Last week I jumped into the deep end of the pool and created a new feature for my blog. My decision might have been premature, on the way home Saturday I drove around searching for signs, I didn’t see any, but I haven’t past the church since last week and I decided to take a different path with the sign of the week post, so hang on this week’s sign is from 2023 and there is a story which goes along with it and I have been looking for a way to tell it. WARNING – this is likely to be a LONG READ and I am breaking the post into two parts.
Every MLB stadium has signs like this posted around the stadium and smaller ones close to the field. In recent years, stadiums have put up netting along the infield to make being a spectator safer. It’s a good thing, but if you go to the stadium, you do have to be paying attention foul balls often make it over the net and baseballs are hard and there are no screens in the outfield to protect fans.
June 27th finds the baseball season at the mid-point. The Astros hosted the Philadelphia Phillies yesterday for game 81 of 162 to wrap up their three-game series. Both teams had identical records at 47-33. Tuesday and Wedensday’s games were close: going down to the final pitch with the Astros coming up on the winning side 1-0 and 2-0 in successive nights. Thursday’s game was a get-away game, which means it’s an early game so the away team can get away to the next city on the schedule. Houston remains at home, and they host the Chicago Cubs for a weekend series and the Phillies are off to Atlanta to take on the Braves.
Halfway into the season and I have not been to a game yet! I have been busy and passed on games I wanted to see but couldn’t. The first weekend in August is circled for ballpark #30 – Fenway Park!
In Arizona, I saw two games, the last two games of the 2023 regular season. Both teams were in the hunt for the playoffs but hadn’t qualified, yet.
It was a wonderful weekend of baseball and more. The sign above was a reminder to the fans to be watchful and present. Something that would be tested over the weekend.
It’s a Friday in the summer and……
This could possibly be the best day ever
And the forecast says that tomorrow will likely be
A million and six times betterSo make every minute count
Jump up, jump in and seize the day
And let’s make sure that in every single possible way
Today is gonna to be a great day
Making the Days Count, one day at a time, breaking things into smaller parts and telling a story.
When was the last time you broke your Friday into parts?
Normally, I watch sports with my hobby. He is always patiently explain the rules, etc. to me.
My wife is a ‘sports babe’ and gets excited about sports (almost every sport) and loves the personal stories when players standout because they’ve overcome some obstacle or they’ve done something because they have the resources to give that others don’t. She doesn’t love baseball as much as I do, but when it comes to the end of the season she’s there… her favorite sport season is college football! Have a great day and thanks for making me smile.
Two ladies close by love football games. They both can tell the stories of their favorite players and the history of their teams. Hubby knows as much as they do. He is a fan of the Red Sox. 🙂
Growing up, my next door neighbor was an NFL player. He ended up being my boss when I went to work in his restaurant in my teens. He was larger than life to me as a kid but he was a wonderful man. Turns out through him there were four degrees of separation between me and my future wife – 17 years before we met.Me-him-his college coach – my father-in-law (coach and my FIL were teammates) – his daughter, my future wife.
What a story, Clay! I love it. Thank you for sharing!
Haha! You make me quite relieved that I don’t follow any sports!
Ha! I am pretty certain I’d never find you at a ballpark on your own volition. Maybe if the Astros play in London one day, I could coax you to a game! I’d be your protector to make sure nothing hit you! Enjoy the weekend.
You might find me quietly dozing in a corner …
Nah, I wouldn’t let that happen, I’d be talking your ear off!
Is there going to be an “Uh Oh” in this story?
No, no spectators were harmed in the writing of this post! Never thought of that. I did get a game ball in Baltimore, but it was tossed to me over the netting at an easy speed!
Wow – you got me anticipating the second part of this story! Can’t wait, Clay!
Thank you. I’ve been wanting to share this story for a long time and I had, frankly given up. The sign of the week presented a new way to tell older stories. Have a wonderful weekend!