Hey! I Can Hold the Door Open

I try to be polite. I feel that many of us have broken away from common courtesy. We forget to say thank you or talk during a movie at the theater. We stick the knife we use for the jelly in the peanut butter so that little bits of jelly are left behind in the peanut butter jar. We don't wash our hands, we don't shake hands, we don't give a hand to those in need. I am not innocent either. I make mistakes. I have forgotten to lower the toilet seat or have cut off another driver on the highway. I can wait to talk instead of listen. I can hurt the ones I love. We all make mistakes.

So, I try to be polite. I try to have good manners. I try to be a good guy. One thing I do in my efforts to be a good guy is hold open doors for other people. It is a simple task that shows respect and common decency. It is a nice thing to do for someone else that takes little to no effort. It is rewarding to be thanked. A thank you, a head nod or a smile will suffice. A simple act of kindness never goes unnoticed.

Here is my problem. I hold the door open and I am very confused by the people who put out there hand as if I am incapable of holding the door open effectively. You have seen it happen. It has probably happened to you. You are holding the door wide open, in some cases as far as it can go and as someone enters or exits, putting their hand on the door. Why? Do you not trust the person holding the door? Are you scared that the door will close cutting off some part of your body like a meat slicer? Are you trying to give yourself some credit for the good act of having the door held for you? I don't understand this. It clearly bothers me.

Does it say something about the lack of trust we give others? Is it about our failure to recognize kind acts? I don't know. I am not going to stop opening doors or saying "thank you" to those who open the door for me.

baseball 2010 preview

Oh baseball.... how I love you.

I love baseball. My favorite sport. It is still America's past time to me. I know some of you find it to be boring. Not as action packed as football or as high scoring as basketball. Well those arguments are understood, I strongly believe that points should be a difficult thing to obtain and though baseball may not be filled with action or violence, it is a tense game built upon little moments of anticipation, swift action, causing great heroics of defense or offense.

I have a lot of romantic notions about baseball. Someone once said, (paraphrase) that the 3 greatest things invented by America were the Constitution, Jazz and Baseball. I strongly agree with this statement. The fundamentals are essential in baseball and that cannot be said about basketball. The position of the ball and every play on the field matter during every moment of the game and though football is an amazing game, that cannot be said about the old pigskin.

oh baseball... how I love thee.

so, since I love the game so much, I thought I would make some bold predictions and see how the outcomes turn out. If I am right then I will simply pat myself on the back and cement the notion that I am a baseball mastermind. If I am wrong, I will hide in the corner. In any case, if the Red Sox win the World Series I will be celebrating or if the Yankees fail to make the playoff, I will at least have a nice grin on my face.

Predictions with some reasons.

the American League Division Winners

AL East Winner - New York Yankees. As much as I hate the Yankees it is hard to deny how powerful they are. Sure they got rid of two big pieces of their Championship run, Damon and Matsui. Damon can go to hell, traitor. Their outfield has some doubts and they added Nick Johnson but last years playoffs was about who could hit the long ball and no one can hit the long ball in the American league better than the Yankees.

Al Central - Chicago White Sox. It's the toughest division to pick a winner. No team is a real standout but you have to like the White Sox. You cannot trust the pitching staff of the Tigers especially since their offense took a real downturn last year. The Twins lost their closer for the season and for a team built to win close games, that is a huge blow. The White Sox might win by default but you have to appreciate the youth on that team surrounded by stable veterans. Let's not forget as annoying Ozzie Guillen is, he is a great manager.

AL West - Seattle Mariners. Another tough division to call. I would have picked the Rangers if they kept Kevin Millwood. I know he was only 13-10 last year but you cannot get rid of consistent pitching. Plus the Rangers might be relying too much on the inconsistent Rich Harden. The Angles lost too much and despite having the best manager in baseball, Mike Scioscia, they will fall short this year. I like the Mariners. it is a trendy pick but I think the irritating Milton Bradley will have a large year and the Mariners will become this year's cinderella team.

AL Wild Card - Boston Red Sox. Even though I kind of want to put the Angels or the Rays in this position, I do not know if the Rays pitching staff can be consistent enough to win. I am not sure if the Angels can score enough runs and without a true #1 pitcher who will be on the mound for the big game. I pick the Red Sox because if anything their pitching staff should be consistent. No, it should be fucking great. They have three #1 starters and if Dice-K can stay healthy, a big if, then the Red Sox will have the best #4 or #5 pitcher in baseball. They should have a great defense but they lack a scary offense. Can the Red Sox play small ball? Can you count on David Ortiz and Kevin Youkilis to hit the big home run when needed? I have my doubts. I think they are good enough to make the playoffs but I have my doubts for anything and everything after.

the National League Division Winners

NL West - Los Angeles Dodgers. I like the Rockies but their pitching staff scares me. They lost Jason Marquis and as good as Ubaldo Jimenez and Aaron Cook might be, I like the Giants pitching staff better. You cannot deny the Giants have great pitching but can they score runs? Will the Diamondbacks youth finally play up to their potential? Forget Manny Ramirez, Joe Torre has Matt Kemp, James Looney and Andre Ethier. The Dodgers don't start the season without any concerns because the soap opera that surrounds the owner might derail any hopes of championship season.

NL Central - St. Louis Cardinals. Sorry Cubs. I love Lou Piniella but this is the year he loses his job. I think when your team continues to lose and lose and lose you have to make major changes to the team for any hope to win. The cubs have made little to no changes concerning the core of that team and the core of that team is filled with failure. Sorry, I don't mean to hate on the Cubs. I'd love to see the Pirates make a run and I won't be surprised if they turn some heads but no one is beating the Cardinals.

NL East - Philadelphia Phillies. The Phillies are without a doubt the most balanced team in baseball. With little to no weaknesses, they can play defense, steal bases, hit the long ball or win with pitching. I also think losing the World Series might be the best thing for a team that was too reliant on comeback wins. The Mets will be bad. The Reds will make a run but come short. I would pick the Marlins but have little faith that the management will keep that team together to contend.

NL Wildcard - Atlanta Braves. I am a sucker for a good story. I think the Braves have a chance to be the best story in baseball this year. Bobby Cox is retiring after this season. It might be Chipper Jones last hurrah in Atlanta. Jason Heyward is the next big thing and if Tim Hudson can be a reliable starter then the Braves should win. This will be Hudson second season after Tommy John Surgery and that is usually when pitchers make their big come back. If he does, with Derek Lowe, Jair Jurrjens, and Tommy Hanson, the pitching staff could be tough to beat. Let's not forget that they acquired Billy Wagner to be the closer or that the Braves have one of the best catchers in all of baseball in Brian McCann. They might not have enough pop to best the Phillies but if they got hot, don't be surprised to see them in the World Series.

So who wins?

The Red Sox will win the American League. I think after a couple of years of losing they will play up to the Yankees and overcome the odds. I don't see the White Sox or the Mariners creating trouble for the Sox or the Yanks. Honestly, that isn't going to happen.

The Dodgers will win the National League. If anyone can handle the distractions, Joe Torre can. I think Dodgers will make a playoff run full of memorable moments, meaning walk-offs. I'd love to see the Braves and I honestly think they have a shot but I don't see them getting past the Phillies. I think it is too hard in this day and age of sport to reach the finals three years in a row and I am not sure if the Phillies can do it. If they kept Cliff Lee, it would've been hard not to pick them.

so who wins a Dodgers vs. Red Sox World Series?

the Red Sox. because of pitching. a low scoring world series with pitching duels and great defense.

MVP's.

AL - Victor Martinez, Boston Red Sox. He will improve defensively, catch for 3 18-game winners, bat over .320 with 30 plus home runs with over 100 RBI. How does that not scream MVP?

NL - Albert Pujols, St. Louis Cardinals. Hanley Ramirez will be denied again. Andre Ethier might have a shot, especially if he hits 5 or more walk off like he did last season. Pujols will do the same thing he did last year and then some because he now he has Matt Holiday backing him up. All Pujols did last year was bat .327 with 47 home runs and 135 RBI's on a weak offensive team. I think it is a safe bet to up those number by at least 10 percent.

Cy Young

AL - Felix Hernandez. Some will think Cliff Lee should win it but King Felix will win 21 games and be top 3 in ERA and strikeouts. He will edge out top contenders like John Lester or CC Sabathia because King Felix will not receive the same offensive support.

NL - Roy Halladay. If Cliff Lee could dominate in the National League than Halladay should slaughter the competition. Halladay was 17-10 last season with 9 complete games, pitching for a bad Blue Jays team. Instead of being on a bad team and constantly having to pitch against the Yankees, Red Sox and Rays, he will be on one of the best teams in the National League pitching against the Mets, Braves and Marlins. Halladay won't have to go 9 innings because the Phillies should have a solid bullpen and because of this Halladay should win at least 20 games.

The Baseball season starts tonight. Go Red Sox. hope it is a memorable one for all to enjoy.

sorry for my absence

sorry.

I had made a goal of one blog per week and I have failed to live up to that but I got a job and that played fuck you with my normal schedule.

so back to normal writing. sorry world.