World Baseball Classic

I like it. In fact, I like it quite a bit.

I still can't believe though that the Koreans pitched to Ichiro with 1st base open and 2 on in the 10th innning thus sealing their fate. Apparently, the Korean manager couldn't quite believe it either. After the game, he said, “I don’t know why the pitcher tried to pitch directly to Ichiro."

From the NY Times:
During the memorable at bat, the usually focused Suzuki said his mind was cluttered.

“I really wish I could be in a state of Zen,” Suzuki said. “I kept thinking of all the things I shouldn’t think about. Usually, I cannot hit when I think of all those things. This time I got a hit. Maybe I surpassed myself.”

From another article:
In a reference to the benefit his erratic form has had on opposition sides, he quipped: “I had worn South Korea’s uniform, Cuba’s uniform and the uniforms of various other teams. But finally I wore Japan’s uniform.”

"I've got it, you know. God descended on me," an exalted Suzuki told Japanese television after the nail-biting showdown at Dodger Stadium on Monday night.

"I knew everyone in Japan was focused on me and I was making play-by-play comments to myself at the plate," he added, all smiles.

Ichiro may have broken this Jewrean's heart but at least he remains the preeminent quote machine.

But now that is over, I have a suggestion for Bud Selig.

March is not the right time to play the whole shebang.

This is the way to do it.

In 2013, break it into two parts.

The first part will be at the end of spring training. Continue the practice of having the games all over the world. The rest of the world is more into it than we are. The American rounds should be out of the country as well - somewhere like the DR where people like it.

The second part should be in July. There will be no all star game because of it. The players can take a 10 day break in the middle of the season. Hell, shorten the season to 154 games during the years that the Classic is played. Lower the ticket prices. Matt Army told me that the cheapest tickets at Dodger Stadium this year were 50 bucks for bleacher seats. Since the second half will be in July, the games can be held anywhere in the U.S. rather than only warm weather sites. Promote it all season. Fans were more into it this year than in '06. Build the momentum, Bud!

That's all.

But if you like that idea, I have even better ones for you if you're willing to listen.

The Last Three Weeks Haven't Entirely Been About Changing Diapers

Somehow I found time to fit in three fantasy baseball drafts as well.

(photo by Alex J)

Double Trouble!

The birth of my sons allows me to start yet another blog! Check it out.

Double Trouble: 3/6/09

We're heading to the hospital in 20 minutes!

Valentines '09

As I do every year, on Valentine's Day, I do a class activity that someone once forwarded me from Ann Landers.

I ask the kids to write down nice things about each of their classmates.

I type them up so each kid gets a sheet of paper with all the nice things that their classmates had to say about them. I do not put any names by any statement so they are all anonymous. It is always hilarious to see their reactions as they get their paper and try to figure out who said what.

Here are some of my favorites:

I think it was nice of you to let me work at your candy store even though I quit.

I like how you share your candy with candy kings like me.

You are really nice when you tagged me in P.E. instead of pegging me.

Thank you for always sticking up for me when I ask, “Who thinks I’m awesome?”

I think you are nice because whenever you accidentally hurt someone you say sorry instead of walking away.

I like the way you play with all genders.

You are always funny. You can make a catapult out of some tape, a cup, and a spoon.

You and me will always have something in common – fashion. You know what’s cute and so do I.

Sorry that when I draw you that it turns out really bad. I’m not a good drawer.

I’ve noticed you are a really fast runner like when I was calling you a wimp and you just zoomed right past me.

You are a good friend even when we are not friends.

You rock at badminton.

I think you are really good at Connect 4 and I like when I was boasting about how I was superior at Connect 4 and then you beat me!

You have that cool picture of that rainbow puffle!

You are very productive of problems like the dunny disappearance.

Thanks being such a good friend even when I am maybe not so nice. Like when I got in a fight, you covered my back with Mr. Listmaker.

I think you are friendly because when you sat in the corner you had sit next to all of those girls!

Munchkin, you are nice, smart, funny, and you remind me of my great grandma!

You would be a great spy because you are small and would be able to sneak into small places.

Math for you may be hard at first but when you try, you succeed so you can succeed at having a great Valentine’s Day.

Sorry I never move when you need to put something in your locker.

You are great in fashion and you are very loyal person and we agree with lots of stuff like how we hate boys!

I’ve noticed that you love to dive and hurt yourself. Personally I do too!

I know you say you are awesome and if I got to know you more maybe I would agree. But I don’t so I’ll take your word for it.

You need to work on your awesomeness if you want to be 1000 percent awesome.

You are my lego BFF and one of the few I want to keep.

Sure we are not friends, but it is Valentine’s Day so …you are good at Dodgeball in PE.

I know you like shoes. I really don’t but it’s cool that you do.

Hope you find your dunny that you lost.

I know we’re not supposed to but it’s fun to kick each other in the shins.

A February Wrap-Up

SHR and Ahpa enjoyed pancakes in Jersey.

Buying stuff for the imminent arrival of Double Trouble.

The Peanut and the Buddha enjoyed playing on our laundry bag.

Still waiting for a nickname.

Transfixed by a Korean teen girl band on the TV.

Last board game before Double Trouble. It was Power Grid and I finished in 2nd place behind Mooney.

SHR poses before the 2/21 bocce match.

We uploaded all of our CD's to iTunes.

Last Oscar Party pre Double Trouble.

My birthday card from SHR

2/28 - Last Bocce Match before DT. We won.

Only a few more days honey! SHR will be induced this Friday!

Listmaker Presents, Vol. 5

Two mixes in six weeks!
Click here to download.

1. Tweezer - Gay Frat Party, 2001?
Better than Weezer. Check out the Balgavy pics.

2. The Beat - Rock N Roll Girl, 1979
Still one of the best power pop songs ever.

3. Thao and The Get Down Stay Down - Bag of Hammers, 2007
I love this album. And she's way cute to boot.

4. John Wesley Harding - Top of the Bottom, 2009
I'm a long time fan. I loved this song live when I heard it a couple months back. I imagine that some of my friends will find some of the lyrics too silly at times Don't get too mad at me though - at least this isn't Deerhoof.

5. Fred Wesley and the J.B.'s - You Can Have Watergate, 1973
A great jam from the Noiseboy's excellent mix Horns. The backstory of this song is fascinating.

6. Shin Jung Hyun and Yup Juns - 그 누가 있었나봐 , 1974
For those who didn't get enough Shin Jung Hyun on our wedding mix. If you want more, check this great footage out.

7. Lost Generation - Talking the Teenage Language, 1971
Between this and Teen Line later on in this mix, I have now included four songs on the last two mixes about teens. Shouldn't I be thinking more about infants these days?

8. King Khan and the Shrines - Welfare Bread, 2008
I still can't get last summer's show out of my head. Dirty.

9. The Majestic Arrows - Going to Make a Time Machine, 1973
Recorded in one of the banner years of the last century.

10. Mary Lou Williams - The Pussy's in the Well, 1970's?
Yup.

11. Chubby Checker - Stoned in the Bathroom, 1971
One of two great jams from the Noiseboy's excellent mix Organs. Wtf? Chubby Checker? I love it.

12. Queen - Keep Yourself Alive, 1973
Jeremy recently sent me a two CD best of Queen mix that he compiled. Sure, it has all of the hits you'd expect. But there were also plenty that I really wasn't that familiar with. This is one. For about a 4 week period this winter, I was obsessed with this song.

13. Big Bill Broonzy - Black, Brown, and White, 1952
This is one of my all time favorite songs that Jeremy has ever included on a mix for me. Rev. Lowery's benediction at Obama's inauguration reminded me of this song. When black will not be asked to get back, when brown can stick around -- when yellow will be mellow -- when the red man can get ahead, man -- and when white will embrace what is right. Love it.

14. Etta James - I'd Rather Go Blind, 1967
F you Beyonce.

15. Toussaint McCall - Nothing Takes the Place of You, 1967
Another gem originally discovered on an old Jeremy mix.

16. Spiritualized - Soul on Fire, 2008
I really like the most recent Spiritualized LP. I dug the show from this past summer.

17. The Thermals - No Culture Icons, 2003
Speaking of rock shows, the Thermals will go down in Listmaker history as the last rock show I ever did see before the arrival of Double Trouble. Jason took some pics. What a song! Still great after all these years.

18. The Shivvers - Teen Line, 1980
I almost included this on Listmaker 3 and I still don't know why I didn't.

19. A.C. Newman - The Heartbreak Rides, 2009
I like the new A.C. Newman quite a bit. In fact, I like it more than the last New Pornographers LP by quite a large margin. I was undecided what song from it to put on here. When I was listening to this song, SHR pointed out that it sounded like Newman was singing "Yuhbo" which is Korean for honey or darling or sweetie (you get the idea). So the decision was made.

20. Jo Jones - Philadelphia Bound, 1958
Hot Tub Eric introduced me to Jo Jones a few years back. This song came up on my iPod a month or so ago and it sounded like the best song ever recorded. I needed to include it here.

21. Bobby Patterson (The Mustangs) - Turn Back the Hands of Time, 1970
SHR's favorite Bobby P song. That's good enough for me. I'll never forget this SHR/Bobby P moment.

22. Memphis Black - Why Don't You Play the Organ, Man, 1969
The second song from the Organs mix.

23. Laura Lee - Women's Love Rights, 1972
The title track from an excellent Hot Tub Eric mix of yesteryear.

24. Sloan - Fading Into Obscurity, 2008
The first band to ever make back to back appearances on Listmaker mixes. Jason and I have become way into Sloan recently.

For a Jeremy report card of Listmaker 4, check here.