Ken Anderson completed 70.6% of his passes in 1982.

In addition to Brees, other quarterbacks completed a high percentage of their passes in 2017. Case Keenum completed the second highest percentage of his passes at 67.6%. Alex Smith completed the third highest percentage at 67.5%. Josh McCown completed 67.3 % of his passes. Tom Brady completed 66.3% of his passes. Brees, Keenum, Smith, McCown and Brady were the five most accurate passers in the league last year. Ironically, Keenum and Smith are on new teams for the upcoming season.

Profootballfocus.com ranked the most accurate deep ball passers in 2017. The site refers to a stat called "adjusted completion percentage" which looks at throws for 20 yards or more. The statistic accounts for "dropped passes, throwaways and passes in which the quarterback was hit as he throws." The stat is a decent way to measure the accuracy of quarterbacks who throw deep passes.

According to Profootballfocus.com, Alex Smith was the most accurate deep passer last season. Smith's adjusted completion percentage was 56.5%. Brees was second best at 52.5%. McCown had an adjusted completion percentage of 46.7%. Dak Prescott was the fourth most accurate passer on deep throws with an adjusted completion percentage of 46.5%. Smith, Brees, McCown and Prescott were the most accurate quarterbacks on deep throws in 2017.

Troy Aikman is the most accurate quarterback in Super Bowl history. Aikman completed 70% of his passes in 3 games. Joe Montana completed 68% of this passes in 4 games. Peyton Manning completed 66.5% of his passes in 4 different games. Eli Manning completed 66.2% of his passes in 2 games. Tom Brady has completed 65.8% of his passes in 8 games.



Phil Simms had the most accurate game in Super Bowl history. In Super Bowl XXI, Simms completed 88% of his passes. In Super Bowl XLIV, Brees completed 82.1% of his throws. Montana completed 75.9% of his passes in Super Bowl XXIV. Eli Manning completed 75% of his passes in Super Bowl XLVI. Brady completed 74% of his tosses in Super Bowl XLIX.

Throwing the football into a tight window is also a sign of accuracy. According to "Next Gen Stats", a tight window pass happens when the intended receiver is separated from the defender by less than one yard. Recently, NFL quarterbacks were ranked according to this ability. The rankings took three criteria into consideration: Completion percentage on tight window passes; passer rating on tight-window passes; adjusted yards per attempt on tight-window passes. The rankings were added to create the total score for 35 different quarterbacks who were ranked the highest.

Prescott was the best tight window passer. He had a completion percentage of 45.8% on tight window passes. He had the best passer rating on tight window throws at 82.1. Additionally, he had 7.41 for adjusted yards per attempt. Matthew Stafford was second overall. Case Keenum was third overall. Alex Smith was fourth overall. Ben Roethlisberger was fifth overall.

The ability to throw into a tight window is important. It enables a quarterback to throw the football to a wide receiver who may be covered closely. The ability to throw the football into a tight window helps to offset good defensive coverage. This ability depends on natural talent and hard work. The natural talent must be cultivated with hard work and practice.

Accuracy is a skill that quarterbacks develop over time. They have to have the basic skill of hand/eye coordination. This basic ability has to be innate and inborn. However, quarterbacks can develop accuracy over time.

Quarterbacks can become more accurate through rote repetition. They can practice throwing the football at different lengths. They can practice short, medium and deep throws. There is no substitute for rote repetition and practice.

Quarterbacks can throw a football through a tire which is played at different points on the field. Quarterbacks can practice throwing the football to wide receivers who run different routes. Of course, there is no substitute for passing the football to a covered wide receiver. This forces the quarterback to throw a football into a tight window.

Ryan Brennan, writing for thoughtco.com, discusses 7 drills that can improve accuracy.

The first drill is called "The Two Knees Drill: Warm-Up." This drill improves concentration and warms up the quarterback's arm. In this drill, two quarterbacks position themselves on their knees. They stand 10 yards from each other. The quarterbacks throw the football back and forth to one another. The focus is on accuracy and concentration instead of speed.

The second drill is called The One Knee Drill: Wrist Motion and Arm Strength. Two quarterbacks, once again, kneel down about 10 yards from each other. However, this time each quarterback kneels down on one knee only. The quarterback is encouraged to focus on using the arm only for the throw. This is an attempt to build strength in the quarterback's arm.

The third drill is called The Circle Toss Drill:Agility. This drill involves two people. One person stands still. The other person runs in a circle around the person and throws the ball to the person standing still. The radius of the circle is a decent distance away. The two quarterbacks can change roles eventually. The person doing the passing can also change directions.

The fourth drill is called Down the Line Drill: Conditioning and Throwing. During this drill, both quarterbacks run the distance of the field while they are playing catch. During this drill, both players will have to adjust their targets and throw the football quickly so that they get in as many throws as possible. Both players are 10 yards from each other during this drill.

The fifth drill is called Sprint Out Drill: Accuracy. During this drill, one player sprints out to the left. The quarterback will throw the ball to the receiver after the sprint. Then the receiver will sprint out to the right and receive the football after the sprint.

The sixth drill is called Find Open Receiver Drill: Scanning and Adaptable Decision Making. The goal here is for the quarterback to survey the field before he chooses where to pass the football. This drill improves the quarterback's decision making ability and accuracy, which should improve his completion percentage. 10 to 15 players line up as receivers. The quarterback looks at the receivers , while the coach stands behind him. The coach points to a receiver to be a target. The receiver puts up his hand, while the quarterback continues to survey the field. Then the quarterback throws the football to the receiver who has his hand raised.

The seventh drill is called Throwing Progression Drill: Warm - Up. Two quarterbacks look at each other while they are standing 15 yards apart. At first, the two quarterbacks are sitting on the ground while they play catch. After 25 passes, they kneel on one knee. The quarterbacks can continue to sit and kneel in different positions. The two quarterbacks focus on their techniques and mechanics.



Jim Harbaugh, head coach of the University of Michigan, has a list of favorite quarterback drills. Michael Austin, writing for coachad.com, discusses some of those drills.

During the anticipation drill, the quarterback improves his ability to throw the football to a receiver that he anticipates will get open. A receiver sets up behind a screen. The quarterback drops back and then throws the football to the receiver as he becomes visible from behind the screen.

During the Quick Release Drill, the quarterback improves his accuracy by throwing the football to a stationary target. A coach kneels close to the quarterback and tosses the football to the quarterback who throws the football as quickly as possible to a stationary target. After the quarterback throws the football, the coach tosses the quarterback another football.

During the Hitch-Hitch-Go-Or-Throw Drill, the quarterback moves into the pocket and decides whether he should throw or run after he surveys the field. The quarterback can drop five or seven feet back. The quarterback makes two hitch moves and moves towards the line of scrimmage while the coach pretends to be a linebacker. The coach either drops back into coverage or goes after the quarterback. The quarterback has to make a quick and good decision based on the movement of the coach.

Harbaugh's fourth drill is called The Circle Drill. This drill improves a quarterback's ability "to throw on the run, off balance or under duress." The drill improves a quarterback's ability to throw when he is outside the pocket. Two quarterbacks line up 5 yards from different cones. Both quarterbacks run to the right while they stay 10 yards away from each other. Then the coach yells "switch" which tells the quarterbacks to move in the opposite direction.

Accuracy is connected to mechanics, arm strength and footwork. Good quarterbacks need the proper mechanics and footwork. Additionally, they need the arm strength to make deep throws. Even good quarterbacks can improve in these areas.

Jimmy Garoppolo is a good quarterback. However, as he enters his first full season as an NFL starting quarterback, there are ways in which he can improve. Richard Madrid, of 49erswebzone.com, discusses some of the ways that Garoppolo can improve.

Madrid says that Garoppolo needs to improve his footwork. Madrid says that Garoppolo can limit the number of errant throws he makes, if he improves his footwork. Madrid says "Early on in his starts for the 49ers it was apparent that he lacked the ability to throw deep passes with any consistency because his footwork prevented him from delivering passes with enough control and velocity." Madrid suggests that if Garoppolo can improve his footwork, he could become more consistent.

Madrid says "The glaring issue with his footwork is that he has a tendency to not open up his front foot (plant foot) to the target. When a quarterback doesn't open his front foot to the target, it screws up his weight transfer on the rest of the throw. The back foot lags behind, the hips don't rotate and generate torque, and the throwing power is generated in the elbow and the shoulder, causing control issues." Madrid suggests that Garoppolo's accuracy is harmed when he does not open up his front foot and point it towards the receiver. Consequently, poor weight transfer effects the pass. By forcing the shoulder and the elbow to "power" the throw, it makes Garoppolo less accurate.

Madrid elaborates by saying "A quarterback's throwing power, like most athletes, is generated in the hips. Try and throw a football with just your arm and then try and throw it while rotating your hips. The ball travels much farther and with greater control. Even baseball players, try swinging a bat with just your arms and then try swinging while rotating your hips. You generate much more power." So, Madrid emphasizes the importance of hip rotation for a quarterback. Like footwork, hip rotation, effects the accuracy of a quarterback.



Madrid says that Aaron Rodgers is one of the most accurate quarterbacks in the NFL. Rodgers has many good qualities as a quarterback that support his fundamental accuracy. These qualities may not be directly related to accuracy, however, they allow Rodgers to employ his accurate throwing motion.

Brandon Hall, writing for Stack.com, discusses Rodgers' passing ability. Hall notes that when Rodgers came out of college he had flaws in his passing game that were corrected. When he entered the NFL, Rodgers held the football too high. However, Hall says "Once he arrived in Green Bay, Packers head coach Mike McCarthy and former Packers quarterback coach Tom Clements went to work on Rodgers' mechanics. Perhaps, most importantly, they gradually helped him hold the ball lower in the pocket. Eventually, Rodgers became comfortable holding the ball between the middle of his chest and his throwing shoulder, making his delivery much more fluid. If you ask Rodgers about his mechanics today, he's quick to point out how vital a role his lower half plays." This change in mechanics helped Rodgers to utilize his feet and legs to help him become more accurate and do develop more strength on his throws. Rodgers' receptivity to coaching helped him to improve his game when he entered the NFL.

According to Zach Kruse, of bleacherreport.com, Rodgers' "escapability" helps him to be such a good quarterback. Kruse says "There is no quarterback in the NFL as consistently accurate outside the pocket as Rodgers, and his footwork is a big reason why. Big plays happen in the NFL when quarterbacks get outside the pocket and have clear lanes to throw the football down the field. Accurate throws are then a must." Rodgers is capable of making big plays because he can escape from the pocket and identify clear lanes to throw the football into. So, Rodgers' ability to escape from the rush and improvise makes him more accurate as a passer.

Kruse also points out that Rodgers can control a defense with his eyes. Kruse says "You have to love when an offensive route concept is augmented by a quarterback who can change what a defense is doing by simply using his eyes. Rodgers does it with the best in the NFL on a consistent basis." Sometimes Rodgers will focus on one receiver, which makes the defense thinks he will throw the football to him. However, then Rodgers will throw the football to another receiver who he did not look at. Sometimes, the second receiver gets open because the defense thinks Rodgers is going to throw the football to the receiver that Rodgers is looking at. It is a good technique that helps Rodgers to fool the defense and keep them off balance.

Kruse also says that Rodgers shows good "anticipation against a blitz." Rodgers can find the open receiver even when the defense blitzes. Sometimes Rodgers is undaunted when he is facing the blitz. Rodgers can calmly make the right read and accurately throw the football to an open receiver.

In Rodgers' case, accuracy remains his most important attribute as a quarterback. Accuracy is the foundation of his ability as a quarterback. However, these other qualities add to his ability as a quarterback. These other qualities are like pillars that are attached to the foundation of accuracy. These and other qualities make Rodgers one of the best quarterbacks in the game today.

Aaron Rodgers may be the best quarterback in the game today. However, Peyton Manning is one of the all time greats. Manning was also known for his accuracy. Manning was accurate because of a combination of his natural talent, hard work, preparation, constant practice and his innate understanding of the game. A combination of many attributes helped to make Manning an accurate quarterback.

In 2014, Manning's third year with the Denver Broncos, Troy Renck, of the Denver Post, said "Accuracy. It defines his (Manning's) statistics, and why it should come as no surprise that in meetings, coaches have referred to him as Greg Maddux because of his command." Renck believed that Manning's accuracy defined his total body of work. Manning's accuracy is what helped to define his career.

Renck said "Manning possesses the skill to throw to open. Translation: The cornerback blankets the receiver until the last moment before the ball arrives. This talent remains as valuable to Manning as detecting a linebacker's stance at the line of scrimmage or a safety blitz. He learned as a rookie that open in the NFL represents inches, not feet." In other words, Manning learned early in his NFL career that precision matters a lot to a quarterback. Being precise with his passes helped Manning to have a good career. Precision helped him to become successful as a quarterback.

Renck pointed out that Manning used "summer practice to develop timing, working before and after practice with receivers. The process begins with air routes, where no defense exists, followed by 7-on-7 and finally the entire offensive group." So, Manning utilized the summer to work on precision and timing with his receivers. He wanted to develop a rapport and a good working chemistry with his receivers. The more Manning and the Bronco receivers practiced together, the more precise Manning's passes would be to the receivers. Hence, the more successful the Bronco offensive would be.

A quarterback needs to do many things in order to be successful. He needs to be able to go through his progressions and locate the open receiver. A quarterback needs to be able to read defenses and see whether the safety is going to help the cornerback. A quarterback needs to identify the blitz and call audibles at the line of scrimmage if necessary.

A quarterback needs to have a strong arm in order to throw deep passes. A quarterback needs to be able to take charge in the huddle and guide the team down the field. He needs to be able to effectively run the play action pass in order to draw in the defenders to give the receivers some separation.

There are many things that a quarterback needs to do. However, accuracy is the most important attribute of a quarterback. Accuracy is the most important quality that a quarterback can have. Perhaps more than anything else, accuracy defines whether a quarterback will be successful in the NFL.

Minor league baseball is major league fun

The gates open and the fans are allowed in. The song "The boys are back in town" plays over the loud speaker. The song expresses that the Binghamton Rumble Ponies are back in town to begin a home stand. The song sets the tone for a minor league baseball game that will feature many sights and sounds.

Within the stadium is the scent of Lupo's chicken speedies and beer. At the concession stand are baked hot pretzels, pizza, hamburger, French fries, chicken tenders, soda and bottled water. Pop corn in jumbo plastic baseball helmets are sold. Ice cream in smaller plastic baseball helmets are sold as well.

The national anthem is played while fans and players stand at attention. The umpires meet with the managers at home plate. Then the Rumble Ponies take the field as the home crowd applauds. The visiting team comes up to bat.

When the Rumble Ponies are at bat, most players have a song that plays when they walk up to the plate. Music plays a prominent role in the sounds of the game.

Sometimes songs play over the loud speaker to reinforce what has just happened.

For instance, when the Rumble Ponies have 2 outs, the song "One More Chance" by the Jackson 5 can be heard. The Rumble Ponies have one more chance to extend the inning because there are only two outs.

When a player for Binghamton hits a double, Bon Jovi's song "Living on a Prayer" plays over the loud speaker. The verse "We're half way there" plays because the base runner on second base is half way to home.



Additionally, when a Rumble Pony hits home run, the song "Na,Na,Na,Na, Hey, Hey-ey Goodbye" plays over the loudspeaker. The fans wave goodbye to the baseball as it sails over the fence for a home run.

After the 7th inning stretch, the song "Cotton Eyed Joe" plays over the loudspeaker. The fans sing along with the song. Some of the younger employees working at the game dance on top of the home dugout and the away dugout.

Before the 8th inning, children run across the field while Bryan Adams' song "Run to You" plays over the loudspeaker.

This season post game fire works were scheduled for 15 different days. Different music was played during the fireworks. Some artists who were featured included Kelly Clarkson, Maroon 5, The Beatles, Billy Joel and Elvis Presley. Two nights featured patriotic themes including July 4th.

The stadium also hosts "Bark at the Park night." On this night, fans are allowed to bring their dogs. The stadium hosted three such nights this season. During the evening, songs with a canine theme are played over the loudspeaker. Songs like "Who Let the Dogs Out" and "Hound Dog" are played at the stadium. Additionally, hot dogs, normally sold at $2.50 a piece, are sold for $1.00.

The outfield wall at NYSEG stadium features ads for local businesses. When a pitching change is made for the Rumble Ponies, it is sponsored by "A Touch of Texas", a local establishment. In every way possible, the Rumble Ponies' organization tries to accent it's connection to the local community.

The organization also tried to emphasize it's Rumble Ponie name. For instance, above the female bathrooms is the word "Mares", and above the men's bathroom is the word "Stallions." The stadium is informally known as "Rumble Town, USA."

The organization deserves credit for it's enthusiasm for the it's team name. It also deserves credit for it's loyalty to the area. Both seem sincere and genuine. The organization takes pride in the area and in the team name.

The Rumble Ponies play in the Eastern League, which features 12 double A baseball teams. All 12 teams are affiliated with major league teams. Here are the 12 teams: Binghamton Rumble Ponies(Mets); Hartford Yard Goats(Rockies); New Hampshire Fisher Cats(Blue Jays); Portland Sea Dogs(Red Sox); Reading Fightin Phils(Phillies); Trenton Thunder(Yankees); Akron RubberDucks(Indians); Altoon Curve(Pirates); Bowie Baysox(Orioles); Erie SeaWolves(Tigers); Harrisburg Senators(Nationals); Richmond Flying Squirrels( Giants).

The team names for minor league organizations are memorable and unique. Minor league team names remind fans that baseball is a game. It is fun. It is competitive, but like all games, should not be taken too seriously. Teams want to win and compete, but at the end of the day, sports should be fun and memorable for both the participants and the fans.

Major league teams are judged on wins and losses. Winning is the bottom line in major league baseball. However, the goal of minor league organizations is to develop the players. Player development is the highest priority within the minor leagues. Double A affiliates want to develop as many players as possible. Minor league affiliates want to prepare as many players as possible for the major leagues.

Some minor league players are major league prospects. They have a serious chance of making it to the major leagues. However, some minor league players are organizational prospects. In other words, they are there to fill out minor league rosters and provide competition for the true major league prospects. An organization has to figure out which players are true major league prospects, and which ones are organizational prospects.



Player development is not easy. Many minor league hitters can hit fastballs. However, minor league coaches have to teach hitters how to hit breaking pitches in order to help those players make it to the major leagues. In order to make it to the major league level, minor league players need to be able to hit more that just fastballs.

Likewise, pitchers have to develop different pitches at the minor league level in order to make it top the major leagues. It is not enough to be able to throw a fastball. A major league pitcher has to have an expanded repertoire. A major league pitcher has to be able to throw curve balls, sinkers, sliders, change ups, etc. A major league pitcher has to keep hitters off balance.

So, minor league teams are judged on their ability to develop players. Wins and losses are important. However, player development is the most important responsibility of a minor league team.

There are also unique promotional give aways during the game. If the Rumble Ponies shut out an opponent in the top half of the 5th inning, each fan in attendance receives a voucher for a free donut at "Dunkin Donuts." If a Rumble Ponie hits a home run in a certain inning, all fans in attendance receive a voucher for a free whopper at Burger King. These are neat promotional give aways that link the local community with the team. They are also good play on words.

At every game, a fan is chosen to answer a trivia question that takes the form of a multiple choice question. The fans stands on the top of one of the dugouts and answers the question. His or her image is shown on the jumbo tron which also shows the four choices. After the fan answers the question, the right choice appears on the screen. There is some sort of prize for the fan if he or she answers the question correctly.

Each game also includes a 50/50 raffle.

The stadium where the Rumble Ponies is called NYSEG stadium, but it is also known as Rumble Town, USA. Above the female bathrooms is the word "Mares" and above the male bathrooms is the word "stallions."

Needless to say, the city of Binghamton takes great pride in it's baseball team. Broome County is proud of the Rumble Ponies. This is our team.

The Rumble Ponies play in the Eastern League, which features double A affiliates of major league baseball teams. In addition to the Binghamton Rumble Ponies, the teams are the following: Hartford Yard Goats(Rockies); New Hampshire Fisher Cats(Blue Jays); Portland Sea Dogs(Red Sox); Reading Fightin Phils(Phillies); Trenton Thunder(Yankees); Akron RubberDucks(Indians); Altoona Curve(Pirates); Bowie Baysox(Orioles); Erie SeaWolves(Tigers); Harrisburg Senators(Nationals); and the Richmond Flying Squirrels(Giants). '

The Mets have called up a few Rumble Ponies this year.

Second baseman Jeff McNeil was called up in late July. He is hitting .289 with 2 home runs and 4 runs batted in. Kevin Plawecki was called up earlier in the season. Plawecki, an outfielder, is hitting .222 with 3 home runs and 15 runs batted in. Both do not project as impact players. However, they may turn out to be major league players who can provide the Mets with depth.

Relief pitcher Corey Oswalt was promoted to New York this season. In 33.1 innings, Oswalt has pitched to a 5.13 ERA with 23 strike outs. It's uncertain if Oswalt is good enough to be part of the Mets' bullpen in the future. At least now, he is being given a chance to contribute.

Currently the Rumble Ponies have some talented players who have big league potential. Shortstop Levi Michael is hitting .305 with 10 home runs and 36 runs batted in. He is a potential starting short stop in the big leagues, perhaps for the Mets. Michael also has some speed, as he has stolen 13 bases this season.

First baseman, Peter Alonso is hitting a robust .314 with 15 home runs and 15 runs batted in. With numbers like that, Alonso projects as a possible starting first baseman in the major leagues. If his power can translate to the major leagues, he may get an opportunity at he major league level.

First baseman, Joey Terdoslavich, has been playing well lately. In 192 at bats, Terdoslavich has hit 4 home runs with 19 runs batted in. At 29 years of age, Terdoslavich does not project as a starter. However, he may be added to a big league roster some day to provide some depth or a pinch hitter off of the bench. As a switch hitter, Terdoslavich could provide pinch hitting in key situations of a game.

The Rumble Ponies have been good for Binghamton and Broome County. The city and the county are proud of the Rumble Ponies. The team has brought more fun into the area. The Rumble Ponies have reminded people that minor league baseball is major league fun.