Would it be a Game, If no Fans were allowed?

April 29, 2015 White Sox vs Orioles Game
Without Fans

Yesterday the Orioles defeated the White Sox 8-2 in a MLB record setting game. The stadium was empty--no fans were allowed to attend the game due to the unrest in Baltimore. 

A game without fans? The players demonstrated that baseball is our national pastime whether fans are allowed or not. Further--this weekends home series between the Orioles and the Tampa Bay Rays has been moved to Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, where despite not being in Camden Yards, the Orioles will be the home team for statistical purposes. the series promises to set records for low attendance as it it much too far for the Orioles faithful to make last minute plans to attend. 

Yes, it was still a game. This weekend's series will still be games as well--it is just that the local fans do not get the enjoyment of seeing our team in person.

Buck Showalter
Baltimore Orioles Manager

I was having trouble understanding understanding the decision to play a fan-less game, so I did some digging. Turns out, it was because the Orioles did not want to dilute the police and security forces protecting the city to be at the game for crowd control. I hadn't thought about it like that before, but it does take quite a large security force to keep us all safe when we attend sporting events.

Buck Showalter, quoted by MLB.com, had one of the classy comments of the day:

 "Everything in life, this too shall pass. Something's bad if you keep repeating it. We hope to take out of it a starting point for our city." 
-- Orioles manager Buck Showalter on the magnitude of the game

-- Bob Doan, writing from Denver, Colorado

Out the Hotel Window - Denver, Colorado, April 2015

Looking at Denver April 27, 2015

Yes, I am at a hotel near Denver looking south across the plains to the mountains and the ever increasing urban sprawl. 

It is amazing how different the scene can seem separated by a day. 

Looking at Denver, April 28, 2015

Even separated by a day, however, the effects of the drenching rains can still be seen in the huge puddle in the overflow parking lot. Both images were taken in the morning, just about sunrise. One day dawned rainy and cold with only the promise of more rain all day. The next dawned cold but clear and ended with sunny and bright skies.

From the ViewHouse Restaurant
Centennial, Colorado
April 28, 2018

Yesterday's ending was far more spectacular than I would have imagined. I enjoyed dinner at the ViewHouse Restaurant in Centennial, Colorado, and was treated to the spectacular sunset as I was leaving. I could not pass up taking a quick image of it--the colors were fantastic and placed an exquisite exclamation point on the end of the day.

Today promises to be an even better day!

-- Bob Doan, writing from Denver, Colorado

Unrest, Anger and Baltimore Burns

It pained me to see my home city of Baltimore figure so prominently in the news during the past few days. 

It obviously was not for something good and it has become almost a media circus not unlike a feeding frenzy.

I am saddened for the good people of the region that are being held hostage and viewed in a bad light by a few thugs who have taken a valid and important point and protest and moved it into the theater of the absurd.

A man, Freddie Gray, is dead. Riots and vandalism do nothing to bring the people who killed him to justice and they further do nothing to promote increased awareness of the causes for which the peaceful marches were held. I was encouraged that his family called for peace and also noted that the violence tarnishes the memory of their son and brother.

I watched CNN most of last evening in total disbelief that the city that I most closely associate with my home with was being held hostage by violence for the sake of violence. I was appalled that one of the targets of the violence was a newly constructed senior center--which was constructed by a church to serve the people of Baltimore. 

I was appalled that the Mayor of Baltimore failed to act proactively.  I was, however, encouraged that the newly elected Governor was ready to respond within seconds of the request for help to stem the violence with the National Guard.

I believe there is a problem that needs to be investigated and reviewed, but it cannot be accomplished amid the destruction and unrest of the moment. 

Pray for peace. Work for healing and help rebuild the damaged areas.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Denver, Colorado

Monday Musings - April 27, 2015

1. Weekends pass too quickly. There always seems to be more things to do than time to do them.

Victory Cheer

2. Flying is becoming like being packed in a cattle car. Has anyone flown on a plane lately with an open seat next to them?

3. Although I missed the game because I was at a wine fest, the Pirates, Jax's baseball team, won their first game in dramatic walk-off fashion! It is fun to be coaching in a league where the scores actually matter.

First Tee at Carroll Park
April 26, 2015

4. I got to play nine holes of golf yesterday morning. It was nice to be out on the course. I played miserably--but that is golf. I'll do better next time. I am learning more and more every time I venture out. Weirdly, yesterday I did best on the par 3's--they usually are my toughest holes. 

5. Prayers and support are needed for the people of Nepal after the earthquake and aftershocks. 

6. I just have to write it--the 18 runs the Orioles scored yesterday are the most in a single game since 2006. I hope they didn't use up the whole weeks allotment of runs.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Denver, Colorado

Waiting at the Door

Dogs have a way of expressing themselves even without words. 

Yesterday, while we were stopping by Patrick and Tina's house to drop off Makayla for a play day, two overly rambunctious dogs--Chewie and Warren, had to be separated from the larger group.  Realizing the error of their ways, they stood at the door hoping be reunited with the group. To no avail. Makayla was sitting next to me, quietly enjoying the respite from her high energy companions.

But Chewie and Warren were clearly repentant.

Really? Is that anthropomorphism? I think so. 

But they were cute standing at the window hoping to be allowed to rejoin the group. 

Another day in the life of a dog.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Friday Night Living

Chris--Posing

Friday evenings are perhaps the best of the entire week when I gather with friends to put the exclamation point on the end of the workweek and cast a glance forward to the weekend.

It is a rhythm to living that I have grown accustomed to repeating--in a good way.

There is something about getting together over some great munchies and some nice wines to compare notes and relive highlights and low lights of the week.

Fran and Pam

It is therapeutic, truly, to be with friends who really care about what is happening in each others lives.

I took some candids last evening of us sitting around--eight friends, one week, and, yea, a couple bottles of fine wine.

Bring on the weekend--we can conquer anything!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Redbud and Grill

Chops on the Grill

It dawned upon me last evening about 7:30 PM, as I was warming up the grill with a couple of pork chops, that the daylight is truly lasting longer. It was just two months ago that I would have been grilling the meat in darkness--illuminated by only the porch lights.

It stopped to snap a picture of the scene to remind myself that this is what the best part of the year is all about--living outdoors. Now if only the temperatures would become more seasonable. It is 37 degrees this morning as I write this with an expected high in the high 50's for the day. I was thinking of taking Cat, my jaguar, out today--but the top is still down from the last time it drove it.

Our Redbud Tree

Ugh, it is cold. And I know Upstate New York received snow yesterday. 

At least our redbud tree is in bloom. As I was doing some research, I discovered that tradition has it that Judas Iscariot hanged himself from a redbud tree. Wow, it is amazing the things I learn when I go deeper into the background of the things I am writing about. 

If Spring would ever take control of the temperatures, I would get ready to open the pool and start the slide into summer. But--with the continued cold, there truly is no rush to uncover the pool. I guess I will have to be content with the signs of the season which appear around me on a daily basis and be happy in the knowledge that warmer weather is coming, even if the thermometer doesn't indicate that it is here, yet!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Fortunes on the Field

Jax and Jack

Yesterday was a frustrating day for both of my baseball teams.

The Pirates, Jax's coach-pitch baseball team were out slugged in a game and the Orioles managed to find another creative way to lose to the Toronto Bluejays. 

Not a good day on the field. 

The Pirates played an older and more experienced team and held their ground during four of the six innings. Unfortunately, a comedy of errors resulted in a blow out score for the final. But, that is why we are there--to learn the game. I think the final was 13-4. 

The Orioles were victimized by the long ball and dropped a close game 4-2. They just can't seem to get the hitters and the pitchers working together, but the season is still young.

While the on field fortunes for my teams were not good yesterday--today promises to be a better day. Well, at least the Pirates don't play today. Their next game is Saturday.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Hammocking Around

Patrick and Chris Demonstrating Stability
 in the Hammock

I had not considered a hammock for many years. They are not one of those backyard adornments that interest me.

Until last evening.

I was introduced to a new hammock concept at Patrick's which interests me enough to investigate further. This hammock, unlike to traditional ones, is very portable and was also very stable. I was able to get into and out of it without getting intimate with the ground. 

I am notoriously unbalanced in hammocks and this one was very stable. 

The other problem is experience with hammocks are flying insects, a/k/a mosquitos. This hammock, I am told has an optional mosquito net--which is an absolute necessity for my yard which is bounded by a wild area containing water and sufficient quantities of mosquitos to sustain a brown bat population for decades. 

I wish I had remembered the name of the company which produced this variant.

At least I took a picture.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Sounds in the Middle of the Night

One of the joys of the Springtime is sleeping with the windows open allowing the air conditioning to be off and fresh air, with pollen, to fill the room. 

Fortunately my allergies are fairly well under control this year and I can actually enjoy the fresh air, but there are sounds that happen during then night which disturb my sleep and cause me to be cranky in the morning.

For instance, last night it was the sound of a screaming fox, probably a vixen, walking up the driveway right below my window. Of course, Makayla had to alert me that there was commotion outside and begin barking which caused the cats to stir and become agitated. It takes time to go back to sleep and get everyone settled after the offending animal has departed the area.

Of course there are other sounds which can disturb the house in there middle of the night as well and which are enhanced by sleeping with the windows open. 


Sirens on the interstate. 

Planes taking off on the little used runway which seems to fly directly over my house.

Thunderstorms--like the one last night that followed the fox incident.

Of course, the sound of the cat spitting up a hair ball is especially bothersome and occurs whether the window is open or not.

Maybe tonight it will be quieter.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD