The Diary: Washington D.C.

Monday, May 21

“You say that money isn’t everything
Oh but I’d like to see you live without it.”

Alright, so we’re actually staying in the same area today, a first on the trip. First, let me recap the “Battle For The Beltway” between the Nats and the O’s. What was bizarre was that the O’s had a bigger draw than the Nationals, and you would think that a series like this would draw a bigger crowd, but RFK was at about 50-60% capacity yesterday. Erik Bedard was outstanding and pitched seven strong innings, striking out a ton of guys (not sure how many) and had tremendous control (at one point, through 75 pitches, he threw 60 strikes and 15 balls…in case you didn’t know, normally, pitchers like to get around a 75/25 ratio in terms of strikes to balls…Bedard yesterday was at 80/20…also, if you’re getting a lot of strikes, the hope is that you’re keeping the ball in the park, because although strikes are good, too many can lead to a bad thing). Once Bedard left though, his bullpen let him down, especially Danys Baez, who allowed two runs in the bottom of the eighth to give the Nats their first lead of the game, at 3-2, which would ultimately be how it ended. Chad Cordero came on in the ninth (“Chief” as they know him in D.C.), and although he looked a little shaky, was able to record the save (fantasy points!). Our view sucked though. We were behind the plate, but in the upper regions, meaning the view was obstructed by the press boxes and suites above. I don’t know what they were thinking when they put in those additions on to the stadium. My thinking is that basically, RFK is going to be left to rot away while the Nats move into their new stadium. It’s too bad, because there’s a lot of history with the park, unfortunately very little of it has to do with baseball.

So yesterday, I was watching the outfield scoreboard about as much as I was watching the Nats game, and every time they flashed the score, there was an “R” by it, of course referring to the fact that the game was in a rain delay. Then, as the Nats game progressed, the scoreboard then flashed the game was at 2:05…but it was 4:30! So I just assumed the game was rained out…then we go back to the hotel…and they won 6-3! What the hell?! Anyway, Gabbard looked good in the limited amount I saw him (by the way, it is really tough for me to comment on all of this without NESN now that I have it…which is something to look forward to…in-depth Red Sox analysis! Yes!), and the offense was able to bounce back after getting decimated by Smoltz on Saturday, going off for six runs in four innings off of Tim Hudson, who has been solid this year. Youk continued his frantic hitting by blasting another homer, and ‘Tek chimed in with three RBIs of his own. It was totally bizarre how many parallels were drawn between the last two games in terms of the Red Sox and Yankees games. Think about it: On Saturday, the Yanks and Sox both threw out rookie pitchers (Resner and Hansack), and both got hit in the hand and had to leave their respective games early, then gave way to their bullpens, who then imploded. Then, on Sunday, again, the Yanks and Sox put in rookie pitchers, but this time, both looked outstanding, especially Tyler Clippard for the Yanks (does anyone else find it absolutely unbearable that if this kid is any good for a longer period of time, the “Yankee Clipper” references will never end…the future is bleak my friends), who looked like he was breaking his elbow off on every pitch. Because the Yanks were on ESPN, I had a lot more to go by on him than I did Gabbard, although I’ve seen Kason pitch a couple times. Clippard’s motion totally baffled the Mets, and even hit a line-shot double to right-center to help his own cause. Clippard has average stuff though, and this is being fairly bi-partisan, because he did have a low-90s fastball, and decent command, but I’m not sure that he can continue that kind of success in the long-term.

Anaheim is one win away from reaching the Stanley Cup finals to meet up with Ottawa, who dispatched Buffalo in five games, easily the biggest surprise of the hockey postseason. The Ducks are up and down though, especially the play of Giguere, who has been all over the place in terms of consistency. The Ducks pulled off a thriller last night at the Joe, scoring with around 40 seconds left in regulation to tie up the game, then winning it on a tremendous backhand from Temmu Selanne in OT. So the series now moves to Anaheim, where Detroit’s resolve will be put to its ultimate test, down 3-2 in what is likely to be a hostile environment. On the other side of the pond, Ottawa, who has one of the best lines in hockey, led by Dany Heatley and Daniel Alfredson, who were both integral in scoring the final goal of the Buffalo series against Ryan Miller, one of the best in the biz. It’s going to be tough to stop the Sens, even if the Wings are able to pull off a miraculous comeback and win their next two games. I have always liked Heatley. He was kind of ostracized after the DUI case that followed him around while he played for Atlanta. Now that he’s in a new place, and has Alfredson on the same line, he is flourishing under Ottawa’s system (bear in mind he did have Kovlachuk in Atlanta as a line-mate, so although his stats were very good, but right now, he’s playing the best hockey of his career in Ottawa). The Finals will be very intriguing despite who wins in the West.

Switching up to the hardwood the Jazz and Spurs played last night in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals, with the Spurs prevailing 98-90. What was interesting was the fact that the Spurs dominated play in the first half, then seemed to almost let Deron Williams run wild in the second, as he was a few boards and a couple of assists from a triple-double, scoring 35 points, most of which was scored in the final quarter. The Spurs backcourt was the difference in the game, with Parker and Ginobli each scoring over 20 a piece. However, Tony Parker did make remarks after the game, basically saying that what Utah put out on the floor in the second half is much more representative of the kind of team you will expect for the remainder of the series. Also, Boozer and Okur each had respectable games, and still, the Spurs don’t really have an answer for how to stop both of them. The way the Spurs really stuck it to the Jazz was probably the timely shooting of Michael Finley, who always seems to hit those shots, much like he did in the final game of the Suns/Spurs series that really turn the momentum around in favor of San Antonio. Keep watching for Finley, as he is one of the unsung guys on the Spurs that help them get to where they are today.

Tonight we’re in Bowie, MD to see Bowie (Orioles) take on New Briton (Twins). Tomorrow, it’s off to Camden Yards. Keep it real! Peace.

~Mell-o

The Diary: On The Way To D.C.

Sunday, May 20

“Nice guys finish last.”

Truckin’ along I-95 heading for D.C., and am happy to report that the home teams continue their dominance on this trip, now 6-0, with the Mets holding off the Yanks yesterday 10-7. Darrell Resner was unable to retire a batter for the Yankees, as his day was ended by a comebacker that broke his hand, effectively ending the majority of his season (minimum three months). In a way, I’m almost starting to feel bad for them. It’s like we’re not beating the best that they could give us, but then again, it’s not our fault that we didn’t surround ourselves with a bunch of old guys. David Wright is an animal at the plate. For his second home run, he hit a ball at his feet to dead centerfield, and sure, Johnny Damon helped matters significantly when he dropped the ball over the fence after it hit his glove directly in the palm, but still, to get that kind of power on that pitch was something else. Also, Jose Reyes is a freak of nature. This guy is so fast, and yet, he can hit to all fields for average, and can also provide enough pop to get around 20 homers a year. There’s a reason Endy Chavez is hitting .370, and I think it’s because of pitchers constantly having to worry about Reyes once he gets on. Tom Glavine was sensational in his outing after giving up two early runs. Then, once the bullpen was called upon, they nearly gave it all back, especially Scott Schowenweis, who imploded in the seventh, giving up four runs to make it an 8-6 game, which is closer than it should have ever been. However, the best part of the day had to be in the bottom of the eighth, when 48-year old Julio Franco pinch-hit against Kyle Farnsworth, and delivered with a hit to score two runs, widening the gap, and effectively killing the Yankee rally. On that play, Robinson Cano committed his third error of the day. Earlier in the game, he hit a solo homer, but his mistakes ultimately cost the Yankees the game. Billy Wagner came on in the ninth, and made one of the worst plays you’ll ever see. With one out and runners on first and third, Wagner fielded a chopper back up the middle, bobbled it for a split second, and in that split second, completely forgot everything about the situation he was in, and tried to throw home to get the runner out instead of throwing to first for the easy out. I know sometimes, in the heat of the moment, things go haywire, but that was inexcusable. When you’re up four runs in the top of the ninth, and you already have one out, what difference does it make if one run scores? If you get the out at first, there’s two down, you’re up three with a runner on second and two outs. That’s a pretty nice scenario to have. Now, because of Wagner’s play, there were runners on first and third with one out, and with a team like the Yankees, you never know what they’re capable of. So those were rough times for me, but luckily, all ended well, and the Mets went onto victory.

The Sox played two yesterday, and apparently, they only thought they were playing in the afternoon and decided to skip the night game. Look, I know it’s John Smoltz, but it’s real bad when you go down 14-0 after beating the same team 13-3 in the same day. First of all, this team probably should never give up 14 runs ever. This staff is way too good to let any game get out of hand like that. On top of all that, there was some kind of reverse karma going on, as Devern Hansack got hit in the hand as well, and had to be taken out of the game as well. Hopefully, his injury is not as severe as the one suffered by Resner, because they’re going to need this kid down the road, especially considering you never know when a starter could go down, or someone may need an extra day’s rest, or even if you need a long man out of the ‘pen to kill some innings. However, not everything went south yesterday, as there were some definite encouraging signs from the first game, most notably with Dice-K, Youk and Mike Lowell. Lowell continued his red-hot hitting, slamming another homer and driving in five runs (it might have been four, not sure). This is making me think that Lowell is reverting back to his 2003 season, when he had one of the best seasons that year for a third baseman. Youk is on a career-high 12-game hitting streak, and continues to play solid D at first. I think once you play third base for a while, and get used to balls flying at you, the adjustment to first base isn’t necessarily that hard of a thing to pick up, at least that’s my thinking. Dice-K again did not allow a walk, which is tremendous considering that was the big knock on him in his first few starts. Another cause for concern was his effectiveness out of the stretch, as he was very slow in his delivery to home, which he now seems to have remedied. All and all, we did manage to pick up another half-a-game, and right now, it’s all about getting as much distance is as humanly possible while we are playing this well. From the looks of it, this looks like a 95-win team after all. Also, I’m kind of liking how my prediction about how the season would go is basically clicking…always good to fool people into believing I actually know what I’m talking about.

So, in case you haven’t been reading this, or don’t know me very well right now, you have to know that I’m so excited for the 22^nd, which is when the NBA Lottery will take place. Again, if you’re not looking forward to this, you’re probably not a C’s fan, because mark my words, if the ping pong balls go our way, and we end up with #1 or #2, the franchise will change entirely. I mean we’re talking about laying the foundation for what could be a playoff contender for years to come. I’m dead serious on this one folks. If the Celtics get Oden or Durant, you’re looking at one of the most formidable lineups in the Eastern Conference when healthy (again, that doesn’t happen too often). With Telfair off the team, it leaves the door wide open for Delonte West or Rajon Rondo to come in, both of whom are very capable of accomplishing this task. Then, Tony Allen will be returning to handle the 2-guard role, and will split some time with Gerald Green, who will also get time from Paul Pierce in the role of small forward. Pierce will be entering his eleventh year (I believe?), so it remains to be seen if he has enough left to play the kind of minutes he was playing two or three years ago. What is known is that this team goes nowhere without Pierce. He is their anchor, but the past few seasons, he was asked to do too much for the team, and ultimately, it put a strain on him mentally and physically. I say mentally because you could see how bad he wanted to win, and when you have a team that’s struggling, and you’re the go-to-guy, you’re going to be taking those losses a lot more personally because, in some way, it feels like you let the team down some. That has to build up over time, and it really showed up over time with Pierce, as towards the end of last season, he seemed to be overly frustrated that he couldn’t get his team more victories, and swirling reports surfaced about the team “tanking” on purpose. If Pierce gets another guy like he had with Antoine Walker, it makes him so much better of a player, because I really don’t think Pierce is used as effectively as he could be if he is the only offensive weapon on the floor. I think this guy has more dimensions to his game than that, and he simply needs someone to take some of the load off of him. The rest of the frontcourt is solely dependent on who the C’s draft. With Oden, you will see Big Al shift to the power forward spot, and Oden would take over as center. This guy’s game is so polished, and he’s only 19. The potential for his growth is impossible to calculate. All I know is that this guy is going to be great, it’s just a question of how long it takes for him to develop his game in the pros, and from the looks of it, it doesn’t seem like that will take too long. If the Celts get Durant, it will be up for interpretation on who should start at power forward. Durant is bigger than Pierce, but Pierce has already played that position, and knows how to bang in the NBA, something Durant will have to get used to over time. Personally, putting Durant at the #3 slot will help his development a lot more. He will cause a ton of personnel mismatches for the opposing team, and this will help build his confidence so that his eventual move to power forward will be a lot smoother. Not that this kid doesn’t have confidence already. His game is even stronger than Oden’s, and that’s saying a lot considering me, and every member of the breathing population, thought that Oden was going to be #1 all along. Now, when I look at it bi-partisanly, I can’t help but think that Durant would be as good, if not, an even better pick at #1, than Oden. Durant’s game mirrors that of Tracy McGrady, and when you talk about an inside-outside threat at the forward position, you can’t do a whole lot better than T-Mac. Whoever the C’s end up with, as long as it’s one of those two guys, I don’t care. Both would add another dimension to the Celts that they desperately need. Oden brings the big man they’ve been searching for since the departure of “The Chief,” and Durant would bring the kind of inside/outside threat that would take a ton of pressure off of Pierce and Big Al, which they desperately need. I personally think Jefferson can be a center in this league. If you look at what he did last year, it’s clear to see that, despite having a majority of his team (Allen, Wally, Pierce, Perk) on the sidelines, he could still be a presence down low.

So today will mark my first visit to RFK stadium, and also, the first time I’ve seen a ballgame in a “made-for-football” stadium. I hear that there’s all kind of things that are screwed up about the place, but I’m reserving my judgment until I actually get there and check it out for myself. I heard Shea wasn’t a good place to check out a game, but I loved it. Then again, I probably could have watched Mets/Yankees from Three Mile Island and loved it, so you never know. As always, if you’ve made it this far, and actually put up with all of my rantings about the Celtics, then you guys are awesome, and I really do appreciate you checking in with this. I’ll be in D.C. for the next three days (RFK today, Bowie, MD tomorrow, and Camden Yards on Tuesday). Today, we have a matinee game between the Nats and the O’s. There’s a bit of a buzz going on because a couple of people or from the D.C./Virginia area, so they get to see both their hometown teams in action, and also, Bowie is an affiliate of the Orioles, so if you’re an O’s fan on this trip, you get to see that franchise three days in a row…not bad. After the game, I have no clue what’s going on. I was so wiped out last night that I just crashed instead of going out clubbing (I mean seriously though, can you see me clubbing? If you know me…I mean really…so not my scene). Maybe things will change today, but again, I am a cheap bastard, and am totally content on staying in and catching up on some Z’s. Hey, I know that this is an experience of a lifetime, but to be perfectly honest with you, baseball is doing it for me, and the other stuff…well, if it happens, then that’s cool, but really, I’m all about going to the games, writing about all of it, and calling it a day. The bars aren’t going anywhere, the sights aren’t either, and I’ve already been to most of these places, and the thinking here is that right now, I don’t have the kind of coin to be dropping to have a “real good” time in some of these places, like Philly, NY, or D.C., so I’ve been taking it easy for the most part, which is good, because I need all the money I can get, because yes, I’m still jobless, and yes, it’s embarrassing to say that considering I’ve basically just finished four years at one of the best business schools, and the job market is huge for my field. To be honest with you though, I think that my complete resistance to really want to get into this has plagued me a little. I mean, right now, I’m applying to Carmel Country Club, and if I get on there, I will be a server/bartender/kitchen guy. Yeah, this isn’t what I went to school to study, but really, I think school was almost an experience on what I really don’t want to do with myself for the rest of my life. I mean, I did learn a lot, but I think I learned more about myself than I did in terms of anything finance-related. I learned that I’m a numbers guy, but I’m a numbers guy in terms of sports, and other things like that. Frankly, I just don’t think I have the kind of aggressiveness that you need to be really good in the financial world. I’m too laid back for that kind of stuff. I mean it pays well, but I’m cheap as it is, so really, I don’t need all that much to get by. I’ve been scraping my whole life, so if I have to scrap some more, then I don’t really have a problem with that. Will I be waiting tables my whole life? No. But right now, I want to enjoy myself, enjoy my job, and enjoy the people that work with me. Also, I still haven’t ruled out music yet (remember, there was a time in my life that it was looking like that may be it for me…most of you don’t know that, but…yeah, there was). I mean, eventually, I’ll probably end up getting a job with the benefits and the 401Ks and all that good stuff, but right now, I feel like I have a lot of living to do, and that me in a suit and tie is not the right route for me, although I do look good in it, but considering the way I’m usually dressed (yes, I’m wearing a jersey right now, and yes, I don’t care how “ridiculous” it is for someone my age to have a jersey on in a “non-game” situation…we all do things that make us who we are…I just do a lot more than most people), that should come as no surprise. So for now, consider me a freelance writer, a USC grad, and a guy who is wicked happy at all he’s done so far, and looking forward to changing the world in whatever kind of positive way I can. Alright, I have more out-the-window looking to do, so you guys take care, and enjoy yourselves…for all I know, this is the one shot you have, so be you, and have no regrets doing so. Peace.

~Mell-o

The Diary: On The Way To NYC

Saturday, May 19

“I want to be a part of it…”

So there’s definitely some excitement in the air right now. Major League Baseball will do that to people. Another thing that will do it is when you’re about to see one of the best rivalries in all of baseball (I mean Philly/Toronto was good, but…ya know…). Anyway, I’m pumped to go to Shea, even though apparently it’s not the greatest facility to ever be constructed. It doesn’t really matter to me, especially when you consider the fact that I’m one for nostalgia.

So we’re leaving Philly right now, and it actually ended up being a good game last night. Philly jumped out to a five run lead thanks to a bunch of hits strung together in the fifth. The Jays eventually put up three late runs off of starter Jon Lieber, but Brett Myers came in to shut the door in the ninth, earning yet another save. Myers has been solid since making the move to closer. When you consider the pitchers that Philly generally throws out there (with the exception of Cole Hamels), Myers brings so much more power than the others. Lieber hit 87 as his highest pitch, while Myers clocked in a few times at 97. Ryan Howard on the DL creates a giant hole in the lineup, as the Phils are now using Chase Utley as a cleanup man, and although he has good power, he needs some form of protection in the lineup to be really effective (Pat Burrell is no longer considered “protection”). Also, with Roy Halladay and B.J. Ryan on the DL, and with Vernon Wells not really hitting (I should know…fantasy team…I know you’re concerned too), the Jays are in for some rough times ahead. I know Jeremy Accardo (affectionately known as “the guy from the Blue Jays” in my last post) has been lights out in his appearances, but you never know how long he can keep this going…I hate to say this, but after all, they’re not the Yankees (Aaron Small still haunts my dreams to this day…11 in a row?...AHHHHH!!!).

The Sox were again rained out, and will play a day-night doubleheader today against the Bravos. A little Devern action today? I haven’t checked the pitching matchups for the game today, but I’m hoping they just push back everyone a day, because Devern needs work! So, if things stayed the same from Friday night in terms of starters, you’re looking at Hansack in the first game, and the Dice man in the second. Man do we need Jon Lester more than ever.

Barry Bonds is tired of Schill’s “childishness” and won’t respond to his accusations that Bonds cheated on his wife, his taxes, and baseball by taking steroids. Here’s the thing: I respect that, but I think the real reason is that basically, whatever Bonds says now-a-days is basically perceived as lying, so why say anything anyway? What’s the point if you know you’re going to get slammed by the media no matter what? I think people would have been more easy to forgive Bonds for all of this if only he hadn’t been so smug about all of this. There is just so much evidence that puts Bonds on knowingly doing illegal things, and yet, there has been nothing yet to further convict Bonds, and somehow stop him from breaking Aaron’s record, which pretty much about 60-70% of baseball fans, and people in general, want. It is very easy to sit back, look at Bonds, hear something he said, and just start screaming “liar!” at the TV. I’ve done it, you’ve done it, we’ve all done it. Look, even good fans of Bonds, and Giants fans on a whole, definitely have to consider all the evidence that is seemingly never ending, and possibly at least think that there is a possibility that something may have gone on. We may never know the truth about any of this, but someone, somewhere, is getting paid a tremendous amount of money to try and bring Bonds down. A Congressional hearing didn’t work, and neither did a book that detailed all of the illegal things Bonds has been accused of happening. Therefore, it seems that only a positive test for something illegal, or an admission of guilt by Bonds himself, will be the only things that would satisfy the public’s feeding frenzy with this story. I realize it has already been written about thousands of times before this, but if the story wasn’t amazingly fascinating and epic, then none of us would ever worry about it. But when I see that countdown on SportsCenter building up closer, and closer to 755, I can’t help but hope that there is some kind of resolution to all of this, but until that happens, Bonds carries with him a mighty bat, and the largest asterisk in the history of asterisks, closer, and closer to the most sacred record in all of sports.

Despite two of their best players returning to the lineup last night, the Suns were simply outclassed by the Spurs last night. They simply had no answer for the things the Spurs were throwing at them, which was a dose of physicality topped off with a healthy portion of Manu Ginobli. The Suns were overmatched by the Spurs down low, despite the impressive play of Amare Stoudamire in his return. Another thing that killed the Suns, especially towards the end of the game, was that the hottest shooter of the bunch, Steve Nash, was in a “pass-first” mentality. Look, I understand that he wanted to get everyone involved, but when you’re feeling it, you have to step up, take the ball, and not let it go. Nash was hitting series of absolutely ridiculous shots, which basically meant that he was money from any spot on the floor. Nash needed to realize this, and just keep going up and down, shooting until he started missing, because the rest of his team looked awful down the stretch from the field. In the playoffs, individual performances are not usually remembered (of course some are), but it’s all about who wins the series. If your team is on the ropes, and you’re facing elimination, and getting hot, that’s got to be the time when you have to step up and say “listen guys, we’ve had a great year, but unless I start doing what I have to do here, we’re going to go home…you’re probably not going to get many looks, but it would serve the team more if I kept going with this.” Very intriguing matchups in the Conference Finals, with the Cavs taking on the Pistons, and the Spurs against the Jazz. The Cavs are clearly a one-man team, but it’s likely that they’re going to need more than LeBron to take this down, especially when you’re playing a team that epitomizes team play in the NBA with Detroit. Can Larry Hughes or Big Z step up and be that “other guy?” I’m going to go with no. I just see too much depth coming from the Pistons in terms of both inside players, and even guys who can play the perimeter, like Lindsay Hunter. I have Detroit winning in seven in basically a repeat performance from the semis last year. Out west, I actually think the Jazz can pull this one out, and here’s why: The Spurs are definitely a “grind-it-out” kind of team, but no one plays that role better than the Jazz. When you’re talking about a frontcourt consisting of Kirilenko, Okur, and Boozer, you’re talking about one of the strongest and best in all the league. The Spurs have Elson in the middle, and he simply will be outmanned by Boozer. Then, you’re looking at Okur on Duncan (there remains the possibility that Boozer will switch up on Duncan, in any case, Elson doesn’t have a chance against either Okur or Boozer). Duncan will get his shots off, but Okur is an underrated defensive player, and should be able to at least contain Duncan from putting up too many of those bank shots he likes. This brings us to the perimeter, where I believe the game will truly be decided. It all comes down to how well Deron Williams can handle the offense in such a pressure situation, being that it’s only his second year in the league. Tony Parker and Ginobli have been there, and have gotten to the promised land before. They will be able to work the inside game very well, but can Williams make things work getting up to that point? We won’t have to wait too long to figure that one out. Definitely keep track of what the tempo is in the beginning of Game 1, because if the Jazz can keep things slow throughout the series, they ultimately will be rewarded with a trip to the NBA Finals.

So I officially became a vegetarian at the start of the trip, and figure to keep it up for the foreseeable future. I went to BoJangle’s like two days before the trip, and literally said out loud “well, guess this is all for that.” I mean really, this is the only thing I can do right now to prevent me from putting on about 50 pounds. First of all, if and when I get a job, the time I’ll get to be able to work out will be cut down significantly. Here’s something though: I feel that as long as I can stay out of my place for a significant portion of time, I’ll be able to maintain, because I feel like when I’m at home, invariably, I’ll end up sitting on my chair, watching TV, and eating something (now that I think about it, I’m gonna have a tremendous amount of TV to watch when I get home…thank you DirecTV and DVR for making me a complete shut-in…seriously, we’re looking at like twelve Pre-Game reports, and another dozen Extra and Extra Extra Innings here…this is going to cause significant damage…oh and also, every Seinfeld that is not on DVD…yikes). Here’s the other thing too: When you’re addicted to certain things, like Raisin Bran and sushi, and eat them constantly, you are going to be cutting things out anyway, so why not meat? Yeah I know, not the most “manly” or “American” thing to do, but I have to try and stay healthy, because when I get old, I don’t want to get…well…”old” ya know? I want to stay around and be able to enjoy life in a healthy manner, and though I may have been able to do that without cutting out meat, I’m sticking by my decision (still eating seafood though…yeah, it’s not technically a vegetarian thing there…what do you call that?...vegan?...not sure).

Well, we’re stuck in traffic going to Shea (who’d-a-thunk it?), but I will be reporting back tomorrow to share how the game went, and my reactions to the big doubleheader going on right now with the Sox. Until then, love all of you. Peace.

~Mell-o

The Diary: On The Way To Philly

Friday, May 18

“I said where’d you get your information from huh?
You think that you can form a revelation cause?”

Back on the bus and heading to Philly for tonight’s game at Citizens Park between the Blue Jays and the Phils. An extra treat last night, because due to a postponement on Wednesday, the Bravos decided to make up the game by having a doubleheader comprised of two seven-inning games (no clue how they arrived at that, but it’s free baseball, so no complaints). The home team swept both games, bringing the home record on the trip to 4-0 (good karma going into Mets vs. Yanks at Shea). Rochester (Twins affiliate) went with Matt Garza in the second game, which was actually nice because he is one of the highest rated prospects in the Twins organization, and we haven’t really gotten a chance to see anyone who was major league ready, so that was a welcomed sight. Garza pitched all six innings, settling down after giving up two quick runs in the first. The Diamond…I dunno…sucks? I guess that about the only thing to describe it. I mean, the first two parks on the road trip were home to class A teams, and they beat the holy hell out of this place. You have to wonder where does the money go? It was like Doc Brown took us in the Delorean back to 1978. I would be kind of embarrassed to play there if I was in AAA. Maybe that’s me, but when you look at a stadium like McCoy, there’s not even any kind of comparison that can be made. So we’re leaving Richmond for greener pastures in Philly (not saying Richmond isn’t nice; I actually went down towards the VCU area last night, and I had a pretty good time). The weather is not looking good though. It’s been raining all day long, and they’re calling for much of the same the rest of the day, definitely not the sightseeing/baseball weather that you would hope for Hopefully, all this will pass over like it did last night, and we can get tonight’s game in. Now, a few other notes:

The Sox swept their own doubleheader, and now, have jumped out in front of the Yankees by 9 ½ games, which I would think is probably the largest margin out front since ’95? In any case, yes, it’s early, I know…but still, when your team is almost ten games out front of the most despised team to ever live, there’s some definite cause to be excited. However, a bit of bad news from yesterday was the announcement that Josh Beckett would land on the DL with that irritation problem he suffered in his last start against the Orioles over the weekend. This is definitely something to be concerned about. Beckett has been arguably the best pitcher in the major leagues this year, so when you lose a guy like that for an extended period of time (someone was telling me two-to-three weeks), there is definitely going to be some adjusting going on. Again, in what remains easily the dumbest move Theo has made so far while he’s been on the job, the Arroyo trade continues to haunt the Sox, when it appeared they had “too much starting pitching” last year. I love Wily Mo, but that trade was so lopsided that even I can’t think of anything positive to say about it. So, it would appear, hopefully, that Devern Hansack will be inserted into the starting rotation in Beckett’s absence. Look, I know that he probably needs some more reps down on the farm, but we’re still in May. Yes, the games count the same as they would in September, but the pressure of a stretch run is a whole lot different than what comes with a game in the middle of May. If they believe that Hansack can fill one of the holes that are about to be left by the departure of Schilling and perhaps Wakefield down the road, then you got to get the kid up and see what he’s made of. Personally, I don’t see Clay Buchholz getting the call yet. It’s inevitable that his time is coming, but right now, I think Hansack has just that little bit more of experience in the majors so that the bright lights won’t be as glowing as they would for Buchholz.

The Bulls put up a hell of a fight against the Pistons, but in the end, Detroit prevailed to take the series in six games. Chicago looked to be rolling along, but I have to say that winning four playoff games in a row, especially while facing elimination in all of them, has to be one of the toughest accomplishments to do in team sports (we needed bloody socks, ghosts from another dimension, and Mark Bellhorn to do it…so it’s definitely not a walk in the park). Honestly, I really think that Ben Wallace’s lack of being an offensive threat was the straw that broke the camel’s back. The guy is a dominating force in the middle in terms of rebounding and defense, but that is all you can count on him for. In the modern era, especially when you have a run-and-gun team like the Bulls, you’re going to need your center to get more than six points a night. True, you have to account for all of those shots that Wallace changes while he’s on defense, but in the case of a streaky shooting team, you need someone down low who can continue to stay consistent when the outside shooting is not there. I’m not exactly sure how well the Bulls did from the field last night, but I’m pretty sure they were unable to duplicate their performance from the first half of Game 5 (73% from the field). The reason the Pistons were able to win their championship was because yes, they worked well as a unit, but when the outside shooting wasn’t there, they were able to go inside to guys like Rasheed and even Tayshaun Prince. The Bulls trot out a very small lineup, and when their perimeter shooting is on, they are a tough team to stop, but if teams force them to beat them down low, Chicago really doesn’t stand a chance. Yes, they have P.J. Brown, who they bring in to help Wallace, but he is almost in the same mold of a defense/rebound first kind of player. We are one Cavs win away from seeing a rematch of last year’s Eastern Conference semifinal between Detroit and Cleveland. Oddly enough, the Cavs find themselves in a very similar set of circumstances as they did last year. Up three games to one against Detroit, they came undone, losing three straight to the Pistons. If they have a similar showing this year, questions will start to linger about how well LeBron can lead a team. Sure, he’s only 22, but when you have the kind of experience he already has, coupled with the fact that he has basically been able to claim the leadership role of the team, the play of King James will have a 100% effect on how far the Cavs will go. Where he goes, they will go as well. LeBron needs to step it up to a level that he hasn’t quite reached yet in order to topple the Nets. It’s worth noting how absolutely nasty Jason Kidd is by the way. Can this guy seriously get any credit? I mean he is good for almost a triple double a game. Outside of LeBron, Kobe, and perhaps Steve Nash, who else can boast that? So why isn’t this guy mentioned amongst the top players in the league? This is a gigantic mystery to me. As someone who appreciates a guy who is versatile like that, I have always considered Kidd to be in at least the top 15 players in the league, but some people don’t even consider him the best player on his own team. Anyway, that’s just my outlook on things. Kidd is the Steve Nash of the East. There is no way that New Jersey could have gotten as far as they have the past few years without the play of Kidd.

Hope all of your fantasy baseball teams are doing well out there. We’re almost two months into the season, and now, it becomes time to really hawk the waiver wire and look for who’s adding/dropping certain players. I know I was able to strike gold (at least in my opinion) with some of the players who landed on the waiver wire. Also, selling high is definitely where it’s at. It’s basically the stock market, where you look for an investment that has had a good history in terms of performance, to drop in price, then snatch it up just in time for its rebound. Here are five guys you can sell high on, and another five that should be “on the cheap” right now:

Sell High:
B.J. Upton (2B/TB)- Upton has long been heralded as one of the best prospects in the Tampa organization, and so far this year, he has lived up to his billing, with a short stint at the top of the AL’s batting average category. However, from what I have noted in the past, Upton is a wild swinger, and I would say that this is going to catch up to him. I think his average is going to plummet over the next month and change until the All-Star break, and he will end up right around .275-.280. If you need a guy to steal you some bases, as well as add some occasional pop, then you may want to hang on to Upton. But if your team is already pretty stable, and you’re looking to upgrade, this guy is at his maximum trade value right now, so sell while he is still playing over his head.

Joe Borowski (RP/CLE)- Although his ERA is pretty high, Borowski is amongst the league leaders in saves, and has been very effective in his last few outings. However, he seemingly has a knack for imploding every so often, and I believe that one of these times, it will lead to the meltdown of Borowski. Try and get (the guy from the Cubs) or (the guy from the Blue Jays) to get you some saves for now. Borowski is going to be trouble in the coming months.

Al Reyes (RP/TB)- This is almost in the same mold as Borowski, in that you have a guy, who right now looks fairly sharp, but you know inevitably he will revert back to his prior history, and wander into the world of mediocrity. Reyes is a journeyman, much like Borowski, meaning that he definitely has some wear, which is going to start hurting him around July. For now, Reyes has done a very good job in the limited time he gets (being the closer for Tampa doesn’t really put you on a stable work schedule). Still, if you are able to get a younger guy, like the two mentioned above, or even look at a position player who can play multiple positions for help your depth, or even to fill a utility spot.

J.J. Hardy (SS/MIL)- Ok, this is a tough call, because Hardy could very well be one of the better shortstops in the league, and those are hard to come by, so it really depends on how flexible you are in terms of filling that hole. Hardy has gotten off to a torrid start, leading the National League in homers. However, for a guy who hasn’t shown a tremendous amount of power at any level, it almost brings me back to two years ago, when Brian Roberts (Gamecock!) was setting the world on fire in his first couple of months, but cooled off significantly after the All-Star break. I expect the same thing to happen to Hardy. You can’t honestly expect a middle infielder to continue this kind of pace and hit 40 home runs. It’s just not logical. Sure, guys have done it in the past, but when you’re talking about guys like A-Rod and Soriano, you knew they had a tremendous amount of pop, and that they were capable of getting to those levels. I don’t recall anyone saying at the beginning of the year that Hardy would even hit 20. I think he’s a great player and all, but I think his numbers will start to even out, and he’ll return from the stratosphere much like Upton.

Jason Marquis (SP/CHC)- Marquis is a good #3-#4 pitcher, but has looked very good so far this season, posting a 2.22 ERA through the first two months. Marquis is another kind of guy whose past will reflect how he will do for the remainder of the year. I find that this is true when you talk about pitchers. It is incredibly rare to find a guy who will have a breakout season after having a bunch of years with average stats. Marquis also plays for the Cubs, and their offense is up and down, so Marquis’ wins will start to diminish as time wears on.

Buy Low:
Chone Figgins (3B/ANA)- To say Figgins has been off to a rough start does not even begin to describe it. He’s hitting right around the Mendoza line (.200), and his steals have not been worth a lot. However, Figgins is primed to bust out of his slump once he is able to shake his nagging hand injury and return back to full health. Be advised to keep track of his progress, because if this injury is more severe than it has been reported, then you can’t really rely on that coming through for you. But if it is just minor, then Figgins will be poised to have a big second half. He’s probably on a team, and if you’re lucky, he may even be on the wire, so pick him up if you can, especially if you need SBs.

Nick Markakis (OF/BAL)- Markakis is one of the best young players in the AL, and it should be noted that he had a great second half last year. He is still getting used to being an everyday player, but those days are numbered as far as his inexperience. Once he settles in, he is good for around 30 homers a year.

Erik Bedard (SP/BAL)- This guy may be a little more harder to get than Markakis, but this Oriole shouldn’t be too tricky to obtain. The key to Bedard is that he thrives on making people swing and miss, and although he is close to the lead in the AL in strikeouts, Bedard’s record and ERA have not reflected how potentially dominant he could be. Never underestimate the power of a power left-handed pitcher.

Bronson Arroyo (SP/CIN)- Yes, this guy again. Arroyo has a minuscule 2.87 ERA on the season, and is easily good for 15 wins this year. His wiry frame is cause for concern in terms of health, but he has done it before, and I believe health will not be an issue for Bronson. His record doesn’t look to hot right now, so if possible, try and take advantage of a more inexperienced fantasy player, or one that is quick to drop players who don’t have eye-popping stats. Arroyo is the real deal. He has one of the best sliders in all the majors.

Kyle Davies (SP/ATL)- He’s off to a rough start, but hang in there, because this guy showed a lot of promise last year, and I think the sky is the limit in terms of what he can accomplish in the Braves’ system. Although Leo Mazzone is no longer the pitching coach there, I see Davies really settling in and making a name for himself in the NL East.

That’s all for now. I’ll be giving you a wrap from Philly tomorrow, and then, big day on Saturday, as I will be first touring Madison Square Garden, then going on over to Queens and Shea Stadium to watch the Subway Series with the Mets and Yankees, and after that, taking in a bit of the NY nightlife. Thanks for reading as always. Take care. Peace.

~Mell-o

The Diary: On The Way To Richmond

Thursday, May 17

"You give me a really good feelin'...all day long."

For the first time, we will be leaving the great state of South Carolina (we’ll be back though) and heading up to the commonwealth of Virginia to check out The Diamond, which is apparently the biggest s-hole in all of minor league baseball, so I’m totally looking forward to that.

The Yankees hats are springing up more and more on the bus…this is a disease that must be stopped.

Sox got rained out last night, and will play two against the Tigers today. They were actually scheduled to be on national TV on ESPN last night, but it didn’t really affect me considering I was at the game and all. Still, why is it that the Mets and the Yankees always get the national TV games, and we get them like once or twice a month. We should be on that at least once a week. I mean, according to the numbers, we’re the second or third most popular team in the country, so shouldn’t we get that kind of respect. Also, we’re now the best team in the major leagues, so where’s the dap? I don’t know. I mean I hate to complain and all, but I don’t really get to see a lot of games, and when you’re used to watching/listening to every game from May to August…I guess I’m going through withdrawals or something. I believe the Yanks split their made-up doubleheader yesterday (didn’t catch the score of the late game…they were up pretty late in the night game, and they already dropped the afternoon game). I think it’s kind of gratifying to watch a team move nowhere in the standings, yet they had to play eighteen innings just to stay where they are.

I realize I have not mentioned the NHL for awhile, so we might as well get into that right about now. The Detroit/Anaheim series has been particularly entertaining. Every game, one team seems to come out and just want to dominate, which is true regardless of where the game is being played (I believe in Game 2, the Ducks were all over the Wings at the Joe, while in Game 3, Detroit jumped all over Giguere at Anaheim to the point that he got benched…pretty impressive considering Giguere won the Conn Smythe Award (MVP of the playoffs) previously, in a losing effort to New Jersey a few years back. Ultimately, I like the Red Wings’ experience to be too much for the Ducks to handle in the long run. Oh, another thing, no more Mighty Ducks? I’m assuming Disney sold off the Ducks much like they did with the Angels, and also, there’s the assumption that “The Mighty Ducks” is probably trademarked, meaning that the name, as well as the old logo, had to go. That’s really too bad, because their jerseys were pretty sick, and now it looks like something that was thought about for around five seconds…I don’t know what to say, I’m big on jerseys, and that one is just not doing it for me.

I think from here on in, I’m going to also be noting the accuracy of the first pitches that get thrown before each game. The guy in Greenville, who owned a local auto place, and also, was rocking a Nomar Sox jersey, was right down the middle. The guy last night (don’t know his story, sorry) kind of one-hopped it in there. So the guy from Greenville has the early clubhouse lead, but it is early, so we’ll see how that all turns out.

Jumbo Yuenglings are amazing. When you have the choice between Bud, Coors, or Yuengling, and they’re all the same price…is there really a choice?

Alright, well, the journey continues. I’ll be giving you a full report on Richmond, and then, we hit up Philly and begin a stretch of three major league parks (Citizens Bank, Shea, Camden Yards) in four days. Until then, be safe, and have a fantastic day. Peace.

~Mell-o

The Diary: On The Way To Charleston

Wednesday, May 16

“How do you do it?
Make me feel like I do.”

On the road to Charleston, but figured since I had a little free time, I would get into non-trip related issues:

If he stays healthy (which is a big “if” for sure), I don’t know if there is any stopping Justin Verlander. Who right now in the bigs can boast what this guy does? Maybe some relievers can try (a certain Mr. Papelbon comes to mind), and maybe Jake Peavy out in San Diego (newest acquisition to the fantasy team…I know you love it), but really, Verlander’s mix of his near-100 MPH fastball with movement, coupled with an array of off-speed pitches, makes him one of the most dangerous pitchers in all of baseball. In all sincerity, I was thinking that there may be a little bit of a sophomore letdown, and that hitters could predict his tendencies and know what he was coming with, but apparently, that just isn’t the case, as was shown last night at Fenway, as Verlander proceeded to steamroll the Sox en route to a 7-2 victory for the Tigers. I am just so impressed my his -poise on the mound, especially in a big-time game against the team with the best record in the AL (I’m going to go with the theory that I will not get tired of saying the Sox are the best in the AL…kind of just rolls off the tongue) at their house. So I just wanted to take time out to kind of make note of that, because I have watched this guy pitch, and am just so impressed every time he takes the ball.

How about that incident in San Antonio? Hey Robert Horry, just because Nash is Canadian probably doesn’t make it ok for you do go all Chris Pronger on him into the scorer’s table (by the way, the double team hit of Pronger and Scott Niedermeyer on that guy from the Wings was absolutely brutal…kind of illegal, but definitely effective…yikes). Then, of course, the fallout from that was that Amare Stoudamire and Boris Diaw basically screwed their own team over big time for Game 5 by leaving the bench. You know, you would think these guys would learn one of these days. That rule was put into effect solely to prevent another Palace at Auburn Hills incident, and if you leave the bench for any other reason than subbing in, then you’re going to get reprimanded for it every time. I realize that, in the heat of the moment, after a bench player body checks the two-time (should have been three-time…where were you in Golden State Dirk?) MVP of the league, you’re probably going to get a little peeved…maybe want to spread a little violence around…I understand. But what players have to understand is that David Stern is doing anything and everything to remove the “thug” element from the NBA. And you know exactly what I’m talking about, so I’m not going to even digress into those details. In any case, while what Horry did was inexcusable (he was suspended two games I believe?...sorry, I’m on a bus, it’s wicked hard to do any stat checking), as a player of Stoudamire and Diaw’s magnitude (more so Stoudamire…no offense Boris), you have to know that letting your emotions go like that could really end up hurting your team, as was the case in this instance. Again, I understand the outrage, but you need to be able to keep your emotions in check, especially when you’re talking about the playoffs…yes, playoffs.

Dale Jr. was docked 100 points, and Tony Eury, Jr, Dale’s crew chief, got fined $100,000 for their involvement in an improper installation of the rear wind on Jr.’s #8 Chevy. Again, when will these guys learn? I mean the whole Chip Knaus incident at Daytona happened just last year, and yet, you have a crew chief of probably the most prominent car in NASCAR trying to get away with this. I’m not exactly sure what the inspection process is like before a race, but I can guarantee that it’s absolutely rigorous, and that there is very little chance you will be able to get away with anything illegal of the sort in terms of trying to gain an advantage. Also, could the timing for this to happen be any worse? I mean Jr. just announced he was leaving DEI and bringing Eury with him to the free-agent market. I don’t think that it’s going to really bring down the bidding war that will ensue for the right to get Jr. on a particular race team, but to me, it kind of vilifies Eury, who was looked at, and still is looked at, as one of the better chiefs in the business, but now, he has lost most of his innocence, and may start to drift into Knaus territory, where it’s almost impossible to trust the integrity of the person in charge of the upkeep of the car. I know it was only the first time, but that, to me, is one time too many. These guys know that they are going to get caught, so why even bother? NASCAR is doing everything in its power to make a push for parity in the standings, much like what the NFL does. With its “Car of Tomorrow,” as well as other annual rulings it comes out with, NASCAR is making it so that every car that rolls out is of equal standards, meaning the drivers, not the cars, are the ones who have to win the race.

Ok, game tonight pitting the Charleston River Dogs (Yankees) against the Rome Braves. I have a “quiz” tomorrow (yeah, again with the quotes…I know), but after that, I will keep you updated on how the game goes tonight, as well as some other thoughts-a-lingering. Take it easy now. Peace.

~Mell-o

The Diary: Greenville, SC

" What about my ways
Makes you doubt
All these words from my mouth?"

Alright, so the motel in Greenville has internet access...very tight. And HBO too? I think there's some validity to the name "Quality Inn." Anyway, today has been crazy, and now that I have showered, I'm feeling a whole lot better. Unfortunately, I didn't get to talk to Gabe, which was really disappointing. Seriously though, if you didn't know he was the manager, you could easily confuse him for a player. I mean the guy's still got it. He was known for his physical prowess during his playing days, and it appears that he still keeps himself in amazing shape. What was interesting was that Gabe also coached third while the Pride (Greenville Pride, and they played the Augusta Green Jackets, which further suggests that outside of the Masters, there really isn't a whole lot going on in Augusta) were hitting. The funny thing about the game was that the Pride were running all the time. I mean Gabe, I know you're like two years removed from the Sox, but still, you have to know how we play, which is by beating the cover off the ball and not sacrificing ever. I'm just kidding on that though. It was actually kind of nice to see how Gabe runs his team. I figured it would be pretty much the way he played. Aggressive, balls out, stuff like that. Anyway, that was totally how it was. The game was tight for the most part, but Greenville eventually took control after Augusta removed their starting pitcher. That was something that took some getting used to. Teams are going to give their guys reps, meaning that a pitcher, no matter how well they are doing, are likely to be removed so that more guys can get innings in. The starter, Chris Jones, retired the last nine batters he faced in a row, and yet, he was removed after six in favor of Miguel Socolovich. Jones probably could have gone at least two more, but when you're talking single A baseball, it's totally different from logic. It's all about getting as many guys in there as possible. This is the reason Devern Hansack was just sent back down to AAA. I mean, the guy is going to be a starter in the majors, but right now, there's a logjam in the rotation (although if he had replaced Julian, I wouldn't have lost too much sleep over it), so the Sox sent him to Pawtucket so he could get more work in. So the minors is different than the majors in a lot of ways, but right now, the usage of small ball and the shuffling of the pitchers are things that are really standing out.

In terms of the stadium itself, you will be hard-pressed to find a better minor league stadium than West End Field in Greenville. This is the second year of its existence, and it really shows, because everything looks brand new. I love how spacious it is. Yet, at the same time, it's still a really intimate setting because it only houses around 5,000 people. Really nice, really nice. Another thing of note: All the dimensions are exactly the same at West End as they are at Fenway. I mean the walls are different heights, except of course for "The Monster," but other than that, exactly the same. The right field pole is 302' away, there's a triangle in center, a little wedge in left center...it's got it all. What I'm finding out is that there is actually a rule in state that says that if you build a minor league park and share an affiliation with a major league team, you have to make the dimensions of the outfield the same as the major league park. As said before, you can have different wall heights, but the distance and the little nooks and crannies have to all be the same. Very interesting...and you thought I wouldn't learn anything on this trip...shame on you.

I'm finding out that the definition of "business casual" is way too loose of a term, or that I just don't have a clue. I showed up today...man did I look out of place. Ok, first of all, the no shower thing seemed to be a common theme amongst my fellow "classmates" (I think every time I write in the diary, I'm going to quote class because...I mean come on now), so that didn't help matters to begin with. Next, I decided to only wear my slip-on Iversons for the trip, seeing as how there's going to be a lot of walking involved and what not. Everyone else had the presence of mind to bring another pair with them. See, this is why I think I'm not ready for the business world, and it's not ready for me either. These are the times I really think I'm in the wrong field. I don't like business at all...nothing there. Why can't I just do something I want to do? Money? I don't care about money, as long as I have enough to get by, what difference does it make? There's not going to be a family coming in the near future, so really, I just need to get something entry-level that I actually am passionate about, and then, move up the ranks, and with that, start saving and doing all that good stuff. Quick side note: Can you possibly imagine a little Mell-o? I mean really...another one of me? I think there's already one more than the world can possibly handle. Anyway, the business thing is not working, no matter how bad my parents may want that. So, this is my official outcry: No more business!!! I can't stand it!!!

Alright, that's all from G-Ville. Hopefully I'll get hooked up with wireless like I am right now so I can keep continually updating this. I'll be talking to you from Charleston. Later on kids. Peace.

~Mell-o

The Diary: On The Way To Greenville

Tuesday May 15, 2007

“We’ve all been eating cake, and thought “you know what this needs? Booze.’”

Ok, so holy s***, I almost missed the bus. I kid you not. Had it not been for a timely phone call from my Mom (completely premeditated), I would still be sleeping on my buddy’s couch. This isn’t really any of my doing (ok, it pretty much is, but I’m gonna try and fight my way out of this). I mean I set my alarm clock on my cellie, but apparently, that’s not really an effective use for getting me up. It’s worked before, but when I really need it, not so much.

So yesterday was the start of the “class” (I am fully aware that anytime I call this a class, there’s going to be a silent mock laughter going on…just trying to attempt to keep this legitimate, don’t mind me). Anyway, we toured the minor league park in Columbia. I mean, probably not the greatest facility in the history of the world, but still, it gets the job done. Hey, they just put in cup holders for the first three rows, so they have the right idea. Anyway, the tour guide was a hell of a nice guy, and even saw some people I know that are interning there. There’s really not a lot to explain though. I do have to say though, for whatever reason, no matter where I’m at, when I step onto a baseball diamond, something magical happens, and I feel just so amazing and groovy about the experience literally every time. I mean even for intramural softball, the feeling was there. So, I know that this is going to be something I’ll get to experience hopefully a bunch of times along the way. This trip is going to be pretty tight though.

I’m sitting up front on the bus, which I’m immediately regretting doing. See, I have the whole “airplane” mentality going on, where I’m feeling like “the closer I sit to the front, the less people I have to deal with getting on/leaving.” But I mean…it’s a bus. What was I thinking? Oh well, life’s much too short for regrets. I’m also realizing that I’m gonna be on this thing for the next two weeks. No complaints, but it’s going to take some adjusting on my part. Here’s another thing: I know it’s early, but how can people be sleeping already? I’m so juiced right now (also in part because when I woke up exceptionally late, my heart started racing pretty quick). I mean, it’s baseball! Actually, they may have the right idea considering it is dollar beer day at the game today (oh did I mention drinking is allowed?...yeah, just throwing out that little tidbit…this is what college should be!...everyone else missed the bus entirely; I mean if you want to get my attention, mention baseball and beer…works every time). Also, when you consider what kind of schedule we have going on, resting up is probably the smart move. However, I’ve never been accused of being smart, so I’m going to stay up for a little while at least.

So this is completely non-trip related, but I mean, I had to share this with you. Yesterday, I went to the State Championship soccer match for South Carolina with a couple of my friends…ok so I figured we were going to spice things up a little. I mean…that’s what we do. That’s what we’re here for. What, did people actually think we were going to be all hush-hush for this? It is soccer isn’t it? So yelling happens to be a big part of our repertoire. However, it turns out that soccer parents in South Carolina, and some fans en general are completely out of their minds. Ok, so we ended up sitting with a bunch of parents pulling for Northwestern (school about 20 minutes from USC…Northwestern Columbia?...no clue…oh, by the way, they were playing the eventual champs, Spring Valley, but that’s not even the issue). I mean I’m sure that Northwestern has a lot of upstanding individuals and good people for the most part, but they were not represented well yesterday. Anyway, so we’re yelling and being completely bi-partisan, pointing out good, and not so good, things about the action (ok, we called one kid a “chucker,” and maybe that was a little much…but all the kid did was shoot!...pass the ball!). I’m not sure what exactly brought this on, but eventually, the Northwestern parents/fans did not appreciate our comments…but they took it a little too far. Ok, this one guy tried staring me and didn’t say anything. It’s like “hey buddy, you doing ok?...You want a soda?” Yeah, staring is really going to strike fear into me. I’ve never gotten into a fight before, but he doesn’t know that, and basically, if the guy has something to say…well he should say it. Staring doesn’t really do much for me. That whole “parents taking the game too seriously” was on full display there. The kicker had to be when a woman…I’m going to go around 60 years old (I’m bad at guessing ages though) started tossing out a couple of racially insensitive remarks towards the end. I mean…ok, I know where I’m at. They still fly the confederate flag. It was the former capital of the confederacy. It’s the South…I get it. But it’s 2007! There are things that may make some people uncomfortable. I’m not one to get into confrontations (well, maybe I am…ok, how about this: I do not intend to get into confrontations…people like “stare-down guy” do), but some people could take that the complete wrong way, and then you have trouble on your hands. I guess my point is there are some things you should probably keep to yourself and maybe share in the privacy of your own home. I think this about sums it up: A kid from Northwestern, probably 15 or 16 who was sitting behind me, simply says “yeah, those guys are taking things way too far.” When high school kids comment about the behavior of adults, you have to know that I’m not exaggerating about any of this. It was a great game, but pretty much all I took from it was that I’m more mature at 22 than any of these people will probably ever be…and that’s saying something, because I fight the notion of growing up every day.

Alright, well that’s the report from the bus. I’ll keep you posted on how everything goes today. Also, I’m hoping to meet Gabe Kapler. That would be exceptionally tight. Alright, take it easy everyone. Peace.

~Mell-o

News And Notes From Around The World

"I think I'm in love, but it makes me kind of nervous to say so."

Hello Charlotte! I am officially all moved in. Yes, I have no job, few prospects, and little money, but for the time being, I'm living it up in the "Queen City." But enough about that, there's a lot that is in need of over-analysis, so here we go...

Ok, the whole Tom Brady "Yankee Hat" fiasco went down last week, and yes, people of Red Sox/Patriot nation, including myself, were in complete shock about seeing the footage of our hero wearing the hat of the team we have grown to despise. How could this be? Say it isn't so Tom! So, I'm going to bring closure to all of this right now. Yes, it's true, Tom is from California, he didn't grow up in New England, and probably doesn't have the kind of passion for the Sox as people like me have, but here's the thing: He plays in New England, and plays his home games about 20 minutes outside of Boston...he needs to be aware of the fact that wearing a Yankee hat may not be such a great idea. See, the fans that he plays for, I would guess around 90% are also Sox fans, meaning that they are Yankee haters. I know that we may have made too much of a deal about the whole thing, but the fact of the matter is that Tom wore a Red Sox hat for years, and now, all of a sudden, he shows up wearing that ugly thing. It's like he's trying to have it both ways. Yes, I'm sure that other athletes in Boston have worn Yankee apparel (in fact, that's a certainty), but Tom Brady is on top of the mountain of Boston sports. I mean if you're from New England, and didn't go to a Big 10 school (or even if you did), how could you possibly not like Tom Brady? So for him to do that was probably not in the best of tastes. However, if anyone is going to get a pass on this kind of thing, it's Tom Terrific. Hopefully though, the little backlash that occurred from this incident may have gotten Tom to think twice about wearing the enemy's cap in public when he's with Gizelle (you know what...not even concerned with the man-purse...look at who he's with...I know who's idea that was).

Dale Jr. is leaving DEI, which has sent shock waves all around the NASCAR/sports circles. How can a guy not race for the team named after his father? There's a simple answer to that: His step-mom is really, really greedy. Junior wanted to gain majority ownership in the team his Dad started. That's his blood, not his step-mom's. Unfortunately for Junior, he is not going to get that kind of deal. In fact, he stated that the sides were "way off" in terms of reaching an agreement. I really don't get this entire scenario. This could be due to the fact that I am somewhat partial to Junior, but when you have the name of the guy who founded that team, and basically, was destined to take over as part of his legacy. Then again, this is a business, and owning a team does bring in big bucks. However, with that being said, how much is DEI really going to be worth once Dale leaves this team? I guarantee it's going to be a whole lot less than what it is now. When you factor in the merchandise sales, appearances, and everything else Junior does for the company, I would say he accounts for around 70-80% of that team's revenues (again, that's just my estimation). Once he leaves, who is going to make up that money? No offense to Marin Truex, but he is not ready to step up and become a star in this industry. Also, Earnhardt is probably the biggest star in NASCAR, so DEI not only would lose most of their revenue, but also a lot of credibility for not having Junior on that team. So now, Earnhardt is about to fall into a pretty hefty payday, but with who? A knee-jerk reaction would be to assume that he would join the team his father once belonged to, Richard Childress Racing, and drive the #3 car for the rest of his career like his Dad. However, Junior has been pretty adamant in saying that, yes, one day, he would like to be in his Dad's car, but it would only happen at the tail end of his career, and not in his prime. Also, the fact that Junior has said countless times that he wants to blaze his own trail in racing makes me think that Childress is not going to happen. So now, who else is out there? If I had to put money on it right now, I would tend to side with Hendrick Motorsports purely for the fact that they run Chevrolets (which he already said was his car of preference) and that they have been running real hot right now with Gordon and Johnson (combined to go 4-for-4 with the "Car of Tomorrow"). Hendrick has the kind of resources that Junior could thrive under. This story has been big so far, but it's going to be one of the biggest stories in sports in the last three or four years once the Nextel Cup season ends, and the bidding war builds up to a fever pitch.

The story of Pac Man Jones has to be one of the most intriguing and bizarre to come down the pipe in quite some time. This guy was seemingly the "teflon" of professional athletes. He was brought in for questioning on ten different incidents, and had no convictions. Yet, Commissioner Roger Goddell found it to be suitable to suspend Jones for a year, basically for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Seeing as he never was convicted of anything, Jones decided to appeal his year-long suspension. Not to say that Jones had a great chance of getting it lowered, but it certainly was a possibility...but the guy just couldn't stay out of trouble. You would have thought his agent, or some of his friends, would have held him up in a house, basically making it impossible for him to get into trouble before his meeting with Goddell, but apparently, this was not the case. The first incident that was reported was Jones making a special cameo and one of New York's finest gentlemen's clubs the day before his meeting. Wait wait, so basically, what you want me to try and comprehend was that a guy, who's season was on the line (by the way, I know "playing is everything" for these guys, but he was #5 in the Draft not so long ago, meaning he's probably losing a hunk of change by sitting this year), and who was involved in a strip cub shooting, decided that this would be the optimal time to go back to one right before he met with Goddell? I mean...wow. He talks about cleaning up his act, but this guy isn't even close. They're going to have to move him to the Yukon to try and clean him up (I was going to say Canada in general, but I figured we had to be talking a little more North considering Ricky went to Toronto...a lot of good that did him). Seriously, you're going to have to remove this guy from society for a couple years for him to get his act together. I guess he enjoys playing the "bad boy" role or something, or relishes in making stupid, moronic mistakes, because, as a professional athlete, you are held to standards of professionalism. Sure, you can have a good time. Hell, go the day after the meeting, but you can't be serious by doing that the day before. I mean that's totally ridiculous. Ok, and if that's not bad enough, he then gets pulled over for speeding, and once the cop starts talking to him, he finds out Jones doesn't have a license! Are you kidding me?! You know what, it's almost going to be like a game now. It's like what else can this guy do short of murder? (the reason I'm not going as far as that is because murder is basically the next logical step in his pattern, but at the same time, I want to believe that there is something more ludicrous out there for Pac Man to do...there has to be). So, although the decision won't be handed down for a couple of days, you know what, forget it, this guy doesn't deserve to play this year. Even if he was allowed to play, you have to think that he would get himself into trouble anyway, so what's the point? I was actually on Jones' side in saying that his sentence should at least be reduced to half a season, because basically, Goddell is punishing him for running with the wrong people. However, after everything that went down, I no longer feel like that at all. Jones is too stupid, and although stupidity is not really a punishable, dangerous stupidity is. When you put other people's lives in danger, like by driving without a license, then that is deserving of whatever kind of extreme punishment you want to throw out there. I'm all done even attempting to give any kind of support for this guy.

So that will do it for right now. Again, there will be a running diary of my Maymester class, so stay tuned for that. I'm not sure of the frequency I'll be able to get my posts up. In any case, they will most likely be available before the end of May, and hopefully, I will be doing this in my spare time outside of my job, because if I'm still unemployed, I'm going to shoot myself. You would think being out of school, I would want some down time, but that is totally the opposite of how I operate. I need to be doing something, or else, I become wicked lazy, and are rendered useless to the world, so that's no good. Anyway, I want to wish my Mom a happy Mother's Day, and the same for all the other mothers out there. I'm going to go out on a limb and say none of us would be here without you. Hope everyone has a great rest of May. Until next time, take care. I'm gonna go watch me some baseball kid! Later. Peace.

~Mell-o

Reflection

"It's all over now baby blue."

Wow, so this is it. Finals are over, my lease is up (pretty much my own doing...I mean I could have stayed until the end of the month, but duty calls), and now, I'm about to call Charlotte my home...these are interesting times for yours truly. First of all, I'm sure about only one thing: I have absolutely no idea what I'm getting into, and you can take that in a couple different ways. Sure, it's going to be a challenge, which I, of course, welcome with open arms, but yet, it's a place that is completely foreign to me. Sure, it's only 90 miles away from where I live now, so it's not going to be a cross-country journey of any sort, but at the same time, I get the feeling that it's going to take a lot of adjusting on my part to take it all in. There is no structure for me now. It's not like, well, the Summer's here, and I'll start up school in the Fall. No, none of that, which is really strange to me, because I've been going to school every Fall for the last 16 years of my life. Imagine that. I'm 22 right now, and 16 years of my life have been spent going to school (72.7% if you were curious...I'm a freak, sorry). I mean that's a good chunk of time. All of it was really kind of a steady progression too, getting harder and harder each year. At one point in my Fixed Income Securities class (by the way, I just wanted to say that my teacher, Dr. Mann, was amazing; one of the few experiences I've had with professors who I can actually take away something from...the guy was/is good) and I wondered to myself "you know, this is tough, but this is it. I mean, unless I go to grad school at some point (which I might do, and if I do go, ain't no way I'm going for anything business related...of course I say that now, and things might change, but I'm so turned off by it all right now that I'm kind of separating myself from it at this point...but you never know), then that class was the absolute hardest class I have left." The next time I'm going to be learning anything like this stuff, it will be at my job (for those of you are interested, yes, I have had three interviews at Northwestern Mutual to get an internship there, but I still haven't heard back, which is bogus I know...I'm still holding out hope; so if any of you out there hear any kind of whisper of job openings in the Charlotte area, please let me know, because technically, I'm still out there). Sure, I'll be learning different things each day, but I'm going to get paid to learn, which is going to be a lot better experience than having to pay people to teach me stuff that I may never use ever again. That's what was really frustrating about college in general. Sometimes, I would be sitting in class listening to one of my professors, and thinking "ok, first of all, there's no way I'm going to have to know this...ever...and if I do, there's no way I'm going to be able to remember all of this, meaning that I'm going to have to re-teach myself everything all over again...so really, what's the point?" You have to understand that this year, my social life was put at a minimum because of all of this. I missed a bunch of good times to stay home and work on this stuff that may/may not have any relevance to my life. You learn different concepts, and spend a lot of time/sanity in trying to apply what I learned, only I apply it to a piece of paper, and not to someone's life, which I think is where I had a tough time really motivating myself to get to know all of this. To me, I'm all about helping people. So, it was tough for me to really put my heart into it knowing that I'm doing all of this just to get a consonant (and in rare times, a vowel) on a piece of paper saying if I "got" it all. See, that just doesn't do it for me. I want to be working with actual people, making actual decisions that affect actual lives. That was really the only thing that motivated me. Because of the way society is run, this is the avenue you have to go down to get to that point, which is weird because there are a ton of kids who don't go to college who are way smarter than me, and probably could do just as good of a job as I will in the future, but because of society's conventions, you have to go to college to get a jobby job, which is totally unfair, but it's the way things work, and who am I to try and challenge it? I don't like it, but it's the way things are, and it's the way things are going to be probably for the rest of time. Anyway, I finally got through it all, and now I can do what I believe is my calling: Simply to help my fellow man in any kind of capacity possible. Sure, I got my degree in finance, but I can do so much more than that that I feel like I could do anything really well and have a big-time effect on everyone who believes in me. Anyway, that's my thoughts on school itself, but enough about that already.

What I'm going to miss the most about college is everything non-college related. Sure, I had responsibilities, but nothing compared to what I'm about to embark on (actual bills, taxes, living alone, etc.). There was never a day that passed that I did not end up with a smile on my face, because I figured "well, today was kind of rough, but there's always tomorrow, and I'm young, and I got my friends here, so everything is going to be alright." See, now I have to make that happen all over again, and it's going to be even tougher considering that, when you're in school, everyone around you is the same age. Now I'm going to a place where everyone is mixed together, and you have to really go out and make an effort to find people. Anyway, I think it's something I've been thinking about, and the truth of the matter is that part of me is kind of scared about being in a new place and knowing relatively no one, but at the same time, it's new. Also, to be able to settle somewhere and call it home, it really means the world to me. So, wish me luck, because I'm gonna need all that you guys can throw at me.

Well, it was nice to get that all off my chest. Don't worry, sports will return to the column. I felt like I needed to be a little introspective and share where my head is at right now. Anyway, hope everyone out there is still going strong. Take care. Peace.

~Mell-o

Some Guy Named Moss?...I Dunno

"Don't think twice, it's alright."

So we're officially a day removed from the acquisition of Randy Moss...and I'm still pretty much how I was yesterday morning...just in a daze. Again, I'm just in total disbelief that a guy like Moss, given his past, would ever play for New England, but it's just as I said before: Bill Belichick loves to totally mess with people. This is how he has made his living. He is the master of head games, always staying one step ahead of everyone, and being completely unpredictable in his actions. Remember, this was a team that, nine years ago, was disgusted by the mere mention of the possibility of drafting Moss. However, this is a completely different team who have adjusted to how the NFL works. They have built this team around a core group of veterans who welcome in anyone that is willing to help the team get to its ultimate goal of winning another championship. From all indications, Moss is going to do everything in his power to make that happen. I mean let's face it, he literally and figuratively is escaping a "black hole" in Oakland (their hardcore fans sit in a section called "The Black Hole," so it kind of works out for me here...I know Trey Wingo already made that joke yesterday, but honestly, do you not think even I could have figured that one out?). That franchise, although currently being overhauled, is around ten years away from being an actual playoff contender. That's right, ten years...at least, and you know what? Randy Moss doesn't have that kind of time. He's 30, and he's probably got about four or five...maybe six good years left if he's lucky. Also, think about this: Moss never caused any problems when Minnesota was rocking and rolling in his first few years, getting to two NFC Championship games in his first three years, and making the playoffs for four consecutive seasons. Then, once the Vikings started to go downhill, so did Moss. Sure, he had his moments before then (most notably the infamous water bottle incident in a playoff game against the Rams, costing him $40,000), but once a player who is as competitive as Moss is winds up on a team that isn't fully committed to winning, it can drive a guy mental. He realized that not everyone had the drive to win like he did, and that can really grow on a guy after awhile, so, he did a lot of questionable things, and said even more questionable statements, but I really do believe this guy is not in a Terrell Owens kind of mold, where he will be a "cancer" to a team. I believe that Moss simply was troubled and wanted so very badly to win that it caused him to do some interesting and bizarre stuff. When it comes down to it, this team is too strong to let any one player disrupt a team. Not many teams can say that, but the Patriots have easily the strongest clubhouse in the NFL, and basically, if Moss recants on what he has said, and starts being a nuisance, he'll be gone, plain and simple. I really don't see that happening, and when you consider Moss is taking a monstrous pay cut (the complete opposite of what T.O. did, further telling me that Moss is committed to winning, and not out for himself), and only cost the Patriots a fourth-round pick, this was simply a no-brainer. I am so excited to watch this offense (which I hope I will be doing live and in person come August when the Pats travel to Charlotte to take on the Panthers in preseason play). This is going to be one incredible year.

I would like to personally thank the Golden State Warrior fans for creating the most enthralling atmosphere for an NBA game in a long, long time. I mean that crowd on Friday and Sunday was absolutely bananas. As Sports Guy described, it really was a flashback to the old days in places like the Garden, the Rose Garden, and the Forum, where it felt like the crowd literally willed their team to victory. At any given point, the Mavs could have started to run away with the game, but the crowd simply was not going to let that happen. They had waited too long, and put up with a lot of bad teams to get to this point, and right now, the defending Western Conference champs are on the ropes, down three games to one. And if that wasn't bad enough, even if Dallas wins their home game in Game 5, they have to travel back to Oakland, and a rabid fan base will be awaiting their arrival, and they smell blood in the water, so once again, I simply cannot see the Warriors giving up this series right now. I mean eventually, all those high first-round picks are going to pay off, especially when you invest money into a difference-making free agent, like with what they did with Baron Davis, and build around a young nucleus of budding stars, like Jason Richardson, Michael Pietrus, and Andres Biedrins. Also, when you factor in the kind of value they received in their midseason trade with the Pacers (Al Harrington and Stephen Jackson for Troy Murphy and Mike Dunleavy), you had to realize that this team would eventually catch fire, and they certainly did, with Harrington and Jackson being the firestarters that gave the Warriors new life, and their fan base something to cheer about.

I find it absolutely hilarious how a guy like Joe Torre could seriously be on the "hot seat" right now. I mean...seriously man. What does this guy really have to play with? Four of his starters spent the beginning of the year on the DL, and their Opening Day starter was Carl Pavano. I mean what more is there to say? Personally, if anyone should be on the hook right now, it should be Brian Cashman. Sure, he got rid of some bad contracts over the offseason (Johnson and Sheffield), but after that, what did he do? He did very little to improve the pitching staff (Pettitte, Igawa, and Sanchez in the Sheffield deal), and other than that, the Yanks put it in neutral. They had no fall-out plan in case things went the way they have so far, and so, they are suffering because of it. Everyone keeps saying how tough of a job it is to be the Yankees' GM, which is total bull. Being the Yankees GM is like running a fantasy baseball team. You basically have unlimited resources, and can pick and choose whoever you want to play for your team, because I would say about 90% of the players in the game today would kill for the chance to play for the Yankees, and have a chance to play in the postseason on a regular basis. It's not as though Cashman is like Theo Epstein, who showed up on the job with a depleted farm team and monstrous contracts. Instead, it was Cashman who created those circumstances to himself. He was the guy who paid Giambi, Sheffield, Johnson, Pavano, and all the others those huge deals, and it was Cashman who mortgaged the future of the franchise, and traded away their best prospects so now, they are left staring at a bleak future of having to constantly go out and get veterans, and not have any productivity come from their farm system for a long time. Cashman has had success in the past, but has really lost his knack of evaluating talent. In my opinion, it's time for the Yankees to start fresh, but getting rid of Joe Torre is not the answer, because if he's not the best manager out there, he's at least in the top two or three.

I know this was rather short, but I figured I would just throw some things out there before I became completely engulfed with studying for finals/losing my mind. Oh well, you gotta work hard to be able to play hard later...and to say this Summer is going to be amazing is a big, big understatement. Again, I am super-psyched to be heading to Charlotte in a week. This represents a new chapter in my life, and to be honest, I've been waiting for this for a long time. It's not as though I didn't live it up in college (did that and some...shhh...), but now, I am going to have such a sense of freedom. Living on my own, trying to make it happen again in a new place...I'll admit, it's kind of scary, but at the same time, I welcome the challenge, and am looking forward to finally settling in somewhere (I have not lived in the same place consecutively for more than a year...having a Summer pad was nice, but still, it did take me away from my friends, which definitely bummed me out a lot...total double-edged sword). So, hopefully I will be updating you on how everything is going, but if I don't, I just want to let everyone know that everything is great down here, and I'm so thrilled that I'm so close to graduating. As always, thank you so much for reading. Again, I encourage you guys to give me feedback and tell me what you think. I really have found a passion for doing this, so I hope you are enjoying it as much as I do writing it. Take care now. Peace.

~Mell-o