The Technology of Baseball
Today, people value everything differently. Some people value moments higher than objects they own. Some people believe something is valuable only if it has a high price tag on it. Other people value the simplest things like getting up in the morning above the most expensive thing they own. Is there anything that everyone can agree on as the most valuable to them? Why is it so hard to determine the true value of something? Does everyone in the world have something that they value?
I’ve been sitting on the bench the whole game. My coach comes over to me at the end of the fifth inning and tells me he wants me to close out the game. I go to warm up while my team bats in the top of the sixth and that’s when I start to feel the pressure that I love so much. The pressure I feel whenever I go into a game to close it out.
It’s the bottom of the sixth and we’re ahead six to four. We need three outs to win the game. The first hitter comes up to the plate and I get him to fly out to right field on one pitch. One out. Now the second hitter comes up to the plate and he grounds out to second base.
My adrenaline is really starting to rush now, one more out and we win the game. There best hitter strides to the plate. He has gotten a hit every at bat during the game. I let my nerves get to me and I fall behind, two balls ad no strikes. I battle back and get the count to two balls and two strikes. I throw ball three. He asks for timeout and steps out of the box for a moment, then he gets back in and he’s ready for me to pitch. I get my sign from the catcher, he calls for a fastball. I wind up and throw the pitch. I throw it by him for strike three, we win the game!
I turn it on and I let it warm up. My laptop is on and ready to use. I go online to talk to my friends, read articles about current events, and do research for school. I turn on itunes and put on my favorite music. I love my laptop. It’s a Macbook that is a bright white.
I’ve never had a laptop before this, so I make sure to take good care of it. I enjoy having the laptop. It’s nice to be able to write papers and not have to stay in the same place, but I could just do the same things on my mom’s computer.
I like my laptop and I’m glad I have it, but I really could live without it. I enjoy having the ability to go and talk to my friends online, read about current events, and listening to music. My laptop is very valuable to me, but it isn’t priceless.
My memory of closing out that game allows me to travel back to that game in my mind and it reminds me of what it’s like to have pressure on you, and being able to thrive under it. The moments I remember most clearly about that game were when I first came into the game and how happy I was after I struck out the last batter and knew that I had just helped my team win the game. It reminds me of the butterflies I got in my stomach throughout the entire outing. There’s no other feeling quite like that it.
Some similarities between my laptop and my memory of closing out that game are that they are both things I love to do. I like them both because they both allow me to get my mind off everyday things. When I'm on my laptop talking to my friends and whenever I'm pitching, I don't think about anything else. They are different because I can put a price on my laptop, I can't put a price on my memory of closing out that game. If I had to place a price on my laptop, I would say it's worth about fifteen hundred dollars.
Everyone in the world has something they value. Some people value items higher, others value moments higher. The true value of something can almost not be determined because everyone has a different idea about how much a given item or moment is worth. There is probably nothing in the entire world that everyone values the same. Some people may say it’s worth more and some people say it’s worth less. It’s impossible to say that there’s something that everyone values because of what our society is like today, some people care more about material things, and other people care more about moments or something you can’t physically touch.
7 comments:
Mike,
I liked your essay because it included baseball. I found out also that you really like your laptop and when you close out a game. I learned that you can live without your laptop and that closing was more important. I have some suggestions and some compliments to give.
I found that closing was the most vivid part of the essay. I liked how you noted that you loved the pressure. Also you did a good job explaining what was happening. Without the explanation I would have been lost.
I think one of the biggest strengths was your introduction. Your introduction was great how is asked questions without being redundant. I liked the part when you said “Some people value moments higher than objects they own. Some people believe something is valuable only if it has a high price tag on it. Other people value the simplest things like getting up in the morning above the most expensive thing they own.” I liked how you came at it from three angles instead of just two. I thought the some people twice was a little redundant.
I think that you put your objects in motion pretty well but you didn’t really describe anything much. You didn’t describe when you are closing what the wind feels like, what you smell, what you feel [touch], and what you hear. Even if you hear no sound and you block sound out then say so. I think you did a good job and your essay only needs a little fine tuning here or there.
-Nate B-Block
In Mike’s essay, he compares different people and their outtakes on value. He says that, “some people value moments higher than objects they own.” His statement is very true. Mike strongly values pitching in a baseball game, and his laptop.
I like Mike’s priceless moment, and his priced item for their own reasons. I like in Mike’s priceless moment that it is a situation which other baseball players are able to relate to him. I also like how Mike included his emotions about the situation he was in. What I like about his priced item (macbook) was that he says he really could live without it, but he is happy that he does have it. I think that shows that he appreciates what he has, and he knows that he is lucky he has it.
I think overall the essay’s strength is Mike’s writing type. I really like how he chose a situation to write about that other people could relate to. I’m sure we have all been through a time where we can feel the adrenaline pumping through out veins. I like how he included his emotions about what he was going through. It helped me picture what it felt like to be in his place.
One piece of advice I think that the author could consider would be adding more adjectives into his writing. Mike’s style is very good, and his thoughts are very organized. I think that if he added more adjectives to describe more in depth about what he was talking about, then it would take his essay to a whole new level.
I enjoyed reading Mikes essay. Mike is saying that value is different to people. Some people consider moments they've had as valuable and some people consider things valuable depending on what the price tag says. Mike most strongly values the moment when he is closing a baseball game and his laptop.
I thought Mikes priceless moment of closing a baseball game was vividly and clearly described. "I battle back and get the count to two balls and two strikes. I throw ball three. He asks for timeout and steps out of the box for a moment, then he gets back in and he’s ready for me to pitch." When I read this I realized what it would have been to be Mike at the moment and have all the pressure on me to win the game for the team. Also, it felt like I was sitting on the bench it was so clear. Mike did a good job describing the time he closed a baseball game.
In general one of Mikes overall strengths was his conclusion. In Mikes conclusion he did a good job comparing and contrasting the two things he values. Also, he did a good job of saying how people value tings differently. I thought Mike did a good job writing his conclusion.
One suggestion to Mike would be consider re reading your essay because there was a couple spots that I didn't get. Also, you should try to describe you laptop a little more. Other than that his essay was good. I enjoyed reading Mikes essay.
Mike begins his essay by making the reader think. He wonders whether people,"everyone" can agree on the same thing as a value item. At first, I thought of course not, but then I knew where he was going with this. We all have our own values, our way of judging an item's value, and different things in our lives that bring value to us.
Mike clearly enjoys baseball and makes it known in this essay. He states that he likes his laptop, with it's "white color and macbook status." However, he says he can do without it. The baseball on the other hand brings a feeling of excitement and "butterflies to his stomach" at the same time. He continue to tell me that he keeps coming back to the memory of that winning game. He has made this part of his permanent memory.
I think Mike's strength in writing this essay was to show the reader that he values something that makes him feel proud and part of the excitement of a game. He comes out and says this clearly, rather than beating around the bush or making the reader guess.
Mike might consider choosing some different words or language in his writing. He might try adding similes or metaphors, more adjectives, or synonyms for common words. Overall, the writing was clear, good, and to the point!
Personally i think the author was trying to get you to think. i think that he trys to get you to think. He trys to have you think about values and why you value them.
I really enjoyed reading his part about baseball. I love how he describes the little things. He talks abour the pressure he gets from closing out games and stuff.
One of mikes overall strengths is his attention to detail. Mike talks about the little things that really bring the reader in.He is very good at holding the readers attention with good imagery.
One piee of advice i have for mike is that he should tlak about comaparisons more.
His comaprisons werent really ther.
i liked your essay becauase you talk about baseball and i realy like baseball.I can see that you realy value both baseall and your computer by the way you talk about them.
I liked the ending of your value essay because u raped up every thing you were talking about.
i think your description was the best part of you essay.
I think your essay would be betterif you added more descriptive words.
hiiiii mike!! You're such a liar, you told me you only had 4 comments. you have 6 haha oh well. Im leaving you one anywayy.
I liked how your essay was really descriptive, and how you talked about your macbook. (im jelous by the way. i want one. lol) but anyway.. I think that closing games is more important to you. Not just because you said that you can live without your laptop, but you really seem to enjoy being a pitcher. Baseball is your thing (:
I think the really great parts of your essay were how well you told your baseball story and about your laptop. You made me feel like I was inside your head, listening to your thoughts.. (as creepy as that is...lol) But its cool, i think thats a good thing.
Strength would defintely be descriptions. Your imagery was really good and stuff. So that was pretty cool to read too. =D
Pretty much, I just think you need some more adjectives? maybe? I'm not really sure, I think its really good already. Maybe just a little more detail, but nothing huge (like the smell of BO. lol) So yeah!
Great essay! I loved itt (:
(happy you got more comments now?=D)
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