Wednesday, August 06, 2008

Frozen Ropes and Dying Quails

I may have discovered the soundtrack to my upcoming trip. Steve Wynn and Scott McCaughey, with help from Peter Buck, have collaborated on a funny, sarcastic, reverent and, most importantly, entertaining tribute to the best game ever. They're calling themselves The Baseball Project, and the album is titled, Volume 1: Frozen Ropes and Dying Quails.

For those of you who don't know, frozen rope and dying quail pretty much represent opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of base hits. A frozen rope, of course, is a hard line drive, while a dying quail is a popup that fortuitously drops in for a hit. Most of the songs on this hook laden roots-rock album, which name-checks hundreds of current and former players, are frozen ropes, though.

Oscar GambleOf course, there are references to a few bands as well, including Yo La Tengo, which is Spanish for the important phrase of on-field communication, "I Got It", and was apparently inspired by the futility of the 1962 Mets. Highlights include the album opening "Past Time", which offers a nod to, among other things, Joe Pepitone's sideburns and Oscar Gamble's afro. "Gratitude (For Curt Flood)" is a tribute to the oft-forgotten player who challenged baseball's reserve clause in 1969 by refusing to accept a trade to the Philadelphia Phillies. "Long Before My Time" discusses the age-old dilemma of whether it's better for a player to go out on top or stick around as long as his skills will allow, even if he's a shell of his former self. "The Yankee Flipper" discusses the unfortunate antics of pitcher/rocker, and friend of the band, Jack McDowell.

Harvey HaddixFinally, "Harvey Haddix" is a wonderful tribute to arguably the finest and definitely the most under-appreciated pitching performance in baseball history. On May 26, 1959, Haddix pitched 12 perfect innings in a scoreless tie between his Pittsburgh Pirates and the Milwaukee Braves, only to lose the game in the 13th on an unearned run that scored as a result of the first hit he allowed.

This one is highly recommended to anyone whose adoration for rootsy indie rock is outweighed only by his/her fanaticism for America's Pastime. I look forward to listening to it while driving from Milwaukee to Minneapolis or Kansas City to St. Louis, and, since the title includes the Volume 1 distinction, I highly anticipate the next installment.


  1. Now that I actually have an ipod (hand me down from the eldest daughter) I will have to get this one on it.

    Our boy Smitty needs to see this title. I once used the 'quail' term. He told me he never heard of that being used for baseball.

  2. It's well worth it. The music is quite good, but the stories and the numerous references to the game, by musicians who obviously know their baseball, really add something to it.

  3. Oh, and in Smitty's defense, I really haven't heard the term dying quail used all that much.

  4. Peter Buck without REM can only be a good thing. I notice you have a link to Document set up. Is this coincidence? Or is it that every release by the quartet from Athens AFTER Document is more or less hit and miss. Once was a time when that band mattered. Now...?

    Remember the Hindu Love Gods project that Berry, Mills, and Buck did with Warren Zevon? Oh - that was good stuff.

    Thanks for the primo link.

  5. I just came to this post via your best-of-'08 list. I absolutely have to find this, for myself and a good baseball buddy in Miami who's a music nut. Thanks!


  6. I'm sure it's available from various other online sources, but I'll direct you to the record company that released it (link below):

    Yep Roc Records

    Let me know what you think of it.