About Yesterday… And Tomorrow!
For when the one great Scorer comes
To write against your name,
He’ll write not that you won or lost,
But how you played the game.
- Grantland Rice 1908
I hadn’t planned to score the game on Wednesday- it just happened. I thought I might get some chores done while listening to the game and one pitch into Ichiro’s at bat I couldn’t take it. My scorebook was sitting nearby and looking all shiny and lonely. The last game I had scored was SEA @ LAA 4/25 [Ms win 9-8!]. Wednesday’s game SEA @ CWS resulted in CWS win 6-3. Of course scoring a game when your team loses is not as much fun as the opposite outcome. One never knows how the game will play out until it has, so a recreational scorer like myself must make a decision. I always like to score the games that I attend in person. I also like to watch games on tv and score. Regardless of whether the team wins or loses, there always seems to be some magical moment that is now captured forever on paper and in the mind.
The Mariners left two men on base in each of the first three innings. Three of the White Sox runs were single home runs hit by Pierzynski in the 2nd, and back to back home runs by Quentin and Dye in the 7th. Quentin was hit by a pitch in the 1st and the 5th, and he was robbed of a hit by Balentien’s amazing catch in the third. He deserved that home run.
In additions to Balentien’s catch, Ichiro had great luck in the 5th when he led off the inning by hitting a ball that actually bounced off of first base and popped over and out of reach of Konerko on first. Lopez hit a single and then Griffey hit a highly convenient double to bring both Ichiro and Lopez home. Griffey reached third on an error by the shortstop Ramirez. Beltre hit a single to bring in Griffey for our third and final run of the game. Other positives include Beltre’s stolen base in the 3rd, and back to back outs on Chicago [Anderson and Ramirez] caught stealing in the 2nd. Even with this loss, our record still is leading the A.L. West, and is third in the American League.
Today’s break should certainly help the Mariners after their doubleheader on Tuesday. The team returns to Seattle for the Oakland series; game starts 7:10 @ Safeco. I’m going to bring my scorebook to the game tomorrow! I recently checked out ‘The Joy of Keeping Score: How Scoring the Game Has Influenced and Enhanced the History of Baseball’ by Paul Dickson.
This is most definately the book. It covers basic and advanced scoring techniques, an A to Z guide of scoring and baseball history, and plenty of photos of old scorecards. It is a very easy and enjoyable read. If you are a baseball fan, this book will capture your attention. I’ve been score keeping for awhile [see previous entries], and reading this book is like talking with a friend who has been scorekeeping forever (I would like to make friends with more people who enjoy scoring games!). I began reading it Tuesday night. Perhaps that is why I couldn’t say no to scoring Wednesday’s game!
See you tomorrow night @ The Safe!
xoxo
Your Safeco Sweetheart
Ms. Mariner Monroe
photo credit:
1.http://www.walkerbooks.com/nonfiction/books/covers/joyofkeepingscore-l.gif
Double Header and Happy Birthdays!
“Baseball games are like snowflakes and fingerprints, no two are ever alike.”
- W. P. Kinsella
Game one of the double header in The Windy City this afternoon went to the White Sox. Chicago won with two hits, two runs, and two errors. Jakubauskas and Colon both pitched very well. Seattle scored one run, but seven Mariners were left stranded on base. Betancourt was very close to a three run homer when he hit the ball far to the left with two men on. The ball landed on the wrong side of the pole and the next pitch ended in a pop up to finish the inning.
Game two goes to Felix The Cat. It was very nearly a shutout until the ninth inning. The White Sox managed to get a run and the next at bat resulted in a double play to end the game. The Mariners won 9-1 with 19 hits. It was a great game to watch and especially uplifting after the first game.
So now we have another rubber match! Game three starts tomorrow at 11:05.
Before the month ends I wanted to make sure to wish a few Mariners Happy Birthday; I wrote a short poem:
One year wiser, one year older,
2009 is the year to be bolder!
A very Happy April Birthday to you,
& Best of Luck to the Mariner Crew!
Happy Birthday Felix Hernandez, Adrian Beltre, Carlos Silva, Shawn Kelley, and Sean White!
xoxo
Your Safeco Sweetheart
Ms. Mariner Monroe
photo credit:
1.http://sportsfanoutlet.com/images_cat/SCG/MC135.jpg
2.http://images.celebrateexpress.com/mgen/merchandiser/46996.jpg?is=365,365,0xffffff
Raise the Retractable Roof
“There are three things you can do in a baseball game. You can win, or you can lose, or it can rain.” - Casey Stengel
As I sat in front of the tv at 5:11 I was reminded of one of my childhood birthdays. A pony was coming for pony rides and as I sat looking through the window of the door enjoying the snow I asked when the pony was coming. Just like there are no pony rides in the snow, there is no baseball in U.S. Cellular Field in the rain. And so I just sat there. Staring at the tv like I stared out the window. No pony? No baseball game? It seems like when I’m looking forward to something it takes a while for the message that its not going to happen to sink in.
Luckily I stay tuned long enough to see FSN scramble to fill the air time with something- Top 10 Mariner Commercial Countdown and Top Ten Griffey Moments Countdown. Both were highly entertaining. It definately got me even more interested in the Classic TV Commercial DVDs giveaway nights. Night #1 will be July 10th vs. the Rangers, and night #2 on August 28th vs. the Royals. All together the DVDs will play 100 Mariners commercials. My favorite commercial from the top 10 countdown was the Mariner Moose Bad Dream in which he gets replaced by a coffee mascot. That’s just funny. My favorite Griffey moment from the countdown was most definately Griffey Sr. and Griffey Jr. back to back home runs. That’s just magical.
The game is rescheduled for tomorrow and now the Mariners will play a double header against the White Sox starting at 1:30. Remember- focus on the good. What’s better than one baseball game? Two!
I love the rain, I love my wellies, and I love Safeco Field. Knock their white sox off boys!
xoxo
Your Safeco Sweetheart
Ms. Mariner Monroe
photo credit:
1.http://www.charlesmschulzmuseum.org/images/cb-baseball-rain.jpg
Saint Rita, Pray for us
“Never let your head hang down. Never give up and sit down and grieve. Find another way. And don’t pray when it rains if you don’t pray when the sun shines.” - Satchel Paige
Good advice from a great pitcher. It’s so easy to forget to pray when the sun is shining. Sometimes its important to have a bad day, or fall down, or in this case lose a game. It reminds us that we’re not invincible and we’re not alone in that. Sunday afternoon we lost to the Angels. More than lost… we were shut out. The Angels actually scored at least one run in every inning but the first, the seventh, and by the time the ninth rolled around they didn’t even have to bat. Although we gave them fourteen hits, only eight runs were scored. At least by watching the game I found out via announcers that the enthusiastic fan who robbed Matthews of a homer Saturday was actually an Arizona fan in disguise. I’m no longer embarrassed for true Seattle fans everywhere.
What a blessing that we lost a game so badly and yet are still leading our division, and third in our league. In true western washington weather fashion it’s raining and sunny! Prayer provides an outlet for deep meditation, outpouring of gratitude, and relief of anxiety and stress. It allows a person to participate more fully in life. Collecting and acknowleding all of the great things by showing gratitude will strengthen the soul for trying times. Satchel said it better than me.
Saint Rita is the patron saint of ‘impossible or lost causes.’ In ‘The Rookie’ (watched last night!), Dennis Quaid’s character becomes a major league player- something which everyone- including himself- thought was impossible. A miraculous medal also appears in the movie. Since then some medals have been printed with an image of St. Rita on one side and a batter on the other side.
Pretty sweet baseball rosary, huh?
I don’t know about the rest of the Mariners Faithful, but before I go to sleep I’m definately saying a prayer of thanks for the 2009 season.
Amen.
xoxo
Your Safeco Sweetheart
Ms. Mariner Monroe
photo credit:
1.https://www.catholicsupply.com/christmas/Baseball%20Rosary.jpg
Russell’s Muscles, ‘Enthusiastic Fan,’ & Be My Balentien!
“Hey, did you ever try dunking a potato chip in champagne? It’s real crazy!” - Marilyn Monroe as ‘The Girl’ in ‘The Seven Year Itch’
What a game! What a game! What a game! Definately a champagne popping moment! And it all took place in the home of the 2010 All Star Game, Angel Stadium. I watched on television and kept score. Mariners win 9-8 with 12 hits to the Angel’s 11. Branyan hit a three run homer to right field in the 1st. Balentien hit a homer to left field and Johnson, who landed on first due to an error on Kendrick, caught a ride home on Betancourt’s double. Branyan scored again in the 6th. Ichiro, Chavez, and Griffey all scored in the 7th. Balentien made a circus catch in the 7th to retire the sides and prevent another run from scoring.
The Angels were tough tonight, and it was hard work preventing a rally comeback. Lowe pitched a full count to four batters in a row. The Angels were fighting hard to come back. The crowd was so loud- intense!
Two single run homers were hit by the Angels- one by Morales and one by Hunter. There were almost three single run homers, but fan interference robbed Matthews. The enthusiastic fan was surrounded by Angels fans and wearing a Seattle cap. I must admit, I was embarassed that a Seattle Fan would interfere with a game. The umpires left the field to review the tape- the first time video replay was used in Angel Stadium. Enthusiastic fan immediately began speaking on his cell phone. The umpires ruled the hit a double. Matthews spat alot. I wonder what happened to enthusiastic fan- was he escorted out of the ballpark? If not simply for interference, for his own protection! ESPECIALLY considering the final score…. I hope the kid is okay.
AND… Silva got the win! I’m so happy for him! Infact, the first two innings were three up / three down. Remember what we learned the other day class? When the world tells you it can’t be done- that just means it hasn’t been done…yet 
Way to go Silva!
What a great night for Baseball! Watch a great Ms game on Fox, and then ‘The Rookie’ on AMC. ‘What’s a Devil Ray?’ ’What color is it?’ ‘Can you eat it?’ ‘Cool.’
Tomorrow we go for the sweep- ah, spring cleaning!
xoxo
Your Safeco Sweetheart
Ms. Mariner Monroe
photo credit:
1.http://teamsugar.com/node/567165
2.http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg189/rassmuss1/blog/SweepAngels.jpg
HOT DOG!
“Dogs never bite me. Just humans.” – Marilyn Monroe
In 1902 [during a New York Giants Game], while vendors in the baseball stands shouted, “Get your red hot dachshund sandwiches!” an amused Ted Dorgan sketched a mustard covered canine and because he couldn’t spell dachshund, he named the drawing “Hot Dog.”
Yesterday @ Angel Stadium Mariners win 8-3. We took one run in the 2nd, six in the 5th, and one in the 6th to the Angel’s three in the 5th. Although it did take 17 hits for us to score 8 runs to the Angels 6 hits for 3 runs. Beltre’s two run double in the 5th was pretty spectacular. Bedard took the win. So now we are leading our division and second in the American League only to Toronto. Our 6-2 on the road record is better than our 5-4 at home record. Traditionally the Mariners road record has always been a bit better.
Tonight we play the Angels again @ 6:05. I hope Silva can get a win!
St. Louis All Star Game ballots are out. You can vote online… but then you don’t get to poke the little paper holes out of the ballot. One of my favorite things is sitting at Safeco, eating a hotdog, watching the game, and poking enough holes off a ballot till I have confetti to celebrate the next great hit or play. I’ve only been to one All Star Game/Home Run Derby/Fan Fest extravaganza, and that was in 2001. What a great year…
For more on Hot Dogs, check out All you ever want to know about hotdogs according to mlb.com
xoxo
Your Safeco Sweetheart
Ms. Mariner Monroe
photo credit:
1.http://search.msn.com/images/results.aspx?q=baseball+dachshund&FORM=MSNH11#focal=1bd3fea47218d83d5a77e2e6f84959e2&furl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.railroadtrackfilms.com%2Flildachsund.JPEG
Before You Strike Out
“In summary, if someone tells me that a ball was hit 550 feet, I won’t believe it- but I won’t bet the farm against it either.” – Rober K. Adair, “The Physics of Baseball”, on how far a ball can be hit.
Would you believe it? We beat the Rays 1-0 on Ichiro’s leadoff homer. It was a great game to watch- even when the network went out and I listened to the radio for awhile. Some people I’ve talked to said it was a boring game… only one run… sigh. What about the great defense and pitching? Boring… If you think Baseball is boring, the only thing boring about baseball is you. Baseball is a metaphor for life- appreciate everything, no matter how small something may seem.
Which brings me to my new excitement- ’101 Baseball Places To See Before You Strike Out.’ I’m going to recieve a copy from the library on Tuesday and I am uber excited.
Strike out is a much nicer way of saying die. If you think about it, it is so much more descriptive of a life well lived and loved. You can’t strike out if you don’t play the game [of life]. You’ll also never know how far you can hit the ball if you never step up to the plate. Most important, other people will always say it can’t be done before it is. Like The Babe said, “Never let the fear of striking out get in your way.”
Go Mariners!
xoxo
Your Safeco Sweetheart
Ms. Mariner Monroe
photo credit:
Rubber Ball, I’ll come bouncing back to you
FUN FACT: In 2006, a baseball signed by Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe sold for $191,200 in auction. The ball was autographed in 1961 at the Yankee’s Spring Training.
Series with Tampa Bay: we take the first one at 4-2, they take the next at 9-3. We now have a rubber match. It could go either way- which team will take the series? The game starts today at 3:40pm; Mariners Matinee.
Last night’s game was pretty interesting. Although we did lose, we did so on 3 runs and 4 hits versus Tampa Bay’s 9 runs and 15 hits. There were plenty of errors to go around on both teams (2 each to be precise). And the three runs that we did score were ultimately courtesy of Lopez’s 3 run homer in the 5th. This afternoon should be another great game to watch.
There are a few games I want to go to that I don’t already have tickets for. To avoid paying the “convenience charge”, I’m going to have to wait until I’m at the game again to purchase them. Hopefully there are still some left for me… convenience charge…. I’m sure it’s very convenient for them to take more money.
Anyone know where I can find Seattle Mariner Jeans by Alyssa Milano? I’ve found Mets, Braves, Astros, Dodgers, Red Sox, Athletics… there are even Seattle Seahawks jeans!
But no Mariners Jeans to be found :( Perhaps I will have to make my own.
xoxo
Your Safeco Sweetheart
Ms. Mariner Monroe
photo credit:
1.http://img.coxnewsweb.com/B/07/49/54/image_3654497.jpg
2.http://proshop.seahawks.com/WebData/Product/36592/Images/Large_200122denimjeans.jpg
A New Day, A New Way
“I knew I belonged to the public and to the world, not because I was talented or even beautiful, but because I had never belonged to anything or anyone else.”- Marilyn Monroe
Monday was a well deserved, and well needed day off for the Mariners. After losing to the Tigers this weekend 0-2 Sat, and then 2-8 Sun, I’m sure everyone- players and fans alike- benefitted from a little fun in the sun. The weather was great and I ended up playing frisbee at a bbq.
The Rays are in town tonight for a 7:10 game. I will most likely be watching it from my couch. Both of my puppies have recently been hurting themselves. They like to follow me around the house injured or not, so the only way to get them to rest is to A) play celine dion and wrap them in a heated blanket or B) sit with them.
It seemed like all that was on tv last night were wedding shows. Some of them were quite entertaining. One couple had their wedding on halloween night in an old manor. The decorations were pretty awesome- elegant old-world creepy. If I ever get married I would like to do something different as well. Of course I would be happy if it involved baseball! I’ve seen many couples get engaged at Safeco, and I’m sure there are plenty weddings as well. It would be interesting to see more baseball themed weddings on those shows. I definately enjoyed the Mets fan themed Man Caves show where they turned a guy’s spare space into a Mets Mecca sports bar- same thing, right?
Well, like the title says- A New Day, A New Way- if we want to have a great season, everyday has to start fresh- regardless of yesterday’s successes and failures- and the most important thing is being open to and ready for new opportunities for success. A mantra for the game, and life.
xoxo
Your Safeco Sweetheart
Ms. Mariner Monroe
ICHIRO Bobblehead Night!
“I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can’t handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don’t deserve me at my best.” – Marilyn Monroe
Unfortunately I do not have a nice new shiny Ichiro bobble to pat on the head. I felt like a bobblehead watching last night’s game on tv though! In the second inning Felix loaded the bases twice… I think all that bubblegum he was chewing was distracting him… Shaking head changed to nodding head when we were able to turn it around. Of course I’m going to be sad when we give up three runs- the difference is I watch the rest of the game. We’ve both won and lost in the past when we were down by more than ten. Stranger things have happened my friends…
Beltre rocked it out last night though. It was awesome to watch his own excitement captured on the screen. And 6 runs for 8 hits to the Angels 3 runs for 9 hits goes to show we were playing fundamental baseball. It was fun.
I was a little sad we didn’t sweep the Angels, but the first two games with them at Safeco were so awesome that it definately makes up for it. The cliche ‘you can’t win them all’ will hopefully this year become ‘you can’t win them all, but you can win more than the other guy…’.
Safeco is ten years old this year! I moved to the Northwest in 1999. I never went to the Kingdome. One of the first things we did when we moved here was go to a Mariners game at the Safe. So this year not only also marks my 10th anniversary in the most beautiful part of the world, but also the fact that I’ve grown up with Safeco. It’s always felt like home to me, and it always will.
xoxo
Your Safeco Sweetheart
Ms. Mariner Monroe
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