Chapter 90.5: Turning on the Hot Stove

Ok, I have about three minutes to squeeze in a blog post (which is often the case, and a big reason why there are few posts here lately.) Anyway, I was just chatting with a work friend, who like me is a baseball fanatic.

He asked where I thought Luis Pujols would end up. I told him I expected that he'd remain in St. Louis, but I could also see him heading out to Anaheim, despite their young first baseman Mark Trumbo. "What St. Louis needs to ask itself," I said, "is whether signing a 31-year-old Pujols, who may be on the downward side of his career, or Jose Reyes, who is 28 but prone to injury." I don't think they have the capacity to sign both to the contracts they will command on the open market. Basically, do you sign a top-notch shortstop, a position very hard to fill with quality, or a Hall of Fame first baseman, a position that is easier to fill.

My friend talked about how Pujols might be willing to offer a "home-town discount." Of course, for a guy who's already earning upward of $20 million a year, a hometown discount is still more than $20 million a year! And I don't think Reyes could command that.

For the record, I don't think my Mets will resign Reyes. I also don't know that he's definitely staying in the National League. But his market will not be as large as some people seem to think. The teams that might be able to sign him mostly have a solid shortstop in place or are unlikely to be attractive to Reyes, who I woudl expect wants to go to a perennial contender.

What do you think?

Chapter 90.2: Volunteer Spirit

In a couple weeks, our nation will recognize the tenth anniversary of one of the most horrifying attacks on its soil. I live not too far from New York City. These days, I work in Manhattan, a quick subway ride away from the area now known as Ground Zero. Ten years ago, it was just "the trade center" and it describes a larger area than most non-New Yorkers realize.

Those who know me well are aware that I'm an emergency medical technician (EMT) and have been for more than half my life. So, 9/11 hit me differently than it did for a lot of other Americans. I lost a friend that day and remain very thankful I didn't lose more. But this year will be a little different. Not only is it the tenth anniversary of that fateful day, but I'm also assigned to my squad duty that day. I don't expect anything tragic to happen to mark the day. But if it does, I have my training and experience to fall back on as well as the assistance of many able fellow volunteers.

You don't have to be an EMT to serve your community; it's my way, I don't expect it to be everyone's. But I hope that if you're able you'll find a way to volunteer your time, either on that day or on other days. Regardless of what your political positions might be, volunteering is mostly about helping to better your community or society. We're still months off from New Year's Resolutions, but maybe you can resolve to squeeze in a bit of volunteering into your life. You may find it's a wonderful way to improve not only your community but your perspective. Good luck. Stay safe.

Chapter 90: Hot Stuff

While I was jogging this morning, I passed an attractive young woman who was chatting with a neighbor of hers. She saw me and flashed me a thumbs up sign. I smiled, waved, and said good morning.

I don't think she was flirting with me. I think she was acknowledging that we both suffer from the same sickness. You see, she had exercise clothing on, too. For all I know, she might have just come back from a workout at the gym. Mind you, this is before 7 a.m. As Met first baseman Lucas Duda said about playing yesterday in 90-plus degree heat, "It's freaking hot out there!"

Of course, that's why I was out jogging before the rest of my household (other than the cats) was awake. It's freaking hot out there and getting hotter!

Why is it that joggers feel the need to get those miles in, mile after mile? Is it a madness derived from wanting to know how far we've gone? I mean, most joggers I know keep logs of either time run, miles run, or both. Or is it possibly because we have some undisclosed need to torment our bodies? No, I don't think so. If I did, I'd be like I was in high school and run in the middle of the day during days like this, running sans t-shirt in the hope that I might impress someone. To my knowledge, the only remarks I ever heard were about how stupid it is to run in such deadly weather.

I don't run as far or as long as I did just a few years ago. Kids'll do that to a guy. Probably to a woman, too. But I still long to put those miles down, to mark the steps taken. To know that, for at least a half hour or so, I pushed myself on this day, despite the obstacles.

Crazy. It's just too freaking hot out there.

Stay cool, everyone!

Chapter 89.8: Songs, Suicides, and Sitting Around

When I get the chance, I like to listen to music. For many years, I wrote music and lyrics, and I always feel like I can pretty much jump back into it at any moment even though I know my guitar muscles need to get back in shape. These days, most of the music I hear is sung by, to, or with a muppet, so I'm not sure I should attempt to write any music at the moment unless I'm ready to get heckled by two-year-olds.

But a song that still catches my attention is one that Dave Matthews came out with a couple years ago: Funny the Way It Is. In essence, it's about perspective. He describes children playing in the park on a beautiful sunny day; their cries of joy become mixed with the sound of a fire engine's siren and he reflects on how someone's home is burning down "on a day like this."

I especially love the lyric: Funny the way it is, not right or wrong/
Somebody's heart is broken, it becomes your favorite song.

I've written songs like that. The lyrics just ring so true.

Although I didn't hear the song this morning, it's one of the things that crossed my mind after hearing about my train being delayed this morning. Apparently in the early morning hours of the day soon ending, a person "trespassed" onto the tracks and was struck by a train. Hours later, trains were still delayed. I got into my office at least a half hour later than usual.

I suspect things were worse for the person who was killed by the train — worse still for that person's family. I wondered if it was drunken stupidity that led the person to the tracks before dawn or the prospect of yet another day of sadness that brought about that fatal decision. I don't know and never will.

On the train, a few people complained about the delay, the crowded conditions that resulted. But not many. Personally, I think folks in New Jersey understand that terrible things could happen to anyone and it's best not to dwell on them. Respect the moment, thank God you and your loved ones are ok, and move on to whatever is next.

Tonight, I'm thinking about that person whose life ended not twenty-four hours ago. I'm hoping the sun shines in blue skies, but I know that if it doesn't I'll be able to get through the day. And I pray that you're all well.

In the meantime: Sing. Sing a song...

Chapter 89.7: Nostalgia and Wandering

It's funny the things that can jog your memory. I was musing the other day about blogging and it occurred to me that this blog was coming up — indeed has passed — a milestone, a birthday. It was seven years ago that I started this blog. Seven years and two weeks now.

I was a different person way back in 2004. I wasn't yet a dad, though I very much wanted to be. I was barely making ends meet, which is the same as now, but I was still working in New Jersey and driving to work each day (remember when gas was less than $3 a gallon?) and supplementing my salary with a few umpiring gigs. They were fun but basically covered beer money for a week at best.

But one thing that has remained the same is writing. It is part of who I am and always has been, since the days I'd walk to kindergarten making up stories along the way.

I learned about this free blogging software and thought, why not? I didn't know about building a "platform" for myself as a writer. I'll admit I thought it might help me get noticed, but I knew then that it was difficult to be heard amid the maelstrom. It didn't bring in any money then and it doesn't now. (Note to self: disable google ads; they don't work for me.) But, like baseball, it's fun for me. I enjoy it and I'll do it for as long as I'm physically able.

So my blog is seven. Ta da! It still doesn't have a focus and I'm almost in need of a refill to my coffee cup. In just a few seconds I'll wander back down the hall to do just that. Along the way, I might spend a few seconds to think of what I could do in the next year of blogging here and at my other virtual rest stops. What will you blog about today?

Chapter 89.3: Baseball 2011

For those of you who aren't baseball fans, I'm sorry. You'll probably gain very little in your life from this post, and I permit you to leave. I hope you come back for the next post, which shouldn't be too long from now, and I'm pretty sure it won't be about baseball, since I've already begun writing it.

For the rest of you, this is what I'm thinking about when it comes to baseball 2011: Transition.

I think we're going to see a major power shift in the divisions. Let's start in the AL East.

AL East: The Boston Red Sox still have a great pitching staff, but even there the word of the day is transition. This staff isn't about Josh Beckett and it's certainly not about Diasuke Matsuzaka. The question is going to be whether the Cy Young Award goes to Jon Lester or Clay Buchholz. Combine this great staff with an improved lineup — which added Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez — and the Sox should be a powerful team.

But now I see a major transition. My sleeper team is the Baltimore Orioles. They played excellent baseball after Buck Showalter arrived in late August. Sure, they had nothing to lose at that point, but they played like they actually wanted their jobs. It's hard to say they're improved enough to actually take the AL Wild Card, but they might be able to keep the Yankees from taking it. I see the Yankees having problems with their starting rotation. Let's face it, the back end of their rotation (Freddy Garcia and Ivan Nova) are a has-been and a not-yet. The front end will do fine, but in the mostly improved division, the Yankees bats will need to step up to overcome mediocre starting pitching. The bats are capable, even those that are aging, but this is a team on the decline. And if they fall behind, how long will it be before CC Sabathia's contract status (he can opt for free agency at the end of the season) becomes a distraction?

The Blue Jays have a lot of question marks in their rotation, too, and it'll be interesting to see if new manager John Farrell, the former Red Sox pitching coach, can help put this team on the same page. They have bats, they have arms, but I'm not sure they have enough of either. The Tampa Rays took a major back step. They've still got stars and will be asking them for more productivity, but I don't think they can compete this year.

My picks: Red Sox; Yankees; Orioles, Rays, Blue Jays

AL Central: Here's another area of transition, but this division has been rather flexible the past few years. The Twins still have a solid core, but injuries may have slowed down Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer. Can a pitching staff that relies heavily on Carl Pavano really continue to thrive? I think the White Sox have improved their lineup and have a strong enough rotation to at least give the Tigers and Twins a run for their money. I like the additions the Tigers have made in their lineup, and this team is still capable of amazing people. The Indians, not so much. Who pitches for this team? The Royals have some amazing talent, but there too it may be too green to flourish in this division.

My picks: White Sox, Twins, Tigers, Royals, Indians

AL West: The home of the AL Champion Rangers could be headed for a new leader, and it's not the team you'd expect. It may not be too thin a limb I'm going out on, but I think the A's have the arms to win what has been a remarkably successful division the past ten years despite having such terribly weak teams. The Rangers lost their ace when Cliff Lee departed, and I'm not just sure their revised rotation can handle it. There was a lot of talk of moving stud closer Neftali Feliz to the rotation and if this team starts off poorly, expect that talk to regain momentum. They may struggle to hold off the always tough Angels. But this team is far removed from its world championship in 2002. As for the Mariners, they have the reigning Cy Young Award winner Felix Hernandez and former MVP Ichiro Suzuki, but not a whole lot more. It's possible Eric Bedard might make a resurgence, but it seems more likely to me that the team will once again languish and come July we'll see them shopping Hernandez and maybe even Ichiro.

My picks: A's, Angels, Rangers, Mariners

Now to the National League.

The NL East. Only a fool would bet against a rotation that consists of Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels, (an aging but capable) Roy Oswalt, and Joe Blanton. Sure, things could go wrong, there's a lot of age and with age come injuries. But I think the Phillies will start off strong and the league will fall by the wayside. Fredi Gonzalez takes over a changing lineup in Atlanta, where I expect we'll see Chipper's final go-round the league. But this team won 91 games last year and could do so again. They'll have to fight off Gonzalez's former team from Miami. The Marlins keep winning 80-plus games, but I think this year they boost things up a notch. Their pitching staff has talent — not Phillies-level talent, but it'll be interesting to watch. My Mets are a mess, but if new manager Terry Collins can get them moving and keep the team's play in the papers rather than the ridiculous nightmare in their owners' offices, perhaps they can surprise some folks. I'm not holding my breath. The Nationals have made major improvements, but it still comes down to pitching, and they don't have a whole lot, with Stephen Strasburg recuperating.

My picks: Phillies, Braves, Marlins, Mets, Nationals

NL Central: This could get very interesting. In St. Louis we have a potential problem as the Albert Pujols contract watch will continue throughout the season. The Reds, last year's surprise, are losing pitchers by the day. The Cubs still have personality conflicts to resolve in the clubhouse. The Astros have little hitting and the Pirates have little of anything (though I think Clint Hurdle will find a way to make some magic happen.) Almost by default, I think the Brewers, which improved themselves by acquiring former Cy Young Award Zack Greinke, are ready to take control.

My picks: Brewers, Cardinals, Reds, Cubs, Pirates, Astros

NL West: The World Champion Giants look pretty much like the team that took it all last year, and that's ok, but when other teams improve, it's tough to keep winning when you're standing pat. The question, then, is how well have the Colorado Rockies improved? I think it's enough. They already have a surprisingly decent pitching staff and a powerful offense. But the Giants GM, Brian Sabean, has never been one to stand pat for too long. So I think it will be interesting to see how this division progresses throughout the season. It'll also be interesting to see how Don Mattingly fares as a manager. Usually, teams like to shift managerial styles when changing who heads the team, but Joe Torre retired, so the circumstances are a bit different. Still, the Dodgers were an underachieving team and I can't help but wonder if they need more of a fire-breather to get them going. The Padres, who fought the Giants to the wire last year, have fallen far and I wonder if Buddy Black will be packing his bags soon. And the Diamondbacks will need to show they can pitch.

My picks: Giants, Rockies, Dodgers, Padres, Diamondbacks.

Wild Cards: Rockies, Twins

Playoffs:
AL: Red Sox defeat Twins; A's defeat White Sox
NL: Phillies defeat Rockies; Giants defeat Brewers

ALCS: Red Sox defeat A's
NLCS: Phillies defeat Giants

World Series: Phillies in 6

Chapter 89: Ok, I'm Not Going Away After All

Stay tuned. I've decided not to let this blog get lost in my back pocket and crinkled up in the wash, after all. Coming soon: my picks for the 2011 baseball season. But first, some reader participation.

In the past couple days, I've added followers, despite my most recent post saying I'm going on hiatus. I can only imagine it's because readers have found The Elephant's Bookshelf interesting and wonder what else I might have to say. Since the previous post, I also took the plunge and bought a Website address, MWSinclair.com, which is still being developed but which will serve as my journalism and fiction-writing home, and I'll link to both blogs there.

For those who are relatively new, the Coffee Cup was designed to be undesigned. Slightly less vaguely, I created it to be a place where I might ruminate over my morning cup of coffee. In fact, check out this interview I did with Victoria Dixon who blogs at Ron Empress, to see what I intended for this blog and the Elephant's Bookshelf.

And feel free to suggest anything you'd like to see here or on the Bookshelf. I'm a full-time writer, after all, which means I have an opinion on things, and sometimes I even share them.

Welcome back!

Chapter 88: A Blog on Hold

I've decided that rather than feel guilty about not writing much of anything for this blog, I'll press pause. At some point, I'm sure the little icon/screensaver will start moving around, or something of that nature, but eventually I'll shake things around again and refill my coffee cup.

By no stretch of the imagination, however, am I giving up blogging. I'm not as active as I want to be at The Elephant's Bookshelf, but it's kinda where I live in terms of blogging these days. When I post comments on other blogs, that's the URL I type in. When I tell people about where I blog, that's the site I point them to. You can reach me there at elephantsbookshelf@gmail.com. And if you'd like to continue to read what I have to say about reading, writing, and writers, then I would love to see you there.

Indeed, come. Maybe we can chat over a cup of coffee.