The Score

It's odd when a celebrity passes away. One that you've never met, one that you've never had any real connection with. But, odder still when one passes away who connected with you, who actually had an impact on your life.

I'm not sure I've experienced that in my young life ... until today. Herb Score passed away today. The former pitcher and broadcaster for the Indians.

If you're unfamiliar with Herb Score, his professional career is a wonderful symbol of Cleveland sports in general. Promising young talent, only to have a catastrophic injury end his career, and along with it, the hope that he would lead Cleveland to the promised land.

But, it's not his playing career that connects him to me, it's his broadcasting career. He spent 34 years as the voice of the Indians, including the first 16 years of my life. In some ways, by listening to him on the radio night after night after night, Herb Score helped to raise me. He was a constant voice in my life. And, knowing he was retiring, part of the reason the loss to the Marlins in 1997 hurt so much (not that it needed much help, mind you).

And so ... it's an interesting feeling. Not the empty feeling and despair of losing a friend or a family member. But, not the unattached feeling of losing someone that you just hear about in passing and have no connection at all to.

Still ... I'll always have good memories of Herb Score. Calls only he could make like "Belle hits it to left field and ... it caught. No, its a home run!" or the magical call in 1995 when the Indians beat the Orioles to clinch the Central Division Title.

Rest in peace, Herb. I'll keep hope alive that one year, the Tribe will win a ring for you, yet.

Oh Happy Day!

This ... is a good day in my household.



Casey Blake is traded!


If I could do a backflip ... I would.


This is the silver lining I needed on this horrible Indians' season.

Memory Lane

Sometimes you just need a good trip down memory lane.

And sometimes, that trip needs to be to a destination that occurred before you were born, but that was legend and folklore you grew up with. Such is the case today.

Behold, a recap of the Cleveland Indians Ten Cent Beer Night. I grew up on this story, and the details in this recount amazed even me. If you don't know the story, you need to read it and learn. And if you do, you need to read it again, and get new details, new insight, and a little more humor.

A Suggestion

... for the FAIL Blog ...

I call it "Defending your Cy Young Award Fail"







I need a hug ...

Am I a Mean Person?

Today, news came across the wire that the Indians had placed Joe "No Velocity" Borowski on the disabled list. I believe the actual listed injury was either suckassitis or craptastic disorder. I think they could have listed both.

Anyways ... upon hearing the news ... I celebrated. I wanted to dance.

Does this make me mean?

Opening Day

I think you all know by now that I love baseball. The Indians were my first love. Someone asked me the other day if I had a choice between Rachel and lifetime Indians season tickets which I would choose, and I honestly had to think about it.


(Rachel won out in the end, BTW)


So, yesterday, I went all out. Had the Indians game on the radio. Got a little teary-eyed with some of Hammy's calls. Made a festive lunch for Rachel and myself to enjoy. We had hot dogs, super pretzels, and homemade Cracker Jack.

And then the Indians went out and gave a microcosm of Cleveland sports: they had a seven run inning, highlighted by huge plays from up-and-coming stars. But, at the end of the inning one of the best players on the team got injured. To top that off, the staff ace couldn't hold that 7-2 lead, thanks in large part to a player the Indians once had but couldn't afford to keep.

Then again, despite all that, they won the game. Which means they're on pace to go 162-0.

So maybe this year will be different.

And why not ... it's April.

Memo to Rachel

While I'm giving out memos, I have one for my wife, too.

I just listened to them run down the opening day line-up for the Indians. I'm excited.

And I still want to name a child Asdrubal.

I'm willing to pull "Utinni" off the table if you accept Asdrubal as a name for our third child, assuming we ever get there. That's right, Utinni completely off the table.

What do you say?

Memo to ESPN, Part 2

These blackout rules are just ridiculous.

You black out my Cavs games, because I'm apparently in the Cleveland market, and when the game is on both ESPN and FSN-Ohio, I can't watch it (blacked out on ESPN, don't get FSN-Ohio). You do the same thing for Indians games on STO and ESPN (again, don't get STO). So, today, you're blacking out the Tigers' game because ... I'm in the Detroit market?

I'm okay with you considering me to be in the Detroit market if it means you stop blacking out Cleveland stuff. But I honestly don't think you should consider me to be in both the Cleveland and Detroit markets at the same time.

This does not make me happy.

Memo to ESPN

If you can only include five-six options on a poll. one of them really needs to be "other". Especially when talking about, before Opening Day, what team you think will win the World Series. Or, at the very least, include every team that at least one of your "experts" has picked to win the World Series.

I am not happy with you right now. I do not wish to select any of the following as my pick to win the World Series: Mets, Phillies, Red Sox, Tigers, Yankees.

Today is Opening Day. My favorite unofficial National Holiday. The day when hope springs eternal. And yet you are implying there should be no hope for 25 teams, including a team that played in the World Series last year, and a team that was one victory from playing in the World Series that one of your experts picked to win the World Series.

You are angering me. I can only hope the sports gods see the slight you have created and give you a World Series that involves none of the five teams you picked.

As for me, I like the Indians to win the World Series in six games over the Diamondbacks.