One thing fans do not have to do, however, is believe in God. You can be an agnostic or an atheist. A Muslim, Jew, Christian, Buddhist, Marxist, soloist or Griffeyist. You can think God is cool, God is dead, God is white, God is black, God is Donny Most. Heck, you don't have to believe anything about anything about anything. Indeed, it is a great country we live in.

This is why I strongly -- along with, apparently, nobody else -- object to the new ritual playing of God Bless America during the seventh-inning stretch. Yeah, patriotism is nice. But not forced patriotism (which, in turn, threatens to become propagandism). In the wake of the events of Sept. 11, there seems to be -- along with a new spirit of strength -- a new spirit of ritualism. In stadiums, there's now an immense amount of pressure on fans to stand up and show their patriotism during a song that, quite frankly, shouldn't be played in the first place.

The baseball stadium is a place to relax and enjoy. Not to force nationalism.

Pearls of Wisdom

This week, for no particular reason, I devote my five Pearls of Wisdom to journeyman shortstop Paul Zuvella, a banjo-playing part-time high school teacher and, quite possibly, the worst position-playing regular in modern history.

Zuvella No. 1: Don't be surprised if a Texas Ranger emerges as a top AL Rookie of the Year candidate -- and his name ain't Hank Blalock. Right fielder Kevin Mench is batting .200 through Thursday (in limited at-bats) as a replacement for Juan Gonzalez. But, according to some within the organization, Mench is the next Pete Incaviglia -- with infinitely better bat control. The 2000 Florida State League MVP hit 26 homers with Class AA Tulsa last year, and has the raw oomph to surpass the wall 390 feet away in The Ballpark in Arlington's left field power alley.

Zuvella No. 2: Braves third baseman Vinny Castilla is the early frontrunner for most disappointing offseason signing. Sure, it made sense for Atlanta to take a shot at a 34-year-old slugger who hit 25 homers last year (playing for the Devil Rays and then the Astros.) But if ever there were an enormous flashing neon BUYER BEWARE sign for Braves GM John Schuerholz to notice, it was the one floating above Castilla's head. Not only have Castilla's best seasons come in suspicious parks (Coors Field and the former Enron), but they've also occurred when he was surrounded by great hitters. In Atlanta, Castilla bats behind Gary Sheffield and in front of, uh, nobody. Translation: No meaty fastballs for Vinny. Maybe things will change, but his bat's looked awfully slow.

Zuvella No. 3: Tony Muser has found a way. Last spring training, a recently ex-Royal went on and on and on about the inability of Kansas City's manager to relate to the younger generation. "If a guy has an earring, forget about it," the player told me. "Tony has no understanding of the modern player and what makes him tick." Such may still be true, but Muser has made a newfound effort, going out of his way to chat up his troops and find humor in an oft-humorless game.

Zuvella No. 4: Montreal's Carl Pavano is on the brink. I was warned by a scout this spring, who told me, "If this guy stays reasonably healthy, he has the chance to be a legitimate winner." Even though the right-hander was far from brilliant, Pavano looked like a strong No. 3 starter in the Expos' 9-7 win over the Marlins on Wednesday, mixing his three pitches and holding the Fish to three runs in 6 1/3 innings of nice work.

Zuvella No. 5: A half-dozen Baltimore regulars (Chris Singleton, Jerry Hairston, David Segui, Jeff Conine, Geronimo Gil and Mike Bordick) are batting below .250 -- and three of those six are hitting under .200. While it certainly won't hold up, it makes the new Orioles look remarkably like the old Orioles. Where's Lenn Sakata when we need him?

My Top 5 List of the Week

Five Reasons to Hate Kevin Costner

1. Even though he's 47 years old and has no skills (but thinks he's good), Costner has played in a major-league exhibition game each of the last five years and was also responsible for For Love of the Game ...

2. And Message in a Bottle

3. And The Postman

4. And Waterworld

5. And The Bodyguard

For those of you doing the math at home, Bull Durham was released 14 years ago.

Sports Illustrated senior writer Jeff Pearlman covers the baseball beat for the magazine. His Pearls of Wisdom appear every Friday on CNNSI.com. Jeff will answer your inquiries in future editions of Pearls. Click here to send him a question or comment.

 

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