MLB Fancave... Chasing a dream!

“It’s only weird if it doesn’t work”. 

Or so that is what Anheuser-Busch says in their witty commercials.  If you thought that the idea of me carrying around a neon orange sign all last baseball season stating “MLB Fancave 2013 I want you” was weird, I beg to differ!

I found out last Thursday that I have been selected as one of 52 finalists to be a cave dweller in the MLB Fancave for the 2013 season.  Since last Thursday, my life has been a whirlwind.  I haven’t slept, I haven’t been able to concentrate on anything, and I haven’t strayed from conversation involving me getting into the MLB Fancave.   I initially learned of the news while serving as juror number one, on day number two of a case in Superior Court.  I saw a text message from a good friend that simply stated “I think I saw the orange sign?” I immediately froze, possibly stopped breathing for a few seconds, and then started shaking.  I had to wait another half hour before the judge gave us a break to actually see the announcement from the MLB Fancave myself.  I was thrilled, stunned, honored, speechless, and yes, I had less than ten minutes to regroup and lead my fellow jurors back into the court room.

Since that moment, everything has felt surreal.  Text messages, emails, Facebook messages, and tweets came pouring in.  I have never felt so thankful in my life; the amount of support and encouragement that I have received has been overwhelming.  To top it all off, a representative from the Phillies contacted me to congratulate me.  I mean, my favorite team in all of sports was calling me… could this be real?? And the MLB Fancave was following me on twitter??  Following me??   

I am still not sure if I am dreaming, but I really do hope not.  I have put so much time and energy into my campaign because however this ride ends, I want no regrets.  I have always been one to see my goal and stare it in the face until I have achieved it.  So that is what I am going to do.  I always tell the kids I work with that you are never too old to dream, and that no dream is ever too big to pursue.  I am now putting my own advice into action.

As I stated in my Fancave application essay, I have fallen in love with the game of baseball.  It is a game that has never let me down, that is there for me every summer night, and returns without fail every spring.  And it is my dream to spend a season in what one would consider ‘Baseball Heaven’ with people who love the game as much as I do.  MLB Fancave, I want you and I won’t let you down!   I have never been one to care much about my birthday, but this year it falls one day after the Fancave announces the 30 finalists they will take to Spring Training.  I definitely know what I want for my birthday this year… and it is priceless!

 "People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring." - Rogers Hornsby  

-CL

Young vs. Veteran QBs

This past weekend defined playoff football.  It involved improbable comebacks, amazing young quarterback talent, a double overtime game, upsets, set records, and most importantly to the fans, constant excitement.   As an already mourned and healed (as much as possible) Eagles fan, I watched diligently with nothing at stake but my own entertainment.   And wow, was I entertained.

As I watched these four amazing games, something that stood out was the difference in play between the younger quarterbacks and the veteran quarterbacks.  The newer NFL QBs are explosive, with a lot of running, jumping, and diving in their game.   In addition, the level of fear seems non-existent for example, in young Kaepernick and Wilson, as they play every down as if it is their last.   The defensive cores are not as adjusted to this type of flashy play, thus these younger quarterbacks are having successful outcomes so far.  In comparison, Brady and Manning, two veteran quarterbacks, are most comfortable and productive standing protected in the pocket.  Despite the differences in these offensive strategies, the outcomes of both are outstanding and fun to watch.

In thinking about these differences in execution, it is interesting to think about what qualities make up an ideal franchise quarterback.  While Russell Wilson and Colin Kaepernick have proved they can compete in the NFL, they both leave me wondering how long they can stay healthy with their aggressive nature of play.  In addition, Kaepernick especially, worries me that his ability to make quick decisions could easily lend him vulnerable to picks and turnovers.  After watching these young quarterbacks play, Brady and Manning seemed almost boring in comparison with their ‘old school ways’ of working in the pocket.  Despite frequently making fun of Brady for his ‘sissy slide’ and at times, non aggressive play, he manages to stay healthy through an entire season and postseason.  In addition, when the ball is in his hands, I always have confidence that he is going to take care of it and get it where it needs to go.  Despite looking routine and awkward at times, Brady gets things done consistently, wins games and wins championships.   I am curious to see if the position of quarterback is overall changing into one of a more aggressive nature, where one needs to possess the qualities of a running back in addition to a precise arm in order to survive in the NFL.  Or if this ‘fad’ will end when these younger ‘fearless’ guys start getting injured and are thus forced to be more conservative.

Lastly and unrelated in regards to this past weekend of football, I can’t help but to comment on post-game press conference outfits.  Brady looked like a pretty boy model out of GQ magazine; too pretty if you ask me.  Wilfork looked like he walked straight out of a rap video, Schaub looked like an uptight lawyer after a stressful day in court, Kaepernick looked like he should be clubbing in Miami all tatted up, and Belichick , well he looked like his usual disheveled self.   

Who's on First? Red Sox Offseason...

With these unusually warm January days, I can already smell Fenway Franks in the air.  This premature spring fever serves as a small reminder that before we know it pitchers and catchers will report, spring training will start, and opening day will be upon us.  This makes me giddy, excited, and anxious at the same time.  For Boston fans, there is a lot of uncertainty about how the team will come out of the gate, thus anxiety is high on the list of feelings when thinking about opening day.

A lot happened in the offseason, but it’s hard to find an underlying theme.  In my mind, the Red Sox offseason actually started last August and has all along has been more about what they have gotten rid of than what they have gained.  Some would refer to their trade with the Dodgers last August as the biggest trade in baseball history.  I think of it as the most successful purge in baseball history.  They got rid of attitudes, laziness, and a lot of cash.  Bye bye Beckett, Crawford, Gonzalez, and Punto… don’t let the door hit you on the way out!!  That day was the first time last season I felt like I wanted to cheer for the team.  It was more fun to cheer for random guys you never heard of, than to cheer for losers and over rated players. 

The end of the 2012 season and the end of the Valentine era could NOT have come soon enough.  And with that, came the hiring of new skipper, John Farrell.  This move was probably the most logical of the entire off season.  For one, Farrell is a familiar face and one that is well liked in Boston.  Secondly, and more importantly in my mind, he was previously the pitching coach of the Sox.  Pitching is what wins championships, and the Sox did not do much to improve their pitching, that was lackluster at best last year.  I am counting on Farrell to bring out the best in Buchholz, Lester, ahem Lackey (I won’t even get started on Lackey).  Dempster, the one addition to the starting rotation, is 36 and inconsistent.  I am not sure that they were thinking this one through.  The Sox need an ace.  An ace!!  Why didn’t they go after someone like Greinke or last season CJ Wilson.  Or just to make a point (as I would clearly not agree with this move as a Phillies fan), why wouldn’t they give up an injury prone Ellsbury while he is still valuable and go after someone like Cole Hamels??  And let’s be honest, the Sox have not had good luck shopping in Japan, yet they picked up Koji Uehera a 37 year old Japanese reliever.  I don’t know much about him, but I already don’t trust him.  Most recently, they did acquire Joel Hanrahan to close out games instead of Andrew Bailey, however this now leaves them with two ‘should be closers’ to shank in relief and cause a lot of frustration (Bard also falls in this category).  So, bottom line is that I am counting on Farrell to do something with all this mess that awaits the bump in Fenway Park this year. 

So far, I have been pretty negative in my twisted opinion of what the Sox are trying to accomplish going into 2013. There are some positives though.  As a long time Phillies fan, one of my obvious favorites would be the addition of Shane Victorino.  I am not sure how much fans realize that he is a very likeable guy.  He will be a positive influence in the clubhouse, a leader, a face in the community, and a tough player who brings 100 % to every game of the season.  He is the cohort that Pedroia needs to rally the team, the personality that Remy and Orsillo need to keep it interesting in the booth, and the guy to count on to play in every game.  Along with Victorino, the Sox picked up Jonny Gomes who is also supposedly a ‘good clubhouse guy’, and catcher David Ross.  They clearly weren’t targeting young guys to rebuild for the future, but yet instead positive attitudes and hard workers. 

In discussing the offseason, it can’t go unmentioned that the Sox will always have a weakness at shortstop.  It is beyond me why they would sign Stephen Drew, brother of JD Drew who is one of the biggest disappointments in Red Sox history, to fill that never ending void at shortstop.  We can only hope that Stephen doesn’t have as many complaints, ailments and missed games that his older brother did.  I was SO relieved when the sox rid of that waist of space they used to throw in right field, and now I have to hold my breath again watching the latest ‘Drew disaster’ unfold.  

I can honestly say that I have no idea what to expect out of this team in 2013.  One thing I do know is that there is still an empty corner to be filled, and Opening day is less than three months away.  Let’s hope that we aren’t sitting in Fenway on April 8^th saying “Who’s on First?”

-CL

MLB Fancave Experience... One great night!!

As an adult, there are few opportunities that give you the chance to do something that makes you feel like a kid again.  There are less and less things that give you that giddy excitement that prevents you from being able to sit still, that give you nervous energy, and that leave you smiling and talking about it non-stop for days after.  That is why I felt so lucky to have had the opportunity to spend last Friday at the MLB Fancave in NYC.  I got to experience all those feelings, just like I did when I was a kid on Christmas eve. 

For those of you who don’t know what the Fancave is… shame on you!  But I will explain it so that you can follow along.  The MLB describes The Fancave on the website as something that ‘allows fans to interact with the game in an entirely new way’.  It “hosts fan events, concerts, MLB player and celebrity appearances, as well as the nine Cave Dwellers who are attempting to watch every game of the 2012 MLB season while chronicling their experiences online through videos, blogs and social media.”

When I first heard about the Fancave last year, it became something I dreamed about and thought of as way out of my reach.  When I first mentioned the idea of applying to be a cave dweller for this season, I wasn’t really intending on following through with the application.  However, my friends and family convince d me that The MLB Fancave seemed made for someone like me due to my love of baseball, and passion to work in sports down the road.    So I applied, however much like other aspiring cave dwellers, I was surprised when I pressed ‘submit’ and then found out I needed to include a two minute video.  I rushed to make one before the application deadline, however I didn’t have enough time to be as creative as I would like, and unfortunately didn’t win in 2012.

As the 2012 season unfolded, I became engrossed with following the happenings at the Cave as well as following and getting to know the nine cave dwellers.  I talked to a bunch of friends about a ‘marketing’ approach for being in the Fancave in 2013 and decided that I would start my campaign on day 1.  I made what is now a signature neon orange sign and started carrying it around, and taking pictures with it at every baseball related stop I made starting with Spring Training in March.  The sign has met some stars of the MLB including Justin DeFratus of the Phillies, Larry Lucchino, Don Orisillo, and also been to a ton of games in a handful of different parks this season.  It has become a Where’s Waldo on Twitter and maybe even an annoyance to the cave dwellers who I have tweeted a ridiculous amount of times. 

Along with my campaign, I have got to know the cave dwellers by following them on social media, mostly twitter.  Prior to getting to meet them last week, they had become almost reality stars in my world.  Thus, you can only imagine my excitement when I bid on ‘The MLB Fancave Experience’ in The Jimmy V Auction and actually won.  Yes, I was going to get to go to the MLB Fancave for the night and hang out.  It has been hard to explain to others how excited I was about this opportunity.  Other than being a great addition to my campaign, I couldn’t wait to meet the cave dwellers that I have followed all year, hear their stories, see all the awesome memorabilia in the cave, watch all 15 MLB games at once, and talk hours of baseball with people who love the game as much as I do.  The five year old kid in me came out, and I was thrilled to be so lucky!!

So, you can only imagine the excited nervous energy I had last Friday as I made my way to NYC via car, then train.  I about drove all my friends crazy in the meantime, but my two good friends who came with me to the cave were able to feel my excitement and lived in the excitement with me.  Our night at the cave began shortly before the 7:05 starts and ended after the last west coast game was over around 2 am.  The night was everything I had been excited about and more.  I was jaw dropped for the first hour or so and in awe that we were actually there.  The three remaining cave dwellers, Ashley, Ricardo and Kyle, were so awesome; everything I imagined them to be like after following them for 5 months online.  They were engaging, passionate, funny, so welcoming and laid back.  We just hung out in the cave like we were hanging out on our own couches, but we had the ‘Cave Monster’ with 15 big screen TVs, and other passionate baseball fans to watch games with.  It was ‘Baseball heaven’ as one of the dwellers described it, with baseball everywhere all the time. 

I can see why the three cave dwellers who are left are still there and I know that they will be successful in their futures.  I can also see myself in the MLB Fancave next year, every single day of the 2013 season, enjoying every minute of it.  And if I win next year, I will never miss a home run slide rally parade!
-CL

West Coast MLB park tour 2012

Happy First Sunday of football everybody!  You would think that my blog today would be football related, especially since I am on the verge of my fantasy baseball season being over not making the playoffs for the first time EVER, but I am still in baseball mode folks.  In addition to this Friday being the day I go to the MLB Fancave, I just returned from 2012’s Ballpark tour out West.  On a mission to hit up all thirty parks in major league baseball, one of my best friends and I have become the Siskel and Ebert of MLB parks.  With each new park we visit, we find something new to appreciate about parks we have already been to in comparison, and of course we learn to appreciate something new about the game of baseball.  And as we are walking out of each respective park, we always say to each other “I love Fenway”. 

So, the first park we hit up in California was Petco Park in San Diego.  It was a day game against the Braves and the weather was perfect.  We stayed in the hotel connected to the park so the process of pre-gaming and getting to and from the game could not have been easier.  Both the park and the hotel were new, clean, and modern.  All things that are very important to me!!  I am not much of an ‘old charm’ type of person (with the exception of Fenway charm). Before the game we had lunch and drinks at a great little sports bar where we sat outside and enjoyed the city of San Diego.  So far, all this would make you think that Petco was my favorite park, but I should have known that something was up the night before when we arrived into town and the Padres game had just ended.  The streets around the park did not flood with people as they do when a game ends in Fenway, and the people that were on the streets were all decked out in Braves gear.  Hmmmmm….  So as we sat behind home plate in amazing seats, beers quickly in hand because there were no lines, we quickly realized “wow, this place really lacks in atmosphere” in terms of engaging the crowd.  There was no music played between innings, no fun games on the big screen to engage the casual fan who could care less about the game, minimal announcing, and very few people there who even cared about the Padres or could name more than one player on the team.  Not to mention, that we didn’t see one person eating peanuts or a hotdog the whole game.  HUH??  At the end of the day, the convenience, cleanliness, comfort level of the park were amazing, but if you want a down and dirty ballpark experience with ballpark food and real fans, Petco is not the place for you.

Next, we drove up the coast to Anaheim to see our beloved tanking Redsox take on the Angels.  Now for those of you who aren’t aware of geography (like myself), Anaheim is pretty set off from action and is a good 45 minutes to an hour outside the city of LA.  Needless to say, there is not much to do around the park and accessibility is definitely not a strength of Angel stadium.  Case in point, it was five dollars to park which tells you something about location.  There were a few bars and restaurants nearby however, and the area around the park appeared safe.   We pre-gamed at a hole in the wall local gem that one of my favorite Fancave dwellers recommended to us.  We were shocked and pleased when the bill came and beers and mixed drinks were a whopping four dollars.  We did however enter the park hungry and were not happy to see that the food options were slim.  I will take the blame for that one though… not the fault of the park!  Honestly though, there isn’t much to note about Angel Stadium.  I compare it to watching a baseball game in RFK, which was the home of the Nationals their first few years.  There were definitely more fans of baseball at the Angels game which was nice, however oddly enough it seemed to be 50/50 Redsox to Angels fans which I thought was a little strange.  We ran into Don Orsillo before the game just hanging out, talking to fans in the park, which did make for an exciting night before the game even started.  Once at our seats, we noticed a lot more fan engagement than at Petco Park.  It was interesting because everyone around us appeared to have brought their own food… ziplock bags of peanuts, and candy, homemade sandwiches, etc.  It was kind of funny to watch, however I guess I was jealous because I left the park hungry!!  After the game, the schlepp to our hotel in LA was not ideal but of course we were glad we made the stop in Anaheim and got to see some AMAZING players on the diamond.  The Angels have one good squad despite their slightly disappointing season.  That is really what the whole night was about… baseball 101 would be my theme of the experience.

Our next endeavor was Dodger Stadium, also referred to as Chavez Ravine (who knew).  We had a day off between the Angels and Dodgers game to explore LA, go to the beach, shop Rodeo Drive, etc.  As we explored LA, we asked multiple people about where we should go before the game to get the ‘Dodger experience’.  It was interesting because everyone we asked, would hesitate, and then spat out “Well, there is this dive bar called Short Stop that people go to?”   Always with a question mark at the end. That definitely raised a red flag for us, but we were determined to try it.  We should have known what we were getting into when we drove past it multiple times in broad daylight, despite the GPS stating that we had reached our destination.  Our destination was a black narrow building, with no windows and no sign, that looked like it had been shut down ten years ago following a crime scene investigation.  We walked in anyways, and even sat down at the bar.  I think that we were both trying to ‘roll with it’ but honestly, I was a little scerrrred.  First of all, I couldn’t even see a foot in front of me because it was so dark.  Secondly, there was this random room next to the bar that had no tables and people sitting around the edges of the room like they were waiting in line at a DMV or something.  It was hard to comprehend what that room was all about though because you could barely see.  Ok, I am rambling on and on about this bar that we didn’t even get a drink in, but it makes the point that Dodger Stadium was in the GHETTO!!  Despite being in the ghetto however, the park had the most beautiful view of the mountains, the setting sun on the clear sky, and again perfect weather.  We sat in great seats, again behind home plate, and we were impressed with the food and drink options (which include Dodger Blue Margaritas that are bright blue).  Despite being the third oldest park in baseball, Dodger Stadium provided a great viewing experience.  It was hard to tell how into the game Dodgers fans really were, but there was a lot of fan engagement.   They played music to get people involved, it was ‘take your dog to the park day’, people were eating peanuts and drinking beer, and the majority of the fans were decked out in Dodgers gear.  I knew I was going to have fun at this game regardless for many reasons.  The week prior the Dodgers acquired four Redsox in a blockbuster trade and Beckett was on the mound, Shane Victorino, whom I will always love was recently acquired, The Diamondbacks had Tyler Skaggs on the mound who is one of the best rookie pitching prospects right now…  Needless to say, I was a little rowdy at this game and had a GREAT time in Dodger Stadium. 

All of that being said, one of our most random observations at all the parks we have been too is that  there is a common thread of fans being obsessed with their team’s version of the Hawiian short sleeved collared shirt.  I am not even sure what else to say about that…  

Happy Sunday Funday to all!! 
-CL

The wave... What's the deal??

So, what is the deal with the wave anyways?  If your able to read this, chances are you are too old to get excited about the wave.  Unless of course you are a child prodigy, in which case I will give you a pass...
Honestly though, why does anyone get excited about the wave?  I don't see the appeal at all and in fact, it annoys me.  I kind of think of it like a firework... once you have seen one, you have seen them all.  It is an outdated tradition that could actually be distracting to the most important people in a stadium... yes, the players. 
I have been to at least two games each homestand this year at Fenway and each and every game, there has been at least one, and sometimes up to three waves a game.  And with each passing wave, I have become more agitated by it.  I have also started to take note at who is getting most excited about it, and it is not the kids.  It is adults, adults of all ages, male and female, baseball fans and pink hats.  And one of the most irritating things about the wave and the people doing it, is the timing.  People don't think about the timing of starting the wave.  The wave will be busted out in the bottom of the ninth when the Sox are down one run, the middle of the fourth when they are up five, the top of the first when the game is tied and just underway.  People just don't care.  And it is tacky, especially in such a beloved and traditional park such as Fenway. 
Listen up 'wave lovers'.... the wave went out of style in the 1980s.  Go become a fan of the Miami Marlins if you want to do the wave.  Oh, and you people who like the wave are probably the same people who still buy and wear the foam finger. 
-CL

Fantasy versus Reality...

I started playing fantasy sports about ten years ago. Football was per usual the first fantasy sport I played.   I immediately loved it because it was a way to interest me in every game played on any given Sunday. I enjoyed playing with my friends, talking ‘smack’ and coming up with witty team names and slogans.  However, I quickly realized that there is a point where fantasy meets reality and conflict is created.  For example, there are certain teams that I stay far away from on draft day because of long time hatred.  I have never had a single Redskin on a fantasy team because I just cannot cheer for them.  In addition, I quickly realized that my fall Sundays of pure enjoyment could easily be ruined if one of my fantasy stars is playing against the Eagles.  Suddenly with all these realizations, I started to think a lot about the differences between fantasy and reality when it came to my love of sports.  And from that moment on, I decided that in my world, reality will always trump fantasy!!  The outcome of the Eagles game will always matter more to me on Sunday, then the passing yards of Aaron Rodgers, and the Phillies score will always matter more to me than Miguel Cabrera’s batting average. 

Now, don’t jump the gun and think that my motto of putting reality ahead of fantasy changes my competitive nature when it comes to fantasy sports, because it sure does not.  I have only won one football championship, but I have been dominant in my fantasy baseball play.  In my first four full seasons, I have racked up one gold trophy, two silvers and one bronze.  I have always felt that there is so much more strategy involved in fantasy baseball which is why I like it much more than fantasy football.  And a baseball player that isn’t necessarily the most popular player on the diamond, could be a fantasy stud and vice versa.  One of my favorite fantasy players has been Juan Pierre who gets on base and steals bases more than any casual baseball fan realizes.  He is one of the hardest players to strike out in baseball, yet he was claimed by the Phillies off waivers this year and was not a roster player going into Spring Training.  On the other hand, some well-known and loved players on the field can be fantasy team killers.  At the beginning of this season, Albert Pujols owners were probably all conflicted, wanting to take him out of their line-up while he worked through his slump, but hesitant to do so knowing that a three homerun night was a possibility every night. 

At the end of the day, I love fantasy sports even through the ups and downs.  This year, I happen to be having a rough year in both fantasy and reality.  My fantasy squad, now well known as “Kung Foo Panda” named after one of my favorite fantasy surprise studs, closely resembles the Phillies.  Both are full of injury and just can’t get it right on a daily basis.  As the manager of Kung Foo Panda, it feels like every night I have more production on my bench than in my line-up and every morning I wake up to another ailment.  Regardless, I will not give up because as the 2008 Phillies showed us, as long as you can hang on and keep yourself in the running, you have a chance to win.  And if winning isn’t the outcome, every team deserves a rebuilding year in the meantime.  

-CL