Game 7

The popcorn is salty good and my Vernor's is fizzing. I'm watching the last night of baseball and the Royals (my pick this year) are behind by one run. 

As a Detroit Tiger fan, I definitely don't want to see the Giants win. That would be another bittersweet moment for the American League Central Division. 

But even more bittersweet is the end of baseball for this year. Those 162 games bring continuity to the spring and summer months. Like golf, there's always another inning, or another hole to play. 

So tonight's game is the end of the season. And it's only five more months until spring training. 

Ah, baseball. 

  

Sparky and The Ump

Ben Donaghy, Saginaw area wood carver, made these remarkable two inch high renditions of Sparky Anderson and a major league umpire. Our friends, Dave and Jill Harmon of Beaverton, both carvers, have taken classes from Ben who is an instructor for the Tri-City Carvers and a former Saginaw teacher.

Jill had tucked the tiny wood carvings, wrapped in tissue, into a zip top bag and handed them to me when we attended a Great Lakes Loons game this summer. Sparky and The Ump now reside on my kitchen window ledge where they remind me of the joy of baseball, those 162 games every season that entertain us, thrill us, and sometimes disappoint us.

As a good Detroit Tiger fan, I am hoping for a run straight through to the World Series this fall. I'm holding my breath that there will be no disappointments this year, please.

Sparky and The Ump won't have that and neither will we!

Copyright 2013
Wanda Hayes Eichler

Looking Back: Tiger Memorabilia

I don't have a lot of Tiger goodies saved up, but just take a look at these pocket schedules. There's Carlos Guillen and Dimitri Young and, yes, that's Jeremy Bonderman, all of them on the front cover of Tiger schedules.

I do believe that Mr. Guillen and Mr. Young are retired from baseball.

Last night, though, Tiger fans were SO glad to see Mr. Bonderman back in a Tigers uniform and back in the bullpen as he held the Cleveland Indians in three scoreless innings in an extra innings game. Commentator Dan Dickerson tweeted later that "Bonderman stole the show."

Ah yes, baseball has lots and lots of serendipity. Welcome back, Jeremy. We are mighty glad to see you!

Copyright 2013
Wanda Hayes Eichler

August Baseball

I have not been glued to the television broadcasts of Detroit Tiger games this summer like I have done in other years. After losing my Dad in May, this has been a summer of gardens and golf and quiet times for reading and knitting and doing art.

But I couldn't help but tune in the game tonight as the Tigers took on the Tribe in Cleveland. My friend Desert Jim has a bet going with his friend Idaho Jer. Jerry says that the Tribe, under the management of Terry Francona, will be a big force in the American League Central.

Jim and I are Tiger fans, so, at the start of the season, we disagreed. Jim agreed to a bet with Jer. I don't make bets (life is risky enough without going out on a limb here and there) but I definitely would be in the ballpark with Jim on this one.

So tonight Alex Avila had a great home run in the 9th inning and the Tigers won, putting them four games ahead of Francona's Cleveland Indians. What joy, especially coming on the day when Major League Baseball finally announced suspensions of players due to the performance enhancing drug issue.

I took a moment to dig out my last year's journal and discovered that one year ago today, on August 5, 2012, the Tigers beat the Indians 10-8 in the 10th inning with a walk-off home run by Miguel Cabrera. That one I remember since we were at Comerica Park in Detroit and got to see Cabrera's expertise as he was on his way to the Triple Crown.

My husband Ed always says that when you are at the ballpark and the game is getting long, you should tough it out because something really cool can happen. One year ago, it was the tenth inning that was getting long until the Tigers and Cabrera ended the game with gusto.

The Tigers play three more games in Cleveland and winning all of them would put them seven games up in the American League Central.

Ah, August baseball! I hope Idaho Jer is watching!

Copyright 2013
Wanda Hayes Eichler

Winter Baseball

Winter baseball in the Cactus League can turn from this. . .

. . .to this in a heartbeat. Or a rain shower. Or a thunderstorm. Or hail. We experienced rain, thunder and hail at the Arizona Diamondbacks game at Tempe Diablo Stadium yesterday. Ah, baseball.

Copyright 2013
Wanda Hayes Eichler

So Long, Baseball

The sun set with the vibrancy of northern lights. The crispness in the air gave way to drizzle and a bone chilling cold set in at the last baseball game of the year on Sunday night in Detroit.

On that late October night, baseball for 2012 came to an end for me and for the Detroit Tigers.

There's something invigorating about sitting outside in the fresh air, within the confines of a ballpark, and getting to concentrate for a few hours on baseball.

It's like the little vacation that a woodworker or a quilter or a knitter or a gardener must feel when they embark on an afternoon in the shop or garden or studio. Nothing matters for that short time. Just baseball.

So, it is so long for this year, baseball. The night skies ushered out the season with a spectacular display of color that faded into the disappointment of this Tiger fan.

As my Phillies loving sister reminded me, it's only four months until spring training.

Copyright 2012
Wanda Hayes Eichler

October Baseball

Ed and Wanda at entrance to Comerica Park

After 162 regular games that span April through September, you wouldn't think that baseball fans could still get excited about our team. Our Detroit Tigers kind of let us down -- well, really let us down -- in the first half of the season.

By August, I was getting my hopes up again and by September, well, suffice it to say that when I watched a baseball game on television, I couldn't even get any knitting done. I was too engrossed in the games.

The first games of the American League Division Series were played in Detroit Saturday and Sunday. We had tickets for yesterday's game and were thrilled to be three rows back of the Oakland A's dugout, right within sight of the pitching and batting. Great

Detroit's Miguel Cabrera, the first Triple Crown winner since 1967, did not disappoint the crowd at all. Miggy had three hits in the game. It felt like history in the making to watch Cabrera stride to the plate, square up to the batter's box and hit away.

Miguel Cabrera's first hit of the game

Cabrera, a native of Venezuela, has won the admiration of baseball with his winning smile and incredible prowess on the playing field. He is a wonder to watch. He swings with power and plays the game with panache. Plus, he always looks like he is having a good time.

 

An Oakland A's player tossed a game ball up to the guy sitting next to me so I got an up close and personal look at the official 2012 postseason ball. Yes, that is Bud Selig's signature, stamped on the ball. Selig is baseball's commisioner and, as such is like the mayor of baseball -- he gets his name on the baseballs just like a big city mayor gets his name on signs throughout a city.



Tiger managers and staff bear-hug Don Kelly after Kelly's game winning hit in the ninth inning

 

A ninth inning sacrifice out by Don Kelly brought in the winning run. Tigers won their second game of the five game series, beating the Oakland A's by a 5-4 score, with Kelly's hit. Kelly was swept up in hugs and accolades from Tiger players and managers at the end of this game.

 

A fine rain fell from the sixth inning on. The air was cold. The game started to get long. But it was October baseball and the Tigers won. Very cool.

 

 

Copyright 2012

Wanda Hayes Eichler

 



Remarkable Saturday

Wind turbines on Ruth Road in Michigan's Thumb

We had a remarkable day yesterday. We drove 400 miles in my Chevy Volt (a plug-in electric vehicle), went to a funeral and a baseball game, saw fireworks, and drove through two wind farms --  all on an August Saturday in Michigan.

Geiger Five -- Paul and Carol Geiger, Ken Geiger, Shirley and Ron Geiger

Ed's Aunt Dorothy Geiger died on Monday after 30 year battle with cancer. Born into an Amish-Mennonite family, Dorothy never gave up on life and was an inspiration to her family and friends. We travelled to Lake Odessa, MI to be with Uncle Ken and many, many others for her memorial service.

Fireworks at Dow Diamond after a Loons game

Then we headed to Midland, up through the Gratiot County wind turbine area, to see the Great Lakes Loons play baseball against the Lake County Captains at Dow Diamond. The Loons won. That was cool. But the fireworks after the game were even cooler.

It was a day of contrasts -- wind farms, Aunt Dorothy's funeral, baseball, and fireworks. Quite a remarkable Saturday.

Copyright 2012
Wanda Hayes Eichler

August in the D

Today is the first Tiger game of the season for me. I have been a fickle fair weather fan, but things heat up in August where baseball is concerned. We have our tickets and are ready for an afternoon at the ballpark in downtown Detroit, the "D."

So, go Tigers. Especially today. Like every fan in Comerica Park, I wanna see a win!

Copyright 2012
Wanda Hayes Eichler

Go Tigers!

Wow! The Tigers beat the Yankees last night in the fifth game of the American League Division Series. Ed and I watched dumbfounded as closing pitcher Jose Valverde (called "Papa Grande") struck out or retired Yankee hitter after Yankee hitter.

TV cameras in the ninth inning kept panning the two dugouts. Max Scherzer, a Tiger pitcher, was bouncing up and down, like Disney's Tigger, through most of the ninth inning. "He looks like a little kid, doesn't he?" I said to Ed. It was obvious that the unthinkable -- beating the Yanks -- was close enough to touch, but not quite done. Ed's comment, "Yeah, he looks like our Max."

So this morning, we are "tarred" (that's Texas talk for being tired) and we are ready to watch the Dee-troit Tigers take on the Texas Rangers. Round em up, Tigers! Yee Haw!



Pregame Pause

Call me a patriotic traditionalist, but I love the flag waving and anthem singing before games. I especially love it when the whole crowd sings the Star Spangled Banner. Wonderful.

At Saturday's Great Lakes Loons game at Dow Diamond in Midland a soprano worked through a trilling version of the anthem. (Well done, just not very small "d" democratic when the crowd doesn't get to sing.) The young players and their kid counterparts bowed their heads to honor the land of the free and the home of the brave. It's a very American Pie and Chevy at the levee moment. I love it.

Copyright 2011

Wanda Hayes Eichler



Fan Fun

These two guys captured my attention and then my heart at the Tiger Game on Saturday. They were sitting in front of us along with several wheelchair fans and their caregiver companions.

The Two Fans shook hands and made friends up and down their row. The Blue Fan (wearing the "cheer, cheer for Old Notre Dame" shirt)  jumped up and down when the White Sox scored so he was visibly in the minority. The Navy Fan cheered for the Tigers. Both were good natured and, at times, pleasantly loud with their enthusiasm for baseball.

Departing the game, we chatted. The Navy Fan, it turns out, is the dad of the Blue Fan. "He grew up here and I raised him, " Navy Dad said. "I don't know how he turned out this way, but we always have fun at the ballpark."

So here's a guy who grew up in southeast Michigan and is a Notre Dame and White Sox fan. He's at the Tiger game, expressing his Sox loyalties. In some parts of the world, this would be unheard of. But, in true American democratic tradition, we can go to the ball park and cheer for the team that we like. We call this free speech and on a Saturday afternoon, expressed as fan fun at a baseball game, it is a wonderful part of being a citizen of an incredible country.

Copyright 2011
Wanda Hayes Eichler

Vendor Bees

The neon yellow shirts of the vendors at Comerica Park stand out against the crowd at Saturday's Tiger game. They look like bees hovering among the baseball fans as they sell drinks and eats at the baseball game.

Copyright 2011
Wanda Hayes Eichler

Little League Cousins, Circa 1982

It's that Little League time of the year. Time to play ball after school and on weekends. Nowadays, Little League has been augmented by soccer. But way back in the time of raising our kids, Little League (and T-Ball to a certain extent) was the name of the game.

Left to right: Cousins Jason, Lee, Ben, and Will. Lee is enjoying a lollipop. Willie (his childhood moniker) is putting the bunny-ears on Ben. Jason wears his ever famous smile-that-warms-every-heart.

Ephemera in the photo Will's athletic shoes look new; teams are sponsored by Pigeon Rotary, Pigeon Lions, and Shetler Plumbing. From the daisies on the right behind Will and the peonies on the left behind Jason, this is probably late May or early June. The quartet is perched on the old redwood bench that came from John and Pauline Eichler's to Graywood Farm as a part of a picnic set of table and two benches. Elaine Yackle Weidman sold redwood furniture and I believe that this bench is part of a set that Elaine sold to them. Mystery question: what is on the ground next to Will's left foot?

Copyright 2011

Wanda Hayes Eichler

Take Me Out To The Ball Game

Here are Finn and Max Clark, the grandboys, perched on a big tiger paw. Comerica Park's big tigers are a draw for little kids and big kids alike. Max and Finny had their picture taken with one of the big tigers last July when we all went to a Tiger game in downtown Detroit.

Now that the Tigers are above water (.545 as of today) it's time to be singing "take me out to the ball game." Actually, at our house, we sing that tune whether or not the Tigers are winning. 

Home Run Latte

Yesterday was opening day for Major League Baseball. When we stopped for a latte in Escanaba we pulled through a little drive up coffee place that we've come to like. The barista handed us our hot drinks with a tiny baseball sticker covering the sippy opening.

Such a nice touch on Opening Day! Now if only our Tigers had beaten that East Coast team that they played. What is their name again? Hmmm, something like "Yankers" or "Hankies." Wish I could remember all the teams!

Copyright 2011

Wanda Hayes Eichler

Today is Yesterday Or is Yesterday Today?

11:30 pm -- September 12

Fukuoka, Japan

I'm writing this post really late on Friday here in Fukuoka. Tonight we went to the Sun Palace theatre and saw the second of four shows of Blast II:MIX that we're going to see this weekend. Peter performed tonight; tomorrow afternoon he'll do the lead role and we're eager to see him in that very demanding track.

Last night the cast and crew had their annual bowling tournament AFTER doing all their preliminary tech work and performing two shows. It was a long day for them, but we all went bowling here in Fukuoka at an entertainment center about six blocks from the hotel. We had a great time. The photo is of me with my BLAST bowling buddies. From left to right: Jim, choreographer and lead male dancer; Zeke, dancer (and a really good one!); Iso who is a lighting tech; Jay, production stage manager; and me (known to the cast and crew as Peter's mom.)

On Wednesday afternoon Peter, Ed and I took a taxi to the harbor area where we walked through an interpretive center about the importance of the harbor. Fukuoka is closer to Korea than it is to Tokyo and shipping is big business here. We learned that about 25% of what is imported here is food. There are numerous wharves, an international ferry between here and Pusan, Korea and smaller ferries that go back and forth across the harbor.

We took a ferry to the Marin Ocean aquarium which is part of a much larger park on a small peninsula that encompasses the harbor. We enjoyed the dolphin show and saw lots of sealife there.

The trip back from the aquarium showed us Peter' expertise in understanding the Japanese railway system. We left the park on one short line railroad and transferred to a Japan Rail line. When that second rail line ended, we transferred to the subway which runs about a block away from the hotel. It's all fairly complicated until you get the hang of the maps and charts and ins and outs of the railroads here.

Now you need an explanation of the "today is yesterday" comment in the title of this posting. We've been watching evening baseball from the US here in Japan. So, we're seeing an East Coast game (first pitch is usually at 7:05 pm) at 8:05 in the morning here. Ed and I have been watching the ABC nightly news at 7:30 am (with voiceover in Japanese and subtitles in Japanese and Chinese and maybe Korean) and then we tune in MLB ball games. So, you see, we're seeing yesterday's game but it's really today for us. . .and the game is live. So is today yesterday, or is yesterday today? Hmm. . .it probably doesn't make any difference at all.

That's it for today from Fukuoka. You've learned about US baseball which is really big here in Japan, some more about the railroads, and about a supposedly blue collar sport that's enjoyed right here in a Japanese city of 1.4 million people.

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Tomorrow's topics: Peter does laundry with Ed; daily shopping; Ed continues his chopsticks education.