Former Demons keep an eye on the current ones.
Especially when current players are measuring up to the all-time greats.
That's happening now in baseball as some veterans are making big dents in the record book. Senior pitcher Jimmy Heard has become the Demons' all-time workhorse, topping David Balcer's innings-pitched career record. Heard has also tied Balcer's career strikeouts mark and will likely break it Friday night in his final homefield start.
Balcer is one of my all-time favorite Demons, in any sport, as much for his wit and his understated passion for competition as for his performance. He earned the nickname "The Bulldog" which ordinarily might not be a compliment for a Demon, except that it reflected his tenacity and toughness, and it also was the nickname of the major league pitcher whose style Balcer brought to mind. That would be Orel Hershisher, now an ESPN commentator, formerly an All-Star for the Dodgers who holds the MLB record for consecutive scoreless innings (59+).
Balcer checked in via e-mail early Monday morning:
"Well, some records are meant to be broken, I guess. Please be sure to wish Jimmy Heard congratulations for me and best of luck to him and the Demons in the conference tournament in the upcoming weeks."
That's class.
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