Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Baseball Post - The Final Push

Only a week (give or take) to go!

For those of you who like the baseball posts, here ya go!

17 comments:

Life's Too Short said...

BREAKING NEWS !!!!!
Ozzie Guillen fired as White Sox Manager !!!
As just reported on ESPN News Ozzie Guillen was fired this morning as Mgr. of the Chicago White Sox. Joey Cora named to replace Ozzie ... details to follow ...

A Day At A Game


Buying peanuts and cracker jacks
and not worrying if they ever get back
are words that you might hear,
in that baseball park
that is never dark
and has such energy in the air.

Programs here!
or souvenirs here!
is what you might here someone yell,
along with baseball hats
and baseball bats
there's so much they try to sell.

While watching the game you love
with your baseball glove
you just find yourself waiting there
for that home run hit
to where you sit
it's the perfect souvenir.

A day at the game
is never the same,
you'll always see something new,
so take a day
to get away
Americas favorite pastime waits for you.

Oh Yeah by the way APRIL FOOLS !!!

5 Days to Opening Day !!!!

Anonymous said...

Enjoy your countdown, this is your time to shine

Life's Too Short said...

"People will come, Ray...The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers; it has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt, and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game, is a part of our past, Ray. It reminds us of all that once was good, and it could be again. Ohhhh, people will come, Ray. People will most definitely come...")

I'm paraphrasing, but that's my favorite part. I watch the movie Field of Dreams and the game reminds us all of what once was good and that it could be again. You can take that to mean that it reminds us of our childhood when things were simpler. That it reminds us of our team's greatness, the glories of the past and the promise with each opening day, that we may reach out and touch the glory again. Or just take it to mean a fond memory of a game with your father and that one day you'll take your own son.

Legendary White Sox pitcher Billy Pierce was born on Saturday, April 2, 1927, in Detroit, Michigan.

"That year was the culmination of a lot of things for us. From 1951 on at different times, we were playing New York or Cleveland for the pennant. Finally in '59 it happened for us, and it was a great thrill. Nellie Fox and Luis Aparicio had their greatest years, and Early Wynn was tremendous on the mound. We won so many games by one run. It was just one of those years where everything went right." - Billy Pierce on the 1959 White Sox

4 Days to Opening Day !!!!

Life's Too Short said...

The Opening Game
by Ernest Hemmingway


With Chance on first, and Evers on third,
Great things from the Cubs will soon be heard.
Then up comes Schulte to the bat,
On the plate his bat does rap;
Takes a slug at that old ball,
Makes it clear the right field wall.
Then in comes Chance and in comes Evers,
Such hits are seldom seen -- most never.
Then to the bat comes Zim in haste,
He sure knows how the ball to paste.
He slams that ball upon the Bean,
Almost seems to make it scream.
The center fielder nabs the ball;
It seems as if t'would make him fall.
But stop this rank stuff,
Just one inning is enough.


from the Oak Park Journal, 1912


Copy this link
http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?mid=200903273993007&c_id=cws


3 Days to Opening Day !!!!

Anonymous said...

go cubs go---go cubs go---hey chicago what do you say--the cubs are going to win today !!!

3 days til opening day

Life's Too Short said...

'Ode to Opening Day
by Mark H. Young ©
Published: Lockheed Martin News (2001)
Opening day tickets were gone in a flash,
SOLD OUT, said the sign even if you had cash.
Its time to gander at them fields so green
To watch those replays on the diamond screen.
The crack of the bat and roar of the crowd,
The home team's gonna make those cheering fans proud.
Goin' to the ballpark on opening day,
Just need a day off to come out and play.
Sittin' in the bleachers to soak up the sun,
Keeping a scorecard makes it more fun.
Kids bring their gloves to catch souvenirs,
Adults reach for foul balls while spilling their beers.
Youngsters are pushy when standing in line
Waiting for autographs of their favorite nine.
Oh Mr usher the kids are just great
So please have a heart, don't show them the gate.
We stand up and stretch in the bottom of seven,
Like in "Field of Dreams", me thinks this is heaven?
With a chance to see our favorite stars
We follow them closely on baseball cards.
Sosa, Bonds, Junior, and Thome,
Kerry Wood, Mussina, Schilling, El Duque,
Jim Morris at 35, the Oldest Rookie.
Smoltz, Glavine, Maddux and Andruw,
The Rocket, The Cat, A-Rod, Moises Alou.
Piazza, The Alomars, and Will The Thrill,
Olerud, The Big Hurt, bring back the twin bill.
Bagwell, Chipper, Pudge and Pedro,
Mo Vaughn, Boomer, Jose Canseco.
Nomar, The Big Unit, Jeter and Biggio,
Rey Ordonez, Rafael Palmeiro.
Sammy, Wrigley’s ivy, HRs on Waveland Ave.,
Barry gets them wet in McCovey Cove.
Ripken, Coney and Tony Gwynn,
McGwire goin’ yard, caused such a din!
Fans came early to watch his BP,
Big Mac — Tape Measure, synonymously!
Tongue in cheek schtick from a Yankee fan,
Who's rooting, parts of five decades do span.
I've taken the time to create and refine
This ditty you're reading which IS all of mine.
Been workin' real hard to jot down these words,
If you are from Baltimore, you root for the Birds!
To the owners, "Stop crying and counting your beans,
Baseball in Washington, by any means!!!"
Every boy’s dream is to play in the Show
Very few make it, don’t you know.
The season will start, all teams as equals
The crowning achievement is The World Series.
It won't be till fall when its all over,
There may be a sighting of Mr October.
We've waited all winter, withstood snow and cold
Thru free agent signings for millions in gold.
"Play ball", "Batter up", the umpire will yell,
Peanuts and crackerjacks the vendors will sell.
Like Bogey has said with panache and glitz,
"A hot dog at the ballpark beats steak at the Ritz!"

Click on the link
http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?mid=200903273993007&c_id=cws

2 Days to Opening Day !!!!

Life's Too Short said...

365

by Jack Buck ©

When someone asks you your favorite sport
And you answer Baseball in a blink
There are certain qualities you must possess
And you're more attached than you think.
In the frozen grip of winter
I'm sure you'll agree with me
Not a day goes by without someone
Talking baseball to some degree.
The calendar flips on New Year's Day
The Super Bowl comes and it goes
Get the other sports out of the way
The green grass and the fever grows.
It's time to pack a bag and take a trip
To Arizona or the Sunshine State
Perhaps you can't go, but there's the radio
So you listen-you root-you wait.
They start the campaign, pomp and pageantry reign
You claim the pennant on Opening Day

From April till fall
You follow the bouncing white ball
Your team is set to go all the way.
They fall short of the series
You have a case of the "wearies"
And need as break from the game
But when Christmas bells jingle
You feel that old tingle
And you're ready for more of the same.
It will be hot dogs for dinner
Six months of heaven, a winner
Yes, Baseball has always been it.
You would amaze all your friends
If they knew to what ends
You'd go for a little old hit.
The best times you're had
Have been with your Mom and your Dad
And a bat and a ball and a glove.
From the first time you played
Till the last time you prayed
It's been a simple matter of love.

Click on the link

http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?mid=200903273993007&c_id=cws


1 Day to Opening Day !!!!

I hope !!!!

Anonymous said...

Hey Baseball Guy.... Get a Life!!! That is all...

Life's Too Short said...

Okay lets try this again !!!!


On April 16, 1940, Bob Feller threw the first and only Opening Day no-hitter, shutting down the White Sox, 1-0. It was all the more remarkable considering the temperature was a chilly 35 degrees and raining sleet at game time.

Long but worth reading,



Toronto Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay had a partner yesterday. Sean Clayton, a gangly 13-year-old Montrealer, acted as the staff ace's shadow.

When Halladay walked over to the intra-squad game, Sean walked with him. The Jays' practice jersey that Halladay had given him draped down to Sean's knees. While the game went on, Sean sat in the dugout tucked in close to Halladay. They shared a bag of sunflower seeds and talked quietly, their heads drawn close together. Before the game ended, Halladay took Sean off to the furthest field from the action – Field 1 – and they tossed the ball for 10 minutes. Later, Halladay loaded Sean down with a bulging armload of bats, balls and gloves. He crisscrossed the tiny Mattick Centre clubhouse soliciting autographs from teammates.

As Sean struggled out the door with his loot, Halladay asked, "Did your parents bring a duffel bag?" As they said their goodbyes, Sean began to cry. He ducked his head down embarrassedly. Halladay had just shaken his hand a little stiffly. When he saw Sean bow his head, Halladay reached forward and pulled Sean into a hug. Then Sean's father, Michael, started to cry too. Sean Clayton has a rare and often deadly form of leukemia – AML (acute myeloid leukemia). He was diagnosed with the disease on May 10, 2006. The last two years of his life have been unimaginably painful. He's been through four rounds of chemotherapy. His younger brother, Kyle, donated bone marrow that significantly increased Sean's chances. "We saw him go to the gates of Hell," Michael said yesterday. "It was our promise to make it a return trip." Sean is doing better now, though his cancer is an awesomely powerful opponent. Baseball has been a great solace throughout the soft-spoken young teen's illness. He's a catcher who loves the Jays. How'd he pick up that habit in Montreal?

"God only knows," Michael smiled. Michael Clayton recalled that while his son was in the cancer ward, he would watch Blue Jays games while wretching into a bucket. Sean's fondest wish was to meet Toronto's top pitcher. The Make-A-Wish Foundation got involved and the meeting was set about two months ago. When he arrived yesterday morning, he hung outside the clubhouse with his family. Halladay snuck up behind and surprised him. That was the beginning of their two-hour adventure.

Afterward, Sean – who his parents warned was a young man of few words – was overcome by a torrent of them. "When I met him, I was shocked. He just came up behind me and he just said `Hi' and he just, I was shocked and I didn't know what to do," Sean said in a rush. "We went to the training room. I got hit by a foul ball over there right next to the field. I met everyone on the team." Then he exhaled deeply, overwhelmed. This had been a milestone in a very young life. Normally, Halladay is as stoic as an Easter Island statue. That reserve has not crumbled in the face of great highs and lows. But after saying goodbye to Sean, he was shaken. He spoke more haltingly than usual. "It's tough to live up to, honestly. You just want to do so much for him," Halladay said of Sean's adulation. "It's special for me. It's a tremendous honour to have somebody (wish to meet me) ... he's a great kid." Halladay searched around for a way to describe the experience. He grabbed at words like "special" several times. Then the Cy Young winner paused and said, "It's the good part about being a baseball player."


1 Day to Opening Day !!!! (again)

Life's Too Short said...

I have been thinking about it and tomorrow may not be the last day you hear from Life's Too Short and baseball posts!!! So stand by baseball fans ... I have something in the works !!!!

Anonymous said...

Baseball Guy! You are awesome lad! Let's Go White Sox! Opening Day Tuesday April 7th, 2009! Go Sox!

Anonymous said...

hey baseball guy, when we got snowed out today you were at the top of the list of my thoughts. Better luck today. As I have stated in the past you are harmless, and certainly not negative, could use more like you.

Life's Too Short said...

For over a century, baseball has been hailed above all other sports as America's National Pastime. And no other game during the regular one-hundred sixty-two game season has been as eagerly anticipated as Opening Day. Just look at any die-hard baseball fan's calendar. Vacation? Holidays? Anniversaries? All are often forgotten and pale in comparison with the coveted first game of the season. Ask any fan what the "official" start of Spring is. Chances are their answer will be Opening Day. Much more than just an event, it is an experience.

Regardless of the outcome, Opening Day still remains as the number one date in the hearts, minds of baseball fans everywhere. The official countdown begins after the last pitch of the World Series when we can't wait to hear those two magic words again, "Play Ball!"


Hall of Fame pitcher Early Wynn, who played for the Chicago White Sox, summed up the essence of Opening Day when he said, "An opener is not like any other game. There's that little extra excitement, a faster beating of the heart. You have that anxiety to get off to a good start, for yourself and for the team. You know that when you win the first one, you can't lose 'em all."

"There is no sports event like Opening Day of baseball, the sense of beating back the forces of darkness and the National Football League."

For my Cub Fan Friends a link for you too:

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wsiu/local-wsiu-805103.mp3



The Day is here !!!

It's Here ... It's Here
The Long awaited day has arrived ...

To My Friends who know I started this countdown at the end of last season, after the last White Sox playoff game , Thanks for enduring.

It was my intent to make last years baseball season live on, If not in our minds, then in our hearts.

To take our mind off the cold days of winter, so we could feel warm, and dream of new memories.

I am up and getting ready for the tradition that I started some years ago by taking my son to the opener. A tradition I only wish that I started with other children who are older, One my lifes regrets.

As I laid out our new White Sox jerseys for this season, The day has the anticipation of Christmas !!!

Like what presents will Santa Baseball bring us ... A Buehrle No-hitter, A game winning Thome or Konerko Home Run, another diving catch by Brian Anderson.

I can smell the cooking of grilled onions already ...
and despite the fact that it will in the 30's today ...

It will be 80 degrees in our hearts ...

So Ends the Countdown !!!

Go White Sox ....

Life's Too Short

Opening Day is here !!!!

Anonymous said...

how about LTS for alderman.... at least he would have some real facts behind his talk.....LOL Yes We Can!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Hey whatcha think about the Billy Goat they found hanging at Harry Carey's this morning. Ya think it's a Cubbie Fan trying to break the curse?

No posts since 4/7? Did you give up Life's Too Short?

Life's Too Short said...

be Ready I will be re-emerging with a new daily post ...

Anonymous said...

Good....you've been missed!

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