The Long Winter Months
In the long winter months where I long for the smell of a hot dog and fresh-cut grass I try to find a baseball fix any way I can. I will sit and pour over the tiny transaction records in the sports page while my mother looks at me as if I am crazy. Like many true blue fan’s I have tried everything I can to fill the void left by the end of the post season. I watched the MLS Cup but found it hard to root for David Beckham. I watched every Oakland Raiders NFL game, as well as every UFL Mountain Lions game. However try as I might nothing fills the void left by baseball. It will continue to be my first love and first loves are extremely hard to forget or replace. In fact I cannot even say that I have had a real life love but I can tell you that I have been in love with the Oakland A’s since the age of 5. The A’s and music will always be my passions in life. For people looking for the feeling of A’s baseball in the summer here is a music video by local artist Brett Dennen that was filmed partially in the Coliseum.
Minor Leagues in the Media
Lately I have inadvertently been seeing Minor League Logos in various media outlets. I know that not many of my friends would know them when they saw them, and some times I cannot believe I spot them. Recently while watching T.V. I have randomly spotted several minor league logos in odd places.
While watching the show Melissa and Joey on ABC Family this week I noticed the Toledo Mudhens logo in the background of a scene. The characters were in their garage and on the door behind them I realized was the Mudhen logo! The show never says where it takes place, but I have a feeling the Minor League Logo says enough.
Toledo Mudhen Logo On the Garage Door in M & J
While I actually watch the show Melissa and Joey, I was randomly flipping through the channels when I saw the next logo. Randomly I flipped past the show The Voice which I never watch and I flipped back because I thought I noticed the New Mexico Isotopes logo on one of the producers hats. It turns out it was. I found another blog that also mentioned it and posted this picture below:
Producer wearing Isotopes Hat
It is always fun to see Minor League Logos in the media! Huffingtonpost has also been posting sports articles lately related to Minor League teams which are always fun to read. Wacky things happen in the Minor Leagues all the time so it is great to se it reported on.
2 Runs and a Shutout
Sadly the A’s game today was not televised because Moscoso turned in a brilliant performance worthy of a starter in the Majors. Moscoso only gave up two hits, walked one, and struck out five over seven innings of work. Moscoso’s position when Tyson Ross is eligible to be called up after the All-Star break should not be questioned. His 2.16 ERA is a good case of why he should stay on the major league squad. No win is complete without runs which the A’s actually scored today. I was shocked! Scott Sizemore with one out in the first hit a home run deep to left. It was Sizemore’s third homer of the season, and he drove in the A’s only other run with an RBI Single in the fifth. It wasn’t a sizable lead but thanks to standout pitching it was enough to secure a win. The final score was the Mariners 0 – A’s 2 with the M’s taking the series.
Both Jemile Weeks and Gio Gonzalez received big honors this week so congratulations must go out to them. Named the American League Co-Rookie of the Month for June was Jemile Weeks with Ben Revere of the Minnesota Twins. Since being called up June 7th Weeks has provided much-needed spark to the A’s and has hit .309 with 6 stolen bases. It is always great to see former River Cats doing well in the Majors!
Gio Gonzalez also received co-honors this week. Named the American League Co-Player of the week with Jose Bautista, Gio posted a 2-0 record, while allowing one run and striking out sixteen through fifteen innings. All of this the same week he got named to the All-Star Team? I can only imagine what he is feeling now. Must be the week of his life! Always fantastic when good things happen to nice people.
*Wordpress keeps trying to respell Moscoso’s name as Moscow. Funny, but not his name.
** The River Cats just lost their 9th game in a row, and Daric Barton has been with them for 10 days. Barton holds the lowest average on the team, but possess stellar defense. I have to wonder how long the A’s are going to be patient with him. Hopefully not much longer, but I cannot imagine he is worth much at this point in the season.
The 4th
What does July 4th mean to me? To me it means Baseball. I have been a vegetarian for over 10 years so Barbecues are not my thing. I have never been into drinking so the 4th to me represents the start of Summer Baseball. It has finally started to reach the 100′s and the All-Star game is only one week away. This is the most exciting time of year. So 4th of July 2011 what am I doing? Watching Bull Durham for the 100th time! There is nothing more sacred or perfect to do on a hot day. Happy 4th to Baseball fans everywhere!
This lineup brought to you by the Oakland A’s
“It’s hard. I’ve had so many good memories at this ballpark with this organization. I had three children here. At the same time, I still see myself an everyday second baseman. Hopefully (Weeks) does a great job for this organization for a long time. I hope he has the same opportunity I had in the organization.” -Mark Ellis on being traded to the SF Chronicle
There is no question that Jemile Weeks has been a spark plug since his call up to the Athletics’s and is the future of the team. He has been making spectacular defensive plays, and is one of the few on the team that is hitting consistently. It is bittersweet that Mark Ellis has been traded to the Rockies this week however it makes sense given Weeks performance of late. Ellis was with the A’s for his entire career, but now is going to a hitter’s park where he can hopefully boost his numbers. Hopefully it will work out for all parties involved. I wish Ellis nothing but the best and he will always hold a special place in my heart. I have watched him play since I was 15 and he will always represent Green and Gold Baseball to me.
Among the Pacific League All-Stars will be 3 players from the Sacramento River Cats. Catcher Anthony Recker, Short Stop Eric Sogard, and Pitcher Willie Eyre all made the cut. These Future A’s will be representing the River Cats in the 2011 Triple-A All Star Game on July 13th. The Pacific League will be facing off against the International League in similar fashion to the MLB All-Star game. The game will be broadcast on the MLB Network at 6:00 p.m. PDT, so don’t forget to tune in to see Future Athletics play. I know I will be watching the game.
Equality at Raley Field
I have written several posts previously on Equality and Baseball. It has always been my stance that more needs to be done for LGBT individuals within sports both on the field and behind the scenes. The time for change is never convenient or easy but the time is now. The flood gates of change are about to break open with recent events in New York a perfect example. The Military is easing out Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, and we have a President that embraces change. It is time for Baseball to catch up with the times and be the leader when it comes to inclusion.
Yesterday when the Sacramento River Cats in their pre-game ceremony went to bat for equality I was overjoyed. 7,598 were on hand to watch the on Field Recognition for Sacramento LGBT magazine Outword, and to see Bob Moore throw out the Ceremonial First Pitch representing the Sacramento Valley Gay & Lesbian Softball League. Singing the National Anthem was the Sacramento Gay Men’s Chorus to round out the festivities. There was no special pomp and circumstance or special theme, it was just a pre-game ceremony like every other at Raley Field. That in itself spoke volumes. The fight for equality is not about special rights, it is about the right to be treated just like everyone else.
The overall culture of Professional Sports is still not one of inclusion, however yesterday the River Cats spoke volumes about where they stand. The LGBT population of the greater Sacramento area now has a Professional Sports team that is not afraid to represent them. The River Cats will give them the same courtesy they give to every other pre-game event. That is all any group could ask for. To be treated equally.
Summer Reading
My Baseball Summer Reading List
