OK. If you didn’t see the game last night, the finish was fantastic. Bad in a baseball sense, but good for thrill-seekers.

*** SPOILER ALERT!!! READ NO FURTHER IF YOU TiVO’d the game ***

OK… so for those of you who either don’t have a DVR or don’t care about the outcome, here we go…

It was a rather uneventful game, except for a few cool moments. Ichiro hit an inside-the-parker. He rounded the bases like it was nothing. By the time the outfielder retrieved the ball, he probably could have gone half way around again. That guy is ridiculous. And if I could say it in Japanese, I would, just so I’d be sure he could understand how I feel. Suffice it to say that he is probably the best pure hitter in the game right now — (yes, including BARRY) — and don’t even get me started on the fact that the guy can plain out FLY on the bases. Silly good. And he’s a pretty good fielder as well.

Speaking of “Fielders”… I know there’s a lot of emotion and hype and all for the game, and the players probably have the an equivalent amount of adreneline in their systems as if they had just downed a case of Red Bull, but what’s up with Prince Fielder dropping a simple throw to first? That was plain out sad. Coming from an ex-first baseman, there was no excuse for dropping that ball. And I wasn’t a perfect “Fielder” either, but I feel like I should be able to throw some stones here. Maybe Prince should think about dropping that last name of his and just going by his moniker… oh wait, that name’s already been taken by the Purple One.

OK, so a lot of stuff happened blah blah blah and then as usual, the American League pulls ahead and is leading 5-2 going into the final inning. Then a 2-run shot by another ridiculous hitter Soriano.. so it’s 5-4. (Side note: I find it funny that he hit it off a reliever whose last name is “Putz” — even if he does have 24 saves and a sub 1.00 ERA)

There are 2 outs. They bring in Francisco Rodrigez. He proceeds to walk the bases loaded, and if it weren’t for some fine defensive catching by Posada it would have been tied. Finally Rowand flied out to end the game, but the NLA almost pulled it out… almost. Oh well. It’s been 10 years… they’ve got to be due SOON.

I read an interesting stat the other day… the starting salaries of the NLA — $52mil. The ALA — over $120mil. No wonder they always win.

“Take me out to the ballgame…”

New dictionary includes ‘ginormous’

OK, fine. But do they also list ‘hugemungous’? I think not.

So there.

I watched the Homerun Derby last night… not all of it, cause it is INTERMINABLY LONG… but I watched a nice chunk of it nonetheless. It was difficult to tune out the incessant banter of Chris Berman’s “backbackbackbackback” but I managed to do so for most of the evening and just catch the highlights. I was disappointed in Ryan Howard’s showing, but I didn’t expect him to put on the same show he did the previous year anyway. Oh well. I guess that players other than Phillies are allowed to win every once and a while…

There’s a great article by Jayson Stark on how to improve the Derby for next year…check it out if you have the chance. He is awesome, and I highly recommend anything he writes or says. He is fantastic and very insightful, not to mention entertaining.

I’ve been tagged by Deb to give you eight random facts about me…I have to post these rules before I give you the facts. Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves. People who are tagged need to write their own blog about their eight things and post these rules. At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog. I’m not sure I even know 8 people who blog, let alone 8 that haven’t already done this, but I’ll try anyway.

Fact #1 — I’m semi-ambidextrous. Now I say “semi” cause there aren’t all that many things that I do left handed, but enough that make me a little weird (imagine that!). I bat left-handed (although I throw RH), play golf left-handed and even sleep on my left side. I hold my cell phone with my left hand and usually only drive with my left hand. One other cool fact — my left hand is really way more advanced when playing the piano than it should be, enough so that when I tried out for my highschool jazzband, I actually soloed with my left hand instead of my right. The band leader was floored… and I got in. To be honest, the solo wasn’t all that good, but I think he just thought it was cool. So do I.

Fact #2 — I sorta like mowing the lawn. I think I developed an affinity for it in highschool when I got to go out and put on my headphones and mow… and just kinda fade away into the music. Also something about making those little back and forth strips in the yard made it almost look like some of the major league parks with the criss-cross pattern of grass in the outfield. A littlle odd, I know… but I thought it was worth sharing.

Fact #3 — I hardly ever do any casual reading. It’s bad, I know… cause I do actually enjoy a good book (when I have time). I usually only get a chance to do it on vacations (plane rides, etc) or when I’m sick or something. Which leads me to…

Fact #4 — I hardly ever get sick. Maybe I just ignore it when I am. I get sniffles and sore throats and stuff but I usually don’t think much about it at the time… but I really only get “stay-home-from-work-cancel-your-plans” sick about once every two or three years or so. Call it good genes, call it luck, call it something else… but I guess I’m blessed in that area.

Fact #5 — I am VERY uptight about needing to know how things are going to happen in the near future. Ask Sarah. I need to know directions 3 turns out. I think through different scenarios and plan out my responses way in advance. I over-analyze conversations to the point of silence. Maybe that’s good in some ways, but sometimes it’s very annoying to others I’m sure. Oh well.

Fact #6 — I like lima beans. Seriously. I know most people hate them, but my brother, father and I all love them. Don’t know why. But they’re yummy.

Fact #7 — I learned how to play chess in 2nd grade. Now maybe that’s not a big deal, but it is kind of odd for an 8 year old. I had a bunch of friends at school that liked to play, and I’m sure we couldn’t have beaten Kasperov, Fischer or Deep Blue but we enjoyed it all the same.

Fact #8 — I was an Eagle Scout at age 14. Well, maybe 14 1/2… but it was still kinda early. Something I’m really proud of, although I think more so now than when I was younger. I actually went through the program at the same time with the scoutmaster’s son, and the 2 of us were pretty much neck and neck the whole way through. It was kinda cool to have someone doing it at the same time that I was friends with. I also got a cool memory book of sorts when it was done that the troop put together for me with all kinds of letters and stuff from notable people like Senators, Representatives… even the Pres. But the coolest of all was the one from Billy Joel (my hero at the time). OH — and the 6 free cases of Pepsi Free and other products I got from Pepsi Cola. Sweet!

OK — so those are my facts. Now I will randomly tag the following people… and if you don’t blog, go ahead and send me an Email with the answers!

Dan C
Rich
Aunt Robin
Mom
Dad
Erik
Tom
Mike

So I heard this thing on the radio today that many couples getting married these days are starting to change the traditional “Till Death Do Us Part” to something a little less binding… like “Until I no longer love you”. Are you serious???? Talk about fear of commitment… I wonder if that would work in some other instances…

When buying a car –
“I’ll pay you the $20K…Unless my bank says I don’t have enough money…”

When ordering dinner –
“I’d like the lobster… unless I change my mind once it comes out of the kitchen…”

When going to work –
“I’ll start tomorrow… unless I take another job before then…”

At the hospital –
“I’ll perform that surgery for you… unless I decide to perform a different one while you’re unconcious…”

“More than words…”

So this is apparently where I should be living, according to this online quiz:

You Belong in Rome

You’re a big city soul with a small town heart Which is why you’re attracted to the romance of Rome Strolling down picture perfect streets, cappuccino in hand And gorgeous Italian people – could life get any better?

OK – so here’s what I’m thankful for… in no particular order…

1) My wife Sarah who loves me unconditionally
2) My son Ethan who cracks me up, tries my patience and keeps me young
3) My family who supports and loves me
4) My puppies who make me laugh
5) The ability to earn money to support my family
6) The opportunity to go down the road to a grocery store to by food for my fridge
7) To be in a country as great as the United States and to be free
Civil servants who keep us safe and out of harm’s way
9) The ability to worship God the way I want to
10) The ability to play, hear and feel music

… and now comes the food part of the list…

11) Cheesesteaks
12) Good beer. (And I mean GOOD beer — not that swill that passes for beer in most bars)
13) Coffee
14) Good beer. (i.e. Guinness, Newcastle, Blue Moon, Sierra Nevada, etc)
15) More good beer. (i.e. Loose Cannon, Dark Island and tons I haven’t even tried yet)
16) Mom’s Chocolate-Bottom Cupcakes, Sloppy Joes and Green Lime-Pineapple Jello
17) A warm meal on a cold wintry night
18) Ice cream, any kind will do
19) Ruth’s Chris Steak House
20) Brats on the grill

… and to round out the first 25…

21) A roof over my head, a car to drive and clothes to wear
22) Things I take for granted too often that I may not even realize are blessings
23) Friends who share my disappointments, revel in my triumphs and keep me fueled
24) Journey’s Crossing, where I met some of my closest friends, not to mention my wife
25) Time away from the hustle and bustle of life when I can de-stress and reconnect…

More to come… (the next 25)

“Makin’ a list, and checkin’ it twice…”