The Yellow Stripe

Not a ton going on this week. Am pleased to see my Nats baseball club slowly evolve beyond a sad joke with the signing of #1 pick, Stephen Strasburg. Also got my Maryland Football tickets in the mail, so there's that coming up.

On a discouraging note, my right arm is still acting up. For awhile now (i.e. going back to the 2006 summer) I've had some shoulder soreness when throwing and the mechanics changes I made seem to have not helped. Now, in addition to shoulder soreness, my elbow is starting to bother me. As are both my biceps and triceps.

I hadn't done anything about it because this seemed to only affect me when throwing a baseball or football. But the newer issues are coming up on the regular. Particularly the elbow stiffness. I really don't want this to be a serious issue. OTOH, the season's over and I don't throw in the winter like I used to. So it'll probably clear up.

In the meantime, I think I'll just watch Chad Ochocinco kickoff again. That amuses me. I await the day some team wises up, and uses real athletes as kickers.

Aside from the trade deadline (will be seeing you, Nick!) the big news in baseball was the leaked report that David Ortiz (aka Big Papi) tested positive for Performance Enhancing Drugs in 2003. The testing was supposed to be anonymous - if 6% of the players tested positive, this would trigger a new set of testing rules. Shockingly, despite knowing the tests were coming and the real need to skate them, 103 players failed. As of yet, very few names have ever been released off this list: Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, and now Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz.

( more below the cut... )

The other interesting aspect was Bill James comment on the subject. Noting that, in particular, the effect of the drugs are to prolong playing time by allowing players to stay on the field and counter-act the affects of aging. Which is why they would be used, regardless of side-effects including what we already know but also soft tissue injuries.

It seems to me that, with the passage of time, more people will come to understand that the commissioner's periodic spasms of self-righteousness do not constitute baseball law. It seems to me that the argument that it is cheating must ultimately collapse under the weight of carrying this great contradiction-that 80% of the players are cheating against the other 20% by violating some "rule" to which they never consented, which was never included in the rule books, and which for which there was no enforcement procedure. History is simply not going to see it that way.

Interesting note. After studying the game, and noticing that the design of the First Base position is such that left handers are better suited to play it, I decided to be Left Handed for a few innnings. And yeah, it's true. Once I figured out how to use my feet, I can cover much more ground, am in much better position to catch, and am plenty sure-handed doing so. Utter inability to throw still a minor problem...

The Good
Injury free. Error free. Hit 3-run triple.

The Bad
We're 2-10

The Ugly
Got Mercy-ruled twice tonight

I've been lax in posting again. Blah, blah, softball-cakes, yeah. Far more important things are afoot - even more important than health care, more important than Skip Gates, more important than the possible de-funding of the F-22.

I'm talking about, perhaps, the greatest Foreign Policy blog theme ever.

Jay-Z vs the Game: Lessons for the American Primacy Debate

This is what happens when serious Foreign Policy intellectuals happen to also be big-time fans of hip-hop and rap. They combine the two issues in the most deliciously geeky/nerdy way. And then they really run with the metaphors... (The Game = Hugo Chavez = Priceless)

Now, I do like Mark Lynch's work, but this takes him to a new level of awesome. Spencer Ackerman, OTOH, I always knew was cool.

So, seriously. If you are a Foreign Policy wonk, and super nerdy about your hip-hop, I wholeheartedly encourage you to check out the following...

I mean... it even made NPR.

Sad news. My awesome, always staying dry during basketball/softball/football Under Armor socks have developed un-repairable holes in the heel. (i.e. where I need cushioning for my ankle supports) And now must be retired.

Positive news, now have a nifty compression sleeve for my right elbow. Snerk.

Lawyer: "Can you describe your job?"

Veronica: "Yes."

Lawyer: "How would you describe your job?"

Veronica: "Cleverly."

It's too bad they're running this show in the summer. No one's going to actually see it. (Not that people were watching it before. But, trust me, it's totally awesome.

Veridian Dynamics. We're Sorry. You're Welcome

Was able to get my cousin out to play for our team. While not as good as his brother, he was a veritable immortal compared to our meager roster. I have asked to receive credit for his RBI, as he is my cousin and I recruited him. We emerged with a rare, and treasured victory, so the night was sweet despite my declining production in later innings.

OTOH, as usual, PAIN.

So, death of Michael Jackson. Prodigious Talent. Extraordinary Weirdness. We were touched by his concern for children. We were concerned by his touching of children.

(Note: all links point to YouTube. Enjoy them.)

( Discussing the Jackson 5, and video clips )

As a special treat, the brothers popping & locking with Dom DeLuise.

I really love having my Under Armor. Equipment is so much better now - I can run around for hours in the heat, and my socks stay dry. I'm sweating by my shorts do not feel all gross, and generally, neither do I. And it doesn't restrict my running and throwing and all that.

I really wish I had this stuff when I was in HS.

On the other hand - that part where I come home from baseball or softball, and my right shoulder is very sore from throwing (thanks to my garbage throwing mechanics) -- and it takes me five minutes to peel the tight elasticky UnderArmor shirt off because I'm struggling to raise my arm...

That part sucks.

Also, the part where my skills are deteriorating and my team blows... that part sucks too. I'd actually started off the year playing pretty well. Today, I was lousy. I made three errors at first - two on balls hit to me and one on a wild throw trying to nail a runner at third base. (A good throw would have gotten him...) My fielding range off the bag is okay, but my flexibility and reach are subpar.

And my hitting. Oy. I had two solid line drives and a respectable fly ball that got run down in the outfield. But, ugh, I had two really weak grounders. Am not happy with self. Funny how this sort of stuff still bothers me more than almost 90% of the failures/errors/mistakes I've made up to this point in my personal and professional life.

Gathering was much much fun. Have, with stunning efficiency, completed the post Stay-cation task list. Should probably start calling the people I ignored all weekend, maybe get some sleep.

May not need to eat again all week.

Have picked up a few items for use at the "All Things Philosophical on BtVS/AtS (extending to other shows) 2009 Gathering" for next week, to take place in (insert adjective here) Bethesda, MD. A great time will be had by all, I'm sure - and I'm looking forward to it.

In the meantime, my league's 2009 Softball Season has begun. We're 1-1 so far, which is already a huge improvement upon last year. OTOH, my decision to delay cleat replacement has been a poor one, as I was forced to play in shoes held together by electrical tape. I did get a few hits, and put two line drives off the pitcher, which I feel slightly bad about. Am also reminded that I am not a natural first baseman, as my sore ankles and very sore left hand can attest.

Alex Semin gets sliced down in front of the net. Nothing. But this they call!!!!

The league loves Sidney.