OCTOBER IN ST. LOUIS - GO CARDS

Thank you Busboy for your kind and thoughtful comment.  Perhaps we could have a friendly wager for the I-70 Series - are you interested?  Well, I should not speak too soon lest the Cardinals might blame for me for jinxing them.

All is well here in my corner in STL.  The rain finally stops today but the sun is still hiding behind all the cloud.  It is getting cold in the low 60's.

With so many urgent matters facing the world around us, it is selfish yet comforting to know that we could still enjoy a few moments of happiness at a sporting event.  However you cope with events in your life, I hope you find the strength and support to overcome and rise above the difficulties.  

THE BOYS OF SUMMER - LET'S THE GAME BEGIN

The St. Louis Cardinals Home Opener is tomorrow.  We are not going to the game and even though I am not really a baseball fan, I am excited that the baseball season has started (other teams already had their home openers last week).  Let's welcome back the Boys of Summer and let's the game begin!

I just realized that I posted only once in the month of March.  I don't really have any excuses.  I just could not get myself to be in the right frame of mind to blog.  There are many changes in my life but I could not share the details in this public outlet.  The Stanley Cup Playoffs starts in a few weeks, perhaps that would get me excited about blogging again!!!!!

DON'T TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALLGAME

We were at Cardinals v. Pirates NLDS game last night – Cardinals won 6-1, advancing to NLCS Series against the Dodgers (LA, not Brooklyn)!

A customer gave my husband the tickets, but parking at the stadium cost $25, then $50 for food, beer, water and a bag of peanuts.

Regular readers know that I don’t get excited about baseball.  I am a hockey/football fanatic.  But I would not put up with traffic going downtown for a hockey game during work days (after a long day at work) unless when my beloved Detroit Red Wings come into town.  I am also picky and get Rams tickets only to see the Patriots, the Saints or the Packers.

It was a comfortable evening.  I brought a sweater but did not need it.  Traffic on the highway was terrible.  I was hungry because I only had a banana and a handful of carrots for lunch.  The 1^st inning was already started when we finally got inside the stadium.  We each got chicken basket with fries ($13.75 x 2), beer in a souvenir cup ($12.50), a bottle of water ($5.50) and a bag of peanuts ($4.50).

Our seats were taken by two young men who looked like they already had too many drinks.  They moved to another seats when we showed them our tickets. 

A woman in the row in front of us kept standing up, so my husband said, “Ma’am, please sit down so I could watch the game too.”  Then it started, her Best Friend “BF” sitting next to her turned to my husband “Ralphie” and said, “Have some respect, she is a breast cancer survivor and Yadi (Molina) is her favorite player.”

Ralphie, “I am glad she survived and I don’t mean any disrespect, but I want to watch the game too.”

BF, “She almost did not make it and she survived, so she could do whatever she wants.”

The "Yadi" woman sat down but her BF kept talking, “We thought she would not be here today.  This is a celebration for her being a cancer survivor.  So she could stand as long as she wants.”

(So a person who is a cancer survivor does not have to conduct herself with good manners or being civilized!!!!)

Then someone in the next row yelled out, “Shut up already, we are trying to watch a baseball game here.”

I thought the situation was going to escalate into a shouting match but BF stopped talking and her friend did not stand up again during the game.

As the game went on, the people around us got louder and rowdier.  There is a fine line between being sport enthusiasts and uncivilized.  Yelling at a player for missing the catch is fine but I am not comfortable being around drunken people, all the cursing, especially women using the “F&%$” or “A$$h@#%” words.

I am glad that Cardinals advance onto the next Series.  It is good for the City and for businesses that depend on the team winning.  However, unless the free tickets are for the World Series, I would say, “Thanks but no thanks, don’t take me out to the ballgame”!

WHAT HAPPENED?

These photos were taken last May (2012) when my sister CH came into town.  CH enjoys baseball and is knowledgable about the game while my area of expertise is hockey and football.  We had a great time and the Cardinals won that day, unlike what happened in the National League Champion Series - blah!

I uploaded these photos getting ready to celebrate the Cardinals winning game 5 on Friday (10/19).  They loss 0-5.  On Sunday (10/21), once again I was ready to publish this post with the title "CELEBRATIONS" in anticipation that the Cardinals would win game 6.  They loss 1-6.  The whole town got nervous but also excited with game 7 on Monday (10/22).  The Cardinals was eliminated with an embarrassing final score 0-9.  What happened? 

It was not at all comforting to hear comments such as "The Cardinals had a great season.  They should be proud of what they had accomplished."  Well, it is one thing to hold your head high and your chin up but knowing you did not achieve the ultimate goal which was the World Series Championship.  And how do you explain that after a 3-1 lead, your team was eliminated?  What happened?

I was hoping that the 2012 WS would be between the Yankees v. the Cardinals.  My sister CH would come to STL and we both could go to NYC for the games.  But then I might be forced to choose which team to cheer for.  I would not have any problems now that the battle is set between the Detroit Tigers v. SF Giants.  This time, I will be sure not to upload any photos or making any premature predictions!

LET THE FUN BEGIN (LOUISVILLE SLUGGER - LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY)

Congratulations to the St. Louis Cardinals on advancing to the Playoffs.  I thought of calling my sister CH about the disputed infield fly ruling that gave the victory to the Cardinals against the Braves in the Wild Card game last week.  CH knows baseball just like I know hockey and football so she would be able to explain what the dispute was about.  I know CH is not terribly upset about the Braves losing since she is a Yankees! 

One of the places we visited during our recent road trip to Kentucky was the Louisville Slugger Museum.  On Monday morning (September 3rd), after breakfast at the hotel (near the airport), we drove to downtown Louisville where the museum was located.  The Labor Day Parade was about to start.  A nice police officer told us where to park and how to get out of town quickly and not got stuck as most of the streets were closed for the duration of the parade.

The last image gives a few details about the Big Bat.  It is soaring 120 feet into the sky.  The first photo shows the people standing at the base of the bat looking like toy soldiers.  The bat weighs 68,000 lbs and if hollowed, could hold up to 30,000 gallons of water.

We toured the factory and saw the cubicles where the official bats were made and ready to be shipped to many famous baseball players such as Derek Jeter, Matt Holliday, Lance Berkman etc.  It was a nice gesture from the factory to give each guest a free mini-bat after the tour.  On display in the museum was a bat Babe Ruth carved notches in for every home run he hit with it and other great artifacts about many baseball great players.  My husband took a few swings in the batting cage using a replica bat models from some of the all-time favorite hitters like Ted Williams and Joe DiMaggio.

We did not get a chance to walk along the Louisville Slugger Walk of Fame, the one mile sidewalks along Main Street where players such as Ken Griffey, Jr., Stan Musial, Ty Cobb etc. are enshrined with a bronze caste of the Louisville Slugger model bat they used, and a bronze home plate with the name and highlights of their career.  As an early Christmas present, I got my husband a personalized full size, MLB regulation baseball bat with his name engraved and the St. Louis Cardinals on the barrel.  It was an enjoyable visit and even if you are not a baseball fan, I highly recommended the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory as a great historical and fun place to be.  You could even take their virtual tour at www.sluggermuseum.com and order your own personalized bat, just in time for Christmas :) 

A HAPPY DAY IN ST. LOUIS

These photos were taken at the Cardinals v. Brewers game on Wednesday, October 12th. A very kind person gave us two tickets and we had a great time even though I am not much of a baseball person. But it is different when it comes to the playoffs. Especially how the St. Louis Cardinals being a Wildcard, trailing behind 10 games, unexpectedly won a playoff spot against the heavily favored-to-win Phillies. The Cardinals kept going, although some might even thought the Cardinals would be lucky if they did not get swept in the Division Series.

The fans received white towels with the Rally Squirrel printed on it. It was "real pretty" when everyone waved the towels and chanted "Go Cards". Again, not being a baseball person, you would think I must be drunk jumping up and down, screaming during the game!

Since my American hometown team, the New York Yankees and the Detroit Tigers were eliminted, it was only right for me to cheer for the St. Louis Cardinals. We have been living in St. Louis since 1995. That is almost 17 years ago. In a few years, I will be living in St. Louis in as many years as I lived in Viet Nam.

After sending the Phillies packing, the Cardinals casually took on the Milwaukee Brewers. Who would have expected the wild ride the Cardinals took to get to the World Series. Game 1 against the Texas Rangers would be scheduled for Wednesday, October 19th. Game 2 would be Thursday, October 21st. Both games would be in St. Louis at Busch Stadium.

Update - The Cardinals won 3-2 in Game 1. The Rangers came back with a win 2-1 in Game 2. It is 1-1 in the Series. Game 3 (10/22), game 4 (10/23) and game 5 (10/24) will be at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Texas. Hopefully, there will be game 6, back to Busch Stadium in St. Louis. Game 7 (if necessary) will also be in St. Louis. Go Cards!