I'll Be Carefull. You'll Be Dead

That's it! I'm fed up with all the BS and lies.  We need new rules for injuries in baseball. This isn't football where you can be probable, or questionable, or even "maybe-ish". This is baseball where you are either injured (and on the DL) or not.

That is except when it comes to the All-Star Game. You know that time of year when fans who don't buy luxury suites and name stadiums actually count. Well they count more then they should when they get 21 votes per day (per email address) to vote in their favorite stiffs who but we'll get into that in a moment.  First I want to air my grievances over the way injuries to players are handled differently this time of year vs. any other time in the pre, regular, or post season.  Why is it that players who aren't voted in by the fans, aren't picked by the players, aren't selected by the manager, and don't make the cut in the final fan vote get to come and play because a player selected by one of those methods is too injured to play (but managed to play 9 innings per game for 6 games leading up to the break)?  Why is it that a player who's been riding the DL for a good chunk of the season still gets voted into the game by the fans? Stats don't count?  And why is it that the same player who's been injured leading up to the game can still participate in the home run derby?  Lets take a crack at both answering these questions and setting up some new rules that Commissioner Seilig.

Rule 1: You are not eligible for All Star Game selection if you have not played at least 75% of the first half of the season. 
Fans are stupid. Don't believe me? They voted in Pablo Sandoval as the starting third basemen over David Wright who is arguably having an MVP season. Matt Kemp received many of his 3 million+ votes AFTER he went on the DL on May 30. Go back now and look at the stats and Kemp doesn't even have enough at bats to qualify for a batting average rank. Sandoval who was hurt for almost a month has 60 fewer at bats then other NL Third Basemen (Wright/Freese).  The rule should read that if you are not playing at least 75% of your team's games (adjusted for starting pitchers...approximately 20-25%) you do not get to be called an all-star (even if you are voted in by the fans). This would also eliminate Bryce Harper from playing, which again, is not (yet) deserved. Note: Mike Trout would still qualify for the game and deserves to be here. He stole 26 bases (2nd in all of baseball) and hit 12 HR and 40 RBI (all much better numbers then Sandoval btw!)

Rule 2: You are not eligible to participate in any All-Star game festivities (Home Run Derby, Celebrity Softball Game, or Competitive Circle Jerk) if you are on the DL going into the break.
So let me get this. The Dodgers are holding on to their season with a wing and a prayer waiting for Matt Kemp to get back, but don't worry. He's honing his skills by competing in the Home Run Derby. And just in case you were wondering, he's tied for 26th in Home Runs in the National League (behind notables like Tyler Colvin, Brian LaHair, and Ian Desmond). You can't play in the regular season, you can't play in the All Star game or related activities.

Rule 3: If you are too injured to play in the All Star Game you must miss (at least) the first 10 games of the second half of the season. 
Ian Desmond  has a bad left oblique. He wants to rest it over the break. Well guess what, you were selected, you will play in the game! If Heir Seilig wants us to believe that the All Star Game really counts then a player (especially one on a potential playoff team) should be expected to play. If you're too injured to play then you should be forced on to the DL and have to miss at least 10 games following the break. Players will either choose to don crutches or have miraculous recoveries. Either way it's a win. The only exception to this rule is if a player goes on the DL prior to the end of the first half of the season. I understand that injuries happen. I'm not a total a-hole (just a partial one).

These rules protect the fans, the players, and the game. It's very important that they be implemented immediately. I'm not kidding. If these don't get taken care of there will be hell to play (mostly in the form of Nickle Beer Night in Milwaukee and Auto-Tune Demolition Night in seven MLB cities).

We Are In First Place

To put it another way, we haven't taken a chance in blowing yet.

Today is Opening Day! In a few hours my lovable loosing Mets take the fieldwork what could be a really ugly (Pittsburgh Pirates type) season. But I'm going to be optimistic and say that it will only be a one bag on the head year. I joke!

Actually, I do have high hopes for this year. I'm not so crazy as to predict the playoffs but I don't think they will stink as bad as others think, no matter how bad they were this spring. Look, the team is healthy and they are starting Santana today, that has to count for something. Ike and David are back and healthy on the corners, and Murphy is healthy and getting more comfortable at second. Plus Jason Bay can't suck any worse and may even her a little better. Maybe.

This division still goes through Philadelphia and Atlanta but anything can happen.

Let's go Mets!

Bliss, Earthquake Requests, and Speed

Breathe deeply my dear readers. Yesterday was a yearly phenomenon that has been occurring since the dawn of time (or at least for most of the last 100 or so years). Baseball’s opening day occurred all over this great land (except where it was raining, snowing, or windy). Included in those festivities were my New York Mets enjoying the lovely spring weather in Cincinnati. Yes, the fans were out in the cold rain as the temperatures dropped from a perky 49 at first pitch to a slightly annoying 40 degrees by the seventh inning. Oh how those out in the bleachers looked pleased to be there. It was truly their smiles that brought out the glow on the field. Or was that the lights in the stadium because the sun never came out. I can’t really complain (or can I?) because the Mets showed strong defense, pitching, and timely hitting to start the season off on a high note with a win, but when will Major League Baseball get that just because it’s April, it doesn’t mean it’s warm and sunny all over the US! For the future, let’s try to keep all opening day games south of Kansas City, unless the home team has a dome/retractable roof. This way we can actually get all the games in on the first day.

I never want to encourage hurting people (unless I really don’t like them), but I have a request for the folks over at the US Geological Survey (the Federal agency in charge of creating earthquakes) could pinpoint a Magnitude 7 earthquake right under the anchor desk of the new Sports Center studio in Los Angeles. I don’t want to have any of the camera crew or other technical people hurt, I just want a small hole to open in the Earth’s crust and swallow Stuart Scott whole! Whose bright idea was it to put Sports Center in LA? The show takes place entirely in a windowless studio...why the hell would I care that they are now in Los Angeles? Additionally the “suits” over in Bristol, CT didn’t plan this launch around some major area sporting event (the above mentioned Opening Day” isn’t really large enough to count). If they were launching “Sports Center Detroit” (Final 4) or “Sports Center New Hampshire” launching on April 12 (Big Wind Day) it would make a little more sense. Also the aforementioned lazy eyed host (Scott) needs to have somebody show him the back of his head in a mirror. Either shave your whole head or grow your hair out, not only is the Mohawk look OUT, but you’re like 40 years old...nobody thinks your cool...stop trying!

Finally today, last week I spoke of a new sprinting work out that I’m experimenting with to increase my running speed. You can go back and read the whole thing here. But the bottom line is here are the distances run, the times I should be hitting, and finally my average times from yesterday.

10 x 100 yards / 15-18 seconds / 17-19 seconds
8 x 80 yards / 11-15 seconds / 13-15 seconds
6 x 60 yards / 8-11 seconds / 10-12 seconds
4 x 40 yards / 5-8 seconds / 7-9 seconds

So I am hitting the goal comfortably in some distances but struggling in the shorter ones. Now I went all out on the 40 yard dashes yet my time (in running shoes on a grass/mud soccer field) would barely register at the NFL Combines (on dry turf with cleats) among the 300+ pound linemen run and blown away by the world record sprinters. Oh well, I guess I have to keep plugging away (or put on 200 pounds).

Yo Commish…How ‘Bout A Loan?

Only 3 players made more money then you. You can count that on one hand; one, two, three. See. How is that possible? Players are greedy and employee even greedier agents who take money from the greediest of all, the owners. Oh yeah you were once an owner but no more.

See I don’t understand how you who has tried not only to kill but also to burry this game so many times (I can’t count them on BOTH hands) since you took over in ’92, can make so much money. Hell for the record, I’d do the damn job for 1% of your salary. By the way Bud, that comes out to roughly $183k a year.

I must know who your agent is? How many owners did he/she have to sleep with to get them to agree to pay you more then $18 million a year? Geeze…no wonder nobody likes you. You should really think of taking an oath of poverty for a few years to improve relations between the owners and the players. Also how is it you still have that $5 hair cut and $40 suit on? Do you not have time to go shopping? Go to the Barber?

Bud, I don’t really like to rip on you like this. It’s not what I do best. That’s what politicians are for. But face it, you’re a tool…a very rich tool…but still a tool.

This Is Why I'm a Fan

I really wasn’t going to watch. I can’t watch anymore. If I do, I’m going to start pulling out what’s left of my hair.

The Mets play this season has been enough to give me a heart condition but yet I still watch and as of late they’ve really turned things around. That is until the bullpen comes in; then it gets interesting.

Such was the case Tuesday night in Philadelphia where the bullpen blew a 2 run lead and then lost the game in extra innings. I said I can’t possibly watch the game last night; it would drive me mad. Against my better judgment, I watched the opening inning to see the Mets open the game with a 1-0 lead, only to loose it after the bottom of the inning 2-1 (the Phillies added another run in the 2^nd inning for a 3-1 lead). I went downstairs to make dinner.

As I sat there with my tuna melt and a beer, the bug bit me again. I HAD to watch...I had no choice! When you’re a fan, you have to watch. You have to cheer, and you have to cry occasionally as your team ebbs and flows it’s way through a season.

The wonderful technology behind satellite television and the MLB baseball package allows me to see my team almost every night and when I do I can see the local NY broadcast (complete with Gary, Keith, and Ron) which is a special treat. I don’t have to wait until the highlights come up on Sports Center’s rundown, just tune in and begin to become a fan again.

I’m reminded of this as Major League Baseball becomes the final of the four “Major” sports (Football, Basketball, and Hockey) to embrace the technology of instant replay. Those of us who watch the games on TV have had instant replay for years (technically since the 1963 Army Navy Game) and can review a particular plays intricate parts with slow mo, close ups, and reverse angles. If you have one of those new fangled DVRs you can even control how many times you see these. But the one thing that made baseball the greatest of the four sports is the human factor of the umpires. They occasionally blow a called strike or a close play at first but your team will get its share of calls too.

For now replay will only be in effect for homeruns that are either foul/fair and balls that go over the fence or hit the top. But for how long? When are we going to put cameras to review balls and strikes? Ever since baseball was invented, man has had to use his eyes to make the proper call. It’s the reason a fiery manager bolts from the dugout, turns his hat around, and kicks dirt on and umps shoes. It’s the reasons fans boo unmercifully and others count their blessings that they got a call to go their teams way. This is one of the cores of baseball....any team can go out any day and win a game (or loose a game as the case may be).

Clearly I am not in favor of replay even if my Mets got a few Home Runs stolen from them by umps who called their balls foul. Baseball is tradition, baseball is pure, and baseball is America. And dammmit I’m not ready to trounce on America....I ain’t no Commie!

Stop that F-in Cursing!

Maybe I’m getting old. I don’t know. Things now bother me that I used to never give a second thought to. For one thing, cursing in public. Now, before you go “well Bloggerman...you curse all the time.”, well you’re motherf-@#$@#$g right I do. But I have deeply curtailed my cursing in public places and especially when there are young children around.

I was reminded of this when attending some baseball games this week (my Mets swept the Nationals btw). Even though we had “prime” seats in the lower two seating areas, there were still a ton of profanities thrown around in complete ear shot. I have to think young kids these days are becoming more immune to the cursing because it’s everywhere from music to the internet but call me old fashioned because I still think they shouldn’t have to hear it until their parents curse them out as a 12 year old brat. I saw some guy doing it as I got of the subway this morning too. There probably aren’t any kids walking downtown at 730am during the middle of the week but it’s more the principal then anything.

However we need to be aware that there are plenty of times that cursing is perfectly appropriate such as the field of play. Cursing “within the lines of play” is just fine with me as sometimes you have to drop an F-bomb when you strike out (not that I’ve ever had to worry about that!) Case in point is one of my favorite tennis players of all time, John McEnroe getting thrown out of a match in Rhode Island last night. The article says he was tossed “...for a new kind of triple fault: cursing, arguing with the chair umpire and making an obscene gesture at fans.” How great is that.??

Kids, this is who you should be watching!

New Beer in the Fridge and Dogs at the Park

Surprisingly enough not the “hot” variety although with a lack of shade Hunter and the Mooks were fairly warm. They kept cool with water and shade under our seats as well as with walks every inning or so into the concessions area.

This past Sunday we took the two mutts down to “Dog Days” at a local minor league park. Mooks of course made friends right away with one of the visiting team’s pitchers who even gave her a ball which quickly found it’s way into her jaws!

Surprisingly all the fans were really good about the dogs being down in the field box with us and they all looked after them when we got a bit overwhelmed.

Photo ops abounded as you can see from our little collage, as we found time with each other, other pooches, the mascot (Uncle Slam) and even Hunter with the Hooter’s Girls! He has been spending way too much time with Crazy Uncle Bloggerman and his Daddy!

By the end of the day the excitement, heat, and car ride was enough to put both puppies out for the better part of the evening. This lead to a nice dinner with our friends and their relations who had stopped by. At said dinner we got to try the newest product from the Budweiser family, Bud Light Lime. It’s billed as BL with a touch of lime.

Before you say “Ewww!”, think of a Corona without tasting like Corona (ass). It’s smooth, cool, easy drinking, and went great with the Mexican/Salvadorian fiesta we enjoyed that evening. With this said, I only recommend BLL during summer months as it may be too light during the winter.

This is Bloggerman and this has been your beer review.

Take Me Out to the Ball Game

Opening Day is here! Or to be more accurate was here, last night, at least in DC. And while the real opening day was a week ago in Japan, I don’t count that farce that Major League Baseball wants me to buy. Don’t ask me to believe you opened the season last week in Japan with the Red Sox and A’s only to have them come back to the US and play exhibition games. Again, Selig, you screwed up!

But back to the lecture at hand, Opening Day started with a boom last night as DC not only premiered a new stadium (gorgeous at that) but won the game on a bottom of the ninth, two-out, home run by Ryan Zimmerman. Talk about the way to celebrate your new home! Before the game started though, our esteemed and most maligned (much of it here) President, George Bush threw out the first pitch.

The President throwing out the first pitch is a tradition that dates back to the early 1900’s and Howard Taft, and usually POTUS is warmly received (even Nixon was cheered). Only once, before last night, was a President booed, Truman in 1951. It was one week after he fired McArthur (it was well deserved if you read David Halberstam’s The Coldest Winter). This year it was Bush’s turn. When W. came out to the mound the majority of the fans were booing.

How great of a country do we live in? Where else in the world can you boo and jeer the leader of your country without reservation about being put on a “list”, being dragged out of your house in the middle of the night and tossed into prison, or being beaten by a secret police force right on the spot. Does he deserve it? Absolutely. Should it have been done/said? No.

Folks, we are a civilized society. I think that’s something that we forget about in this battle for the White House between Dems and Repubs. This is only politics, not life or death. When you are in a situation where you meet the leader of this country, even if you don’t agree with his policies, you don’t boo him. Instead you shake his hand and say “Nice to meet you, Mr. President”. When he throws out the first pitch, you don’t have to cheer him, just stay quiet. Don’t teach your bad habits to your young child sitting in the seat next to you. We are becoming more divided as a society and need to “heal” when and where ever we can.

The more you know!

Have Apple, Will Travel

Finally I can come with good news. The Apple Is Coming! No, not the red coats but the Apple.

That would be the “Home Run” apple from Shea Stadium. It is coming with the Mets when they open their new stadium, Citi Field, next year. Here’s the article from ESPN.

However Jeff Wilpon, the Mets CEO, might want to rethink his biology lessons when he closed with “’I was at Shea Stadium groundbreaking in my mother's belly,’ he said. ‘To be here for Opening Day should be pretty exciting.’"

Um, Jeff, you are a big boy now, you can say you were at the original groundbreaking in your mothers “womb” or if you want to really get biological, “uterus.” This science lesson has been brought to you by the letter “E” and the number “43.567”.