- Can't wait to see Jeffery Gaines at 'DST on Thursday evening.
_ I was hoping that they signed Gio Gonzalez a few years ago before hw went to the Nats
- I want it to be warmer now - for a guy that always wanted to live in Vermont/New Hampshire/Maine - I am hating on the Cold weather this year , and thinking maybe Kentucky/ Tennessee is more for me.
While this is not a political post, - I will say that things are completely out of control - while the Republicans have been asking for evidence of wrongdoing,,, and now all these check from the POTUS to Pornstars for hush money that were written after he was the President, the GOP chooses to turn away , and continue to defend him.
Now on to the REAL subject fo todays entry - Baseball Rule changes.
I will try to discuss all that I have heard about... Many are PACE OF PLAY issues.
1. The time clock - there is one now that gets Teams on and off the Filed Quicker - want to say its two or three minutes between innings. But the discussion is now around each pitcher. and each pitch - that they deliver it within 20 seconds. As you might expect Relievers are the top of the list as they take the longest in between pitches,, not surprising - they are pithing on critical times of the Games when it could be won or lost based on the next pitch..
2. Minimum batter Rule - When you bring in a pitcher they must pitch to least three batters. No more lefty or Righty specialist throwing to only that one batter. I think here you are significantly changing the game. Pitchers that pitched to night before to 3 batter how many pitches did they throw ? What happens if you every intention of letting them pitch to 3 batters , but one at bat goes consideraly longer he has to throw many more pitches,, (we will get to the foul ball rule in a minute) You want that pitcher to risk an injury because of this ? Are they going to "freeze" the batting order so that when you bring the guy in to pitch to 3 batters it MUST be to the 3 you have in the line up at the time of the pitching change ?? No pinch hitting till after that 3 ? Perhaps they need to adopt a sort of Mercy Rule - that you need to pitch to three batters if your team is ahead by 5 or more runs after 7 innings.... I know it does not solve everything,... but there is nothing Crazier than watching a team / Manager change pitcher after pitcher when they are up or down by 10 runs in the 8th inning.....
3. OK let's talk about the FOUL BALL RULE .....Today working the count, fouling off pitches , is a positive. It extends the pitchers pitch count. It allows the on deck batters to get a look at what "stuff" he is throwing, and increasing the possibility that the pitcher will make a mistake and leave something hittable over the plate. SO the Changes I have heard discussed are simply to limit the foul balls ,,, you get 2 strikes and 3 foul balls ,,, the 4th foul ball is Strike 3 ... now you change that Strike 3 on the 4th foul to whatever you like - foul ball #5, #3 #6,, This rule change is a mess...
WE used to do something similar when we did not have enough guys to have two nine player teams for a sandlot game.... we would use the Defenders in the field - sometimes Just 2 outfields and 2 infielders. the team batting would have to provide their own pitcher, and the Batter had to hit the ball to THEIR side of the field - AKA - right handed batters had to hit it to the LEFT of the Pitchers mound and Lefties had to hit it to the Right side of the mound or you were out....
4. the Batter Keeping one foot in the box, I actually thing they are spose to do this ,, but they don;t and you only see a few umpires try to enforce the rule.. I believe they get a strike called on them for that infraction..... I HAVE seen this called in Little League play.
5. Finally coming up with a standard for Designated hitter or NOT ... IMHO - the difference here is not fair to either the NL or the AL teams..... Every AL team plays an NL team in the National league park many times in a year. And visa-versa.. SO that pitchers that are certainly not used to hitting and running the bases are forced to do just that... Imagine a Defense lineman have to play on the Offense line 3 or 4 game a year - Stupid....and BTW - don;t think this matters as Chin Ming Wong - hurt his leg running the bases - effectively ended his baseball Career. Plus the NL is at a disadvantage - NO way they have a DH on the bench the Caliber of the DH's in the American League. Can't we all just Get along !
6. Positioning players on the Field.. This is the SHIFT rule... SO that you must play two infielders ion each side of Second Base... No more moving the Infielders to the Right or Left side based on if the Batter was a dead pull hitter. You see it today - mostly with Left handed batters - they swing the infield around so that either the Shortstop or 3rd baseman is playing where the 2nd baseman usually is and the 2nd baseman plays short right field - so that when the batter hits a grounder between 1st and 2nd - they get thrown out at First base by that 2nd baseman playin way out in the out field. And the argument is - hey - Just bunt the ball down the 3rd base line and you got it hit. 'Cept many of the players that they shift on Are being paid to hit extra base hits and homeruns,,,, at times the defense would gladly trade a bunt single for a dinger hit into the Bleachers !! I say - let 'em play the players anywhere the want to ..... let the pitcher pitch to the defense alignment, and the shift.
7. The 25 man Roster expansion to 40 on September 1st ,, OK they have to do something about teams keeping the playing in the minors so that they control them for an extra year - before they are free agents. Now - I will give credit to Jim Leland manager of the Pirates at the time - I 100% agree with this simple change. You can have all the players on your 40 man roster in the Dugout,,, essentially on the Team, However , for each game you need to designate the 25 that are eligible to play that day or that Series of games versus the same opponent. Of Course teams will bounce starting pitchers on and off the 25 man roster - But this will Stop the endless pitching changes that they are so so concerned about back in #2......
8. Today I read of Moving the Pitching Mound Back ! Are they insane. Pitchers from high school to college , AAA ,,, AA ,, A Ball,, have been used to 60 feet 6 inches... now what you want them to throw another 2 , 3 ,4 feet,,,, ya right - talk about arm injuries = maybe leave the mound where it is and Make Home plate Wider- make it 19 inches instead of 17. Oh - you want more offense. ?? Make the Plate smaller by 2 inches,,,
ETC..... How about this ,,, use an Automated Strike and ball caller... now you need the ump there for plays that the plate, Foul tips, Cather interference, calls at times at 1st or 3rd, and Fairball Foulball calls,,, however,, we have the technology to have an automated strike zone. Just transmit that data to the ump in real time and have him indicate the Ball or Strike. I believe they use this in Professional Tennis to call balls in play and out of play - why not Balls and Strikes.. They use replay all the time - this is not a far leap Balls and Strikes.
They are discussing moving the trade deadline earlier - Like Before the all star break
Expanding the roster to 26 players, and making the Team have 12 pitchers on the roster (not sure how you enforce that one ?? Cause I can call anyone a pitcher)
The CBA - Collective Bargaining agreement does not expire until December 1st 2021. so You and they have a few years to chew on the rule changes.
Let's go for some music today.....
Not sure if I ever posted this one,,,, but here is Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats..
S.O.B.
I'll give you one for Mardi Gras - Trombone Shorty
If I was smart enough to it ,, I would add this to Instagram,,,, but I ain't !
So ,,, now discovering a whole new aspect of insomnia.... obviously the 1st is that you just can't fall asleep,,, Been there - done that ! Now I have moved on to the more sophisticated form of insomnia, I am able to fall asleep - with some help from Melatonin. However - I awake to my usual bathroom break between 1 & 2 AM and of course ,, I cannot go back to sleep...... evidence that it is 2:15 Am as I am writing this....
- Can't get comfortable ,,, and I seem to be cold. fo let's talk about that.... for someone who was ready to move to a colder climate - Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine ,,, I have been colder this year than at any time I can remember. Sleeping in a sweatshirt, and sweat pants, 2 pairs of socks. Going outside in a hooded fleece or sweat - with gloves and wool hats and hell I'm still cold. not real sure What I should do about it.
Spring training under way - the 2 big free agents are now signed - Machado to the Padres for 10 years - 300 million dollars, with a player opt out clause after 5 years,,, and Bryce Harper - 13 years 330 million - no Opt out , but a full no Trade Clause... so he can't leave and the Phillies can't trade him away... not sure if either deal will make the Padres or the Phillies a World Series contender just yet......
Bosox former closer Craig Kimbrel, still not signed, His agent denied reports that he will sit out 2019 of he does not get a deal he likes. I know the sox offered him a qualifying offer at 17.5 million for the one year,,, I believe that is more to ensure they get a minor league pick from the team that does eventually sign him.. I'm sure Resox nation is ready to either welcome him back with open arms or vilify him for signing with another club.
Political Rant ON :
with the Cohen testimony and the POTUS failing to reach a deal with the brutal dictator - Kim Jung In in Vietnam... Our pals at FOX news are all over those lead stories - NOT !
you really have to wonder how far up tRumps ass they will crawl ....
that's all I can take for right now,,,,
Upcoming events :
Friday - work - 6am - 1 or 2 ,,,, Reassemble boat. then back to customers house to put the Bathroom hardware back together after painting.
Saturday - humm not sure, I do need to finish the Cat shelters , and get them out of my Shed ! and play with my New toys, roto- Zip tool and buffer that we bartered to paint a bathroom..
Sunday - maybe see grandsons - While keeping an eye on the Predicted storm, I don't like driving the Taconic in the snow,,, possible breakfast with the boys ....
Monday - back to work -
Tuesday - revisit a bathroom / kitchen rebuild. Plus take another shot at getting the heat working better in that house....
Wednesday - work ...
Today I'm going with two Jim Croce songs you might not know - you should listen,,
When you type , do you constantly misspell the same word in the same way ??? Obviously I am asking because I do..... the word "have" .... yup I always or nearly always type - ahve No idea why.....
I am sleeping better than I have in years..... I get 5-7 hours a night,,, this from a person who 4 hours sleep was like a Rumpelstiltskin deal not that long ago. I do however ; still have that errant night that I DO NOT get minute of sleep . and I mean ZERO - not like you might say - "Oh - I did not sleep very well , kept tossing and Turning" I mean ZERO sleep,,,, but that only happens every two weeks or so.... It does seem that on the mornings thatI can sleep a bit later - I still awake and get up 4:30 - 5am, and the day I have toge tup at that time, I wish I could sleep longer.
Thought of the day :
If you don't know where you are going - any road will take you there..
I certainly swear way tooo much - I can control it - I don't do it in social situations. But other than that ,,,, and I don't use "that" language when arguing or discussing when some one.. otherwise - seems to roll outta my F-ing mouth all the time.. You ??
If you have cats or a cat - do they drink out of the Faucet ?? Out of all the cats we have had I think that 2 have done that.. Now how do they come to know that water is what come out of the Faucet ..??
We ,,, Well I listen to music all the time ,, all the time s that I can,.. Radio - one station - Radio Woodstock - WDST that I can get in my truck, or in the car,, and now for the past year or 2 on I heart Radio APP - so you can stream them anywhere... and I have. I also use Spotify. Although its slow sometimes, and makes me crazy with that ,,, it is - IMHO - WAY better than I tunes - even after the improvements to Itunes... I can stream Spotify to my Apple TV - and play that thru the house Stereo system.. My wife probably does not like all that I play as she is more of a Classic rock person, and I more Alternative. I wonder what others stream. I know I have gotten comments when I show up to work - Stereo blasting - about me listening to rock and at that volume ...... I think that if you are listening to what your Mom and Dad listened to - you are missing a whole lot of great songs...
So the Mueller report may not be made public ?? We waited 2 years to understand If the President is a CROOK and If he and his Presidential campagain were tied into the Russians ??
The special counsel has spent almost two years investigating how the Russians sought to interfere in our presidential election.
199 charges made in connection to the probe.
39 people and entities have been charged.
7 people have pleaded guilty.
4 have been sentenced to jail time.
Trump's Campaign chairman, Deputy campaign chairman, personal lawyer, longtime political svengali and his National security adviser have all been implicated or pleaded guilty.
Given that level of wrongdoing, the idea that Mueller's findings might not ever see the light of day is ridiculous. And if was a Witch hunt - THEY FOUND WITCHES !!
Ok this week is shaping up to be more work than even I like and why are we getting all these painting jobs ?!?!?
I painted 2 days over the weekend - after redoing the boat on Friday,,, with the same epoxy paint that we used on the Cellar floor,,, and yup same blue colored flakes much to the chagrin my boss....
SO Friday, Saturday , Sunday,,,, Monday moved all the stuff and believe you me there was a ton of stuff to put back ! The Floor - that came out excellent - if I do say so my self
Today - working on Cat Houses !! no not that kind,,, Feline , Feral cats,,
Wednesday - back at Norrie - at the shop in the morning, painting 2nd coat on all the wood boat parts. Afternoon at the Marina,,, checking the Ice eaters and working on 2019 Contracts ...
Thursday - back to Cat houses. gotta get some down to help the kitties pout of the freezing cold and rain... Not all feral cats win the lottery like 3 of those ones we have (4 cats total and I guess Wile-E was a feral ) - getting canned every day and a full supply of dry food,,,, 100 toys, and play balls and furry mice,,, plus what has to be 20 places for the boys to sleep !!! including the Favored BED on the real cold days ......
Friday - humm - not really sure - oh wait I gotta work at Norrie ,,, hope not all day,,, but a good day to start reassemble of the boat ,,, still have to PAINT the DOG house (thats where the steering wheel , Battery etc is ) then put all hat wood back in place...
Saturday - dare I say it - PAINTING !!! one foyer - all white - walls and trim - really nice home.. need to take great care not to drip on the Stone floor in the foyer.,..
Sunday - IS that not a day of rest ??? but If Customer #1 gets paint - we need to go back and WHAT ?? - Paint the bath room. IF no paint, then we need to finish the "Wide" thresholds we cut the the other day - 3 angles to bridge the kitchen floor to the living space.
3 - 1 x 8's (2 10 footers and one 6 footer) with two 15 degree angles and then a notch into the under side to let the piece lay flat on both floors ,,,, we did a nice job designing and cutting them...Kinda looks like this 1 inch thick and 7 inches wide - didn't lose any fingers cuttin it neither !
Hey if you did not know, there is some new music out there,,,
DID I mention Linda Ronstadt has a new release of a live show from 1980 - do you know Linda sold 150 million records, woof ...
And the Tedeschi Trucks band has a new CD - SIGNS .....
If you are of the mind Sean Rowe is returning Darrl's house in March,,
Investigation on top of investigation... Prejudice up on Prejudice... Yes,, many of the economic factors are positive ,,, but is that a reason to follow a lunatic down the path - I think not.
I have to listen to that Jerk talk about things that are just plain NOT the way he and man yin this administration act...
He talks about Abortions, protecting Babies - and he separates families ,, Parents separated from Children...
He talks restricting Women's rights and fakely applauds them for voting, and for having more women in the Congress than ever before - he pretends as if that he has had a positive effect on this when - yea he has had an affect --- its that we can't stand anymore of him ,,, and we elect the most qualified candidate -
He and his Party bow down to Putin and Russia and then Chant USA USA...
He Coddles and praises Neo Nazism and then talks about the Holocaust and the Jews
He regularly attacks his own FBI, CIA and intelligence Organizations then talks Patriotism
He speaks about cooperation and unity and then gives the most outlandish speeches that attack the Democrats and the Free Press and uses bullying tactics and name calling that we would not allow in our Grade schools let alone our government...
He talks about limiting immigration,,, stopping people from entering the country , and then he hires them as workers at his resorts and hotels because it's cheap labor.
Talks America First - bringing jobs back to the US while his family businesses and his Own Daughter manufacture things abroad.
Talks about Global warming as a hoax bout can't tell the difference between Weather and Climate.
I can go on and on,,,,, however , I think you get the Idea, while I truly believe that we cannot stand another 4 years / a 2nd term of tRump presidency,,, I don't see a strong enough Democrat that I think can Beat him in an election,,,,and this Independent Howard Schultz - although
some say would appeal to both sides,, I think would just get the Bully womanizer bigot Apprentice star reelected .... God Help us.
All right - what else is happening ?? IT's as Crazy that at 50 and 60 degrees as it was 12 degrees below zero ,,,
I watched an Interview with Linda Ronstadt this week,, she has Parkinson's Disease. she looks quite well for 72 years old.... Linda had the most amazing voice back in the day. she sold 150Million records across several genres of Music, from Rock to Country, to Spansih, .. Let me give you 2 by Ms. Ronstadt.... and BTW - they have released a Live Concert of hers from the 1980's that Is on both Spotify and I tunes...
and with a Band that includes, Brock Walsh (from Pleasant Valley) , Andrew Gold, Waddy Wachtel, Kenny Edwards, Dan Dugmore,,,,, IT's Heat Wave
