FallingLEAVes of Sunshine

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.

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 ...

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...

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...

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.

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?

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 ...