Congrats Sox

Just finished watching game 4 of the world series. I am pleased because I'm comfortable, I'm home, and one of my teams just won it all. Though my main team is the ever unpredictable Seattle Mariners, the Red Sox has been my back-up team for a few years now. Mainly, I'm a baseball fan. I love to watch all of it, the stories that develop, the rhythm of it, the rise and fall of teams and players. The other reason I'm happy is that back in June I looked at a friend who happened to make the mistake of engaging me in a baseball discussion. During that discussion I had said, "The Red Sox have a good chance of winning it all." Throughout the entire season I believed it because I saw a team which was not only balanced but incredibly deep with talent. However, my main reason was because I saw a team having intense fun with what they were doing.

It was odd to be in a World Series city while the event was going on. Unfortunately, it was during the first games in Boston and the town had that "away game" sort of feeling to it. We were out on the street and moving toward a sports bar to take in the first Series game when the Rockies hit their home run in the first game. I've never heard a city roar before but I'll never forget how that sound rolled along the streets, echoed around the towers, and lifted into the sky.

Finally, this may be a no-brainer but hang onto any Jacoby Ellsbury or Dustin Pedroia cards you have from this season. From the way those rookies came out of the box and performed in the past two games of the Series, it might be worth something one day.

Day In The Sun, Part Two

I think I may just have to resign myself to only getting one of these posts up here every week or so. So busy.

As promised and in honor of the NCAA College Baseball World Series this weekend, here is the other half of the shots from the "Spring Day in the Sun." These are from an IU baseball game later that day. I'm particularly fond of these shots and my growing ability to see a situation on the field and prepare for it. Also, since I am an avid baseball scorekeeper whenever I go to games, I love Keeping Score which is at the very end.

The subject of the shot was a smiling older gentleman who very elegantly set up a folding bleacher seat, sat down in the front row directly behind home plate, and began keeping score with his pen and steno pad. He must have been a long time fan as he was treated with great respect by any IU baseball staff member that walked by him. He had an "old school baseball gentleman" air to him and it was just a pleasure watching him watch the game.

Enjoy.

Far In The Background

Can you hear it, sense it? I suppose you have to be a fan to know what I am talking about and it's hard to do with all the frost, snow, and windchill. It helps if you're someplace warm but I got a whiff even while walking in the negative windchill yesterday. It's like hearing voices on the wind or a whispered conversation in the other part of the house. Its there, a warm full buzz of activity, but you can't make out the details.

If you close your eyes and get real quiet you might be able to pick it up, feel it. Can you?

It's a warm summer day with big white clouds that race over a brilliant green and well lined field. It's a distant crack of a bat. The solid feel of impact as a ball hits the pocket of your glove. It's chatter from the dugout, quick bits of infield communication, the dust rising up from a second base slide. Is it a bunt? A swing away? Fastball? Curveball? Will he go for the steal?

The sound or smell of it lasts only a second and then it's taken away by a wash of cold air, a snowflake on the cheek, or the crunching of snow underneath your shoes. You're brought back to February and trying to undig your car from the snow, trying to build a fire in the fireplace.

But, if you listen, if you look for it, it's there. It makes the cold a little more bearable.

Of course, if you're not a fan, I understand.

You're just going to have to trust me that it's there.