Author Archives: rightoffthebatbook

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About rightoffthebatbook

Co-author of the book, "Right Off the Bat: Baseball, Cricket, Literature, and Life"

Putting Downton Abbey to the Sward

Eager fans of Downton Abbey will have noted that the most recent episode (at least in the United States) featured a cricket match, and eager fans of Right Off the Bat are no doubt waiting for this site’s expert analysis … Continue reading

Posted in Cricket | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Fighting Talk

According to the BBC, the International Olympic Committee is considering dropping wrestling as a sport for the 2020 Olympics in order to make way for one of seven other sports, including “baseball/softball, squash, karate, sport climbing, wakeboarding, wushu and roller … Continue reading

Posted in Baseball | Leave a comment

One Ball Remaining . . . .

Consider this scenario. Bottom of the ninth; two batters out; one run down. And you’re the Chicago Cubs playing the Yankees. And it’s Game One of the World Series. That’s the baseball equivalent of what just happened in the Women’s … Continue reading

Posted in Cricket, England, One-Day Cricket, Sri Lanka | Leave a comment

February Frolics

While I (Martin) may have been quiet the last few months on Right Off the Bat, the world of cricket continues to make some noise. Currently going on in India is the Women’s World Cup, which is being televised by … Continue reading

Posted in Australia, Baseball, Cricket, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Touring Yankee Stadium

It has been quite a day. Closer to Right Off the Bat HQ, a poor dolphin, who lost his or her way, perished while trying to escape the toxic Gowanus Canal at the old Union Street bridge in Brooklyn. I … Continue reading

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(Im)probabilities

No one is going to confuse Martin and me with Theo Epstein or Bill James. Truthfully, the term Sabermetrics largely gets nary a nod in Right Off the Bat. Why? It all goes back to “leet” childhood. [“Feed-in”]…I remember practically flunking … Continue reading

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Baseball Meets Smectymnus

As the Hot Stove League season kicks into high gear, with the advent of some old-style winter weather thro much of North America, all coinciding with the Presidential Inauguration and the federal holiday commemorating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., I … Continue reading

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Earl Weaver, Dead at 82, R.I.P.

Though a great strategist in and of what today is called small ball, his favorite play bluntly remained “the three-run home run.” His all-time winning percentage is .583. He led the Baltimore Orioles to three American League championships in his … Continue reading

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The Wit & Wisdom of Cricket

Much recommended by the Right Off the Bat Project is The Wit and Wisdom of Cricket, 2012, anonymously compiled, and published by Prion/Carlton: A collection of some of the best quotes from players, pundits and avid followers past and present. … Continue reading

Posted in Australia, Cricket, England, Test Cricket, West Indies | Tagged | Leave a comment

News for the Delphic Oracle and the Baseball Writers

We might add another Yeats line to our title: Speech after long silence. There has not been much action in this lackluster Hot-stove League Season—unless you are a follower of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, signers of troubled superstar … Continue reading

Posted in Baseball, Right Off the Bat Website, Yankees | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment