Grizzly Bears

Spied two grizzly bears at JFK last night. You had to be there.

Week of Slowness

This is the week of slowness here at the J-O-B. Between holidays, so we have sales people dialing for dollars, and a lot of folks taking vacation. Me boss takes this time off, so I do not. Gotta be on the mark.

OSSS is down in Bradenton, FLA playing baseball with Under Armour Baseball Factory org. Left Saturday (7:00 AM flight!) and started playing, working out, etc. Saturday afternoon. He had a good day at plate on Sunday (first day of games) which was awesome to hear. There are kids from 35-40 states at this tournament, so it's a good place for him to see how he stacks up against national-level comp.

YSSS is home with us...took him to cages on Sunday and he was ripping! Playing some hoops but maintaining his casualness. Attaboy.

The Plan

Lost in FF championship. Luck and Green = 0 points. That did me in. So I get 2nd place share (35%) which should be about $400 or so.

So now we have fantasy basketball. This is an 8 player league for 1/2 cost. So to make up for my losses, I plan to WIN. I am currently in 1ST PLACE! and I am on a mission.

Daddy needs a new pair of shoes!!!

Andrew Luck

After the Zero (0) he put up in FF yesterday, and dimming SoulSlam's chances at a FF Championship and the moolah-di that comes with it, you would think that I consider Mr. Luck (?) a villain. A black hat. A devil in disguise.

I do not.

Blame to be assessed:

The "O" Line for all the penalties when Luck actually made some nice throws downfield

The guy who dropped a WIDE-OPEN PASS on the fake punt early in the first Q. Different game if he catches that

The HC Chuck Pagano, who decided to put in Matt Hasselback in the 3rd Q, when game was way out of hand.

The whole "we didn't want Andrew to risk getting injured in a meaningless game" argument holds zero (as in the number of points #12 scored me) water. If that is the case, why don't you just seal him in amber until playoffs?

2/3 Over

I have a self-imposed 3 day weekend. Spent Friday doing some shopping, etc. Took the spouse out for dinner. Tried a new spot. Pretty good.

Saturday was gym time, shopping with YSSS and some rec and travel hoops practice with YSSS. Now I'm just cruising the WWW. And enjoying a Coors, the banquet beer.

Tomorrow I have a travel game...ad I'm sure I'll hit a store or two, later in the evening. My boss is now on vacation so it's all good at the J-O-B., at least for 2 weeks.

B-12

I am lethargic. Not as much as most people who use ATMs but that's another story.

Speaking of which, OSSS has his driving permit. And an ATM card. So we drove up to ATM last weekend. He needs work.

The Super Bowl

Of the Bloomfield Football League (aka as the fantasy league I am in) is this week and guess who the favorite is?

My 5-8 Death From Above team squeaked into playoffs. I don't even know how that happened. I was the last seed to make it (#8). had to play the 11-2 #3 seed, Browndogs. They got a pretty good team. But they had a pretty terrible week when P. Manning and D. Thomas of the Broncos shat the bed. Win.

Over this past weekend, my lowly team played the 12-1 #1 seed, Kelly's Heroes. And like the week prior, Aaron Rodgers bad outing doomed the Heroes, now the Zeroes. WIN.

So I head into the last game to take the lion's share of the bounty. Either way I'm in the money. Saving grace is my QB is Andrew Luck. His is Jay Cutler. I like my chances.

League Opener

So, me 8th grade travel team plays in two leagues. One is whee we play on weekends and pretty much get housed most of the time. Playing bigger towns will do that. We use that as a way to play better competition and get on the court. See last week's post.

The other league is the NJJBL (North Jersey Junior Basketball League), where we play teams that we match up with in terms of talent and size. We've been playing in this league for years. Won the championship of our division as 5th graders. Played to semis as 6th graders (but won championship of Bergen Travel League); and last year...when we lost in semi-finals by one point after two overtimes and five (5) of my top 8 on the bench, all fouled out. That's where we open tonight. Playing a team that beat mine late last season by 1. We were tired then. Lot of hoops. Fresh tonight.

Need a W.

Where Am I?

That's really an existential question I think. If you disregard geography (I am in North J of course), or ideology (I would say I'm pretty moderate when you come right down to it, unless we're talking about my views on the invasion of Canada), then that leaves us with something else. Confused? Don't be.

Beatdown

Won by a big margin in first round of fantasy playoffs.

Other guy had P. Manning and D. Thomas of the Broncos. They scored a total of 5 points. So SoulSlam's Death From Above team goes on to semis.

MC Serch

Opened up last night against a team we typically handle pretty well. Except they got a new guy. Had a haircut like the above named fella. He was keepin' it real.

Well he was real BIG, real STRONG, real FAST. Dropped 31 on us. Drive the lane, hit 3pt bombs, money from the line. Good player. Of course my center thought he's 18 years old but that's all just blababababa. Facts are facts. The other team was better, we missed too many shots, and turned the ball over too many times.

I guess we have work to do.

OSSS the Blogger

OSSS has a baseball sports blog. Check him here:

MLB Hot Stove Central

Fantasy Standings

In FF:
Sitting at 5-7. Win this week and I am playoff bound. Lose and I am not. I'm playing GTL. They not too good.

In FB:
3-1-0. I'm technically in 2nd place, first in my division.
Dwight Howard is a mary.

The Game

Took OSSS to his first NFL game last night, Cowboys-Giants. He's a big Cowboy fan, so he was pretty pumped.

SoulSlam hasn't been to an NFL game in about 18 years I think. It was a good night. OSSS had an awesome evening. A great memory for SoulSlam.

Fantasy Hoops

Since my FF team is pretty terrible (drafting Adrian Peterson in 1st round will do that!), we turn to FANTASY BASKETBALL!

SoulSlam plays FB as Chaos Reigns (catchy, huh?). I've got this as my starting 6 for the week:

Chris Paul/ Clippers

John Wall/ Wizards

Dwight Howard/ Rockets

Kemba Walker/ Hornets

D'Andre Jordan/ Clippers

Andre Jordan/ Pistons

Got a couple of players on bench that switch in and out, namely Thaddeus Young/ Timberwolves and M. Gortat/ Wizards.

I'm sitting pretty at 2-1. But Mr. Dwight Howard is a day to day mess and killing me.

#Chill

Wow it's cold. As cold as it is though, TG we ain't near Lake Erie. The Weather Channel has them getting up to 6' of the white stuff in some places.

That is one bad start to winter, even though it's still autumn.

The $325MM Man

Mike Giancarlo Stanton signed a MEGADEAL.

Now you know why all them baseball academies are pumping out lessons like M-A-D.

Good luck Mike Giancarlo.

#Movember

That's when you grow a mustache for a good cause. SoulSlam has a full beard and 'stache right now. basically because I am tired of shaving everyday.

Let's salute some great 'staches!

RIP Freddie.

Best 'stache in baseball!

BURGUNDY!

Sparse Walrus "stache!

Coach K!

I May Rename This

In honor of Alex Rodriguez. Contemplating calling this blog "Alex" or "A-Rod" or "13" or something.

In our thoughts, in our hearts, on the back page of every daily newspaper in NYC...

"Like the Amazing Kreskin, Alex challenges his mind to believe his lies"

The Led Zeppelin Post

I read/saw/heard that Richard Branson is offering the remaining members (Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones) of Led Zeppelin a boatload of dough to perform again (with the late John Bonham's son Jason on drums). And that Page and Jones are signed, sealed, delivered. But Plant may not be in on idea.

Now, I've been a fan since time began...one of my all-time faves. And there are those that point to the Queen tour with Adam Lambert as an example of what could happen. Maybe Led Zeppelin with _____________ singing.

Well, Queen is touring with somebody else because Freddie Mercury is dead. The plain and simple fact is that Led Zeppelin w/o Robert Plant isn't Led Zeppelin. My two cents.

Just Keeps Getting Better

"Markin' my territory like a wolf"...

This Is Why

A-Rod!

AND THIS!

Election Day, Your Civic Duty

If you don't vote, then shaddup.

Local races abound. Good luck to those who deserve to win. Don't be a roadbump.

That Extra Hour

It might not be the greatest thing ever, but that extra hour of sleep you get when the clocks turn back in fall is pretty awesome.

In a quick aside...the Mets have done absolutely nothing yet for 2015. Except hire a hitting coach. Note to Mets: WE ARE WAITING.

Happy Happy Joy Joy

You might think that title is about the SF Giants winning the World Series (Dynasty!). But it is not.

It's because...

A-ROD IS OFF THE SUSPENSION LIST AND NOW AN ACTIVE ROSTER PLAYER FOR THE 2015 NY YANKEES!!!!

HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN!!!

Winner. Take. All.

Game 7. The end of the dream for one team. SF Giants vs. KC Royals. Here we go.

Best of Three

That's what this year's WS is down to. Been pretty exciting. And even though I'm rooting for the Giants somewhat, the Royals winning it all would be cool too. Since you rarely see the Royals on national TV (up until now) I didn't realize how many studs they have.

And a note to you Met fans: if you think those penny-pinching and butt=clinching owners and GM are going to make a run at Joe Maddon (the Pride of Hazleton!) you are vastly stupid.

Ebola

Now I don't want to sound the alarm, but this whole Ebola thing isn't going to put us in The Walking Dead or The Strain territory, is it?

The Team

Two actually...

First, we had them tryouts for 8th grade boys. I have nine (9) on the roster. Good to see most of the boys have grown, we were a little challenged in height last season. Better days.

Second, we had fantasy basketball draft the other night. I had pick #4. My starting team:

Chris Paul

John Wall

Dwight Howard

Andre Drummond

Kemba Walker

DeAndre Jordan

Got some others like JJ Redick and Lance Stephenson on the pine. First year of fantasy basketball. My fantasy football team has hit the skids (thanks AP) so I'm looking to bring it with the roundball!

WIllpower

It has taken nearly all of it not to demonstrate with great violence how much I dislike some of my co-workers, specifically the ones who do virtually nothing but like to take credit from my guys.

We Got Hoops!

Travel basketball tryouts this weekend. Due to some youth football snafu, SoulSlam has to try out a bunch this afternoon, then the remainder on Sunday. All good I guess, though I also have to coach two 18U Baseball Games wrapped around the tryouts. Busy I am.

This is last season in our travel program for these boys as 8th graders. From what I've seen we got some good size after being small in 7th grade.

I'm determined to limit the roster to 10...we had 13 last year (mostly because we were a two-time league champion and I didn't have the heart to cut kids from a championship team). We had a couple of (botton of rotation) boys no-show a lot of practices so they most likely get cut if they come down. It's all in the tryout y'see.

You Need A Bigger Shovel

To dig a deeper hole.

That's deep, metaphorically speaking.

Postseason Giddyness

Watching Royals-Orioles on the screen...there some really great baseball being played here. Playoff baseball. And Giants-Cardinals start it up in a few. 

Playoff baseball. Maybe some day the team I root for since I was a freakin' little kid will return. I dream. 

So my picks have basically been blown to smithereens. Except for Baltimore. Right now I'm enjoying the game. I have no favorites. So good luck. 

THREE DAY WEEKEND!

You know, on Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, they had a segment about why Columbus Day is still a thing...I'll tell you why: SO I CAN HAVE A THREE DAY WEEKEND!!!

But they had some good points; SoulSlam is not of Italian heritage, so celebrating a man who got lost and "discovered" America in this day and age seems a little loose. Listen Paisan, the vikings and the celts had all been here before. Probably as much as 500 years before your expedition reached ground. SMACK!

But I'll enjoy my extra day off from the J-O-B...

Wrong, Boyo!

Except for the Charm City club, SoulSlam was wrong, wrong, wrong.

So O's-Royals and Giants-Cardinals. And for you non-Irish folk, here's the def of Boyo...

Surprise Surprise Surprise

Some are nice surprises...and that's what this is. The KC Royals have made it to the ALCS!!!

Out and about since 5:45AM yesterday, arriving at mi casa around 7:30PM. So mostly listening to radio. But I did see a couple inings including a Billy Butler steal of 2B!!!

Now they go on to play the O's - that's gonna be good!

Backwards Picks

Hint: Read from bottom up unless you like the end first.

MLB Postseason

Champs - LA Dodgers

World Series - Baltimore Orioles vs. LA Dodgers

NLCS - LA Dodgers beat Washington Nationals

ALCS - Baltimore Orioles beat Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

NLDS - LA Dodgers beat St. Louis Cardinals; Washington Nationals beat San Francisco Giants

ALDS - Baltimore Orioles beat Detroit Tigers; Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim beat Oakland A's NLWC - San Francisco Giants beat Pittsburgh Pirates ALWC - Oakland A's beat Kansas City Royals

Out Of Position

I'd explain it to all of you but you wouldn't get it.

Adios Jeets.

OMG! STOP! JUST STOP!

Today is the FINAL HOME GAME OF DEREK JETER (cue the angelic trumpets). Except for Mr. Keith Olbermann (aka "Tubby"), the new coverage of this is absolutely killing me. He was a good player, OK. Played enough season to be considered great I guess. HOF here he comes.

But stop. He's not the greatest player ever. And you could make the case that this guy is self-centered and selfish as any player ever.

I'm listening to a fleet of sad, grown men calling into the Pope and saying their goodbyes. Weep weep.

Good bye. Take your #2 and go away.

Off the Heap

Scant months ago, the people who know (who?) were all dooming the fantastic Matt Kemp. Career over, Dodgers should unload, he's done. That's what I heard.

Unlike those others, SoulSlam was waiting and seeing. And now we see Mr. Kemp in all his glory. He may have had to move off of CF. That happens. But for a guy so many were saying a eulogy for he's been pretty impressive. To date:

147 Games

.284 BA

151 Hits

74 Runs Scored

24 HRs

86 RBIs

.344 OBP

.498 SLG

He's one of the reasons I pick LA to go to WS. Playoffs soon!!!

Least Favorite

That's what Autumn is to SoulSlam. Least favorite season. Here's a couple of reasons why:

Starts getting cold. I don't like the cold.

Daytime gets short. I like the light of day.

You can't play as much baseball. Except for the MLB playoffs which are tremendous.

Things die. Like leaves.

I am not a leaf-peeper.

I'm not all that crazy about Halloween.

If we had to rank seasons, here we go:
1. Summer
2. Spring
3. Winter
4. Autumn

Poolside

Today is the first day of Autumn (I think) and just so you know, the pool at 143 is still open and accepting swimmers. Which is awesome for YSSS because he goes in it nearly every day. Cold water be damned. He's tremendous.

But alas it cannot stay opne forever. The bleak close of pooltime 2014 is coming. Maybe this weekend, but the temps in North J should be about 80...so maybe another week after that.

You Lose(r)

Why do teams join leagues and then not play games? I'm talking youth and HS-age baseball here.

We have a DH scheduled tomorrow against some low-level club team. They mostl likely have no field of their own so the coach asked if we could play 2 at our spot. All good. A+ for that guy. He has a famous name to boot, but I won't say what it is. Let's just call him Clueless Joe.

We are also scheduled to play away Sunday. At some other club team's "field". So we try to get in touch with this fool and nada. Finally gets back to us and says he can play our game scheduled for Sunday (it's a weekend league in the fall) sometime during the week at our field. Ummmm, D-Bag? We play on weekends coach.

So we are off Sunday. In lighter news, I'm the anchor on a team that get's to pull a firetruck for charity on Saturday AM. Loading up on the Mineral Ice.

ROY

Was at CitiField last night (as guest of the Mets!)...and got to see the man who should absolutely be named ROOKIE OF THE YEAR! Jacob deGrom.

Got to see JdG in his debut vs. the Yankees in the Subway Series earlier this season, and last night's outing featured a modern-ball era milestone. #48 struck out the first 8 batters of the game. Exciting. The Mets, of course lost when the bullpen couldn't hold a 5-3 lead. What a team.

So anyway, in a season of dreary, we have a couple of bright spots. Here's to the man!

Crazy People

So here we go...

18U played yesterday, got the W with a 6-0 shutout.

Rain threatening all day, finally came in 6th inning. We needed to finish so away we go. And with a 6-0 lead we started to lose a little focus. So let's start in top 7...for perspective we took OSSS and our SS off the field for some defensive subs to get some boys in game. And it's raining pretty good.

SP still on mound, he was doing terrific job. Our catcher is a little out there (in a nice way) and he'a jawing with the umpire a bit. I hear blue tell him "that's enough", which is never enough for our catcher. We have an E7 so the opponent isn't dead yet. Then a line drive to the SS...caught almost doubles off the runner on 1B. At that point I hear the ump getting a little testy with the catcher. So I call a timeout and call everybody to mound, so I can tell catcher to shut his mouth and finish the game. He decides to flip a ball over his shoulder to ump and hit's ump in chest with ball. Which resulted in his ejection. With one out. Nice teamwork. So we scramble, move 2B to catcher; RF to 2B and OSSS has to go out to RF. Next batter of course hits a liner to RF; OSSS made play. We get next guy on F7, so LF redeemed himself (or so I thought).

OK, everybody is cleaning up, blah, blah. I notice LF is off to side and he looks very upset. I talk to him a little telling him no problem, errors happen, etc. I don't know why he was so upset. While I'm speaking to him nicely I notice the catcher's mother standing there. When I'm done with LF, she blurts at me "Is that ref going to do game tomorrow, because if he is and I won't be here!". To which I respond, "uhhh, ok, whatever. I don't get to pick the umps (not refs)".

She is going on about refs and I tell her to suit herself. She's walking away and I basically say to myself "holy shit"...then she starts back with "what did you say?" "I didn't say anything, I was talking to myself". She starts in about I heard you say something....I say again "I didn't say anything I was talking to myself"...she says I heard you...so I say "then what did I say?". She's seething. Crazy like. Then tells me I'm not the coach...to which I laugh and say "you're right, go complain to him".

So she goes to other side of dugout...and tells Bob the HC/HLW something. I'll find out what this morning. I'm betting she lied. Anyway, I told Bob he needs to sit the catcher today to send a message. I bet he doesn't have stones to do it.

17 Years

Today is the day I married the most beautiful girl in the world. I am blessed.

The Guacamole Scam

Went to Chipotle for lunch. I always get a burrito bowl with chicken, bottle of water. Unless I'm someplace where the Chipotle serves cerveza. Usually comes to about $10.00.

Today though, my tally was $12.00. I paid and sat in my little alcove eating the food. But I could see the menu. I remember thinking "prices have gone up." But lo and behold, pricies are the same. So what the heck is going on. So I looked at my receipt (always keep the receipt). They charged me for guacamole. Which I did not have. Because I'm really not a big fan of guacamole. But a lot of people are. And the guacamole costs $2.11 + tax!!! WOW!

So I ambled over to register with my somewhat eaten bowl and my receipt. To show them, "hey look no guacamole!" Very nice guy gives me $2.25 back, says sorry. All good, right?

But I started thinking, because $2.11 + tx seems an awful lot for what amounts to a condiment. Especially when it's basically about a tablespoon full. My Shop-Rite currently has a bag of 4 HASS avacados for $3.89. So let's say each avacado costs $1.05. A medium avacado gives us 5 servings. But these HASS' are the large ones, so let's say 7 servings. We add some lime juice, garlic and onion to the mix...that's about 35 cents worth I guess. So our 7 servings cost a total of $1.40. That's 20 cents a serving!!!!

Using Chipotle's price they make $14.77 + tax on this condiment for those 7 servings. That is 75X the cost of the goods. Basic rule of thumb in restaurant biz is 3x your food costs is price you charge a customer. So by my calculation, you should be paying about 60 cents for your dollop of green fudge. But you're paying over 1/4 of your entree for a condiment to be added. Which I wouldn't have realized unless they dopes tried to screw me, come to think of it. Now I'm pissed.

You are sheep.

Sandy Boy

Are you ready?

Sandy Alderson does not expect the Mets to "spend" this off-season. Holy crap.

He even thinks that Wilmer Flores is a MLB-caliber SS.

Un-effing-believable.

18U Fall Baseball

After some back and forth with the "head coach", SoulSlam convinced (cajoled) our local fall baseball team to play 18U. Truth be known, OSSS is probably youngest kid on team, most of these boys (about 85%) will be seniors next year, so playing 16U is pretty stupid. So I basically told the head lineup writer and his trusty companion that it was 18U or we would go elsewhere. After some capitulation, that's what happened.

So let me 'splain a couple of things. Other that SoulSlam, the other coaches are a bit thick on the cabeza. I'm pretty sure nobody knows how to do a scorebook, so I do it. They also can't throw BP or hit fungoes, so I do that too. And when our catcher isn't ready to come out to warm up pitcher, I get in the crouch. They coach the bases (poorly), as a matter of fact, the two of them probably cost us the W yesterday.

So on to that. We didn't get the L either. We tied. In baseball. After 8 1/2 innings. So this game has a lot of stuff going on that doesn't make sense.

Let's pick it up in 6th. We end that inning with 4-3 lead. Took out SP. OSSS goes in for 7th. He gets two outs and then a couple of little flares fall, then a double by #3 hitter and we are looking at a loss. We go down 7-4. We come up with bottom of the order and tie the game. Sweet. Extras.

We lead off with #6 hitter (aka the Italian Stallion), who struggled mightily last season. He gets up and hits a little flare to LF...and the kid out there misplays a big hop. So IS takes off for 2B. Great. But then... I see the HC/HLW waving him to 3B. I yell NO from the dugout...but nobody listens. He's out by 10 feet. So instead of a runner on 2B w/ no outs we got nada. I have to explain what scoring position is to these coaches I guess. We did not score.

In top 8, the first two guys on opp get on, and a WP allows them to move to 2B and 3B. Yikes. But we put them away with some nifty fielding (including a nice scoop at 1B by OSSS). Our turn, top of the order coming up.

Then

THUNDER!. Now so you get all the info you need. It was Africa-Hot in North J, about 92-93. Players cramping up everywhere. So umps call a 30 minute delay after we've played about 3 hours. Our HC decides the TIE is fine and we line it up.

A late game in Jersey City today against a team that apparently doesn't have uniforms. I wonder if Smalls, Benny, Ham and Squints will be there. And OSSS is not feeling great so I may be going alone.

Hateful Things

How about the term "bucket list"? GD annoying.

The inability to think "outside the box".

Weak sarcasm. If you are ready to rip, then rip.

Kardashians.

Boy bands. Except NKOTB of course.

Mayor DeBlasio and his ready for the camera family.

E-mail spammers.

That fat lady that does the hotel commercials...the one who says "a kitchen kitchen!".

Work Mañana

Oh boy can't wait. 

Goin' Home

Vacation over....leaving NO in a couple hours for the flight home. At least we got a couple of days before work & school intrude. 

See you on the ground. 

The View

From my Sunday morn' 

And A Wakeup

WIll be at 4AM manana...VACATION!!!!!

I'll try to hit you on the backside. Maybe post some pics. Maybe not!

Pitch If You Got 'Em

Both Sons of SoulSlam are working on their mound skills. Now, truth be told and full reveal, pitching was never something SoulSlam wanted to do. I just wanted to take pitchers deep. I think in all the years I played, I pitched about three (3) innings, and that was only because we ran out of pitchers in a game. i think I beaned the same kid 3x. Whatever.

So now OSSS is thinking about pitching for his junior year in HS. He's pitched in the past on travel and MS...even got a lot of innings on the fall ball team last year. He's 16, so it's all good to start throwing the breaking stuff as well. He's throwing harder so I had to invest in a catcher's glove, and I now wear my mask.

YSSS is also staring to pitch. He's got some confidence now, so it's time to take advantage. He's pitched in rec and a little in travel...he threw about 50 today in a workout, and he's working out the kinks. He's gonna be good.

VACATION IN 3 DAYS!!!

Hole

My able-bodied asst. AKA YSSS went on a hunt and found another small rip in liner. So we patched last night in the cool air. Looks like it's a winner. We've had the pool 8 (?) years so that's about how long a liner lasts from what I can find.

In other exciting SS news, I bought some headphones. I used to have some sweet Bose earbuds that I lost (idiot), so I purchased a pair of cheapo Sonys a year or so ago. These things are (1) teal and (2) barely working anymore. I'm petty sure the left side isn't making any sound. So I looked and looked and found a great deal at Best Buy...Powerbeats by Dr.Dre (yeah Dre). They must be last year's model, because they was half price. Took me three trips to three different outposts to find a color not pink. I'm not a snob, but pink at the gym would definitely turn a head or two, particulary since I look like an inmate when I work out...woolcap, shades, etc.

Deep Sea Expedition

Well...maybe just 4' deep in my pool. Looks like I'm losing agua so I need to check my patch job. Problem is it's not exactly 85 and sunny today.

Movie Recommendation

Booted up the ol' netflix last night after ripping it at the gym...and put on "Out of the Furnace" .

Highly recommended. Christian Bale (not as Batman), Woody Harrelson (playing a psycho as only Woody can), Casey Affleck (not as tall as Ben), Willem Dafoe (puffy), Zoe Saldana (before she was a Guardian of the Galaxy), Sam Shephard (go-to guy) and Forrest Whitaker (doing a strange voice, and still enormous).

Anyway, movie has some themes that are only relevant in North J...and that is the people that live on Ramapough mountain...

Good flick.

Forecast: RAIN!

Gonna rain here. Weatherman says 100% chance. That's conviction.

We had a little mishap poolside...YSSS came into the house Sunday afternoon and told me that there was a hole in the liner. So I put on my deep-sea diving gear (re: boardshorts) and went under...sure enough, there's a tiny slit. So I dug out a patch kit and made a repair. So far so good. Happens I guess.

Vacation in 7 days or so. Cannot wait.

Sunday, Lazy Sunday

After all the hubbub round these parts yesterday, today is a lazy day. I'm watching the NY Mets beat the Phils...gonna have to get moving soon or I may go into rigor mortis.

Beer Can Chicken!!!

The best. And SoulSlam makes it better than anyone. Bet that.

I'll update with pic later.

Time For An Oil Change

Got my fixin's...gotta change the oil in the Chariot of SoulSlam (aka the Tahoe) tonight.

Biggest decision is which T-shirt gets sacrificed. Cause whatever one I wear will be NG after the work.

I Need A Vacation

And it's coming. Fifteen (15) days and counting...

A Jump On the Day

Got up a little late...was watching some stuff last night so I probably hit the sackage around 1AM...headed to the gym for some weights...then drove the Sons of SoulSlam to the cages for some off-season swings. Heading to a local pals house in about 30 mikes or so for a small BBQ. Besides writing typing this extraordinary post, I have some NY Mets baseball on the TV and I'm watching my fantasy baseball team finish up the week. So I am a multi-tasker of the highest regard.

Trade Day

Today is the non-waiver trade deadline in MLB...and we got us a big one!

Lester & Gomes for Cespedes. Huge. Stay tuned.

What's With The Weather

Been cool around these parts, which, truth be known, are the only parts that matter. Coole enough to get under the blanket last evening.

Now some might like this kind of temps, but SoulSlam actually prefers a little bit of heat. Cool-off in the pool kind of heat. But for the near future we're pretty much status quo.

---

In other ramblings:

The Strain on FX is creepy. And tremendous.

I'm still watching The Leftovers on HBO...though I have absolutely no idea what is going on.

The Bridge is my Wednesday night spot.

I saw the trailer to the new Mad Max movie, and it is awesome.

John Oliver is the funniest man on TV.

The Mets are doing just enough to keep the fans watching...how long until the fall?

OSSS got his driving permit.

I am boycotting haircuts. My heair is ready to explode!

Sleep Deprivation

I am having some trouble sleeping. Could be the weather. Thunder last night woke me for quite awhile. I used to have a lot of insomnia so I'm hoping that doesn't return.

Free Weekend Sort Of

Baseball over for the Sons of SoulSlam...so kind of free. Took the BWSS to PA. to visit and hit the outlets on the way back. I got some BBQ sauce.

Sunday we have some church in the early AM then...nada. This is weird. I'll hit the G-Y-M in the morning, do some yardwork and watch some MLB no doubt. A beer or two will undoubtedly be consumed as well.

#WalkOffHero

Little bit of dad-beaming here:

Last night, YSSS' 13U team played a game, with a 4-2 lead in the 7th. Away team scores two at the top of the inning to tie this baby up. We have top of order coming:

Leadoff hitter walks, steals 2B on first pitch to #2

#2 Hitter (a Jedi) bloops a single, runners on the corners

With #3 hitter up, the Jedi takes 2B on defensive indifference

#3 Hitter takes a walk to load bases no out

So with that as the setup, the YSSS (Cleanup Hitter) comes up. Tell him to take a breath and drive the ball hard. The lefty of the mound proceeds to throw him a COOKIE and YSSS drives the ball into the right center gap for an RBI single and a walk off. Team mobs him! He may have had the biggest smile I have ever seen him have on a ballfield.

That is why I do what I do. That made everything worthwhile this season. We are almost done for summer, and I will always have that memory of him succeeeding, but most importantly, having fun and feeling like a superhero for that moment!

A Cookie

AND GOOD RIDDANCE!

---

On the Grand Jeter Farewell Tour, he made a stop in the Twin Cities to start (wrongly) for the American League in something we like to call the All-Star Game around here. And he had a terrific night with a double to RF and bloop single to RF (thank your lucky stars there is a RF!).

Now, SoulSlam watches a lot of baseball. MLB, MiLB, College, HS, Youth, Caribbean, etc. And you can kind of tell when a pitcher grooves a pitch. Wainwright? He threw DJ#2 a big, fat, cookie across the middle of the plate. Still had to hit it. Which you would expect an 18 year major leaguer to do. Still couldn't drive it to anywhere but RF.

I'll leave you with this:
What would Derek Jeter be called if he played his whole career with the Astros?

Craig Biggio. And I don't remember the glorious send off to him.

The Automatic Wave

OK, time to rant silly.

Have you ever driven down a road, a somewhat busy road and there's an opportunity to allow a car to make a turn (left or right) and go ahead of you...and you do it because you were brought up right and try to be courteous to others. And that car pulls out after it's been sitting for a couple and...

NO WAVE. You got NO WAVE. No hand up to say "hey thanks kind person!". That is one of those things in life that should involve corporal punishment.

Now, it's not one type of person (race, color, creed, sex) that this applies to. I'd say on average it's a 50/50 whether you get the wave. And that is another way you know about the decline and fall of western civilization. That and the postman (postperson) wearing whatever they want.

The Almost Over End

Baseball season for summer is almost over. YSSS' team is playing a little better,couple of games this week then a sleepaway tournament near Philly. All in all it's been a rough season though. But he's playing well, learning how to play 1B and hitting really well.

OSSS' club team has one more tournament during week of 7/21. This team looks like they are ready for a break; seems a lot of the players not too enamored of the coach. From my perspective, he absolutely plays favorites, of which OSSS is not. #17 has also hit a rough patch at the plate, so that isn't helping. But he's in good spirits so that's really all that matters. The Legion team finished out of the money so to speak in making state playoffs. That's a whole 'nother story.

And I'll leave you with a last question: why would a kid batting .176 bat in front of a kid batting .346? because his dad made out the lineup, that's why.

The (Right) Decision

Whatever the reason he left, you have to give it up for the King on his decision to return.

I Think It's Hot

We're having a tropical heatwave...only in the low 90's for the most part but H-U-M-I-D. That spells uncomfortable. But we persevere just the same.

It's mid-July (early mid-July?) so that means BASEBALL in the House of SoulSlam. Games or practices nearly every night, tournaments on weekends. The game is ours.

This is this week (by day):

Monday
OSSS - Baseball Factory Showcase in Trenton NJ (daytime), American Legion Game 6PM
YSSS - 13U Home Game 6PM
Tuesday
OSSS - Club team practice 7PM
YSSS - 13U Home Game< 6PM
Wednesday
OSSS - 16U Away Game 6PM (long way away!)
Thursday
OSSS - Club team practice 7PM
YSSS - 13U Away Game 6PM
Saturday
OSSS - 16U Tournament in Staten Island NY, games at 8AM & 12:30PM
YSSS - 13U Away Game 1PM
Sunday
OSSS - 16U Tournament in Staten Island NY, games at 8AM & later if we do well

So you can see we busy. Means I get less gym time for my bad self all week, but watching these guys play baseball is worth it.

Long Weekends Seem Short

Maybe it's my age (which I look really good for), but this weekend seemed to fly by. Too short. Not enough time. Yada Yada.

I have one more blessed day off after today; gotta take OSSS to a Baseball Factory showcase/tryout. It's down in Trenton (the home of Taylor Ham!) so it's pretty much all day. Then I gotta shoot up the TPKE for YSSS' 13U game. We're on a one game winning streak, so we're looking to extend that Monday.

16 Years Ago

SoulSlam was in a hospital delivery room for the birth of the Oldest Son of SoulSlam (OSSS). AKA Jack. To say that he changed my life would be the biggest understatement of the century. he may not know it, but he (and his brother) are my heroes.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JACK LOGAN CASSIDY.

Wetdown

Our local Hose Company had a wetdown for thie new pumptruck yesterday...buy a mug and get free beer. Pretty good deal. Alos had some burgers and dogs, as well as a band of oldsters that were pretty good.

Not the biggest crowd I've ever seen but fun nonetheless.

We've Got Baseball

Between 75 minutes from now and the end of Monday evening, the Sons of SoulSlam have six (6) baseball games this weekend+.

Let's be ballplayers.

Also included is my filling-in for our program's 9U coach early Saturday AM. These boys have a ways to go, but they look like they have fun out there so that is half the battle won.

Have a good one. Turn two.

Hey, Take Off Hoser!

Turned on the P-O-O-L this AM around 7:30 AM, took a look and thought to my incredibly bright self, "need to clean that this afternoon". So when I leave for the J-O-B about an hour later (my summer hours means I get to work a little later as a treat to my bad self), I look and see a geyser spouting from a hose. And it had been spouting for awhile since there was about 5"-6" of water around my pool control center (AKA filter). So we turn off for now and have to hose up and do some work later. I have a half day so all good.

I'm giving blood today so be nice to me.

Ugly

Spotting a team a 10 run (or thereabouts) lead in baseball is a tough one to come back from. But that is what we did. Lost 16-10 in six innings, running out of light.

Error after error, lots of pitches in the dirt with runners on base, no execution, and little to no chatter make a bad baseball team/game.

On the bright side, YSSS was 2-4 with 3 RBIs, 2 runs scored, 2 SBs. Made a couple of mistakes at 1B in field but that is how it goes.

In OSSS' baseball world - he broke up a no hitter in Sunday's game, then broke up a perfect game in the bottom 5th against a tough pitcher. SoulSlam wasn't at that game, but apparently he was a little pumped after gapper and yelled to our own dugout "told you so!" meaning he would get a hit off this P. He is fully expecting to get plunked next week when they play them again.

That is a LIFE LESSON!

A Lot of Games

Now we start gearing up, since YSSS' team has been idle for about a month.
OSSS played in 6 games since Friday night:

American Legion - game Friday

Extreme - 2 games Saturday in NYEB (seedings)

Extreme - 1 game Sunday AM in NYEB (lost and done)

American Legion - DH Sunday afternoon

Between the two Sons of SoulSlam they have 7 games this week. Busy is good. OSSS is playing 1B on club team and mostly LF and catcher on Legion team. So that is fine...I like the idea he plays elsewhere. Truth is he's a better firstbaseman that the one they have there though. But that's also one of his best friends so he doesn't mind.

YSSS' 13U travel team starts it up tomorrow. We are down to 9 players for this game, so if somebody gets hurt over tehe next 48 it's gonna be rough. YSSS is now playing mostly 1B or 3B, which he likes. Worked on his 1B skills this weekend, so he's better prepped for games. He's awesome.

Havin' A Heatwave

For a couple of days...people complaining last weekend when it was in the 60's...now complaining when it's in the 80's. Move to San Diego if you can't cope, humans.

And the first pool update (I think) of 2014. It's awesome. Had a bad green cast after a toxic rainstorm last week, but the chemist in me got it right and now it's perfect!

The Update

OSSS' team lost 3-0 in championship game. A throwing error that would have ended the inning allowed one run to score, then the pitcher for Extreme gave up a looooonggggg triple for another couple.
The pitcher got even though...he drilled the kid that took him to town with a fastball in the ribs his next time up. Some would say "punk".

Hurry Up & Wait

As SoulSlam types with his opposable thumb on his twitter machine, I sit at a metal picnic table waiting between tournament games. OSSS' club team is in championship game sometime tonight. Problem is the semi in front of ours is a 0-0 tie with no end in sight. 

My ass hurts. 

NYM

The Mets are, in a word, terrible. Really, really terrible. Just lost 7th 6th in a row, but hey, who's counting? 

Time is getting short to Win 90 games, Sandy. 90 games. That is what you said. 

The miserable never forget. 

Mr. Met has turned to crack cocaine to alleviate his depression. 

BBQ Time

Heading to Capt. Joe's for his 50th...having a BBQ.

Joe is awesome.

HYDRATE MAN!

Gotta drink them fluids.

Rainy Thursday

The rainy day cherubs have decided it's a rain day. Lots of wet stuff came down overnight and this AM...with a chance for sun to break later. But right now it's dreary out at 12:15 EDT.

OSSS supposed to have a club team practice tonight, we'll see. His Legion team played the other night, 4-3 loss. I'll reserve my comments until after this Sunday's DH. Stay tuned.

Favorite new show:
LAST WEEK TONIGHT w/ JOHN OLIVER

A Bit Tired

SoulSlam is. Hitting me hard right about....now.

Gotta get some drive to hit the G-Y-M tonite though. I do not, however, feel like going at this very minute.

And after the weekend:

YSSS' 13U team lost playoff game 5-3. Played nice D, was 0-3 at plate. He gets two days off then we work.

OSSS' 16U club team went 3-0 in pool play then lost 4-3 in all the marbles game. He was 3-5 with 4 BB's, 3 runs scored. Nice weekend.

Sunday Funday

Here's the logistics of it all:

Leave at 8AM ro take OSSS to his tourney about 35 miles away, last pool game begins at 10AM. They are 2-0 so far.

BWSS will bring YSSS to field so I can bring him to his playoff game

Leave OSSS' game at 11 to get to farther away field for noon showup. Drive looks like 50 minutes.

YSSS' 13U playoff game at 1PM.

Somehow figure out the easiast way for us all to meet up again at OSSS' championship game at 5:30PM (they have already made that win or lose)

Watch championship game

Go home

Collapse after a beer

An Update of Sorts

So on Monday we got to go back up to Newburgh NY for another day of baseball. It was LONNNNNNGGGGG. Left Casa de SoulSlam at 10AM for a 12:30 game. The game being played when we got there went to extras...so that meant the start of game 1 got pushed back to 1:20. Wow.

OSSS played 1B and batted...went 2-2 with a walk and 2 runs scored. Pretty sweet. And they won that which of course meant they would play another game. That started at 5:45pm. And OSSS didn't see the field in that one, whcih ended in a mercy. So a copule of thoughts:

Why would you pitch a guy in game 2 that pitched 4 innings in game 1. That happened.

Why don't you know the rules about deadball in HS (not MLB rules) and almost get yourself tossed.

So with playing in half the games in first tourney so far, OSSS decided to play Legion as well. I can't blame him, but I'm not a fan of Legion Ball. Maybe it's just me. I played it, but that is definitely my opinion.

You Blew It Coach

Watched the summer team that OSSS plays on. It was first day they have played as a unit; most boys were on this team last year, with OSSS and the Big Man (name withheld to protect me!) being the newcomers I think. The coach is a former All-State Catcher who coaches JV in the inner city I think. He brings a couple of players with him as well. Lots of Spanish being spoken. Which is awesome because the only kids that speak Spanish are the coach and the kids he brings.

So they play game 1, lose 5-2. OSSS played 1B, got two (2) AB's, went 0-2. Looked a little lethargic at plate. He told me on the flight ride up that he was tired. Chalk it up.

Game 2, OSSS not playing. Big Man at 1B. Now, they played together on varsity and the Big Man was never allowed near 1B. He was serviceable. Doesn't have a clue where to back up throws or take cuts however.

Pal of OSSS, we'll call him Sleepy is pitching, and doing great. He's a tough lefty and he will get better as we go. He pitches 5 and leaves with a 5-2 lead. Then the coach made the first of some questionable moves:

Put in some kid he brought who quickly loaded the bases (1B, 2B, HBP), then allowed two runs on 2 consecutive wild pitches. Wow. He was terrible.

With 1 out and #21 spitting the bit, decided to pitch the boy who had caught 13 innings on a hot sunny day. That boggles this mind.

With the starting catcher now pitching, he takes the starting SS and moves him behind plate. BTW, they have a backup catcher who was playing LF which would probably be the better move.

Put a kid he brought at SS who had the range of Stephen Hawking.

So the other (terrible BTW) team scored 8(!) runs to go up 10-5. That was the final.

So I leave you with this...because you played doesn't mean you can coach. WE SHALL SEE!

Arm Dangling 2

A followup to this little gem

So YSSS's team played far, far, away the other night. Late game about an hour away, so we finished around 9:45pm. We've played teams up around this way for years, so SoulSlam knows some of the folks in the baseball circle.

Anyway, this team used to have two brothers (twins) playing with them. After we exchange lineups, I see only one brother is playing, batting 2nd, playing CF. He's a good player. I don't think much because some of these kids play with multiple teams, yadda, yadda.

After the game, the kids dad comes up to say hello while I'm packing the Tahoe of Baseball. We exchange pleasantries (they beat us so their parents were all giddy...it's not that hard to beat us though). He then tells me the other son is on the shelf with an injury...a torn UCL! Kid had Tommy John surgery! At 13! OMG!

So I'm not casting blame. But these kids only play baseball (to the best of my knowledge), play on a lot of teams, and undoubtedly, pitch a lot. So there could be smoke at this proverbial fire.

Did Somebody Order Salami?

What the H does that mean? (Shrugs)

Memorial Day Weekend upon us...well in a few minutes or so when I evacuate the J-O-B. And we have some rain on tap, but not like last year. If methinks correctly it was pouring rain and about 50 degrees last year on Saturday. It'll be a little (but not much) better this year.

Last game of regular season for our 13U team (YSSS) tonight. Been a tough season. Team is in a funk with 2W's and 7L's to their collective name. And on the off-chance we sneak into spring playoffs, it will be against a #1 seed we will have a tremendously tough time with. I am looking forward to the end of this team for my son's sake. Get him someplace else. That's the SoulSlam plan anyhoo.

OSSS is playing in a tourney this weekend. First time these boys (by and large) will be playing together. So we see what that is.

Maybe I can catch a cold Landshark and get some pool stuff done in the meantime.

Season (Almost) Over

HS Season that is.

OSSS' team played in States last night, lost 5-1. Valiant effort. OSSS gave it his all. One game left in regular season is today.

Couple days off then it's Summer Showcase Team time. Wow. Time flies.

Arms Dangling

What is happening with all these MLB pitchers? Jose Fernandez is the latest. Ouch.

So over the weekend and esteemed panel was on MLB Network with some roundtable discussions. Talk about overuse as youth ballplayers, throwing at 100% all the time (instead of just going full tilt every so often), and the "babying" of arms were raised.

Then I saw an article about Tyler Kolek, a 6'5" 245 lb. HS Senior from Texas. Throws 100-102 MPH!

Yikes!

Hope his arm doesn't fly off when he gets to where he's going.

Man Discovers Fire

Got a call and a bunch of texts from the Bro-In-Law of SoulSlam (heretofore known as BroSlam). BroSlam got a smartphone. Not any smartphone, but an iPhone. Sweet! It's a 4S but what the hey.

Anyways...now he knows. Like a digital crack addict.

Armageddon is upon us.

Hello Sandy?

"Ummm, it's SoulSlam. I've been thinking and I can really help this team. Yeah, I know I'm older than dirt, but I've been lifting weights and I think I can really do sme damage at the SS position. SS for SoulSlam! Get it?

Anyway, get back to me boyo. I'm looking for a cool mil to tear the cover off the ball again. Adios."

---

(This is an exerpt of a call made between Sandy Alderson, GM of the NY Mets and SoulSlam. We'll keep you updated).

Nobody Cares About Hockey, Boomer.

Exactly.

Going WIth Your Best

SoulSlam does not profess to be a genius in all things...but in some I am. Take baseball. I definitely am a genius in that.

OSSS's varsity team was in the county tournament over the last week. Seed #15. Played in round 1 vs. #18 and got the W. That was last (last) Saturday. Played 3 games over the week. Best pitcher threw Monday in a win. Setting him up to pitch in MCT vs. #2 seed in round 2. In talking to OSSS, he mentioned they may not use #1 pitcher, because he 'throws a little harder and the other team will be used to that'. I thought that was odd, but maybe it was just coach talk.

We get to away field in Mo-Town on Saturday afternoon and set up on rise past OF fence. I notice a soph LHP warming up. Good kid, good pitcher. Not #1 starter though. That also means OSSS probably not playing since #1 pitcher (a senior) also plays 1B. OK, no problem. It's about the team you see. Anyway, Soph LHP (who is very good, but lacks experience) gets lit up for 5 runs in 1st inning. Ouch.

Second inning rolls around and LHP is out, #1 is now on mound, OSSS is at 1B. And for the rest of the game, it is 1-1. Bulldogs lose 6-1. I think there was a little too much coaching strategy and thinking going on, instead of seeing things for what they were. Season is still very much intact though. Teams is at 7-7 (last year they were 6-18) so they have some time to make some noise.

Like I said, it's about the team. And OSSS is a soph with a bright future ahead with this team. So I am enjoying it while I can.

Silence is Riddled with Bullets

What the F does that mean?

Anyhoo...SoulSlam hasn't been hanging out here, I've been hanging out here. That doesn't mean I've abandoned the townsfolk, just was on a sabbatical of epic proportions.
SoulSlam was in Vegas last week for the J-O-B. Working 16 hour days, so I like when people say "did you have fun"? Lots. I did get to wake up every day around 3:30AM (my internal clock is like a fine swiss instrument), walk around...just me, hookers, drunks and cops at that time. Saw Penn Jillette in McCarron while I was waiting for the redeye. He's big. No male model either.

Baseball season upon us. The Sons of SoulSlam are playing, OSSS is on HS Varsity, playing well. Get's in about half the games as a soph. His summer team starts up with a Memorial Day tournament, so that is around the corner.
YSSS is on our travel team and the MS team. Less I say about the MS team the better. He's struggling a bit so SoulSlam is gonna work a little harder with him so he can be in a better place to succeed. All you can ask for.

Dogs got skunked the other night. Always a party when that happens. Thanks to Reuben Kincaid for the remedy.
Been cool around these parts, though we get the occasional 75+ degree day. Right now it's sitting in mid-40's on a late April day. Not much precip either. So the April showers may not result in May flowers.

I've been hitting the gym lately. Joined right after New Year's and I've been faithful in going. Looking to explode. Big like house. I feel awesome. But that's a given.

Fantasy BB Begins!

We have a team called...wait for it, wait for it....SoulSlam. We are very in love with this name. It is run by SoulSlam himself and OSSS.

Season begins in earnest today. Well, I have Kenley Jansen but Brian Wilson derialed my save opportunity last night.
Here's my better position players:

Miguel Cabrera

Andrew McCutcheon

Freddie Freeman

Josh Hamilton (I know)

And my pitchers:

Chris Sale

Zack Wheeler

Trevor Rosenthal

Kenley Jansen

Clay Bucholtz

12 team league, lots of ball-busting within a select group. As it should be. Fantasy sports are self-deprecating by nature.

Opening Day! (Sorta)

Let's forget about the games down under,
Where women glow and men plunder?
Can't you hear, can't you hear the thunder?
You better run, you better take cover"

Oh, sorry.....

Finally here! Awesome!

This Gets An...

The point of this blog is to blog...to rant...to make fun of...to laugh at life's little absurdities. So imagine my surprise when the literary world of the small country of Liechtenstein, which has about 34,000 citizens according to the WWW, contacted me to let me know I am everyone's favorite writer. I was floored.

Perhaps one day I can visit my fans. All 34,000 of them.

---

BTW, this is my 1000th Post!!! YOU'RE WELCOME!!!

Actually a Nice a Day!!!!

Sitting at OSSS' HS, waiting to p/u after baseball practice. And I'm marveling at what a nice day it is. Outside temp is a sunny 54, and it looks like the snow is going to finally get beat. 

Excitement!!!

Missing You

There. I said it. I am missing one Alex Rodriguez, #13.

Everyday I pick up the NY Daily News and NY Post, and the stories are the same. And they don't include A-Rod. And that is sad. Because A-Rod was always an awesome read. Minotaurs! Hookers! Cameron Diaz! Sunning himself! Jeter jealousy! The list goes on and on.

And out of deference to the man, I decided not to use a picture that is condescending, like the one below.

Ohhhh...my bad, A-Rod.