FINALLY! A fun day.

Drake and I celebrate our wedding anniversary each April.  The celebration has always been dictated by time and money.  The anniversary zenith resulted in blogs for 30 days in a row during the celebration of our 40th touring New York City.  Not only was I exhausted at the end of that anniversary party, but so were my readers. This year, our 42nd, is memorable because we were so ready to have some fun, fun, fun.  The upcoming new marriage preparation stuff is non-stop and unrelenting.  We needed some time off.  I designed a date day for our anniversary commemoration with activities near and dear to each of our hearts.  We played black jack, one of Drake's fav things, and we won over $60.  We also went out for a nice dinner at the Salt Cellar, a restaurant specializing in fresh seafood flown into the desert from all over the United States.

The highlight of the day, in my opinion, was our trip to the Musical Instruments Museum.  I've known about this place for a couple of years, but considering the level of culture in this town, I couldn't imagine it would be that special of a place.  WOW!  Was I wrong.  This was an amazing museum on every level.  First, we were blown away by the beautiful building.

 I haven't been so impressed by a museum building since the Modern Museum in Fort Worth.  The Phoenix MIM building is constructed of offset sand stone slabs with inspired desert landscaping. 

Here's how they used the first floor atrium space that divides two sections of the museum.  I'm standing at a rail on the second floor overlooking the atrium, and there's the hallway on the other side of the actual over sized hanging instruments.

Inside this museum the staging, imagination and organization of the exhibits just kept on coming.  Upon entering the museum, the first thing you do is pick up a headphone set that is tuned via GPS signal to hundreds of flat screen televisions scattered throughout the museum.  You don't have to 'punch' anything or look for numbers.  A definite step up in the interactive museum.
This museum is organized by continent and then by countries within each continent.  As you pass by "Tibet", for instance, you see actual instruments while your headset keys into the TV in the midst of the instruments.  The video allows you to hear the instruments you're seeing being played.  Everything is airy, spacious and beautifully presented. By starting at the oldest human inhabited continent (Africa) and progressing around the world, you can see the progression of musical instruments, since music and the instruments expressing it, are universal no matter where on Earth you turn.  Here's an example; this is India:

  If that isn't fascinating enough, there are installations scattered throughout the museum of what we in the teacher biz call "how to's".  The one Drake liked best was "How to Make a Steinway Grand Piano".  This picture shows half of this exhibit.

After you finish looking at all the continents and countries, there were three additional exhibits.  The open air one that kicks off the museum is simply called 'Guitars', and that's what it was - all types, sizes of guitars from all over the world. 

The red one on the wall was my favorite in this exhibit.  Here it is close up.   Can you see the stylized map of the United States?

The second of the three additional exhibits was what I would term "famous music people and their stuff'.  Oh, there was Elvis, of course, with a couple of his jump suits exhibited, and there was Taylor Swift's dresses and instruments and boots as well as  Roy Orbison's "Oh, Pretty Woman" grammy, but the unexpected was the Steinway Piano Company's first piano - made in their kitchen in 1838 - a little side project of a cabinet making family in Germany.

The third and final exhibition was of mechanical musical instruments - music boxes, calliopes, the original disc players (wooden ones not CD's that revolved in players - the player piano is one of these), and automatons - mechanical figures that move in time to mechanical music.  This was mildly interesting perhaps my interest being influenced by my pain of being on my feet on concrete for over three hours.

This museum was so stunning in every aspect; I'm sure this won't be our last visit, and I've very eager to sample one of their concerts in the attached concert hall.  As always with my travel blogs, if you want to see ALL the pix, follow the link:

https://picasaweb.google.com/jalyss1/2013MusicalInstrumentsMuseum?authkey=Gv1sRgCMqri8ydtMmvoQE    

Window into Two Weddings

VICTORY!  I am not going to look like a giant orange popsicle at the wedding.  Whew!  I shopped and shopped and shopped for an outfit to wear to Sarah's wedding.  This is how serious it became:  I went to the MALL.  I haven't been inside that clump of stores surrounded by a large parking lot with ridiculously priced items tastefully and in some cases beautifully displayed for years, literally years.  Here's a tip:  Nothing has changed.  The customers are still bored people filling their lives with overpriced shopping, or teenagers being given their first taste of being out from under the parental eye.

I looked and looked.  I didn't even find anything to try on.  The problem, of course, is my foot.  I can't wear heels; thus, I can't wear a dress to the wedding because nothing looks more stupid at a fancy event than flats and a dressy dress.  I couldn't find a pants suit, and I really looked.

Enter Judee Goff of Paradise Fabrics.  She's the special occasion fabric guru and seamstress in Phoenix.  She's been in this business for 40 years, and I decided to give her magic fingers and expertise a whirl.  On our first appointment, I picked out the shantung silk she is going to use to make my wedding outfit.  This is worse than picking out paint or carpet using those little sample rectangles.  Same deal with special order fabric.  There's a little book with 1x2 inch fabric samples.  There were 50 colors of silk to choose from.  Fortunately, she had a few yards of the type of material I wanted in the color of coral.  It was very, very orange.  I picked a color after seeing that tiny scrap in the book that was supposed to be a toned down version of the coral.  Well, the fabric arrived this week, and jackpot - it's perfect, and I won't be waltzing down the aisle the object of pity and mirth.  There won't be any smirks or comparisons to popsicles.  

This has been a real drama for me.  As I've aged, and as my foot has worsened, so I can't really wear any nice shoes, my clothing choices have been dictated by comfort and this vagabonding lifestyle we've adopted.  Now, we are on the cusp one of the seminal events of our family, and I've been obsessed with 'what am I going to wear'.  I swear, it would be easier to be the bride; at least she has a pretty tight parameter of clothing choices.  

I'm not the only one who is agonizing over clothing choices.   Drake also wants to look perfect, or as he puts it:  "I want to look really good next to Sarah on the aisle walk."  Kit (Jay's mom) has been gracious enough to let me pick my color first, and then she's going to coordinate.  Drake and Jeff (Jay's Dad) have worked out their complimentary clothing choices.  I'm telling you; this wedding is a big deal for all of us.  I do know it's very important for all us to feel wonderful on the big day, and what we're wearing has a lot to do with that feeling.  

I'm beginning to understand why tensions mount, bridezillas emerge, MOB's need tranquilizers, and FOB's fight losing battles over and over again trying to hold the budget line.  The 63 year part of me thinks all of this is ridiculous, but the 20 and 30 year old part of me remembers all too well crying at wedding after wedding mourning the loss of the wedding I never got to have.  My 'wedding' consisted of a $20 gold ring, a lunch at Dairy Queen, a 5 minute ceremony in the Gainesville, Texas Courthouse in front of an immensely fat Justice of the Peace.  The actual words were half over before I realized I was actually getting married.  I wouldn't wish that type of wedding on anyone.  However, if the current wedding I'm participating in results in the kind of marriage I have, well, my daughter will be very fortunate indeed.  This wedding in May is a gift of love, and it's already started flowing.   

     

     

The Unexpected Interview

We just finished our last Spring Training Game.  That's 17 games in 35 days this year.  Early games can last FOREVER when each team pitches as many as six or seven pitchers.  Those games are a scorekeeper's nightmare (that would be me - I keep score at every baseball game I attend in person).  During the first week or so, the 'regular's, or people whose names you recognize, only play one or two innings.  Therefore, a position on the field can have as many as three or four players at that position during these early games.  

Early games in Arizona never involve rain, but the past two years there have been some early games that were just downright cold.  Now, I'm NEVER cold, but we had one game this year that we left in the 2nd inning because we were both freezing to death.  Our seats are in the shade (deliberately chosen) since the desert sun is so strong even in the winter.  If it's overcast, windy, and the temperature in the 50's, it's miserable to watch the game.  We did learn this year that long underwear on your legs makes the difference.

Another feature of Spring Training at the Surprise Field is the Fergie Jenkins Foundation.  For those non-baseball people, Ferguson Jenkins is a Hall of Fame pitcher with a 19 year major league career.  He has a foundation that raises money for youth programs in the Phoenix area.  The way he raises money is during Spring Training, is he asks former big league ball players to sit with him behind a table under a tent and sign autographs.  You can buy balls, pennants, and other merchandise for these people to sign, and they ask for donations for the foundation in exchange for the autographs if you bring your own stuff for them to sign.  

Last week, during one game which was a runaway and therefore BORING, I drifted down the concourse after a bathroom break and noticed Jenkins, Gaylord Perry (another Hall of Fame pitcher who had a 22 year career), and Jon Warden (a not so famous pitcher) all sitting unoccupied under the tent.  I've been looking for a blog topic, and I decided to interview these three.  Here are my questions, and their answers:

"Do you think it's easier or harder to reach and stick in the major leagues now or when you came up?"

To a man they said it much, much easier now.  There were only 16 teams when they came up, and now there are 30.  This was pretty much the expected answer, but this evolved into a discussion of supplements and substances.  They all agreed that the biggest pitfall for a young player is getting involved in taking supplements that, sometimes unbeknownst to the player, contain elements that are banned by Major League Baseball.  Currently, the Texas Rangers are sweating out an 'investigation' of Nelson Cruz who was on the mailing list for a supplement known to include banned substances.  If he's found guilty of using this supplement, he'll be banned for 50 games.  

Thinking about the most common substance, 'chew' or 'snuff', the smokeless tobacco which has been part of baseball forever, I asked them how they felt about Major League Baseball discouraging the use of smokeless tobacco.  Their answer surprised me:  They were vociferously in favor of getting it out of the clubhouse, out of the dugout, off the field, and out of the game.  They told me something I didn't know.  All types of tobacco is banned completely in the minor leagues - you can't even bring it into the park if you are a minor league player.  These guys laughed and talked about in their time, they estimated about 3 out of 4 players used some type of tobacco, and it wasn't uncommon for someone to 'light up' in the dug-out when they first came up.  They weren't laughing however when they reeled off half a dozen names of players and even an umpire they personally know who have developed cancer and even died as a direct result of their smokeless tobacco use.

"What's the hardest thing about not playing Major League baseball?" 

Another answer that surprised me:   Neither Jenkins nor Perry talked about the accolades they both won, nor the thrill of winning, nor the excitement of pitching perfectly against famous hitters.  All three of them agreed what they missed the most was the camaraderie of the team.  They each confessed they loved being 'with the guys'.   Apparently, it doesn't matter how many wins or losses a team possesses if the atmosphere is good.  Of course, they all preferred being on winning teams, but it was the daily joy of being together with men they considered their closest friends that was the most important, and they miss.  

"What is the most important characteristic for a major leaguer to posses?"  

I stipulated that this was not about physical ability.  Another surprising answer:  Most important characteristic for a ballplayer is to be able to communicate with teammates while on the field.  They felt games were won or lost based on understanding the 'signs' and being able to pass knowledge about opposing players around the diamond.  As an offshoot answer, both Perry and Jenkins agreed the best catcher who ever caught them was Jim Sundberg, a longtime Ranger catcher, who currently works for the team.  Perry talked about how he liked to have elaborate catcher signage (these are signs the catcher gives the pitcher to call what pitch is going to be thrown).  He laughed, saying that his system was so elaborate that for weeks at time Sundberg was never really sure what was going to be thrown at him, but he always caught whatever it was.  

"If you could regain your prime major league form today, what team would you want to join?"   

Gaylord Perry's first response to this question was "OH, BABY!" I took that to mean that even at age 74, he still misses that prime physique of his athletic peak.  Another unexpected answer from all three:  They each claimed they would want to join the organization that initially brought them to the Show.  Perry wanted to be a Giant, Warden a Tiger and Jenkins a Cub.

Perry is undoubtedly the most baseball famous of the three.  He was wearing two large Major League baseball rings - one on each hand.  Jenkins was still in credible physical shape.  He competes on the golf course as well as bass tournament fishing in Texas and Oklahoma.  Jenkins is also very articulate, and  when I complimented him for that, he was visibly pleased.  Warden in some ways was the most interesting.  He is a guy who pitched exactly one season.  He hurt his arm and never pitched again.  Warden was a teacher at a Catholic high school for 10 years, and he calls himself a 'wild card'.  I looked up some info on him, and it turns out that he's a big speaker on the banquet circuit, and he is compared to Joe Garagiola in terms of his interest in the history of the game.  All three of these guys couldn't have been more gracious.  I think they got a kick out of being interviewed.

I could have stood there and talked to them all afternoon, but I was displaced by a four year old little girl who wanted autographs.  All three guys were happy to sign, and I didn't hear anyone ask for money either.  
     

Second Spring Training Update

Well, we're about halfway through the Texas Ranger's Spring Training season.  I think we attended our eighth game out of seventeen today.  Here's what's happening:

You never, ever want to be at the ball park when a player has a bone broken on the field.  Last week we were at the game watching a young pitcher named Perez who was competing successfully to be considered for the fifth starting spot in the rotation.  All was going swimmingly until a bullet line drive hit him in the lower arm.  It was so fast that it wasn't humanly possible to get out of the way.  The ball was on him so quickly he couldn't get his glove up in time.  When the ball is hit usually what you hear is the 'crack of the bat'.  However, when a ball hits a player as hard as this one did, what you hear is a loud, low 'thud'.  It's a terrible sound.  Perez immediately dropped to the ground holding his dangling arm against his chest.  I personally think the "No Crying in Baseball" rule should be suspended when you get your arm broken by a ball.  This could have been much, much worse.  A few years ago a first base coach in a Tulsa Drillers AA game was KILLED when a line drive hit him in the head.  That's why all the coaches now wear batting helmets when they are in the coaching boxes.  Perez' arm is going to heal, but he won't be making the big club to start the season.  

Alexi Ogando has been a puzzle this year.  He can't find his fast ball.  His curve and change-up are hitting the plate perfectly for strikes, but his fast ball is really erratic.  He's had four starts now, and his fast ball is getting incrementally better each time, but it's still worrying.  We need him to shore up the pitching rotation.  

There is some good pitching news:  Derek Holland had a very good five innings starting a game in the World Baseball Classic for the USA team.  He looked sharp and even better really mentally tough.  Harrison has had a nagging toe injury which seems to have resolved itself.  Frazor, the guy we signed to replace Adams and be the 8th inning set up guy for Nathan is looking good.  Today we saw a new pitcher called McClellan which we got from the Cardinals.  He had injury issues last year, and he pitched two pretty sparkling innings today.

The contest for who is going to be the starting center fielder is really hot.  Craig Gentry and Leonis Martin have been really going head to head.  Gentry's strengths are his ability to get on base and wreak havoc as well as his superior defensive play.  His hitting and OBP have been outstanding this spring.  Martin is more of a power hitter and can hit to all fields.  He's competent in the outfield, but his defensive play reminds me of Nelson Cruz when he first came up to the Bigs.  I'm rooting for Gentry who is my favorite Ranger, but Martin is going to develop into a very special player.  

We also went to the in the park luncheon given each year for the Spring Training Season Ticket Holders (that's us).  This year it was on the Homerun Porch - yes, they have one at the Surprise stadium too.  Each year, you get a 'prize', and you can meet and greet the players from the Rangers who drew the short straw.  This year it was Robbie Ross and Michael Kirkland (two pitchers).  Last year Robbie was the rookie pitcher on the staff.  The rookie pitcher has to carry the pink backpack as he comes and goes from the bull pen.  I was able to compliment Robbie on the spirit of fun that he brought to this harmless hazing.  Not only did he carry the pink pack, but he added his own cowboy hat AND a stick pony.  It was great.  Both of these players looked like children to us anyway.  It was raining this year, so the luncheon turn-out was small and not only did the players sign stuff for two lucky little boys I know, but we actually got to talk to them for a little while.   

This week has been more fun - bigger crowds who are really happy to be at the park, and the front line players of all the teams playing more innings in the games.  Lots of kiddos are out at the park this week due to Spring Break.   Excited kids are getting their new baseball caps signed.  Today Elvis made one kid's day when he signed his cap.  The little boy was walking on air.  We also saw the Vetters.  They are former neighbors of ours living on Louella in Hurst with us for several years.  One of their children is the same age as Sarah.  Anyway, we always see them when they come out to Spring Training.  Since we have the same seats every year, they always come by to visit and catch up.  We also got to know some people from Dallas who have a 41 game season ticket package in Texas (I'm envious!)  and who come out for a week of Spring Training.  The guy thought he'd gone to heaven since he and Drake talked baseball through two entire games.  I wouldn't be surprised to see them next year too.

I'm sure if Drake was writing this, there'd be more dense and concise news about the Rangers, but I've given you the highlights.  Oh, one last thing - Nelson Cruz got the game winning hit in a WBC game today.  Go Nellie!   

Perfection

A friend of mine made the comment, "I don't have to have my house perfect anymore to enjoy having company."  It started me thinking about the concept of perfection.  I live in a household with someone who strives for perfection in whatever he does.  This is a man who hangs pictures utilizing a portable level.  Striving for perfection is a two edged sword:  On one hand, it's great to know that I'm going to get the best effort possible.  On the other hand, when perfection can't be achieved - even for reasons that are uncontrollable - there's lots of teeth gnashing and anguish which sometimes lasts for days.

Have you ever worked to get 'something' perfect?  Then the perfection dissipates almost immediately.  You know, it's the old saw, "If you want it to rain, wash your car."  I know Drake sometimes feels personally penalized when just after he's gotten the car 'perfect', he drives through an unavoidable dust cloud or isolated sprinkle of rain.  I've seen his perfectly cleaned car last less than an hour.  It's the same with house cleaning.  I can get a wild hair and spend the day getting the house absolutely perfect.  Then I brush my teeth, and a giant glob of toothpaste splashes the sparkling sink, at dinnertime the dish overflows in the oven, and the next day you can write your name in the dust on the furniture.  So maddening.  So common.  So human.  

I find the perfection bug bites me most regularly when I sew or do needlework.  I've become obsessed with our bridesmaid gifts.  In my mind's eye, I see what I want.  The actual product may be woefully short of my vision.  However, I am trying to get better at internally saying, "OK, this is my best", and shrug off the mistakes or imperfections only I can see.   Of course, me and the seam ripper are still best buds, and I've been known to tear out 3 or 4 hours of stitching because 'it just wasn't right'.  Perfection can be an exacting taskmaster.

I think it is better to try for "ideal" instead of "perfect'. We have a joke in our house based on the White Christmas movie starring Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye who explain to the inn owner why his barn is ideal for their show.  For years when the Smiths find something we really, really like, one of us turns to the other and says, "It's ideal."  The next person responds, "Ideal!", and then third person finishes by saying "Perfectly ideal!"  I've got to remember I want the wedding weekend to be remembered as "Ideal", not "Perfect".  When it's all done, I'd be very, very happy with "Perfectly Ideal".   

     

Watching the Oscars

Why do we watch this overly long dragged out train wreck?  Drake says every year,  "I hate that show.  I can learn everything I want to know by listening to NPR Monday morning. I'm not watching."  And who's sitting here watching?   Yeah.  I make no bones about it; I LOVE to watch the Oscars as long as it is DVRed.  (Is that a word?  Well, it is now.)  During the first 40 years that I watched this cheesy show, I had to listen to people say "Thank you" and "Listen to me Suck Up" a zillion ways.  I've paid my dues.  I don't ever, ever, ever have to listen to Hollywood types recite their list of memorized names again.

The first topic of the show is always the host.  Seth McFarlane...  Hmm.  Surprisingly, his jokes and bits were funny.  I really liked the James Kirk/Star Trek bit.  His nasty little digs about the Hollywood entertainment industry sort of fulfilled my disdain for these overpaid, narcissistic, make-believers.  Speaking of actors, what's up with Jack Nicholson?  Have you noticed that he ALWAYS gets to sit on the front row at the Oscars?  I wonder if it's like pro basketball?  Pay lots of $$ and you can get a court side seat.

One of the good things about this show has been the musical numbers.  The Bond songs backed with the graphics brought back lots of fun Bond movie moments.  I think the Adele "Skyfall" song was wonderful.  She can so sing.  I did think her silver sequined heels in about a size 11 were a little distracting in the long shots.  I can't figure out how she sings in a neutral accent, but she sounds like she comes from the working class London when she talks during interviews.  Another thing that puzzled me about Adele - was that a zip off dress she was wearing - zipped off for her musical number and zipped on for her Oscar acceptance.  And nobody can beat Barbara Streisand when it comes to delivering a song.  She's the song world's current Frank Sinatra.  Didn't Nora Jones just make you feel like you were in the 1950's "21" Club?  She definitely won 'Best Short Dress'.  (That would be my own made up category - good one, don't you think?) 

Oh, but let's talk about why I really watch the Oscars - the dresses, of course.  Here are my picks:  Numero Uno:  Jessica Chastain,  Numero Dos:  Anne Hathaway, Numero Tres:  Kristin Chenoweth.  (I know, wild card pick for third.)  Numero Quatro:  Charlize Theron.    Numero Cinco:  Zoey Sundana.  If you delight in the dresses, you avidly watch the Red Carpet Show.  (Again, DVRed is the ONLY way.)  Did you know that Regis Philbin started the whole red carpet perp walk in 1979?  When Barbara Walters stopped doing her 'special' interview show in 2011, they expanded the RC show to 90 minutes.  This year is the first time I can remember than an interviewer didn't just make me roll my eyes and feel embarrassed.  I thought Ms. Chenoweth, go you Oklahoma girl, was just downright charming.  

Of course, no Oscar show is worth watching if you don't get a chance to say, "UGH, what an ugly dress!  What could she have been thinking?"  The winner in this category:  Amy Adams - bad color, and ugly design - Gray fluffy tulle?    Runner up?  Jennifer Lawrence - upside down pink puffy flower.  This one was hard to understand since her Golden Globe pick was a red dress knockout.  Jennifer Garner's dress was pretty on first glance, but I spent way too much time thinking, "How does she sit down?"  Yeah, I get it that I'm in the minority here.  I've heard, 'loved it' and 'fantastic' about these dresses.  Didn't like EITHER the Adams or Lawrence dress.      

If you finally need to completely Hollywood OD, check out "E's" After Party show.  It's filled with 'wannabes' standing outside 'parties' and sucking up to the 'stars' who will stop and talk.   (Oh, and I also recorded the "Fashion Police" tomorrow.  I'm hoping that's when they really, really, dish the Oscar dress dirt.)

That's the Oscars from your favorite blog.  If you want to know who actually won those little statues, just tune into NPR or Google it.  We all know the dresses are really what it's all about.  To refresh your dress memory, here's a slide show of 81 dresses (and suits - like who cares?) from the 2012 Oscars.

  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/17/oscars-2013-red-carpet-photos_n_2707963.html                         

Take Me Out to the Ball Park

     Today was opening day of Spring Training.  This day is eagerly anticipated in the Smith household, and this year it's EARLY.  The reason is that the World Baseball Tournament is being played this year, and lots of Major League players will be joining national teams and competing.  Thus, the official Spring Training is a smidgen longer.  Only the die hard were out today:  The high temperature was 60 degrees.  Now, if you are in New Haven, Connecticut and have just had 30" of snow, that seems positively balmy.  If you are in Phoenix, Arizona, where the natives think anything under 70 degrees is 'freezing', then going to the ballpark today would be the equivalent of sitting outside in 40 degree weather.  The Smith household are a hardy pair, and no one here seriously considered NOT going.
     I'm the official Texas Ranger Spring Training reporter for this blog.  The Royals and the Rangers played to a 5-5 tie today. The two runs needed to tie the game were scored in the bottom of the 9th being the result of a double and a home run by two players who don't have a prayer to make the team and will probably wind up in AA ball, so we don't care about who they are.  Unless the weather is exceptionally fine, or the managers have some kind of brain fart, games often end in ties in S.T.
     Derek Holland started the game today and pitched a strong three innings.  He was working on his change-up, so he did get dinged around a bit, but his fastball was lightening and low.  The real disappointment today was Alexi Ogando.  He couldn't even find the plate and was wilder than teenage boys out for a joy ride.  He walked players, and even hit one on the shoulder.  In two innings, there were three runs scored on him.  By contrast Robby Ross looked really, really good.  His innings were clean, with only one hit by the Royals.  He threw a boatload of strikes, and pitched quite efficiently for so early in the season.  
     Nelson Cruz served notice today that he understands his role is to pick up the power void left by Hamilton.  He hit a two run tater today right out of the ballpark over the center fielder's head onto the grass.  The Surprise Park has a grass hill behind center field the same as the Arlington Ball Park, and I found myself looking for the chubby teenager who jumps the wall in Arlington onto the grassy hill and snags home run balls in his baseball glove.  David Murphy got a solid hit as did Craig Gentry who also stole a base.  Kinsler is still working on his timing and is hitting everything on the ground to the left.  Elvis is also warming up his hitting timing, but made two stellar plays at shortstop.  The defensive play of the day goes to Mike Ott, who has a decent chance to make the club,  He corralled a scorcher down the third base line.  He picked the ball behind the bag, whirled and lofted it straight into Moreland's glove at first base.
     Other idiosyncrasies:  Pettis and Anderson (long time Texas Ranger coaches) have swapped on-field coaching positions.  This year Pettis will be in the 3rd base box while Anderson will man the 1st base box.  If anything these ridiculous bat handles are an even smaller circumference than last year.  We already had one shatter when the hitter hit the ball.  The bat handle splintered, and the pointed shard of the barrel portion flew several feet through the air into the infield along with the ball.  I guess some pitcher is going to have one of his eyes put out before Major League Baseball does something about these toothpick handle bats.
     The oddest thing about today was the absence of Michael Young.  Elvis took his place during the infield warm up exercises, but I have to wonder how the players feel about him being gone.  I'll bet they miss him.  Kinsler has patterned his entire career using Michael Young as his blueprint.  I also noticed that NOBODY has the number '10' on his uniform.  
     This was the first of seventeen games over the next month.  WooHoo - baseball is back!