Baseball Guys Night

Guy’s night while she is at a church meeting.  I am watching the Nationals score 5 runs in the first inning of the All Star game.  Don’t know how it will turn out.

Prince Fielder won the home run derby… again.  That guy is the perfect home run derby champ.  He swings for the fences on every pitch.  Often doesn’t hit real big league pitching and bats about .230 but hits big homers.  So when the derby allows them to hit at lob pitches, he’s unbeatable.  Ironically, he is not a fielder and fumbled a catch for the first error of the game. However, glad to see KC’s Billy Butler make the game.  Wish I was there.

I often wonder about the players chosen.  Fans vote for perennial names instead of true all stars.  Dan Uggla is a great second baseman but hitting .221 isn’t exactly all star starter territory. But I don’t understand a lot of things.  Why did they move the Brewers to the National League and then a few years hence move the Astros to the American?

Our newspaper wrote a story about the guy in Muscotah, Kansas who is starting a museum for Joe Tinker.  Funny I don’t remember Muscotah.  It must be tiny.  When I was at KSU, I was in charge of monthly reports from weather volunteers for 310 recording stations around the state.  So I guess I know every town except Muscotah.  Still, they got spunk in Muscotah.  Painted the round water tower to look like a baseball.  Went around town begging Tinker memorabilia for the museum.  Who was Joe Tinker, you may be asking.  He was one of the original inductees into the Hall of Fame  for his play from 1900-1916.  He and Evers and Chance invented the 6-4-3 double play.  And they became so good at it, that they left a wave of frustration in their wake as their Cubs won 4 pennants from 1906-10.  Shortstop Joe was about a .221 hitter like Uggla, but a masterful short-stopper, and consistently the best fielder in baseball. Long time ago.

Speaking of guy things, Transportation Secretary, Ray LaHood, said today that he was pleased to see Lexus now had a hybrid car.  “Who would have dreamed two years ago that Lexus would have a hybrid.  This shows the administration’s initiative of asking for more green vehicles is working.”  Yeah, well only one problem.  Lexus has had hybrids since 2005.  Now forget that this dude is a major administration official.  Forget that as Transportation Secretary he should know or at least have staff who can check such things.  HE’S A GUY! And just as guys should know a bit about baseball, guys should know about their wheels! Imagine what the news media would have done to Sarah Palin had she made a gaffe like this.  And she’s not a guy!  La Hood (from the French, “the hood”), drives what????  What's under his hood?  Oh, that’s right, he’s a union guy so he has ridden in a limo since the time he was elected. Doesn’t change oil, either.

We need to stop these clowns before they get another 4 years. Donna Brazille says we don’t have a chance. Let me paraphrase:  “…How do you beat an unbeatable team? Romney to Rubio  to Chance…” (or substitute your favorite for second baseman)

Ha! Furcal hit a triple! Holliday hit a single! Tony’s smilin’.  Just like old times.