Mediocrity

This particular blog is about baseball (duh) and music. I wonder why musicians and baseball players can be the best at what they do and receive so little recognition. I wonder why the best do not always receive recognition while mediocrity is applauded and rewarded at every turn. Last night I went to see a band perform whom I have loved for seven years. I have seen them move up the ranks of their first album opening for other bands to selling out homecoming shows at The Fillmore. They write brilliant poetic lyrics chronicling the modern life of mid to late twenty year olds and have a fervent local following. They average in their late twenties and have recently released an album on Epitaph records. Nationally however they are merely an opening band and last night they were playing on a national tour opening for other bands in their home town. The headlining band consisted of members averaging around the age of 19 and it was a bizarre evening. This evening reminded me all to clearly of a favorite baseball player of mine and the woes he shares with my favorite band.
Mark Ellis is an amazing player that gets far to little recognition outside of Oakland. He plays second base the way it should be played. His mechanics are flawless making turning double plays look like cutting butter. Flashy is not a word in his vocabulary and he is all about the team and the fans. 2006 was his year and yet he received no national accolades. "Ellis set a Major League record for fielding percentage by a second baseman with a mark of .997, committing just two errors in 123 games and 632 chances. He made his first error of the season on May 18, which snapped a career high 41-game errorless streak." (A'S website) These numbers are unbelievable and even more so considering he received no gold glove. Players like Eric Chavez get on the gold glove fast track continuing to receive them every year regardless of if they deserve them or not. (Chavy completely deserved every one in my book except for 2006) Players who have flash, pizzaz and love the spotlight tend to get noticed for awards or headlining tours. My idols, the unsung heroes of their craft go without the accolades they are so deserving of.

Mark Ellis and The Matches are playing by the rules and paying for it, by not reaching the heights of their peers. I prefer the unsung heroes who play for the right reasons. Simply for the love of the game or song. So to all who may read this I implore you to support the unsung heroes of life. Wouldn't you love a life where juiced up corporately sponsored men didn't rule? I sure would.