Huh, so the Cardinals stuck to their guns. The set a limit that they would not exceed, and they made that their final offer. Pujols called the bet and the Angels came away with a new first baseman. Here's my initial reaction: Good signing for the Angels for the first few years. No matter how they structured the deal they will get a couple very productive years out of Pujols. Then Albert hits 35 years old and that $25M a year (avg salary) begins to weigh the team down a bit. Pujols is an amazing player, but after 35 don't expect .330/35/120 numbers. I would expect .290/30/100 numbers. Still damn impressive, but not elite at that moment. Then look at those years from 2018 - 2021. Pujols will be around the 40 year old mark and will be exclusively a DH. Maybe he can keep up those numbers...but chances are they fade a little. Not because he can't hit at that point, but because he is missing games on the DL. Look for a strong average still, but power and production numbers down for the season total.
So, Pujols, congrats on signing a great contract for you. You needed to go to the AL so that you can ride off into the sunset as a DH, you did that. You needed to go to a team that has deep pockets in a big market, you did that. Thanks for the memories here in St. Louis. I am sorry to see you go, especially after your "it's not about the money", and "I want to finish my career in St. Louis" comments. But I understand. Listen, if another company comes to me and offers me significantly more money each year, in a better climate with a chance to make that organization the best in class for the next 10 years, I'd listen too. You are taking a chance here. You have no past with the Angels. If you don't do well right from the start, it will be a tough hill to climb. But you have the skills to make this work for you. Good luck.
Now, the Cardinals on the other hand have to feel like it is Christmas. Not because they just lost one of the best players of all time, but because they now have about $20M a year to go play with. We have a near-term 1B replacement in Berkman. Let's go get a SS and 2B and make this lineup incredible.
Let me dream:
SS Rollins
CF Jay
LF Holliday
1B Berkman
3B Freese
RF Craig
C Molina
2B TBD - almost has to be a trade as the market is thin
P Carpenter, Wainwiright, Garcia, Westbook, Lohse
With the right guy at 2B, you might even have to move Molina to #8. And there still is a bunch of money to fill the bench and RP.
It's time for Holliday to be the player he was in CO. He can put up Albert numbers, let's hope he helps us forget about a potential hole in the #3 spot in the order.
I can't wait for April 4 Opening Day!
-Serge
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Saturday, September 24, 2011
A Second Look At Keeping Pujols
There have been two major signings since my last post about the economies of keeping Albert Pujols on the Cardinals in 2012 and beyond. Carpenter and the Cardinals agreed to a 2-year extension worth a total of about $21M and Lance Berkman resigned for one year and $12M. I also realized that I had been severely underestimating the salary that our CF-turned-2b makes. Schumaker is on a 2 year $4.7M contract. Let's enter in those salaries for 2012 and see where we are.
Holliday $17M ($120M over 7 years)
Molina $7M - assumes they pick up the team option for this amount
Wainwright $9M - just exercised his option + 2013 at $12M
Lohse $10.25M ($41M over 4 years)
Westbrook $8M ($16M over 2 years)
Garcia $7M ($27M over 4 years)
Berkman $12M
Carpenter $10M ($21 over 2 years)
That's $80.25M over 8 players not named Pujols.
Now let's pay our rookies and 2nd year players.
Craig $450k
Jay $450k
Freese $450k
Descalso $450k
Boggs $450k
Motte $450k
Salas $450k
Rzepzkyski $450k
That $3.6M is still going a long way. The Cardinals now have 16 players out of 25 with a total salary of $83.85M.
Factor in McClellan, Schumaker and a backup C. I thought that would run us about $4M. I think that Skip will almost get that alone. So let's bump it up to $6M for those 3 guys. (TOTAL = $89.85M for 19 players).
The 6 remaining spots are:
1B
SS
RP
RP
IF
OF
The veteran in the bullpen is McClellan. Probably need a little experience out there. Still think that will run about $5M. Is it time for Tyler Greene to move from AAAA to the Big Leagues? If so, he is cheap at about $450k. Sanchez comes back to the pen at his rookie salary ($450k). Nick Punto again as your backup infielder? He can't be making more than $1M, right? Some journeyman OF to spell CF when Jay needs a break might set the club back about $3M. So to fill all of those spots with basically a hope and a prayer will cost just about $10M. That leaves just about $20M left to fill 1B (again, assuming the salary level for the team is increased to only $120M).
The Cardinals are moving forward with their plans and forcing Albert a bit. "Albert, if you really like it here, here's what you can get". "We don't have any more money and we have a good supporting cast for you" - I see Mo saying this to Albert and his agent. Interesting how it is all unfolding. If Albert stays, be ready for lots of young players again in 2012. If Albert leaves, some of these holes can be plugged up with some other veteran talent.
Holliday $17M ($120M over 7 years)
Molina $7M - assumes they pick up the team option for this amount
Wainwright $9M - just exercised his option + 2013 at $12M
Lohse $10.25M ($41M over 4 years)
Westbrook $8M ($16M over 2 years)
Garcia $7M ($27M over 4 years)
Berkman $12M
Carpenter $10M ($21 over 2 years)
That's $80.25M over 8 players not named Pujols.
Now let's pay our rookies and 2nd year players.
Craig $450k
Jay $450k
Freese $450k
Descalso $450k
Boggs $450k
Motte $450k
Salas $450k
Rzepzkyski $450k
That $3.6M is still going a long way. The Cardinals now have 16 players out of 25 with a total salary of $83.85M.
Factor in McClellan, Schumaker and a backup C. I thought that would run us about $4M. I think that Skip will almost get that alone. So let's bump it up to $6M for those 3 guys. (TOTAL = $89.85M for 19 players).
The 6 remaining spots are:
1B
SS
RP
RP
IF
OF
The veteran in the bullpen is McClellan. Probably need a little experience out there. Still think that will run about $5M. Is it time for Tyler Greene to move from AAAA to the Big Leagues? If so, he is cheap at about $450k. Sanchez comes back to the pen at his rookie salary ($450k). Nick Punto again as your backup infielder? He can't be making more than $1M, right? Some journeyman OF to spell CF when Jay needs a break might set the club back about $3M. So to fill all of those spots with basically a hope and a prayer will cost just about $10M. That leaves just about $20M left to fill 1B (again, assuming the salary level for the team is increased to only $120M).
The Cardinals are moving forward with their plans and forcing Albert a bit. "Albert, if you really like it here, here's what you can get". "We don't have any more money and we have a good supporting cast for you" - I see Mo saying this to Albert and his agent. Interesting how it is all unfolding. If Albert stays, be ready for lots of young players again in 2012. If Albert leaves, some of these holes can be plugged up with some other veteran talent.
Monday, September 5, 2011
Keep Pujols? The math makes it tricky.
Even for us optimists, it's time to face the reality that 2011 is over for the Cards. They gave us all one last hope last week when they swept the Brewers in MIL. Since then they are 1-3 against the Reds and Brewers (AT HOME). There is a slightly better chance to capture the wild card over the Braves, but this team has not shown that they can string any wins together so I am ready to declare it "hockey season". So sad, too early.
So looking ahead to 2012 - I can't help but wonder if this team is better or worse with Pujols. Yes, he is the best player in baseball. Yes, he instills fear in the opposing team each time he comes up. But in most games, he bats 4 times. And Holliday has not proven to be a clutch #4 hitter to consistently make the opposing manager pay for pitching around Albert.
So I decided to take a financial look at the 2012 Cardinals. These salaries are not exact, I was able to find total value for player contracts, not year by year amounts, so many just represent the average amount over the course of the contract. Even with that said, my calculations should be within about $3-5M in the end. That's relatively close when guessing that the Cardinals will have to have a payroll of $120M next year should they want to even consider keeping Albert. This year, I believe their salary was in the $110M range.
Here's the big contracts on the books for 2012:
Holliday $17M ($120M over 7 years)
Molina $7M - assumes they pick up the team option for this amount
Wainwright $9M - just exercised his option + 2013 at $12M
Lohse $10.25M ($41M over 4 years)
Westbrook $8M ($16M over 2 years)
Garcia $7M ($27M over 4 years)
Those 6 players (2 hitters, 4 starting pitchers) = $58.25M or 48.5% of the $120M potential budget.
This means that $61.75M remains to fill in the final 19 roster slots (actually 34 as there is a major league roster of 40, but I'll do the math on the 25-man)
Carpenter has a team option for $15M, or a buyout for $1M. Bye, bye Chris! No room for that salary as that would leave only $46.75M for 18 players - or about $2.5M avg per player - still no Albert factored in.
Now let's load up the team with our inexpensive young talent. This year all of these guys made either the league minimum of $414k or maybe 10% more. Let's just figure each at $450 as they might get that 10% increase in pay for 2012.
Craig $450k
Jay $450k
Freese $450k
Descalso $450k
Boggs $450k
Motte $450k
Salas $450k
Rzepzkyski $450k
Getting these 8 guys before they are arbitration-eligible comes to an efficient $3.6M total. That just helped out the team quite a bit. Adding the $3.6M to the $58.25M and so far we have spent $61.85M on 14 players. Still have 11 slots to fill (still no Albert), still have $58.15M to spend.
Of these 11 spots, here's what we need to fill: 1B, SS, 4th OF, 5th OF, 2nd C, MI, CI, SP, RP, RP, RP.
Do you bring back McClellan? He will cost you about $1.5M. How about Schumaker? Roughly another $1.5M. A decent backup for Yadi? That typically runs about $1M. So there we have just spend another $4M to keep some inexpensive hometown veterans.
We have now spent $65.85M and need to fill 8 more slots.
Let's figure in Albert at this time. I will be very optimistic with this number of $25M a year (maybe he is getting another $3M deferred until he retires).
You now have your big horse in the middle of the lineup, you have made all of St. Louis happy, and you now have $29.15 left to spend on 7 more roster spots.
You will need to look for a reclamation project to be the 5th starter or hope that one of the guys at Memphis is ready. The Cards usually spend $5M on a #5 starter, it's fair to assume that track record will hold true. $24.15 remains.
There are two more reliever spots open. You so far have a bullpen with the highest salary of $1.5M in McClellan. Perhaps Sanchez comes back from his injury and is lights-out again and you step up to bring in a lefty specialist. All-in between the two you spend another $5M. $19.15 remains.
It's time to get an everyday SS who can cover some ground and swing the bat. Furcal seems to be a good fit, but his team option is at $12. That's probably a little high, maybe $8 is more like it for someone with his skill set - and that is a good fit for this team. You get Furcal or someone who is like him. Good work! You now have $11.15 left to spend.
Your last 3 spots are a CI (corner infielder) and 2 backup outfielders. Yes, this could all be covered from within. Maybe Tyler Greene gets a 3rd year try, perhaps Shane Robinson and Nick Stavinoha are all called upon. You have came in under budget by roughly $9M (don't forget you had to buy out Carp at $1M to not sign him for $15M). But let's look at that team
C - Molina
1B - Pujols
2B - Descalso
SS - Furcal-type guy
3B - Freese
LF - Holliday
CF- Jay
RF - Craig
SP - Wainwright
SP - Garcia
SP - Westbrook
SP - Lohse
SP - Duncan - reclamation project
RP - Salas
RP - Motte
RP - Boggs
RP - Sanchez
RP - Rzepzkyski
RP - McClellan
RP - lefty specialst du-jour
BENCH
C - Laird-type guy
MI - Schumaker
OF - Stavinoha
OF - Robinson
CI - Greene
Is this a playoff team? Is this championship team? Yes, there is another $9M to make improvements on any of these spots. Maybe that means bringing the Big Puma back for another year. What is so different about this 2012 and the 2011 team that could not do the trick? Sure you can replace some low-cost guys with other low-cost guys. But your home-bred players are going to the the cheapest. Even getting a mediocre guys with 5 years experience will cost you $3-5M a year. Quite a bit more than the $450k.
About the only way to make a $25M signing of Pujols work is to have 10-11 guys player near the league minimum. That's a lot of hope from the farm club.
Now imagine what that $25M spread over 2-3 positions does to the club? Upgrade your 2B and still get a very good 1B. Still with money to spare to bring in a proven bullpen arm. This team looks a little more well-rounded.
It will be hard to watch Albert crushing HR and reaching .300 / 30 / 100 every year for another team. But what are we really trying to do here? Watch a great player with lack of lineup and pitching support? Or watch a team compete for the World Series annually?
I leave you with one more question. Now look at 2013 - Lohse is off the books, Waino costs an additional $3M, Molina's contract is up and each of those cheap guys costs you maybe 10% for some, and a couple million more for those who are reaching arbitration. What does the team look like in 2013 and beyond?
So looking ahead to 2012 - I can't help but wonder if this team is better or worse with Pujols. Yes, he is the best player in baseball. Yes, he instills fear in the opposing team each time he comes up. But in most games, he bats 4 times. And Holliday has not proven to be a clutch #4 hitter to consistently make the opposing manager pay for pitching around Albert.
So I decided to take a financial look at the 2012 Cardinals. These salaries are not exact, I was able to find total value for player contracts, not year by year amounts, so many just represent the average amount over the course of the contract. Even with that said, my calculations should be within about $3-5M in the end. That's relatively close when guessing that the Cardinals will have to have a payroll of $120M next year should they want to even consider keeping Albert. This year, I believe their salary was in the $110M range.
Here's the big contracts on the books for 2012:
Holliday $17M ($120M over 7 years)
Molina $7M - assumes they pick up the team option for this amount
Wainwright $9M - just exercised his option + 2013 at $12M
Lohse $10.25M ($41M over 4 years)
Westbrook $8M ($16M over 2 years)
Garcia $7M ($27M over 4 years)
Those 6 players (2 hitters, 4 starting pitchers) = $58.25M or 48.5% of the $120M potential budget.
This means that $61.75M remains to fill in the final 19 roster slots (actually 34 as there is a major league roster of 40, but I'll do the math on the 25-man)
Carpenter has a team option for $15M, or a buyout for $1M. Bye, bye Chris! No room for that salary as that would leave only $46.75M for 18 players - or about $2.5M avg per player - still no Albert factored in.
Now let's load up the team with our inexpensive young talent. This year all of these guys made either the league minimum of $414k or maybe 10% more. Let's just figure each at $450 as they might get that 10% increase in pay for 2012.
Craig $450k
Jay $450k
Freese $450k
Descalso $450k
Boggs $450k
Motte $450k
Salas $450k
Rzepzkyski $450k
Getting these 8 guys before they are arbitration-eligible comes to an efficient $3.6M total. That just helped out the team quite a bit. Adding the $3.6M to the $58.25M and so far we have spent $61.85M on 14 players. Still have 11 slots to fill (still no Albert), still have $58.15M to spend.
Of these 11 spots, here's what we need to fill: 1B, SS, 4th OF, 5th OF, 2nd C, MI, CI, SP, RP, RP, RP.
Do you bring back McClellan? He will cost you about $1.5M. How about Schumaker? Roughly another $1.5M. A decent backup for Yadi? That typically runs about $1M. So there we have just spend another $4M to keep some inexpensive hometown veterans.
We have now spent $65.85M and need to fill 8 more slots.
Let's figure in Albert at this time. I will be very optimistic with this number of $25M a year (maybe he is getting another $3M deferred until he retires).
You now have your big horse in the middle of the lineup, you have made all of St. Louis happy, and you now have $29.15 left to spend on 7 more roster spots.
You will need to look for a reclamation project to be the 5th starter or hope that one of the guys at Memphis is ready. The Cards usually spend $5M on a #5 starter, it's fair to assume that track record will hold true. $24.15 remains.
There are two more reliever spots open. You so far have a bullpen with the highest salary of $1.5M in McClellan. Perhaps Sanchez comes back from his injury and is lights-out again and you step up to bring in a lefty specialist. All-in between the two you spend another $5M. $19.15 remains.
It's time to get an everyday SS who can cover some ground and swing the bat. Furcal seems to be a good fit, but his team option is at $12. That's probably a little high, maybe $8 is more like it for someone with his skill set - and that is a good fit for this team. You get Furcal or someone who is like him. Good work! You now have $11.15 left to spend.
Your last 3 spots are a CI (corner infielder) and 2 backup outfielders. Yes, this could all be covered from within. Maybe Tyler Greene gets a 3rd year try, perhaps Shane Robinson and Nick Stavinoha are all called upon. You have came in under budget by roughly $9M (don't forget you had to buy out Carp at $1M to not sign him for $15M). But let's look at that team
C - Molina
1B - Pujols
2B - Descalso
SS - Furcal-type guy
3B - Freese
LF - Holliday
CF- Jay
RF - Craig
SP - Wainwright
SP - Garcia
SP - Westbrook
SP - Lohse
SP - Duncan - reclamation project
RP - Salas
RP - Motte
RP - Boggs
RP - Sanchez
RP - Rzepzkyski
RP - McClellan
RP - lefty specialst du-jour
BENCH
C - Laird-type guy
MI - Schumaker
OF - Stavinoha
OF - Robinson
CI - Greene
Is this a playoff team? Is this championship team? Yes, there is another $9M to make improvements on any of these spots. Maybe that means bringing the Big Puma back for another year. What is so different about this 2012 and the 2011 team that could not do the trick? Sure you can replace some low-cost guys with other low-cost guys. But your home-bred players are going to the the cheapest. Even getting a mediocre guys with 5 years experience will cost you $3-5M a year. Quite a bit more than the $450k.
About the only way to make a $25M signing of Pujols work is to have 10-11 guys player near the league minimum. That's a lot of hope from the farm club.
Now imagine what that $25M spread over 2-3 positions does to the club? Upgrade your 2B and still get a very good 1B. Still with money to spare to bring in a proven bullpen arm. This team looks a little more well-rounded.
It will be hard to watch Albert crushing HR and reaching .300 / 30 / 100 every year for another team. But what are we really trying to do here? Watch a great player with lack of lineup and pitching support? Or watch a team compete for the World Series annually?
I leave you with one more question. Now look at 2013 - Lohse is off the books, Waino costs an additional $3M, Molina's contract is up and each of those cheap guys costs you maybe 10% for some, and a couple million more for those who are reaching arbitration. What does the team look like in 2013 and beyond?
Monday, August 15, 2011
Bici Cafe & the Full Moon
Let me start by saying every bit of what you are about to read is real. I only wish I were making this up.
I want to like Bici, a local restaurant and bar that is just about 1 mile from our house. It has promise. It has a great location on Pershing in U. City. Has a great patio for the cooler summer nights and the food there is usually pretty good. It has the potential to be "our neighborhood restaurant and bar". But potential only gets you so far.
Tonight Misty and I decided to enjoy the nice evening and walk to Bici. We had nothing planned, so a 20 minute walk to and from dinner was going to be nice. We got to Bici around 7:45pm. There were people at about 5 of the outdoor tables and no one indoors. It took a minute for the bartender/waitress to seat us, but there we were, sitting among the other patrons. And we waited, and we waited. We had been at the table for about 5-6 minutes with no one coming to greet us. We imposed a "if no one is here by 5-till, we are leaving". As it happens the bartender/waitress showed up just before the buzzer.
Misty initially ordered a Rootbeer, but wisely chose an alcoholic drink thinking that she might need it for this dining experience. We had just purchased a Restaurant.com coupon for Bici where we were in essence going to get $15 of free food. "Let's stick it out". I ordered a glass of wine and we both emphatically asked for a glass of water each. Along with that we placed an order for the meatball appetizer.
We waited.
Finally, two drinks arrive - neither of them water. We asked again for the water as well.
We waited.
We sat there at the table while others were served. There were two servers tonight. Ours, and the apparent owner. They were struggling to keep up with the 5 tables counting a total of 11 guests. While the owner was in ear-shot I said to Misty, "I just hope they take our order sometime". This tactic worked and the owner stopped to ask us what we would like. I had noticed that one of the Seafood Specials was Pork Chop of a bed of Apple Risotto. I had to ask what part of the Pork Chop special was seafood. He explained that it was like that for about 3 weeks on the menu, and had just been caught a few days ago. He assured me that it was not seafood and I made it clear that I was not looking for seafood. Oh, and he offered to bring us some water.
We waited.
Finally, and I forgot to check my watch for when, the meatballs arrived. We struck up a conversation about how busy it must have been tonight and she mentioned that she was on her 4th day on the job and that another server and bartender did not show tonight, and this being a beautiful night, they were too busy for two. Totally understandable.
She then leaned over the table and told us, "once I get out of here, I am getting fuckin' stoned".
This is not the first drug story we have from Bici. We have been there before and met other bartenders who were obviously leaving the bar to get high, then returning to their post. I have a feeling that it comes with the job at Bici. I digress.
We waited.
The owner came by later and asked us if we wanted 2 more drinks. Dinner was obviously not coming any time soon based upon the pace of our water or appetizer, so we agreed. When he returned, Misty's Sangria was in a much larger glass (a mini fishbowl). Her first was in a wine glass. Somewhat embarrassed that his Sangria would be served in such a puny glass, he offered to comp the first Sangria, "our Sangria is too good to be served in a small glass like that, and with 8 Rums and Vodkas, it will knock you on your ass". Yes, that was the owner. We were scheduled to get our first freebie.
During this time another couple sat, ordered, was served their drinks and food.
We waited.
Ah, our dinner approached the table. Misty ordered the new Mushroom, Parmesan Burger and that arrived in all of its glory. In the other hand of our waitress was a risotto, but instead of pork chops it was shrimp - the real seafood special. I told her it was not what I ordered. Misty began eating.
The owner came out a few minutes later and says "I have some good news and some bad news, the good news is that your dinner is on us. The bad news is that in our run earlier tonight, we sold out of the pork chop". Odd that the cook did not mention this to him when he ordered. Or was it that he told him the seafood special and then did not want to come clean on his mistake that the seafood special I ordered did not have SEAFOOD! He began to rattle off what I could have. First, the shrimp and risotto (again, I did not want seafood). I settled on a lamb kabob that sounded good, and I was tired of waiting. Off he went. 2nd freebie.
Misty continued to eat her dinner. By the way, the burger and salad were good.
Finally my lamb shows up. Of the 10 pieces on the kabob, at least 5 of them were incredibly fatty. If you don't believe me, you can go check the flower bed next to my chair, a piece that refused to surrender to my teeth is sitting in there now. The couscous bed was also quite interesting. An Indian / nutmeg taste. I was hungry, I plowed through it.
Finally, we finish dinner, pushing 9pm. Supposedly the kitchen closes at 8:30 on Mondays. The owner was well aware that we had a restaurant.com coupon. He offered us some bread pudding. It was time to go. We had enough stories for one night. He picked up our coupon and went into run our bill. When he returned he had neglected to subtract my dinner, but Misty had drank for free. I was ready to call it even, to pay the $19 for my plate and vow to never return again. Misty says, "that's a dinner at The Fatted Calf!". She called the owner over and reminded him that he promised me a free dinner. It was removed. Now, with all of the freebies (2 sangrias and a fatty lamb) + the $25 Restaurant.com voucher our bill hit $24. It was not quite that simple though. Instead of running a new check for me, he just wrote the new total below the higher amount on the original bill. Never had me sign it and offered us 2 shots because it had been such a crazy night.
Who knows how this story would end had we took him up for those shots. We were the last ones there. I am sure the waitress was already rolling her own somewhere inside.
We began our walk home and noticed the large, full moon rising in the sky.
"never go to Bici on a full moon" was what Misty said. I think that says it all.
PROS: Sangria, 1/2 of the meatballs (the ones which were not burnt) and the burger, potential of free after-dinner shots
CONS: Scroll Up
I want to like Bici, a local restaurant and bar that is just about 1 mile from our house. It has promise. It has a great location on Pershing in U. City. Has a great patio for the cooler summer nights and the food there is usually pretty good. It has the potential to be "our neighborhood restaurant and bar". But potential only gets you so far.
Tonight Misty and I decided to enjoy the nice evening and walk to Bici. We had nothing planned, so a 20 minute walk to and from dinner was going to be nice. We got to Bici around 7:45pm. There were people at about 5 of the outdoor tables and no one indoors. It took a minute for the bartender/waitress to seat us, but there we were, sitting among the other patrons. And we waited, and we waited. We had been at the table for about 5-6 minutes with no one coming to greet us. We imposed a "if no one is here by 5-till, we are leaving". As it happens the bartender/waitress showed up just before the buzzer.
Misty initially ordered a Rootbeer, but wisely chose an alcoholic drink thinking that she might need it for this dining experience. We had just purchased a Restaurant.com coupon for Bici where we were in essence going to get $15 of free food. "Let's stick it out". I ordered a glass of wine and we both emphatically asked for a glass of water each. Along with that we placed an order for the meatball appetizer.
We waited.
Finally, two drinks arrive - neither of them water. We asked again for the water as well.
We waited.
We sat there at the table while others were served. There were two servers tonight. Ours, and the apparent owner. They were struggling to keep up with the 5 tables counting a total of 11 guests. While the owner was in ear-shot I said to Misty, "I just hope they take our order sometime". This tactic worked and the owner stopped to ask us what we would like. I had noticed that one of the Seafood Specials was Pork Chop of a bed of Apple Risotto. I had to ask what part of the Pork Chop special was seafood. He explained that it was like that for about 3 weeks on the menu, and had just been caught a few days ago. He assured me that it was not seafood and I made it clear that I was not looking for seafood. Oh, and he offered to bring us some water.
We waited.
Finally, and I forgot to check my watch for when, the meatballs arrived. We struck up a conversation about how busy it must have been tonight and she mentioned that she was on her 4th day on the job and that another server and bartender did not show tonight, and this being a beautiful night, they were too busy for two. Totally understandable.
She then leaned over the table and told us, "once I get out of here, I am getting fuckin' stoned".
This is not the first drug story we have from Bici. We have been there before and met other bartenders who were obviously leaving the bar to get high, then returning to their post. I have a feeling that it comes with the job at Bici. I digress.
We waited.
The owner came by later and asked us if we wanted 2 more drinks. Dinner was obviously not coming any time soon based upon the pace of our water or appetizer, so we agreed. When he returned, Misty's Sangria was in a much larger glass (a mini fishbowl). Her first was in a wine glass. Somewhat embarrassed that his Sangria would be served in such a puny glass, he offered to comp the first Sangria, "our Sangria is too good to be served in a small glass like that, and with 8 Rums and Vodkas, it will knock you on your ass". Yes, that was the owner. We were scheduled to get our first freebie.
During this time another couple sat, ordered, was served their drinks and food.
We waited.
Ah, our dinner approached the table. Misty ordered the new Mushroom, Parmesan Burger and that arrived in all of its glory. In the other hand of our waitress was a risotto, but instead of pork chops it was shrimp - the real seafood special. I told her it was not what I ordered. Misty began eating.
The owner came out a few minutes later and says "I have some good news and some bad news, the good news is that your dinner is on us. The bad news is that in our run earlier tonight, we sold out of the pork chop". Odd that the cook did not mention this to him when he ordered. Or was it that he told him the seafood special and then did not want to come clean on his mistake that the seafood special I ordered did not have SEAFOOD! He began to rattle off what I could have. First, the shrimp and risotto (again, I did not want seafood). I settled on a lamb kabob that sounded good, and I was tired of waiting. Off he went. 2nd freebie.
Misty continued to eat her dinner. By the way, the burger and salad were good.
Finally my lamb shows up. Of the 10 pieces on the kabob, at least 5 of them were incredibly fatty. If you don't believe me, you can go check the flower bed next to my chair, a piece that refused to surrender to my teeth is sitting in there now. The couscous bed was also quite interesting. An Indian / nutmeg taste. I was hungry, I plowed through it.
Finally, we finish dinner, pushing 9pm. Supposedly the kitchen closes at 8:30 on Mondays. The owner was well aware that we had a restaurant.com coupon. He offered us some bread pudding. It was time to go. We had enough stories for one night. He picked up our coupon and went into run our bill. When he returned he had neglected to subtract my dinner, but Misty had drank for free. I was ready to call it even, to pay the $19 for my plate and vow to never return again. Misty says, "that's a dinner at The Fatted Calf!". She called the owner over and reminded him that he promised me a free dinner. It was removed. Now, with all of the freebies (2 sangrias and a fatty lamb) + the $25 Restaurant.com voucher our bill hit $24. It was not quite that simple though. Instead of running a new check for me, he just wrote the new total below the higher amount on the original bill. Never had me sign it and offered us 2 shots because it had been such a crazy night.
Who knows how this story would end had we took him up for those shots. We were the last ones there. I am sure the waitress was already rolling her own somewhere inside.
We began our walk home and noticed the large, full moon rising in the sky.
"never go to Bici on a full moon" was what Misty said. I think that says it all.
PROS: Sangria, 1/2 of the meatballs (the ones which were not burnt) and the burger, potential of free after-dinner shots
CONS: Scroll Up
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Cards 8-Person Trade Fallout
So, after days of saying that we were not shopping Colby Rasmus the Cards dealt him to Toronto for a slew of pitchers, a few players to be named later and a journeyman 4th outfielder. It has been interesting to hear the 2 points of view on the trade thus far. Here's how I weigh in:
On Mo saying that he was not shopping Rasmus.Let's be honest here, you can't negotiate in the papers, blogs and tweets. Cards management said what they needed to say in public to keep some pressure of Rasmus and also to keep the other owners wondering what was going on. If he came out and said that Rasmus was on the block, his value slips.
Moving Colby Rasmus
Colby has appeared to be a distraction (or distracted) since his rookie year. If you recall that season he complained that the veterans were not "including" him. Last year, his sophomore season he supposedly requested a trade (thus killing his value at that time). Then this year he had troubles keeping his average above .250 then said that he wanted to listen to his father's advice on hitting over the paid coaches. As I said to my dad today, "that's fine when you are 14, not 24". Colby was going to continue to be a distraction, or distracted, either one here. That's just the way it is. Think about a time in your life when things were stacked against you for some reason or another, often it is best to leave the situation and start anew. I think that applies here. Colby is thought to have tons of talent. If that is true, perhaps he finds it in Canada. The Cardinals needed to get something for him while they could.
Jon Jay has unseated 2 everyday outfielders in 2 years
Think about this, here is a guy with about 200 games in the majors and he has allowed the Cardinals to move Ryan Ludwick and Colby Rasmus. 2/3 of the 2010 opening day outfield has lost out to the hungry Jon Jay. Jay plays the way the Cardinals want a young player to play. He hustles all the time. He keeps his mouth sut. He consistently performs (with the exception of after the Cards traded Ludwick, but his average was still .300 for the year). Jay is a solid player, but not the kind of guy you build a club around. Compare his hitting stats to a prior centerfielder of the Cardinals - Skip Schumaker. .300 hitter, gap power, capable of stealing 5-10 bases a year, good glove. These are the kids of guys the Cardinals love to stack around the big 3 in the middle.
Did we give up anything more than Colby?
Losing Colby's potential stings. But what else did we really give up? Tallet and Miller were both struggling this year and probably not far from being straight out released by the Cardinals. They were costing the team wins. PJ Walters was not a top prospect. He was servicable. He could be called upon, eat some innings, but he has proven over the past few years that he is a classic AAAA player. Can dominate AAA, but can't stick at the majors. So the way I look at it is that the Cards traded a young and talented CF, dumped two lefty relievers and threw in a servicable mid-inning guy.
Getting fair value
I guess this is the million dollar question. And a question that can be attempted to answer today, can be attempted to answer again at the end of the season and perhaps again in 3 years or so. Looking at it today the Cards made a move to improve the 2011 team. Just looking at stats, compare Colby to Corey Patterson. AVG/HR/RBI/SB Patterson (.252/6/33/13) Rasmus (.246/11/40/5)
If they are to play that same average out the remainder of the season they are fairly similar (losing power, gaining avg and sb). They you look at the pitchers; Miller was benched for games on end due to ineffectiveness, then gave up a hit in his last Cardinals pitch to add fuel to his fire. Tallet is on the DL. Walters' last appearance briefly let the Astros back into the game on Monday by serving up a grand slam to Carlos Lee. That was his last pitch as a Cardinal I believe.
The lefty relieve we got, Rzepczynski is young, under team salary control for a few years and has a respectable ERA under 3.00. Dotel has bounced around a bit but has proven that he can be a closer (good Salas insurance) as he saved 22 games last year. He also strikes out more than a guy per inning so he has the stuff to get hitters to swing and miss to get him out of jams. Batista did not pan out earlier this year. Dotel now assumes that role with a more recent history of getting hitters out. Finally Edwin Jackson jumps into the lineup. There are now 6 potential starters for the Cardinals. This is key as they hit the long days of August. Jackson has the ability to go 6+ innings each time out and we have seen time and time again what Duncan can do with good pitchers who have not consistently found their rythym. Let's don't forget the 3 players to be named later. You don't know for a few years if any of them will ever amount to anything. Most likely not a superstar, but maybe the next Jon Jay that will allow us to move a poor fit player in 2015 or so.
So yes, I think it is a good deal for the Cards. I think it is a good deal for the Blue Jays too. They get someone needed a reset button. Cards get players to help them win this year and give up from strength. Oh yeah, and they didn't have to move any promising talent in the minors.
So what are your thoughts? Have an opposing view? Agree?
On Mo saying that he was not shopping Rasmus.Let's be honest here, you can't negotiate in the papers, blogs and tweets. Cards management said what they needed to say in public to keep some pressure of Rasmus and also to keep the other owners wondering what was going on. If he came out and said that Rasmus was on the block, his value slips.
Moving Colby Rasmus
Colby has appeared to be a distraction (or distracted) since his rookie year. If you recall that season he complained that the veterans were not "including" him. Last year, his sophomore season he supposedly requested a trade (thus killing his value at that time). Then this year he had troubles keeping his average above .250 then said that he wanted to listen to his father's advice on hitting over the paid coaches. As I said to my dad today, "that's fine when you are 14, not 24". Colby was going to continue to be a distraction, or distracted, either one here. That's just the way it is. Think about a time in your life when things were stacked against you for some reason or another, often it is best to leave the situation and start anew. I think that applies here. Colby is thought to have tons of talent. If that is true, perhaps he finds it in Canada. The Cardinals needed to get something for him while they could.
Jon Jay has unseated 2 everyday outfielders in 2 years
Think about this, here is a guy with about 200 games in the majors and he has allowed the Cardinals to move Ryan Ludwick and Colby Rasmus. 2/3 of the 2010 opening day outfield has lost out to the hungry Jon Jay. Jay plays the way the Cardinals want a young player to play. He hustles all the time. He keeps his mouth sut. He consistently performs (with the exception of after the Cards traded Ludwick, but his average was still .300 for the year). Jay is a solid player, but not the kind of guy you build a club around. Compare his hitting stats to a prior centerfielder of the Cardinals - Skip Schumaker. .300 hitter, gap power, capable of stealing 5-10 bases a year, good glove. These are the kids of guys the Cardinals love to stack around the big 3 in the middle.
Did we give up anything more than Colby?
Losing Colby's potential stings. But what else did we really give up? Tallet and Miller were both struggling this year and probably not far from being straight out released by the Cardinals. They were costing the team wins. PJ Walters was not a top prospect. He was servicable. He could be called upon, eat some innings, but he has proven over the past few years that he is a classic AAAA player. Can dominate AAA, but can't stick at the majors. So the way I look at it is that the Cards traded a young and talented CF, dumped two lefty relievers and threw in a servicable mid-inning guy.
Getting fair value
I guess this is the million dollar question. And a question that can be attempted to answer today, can be attempted to answer again at the end of the season and perhaps again in 3 years or so. Looking at it today the Cards made a move to improve the 2011 team. Just looking at stats, compare Colby to Corey Patterson. AVG/HR/RBI/SB Patterson (.252/6/33/13) Rasmus (.246/11/40/5)
If they are to play that same average out the remainder of the season they are fairly similar (losing power, gaining avg and sb). They you look at the pitchers; Miller was benched for games on end due to ineffectiveness, then gave up a hit in his last Cardinals pitch to add fuel to his fire. Tallet is on the DL. Walters' last appearance briefly let the Astros back into the game on Monday by serving up a grand slam to Carlos Lee. That was his last pitch as a Cardinal I believe.
The lefty relieve we got, Rzepczynski is young, under team salary control for a few years and has a respectable ERA under 3.00. Dotel has bounced around a bit but has proven that he can be a closer (good Salas insurance) as he saved 22 games last year. He also strikes out more than a guy per inning so he has the stuff to get hitters to swing and miss to get him out of jams. Batista did not pan out earlier this year. Dotel now assumes that role with a more recent history of getting hitters out. Finally Edwin Jackson jumps into the lineup. There are now 6 potential starters for the Cardinals. This is key as they hit the long days of August. Jackson has the ability to go 6+ innings each time out and we have seen time and time again what Duncan can do with good pitchers who have not consistently found their rythym. Let's don't forget the 3 players to be named later. You don't know for a few years if any of them will ever amount to anything. Most likely not a superstar, but maybe the next Jon Jay that will allow us to move a poor fit player in 2015 or so.
So yes, I think it is a good deal for the Cards. I think it is a good deal for the Blue Jays too. They get someone needed a reset button. Cards get players to help them win this year and give up from strength. Oh yeah, and they didn't have to move any promising talent in the minors.
So what are your thoughts? Have an opposing view? Agree?
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
...and then there were two...
I cannot believe how close I am to actually reaching the milestone I have been striving to achieve for so long. What started back in the early 80' could very well come to a fruition (temporarily) here in 2011.
Since 1983 when my dad took me to Wrigley Field to see a Cards/Cubs series I have been working towards seeing a game in every active MLB ballpark. In the early years I did not realize the goal I have today. Then the goal was simply to see baseball with my dad. The man who taught me everything I know about baseball. The opportunity to go to a baseball game with him - be it in St. Louis or in a ballpark far away - it didn't matter. Every question I had about baseball, he had the answer. "Who was the greatest Cardinal" I would ask. Dad would tell me about still summer nights in Emporia where he listened to Cardinals games on the radio and heard about the great Stan Musial. How he always was a Cardinals fan. How his neighbor rival always a Yankees fan. Two Kansas boys, rooting for AL/ NL rivals if there was such a thing in the 50's. That's what lead to my baseball love. What would have happened if that were reversed? Would Dad and I always have to battle over who is better, Cards or Yanks? Luckily, that was not the case. Instead, his idol was the poster child for baseball in St. Louis.
So here we were, father and son (and sometimes sister) watching ballgames in this little ballpark in Chicago. It was fun. Sure, Wrigley was fun, the people were colorful and the difference between the concrete of Busch II and Wrigley made it different - thus exciting - but the real joy was a weekend away with dad. Living in "the city" for a weekend. Staying at the "Mighty Comfort" as he would call it. A Comfort Inn about a mile or so south of Wrigley on Diversey that sported more mirrored walls and ceilings than any pre-teen should be subjected to. Still it was always a great trip. I remember being at an arcade in the neighborhood and playing video games next to Andy VanSlyke and Mike Lavallier. But nothing will compare to the game when we say the Cards and Cubs go at it like never before - only to see Sandberg hit a game winning HR against Bruce Sutter (which I believe was his 2nd of the game).
That's where this journey began.
Since then we had several family vacations where we caught baseball games. We went east to see the Orioles play in old Memorial Stadium. We went north to see games at old Tiger Stadium and the the old Municipal Stadium in Cleveland. We even traveled west to see games in LA, Anaheim, San Francisco and Oakland. For some reason dad loved this bumper sticker he picked up in Oakland. It was from the AM station that broadcast the games. When we returned home, it was pasted along the bumper of the 1985 Celica. I guarantee we were the only car in Missouri to have this OAK A's bumper sticker.
I was off and running. Dad and I must have visited at least 12-15 ballparks together. I recall a year in highschool when I was loving the Boston Red Sox in the AL. Mainly due to their 3rd baseman, Wade Boggs. Well, dad found out when the Red Sox were going to be in KC (remember this was before the internet, so it was more like looking it up in the Sporting News than going online). He grabbed my friend Brad and I and we went to KC to see Koffman Stadium and Boggs. All I recall from that game was sitting high, high, high up behind home plate. I recall it being cold. Like, "where's my blanket" cold. But I got to see Boggs play.
By the time I was in the "real world" and on my own I had several stadiums down, but was witnessing the cruelty of the sport of seeing every stadium. You see, stadiums don't stick around for ever. Baltimore had demolished the old Memorial Stadium and had a new, beautiful Camden Yards. Others were following suit. It was time to get on this dream of seeing every stadium. I was in a race against cranes, wrecking balls and corporate boxes. Luckily my second job took me on the road. While at first it was travel to midwest towns, it expanded to the northeast. Time to see Yankee Stadium, Shea, Fenway, Veterans, 3 Rivers, Riverfront, Jacobs, Cellular One. I found my way to games around my work. Enjoyed the intricacies of each ballpark as well as the unique atmospheres. What I love about each ballpark is that no 2 dimensions are the same. No two views are the same. No two sightlines are the same. Of all of the professional sports - only baseball allows the architect and team to play with the dimensions. Each ballpark has a fell that is all it's own. I've been to my share of NHL arenas...not the same. I've been to a handful of NFL stadiums - outdoor ones are cool and have the fans to bring it life. Only baseball creates its own life. The fans just add to the life and character of the ballpark.
In the late 90's I was able to see Cooperstown for the first time. It was 1998 and McGwire and Sosa were battling for Maris' record. As soon as I set foot into the Hall of Fame I knew that I just return with my dad. Luckily, a year later I met Dad in New England for not only a trip to Cooperstown to talk to him about all of the players he grew up with, but to go to Fenway Park with him to see one of the old Jewels with my baseball-loving Dad. It is a trip that I will never forget and would do over and over and over if it would have the same effect year 2, 3, 4, 5, etc. If you haven't been to Cooperstown with your Dad. Do it. I can't explain it, just do it.
Now it is nearing the year 2000 and I have been to 20 or so stadiums. It's time to get serious. I need to see the random ones. I go to Tampa Bay. I'll always remember the night I was there as being the night that Fernando Tatis hit two Grand Slams against the Dodgers. Obviously, it has nothing to do with the game in Tampa...but on my drive back to the hotel in Orlando, I can hear 1120 KMOX (a little) and I hear Mike Shannon call both homeruns. Who played Tampa that night? no idea! I do know I had good seats on the first base side that were aligned to look at home plate. The person to your left sat about 3" ahead of you as the aisle looked straight towards center, but the seats were all askew towards home. Odd memories.
Bevin moved to Denver in 2001 and I was able to catch a game (actually several since) with her to knock the Rockies off the list. I travelled to Toronto for work and saw an interleague game against the Dodgers where the late Jose Lima made a huge impression on me when he lifted a fan from the stands to the field to have a photo on Lima's knee. Another memorable moment of that game was the streaker that dropped from centerfield and ran around the outfield until finally contained by security. I'll never forget the look on the bullpen pitchers faces when they had to escort this naked man past them and off the field - priceless.
Since then it has been almost a game of catch up. Houston opens a new stadium...I'm there the opening weekend in 2006. Cincinnati opens a new ballpark - Boyd and I take an IN/OH baseball roadtrip where we see 3 games in less than 72 hours (Cincy, Jacobs and the minor league park in Indianapolis. Gotta see the Marlins. Find a weekend when the Cards are in town and schedule a trip with Brad to not only see a game in South Florida, but see South Beach (see, it's not all about the ballparks). Fraternity brothers living up in the North East...great excuse to see a Mariners game at Safeco. More fraternity brothers living in Phoenix - easy excuse to swing by "the Bob" as it was called to see a game. Same brother from Seattle now living in MIL...well, the new Miller park had not been visited yet...now, check (along with the old one on an evening trip from Chicago about 20 years prior with high school buddies).
After all of these stadiums, which my unofficial count rests near 50, I have not collected anything physical. No ticket stubs, no photo of me next to a beer vendor, no real record. Except. Except the memories. It all started with a father telling his son about baseball. About a great player named Stan Musial. From there it became a fantasy. "See how cool it is to see baseball on the road?" Now it is an obsession. "I have to catch up". Not just for the "braggin rights" of saying I have been to them all. Don't get me wrong, that will be cool. But for what it means to me. It means childhood dreams. It means seeing architecture working together with art and strategy. It means travel. It means memories. There are so many more memories. Maybe, as I reach that last stadium, I'll relive a memory from each. That's what can never be taken away. Looking at the field again from my memory. From our seat that day. Looking at the beautiful field. Looking at the ballpark. Being around people who love to leave their crazy life for 3 hours at a time and live this fantasy life of living and dying with their team.
I have but two stadiums to go. This week I plan to see Citi Field. Seeing a game there will leave me with just Target Field in Minnesota to see. I am looking over the schedule carefully to see when that game will come. But it must come soon. The Marlins are building a new stadium. I need to be caught up. Just once. To say that I did it. My destination is within reach. From humble beginnings, to this goal of viewing a major league ball game in every active ballpark. It all started with my Dad. He is with me at every ballpark. Maybe, who knows, he'll physically be with me at the last one to share the experience with me. Maybe, I'll turn to him and say. "Who was the best Twin when you were growing up?". He'll start by telling me Harmon Killebrew stories but it will end with him and his friend playing baseball in Emporia, KS. Stan was the best, his neighbor liked the Yankees. That's where baseball stories begin. They begin a generation before...we just carry the flame. That's why I love baseball, that's why I long to see every ballpark. It's the history. I'll tell someone in 30 years about my memories about what I saw. Baseball lore lives on...
Since 1983 when my dad took me to Wrigley Field to see a Cards/Cubs series I have been working towards seeing a game in every active MLB ballpark. In the early years I did not realize the goal I have today. Then the goal was simply to see baseball with my dad. The man who taught me everything I know about baseball. The opportunity to go to a baseball game with him - be it in St. Louis or in a ballpark far away - it didn't matter. Every question I had about baseball, he had the answer. "Who was the greatest Cardinal" I would ask. Dad would tell me about still summer nights in Emporia where he listened to Cardinals games on the radio and heard about the great Stan Musial. How he always was a Cardinals fan. How his neighbor rival always a Yankees fan. Two Kansas boys, rooting for AL/ NL rivals if there was such a thing in the 50's. That's what lead to my baseball love. What would have happened if that were reversed? Would Dad and I always have to battle over who is better, Cards or Yanks? Luckily, that was not the case. Instead, his idol was the poster child for baseball in St. Louis.
So here we were, father and son (and sometimes sister) watching ballgames in this little ballpark in Chicago. It was fun. Sure, Wrigley was fun, the people were colorful and the difference between the concrete of Busch II and Wrigley made it different - thus exciting - but the real joy was a weekend away with dad. Living in "the city" for a weekend. Staying at the "Mighty Comfort" as he would call it. A Comfort Inn about a mile or so south of Wrigley on Diversey that sported more mirrored walls and ceilings than any pre-teen should be subjected to. Still it was always a great trip. I remember being at an arcade in the neighborhood and playing video games next to Andy VanSlyke and Mike Lavallier. But nothing will compare to the game when we say the Cards and Cubs go at it like never before - only to see Sandberg hit a game winning HR against Bruce Sutter (which I believe was his 2nd of the game).
That's where this journey began.
Since then we had several family vacations where we caught baseball games. We went east to see the Orioles play in old Memorial Stadium. We went north to see games at old Tiger Stadium and the the old Municipal Stadium in Cleveland. We even traveled west to see games in LA, Anaheim, San Francisco and Oakland. For some reason dad loved this bumper sticker he picked up in Oakland. It was from the AM station that broadcast the games. When we returned home, it was pasted along the bumper of the 1985 Celica. I guarantee we were the only car in Missouri to have this OAK A's bumper sticker.
I was off and running. Dad and I must have visited at least 12-15 ballparks together. I recall a year in highschool when I was loving the Boston Red Sox in the AL. Mainly due to their 3rd baseman, Wade Boggs. Well, dad found out when the Red Sox were going to be in KC (remember this was before the internet, so it was more like looking it up in the Sporting News than going online). He grabbed my friend Brad and I and we went to KC to see Koffman Stadium and Boggs. All I recall from that game was sitting high, high, high up behind home plate. I recall it being cold. Like, "where's my blanket" cold. But I got to see Boggs play.
By the time I was in the "real world" and on my own I had several stadiums down, but was witnessing the cruelty of the sport of seeing every stadium. You see, stadiums don't stick around for ever. Baltimore had demolished the old Memorial Stadium and had a new, beautiful Camden Yards. Others were following suit. It was time to get on this dream of seeing every stadium. I was in a race against cranes, wrecking balls and corporate boxes. Luckily my second job took me on the road. While at first it was travel to midwest towns, it expanded to the northeast. Time to see Yankee Stadium, Shea, Fenway, Veterans, 3 Rivers, Riverfront, Jacobs, Cellular One. I found my way to games around my work. Enjoyed the intricacies of each ballpark as well as the unique atmospheres. What I love about each ballpark is that no 2 dimensions are the same. No two views are the same. No two sightlines are the same. Of all of the professional sports - only baseball allows the architect and team to play with the dimensions. Each ballpark has a fell that is all it's own. I've been to my share of NHL arenas...not the same. I've been to a handful of NFL stadiums - outdoor ones are cool and have the fans to bring it life. Only baseball creates its own life. The fans just add to the life and character of the ballpark.
In the late 90's I was able to see Cooperstown for the first time. It was 1998 and McGwire and Sosa were battling for Maris' record. As soon as I set foot into the Hall of Fame I knew that I just return with my dad. Luckily, a year later I met Dad in New England for not only a trip to Cooperstown to talk to him about all of the players he grew up with, but to go to Fenway Park with him to see one of the old Jewels with my baseball-loving Dad. It is a trip that I will never forget and would do over and over and over if it would have the same effect year 2, 3, 4, 5, etc. If you haven't been to Cooperstown with your Dad. Do it. I can't explain it, just do it.
Now it is nearing the year 2000 and I have been to 20 or so stadiums. It's time to get serious. I need to see the random ones. I go to Tampa Bay. I'll always remember the night I was there as being the night that Fernando Tatis hit two Grand Slams against the Dodgers. Obviously, it has nothing to do with the game in Tampa...but on my drive back to the hotel in Orlando, I can hear 1120 KMOX (a little) and I hear Mike Shannon call both homeruns. Who played Tampa that night? no idea! I do know I had good seats on the first base side that were aligned to look at home plate. The person to your left sat about 3" ahead of you as the aisle looked straight towards center, but the seats were all askew towards home. Odd memories.
Bevin moved to Denver in 2001 and I was able to catch a game (actually several since) with her to knock the Rockies off the list. I travelled to Toronto for work and saw an interleague game against the Dodgers where the late Jose Lima made a huge impression on me when he lifted a fan from the stands to the field to have a photo on Lima's knee. Another memorable moment of that game was the streaker that dropped from centerfield and ran around the outfield until finally contained by security. I'll never forget the look on the bullpen pitchers faces when they had to escort this naked man past them and off the field - priceless.
Since then it has been almost a game of catch up. Houston opens a new stadium...I'm there the opening weekend in 2006. Cincinnati opens a new ballpark - Boyd and I take an IN/OH baseball roadtrip where we see 3 games in less than 72 hours (Cincy, Jacobs and the minor league park in Indianapolis. Gotta see the Marlins. Find a weekend when the Cards are in town and schedule a trip with Brad to not only see a game in South Florida, but see South Beach (see, it's not all about the ballparks). Fraternity brothers living up in the North East...great excuse to see a Mariners game at Safeco. More fraternity brothers living in Phoenix - easy excuse to swing by "the Bob" as it was called to see a game. Same brother from Seattle now living in MIL...well, the new Miller park had not been visited yet...now, check (along with the old one on an evening trip from Chicago about 20 years prior with high school buddies).
After all of these stadiums, which my unofficial count rests near 50, I have not collected anything physical. No ticket stubs, no photo of me next to a beer vendor, no real record. Except. Except the memories. It all started with a father telling his son about baseball. About a great player named Stan Musial. From there it became a fantasy. "See how cool it is to see baseball on the road?" Now it is an obsession. "I have to catch up". Not just for the "braggin rights" of saying I have been to them all. Don't get me wrong, that will be cool. But for what it means to me. It means childhood dreams. It means seeing architecture working together with art and strategy. It means travel. It means memories. There are so many more memories. Maybe, as I reach that last stadium, I'll relive a memory from each. That's what can never be taken away. Looking at the field again from my memory. From our seat that day. Looking at the beautiful field. Looking at the ballpark. Being around people who love to leave their crazy life for 3 hours at a time and live this fantasy life of living and dying with their team.
I have but two stadiums to go. This week I plan to see Citi Field. Seeing a game there will leave me with just Target Field in Minnesota to see. I am looking over the schedule carefully to see when that game will come. But it must come soon. The Marlins are building a new stadium. I need to be caught up. Just once. To say that I did it. My destination is within reach. From humble beginnings, to this goal of viewing a major league ball game in every active ballpark. It all started with my Dad. He is with me at every ballpark. Maybe, who knows, he'll physically be with me at the last one to share the experience with me. Maybe, I'll turn to him and say. "Who was the best Twin when you were growing up?". He'll start by telling me Harmon Killebrew stories but it will end with him and his friend playing baseball in Emporia, KS. Stan was the best, his neighbor liked the Yankees. That's where baseball stories begin. They begin a generation before...we just carry the flame. That's why I love baseball, that's why I long to see every ballpark. It's the history. I'll tell someone in 30 years about my memories about what I saw. Baseball lore lives on...
Thursday, March 10, 2011
To My Brothers
It's been way too long since I have posted anything on the blog. I blame my new role at Energizer for taking up too much time...but that is not entirely fair as I love this new position as Brand Manager of Communications...it just takes up more of the time in which I used to think up and write blogs.
The following is an excerpt of an email I wrote to my fraternity brothers today. If you know the story, you understand. If you don't know the story, they are an amazing group of guys whose bond continues to grow...even 16+ years removed from collegiate life.
The following is an excerpt of an email I wrote to my fraternity brothers today. If you know the story, you understand. If you don't know the story, they are an amazing group of guys whose bond continues to grow...even 16+ years removed from collegiate life.
20 years ago today, a group of boys met in the Wells Lounge. All invited there through one Chris Jones. Many of us never had met one another before. But we were all united for one reason. We all were looking for a way to make a difference. Some may have rushed before, some never had even thought about going Greek. It didn't matter, we all were looking for something different, something to put our mark on.
This was not a typical group of boys. You would not have looked at this group and thought that they soon would all be best of friends. Our backgrounds were very different. Our looks were very different. Our ideas, however, were the same.
On this day in 1991 a most unique "band of brothers" was born. This is unlike any fraternity bond you will ever see anywhere else. This is a group that understands where we came from, understands it's what is on the inside that matters, understands the meaning of brotherhood as an affiliation binding for life.
I think I can speak for all of us who gathered in Wells Hall on March 10th, 1991 when I say we had no idea what we were getting into. Most of us didn't know what a Fraternity was supposed to be. I think that is what makes this group so special. We made it our own. We made it our Fraternity. And somehow, we passed that legacy along, on down through the pledge classes.
So on this 20th anniversary of the first ever meeting of the soon to be AKL Beta Psi, I say thanks to each of you for giving it all you have. Thanks for being a huge part of my life and thanks for helping me grow up to find out who I can be. It is amazing having friends like you.
Now, let's party!
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