My last story from spring training is about former ESPN sportscaster Gary Miller. You might remember Miller as the guy who was charged with disorderly conduct for urinating out of the window of a Cleveland nightclub in 1997 (a false charge, he says).
Regardless, that episode was pivotal in Miller’s life.
“It was actually the best thing that ever happened to me, because that was a real turning point in my faith,” Miller said.
NL Wild Card: NY Mets
AL Wild Card: Cleveland. I originally had Boston, but again, decided not to pick them just out of spite.
I don’t see any reason why the Chicago White Sox can’t repeat in the AL Central. Cleveland has lost some key players, Minnesota’s offense is weak and Detroit — nah. Kansas City isn’t even worth mentioning.
As for the AL West, I’ll go with Oakland to win the division. The A’s have a solid starting rotation with some promising young arms.
Former St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Julian Tavarez, now with the Red Sox, was suspended for 10 days for his role in a brawl with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
Jeff Rushing has posted a series of photos that shows Tavarez’s offense in all its lurid detail.
Oh, and Tavarez hits like a girl, as the 26th man has pointed out.
Anna Benson, the nut-job wife of Baltimore Orioles pitcher Kris Benson, has filed for a divorce.
Kris is probably relieved.
Today’s Baptist Press story from my spring training trip is about Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Bill Mueller. Mueller was a great guy to talk to — genuine, down to earth and accommodating. I wish the Cardinals had signed him to play second base.
From Associated Press:
“Kite-flying has become a deadly pastime in eastern Pakistan. So now, it’s illegal.
In the past two weeks, seven people in Lahore have been killed by kite strings reinforced with wire or glass. The latest victim was a four-year-old boy whose throat was slit by a glass-coated string.”
Are these people tying the kite strings around their necks or something? My goodness.
Thanks to Tony C. for the link.
I bought Daniel a St. Louis Cardinals shirt while I was in Florida last week. It’s a little big, but he loves it, and has told me, “Thanks for Cardinals shirt, daddy,” about 20 times.
He also knows just what to do with it:
“I wear Cardinals shirt to baseball game, daddy.”
My spring training story in Baptist Press yesterday was about Atlanta Braves pitcher Blaine Boyer, who got engaged over the winter.
We pulled up to the Nashville airport terminal, and I opened the back door to give my 2-year-old son Daniel a good-bye hug.
I was outbound for Florida, where I would spend the next four days on my annual spring training jaunt pursuing stories for Baptist Press. My wife and son were headed for her parents’ house just north of Nashville for the week.
We had been talking with Daniel for a few days about what would soon transpire. Daniel and Mommy were going to drop Daddy off at the airport, where he would ride in an airplane to Florida. Daniel only seemed to care about his Papaw taking him bowling.
But when I opened the back door, told Daniel good-bye and stooped to give him a hug in his car seat, his bottom lip puckered up and began to quiver. He didn’t want me to leave. He fought back the tears, and I did too.
Read the rest of my column for the week here.
I’ve gotta keep you on your toes. That, and I wanted to beat Paul Lamey to it this week.
I have two standing room only tickets for the St. Louis Cardinals’ April 21 game against the Chicago Cubs available. If you want them, they’re yours for face value (plus the fees I paid. Something like $45 total for the pair). Post a message here with your interest and I’ll get back to you.
With the Yankees’ payroll, they should win the division. Unfortunately, their pitching could be brutal.
The Red Sox have a strong rotation and a solid lineup, and are probably the best choice to win the division, but I’m not picking them simply out of spite.
My pick: Toronto.
The Georgia House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a bill today that will allow public high schools to offer elective courses on the Bible.
Thanks to my lovely wife for the link.
“The South Carolina Senate on Tuesday endorsed making repeat child rapists eligible for the death penalty, setting aside arguments the move might be unconstitutional.”
More power to them.