Category: OLD SPORT SHORTS (Page 61 of 68)

An old guy’s perspective on all sports

Old Sport Shorts: Fan Cam #261

September 14, 2017 / mikeljohnston1 / 0 Comments

The Cardinals won today at Busch Stadium, setting up a critical series this weekend at Wrigley. Even with a Cubs victory against the Mets today, the Cardinals can move into at least a tie with a 3-game sweep over their rivals. However, the “BIG” news in St. Louis happened during yesterday’s 6-0 loss. What happened on the BIG screen was a BIG surprise. With the fan cam on her, a woman, rumored to be a dancer, pulled up her shirt and flashed the crowd. It may have produced the biggest roar by the crowd all day, as the Cardinals were shut-out by the bottom dwelling Reds. I’m actually surprised that this hasn’t happened before, and perhaps sets the stage for a trend. A topless dancer by the name of “Busty Heart” was also thrown out of Busch Stadium years ago, but she never got on camera. Chances are that in both cases too much Budweiser was involved!

I’m sure she was seeking publicity for her profession, and what better way than the BIG screen! Apparently there is no delay on the in-house video system, since that probably takes all the fun out of seeing yourself on T.V. It reminds me of the “fan on the field,” craze, eventually highlighted by Morganna, the Kissing Bandit. Streakers also sought attention, hoping to appear BIGGER than real life on television, as we got BIGGER and BIGGER screens at home. For both men and women, it provided an opportunity to magnify your possible shortcomings, because size matters. Is BIGGER really better? Remember the movie, “Attack of the Fifty Foot Woman?” They don’t get much bigger than that, and the Busch screen is only 32 feet high. Look out Dallas!

On-field security has tightened up substantially because of streakers, exhibitionists, bandits, and flag burners. Now, it will be the “Kiss Cam” that faces more scrutiny. Until then, children hide your eyes. In my experience, it was the Indianapolis 500 that became famous for “Show Us Your T***!!!” I’m sure the Clydesdales were talking among themselves. When baseball games are lopsided, the fans get restless, and high jinks like this happen. Did a mention that “The King of Beers” might have played a role? When offered a 16-ounce Bud or a 12-ounce Bud, most will take the BIGGER size, especially if it’s the seventh inning. As they say in St. Louis, “This Boob’s For You!”

Old Sport Shorts: Freak Streaks #259

September 13, 2017 / mikeljohnston1 / 0 Comments

I’m enjoying some baseball history today, starting with an early morning Indians vs. Tigers game. It’s been a year of streaks and sweeps, as is typical with the game of baseball. However, there have been some monumental moments in 2017, including the current 20-game winning streak of the Cleveland Indians. As the Tribe goes for an American League record today, I’ll be their biggest fan. I thought the Cubs were finally on a roll at the end of July, and wrote about the 1935 club that won 21 straight games. (See Post #181) The Indians can tie that today with a victory over the Tigers. It only seems appropriate that the Cubs and Indians could share history today, especially since they were the two teams that everyone was talking about as the season started. The Cubs, of course, had edged them in the World Series last fall, leaving Cleveland with a 69-year title drought and a chip on their shoulder. It may be their turn this year!

The 1935 Cubs won 100 games, led by Hall of Famer, Gabby Hartnett with a .344 batting average. Pitchers Lon Warneke and Bill Lee each won 20 games. It was the last time that the Cubs were in the World Series, until their victory last year. That team lost the World Series to the Tigers, who gained some revenge for losses in 1907 and 1908 to the World Champion Cubs. Detroit’s Ty Cobb never won a World Series ring, but at least was alive to witness the redeeming rematch. It was the rival Cardinals that eventually ended the 21-game streak in St. Louis. It’s regarded as the second longest in modern day baseball, exceeded only by the 1916 New York Giants.

Some may say that the Cubs actually had the longest streak, since the Giants run was interrupted by a tie. It was actually 14 consecutive victories, a 1-1 tie with Pittsburgh, and 14 more before the Boston Braves beat them in the second game of a doubleheader. All 26 of these victories took place at the legendary Polo Grounds ballpark, so none were on the road! Hall of Fame pitcher Christy Mathewson was their biggest star. Despite this remarkable season-ending run, they would finish no higher than 4th in the National League, amassing 86 total victories but finishing seven games behind the Brooklyn Robins. The team had also won 17 consecutive games earlier in the season, so over half of their wins were part of these two streaks. The Boston Red Sox defeated the Robins four games to one to take the World Series crown.

As the 2017 Indians take a 4-1 early lead over the Tigers, edging closer to the 1935 Cubs standard, I’m wondering if they can challenge that 1916 record? It would be nice to see that controversial tie as no longer a factor in the record. Cleveland tied the American League record yesterday of 20 straight, set by the 2002 Oakland Athletics. The “Moneyball” A’s also failed to make it to the World Series, despite 103 victories. They lost to Minnesota in the A.L. Division Series, proving once again that long streaks and winning 100 plus games does not win World Series. However, the 1906 Chicago White Sox and the 1947 New York Yankees, both of which won 19 straight regular season games, also won the World Series.

The “Hitless Wonders” of 1906 somehow beat the Cubs in the World Series in one of the biggest upsets of the Fall Classic. The Cubs had won a record 116 games, but Sox pitcher, Ed Walsh, shut them down to win it all in six games. The New York Yankees of 1947, led by Joe DiMaggio, beat the Brooklyn Dodgers and Jackie Robinson to punctuate their 19-game streak. Going back in time, the 1904 New York Giants, who initially held the record, won 18 consecutive ballgames and 106 for the season, but no World Series was contested that year due to a dispute between the American and National leagues. Hall of Fame pitchers Joe McGinnity won 35 games that season, and teammate Christy Mathewson accounted for 33 victories. Finally, the 1953 Yankees matched the Giants’ 18-game mark, and went on to win the World Series. Yankee Hall of Fame notables included Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra, Phil Rizzuto, and Whitey Ford. The Bronx Bombers beat the Brooklyn Dodgers, in spite of falling one-game short of 100 regular season victories. The Yankees, who did it twice, and the White Sox are the only teams to have recorded both regular season streaks and to win it all. Can Cleveland join them?

The Indians just made a throwing error, but maintain a 1-run lead thanks to a Jay Bruce three-run homer. They have a 13.5-game lead over the Minnesota Twins in the A.L. Central, who will probably be good enough to win a Wild Card spot along with the Yankees. The Red Sox and Astros will fill the A.L. field of five. While the Indians can hopefully extend their winning streak, the Dodgers finally snapped an 11-game losing streak. This was a team that was destined to threaten the Cubs and Mariners 116 victory record, but got stuck on win number 92, after needing eight games to win just one. They’ve now lost 16 of their last 18 games but still maintain a 10-game lead over the Wild Card bound D-Backs. They finally clinched last night to join the Nationals in the post season. Meanwhile, the Cubs, Brewers, Cardinals, and Rockies will fight for those other two Playoff spots. The Cubs lead in the Central has shrunk to 2 over the Cards and 2.5 over the Brewers. All three teams won last night, but the Cubs and Cards will go head-to-head this weekend. The Brewers who swept the Cubs at Wrigley then proceeded to get shut-out by the Pirates. It seems that no one wants to take command of that Division, and whoever finishes second will probably not earn a Wild Card.

The Cubs play the Mets today and the Cards face the Reds, but the spotlight really belongs to the Indians. They’ve earned my vote as the most likely to return to the World Series, especially after this record setting run. The Cubs do not have that kind of resume to support their post season chances. They were, however, 5 games behind the Brewers at the All Star Break, and have won or tied all of their series until the Brewers came to town. To have Willson Contreras back behind the plate is a plus for the Cubs, while the Brewers lost starting pitcher Jimmy Nelson for the year. Dexter Fowler will be out for a few games for the Cards with a knee contusion, but will undoubtedly return to haunt his former teammates this weekend. Perez just homered for the Indians in the bottom of the 7th to extend their lead to two over the Tigers.

It’s the top of the ninth, and the last chance for the Tigers to snap the 21-game streak. The fans are on their feet, as closer Cody Allen puts on the finishing touches. With the final out, the Cleveland Indians now hold the American League record, surpassing the Oakland A’s, and are tied with the 1935 Chicago Cubs. I have mixed feelings about them taking away a Cubs record, but after that World Series victory from last year, I’m prepared to make a sacrifice. The Royals are next to challenge.

Retirement is not without Hassles: No Date #258

September 13, 2017 / mikeljohnston1 / 0 Comments

It’s date night and I have no date. My wife is on a business trip to D.C., so it will probably be chicken pot pie for me tonight. I did cook last night but had to remake the glaze for my flank steak, after burning the first batch. The whole house smelled like burnt garlic, so it wasn’t one of my better efforts in the kitchen. I should probably stick to the microwave, but I would really like to become more proficient with my cooking. I don’t feel comfortable around the oven yet, and one night a week may not be enough to build confidence. It’s been very stressful finding my way, and I’m lucky that I haven’t burnt or cut myself yet.

My wife woke me up at about 5 a.m. in anticipation of an 8 a.m. flight. I was not motivated to run, so it was a slow process getting up. With the cancellation of Pints to Pasta and the $250 price tag to run the Portland Half Marathon, I’m currently without a goal. I am sitting at 3,181 consecutive days and counting on my running streak, but that only gets me out the door each morning and through the first mile. With all those extra miles that I ran to get ready for the Hood to Coast Relay, I need to maintain this new level of fitness. I had already run a 10-mile training run last week, and felt ready to do more distance, but the fires affected the Pints to Pasta course and they were forced to cancel. I got a notice today for the Shamrock Run, but that isn’t until March, so I need to make a firm commitment to Run Like Hell or the Holiday Half.

I don’t plan to leave the house again today, with the exception of a couple of short dog outings. I’m stocked-up on Diet Coke, peanut butter, and bananas so there’s really no need to leave. i may do some more travel planning for 2018, since flights, hotels, and rental cars have all been secured for the remainder of this year. My wife is chained to the office for budget planning in January, but in February we’ll go to Phoenix for her annual meeting. Baseball schedules for 2018 were just released yesterday, so I’ll plan to attend some White Sox or Cubs games in L.A., Chicago, San Francisco, Phoenix, New York, Miami, St. Louis, San Diego, Denver, Washington D.C., and Seattle. Opening Day is March 29th, the day we return from our overseas adventure to Amsterdam, Venice, Croatia, and Athens, part of which is a Viking Cruise. In April, we’ll attend a wedding in Hualtulco, Mexico, and perhaps extend that weekend to include Puerto Vallarta. There will be at least four trips into Chicago next year, a long weekend in Vancouver to see the Gardens, a French Laundry dinner, Broadway Shows, and at least two get-togethers with my grandchildren. It will be another busy and expensive year of travel that will require a lot of planning. While we don’t have a date tonight, there are certainly many ahead of us!

Old Sport Shorts: Veeck #257

September 12, 2017 / mikeljohnston1 / 0 Comments

One of my baseball heroes is Sherm Lollar, who played catcher for the Chicago White Sox from 1952-1963 and wore number 10. He was the second best catcher in the American League in the 1950s, behind Yogi Berra of the Yankees. Earlier this year, I wrote a letter to the Golden Era Committee of the Baseball Hall of Fame, hoping to spur some consideration for induction. (See Post #5). I’m currently reading the book Bill Veeck Baseball’s Greatest Maverick by Paul Dickson, and I ran across several references to Lollar. On August 24, 1951 (three days before my birth), Veeck organized a promotion to give fans the opportunity to manage his team, the St. Louis Browns. He placed manager, Zack Taylor, in a rocking chair near the dugout and provided selected fans with placards marked YES and NO, which they would hold up to determine what the Browns should do next. Sherm Lollar had come to the team after the 1948 season from the Yankees, because manager Bill Dickey determined that Berra’s left-handed swing was more compatible with Yankee Stadium. Lollar earned a World Series ring , despite only 11 at bats and 1 home run in 1947. Finally in 1948, the year Babe Ruth died and Sherm’s last year in New York, he only got to play in 22 games, The Browns got him for virtually nothing, but he was still limited to only a part-time role.

Veeck was known for his promotional stunts, including the very controversial “midget” game less than a week earlier. He used three-foot-seven-inch, sixty-five pound, Eddie Gaedel, as a pinch hitter against the Detroit Tigers. Because of his narrow strike zone, Gaedel easily walked. and then was replaced with a pinch-runner. The “fan vote” event was Veeck’s much tamer follow-up, but still irked the other baseball owners. Bill Veeck had previously owned the Cleveland Indians, taking them to a World Series Championship in 1948, so Lollar would have been part of his 1946 squad, the year he bought the team. Veeck then orchestrated one of his characteristic “bundled deals” that sent Lollar and Ray Mack to the Yankees in exchange for Hal Peck, Al Gettel, and Gene Bearden. Veeck re-inherited Lollar when he bought the White Sox in 1959, so their baseball paths are strongly intertwined. In fact, a cricket promotion that Bill staged in Comiskey Park between games of a double-header with Kansas City, involved both Lollar and Luis Aparicio taking at-bats, while the crowd chanted “That’s not cricket.” At least, they were not part of the circus show he put on the week before!

The first decision of the fan jury was to determine the starting line-up for the game. They chose to go with Sherm over Matt Batts at catcher. After the season, the Browns traded Lollar to the White Sox where he became a regular starter, including the 1959 World Series against the Dodgers. It just shows how perceptive the Browns fans were in promoting him to a starting role. According to his 1951 Bowman baseball card, he played in only 126 games in 1950 and hit .280 with 13 home runs. In 1949, he batted .269 in 109 games. More importantly, he made only 4 errors in 322 total chances (.988). Defense would become his trademark, and what should have gotten him into the Hall of Fame.

Veeck added Slugger Ted Kluszewski late in the season to the 1959 White Sox team that he inherited. (See Post #118) His White Sox lost the series to the Dodgers, despite home runs from both “Big Klu” and Lollar. After the season, he installed what I consider to be his greatest contribution to Chicago White Sox baseball, “The Monster,” an exploding scoreboard of fireworks in center field to celebrate each home run blast. (See Post #156). Disco Demolition Night in 1979 was Bill Veeck’s other infamous promotional contribution to Comiskey Park lore, when a stoned mob wrought havoc on the field. Sherm Lollar died in 1977 and has yet to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, despite a lifetime .992 fielding percentage. Bill Veeck was inducted in 1991, five years after his death.

Old Sport Shorts: Storm Brewing #253

September 10, 2017 / mikeljohnston1 / 0 Comments

As Irma batters Florida, the Cubs have their own storm to weather. Their lead in the N.L. Central is down to two games over both the Brewers and the Cardinals. The Brew Crew got the sweep and the Cardinals beat the Pirates, so their is no joy in Wrigleyville. The Bears dropped two potentially winning touchdowns, to add to the misery in Chicago, and the Colts are losing badly to the Rams, if anyone cares. The only good news was a meaningless White Sox victory over the Giants. St. Louis has won three in a row and seven of eight, face a three-game series with the lowly Reds, and have seven games remaining with the Cubs. With the Cubs and Cards having the day off tomorrow, The Brewers can move to within a game and a half of the lead with a victory over the struggling Pirates, and then travel to Miami to see the storm damage.

The Brewers had their way with the Cubs, outscoring them 20-3 in the three-game sweep. The Cubs had not been swept since May, and to make matters worse this was on their home turf. They have had one of the best records in baseball since the All-Star break, but they needed put the Brewers away, and instead left the door open for a four-game storm brewing in Milwaukee later this month. In fact, difficult trips to St. Louis and Milwaukee will determine the Central Division winner. Second place will probably not be good enough to earn a wild card. Who will be left when they turn off the regular season lights?

It was not a good weekend of sports for me. The only winners on my list of favorites were the Indiana Hoosiers and the Chicago White Sox. The Cubs, Bears, and Colts fell short…oh my! My son still hopes to see the Cubs again this year when they travel to Tampa to play the Rays, if Tropicana Park is still standing. It will be a meaningless two-game set for Tampa Bay and must-win situations for the Cubs. He brought them luck in the game we went to together in San Francisco, but the only luck he’s wishing for now is that Irma spares his home and family. Sorry, the Cubs just don’t matter today, and they played like it!

Old Sport Shorts: Drubbing #251

September 10, 2017 / mikeljohnston1 / 0 Comments

What rhymes with Cub? Drub. That’s exactly what the Brewers did to the Cubs yesterday – a 15-2 drubbing. The Cubs had not lost a series since the All-Star break, and needed to continue this streak to maintain their once growing edge in the Central. Instead, the Cubs went sixteen straight innings before scoring against Brew Crew pitching, and can only salvage a game today to keep from being swept. Both the Cardinals and the Brewers are now within three games, a lead that was five just two days ago. Friday Night lights did not work out for the Cubbies who suffered a 2-0 loss, followed by Saturday embarrassment. The defending World Series champions have not shown the killer instinct necessary to put the Brewers away, and they have four more games later this month in Milwaukee.

The Cubs finish up with the Brewers today and then host the Mets and the Cardinals. The Cardinals are easily within striking range, and so far the “Friendly Confines” haven’t been friendly to the home team. Twenty games remain in the regular season, with half of those on the road, including four at Busch Stadium. Hopefully, the Cubs won’t get trampled by the Clydesdales, mugged by the Mets, and routed by the Rays or Reds, as we head into the home stretch. It’s time for a streak of “W’s” to secure a shot at the playoffs.

The Indians, who nearly stole the crown from the Cubs last year, have won 17 straight going into today, assuring their return to the post season. The White Sox are a whopping 30.5 games behind them in the standings despite a victory yesterday over the Giants who are a league-leading 37 games out . Houston has all but wrapped up the A.L. West, while the Nats seem to have secured the N.L. East. The Dodgers, who were once world beaters, have now lost 9 in a row, including eight straight at Chavez Ravine for the first time in 30 years, but still maintain command of the N.L. West. The Red Sox currently have a 4.5 game lead over the Yankees in the A.L. East, the only other division other than N.L. Central to not have a runaway leader.

Fatigue is a factor at this point of the year, so the Cubs will need to find a second wind. The Yankees, Twins, D-Backs, and Rockies have the edge in the Wild Card standings. The Brewers, Cardinals, and Cubs might have a role in that wild scramble, depending on who wins the Division. Chances are good that they will beat each other up, and only one team from the Central will make the playoff field. The Brewers have lost starter Jimmy Nelson for the season, with a rotator injury during his Friday Night lights gem at Wrigley. Jake Arrieta remains day-to-day for the Cubs with a hamstring strain. Maybe the rest will be good for him.

So much for baseball, as football season starts to take shape. I knew that Ohio State was probably not worthy of a vaulted position in the standings after their performance against my Indiana Hoosiers. The Hoosiers are improved from years past, as evidenced by their domination of Virginia yesterday, and showed that they could hold their own against the Buckeyes. However, the Ohio State loss to Oklahoma coupled with the mediocre performance against the Hoosiers should push them out of the Top 10 and threaten their chances for a playoff slot. Indiana, on the other hand, has an opportunity to win 6 games and claim a bowl bid thanks to games against Illinois, Rutgers, and Purdue to end the season.

The N.F.L. season is officially underway, after the huge victory by the Chiefs over the Patriots. Apparently the Pats are suffering from the same hangover as the Cubs. I’m currently watching the battle of the Hurricane victims, as Jacksonville and Houston square off. J.J. Watt who championed the Texan’s city relief fund has apparently dislocated a finger, and the Jags have taken the half-time lead. They will undoubtedly not return to Jacksonville tonight, as storms will ravage that city this evening. Both of these cities will need a victory to help ease their painful losses. Houston has been forgotten these last few days, as the media focus has shifted to Florida.

A drubbing is defined as a resounding defeat in a match of contest. Synonyms like beating, thrashing, pounding, walloping, thumping, battering. pummeling, slapping, punching, and pelting will also describe the approaching storm. Hopefully, the Cubs can turn the tide today against the surging Brewers. Maybe the Pirates can salvage a game against the Cardinals and help the Cubs cause? Three games is too close for comfort, especially considering there was the potential for an 8-game lead before the Friday Night lights set-back. How about a drubbing the other way around today?

Retirement is not without Hassles: Stormy #250

September 9, 2017 / mikeljohnston1 / 0 Comments

I just got back from exercising the dogs as part of my three-mile run. My wife walks both of them on a leash, while I loop around, giving each a chance to run beside me. They are often easily distracted so they only get bursts of activity, but once we get home, they are happy and tired. My son and his family are on my mind this morning as they prepare for Irma to hit Florida. I know there will be extensive damage but I just hope they will be safe. I’m monitoring the Weather Channel as I write, praying that it changes direction or loses intensity. It’s going to be a long night for them.

It’s movie night for us here in Portland, although nothing really appeals to me. Maybe Logan Lucky or The Hitman’s Bodyguard? I’d probably rather stay home, watch football, and keep an eye on Irma. I spent the last couple of days preparing for upcoming travel. My wife is headed to Washington D.C. next week, while I stay home with the dogs. January and September will be the only months in my first year of retirement where I haven’t traveled somewhere out of state. I did finalize our arrangements for four days in L.A. and five days in New York City during October, and moved-up our original trip to Indiana into November. We’ll then return to Indiana for Christmas to end the year.

Travel changes can be a big hassle. In many cases, I’m trying to coordinate my flights with my wife’s company travel coordinator. I’ll book the rooms through Marriott and rental car from Hertz, using their convenient apps. I may end up paying a little more, but the familiarity and convenience are well worth it. In fact, the only real problem with moving the dates to Indiana from October to November was a hotel in my wife’s home town. Since they don’t have a Marriott option near there, I was dealing with “strangers” in trying to reschedule. They were being stubborn, so I had to make additional phone calls and write e-mails to make the necessary changes. In addition, the flight change for me was both costly and cumbersome. I paid a $200 rescheduling penalty and $75 in fare increases. It was actually more than the original flight into Chicago’s O’Hare! Everything else was a simple click on the app with no questions or hassles.

While she does business in Chicago, L.A., and N.Y., I’ll go see the sights, or take a side-trip. A friend’s son just moved to New York, for example, so I’ll buy him lunch. I’ll also get to see a former ad agency supplier of mine, who still continues to do business with my wife. I haven’t seen him in nearly 20 years, adding to my growing list of re-connections this year. A year ago, just before my retirement date, I joined my wife for an unforgettable business trip into Chicago and the related drive into Indiana to visit her family. We went to games 4 and 5 of the World Series at Wrigley Field and to a Chicago Bears game at Soldier Field. It was a rare occasion of Cubs win and Bears win! This year’s trip probably won’t be so eventful, although we are in New York City during the dates of this year’s World Series, should the Yankees somehow get that far. We’d also be in L.A. during the National League Championship Series with the Dodgers in the hunt, so I may be properly positioned for post season baseball.

My son and his family are going back to school. They will be riding out the storm at North Port High School in a classroom on the second floor. It will be a frightening experience, especially not knowing how much damage is being done to their nearby home. I remember huddling in the hallway of my grade school back in Indiana as tornadoes slammed the surrounding neighborhood. I’m sure my parents were worried about my safety that school day over 50 years ago, just as I’m concerned for my son, daughter-in-law, and two grandchildren. I’m sure it will be a night that they will all remember forever, just as I recall the fear, damage, and clean-up from the devastating twisters. I still have nightmares, but our home was spared. Prepare for a Stormy Sunday.

Old Sport Shorts: Pivotal #249

September 8, 2017 / mikeljohnston1 / 0 Comments

I’ve been worried about the Pirates all season long as a threat to the Cubs playoff chances. However, the Cubs managed to sweep all three games at Wrigley a couple of weeks ago, and the Pirates fell to over 10 games back. Down but not out, they rebounded to take the first two games from the Cubs in Pittsburgh, and started to make a dent in that lead. The Brewers were unable to take advantage, losing ground to the Cardinals, as the Central Division pennant race began to tighten.

The Cubs responded with two straight victories to tie the series with the Pirates, an accomplishment that I consider pivotal. As a result, the Pirates are back to a double digit deficit in the standings, and St. Louis and Milwaukee remain five games behind the division leading Cubs. The Brewers come to Wrigley for a key series this weekend, starting with the first ever regular season Friday night game in Wrigley Field history. Lights were not installed at Wrigley until 1988 and since then the city council has banned the Cubs from hosting Friday and Saturday night games. Last year’s World Series game 3 was exempt from council rules, and did not lead to a positive outcome for the team. The Cubs hard-fought victory last night in Pittsburgh, coupled with a Brewers day of rest, could have taken away the home field advantage. Thanks to this one-time exception, the Cubs will get a little extra time to rest before tackling the second-place Brew Crew. This could be the biggest series in baseball so far this year, as the Cubs have a chance to push the Brewers back to as many as eight games out of first. John Lackey gets the start for the Cubs against Jimmy Nelson. “Friday Night Lights!”

I would settle for two out of three victories against the Brewers, since all the Cubs need to do is continue to tie or sweep each series to remain in control. The Brewers were reportedly upset at the decision to move the game, feeling that it took away some of their advantage in being well rested. The Brewers will feel they have something to prove, considering they are coming off a disappointing three straight loss performance against the last place Reds. They had been on a roll, winning series against some of the top teams in baseball, including the Dodgers and Nationals. Although the Cubs did not dominate in the Pirates series, they did what they needed to do – just don’t lose a series. They are 14 games over .500 with 22 games remaining on the schedule. The Brewers will get one more crack at them in a few more weeks, but the Cubs can be in the driver’s seat with one more victory tonight. May the lights be with us! Go Cubs.

Old Sport Shorts: Worries #243

September 4, 2017 / mikeljohnston1 / 0 Comments

My concerns for the Cubs heightened after today’s 12-0 loss to the Pirates. The hamstring injury to Jake Arrietta reinforces my skepticism for back-to-back World Series Championships. I was already worried about their rotation, considering that a team like the Astros strengthened their position with the acquisition of Justin Verlander. The Astros are taking a page out of the Saints playbook from Katrina, hoping to capitalize on the misfortunes of Harvey and lift the spirits of Houston by winning the World Series. It was a smart move!

The Cubs had a great August, including the six-game streak at the expense of the Pirates and Braves. I thought they were headed in the right direction, but injuries can change a team’s momentum quickly, and the Brewers are on their heals. Milwaukee lost in walk-off fashion to the lowly Reds this afternoon, failing to gain any ground on the division-leading Cubs, while the Cardinals gained a game in the standings. The Cubs have to at least split this series in Pittsburgh and keep the Pirates out of the race. Tomorrow’s match-up of Quintana and Cole could be pivotal in the drive to the playoffs. The Pirates are still 9.5 games out, following last week’s Cubs sweep at Wrigley.

This may be the last time I mention the White Sox this season, but they are a pitiful 26.5 games behind the Indians in the AL Central and still not the worst team in baseball. The Phillies still own that distinction. The red-hot Tribe won their 12th straight game today, and Trevor Bauer, who the Cubs remember from the World Series, won his eighth decision in a row. They can fight it out with the Astros in the playoffs. Of greater concern to the Cubs are the Dodgers, Diamondbacks, and Nationals that have already shown superiority this season. The only non-division teams remaining on the Cubs schedule are the Mets and the Rays, who are dangerous simply because they’re out of contention.

Go Cubs!

Retirement is not without Hassles: Turkey #239

September 1, 2017 / mikeljohnston1 / 0 Comments

For most of the working world, today is special. It’s not only Friday, but also the beginning of a three-day weekend. For me in retirement, it’s just like any other day. I was aware that it was Friday only because the trash and recycling containers were street-side in the neighborhood next to us. Fridays are the day that I routinely have lunch with friends at Buffalo Wild Wings, so I continue to look forward to this day of the week. The Cubs will be playing on the big screens, and it will be the first cold beer I’ve had in several weeks. I’ll run some errands afterwards and fill up with gas, since surely prices will start to escalate after Harvey hit Houston. It just goes to show how we are all connected in this world, when flooding and losses 2200 miles away mean higher prices here in Portland. We’re all in this together!

My hard-working wife hopes to enjoy some time with the dogs during her long weekend. I will run with the pack the next three mornings, and follow her lead on things to do. After all, it’s her weekend and she deserves the time off. We’ll probably go out to dinner tonight. Tomorrow night is a fundraiser, and Sunday night we’ll probably do a movie and eat popcorn. The weather continues to be perfect here in Portland, as another month has come and gone. When I said, “I’ll see you in September,” well, it’s here! I’ll get to be a home body most of the month, while she’ll make a business venture to Washington D.C. and return to entertain a visiting niece. We also have plans to end September by making the short drive to the Coast for a party that our travel agent is hosting.

My busy wife just made business plans to go to New York City in October, so we’ll extend into the weekend and see some Broadway shows, including the pricey Hello Dolly with Bette Midler and David Hyde Pierce. Thanks to our good friends, we’ll also get to go back stage at the famed Shubert Theatre, and hopefully meet the performers. Speaking of travel, a last minute change in corporate meeting dates will cause us to reschedule our trip back to Indiana that was originally scheduled for early October, but we’ll sneak into Los Angeles for business and weekend fun instead. I had no trouble cancelling all of our hotel accommodations and rental car plans for Chicago and Indiana, with the exception of the Quality Inn, one of our only options in Rochester where my wife’s mother lives. They’ve taken the consumer unfriendly approach of no changes or cancellations, so I’ll continue to hassle with them once we settle on a new travel date. It’s hard to believe that businesses can survive without adapting to the needs of the customer. Only in small town America!

Early November may be our only choice to get back to Indiana, since we’re already scheduled to be there for Christmas. Plus, I already screwed up any hopes my wife may have had for a family Thanksgiving by agreeing to go to the PK80 Basketball Tournament here in Portland. She’s had to deal with “Turkey Tournaments” before in our marriage. We traveled to Maui in 2008 for that Invitational when Indiana was a participant. It’s just another reason why she hates most sports! The Phil Knight (PK) 80th Birthday tournament will be a one-time basketball event featuring the top Nike programs in the country, so it may not interfere with Thanksgiving dinner in the future. However, Indiana will be back in Maui in 2020, so we may need to put the turkey on the back-burner once again.