Baseball Rocks!

Spring training weekend is something I have been looking forward to since the baseball season ended in October. It did not let me down.

Unlike last year when I came to Sarasota and saw them, the Orioles look GREAT!! The offense was productive and the pitching and defense was stronger than I expected. Despite ESPN's dire predictions of the O's season, I have returned to Baltimore ready for opening day in less than two weeks and believing that the Orioles Way has reemerged from hiatus and our team is ready to confront the beasts of the AL East.



I saw a quote from Rogers Hornsby that more than I could every believe stated my love of the game and the way I wait through the winter for its return.

I took an image of it in Sarasota where it graces the entrance to Ed Smith Stadium where the Orioles hold spring training. It reads:

"People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what
I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring." - Rogers Hornsby




This weekend, I saw the O's win two games. I saw batters batting and pitchers pitching. I saw the fielders making plays and more importantly, I saw a tight baseball team that has improved on the fundamentals.

Despite the dire predictions, I believe in the Orioles Way and Orioles Magic.

I believe that 2012 will be better than 2011.

And more importantly, I believe in baseball, Mom, and Apple pie!

Maybe the cartoon bird has magic in the logo.


-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Awesome day at the park

We have had an awesome day at the park and the game has not even started.



I saw my favorite player, Brian Roberts, and he signed my hat. He says he is doing better and accepted my wishes for a continued recovery.

We have snared a couple balls and given most of the away.

Jeremy got Matt Wieters to sign his jersey. Mike also got Brian Roberts to sign his baseball.

Game on.



- Bob Doan, Sarasota, FL

Out the Hotel Window - Sarasota, March 2012

Sadly this was the view from the hotel window yesterday morning. I say sadly, because I was thinking about going out into the pool for a morning swim--but as you can see it was full. And I really didn't want to get into the middle of whatever lesson was taking place.



The scene is not nearly as awesome as the views of the wide open prairie from my window in Denver last week. I still remember the sunrises that I witnessed.

But despite the view, I am in Florida and an unexpected cool front has changed the forecast from sunny in the 90's to cloudy in the low 80's, meaning that my "still not acclimated to summer temperatures body" was not be too stressed at the afternoon ballgames.

The good news--baseball, sun, and warmth! As an aside, this is the sign at the entrance to the hotel--I feel so welcomed.



The bad news? I have to leave this beautiful place later today and probably not return until next year.

For now though, I will enjoy this foretaste of summer and savor the coming dog days while still being sure to enjoy the blooming springtime.


-- Bob Doan, Sarasota, FL

Sunny baseball afternoon

Sarasota and the O's are leading 4-2 in the 4th.

Awesome day.

Flowers of Spring

They are accumulating in the yard, the flowers of springtime. The weeping


cherry is preparing to burst forth is its season of color, while the less noble but still beautiful bleeding hearts are also in bloom.



It is a fun time of the year to see the rebirth happening each day.

It is a season to enjoy and savor as it too quickly passes. While summer is fun and the pool will soon be open, this time as the flowers. Brighten the awakening world and the birds reappear is truly a time to enjoy.

I love walking the yard and seeing the new growth. I remember, just a few weeks ago when the land was dormant and asleep waiting for the warmer days and shorter nights. Everything was the same from day to day. But now, change and growth is everywhere.

So now is the time to enjoy and remember while looking forward to even more warmth in the coming summer sun.


-- Bob Doan, Sarasota, FL

The Grating Sound of Springtime--Ice Cream Truck

There it was the other evening.

The sound that makes me want to head inside and close all of the windows.

Yes, it is the sound of the ice cream truck winding its way though the neighborhood.

Were it in earshot for only a few minutes, I could accept its nightly rounds; however, it seems to linger in the evening like a visitor that will not leave even though their time has long passed.

It is not that I would deny the children of the area their opportunity to receive frozen delights, but rather it is the awful music blaring from the speakers which bring all rational thought to a stop which grates on my mind.

And it seems to continue for over an hour as the truck winds its way through the neighborhoods surrounding the house.

Sadly, it can ruin the best glass of wine (whine?).

I wonder how many children actually flock to this relic of Americana i the evening? I wonder how many parents cringe at the sound of its arrival in the area?

In reality, it is just another confirmation that winter has checked out and we are firmly in the season of rebirth.

If only they would change up the music!



-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Orioles Spring Training and the Season Preview

Tomorrow afternoon, I leave for a quick trip to Orioles Spring Training in Sarasota, Florida. Two games (Red Sox and the Nationals) and temperatures in the 90's. Not to mention a quick trip to the beach and roasting in the sun.

Yet despite the hope of another Spring and a new season, ESPN just dashed my hopes with the latest issue of their magazine.



In the magazine they provided the best and worst-case scenarios for every team in Major League Baseball.

Of course, I read the item hoping that the Orioles best-case scenario might have them winning the division over the hated Red Sox and even more despised Yankees. Even the Toronto Blue Jays got some issued a ray of hope as their best-case has them making the playoffs for the first time since 1993.

Alas, the Orioles though were hammered by ESPN. Our pre-season hopes dashed by a dose of reality. ESPN wrote for the best-case: "Lefthanders Brian Matusz and Zach Britton make major strides before the team is crushed under the weight of a powerful division. For the sixth straight year, Baltimore fails to win 70 games, for the 15th straight year the team has a losing record. Yes, this is the best-case scenario."

The worst-case scenario, and I'm not going to quote all of it, ends by stating: "The O's end up breaking the club record (107 in 1988) for losses in a season."

Ugh!

Spring training is supposed to be about hope and new beginnings and not about dismal seasons and even worse finishes.

I have my tickets--so I will see, in person, whether the ESPN writers have a clue. For now though, it is off to Sarasota where hope springs eternal because as the season is set to begin, the O's are tied for first!


-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

On the Trail of Springtime

Spring officially starts today! It actually began at 1:14AM EDT, while I was sleeping. The transition occurred silently as the grip of winter officially passed into a memory. The winter of 2011-2012 was mild in Maryland. Even so, I am glad it is gone. I look forward to warm days and sunshine.

The flowering trees along the roads look like ice cream cones--kinda funny, something cold to usher in the season marking the transition from cold to warm.

The cherry blossoms in Washington, DC are in full bloom.

Most interestingly, when I get to Sarasota on Thursday, it will really be spring. Although with temperatures expected in the 90's it will seem more like summer. And they call it, Spring Training.

The lawn was mowed on Sunday, mostly to remove winter's debris and I expect to continue to enjoy this newly dawned season with outdoor activity. There are so many things to do, in the yard and gardens.

I hope I remember the joy that simply being outside in shorts and a tee-shirt brings me when summer finally passes into autumn. But that is six long months away.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - March 19, 2012

1. Another week another trip. Last week Denver, this week Sarasota for Orioles Spring Training.

2. Wars and rumors of wars. Who else is tired of hearing about Israel and Iran?

3. March Madness--basketball. Who will be number 1?

4. Have you noticed how tough flying is right now? Small space and no amenities?

5. March has a four day sweep of mini-holidays: pi day, ides of March, 3:16, and St Patrick's day.

6. It amazed me how quickly Spring showed up in Maryland while I was away. The flowering trees have really begun to flower. They look like snowballs alongside the road.

7. I know it is springtime because I had the mower out yesterday getting the debris off the already green and growing lawn.

8. Sitting outside last evening watching the sun set and the world slow after a busy day was truly a perfect way to end the day.


-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

On the Wine Trail in Virginia

We enjoy the wines and wineries of Monticello Wine Trail of Virginia.

As a result, Chris and I have decided to embark on a new joint project. We have decided to attempt to visit each one and write about each of wineries and their wines.


We always have such a good time--and of course much of the fun is the journey to the winery and the interface with the people serving the wines. I most enjoy chatting with the winemakers when they are around.

During our most recent weekend, we visited 6 of the 25 wineries listed in the travel guide. Totaling with our past visits to the region, we have visited 11 of the wineries on the trail. We are, however, going to use last weekend as the start point and so there are six wineries that we are preparing to write about.

Given that we already published about Veritas, there are five more and then we will need another weekend away to the region to collect more information.

It should be fun. Especially when we need to head out again.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD