Logging in from work
Nico's diary greets me
Murphy over Croz?

Long stressful work week
Watching the A's, not so much
Bring on the Royals

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In the interest of not jinxing a certain sporting event in which a team from Oakland will compete with another team from Boston I'm going to start this DLD a little bit off topic.

I sure hope you are having a whale of a time so far in this beautiful (but windy) month of June.

Do you remember that dead whale that washed ashore on a private beach at Point Richmond?  Well, it looks like they're finally going to do something about it. (SF Chronicle)

Be sure to read all the way to the end.  Thankfully the authorities have chosen a sane approach to deal with this situation.

In previous cases of stranded dead whales, officials have tried burying them, but animals or the weather can uncover the animals. In one notorious case that was captured on video, officials detonated one whale on-site. But pieces of the whale rained down on onlookers and cars, turning one big mess into many small ones.

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Inspired by an actual comment from a post game thread!

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My blood pressure is 149/92.

Yikes, and I'm only 25.

Granted, I just came back from Grand Opening of the Hooters in Fremont and devoured a lot of wings and french fries but my blood pressure should not be anywhere near where it is now.  In fact, I only became aware of this problem after I went to the doctors because I was suffering from whiplash due to a recent auto accident.  My doctor thinks that my blood pressure is high from the stress of the pain and things should get better as I feel better.

I'm not taking any chances and I'm not waiting for the doctors to tell me I have a problem.  I've been going to the gym again, I made a Chinese New Year's Resolution (didn't make a Regular New Year's Resolution, the gyms would be too packed in January), but now there is a sense of urgency and I'm doing at least an hour of cardio at least three times a week.  In fact, cardio is the only thing I can do since my back and neck is still a little bit messed up.  Starting next week, I'll be a workweek vegetarian, I will not consume meat between showing up for work on Monday and leaving work on Friday.  I might even go on a 48 hour juice fast before the All Star Break.

So what does this have to do with the A's?  I'll tell you why after the flip.

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A good friend of mine says that he is giving Crosby one last chance and that he should, be the all star break, bat his weight (215) with five home runs.  My standards are not set so low.  Crosby's show last night was promising but as I said in a comment on last night's wrapup thread, one night of non-suckness doesn't not necessitate a comeback without a positive trend.  His performance today seems to be a return to form with an o-fer with 2 K's and no walks.

If Crosby gets the message and starts making adjustments an improving, I think he can and will be a 30/30 guy.  With Geren being very smart on the basepaths, I do think 30/30 is possible for Crosby.  Until then, he's just going to suck.

So what will it take for me to eat crow?  I wanna see the following stats from Crosby by the all star break:

.240 AVG and a less than 2:1 K/BB ratio and I don't give a rat's ass how many jacks he hits.

.240 is attainable for Crosby and is better than his "ROY" numbers and his K/BB ratio was better than 2:1 in the 2005 season.  2005 was year of hope, he batted in the .270's and was pretty good until he got hurt.  He has sucked ever since.

So, what will it take for you to eat crow when it comes to the Croz?

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Today's game was one of those games that remind me of how much I hate Yankees fans.

Instead of my usual seat in the cheap seats, today I had a special treat from my mom's boss; field level, section 106.  Unfortunately, section 106 is also Yankees central.  You had all types of Yanks fans there.  You know, your bandwagoners who've never been to New York, some über-trendy types that look like they're dressed for Killers concert rather than a ball game (one guy even had a murse).  I don't have anything against the Killers per se, they're alright, but wearing torn up acid wash jeans, $70+ t-shirt and a blazer?  You're at the Oakland Coliseum, not at some club.  This is a place to see a ball game, if you want to go to a place to be seen, go to AT&T Park.

The person who got under my skin was your "real Yankee fan."  This was the guy who really was from New York, you could tell by the way he talked.  I can't duplicate a New York accent unless if I'm singing a number from West Side Story.  This guy was legit New York, I can respect a guy like that...but...

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Dear My Truck,

You are a 2001 Toyota Tacoma 4X2 PreRunner.  Like me, you look Asian but you are really made in America with foreign components and call Fremont your place of origin.  You have served me faithfully for almost 94,000 miles.  We've been through a lot; roadtrips to Chico, Fresno, SLO, SoCal, camping, 24 hour gambling trips to Reno and Cache Creek where I squandered a few financial aid checks when I was in college.  We shared a lot of accomplishements, I drove you to my first paid gig and my college graduation.  We've also shared some dubious accomplishments that I'd rather not share in a public forum.

When baseball season rolls around I am reminded of all the good times we've shared in the Oakland Coliseum parking lot.  Playoff games, opening days, lazy summer Sundays where I zoom off to Oakland right after church.  We've had some parties in that parking lot.  I remember a few fireworks games where our spout turned into party central during the fireworks, mainly because we had lots of beer on hand. A lot of good memories stem from showing up early for a game and just wasting time sitting on your tailgate, eating food and drinking beer while listening in on the A's pregame show.

I fear that A's Home Opener 2007 may be our last hurrah.

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Happy 2007 everybody!  Haven't seen you guys in awhile.  It's me secret asian man, remember me?  I'm sorry for not being around.  Starting a new job, going on an extended business trip to Minnesota (I bought game 5 ALDS tickets, but never used them) and performing in a few shows back to back kinda ruins your life.  Even my offline friends have trouble remembering I exist.  Trust me, it's not just the job, it's everything.  When I'm rehearsing for a show I can pull 18+ hour days.  Online pursuits or even offline social pursuits seen to fall by the wayside when you wake up at 6 to go to work, work a full day, then go to the City and rehearse or perform until you get home at around midnight.

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Friday night's game was a perfect example of why I pay an extra five bucks a month getting the internet on my cell phone.

You see, I was performing in an opera last night.  Il Trovatore (you know, the one with the "Anvil Chorus") at the San Francisco Lyric Opera.  And yes, there was a fat lady singing and she was awesome.

I played the part of Ruiz, the sidekick of Manrico, the good guy.  My part pretty much consists of running on stage with some recit, leaving and then closing out the scene when I return with the chorus serving as the cavalry to save the day.  The opera has four acts and is about three hours long.

Out of those three hours, I'm probably only have about 30 minutes of actual stage time which leaves me with plenty of time to follow the game on my phone.

If you think MLB Gameday sucks, following a baseball game on a cell phone is way worse.  I was probably a sight to see.  I was wandering backstage in costume pacing back and forth.  I was either muttering in a low voice or doing a Eckersley-esque fist pump to display of dissapointment or joy of the games progress.  Between refreshes on my cell phone's browser I was always shifting my position searching for a stronger signal, we were in the basement of the California Palace of the Legion of Honor in Lincoln Park.

I probably looked like Star Trek character scanning for lifeforms.

After singing my small bit ("Siam giunti, ecco la torre.  Ove di stato ge'monoi prigioneri.  Ah! L'infelice, i vi futratto") to open the fourth and final act I picked up my cell phone to follow the game.  By this time it was the top of the tenth.  I knew I had plenty of time.  This was the act where most of the characters die and since it was opera, it would take a looong time.

Let's just if real life was like opera and somebody was shot in the head.  That person would have about five minutes to sing an aria saying goodbye to the world and belt out a few high Bb's and C's before expiring.  Yes, I had a lot of time.

But, as we all know, the game wouldn't end that quickly.

I breifly considered going to my bows with my glasses on and cell phone in hand, but I didn't; it wouldn't have been professional.

After changing out of the costume, it was the bottom of the twelfth.  Swisher had just been walked, it was time for Marco Scutaro.  I was still refreshing my cell phone browser.

I thought to myself "Why the hell am I still on the phone, Marco's going to do something.  I need to listen to the game in my truck."  I bolted for my truck and turned on the radio.  I made it just in time to listen to the hit live.

The next minute or so I was screaming in the cab of my pickup truck.  It was a mad garble of "YEAAAAHHH!"  "LET'S GO OAKLAND!" and "BI-ATCH!"  I haven't felt like this since Jason Kendall hit that home run.  I then calmly collect myself and drove off to a tapas bar to have some drinks with the cast.

It was a good night.

Fremont's favorite son came home today in a part of a celebration of Fremont's 50 years as a city.  And I got my giveaway Eck jersey signed.  Need I say more?

The Photo

The Jersey

The Sig

Need I say more?

Apparently, I do, because I have to meet the 300 characrter min.  I'll add one more photo, it's not A's related, but it's awesome.

Me at the 50 yard line, Neyland Stadium.

Too bad the game next day was horrible, I had fun in Tennesee nonetheless.