Category Archives: Baseball

Baseball, Simplicity

Baseball Scoring

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While I enjoy scoring baseball games, my interest in baseball has waned in recent years. I’ll take in a game here or there. I’ll even watch a game once in a while. Following the season, however, does not seem to be in the cards for me right now.

Because of that, a couple of decisions have been made.

  1. I am not subscribing to MLB.tv this year. I do not see watching enough for me to feel as though I get my money’s worth.
  2. I will not keep a stack of blank scorecards on the shelf to pull to score games should I decided to watch a game.
  3. Since I won’t be scoring many games, I will not keep a clipboard at the house.

I am certain I will get to the ballpark at some point this summer. When I do, if I want to score the game, I will purchased a scorecard. Sure, it’s expensive for what it is, but I do not have to print and house my own cards just in case.

The other consideration is how to digitize the scorecard. In the past I scanned them. I gave my scanner to my ex-wife ostensibly for my son to be able to print anything he needs for school. Since then, the few scorecards I produced, I scanned at work. That option will disappear in 38 days. I will not purchase a scanner. Scorecards and an occasional event ticket are all I scan these days. A scanner is not worth it to me.

So, a former hobby has basically worked itself out of my life these days. It’s really just following what’s going on. Since I am not immersed in baseball these days, this hobby has fallen away. I can enjoy it the once or twice per season I go to the park without being prepped for bigtime production as I have in the past.

Baseball, Business, Education, Simplicity

Dot . . . Dot . . . Dot . . .

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Once retired, don’t talk about education or my career. I’ll only sound like a bitter, cranky old man past his prime . . . Presently, my life is on hold because of others. I am waiting on return calls from the state of NJ, my school district, my union, a doctor, and a friend. I cannot proceed with much right now because of these other folks . . . Next home: living room not set up with the television as the focal point . . . Do not attend events that require Ticketmaster . . . Reminding myself not to be out there. Nothing is served (other than my ego) to comment on YouTube videos . . . What is old is new again. Headline from the Sporting Life, 29 July 1893: The Pampered Pitchers: Why Cannot Men of To-Date Do As Much As Those of the Past? . . . Ordered a book from Amazon. Looking at the tracking just now, I am astounded. The book left the Swedesboro facility (not far from me) this morning. It has now traveled to Kentucky. Whoa! It’s going to need to return to New Jersey to get it to me . . . I am Frank Anselmo . . . Stephen King wrote:

I want to put a group of characters (perhaps a pair; perhaps even just one) in some sort of predicament and then watch them try to work themselves free. My job isn’t to help them work their way free, or manipulate them to safety — those are jobs which require the noisy jackhammer of plot — but to watch what happens and then write it down.”

Stephen King, 2010. On Writing: A Memoir Of The Craft. Scribner. p. 164
Baseball, Education, Language, Music, Politics

Dot . . . Dot . . . Dot . . .

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MLB has increased the cost of MLB.tv. I will not be scoring many baseball games this summer. I am leaving this activity behind me . . . Additionally, I am passing on the Phish tour. Two nights at the Mann might be nice. It may not be. I will not attend. Time for new experiences . . . Another project I am shelving: I was going to provide 5.000 photographs of my ex-wife’s students to her. Too much of a hassle . . . “The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides federal grants to states for supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition education for low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding postpartum women, and to infants and children up to age 5 who are found to be at nutritional risk.” Doesn’t sound very woke to me. Use the inverse: what if this was to ensure males and not women? Yup . . . Like manuscript disappearing at the lower grades, we no longer teach cursive, graphing, elapsed time, and problem solving strategies in fourth grade . . . Had a student steal $60 from his mother, come into the classroom and distribute it to three students. One student received $30, a second $20, and a third $10. Why the differences? . . .I’ve made decisions, major life decisions, that have not panned out well for me: asking Dana to marry me, lateral job move, and marriage. Nevertheless, I am confident of retirement . . .

Baseball

Pirates vs. Phillies

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22-08-27 Pirates vs. Phillies

Earlier this week, I decided to go to the game on Friday evening. Yesterday was a busy day, but everything was falling into place to knock out a lot and still make it to the game. But Beetle wanted to spend some time with me and that sounded good to me. In the end, I missed the game.

One of the results of my simplistic lifestyle is that I have few obligations. And because of that, I was able to just decide this afternoon to go to tonight’s game. And I did.

Arrived early enough to hit Tony Luke’s before the line got too long. Always good to have a cheesesteak wit at the park. 🙂

Had an interesting seat. I was prepared to sit in the fourth level behind home plate. That’s where we sat in June and I am fine with it. But the sales lady, upon my, “What do you have on the first level on the aisle?” came up with row 30 of section 129. There is only one seat. I had room beside me too. It was all right. Comfortable and good sight lines.

The Phillies are a better team than the Pirates this year. It showed. With Bryce Harper back in the line-up, J.T. Realmuto is in a great position to drive in runs because Harper is going to be walked a lot. Tonight, twice. Realmuto delivered in the first with a three-run double. That was enough to win the game. The Phillies tacked on three more runs.

Kyle Gibson pitched a wonderful seven innings.

It was a beautiful night at the park. Lovely, just as it should be.

Baseball, Book

Lost Ballparks

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Lost Ballparks (Lost)Lost Ballparks by Dennis Evanosky
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Surprisingly, this was a gift from my former SIL on my birthday. She knows I like baseball. I hadn’t spoken to her in a long time, but there was this book.

As I got into it, I realized how much I was enjoying this. There was a lot of connection from old parks to new facilities. I totally was into this. What surprised me, however, was that Veterans Stadium was left out of the book. Pretty much every other cookie cutter was highlighted, but the Phillies old digs was left on the chopping block.

I learned about Toronto’s Exhibition Park, which I had seen a game in. Lots of history presented with each park. Some beautiful photographs.

This is for baseball fans. No doubt about it. An enjoyable read.

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