Writing the Pine

Sorry for being away the past two days.  Been swamped at the Office.

Not THE OFFICE, but . . . Close Enough

(Speaking of which.  Saw Steve Carell and Tina Fey filming a movie recently.  Don’t know what it’s about, but Carell + Fey?  Put me in for $12.50 or whatever they charge for a movie ticket nowadays.)

Was able to catch the Yankees game tonight and a few minutes of the Mets games in between innings.  (I know, I know.  I shouldn’t but I can’t help myself.   I love watching trainwrecks. Ha.  Just kidding.  But not really.)

Don’t feel like writing too much so I’m just going to list things I like:

•  I like the Minnesota Twins.  They are the anti-Boston Red Sox.  Small market.  Likeable.  And most importantly, Beatable. (6-0 against the Twins this year, and 0-5 against the AL East leading Boston Red Sox.)

• I like Francisco Cervelli.   He was sent down to AAA to make room for Jose Molina. Came up from AA and filled in admirably.  Fired up the team, has an accurate cannon for an arm, called a good game, and for a prospect that supposedly couldn’t hit Major League pitching, held his own.  He’ll either be back, is a good insurance policy for two older catchers on the roster, or could be used as trade bait.  Regardless, I like.

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Team says “Later!”.  Not “Goodbye!”

• I like Brett Gardner’s chances for an AL Rookie of the Year award.  I know it’s still early but he’s in the upper echelon or leading AL rookies in SB’s (18), BA (.301), Runs (36), Hits (50).  Unfortunately, he doesn’t really have pop.  His biggest competition will probably come from Nolan Reimold, Elvus Andrus, and Gordon Beckham.  A lack of HRs (which he shouldn’t try to aim for) and a full time starting position (i.e.  AB’s) will hurt his candidancy by the end of the season.  Fine, I just talked myself out of it or at least hedged my bet because my mouth isn’t big enough for my foot.  Or my foot is too big for my mouth.  Something like that.

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• I really liked this Daniel Murphy play.   Was able to catch it on the tube and nearly fell off the couch in disbelief.  How did this fool with lead hands make such a sweet play?  This is right about when broadcasters would say “This is why baseball is unpredictable. Blah. Blah. Blah. Sports Cliche. Blah.”  Or something like that.  Regardless, I like.

Going to head into “enemy territory” tonight (Hey I also like free tickets…) aka Citifield for a Mets-Dodgers rubber game matchup.

I’ll ses some old faces: Manny, Torre, The Corpse Formerly Known as Scott Proctor’s Arm.

(I liked Scott too.  His elbow ligament does not however share the same sentiment for Torre.)

But on the bright side, look for Part II of the Battle of Ballpark Food: The Real Subway Series as the Mets offer Citifield’s leadoff man in the season long challenge to crown the best ballpark food between the Metropolitans and their crosstown rivals.

Later gators.  As a parting gift for making it to the end of today’s blog:

Ms. Beyonce Knowles

Chat Batka

The Real “Twins”