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Craig Calcaterra @craigcalcaterra.bsky.social

In today's newsletter I wrote about how I've been fighting depression lately. Nothing matters anymore and that screws with my need for order and predictability over chaos. Baseball, however, has been helping. www.cupofcoffeenews.com/cup-of-coffe...

All of this has put me in a pretty profound state of depression. Not just sadness or anger at the bleakness I read about in the news every day but actual mental health-level depression. I've been working with my therapist and recently he and I have figured out that it's not really the bad policies, and the outrages per se which have led me to this depressed state. It's that I often get distracted when I'm in ballparks. There's so much going on. There are so many people and so many novel things to look at and listen to and I'm usually with other people so there's a social component to it as well. But this weekend I paid much closer attention to the games at hand than I usually do when I'm watching in person. I chatted with Allison and our friends, of course – and, as noted up above, I engaged in some tomfoolery to get on the Jumbotron – but I also forced myself to think like an analyst or like I was actively playing the game unfolding before me as if I was running a season of
jun 30, 2025, 5:09 pm • 93 6

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Bookerdog @bookerdog.bsky.social

My depression oppressively lasted awhile. No quick fixes, just developing little coping tools. It will change. It will change.

jun 30, 2025, 5:35 pm • 0 0 • view
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Bookerdog @bookerdog.bsky.social

Create your own mantra. If negative mindstates overwhelm your mind, give it something else to do until it's grip loosens. I like may I be happy may I be healthy may I be peaceful may I be safe.. repeat for yourself, benefactors, friends, difficult people, all beings. Sounds hokey but it helps.

jun 30, 2025, 5:32 pm • 0 0 • view
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Bookerdog @bookerdog.bsky.social

Baseball can create moments of joy.. joy, compassion, loving kindness, generosity, are all positive mind states. When you find something that evokes those states, they are like antidotes, even a moment countd.

jun 30, 2025, 5:25 pm • 1 0 • view
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Bookerdog @bookerdog.bsky.social

Some things that helped me though several years of depression. Cultivate even the smallest of positive mind states. I started feeding some wild (and neutered) cats.. even a moment of small acts of kindness/generosity helps. 2nd. Don't believe everything you think..remind yourself of that...

jun 30, 2025, 5:22 pm • 1 0 • view
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Christian Sporleder @casporleder.bsky.social

I’m almost embarrassed at how big a role baseball at various levels has played in my life the past 15 ish years. Maybe some similar aspects

jun 30, 2025, 5:19 pm • 1 0 • view
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Charlie Helps FRSA @helpscharlie.bsky.social

Thought you too might find this interesting and maybe useful, too. sgapp.sng.link/Acxyc/i3fj/r...

jun 30, 2025, 6:42 pm • 1 0 • view
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Jane BIVL @janebivl.bsky.social

I’m sorry you’re encountering this and so grateful your writing about it. It’s a real thing, this loss of faith in the order of the world we thought we knew. I’m glad we all have baseball.

jun 30, 2025, 9:07 pm • 1 0 • view
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Mary Shea @baseballmary.bsky.social

This was amazing to read, but so sorry for what you’re going through and just hope for better. It really helps those of us who are right there with you, and I didn’t realize the orderliness of baseball was one of its aspects that could be helpful right now. Thank you for all you do, wishing you well

jun 30, 2025, 5:31 pm • 2 0 • view
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Bud Foxx 🇨🇦🇲🇽🇺🇦👍✊🍉 𓅫 @profcstark.bsky.social

Thanks for sharing this - depression ain't easy and writing about it ain't any easier. Baseball is strange. Cedric Mullins hit a game winner against the Yankees last year which led to me to question things in my life and make some changes. He'll never know, but I'll always appreciate him for that.

jun 30, 2025, 6:06 pm • 1 0 • view
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Demeralda @demeralda.bsky.social

This was my first year of an MLB subscription because you are right, it helps. And Detroit announcing with Jason Benetti is so filled with awe and joy. They find beauty in small moments and I am completely drawn in.

jun 30, 2025, 5:15 pm • 3 0 • view
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lisas01.bsky.social @lisas01.bsky.social

same, baseball helps

jun 30, 2025, 5:14 pm • 2 0 • view
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ftw4ever.bsky.social @ftw4ever.bsky.social

For gods sakes don’t follow the cubs !!

jul 1, 2025, 1:01 am • 0 0 • view
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Andrea @adfrts.bsky.social

My childhood was filled with unpredictability, and baseball was and continues to this day to be a respite from all my anxieties in the same way you describe for yourself. I’m starting to get into watching tennis, oddly enough, for the same reasons.

jun 30, 2025, 5:30 pm • 2 0 • view
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CarlPorterRoberts @carlporterroberts.bsky.social

That's the way to do it, Craig. Nice piece of writing and I relate. I've loved the game my entire life and still do some of the things you write about: predict the next pitch; do some Russ Hodges/Lon Simmons commentary (diehard Giants fan). I concentrate on the game, as you describe. Keep goin'.

jun 30, 2025, 5:38 pm • 2 0 • view
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Beth Spaulding @bethsp.bsky.social

I felt all of this deep in my bones. Thank you for sharing this with us. Play ball!

jun 30, 2025, 5:29 pm • 1 0 • view
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moonlight 🌘 @missmoonlight.bsky.social

I'm so sorry about what you're going through. I'm also glad you have an escape. Its something which is super important to have in the world we are living in.

jun 30, 2025, 10:17 pm • 1 0 • view
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Underachiever @whiskeyblackout.bsky.social

This nails exactly what has been bringing me down. Nothing matters and it seems like almost nobody with any power gives a shit beyond how it helps them personally. At least during the last Trump administration it seemed like a lot of people gave a shit and worked to oppose him.

jun 30, 2025, 5:28 pm • 2 0 • view
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Cristóbal Muñoz @cristobalm.bsky.social

That got rather heavy…

jun 30, 2025, 5:20 pm • 0 0 • view
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Craig Calcaterra @craigcalcaterra.bsky.social

Heavy times

jun 30, 2025, 5:29 pm • 4 0 • view
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Laurel Krahn @windowseat.bsky.social

I joke every so often that I really shouldn't tie my mental health to how the Twins baseball team is doing but the reality is sometimes baseball helps get me through depression, whether in the way you mention or just with silly distracting nonsense like a team having a lucky summer sausage.

jun 30, 2025, 10:27 pm • 9 0 • view
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Norm Charlatan @normcharlatan.bsky.social

[stares in Mariner]

jun 30, 2025, 10:28 pm • 5 0 • view
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Laurel Krahn @windowseat.bsky.social

It's dangerous. (Some years with the Twins were bleak.)

jun 30, 2025, 10:31 pm • 1 0 • view
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Laurel Krahn @windowseat.bsky.social

Byron Buxton playing well also helps.

jun 30, 2025, 10:27 pm • 1 0 • view
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Don Wallick @dwallick.bsky.social

Went to Progressive Field yesterday to watch my Guardians. Of course my team is not playing well, but it was a joy to bask in the sunshine and watch a game that makes sense to me. Sounds like you had a similar experience in Detroit. Perhaps baseball can be our therapy while the country goes to shit

jun 30, 2025, 7:38 pm • 2 0 • view
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Stagger McTipsy, AKA Captain Awesome Motherfucker @staggermctipsy.bsky.social

Isn't it amazing that baseball is the one sport a person can attend as a fan and not really give a shit about the outcome?

jun 30, 2025, 10:40 pm • 1 0 • view
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Don Wallick @dwallick.bsky.social

Well I *did* care that my guardians stunk up the joint, but any day with a baseball game is better than one without!

jun 30, 2025, 11:43 pm • 0 0 • view
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Stagger McTipsy, AKA Captain Awesome Motherfucker @staggermctipsy.bsky.social

That's what I'm saying. Until it's time for playoffs, win or lose you can just say "Eh, at least it was a nice day to be outside.'

jul 1, 2025, 12:41 am • 0 0 • view