Mike Krukow

Last night a wrote most of a blog post about the San Francisco Giants’ 7-4 win over the Philadelphia Phillies. It was a fun game, wasn’t it? I loved the way the two teams traded one-run leads for a while. I was nervous when the Phillies pulled ahead. Finally,  in the sixth inning, Hunter Pence got on base, stole second, and waited for someone to come along and send him home.  That someone was Adam Duvall, the rookie called up from Fresno to fill in at first base while Brandon Belt heals from his concussion.  He made a shot well past the center field fence to give the Giants a solid lead.  Pitcher George Kontos, who also came up from Fresno, stepped in to relieve Ryan Vogelsong. He pitched two scoreless innings allowing one hit and striking out three.  The guys from Fresno really saved us. 

I was going to post the story this morning.  But a quick check of what was happening in baseball land this morning, I learned that Mike Kruko has been living with a degenerative muscle disease called inclusion-body myositis. That was a blow.  Mike Kruko is a 6-5, 20- pound pitcher with a 14-year career in his past. He played for Chicago, Philadelphia, and San Francisco. He won 124 games – 20 of them in 1986. 

Now he does the color for the CSN-Bay Area, working with his former teammate and friend, Duane Kuiper.  The two of them make a really good team.  Watching the two of them call a game is fun and informative.

Kruk, who was known as the “The Polish Prince” in his playing days, has taught me more about pitching than anyone.  While I an only imaging what it must feel to worry about falling, rely on a cane and an electric scooter.  He is only a year older than me. Lucky for the us, his IBM is not fatal, and he plans to stick around the broadcast booth until he is 80.  Lucky us.

There are a lot of us here in television and who watch a lot of TV Baseball. Kruk and Kuip, along with Amy G, become our friends, more than the players in some weird way.  I am a life-long baseball fan, Giants and Red Sox.

Last spring (2014) I was diagnosed with Uterine Cancer. No fun there.  The thing that really helped me stay grounded was watching the G-men climb to a large lead in the NL West.  And for a while, they were the best team in baseball.  Kruk and Kuip made that really fun.  I believe that the winning Giants infused me with some lovely winning joy.  It was healing.  It was fun. The biggest lesson in baseball is Kruk and Kuip carry the message.

C.W. Nevius broke in The San Francisco Chronicle this morning, but Kruk has been dealing with his “condition” for a number of years. He worries that he will lose his ability to play golf and music. Apparently he can play any stringed instrument out there.

But the real reason for this post is to say thanks to Kruk, who will never see this. When your days are hard, remember that there are many many of us out there who for one reason or another, cannot make it to the yard. You and Kuip bring us to the game every time. We see the game. We see the dugout. We see the food and the gamer babes. We see kids and a lot of the color of the game experience at ATT Park.

Some of us are just to far away. Some are sick; some are tired. Some are at work.  There are more people watching on television than in the park.  And you guys bring us the game.

Certainly you have a great family and a huge set of friends.  This is such a blessing, especially when you are having problems.  I know your problems with IBM are not going to go away. You said you will be here until you are 80. Please remember that the viewers aren’t going anywhere either.  When you bring baseball to the people of the bay area and the rest of the world, you set yourself up for all kinds of unconditional love.  For how you have enhanced my life, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Sincerely,

Fanne Fernow

GirlsLoveBaseball