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MOLINA: A Baseball Book Review
Men are masters at translating relationships and war into sports metaphors. It’s fed by a primal memory of organizing for the hunt, rewarded by the warm glow of a full belly and a camp fire. Or cracker jacks and hot dogs on a modern day field of dreams.
Now let me chalk the lines as I review the best new baseball book of the year: MOLINA, the story of the father who raised an unlikely baseball dynasty . Do you know of the Molina family -- Bengie, Jose and Yadier -- all catchers with two World Series rings each? It’s an amazing run ripe for the annals of Cooperstown. Perhaps they are the most accomplished siblings in baseball history.
Says Major Leaguer Ron Darling, “Molina is a must-read for all parents who want to teach their children the skills of the game while making sure they know that their skills away from the diamond are just as important."
As humans, we want the world to make sense and to give us a batting order we can ascend to grasp at the brass ring. We want to believe that when players come together and prize team over individual glory, we have the best chance to win. It’s the ancient adage to value tribe over self, to subsume personal needs to village and community. Done properly, it adds secret sauce to a life worth living. If you’ve watched any of the NBA playoff games, you get my drift. I marvel that human beings can rise so high, effortlessly, ah la Steph Curry. Swoosh!
The Molina brothers were coached by their dad, lovingly called Pai, a semi-pro player who looked after the ball yard across the street in their Puerto Rican barrio. He was an anchor for his family, the coach for his community. Thousands turned out to say Thank You when he passed away. The Molina brothers benefitted and aspired to be just like him. In the eyes of the fans for the Angels, Rangers, Giants and Cardinals, they succeeded.
The real story in Molina is how a son comes to terms with his father’s legacy. It makes me wonder how many sons are living their father’s dreams. I also like books that simplify life to a few cardinal values. The virtues here are loyalty, humility and courage. And thus, we pass wisdom to our children. I invite you to do so by gifting this book to those young ball players you love. I expect it might add some dash in their quest on the base paths of life.
Publication date: May 12th.
At Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Molina-Father-U...
Now let me chalk the lines as I review the best new baseball book of the year: MOLINA, the story of the father who raised an unlikely baseball dynasty . Do you know of the Molina family -- Bengie, Jose and Yadier -- all catchers with two World Series rings each? It’s an amazing run ripe for the annals of Cooperstown. Perhaps they are the most accomplished siblings in baseball history.
Says Major Leaguer Ron Darling, “Molina is a must-read for all parents who want to teach their children the skills of the game while making sure they know that their skills away from the diamond are just as important."
As humans, we want the world to make sense and to give us a batting order we can ascend to grasp at the brass ring. We want to believe that when players come together and prize team over individual glory, we have the best chance to win. It’s the ancient adage to value tribe over self, to subsume personal needs to village and community. Done properly, it adds secret sauce to a life worth living. If you’ve watched any of the NBA playoff games, you get my drift. I marvel that human beings can rise so high, effortlessly, ah la Steph Curry. Swoosh!
The Molina brothers were coached by their dad, lovingly called Pai, a semi-pro player who looked after the ball yard across the street in their Puerto Rican barrio. He was an anchor for his family, the coach for his community. Thousands turned out to say Thank You when he passed away. The Molina brothers benefitted and aspired to be just like him. In the eyes of the fans for the Angels, Rangers, Giants and Cardinals, they succeeded.
The real story in Molina is how a son comes to terms with his father’s legacy. It makes me wonder how many sons are living their father’s dreams. I also like books that simplify life to a few cardinal values. The virtues here are loyalty, humility and courage. And thus, we pass wisdom to our children. I invite you to do so by gifting this book to those young ball players you love. I expect it might add some dash in their quest on the base paths of life.
Publication date: May 12th.
At Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Molina-Father-U...
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We like to write and read and muse awhile and smile. My pal Prasad comes to mutter too. Together we turn words into the arc of a rainbow. Insight Lite, you see?
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