Talking, It's What I Do

 

Harvard Club, NYC

The alarm sounded at 4 a.m. I had just spoken on a microphone for hours the night before.

A conference was a few hours away and it was go time. I'd be back on the mic again.

I pulled myself together to head out the door. There was a 4:49 train out of Greenwich and I preferred to be on that.

Initially, I wanted to walk to the station. I thought it would be a nice workout in the cool air of the early morning. However, knowing that the walk would take some time, I could either sleep until 4 a.m. and drive or get up earlier. So I got whatever sleep I could (minimal, of course), got ready, and drove to the train station.

I grabbed a spot on the street near the station, paid for parking, paid for a train ticket on my phone, and was on the platform by 4:47.

The trip was quiet, and I strolled into the Harvard Club in Manhattan at 6 a.m.

It was a half-day conference and, once again, I think my colleagues crushed it. I got to do something different, moderating a fireside chat/panel discussion with two professionals in the industry. The tricky thing in this is that I'm taking someone else's words and making them sound appropriate. Still, it's like a radio or podcast interview and I have some experience with those.

I thought it came off pretty well, along with the rest of the day.

Somewhere along the line, I realized I'd also screwed up. I grabbed a pair of black pants back in Greenwich before reaching back into my closet to grab the appropriate suit jacket. Black suit, right?

Nope. Somehow, pinhead that I am, I grabbed a navy jacket. It was hours before I realized anything was amiss. Fortunately, nobody seemed to be any wiser, despite how embarrassed I felt.

A black and white cookie later, we missed our first train by seconds, grabbed a second train, and came home.

And I had a parking ticket. I will be dealing with that tomorrow.

The Bowling Green Hot Rods celebrate

All of this wrapped up a whirlwind 24 hours that began last night with the Renegades in their ultimate game of the South Atlantic League Championship.

Alas, a title was not to be. Bowling Green had a 2-0 lead, watched it get cut to 2-1, and eventually won 4-1. The Renegades ran out of magic, unfortunately.

There were tears and lots of melancholy as the Hot Rods celebrated near the pitchers mound. My job at that point was to remain professional and facilitate the introduction of the ceremony to present the league championship trophy before saying goodnight to the fans and supporting my colleagues.

I congratulated Bowling Green, thanked the fans and the crew, and just tried to end on a high note.

I have been around the Hudson Valley Renegades organization in parts since 2001. That, counting the COVID season, is 24 seasons of play-by-play, color commentary, public address announcing, and on-field hosting. I was there a lot over the years and I loved it. I've been there as a fan since the stadium opened in 1994.

As it is for all of us part-timers, we're all terminated effective today. It sounds cold but it's just business. Oh, sure, we can all be rehired before next April, but nothing is guaranteed. For me, it will start as an offseason of uncertainty. The 2024 Renegades season was interesting. Fascinating. Frustrating. Exhilarating. And nearly euphoric.

There were myriad highs and some absolutely frustrating moments as well. 

But what I know is I absolutely love the people I work with. Obviously, starting with Sean and Lori, but also Clicks, Fish, Beats, the Jasons, Guido, Alli, Lurch, Anthony, and so on.

I can't name everyone. Apologies to those I didn't name. To many, I might be "the voice" on the PA system. My face probably isn't well known. But there are so many wonderful personalities, like "Batman," the guy who walked around dressed with a Batman mask on, speaking in the Christian Bale "growl."

Yet, as we all left the booth, we got a sad reminder that all good things must end...

Long live "Batman"

If last night was the end for me, I want to walk away proud and happy. That's what I did, despite the loss. I don't want sadness. I don't want to avert my eyes when I drive by the stadium on I-84. I want to remember the good -- and there was plenty of that.

I was once the play-by-play announcer for the Hudson Valley Renegades. An affiliate of the New York Yankees. I'm profoundly proud of that.

If there's more, then bring it on. I love baseball. I love Minor League Baseball. 

Maybe the picture clears up quickly.

I need it.

Try Again

 

Just before sunrise at Buc-ee's, Florence, SC, 3/19/24

Once again, the sun came up.

Once again, I pulled myself out of bed, mostly because The Cat knocked a bottle of water flying at 6 a.m. and spilled all over my bedroom floor.

A perfect start to the day. All I could do was laugh.

Once again, I sit at my computer, answering questions and writing more nonsensical words.

Yes, friends, I expressed frustration yesterday. No, I was not in a good frame of mind. Even when I tried to get out of it, well, things happen.

In the process, priorities get rearranged and emotions get scrambled and soon I'm having a meltdown on "Doubleheader," and...

So I come here to this space to say some things. Of course, it's not a private world. These words -- useless as they are -- are open to scrutiny. 

That, of course, serves as a reminder that I should just stay quiet. But, as I can't afford therapy, well, there's that.

People mean well. 

For now, I'm still intending to broadcast games. I have football on Friday and Saturday. I'm going to prep for them.

Assuming I'm still needed.

Then I'm going to watch the Renegades in Game 2 of the SAL Championship.

As a fan.

So I can just laugh and relax. If the Gades win, I work tomorrow. 

We just keep moving forward.

Even when we take a step behind.

Honor Has Different Emotions

 

There are two entirely different thoughts in this post but honor is the theme.

To start, it is always an honor but it's wrong to say it.

But, stay with me, and I think it will make sense.

I anchored WGCH's coverage of the Sept 11 memorial ceremony at Cos Cob Park this morning. Sean joined me on his own doing and I was really proud of that.

Honestly, he just wanted to be there. He didn't even expect to be on the air but I had him co-anchor with me. I realize he didn't live through that day but I felt he would have an interesting perspective as someone who has seen it through the eyes of history.

The thing I mentioned and I said so a few times on the air was that nobody actively wanted to be there this morning. We'd all like to go back to 2001 and not have that experience. 

Of course, that's not how it works and thus it's an honor to be asked to anchor coverage of something that I think is really important.

It's been 23 years and it's still emotional. I still watch the footage and listen to the coverage. I spend time reliving it again and again.

I wish -- truly, truly, truly wish -- that we still had audio from WGCH but our archive up until the mid-2000s is pretty woeful, save for things I've collected. I have audio of the show I co-hosted on Sep 12, 2001 but that's it. None of the work of Jim Thompson, Dima Joseph, John Iannuzzi, and the other very talented hosts on WGCH that day exists. 

I was there that morning but never got on the air. There was honestly no need for me to do so and, by 10 a.m. we had switched over to using a network news feed. I think we were a CNN affiliate at the time.

So, as I said, I wasn't on the air until I co-hosted Tee Time with Michael Breed on the night of the 12th.

I've written so many thoughts down since that day and you can find them all here on the blog in the archive. At this point, I wish we could act like we did on Sep 12 that year but sadly it appears that time has passed. We're too divided.

Heck, I don't even remember the same way anymore. I had a tradition of what I played every year on Sep 11 but time changes people and I just don't want to hear the music I used to play.

The focus, as always, must be on the nearly 3,000 lives lost that day in Shanksville PA, as well as at the Pentagon, and the World Trade Center. The number, of course, is much higher due to the loss of people since then thanks to air quality-related disease.

And the loss of innocence. We all lost someone or something that day, and time has certainly taught me that.

We'll never forget. I never will and, I'm proud to say, that my son will make sure to never forget.

*****

Staying with the theme of being honored, please excuse the awkward transition. I wanted to mention that I enjoyed what was probably my finest moment as a public address announcer last night.

I've watched so many sporting events. I've watched countless starting lineup introductions.

In fact, I get angry when those introductions are not broadcast. 

Last night, the Renegades played Game 1 of the North Division Championship against the Greensboro Grasshoppers. It was decided that both teams would be introduced on the field before the game, just as you'd see in a playoff game or on Opening Day in MLB.

For whatever reason, the duty didn't fall to Fish on the field, who would have done an excellent job. I got the honor.

I'll add this: I think Fish and I would have been great together, introducing both teams on the field. We would have had the place in a frenzy.

It was overwhelming, knowing that I was introducing some 60 people between the two squads. Pronunciations and accuracy were paramount. In fact, we jumped the gun initially before it was actually time to start.

I read slowly but moved quickly between people, ensuring I enunciated every name.

As I completed introducing the Grasshoppers, I remembered that it was OK to ramp things up a little higher for the Renegades. My dogged nature to not be a homer could actually take a back seat.

I enjoyed saying that the Gades are "the High A affiliate of the 27-time World Champion New York Yankees."

And I gave a little zest to introducing each coach and player before beginning the starting lineup. Suddenly, I heard a roar from the over 4,000 in attendance at Heritage Financial Park. I also felt my face get red, beaming with a hint of pride.

Leading OFF, the second basement, number two, Roc ... REEEE-ZHEE-OHH!

Oh, damn, this was great. A wave of emotion rolled over me. 

Clicks had the music pumping, Anthony made it look great on the video board, and Tom stayed out of the way. Yes, I could hear the chaos over the walkie-talkie and I won't deny that was distracting but I worked around it. Too many cooks were stirring the stew and I'd be damned if anyone was going to screw this up.

And it all aired on the broadcast. Remember, that's also a family affair with Sean on camera.

One thing I didn't do was look at the field. I found myself in a zone with the paperwork of the hastily arranged rosters.

The Gades won the game, ultimately cruising to a 6-0 conquest. If they win tomorrow in Greensboro, they'll come home next week for the South Atlantic League Championship. They'll have to play a third game for me to be back on the mic.

It's possible that last night was my finale and, if it was, what a way to go out.

But I'll walk away with my head held high and perhaps my most enjoyable moment.

We'll wait before truly assessing everything otherwise.

Active and Creative

 

I can't juggle (Inc.com)

It's a good, busy day here.

I have a few minutes between meetings today. 

It's good to be active again.

I've already been to Hunt Scanlon for the script read. A conference awaits in New York next month.

Then one in San Francisco in October.

Then another one in New York in November.

I came home long enough to throw together egg and cheese sandwiches. We had rolls and eggs here so I decided to play chef with my limited skills.

Now, I'm readying for an upcoming meeting.

Ideas are flying around and, as often happens with me, there's promise. Now, I hope for action.

Hope. As always, it's so dangerous.

I enjoy the activity of the various opportunities but it's truly a base I want. If you haven't noticed, the idea of "home" has been a frequent theme here. 

I'd like some stability. I love chaos but I'm more into organization first.

Then I can riff off of that.

So I'll go to this meeting before likely coming back home.

Then, it's Game 1 for the Renegades and Greensboro Grasshoppers tonight at Heritage Financial Park. Two wins will put the Gades into the South Atlantic League championship.

Tomorrow morning opens with the Sep 11 memorial ceremony at Cos Cob Park. Join me live on WGCH around 8:40 a.m.

I have more work after that.

Thursday will include a podcast recording for Hunt Scanlon.

Friday is football.

I need this.

It's a grind. That's the best part. Creating opportunities and working hard to make things happen.

There's a true feeling of gratitude after working like this. Everything feels earned and it's very rewarding.

It's just that I need -- let me make this clear: NEED -- more of it.

But today's a good start.

And now let's get on a roll.

*****

I remember parts of Sep 10, 2001. The Yankees getting rained out, etc.

Obviously, I'll never forget the events of the following day.

It's Sep 12th that I'd like to see us all go back to, if only for how kind, helpful, and patient we were.

We were united.

That would be nice to feel again.

Season's Over

 

It was right around 4:30 when the final out had been recorded.

The Hudson Valley Renegades finished a win against the Asheville Tourists to bring their record to 73-58.

With that, the regular season came to an end.

In some ways, there were goodbyes to say as some of the crew working today won't be back for the playoffs. Even then, the playoffs are fleeting, as much as we'll try to enjoy every second of them.

The Renegades will host three playoff games if they make it to the championship. I'm scheduled to work two of the three.

If not, then my last scheduled game is this Tuesday night when the Gades host the Greensboro Grasshoppers in Game 1 of the Division Championship

A weekend like this can be looser because it's the end. Guards get let down and personalities get silly. Alternatively, things can be tight and that leads to tension.

In our case, it was the former.

We had fun.

Even with a rain delay on Saturday, we passed the time by laughing.

It's baseball. It's supposed to be fun.

A gaggle of us gathered in the parking lot after the game to blow off some steam and celebrate the completion of the regular season.

To that end, we told stories, reflected, and laughed. We acknowledged mistakes and triumphs. 

We talked about how it could have been better and what we could do to improve it.

We guessed about the future.

I'm not quite ready for the full requiem just yet. I'll wait until it's all over before I fully assess what I thought of everything.

That, honestly, includes what I think of myself as a public address announcer as I complete my third season.

For tonight, it's best to not overthink things and turn my attention towards football and other commitments this week.

Too many holes remain but I'm hopeful they will soon work themselves out. Settling into the grind of the fall would be the best thing.

In fact, the chill in the air lately speaks of that. It will warm back up later in the week but for now, it's a chilly night. I threw a sweater on to write this post.

And I should add a few more things as I wrap up.

I'm thrilled that the Steelers won though I'm not thrilled with the offensive inefficiency. Though, frankly, I'm not surprised.

I did not hear much of Tom Brady's debut on FOX today. I heard and saw some awkward stuff but I don't think it would be fair for me to judge him. I've read a lot of negative stuff and I'll wait to read reviews from people I respect.

But most importantly, I have not been waiting all day for Sunday night.

The Waiting Game

 

I don't think the heavy stuff is gonna come for a while

We're off to Heritage Financial Park shortly for the Renegades/Tourists game. It's the penultimate game of the 2024 regular season.

It's also supposed to rain.

That's a dirty word in the baseball business but so it goes.

I'm still home, pulling things together for football next week.

So, yeah, it's sort of quiet.

And, with possible rain on the way, it can be a day of a lot of time on our hands.

Passing the time during a rain delay can be an art form. On the air, there are a few options that could be at one's disposal. The easiest thing is to send it back to the studio and have them go to regular programming. At WGCH, that often means returning to their network programs, which we've done during delays at the Greenwich Town Party and other events.

The other option is to play something in our archive. When we had an issue of not getting the audio feed at this year's Town Party, Bob Small played an episode of "Meet the Beatles," which I found appropriate.

The other option is to stay on-site at the game and fill. I remember us going into a talk show when we had a rain delay at a Bridgeport Bluefish game. That would have likely been in 2002. So we sat down in the booth and filled by talking sports.

I also remember delays at the Babe Ruth New England Regional in Stamford. In that case, I actually played a portion of a previous game broadcast to fill time. You do what you have to do.

In the PA booth, the first thing I suppose is to stay dry. From there, the goal is to not go out of our minds. We look at our phones, talk, maybe walk to the concession stand and get food, use the restroom, talk some more, and generally make fun of everyone.

Humor. As always.

There's also a large amount of watching the body language of everyone involved. If we see the umpires appear and talk with team officials, we're glued to that. We're monitoring channels on social media, and the weather radar, and waiting for news to announce to the crowd, if I'm allowed to do so.

Obviously, we're waiting to hear if we're going to work or go home.

Also within all of this is keeping the fans engaged. Some have questions, assuming we know the answers to the situation (we do not) and others just want to talk to us.

But it's all part of the job. We're on duty basically as soon as we get to the ballpark and customer service is very much a part of that. We represent the team. That matters.

So we'll see how it plays out. The weather appears to be a bit spotty. Definitely gray and cooler.

I know the Renegades will make every effort to play. They always do.

And we'll be there.

Playoff Fever

 

The Hudson Valley Renegades celebrate

I'll cut to the chase.

Last night was one of the most fun experiences I've ever had on a baseball field.

I've experienced walk-off hits, have scored a championship-winning run, and have broadcast myriad big moments, but have never joined in a celebration at a professional level.

You know me. I eschew being a part of many things that I think belong to the team. By "team," it's a bigger term in that there are the players, coaches, and, in the case of the Renegades, the front office. 

As a broadcaster (which I'm not for the Renegades) I tend to back off, with the exception of congratulating everyone. I've certainly done that on many occasions with the teams I've covered.

Last night, the Renegades clinched a playoff spot. The needed to win their own game and then wait for the result of another one. The Gades did their part, beating the Asheville Tourists* 3-0. They needed the Jersey Shore BlueClaws to beat the Aberdeen IronBirds.

*If the Asheville Tourists remind you of the movie Bull Durham, well then pat yourself on the back! 

I handled the public address announcing and we had a really nice, fun night in the PA booth. The game was over, and there was still the postgame tennis ball toss to be played, so the game between the Aberdeen and Jersey Shore was put on the video board in left field. Jersey Shore held a 3-1 lead as we started watching.

Up in the booth, Jason, Clicks, Tom, and I were joined by Anthony, Murph, Jason (Stapf), Devin, Fred, and ... oh, yeah ... Sean.

Faces came in and out but that's the crew that I remember.

As Fish hosted the tennis ball toss, we watched him complete the evening.

At that point, we glanced at the Aberdeen/Jersey Shore game, which was in the 7th inning. The lead had been cut to 3-2.

"I can listen to it in the car if I want," I said. The drive home can be a drag.

But I also glanced back down to the field. Fish was joined by members of the front office as well as the players, who were throwing a football around in the outfield.

"Guys," I offered. "I'm going down to the field."

Fish, in front, took selfies of the crew.

Pretty much everyone came down. Admittedly, when you have a group of full-timers, which the front office is, and the part-timers join in, which we are, it can feel like the Sharks and the Jets.

Snap! Snap! Snap!

OK, maybe that's extreme but there is sometimes a divide, though not by design. It just happens.

But no one seemed to mind as Jersey Shore tacked on to their lead. Heading into the bottom of the ninth, the BlueClaws were up 6-2.

The mood was jovial as cameras began to record it all.

The players stopped tossing the football as the last of the ninth began. The front office staff began to move to the outfield to watch on the board.

"Come on guys."

We know we're the gameday people. Our involvement is different. But we're still all a small part of the journey. In my mind, I wanted to stand closer and watch the Renegades lock up another playoff appearance. This is what everyone works for.

Three outs remained.

Well, it wasn't all that dramatic. A ground out and swinging strikeout opened the inning.

One out to go.

Ryan Stafford of Aberdeen took a called strike three from Paxton Thompson of Jersey Shore and the Renegades ticket was officially punched.

FINAL

Cameras recorded the players hugging in the outfield, safe in the knowledge that more baseball awaits next week. The chance of a title is official.

We watched as the players then hustled off the field, beyond the outfield fence.

We took it all in, somewhat unsure what to do. Should we leave? The last thing I want to do is overstay my welcome or overstep my boundaries.

Then a roar went up as we watched champagne fly beyond the outfield fence The players were bathing in the moment of bubbly.

I watched the Greensboro Grasshoppers do the same thing when they clinched a playoff spot in 2021. They celebrated down the right field line as the Gades' playoff hopes died. The postseason that year was a smaller format and the Renegades -- the 2021 North Division champions -- weren't included.

Last night, it was different.

Thanks to Clicks for this

Soon, we were invited to have our own celebration and join our front-office colleagues and friends. General manager Zach Betkowski gave a brief speech, capped by imploring the pursuit of a championship ring.

Then, for the first time ever, I was part of a champagne explosion. Fish took aim at me with a bottle as I opened mine up.

For the record, Fish got more champagne on Sean than on me, but it's all friendly fire at that point.

More pictures were taken, including by the team photographer, who gathered us all up for a shot. We thanked him and he told us we deserved it, as he sees all of us on the top level at every game.

I talked with people for a bit and kind of just watched everyone enjoy the moment, mindful that it's only one step toward a championship. For the Renegades, there's more work to be done.

Sean and I stepped away as the celebration continued. We waved to Clicks and Fish and made our way out via the right field corner.

It was nice to be a part of it all. I'll treasure it.

The Renegades play again tonight before finishing the regular season this weekend. I'm working both Saturday and Sunday and then I hope to be involved in the postseason games beginning next week.

Get your tickets and go support the team!

Host with the Most, Part Two

 

There's a hint of pride in that face

I made my second appearance as the on-field host for a Renegades game last night.

I was told that the possibility existed on Thursday but I honestly didn't give it much thought.

By Saturday, I had confirmation that I'd be on the field.

I appreciated the vote of confidence and hoped to do my best.

Unlike last time, Sean would be in the stadium.

So my goals were 

- Don't embarrass the team.

- Don't embarrass Sean.

Me? Oh, heck, I can deal with embarrassment. I'm good at it.

Early on, things went according to schedule, at least on my end.

I handled the on-field hello and the first pitches. I chatted with people on the field, including Renegades "Mount Rushmore" legend Wade Davis, who came to the stadium for a first pitch of his own.

The team gave away mini Mount Rushmores, with four of the legends in team history portrayed on it.

One thing I did notice was that the microphone I was using was being temperamental. So was the walkie-talkie I was carrying.

But, OK, I've been down this road. I've gotten around equipment failures.

Right before game time, my job is to get the word from the dugout to the PA booth to start the music that serves as the introduction of the team. Then, the on-field host normally introduces the players.

I got the OK to point up to Clicks to start the music.

I also tried to radio up. They couldn't hear me. Eventually, they started the music.

Then, I tried to take my microphone off mute.

And it died.

Jamie Goerke took the mic from me and I left it in her hands as chaos began. The Renegades waited to come out. The national anthem singer was waiting.

And it was like dead air in radio. It felt awkward.

I stood and waited. Patiently. Jamie radioed up to play the national anthem on the PA system.

The Renegades took the field on their own.

Jamie got the mic to work but it was too late. The anthem had started and the singer couldn't sing.

Honestly, that could have killed the vibe of the night right there but we weren't willing to let that happen. This, as you know, wasn't my first rodeo or baseball game. It also wasn't my first time as the on-field host.

Initially, we decided we would leave the mic on and let Clicks handle the volume in the booth. That means there's no option for me to mute and unmute the mic, thus taking away my ability to ad-lib during the game. That wouldn't be the end of the world but it takes some of the fun away as a host.

Eventually, Jamie got another microphone working and handed that one to me. It worked the way it should and we were in business.

After playing a game of Tic Tac Toe with a mother/son duo, I felt my mojo kicking in.

The night took off from there.

I felt like I was able to shine in a few moments, especially standing on the first base dugout when I had to play the "Dirtiest Car in the Parking Lot" segment. It is exactly what it is: a car is selected and we have some fun with it, before giving the "winner" a prize from a local car wash.

I heard some laughs as I shamed the car in question.

Later on, we played a trivia game involving players who had played for the Renegades before making the major leagues ... or not.

I played it with the entire crowd and, again, I used the skills I developed in various Hunt Scanlon conferences and banquets.

It has to be done quickly, in the span of an inning break and, where I struggled in my first game, I was much cleaner this time.

Once again, Jamie Goerke was the rock star for me, patiently dealing with any questions.

I'd have to say, my anxiety was non-existent. I relaxed and had fun with the fans as well as my coworkers who were universally supportive.

I appreciated those who called out my name to say hello. I appreciated the fan who noticed I was wearing a Bobby Murcer 1973 1973 Yankees jersey. It was Old Timers' Day in The Bronx after all.

I appreciated the good humor of those who played the games, including the couple involved in Water Wars, a trivia game in which the person who gets the questions wrong gets doused with buckets of water.

The questions -- which I came up with -- were impossibly silly and simple.

The man in this couple got all four wrong. Soaking and, with a smile, he fist-bumped me.

The Renegades won the game so I couldn't be blamed for them losing. 

Players sign autographs, especially taking care of the kids

After the final out, I returned to the field to thank everyone for coming out before playing the post-game tennis balls event. People buy bags of tennis balls and try to throw them into hoops on the field to win prizes.

With that complete, I handed the mic back to Jamie and officially said goodnight.

Sean, Anthony, Clicks, and Jason were waiting to support me and hear the stories. Clicks had his own crazy night with the PA mixing board giving him grief.

It was one of those nights but we got through it without fans really knowing what was going on.

That survival skill is the best.

I don't know if I'll ever get to do it again but I had fun and I proved to myself that I was capable of doing a good job.

Most of all?

My son wasn't embarrassed.

I drove home with a smile on my face.

*****

WCBS Newsradio 880 switches formats at midnight. I've been listening whenever possible and, like many of my brethren, will mourn its end.

It's a shame. I've mentioned it before but I wanted to say it once more as the end is almost upon us.

Sad. That's all I've got. Just sad.

Old Timers' Day

The Mick, Yogi, Whitey, the Yankee Clipper, and Casey

Oh, I know.

"Twenty-seven rings!"

Well, yeah.

You're damn right.

It's Old Timers' Day at Yankee Stadium today.

I'd love to be there but duty calls elsewhere and I just found out I'll be on the field tonight for Blue Rocks/Renegades.

But I love the nostalgia of Old Timers' Day.

I remember it being a highlight when I was little. That's where I began to learn about DiMaggio, Mantle, Ford, Yogi, and so on. Mrs. Babe Ruth and Mrs. Lou Gehrig were also there. It was baseball royalty.

That's probably where five-year-old me decided I wanted to be number five. 

Then I found out DiMaggio -- who I revered -- would have that number forever.

Eventually, I made my way to my first Old Timers' Day. It was 1983 and my guy had just hung up his uniform and grabbed a microphone. Yet, on that glorious day in The Bronx, Bobby Murcer patrolled center field once again.

My picture of Bobby Murcer in center, 1983

 

I've been many times over the years. I got to see all of the greats. One year, Willie Mays was on hand and how could anyone not love that?

The game was always fun. It used to be a short exhibition game and sometimes, Mantle would hit a home run. Maybe DiMaggio, though he had stopped playing by the time I was a kid. Maybe it would be Joe Pepitone or Willie Randolph or Hector Lopez or some other name of the past.

There were always the introductions that produced all of those great memories. Scooter, Goose, Guidry, Bucky, Nettles, and so many others.

Admittedly, it is a very long day if you go and I've had kids go who quickly lost interest, but I sit there and love every minute of it.

The eras, of course, have changed for the annual celebration. Today, they'll celebrate 15 years since that last title, in 2009, and the those on-hand will tell stories and bring smiles. I've already seen Derek Jeter (you know, "The Overrated Shortstop"), CC Sabathia, and Mariano Rivera. 

Nick Swisher is there and who has more fun than he does?

Alex Rodriguez is making his first OTD appearance and, look, he's a controversial figure. I'll always struggle with how to talk about him but the guy was such a great player. He's always, like it or not, a pariah.

Many others will be introduced, though Brett Gardner has elected to stay away. Old Timers' Day was always for the fans, and Gardy was a fan favorite, so one hopes that he will reconsider.

Old Timers' Day wasn't just about the players but it was the personalities also. Mel Allen, the revered and true "Voice of the Yankees" would be present as a host and play-by-play announcer for the exhibition game.

When I was a kid, Frank Messer -- the first play-by-play voice I took note of -- hosted the ceremony. Partners Phil Rizzuto and Bill White were former players and so Messer was the right person to preside over the day.

Since then, John Sterling and Michael Kay have served as co-MCs. Kay is hosting on his own today.

I alluded to Claire Ruth and Eleanor Gehrig -- representing the Yankees wives. Today, those who touch our hearts include Diana Munson (Thurman), Jill Martin (Billy), and of course, Kay Murcer (Bobby).

It's a day for nostalgia, and nobody does it like baseball.

Nobody has the history the Yankees do.

Hate them for living in the past. Hate me if you want.

But I eat all of this up. 

It's a reminder of what we've seen. 

What has been.

And what can be again.

Today

Golden Slumbers...Eventually

Another no-hitter on the scoreboard

This hasn't been the best week ever.

I mean, to the public, I've been me.

Work. Baseball. Radio. Etc.

But, in truth, I had a nearly sleepless night earlier in the week as I worried about some stuff.

I've paid for it since Monday. I worked a baseball game Tuesday and was a zombie. I mean, I stayed awake and did the job but I know I felt the exhaustion.

Yet, I still didn't sleep well that night.

Things improved slightly on Wednesday night.

But, yesterday, without anyone knowing, I got a little boost from a friend who was texting me to talk baseball.

In the middle of talking about Aaron Judge and other "diamond notes," we turned to other topics.

Remember I once said to not tell me things are going to get better without some tangible evidence? 

Without saying it, he offered how to back it up.

This does not mean things are cleared up. It means I'm not worrying quite as much.

And it allowed me some sleep last night.

Hope, as I've said, is dangerous, but it's sometimes all one can hang onto. 

And there are points where things snowball, especially late at night as the gremlins are strolling around in the dark.

Monday night, the gremlins worked overtime. I stared at the ceiling when I wasn't staring at the insides of my eyelids.

I looked at my phone.

I strolled through the empty apartment.

The funny thing is I don't turn the TV on in these circumstances. That used to be something I'd do but I don't anymore. I tend to lean on something soothing to listen to if anything.

I should probably read more, and I still have Paul McCartney's book that I need to finish. It helps me get ideas for "Meet the Beatles."

Eventually, I tried the couch. As a reminder, it's actually a loveseat courtesy of my cousin Kourtney.

So, it's a two-seater.

And I'm six feet tall but I make it work. I curl up or let my legs hang. The thing is, it's all mental because there's no way it's more comfortable than my bed.

But I got a few minutes there, just as I got a few in bed.

Heck, I can't even blame The Cat for this night, as he stayed with me until his usual hijinks at 5 a.m.

Then he gets closed out of the bedroom.

So, no, things aren't where I want them to be but I feel a little better. I'm just hoping that feeling will improve.

And more sleep tonight would be nice.

I have two Renegades games this weekend after working a doubleheader yesterday. The Gades threw their fourth no-hitter (a seven-inning game, just as they did in 2021) so that gave us a little extra excitement. The early game was a bit of a grind. 

But the Gades provided a different kind of thrill welcoming a group of baseball players from Bhutan earlier in the week, and I was honored to be a part of that as the PA announcer. The Bhutan Baseball and Softball Association group went to Yankee Stadium on Wednesday and that was great to see also.

So it's been a week.

And I have to believe it's getting better.

A little better all the time.

Washed Out and Yet They Played

 

CT Route 34 near Lake Zoar (Photo: Dawn Schmedlin)

I woke up to rain.

A lot of rain.

It poured. Bad.

The yard next to us flooded to the point that there was a lake created in their backyard.

But, duty called, and we had to go.

First up was "Meet the Beatles" though walking to WGCH wasn't an option. I made the short drive and did the show.

I didn't rush home, thinking that we might not head to Dutchess County for the Renegades game.

Oh, I was quite wrong about that. We left a little after 11 a.m.

The plan was to work our way down to I-95 and then eventually to the Taconic State Parkway.

As we approached Railroad Ave, I noticed flashing lights and a police officer in the middle of the intersection. He waved me through but then I noticed the traffic.

It headed towards Hamilton Ave -- a two-lane road and it was bumper to bumper.

A moment later, I reached the entrance to I-95 South, where I found a Greenwich police cruiser blocking the entrance.

Road closed.

I adjusted and took us back past WGCH and literally back to our front door. We continued on, left Greenwich via Glenville, and jumped on I-684.

It poured as we drove. It didn't seem possible -- or even probable -- that there would be baseball at Heritage Financial Park today.

Passing Purdy's on 684, I noticed a lot of cars exiting at Exit 7. My immediate reaction was, "Oh no."

I saw the same as we approached Croton Falls and Exit 8.

That told me that the last stretch up to I-84 would be bumper to bumper and it was.

Somehow, we survived the traffic started west on 84. Coming down Stormville Mountain, as we got close to the intersection with the Taconic State Parkway, I saw flashing lights.

We were up against the clock in our effort to get to the stadium in time for our call time and it would be thwarted by a car off in the trees on the left side of the westbound lanes.

Quickly, thoughts moved from being on time to being safe. How anyone survived that accident is beyond my pay grade.

We reached the stadium literally on time for the meeting, and I snuck into the booth to catch up.

We also grabbed some lunch before the game.

Somehow there was a window for the Renegades and Crawdads to play, and they did so without a drop of rain. In fact, there were even stretches of sunshine.

I'm fascinated by such decision-making, and I'd love to sit in on the process to understand how it all works. I know everyone tries to be smart and safe about these things. 

But, in the end, there was nothing to talk about. Our drive was interesting and I had no idea what I was going back to but it had no concern whatsoever on the baseball game.

The game happened, we had fun in the booth and wrapped things up. The Renegades lost a close game and they'll back to it in the stretch run of the playoff race on Tuesday night.

As we got ready to leave, we watched as baseball and softball players from Bhutan -- yes, seriously -- started taking batting practice long after the crowd had filed out.

Once again, the great game of baseball bonds us all.

The drive home lacked much drama, and we came home to peace and quiet. Thankfully, things are dry here for us but there are many dealing with headaches all over Connecticut.

I've seen pictures and videos from Wilton, Ridgefield, Redding, Newtown, and Southbury. Part of Connecticut Route 34 -- a main thoroughfare from Newtown to New Haven -- had washed out in a few places. For reference, I used 34 on my daily drive from Mahopac to Newotown back in the HAN Network days.

There will be massive headaches as the work week begins tomorrow.

Accidents on 95 caused the road to be closed earlier today.

The biggest concern is health and I hope everyone is safe.

Host With a Certain Level of Most

 

On the field in the 94 jersey
(Photo: Mike "Clicks" Newell)

WARWICK, RI -- Sometimes, crazy plans turn out just fine.

Yes, first of all, I made it to Rhode Island, after Mother Nature (remember, it's not nice to fool her) did her best to thwart all efforts.

Let's return to yesterday, shall we? 

I was packed, and ready, said farewell to Rascal (The Cat), and hit the road to work with Rascal (The Mascot). I stopped and picked up water and seltzer for the hotel room (and, let's face it, I'll drink it at home). I grabbed lunch and then went to Heritage Financial Park.

In the end, was I nervous for my first time as the on-field host? Sure, but it wasn't paralyzing. I probably looked more anxious than I actually was. I'm certain I looked clueless, especially to the group of interns on the Fun Team that I'd be around all night.

Jamie Goerke, Manager, Game Day Promotions & Programming, was the rock star for me. She was supportive and patient with me all night, and I couldn't have asked for more. 

But, as I said, Mother Nature did some damage to the evening, bringing us a delay that resulted in the first pitch being thrown two hours later than scheduled.

So, I hung out. I walked to the PA booth. I walked down and talked to Lori. I stepped onto the field a few times, including making a brief opening statement that, for some reason, brought applause.

I chatted with fans. 

I walked. Walked. And Walked.

Call it a form of pacing.

I was mixed about playing as the rain fell. If we didn't, I'd lose that first try at hosting but could head to Rhode Island at a reasonable hour.

And Mike Buswell was asking for my ETA (Narrator: it would be late).

But, alas, the decision was made to play. I asked if I should make an announcement, headed to the field, and ... play-by-play announcer (and fill-in on PA) Joe Vasile did the honors. OK. There's that.

I grumbled about communication and carried on.

Oh, and keep in mind that Sean (aka "Junior") wasn't there.

Screenshot from the game broadcast

Eventually, we got down to the real business of the night. I just had to be me. I was passionate and energetic and excited. At times, I worked in some sarcasm.

I made sure to shout out Joe and Clicks and Anthony and Rass.

I chatted with contestants for the games.

I talked with fans.

What can I do better? I screwed up one of the intros, skipping a name on the lineup card (Lori said I made up for it well). I was too slow on a few games and I'll get better timing down.

I'll also learn how to shoot a T-shirt gun eventually.

But, more than anything, I'll continue to relax and let more of the sarcasm come out.

Energy in a crowd dissipates on a night of weather delays. People leave and things thin out. But those who stay are the troopers and are fantastic. Those are the fans I played to. I've learned from years of conference and event hosting to find friendly faces in the crowd and work with them.

When it was over, I walked back out to the field and said a final goodnight. As always, I shouted out the team I worked with, especially the crew in the PA booth.

First, I made sure the crowd cheered the Renegades for their win and, always promoted, reminded fans to come back for Sunday's game.

"For, Anthony, Clicks, Joe, and Rass, I'm Rob Adams. Get home safe everyone, and good night!"

With that, there was applause. Cheers. People calling my name.

And, from what I heard, there might be a second chance to do this again.

I got to see things from a different angle. I was able to watch the faces of the fans, the throwing of the T-shirts, the interaction with the mascots, and occasionally, the game itself. I was even able to break into some goofy play-by-play of the on-field games, like Tic-Tac-Toe.

(Photo: Clicks)

As opposed to what I usually do, this is pure entertainment, and more than anything, it's about making people smile and be happy they're there.

I'd like to think I did that. It's a level of customer service, such as assuaging concerns over the rain.

I walked with Lori to her car after the game, said goodnight, and began the trip to Rhode Island. More than anything, I tried to not think about it too much. The only thing that occurred to me was that I was hungry.

I just drove, focusing on the road and the still-falling rain.

And I found an open McDonald's in Middletown, CT that I ran into near 11:30.

From there, the race was on. All along, Waze told me I'd get to the hotel at 12:45 a.m.

Yup. I pulled off I-95, into the parking lot of this Holiday In Express, and joined Mike and company.

Beverages were waiting. I didn't even go to my room until nearly 2 a.m.

With that, I've shifted right back into broadcaster mode. People from Braintree, MA -- Trumbull's opponent today -- are excited that I'm here.

Oh, my body is sore and I know I could use some sleep. And for the last 28 weeks, I've created new episodes of "Meet the Beatles." Today, for the first time, I let a show rerun. It's summer, people are away, and I gave myself a break. A new episode will air next week. I already know the topic.

But for today, it's time to play ball and put the headset back on. I'm told other teams are interested in hearing me.

Bring it on.

Quite a Day Ahead

 

It's a quiet Saturday morning.

Really quiet, in fact. 

Sean is somewhere in the wilds of North Carolina as I write, bound for Myrtle Beach.

For the record, he got Waffle House after being told the first one they stopped at was close. He was asleep when they stopped as they drove all night.

Further for the record, Dad (that's me) called BS on it being closed because, unless it's out of business, it can't be closed. They're open 24/7 barring truly deadly weather.

But, alas, all was well in Sean World. He sent me a picture of his All-Star Special and I was happy for him. 

Except...he told me the car he was in had exited I-95 before reaching South of the Border and, thus, they were not heading to Buc-ee's.

He was bummed.

Guess he and Dad (again, me) will need to make that trip once we can afford to do so.

Also, I got the honor of driving him up to Dutchess County to drop him off at his friend's house for the trip. Not that, you know, he could have left his car there (as I said he could).

So, I'm here in the quiet of Greenwich before heading to the stadium (again, in Dutchess County) and on to Rhode Island for part one of that adventure.

Oh yeah, the car, the teaching, and The Cat will be in play this week.

There is, of course, something glorious to be said about being home alone and I'm enjoying that. Nobody knows how to party like me and Rascal Squeaky Beast.

He's currently asleep and I have YouTubers Trent & Allie on as I sip coffee and write.

And this, friends, is my window to write. I have to pull myself together after this and head to the stadium for today's adventure.

If you haven't been following along, tonight is the first time I will serve as the on-field host for a Renegades game.

Only a select few have served this role. Rick Zolzer did it the most from 1994 until under a month ago. In fact, at one time, he was on-field host and public address announcer. The team changed that in 2022 and that's when I shifted over to PA.

Zolz, in my opinion, perfected it, and I learned a ton from watching him. 

"Fish," as literally everyone knows him (I've never called him by his given name) has done a wonderful job over the past month, again working with me as the PA voice from above.

I should mention that there are other PA announcers, including Stephen Colvin, who have been that "voice from the booth." In some ways, that role is the straight man to the on-field host though I definitely tried to play more of a sarcastic wise guy. But we tended to know that the on-field person was the star.

I was always cautious about knowing my lane and giving Zolz and Fish the space to do their thing.

So, overall, I stuck to announcing names and sponsor reads, with an occasional rejoinder where possible. 

I also worked Zach Neubauer as the on-field host and the reviews were really strong for us.

But time and circumstances change things. Zach, for instance, is now down in Greenville, SC. 

Oh, and Saturdays are big nights for DJs and MCs, which Fish, Colvin, Mikey Beats, and other Renegades "voices" are.

I, however, am not. I'm just a sad, out-of-work play-by-play announcer.

And so Jamie Goerke, Manager, Game Day Promotions & Programming, texted me to see if I wanted to be the on-field host.

I was calling Trumbull's Little League state championship win at the moment so I let the game finish and took a deep breath before I replied that I'd give it a try.

Look, I've said a few times that the opportunity intrigued me. To say it is decidedly different from 34 years of journalism and reporting is an understatement.

Sean, Susan, Fish, Mikey "Clicks," and even Zolz himself have been among those to pass along encouragement.

I won't be Zolz. I won't be Fish. I won't be Zach or Colvin.

Red Barber once told Vin Scully that the most important thing he could bring to the booth was himself. I'll do the same.

It will happen naturally. It won't be forced. If I'm "on," I'll bring the sarcasm and snark.

I'm still not 100% sure who the PA announcer will be but that will all work itself out. I also know Mikey "Clicks" and Anthony will be in the booth for audio and video, respectively, so I've got a pro team that I'm working with.

I'll draw on the lessons learned from the others. I'll draw on my experiences as a conference moderator and banquet host. And, sure, I can draw on my ability to ad-libe from my years of broadcasting.

That doesn't mean it will be a hit but I'm going to give it my best.

If I feel OK about it when I drive away, then I consider it a win.

But, then again, I'm proud of myself for trying.

Now, it's time to go crush it.

Then I hope to ride that wave of energy to Rhode Island.

I get to be a play-by-play announcer again tomorrow as Trumbull plays Braintree, MA at 2:30 p.m. Bobby Gerbert will join me for the call on Robcasting and Gamechanger. People from Braintree have actually asked if I'll be calling the game and that's such a huge compliment.

I've also been asked to take on a few extra football games along with some hockey (!) in October and that brightens my spirits.

Of course, it would be nice if one of the scenarios of a full-time gig were to play out.

But that's for another day. 

It's time to be an on-field host.

Car Work and Broadcast Schedule

 

Today's waiting room did not look like this

Back in June, I took my car to the nearby emissions testing location.

It failed. A code -- one that has hovered over the car for years -- finally bit me.

It was never a straightforward problem though. I once tried to have it fixed, since there was a report of a small fuel leak. The recommendation? A new gas cap.

It was laughable then and now. 

But with the test failure, it had to be done. In fact, it needs to be done by mid-August so that I can retake the test and hopefully pass it.

Thus, it was time to visit a mechanic.

I do not trust anyone when it comes to autowork.

OK, I trust my cousin Kris, but that's about it. He doesn't steer me wrong (I crack myself up).

But I knew I had to try and I booked an appointment with a Nissan dealer in Port Chester.

I went over this morning, arriving before my scheduled 8:15 appointment.

I pulled in to find a temporary shelter serving as the waiting room for the service department. The good news is that the air conditioning worked.

The bad news was the air conditioning worked, it was actually cold,  and I sat there for nearly six hours.

But, in the end, they think it is fixed.

It also cost more to have them run a test on the code than it was to resolve it.

Yet, a little over $200 later, I drove away. To be honest, I'm still not sure what they did.

If I haven't mentioned it, going to have car work is an angst-filled experience for me. It's like going to the doctor. I had to sit in that waiting room and convince myself that I could absorb a bill for "X" number of dollars and that it was going to be OK.

It's a horrible feeling.

Keep in mind that my ability to go to Rhode Island for the Little League regional hinges on this. I couldn't go if it was too expensive as I couldn't justify the cost of food and gas and incidentals. As it is, thanks to my teaching at CSB, I have to make the drive to and from Greenwich twice.

But, with this, I think we can safely say that we'll be on the call of Trumbull's games except for one when I have to teach.

So, here's the broadcast schedule:

Sunday 8/4 - 2:30pm vs MA

Monday 8/5 - 5pm vs RI (Not on Robcasting)

Wednesday 8/7 - 11am vs VT

Thursday 8/8 - 5pm vs NH 

Friday 8/9 - 5pm -- Mid-Atlantic Championship

                   7:30pm -- New England Championship 

Saturday 8/10 - 10am -- East Region Championship

Please note all of Trumbull's games will be carried via their Gamechanger. If I'm there, it will be on Robcasting also.

To pull this off, I'll be driving from Greenwich to Wappingers Falls Saturday night for my on-field hosting debut between the Renegades and BlueClaws. I'll then drive from Wappingers to Rhode Island for Saturday night and be up and smiling in time for the Sunday game at 2:30. I'll remain in RI that night before coming down to Stratford early Monday morning to teach.

Oh, lucky students, getting to deal with Grumpy Rob. 

I'll go home that night so I can visit with our friend The Cat and sleep in my own bed before getting up again Tuesday morning to go back and teach in Stratford.

From there, I'll return to Rhode Island.

Sound nuts? It is.

Will I have fun? I'm sure I will.

But, yeah, I wish this could all be a bit easier if you know what I mean.

*****

I'm back home from tonight's Renegades game. We were on the YES Network tonight and I have no idea if you could actually hear me.

Then again, I don't think I had anyone who could tell me if they heard me. 

So, I guess it doesn't matter, as it's not about me.

But worrying about this kept me from worrying about being the on-field host on Saturday night.

And I'll be nervous.

Oh, you bet I will be.

The Last Day of July

 

Sean holds down the fort at a sidewalk sale, July 2014

July 31, 2014.

A Thursday.

I was sitting in my office when I got some news from a colleague.

Admittedly, I thought it was news that was probably best for everyone involved.

However, I suddenly thought about another colleague. How were they handling the news that morning?

This was back in the days of using AOL Messenger for conversations between different offices and colleagues.

I sent a message over to ask how they were doing.

The answer was they were not well. Really, not well at all.

As we talked, I knew I had a friend who needed a friend. But, more to the point, they needed to not be where they were.

"You need to get out of there," I said.

Expecting to hear "I'm fine" or some other way to shift off the topic, I got a different answer.

I was told where we were going to meet and what time. 

I now had to put my money where my mouth was and leave the office. Honestly, I never expected this to happen.

We met, we talked, a certain healing began, and a friendship strengthened.

For them, it was a tough day. For me, it was a day to help someone who needed support. I'm happy -- thrilled -- to be that safe space.

And they've helped me more times than I can ever explain.

It made me think about who I was ten years ago and where I was. We can never predict the future, of course. Oh, sure, we can get a few things right, but overall not so much. I doubt I can say I'm truly the same person that I was in 2014. I'm older, wiser, perhaps not quite as naive, maybe a bit less irrational, more guarded. 

I don't know. I'd like to think I'm a better person and in a better place.

And I'm patient. Far more than I've ever truly realized.

But these are things that are always tough to talk about so it gets written about in a vague sense.

If it even happened at all.

Thus July 31, 2014, will always stand out to me.

*****

Tomorrow's Renegades/BlueClaws game will air on the YES Network. It's the second time a Gades game will go up to the big channel.

I watched the first one from home. Tomorrow, I'll be in the booth on PA announcing. Barring something strange, my voice should be heard at some point during the broadcast.

To say that is pretty cool is an understatement. 

Obviously, one should always want to reach their goal and calling a Yankees game on YES (or WFAN Radio) would be the obvious call.

But it will be nice to tell people about once doing PA on a broadcast that ran on YES.

So, to clear up any confusion, I'll be the voice in the background that is saying things like, "Leading off for the Renegades, the second basemen, number two..." and so on.

The guy on the field hosting the games and between-innings events will be my guy "Fish," who is crushing it. That will be my role on Saturday and I'm sure I will have quite a few critics as I take that big step.

But having watched the great Rick Zolzer and now Fish, along with Zach Newbauer, I have a sense of how I want to do that on Saturday.

The thing is this: I can't be Zolz. I can't be Fish or Zach or anyone else.

Just as in the broadcast booth, I can only be me and that's what I'll be on Saturday night.

But, to the point, it will be fun to be on YES tomorrow night. Obviously, as a 50-plus-year Yankees fan, it's exciting.

Then, after Saturday, I'm likely heading to Rhode Island. Then back to Connecticut. Then back to Rhode Island.

More on those plans likely tomorrow.

Blood, Sweat, and Tears...But Mostly Sweat

 

Water...seltzer...anything to stay hydrated

I walked into WGCH today and stopped to chat with two of my colleagues.

"You look like you've lost weight," one of them said.

I'm never comfortable with weight talk though I'm hardly immune to it. There's no question I've struggled, especially over the last few years post-COVID. We can downplay what happened, the shots, the masks, etc, but there was a mental, emotional, and physical impact that can't be ignored.

And that's where I come in. There was food during the many lows of that time.

But if I've shed some weight recently, that would be good.

The reason? Well, frankly, I've had sweat falling off of me every day.

And it really started on July 1.

We had warm days before 7/1/24 but that was the day that we moved to the new apartment.

Even if it wasn't a hot day, we were constantly in motion. I was at it, as you might remember, from waking up at 4 a.m. until later that night.

The days began getting hotter from there. Things went from the low to mid-80s to the high 90s with real feel temperatures over 100.

And each day, whether I was moving things, packing things, hanging things, lifting things, or broadcasting things, I was sweating. I normally had a towel next to me so that I could mop off and looked forward to any moment I could get in air conditioning.

Sean -- who prefers the cold weather -- would grumble at me about how I could possibly like warmer days.

In truth, I'll always take Fall and Spring first, then Summer. 

I like Winter sports. I don't like Winter weather.

I suppose I'd like it just fine if I was in Florida.

It's been 30 days of activity. Constant moving and shaking. 

And so, while I don't like discussing weight, that's what has been going on.

The move, obviously, started it. Then we had to go into the basement and reorganize our stuff.

Then there were over 30 baseball games of setup and breakdown and walking to and from the broadcast site. Plus, of course, was the broadcasts themselves.

There were multiple missed meals, though they kept me well-fed in Oxford during the Cal Ripken tourney.

There was walking to and from trains in Greenwich and Brooklyn on Sunday.

And there have been multiple trips back into the basement to drop things off and bring things out. Plus, lots of walks to the garbage can as well as back into the basement for laundry.

Certainly, it has been exercise with a touch of diet. However, let's not ignore the mental exercises of the month, from calling games to everyone's good old friend, stress.

But it's also been a hot month where simply sitting and watching TV, sans air conditioning, could produce droplets running down my face.

I get embarrassed by all of this for a few reasons, including sweat being part gross and part "TMI."

But it is what it is. Most people do it, though some do it more than others.

I keep joking with myself that I'll stop sweating on Aug 1 though I hardly think that's true.

And, given I'm working for the Renegades tomorrow for a game starting at Noon, I think I'll achieve 31-for-31 sweaty days.

I'll still take this over winter weather. I mean, really. I don't miss the cold and the snow and the ice. 

So, yes, I'll take sweat and staying active, thanks very much.

A few quickies before we wrap this one up:

- I've been asked to serve as field host for the first time at a Renegades game. If you want to see me do something completely outside of the box, come out to the stadium on Saturday. I'm only sorry that Sean won't be there to see it. It will mean embracing a different side of my personality. My goal isn't to be better than anyone else. My goal is to be a viable option if needed. And to not embarrass myself or the team.

- A trip to Rhode Island is completely in play for the Little League Regional beginning this weekend. I'm figuring out how to navigate the issues I presented about teaching and The Cat. I'm trying to make it all work, but...

- I'm having car work done on Thursday so that I can pass the emissions test in Connecticut so a lot hinges on that.

Stay tuned, as always.

Really Happy to Be Home

 

He's happy we're home. At least I think he is.

Let's start this post with a "Meet the Beatles" thought. I honestly loved today's show. I was inspired by what I thought was a foolish social media post from a few days back.

Look, I let a lot of stuff go. I even bit my tongue on a post about Vin Scully broadcasting the 1985 World Series.

Nope. He did not. He did the '85 NLCS on NBC but the '85 Fall Classic ran on ABC with Al Michaels in the play-by-play seat for Cardinals/Royals. Before you say, "Vinny did radio," that too would be incorrect. Jack Buck called the Series on CBS Radio.

Vin was probably home in Hidden Hills, CA with his beloved wife and family.

But, I let it go. Some people also can't handle...well...the truth, honestly.

I also don't feel the need to be that person. I see it all the time. The person who has to correct everything.

But when the same person erroneously spoke about John Lennon and his lack of emotion, well, I took that as inspiration for today's show.

John Lennon was an enormously complicated soul. He was a difficult man. He was also enormously good-hearted and deliriously funny. That didn't mean he was going to bear his soul while chatting. At least, not publicly.

That was reserved for his music.

I started with "In My Life." I included "Nowhere Man." I could have thrown in "Mother." I also used "Jealous Guy," "I'm a Loser," "Julia," "How?" "Watching the Wheels," and even "Help."

Oh, there was also "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away." Plus, I threw in George, Paul, and Ringo singing "Ain't She Sweet" from the Anthology sessions. The "Threetles," these "unfeeling types, sat together, singing and laughing and saying how wonderful it was to be together.

I mean, it was too easy. I added in things like "Eleanor Rigby" and "I Want to Tell You" and "Something" to show the sensitivity of Paul and George.

Oh, and then I went for Paul's "Here Today" and told the story of Paul and George holding hands as Harrison was ten days away from dying.

Honestly, the show should win an award. 

OK, maybe not an award but it's something I'm really proud of. I like that I gave it a lot of thought and, while there's always a spontaneous nature to my work, it came together so nicely. So fluidly.

Feel free to give it a listen.

There is no intended malice in this but there are those who are either too stubborn, stuck in their ways, or too arrogant. Sometimes it's nice to refute them a bit.

For the record, we're not talking about Toxic Positivity, whom I took the weekend off from. Yet he's still continuing to bloviate. If I go back in, expect shock and awe.

*****

OK, so I've really buried the lead here, but as the title implies, it's nice to be home. I bought a receiver for my old Sony amplifier to make it Bluetooth-compatible, thus bringing it into the 20th Century. As we speak, I'm playing a Sirius XM jazz channel though it off my phone.

Bliss, I tell you.

But I'm not kidding. I think I bought this amplifier (from Costco) in the late 90s. Probably around 1997. I added a turntable, cassette deck, and brought the TV and DVD/Blu-ray into it as well. It sounds pretty great through a pair of Polk Audio bookcase speakers that might date to the early 00s since I got them at Circuit City.

Yes. I'm that old.

But my two-plus weeks of baseball are over. As I wrote a few nights ago, that was (over*) 29 games of play-by-play. Now, three Renegades games on the public address have come to a close.

* I couldn't call a game but could see it from a field away, so I narrated that while calling the game I was at. I'm weird that way.

But I'm thrilled, relieved, and just happy to be done with everything for a moment. This was a grind, topped by a couple of stressful days and nights in the minor leagues. There were a lot of moving parts and it felt good to navigate all of it without incident.

Plus, if I may, there was supposed to be a producer in the booth both last night and today. But he was sick so that duty was left to me to do .... in addition to handling the PA announcing. It's no major hardship. It's just extra massaging of things, I suppose.

But I felt a good sense of achievement when it was over and, for the first time in a while, I'm home and can focus a bit on this place. I've hung just a few things, including the important spaghetti and meatballs recipe from my mother and my beloved Aunt Fay. One day I have to work up the guts to try to make it.

For tonight, the Adams boys had chili dogs. Tired after our day(s) at the stadium, we stopped at Wegmans and picked up dogs and rolls. Plus French fries.

And it was all delicious.

Now it's time for just relaxing, cooling down, hanging with The Cat, and getting myself ready for the week. For now, I only have Doubleheader on my mind. I will tell you that there is a pending play-by-play offer that is hanging around to be dealt with. I'm waiting to hear if we're approved to do it.

Otherwise, the equipment is all sitting in the living room a few feet from where I'm typing.

There are plenty of other things to be done, such as car work.

Oh, and back to the Bluetooth receiver. So, I ordered it on a whim yesterday (it was quite affordable) and set about my day. Later in the day, it struck me.

I had it delivered to Bruce Park. You know, as in the apartment we no longer live in.

Ah, oh well. Our old landlord would have shot me a text had he seen it, but it wasn't necessary. We ran over after stopping at Wegmans tonight and that was that.

I did love the grind of these two weeks. The hours were long and the toll was physical and mental. But I'm drained. I need ... something tonight, but for now, chili dogs and jazz will suffice.

I'll be back on the radio tomorrow.

Talking sports.

Which is what I do.

*****

I'm aware of the news of the day, with the President announcing he would step aside from running for reelection. It's sad that we simply can't discuss such things without rancor. Friendships get destroyed and blood pressures rise.

Thus, I think it's simply best for me to keep my thoughts on the topic to myself until the time I think I can compose anything coherent.

For now, I'll stay out of it except to say I worry about this great country.