it is officially the year of rocco

NLCS thoughts

Good win for the good guys in Game 1.

Cole Hamels is becoming elite, at 24 years of age. The Phillies have what they have coveted for years, a bonafide ace.

I am ecstatic for Burrell. He has put up with a lot of tough times in Philadelphia, mostly due to the fans. His contract is up at the end of this season, and if he does not return, he has all but guaranteed that he will be thought of favorably in Philadelphia, forever. Even the haters cannot deny Pat the Bat. His 3 home runs so far this season will always be remembered, no matter what happens.

I am tired of hearing about how great Citizens Bank Park is for hitters. When it was first built, it was too hitter friendly, and the outfield was actually adjusted in 2005 to help combat this. Statistically, it is actually in the middle of the pack in the NL when it comes to hitter friendly parks. The simple fact is that the Phillies just hit a lot of home runs, whether home or away. It is a fallacy to link the Phillies success to the ball park. They have the best road record in the NL.

I am unsure which Brett Myers we will see today. He is a fiery guy, lets just hope he can channel that emotion and find the strike zone. Dear God, please grant us the good Brett Myers.

Let's go, 2 and 0.

observations on the debate

A few thoughts from the debate....

John McCain looks surprisingly smug.

Brokaw is irritable tonight.

Obama's arguments come across more focused and more prepared. McCain is all over the map.

Both candidates missed the ball on the "sacrifices" question. Somebody needs to say "turn off your lights, use less water, use public transportation." Both missed a chance for a ground level, personal, common sense challenge to the American people.

"That one" probably wasn't the best word choice for McCain. Intentional or not, it may invoke race issues.

I know that I am an Obama supporter and am probably a little less than objective, but be that as it may, McCain looks overmatched. Obama has been smoother and has made strong but clear arguments.

McCain is definitely making an attempt to make himself more palatable to the public. Even if his attempts at humor were terrible, he is trying to appear more even keeled.

I wonder if Obama realized how much discussion his Pakistan comment would create.

Apparently we are all friends with John McCain.

McCain has an advantage when he goes at Obama for predicting the surge would not work.

Given the emergence of economics as the predominate issue in America right now, I wonder if the Republican Party wishes it had nominated Mitt Romney. Shallow as it may be, he would look more presidential and carry more physical charisma than McCain does, an area in which Obama has a marked advantage.

Yes or No questions on this stage are absurd. Both men wisely avoided that trap.

Interesting hypothetical question by the Navy dude. I don't know what I think about that one.

When McCain attacks Obama for wanting to sit down with Iran, it sounds too much like the foreign policy of the past. It sounds at once bellicose and childish. I think this is an area where Obama's progessive ideas could really play in his favor. Cleary foreign policy change is needed, and he is offering something very tangible.




My friends, "that one" is going to win this election. It is becoming more and more apparent.

restless

I am getting restless again. Standard, I know. I have officially held my job at the Pumphouse for a longer continuous period of time than I have ever held another job. I have lived at 630 Lashley Street longer than any other place since I left Millwood Road to go to Cedarville more than four years ago. I am back in school, and it is a good thing. And yet, I grow restless again.

I have been trying to pinpoint exactly where this restlessness comes from. I have no traumatic events in my past or skeletons in my closet that I am running from. It is not as if I don't have any other options. I can't explain it. I guess I am just eternally curious. All I know is that I have an itch, and if I don't scratch it, I go crazy. A "career" doesn't really interest me, and at this point, neither does a family. I hate to say it, but going to school still feels like going through the motions. I plan on sticking with it this time, but I think in order to stay sane, I am going to have to have some very stimulating summers. This summer, I think I might go south. From Colorado to Paraguay. Living out of a backpack and bus-hopping. I have also thought about pursuing a job as a white water rafting guide. Now that I have bartending experience, I will be able to find a job most anywhere. So maybe I should live in Costa Rica for the summer, working behind a bar. Perhaps Hawaii. Then again, there is always the sailboat idea.....

I need feedback.

thoughts through seven

Cole Hamels is magic. And only 24.

Jayson Werth is a bit too eager.

Are there two calmer hitters other than Rollins and Utley facing a 2-strike count?

Again, Hamels is unreal today.

a bold prediction

I'm about to start my philosophy and religion class, and I quickly want to share my prediction for this series with the Brewers.

Game 1: Offensive domination. Phillies win by more than 4. Call it 8-3.

Game 2: Myers outpitches Sabathia (gasp!). Phillies win a 1 run game. Let's say 3-2.

Game 3: Moyer does his typical thing, giving up 3 runs through 6 or 7. Phillies score just enough to sweep the series. I say 6-4.

Roll Phillies.

Take Two

Is there a better way to start October than by watching playoff baseball? I humbly submit that there is not. I am getting ready to go to class, but I have a feeling I am not going to be focusing on much today besides the Phillies-Brewers game. In fact, I will be skipping my final class of the day in order to watch said game. Last year was a let down, but I was satisfied simply winning the NL East. This year, much more is left to be accomplished. Roll Phillies.