St. Lou pics, South Side quandary, baseball deluxe post

Whenever I take pictures, I honestly feel like I'll forget about the entire thing unless I post them. So.


Officially, I've adopted the Cardinals as my "second team," which I've been putting thought to since January, and which I documented here (I love self-referencing!). But the Cardinals won out because of the prospect of a cheap, relaxing train ride, and some friends who live in the area. The Cardinals' new ballpark (above, Greg posing), was also a draw. It's pretty beautiful, with that neo-classical feel that is the rage in ballparks now. The buzz of the crowd, the way they cheer for every good play regardless of which team makes it, and the reverence that the facility is treated with all points to the fact that St. Louisans (?) really love their team, but also really love baseball.



The Cards won both games we went (ripping up the Padres' pitching staff), we visited, among other places, the Arch (TM), and some old courthouse building that I forget the name of. The best part? Our hotel was right on the next block. We also went to St. Louis' gorgeous Byzantine style Cathedral Basilica.

Looking from the back entrance toward the front. The tour group in the pews gives you an idea of the scale.

Front entrance facing the main street. It's within walking distance from St. Louis University, or the SLU, as my kids who are attending this fall have informed me.


Up at the roof. I'd love for Chicago's cathedral to be like this. Sigh.

Anyway, back to the baseball. The trading deadline is in 24 hours, and the Angels have just picked up Mark Texeira for a song, and the Yankees have addressed, though ultimately futilely, their own holes with XNady and Damaso Marte. But the tightest race is in the AL Central, and rumblings and rumors are swirling around the Sox since they're about to cough up the lead to Twins, maybe before the weekend hits (breaking eye contact with sharp objects... now). Can the Sox do anything to improve by trade?

Basically, no, not really. They actually have some pieces they can move, probably Josh Fields and the oft-mentioned pitching prospie Aaron Poreda, even Juan Uribe. The potentially exciting shortlist is:

1) AJ Burnett, RHP, Tor - A big name, big contract, and the big dreaded "has great stuff, but..." tag. Really, a guy who looks great on a scouting report but has an ERA north of 4, like Javy Vazquez. Basically a rental.

2) Justin Duchscherer, RHP, Oak - "Duck-sure". The best value because he's having a good year and there's a good chance to re-sign after the season. I'd gamble that this is one Oakland pitcher that won't break down once he's traded. Even if he does, you don't lose much.

3) Brian Roberts, 2b, Bal - Would look great hitting leadoff, playing good D, and stealing bases. But he's a got a big contract, he's a little older, and you have to displace either Cabrera or Alexei.

I think the top priority is a good starting pitcher, repeat GOOD, because the guy to bring would ideally be better than the top 3 of Danks, Floyd, or Buehrle, or else this is a one round and out. What ends up putting the stop to a deal for a good starter is Joe Crede's balky back, which makes Fields untradeable. What'll most likely happen, if anything, is a trade for a reliever that'll shore up a bullpen that's been overused by necessity.

I realized that this roster, this team as currently configured, is on its last legs. 2008 is pretty much the last time the window of opportunity will be open for a while. This roster was KW's vision since the title in 2005; this is the roster he figured would keep the Sox in contention for the rest of the decade (re-signing Contreras, trading for Vazquez and Thome). Things are bleak in 2009 with a core that is aging not so gracefully, and few younger players to replenish the core (nobody wants to think where this season would be without Danks, Floyd, and Quentin). So, it kind of makes sense to go big THIS year, because it's the best chance for a while. Roy Halladay, come on down! Farm system, schmarm system. We don't have the young core that teams like the Rays or the Cubs (ugh) or even the Cardinals have, so I say go for it while it's still reasonably within grasp. Or else losing the division lead by the weekend will just be the beginning.

Aside from trade possibilities, it would help a whole fricking lot if Paul Konerko would stop getting all Sylvia Plath about his hitting approach, and if Orlando Cabrera could stop hacking away like a blindfolded kid at a pinata party.

hello blog. remember me?

Taking off to St. Louis at the end of the week to go check out the new ballpark. It's a good baseball related week, taking in two games with Greg and Mike and then another game on Monday.

Also, Josh Hamilton hit about a thousand home runs in the derby. If I'm Justin Morneau, I just give the trophy back.

The players with the best seasons so far in 2008:

American League
1. CF Grady Sizemore, Cle
2. 2b Ian Kinsler, Tex
3. RF Josh Hamilton, Tex
4. DH Milton Bradley, Tex
5. 1b Justin Morneau, Min
6. LF Carlos Quentin, ChiSox
7. C Joe Mauer, Min
8. 3b Kevin Youkilis, Bos
9. SS Micheal Young, Tex

SP Cliff Lee, Cle
SP Roy Halladay, Tor
SP Joe Saunders, LAA
SP Justin Duchscherer, Oak
SP Ervin Santana, LAA
RP Mariano Rivera, NYY
RP Joakin Soria, KC

National League
1. SS Hanley Ramirez, Fla
2. 2b Chase Utley, Phi
3. DH Albert Pujols, StL
4. 1b Lance Berkman, Hou
5. 3b Chipper Jones, Atl
6. LF Pat Burrell, Phi
7. RF Jason Bay, Pit
8. C Geovany Soto, Chi
9. CF Nate McLouth, Pit

SP Carlos Zambrano, Chi
SP Tim Lincecum, SF
SP Dan Haren, Ari
SP Edminson Volquez, Cin
SP Ben Sheets, Mil
RP Brad Lidge, Phi
RP Kerry Wood, Chi

some days, you feel like this

Either end of it.

just in case you were wondering... and a list

Iron Man = awesome. Yet another sign that the summer has arrived. Bring on the Crystal Skull:



Top 5 comic book hero movies (outside of Iron Man):

1. Superman II
2. Batman
3. Batman Begins
4. Spider Man 2
5. X-Men United

Top 5 worst comic book movies ever made:

1. Catwoman
2. Punisher
3. Batman and Robin
4. Ghost Rider
5. The Shadow

We were talking about how there are no good comic book heroine movies, probably because the genre faces the same issue that the WNBA deals with: trying to gain credibility while avoiding over-objectification. Good luck, Wonder Woman. Really, every female character outside of costume dramas deals with this.

Hurry up summer!

awesome

This picture is without a doubt the best thing I've seen in the past 72 hours. Courtesy of Jalopnik. Its power to render me speechless is impressive. It's also impossible to caption.

Starting Romeo and Juliet with the Squirrely Freshmen (TM), so went to Best Buy to pick up Baz Luhrmann's loved/hated/pooped on version with L.DiCaprio. Those are widely unavailable, as evidenced by its absence in new copies at Best Buy and Amazon. Oh well. It wasn't a fruitless trip, however, since I picked up the 1968 version of R+J and... Cloverfield. The nauseous shakiness is much more manageable on a small screen. Was tempted by Juno, but I'll wait for the price to drop a little.

I will now go crawl in a hole and wait for the year to end. Planning on going to California once the school year ends. Maybe up to Washington to staff a retreat. Still deciding.

early color photos

Photos taken with the first commercially color film available to the general public. It's interesting to see images normally associated with "black and white" time in color, like the one above of South Side steel mills in 1939.

The weather is turning brighter, and I'm finding the need to take up a new hobby. While my brain searches for distraction, my body says "get to the gym, dummy." Maybe one of these days I'll actually listen.

Only a four day week this time, because I'm helping out with something for school. Woo!

There's a Coptic Orthodox Church on the way to work, and the curiosity is increasing to go and look inside. The Coptic tradition of Orthodox Christianity developed mostly in Egypt, founded by St. Mark (the Gospel writer, whose influence is felt widely across southern Europe and northern Africa). There's so little I know about the Orthodox Christianity; it's weird to think that I know more about Judaism or Islam in comparison.

Summer plans are shaping up: retreats, vacations, hanging out with Ed, taking summer school

Greek philosophy + MLB 2008 (American League)

The Greek philosopher Demetri Martin once said that he stopped being interested in sports when he realized that instead of the actual teams playing, he'd rather see the actual animals fight than teams with those names.

In that spirit, like a Roman gladiator cage match gone wrong, we pick the losers for the 2008 major league baseball season.

AL Central
The contenders: White Sox, Indians, Royals, Tigers, Twins

The clear losers are the linen (White Sox) and the anemic inbreds (Royals). The Twins have a disadvantage in that there can only be two, or multiples of two. That doesn't make any sense, but it seems limiting to me. The battle royale is between the Indians and the Tigers, but I have to give the edge over the ferocious carnivores over the aboriginal Americans or denizens of the Asian subcontinent, although a battle between Indians from India and Tigers would give the Tigers less of a home field advantage.

WINNER: Tigers

This makes so much sense. Those Greeks know what they're talking about.

AL East
The contenders: Yankees, Red Sox, Blue Jays, Rays, Orioles

Instant elimination goes to the apparel (sorry defending champs) and the marine life (Rays). I don't how to stage a battle between a Ray and birds, unless you get a bunch of guys named Ray together, which potentially could be quite formidable. The fowls cancel out, and it unfortunately only leaves the Yankees as the winners, although I think this can depend on the quality of the gathered Rays. Ray Charles? Not a good pick. Ray Romano? C'mon. Ray Winstone? Maybe. Jamie Foxx who played Ray Charles? Better. Sugar Ray Leonard? Now we talkin'.

WINNER?: Yankees, dark horse Rays

AL West
The contenders: Angels, Athletics, Mariners, Rangers

A battle between the Texas hardened Rangers and the swarthy Mariners sounds great, but the eventual victor would fall to the celestial power of ethereal spiritual beings, I think. Even if these are the Texas Rangers with Chuck Norris. But there's no roundhouse kicking archangels, I think, even Angel from the X-Men. I have no idea what an Athletic is. Oakland has a white elephant on its team patch. Nothing makes sense.

Winners: Angels in a landslide, even over Chuck Norris.


But I can't leave without this spectacular picture of Chuck:

happy opening day

Spring break, good bye. But say yes to the Annunciation.

"The Annunciation". Henry Ossawa Tanner. 1898.

But, hello end-of-the-school-year-is-in-sight. And with it, hopefully, clarity, direction, and purpose.

(But one never does know). I could really use some before I start freaking out.

April brings us its usual greetings:

• rainy weather (check)
• the same Sox as the old Sox
• new and interesting ways to waste time: Rasterbator. You'll love it.

I want to post photos from break, just because I finally got to TAKE photos, including the one I got yelled at for taking. Sweet. Some sort of mishmash of the Art Institute (and the Homer/Hopper exhibition), walking around downtown, grading, Divine Mercy Sunday, wishing I was here, wishing I lived somewhere else, Demetri Martin, watching baseball, grading a lot, eating a lot, praying a LOT. Happy Easter.

Good bye, friends.

a very blessed Solemnity of the Resurrection of the Lord

"Christ died for our sins, in accordance with the scriptures; he was buried; and he was raised to life on the third day, in accordance with the scriptures." 1 Corinthians 15:3

Palm Sunday + new things I learned + baseball draft = monstrous post

Duccio di Buoninsegna. "Maestà (back, central panel): The Entry into Jerusalem." 1308-11. Tempera on wood panel. Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Siena, Italy.

New things that I learned recently:

• Sister Raffaella told me about the Ambrosian rite, which is mostly in the Archdiocese in Milan. The Ambrosian rite (established by St. Ambrose, archbishop of Milan back in the 5th century) is actually even older than the currently widely used Latin rite. In shorthand, as far as I know, in one of the bigboy meetings like the Council of Trent, if the rite of a particular liturgical tradition dates further back than the Latin rite, but still submits to the authority of the pope, and the tenets of the Church, then it's ok.
  
  I have a friend who is a part of the Chaldean rite, which has its roots in Iraq, established by St. Thomas the Apostle in the first century. The difference in rites, from what I understand, is based on the simple fact that with the distance from the center of Catholicism in Rome, different traditions seeped into the liturgy of different locations as time passed. This page does the best in explaining all of this stuff.
  
• I learned that coaching boys is a heck of a lot easier for me than coaching girls. Geez, no contest. Granted, at least I now have a season under my belt, but seriously. It probably makes a major difference that I'm helping with the freshman boys, who are willing to follow any sort of coaching at all, so that makes life easier too.
• I learned that I need to make a decision on where I'm living/working next year, but I have no idea when I need to make it by. Which probably tells me that I need to pray more.
• I've learned that my baseball team is giving no indications that it's going to do anything but suck. Related: my soccer team sucks too, ever since winning the League Cup.
  
• I learned that when fantasy baseball drafting season comes around, I'm totally screwed. Wait? That's now?!

Speaking of which, here are the results of my fantasy baseball draft. I thought you'd never ask?!

5 x 5 Yahoo! fantasy league, 12 teams, I drafted 3rd. Max was 8th (ha).

1. David Wright, NYM, 3b - Yessss. It's nice to mix up who you get from year to year. I am excited to own JillKMeier mancrush David Wright for the first time. 30/30, prease.
2. Lance Berkman, Hou, 1b/OF - And then sometimes, you just draft the same guys every year.
3. Brandon Webb, Ari, SP
4. Carlos Guillen, Det, 1b/SS - The start of drafting a thousand guys who can play first base. Guillen qualifies for SS but will actually play 1b, which means less miles on the legs, which means more SBs, and he's hitting in the best lineup in league. Good times. 25-120, please. Also, Gat roto stalwart Brian Roberts gets picked right before me, so I'm rattled, and so I order cheese fries from the waitress.
   
5. Carlos Zambrano, ChiC, SP - Am I going to regret this? It's Max's fault. Just have to avoid the really bad starts. Still better than anyone else I could have gotten (Haren, Hamels).
6. Brian McCann, Atl, C - Hoping this works better than my Joe Mauer investment last year.
7. Nick Swisher, Sox, 1b/OF - A little early? Maybe. I think he's going to hit 35-40 at the Cell, plus it gives me a reason to care about my team.
   
8. Bobby Jenks, Sox, RP - Best reliever left on the board, I swear. Also, Paul Konerko is staring at me from the draft board. "Come on, man, we're frieeennnddsss."
9. Rich Hill, ChiC, SP - Love the strikeouts, and he surely will get better run support than last year. Also, why do I have so many Cubs. I punch Max in the solar plexus.
10. Jacob Ellsbury, Bos, OF - Am I going to regret this? Trade Coco Crisp, already. I'm desperate for speed, and I'd rather have Ellsbury rather than old Ellsbury, AKA Johnny Damon.
11. Tim Hudson, Atl, SP - Why do I have so many Braves? I almost drafted Texeira instead of Berkman, too. But what are my alternatives? Joba? Pedro? Brad Penny? Liriano? No thanks.
12. Willy Taveras, Col, OF - Speed, speed, speed. I am going to regret this. Damn you, whoever got Brian Roberts! Look what I've been forced to do!
13. Manny Corpas, Col, RP - Generic closer type who gets saves and doesn't kill my WHIP/ERA.
14. Kelly Johnson, Atl, 2b - Too many Braves. Why does my OCD pick up on that? He's the best left on a really weak board. I hate Kazuo Matsui's guts.
    
15. Jeremy Accardo, Tor, RP - BJ Ryan might be back, but Tommy John surgery takes two years to recover. Who's going to catch that beautiful butterfly? Accardo, with 30+ saves.
16. Brian Wilson, SF, RP - I'm lying in bed, just like Brian Wilson did. Just get me 30 saves.
17. Ryan Garko, Cle, 1b - You play 1b? Welcome to my team. Stop glaring at me, Paul Konerko.
18. George Sherrill, Bal, RP - Closer for the Orioles?
    
19. Ryan Theriot, ChiC, 2b/SS - Too. Many. Cubs.
    
20. Heath Bell, SD, RP - The guy K-Dub should have traded for instead of Scott Linebrink. 100 Ks as a reliever? Tasty.
    
21. Frank Thomas, Tor, Util - Just for old times' sake.
    

It feels like I need more power and speed. Pitching looks good, tho.

Have a great Holy Week. But before that, don't forget this guy:

good bye, February (almost)

First things first, my soccer team has won some hardware.



My White Sox avoidance scheme is coming together perfectly.

Ever have a magnifying glass, put it in front of your eyes to look at something, then quickly take it away, then put it back in front of your eyes again, just to get yourself dizzy on the rapid change of perspective? Ok, fine, you didn't. But that seems like the feeling I'm getting from looking at my life, right about now. Sometimes I feel like I can't get past the next few days, then I think back to what I was doing a year ago, then I flash forward to what I'm trying to accomplish in an afternoon, then forward to when I get to go to Canada again, and... well, it gets to be like motion sickness.

I am secretly, secretly hoping that there will be answers to the life questions rattling around in my skull by the end of Lent. But, that's really more just a convenient time. I need something to look forward to. How can you put a timetable for a miracle to come into your life?

winter of my discontent

Santana! to the Mets for a bunch of blue-chip prospects. (A better breakdown of the trade is here). I don't really care that the Twins might not have gotten the best deal possible in trying to maximize the value of the best pitcher of this decade.

What I do know is that the Sox now have 4-5 less guaranteed losses (I mean, they can still lose even with they don't face Johan) every time he pitched against the Pale Hose. It's bad enough that the best pitcher in baseball lives in your division, but it's something else when said pitcher's best career numbers come against your team. How good? Since 2003, when was put in the starting rotation:

13-4, 141.3 innings, 155 Ks, 0.94 WHIP, 2.42 ERA


Welcome to the National League, Johan, home of no-DH. I will be very pleased to watch Cub hitters flail away helplessly at this. Also, he makes the Mets the instant offseason frontrunner for the NL pennant, thus an easier path to the World Series, where each playoff opponent will definitely face him twice in a series. I have no problem with the best pitcher in the game having a better shot at getting to and winning the Series.

Despite the departure of the Isildur's Bane of my team, at most, it makes the Sox an 81 win team to an 85 win team (because it doesn't make Nick Swisher any better in centerfield, or Ozzie any less offensively inept, or help Jerry Owens hit, or... let's just move on). So, in anticipation of the suckitude, I am currently accepting applications for another baseball team to follow for the 2008 season. I'll still keep a tab on the Sox, but they won't be doing anything, and I want to watch meaningful baseball at some point. The leading contenders:

• Philadelphia Phillies
  Good: The Wall Crashing Messiah left for the Giants, but there's still plenty of ex-Sox guys here with Sweaty Freddy and the Gooch. Also, I have an unhealthy fantasy baseball crush on Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, and Cole Hamels, so there is an interest here. Also, since they had a play-in game against the Rockies last year at the end of the season, so they were knocking on the door.
  Bad: The Johan just moved into their division. Sucks.
  
  
• New York Mets
  Good: A dumber, just as rich, but not as successful version of the Yankees. Natural rival of the Yanks and the Cubs. Now owner of the Johan, who I genuinely like, and they'll be on TV a lot because of the New York bias and front line talent like Reyes, Beltran, and fantasy baseball mancrush David Wright. Can you imagine playing the Mets and having to face Santana! and Pedro on consecutive nights? To paraphrase from before: Sucks.
  Bad: Who wants to root for a frontrunner? They have too much of the aroma of failure too. I don't need any more heartache.
  
  
• Tottenham Hotspur
  Good: Screw baseball, I can watch the "beautiful game" and boycott my sucky team! Tottenham started off slow this season, but Spurs have fought up to mid-table of the Premiership, and have looked good with new manager Juande Ramos and a slew of defensive help coming in during the transfer window (Jonathan Woodgate, you are my new friend). They could still crawl back in to UEFA Cup qualification at the end of the season and they just thumped Arsenal 5-1 in the League Cup. Good times! Since I don't watch TV, I just watch soccer highlights on the internets.
  Bad: The Premier League season (and those of most major European leagues) end in June. So that still leaves the whole summer uncovered. Don't even mention Major League Soccer, the WNBA of the professional soccer world.
  
  
• St. Louis Cardinals
  Good: Albert Pujols. Like, really stinking good. Also, my bros Greg and Mike have chosen the Cardinals as their alternative team for the summer, so it'd be fun to go watch a game with them. Natural rivals of the Cubs.
  Bad: This is a terrible, aging, mediocre team. They might win the same amount of games as the Sox. I just looked at their roster, and didn't realize how terrible they are.
  
  
• Milwaukee Brewers
  Good: Natural rival of the Chubs. Great ballpark with good, cheap food and drink. Close enough to drive to and catch a game, and there isn't a problem getting in. Up and coming talent like Prince Fielder (who I saw hit a ball like a thousand feet with my own two eyes), Ryan Braun, and Yovani Gallardo will be lots of fun to watch. They are the current frontrunner for alternative team of 2008.
  Bad: They did falter down the stretch last year, and seem to be counting on the health of Ben Sheets to get them over the hump, instead of signing anybody new. A problematic strategy, at best.

So. Still thinking.

Snow day tomorrow? (Please, Lord, please). Feast of the Presentation on Saturday, and then Super Bowl Sunday is here! Who's the winner? Me! Because I'm going to get Buffalo wings!

tough day... but always hope

I dislike Institute Days at school very much, because it never feels like the time is being used efficiently. I suppose it's much like the rest of my life.

In lieu of dwelling on another shocking Hollywood death, February is the official timeline for the RPM Challenge, which consists of recording an entire album of music 29 days. This is similar in spirit to last November's National Novel Writing Month, in that it forces you, the floundering artist, to get off your duff and get the creativity flowing. If you were looking for an excuse, then here it be.

In related news, the release of The Dark Knight is now going to be very creepy.

Wanted to comment on the Nick Swisher trade but there's nothing to say except "we're sure pushing really hard to win 85 games." Swisher is pretty good, but the trade feels like paying $20 for a cheeseburger. It better be a really good cheeseburger. Also, Ozzie is totally dumb enough to play Swisher in centerfield, a LOT. Don't say I didn't warn you.

my favorite Stephens

3. Stephen Colbert
2. St. Stephen, the first martyr (December 26 feastday)

1. my Dad
Happy naming day, Dad.

merry christmas

Botticelli, "Mystical Nativity" c. 1500-1501

"It is only the Child lying in the manger who possesses the true secret of life. For this reason, he asks us to welcome him, to make room for him within us, in our hearts, in our homes, in our cities, and in our societies... Let us endeavor to be among those who welcome him. Before him one cannot remain indifferent. We too, dear friends, must continuously take sides. What will our response be? With what attitude will we welcome him? The simplicity of the shepherds and the seeking of the Magi who scrutinized the signs of God by means of the star come to our help. The docility of Mary and the wise prudence of Joseph serve as an example to us...

"The love that Jesus, born in Bethlehem, brought into the world binds to himself in a lasting relationship of friendship and brotherhood all who welcome him. Saint John of the Cross says 'in giving us all, that is, his Son, in him God has now said all. Fix your eyes on him alone... and you will find in addition more than you ask and desire.'"

-- Pope Benedict XVI

"It is not enough to say that Jesus is the name we give to the Truth. Jesus is the man who is the incarnation of the Truth... We do not seek solutions to problems in life derived from religious sentiments, spiritual approaches, or philosophical convictions... In each circumstance of life, whatever it is, we seek not an answer but a Presence, the human presence that is the way to the 'Answer,' to the Truth. We do not come together as a Church to find intellectual answers to our questions about the meaning and purpose of life. This is to reduce the Church to an ideology... The Church is not 'our way' of finding answers to our religious quest for the Truth; it is the method through which the Truth becomes humanly present to us... We come together as a Church to learn how to recognize the fact of this Presence, and to witness to it any circumstance of life, especially when there are no answers. Jesus Christ is the way to the Answer. In him, way and answer coincide."

-- Monsignor Lorenzo Albacete

happy music christmas

Stereogum has posted a link to .zip files of Pitchfork's top 100 tracks of 2007. Woo!

detritus

This looks awesome. Say hello to Persepolis:



I want to go read the graphic novels this is based on. Speaking of which, Time has released their top 10 graphic novels for 2007.

It was a long and arduous day at the office (late starts are always like that), so I needed to veg out once I got home. Like, checking out my fantasy football team, which has managed to finish 2nd in my league, having the advantage of being chosen by a computer, and not by me. That pretty much tells you everything you need to know about fantasy sports. Sweet Lady Autopick grabbed me Tony Romo, although that's offset by also picking Johnsons, Larry and Rudi.

I've been tempted to play Football Manager 2008, but I've held off, waiting for the weekend. I've just downloaded the demo, so it only lets me play a season up to January, which, all things considering, is probably healthier for me.

Fr. Edward and the Tiggers

From the sublime to the absurd. First, some words from Ed.

"Human portraits of God’s Fatherhood" 12/4/07

Dear Friends in Christ,

Considering that one's personal relation with fatherhood in turn greatly influences how one perceives God and his fatherhood, we understand the exigency for positive models of it in our society. We may hear about fathers who become so engrossed in pursuing a career or some other goal that they end up seriously neglecting their children. But fatherhood ought to be an imitation of the one fatherhood of God who created and lovingly watches over us. Above all, its purpose is to communicate the love that God has for all His earthly children.

I recently watched "The Pursuit of Happyness" (2006), a film based on a true story which beautifully portrays the essence of authentic fatherhood. It is reminiscent of Roberto Benigni's character in "La Vita è Bella", of a father who's willing to make any sacrifice in the hope of a better life for his son. The storyline is set in San Francisco in 1981 during the economic recession in the U.S. and Chris Gardner is an optimistic and intelligent African American salesman struggling to support his wife and young son, Christopher. Chris reveals not having known his own father until he was 28 years old and vows not to let history repeat itself with Christopher. So when the financial strain becomes unbearable and his wife decides to leave him, he insists on retaining custody of Christopher. Chris is vindicated in this clash when Christopher reveals that he is happy and confirms the desire to remain with his father. With a diminishing source of income, they are eventually evicted from their home to living in homeless shelters and at one point, even reduced to passing the night in the bathroom of the subway station. In the face of this difficult life, Chris has the desperate inspiration to try for a long shot, non-paying stockbroker internship at Dean Witter, where only one of the twenty candidates will ultimately end up with an opportunity for a lucrative full time position. Even in the midst of competing for this internship, Chris refuses to compromise the personal vow he has made to his son, choosing to leave work early in order to pick him up from the daycare lest Christopher be left alone. Chris demonstrates a heroic capacity to give that which is most important to Christopher: a father's presence and an unfailing love and attention. There were several dialogues and scenes which I found moving; evoking the love the Heavenly Father has for each one of us. In one of them, Chris asks his son, "You gotta trust me, alright? Cause I'm getting a better job." "I trust you." In another, Chris extends his arm to give blood at the hospital to provide for his son conjuring up the kenosis (self-emptying) of Jesus bleeding and giving his life on the Cross. Lastly, while tucking his child into bed at the shelter and completely exhausted after a long day, he receives a goodnight kiss and the words, "You're a good papa". It is all the affirmation he needs and that which makes all the sacrifices worthwhile and meaningful. Chris initially applied for the stockbroker internship because all the people on Wall Street had smiles on their faces and looked so happy, and he desired as much for himself and his son. In the end, after acquiring the coveted position, he rushes to passionately embrace his son, capturing the essence of what he knew all along. That it's not so much what you have but who you're with that really matters.

Above and beyond the example of Chris in this film, we are reminded that Our Heavenly Father lovingly keeps custody and provides for His children at every moment. That Our Father proves His willingness to sacrifice at all costs for His children, through the ultimate demonstration of life-giving love of the Cross. That Our Father too entreats every one of us, "You gotta trust me, alright?" when the uncertainties of life tempt us to doubt His providence and judgment. "See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are (1 Jn 3:1)."

May we at all times learn to appreciate and love a Father so great!

In Jesus and Mary,
Edward

***
Now to the absurd. Namely, the rest of the AL Central doing the best they can to dust the Sox, the latest example being the Tiggers trading assorted shiny goods for Dontrelle Willis and Miguel Cabrera, who, even more than the Santana! is the crown jewel of available MLB talent this offseason.

A stupendous claim, you say. Gat, you must be out of your mind. That is totally bogus, as my students would say. Not so. Why?

• He's driven in 100+ runs the last 4 years, and hit over .320 the last 3. More telling indicators say that he's over 150 in OPS+ (which is MVP caliber) and has an OPS over .940. The only guy of recent vintage that had better age 21-24 seasons was Albert Pujols.
  
• He's going into his age 25(!) season, which means he's still cheap and the Tiggers can lock up his most productive years under contract for less than market price.
  
• He's had all this production with a mostly average Florida lineup protecting him and a cavernous stadium to hit in, so Tiger Stadium's much maligned hitter suppression won't affect him much. Also, he'll be surrounded by the likes of Sheffield, Ordonez, Guillen, et al., and playing for a winner.
  
• His fatness (as referenced in a previous post) is becoming less of a problem, as he's motivated by being on a winner and having fellow Venezuelan compatriots Ordonez and Guillen kicking his lardy butt. "I'll want to be in the best shape of my life" says he.
  

The downside is that he sucks on defense and he doesn't help the lopsided righthandedness of their lineup, and he may not want to stick around after his arbitration years, but he's still the real deal.

I humbly submit to the greatness of the Santana!, but he's going to cost a boatload of treasure, and he still is a pitcher desiring a long term contract, and pitchers are always a risky signing because of their significant odds of injury. He's definitely not a Kevin Brown, but signing any pitcher long term, no matter how great he is, is not as "safe" a bet as signing a position player who plays everyday. Also, unlike Santana!, there is no pressure to sign Cabrera to a long-term contract immediately, since he's still in his arbitration years. Cabrera gives the Tiggers a chance to compete now AND set up for the future.

Oh, AND... they got Dontrelle Willis, who is overmatched as an ace, but a perfectly serviceable #4 starter behind Verlander, Bonderman, and Rogers in the tougher AL, pitching in a friendly ballpark and an excellent defense behind him.

Fricking unbelievable.

What does this tell me about the Sox?

• Even if they had signed Torii Hunter (who signed a ridiculous contract with the Angels, but he can be a difference maker for them), they still would be 4th in terms of talent in this division. Also, signing Aaron Rowand is still not going to help.
• Seeing the demand and availability of pitchers like Santana!, Erik Bedard, and Dan Haren helps me realize that maybe the demand for Jon Garland wasn't ever that high, and that it'll be even lower for fodder like Jose Contreras. We were lucky to get the OC.
• The Sox don't have the prospects or the talent to trade for a big name. They dangled some combination of Fields, Gonzalez, and Broadway for Cabrera, but that wasn't going to be close to the 2 major league ready players and 4 plus prospects that Detroit could offer. There simply isn't enough to talent/value to trade, which is probably why Kenny has been trying to stick with what he had as long as he could, which usually ends up being a death sentence for repeating success. Teams with continued success always add something new and always have young talent coming to the forefront. Just for the record, the Sox have holes in LF, CF, 2b, a balky Joe Crede, and the bullpen (don't comfort me with the ludicrous Scott Linebrink signing. 4 years for $19mm for a reliever? Are we the fricking Mets now?)
  
• Heck, after the Royals signed Jose Guillen and ran in the bidding for Japanese import Kosuke Fukudome, the Sox might have the least amount of talent in the toughest division in baseball. That means last place, friends. With the Cubs at least making the playoffs last year, all of a sudden, 2005 seems really far away. I'm going to get a box of tissues, some ice cream, and watch my 2005 championship DVDs now.
  

thousand words

but all of them sum up to "Crap, he looks really OLD."

See more here and here.

yesssssssssss