Jimmy Scott's High & Tight: The Geoff Brown Interview

There is no Major League talent without the minor leagues.  Baseball isn't like the NBA or NFL.  Most first-year players aren't immediately on the big club.  Nope, they need to start at the beginning, in the minor leagues.  They need to not just pay dues (all the while being paid pennies), they need to learn or re-learn all of the fundamentals about The Game.  They need to learn the systems of their parent Major League team.  They need to prove themselves worthy of one day making, hopefully, a lot of money hitting a ball very far or throwing a ball very squiggly and hard.  Geoff Brown of the Lakewood BlueClaws, the Class A affiliate of your World Champion Philadelphia Phillies, is the General Manager of the BlueClaws.  He knows a thing or two about minor league baseball.  So we spoke.

Was it fun?  Yeah.  It really was.  First of all, Geoff has got the positive energy of a psychic on his 8th cup of coffee in 20 minutes.  It's great to speak to a person so "Up."  His attitude isn't just impressive; his knowlege of minor league ball is too.  He speaks about host families and where young ballplayers live.  He speaks about the differences between being a minor league GM and a Major League GM.  He talks about why Lakewood, which is near the New Jersey shore, is such a hotbed for baseball.  And he tells us how he got his start and where he can go from here.

So, if you're a Philadelphia Phillies fan, if you're a baseball fan, if you're a minor league baseball fan, or if you're a person who likes to listen to positive people talk about interesting subjects, then you're going to really like listening to Geoff Brown. 

So sit up straight, take some deep cleansing breaths, and click away.  You're going to be happy you did.

THE MUSIC

Our featured artist for Geoff Brown's interview is Hall & Oates.  Maybe I should therefore state "featured artists" with the s, since there are two people who make up Hall & Oates. (Some would say Oates' mustache once counted as a third member of the duo, but since he retired it, the point is moot.)  Why Hall & Oates?  They were the epitome of Philly blue-eyed soul in the 70s & 80s.  And since Geoff Brown's ultiimate boss is your World Champion Philadelphia Phillies, it just made sense.  Now stop reading and listen to Geoff.  He deserves your attention.

Hall & Oates - Philadelphia Freedom

Hall & Oates - How Does It Feel To Be Back

Hall & Oates - So Close

Hall & Oates - One On One

Bruce Springsteen - Philadelphia

Neil Young - Philadelphia

Mark Knopfler - Sailing To Philadelphia, Speedway At Nazareth

Dire Straits - Your Latest Trick

The Who - Emminence Front

The Eagles - King of Hollywood, I Dreamed There Was No War,I Can't Tell You Why, Life's Been Good (Live)

Here's my favorite Hall & Oates song.  Listen to the bass line, played by neither Hall nor Oates.