By The Rivers of Babylon...

 

"By the rivers of Babylon we sat down; there we wept when we remembered Zion."

-Psalm 137, Verse 1

 

This post isn’t about baseball.

 It’s a post about of special kind of grief, and my way of moving beyond it.

 I am a very proud graduate, Notre Dame College of Ohio, Cleveland Ohio: Bachelor of Arts.

 After 100 years of service, Notre Dame College will be closing its doors after the graduation ceremony on May 4^th.  The doors will literally be locked by the bank that is taking over the college campus.  The reason why is sordid and sad.  The closure was announced very recently, we alumn were taken by surprise. There was no communication to us or the current students about the college’s problems.

 Shame all those who had responsibility for leading the college for the past 20+ years.  Your actions showed that you were not upholding the principles  that were the original foundation of NDC. You were ethically deplorable and decidedly the opposite of what constitutes a Catholic institution.

 My four years at NDC were the most important of my life.  Even more meaningful than the Rangers winning the World Series in 2023 (see, I worked in a baseball reference).  It was more than just having a great time in college in the 1970’s – but I’m not going to lie there was plenty of that too.

 It was a smaller all women’s college when I attended (that went co-ed about 20 years ago). I lived on campus, and the group of friends I bonded with are still an active part of my life 40+ years later. More than just getting an education, it was a profoundly personal experience of acceptance, revelation, and growth that I can’t adequately put into words. 

 My dear college friends and I have remembered with great emotion our time at Notre Dame College during the past few weeks.  We will all carry our memories and hold them close, but knowing that we’ll never be able to return to the beautiful campus, classrooms and dorms leaves a deep scar.  For me, knowing that other young people will never have the opportunity to experience NDC is heartbreaking.

 I’ll go back to proselytizing about baseball in my next post.

 For now, I smile, I sob, I reminisce and I am eternally grateful for the part of my soul that is and will always be Notre Dame College of Ohio.

-- Marla, NDC Class of 1979

Back To The Future

 I heard a very interesting proverb this past weekend:

 “Expectations are resentments waiting to happen”

 Funny thing, expectations.  Last year I had no expectations for the Rangers.  After enduing  yet another long dry spell of losing (which happened in the 80’s, early 90’s, early 2000’s - that's a lot) , I’d have been happy with a .500 team – and look what happened: The Texas Rangers won the 2023 World Series.

If I had anything to complain about that team, November 1^st, changed it all and I’ll love all of those guys till the day I die.

 Even the most loyal, optimistic fan (which is not always me) has to admit that everything, and I mean everything went right for the Rangers to achieve their championship.   In fact, I think most fans of any team that wins the World Series would agree:  the talent plays a big part but baseball luck plays role in it too. (Did you really at any point think the  Ranger bullpen was going to be that reliable in the post season?)

 This year, things are different – not bad, not good – just different.  Watching this team right now makes me wonder if the 2024 Ranger team is the one we were supposed to see last year. They are a much improved team over, 2017, 2018, 2019 etc. – you get the picture. 

 Their offense in 2023 for most of the season was other worldly – any expectation (there’s that word again) that it would be the same this season was, um, irrational.  This year, when you are counting on 2 rookies and 1 MIA as 1/3 of your line-up it will be roller coaster.  Most rookies, including some who eventually become very good players, will have their struggles adjusting to the major leagues.   Evan Carter didn’t have those problems in September, but now – it’s a different story:  .211 BA/.752 OPS (which is actually pretty good – because he takes almost as many BB’s as K’s). Then there’s the other Little Savior Part 2 – Wyatt Langford - .255 BA/.655 OPS – with twice as man K’s at BB’s that’s just plain yuck.  And, of course, there is the permanent roller coaster at third base – that I already wrote about in a previous post.  By the way is anyone else wondering about Cory Seager in day games: 3 for 20 (.150)?

 Along with the mighty offense in 2023 the Rangers didn’t make a lot of mistakes. They were first in team defense in the AL.  Right now they are 5^th – which is good but does mean they aren’t as sharp, which means more unearned runs which doesn’t help the pitching staff which leads me to our least favorite subject: pitching.

 Drafting, developing, keeping healthy, and putting together a solid starting 5 and reliable bullpen.  Pitching,  it’s by far the Rangers worst problem – as it was, as it is and as it will ever be, Amen.

 Do I think the Rangers are a playoff team in 2024 – looking at the rest of the AL West so far, I’d have to say yes.  Do I want them to win the World Series again? Well, of course I do. Do I think they’ll win the World Series in 2024 – probably not.  But if they keep Houston from winning the World Series by eliminating them in the division or in the playoffs that will be as good another World Series win this year for me

 --- The Eternal Marla

 P.S. Hey Houston, that expensive bullpen – what’s up with that?  (A nod to the perennially underrated Keenan Thompson)

Spaghetti Thoughts

 I’ve been thinking about what to call my occasional random thoughts, off- topic musings and rhetorical questions.   I still haven’t come up with something I like (and that hasn’t already been used by someone else)  So, I’ll try out a few titles until I find one I like.

 Today’s title:  Throwing It Against the Wall  - courtesy of that old food legend: if you throw a strand of cooked spaghetti against the wall and it sticks it’s ready (see Tom Berenger’s character in “The Big Chill”)

 ·        As a baseball fan who remembers well the 1990’s Yankees, as they buzz sawed through the first Ranger playoff teams, I’m kind of wondering if current era of the Yankees have become just another team.  The media will always be obsessed with the Yankees because there is still so much media based in New York. But lately, it appears to this reader that there are fewer stories about the Yankees and that they’ve become a bit less fashionable.  Seems to me the Dodgers are taking on the mantle of the big spending, big foot, big mouth villains of MLB.  Granted, Dodger fans are not nearly as annoying, especially since they don’t show up until the 3^rd inning and leave by the end of the 7^th. (When you have you heard a person from LA talk smack about baseball? There’s probably more smack talk about movie grosses in LA than there is about baseball.) There are still big spenders in the MLB : The Mets - we’ve seen how that works out , my beloved Rangers and we’ve seen that sometimes works, the Braves – if they wanted to, The Angels often foolishly, sometimes the Cubs and The Lyin’ Cheatin’ Astros.  But lately every time you read about an upcoming free agent (MLB or international) the Dodgers are always the first name mentioned as the likely destination.  (Of course, what did that big payroll and 100+ win season do for the Dodgers in 2023? The Rangers won the 2023 World Series)

 ·        Everyone’s got an opinion on Shohei Ohtani here’s mine: all those explanations don’t pass the smell test for me. The latest I read was that his interpreter turned off the notifications so Shohei didn’t see when Ippei was taking money from Ohtani –okay I guess. But – a man like Ohtani making that much money doesn’t have a business manager, or an accountant or a team of accountants that handle his money too and they didn’t see anything or say anything to Ohtani?  Really?  Meanwhile MLB is buying Ippei’s story essentially saying:  “Oh my,  Ohtani didn’t check his texts or look at the banking app on his phone – so he’s in the clear”.   Yeah right – MLB is going to do anything to protect their biggest international star no matter how flimsy the excuses.   I don’t think Ohtani gambled. I do think he knew or found out about Ippei’s problem and helped him out, but he didn’t consider the consequences that kind of “help” could cause.

 ·        About the death of an infamous former athlete:  now he’s going to have to tell the truth.

 ·        Thank you FUBO for 2 weeks of Ranger games – but your pricing is almost as much as the cable I cut 3 years ago – so it’s back to evenings with Eric, Matt and Jared – which is a very pleasant way to enjoy Ranger baseball.

 ·        One last question:  how long until the local media members stop saying that Josh Jung is not injury prone.  He’s never played an entire season in his career without missing a significant amount of time on the IL (still want to call it the DL) which means he’s injured.  Doesn’t matter the reason, even if it is bad luck he is still injured, which means he can’t play and it happens, a lot.  I agree with Adam Morris at Lone Star Ball, it’s something that has to be considered when planning the future for this team.

 --- Marla (who is not worried that my team has lost 4 out 5 games this week)     

 P.S. I’ve never been afraid of my age.  I don’t need Botox, or hair dye, or lifts for my sagging parts. (On a side note:  I am truly disturbed by those commercials where Jennifer Garner is promoting retinol/anti-aging “stuff” for teen-agers – wonder if her teen age daughters use that “stuff”).  Back to the subject of age: my pop culture references are generally out of date.  So what, it’s my blog, if you’re reading and complaining go back to your podcasts and get off my lawn!

*Tap*Tap*Tap* Is this thing on?

Hmm, let’s see a lot has happened in the 11+ years since my last blog post:  blogs are out, podcasts are in – no I will never bore you with a podcast.  Our friend TR Sullivan retired,  the Fort Worth Star Telegram retired from baseball too (no more beat writer or daily coverage) The Athletic retired from baseball (well, their coverage has shrunk considerably to be borderline not worth it). The Astros cheated, Vin Scully, Hank Aaron, Charlie Pride and two of my dearest DTFCer’s left us.  Mr. Sterling crossed the Rainbow Bridge.  We spent 2 years at home looking out the window worrying, then returned to a world that had been drastically altered.  We’re done with Twitter, over saturated with Tik Tok, fake news is now real news, opinion overrides facts. The earth got a lot warmer and its inhabitants a lot meaner.

 But it wasn’t all bad:  Prince Louis now rules my household, the Rangers built an indoor palace where they play (no more horrible hot evenings in the park during June-July-August).  “Ted Lasso” was great (no matter what a particular Ranger fan says) “Hamilton” was pretty good too. The pitch clock, the end of the “shift” and fewer pitching changes (yes, I like them all). That eclipse on April 8^th was pretty spectacular too.

Most importantly: on November 1^st  2023, I cried my eyes out and literally jumped for joy, because as Eric Nadel so eloquently stated “may the ghosts of 2011 be forever erased” – and they were when the Rangers, finally, won the World Series.

 In the “church of baseball” that Annie Savoy and I belong to: it was a baseball miracle. 

What happens next?  Right now, I don’t care, as one of our Ranger baseball guru’s stated:  The Rangers can’t hurt me anymore.  

 (Okay, but I still get upset when the Rangers lose to the The Lyin’ Cheatin’ Astros.)

 -- Marla Hooch (redux)

To Be Continued....

It's been one of those weeks - haven't had a moment to ruminate about anything...blog about something coming up soon.                               

In the meantime: so sorry the Orioles, Nationals, and Reds all lost.   As far the as the National League is concerned, if the "big" one hit California today or tomorrow and it slid into the ocean with Giant and Cardinals - woudln't bother me at all.   The only horse I have left in the race is the Tigers. 

Sorry about Jeter's ankle - but the Yankees use that as an excuse for their performance so far, that really speaks volumes about their "team".

Cannot join the knee-jerking crowd that wants to clean house and trade everyone on the Rangers - that's not right, I don't know what the plan is, but I hope it's a much more specific, strategic and less emotional.

It's always a good day when the Cowboys lose.

I really need to buy a few more Aimee Mann songs off of I-Tunes.

And... this is the week one year ago that I lost Baseball Mom (October 16th).

Sometimes it feels like just yesterday, sometimes it feels like forever.

Miss you and will always love you Mom - love Marla

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Um...I Guess I Forgot...Again

I became a Ranger fan August 1979. 

Since that time I’ve been through 6 General Managers: Eddie Robinson, Joe Klein, Tom Grieve, Doug Melvin, John Hart and Jon Daniels

5 different ownership groups:  Brad Corbett, Eddie Chiles and friends, George W. Bush, Tom Schieffer and a cast of thousands,  Tom Hicks and his creditors with a cameo by Bud Selig and now Nolan Ryan and company 

The one thing they all have in common is they keep doing the same thing over and over again – expecting a different result.  I’ve heard that’s the definition of insanity or at least Ranger insanity.

Our good friend TR Sullivan’s observation this morning’s on Postcards From Elysian Fields blog  is absolutely perfect on the subject of  Josh Hamilton/the playoff loss and the Rangers usual knee-jerk plan of action.  
 

I am looking right at you Nolan Ryan (and to some extent Jon Daniels) and shaking my head in frustration. 

With all the years of baseball experience Ryan has and that Cornell educated GM you think they would already know the maxim of  philosopher George Santayana (1863-1952) who said: "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it" (from "Life of Reason I").





-- waiting for Version 41 of the new and better Rangers team Nolan and Jon plan to pull out of a rabbit’s hat this off-season - Marla

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This Day In History

1465
-- French King Louis XI signs a peace agreement with Charles the Stout

1857
-- City of Anaheim CA founded - and no playoff baseball game was played there that day either

1880
-- First ballpoint pen patented by Alonzo T. Cross

1882
-- Outlaw Frank James surrenders in Missouri six months after the death of his brother Jesse James

1907
-- Philadelphia A's pitcher Rube Vickers no-hits the Washington Senators in a 5 inning game

1921
-- The World Series is broadcast on the radio for the first time

1924
-- First appearance in the NYC Daily News of the comic strip "Little Orphan Annie"

1954
-- Hurricane Hazel hits the east coast of the United States

1962
-- The Beatles release their first hit in England "Love Me Do"

1966
-- A sodium cooling system malfunction causes a partial core meltdown at the Enrico Fermi nuclear power demonstration plant near Detroit, Michigan.  Radiation is contained (entire story detailed in the book "We Almost Lost Detroit")

1969
-- "Monty Python's Flying Circus" begins its run on the BBC

1983
-- Polish anti-communist union leader Lech Walesa wins the Nobel Peace Prize

2001
-- Barry Bonds hits his HGH aided 71st and 72nd Home Runs to break Mark McGwire's androstene aided record of 71 Home Runs

2004
-- Howard Stern announces he's leaving over the air radio for satellite radio company Sirius

2008
--Dow Jones Industrial Averages drop 700 points signaling the beginning of the economic downturn/recession

2012
-- The Rangers two year AL Dynasty ends.

--- Marla

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It's The Curse of Game 6

I know I'm writing this before the game with Oakland ends - but does it matter?

I know how it's going to end. 

When the Red Sox broke the curse of Babe Ruth the baseball gods had to find another team to be there whipping boy - and thus we have Game 6 of the World Series 2011 which led to the great collapase of the Rangers 2012. 

Sorry Ranger fans we're going to be suffering from this curse for a long, long time.

The A's are the team of destiny.  The Rangers are the team destined to self-destruct. -- Marla

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These Are Not The 1996 Rangers And Shouldn't Even Be Mentioned In The Same Sentence

I have a long, rambling, essay that I've been working on for 2 days to explain my feelings about the current state of the Rangers.  Fortunately for you dear reader, TR Sullivan posted an excellent entry on his blog Postcards From Elysian Fields that I felt compelled to comment on, and in the process of doing so was able to distill my feelings into a wordy paragraph.   TR compared the current Rangers to the 1996 Rangers and this is what I wrote in reply:

"Think this [2012 Rangers] team is more like the 1996 Mariners – a very talented team, expected to win – then in September ultimately failed in the clutch. There aren’t any Burkett’s or Hill’s on this Rangers team – except for Michael Young who has stepped up this month. Seems like the offense was on cruise control all season and now they don’t know how to kick into high gear while all the pitching has been at best inconsistent – I’ve been a Ranger fan long enough to say they don’t deserve a playoff berth this year. Maybe that would be the kickstart they need to learn to concentrate and play the game the right way with a little humility and a lot more hunger."


After reading it again a few hours later, I stand by my statement.  Doesn't matter what happens tonight or tomorrow - I don't feel good about the 2012 Rangers, and I've felt that way since about mid-July.  I don't think they are lazy, inflated egos - maybe just a bit.  What they do suffer from is lack of memory and concentration.  Big numbers = big money contracts,  doing the little things right = championship rings. Gotta wonder which equation the veterans on this team were thinking about this season.   

What is frustrating and sad for we the long suffering Ranger fans is that most of us know how small that window of opportunity is for any team to get into the playoffs and how much smaller it gets to go to the World Series more than twice in a decade  (take a look at the last 10 years and see how many teams other than NY have been there more than twice).  I'm sayng it right now: that window is shut this year.  Shame on the veterans on this 2012 Ranger team . They seem to be suffering from short term memory loss - they've forgotten what got them there and more importantly what it was like being the ones who were watching playoff games from the couch instead from the dugout.   I have a feeling that by this time next week, the Rangers will have a quick trip down memory lane as they pack up their bags and get ready to watch the rest of the post-season from their couches.   

Angry in Arlington - Marla  

(P.S. That's my new couch which I really love, and the next blog will be much less poison filled - I hope)
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September 30, 2012 One Sentence Reaction

No matter what the magic number is, you should not feel good about this 2012 Rangers team.

(More on that tomorrow)

-- No kidding around - Marla

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September 26, 2012 One Word Reaction

That one word is: Pathetic

It's third inning and I'm already giving up on this game.

Forget about signing Josh Hamilton this off-season. Instead, get some scouts and minor keague coaches who can actually develop real pitchers - starters and relievers -because they've done a pretty lousy job so far and the future doesn't look any better.

Goodbye AL West Division title - hello one game wild card playoff.

Pathetic, pathetic, pathetic -- Marla

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September 25, 2012: One Sentence Reaction

Mark Lowe pitching in a yet-to-be-decided division race game, really Wash?

--Marla

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Once Sentence Reaction: Rangers 5, A's 4 (10 innings)

My evening prayer: dear baseball gods, let the Rangers wrap this thing up by Thursday so Adrian Beltre's teammates don't re-injure him  during their celebrations (as Tom Grieve pleaded with them tonight).

One Sentence Reaction: Rangers 2 - Seattle 1

Still kind of worried, only 3 game lead with 6 left against Oakland.

-- Marla

(P.S. Justin Smoak showed us why he hates hitting at Safeco Field)
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Planing My Nights By The TV Guide

There was a pop song (masquerading on the country charts) a few years ago with the lyric "she was at home planning her nights by the TV Guide."  I absconded with that line for today's blog. 

My sister the New Mexico Bean has a PHD in psychology - she told me  it's documented that women my age start watching more television - good I like watching TV, not ashamed of it, and love writing about it.

Top 10 Season Passes on the DVR:
1. The Good Wife - love Josh Charles, love Josh Charles. This is the "water cooler" series with my friends at work.
2. Parenthood - Produced and written by Jason Katims (sp?) who did the same for Friday Night Lights (my 2nd favorite TV series ever) - There's a big blog post coming up on Lauren Graham/Sarah Braverman soon.
3. Smash - I'm a Broadway/Musicals junkie - Megan Hilty is the best singer on TV today (take that Lea Michele)
4. Mad Men - yeah, I bought into the hype - but that's because it's a really, really good show.
5. Modern Family - Ty Burrell is so underrated.
6. Suits - it's just enough over the top to be fun, without being in your face unwatchable (as alot of cable series can be).
7. Leverage - see #6 - the chemistry and asides from Elliot, Parker and Hardison are worth the price of admission.
8. Psych - I don't always get all the references (it's an age thing) but it's fun to watch.
9. White Collar - Speaking of fun to watch - Matt Bomer is gorgeous
10. Glee - Has really fallen off since the first season, most of the time I fast forward through the plots to the musical numbers - which are still the best (come back Krisen Chenowith and Gwyneth Paltrow- please - Kate Hudson is kind of meh)

I don't watch reality TV shows, or competition shows. Not the least bit interested

The New Stuff:

Community - My close personal friend Sir Basil Gucci and fellow DTFCer Justin kept telling me watch this show.  I hesitated because I really don't like Joel McHale - but I finally caught up with it on Hulu the last few weeks - Troy and Abed - I know these kinds of guys and  I love them.

The Big Bang Theory - didn't start watching it until one one Saturday night a couple months ago when there was nothing else on -now I'm hooked.  Would loved to have seen Jim Parson in the revival of "Harvey" on Broadway this past summer.

The New Normal - liked this more than I thought I would - if they'd tone down Ellen Barkin's character, make her understated - it would be even better (and she'd be much funnier).

Go On - I want to like this series, really I would - I'm rooting for Matthew Perry  (loved Mr. Sunshine - I think Sir Basil and I were the only ones who watched it.  Plus I'm pretty sure I'm  the only one who watched Studio 60 to the bitter end).

Major Crimes - I watched "The Closer" - it took a couple of episodes to get used to the new "format" - but like a fungus, it's grown on me.
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Waiting for the DVD's Because I Don't Have HBO:

Treme (2nd season) - From David Simon who created my favorite TV show ever "Homicide" - just wish John Goodman had stayed with the series.

The Newsroom - it's Jeff Daniels, Sam Waterston and Aaron Sorkin - what other reason do you need?

As I mentioned to someone recently - I rarely go to the movies anymore.  In my never humble opinion 98% of them are unwatchable and even worse uninteresting - unless you are a 12 year old boy who reads comic books. Isn't it astounding how many movies are based on old TV series - studios are looking to TV for ideas - because no one who makes movies seems to have an original thought anymore.

Planning my nights by the TV Guide - you bet. Television series these day are smarter, funnier, more thoughtful, well done and very importantly the more interesting medium worth watching these days.

I want to live in Aaron Sorkin's world! - Marla Hooch
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One Of Those Navel Gazing, Soul Baring, Self Indugent Explanations

Well kids I am going to take another run at blogging - but - this time it's not going to be strictly baseball.

When I stopped writing regularly a couple of years ago it was for a number of unrelated reasons.  Mainly because of my own laziness and too much white noise.  Laziness is its own explanation, it's a fault I've been working to overcome my entire life and will continue to do so.  White noise is a little different: there are so many baseball blogs, twitter accounts, and God-Know-What-Else on the web boasting useful and useless opinions, most of the time with the same information slanted to reflect the author's point of view (I do include myself in that generalization).  I wasn't sure that I wanted to continue adding decibels to that growing din.

What made me change my mind?  A life changing event.   As most of you know my beloved baseball Mom died very suddenly last October.  The last conversation we had as I was leaving her house was a plan for a World Series watching party with hot dogs, peanuts and cracker jacks.  Two hours after that she was gone.

Since that day my world has turned upside down. I have this gaping hole in my sense of being that I know I can't fill. I've struggled with the stages of grief, trying to figure out what the new normal is and getting used to it. The best I seem to able to do is try to find a little peace and hope in the things left that I love, and one of those is writing.   My mom loved reading the blog and last year when I wrote as Toby on Postcards from Elysian Fields. Writing again not only gives me a sense of relief-distraction-fulfillment- it makes me feel close to her again.

Like any other skill, you have to practice to stay in shape, and I'm obviously way out of shape, please be patient.  I will get there.

How often will I write? I don't know, but I'm guessing on the weekend and days off from work.  What will I write about? No idea - but as the amended blog title implies not just baseball could be just about anything.  So this is self-therapy - does that mean lots of digging into your psyche? No, I get enough of that elsewhere, yes I'm doing it to help myself - I know I can be depressing and sentimental - I promise to limit the navel gazing.   Are you finished talking to yourself on this entry? Yes.

In fact, instead of ending with a question, let's end with a declaration of a new beginning: Watch This Space For Further Developments.

Back at the keyboard - Marla Hooch
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Testing 123

Is this Thing still working? If it is, then watch this space- I'm going to start writing again.

February 16, 2011: New Year's (Season) Day

Well, beat the drum and hold the phone - the sun came out today!
We're born again, there's new grass on the field." -- John Fogerty

Happy Pitchers and Catchers Day everyone!



Look at me I could be Centerfield -- Marla Hooch
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Like It Or Not....

In order to sign and keep free agents you have to overpay them and keep them longer than the stat heads at BP and BBTIA pronounce is necessary. Like it or not: that’s the way it works.

If you treat players like baseball cards, as seems to be the mentality of the loudest shrieks we are reading on the ‘net today, instead of human beings – your team significantly decreases their opportunities to sign (or keep potential) free agents. Like it or not: that’s the way it works.

With the precedent the Rangers are setting with Michael Young, then they might as well change their name to the Arlington A’s since they are adopting the same mentality of the Oakland A’s – (watch out Adrian Beltre, Josh Hamilton, and CJ). Except that the Rangers farm system just isn’t that strong anymore, and their track record of developing starting pitching is spotty - on a good day- and average to poor most of the time. Like it or not: that's the way it looks like the Rangers are headed.

What should have been an off-season and Spring Training basking in the glory of 2010 has turned in a mess and revealed the Rangers to be stuck in the same treadmill of stupidity and futility I thought they’d abandoned. Like it or not: that’s the way it is.

Like or not: you've pretty much lost me this time JD and Nolan -- Marla Hooch

First Blog Entry Of The New Year

Trust me, any other year a free agent pitcher signing with another team, and a trade not involving the Rangers is not a big story. 

The thought that keeps popping up in my mind is: this is (basically) the same team the Rangers started out with last season and were already winning the division when they acquired Cliff Lee.  That's a pretty good team already in place (although I'm one of those who is not in favor of bringing back Vlad).  Are the other teams in the AL West better?  Well, the verdict is out on the Angels (if they get Beltre - maybe).  The Mariners aren't,  the A's - that's the team I worry about the most - their pitching is very good, their offense has been the question - is Matsui going to be a difference maker?

It's the last day of the Holiday Season in my book, the "Boring Season" (that long stretch before Spring Training starts) begins tomorrow - there will be plenty of time to ruminate about the 2011 season, that's something I plan on doing. 

But for now, I have that same feeling I did in grade school on that last day of Christmas vacation - I've got to make the most of it - because the real world I live in 330 days out of the year rises with the sun tomorrow morning.

Happy New Year to all - and let's start worrying about the Rangers....tomorrow -- Marla Hooch