...and the MLB regular season ends, sadly...plus Postseason Predictions

It was another disappointing year for the Tribe.  I don't know what to really say as I can't say I saw much progress for the 2011 season.  They have talent, but they just need to learn how to put it together.  I'll touch on thier 2011 campaign next year when more is available...

Conversely for the Astros, they finished the year strong and have shown much to look forward to next year.  If they can make a few moves I think they have a shot at contending...

SO...back in April I made some big predictions...copied here:
Regular Season:
NL
Central - Cardinals (100-62)
East - Phillies (98-64)
West - Rockies (84-78)
Wild Card - Reds (88-74)
AL
Central - White Sox (94-68)
East - Rays (91-72)
West - Mariners (94-66)
Wild Card - Yankees (90-73)

Division Series:
NLDS: Rockies over Cardinals, Reds over Phillies
ALDS: White Sox over Yankees, Rays over Mariners

Championship Series:
NLCS: Reds over Rockies
ALCS: Rays over White Sox

World Series:
Rays over Rockies in 7 games...


Obviously they all can't work out.  The Mariners disappointed, as did the White Sox.  Rocktober didn't happen for the Rockies...  And those Cardinals just slumped down the stretch.  I was 4 for 8...so don't start taking my advice to Vegas!

But as it's baseball, here goes for the postseason:
NLDS: Phillies over Reds, Braves over Giants
NLCS: Braves over Phillies
ALDS: Rangers over Rays, Twins over Yankees
ALCS: Twins over Braves
World Series: Braves win in 6!

If this all works out...I can think of a whole lot of people that would be disappointed...especially my mom, one of the biggest anti-Braves fans out there!

Tribe all the way in 2011!!!

Another 2nd Place Finish...Eyeglasses for MVP!

It's been a few weeks since it was really "news," as if you can really call it "news" anyways!  While the Pearland Little League was dominating in Williamsport, PA in the Little League World Series, the Chuggers were climbing the ranks in our softball league.  Well we ended up in 2nd place...similar to the Pearland LL team that ended up 2nd in the country.  (Their's was a much bigger accomplishment, of course!)

It was another successful season for me...I've been playing with these guys for a few seasons now and posted my best numbers to date.  And you know what made all the difference down the stretch?  My glasses!!

My stats...0.730 batting average, 7 homeruns, 24 RBI's, 7 doubles, 4 triples...with 22 runs scored.  The last two weeks of the season I sported my glasses and did the most damage.  I went 12 for 13 with 3 homeruns, all 4 of my triples, and 10 RBI's...enough to win the team batting title, too!  Plus I played a more solid third base.

Who would have thought GLASSES would make a difference?!?  I guess I thought my vision was better than it really was.  I vote for my eyeglasses as MVP...

New season opens on September 23rd.  Due to Pearland's restructuring of softball we are moving from recreational to competetive league.  I'm going to need my glasses that much more! 

A Fan's Dream, MLB Hall of Fame in Cooperstown!

First off, Congratulations to Megan and Helen!  Their wedding was awesome and we had a wonderful time.  We wish them many years of happiness to come!  It was a great weekend in upstate New York!

An obvious highlight (taking nothing from the wedding, of course) was the MLB Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY.  When Debbie and I were discussing our Fall plans and the numerous weddings, travels, and holidays, we figured our time was all booked up.  I should have been more aware of the proximity of Cooperstown to Albany and Syracuse (where we flew into, and were the wedding was)...but I give all the credit to Deb for suggesting "why don't we go to Cooperstown?"  WOW, what a wife!  And we made it happen...

Cheryl and Calvin joined us for the day, which made it fun!

It was baseball immortality there, seeing how the game came to be, how it has evolved, the historic artifacts, photos, memorabilia, etc etc etc.  It was baseball overload, and it was awesome!!

Read the caption...wouldn't be okay now!

I'll admit, there was a lot of Yankees stuff there, which I was not too fond of...but I have to remember, there have been some amazing players in history that have been Yankees.  I admire their careers and their accomplishments, but I still consider myself a Yankee-hater!  Sorry folks.

I liked this display with Ted Williams hitting zones, that he put together, I was actually fascinated with this...Red is where he hit the best, blue not as well...

The women in baseball section was there, just like in A League of Their Own, including giveaways in Cleveland (!!!) from years back...aprons!

The movie debate was guys versus girls...The guys say Major League was the best, girls said A League of Their Own.  Granted both were good movies, you have to defer to the Indians winning it all in the ML movie!

The plaque room was awesome...seeing all the history there and realizing how many have played the game with such honor was amazing.

We even saw current memorabilia from historic moments this year...perfect games, no hitters, and more.  Plus we saw Barry Bonds' "asterik" baseball from his record-breaking home run.

Debbie's Cardinals...a locker full of modern-day memorabilia...

Greatest team ever, the Indians!  WOOHOO!  We will win again soon, 1948 was a looooong time ago!

It was a great great day!  Can't wait to go back with the little Kadlec's...after they are born and of course get older!  Haha.

Baseball Rules!!!

Syracuse and Apple Picking

Terence and I went to Syracuse over Labor Day weekend for Megan Helen's wedding. It was so great to get to see everyone! AND to enjoy the cold weather!!

We decided to go apple picking the morning of the wedding while everyone was getting ready. So Leslie, Calvin, Terence, and I decided to head to Beak and Skiff which also has a winery and a vodka distillery.

They had tractors to take everyone out to the apple orchard and handed out bags and ladders for everyone to get their own apples. We were able to pick JonaMac apples (and get all the flavors we wanted back at the general store).

After picking our apples we headed back and picked up some apple cider (delicious) and the best apple cider donuts ever! Afterwards we headed to the apple winery and the apple vodka distillery....and then we were apple'd out!

The wedding took place later that night, it was a beautiful outdoor ceremony and a nice lodge setting for the reception.

Congrats to the happy couple!

The next day we headed down to Cooperstown for the Baseball Hall of Fame...I'll let Terence talk about that cause I was just the photographer! 

Next up...Outer Banks, North Carolina for Krna's wedding! 

Favoritism?

Warning...this is just more puppy pics...

My poor little Macbook is overloaded with too many photos and videos and has stopped backing up to my external hard drive....so I haven't been able to download the pics from our trip to upstate New York this past weekend. We did have an awesome time and will definitely be getting you some pics, Congrats to Megan and Helen!!

For now you get the pup...WINK!

Her newest thing...the "token ear". One ear is floppy and the other sticks straight up...party on one side, business on the other :-)

I am not quite quick enough with the camera to catch her in full action...hence she always looks sleepy in her pics...

If she could talk...she'd be telling me to get outta her face!

Terence says I show favoritism to our newest member of the family, but how could I not...

I mean kiddy looks like she wants to kill me all the time!

You better watch yourself...