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THERE'S A REASON WHY THERE WERE NEVER ANY CHUBBY, OK, FAT CATCHERS IN THE BIGS - THEY NEVER GOT ANY BIGGER THAN JOHNNY BENCH!!!
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Coach Deanda finally got the Senators to participate in their first semi-solid scrimmage game.

The Kid got recruited to play catcher because his belayed arrival meant that he got chosen to play the most undesirable position of them all.

“Umm Coach, I don’t know if you have noticed or not, but I’m kinda big and I’m not sure I can squat longer than one pitch, so maybe Mike over there is more flexible and all.”

Mike was already comfortable at first base and he shot the Kid a “I’m gonna bean you in the head with the baseball the first chance I get” kinda look.

“Chale (Coach loved to use Mexican-American slang – Chale meant “**** No!”), I want you to be a big target for Rudy so just try your best ok!”

The Kid’s cup had been destroyed by his mishap with his crash landing and he tried another avenue with the coach to escape “catching duties.”

“Coach, I can’t play today because as you can see, I crashed my bicycle over there and when I crash landed, my cup got messed up, so I can’t play today already.”

Without a moment’s hesitation, Coach Deanda reached into his equipment “bag of tricks” and produced the elusive “mythical cup” – and let’s just say that it wasn’t something a bunch of gringo Knights of the Roundtable would traverse the earth to find for King Arthur.

The cup did exist, and it looked like it had been used and abused – the Kid thought that “the cup” might have been passed down through the Deanda generations because the contraption was a mere bunch of plastic shards held vaguely together by a bunch of elastic threads.

“CHALE!!!.” The Kid  repeated to the coach after looking at the coach’s “iron maiden.”

“I’m gonna take my chances with my own cup!”

The group of Senators anxiously waiting for the Kid to suit up in the catchers gear laughed and dubbed the Kid with the moniker “NO CUP.”

The Kid reluctantly suited up with the catcher’s gear and squatted down behind home plate with a big chocolate covered back end, compliments of his crash landing and his smashed package of Rolo’s candies.

Just a quick post to say that I've picked up on some writing I've meant to finish.  I am adding another installation to Pick Me! Memoirs of The Little League.

You can thank our fellow blogger Chris Los over at The Ultimate Baseball Collector for sparking up some of those old memories into the aging brain cells of this "Big Kid."

Look for the post in a few seconds...

G-

So the Yankees are at the bottom of the standings in the AL EAST and suddenly all I have been doing lately is cursing in EWOK or is it EWOKANESE!!!

Here -- I'll show you.

Mike Myers - CHUMBA BLANGA PIECE A CHAPA!!!! ( I think you can translate that!)(take that MLBlogs filter - hehehe ).

Try it out - it helps ease the pain of LAST PLACE.

Curse in EWOKANESE and "Touch 'em All!"

G-

DOWNLOAD MY LATEST PODCAST:Download 4-21-07.mp3

SHOW NOTES:

Yankees - Red Sox thoughts
Alyssa Milano Skit

G-

So my blog is a hodge podge of "stuff" and I'm all over da place with different type of media.  What would you few people that read or view this site want more of?

I am open for suggestions but one thing I HAVE to do again is DA MONSTER series.

If you remember - last year I did a series of Monster-sytle trading card images making fun of the Red Sox - I am thinking of doing likewise with the Yankees.

Let me know,

G-
BTW, I think I'll rock the Specks and Pocket Protector through the weekend.

:)

Happy Birthday MLBlogs!

In honor of the occassion, I decided to do something special with my About Me Profile photo.

To welcome our newest high profile blogger to MLBlogs on this historic milestone - I've decided to embrace my "inner geek."

If you've stumbled across this page and wondering why your boy here is sporting "specks" and a "pocket protector." I invite you to read the outstanding new blog being written by Alyssa Milano.

If you would like to join in on the festivities, shoot me an email with your photo attached and I will hook you up.

G-

Wait a minute - is it just me or is the Alyssa Milano link on the Active Roster pointing to MLBlogosphere!!!! - Mark, you have some "splaining to do!!!!"

Here is the last episode - episode3:

Here is episode two:

Well - hang in there - It will be like the day before Xmas morning - Santa is bringing a monster present but his sled needs to be pimped out cause it got caught up in traffic in Da Bronx after losing a tire and a hubcap.
It's been about two hours since I've uploaded the darn video - my guess is that because of the sheer magnitude of the file size it needs time to do it's thang.

So go to bed and when you wake up, DA BRONX BOMBERS will have a present for you.

G-

NOTE: I had to split these up into episodes - YouTube rejected my single video - Here is episode one.
Here is the link to my adventures at the A's - Yankees game on 04-14-07.

Please note that the link will take awhile to be available so keep checking back - it is a large file so be forewarned.

I just posted the embed script at 7:27 p.m. pst. - it will probably take about an hour or so to be available - it's worth the wait.

Let me know what you guys think.

Just a quick note to say that I have roughly edited the footage from my digital video camera and that I am now in the process of uploading it to YouTube.
As soon as it uploads it will take awhile for the link to be available (the movie runs about ten minutes - so be forewarned of the file size).

I will have it embedded so you will be able to play and stream it directly.

So check back soon and get a fan's perspective of watching a classic matchup between the A's and Yankees.

G-

Let me start off by saying that this was the first time I've ever attempted to interview anyone without any prepared questions - let's call it, "Freestyle Guerilla Media."
Like I said in my last post, as soon as this interview concluded, I found myself surrounded by the Gorilla Security Guards of McAfee Stadium.

Enjoy a audio snapshot of the real fans of the game!

Download Bits N Bites 1 in MP3 format:

Download bits_n_bites.mp3

Well, I'm still recovering from that very long, cold, windy and exciting game last night at McAfee Stadium.
I managed to bring my Yankees backpack loaded with a high-end digital camera and telephoto lens, a portable digital video camera and my new audio podcast gear.

There was only one pocket left for a single "virgin" baseball and a bic pen - I had to wear my baseball glove all day.

There was of course, no batting practice because of the earlier rain but I must say that the stadium grounds crew did an excellent job with the field becuase it was perfect by game time.

It actually was pretty nice before the game started and until that nasty wind rolled in - many of the A's fans resorted to using the "giveaway" A's dish towel as makeshift wind guards tucked under their hats and over their ears.

I used mine to of course wipe away the "drips" from my nose from that darn wind.

I'll keep this initial post short but let me give you a sneak peek of some of the stuff I have - please know that there is a lot of stuff so it might take a few days to post - it's worth it.

So I got into the game and I immediately brought out the portable audio gear to get some fan interviews and managed to get one very nice piece BUT THEN - the STADIUM POLICE were all over me with questions like:

"Who Are You With?"

"Who Let You In Here With That Stuff?"

"Show Me Your Credentials - And No I Don't Mean Your Ticket, So Put That Away!"

I tapped dance, smiled and lied my **** off.

"Well, I am a podcaster and blogger and I thought I could record bits and bites for a podcast. I'll put my stuff away if you can please not kick me out."

It worked - hehehe...Sure I put it away.

BUT once the game started, I got back to my old tricks while in my seat.

I even managed to get that "virgin" baseball signed by the very gracious MARIANO RIVERA!!!

MO was very nice and signed quite a few autographs for a few Yankees fans and one crazy fan who got help from a very young girl who kindly said to me - "Hand your ball and pen to me - I'll give to him to sign."

I let the ball and pen go and sure enough she handed it to MO and he handed it back to me signed and smiled - I said "Muchos Gracias!"

More Coming...

G-

So I checked the weather report and the Yankee report and they said there was a slight chance of thunder and a 100 percent chance of early showers.

The early shower forecast translates into an "early shower" for problem child pitcher Carl Pavano and the slight chance of thunder means I probably won't get to see batting practice - weak!!!!

Well I had tickets to yesterday's game and in retrospect I am glad I did not go - I probably would have lost my voice shouting - "Umm I-Gawwa, Show Us Some Powwer!" or something like that!

Alas, it was not be be - for me or Igawa who puts one in the loss column.

G-

Well - here is my second thought of the moment - this mobile podcast setup will be great. 

I am now free to wonder and wander away from my computer and still podcast.

More to come until we all hear from Alyssa!!!!

Download Thought of the Moment 2 here:

Download alyssa2.MP3

So I have been testing my new mobile podcast steup and I decided to create the first installation of what I am dubbing, "The Thought Of The Moment."
I would like to dedicate my first piece to MLBlog's new blogger - Alyssa Milano.

ALL IN GOOD FUN!!!

G-

Download MP3 File here:

Download alyssa.MP3

Here's da deal - yes, I have two excellent field level tickets to saturday's game between Da Bombers and Da A's - only thing is that it's SUPPOSED to rain tomorrow.
Are you kidding?!!! This same scenario went down last year when I made the pilgrimage from sleepy town Salinas to outrageous Oaktown.

Normally a little rain never hurt anything, BUT, this time I am arming myself with a newly Purrrchassed (yeah baby!) mobile podcast setup.

I am going to attempt to bring my digital video camera into the park with this new digital audio recording setup.

What this means for the few that read this crazy blog - I will be creating a YouTube video podcast to be posted on this blog.

So a little rain never hurt anything right? - **** to the NAW!!!

Weather permitting I will be up to my usual tricks and a few I haven't tried before, to give you guys my perspective on my annual event.

Please let me know what you would like to see at McAfee Stadium (i.e., Jason Giambi's Nissan Murano "bumble bee car" or the hotdog stand or whatever).

I'll be busy Sunday recovering from my hangover and editing audio and video for sure.

Pray for clear skies!!!

P.S. Alyssa Milano - YOU ARE SO FINE MOMMA!!!!

G-

Sorry for the lapse in postings - wouldn't you know I've been busy with work.
I am making my pilgrimage to Oaktown this Saturday to watch the Yankees take on the A's.

McAfee Stadium has THE best hotdogs, so I am positive my carbohydrate-starved digestive system will get sick - guess I'll take one for the team.

Last year I followed the Yankees to their hotel at the PARC in S.F. - This year I couldn't find vacancy to save my life - I'll figure something out.

I have field level seats in section 107 row 12 so I anticipate taking a line drive foul ball to the forehead.

Thinking about videotaping some shots for a video podcast - what do you guys think?

You guys are going to hate me but I haven't been able to watch a single Yankee game this season - please somebody fill me on on the story behind Igawa's pitching woes, Johnny Damon's Achy Breaky Calves and Matsui's Crampy Hammies.

I will catch up with some fun stuff - especially some stories when I return from my pilgrimage.

Peace,

G-