January 2009
Leave it to a Cardinal fan
Day 27
If you read yesterday’s post you could tell it was a challenging day(s) and I wrote a lyric from Hank Williams Sr.
Kathy over at Redbird Chatter didn’t recognize the lyric and thought she had heard every Hank William’s song growing up. She then realized she was behind on Baseball Across America when she saw I date every post at the top. After getting caught up she offered a space in Oklahoma if I should need a rest.
Leave it to a Cardinal fan in Oklahoma to make me smile and say a big, “Thank You.”
She inspired me to explain more of myself and personally it’s a side of me I consider one of the biggest- my love of music. If you have ever seen Shawshank Redemption and Andy Dufrain is sitting in the wardens office blaring opera and knowing he’s going to solitary confinement, but he doesn’t care because he loves music so much. That’s me.
I love music more than I could ever explain. My parents had a huge record collection when I was growing up and I could literally change a record before I could tie my shoes. My parents would have friends over and they would always remark how cute it was their son could put a record on and he was so little.
They listened to everything and I grew up appreciating so many types of music including Hank Williams Sr. As I got older, I began to appreciate him even more as obviously I “grew into” the music and could understand it so much more.
The lyric you did not recognize Kathy, was indeed Hank Williams Sr. but it was his alter ego Luke the Drifter. Williams had struggled with alchohol and “honky tonkin” in his years as a musician but he always sought the comfort of prayer and the Lord. His alter ego Luke the Drifter was inspired by his need or want to sing songs of a preaching type nature as he travelled across the country and they’re some great songs.
The first song I had ever heard was “I dreamed of mama last night.” Musicians such as Johnny Cash covered it later but it was always the best sung by Hank.
My father had lost his mother at the age of eight in Brooklyn, when she tragically fell off the stoop hanging laundry. Growing up I would find him listening to this song and I could see a deep sorrow.
As i got older, and understood what indeed my mother went through raising her boys, I could understand. I would come in late and never got angry or upset if she would call out. I thanked Hank for putting it in the words he did.
(I’ve just been to heaven with someone so true I dreamed about mama last night
She read me the Bible like she used to do I dreamed about mama last night)
She never closed her eyes and sleep till we were all in bed
And on party nights till we came home she often sat and read
We little thought about it then for we were young and gay
Just how much mama worried when we children were away
We only knew she never slept then when we were out at night
That she waited just to know that we’d all come home all right
Why sometimes when we’d stay away until one or two or three
It seemed to us that mama heard the turning of the key
For always when we’d step aside she’d call and we’d reply
But we were all too young back then to understand the reason why
Until the last one had returned she’d always keep a light
For mama couldn’t sleep until she kissed us all goodnight
She had to know that we were safe before she went to rest
For she seemed to fear the world might harm the ones she loved the best
And once she told me when you’re grown to women and to men
Perhaps I’ll sleep the whole night through I may be different then
And so it seemed that night and day we knew a mother’s care
That always when we got back home we’d find her waitin’ there
Then came the night that we were called together round her bed
The children’re all with you now the kindly doctor said
And in her eyes there gleamed again that old time tender light
That told that she’s just been waitin’ to know that we were all right
She smiled that old familiar smile and prayed to God to keep
Her children safe from harm throughout the years and then she went to sleep
(My dream is a treasure that I’ll always keep I dreamed about mama last night)
So as I travel across America, music will be my best friend. I have over one thousand cd’s and they won’t come along in hard copy, but I love Apple for inventing the Ipod because so much of that music will be with me. From rock to rap to big band and blue grass folk, the Taurus will be as diverse in it’s music as this country is in people.
So even though Hank died at the age of 29, in the back of his Cadillac on the way to his next show, he’ll be sitting right next to me waiting to tell me everything’s ok.
I could talk about music for days but I’d be more than happy to make it a regular post if people would like to pick my brain on what’s the current hit inside the Taurus. And when I say I listen to everything I mean almost everything and there are some exceptions like Polka. Nothing against it in a barn dance or the like, but I never found it on any regular rotation in my listening ever!
You would find groups like the Beatles, Eddie Vedder, Willie Nelson, Jay-Z, Korn, Bob Seger, Bruce Springsteen, Tool, Garth Brooks, John Denver, Kings of Leon, Jimmy Buffet, Johnny Cash, Metallica, Chimaira, Pantera, Ozzy, Prince, Radiohead, Sam Cooke, Snoop, Rolling Stones and the list goes on…Trust me it really goes on and on. : )
Thanks again Kathy.
Life just ain’t fair sometimes Rod
Day 26
I heard it was Rod Blagojevich day on television. The infamous Governor of Illinois wants to make his case to the nation on national television programs and not show up for his impeachment hearing because it isn’t fair.
On one hand, I’ll give it to the guy. Remember when Clemens was on the hot seat for roids and everyone kept saying, “If I was innocent I would tell everyone in the world who would listen.” Well, maybe Rod has a point and it’s not fair what’s happening to him and he’s letting it be known. Point taken Rod. But life just isn’t fair sometimes.
Rockies pitcher Franklin Morales was supposed to have a stellar year last season after a short but very impressive end of the season showing in ’07. One problem though, he was terrible. He didn’t just get sent to the minors, they sent him to instructional league with no competition because they felt his head was not in the game and mentally he was fragile.
Ooops. Morales not too long ago revealed to the Rockies uppers he was having lower back pain and lost speed on his fastball and was using his changeups too much and getting lit up because of it. He spent the whole season in Triple A ball and had success, but some people thought it wasn’t fair he had to spend the whole season down there. Everyone agrees he should have spoken up. But life is just not fair sometimes.
Christmas eve I was pulled over for “not signaling long enough” when I made my lane change. I took it in stride and was ticketed for “not signing my registration.” Ok, I was nice and thanked the officer and put the ticket away to pay it after Christmas. Well, that time came and went and when I pulled the ticket out last week to pay it, I saw I had missed my date. So thinking it was only a $25 fine I called the municipal court to see the ramifications. Whoops, I now had a warrant out for my arrest because I had not paid my $25 fine in the 18 days I was given. Johnny Law was making a point.
So the whole weekend I got to think I could be arrested at any moment because of a ridiculous fine the equivalent of jay-walking. Clearly life was not being fair.
But being the citizen I always hope to be, I went in zero-degree weather to talk to the court today and find out how to make things right. No problem they say. Great, so here’s that $25 I owe you and sorry about being a few days late, right? Nope. You now owe us $75 for administrative costs.
Isn’t that like when a bookie lets you know the “juice” is running on your debt and you are
going to pay more the later you are? Fine here’s the extra $50 I hope it builds a nice sidewalk somewhere or pays for a $3,000 toilet for the Mayor.
Life was clearly not being fair.
Moving has been anything but nice and it’s been one disaster after another when plans fall apart right before my eyes. My determination to be homeless does not waver though. Friends fall through and timelines come up short and finally today as I am taking some boxes of personal papers and my music collection to my mothers about an hour away, I notice I am in the middle of a white out. Great, can’t see the road and I still have more things to drop off.
Forecast for single digit weather and some inches of snow. Great, lifting heavy boxes is even funner in slippery snow! Whohoo.
And now I have to go back out and run more errands in the sub freezing temperatures knowing I have until Sunday to be out of here with the place spot on clean and tidy. Hhhmm. So I must cut this short and if you’d like an insight into my personality, I am reminded of a great old Hank Williams Sr. song and the lyrics, “The hogs took to cholera and the hens don’t lay, BUT we’re still alivin so everything’s ok.”
Sometimes life just ain’t fair!
Timeout at the plate #6
Day 23
When you think of Miami-Florida, you may think of hot sandy beaches and beautiful weather. Closing your eyes you can see all the beautiful people and bright sunshine. Luxury hotels lining the beaches and maybe even a certain CSI team racing around in Hummers fighting crime.
If you think sports teams, probably the Miami Dolphins or Miami Heat come to mind and maybe even Dan Marino or Dwyane Wade.
After this Timeout, you may think of Miami a little differently and remember another person looking to make a name for herself becoming a writing professional with none other than the Boston Red Sox or one of a few major newspapers someday. She’s a Red Sox fan in an outpost of Sox fandom holding the faith and flying the colors in South Florida.
This gal’s name is Elizabeth Dreeson and she’s a 15-year-old sophomore and blogging
extraordinaire writing The Future Blog of The Red Sox. Elizabeth has her heart set on first, getting an internship and secondly someday writing for the Miami Herald or Boston Globe.
Get your autographs while you can if you make Florida for Spring Training, because before long you may have to have your people call her people just to meet this one.
Your header reads “The Future Blog of theRedSox”. If John Henry wrote you tomorrow and asked what would the future blog of the Red Sox look like, what would you say?
First of all, if John Henry wrote me tomorrow, I might die of shock. Once I recover, I would tell him that ‘The Future Blog of the Red Sox’ would be sort of like the Red Sox Insider Blog– bringing people the latest news on the happenings in the front office and the players, etc. However, since it’s a blog, I would be offering my [professional] analysis and opinions on everything. Then once the regular season starts, it would be bringing fans game reports, as well as analyses on the good parts, the bad parts, and what could have been done better. Pretty much a mix of a ‘beat writer’, and insider, and a blogger.
It’s has to be tough being a Red Sox fan in South Florida. What’s the toughest part?
The toughest part about being a Red Sox fan is South Florida is probably all the Red Sox haters. My school is full of them! Everyday I’m constantly defending the Red Sox! Some of their favorite arguments include the 26 World Series won by the Yankees, the Red Sox’s 86 year drought without one, Bucky Dent, Bill Buckner, Aaron Boone, and how my former favorite player, Johnny Demon, betrayed Red Sox Nation and went to the Yankees. Anyway, that’s probably the hardest part (even though sometimes it can be amusing).
I’ve always loved to write, ever since I was little. I would write really lame, generic poetry or really convoluted short stories, but I always loved writing. Then, I finally understood the dynamics of baseball when I was around ten, and I fell in love with the sport. I also happen to be quite the opinionated person as well, so I would always be talking about it, and when people finally begged me to shut up about it, those feelings kind of just got stuck there inside of me. I needed an outlet, and that outlet was writing. I know that for me to be truly happy, that my job needs to be associated with baseball.
It’s kind of been a gradual realization though, I don’t think there was one moment where a light bulb turned on above my head and I thought ‘this is what I want to do’ (although that would be a great story). I want to bring my love for baseball to people who want to listen, who want to read, so I think combining two great passions of mine: writing and baseball, would be the best way to do that.
Do you leave the door open for your heart to follow something else outside of journalism or writing in general?
I think I definitely would keep my mind open to other occupations. I used to want to be an astronaut (until I saw Apollo 13), then a teacher, then a lawyer, then a psychologist, but I have never felt so strongly about writing about baseball. Then again, I wouldn’t mind being a play-by-play person for the Red Sox. I swear they have a microphone wired to my house because they always mention the points I talk about as soon as I finish speaking (yes.. to the television). I think I could also be one of those baseball analysts on the MLB Network, the thing is, I’d want to be at the front desk with all the action, all the time, not on the side interviewing Tom Verducci everyday. I think my calling is definitely something with baseball though.
What do you think is the greatest thing you have learned in blogging on MLBlogs?
With this entire ‘MLBlogosphere’, I’ve definitely learned a lot. Everyone is always so kind to help me out with writing tips, or ideas for my research paper, etc. One of the biggest things I’ve learned though, is that I can co-exist with fans of opposing teams. Sure, I still hate the Yankees, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t nice Yankee fans out there who don’t automatically go to the ‘So how many World Series have the Yankees won?’. The biggest thing I learned is how to civilly incorporate my opinion into my blog. I’ve learned to actually listen to other’s opinions, and how to have an easy going debate with them about the greatest sport in the world.
Recently you blogged on the first autograph you ever got. You referenced myself (thank you) as being an inspiration for that article. What would you say is your biggest inspiration day in and day out, something maybe you reference more than anything else?
Honestly, the thing I reference more than anything else is baseball. The question is, how I got to referencing baseball more than anything. My father is the person to thank for that one. He taught me how to play, but more importantly, he taught me the game. It’s something I can talk about with him for hours, it’s something that connects us. He has told me before: “The greatest gift I’ve ever given you is baseball,”. How true is that?
In high school it’s not unheard of for a smart gal like yourself to have a crush on a hunky young man or vice versa. Would you feel any different if he came to your house to take you to a movie in a Yankee cap?
First of all, the person probably has to be a baseball fan for me to really like him in the first place, or else, he’d get tired of me pretty fast. Anyway, there seems to be a lack of male Red Sox fans in the greater Miami area, so it’s probably more likely that he would come in a Yankee cap anyway. In fact, someone would probably wear a Yankee cap just to spite me. It would definitely be a different experience than going out with a Red Sox fan, but then again, the conversations (maybe arguments is a better word) would be vivid, and I would never be able to know what would happen next. It would be hard work, but I’d probably be willing to try it.
Finally, from everything you have learned about the Boston Red Sox, if you had a time machine what single moment or game would you like to be able to see for your own eyes and report on and why?
The Red Sox are so full of history, it’s so hard to chose one single game or moment to go back to. But being at Game 6 of the 1975 World Series sounds like it would be something out of this world. A tied game in the bottom of the twelfth inning, and Carlton Fisk comes to the plate. I would love to be there with the ‘Fenway Faithful’ willing that ball to stay fair, seeing Fisk willing that ball to stay fair, and then jumping for joy as the ball hits the left field foul ball pole, and the Red Sox win! It would be such an incredible game to write about, and it would be hard to convey emotions after that game. I would just love to write about the look on Fisk’s face, but most importantly, I would want to interview Fisk!
And voila, number 6 in the hole. Thanks for coming along to take the trip to South Florida to find out more about Elizabeth. Maybe I could make shirts that say, “I went to Miami and all I got was this crappy Timeout at the plate shirt!” There’s more interesting people and blogs to touch on so keep coming back for more and I’ll make sure to keep the questions coming.
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MLBlog’s first ever support group gathering
Day 22
As you know we are gathered here for one of our fellow bloggers Kaybee to help her through the tremendous loss of Trevor Hoffman.
Today as we are gathered around in this circle we are each going to express some type of loss in our sports history and relay that to you Kaybee. It’s ok to use feeling words like “scared, angry, betrayed, Scott Boras sucks, or alone,” in your descriptions and to help poor Kaybee through this rough time.
I will start first today and then we can go around the circle and hear from each of you gathered. Thank you all for coming. Please put on your name tags.
My name is Tom and Kaybee I’d like to talk about one of the first losses I suffered. He’s a little before your time but he was a character and I was dissapointed when he was traded from the Mets. His name was Lenny Dykstra. Lenny D used to spit so much chew in the outfield he would kill the grass. I believe other players used to call it the tar-pit. Opposing teams would be angry and disgusted at the tar pit and no one player would stand near it or hate to run through it if they could avoid it. He helped the magical Mets win the series in ’86 and I loved that guy.
Then it happened. In 1989 he was traded to division rivals Philadelphia Phillies. I couldn’t believe this guy was in center field wearing anything other than a Mets jersey. I instantly disliked him at first. Didn’t watch a game he was playing and soon I heard he was leaving the tar-pit in Philly’s center field too so I laughed. Eventually I got over it, but for so long everytime I would see him in center, I would still see that crazy Met. sniffle sniffle. Recently I heard he was being investigated for being a stock scammer. Silly Lenny still up to his antics. (gently whiping my nose with a hankie)
Excuse me miss. Miss. Yes you reading the book Confessions of a She Fan would you like to go next? Miss..Jane?
Kaybee, it’s so very hard to let go. I know. I’ve been there. And I didn’t just lose a player; I lost a manager when Joe Torre went to the Dodgers after 12 years with the Yankees. Twelve years! I still have a hard time seeing him in that other uniform. But it’s a process.
First, there’s shock (“OMG, he’s really gone!”). Then, there’s anger (“I can’t believe the front office let him leave!”). Then, there’s grief (“I hate life”). But time does heal. And before you know it, a new member of the Padres will win your heart. You’ll see. Take it from me. I’m not saying I love Joe Girardi. I’m just saying I’m giving him a chance to win me over. Here Jane take this box of tissues, it’s alright. Yes, yes of course you can take a bathroom break.
Next, who have we here? You two ladies in the all red attire-this is not Fenway but who would like to go first. Yes, mamm yes I know they are showing the Red Sox on MLB network today but we are here for Kaybee. Please tell us your story Miss Julia.
Millar was an above average player – he played first base (and okay, MAYBE I like Youk a little better there!) but what I really miss is his attitude. His antics. His playfulness! Do you know what he said when the Red Sox were down 3-0 to the Yankees in the 2004 ALCS? (After the game when we lost 19-8 to the Yankees!) He told everyone who would listen -” Don’t let us win tonight. This is a big game. They’ve got to win because if we win, we’ve got Pedro coming back in Game 5 and Schilling in 6, and then you can take that fraud stuff and put it to bed. Don’t let the Sox win this game.” HE CHALLENGED THE YANKEES TO A THROW DOWN when everyone else had written us off. And what happened – we won! And then when does he do before game 6 in New York?? He tries to get all his teammates to take a shot of whiskey before the game! To loosen them up! He always played by his own rules – but you know what? He had the skills to back up his antics. And you all know what happened in 2004 – we WON the World Series! 
It was just a horrible feeling because he really embodied everything I thought of a Red Sox player. It wasn’t just seeing him leave, it was seeing him to go the Yankees. I was in shock, and inconsolable for days. I still miss him a lot, and it hurts when I see him in another uniform, but whenever I see those World Series highlights, and remember that time when I called his grand slam in Game 7 of the 2004 ALCS, I remember all the good times I had watching him. So even though he is on another team now, the complete opposite of the Red Sox nonetheless, I’ve been able to move on, and I know will too. 
Anyway, a season later, I’m on the computer getting ready to surf the Avalanche site, and what do I see? Steven Reinprecht has just been traded too. GAAAAAAHHH!!! WHY?!?! Why must life be so awful?!?! Why does Pierre Lacroix hate me so much?!?! Anyway, I was quite dramatic and then I got tears in my eyes and was like, “no, no, don’t cry, just breathe.” I probably went through all the stages of grief… well, mock-type grief, I don’t know if I could call it real grief because… well, ya know, nobody died, they were traded, so… I guess that’s a bonus. Yeah… I would probably say it was better to be traded than to die. Anyway, if I remember correctly, I think my mom told me, “it is better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all” and I was like, “mom… you just don’t understand.” So, while all loves are different, if you need a shoulder to cry on, I understand.
Hi, my name is Jen. And I’ve lost someone. In 2005, my love, AJ Pierzynski, came from the Giants to the White Sox. I was so happy. Once he got there, a trio was born. AJ, Joe Crede, and Aaron Rowand formed what was known as the Three Stooges in Chicago. They formed
such a close bond with each other…it was almost like they were brothers. Oh I loved watching these three goof around with each other. And they played with such heart. It was so fantastic. Through the postseason, they celebrated with each other almost
immediately. There are a lot of pictures of the three of them together, celebrating their championship. They even got Steve Perry of Journey to come out to the postseason games after adopting “Don’t Stop Believing” as the 2005 postseason anthem! How awesome is that!
Then November 23, 2005 came. THEY TOOK MY AARON! They sent him to Philly with a couple minor leaguers for Jim Thome and some money. THEY TOOK AWAY MY AARON! Oh my God I cried. Could someone please pass me some tissues? Thank you. Aaron was the most amazing center fielder who started his career here, diving in the most ridiculous
directions to catch balls, running into the outfield fence on numerous occasions. And to add to my hurting heart, Aaron is a beautiful man. They took my beautiful hard-nosed center fielder away from me, and my trio became a duo. I need more tissues please. Thank you again.
I didn’t think my hurt could get worse. Oh but it did. On October 30, 2008, my heart broke again. Joe Crede filed for free agency. MY DUO IS NOW ONLY AJ! Joe spent his entire career with the White Sox. That’s eight whole years for my Late-Inning Joe. And now he’s gone because his agent is the devil. He was my Superman, completely laying out to make catches at third. May I have some more tissues? Thank you. He hit home runs when it counted, hence the Late-Inning nickname, his last homer as a White Sox on my birthday when I was at the game. JOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOE!!!!!!!!!!!!! And now he’s gone.
Oh Kaybee, I know your hurt. I’m here for you. I’m here. I will cry with you because I’ve cried before. I miss Aaron, and I’ll miss Joe. I can watch them elsewhere, but it’s not right. They’re not White Sox anymore. The same holds true with your Trevor. I’m here for you with tissues. We’re all here for you with tissues, love, and support.
Well, uhh. Thank you Jen. I hope nobody else has to use tissues as Jen has used up the rest of the box. Oh, well, that’s very nice of you Jen. She has offered the use if anyone has to blow their nose they can use a Cubs rag she carries around for just that duty.
Mamm, yes you with the Padres hat on. Is this helping you as well? Would you like to share? Thank you Miss Hyun Young.
Kaybee, as an exact Padres fan like you, seeing Trevor Hoffman leave San Diego was the worst thing that has happened to me. I am just as upset as you are but it was time to move on.. Still can’t believe it, right? Gosh, the pathetic front office! Anyways, I couldn’t let go of it either. He has been closing for us since 1993. That’s almost 16 years. IT’S A REALLY LONG TIME. He shared laughs, moments, and histories here, in San Diego. Trevor Hoffman is going to the Hall Of Fame, as Padre. Sure he’s in Milwaukee now, but he will be our Padre, all-time saves leader, in our eyes forever. Cheer up! I know it’s still hard for you but let’s look on the bright side. He is going to be great with the Brewers and just picture him in HOF as a Padre!
That’s the spirit Hyun Young!
How about you two gentleman in the back? You have been very quiet would either one of you like to speak? No sir, I do not know what time it is in Canada right now. No I don’t believe it is hammer time or beer-thirty either. How about you speak Mr. Homer?
At the conclusion of the 2005 season the Blue Jays traded Orlando Hudson to the Diamondbacks for Troy Glaus (which later turned into Scott Rolen). ‘The O-Dog’ was one my favorite players because of the intensity, joy and team building traits he brought to the field.
You could tell the guy was a great teammate, always celebrating a win, joking with other players and really getting into the competitive aspects of the game (at least in his interviews it showed that). The Jays lacked hitting in those years, so we picked up Glaus. Nagged by injuries, Troy didn’t perform the way we expected him to. Through this time, I got to watch ‘the O-Dog’ hit close to .300 every year for the D-Backs, and make the ‘highlight reel’ defensive plays at second base always see him do on a consistant basis. Now that Hudson is a free agent, the Jays don’t really have a need for him unless Aaron Hill falters. It was hard to let go of the O-Dog, but you often have to try and give something to get something. It didn’t really work out well for the Jays in this case. I would have rather we kept Hudson and had Aaron Hill compete at his natural position of shortstop. ’Hindsight is always 20-20 however.’
Very precise and I can see you are hurting. Cough Cough..
Ok. You sir in the bright yellow shirt. You seem very festive and in an upbeat mood and the perfect person to finish off our support group today. Mr. Happy is it? What would you like to say to Kaybee?
Jaha and Yohanek (not exactly a law firm) have met several times over the years, with each meeting solidifying a relationship that has gone a bit beyond that of the traditional fan/athlete.
Mr Yohanek,we can hear you just fine but thank you for your exuberance. Please continue..preferably in a softer tone.
Every boy growing up as a baseball fan dreams of making it to the big leagues. The reality is that few will ever reach that plateau. Collecting John Jaha memorabilia is the closest I will ever come to that dream, and that is very special to me. It is truly a wonderful feeling holding something in your hand that was worn in a game by a professional athlete.
Homage was paid to the player (John Jaha) by my Wisconsin license plate…JAHA FAN…this shows everybody that I am a John Jaha fan and proud of it. My devotion to him as a player and as a person is unparalleled.
I’ve met Jaha on numerous occasions. He used to recognize me in a crowd. That recognition means a lot to me and shows that John appreciates his fans and that a little of the devotion I have shown him over the years is being delivered back to me.
One particular meeting between him and I stands out. It was in 1998, Jaha’s last season with the Brewers. It was near the end of the season and he was trying to bounce back from a bad ankle injury. Injuries had plagued him much of that season and it was hindering his confidence. I approached J.J. before a game and asked, “How are you doing Johnny?” His reply was, “I’m fine, but they just don’t want me anymore.” I stood there for a moment speechless, trying to make sense of what was happening. My favorite ballplayer had just told me his team had lost confidence in his playing ability.
I then gave him a pep talk…I told him that he should keep his head up and that he would get back to where he was a few years before.
That was the last time I saw Jaha as a member of the Milwaukee Brewers.
A few weeks later, it became official when the Brewers declined to offer Jaha a contract for the 1999 season and he became a free agent. The Brewers felt his injury problems were too much of a gamble and that it wasn’t worth the risk.
Six months later, the Oakland A’s signed Jaha to a one-year contract.
Jaha went on to have the best season of his career by winning Comeback Player of the Year honors-hitting .276 with 35 home runs (career high) and 111 Runs Batted In.
Jaha got the last laugh…
Moral of the story: Even when you know someone close to you is leaving-support them in their future endeavors and wish them great success. In this case of John Jaha, it was the Milwaukee Brewers who decided they didn’t want him, not Jaha. He wanted to stay in Milwaukee.
Here’s to Trevor Hoffman getting 600 saves in a Brewers uniform!
Cheer him on!
WEll, thank you “Happy” aka Nick Yohanek for that spirited tale of loss and redemption. Very moving.
Thank you all for coming today. No for heavens sake Julia, Jane does not have to be the last person to leave the room because she has on a Yankee cap. Next session we will tackle rivalries and destroying lives when you can’t let go. And no there will be neither Yankee nor Sox gear worn in the room! That concludes the first ever MLBlog’s support group and Kaybee hoping it helped!
If anyone else has a story they would like to share with Kaybee and the “group” please do.
Programming note: Tomorrow will bring another Timeout at the plate where we look to the tropics for some northern baseball love.
J-school quick reminder
Day 21
I don’t have a lot of time today for blogs and such as I have a week and a half to be ready to move out and no fun I tell ya. No fun! But, seeing that Mark set up his J-school tutorial session and I just happened to receive a very poignant email regarding spelling, I thought I would share.
I know, it’s just blogging! No need for spelling or correct grammar and phooey on all you writer types. Nag, nag, nag all you do and it’s “just” a blog. Well, of course I disagree and this third grader will look different on his work when he is older. Yes, it’s a child’s work and no I don’t expect children to be precise and accurate in every word they use and I laughed very hard when I read it. But I thought it was a good point to all adults and young adults how important spelling can be. So enjoy, get a good laugh and make sure to put the extra “s” in horse if you ever write about them!
I like this baseball fan/president
Day 20
I wasn’t one of the estimated two million people standing in freezing temperatures in Washington D.C.today. I was one of the millions though, who were lucky enough to watch on tv our 44th President of the United States be sworn in and all the hoopla surrounding it.
There were many times during the many hours I watched and thought what does this all mean? Where are we in history and what significance does this moment hold in the overall picture?
I wondered if all those people standing on the mall in 1963 watching Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. speak knew what they were seeing or where they just caught up in the moment? Did they know 45 years later that dream would come true in so many ways and this country would be changed forever?
The history of the moment did not pass me by and I began to ask more introspective questions of what it meant to me. Did I realize the importance of this day or was I just caught up in the pomp and circumstance?
I smiled because I love history and I like to think I have a pretty good handle on it. When I don’t, I make it a point to learn something I didn’t. I knew what I watched today was more than just this day and would go on for so many more years.
The hours went by and I watched so many people looking to one individual for the answers and as I listened to reporters relating their experiences with him I felt more at ease. This was a man over a year ago whose biggest worry was not losing himself in the office and forgetting what had kept him grounded all those years.
He had worked his way up from the bottom and earned everything he was given. Community organizer called to him because he wanted to give back to the community which had given to him. He passed up major dollars to make a difference and I took remembrance of that.
This man won’t change everything in the world, but I felt he is the lightning rod to feed the hopes of so many, much like King and Kennedy did during the ’60s.
I thought back to an argumentative debate, one of many, I had with my father. He was going on and on how his generation had changed this country and how “we” (meaning my generation) had it better because of it. I angrily snapped back and told him yes they did start to create change and we did owe them a lot but they got complacent and stopped. I said, “You lost King and Kennedy and then another Kennedy, Malcolm and then you realized the loss and became complacent. You stopped and got your jobs and when the war was over the movement slowed to a snails pace. You had your homes and started families and this country got lazy.”
On and on it went and I explained to him how my generation lost, in that complacency, an example of how to make change in the mean time. My friends went off to war and came back changed just like his. This idea of helping your neighbor got lost as the “yuppies” cared for the I in the ’80s. The dollar was king and having your piece of the American pie was all that mattered.
When I helped run a homeless shelter for almost 5 years, I saw many people coming to volunteer who had this feeling of “having to” and sometimes not “wanting to.” It was almost as if there was this guilt they had so much and felt it would help them to give back. I never had anything but a smile for them because any volunteer was always welcome.
Today, I hoped so many more would “want to” and do something about it. Just like JFK who challenged Americans to not ask what can the country do for you, today Obama made the call to action for what you can do for you country.
Some people will feel overwhelmed like they have nothing to offer. Having worked in the social sector, I can assure you, everyone has something to offer. Many turn away because they have little money to donate. Give an hour or your time. Some will say they don’t have the time. Go through your clothes you have in your closet with a tag and give them to charity. Maybe you don’t have the time or the clothes to donate. Support the person who does with a cup of coffee or a thank-you card letting them know you appreciate their helping. The basic point- do what you can.
I was glad to see our new president and his renewal of that idea. Too many people want to turn away. I commented on Jane’s blog about her not being at Woodstock and how I was able to see one of the musicians who perfomed there many years later. In a small one hundred seat theater I watched this man (Richie Havens) with an accoustic guitar silently continue the message of those years with his music. In his last song he put down his guitar next to the single stool and stood in the single spot light.
On a small wooden stage raising his arms and using only his voice with no mic, he sang the Pink Floyd song On the Turning Away,
“On the turning away From the pale and downtrodden
And the words they say Which we wont understand
Dont accept that whats happening Is just a case of others suffering
Or youll find that youre joining in The turning away…
…No more turning away From the weak and the weary
No more turning away From the coldness inside
Just a world that we all must share Its not enough just to stand and stare
Is it only a dream that therell be No more turning away?
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I was in college when I saw that man sing that song and I remembered how powerful it was and what it meant. Today I felt that same power and can no longer join in the turning away.
I watched as he smiled and I couldn’t help but smile along with Obama. So Mr. Obama if I ever run into you in this lifetime ,I’d like to buy you a beer. In the meantime keep fighting the good fight and hopefully more than a few people take the call to action to heart and start with themselves in being a positive.
Hope starts in the heart- stopping for a moment in time
Day 19
When I initially put the idea out about my hope for Baseball Across America, I wrote there would be people who would like to see me fail. I knew there would be people who would just not understand and rather be part of the solution would choose to be part of the problem.
As I was waiting for Qwest to fix a vandalism problem and get everyone’s internet back on, I heard of some negators. I don’t want to put any more negative out there but I wanted to make a point about hope. I don’t want to say what negative I heard. It was ill-will and uninformed and I felt the need to point out the good. So I wanted to start this post with just some of the places inside and outside of this nation that have helped support me so far and show the good rather than talk about the bad. To the people who have chimed in from all these places, thank you.
Garland-Texas, Chicago-Illinois, Royal Oak-Michigan, Corpus Christi- Texas, Houston-Texas, Burlington-Ontario, Pompano Beach-Florida, Cocoa Beach-Florida, Bradenton-Florida, San Diego-California, Lakewood-Ohio, Philadelphia-Pennsylvania, Lake Orion-Michigan, New Berlin-Wisconsin, Saint Paul-Minnesota, Chula-Vista- California, Sackville-New Brunswick, Santa Clarita- California, Denver-Colorado, Pueblo-Colorado, Acton-Massachusetts, Sterling Heights-Michigan, Elk Grove Village-Illinois, Madison-Wisconsin, Portage-Indiana, Seoul-South Korea, Miami-Florida, Hampton-Virginia, Bernie-Missouri, Gillete-Wyoming and the list goes on.
These are some of the places in this world I’ve gotten support from and they stretch from military bases in far away lands to small towns in the heartland to Canadian brothers and sisters north of the border.
Heading into tomorrow and such a large day in American history, I was reminded hope begins in the heart. Many people will try and crush hope for so many reasons, but if you keep it where it is protected in the deepest parts of your soul then it can’t be defeated.
In 1963 one American inspired millions and had hope in a dream.
In 2008 Americans went to the polls, hoping for a new direction and hoping and electing another man inspired by a dream over 40 years ago.
To believe this man can solve all the world’s woes is foolish. Hoping he can help bring good and inspire others to do more is not.
I know before it’s all said and done there will be more people who will interject their negative opinion into what I believe. I’m not swayed by their negativity. My hope started in my heart and will grow there supported by so many great people and places in this world.
The next time you have an idea and hope, and it is a good thing in this world, let it grow. There will be those there to test you and hope to create more negative. Hope to create more positive instead.
Congratulations Mr. Obama and may you continue to inspire people to do more and be more in their lives. You inspire many people to hope and that is not a bad thing. You will not be perfect nor successful in everything you do in office, but I will believe you will do your best and I’ll do the same in helping make this country and world a little better place to live.
And if anyone needs a lesson in hope just drop by Illinois, not for advice from our new President, but from fans of these guys. They know all about hope!
Got MiLB got many talents- Baseball Honeymoon review
Day 17
“It’s the same people that support them when they stink…those same people come out. Whereas at Yankee Stadium those people who come when the Yankees are winning are like these people who you never see the rest of the year…” “..The Mets are more of a hometown team. Yankees are more of, I don’t know what they are, some kind of monolithic.” Wayne Wilentz- Baseball Honeymoon.
You had me at hello Wayne. Being a Mets fans since I’ve grown up (until the Rockies came to Colorado) and having all my family from New York, anytime I was asked why Mets instead of Yankees I always said what my pop said, “The Mets are the workin mans team.” My father, a self-proclaimed Park-Slope Brooklynite, was my dictionary on baseball and what he said went.
Sixteen minutes into the brand new podcast Baseball Honeymoon I was hooked because I knew it was real baseball fans (dictionaries) behind the mic. Wayne Wilentz and wife Lisa Winston launched their brand new creation on January 12.
Fellow bloggers may recognize the name Lisa Winston because she is the author of GotMiLB and writer of all things Minor League for MLB.com. Husband, Wilentz is an established musician with a gold record to his credit.
Turning on the podcast it wasn’t hard to figure out where the Latin s
tyle smooth jazz was coming from in the opening seconds. The Wayne Wilentz trio created the theme song “Utopia Freeway.”
With a voice you could listen to on any sports station, Wayne welcomed listeners to the new program. Not to be outdone, Lisa in a sexy but perfect radio voice bounced off her husband the intricacies of writing, their history together, being a pregnant beat writer and the appreciation each had for the others’ career during their 25-year marriage.
It was easy to pick up on that fact these two had chemistry and were not just people in a radio booth talking sports.
Unlike many sports podcasts Wayne and Lisa don’t want to be just box scores and between the line analysis. Both advertised taking listeners outside the box score and looking at the people behind the game. Talking baseball and what makes people tick from the players to the managers to the mascots.
The duo didn’t waste time getting into the newest and greatest in baseball after letting listeners know about contests every episode. Fans of the program can win S.W.A.G by correctly answering trivia questions and emailing them in. If you didn’t know what S.W.A.G stands for, listen to the podcast and Wayne actually breaks down what the acronym is. I have to admit, I’ve heard it before but I will be sure to use that bit of knowledge at the earliest available time.
“Bagels and Boxscores” (what they term their updates section of the program) led into the first discussion of whether or not the Yankees spent ridiculous amount of money and would it determine an, “Embarrassment of riches.”
Back and forth the couple went making points on who would be gunning for the Yankees and would the money drive up the pressure this season for the team to win.
It was nice to sit back and listen while two people could have an informed discussion on current events and easily, without the feeling of prompted scripts or unprofessional “uh, uh,” dead space; dead space that leaves you with an unwanted not gonna listen again feeling. There was none of this and the show rolled on.
I can say I did not agree with everything they said, but I did not at any point want to turn the program off.
I did laugh and want to “call in” to this pre-recorded podcast when Wayne made the point that pitchers flourish outside of Colorado after they leave. He was trying to make the argument Brian Fuentes was a good acquisition for the Angels and the money spent would be a good return.
I don’t dislike Fuentes, but since the inception of the humidor at Coors Field that keeps the balls at a constant humidity, pitchers have less of an excuse of why they fail. Fuentes just let it get to him when he left his sinker up and got dinged.
It is true Coors grows the grass a little longer to keep infield balls from rolling like rockets, and elevation does play a roll but I’m not sure Fuentes sinker will necessarily be any more effective in Anaheim. It may have more drop, but I did disagree. I wanted to chime in and tell Wayne to look up the numbers of Josh Fogg with the Rockies and since he’s been gone in Cincinnati. No flourishing there.
The program quickly became a family affair as in between segments the
dynamic duo’s daughter, Dana Jasmine’s music was played. As I write this I’m listening to an accoustic song titled Anyone But You on Jasmine’s myspace. With a raw and young sultry voice this girl is breaking hearts all over the east coast.
Baseball…baseball…
It was great to hear Lisa’s experience come through in her later segment talk of the Tampa Bay Rays,
“With the rays, where you have less experience and more youth. And I know from having been there, their clubhouse chemistry and Maddon from the top down and Hickey and all those guys, I believe part of the reason they did as well as they did was that tremendous, tremendous chemistry they had,” Lisa relayed.
Wayne didn’t waste time expanding on her thought,
“Yeah it was so evident in the postseason I mean even when they were losing they just seemed to have it together…It was just one of things where they were overmatched.”
A nice addition to the program was a fellow musician and Wayne proclaimed baseball guru, Bill Heid. In a smoky barroom like voice, Bill gave a great diatribe on modern day baseball and remembering his days watching games at Forbes Field. Remembering the day when the only artificial sound you heard in the ballpark was the announcer’s voice with a pitching change. Now you hear blaring guitars and rock music between every batter and soon you could hear,
“That foul tip was brought to you by Papa John’s Pizza.”
Papa John’s gets a free plug there because it keeps with what the man said and I like Papa John’s. So if you, Papa, read this and want to sponsor my Taurus in Baseball Across America let me know and I’ll slap a big’ol logo on that puppy.
Baseball…baseball…
The episodes interview came around the halfway point when Lisa talked about meeting with Florida Marlins Senior V.P. of Player Personnel, Dan Jennings.
The first moment of this interview was the only thing I did not like in this entire program because Lisa’s introduction sounded like she wanted to sell me a car or I had just won some sweepstakes. Can’t all be winners I suppose.
Otherwise the interview was great and Jennings provided a good look into Rule 5 drafts. It was informative because I understand little about the Rule 5, but Lisa was able to probe into how the Marlins were able to bring All-Star second baseman Dan Uggla into the organization. Lisa is a self-proclaimed expert on Rule 5, so we’ll see how many future episodes it can take to “school” an unknowing like me in exactly how it works.
As the show rolled on more music interludes from Dana Jasmine and along came the last segment- top fives for both.
Wayne started with his first and next came Lisa in a one by one account of their top five things each would like to see different in baseball. Each week they will have a different top five subject.
Wayne‘s consisted of:
5) Promote the game with younger stars like other sports do.
4) Don’t make the pitcher throw four pitches for an intentional walk.
3) When a ground out scores a run it should be considered a productive at-bat much like a pop-fly.
2) More day games during the week and especially the World Series as an entire generation is missing out because of ad-revenue.
1) Games take too long.
Lisa’s consisted of:
5) The HOF needs a wing for scouts and it is way overdue.
4) Overall realignment in the Minors to allow teams to be closer geographically to the Major’s ballclub to build more geographic unity.
3) Big name, big salary players get together and bring back any rank and file employees of their respective ballclubs who may have been laid off because of the economy. (I like to think I planted this seed in Lisa’s head with my Christmas miracle post I did on Teixeira but I could be wrong).
2) Minor League salaries need to be raised.
1) Any player who plays for an affiliated team in an affiliated league for 10 years must be given a September call up automatically. (Wayne wanted to name it the Crash Davis rule but Wayne may have forgotten Crash had been to the show.)
And there it went an hour of my time I was glad to spend with this couple. It’s easy to download on Itunes if you have it and it’s FREE. With the driving I will be doing this summer I am looking forward to listening to this duo but I will have to delete much of the space on my ipod to make room. That’s unless Wayne and Lisa want to pitch in on a 4G nano ipod (purple) and I can put a little CR on it! We all gotta have dreams. I would be happy to also put a Basbeball Honeymoon decal of some sort on, what may shape up to be a rolling billboard! Gotta think outside the box here folks.
You can catch their latest episode on Monday, January 26. They say it will only get better and I will be listening to find out how.
Timeout at the plate # 5
Day 16
So we have all heard at least one lawyer joke. My favorite, “What do you call 100 lawyers at the bottom of the ocean?” Answer, “A good start!”
Today’s Timeout guest is a blogger with ambitions to become one of those lawyers. Hold the boos for now. You may have caught her blog, with what an old professor of mine would call, a “Ten dollar word” like diatribe in her header.
She resides in California and roots for the Giants when she can, but her heart lies firmly in Chicago where she loves all things White Sox, Polish and especially A.J. Pierzynski (a mix of all she loves).
Jen Jezierski, 22-year old first year law student, authors the blog A Diatribe From a law
Student:Baseball Edition and has a lot to say about baseball, grammar and her love A.J. She pulls no punches when it comes to getting in a shot at the Cubbies expense. Who would expect anything else from a die hard White Sox fan?
Jen has ambitions of getting onto the MLBlogs leader board and took a huge stride by winning MLB Marks contest to identify some leaders.
“Her prize was being the first paragraph of this post and thus billions of people knowing to click on her blog,” said Mark.
Congrats Jen, and looking forward to seeing you up on the board in the next go around.
Please explain the reasoning behind “diatribe” in your header. A ten
dollar word deserves such an explanation.
I complain a lot. About everything. My friends can all attest that I complain more than anyone they know, especially when it comes to sports. I was trying to come up with a name that would catch people’s attention. Because of the English teachers I had when I was in middle
school, I have a huge vocabulary, and I love using big words when I know what they mean. I decided not to use “rant” since Julia’s already using it, so after about two hours, I broke down and went to thesaurus.com and found “diatribe” as a synonym. It should be used more often because it’s a pretty awesome word. Start using it,MLBloggers. You’re automatically a million times smarter now.
You talk in your blog about being a first year law student. What would
you like to do with your law degree when you get it?
I’m going into sports and entertainment law. I decided when I was seven that I wanted to be a lawyer because that’s when my parents split up. Up until high school, I wanted to do family law because of my parents’ lawyers. Then I realized I really wasn’t interested in divorce and child custody and stuff like that because I knew I’d get entirely too emotionally attached.
I was involved in cross country and track during middle school, but I have got to be the worst runner I have ever seen. Honestly, I’m atrocious. Seriously, who runs a 30-minute mile? Me in middle school. It was horrible. I can laugh at it now because I fully admit that I only ran cross country and track to get an award for participating in three sports every year. Sixth grade was when I started cheerleading (which is the only sport I’m any good at and the third sport that got me that award), so I started learning about basketball since I had to cheer for it. When I hit high school, I REALLY started to enjoy sports and continued cheering for football and basketball. When I was a sophomore in 2001, I started watching baseball with my stepdad. It was in high school that I changed which area I wanted to get into.
I didn’t really know what it entailed, and I realized it’s basically being a lawyer and an agent all rolled into one. I know that right away I won’t be the female version of Scott Boras (the “lots of
clients” part, not the “everyone hates me” part), so I’d love to work for the White Sox until I can start my own law firm.
What’s your favorite lawyer joke?
Oddly enough, I love lawyer jokes. I find them hilarious, which confuses some people who think I should be insulted. Same with blonde and Polish jokes, which can be interchangeable since they’re basically about stupid people. People think I’ll be insulted, but I’m not. But I digress; I have four favorite lawyer jokes:
Q: How many lawyers does it take to change a light bulb?
A: Fifty-four. Eight to argue, one to get a continuance, one to object, one to demur, two to research precedents, one to dictate a letter, one to stipulate, five to turn in their time cards, one to depose, one to write interrogatories, two to settle, one to order a secretary to change the bulb, and twenty-eight to bill for professional services.
Q: What do lawyers use for birth control?
A: Their personalities.
Q: What’s the difference between a lawyer and a vulture?
A: Lawyers accumulate frequent flyer points.
Q: Have you heard about the lawyers’ word processor?
A: No matter what font you select, everything comes out in fine print
Being a White Sox fan what’s your favorite Cubbie joke?
This one has made every Cubs fan I’ve told it to really mad and every Sox fan giggle in hysterics:
Q: What do the World Series and a polar bear on birth control have in common?
A: Neither one has Cubs. (Ouch)
I do have to mention this because it made my friends, my dad, and his friends laugh. I was at a bar last Friday with two of my friends, my dad, and two of his friends. Friday night is karaoke night, and one of the singers said he was a Cardinals fan before he sang. Afterwards, the DJ played “Go Cubs Go.” I proceeded to run out of the bar without my jacket into the 8 inches of snow and almost below-zero weather because I hate that song so much.
You wrote one of the best blogs I can ever remember on why you love A.J. Pierzynski. I’m not sure anyone can make an argument that you don’t love him, but if you could spend a day with him what would you like to talk about?
First and foremost, I would want him to clear up all those rumors that everyone seems to believe. Like him kneeing Stan Conte in the groin when he was at Spring Training in 2004, among others. Mainly that one. I’d love for him just to talk about his time in baseball,anything that comes to mind. I love listening to people talk, and since I’m pretty sure I’m one of the biggest AJ Pierzynski fans out there, I’d obviously love to just listen. I’d like to hear his take
on the uncalled third strike from the 2005 ALCS, the punch by Michael Barrett, and the interference call when the Rays were in town this past season.
I’d like to hear about why he decided to get involved with TNA wrestling since that amuses me to no end. Finally, I wanna talk Gators. AJ’s a HUGE Florida Gators fan. I started following the Gators when their football and basketball teams won the National Championships in the same year. That summer I found out AJ was a huge fan, so that just makes being a Gator fan even better! I’d like to meet his wife and kids too. Lisa’s so pretty, and AJ was holding his
daughter Ava while being interviewed during Jermaine Dye’s turn during the 2006 Home Run Derby. She was adorable then when she was almost a year old, so I can only imagine she’s gotten cuter. And I imagine his son Austin is just as cute. I love little kids, and to be able to
play with the kids of my favorite baseball player EVER would be AWESOME.
I REALLY adore AJ.
In that same blog you talk about losing your stepfather (a Giants fan) to kidney cancer at the end of the 2002 Angels-Giants World Series.What do the Giants mean to you today?
I watch the Giants every chance I get. My stepdad was one of those fans that bled orange and black. If the Giants were playing and he wasn’t at work, the game was on in the living room, and if you weren’t watching with him, you probably shouldn’t have been in the room,
interrupting the game. Same with the 49ers during the NFL season. I’m just like that now with sports in general, especially with the White Sox and Bears. His love of the Giants rubbed off on me, and now I watch them any chance I get. Most everyone has a favorite team, but
most people I know don’t have two. They have the favorite and the second favorite. I have two favorites, and luckily for me, they’re in different leagues. If one year, the World Series came down to the White Sox and Giants, I would be in heaven. But I’d prefer it if the Sox won, of course. And it doesn’t hurt that the Giants now have one of my favorites from the 2005 Sox season: Aaron Rowand. I adore that guy!
If you could take the power of the universe and change a moment in baseball history what would it be?
Normally, I don’t answer questions like this since everything happens for a reason. But I’ll make an exception this time. And it didn’t take me long to decide there are two things I would change. The first is the Black Sox scandal. After reading “Then Ozzie Said to Harold”
and crying over Shoeless Joe while on an airplane, I
feel like there’s so much more that team could have done if those players hadn’t been banned. Especially Shoeless Joe. His career is Hall-worthy, and he’ll never be there unless someone steps up and says, “OK let’s
reinstate him.” The second thing I’d change is the winner of the 2002 World Series for my stepdad. My mom and I are positive he held on, despite being in so much excruciating pain, just to see them win, and they didn’t. He never got to see his Giants win the World Series, so
I’d change that for him since he did so much for me in the two years I knew him.
Speaking of history, do you feel like Shoeless Joe admitted his guilt and should be considered for entry back into baseball or that you do the crime you do the time?
After reading “Then Ozzie Said to Harold,” I learned a lot about Shoeless Joe. I learned he was illiterate and very naive. I don’t think he ever admitted anything, really. When that little kid pulled on his sleeve and said, “Say it ain’t so, Joe,” and he said “It’s so,” I think he was admitting that it happened, not that he was involved.If he was involved at all, why did he go 12-for-32 with a .375 batting average, 5-for-12 with runners in scoring position, and 6 RBIs in the Series? His career stats are good enough for the Hall, and it hurts my heart to know that until someone takes him off that list that he’ll never be there. If Bud Selig won’t do it, I sure hope that his successor will do it. (Joe did testify he took money but never took a single play off and was ashamed he took the money.)
For the present and future you say you hope to be someday ranked in the ML blogosphere. What can the new and regular readers to your blog expect to see this season?
My blog is relatively new. I’ve had it for about a month. You can go back and read what I’ve written and see that so much of my personality goes into everything I write. I’m hilarious, I’m uncensored (for the most part since I hate those little asterisks that are put in when I swear), and I flow so well. So expect more of that. I’ll always try to make you laugh. If I’m successful, you’ll even laugh at your own team. Since I bleed White Sox, most of my entries will be about my boys. But I’ll cover other big stories and other teams. I’m pretty sure I’ll be incredibly biased, but that’s how I roll. There might be moments that will truly amaze people when I’m unbiased, but I’m pretty sure those will be rare. I might even ask for your help like I did when I asked about players the Blogosphere thinks I should know about. I love learning, and hopefully I can teach you something too. Mainly, I just want to write since that’s one of my passions. Law, writing, and comedy are the only things I could ever see myself doing.One of these days, I’ll publish a book. About what, I don’t know. But I’ll do it. Writing here gives me a place to improve my writing while writing about one of the most important things in my life.
Lastly, as you continue to chime in on the Sox what can you tell us about your feelings on the squad so far and this upcoming season?
I always hope that they’ll win it all. I’m glad we traded Javier Vazquez and Boone Logan because I felt they were holding us back. Javy will do better in the National League; Boone, I don’t know. He has ups and downs. Maybe he’ll fix whatever wasn’t working for us in
Atlanta. Be prepared to be frustrated with him, Braves fans.
I was surprised we traded Nick Swisher, but I understand the reasoning. I’m interested to see what the Yankees will do with him now that they have Teixeira since Swish is one of the sweetest guys ever. He answers all of his fan emails personally, which is awesome.
I have them saved on Gmail!
I think we’re gonna have a lot of youth on our squad this year. With the departure of Joe Crede, Ken Griffey Jr., Orlando Cabrera, and Toby Hall, we’re gonna have A LOT of young guys out there. Josh Fields had a shaky season at AAA Charlotte and during his September callup due to a knee problem. But he had an amazing rookie season in 2007 when Crede was out with back surgery. I have a feeling he’ll bounce back now that he fixed his knee. There are a few guys who’ll be competing for second base during Spring Training, so we’ll have a young guy at second since Alexei Ramirez is moving to shortstop. And Brian Anderson and Jerry Owens are competing for center field. I think Brian has the better defense, but Jerry can steal the bases. I wish I could combine them into one player! If all of these guys can have a season as half as good as Alexei’s rookie season last year, I think we’ll be in good shape.
Hopefully they’ll give us what we’re looking for. Because I don’t want to wait another 88 years for a title. And I don’t want to turn into the Cubs either. Always a jab at the Cubbies…that’s how I roll!
Thanks again for dropping in and #5 is a wrap. Jen may end up being the coolest lawyer you’ll ever know!
mlblogsrockymountainway
Blame it on Jimmy- My # 17 Todd Helton
Day 24
If you didn’t know by now, Jimmy C of Baseball the Yankees and Life started a little tradition of dedicating his ranking number on MLBlogs to a player. So blame it on Jimmy and sit back and enjoy my look at the greatest Rockies player to have worn the jersey, one Mr. Todd Helton. I dedicate my ranking to # 17.
“The greatest Colorado Rockies player to date, Helton has put together an impressive career since getting into the lineup in 1997. He leads club categories in games played (1661), RBIs (1,116), hits (1957), homeruns (310) and doubles (471). Helton has played for 12 seasons with the Rockies and has been selected to five All-Star games 2000-2004. He has won three Gold Gloves at first base, 2001, 2002 and 2004. He won the 2000 N.L. Hank Aaron Award and been a Silver Slugger four times 2000-2003. 2000 saw him finish the year with an amazing .372 batting average. He currently has an amazing career fielding percentage of .996 and .328 batting average. Under contract to 2011, Helton could finish his career as a Colorado Rockies player and possibly the first Hall of Fame nominee.”
Anyone who has watched Helton at first base has seen a man who loves the game of baseball. I posted in December on why I thought Helton could very well be Hall of Famer and how he compared in his first 12 seasons versus other great first baseman Lou Gehrig and Eddie Murray.
A couple of paragraphs from that post:
The first stat I wanted to analyze was defense. Anyone who has ever seen Helton play can tell you he is a master with the glove. In his first 12 years with the Rockies, Helton has committed a total of 61 errors at his position. That number is nowhere close to the more than double, 140 by Gehrig, and nearly double 108, by Murray during the same span in their careers. What does that mean?
That stat alone does not prove his worth but it can help to quantify another key argument why I believe Helton is the greatest Rockies player ever- he makes other players better. How much better was Troy Tulowitzski’s rookie season because of the fielding ability of Helton? Or how much better was Garret Atkins at third or Kaz Matsui at second during the Rockies record setting defensive year in 2007? Helton turned a total of 1,537 double plays so far in his career compared to only 1,076 by Gehrig and similar 1,463 by Murray at the same point in their careers.
Statistics alone do not capture the essence of Helton and even when he cannot sign an autograph he is quick to apologize and let you know he’s got practice or the like. A lot of players won’t even look in your direction, but Helton is kind, courteous and a gentleman on and off the field in my opinion.
I have never gotten an autograph from Helton. It’s not because I don’t want one it’s because I know exactly what i want.
I took a photograph in the third game of 2007 capturing Helton hitting his 998th RBI and I want that photo signed. I captured many moments that year and I got every photo signed of every player except Helton. When I do, that collection will be complete and I’ll be sure to post them for everyone to see.