Congratulations to Bruce Sutter. Bruce was just sworn into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. His appearance has changed, but he was still the smooth professional in his acceptance speech I used to watch pitch for the Cardinals back in the 80's.
A lasting image burnt into my memory was Sutter striking out Gorman Thomas of the Milwaukee Brewers to end the 1982 World Series. After the strikeout, the Cardinals poured onto the field and Sutter is pictured in numerous photographs jumping into the arms of late Cardinal catcher Darryl Porter.
Sutter had a wicked split finger fastball and helped to pioneer the pitch now utilized by many Major League pitchers. As late Cardinals broadcaster Jack Buck put it so elegantly whenever the Cardinals would win..."That's A Winner".
In addition to Sutter, the Hall of Fame inducted 17 players from the old Negro leagues. The move was long overdue and included the first woman inducted into the Hall of Fame Effa Manley.
Congratulations also to the new members inducted into the media wing of the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
Gene Elston was inducted into the Broadcaster's Wing and Tracy Ringolsby into the Writer's wing of the institution.
Congratulations to all of the members of the 2006 class of the Baseball Hall of Fame!!!
July 30, 2006
Baby It's Hot Outside
Are you holding up in the heat okay? I sure hope so. Having the electricity back on again has been a godsend because it is getting hot in Saint Louis. At two this afternoon it was 98 degrees at Lambert Field, and 101 at Spirit Airport in West county. Lord don't let the power go out again and air conditioner don't fail me now!
This is how the heat wave of 1980 started. It gradually worked it's way through the mid to the upper 90's and then everyday was in the low, then the mid 100 degree range. It ended up lasting into mid September before things finally cooled off. I can remember a 111 degree day that summer. I sure hope we don't have to deal with that again this year.
This is how the heat wave of 1980 started. It gradually worked it's way through the mid to the upper 90's and then everyday was in the low, then the mid 100 degree range. It ended up lasting into mid September before things finally cooled off. I can remember a 111 degree day that summer. I sure hope we don't have to deal with that again this year.
July 24, 2006
The Lights Are Back On
After four days the power company finally showed up and turned the electricity to my home back on when a crew from Fort Wayne, Indiana reset a transformer. As soon as the crew replaced a fuse and hit the reset switch the hum of air conditioners could be heard filling the air on a warm Sunday summer evening. And it was kind of weird because the lights came on almost four days to the time they went out on Wednesday night. Both nights it was about eight o'clock.
As far as surviving, I don't think I have been more uncomfortable as when I went to bed on Thursday night. But I was fortunate because by Friday night the air temperature had cooled off into the mid 60s and I slept like a baby both Friday and Saturday nights.
I know civilization made it for thousands of years without air conditioning, but now living without it is quite an ordeal. Still, I was lucky. My power did come back on and I was able to go to the store this afternoon and restock most of the food and frozen items I threw out because they were no longer frozen or cold. The survivors of Hurricane Katrina never had that option. As I say I am very fortunate.
As far as surviving, I don't think I have been more uncomfortable as when I went to bed on Thursday night. But I was fortunate because by Friday night the air temperature had cooled off into the mid 60s and I slept like a baby both Friday and Saturday nights.
I know civilization made it for thousands of years without air conditioning, but now living without it is quite an ordeal. Still, I was lucky. My power did come back on and I was able to go to the store this afternoon and restock most of the food and frozen items I threw out because they were no longer frozen or cold. The survivors of Hurricane Katrina never had that option. As I say I am very fortunate.
July 21, 2006
Still No Power
I spent a second night without power and air conditioning. It was warm but not unbearable. The air temperature when I went to bed was 91 degrees and when I got up it was 82 degrees but with the heat index it was 89. You know, you stick to the sheets pretty good when it's that warm. But, it could be worse.
One thing I am hearing from the spin doctors at the utility company (Ameren) is that this is the worst storm they have had to deal with in their 100 plus year history. Yeah, maybe in their mind. The real story is why a storm that the National Weather Service did not list as that severe has caused so much damage to the electrical infrastructure in Saint Louis.
The real story is Ameren is no longer being pro-active in upgrading and replacing worn out facilities. The former company had a regular maintenance plan that replaced equipment at regular intervals. The new company replaces things when they wear out or are destroyed. Thus when this storm came through it became the worst in the company's history. Oh and one other thing, while about 350 thousand homes are still without power at this time the company recently requested a 30 percent rate hike from state regulators. Maybe regulators should be asking what Ameren is doing with the money it is already making. Because it sure isn't being put back into the infrastructure.
One thing I am hearing from the spin doctors at the utility company (Ameren) is that this is the worst storm they have had to deal with in their 100 plus year history. Yeah, maybe in their mind. The real story is why a storm that the National Weather Service did not list as that severe has caused so much damage to the electrical infrastructure in Saint Louis.
The real story is Ameren is no longer being pro-active in upgrading and replacing worn out facilities. The former company had a regular maintenance plan that replaced equipment at regular intervals. The new company replaces things when they wear out or are destroyed. Thus when this storm came through it became the worst in the company's history. Oh and one other thing, while about 350 thousand homes are still without power at this time the company recently requested a 30 percent rate hike from state regulators. Maybe regulators should be asking what Ameren is doing with the money it is already making. Because it sure isn't being put back into the infrastructure.
July 20, 2006
Amateur Night on the Radio
There is a radio station in St. Louis that bills itself as "The Midwest's most trusted news source". The station is in downtown St. Louis and at one time was a fairly good news source. Not anymore.
Last night it was broadcasting rumors and half truths from it's listeners who were just as confused as station management about the storm that was ripping through the area. One listener had tractror trailer trucks being turned over on the I-270 bridge over the Mississippi. Yeah, that happened but when KMOX repeated it, they also had the wrong bridge. The actual fact is a construction shed was blown over on the Poplar Street Bridge 20 miles south.
Fact error 2. KMOX believed it's listener who told them the roof at the East Terminal at Lambert International Airport was blown off. Reality - part of the roof of the light rail station at the airport had some of it's corrugated roof blown onto I-70.
One of the first things you learn in Journalism school is you do not report rumors. You verify from at least one source and more if possible. Maybe the station's news director needs to go back to school.
Last night it was broadcasting rumors and half truths from it's listeners who were just as confused as station management about the storm that was ripping through the area. One listener had tractror trailer trucks being turned over on the I-270 bridge over the Mississippi. Yeah, that happened but when KMOX repeated it, they also had the wrong bridge. The actual fact is a construction shed was blown over on the Poplar Street Bridge 20 miles south.
Fact error 2. KMOX believed it's listener who told them the roof at the East Terminal at Lambert International Airport was blown off. Reality - part of the roof of the light rail station at the airport had some of it's corrugated roof blown onto I-70.
One of the first things you learn in Journalism school is you do not report rumors. You verify from at least one source and more if possible. Maybe the station's news director needs to go back to school.
The St. Louis Area Gets Whacked
I very powerful series of Thunderstorms came blasting through St. Louis last night, leaving almost a half million homes without power. In addition the storms blew down many trees and blocked a large number of streets. The good news is apparently no one was killed and very few people hurt very badly. It's almost a miracle when you consider wind gusts were measure in excess of 80 miles per hour.
Personally, I am without power and the local power monopoly (Ameren) says it could be several days before the lights and air conditioning come back on because there are so many suffering from the outages. Still, my home is intact without damage and I can cut and rake up the downed branches that strew my front and back yards. I am not the only one like this though. My siblings are all without power as are the next generation in our family as well. But, eventually the lights will come back on and life will return to normal. I guess things aren't all that bad after all. If you want to read a pretty good wrapup of what happened try this link.
Personally, I am without power and the local power monopoly (Ameren) says it could be several days before the lights and air conditioning come back on because there are so many suffering from the outages. Still, my home is intact without damage and I can cut and rake up the downed branches that strew my front and back yards. I am not the only one like this though. My siblings are all without power as are the next generation in our family as well. But, eventually the lights will come back on and life will return to normal. I guess things aren't all that bad after all. If you want to read a pretty good wrapup of what happened try this link.
July 16, 2006
Random Thoughts
It's hot in Saint Louis and it's getting hotter. It made it up to the mid and upper 90's last week and the temperature is forecast for about 100 each day this week. Air conditioning don't fail me now.....Is there a better beer brewed in the state of Missouri than Boulevard's unflitered Wheat Ale? I don't think so, and believe me I have drank my share of beer through the years. The beer is made over in Kansas City and has become my favorite ale. (I do like other Stouts and one particular Porter that are also very good) but Boulevard Wheat has a nice pleasant taste and the wheat helps in the digestive process. A win/win situation!.....How bout them Birds! The Cardinals have now won six in a row including four extra inning games. Yeah, they seem to be back on track, but then again they are not playing the best teams in baseball like the Tigers and White Sox. The Cards will win a lame central division but then will fall after the first round of the playoffs to the New York Mets. The Mets will then lose to the Detroit Tigers in the World Series.....What's up with those dadgum flip flops. Everyone seems to be wearing them even in situations where they shouldn't be allowed. My employer permits summer casual from Memorial Day to Labor Day and even blue jeans are allowed at work. But, the flip flops have to go. You sure can hear them coming can't you? Flop, flop, flop, flop, flop all the way down a hall...flop, flop, flop, flop, flop, flo.....
July 10, 2006
MLB & ESPN Screw the Cardinals Again
The Major League All-Star game is set for tomorrow night in Pittsburgh and to hear MLB tell it, it will be the grandest night of the year. And it will be an entertaining exhibition to see all of the game's stars on display. But, it doesn't really mean a thing. It's just that...an entertaining exhibition.
But, the commissioner of the game Bud Selig, who is now apparently relying on the advice of apes, has again decreed that the league winning the exhibition game gets home field advantage in the World Series. The World Series used to be the most prestigious sports event in North America but since Bud and his flunkies (or maybe more accurately monkeys) have taken over the game it has lost a lot of it's shine. The "Fall Classic" is now played in the last third of October on cold nights. Yes, I said nights...When school children have to go to bed hours before the games end. Many people now believe the World Series ranks behind the Super Bowl and the NCAA basketball tournament in it's prestige.
It's a shame because baseball has so much going for it, but it has made the wrong decision every time it has had to make a decision. Even an idiot flipping a coin would get half of them right. Part of the decision making is fueled by TV (That's spelled FOX and ABC which owns ESPN). And the greed of the media has once again ruined about a third of the All-Star break for the St. Louis Cardinals and their families. An excellent better explanation is offered by Rick Hummel of the Saint Louis Post-Dispatch writing in Sunday's sports section. And I quote:
"The Cardinals will play the Astros in Houston on Sunday, marking the third straight year they will have played ESPN's Sunday night game the day ahead of the All-Star break. "They act like you're honored to be a part of the thing," said Cardinals manager Tony La Russa. In fact, it is more of an inconvenience, especially to Cardinals who have had to fly overnight to be available the next day for All-Star Game festivities, such those in Pittsburgh this year. For instance, Albert Pujols, the leading vote getter, is scheduled to appear at a Monday morning press conference.But it also is inconvenient for players who want to go home for the All-Star break, with Monday being a travel day rather than a day at home.
And it is inconvenient for La Russa, too, who puts on a charity golf tournament in California on the Monday of the All-Star break for the benefit of his Animal Rescue Foundation. After Sunday's game, La Russa flies to Scottsdale, Ariz., with lefthander Mark Mulder on Mulder's plane and then charter another plane to make it to the San Francisco area in time for the start of his tournament, having already missed the pre-tournament gathering Sunday night.La Russa is less concerned with this annoyance than he is concerned with what he perceives is an uncaring attitude by ESPN toward his team. He said he would talk to ESPN telecasters Jon Miller and Joe Morgan on Sunday, because they are friends. But he indicated he wouldn't go much farther than that."(ESPN) decided they were going to mess with us," La Russa said. "Cincinnati-Atlanta would be a great contest on Sunday night. The (Sunday night) game should be played in a time zone where the All-Star Game is. There are East Coast games that are attractive. There's other games, I can guarantee it."But (ESPN) is selfish. They're probably ticked off that Roger (Clemens) isn't pitching."All they do - if someone gets belted or drilled - is they show highlights of that. It's all controversy."In 2004, the Cardinals played the Sunday night game at home before the All-Star break, when the All-Star Game was in Houston. Last year, with La Russa as National League manager, the Cardinals played the Sunday night in San Francisco before their All-Star contingent traveled three time zones away to Detroit".
Those are the words of Saint Louis Post-Dispatch columnist Rick Hummel, who is one of the finest baseball writer's in the nation and is well respected by both players and journalists. It's to bad he doesn't cover the Cardinals on a daily basis anymore.
But, the commissioner of the game Bud Selig, who is now apparently relying on the advice of apes, has again decreed that the league winning the exhibition game gets home field advantage in the World Series. The World Series used to be the most prestigious sports event in North America but since Bud and his flunkies (or maybe more accurately monkeys) have taken over the game it has lost a lot of it's shine. The "Fall Classic" is now played in the last third of October on cold nights. Yes, I said nights...When school children have to go to bed hours before the games end. Many people now believe the World Series ranks behind the Super Bowl and the NCAA basketball tournament in it's prestige.
It's a shame because baseball has so much going for it, but it has made the wrong decision every time it has had to make a decision. Even an idiot flipping a coin would get half of them right. Part of the decision making is fueled by TV (That's spelled FOX and ABC which owns ESPN). And the greed of the media has once again ruined about a third of the All-Star break for the St. Louis Cardinals and their families. An excellent better explanation is offered by Rick Hummel of the Saint Louis Post-Dispatch writing in Sunday's sports section. And I quote:
"The Cardinals will play the Astros in Houston on Sunday, marking the third straight year they will have played ESPN's Sunday night game the day ahead of the All-Star break. "They act like you're honored to be a part of the thing," said Cardinals manager Tony La Russa. In fact, it is more of an inconvenience, especially to Cardinals who have had to fly overnight to be available the next day for All-Star Game festivities, such those in Pittsburgh this year. For instance, Albert Pujols, the leading vote getter, is scheduled to appear at a Monday morning press conference.But it also is inconvenient for players who want to go home for the All-Star break, with Monday being a travel day rather than a day at home.
And it is inconvenient for La Russa, too, who puts on a charity golf tournament in California on the Monday of the All-Star break for the benefit of his Animal Rescue Foundation. After Sunday's game, La Russa flies to Scottsdale, Ariz., with lefthander Mark Mulder on Mulder's plane and then charter another plane to make it to the San Francisco area in time for the start of his tournament, having already missed the pre-tournament gathering Sunday night.La Russa is less concerned with this annoyance than he is concerned with what he perceives is an uncaring attitude by ESPN toward his team. He said he would talk to ESPN telecasters Jon Miller and Joe Morgan on Sunday, because they are friends. But he indicated he wouldn't go much farther than that."(ESPN) decided they were going to mess with us," La Russa said. "Cincinnati-Atlanta would be a great contest on Sunday night. The (Sunday night) game should be played in a time zone where the All-Star Game is. There are East Coast games that are attractive. There's other games, I can guarantee it."But (ESPN) is selfish. They're probably ticked off that Roger (Clemens) isn't pitching."All they do - if someone gets belted or drilled - is they show highlights of that. It's all controversy."In 2004, the Cardinals played the Sunday night game at home before the All-Star break, when the All-Star Game was in Houston. Last year, with La Russa as National League manager, the Cardinals played the Sunday night in San Francisco before their All-Star contingent traveled three time zones away to Detroit".
Those are the words of Saint Louis Post-Dispatch columnist Rick Hummel, who is one of the finest baseball writer's in the nation and is well respected by both players and journalists. It's to bad he doesn't cover the Cardinals on a daily basis anymore.
July 04, 2006
Happy Fourth of July
It's been a while since I've had time to post... I've been busy with the three G's (Girls, Golf and Gambling)!
But, I do want to take a moment today to say Happy Fourth of July to everyone. I know I have expressed concern about our involvement in Iraq in previous posts and I am still alarmed by the number of young Americans being slaughtered by the low lives they are trying to help. But, that is another topic for another post.
Today I want to express my deep gratitude to all of our brave men and women serving this country both in combat zones and non combat areas. It is something I know I take for granted but I can not express how much I appreciate these fellow country men and women putting their lives on the line.
Were it not for their courage and bravery we might not have this freedom of expression to post messages such as this one. So HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY to everyone!
But, I do want to take a moment today to say Happy Fourth of July to everyone. I know I have expressed concern about our involvement in Iraq in previous posts and I am still alarmed by the number of young Americans being slaughtered by the low lives they are trying to help. But, that is another topic for another post.
Today I want to express my deep gratitude to all of our brave men and women serving this country both in combat zones and non combat areas. It is something I know I take for granted but I can not express how much I appreciate these fellow country men and women putting their lives on the line.
Were it not for their courage and bravery we might not have this freedom of expression to post messages such as this one. So HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY to everyone!
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