Sunday, November 25, 2007

FENWAY IN WINTER.

We were in Boston on Sunday and Monday the week before Thanksgiving to see Springsteen, and on Monday we had a couple of hours between checking out of the hotel and having to meet friends at the venue. So I said, “Why don’t we take the Fenway tour?” TBF is still cranky at baseball in a major way, but it didn’t take much to persuade him. And, we thought, a random Monday in November, the tour will be empty, right? So it was a plan.

As we drove into Boston on Sunday, I realized that despite having been in Boston at least two dozen times in my youth, I had no freaking idea where Fenway Park was in relation to everything else. “You’ll see it from the highway,” TBF said, as we got closer to the city. And then - there was that John Hancock sign and Fenway green and - holy crap, there’s Fenway. Not only did I not have any idea where it was, but I had driven by it more than a few times and it never registered. Never.

(It’ll be worse if I tell you that before I got into Fordham, I was originally hoping to go to Boston University, right? Give me a break, I could tell you where every seminal rock club in Boston was back in the day. Baseball just wasn’t my thing.)

Saturday, November 17, 2007

EASY COME, EASY GO.

I thought we escaped disaster when Posada re-signed with the Yankees, and when A-rod didn’t have every team lining up outside his door with gold, frankincense and myrrh, when I stopped hearing the words “Ronnie Paulino” mentioned as though it was some kind of sure thing.

I’ll make the obligatory, “Ah, Yorvit, we hardly knew ye,” comment that someone surely has made besides me already. But what I do say is: what, exactly, HAPPENED? And - now what?

And the dreaded David Eckstein discussions are happening, again. (I would like to know what the Mets’ standard tour of Greenwich, CT, for prospective team members consists of, exactly. And there’s a joke somewhere about Greenwich still being restricted and Mr. Eckstein having to constantly explain that he’s NOT Jewish, and Gentlemen’s Agreement but I haven’t found it yet.)

I do not want David Eckstein. And I realize that it’s hypocritical because the things I value in, say, Paul Lo Duca and Luis Castillo, the grit (to use a baseball cliche) and the determination and the showing up to play are what have made David Eckstein successful. I’m not even sure it’s because he’s one of The Guys Who Beat Us In 2006 (and I have to say, this is one of the things about being a baseball fan that is still weird to contend with. I don’t know how y’all do this for years, because I sure as heck hold grudges). I mean, what is it about David Eckstein except that he’s available?

I feel better that I am not the only one who does not want Eckstein on their team, either.

We are off to Boston for two days to see Springsteen, and plan on going on the Fenway tour on Monday - even if it does snow. TBF was there a few years ago when Springsteen did play there, and as he put it, “I walked everywhere they would let me, and a few places they definitely didn’t.” Friends of ours smuggled in spice jars to get dirt from the infield. TBF claims he has some grass, somewhere. It’s not very baseball-y to do this in the winter but I would rather do it on a random Monday in November than during the height of tourist season.

Thursday, November 15, 2007

YORVIT!

My first year at Shea, I loved wrapping my vocal chords around the complex Latino names. Heck, what am I saying - I still love it. So the first time I saw the Rockies, the exchange was something like this:

“Yor- WHAT?”
“Yorvit Torrealba.”
“WTF?”
“Yorvit. He’s Venezuelan.”
“What a great name.”

When the rumors started floating around, I immediately thought of Rockies fan and MG reader Kelsey, who has a Yorvit-inspired email address (or at least she uses it to comment on MG). I wrote her at that address and said, “What are you going to do now?” About an hour later, this comment showed up:

here’s a nice article you might want to read if you have time about your new catcher.

sorry this comment has nothing to do with this post.

And you should read the article, because it does tell you more about the guy who’ll be behind the plate next year. And since we’re losing a guy with heart, I’m glad to hear we’re getting another one.

Speaking of articles about Yorvit, you should also check out the Coop’s recent column on Flushing University about Omar, and Paulie Baseball, and Yorvit coming to the Mets.

Friday, November 09, 2007

JACK KEROUAC, BASEBALL FANATIC.

I have been waiting for this exhibit to arrive at the main branch of the New York City Public Library for months, because the centerpiece is the original scroll manuscript of On The Road, which is something I have been dying to see. Yes, I know the legend may eclipse the truth, but it still has iconic status for a writer. And the fact that I now work right by the NYPL and pass Patience and Fortitude every morning made it super-convenient. I saw the banner advertising the exhibit Thursday night on my way home, and decided that I would be dropping by on Friday during my lunch hour - not even realizing it was the first day of the exhibit.

I spent 15 minutes with the 60 feet of the 120 feet of scroll that is unfurled, and browsed some other parts of the exhibition. I mean, I can visit as often as I want over the next six months so there was no real need to see it all in one day. But as I was leaving, something caught my eye, and I went closer.

Wait, is that a SCORE CARD?

So there is an entire segment of the exhibit devoted to Kerouac’s life as a sports fan, and an avid participant in fantasy sports. But not fantasy baseball as we know it today, a world which was constructed out of Kerouac’s imagination. From the exhibition guide:

Fantasy baseball, however, maintained its hold on him to the end of his life. In the “publications” accompanying the game, Kerouac provided the players, coaches, managers and owners with far more detailed biographical histories than he did for the fantasy horse-racing participants.

I also learn that he dreamed of becoming a sports reporter. And in another Kerouac biography, the biographer notes: “In a profound sense, it was sports, more than anything else, that galvanized Kerouac as a writer.”

I have read about half a dozen Kerouac biographies and had never run into this. Then again, if I had, it would have been years ago and I would have probably skimmed over it. I’m sure you’re all sitting there saying “Doh” but this was news even to TBF. I found this article online, but that’s all I came up with. So if you have more, send it along!

As the perennial newbie, I am still struck at who embraces baseball to their heart, and what it ends up saying to me about that person. Here, it’s an astonishing bit of insight. I can see the point that having something that was intricate enough to require devoted study could galvanize him to create a worlds and to consider thoughts and motivation, which of course is the perfect training for any writer. But it was the last thing I expected to run into today, and I’ll be back more than once to that section of the exhibit, likely with TBF in tow, to explore further.

Tuesday, November 06, 2007

UNDER THE MICROSCOPE.

Hello, Cranky MetsGrrl here. I’m cranky because I have to get off the subway in the morning and see this cover, along with the competition’s “SHEA HELLO”. Cranky because - HELLO! SCOTT BORAS REPRESENTS OTHER PLAYERS IN BASEBALL, INCLUDING SEVERAL ON THE METS, and, well, Omar might need to discuss those players with him.  And cranky because the coverage of the Winter Meetings is just beyond overblown. I’m waiting for the beat writers to start publishing the GM’s tee times because they have run out of things to talk about.

Truth is I won’t stop being cranky until Opening Day.

Thursday, November 01, 2007

DAILY SHOW.

This wasn’t as bad as TBF made it out to be, grumbling about David Wright laughing about the inglorious end to the season. I felt he was light, but not too light; serious, but not too serious. I am not expecting sackcloth and ashes, but --

Wait.

No, I am expecting sackcloth and ashes. For a little while longer yet.