And Now a Few Words About Our Announcers

Radio and TV baseball announcers seem to have discovered a word that they are overusing and abusing. Every hitter or pitcher not on a good streak is constantly described as “struggling” or “struggling a bit” or “really struggling.” Please, can’t any of you give us some fresh vocabulary--slumping, straining, laboring, having problems, in difficulty, in distress, troubled, pressing, tusseling or many other synonyms.

I think Joe Torre and Reggie Jackson hold two world records--11 “struggles” in one inning, 86 “struggles” in a nine-inning game.

SHEL KAPLAN

Rolling Hills Estates