A new campaign

As of today, I'm starting a campaign.

In this PC world, it is about time we get some PC that the populus can get behind.

With that, I introduce my new campaign, a PC rally cry I'm sure you you can relate to: Play Coste.

Playing primarily as a backup this season, Coste has seen his average dip under .300 over the course of four days. Let that sink in a minute. As a catcher, one of the hardest positions in all of professional sports to play, Chris Coste is hitting at an All-Star clip.

Coste has played in just 40 games this season, but has 37 hits in 120 at bats (.308) with 6 home runs and 17 at bats. With an on-base percentage of .366 and a slugging percentage of .533, his OPS is sitting right at .900. Very very good.

In the last 10 games he has 6 hits in 32 at bats, which isn't exactly off the charts and has watched his batting average fall from .341 to its current possition. It also appeared as though he started eight of nine straight games, a significantly heavy load.

If he was given a little more consistent playing schedule, Coste has proven he can hit at the major-league level. Against lefties this season he is hitting at a .344 clip, and is hitting .333 at home this season.

He has proven he can play. Now all he needs is a consistent schedule. If there is a GM in the majors that needs a batterymate that can rake on a day-in, day-out level with a break every fourth or fifth day (which is doesn't seem too out of the ordinary to me), trade for Coste. If you are a GM in the American League, plug him in as a DH and let him bat second. He'll get on base, he'll move guys along. He is the piece to the puzzle you need.

Chris Coste Book Signing

If you enjoy reading a book about athletes, I highly suggest picking up The 33-Year-Old Rookie, a book spun from the experiences of Philadelphia Phillies catcher Chris Coste. It is probably going to cost you 20 or 25 bucks, but if you are from North Dakota and you dig on baseball at all, this book should be on your shelf.

I'm a huge fan of Coste. His break into the majors and my start in sports journalism kind of happened at the same time. I remember hearing about him going to the Phillies spring training and absolutely tearing it up, and I remember being completely shocked when he didn't make the 25-man roster that spring. But, as the book will demonstrate, it isn't the first time Coste has had to remember patience, it isn't the first time he's been told he was too old and too slow, and it isn't the first time Coste had to deal with failure.

I think that is what draws me to the game of baseball. The game is built on failure and the players' ability to overcome that constant failure. In a way, the game is very much like life. You go out there every day (well, 182 regular season games, plus spring training, plus the postseason) and you see what you can do. If you have an average day (we'll say 1-for-4) it is just that, an average day. But some days, you are unstoppable (we'll say 2-for-3 with a two-run homer, a walk and 3 RBI). Eventually you are going to have to wear the collar of an 0-for-4 or 0-for-5 day and you are going to strikeout. But tomorrow you are going to go right back out and take a hack.

And that is what Coste has done with his career. In it he talks about some of his early baseball memories, his high school, college, minor league and major league career. It is funny, sad, everything in between.

If you are in Fargo on July 15 (and Coste isn't named to the National League All-Star team I'm assuming), swing by Barnes and Noble. Coste will be there selling and autographing his book, starting at 7 p.m.

In a time where some professional athletes that aren't truthful, aren't approachable, aren't anything you want your kid to grow up and be, what Coste is can be what saves professional sports long-term. Also, if you want to check out his website, click here.