Opening Day - Minor League Style

After going through a drought in 2009, where I had neither the time nor money to attend a baseball game (save for a UVA @ UNC game my bud Plungerhoo took me to), I am heading to the ballpark tonight.

While in Florida back in March, I was fortunate enough to go to the Baltimore Orioles facility in Sarasota, and watch them play a spring training night game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.  The weather was nasty cold and the game was not like the 1971 World Series.  I could tell then and there the O's were bad.  So bad, the Pirates looked good.  The only Oriole bright spot is Adam Jones.  That kid is awesome, and I hope Wieters blossoms into an awesome C.

Anyways, the game was ho-hum, but my son had a great time!  Just look at that smile.  He cheered for every pitch, for every batter and every run scored.  Jersey colors meant nothing to him.  It was about BASE-BALL, as he says it.

As an aside, while I was less than 10 miles from the scene of The Collective Troll's horrible break-in incident, and I have the ticket stub to prove I was at the ballgame, not stealing 1950s Bowmans!

So tonight is opening night for the Durham Bulls.  I haven't been to a Bulls game since August of 2008, so I'm excited to see the new left field construction.  Having lived in Durham for several years, I ended up becoming a fan of the Rays since 2001.  It was awesome to see all the talent they have now come through Durham.

Now I live out towards the Carolina Mudcats, who are the AA affiliate of the Reds, yet I just can't bring myself to be a fan of another NL team.  Padres forever, and occasionally Pad-Rays.

The Reds situation may change, as my brother-in-law's cousin pitches in the Reds organization for the AA Lynchburg Hillcats.  I'll post more on that later, as I'm waiting for my BIL to return from Afghanistan later this month.  Even non-baseball players have jinxes to worry about.

Eventually, I will also be treated by the Plungerhoo to a minor league game of my choice, since I "trounced" him in a one-on-one NCAA tournament challenge, where the winner got to pick the game and the loser buys.  I picked an Albuquerque Isotopes game, but then I found out travel wasn't included, nor was a week long stay in Chaco Canyon.

I guess I'll have to settle for a Kinston Indians, or enjoy a Coastal Plain League Wilson Tobs or Outerbanks Daredevils game.

Baseball is everywhere if you just take the time to look.  Play ball!

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner

http://punkrockpaint.blogspot.com/2010/04/checklist-contest.html

All of those crosswords and literature books finally paid off for me.  Not too shabby for an engineer who specializes in math.

It's idiomatic, my dear Watson! (with a sprinkle of The Bard).

Rejoice in my winnings...

I will let the one and only PunkRockPaint do the honors of revealing the solution.  An awesome contest worthy of wasting an hour at work.

 

Tournament Contest Update

I will keep the tournament updates coming each Monday...

White Sox Cards has officially entered the fray, as I received a spectacular package from him on Saturday (That's what she said).  The highlight was a 1956 Topps Tom Gorman, plus a boat load of Padres, of which I only had one.  I must say he raised the bar for me, and I will have to go digging into the treasure chest for another trade round.  Kudos my good man.

Anyways, the tourney is well under way.  The Astros are all but dead in the water facing a 5 game up hill battle against the dreaded Giants.  And if it couldn't look worse for Do-ho fans, you're down one game to the Nats.  Ouch.

I received some flak about the Phils being the #2 seed, but as stated previously, the seeding is based on 2009 regular season standings.

If you want in on the fun, all you need to do is complete a trade with me and your entered to win a prize.  I'm still debating on a prize, but it will likely end up being a 600 count box of your favorite team (junk wax not withstanding).

Other random comments on the blog include:

Any more Musial cards?  Nope, just the one in the Gallery.

A subtle rip on the 1976 F. Robinson... Yeah, I know the pose is lame and there is no facsimile signature, but it is damn hard finding decent photos of HOFers at the end of their careers...

Mad Props to Royals Scorecards

Thanks for showing me how to bring the dead space to life!

Royals Scorecards is new to the blogosphere, so be sure to go and check out his cool new blog.

Plus, he's just started collecting.  How about we all show him some love Thorzul-style...

Doc T

You've Unknowingly Been Entered in a Contest

Perhaps that has grabbed a handful of people's attention.  Having taken the last month off for a much need baseball break (the blasphemy!), I am back to start a tournament.  I know some of you rail against tournaments, and all they stand for, but hey, I don't have to cover The Cuse for a living.

So, in a similar theme to the Big Dance, I present to you the 2010 Tournament Within a Season contest.  The prize has yet to be determined, but all of those who have completed a trade with me have been entered.

Click to "embiggen"

Certified contestants include:
Dodgers - Night Owl, GCRL (Possibly GCRL to the Twins if desired)
Rangers - Play at the Plate
Nationals - The One and Only Plungerhoo
Rays - Collective Troll (A mercy entry based on the "car"nage of March 5th)

Pending Contestants:
White Sox - WSC
Marlins - The Wicked O
Phillies - Dan the Sticker Man
Braves - Cpt. Canuck

The tournament will function as follows.  The seeds are based on 2009 regular season records.  Each round is broken into 32 games.  Whichever team wins the most games out of those 32 games advances.  Therefore, the first round consists of which team has the better record from Games 1 through 32.  Second round is Games 33 through 64, etc.  Tie breakers are based on best head to head record, then run differential.

I went back a few years, and the finals and champion have been correct, so all you Vegas hounds can follow this tourney to know who to put your stack of '52s on.

If you want in at any time, contact me about a trade.  Just let me know what you're looking for, and I'll try and find it.  I'm up for vintage Topps and any Tony Gwynn's.

Play Ball!