My father….

to add a bit of reality to the article, remember that Arod is playing in 2012.  What he did in earlier years is not really relevant.  The best predictor of what a person will do in a given situation — what he did last time he was in that same situation.  Who is more likely to get a speeding ticket?  Someone who has never had one, or someone who has had several?  Better take a look at what pitches he is NOT hitting.  A good chance that opposing pitchers/catchers have figured that one out.  After the great Dimaggio hurt his back he was unable to hit high inside fastballs.  He thought he might play another year.  He played the first fourth of the year and did well, and then against Detroit he came up 4 times and saw nothing but high, inside fast balls.  After that game, he retired.  He knew they had figured it out and he was finished

Father’s Day

 

Hello, my Darling — and thank you for the Satchel.

You know, when I was a lad, baseball really was the national pastime.  Each town had its team.  York, Nebraska, fielded the York Merchants, a team that shared the gate when they played.  Traveling teams showed up — the House of David, I recall — they all had bushy dark beards.  And the Monarchs.  The Monarchs did with baseballs what the Globetrotters did with basketballs.  Such a treat for a dime to watch the game on the local diamond.  Rollie Campbell, our center fielder, hit well.  Paul Meteer, our left-armed pitcher, had a fine curve ball.  Those are the only names I recall, but I remember them well. There were also the teams from the neighboring towns, of course.  But York was a fair sized country town — 5280 population is the number that sticks in my mind — the county seat and the nearest thing to a big town one could find west of Lincoln.  

I don’t recall seeing Satchel pitch — but I could have done.  He must have been born about 1900 — same age as my father who was born in 1901.My parents left Nebraska in 1940 — when Satchel was 34 (born 1906).  I probably did see him throw, but I don’t remember him.  

Thanks, again.  The book will take me for a ride down Memory Lane.

With love and appreciation, 

Papa

Father’s Day

 

Hello, my Darling — and thank you for the Satchel.

You know, when I was a lad, baseball really was the national pastime.  Each town had its team.  York, Nebraska, fielded the York Merchants, a team that shared the gate when they played.  Traveling teams showed up — the House of David, I recall — they all had bushy dark beards.  And the Monarchs.  The Monarchs did with baseballs what the Globetrotters did with basketballs.  Such a treat for a dime to watch the game on the local diamond.  Rollie Campbell, our center fielder, hit well.  Paul Meteer, our left-armed pitcher, had a fine curve ball.  Those are the only names I recall, but I remember them well. There were also the teams from the neighboring towns, of course.  But York was a fair sized country town — 5280 population is the number that sticks in my mind — the county seat and the nearest thing to a big town one could find west of Lincoln.  

I don’t recall seeing Satchel pitch — but I could have done.  He must have been born about 1900 — same age as my father who was born in 1901.My parents left Nebraska in 1940 — when Satchel was 34 (born 1906).  I probably did see him throw, but I don’t remember him.  

Thanks, again.  The book will take me for a ride down Memory Lane.

With love and appreciation, 

Papa

Everyone is Tyler Durden and Dean is Cray Cray

I have decided that you are partially right.  Dean is broken, probably beyond repair.  Since he’s the protagonist and we see mostly through his eyes, that means certain things in his world are broken.  I think that Dean being the black and white guy that he his might realize that without realizing that (intrinsically, in other words).  However, the only constant in his life are the people he considers family.  Right now that family is Bobby, Sam and Cas – and while he loves them he fully expects that sooner or later they will ultimately disappoint him by choosing the wrong path because that’s what his family always does.  His job is to save them from whatever wrong choices they might make.  It’s not a Tyler Durden (Fight Club) scenario, it’s a Greek tragedy scenario because he can’t stop them from making the wrong choices and he can’t save them from the consequences, leaving him broken and he thinks, a failure.  Make sense?

Dad’s take on the Montero trade

It looks okay to me. They gave up a hitter who had limited defensive skills and therefore looks like a d.h. — and they have A-Rod for that slot. And Jeter coming along for the same slot. You probably don’t need another one, although A-Rod’s frequent absences with injuries make him questionable. But they got a potential starting pitcher — and potential reliever to come in after Mariano departs the scene. Campos hasn’t had all that much success. I’d say they probably did okay. The stats don’t say much — the lineup and where they are oversupplied and undersupplied with talent, that says more.

Things are poppin in Tightwad, Mo

From Dad -

 

From The Clinton Democrat, June 10, 2011

Henry County Sheriff’s Report

June 9

1222 Deputy Schoen was contacted at the Sheriff’s Office in regards to a peacea disturbance/report taken

1252 Deputy Schoen conducted a follow up investigation in Sky Village

1342 Deputy Schoen arrested Lonny Mays for peace disturbance

1447 Deputy Schoel conducted follow up investigation at the Sheriff’s Office.

So we have excitement in Sky Village.

A recent addition to the Village lives across the street from Glenda and Larry.  He complained that dirt from their front lawn washed across the road and onto his gravel in heavy rain.  Larry got railroad ties and laid them along the roadway on his lawn.  That seemed to take care of the erosion problem.  Unfortunately, Lonny (new guy) couldn’t seem to get his truck and boat trailer out of his garage without driving over Glenda’s lawn, which he did, dislodging one tie in the process.

Yesterdeay, Glenda was mowing her lawn.  Rudy stopped by, saw the railroad tie out of position and moved to replace it.  Lonny came screaming out of his house — Glenda instructed Rudy to stay behind her and she confronted the angry neighbor who, now joined by his wife, continued to abuse Glenda.

Meanwhile, Debbie, unaware of the commotion, had been in the Sheriff’s office to report Lonny for trying to poison her cats by setting poisoned meat out for them.

Glenda called the Sheriff.  Deputy Schoen interviewed first Glenda, then Rudy, and took signed statements from them.   Carolyn could not participate, since she could only attest to what she saw and heard through the venetian blinds where she was peeking.

Jeannie and her house guests heard everything at a distance of about 100 yards.

The Deputy Schoen confronted Lonny, and Lonny continued to abuse the Deputy.  The Deputy handcuffed Lonny and drove him in a somewhat disheveled state (no shirt, no shoes) to the Sheriff’s office where he booked him, advising him that bullying his neighbors is not within his rights.

Lonny goes on trial on Thursday.

Unfortunately, Deanna and I leave for Florida on Thursday, so I may not be able to report the final resolution of the case of the century in Sky Village.

From Dad re: @yankeesink

Truly.  I mis-spent my high school years in much the same way — sitting in the back of the classroom and reading — and almost but not quite failing everything.  When I passed the UC entrance exam in English, I was the only one from my school who did.  UC reported my success to my English teacher who expressed total disgust.  ”You!  You!”  that’s all she could say.  She looked like she wanted to throw up.  I understand this guy.