FOX is killing me!

Okay, 2014 can not come fast enough. The "DJ HERO" plays of the game segment was terrible. the point of highlights of the game is to show the highlights. It is difficult to see the highlights when they are shown in off colors and an "artistic" fashion.

Tim McCarver once again fails to see a situation from someone else's point of view. The Yankees had Runners on first and second and nobody out and they were ahead by only on run. Derek Jeter tried to bunt the runners over to have a situation of runners at second and third with one out. Well, Jeter was unsuccessful and struck out bunting the third strike foul.

McCarver was blasting the decision (which he believes was Jeter's choice) to bunt saying Jeter was too good of a hitter to give up as an out. Well my thought is that with no outs in a tight game you should always move the runners over with a bunt to set up a runner on third, less than two outs and more importantly squash the double play threat.

But I will agree with McCarver on one thing (I know it's rare), the Phillies should have sent the runners in the top of the 8th to avoid the double play they hit into. A missed opportunity.

Phills and Yankees tied at one. So far a great series.

Time to move on

There has been a lot of commentary about the hiring of Mark McGwire as the St. Louis Cardinal's hitting coach. So here is my penny and a half. . .

I think it is time for Baseball (and by baseball I mean the fans, the writers, and players/former players) to move on. The Steroid Era is a chapter in the Baseball History Book and no amount of finger pointing, blaming, or accusing will change that.

Players knew what was going on, coaches knew, owners knew and it was acceptable to all of them at the time. . . now it not.

Seems to me McGwire is ready to move on. Sure he is going to have to answer some uncomfortable questions but that is just a part of facing the music and moving on.

And as long as those questions are answered tastefully and the game is not dragged through the mud again I will welcome Mark back to the game. At some point all the players of the Steroid Era will be the coaches and managers.

The Fall Classic

All season, all October, leads up to this moment. The Opening of the World Series.

It is the best time of year again and I am mesmerized by the opening of the World Series. There is no better sporting event than the possibility of seven games of baseball between the two best teams.

I get excited watching the opening ceremonies. Phillies and Yankees line up on the baselines for introductions; A perfect rendition of the Star Spangled Banner by an American Veteran; Another two great American Veterans, Yogi Berra and injured Army Ranger Tony Odierno, are honored in the first pitch ceremony with the First and Second Ladies of the United States.

I am in a great mood, The Series is about to start. . . and then it happens. I am brutally reminded of the biggest, most glaring, shortcoming The Series has.

The camera cuts to Joe Buck. . . and then Tim McCarver. . . and I am rudely reminded that the World Series is still on FOX.

I can't put my finger on it nor can I tell you exactly why the Joe, Tim, and FOX combination bugs me so much, but it does. But it is probably Tim.

Oh well, I guess I can look forward to the end of the 2013 World Series when the current FOX contract expires. . . well as long as MLB does not renew.

Some thing to think about.

Game time temp in Bronx is 53 degrees and now it is starting to rain again. It is too bad the Rockies did not make the World Series. Weather in Denver is currently 29 degrees with snow falling and it "feels like" 19 degrees. But to be fair Saturday's weather in Denver, when the Series goes to the National League Park, calls for a low of 37.

LCS is set

I gotta say, I was a little disapointed in Colorado yesterday. It was a good series and the Phils deserve it but I would liked to see a game 5.

I have to admit

Man I am not looking forward to driving home in this stormy weather.

I have to admit, I am the guy you all hate on the freeway. In this stuff I drive 55 MPH. it is the only way to go.

Cal Trans is advising that there is standing water all over bay area freways and to slow down. Should be interesting.

Been too long

It has been way to long since I posted. The summer was full and busy. But this fall is going to be just as good. California Football has started with a win over Maryland (GO BEARS!) and the fall softball league has started. And boy did I have a start. . .

The Zoo

Just the other day I went to the zoo with the family. We are members at the Oakland Zoo and have been there many times. This time we went to the San Francisco Zoo snice our Oakland Membership gets us in for half price.

I have to say, I was not impressed with the SF Zoo. It is very run down and the many of the exhibits seem very out dated. Some of the plaques on the walls showed a date of 1941 and the exhbit looked like it.

But over all it was great to spend the day with my family. My Wife, my Son, my Dad, My Brother, his girlfriend, and my Father in Law. I had a great time.

I am very much looking forward to the next time we go to the Oakland Zoo!

The Yard

I am sitting on my Patio and listening to the game. I can't help but reflect back on what we have done to get ready for the summer. Checkout the before pic!

Large areas of dirt and the original patio that was cracking severely.













So, last fall, I think it was, I built a raised vegetable garden using redwood and a vegetable mix soil. I put down a small patio made out of cement pavers to move our hot tub on. Moving the hot tub gave us mor room on the patio. A few weeks ago we hired a guy to take out the old patio and put down a larger stamped concrete patio.

After the patio was down I preped the dirt area for Sod.

Now I went old school. I raked the area by hand, which is normal. But, I tilled the dirt by hand! Using a shovel and a "Garden Claw" I turned the dirt over. And of course put down the top soil.

Next was the Sod. Now my wife says it was the fun part. . . well she did not do it so she doesn't know. 305 sqft of Dwarf Fescue. Each roll is 1ft by 3ft. Sounds easy enough. NO! Those suckers are heavy! Even worse as your working the dryest lightest rolls are on top and the wettest heaviest rolls are on the bottom. So as you get more tired from carrying the sod, the heavier the sod gets. But, it was all worth it. Checkout the after photo.


So the next steps are to put down some decrative gravel, a drip system and two more vegetable gardens. . . all whle listening to the Giants game!

My First Post / Baseball on the radio

So this is my first post. I decided to start a Blog mainly because the summer is young and I have been having a great time so far. This is my attempt at recording some of my thoughts. . .

Baseball on the Radio

So for the past few weeks I have been working on getting the backyard setup. I put down pavers to move the hot tub onto. While I was working, I busted out the radio and listened many Giants games. I realized how much I prefer to listen the game on the radio as oposed to watching it.

Broadcasters on the radio get to talk about what they want and tell some great stories. On TV the broadcasters have to talk about what is on the screen.

Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy watching the game on TV but there is something about working in the yard and listening to the game.

Even better is sitting on my patio watching my boy play and listening to the game.