August excellent time for baseball-related dreaming
Now is a great time to resume dreaming up my imaginary pro baseball team.
As of this writing, fall prep sports are not underway. Aug. 10 is the first day of practice for Excelsior Springs football, softball, volleyball, cross country, girls golf and boys soccer; Richmond football, softball volleyball, girls golf and cross country; Norborne Hardin-Central 8-man football, and Hardin-Central softball and cross country; and Orrick 8-man football and volleyball. Besides, with the abbreviated Major League Baseball season (finally) underway, I am ready again to continue dreaming up my team, The Celestials.
In columns published last fall and this spring, I named my pitchers, starting position players and reserves for my 25-man roster. Thus, I turn my attention to my coaching staff. Here are some of my picks:
• Casey Stengel, field manager – As pointed out in “Baseball,” Ken Burns’ made-for-public-television documentary series, Stengel was a game-changer. The modern emphasis on bullpens,…