Jaybird's Jottings

The Giant Weekend

Although all weather geeks know just how unreliable the longer range forecasts are, that doesn’t stop us from looking at them several times a day. Despite this uncertainty, it does look like the weather will be good for the Giants at the Nationals this weekend.

They keep tweaking it, from low 80s each day with a chance of thunderstorms only on Friday to mid 80s with a chance of the boomers each day. But it’s been really hot here this week so we won't complain. Looks like it will be less humid this weekend.

I’m hoping to go to all three games. Pitching matchups are Correia vs Tim Redding, Lincecum vs Joel Hanrahan. Zito on Sunday. It's Mike Bacsik’s turn but the Nats are considering calling up Matt Chico from AAA and starting him. By the way, Nats fans have taken “pitching probables” with a grain of salt this year. Fun though, if you like to see the hopefuls come up and give it a shot.

Saturday is time to expand the rosters. I don’t remember ever being at a Giants series when that was going on.

Walk up tickets for this series should not be a problem if you don’t mind the upper deck. I just did a check and it gave upper deck behind home plate, 9th row. Note that it is a "premium" series, adding four or five bucks more.

By the way, you might see a banner in left field with a number. This is the count down for the Nationals at RFK. DC United will still be there for a while.

But for the Nationals, there are just 16 games left with a Grand Finale planned for Sunday, September 23rd.

It ain't Friday yet?

Nationals Select Centerplate as New Concessionaire

There is much rejoicing among good food lovers in Washington. With such places as Jaleo, Noodles and Company and Chipotle sprouting up in the area, the Nationals have announced Centerplate as their new concessionaire for the ballpark. Centerplate has established itself with rave reviews from patrons at ballparks in San Francisco, Seattle and a handful of other cities.

Aramark had the job at RFK. Despite some good people, their overall performance was spotty and the food selections not very good.

It will be interesting to see what local and regional foods are offered. D.C. doesn’t really have a lot that I can think of. My wife will be happy if they have crab cakes and they seem a foregone conclusion. We’ve changed our eating habits in the last few years and really go for better food. The lines will be long but it will be worth it.

Speaking of the new ballpark, I stopped by the construction site this weekend. JD did too yesterday and has a photo showing the portion of the Frederick Douglass Bridge that was taken down and the improvements along South Capitol. It’s one of the many amazing "before and afters" taking place in fast-growing "Near Southeast.”

With regional foods as the topic, there's a funny aside here. One of the buildings near the ballpark that has not been torn down is near the corner of N and First. It's an old restaurant whose name slips me. But when I go on one of my look sees, I sometimes glance at it (while dodging workers and trucks).

One of its signs has breakfast foods offered including grits! My Dad loved them and my Mom made them good for our breakfast. Something tells me they won't have them at the new ballpark but I do know that Indigo Landing restaurant south of National airport has served shrimp and grits, a version my Dad would have thought too wierd!

Well enough about food. Now I'm hungry!

2009 SABR Convention Confirmed for D.C.

Washington, D.C. has been confirmed to host the 2009 SABR Convention.

Attendance will likely be 700 plus. The Bob Davids Chapter (DC/Baltimore) has a lot of members who will attend. When the convention was here in 1987, a record 631 came, a figure that stood until Boston’s 712 in 2002. (D.C. also hosted the second one in 1972).

Should be a good one. The Nationals’ ballpark will be in its second year, the Metro system is excellent, lots of free tourist sites and the area is served by three major airports.

Rock the Nation

"At Boston's Fenway Park, the smallest stadium in the majors with a capacity of 36,108, the Red Sox have not had an unsold seat since May 15, 2003, a streak now at 370 games. That's the second-longest in baseball history to Cleveland's 455 from 1995 to 2001." - Red Sox Nation New King of the Road, USA Today, August 23, 2007

One of my favorite records of the 70s was Montrose’s eponymous debut album. Released in 1973, its first three tracks comprise one of the best 1-2-3 punches in hard rock history. I thought about one of them yesterday when everything was coming up Red Sox. Although it’s a teenage anthem, Rock the Nation, the lead off tune, seems to be the perfect song title to describe what’s happening with the Boston Red Sox.

With all due apologies to El Lefty Malo, who makes a good point about too much “Nation” this and “Nation” that, Red Sox Nation is a force to be reckoned with right now. On our trip to New England, we were having breakfast with a couple from New Hampshire who were Red Sox fans. With the season sold out, they couldn’t get tickets to the games at Fenway. They decided to try for a Baltimore road trip in September, but couldn’t find a hotel during that time.

Yesterday, USA Today had a cover story on all this. Boston is leading road attendance this year and have achieved “rock star status.” My buddy Joe and I got a taste of it in March when a Marlins home game sold out due to all the Boston hats. At a recent Orioles game, Sahx fans took over Camden Yards.

Last night on the tube, more Red Sox. On Around the Horn, Tim Cowlishaw racked up five points praising Boston when, unlike his three colleagues, he took the side that the Red Sox were indeed "America’s Team" (now that label is silly).

I knew I shoulda’ bought that Fenway cap...

Note: Fenway's capacity has been increased to over 38,000.

Best Sports Cities

Sports fans in Washington had a pretty good day a couple of weeks ago, a trifecta of sorts, with the Nationals, D.C. United and the Mystics each winning their games (Aug 9). For the Nats, the win was more of a morale victory, as they stayed four or five hitches in front of the National League caboose.

For D.C.’s other two summer teams, the day brought significant gains. By beating the Galaxy in David Beckham’s MLS debut, United moved into second place in the Eastern Division and solidified their MLS playoff chances. The Mystics, who missed the playoffs by a missed buzzer-beater this past Sunday, put themselves two games ahead of New York for the fourth playoff spot in the WNBA’s Eastern Conference. Their climb to get back in contention was remarkable, going 16 and 10 after a horrible 0 and 8 start.

While Major League Soccer and the Women’s National Basketball Association are not in the same room with the other big sports, they are certainly deserving of some attention. In cities like Washington, those two leagues can help bridge the gap between the hoops and the pigskin seasons for some fans.

Major bragging rights occur for cities when they do well on lists like The Sporting News’ annual “Best Sports Cities.” Bob Hille produces the list, using MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL, college football, basketball and Nextel Cup racing. D.C. plunged to number 24 this year, after a number 11 ranking in 2006 and number 7 in 2005 (Baltimore and Washington were considered as one until 2006).

If MLS and the WNBA were added, however, Washington would make some gains in those rankings. Along with New York, L.A. and Chicago, they’re one of just four cities that have teams in the NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, MLS and WNBA. Throw in Tiger Wood’s new PGA tournament that landed here this past summer, the area as a lacrosse hotbed and the 2007 champion Washington Freedom, and I’ll swear by my remote that we’re better than the 24th Best Sports City.

Our Trip to Coastal New England, August 17-21

There’s something very appealing about living near water. As a kid, I enjoyed the benefits of a small creek that flowed past the end of our back yard. Two of my assignments in the Air Force put me near large bodies of water. For the past 12 years, we’ve lived just two miles from the Potomac River.

So when the better half asked me several months ago if I wanted to take a trip to coastal New England, I didn’t hesitate to say yes. We counted on it being a good trip, but it turned out to be one of our best. Ideal weather, harbors galore, friendly natives and lobster and clam chowder so good it makes me sad to think about eating seafood anywhere but New England.

With Roberta becoming more and more of a baseball fan and my desires to see it for a second time, a game at famed Fenway Park was a must. We paid a pretty penny for the tickets but it’s all economics. This was August weekend baseball for the first place Red Sox who play in a mecca that holds just 38,000 plus fans.

We flew from Dulles to Logan on Friday. Took the T in to the city. Their old system made us appreciate the Metro here in D.C. We had about three hours and chose to walk around Harvard. You’ve heard the famous saying, “Pahk yah cah in Hahvahd.” Well, there ain’t no parking in Harvard so we were glad we took the T.

On to Fenway for the 7 pm start. The place teems with activity outside the park. It would have been enough just to see a game there, but with the Angels in town, it was a match up between the two teams with the best records in baseball and the east coast-west coast symmetry thing going on.

With the two teams playing a make up game in the afternoon, we saw Game Two. I thought great, we might not see all the regulars but we did except Coco Crisp. Before the game, a moving tribute was paid to the Jimmy Fund and the donors were thanked for making it another record amount of money contributed to the cause. One of the special kids sang the National Anthem then ran around the bases to a standing ovation. Was there a dry eye in the house?

As far as pitchers, I was hoping to get to see "Dice K" but settling for 15-game winner and Cy Young candidate Josh Becket was no problem. He has that blazing fastball and excellent curve. He pitched well, giving up one earned run in seven and striking out eight. Santana had his wicked slider working and the Sox had nary a hit through four. How rare, I thought and it wasn’t what we wanted to see. Finally, in the eighth, Boston broke though with a four spot to take a 5 to 4 lead. Fenway was going nuts.

The Sahx fans really get into the game and stay in their seats. They anticipated another Boston victory but Gagne blew it in the ninth. The Halos scored three times to spoil it with a 7-5 win.

On Saturday morning, our destination was The Admiral's Inn at Boothbay Harbor, Maine, about an hour north of the New Hampshire state line. After a stop for lunch in Newburyport, I thought we would just blow right through New Hampshire's 30 mile southeast corner on I-95.

But it wasn’t to be. As we crept along, a roadside sign showed the State Motto - “Live Free or Die.” But with all the tolls to pay and the slowdowns they caused, it didn’t feel that way at all.

The traffic finally thinned out after we crossed over into Maine. With the sun gone, we finally arrived at our accommodations for the next two days. We got up the next morning and took in the views of the harbor.

Maine is really beautiful this way. We fell in love with the small town atmosphere and our B&B certainly made for a pleasant stay. The Admiral Inn is a little steep in price but worth it in our opinion. Les cooks up a delightful breakfast held in a sunroom overlooking the water. We ate with some fellow travelers and talked with them. Makes you want to never stay in a hotel again.

On Sunday, we drove up the coast to Acadia National Park. Along the way, more of Maine’s beauty to behold, the lush grass, the trees, the water, the small islands in sight.

Life is full of interesting correlations. Before we left, two things I wanted badly to see, the Giants winning and some rain for our parched lawns and poor farmers, just wasn’t happening. While we were gone, the Giants won five in a row and the area got some good soaking rains.

Guess we’ll have to take more trips.

The National Pastime 2007

The latest issue of The National Pastime is now out for SABR members. It’s devoted to “individuals of the game.” A handful of Giants are in the lineup.

R.J. Lesch, who has written about the Giants before, researched the franchise’s famed Traveling Secretary Eddie Brannick. I was keen on this one the most, having read little snippets about this bonhomie whose time with the Giants spanned across 65 years.

Brannick, who loved the Giants as a kid, climbed the company ladder the old fashioned way. He started as an office boy in 1905. Born and raised in "the tough Irish neighborhood known as Hell's Kitchen," Brannick came to know ‘em all from the cups of coffee to McGraw, Mathewson, Hubbell, Ott, Terry, Mays, McCovey and Marichal. He retired in 1971 and passed away in 1975.

Neil Mackertich covers “Dirty Jack” Doyle. Doyle’s 71 years in baseball included player, manager, umpire, and scout. He spent eight seasons with the Giants, including the 1894 season when he batted .367 and helped New York win the Temple Cup. Doyle hit .588 in the series played between the top two NL teams.

Other pieces include Jim Kaplan on Juan Marichal and Warren Spahn’s epic 16-inning duel at Candlestick in 1963 and J.A. Petterchak’s look at Don “The Mandrake” Mueller. David Mandall, who has been following the Giants since 1965, researched the suspension of Leo Durocher. Music buffs will enjoy Dave Frishberg recalling the makings of a song he composed in 1969 titled “Van Lingle Mungo.” (Mungo played his final three seasons with the Giants).

Of general interest, Peter Bjarkman joins a growing chorus of fans who are asking MLB to retire Roberto Clemente’s number 21. Acknowledging that he was not the first Latino big-leaguer, Bjarkman makes the case for Clemente saying, “Roberto was easily the biggest impact Latino player of the past Century.”

TNP is mailed free to SABR members or can be ordered at The Nebraska Press.

Beckham’s MLS Debut

Just two nights after Barry Bonds hit 756, sports fans had another kind of vigil. Some Englishman named David Beckham made his MLS debut last night at a sold out RFK Stadium. Some fans paid upwards of $200 for the chance to see history.

Beckham entered the game about halfway through the second half. Some of the media reports made it sound like he came into the game during the downpour that soaked the crowd of 46,686. But the deluge slacked off after about ten minutes. That’s when Beckham made his highly anticipated trot on to the field.

I’m not a big soccer fan but I really got into the game, watching it on ESPN2. DC United looked very impressive. Fun to see the Screaming Eagles, their dedicated fans having so much fun, making the retractable seats rattle and waving flags.

Watching the game, it occurred to me that the nature of soccer is a great equalizer. DC United clearly outplayed LA, had six or more good shots on goal, but only had a 1-0 lead. Late in the game, the Galaxy came within a foot of tying it.

Anyway, more sports history made this week. A lot of hype for Beckham but it was fun to watch.

756!

Congrats to Barry!

I crashed and missed 756 last night but we're watching all the highlights and coverage this morning.

Mays Field at night: What a setting.

Hank Aaron: Class act.

Bud Selig: No comment.

The Asian Baseball Journal

How much do you know about Asian Baseball?

That’s a question the sporting folks at Bristol are asking. With a growing interest in the subject, I thought I knew a little something.

Apparently not. I took their quiz and did not fare too well.

Just in time as a remedy is SABR’s Asian Baseball Committee’s newsletter. Now known as the Asian Baseball Journal, it has been revamped into a first-class publication. Their first issue (July) under the new format features articles from renowned experts such as Robert Whiting and is spiced up with commentary pieces and book and film reviews.

In a new "Student Column," SUNY students Deana Lykos and Taryn Donovan look at how the Red Sox and the Yankees are "winning in the advertising arms race" in a piece titled “The Real Reason Why Daisuke Matsuzaka and Kei Igawa Came to the U.S.” Robert Fitts, author of "Remembering Japanese Baseball," reviews a non-statistical biography of Hideki Matsui. He found it having some flaws but overall to his liking.

If you’re sick of hearing about "The Empire" and "The Nation," options include Merle A. Branner’s insightful article on the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame and a review of the recent DVD "American Pastime." William Alton describes it as a “powerful, inspiring drama revealing a rarely considered side of the World War II Japanese American experience.”

Always fascinated by the history of the Yomiuri Giants, my fancy was captured by Japanese baseball historian Yoichi Nogata. His new book, over ten years in the making, is titled, "The Tokyo Giants North American Tour of 1935." The author traveled extensively to find contemporary accounts and stories of this historic trip.

The clean up hitter in this distinguished lineup is Whiting. The author of must reads "You Gotta Have Wa" and "The Meaning of Ichiro: The New Wave from Japan and the Transformation of Our National Pastime" gives his valued opinion on the state of the game in Japan and his recommendations for its future.

With MLB taking pioneering steps in China and all the other continuing stories about Asian Baseball, SABR's new publication will be one good way to keep up with it all. Folks such as myself may even improve their test scores.

Note: SABR Asia has a blog but it’s in its infancy.