What You Could Call a Sure Thing

If you ever wanted to see what that is, read the Sports Illustrates article about Mr. Steven Strasburg of the San Diego State Aztecs.

Throwing a fastball that has topped 102 (I did not type that wrong), and with a wicked slider, this guy can "bring it" as they say. Amazingly, he got no looks out of high school due to his tendency to be overweight and "soft" as some scouts noted. Now he will go #1 in the June Draft to the Nationals (unless they screw it up), get a fat contract (and Mr. Boras will make sure of that) and be pitching in the MLB by September or so. He actually has more upside than David Price.

Chance of Rain 100%

So if it is 100%, it's really not a chance anymore is it?

That's tomorrow's forecast folks. Apoplectic I am. Opening day of Travel Baseball and I'll be on the snide for one game if we don't get it in. That has to be played. And since this is a team I think we could handle, I want to get it done and in the books quick. Shouldn't count my chickens though.

Our 11U Team played a DH today (moved up a day). I went down to get the fields ready, etc. Watched the other team warm-up. They could be taken. But our program's team spit the bit in two, and lost 6-0 and 11-3. Now that is a rough way to start the spring.

Check back tomorrow to see if you can feel my pain due to rain...

Funny Guys in Pizza Parlors

Now that is an odd name of a post you say. Well let SoulSlam 'splain.

Today is a Friday and about 65 degrees, nice. So I decide to venture out from work at lunch (actually I always venture out - the cafeteria at work specializes in food-borne illness), and head over to a local book-type place to pick up Sports Illustrated (I am conflicted about subscribing). A little hungry so I go to the pizza place in the area. Not my local haunt, but I've had a slice or two there before. Lo and behold, there's a couple of picnic tables outside, so we'll be dining alfresco today.

So this being the Lenten Season and a Friday, it's a slice of plain and a slice of eggplant. Pizza guy heats it up, takes my dough and serves me my slices. Time to head outside. But first, some condiment style toppings.

Little black pepper and some salt. Good. Now I grab the crushed red pepper, turn it over to shake it out and FFLLFLFLFLLF - the top wasn't screwed on, about a cup of pepper flakes hits my slice of eggplant;
SOME FUNNY GUY WAS AT THE PIZZA PARLOR!!!!

I look to my left and the guy behind the counter is looking at this situation. Not a word. Not a "hey buddy, you OK", or "let me get you another slice", nothing. Just staring.
ANOTHER FUNNY GUY!!!
So I decide to join in the jocularity. I pick up my slice, and begin waving it back and forth in the air, shaking off the flakes of fire. And it was a big mess. Now the funny guy behind the counter is watching slack-jawed, and begins to say something...but I speak up first and with a sly grin say "might need a broom over here".
NOW I"M A FUNNY GUY TOO!!!!

Ate my slices, wasn't bad. My tongue is still tingling.

Weekend Weather Brings Us Together

Thought a rhyme for the title of this post was the way to go.

Opening games scheduled for Sunday has been moved to Saturday due to anticipated rainfall working it's way here. I'm down at least two - one injured (great kid and player) for 4-6 weeks and the other will be AWOL, so I should have 10. Good number for a ballgame.

I'm very excited. Time to play some baseball.

The One Line Post

People who can't figure out how to use an ATM should not be allowed to have an ATM card.

A Week Away

From the opening of the Spring Season. We scrimmage our 11U team today for prep. Should be interesting as my team has legitimate 9 year olds in the mix.

So one of the concepts I am trying to instill is that pitchers need to throw strikes, not strikeouts. A strikeout is a bonus, but pitchers (especially at young ages) have to realize there are 7 players behind them and one in front who are there to make the plays. Throw strikes- if the ball is hit, depend on your fielders to get the outs.

Spent most of the day Saturday with town league evaluations - and when this rolls around, you sincerely appreciate the talent level and commitment your travel players have. I understand that everybody develops at a different rate, but when you see boys 9 and 10, and 11 and 12 who have difficulty catching a fly ball or throw a ball it is kind of depressing. Everybody can't be a stud, I got that. It's definitely a different world out there, where ballfields are empty unless an organized practice or game is held. Maybe if kids today could just get out, play some ball (without parental supervision/interference) we'd have more kids playing ball. What a perfect world.

And five days later, I still haven't talked to 90% of the coaches of teams I'll be facing in Spring League. I'm getting anxious.

Play Ball!

Minutes Ago

Spring came to my front door. At 7:44 AM to be exact. It was snowing at the time. Good times, good times.

St. Paddy's came and went and I didn't post. I did get to go out with some of the coaching crew after our Spring League Meeting (obviously not run by an Irish fella!).

Lot's of practice scheduled this weekend, with our opening game 9 days away. Ready? Maybe.

And now also begins the daunting task of getting in touch with these other teams' coaches to confirm games for the next two months. The town travel guys are usually pretty prompt, the club coaches less so. I guess they are looking for the next Nolan Ryan or A-R*d in a 10 year old frame.

Weekend Ho!

Sunday Pontifications

Are these idiots kidding me?

Watching the WBC - USA vs. The Netherlands. Last night the US squad got mercied. Not easy to do since that's not exactly a team of scrubs in the Red, White and Blue. US is up 4-0, bottom 4.

I missed Supernatural this week, so I fire up the trusty laptop to watch it on the CW site. Lo and behold, it's not there. CW is a low-rent operation.

NBC has a new show on tonight. I'm not watching though.

The brackets have been made. Good month for hoops.

Discovery has launched. One day I'll tell you all about why we have never actually been to the moon, and that the space program is a lie.

I hope Bernie Madoff gets very friendly with is new pals in lock-up. And here's to the Justice Dept. going after his wife and family like a pack of wolves.

My woes with Internet Explorer continue. I'm using Chrome right now and it seems to be the ticket.

I'm not sure, but I think I see at least 15 Viagra commercials a day. I find it hard to believe Elvis would let one of his tunes be used for these fun little vignettes (look that one up).

If you go out for St. Paddy's - don't eat corned beef and cabbage. It is not Irish, no matter what everybody wants you to believe. The cabbage is OK - the corned beef? I don't think there were too many kosher delicatessens on the Emerald Isle.

And last - the coach and the team got outside for some good practice time this weekend. A word to the parents - stop hovering at the end of practice. It makes me want to stall just to watch you kvetch.

Another Baseball Book Review

Odd Man Out -not the classic James Mason film, but a book by Matt McCarthy (or McCorksky!) takes a look at his season+ in the low minors after being drafted out of Yale. A lot of recognizable names that came through the Angels system in the early part of this decade. I enjoyed the book.

And just today the LA Times ran an article dismissing much of what Mac wrote as being inaccurate. So you can read and ponder what is what, if your that type of scholar.

When Will You Quit?

So here I am again today. Yikes.

Went to a local deli for a Vitamin Water around lunchtime. While I was standing on line (people from NJ and NY stand on line, not in line), a guy who was suspiciously wearing suit separates asked for a pack of smokes.

$7.70 said the amiable clerk - WHAT!

Is that what you people pay for those cancer sticks? Have you lost your minds? OK - so these things are bad for you, stain your teeth, make your clothes, hair and car reek, turn you into a social outcast and send you on the road to becoming a pariah. And for that you are paying nearly 8 bucks. For the seriously stupid who smokes a pack a day, that's $56 a week or $2912 a year. Un-freakin-believable!

No wonder we hate you.

Unpredictable

That's what I like to be...and I have been to predictable when it comes to posting lately. So it is game on. No rules, no fear, no kidding.

But seriously, how about these unpredictable events:

The Netherlands beating the DR in the WBC

Madonna dumping A-R*d

The market tanking big

DePaul beating Providence in the Big East Tourney

America embracing Jackie Earle Haley and Mickey Rourke


You get the picture. Adios.

D.S.T.

Love Daylight Savings Time. Can't wait to see the daylight at 6:15PM or so. An aural landscape of hope; next thing you know, the leaves are coming out, the grass is getting green and spring has sprung. Exciting.

Are you watching the World Baseball Classic. I'm a USA guy all the way, and they squeaked one out against the Canucks - I didn't realize how many of those guys were from our neighbor to the north. And the upset of upsets with The Netherlands beating the D.R. by a score of 3-2 is why baseball is what it is. Great.

Maybe if they had A-R*d they could put up more than a deuce. They do have some pretty good hitters though.

Last point of the day, my spelling and typing is improving since Blogger's spellcheck has spit the bit. Thanks.

March Madness starts soon. I like college hoops, and MM (don't sue me NCAA and CBS for using the term!) is an exciting event for all. Good luck.

Hey Blogger

FIX THE SPELL CHECK.

Sunny and Sixty

Forecast for Saturday and Sunday in the land that Paulie Walnuts prowled.
And that is sweeeet music to a baseball coaches ears. Unfortunately, today is the last day of basketball with consolation and championship games, so we wait until Sunday to practice the way the Lord intended; outside, on a field, pure heaven.

On to the subject of A-R*d - I have dog-piled on this guy for awhile, and now he comes down with a cyst and a torn labrum on his hip. Word (rumor?) is that Cashman never wanted to resign after the poorly timed opt-out a couple of years ago. I would say the Yankee GM was right on the money.

If you get a chance, read this very sad story about a wrestling legend. Very sad, and we pray for both families.

Something Going Around

Lots of sick people - including me. I heard the inevitable "there's something going around" a couple of weeks ago, then my son came down with the something, and now SoulSlam has the something. Not good.

Looked out my window at 6:00, saw about 6" of white stuff on the ground, and decided the better part of valor is to take a day off; though much of it will undoubtedly include snowthrowin' with my Ariens 10hp beauty and shovelling where needed. At least I can do it on my own time today.

Oh, and Internet Explorer still eats it big time.

Double Bonus Sunday

Two in one day - I must have a lot of time on my hands.

Forecast for tonight into tomorrow is..... SNOW, and lots of it. We haven't seen the white stuff since early February, and now a late winter storm, all designed to foul up my baseball practices, no doubt. The talking heads are saying 8-12 by me. Rough. Unless we get a mild warmwave, the first day we throw a baseball outside may be our first game at the end of March.

Bad Movie Review

I don't rent too many movies for myself, but the boys wanted to get a movie, and while I was there I picked up the latest M. Night Sham-lama-ding-dong movie, The Happening. I have a better name for this movie - The Crapening. Cause it was crap. If I was M. Night, I'd start to worry, because after the last few dogs (Lady in the Water, The Village and this one), his feel good shine from making good movies (Sixth Sense, Unbreakable, Signs, even Stuart Little) is beginning to rub off.

While I'm at it, a quick observation. I read from time to time how Blockbuster has to endure with competition from NetFlix, and internet sites like Hulu to remain in business and thrive. But it wasn't so long ago that Blockbuster big-times the simple local "mom and pop" video store, in essentially the same manner. Karma.