After reading the poems, please post a response to the following question:
What about baseball is each poet trying to capture? Be sure to use the text to support your ideas.
A few tips: be concise, be concrete, don't repeat what your peers have already said.
In "Polo Grounds" by Rolfe Humphries, I think that he is trying to capture how fast things can happen in baseball. He talks about this in the first paragraph where two people can be out in a matter of 3-4 seconds. He also alludes to the idea of time going quickly when listing all of the players names and asking the reader if they remember them; like time has gone by so fast that he isn't sure if we will be able to recall who they were. He reinforces this idea with the repetition of "time is of the essence." Like time needs to be saved or savored.
ReplyDeleteIn Williams poem, I think that the writer is trying to capture the importance of the crowd to a baseball game. He writes, " This is the power of their faces," as if the mood of the fans has influence and is able to shape and change the outcome of the game.
In May Swenson's "Analysis of Baseball," I think that she is trying to say that baseball players are interchangeable and it is only really the equipment that matters. Although I don't agree with this notion, that is what I got from reading the poem. She says in the last stanza " It's about the ball, the bat, the mitt, the bases, and the fans." Not once in the poem does she mention the players.
Adela Fine
"Polo Grounds", "William Carlos Williams", and "Analysis of Baseball" share common ground in that they each address the importance of the crowd and the fluidity of the game to the sport of baseball. As highlighted in today's movie and the prior reading, a fast paced game is not just appealing to fans, it is inherently American. Humphries repeatedly uses the phrase "Time is of the essence" to signify that baseball is fast paced in different ways. Time is not only of the essence in the four second period converting a double play, but also in one's career, as Humphries lists significant players in the past.
ReplyDeleteHumphries, as well as the other authors, also address the distinct noises, patterns, and influence of the crowd throughout the unpredictable game of baseball. Humphries view of the crowd is analogous to an orchestra as he uses musical terms such as "obbligato", "crescendo", and "staccatos" to describe the sound levels and patterns of the crowd during different parts of the game. Williams similarly agrees with Humphries as he distinguishes the crowd as being "moved uniformly/by a spirit of uselessness". Williams also articulates about the power of the crowd during the game saying, "It is alive, venomous/It smiles grimly/its words cut". Williams is speaking to the fact that baseball captivates the attention and sparks the emotions of the fans and although the sport may essentially be "useless" the uselessness is part of the reason why baseball gives fans so much pleasure. Finally, Swenson's poem and view of the fans pertains to the beauty and excitement found in the simplicity of the game. Swenson describes numerous possibilities of interactions between pieces of equipment and when she gets to the occurrence of a home run, writes, "That's about/the bases/loaded,/about 40,000/fans exploded." Similar to Williams she describes the crowd acting uniformly to the thrill of unpredictability of baseball. The three authors find a commonality in that they acknowledge that baseball is a constant that will not change, but the endless possibilities of what will happen the next second will ensure that the sport never become old.
In "Polo Grounds" the author, Rolfe Humphries greatly stresses that time is of the essence. The beginning of each stanza (with the exception of one) starts with "time is of the essence." The fourth stanza is all about the writers' memories of baseball, and makes the reader feel like an outsider if they do not remember, or weren't a part of his memories. Humphries also gives a hint of being in a rush. In the last stanza, he says "The man in the crowd is older every season. Come on play ball!" this gives a sense of rushing that was apparently quite common for Americans back then because the sense of urgency was also a common theme in "America's National Game"
ReplyDeleteI think that the point of William’s poem is to stress the fact that baseball is the true American game not only for the players but the fans as well. This poem is putting the spotlight on/acknowledging the fans of the sport. The poem mentions multiple groups of people that go to and love baseball. Williams refers to the fans as “beautiful” multiple times in the poem, giving great props to the supporters to baseball.
The Analysis of Baseball poem is focused on the material pieces of baseball. There is no mention on the players, rather 100% about the gloves and the balls and the bat. There is also a part of the piece where Swenson gives the readers a perspective of the ball and of the bat. One part has some very clever writing, saying “Ball/flirts, bat’s/late, don’t/keep the date. I find this very clever because Swenson is personifying the material objects of baseball, therefore making it seem as if there were people in the poem.
In Polo Grounds, Humphries describes the role that time plays in baseball. He starts off by describing a situation where time was key; after the player Riggs hits the ball, it has only been 3 or four seconds but multiple events are taking place with the other players and he is out. He also talks about how baseball has progressed. The poem is titled Polo Grounds, a possible reference to how baseball has changed. He names past players, and describes a players journey as he works his way up, but then goes "from second to the outfield" and finally "to the bleachers". As a whole, baseball players seem to stay the same age, because teams usually have players in a certain age range. But on an individual level, each player is getting older.
ReplyDeleteIn Williams' poem, I think he is describing the way that the crowd views themselves versus how they are viewed by the players and others. He starts off by saying that the crowd is "moved uniformly by a spirit of uselessness", but that they are delighted by it. In other words, the crowd sees themselves as uninvolved, not a part of the game, but that they like it that way. Williams then describes how even though the crowd may view itself this way, it can be dangerous, it is "alive, venomous it smiles grimly its words cut". It can also be the cheering laughing crowd he describes at the end. I think he is trying to capture the effect that the crowd has on baseball.
MAy Swenson's poem has a rhythm and a pattern to it, embodying what seems like her vision of how baseball is played. When reading this poem, I could imagine the rhythmic throwing of the ball, catching, running, and then the repetition as it begins again with the next play. Baseball, unlike games where players run up and down the field after a ball, has a specific formula to it. It is more controlled, which is what she is trying to show in her poem.
Rolfe Humphries “Polo Grounds highlights the unusual pace of baseball. In the game “time is of the essence” and Humphries repeats this phrase as if a ballgame is transpiring and the crowd watches “a double play… a foul into the stands… and a long fly to the outfield”. This aspect baseball demonstrates its likeability with Americans. Americans become bored if something interesting is not happening, and never want to waste time. There is no halftime where the game turns to a standstill, but time in between innings where fans can watch their shortstop make a beautiful play on a tough hop and throw a laser to their first baseman. This not seem like much, but it is a slice of the spirit of baseball.
ReplyDeleteWilliam’s Poem describes the perspectives of baseball fans who go to ballgames to escape their real lives. The game allows fans to ignore whatever issues or problems they have at home, to at last be delighted “by a spirit of uselessness”. The experience of a ballgame is a simply a paradise where one can “laugh…permanently, seriously without thought”.
May Swenson’s “Analysis of Baseball” demonstrates the simplicity of baseball at its core, yet the endless possibilities it produces. Although baseball is only “about the ball, the bat, and the mitt” those three simple object can create plays where the “ball fits mitt, but not all the time” or “ball gets hit… and sails to a place where mitt has to quit in disgrace”. The game may look straightforward, but the intricacies that can happen in a ballgame with just a ball, bat, and mitt make it addicting.
I believe that “Polo Grounds” really captures the complexity of the game, a feature that the author clearly values. The first four stanzas describe certain moments in a baseball game at such a fast pace that the reader must really focus to comprehend what is going on. In this way, the reader appreciates the numerous intricacies of the game.
ReplyDeleteThe main thing I took away from Williams’ poem is the shallow nature of the people in the crowd. I see the author comment on this with lines like “the crowd was moved... by a spirit of uselessness” and “the crowd is laughing... without thought.” In the poem, I believe that the author asserts the importance of the crowd as a whole to the game, but contends that, as individuals, the people in the crowd are simple and insubstantial. The author seems to be feeling a mysterious anger towards his fellow spectators.
Looking over Swenson’s “Analysis of Baseball”, it seems to me that the author’s purpose is to stress the unpredictability of the game. By personifying the ball (“ball hates to take bat’s bait... ball flirts”), the author makes it seem like the ball is uncontrollable, subject to no one’s will but its own. The idea that the bat doesn’t hit the ball, but rather waits for the ball to hit it, also reinforces the idea that the ball has the control, not the player, and as a result the game is not dictated purely by predictable human efforts.
p.s. I couldn't figure out how to comment with my name, so I commented with my advanced physics blog account.
In Williams' poem he states that "the crowd is laughing in detail permanently, seriously without thought". In this passage and the rest of the poem I believe that he is capturing how a man can forget his troubles when watching baseball. Another idea that he is stressing is the "raw" beauty of baseball. That is what I believe he is referring to when he talks about how the "mother, gets it" and "the Jew gets it straight".
ReplyDeleteIn Humphries' Polo Grounds he states over and over again that "time is of the essence". He also describes a short period of time in detail taking place during a baseball game. I think that in doing this Humphries is claiming that there is no better way to spend your time than playing baseball or going to a game. Humphries ends by saying that "the crowd and players are the same age always, but the man in the crowd is older every season". He means that although the spectators and the players are getting older, the spirit of baseball does not change and it possesses the same beauty always.
In Swenson's Analysis of Baseball she mainly describes the interactions between "the ball, the bat, and the mitt". I believe that she does this because they are the three tools which are key to baseball. They are the objects that bring together different types of people.
-Nolan Phillips
(I had the same problem as Nate)
In "Polo Grounds," Humphries explains the fast pace in which baseball is played. Though it is often thought of as a slow, calm sport, Humphries describes how quickly plays unfold. He puts in very few transitions in the poem and says many times that "time is of the essence." When describing a pitcher's routine he says "takes the sign, nods, pumps, delivers-a foul into the stands." The writing style in the poem makes the game seem extremely fast paced. Humphries also describes a double play in his first paragraph, saying that it is only "three or four seconds." Nevertheless within that time span, "Jurges goes to his right, comes up with the ball, tosses to Witek at second...Witek to Mize at first"
ReplyDeleteWilliam Carlos Williams describes the game from more of a fan's perspective. Williams says it is a treat for fans to attend games and that any type of person attending is able to enjoy the game. He goes on to say that "they, the crowd, are beautiful." WIlliams talks through all of his poem about the crowd, never even once mentioning a player in the actual game. He implies that one cannot have a bad time at the game, "It is summer...the crowd is laughing."
Swenson's "Analysis of Baseball" talks mostly about the game itself, but does mention the crowd a couple times. Swenson has short lines with small words describing that baseball is simple and can be played with few objects. Still though he describes all the possibilities of what can happen on a baseball field. Everything from a swinging strike to a home run. Swenson, similar to Williams, does not ever mention the players, and only briefly mentions the crowd. He talks as if the objects had feelings and emoitions. Saying "mitt has to quit in disgrace" or "bat waits for ball to mate."
These are fabulous so far! Changed the posting settings, so I hope it's easier for folks to post with names and such. Keep up the great work!
ReplyDeleteI think Humphries’ “Polo Grounds” tries to capture the effect time can have on a player. There are no descriptions of players, aside from their names; instead, readers have to characterize and identify them through their actions. Humphries uses a wealth of verbs to describe movements of the players: in one sentence, “Werber takes off his glove, rubs the ball briefly, tosses it over to Hub, who goes to the rosin bag, takes the sign from Danning, pumps, delivers.” Such strenuous action is something generally only the young can do, and its strong presence in the poem, similar to the "time is of the essence" phrase, makes that age restriction very clear to the reader. This gives the repeated phrase “time is of the essence” an entirely new meaning, as it not only speaks to the swiftness of an individual game, but also to the fleeting youth of the players and the danger aging presents to the ballplayer.
ReplyDeleteWilliams' poem, too, speaks to the rapidity of baseball, but he deals more with the chance actions that take place rather than actual time, which is what Humphries seems to do. Williams' poem speaks of the "flash of genius" and "words cut" in baseball. In a second, a crowd could be "saluted and defied" depending on the brief hit a ball can make. He also describes the game as having "no end save beauty." Beauty is by definition subjective and fleeting, easily giving the game a connotation of change. His descriptions of the crowd add to this sense. He describes the crowd as "summer," a season when mild heat can easily turn too hot, or days can give rise to thunderstorms. This fluctuation ties into how a baseball game can so easily go awry, or a crowd can become disillusioned or disappointed with its team.
Finally, Swenson's poem differs from the previous two in that it focuses on a very particular detail: the objects used to play the game. Because of that emphasis, I think Swenson's poem is about the simplicity of baseball. In order to play, one just needs a bat, a ball, a mitt, and a diamond, all of which the poet mentions at least once. Only towards the end does she even mention other aspects of baseball, such as "fans" or "home." She doesn't even mention a human action outside of hitting the ball before the last word of the poem, "run." Her lack of setting and focus on the materials of the game makes the reader able to imagine playing ball anywhere, from AT&T Park to their own backyards, and that adaptability emphasizes baseball's simplicity. Her diction speaks to simplicity too: there are only sixteen words in the entire poem that have more than one syllable.
I think that in "Polo Grounds" Rolfe Humphries talks about time in respect to how it much can change depending on what is happening in the game. When "your" team is behind or losing there is never enough time for them to catch up, but when "they are" winning there are so many opportunities for the other team to score as many runs. Humphries wrote "movement speeds up or lags" which I took to illustrate that feeling of change in time. In the last stanza Humphries takes time to baseball in general when he talks about how the crowd and players age and therefore how baseball in general has aged.
ReplyDeleteI am not 100% sure what the William Carlos Williams poem. He talks about the fans/crowd and how it "is moved uniformly." Crowds at baseball games are obviously very much behind the home team and boo whenever something happens against whomever they are cheering for. Williams also says (continuing the "moved uniformly") "by a spirit of uselessness which delights them-" in a professional sports game the cheers of the fans do not play as big a role as they do in a high school game, yet that does not spot them from screaming at the umpire or cheering when their home team scores a run.
The "Analysis of Baseball" I think talks about the necessities of baseball beyond the players, "the ball, the bat, the mitt, the bases, and the fans." These are the aspects of baseball that make it unique compared to other sports.
Humphries in his poem "Polo Grounds" discusses the effect of time on the sport. Throughout the poem are comparisons between the relatively short time period of the game itself, and the lasting legacy of the sport. The current time of the game is constantly being referred to as the game reaches its final out. Humphries continuously states that "time is of the essence" as the game ends and continues even after the conclusion of the match. He summarizes the final out of the game by saying that "Thats all for the Dodgers", and I think that "time is of the essence" refers to the frantic final minutes of a ball game. As the poem ends, Humphries establishes a paradox about baseball, that it is a game that is both short and long. He says that the match between the two teams does not take much time, but that the game of baseball lasts throughout time because "the crowd and players are the same age always, but the man in the crowd is older every season".
ReplyDeleteWilliam Carlos William in his poem describes the part that the fan plays in the game. Williams says that the fan plays both an important and useless role in how the game progresses. "The crowd, are beautiful...it smiles grimly its words cut" is referencing how the heckles and cheers from the fans do affect the players on the field. But at the same time the crowd is powerless and has to watch the game unfold, as "the crowd at the ball game is moved uniformly by a spirit of uselessness which delights them". It is the knowledge that the game is out of their hands that delights the crowd, yet it is the chance that at the same time, the support or jeers they provide may somehow influence the game that also excites them.
May Swenson in her "Analysis of Baseball" discuss not the players, but the iconic equipment that is a part of the game. She does not discuss the athletes, and portrays their actions through a glove or a bat. Phrases such as "bat doesn't hit ball, bat meets it" or "mitt has to quit in disgrace" are used instead of players names to show the timelessness and consistency of the game. Although the names on the jerseys may change, Swenson is saying that the game will still be played by those three pieces of gear that embody the game.
In "Polo Grounds", Ralph Humphries illustrates what sounds like a great game of baseball. This goes to show that baseball can be talked about in any way, shape, or form, and every single style is very captivating and exciting. In Humphries narration of a game, he says that "Hubbell takes the sign, nods, pumps, delivers-a foul into the stands". By using these short broken up language, Humphries is able to capture the excitement just like the announcers do for radio and television.
ReplyDeleteIn William Carlos Williams poem about baseball, he emphasizes the different type of people who make an appearance to watch baseball games. The crowd as they are called are comprised of many different types of people and they are all drawn to the stadium under several common interests: the game of baseball, their love for the home team, and the unknown final result of the game. Williams also makes it clear that Baseball can be extremely unpredictable and anything can happen so it is not wise to make any assumptions. He says that "all the exciting detail of the chase and the escape, the error, the flash of genius-all to no end save beauty the eternal". Williams believes than anything can happen and that each game is unique to itself because baseball is a game where everything is possible.
In Mary Swenson's poem, "Analysis of Baseball", she stresses the idea that baseball has several very special components and without them, the game would not be what it is today. She emphasizes the key tools of the game. "The ball, the bat, the mitt, the bases, and the fans" are the key parts to the game of baseball. To her, baseball is quite simple and that these are the utensils needed to play. It is interesting that it does not need to be played on a wonderfully manicured field or in a nice stadium, all that is needed, is a bat, a ball, a mitt, the bases, and of course, fans to watch the game.
Polo Grounds by Rolfe Humphries is capturing that in a matter of seconds so much can occur in a baseball game. These moments can be from getting a double play, when the teams exchange from offense to defense, or catching a flyball. The author says simple things as "hubbell takes the sign, nods, pumps, delivers-- a foul ball into the stand," or when" in those seconds Jurges goes to his right" (Humphries). Although these actions only takes a few seconds to complete, time is an enormous factor in the game because right after getting to base in that same moment the opposing team could have gotten the out elsewhere. Also with the repetition of "Time is of the essence,’ embodies how important small amounts of time is important to baseball.
ReplyDeleteIn the poem Analysis of Baseball the poet takes a snapshot of the simplicity of baseball. She mentions the necessary items to play the game of baseball. The poet says, “ its al about the ball, the bat, and the mitt” (Swenson). Stepping away from the excitement, the items listed are are the only items necessary. The author also mentions that the fans are also a necessary part of the game for they bring the excitement into this simple game. Ultimately the simple game of baseball is enjoyed by people who enjoy its simplicity and brings it enthusiasm.
William Carlos Williams poem focuses on the crowd and its importance to a baseball game. He emphasizes that many people can watch the game of baseball like the “The flashy female” or the “The Jew” watch the game “permanently, seriously without thought” (Williams).In his quote, it spotlights the different people that enjoy the game and they are essential in bringing euphoria. Unlike the other poems where it focuses about the actual game of baseball and more on the 10th player, which contributes confidence to the players making the fans apart of the home team.
In “Polo Grounds”, Humphries addresses the fluidity of baseball. The whole poem is very fluid. He does a great job of describing how so many things happen during a short period of time during a game. Everything, including the double play that he describes so perfectly in the first paragraph, happens so smoothly, making it easy to see why baseball is often referred to as a “beautiful game”. He says that “The rhythms break”. With this, he is saying that while the pace of the game often varies, it is always very rhythmic, which has helped it become the popular sport it is today.
ReplyDeleteWilliams’s poem describes what baseball means to the crowd. The crowd is made up of thousands of vastly different people with different backgrounds, but when they go to the park they are all part of a whole, enjoying similar emotions. When at a game, their differences don’t matter because they have one thing in common, a love of the game.
Swenson’s poem discusses the variability of baseball. There are so many different outcomes for each pitch. One thing that, to Swenson, makes baseball such a great game is that it is so unpredictable. However, despite all the variability of the game, all that really matters in the end is “the ball, the bat, the mitt, the bases, and the fans.” Swenson is showing that, in the end, baseball is all about fun.
May Swensons "Analysis of Baseball" takes a look at a very simple time in baseball. The structure shows how simple phrases can be repeated to showoff a very simple break down of the game. The beauty of this poem is the simple breakdown of how the game was meant to be played. A game that is thought to be made up of complex strategies really can be boiled down two just a few little aspects.
ReplyDelete"Polo Grounds" comments on the finer aspects of the game. This poem appeals more to the avid baseball fan that can take an in depth look at the complexity of the game. The author breaks down the plays as if it were happening in slow motion right in front of you, which makes a seemingly hard play seem like a step-by-step process of which anyone can accomplish. The more complex structure allows for the reader to deeper analyze the finer aspects of the game.
Williams' poem focus' more on the fans and that aspect of the game which often gets over looked.He mentions that fans come from all over, and although 40,000 fans at a baseball game may have much to dispute over, they all share a certain passion for the game which is a commonality at every game. The author touches on the dedication that fans show to their respective teams and shows due respect to them as they have willingly adopted baseball as Americas national sport.
Humphries' "Polo Grounds" captures the idea of time and the quick pace of baseball. His use of simple fragments within the enormous sentence that is the third stanza has the effect of a sports announcer or an auctioneer: things are happening so quickly that it's almost impossible to gain one's ground and keep pace with the game.
ReplyDeleteHis repetition of the line "Time is of the essence" serves as a gentle reminder that time should be spent in a conscious way, so as to not waste it or forget things that have occurred and the players that have come and gone over the years. This constant reference to time also serves to emphasise the development of baseball throughout the ages and how is has grown from polo, hence the title, into a game that is quick and thrilling - a game that draws spectators back year after year, such as "the man in the crowd [that gets] older every season."
The Williams poem emphasises the role of the crowd at a baseball game. It touches on the things about the game that they savour: "the exciting detail of the chase... the flash of genius," etc. To demonstrate their presence and power, Williams refers to the the fans as "the Inquisition, the Revolution," and artistically (and a bit romantically I might add) symbolises their true effect: "It is beauty itself that lives day by day in them idly."
In the second portion of Swenson's poem, she humanises the ball and the bat (I think that there is an SAT 2 Lit term that I cannot remember that describes this writing technique). By likening them to people going on a date, she makes the sporting equipment seem so relevant and relatable to other things in life. She seems to be saying that not all things work out in life, and not all people can get along or fit together. In essence, the ball and bat are an extended metaphor for the way that people interact.
I also find it interesting that Swenson does not mention the presence of the players in the game - this absence is distinct especially after reading Ritter's piece that goes into such great detail on certain players. She describes the ball and bat (and the mitt) and the motion of each object, the sounds that they make, but she fails to recognise that the driving forces at work are the players in play. She goes so far as to finish poem by saying in the last stanza that, "It's all about the ball, the bat, the mitt, the bases and the fans," but she never includes the players themselves. I find this so surprising because she calls the poem "Analysis of Baseball;" one usually expects an analysis to be full and complete - an analysis should cover all bases (pun completely intended) - and yet, her poem completely lacks mention of one of the most fundamental and important elements of the game.
The poetic piece "Polo Grounds" by Rolfe Humphries focuses entirely on the suspense and complexity that accompanies the game of baseball. From the beginning of the poem, we can see that the author is emphasizing the very little amount of time between different plays and actions that may occur. Many times as viewers we only recognize when someone hits the ball, or an amazing play is made in the field and we categorize that as action. However what this poem attempts to show is that there is so much more to the game than what we see. Every pitch is calculated to the degree, the connection between the pitcher and the catcher is impenetrable, and the decisions between runners is what we do not see as viewers. This poem stresses the "little" time that we perceive as action and explores what truly goes on under our eyes.
ReplyDeleteIn the second poem by Williams Carlos Williams, the author addresses the audience rather than the actual game. She recognizes the state of awe that the viewers are in as they watch the game, living and cheering as one giant person inside a stadium of individuals. We are all connected when watching the beautiful game.
The third poem is the most interesting of them all and has the best technique usage. The use of shortened sentences and repetition makes the poem interesting to listen to and helps us analyze what goes on as the pitch comes in and the batter swings. It takes the game and shortens it to the most interesting parts.
In "Polo Grounds" by Rolfe Humphries, there is a major theme about the connection of time and baseball. The phrase "time is of the essence" is repeated at the beginning of almost every paragraph. And Humphries also draws a connections to time and baseball by naming great past baseball players. Humphries mostly tries to show how baseball is beautiful because of how the fan ages over the years while the players do not.
ReplyDeleteWilliam Carlos Williams focuses mainly on the connection between the fans and the game. He conveys the idea of how the fans are as much of the game as the players playing the game by showing the emotion the crowd can create.
May Swenson captures the action of baseball. Swenson talks of the game as if its constant action using many verbs and being very concise.
Would anyone know if the Polo Grounds poem was based on an actual game played? I've tried looking through game stats to find a game that fits the players mentioned, but haven't found a fit. Thanks!
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