"Prose is architecture, not interior decoration, and the Baroque is over." -Ernest Hemingway

We Need All-Stars in San Francisco

July 7, 2010 by Leave a Comment

MLB All-Star Game Anaheim 2010

Update 11-01-10: Obviously, I stand corrected. The Giants got it together and made me happy to admit that I was wrong. Amazing how quickly the outlook can change.

The San Francisco Giants started off the season pretty hot. They gave us fans hope that we had over come the hitting struggles of last year. They got our hopes up for a playoff berth in 2010.

Then they crushed us.

They reverted back to the San Francisco Giants of last season–perhaps worse. Don’t get me wrong. I still love the Giants. I still have hope. But I have this sinking feeling it will end much the same as least season–so close, but not quiet close enough. Upon looking at the 2010 All-Star Game roster for both the AL and NL, I think I’ve figured out our problem. We need All-Stars. Not former All-Stars like Freddy Sanchez. Not future All-Stars like Buster Posey. Current All-Star players.

But wait? Don’t the Giants have two All-Stars this year? Yes, and they are both pitchers. Everyone in baseball knows pitching isn’t the Giants problem, hitting is. Besides, Tim Lincecum, as much as I love him, wasn’t maybe quiet up to All-Star par this season, at least so far. And Brian Wilson? Well, he’s not called the “Cardiac Kid” for nothing. He’s a tough pitcher, but he’s sure tough on Giants fans too.

There was write-in campaigns for Juan Uribe and Aubrey Huff, both who have been hot this season. But that’s just the thing. They’re not obvious candidates. They’re after-thoughts to the All-Star selection. They may not be after-thoughts to Giants fans. I love them both. But when they are the best hitters on our team in “must have a hit” situations, that is a problem. I think Huff should have been on the roster. I hope he keeps playing like he has been and if he does, he will be an All-Star next year. But that’s next year and we have to hope San Francisco can keep him. [Read more...]

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Boston, Cooperstown and Baseball

July 6, 2010 by Leave a Comment

Fenway Park // Boston

I’m currently planning my trip to some of the best places for baseball fans on the earth. Boston and Cooperstown. Fenway Park and the Baseball Hall of Fame. The Green Monster and the very best baseball players who have ever lived.

Ever since I had this dream way back in July of 2007 of visiting all the ball parks over the next few years I’ve knocked out 11 stadiums. 11 isn’t a bad number, except that I visited all 11 in 2008.  Last year I decided to go to Spring Training in the Phoenix area for the first time. I also went this year, as it is likely to be a yearly event now. The point is that I’ve lagged off after that first year of excitement.

So this year I resolved to go to at least one new ball park. Since it’s higher on my priority list than say, Kansas City, I decided this was the year for Boston. I also decided since Cooperstown is relatively close, I should go there was well. If you don’t know what Cooperstown is, it is the home to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Of course, I’m doing some other touristy stuff while I’m there like sight-seeing Boston, spending a couple of nights in Hyannis Port, MA, and catching up with some friends.

However, let’s be honest:  This trip is about baseball. And September is the most exciting month for baseball.

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If I had unlimited time and money

June 29, 2010 by Leave a Comment

Baseball stadiums I haven't seen

Google Maps
Someday I’ll get there. 18 more to go after this year!

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Spring Training 2010

March 23, 2010 by Leave a Comment

image

Home from spring training. I’m starting to become quiet fond of the Phoenix area. I’ll post a few pictures later and what I thought of the Giants and Angels.

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Giants are chipping away

May 13, 2009 by Leave a Comment

The SF Giants are slowly chipping away at the Dodgers’ lead in the NL West. Down to 3 games behind.

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George W. Bush can be blamed on one man: Bud Selig

February 24, 2009 by Leave a Comment

A few months back I read this article, or one similar to it. It basically gives me my basis for claiming that everything is Bud Selig’s fault. The War. The economy. Job losses. Mortgage crisis. Eight years of George W. Bush.

Here is the rundown.

Back in 1994, Bud Selig, then owner of the Milwaukee Brewers, was the acting commissioner of Major League Baseball after the owners had ousted Fay Vincent in 1992. It was thought that the owners were going to find a permanent commissioner and George W. Bush, then an owner of the Texas Rangers, was a potential candidate. As reported in Sheehy’s column (2000 Vanity Fair Article), Bush wanted to be the commissioner of baseball more than anything else in his life, and when he was approached by Texas Republicans about running for governor, he initially put them off, thinking that he was in line to become the commissioner.

But alas, Bud Selig had other plans. He kept the job for himself after a six year search.

Just think how things could’ve been if not for this man. We know Bush would’ve cracked down on the steroids much sooner than Selig. He could’ve hunted them down! Al Gore might have been President, or at least anyone else that could have been better. See, I think W. would have made an excellent Baseball Commissioner. How much more likeable would he have been to the world? But no, the selfishness of one man led to the where we’re at today. And no one can say that is a good thing. Perhaps, if Selig had made Bush Baseball Commissioner, we might actually be able to afford to take our families to the Great American Pastime game.

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Only One October

October 19, 2008 by Leave a Comment

Tonight the World Series teams have been determined. I haven’t done many baseball blogs lately, but gotta get this one in.

Tampa Bay Rays. Philadelphia Phillies. Seriously?! I mean, can anyone honestly say pre-season they picked these two teams for the World Series? Can anyone (other than fans of those teams) honestly say that they would have picked either of these teams? I think not.

Tampa Bay was the worst team in baseball last year and have never been to a World Series. They’ve never been to the playoffs for that matter in their ten years. Maybe dropping “Devils” from their name helped out.

The Phillies haven’t been to the World Series since 1993. That’s five years before Tampa even had a baseball team! Their only World Series win was in 1980. Coincidentally, did you know that they used to be the Philadelphia Quakers? Really only in 1883 (105 years before Tampa had a team), was that the official name before they started using the Phillies, but it officially ended in 1889. I’m thinking of Phillies fans now and picturing those hard-core fans cheering for the Quakers. If you bring your horse and buggy into Philly from New York, expect to have your horse tagged up.

Okay, so now is the time for me to make a prediction. I’m torn really. I want both teams to win in some way, but at the same time, have no connection to either. I have reasons to want them both to lose as well. So here is what I’m going with…Tampa Bay will win their first World Series. I however, will be cheering for Philly.

I’ve already told you why. I cheer for NL teams unless they are on my bad list. But I’ll be equally as happy for whoever wins. Besides, if Philly can win a World Series after a long drought, that gives me hope for my Pittsburgh Pirates!

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What About Those Phillies?

October 5, 2008 by Leave a Comment

Yeah, that’s not something I ever thought I’d ever say and really mean. But, you gotta do what you gotta do. What I have to do is root for anyone to beat the Dodgers, even if it’s the Phillies.

I say this also knowing that rumor has it that Philly fans are the worst and most obnoxious in baseball. I hear if you go to a Phillies game and have New York plates on your car, you can expect something bad to happen to your car.

I almost always cheer for NL teams over AL teams in the World Series. If the Dodgers win the NL, I can’t do that. As a Giants fan and as a Cubs fan, I simply cannot cheer for the Dodgers. I’m not sure how I’m going to cheer for the Phillies being a Pirate fan, but somehow, I’ll muster up the courage.

Besides, next year is the Pirates year. I just know it.

More baseball later. I’m disgusted at the Postseason so far.

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New York Yankees

September 24, 2008 by Leave a Comment
From Yankees 08

This is it. The legendary Yankee Stadium, 1923–2008. The House the Ruth Built. Yogi Berra. Mickey Mantle. Joe DiMaggio. Lou Gehrig. Reggie Jackson. Just to name a few of the greats.

So, prior to the game, I got there early. I browsed the souvenir shops and had dinner at Yankee Tavern. It’s been around since 1923 and owned by the same family. Apparently the Babe was a frequent there as well. How cool is that? So the food was only average, but you don’t really go to a place like that for the food.

First thing I noticed that day. It was raining. A lot. I’ll go ahead and say now that the game got rained out. It sucked. A lot. I wanted to cry. However, here is the positive side of the evening. They still let people into the stadium because they didn’t call the game until over an hour after it was supposed to start. So I still had 2 hours to wander around inside Yankee Stadium. It’s old obviously. I know it’s been renovated over the years, but it’s still an old ballpark.

Second thing. Maybe the coolest thing. They have this memorial area in the back of the park, outside of Left Field. Big memorials for old players. Retired numbers. Fans can go there and look at them. By the time I realized it was there and walked down there, they had it closed off because of the rain. But again, I mostly got to see it. Apparently these things used to actually be on the field. How weird is that?

Third thing. I didn’t eat there, so I can’t comment on the food, so I’ll tell you about my seat. It was right by the right field foul pole. No, not near it. Right by it. I could touch it. In fact, I did.

From Yankees 08

See? I told you I touched it. Fourth. Yes. That is me in a poncho (I told you it was raining), and a Yankees cap. Yes, I bought that Yankees cap. Please forgive me. Honestly, I really do hate the Yankees, but I couldn’t help myself. I got caught up in the magic and the history. And that, my friends, is what makes Yankee Stadium a great ballpark. I’m sad I never got to see a game there, but I did have the full game day experience minus the actual game. I walked the paths of the greats. But I’m still sad. Did I mention how much it sucked? A lot? I’d tell you I cried myself to sleep that night, but I don’t think I slept that night (early morning flight), so I spent most of the night watching Hurricane Ike destroy Galveston. It put things into perspective for me. But it still sucked. A lot.

Do you want to see the new Yankee Stadium?

From Yankees 08

There it is. Just for you.

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New York Mets

September 24, 2008 by Leave a Comment
From Mets 08

The New York Mets. This was a pretty nice day too. I hit the Mets up my very first day in New York City. I literally got off the plane that morning, went to check-in at the hostel, took a short nap because I flew all night and headed out to Shea Stadium.

First things first. This is the last season in Shea Stadium (and if the Mets don’t pick it up, their last game there if fast approaching). I know everyone things of the Mets as “that other New York team,” but you shouldn’t. I won’t get into the history of the Mets right here and now, maybe another time, but you should really read up on the Mets history. Maybe you can start here. Back to the point at hand. The Mets will be moving into a new stadium next season as well. CitiField to be exact. In the photo above, if you look and see that stadium looking building behind the field…that indeed is the new stadium and probably why it looks like one.

Second thing. Shea Stadium is kinda a dump. Not like Oakland dump, but come on, are cup holders for the cheap seats too much to ask? They need a new stadium.

Third thing. They mostly take care of their field from what I could tell. I wasn’t super impressed but I didn’t notice any of the above mentioned pet peeves.

Last thing. I know I will probably get hate mail for this (at least from Jeff) but the Mets have the most involved fans of the games I’ve been to this season. I’m not saying they have the best fans. I’m not saying overall they are the most involved in the game. I’m simply saying, of the games I’ve been to this season, the Mets fans were the best. They were into the game. They cheered for their players. They chanted songs about players. Jose, Jose, Jose, Jose, Joseeeeee, Joseeeeee. They booed Elijah Dukes of the Nationals for being himself. They stayed til the end of of the really long game. They got there early. They played games outside the stadium and gave away t-shirts. And they were just plain nice people.

Overall, I really liked my Shea experience. The food was good too. I ate a lot of food there because I was starving. Pizza. Hotdog. Cotton Candy. Other stuff I’m forgetting.

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