3 + 9 does not equal 7

Randy Wolf's new number on the Astros is 39. 39. 3 + 9 does not equal 7. Every uniform number he has had always equaled seven. Why? It has something to do with his parents and when they got married. Hmm maybe Scott and BR should ask him that next time they talk to him. And I hope they talk to him soon.

Meeting Joe Beimel

The Joe Beimel Bobblehead

Joe signing my scrapbook

Okay, so it's been almost a week. But my computer at home hasn't been recognizing my camera. And I didn't want to put up a post until I uploaded some pictures. I was only able to take four. Being first in line means you don't get to take as many photos. But it does mean you get to take close ups with no one in front of you. Where did this begin? Well, on Thursday night's game, they announced that Joe Beimel was going to be signing autographs from noon to one at Staples in Burbank. I got super excited. Joe Beimel. Okay, so I'm like the only person besides Troy from West Virginia to get excited over an autograph from Joe Beimel. And if you don't know the story yet, Troy from West Virginia is a huge Joe Beimel fan. He has an EIGHT MINUTE video called "The Legend of Joe Beimel." I'm only going to link the original video, but there are more out there now.

Onto the signing ... Kevin and I get there as soon as Staples opens, which was at seven. There's no one there. There's one guy at the copy center who's setting everything up. He tells everyone about how last year James Loney was signing and it was a madhouse. There was no order to anything. And when it was one, the Dodger representatives were pulling Loney out there door by his shirt, as Loney is madly trying to sign more autographs. He didn't have to worry about the crowd this year. He said last year, there was a line outside of people when the store opened. It was just me and Kevin till about 8:30-8:45. More people started showing around ten, and the majority coming at 11:30. Staples went all out and printed out prints of Joe for sale. They also had laminations and mountings available, but those had to be prepaid and picked up the next day. At one point, Roberto shows up and I pointed him out to Kevin. I told him that Roberto gets around like nobody's business. He's at EVERY autograph signing it seems. And he seems to know when and where to run into the players off the field as well. A little after noon, Joe shows up. The Dodger representative shows him to the counter, hands him a jersey, and sits him on a stool. At first, I waited to for him to say something. Then I finally ask him something and the signing got started. Yup. I was the first person in line. Hopefully I'm just as successful at my next two autograph signings! Why was I the first person? Mainly because I had to be at work at one. Which I made it on time. We had enough time to get Wendy's and get to the Galleria. Funny thing happened while we were eating our food. Someone asked us if there was a Wendy's in the mall. Nope. We brought our food from the outside.

Say it isn't so....

I got in the car this morning and put on XX sports radio for my drive to work. Right before 12:48, they were talking about Randy Wolf and there were some hot trade rumors going on. One source was saying he was in the club house. Another source was saying Randy wasn't going to be a Padre very much longer. And they were talking hours. They went to break at 12:48. And right when they came back, they confirmed it. Randy Wolf was TRADED to the ASTROS. Say it isn't so. Scott and BR must be bummed. I hope they chat to Randy about it. I was bummed. I spent most of the short drive to work yelling at the radio. Sadly ... the Astros don't play the Padres or the Dodgers at all the rest of the season. There goes my chances of seeing Randy in any kind of uniform this year. Sigh. I was planning on taking the week off when San Diego comes to LA in September. I still probably will just because I'm planning on going to two of the three games that week. I was hoping to go to all three and hoping to see Randy. I'll probably wear my Wolf shirt to them anyway. I just looked at the Astros roster. Wonder if Randy will keep his #25 or will he go back to the #52. I wonder what number he'll end up with. He's not on their roster yet. I thought it was also funny that when I walked out of the store today, there was a guy with a Houston Astros' t-shirt on. It was Carlos Lee's. I wonder if I can get a Padres' Wolf shirt really cheap now ... and where... Oh well. No more road trips down to San Diego to see the Wolf.

Michael Robert Coolbaugh

A year ago today, thirty-five year old Mike Coolbaugh was struck by a line drive as he stood in the first-base coaching box. He was the first base coach for the Tulsa Drillers, the AA affiliate of the Colorado Rockies. A year ago today, a wife lost her husband, their two sons lost their father, and their unborn daughter would never know her father. I wanted to make an entry in his memory. So this day won't be forgotten. So he won't be forgotten. When the Rockies made their improbable run to the playoffs, and an even more improbable run to the World Series, I was rooting them on ... not only because of their incredible winning ... but for Mike. For his family. And the Rockies organization showed that they take care of their own. They voted that a World Series share would go to his family. That's something else. His wikipedia file and the ESPN article.

I think about this tragedy at every game when I see Bowa or Duncan standing in their respective coaching boxes. I remember that these men put their lives on the line every time a line drive is hit foul. Anytime I hear someone ask about why the coaches have helmets on when they didn't have them last year, I tell them about Mike. Me being a Dodgers fan, find it interesting that my team is playing the Rockies on this day. I wonder if there will be anything said today. Or if it will go forgotten. I won't be able to watch or hear the game, so please, if something is said, can you let me know?

So, on this day, let's remember a man who loved God, who loved his family ... and who loved baseball.

Sports' Illustrated Remembering Mike Coolbaugh

I'm on someone else's website!

Interesting ... I was checking my stats and noticed that I was getting a lot of referrals from a Criminal Minds website. Curiosity got the better of me. So I went over there and checked it out. Lo and behold ... there was one of my pictures! And below it said:

"Fan Takes Criminal Minds Set Photos
Interesting Blog Post with actual Criminal Minds Amateur Photos taken. A Criminal Minds fan takes a few snapshots of the set and actors of an episode being filmed in front of her house. The blog is worth taking a look at. It is always fun seeing the behind scenes set ups.

Actual Site with Actual Amateur Street Pictures from a Criminal Minds Episode"

Funny thing was ... at the time I wasn't a Criminal Minds fan! I am now. I wish I was then. I would certainly have taken MORE photos and taken photos of the actual cast. Cool. The only other person's blog I know I make appearances on is Ernesto's Dodger blog.

I can't believe it!

At work today, I told my boss, "I'm going to laugh if Kuroda pitches a complete game shut out." What I should've said was a perfect game. Because guess what? Hiroki Kuroda pitched a COMPLETE GAME SHUT OUT, allowing only ONE hit, no walks. He was ONE hit short of a perfect game. And why is this funny? I had tickets to the game. Why didn't I go? I had to work. It's funnier because I mentioned the above quote before the game even started. Hilarious. I turned on the radio just in time for the final two outs. The reception wasn't the greatest, but I got the last two outs of the game. I really really HOPE this game is available on ITunes MLB.com games of the year. When was the last time a Dodger pitcher pitched TWO complete game shutouts in the same season? When was the last time any pitcher pitched two complete game shutouts?

Standings as of 7/13/08

One more week of the "first half" left to go.

National League
East	W	L	PCT	GB
Philadelphia	48	41	.539	-
Florida	45	43	.511	2.5
New York	44	44	.500	3.5
Atlanta	42	47	.472	6.0
Washington	34	56	.378	14.5
Central	W	L	PCT	GB
Chicago	53	36	.596	-
Milwaukee	49	39	.557	3.5
St. Louis	50	40	.556	3.5
Cincinnati	43	47	.478	10.5
Houston	41	48	.461	12.0
Pittsburgh	40	47	.460	12.0
West	W	L	PCT	GB
Arizona	44	45	.494	-
Los Angeles	43	45	.489	0.5
San Francisco	39	50	.438	5.0
Colorado	37	52	.416	7.0
San Diego	35	54	.393	9.0

Don't look now ... but the Dodgers are HALF A GAME behind the first place Diamondbacks.

Interesting injuries ... Troy Tulowitski cutting his hand ... and Chris Snyder fracturing ... well... look that up if you want to know.

Rumor is ... the Brewers are trading for C.C. Sabathia! Any rumors out there about Randy Wolf? His name keeps popping up.