Opening Day

I don't count the game the night before, thanks for asking. (although it was nice to see the Phil's cough one up!)

Today is the day - OPENING DAY! All over the good ol' USA (and one point north of the border), every MLB team has exactly the same record and by theory, the same chance to win it all so many months down the line. But theory isn't all it's cracked up to be Einstein.

In the good news dept. - the NY Mets won a 2-1 contest vs. the Big Red Machine in Cincy. Santana with the win, K-Rod with the save, Murphy with a HR and two RBI. Very nice.

In the good news if you hate the Yankees dept. - NYY loses a loooong one to the Orioles by a score of 10-5. CC gave up a six-pack, but was mysteriously wearing what appeared to be a heating pad in between innings on the bench. The big man said he was just trying to stay warm. Sure you were. And Joe Girardi (aka Clueless Joe) had the wisdom to say "Sometimes, you feel great, and the results aren't what you want. He said he was fine."
A SoulSlam prediction: I give Girardi until June 1 before he's shown the door.

Anyway, a lot of baseball on today - right now I have MLB Network on and I'm flipping back and forth with the A's - Angels on ESPN. Baseball is back. Yeah baby.

Field of Dreams

And like a dream, the new Citi Field, home of the NY Mets is something out of baseball heaven.

I went to Shea for about 35 years, and I've probably seen 100 games or so at that monolith. I would go to other team's ballparks with a spark of jealousy - Citizen's Bank in Philly and Camden Yards being the two that come to mind. Well now, the fans of the Amazin's have a new place to call their own. And if I had to, I'd say it's kind of a cross between the two aforementioned parks. Sweet.

The weather was a little rough - we had some pretty nasty winds, which is saying something considering we're about a 1/2 mile off the bay. But the park was so special for everyone, it didn't really matter. The SoulSlam's had tickets four rows back of the Mets dugout. Outstanding. Great sitelines all around. A large concourse that goes all the way around, and a cool fanzone that included some live-toss batting cages, a wiffle ball park and a dunk tank (they were dunking but no agua). Food stands are everywhere, but if I heard a complaint or two, it was the long lines on these. Prices are what NY ballpark prices are nowadays - not cheap.

Anyway, had a great day, one that I hope my boys remember like I remember the first time I went to Shea.

And just so I reveal all - the Ollie P. Odyssey (OPO) is apparently just beginning. When you can't get out of the first, it may be time to make some adjustments amigo.

The Bad Guy

So it had to happen - if you have not heard, the NY Mets (SoulSlam's approved brand) has signed Mr. Gary Sheffield. Here you go...







Here's the way I think of Sheff - I don't vouch that everything is 100% accurate, just what I remember.

Nephew of Dwight "Doc" Gooden

Currently sitting on 499 homers

Accused Joe Torre of being a racist

Notorious jake (see Manny Ramirez)

Played in the LL World Series, lost to Taiwan

Enormously talented ballplayer

Once friends with Bonds but had a falling out

Steroid abuser

Mets would be the 8th team in his MLB career

So maybe that bat will help the cause - at this point you can't argue with the signing for the dough.

And tomorrow SoulSlam and family will venture to CitiField for the Mets-Red Sox exhibition game. Excited I am. I'll try to get you some pics by Sunday.

Good Advice

I always tell my sons this:

Do your best in school and work towards a career you will enjoy when you get older. let me tell you, when you don't have that (and the economy is a b***h), work becomes miserable...and spills into your life.

Not happy.

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.