The Problem With “Old Glory”

 “First step in solving any problem is recognizing there is one.”

Every now and again a request, feeling like a demand, hits my radar to fervently support our flag.  Each time it does, I have the overwhelming compulsive to respond.  Such is the case today. 

Those of us who were once filled with pride and stood with hand over heart whenever and wherever “Old Glory” appeared can no longer do so today. 

Our flag once represented our incredible determination and sacrifice in establishing our own country; our own way of life.  The winning of two world wars from which we could not escape involvement.  An end to slavery and our public repudiation of racism and bigotry in the signing of the 1964 Civil Rights Act which ended the Jim Crow doctrine of segregation.  The first Catholic elected President of the United States. The creation of the American Red Cross.   The creation of a polio vaccine from which no one was financially enriched.  The Marshall Plan and the Berlin Airlift. The blood spilled to create labor unions for financial farness and more humane treatment in the work place. The establishment of the most affluent middle class the world has ever known, and from that affluence, the most robust economy the world had ever seen.  The implementation of unemployment insurance, Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. The populous uprising that ended the Vietnam War and demanded accountability for Watergate. The threat of nuclear war averted through diplomacy and negotiation – compromise.  The six voyages to the moon and back again; with twelve Americans walking on the moon and without losing a human life.  Believe it or not, there is more.

That America is now dead.  An America that was once governed with  compassion, integrity and comprise.  Gone from governing is “Love thy neighbor…” “Due unto others…”  “What you do unto the least of my brethren you due unto Me.”  “My brothers keeper.” 

Predominate is hatred through polarization and intransigency created by partisanship and tribalism.  Predominate is greed – avarice – and selfishness.   

Old glory now represents endless wars, spree shootings and mass killings that go unabated; a country whose laws no longer provide justice for numerous criminal acts (An unarmed man is shot seven times in the back without any reprisal); that callously ignores thousands of Americans suffering and dying needlessly due to a  primarily driven financial healthcare system that the rest of the industrialized world abandoned decades ago; a country that cares nothing for its homeless or children living in poverty; a country that spits on the statue of liberty - a country that separates children from their parents. There is more – so much more. 

Blind patriotism isn’t patriotism.  It is a demand for conformity.  That conformity can only be healthy and admirable when it represents the loftiest of human endeavors to improve the human condition. When it is less than healthy and admirable it can be destructive.   As President Kennedy stated; “Conformity is the jailer of freedom and the enemy of growth.”

America is the greatest country in the world??? 

Not anymore and here’s why.

“First step in solving any problem is recognizing there is one.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hvrCNkL9RM 

Is Buxton Baseballs Greek Tragedy?

In 2012 the Minnesota Twins drafted Byron Buxton. They paid him a $6 million signing bonus.  The most lucrative singing bonus paid in Twins history is $6.7 million.  That bonus was paid to Royce Lewis who, like Buxton, can’t seem to stay healthy for any length of time. 

Buxton, along with Miguel Sano, were immediately marketed as the anointed saviors that would take the Twins to the promise land.  Sano was signed in 2009 and paid a $3.15 million signing bonus.  This bonus, was the largest ever paid to a Latin American position player.  

Both Sano and Buxton came to the major leagues in 2015.  Sano was hired to hit homeruns.  He played for the Twins for seven complete seasons with a brief appearance in 2022.  After averaging only 86 games in the lineup per season, hitting only 162 homeruns (a little over 20 per season and never exceeding 35 in a single season), compiling a low .230 batting average and striking out to the tune of 130 times per season, the Twins stopped the bleeding by buying Sano’s remaining 2022 contract for $2.75 million. 

While the Twins finally gave up on the promise of Sano, they have never given up on the promise of Buxton, whose performance numbers are close to those of Sano’s.  Instead, the Twins signed Buxton to a seven-year $100 million contract in 2021 which included another signing bonus of $1 Million.  The agreement is not only lucrative but has eliminated any Twins remedy for the Buxton frustrating.  

Buxton’s average salary is $14,285,714.  His base salary this year is slightly over $15,000,000.  It contains a full NO TRADE clause through 2026.  In 2027 and 2028 the restriction is lessened to a five-team trade list.  It is estimated that the Twins have already paid him $55,314,417 with five-years remaining on his current agreement and three of those years containing the NO TRADE clause.

This is now the tenth season that Buxton has been in a Twins uniform.  The only season that held promise resembling all the marketing dollars the Twins have invested in Buxton was 2017.  He played in 140 Games which is the only season he has played in over 100 games. For the first, and again, only time in his career he had 500 plate appearances.  Buxton has tremendous speed which has been demonstrated in the way he covers the gaps in centerfield earning him a Gold Glove award in 2017.   He stole just 29 bases, the most in any season he has played. But strikeouts plagued him.  He whiffed 150 times. 

The only other point at which Buxton demonstrated excellence was in 2021, the year the Twins crafted his current contract.  While playing in a scant 61 games he hit .306 with 19 homeruns, 32 RBI, and scored 50 runs. 

The explanation as to why he has been less than stellar can be traced to his never-ending injuries.

Sprained Left Thumb             Shoulder Injury

Back Spasms                          Left Foot Sprain

Migraines                               Right Wrist Injury

Groin Strain                           Hamstring Pull

Strained Wrist                        Concussion Symptoms – Twice

Fractured Toe                         Hip Problems - Twice

Broken Hand                         Knee Problems – 4 Occurrences

               Two Arthroscopic medical procedures on his right knee.

After just 28 games this year Buxton is currently out of action, AGAIN, due to soreness in that right knee, once AGAIN.   

This has resulted in an overall discouraging performance that not even the marketing gurus can justify or fix. 

·        He has played in just 698 of 1,486 games.  A Miserable 46%

·        Has Struck out 763 times in 2,351 at bats. A 32% strike out average. 

Ø 20% is the average in the major leagues.

·        His lifetime batting average is only .239

·        And saddest of all, he has only stolen 86 Bases – Less than 10 a year 

This has been heartbreaking for the Twins, their fans and most especially for Mr. Buxton.  However, the final chapter has not been written.  A miracle or some quirk could bring us a happy ending.  All we can do is try to stay optimistic, while never under estimating the torment of the Minnesota athletic curse and bearing in mind that no one ever said life is fair.

Byron working his magic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JzH5wLsjS8