Trip Notes and the Off Season

Scouting Trip

I was on a 11 day - 5 island Carribean cruise, and as you can see the Pittsburgh Pirates were looking for a new manager, another stooge they can blame things on when they 70-92 next year.  The guy to left doesn't look much smarter either, so maybe their choice was better.

A great vacation folks, the wife and I were very happy, and are hoping to plan another one for 2012 I am guessing.  In gthe interim, back to reality, baseball in it's silly season, awards all handed out, and to the right players and managers.

Now we begin with the Cliff Lee dance, but at least there are only 2 teams, NY and Texas, and if he signs in the next 2 weeks, the winter does not drag on wondering what happens to all the other pitchers who have to wait out where Lee lands.

If he gets a 7 year deal from the Yanks, I cannot see Nolan Ryan matching, but 6 years, $130 million , well maybe, with bank financing as well.

Nutzy crazy Derek Jeter is trying to pretend he has any leverage against NY, and CA$HMAN at least has the good sense to try and limit the term to 3 years, and $ 15 million, still too much for a diminishing skills player. Even theYanks knew when to say goodbye and farewell to Babe Ruth.  The modern day Bombers are using the media the same way that Jeter's camp is, playing it tough , he has not place else to go, and will be 40, and a very old slow 40 or older when he completes the next and last deal, so who does Derek think he's fooling.

Who pays $ 17 million for 5 years, I mean c'mon pal, it's the Yanks, or nobody, take the money, show up in Tampa in February and try and wipe that smirk off your face, you still hosed New York.

Later on this month I plan on really looking hard at free agents, new playoff structure, and maybe a few Christmas rants and raves.

Off now, Grey Cup Sunday, Go Green Roughies

Let them eat cake

Every Dog Has his day

Tomorrow I celebrate another anniversary of the day I was born, and I never forget for one minute how damn lucky I am.

Family will be there and that is what's important to me. Presents are nice, but uneccessary, as my best present is life and what you experience in it.

In terms of what life has brought me, it's a wonderful 28 year relationship with my wife, a 26 year marriage, and my kids.

The fact that my father is still going at 88, and my 2 sisters have good families of their own. My workmates enjoy my company, and my company respects my talents, so what else is there ?

Well we can hope for our fave teams and players to do well, win the odd championship, but I have had 4 Stanley Cups, 3 Grey Cups, and 6 Super Bowl wins from my teams, plus of course 2 World Series wins, and fantasy baseball, I have 2 Hockey and 2 Baseball championships to boot.

I have everything I could want, so let me use my birthday wish for the following;

1.  How about 10 days of no murders in North America
2.  How about the end to this crap in Afganistan, bring the Canadian boys home for Christmas
3.  While we are at it, can I not offend anyone by saying " Merry Christmas " ??
4.  Can Rob Ford stay on his diet for 2 weeks, the guy looks like a heart attack waiting to happen.
5.  Can the Leafs win enough to make the last month interesting again.
6.  A light snow on Christmas day.
7.  A few more day baseball games
8.  A new puppy in 2011, please....

Playing Catch Up

I had a lot of time between the last blog due to a nice 11 day cruise, whereupon much happened during my absence, so let's try and play a little catch up.

The SF Giants won the series, in 5 games over the Texas Rangers, with relative ease.
The Blue Jays announced a manager, and he in turn announced his complete staff, welcome back Pat Hentgen.
MLB began handing out hardware for Gold Gloves, again to that over hyped guy in New York that plays shortstop.
Manny was sighted in Toronto sparking many tongues wagging about a Manny signing.
Cliff Lee started planning his exit strategy from that sweltering heat in Texas, gezzus christ Cliff, doesn't $25 mill a year buy a peck of AC units.
Brian Cashman trying to live up to his last name, backing up the Brinks truck for said FA Lee.
The game lost a real treasure in Sparky Anderson and then broadcaster Dave Neihaus.

A lot seems to happen when I leave for vacation, but ya know, have to keep the wife happy.

I correspond routinely with Fantasy guru Glen D, now touring France chasing Elliott Murphy from venue to venue. He e-mails that the Toronto Sun report the Jays may be trying to deal with KC for Greinke and Alex Gordon for "can't miss prospects",  does that mean Snider and Drabek ??? C'mon Glen, you're on freakin holidays, lay off the internet.

Chris Bosh continues this Toronto rant with the one about enduring bad cable channels, ah tell this motor mouth to shut the hell up already, he has gone way past annoying, and he's approaching heemoroid territory.

Also of note we see that Jose Bautista can bargain with his Silver Slugger Award in tow, are you paying attention Alex, opening bid is now $ 12 million for 5 years, and if wins the MVP , the $15 million per annum awaits.

A few routine signings, releases, and manager carousel of course in Metland, Pittsburgh and other exotic locales, while Timmy Lincecum has his photos taken in Orlando with Goofy, Mickey and the Duke, no make that Donald Duck, his fave. The G-Men looked like the team with all the mojo, winning with the bat boy in the outfield and the trainer on 3rd, jsut as long as The Freak, Cain and The Beard were pitching, you could have had McCovey at 1st, and Tom Haller catching, and they would have won.

The Rangers edge throught the playoffs seemed to depth of rotation, and timely hitting, and big innings, none of those did they enjoy in the World Series.

Have to say quickly I am enjoying a book called Crazy 08', a time period baseball book my son downloaded that is not a history lesson of 2008, but 1908 no less. A great walk throught the new century's first decade and all the changes that actually began during that year, withn the backdrop of a 3 team National League wire to wire pennant fight between the Pirates, Cubs and John McGraws Giants.

So far it is far from a baseball standard offering, and has capured the spirit of the times, the politics, the race riots, the workers struggles, and how all those elements were mirrored in baseball.

I will write reams on the loss of Sparky, or Captain Hook as he was called during his time as skipper of 2 time Series winner in Cincy. ( 75 and 76' ).

I look at the clock and that means it is time to sign off for now, back to the grind, but will back soon banging on the keyboard with off season speculations, and Free Agent news and notes,

Stay tuned !!

Back fighting the good fight