Last evening I attended the first home playoff MLB game is fifteen years at Camden Yards.
The stadium was alive. It was decked out for the game--spirits dampened only by the rain which delayed the start by two and a half hours. The crowd was alive and the team responded. Even with the rain and the delay--it was electric.
And I hope tonight will be more of the same.
That is the great thing about the baseball playoffs--they last for more than just one night/day; unlike the NFL. When the season is 162 games long it is good that the playoffs are not a series of one-and-done affairs.
Go O's.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Monday, October 8, 2012
Monday Musings - October 8, 2012
1. Baseball is a 27 out game, unless tied. The Orioles were great for 24 outs yesterday. Unfortunately, the Yankees owned the last three outs.
2. Winning ugly is still a win.
3. Busy weekends pass so quickly. From Charlottesville in the morning, to Monticello, and then and Orioles game. Wow, what a day. Anyone want a holiday?
4. I am wondering if I am beginning to overload on baseball? Nah.
5. The colors of autumn are really beginning to invade the hills. We saw a windblown leaf storm this weekend.
6. Holiday mondays are a great way to recover form a busy weekend. Why are holiday's so busy, too?
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
2. Winning ugly is still a win.
3. Busy weekends pass so quickly. From Charlottesville in the morning, to Monticello, and then and Orioles game. Wow, what a day. Anyone want a holiday?
4. I am wondering if I am beginning to overload on baseball? Nah.
5. The colors of autumn are really beginning to invade the hills. We saw a windblown leaf storm this weekend.
6. Holiday mondays are a great way to recover form a busy weekend. Why are holiday's so busy, too?
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Sunday, October 7, 2012
Wings Over Wine Country
One winery we visited yesterday was hosting the Wings Over Wine Country awareness for injured animals for the Wildlife Center of Virginia.
The organization brought along a few animals. including the screech owl in this picture.
This owl is missing one eye and the other is damaged rendering her effectively blind. They believe she may have been hit by a car or a train. he was found along railroad tracks near an intersection. Now she is a permanent ambassador to raise awareness for injured animals.
It is amazing what one finds while spending a great day sampling the fruits of the vine.
-- Bob Doan, Writing from Charlottesville, VA
The organization brought along a few animals. including the screech owl in this picture.
This owl is missing one eye and the other is damaged rendering her effectively blind. They believe she may have been hit by a car or a train. he was found along railroad tracks near an intersection. Now she is a permanent ambassador to raise awareness for injured animals.
It is amazing what one finds while spending a great day sampling the fruits of the vine.
-- Bob Doan, Writing from Charlottesville, VA
Saturday, October 6, 2012
Out the Hotel Window - Charlottesvile, VA October 2012
The autumn colors are creeping into the afternoon sunlight illumined trees. The weather, although warm, is turning cooler with each passing night. The vineyards have harvested the grapes for the upcoming winemaking season and the preparation of the 2012 vintages are well underway.
It was an awesome day. I is a stop along a busy weekend that began last evening with the O's first playoff victory in over 15 years. Today was sampling wines at many of our favorite and one newly discovered vineyards.
Tomorrow a visit to Monticello and then home for a busy Sunday in the middle of a busy three day weekend.
It is becoming an annual event--doing something special on the first weekend in October. The weather is beautiful with the summer still close enough to remember and the autumn rain and chill still something that yet has not arrived.
But it will. Until then, enjoy life, drink wine, and love deeply.
-- Bob Doan, writing from Charlottesville, VA
It was an awesome day. I is a stop along a busy weekend that began last evening with the O's first playoff victory in over 15 years. Today was sampling wines at many of our favorite and one newly discovered vineyards.
Tomorrow a visit to Monticello and then home for a busy Sunday in the middle of a busy three day weekend.
It is becoming an annual event--doing something special on the first weekend in October. The weather is beautiful with the summer still close enough to remember and the autumn rain and chill still something that yet has not arrived.
But it will. Until then, enjoy life, drink wine, and love deeply.
-- Bob Doan, writing from Charlottesville, VA
Friday, October 5, 2012
Orioles Magic--Pushed to the Brink
One game play in. The October hunt is underway.
It sounds great, right up until it is game day and the entire post-season is on the line.
The team that few of the pundits believed in at the start of the season is one of 10 teams still standing and starting the post season today. Twenty other teams are sitting at home watching on their televisions.
The odds seem stacked against the Orioles:
An away game, in Texas who won 5 games against 2 losses this season against them. The O's are 1-2 in Arlington this season.
Starting a pitcher who is a clear candidate for Rookie of the Year honors (Yu Darvish,16-9 with a 3.90 ERA and 221 strikeouts in 191 1/3 innings)
Texas, who has a guy who hit four home-runs against them in a single game this season (Josh Hamilton)
Coming off the final series of the regular season after being held to 5 hits and 2 runs over the last 18 innings (2 games) and losing two of three to the Tampa Bay Rays to wind up on the road for the Wild Card game.
But it is the Orioles!
The team projected to lose possibly 120 games (they lost only 69 while winning 93).
The team that was in the toughest division in baseball with one of the smallest payrolls.
The team that set a new major league record for roster moves during a season.
The team with two players with more than 30 home runs, and five with more than 20 home runs.
I like our odds.
Take one scrappy team living the dream and play against a team that blew a 17 game lead in their division, put them together to see who advances on one night .
This is post season baseball and regardless of the outcome, Orioles Magic is back!
Like the first verse and chorus of the Orioles Magic song:
Something magic happens, everytime you go
You make the magic happen, the magic of Orioles’ Baseball!
When the game is close, and the O’s are hot
There’s a thundering roar from 34 to give it all they’ve got
And you never know who’s gonna hear the call
Every game there’s a different star
That’s the magic of Orioles’ Baseball!
Orioles Magic! Feel it happen!
Orioles Magic! Feel it happen!
O - R - I - O - L - E - S !
Magic! Magic! Magic! Magic!
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
It sounds great, right up until it is game day and the entire post-season is on the line.
The team that few of the pundits believed in at the start of the season is one of 10 teams still standing and starting the post season today. Twenty other teams are sitting at home watching on their televisions.
The odds seem stacked against the Orioles:
An away game, in Texas who won 5 games against 2 losses this season against them. The O's are 1-2 in Arlington this season.
Starting a pitcher who is a clear candidate for Rookie of the Year honors (Yu Darvish,16-9 with a 3.90 ERA and 221 strikeouts in 191 1/3 innings)
Texas, who has a guy who hit four home-runs against them in a single game this season (Josh Hamilton)
Coming off the final series of the regular season after being held to 5 hits and 2 runs over the last 18 innings (2 games) and losing two of three to the Tampa Bay Rays to wind up on the road for the Wild Card game.
But it is the Orioles!
The team projected to lose possibly 120 games (they lost only 69 while winning 93).
The team that was in the toughest division in baseball with one of the smallest payrolls.
The team that set a new major league record for roster moves during a season.
The team with two players with more than 30 home runs, and five with more than 20 home runs.
I like our odds.
Take one scrappy team living the dream and play against a team that blew a 17 game lead in their division, put them together to see who advances on one night .
This is post season baseball and regardless of the outcome, Orioles Magic is back!
Like the first verse and chorus of the Orioles Magic song:
Something magic happens, everytime you go
You make the magic happen, the magic of Orioles’ Baseball!
When the game is close, and the O’s are hot
There’s a thundering roar from 34 to give it all they’ve got
And you never know who’s gonna hear the call
Every game there’s a different star
That’s the magic of Orioles’ Baseball!
Orioles Magic! Feel it happen!
Orioles Magic! Feel it happen!
O - R - I - O - L - E - S !
Magic! Magic! Magic! Magic!
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Life in the Friendly Skies
I reflected upon my recent traveling experience trying to remember the golden days of flying, when passenger comfort was what air travel was about instead of making a profit.
Yesterday, at times. I felt more like self-loading cargo, a term I remember pax (as we were called) being referred to when I was on active duty in the Air Force.
Starting with the screenings before being allowed into the terminal, everything seems designed to remind us that we are the by-product of the system rather than the reason everyone there has a job. Oh, generally the people who work in the airport are nice and deferential--but I am convinced they believe that it would be a great place to work if there were no passengers.
Kind of like schools--a great place to work except for the students.
I remarked to another passenger that with all of the cost cutting measures (or cost increasing measures from a passenger perspective) soon we are not going to need to check our bags anymore. The will have us walk down the ramp and stow the bags in the cargo hold ourselves before going back up the ramp to our seats. And we will retrieve them after the flight. Oh yeah--they will still charge $25 per bag for the self-service option.
I have to chuckle at United's boarding sequence. I guess they have seven boarding groups. Somehow I was in group four yesterday. Turns out, I was the only person in boarding group four. And the plane was jammed. Many people went before me and most came after me, making me feel very conspicuous going through the gate.
Food on a flight? Fly first class or buy it. I remember when meal service was standard for all classes. Problem was that everyone complained about the food so they did away with it and now we can complain about not getting any.
I think the greatest thing that has happened in air travel is the permanent no smoking situation. I remember the days when the back of the plane was blue with cigarette smoke. Getting stuck in the back was a sentence to a terrible trip--worse than sitting next to a screaming infant that pukes on nearby innocent passengers.
The next greatest thing in air travel will be allowing mobile devices to be used during take-offs and landings. The pilots are using iPads, why can't we? From a practical perspective it would save the airlines money because I wouldn't drag a book along with me to read during take-offs and landings. Since books have weight and fuel is used to fly weight--there would be some savings if most people decided not to bring additional reading material along.
So many stories and so little time.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Yesterday, at times. I felt more like self-loading cargo, a term I remember pax (as we were called) being referred to when I was on active duty in the Air Force.
 |
| Looking at the 737 Being Readied to Fly from Denver to Baltimore |
Starting with the screenings before being allowed into the terminal, everything seems designed to remind us that we are the by-product of the system rather than the reason everyone there has a job. Oh, generally the people who work in the airport are nice and deferential--but I am convinced they believe that it would be a great place to work if there were no passengers.
Kind of like schools--a great place to work except for the students.
I remarked to another passenger that with all of the cost cutting measures (or cost increasing measures from a passenger perspective) soon we are not going to need to check our bags anymore. The will have us walk down the ramp and stow the bags in the cargo hold ourselves before going back up the ramp to our seats. And we will retrieve them after the flight. Oh yeah--they will still charge $25 per bag for the self-service option.
I have to chuckle at United's boarding sequence. I guess they have seven boarding groups. Somehow I was in group four yesterday. Turns out, I was the only person in boarding group four. And the plane was jammed. Many people went before me and most came after me, making me feel very conspicuous going through the gate.
Food on a flight? Fly first class or buy it. I remember when meal service was standard for all classes. Problem was that everyone complained about the food so they did away with it and now we can complain about not getting any.
I think the greatest thing that has happened in air travel is the permanent no smoking situation. I remember the days when the back of the plane was blue with cigarette smoke. Getting stuck in the back was a sentence to a terrible trip--worse than sitting next to a screaming infant that pukes on nearby innocent passengers.
The next greatest thing in air travel will be allowing mobile devices to be used during take-offs and landings. The pilots are using iPads, why can't we? From a practical perspective it would save the airlines money because I wouldn't drag a book along with me to read during take-offs and landings. Since books have weight and fuel is used to fly weight--there would be some savings if most people decided not to bring additional reading material along.
So many stories and so little time.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Debate or Orioles?
Really--do you need to ask?
Tonight is the final baseball game of the regular season. It is also the first presidential debate.
The Orioles have played all season and a large number of things come down to tonight. Or tomorrow night. Or Friday night.
There are so many options and permutations.
The Presidential debate will not settle anything. Tonight's baseball game will settle a lot.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Tonight is the final baseball game of the regular season. It is also the first presidential debate.
The Orioles have played all season and a large number of things come down to tonight. Or tomorrow night. Or Friday night.
There are so many options and permutations.
The Presidential debate will not settle anything. Tonight's baseball game will settle a lot.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Out the Hotel Window - Denver, Oct 2012
 |
| Denver International Airport in the Distance |
It was a pretty scene and I zoomed a bit on the airport terminal.
The sky was clear and the day was warm and inviting. The trees are beginning to change over from green and into their autumn colors. It was one of those season ending nice days that get etched into your memory.
I keep getting a room that does not face the mountains in this hotel. I like the mountains, but the prairie has its appeal as well. I like staying here because there is always a great view out of my hotel window.
-- Bob Doan, writing from Denver, CO
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Trouble with the Curve -- Review
Trouble with the Curve, although touted as a baseball movie, this movie will appeal to those who are not baseball fans. The movie is a story about the relationship between a father (Clint Eastwood) and a daughter (Amy Adams).
The father is baseball scout suffering from failing health and eyesight. The daughter is a high powered lawyer who is one the fast track in her law firm for partner. The baseball team is confronted with technology advocates and the scout refuses to use a computer. He evaluates talent on sight. There are some classic technology battles in this story--can a computer and statistics really tell you everything you need to know about a person or a team. The movie conflicts with the premise of the movie Money Ball, that in fact computers are better than eyes on scouting.
Add in a little love. A lot of past history and a bit of basebll and you have a good solid, yet predictable movie.
I enjoyed the movie and the character development. Clint Eastwood was masterful in the part and amy Adams played the conflicted daughter very well.
Recommendation: Go see this movie.
-- Bob Doan, writing from Denver, CO
The father is baseball scout suffering from failing health and eyesight. The daughter is a high powered lawyer who is one the fast track in her law firm for partner. The baseball team is confronted with technology advocates and the scout refuses to use a computer. He evaluates talent on sight. There are some classic technology battles in this story--can a computer and statistics really tell you everything you need to know about a person or a team. The movie conflicts with the premise of the movie Money Ball, that in fact computers are better than eyes on scouting.
Add in a little love. A lot of past history and a bit of basebll and you have a good solid, yet predictable movie.
I enjoyed the movie and the character development. Clint Eastwood was masterful in the part and amy Adams played the conflicted daughter very well.
Recommendation: Go see this movie.
-- Bob Doan, writing from Denver, CO
Monday, October 1, 2012
Monday Musings - October 1, 2012
1. A storm swept through last evening with strong winds to churn the still green trees and which dropped the temperature about 15 degrees accompanied by some cold rains--the first cold rain of the coming season. I wonder if it was September saying good-bye?
2. Don't look now, but the team some pundits projected to lose 120 games, just made the MLB playoffs for the first time since 1997. Go O's.
3. I have to admit, for the first time in a long whole, I don't have a good idea of what happened around the world over the weekend--I have been kinda focused on a particular stadium in Baltimore.
4. I used my new smoker to smoke a chicken and some ribs yesterday--although I have some more tweaking to do, they came out all right. Practice makes perfect, so I expect there will be more smoking in my future.
5. Here's an interesting thought--on this day in 1908 the Ford Motor Company unveiled the Model T. I remember what Henry Ford reportedly said about customers--"If I had asked my customers what they wanted they would have said a faster horse." Truth is, he probably never said that, but that is a discussion for another time.
6. A kick ball, three boys, and bases equal about an hour of fun.
7. What is the best time of the day? Morning of course, because at dawn the day is still full of hope and promise.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
2. Don't look now, but the team some pundits projected to lose 120 games, just made the MLB playoffs for the first time since 1997. Go O's.
3. I have to admit, for the first time in a long whole, I don't have a good idea of what happened around the world over the weekend--I have been kinda focused on a particular stadium in Baltimore.
4. I used my new smoker to smoke a chicken and some ribs yesterday--although I have some more tweaking to do, they came out all right. Practice makes perfect, so I expect there will be more smoking in my future.
5. Here's an interesting thought--on this day in 1908 the Ford Motor Company unveiled the Model T. I remember what Henry Ford reportedly said about customers--"If I had asked my customers what they wanted they would have said a faster horse." Truth is, he probably never said that, but that is a discussion for another time.
6. A kick ball, three boys, and bases equal about an hour of fun.
7. What is the best time of the day? Morning of course, because at dawn the day is still full of hope and promise.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
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