From Mayor Bill Finch:
At a press conference held at the Ballpark at Harbor Yard this afternoon, Mayor Bill Finch proclaimed Oct. 9 as “Adam Greenberg Day” in the City of Bridgeport in honor of the former Bridgeport Bluefish player’s inspirational comeback to Major League Baseball.
After seven years, 674 games in the minors, most for the Bridgeport Bluefish, Greenberg returned to the big leagues for the first time since 2005, when his Major League debut consisted of one pitch–an errant fastball that hit him in the head. The incident derailed Greenberg’s promising career. For seven years, Greenberg was one of only two players to be hit by a pitch in his lone big league appearance.
Last week, Greenberg signed a one-day contract with the Miami Marlins to get an opportunity to have his first official at bat in Major League Baseball. On Tuesday, October 2 in Marlins Field, Greenberg stepped into the batter’s box and faced New York Mets pitcher R.A. Dickey. The former member of the Bridgeport Bluefish went down swinging and recorded his first big league at bat.
“Adam Greenberg’s story of perseverance and determination serves an inspiration to anyone chasing their dreams. He never gave up on himself, or his dream, despite the tragic circumstances that changed his life in an instant,” said Mayor Bill Finch. “Last week, Adam proudly represented Bridgeport on the national stage, going down swinging against one of the best. Thank you to the Bluefish organization for bringing Adam back to Bridgeport today, a city with a proud baseball heritage.”
Adam was struck out, by the most likely Cy Young winner and knuckleballer, R. A. Dickey. It’s ironic he accepted this honor from a knucklehead and screwball.
Isn’t it wonderful Mayor Finch can celebrate Adam Greenberg’s “story of determination and perseverance”? It is a similar fire in the belly that keeps many of us pursuing our own dreams of helping the people of Bridgeport move up to the “big leagues.” But Mayor Finch cannot understand how his willingness to appear in often gratuitous ‘feel-good events’ while ignoring the sharing of difficult details of running the largest City in the State provides energy to “City watchdogs.” Unfortunately he keeps his own City Council unaware of the fiscal chaos over which he presides by the small amount of current data available to them and the inadequate practices of fiscal analysis they bring to the task. He takes notes about possible improvements but then fails to implement. He does keep smiling or turns his back when you have an alternative opinion. Can he keep that look on his face when there is nothing in the till and the bills finally comes due? Time will tell.
*** Hate to rain on this young man’s parade but this is just another city hall P/R move for the Mayor, no? However, I was glad to see this kid get his at-bat in the Majors! *** DREAMS CAN COME TRUE! ***