Tampa Bay Rays

Went to the game last night. Interesting game as it lasted 4 hours and the score was only 2-1 and the umpire was hit in the chest with a ball and had to be taken out.

The main attraction was Scott Kazmir, see in his photo sporting a new Hitler mustache:

Zobrist has a great OPS and was good to see. Also I think this shot is pretty good considering it was from the 500 level.

I like this one too.

Evan Longoria is reliable.

This was the best shot I got of Kazmir. I went down to the first level to try and get a better picture but couldn't really get much closer. Apparently they want you to "pay" for that.

Another shot from the ground of Kaz.

Look who's now with Tampa!

Zaun's really not great photo and mediocre stats. He really REALLY should not have tried to steal 2nd last night. He runs like a harpooned walrus. He looks like the Keebler elf in the photo below.

A young in our section was wearing his Zaun jersey. I should have worn mine....

The worst part of the evening was the bottom of the 9th inning. Tampa goes in leading 2-1 and they bring in their closer, JP Howell. Second batter he gives up a home run, game is tied, and it becomes apparent Howell can't throw a strike today. Every pitcher has a bad day.

So Joe Maddon for some reason doesn't start warming anyone up. Howell walks three batters to load the bases and you can see him struggling, he's throwing as hard as he can and the ball is bouncing on the way to the plate. And after THREE walks and a blown save, Maddon still has no one up, he leaves Howell in.

When it becomes apparent your guy is tired and having a bad day the manager can't just leave him out there to die. You can't waste the past 4 hours of play and a chance to move up in the wildcard. So Maddon left him in and the game ended on a wild pitch. Jays win. Rays lose.

I checked out the Tampa Tribune this morning and only one person blamed Maddon for this loss, and even then only slightly. Grrr....

Jeff Francoeur

Jeff Francoeur is my hero.

When I went on my first vacation to Atlanta on my first vacation to see the Atlanta Braves he was the new up and coming player every one was talking about. I remember his jersey's selling out at the stands around the stadium.
I had a lay-over on my flight back and was wearing a Jeff Francoeur t-shirt and someone told me he was on the cover of the new Sports Illustrated at the airport.
When I went over to the newsstand, this was there:

Which perfectly capped off my trip.
Jeff has struggled lately but is such a nice guy everyone loves him.

He's nicknamed Frenchy and has a pair of lucky turkey underwear:

Video here.
He had a series of successful commericals for Delta airlines:

And if you follow his blog, he still seems to be associated with them. I really liked the commercial.
I have a Jeff Francoeur statue on my desk at work.
So when I was watching Sunday night baseball last night, and saw Jeff in the uniform of the hated New York Mets, my heart sunk.
Bad news :(

Trades are really a part of baseball but I still want the original 2005 Atlanta Braves team to stay in tact. Is that too much to ask?
Probably.
My original Francoeur t-shirt is ripped and heavily worn and no longer fits but I haven't been able to throw it out. So today, before they were gone for good, I ordered a new t-shirt in a size that fits.

Amazing game

Amazing baseball game tonight, Atlanta vs. the Cubs. I need to get a tv and get this or sign up for the online service again with a tv and my laptop, probably that option. I wouldn't be able to watch any Jays games but I could watch all the Tampa and Braves games.

Cubs leading 5-0 in the 6th and the Cubs have a no hitter, Braves get three in the 8th, come back with a 2 run homer by Jeff Francoeur in the 9th, tie game.
10th inning leadoff single, sac bunt, fielder's choice gets the runner to third. They put Chipper on and then walk Brian McCann to load the bases, then end up not scoring but I'm into it. Now the 11th.... need baseball!

Ted Lilly pitching tomorrow night leading the Cubs in wins vs. the Braves, it's like my dream match up. I'm supposed to go to a play, may skip it.

Update: Francoeur's first career sac bunt. Was this game played just to encourage me to watch more baseball? Maybe. On to the 12th. Sleepy though.

Last update: Chipper Jones wins the game in the 12th. First 5 run come back since Sept. 2007. Braves win.

World Baseball Classic

Today was the first game of the 2009 World Baseball Classic at Rogers Centre. It was the most anticipated game, Canada vs. USA.
I was excited to get to use my new camera. Now I was VERY far away so some of these pictures are miracle shots. I still can't get clear faces, either because I was just too far or I couldn't hold the camera still enough.
Either way I think these shots are pretty good.
Ted Lilly was there, but didn't pitch yet:


Chipper Jones was also there:

This was my view:

Row 1 but partly obstructed by a large flag thing!
I was happy Brian McCann was catching. Here's a cool action shot:

And here he is hitting a home run:

Loads of people were out there cheering for Canada, to no avail of course:

Afterward we had about 3 hours to kill until the next game so Joe and I walked in the rain, lots of rain, to Chinatown and I bought new shoes. I got these shoes just before I went on the cruise and they already have a hole in the sole, my foot was soaked.
Game 2 I have no photos of as it was Italy vs. Venezuela and I didn't know any players. The best part was when Italy hit a double and I yelled out "That's a spicy meatball!" in my best Italian accent. Joe pretended he didn't know me and I laughed for about half an hour. I'm laughing still.

Cleveland: Almost done!

I am poor. How poor? I have $40. I need $20 to get to the bus station tomorrow so it's a very good thing I'm done! I had planned to go to New York for my birthday to see Billy Elliott and now that is off, I can't do this again so soon. I enjoyed it, but now that I have so little money I'm glad its done.
I woke up this morning about 9 and headed to the free breakfast for a muffin, then I grabbed 2 more muffins and a banana which was dinner.
The driver was waiting for me at 11 which was cool, he was a really nice guy, he just looked scary. I got to the bus station and waited a couple hours and was off.
The bus driver I think it was his first minute on the planet as he made several u-turns and at one point went the wrong way down the highway for 30 minutes. The bus was full and when he asked people who knew the way to step forward and give him directions, that wasn't good.
We pulled in about 5:30 and I went to get a bus to the hotel, they run every half hour and it became clear I wouldn't be able to get to the hotel and back to the game in time.
They had lockers at the bus station and I rented one and then proceeded to try to stuff my things into it. It didn't fit so I had to unpack my bags to get it all in.
I then headed over to the stadium.

It was good, when I walked in I was really glad I was there.

Every stadium I go to I get the souvenir cup and the baseball card team set. The team set was on sale as a one-day promotion, I was just going to get it later off the net but it was less than $5. Then came the matter of the cup. It was $5 and I couldn't afford it so I ended up pulling one out of the trash and washing it in the bathroom. Bad times, but I got it!
They had a cool history section of the park:

and here's some more shots.



The Indians were playing the Orioles whom I liked better so I wasn't really rooting. The Orioles share the basement of the AL East, now with Toronto, and you have to root for teams that aren't the Yankees or the Red Sox, I like supporting the little guy.
After the game I headed over and picked up my stuff. As I was leaving this taxi hit me up for a ride and as I was getting in I saw this bus drive past. D'oh! Oh well, it would have been a mile walk after I got off the bus anyway. Now the bus only comes once an hour so I'll probably taxi it back in the morning, leaving me with an emergency $20! Let's hope there's no emergency.
I have like 30 channels and the best thing on is Revenge of the Nerds 3. Why do people own these things? Plus the internet keeps cutting out. Yipee.
Anyway, so I get to the hotel with $40 in my pocket and $68 on my credit card and luckily the front desk clerk was gay and sympathetic as my credit card failed. He explained that they hold an extra 10% for extras. I offered to put some on the card and pay the difference, he said they couldn't do that. D'oh! So luckily he booked me in at the special medical emergency rate which was lower and the charge went through! Hurray! So I got the gay discount and now I have $1 on my card and all will be well as long as I get home. Wish me luck! Tomorrow at 11:25 I'll be on the way!

Pittsburgh, or Mayberry

I woke up at 4:30 this morning. I was very glad I did it!
I stumbled out and walked around the corner to a hotel where they said taxis were parked 24 hours. There were none there. But one came about 10 seconds later.
I managed to thrust my bag into the trunk and the driver starts adding extra charges, $3 worth. I asked him why and he mumbled something about having a bag. So because of my suitcase I was charged an extra $3? I think it was the white tax, and the tourist tax.
So when I got to the station, I sincerely thanked him and then he tried to make off without giving me change.
The only bus that has left on time this whole trip was the one I missed by 2 minutes in New York City. Anyway, I slept most of the way, it was ok.
I get to Pittsburgh and nothing. I'm in the middle of nowhere, I can't even see a road, no transit, no taxis. I asked a couple people where the transit was, no one knew. I had to hurry as it was already 1:15 and the Warhol museum closes at 5.
I found some taxi numbers on the wall, 3 of them, and called them all. The first one was long distance, the other two didn't work. I went to the ticket counter and begged for help. The woman behind the counter had a harem of men she wanted to call who drove cabs and called them all. The fourth one said yes and 45 minutes later a car pulls up with a driver who looks like he just got out of San Quentin, not a taxi. I strapped my seatbelt on a prayed for my life.
I get to the hotel at about 2:30:

Notice how it also is in the middle of nowhere. The woman says I have to sit down and wait until check in time at 3 pm. I asked if I could leave my bags as I had to get to the Warhol museum and she relents and gives me a room. I quickly hook up my computer at 2:52 and find there's a bus at 2:57 so I run out the door but I don't know which side of the street to stand on. I run back in to ask and the woman is on a personal call talking about her man getting out of prison. Does anyone understand the concept I'm in a hurry?
So I step outside and pick a side of the road and watch the bus go by on the other side. Sigh.
I went back in the lobby and asked the woman to call a taxi. Now she's busy being yelled at by the manager but she manages to call. 10 minutes go by and I ask how long they said it was going to be. "Oh, 45 minutes" she says. "It is rush hour!" It's 3:10 pm. Sigh.
So I told them to cancel it, hop on the bus and get to the museum at 4. Some things I saw on the way:


Once inside there's nobody at the ticket desk and people walking all over. I figured maybe they had that thing where the last hour was free and I couldn't really afford the $15 so I head over to the elevator and press up. I'm like, "Come on, come on!" and just as it arrives, this woman comes over and asks if I paid. D'oh. Embarrassing. I was so close!
I've got like $68 on my card and the room tomorrow is $54. Tax and exchange... with luck it will go through.
You're not allowed to take pictures of course but I found this on the net:

Eleven Elvis's, in silver representing the silver screen. The Museum was great, even though I saw it on the run. Warhol was shot by a violent lesbian feminist and a movie was made about it called "I Shot Andy Warhol" which I now want to see. He was close friends with Dorothy Kilgallen from "What's My Line?" and they talked on the phone daily which I never knew. They had an excellent Polaroid Warhol took of Keith Haring and a post card from Keith Haring to Warhol while on vacation. Here's another photo of them, not one from the exhibition:

Warhol kept boxes of paper and notes and letters and this postcard from Haring was found in one of them. Warhol had 600 boxes at his death and only 90 have been opened so next year the museum will be opening them and cataloging them, they say it will take until 2012.
I was wondering why I've never seen a Warhol of James Dean and found this on the net:

Is it really Warhol? It looks like him, but what about the Asian symbols? Were they added later or are they part of it for some reason? Don't know. And why have I never seen it?
They also had works by new artists and local artists, really a great place, I could have spent all day. In the end they ended up throwing me out of the gift shop to close.


I had a little time to kill before the game so I walked the route back to the bus. When I got on the bus I asked when the last one back was and the driver said "Oh, at least 10." Turns out it was 9:30.
The subway is free and unmaned but I found a map of the bus route and schedule and tried to find out where the bus would be and found out. On the way I walked over the bridge and saw the ball park:

and this cool building:

and I sat in this park with this sculpture, part paying homage to the working man and part dreaming of being somewhere tropical with palm trees:


and this rabbit was eating grass in the park, he kept me company which was cool:

The bunny is in the bottom right corner:

Anyway finally got to the park:

It was quite nice with a great view of the city behind it:

Check out the building on the right, it looks like a castle:

They were quite big on the pirate theme being the "Pittsburgh Pirates" and all:

I sat really close for $27 which was good:

Here they have the ushers 'show' people to their seats in the lower levels and they expect a tip afterward but I haven't given one yet. How much? It seems silly.
I forgot Adam LaRoche is now a Pirate and was looking forward to seeing him but the radio said he was injured and should be back tomorrow so I missed him, but his brother Andrew was there.


I left after the 7th inning and listened to the game on the walk back to the bus stop. Pirates won 5-2. None of the stands sold souvenir cups so I thought I was SOL but as I was walking out I saw a plastic cup with the Pirates logo on it so I grabbed it. Someone may have said "Hey!" and a child may have started crying but I was late and figured it could have been about something else so I made a beeline.
Upon arriving at the stop I noticed a road was closed and the bus could not follow the route on the map. Then I noticed that none of the streets had street signs, common in the States, so I had no idea where the bus was going to stop. So I ran back and forth between two possible options and asked 3 policemen and four bus drivers and none of them knew. But I did catch the bus and all is well.
It's like 2:15, I've really taken advantage of FINALLY having the internet again but I gotta sleep!
Tomorrow morning I get up at 9, repack my bags and have breakfast and then the man from San Quentin is coming back to pick me up at 11, check-out time. My bus leaves at 1:20 so judging by how slow these people go, that should leave me enough time to call another cab if he doesn't show. His price was only $15 and he didn't expect a tip and the drive was kind of far so I figured I couldn't be picky.
Then off to Cleveland, arriving at 4. I can't afford to stay the weekend after all so I should be leaving at 11:30 am on Friday and home Friday night. I can't believe it, it feels like I'll never be home!
Turns out being on vacation is more fun when you have money, who knew?

Washington Day Three: Things get better

Yikes. Had a long day today and I'm writing this about yesterday so it may not be as long as it could.
I woke up early, at about 8 am in preparation for getting up at 4:30 am the next day.
Went over to the National Postal Museum first thing:

It sucked. It was really geared toward children with lots of movies with actors re-creating scenes. Like for example they had this one skit where people from different eras went up to the postal window for services. The first woman was from the 30's and she wanted to open a savings account for her grandson. She went on about how he was getting such good grades in school and offered to show a picture, etc. It was death.
The best part was a whole section on crime in the mail, including mail bombs, thefts, and the actual handcuffs used during the capture of the unibomber.
Leaving there I walked past the State Capital:

And found my way to the National Gallery. Here's one advantage of overthrowing a government and installing a puppet government loyal to you:

The National gallery was good, lots of variation in themes. Of course lots of religious crap I practically ran through but some cool newer things like this which I thought my friend Joe would like:

And an excellent photo series from Richard Misrach called "On the Beach". "On the Beach" is one of my favourite books and was made into a movie starring Anthony Perkins and some dancer fellow. Anyway, it's plot was an atomic bomb was set off in the northern hemisphere and the people of Australia were waiting for the gas to come and kill them all.


The photos really capture the sense of isolation, like these people are the only ones in the world, and some give the impression of people lost at sea.
From there I went to the National Portrait Gallery which had some good choices, but a very wide mix. I wonder what their criteria is. They had a commissioned picture of every president done during their term. JFK was abstract and kind of cool, whereas Nixon was painted by Norman Rockwell.
They also had some stars like Elvis:

And this stunning painting of Christopher Reeves in the centre of the room, very arresting:

This next photo shows four men demanding to be served at Julius's Bar in Greenwich Village. At the time many bars refused to sell liquor to gays because New York regulations forbade it. This was one of a series of public protests planned by Criag Rodwell and the Mattachine Society to be more confrontational and push the gay civil rights agenda. He also was a part of the Stonewall riots and organized the first gay rights march in New York City.

This photo of Judy Garland was made all the better by the text below:


Apparently Liza is coming to Toronto in March. If it's not $300 I'd love to go.
Ok, so I left the gallery and went back to the Hostel and packed up so I wouldn't make so much noise when I left at 4 am. I got to the stadium:

Notice all the soccer stuff? Turns out I was at the wrong place. I wondered why there were only about 10 people going to the game. So I paid to get on the subway AGAIN and finally got to the game:

They had a free t-shirt giveaway but as I got there in the middle of the 1st inning I missed it.


I left about 9 or 9:30, after the 7th inning and they came back to tie the game as I was leaving but I didn't really know where I was going and I had to get up before dawn so I left. As I was leaving I tried to buy the souvenir cup I always get and they said they were all out. So I went to the next stand and they said management takes them away in the 7th inning. WTF??? So I went down to the first level hoping some rich person was throwing one away and found a stall still selling them. The guy who sold me the cup got yelled at by the manager but I got it. Then I got back and fell asleep to wake up at 4:30 am.... to be continued.