Saratoga Irish

Sunday, April 29, 2007

The Yankee's Win, Theeeeeeeeeeee Yankee's win!!
It's been so long since I heard that, it even sounded good. Just a quick update today. The Yankees are in 5th place just five and a half games out while Boston, sorry Brian, are only four spots from last and dropping fast.
Wang vs. Tavarez today at 1pm. Is it me or does Tavarez look stoned out of his mind in his official photo?

Thursday, April 26, 2007

What do fish and house guest have in common? They both start to stink after three days.
So far the weekend has been great so what's a better way to top it off then with a ballgame. We drove to Baltimore from the apartment and parked the car in a very convenient parking garage. It was convenient because it led us back to the same bar as yesterday. The only difference was the choice of beer. On Saturday we had Bud Light in the aluminium bottles, today the best bet was Red Stripe, yea beer. After two we walked across the street and went into Camden Yards. As we walked towards the factory wall I saw a stand set up for caricatures. I talked Sara and Sean into posing for one. While Sara was having her portrait done Sean and I had a Bud Aluminum bottle. When the drawing was done the artist asked if they would pose for a photo for her portfolio. That was enough time for me to finish my bud and head for the Guinness stand for a couple of pints of Smithwicks. Our tour of Oriole park continued to spin the chicken wheel, of course I had to have my picture taken with the cow first. Sara won free waffle fries while Sean and myself won free chicken. I was all excited till I found out that the chicken place wasn't there, I gave my free card to Sara. It was getting close to game time but we still had time for a bite to eat ...and another bud draught. We got to our seats in left field row GG( AA is first, BB is second row, you get the idea) we were just to the fare side of the foul pole. The national anthems were sung and the game is about to start, "Yo beer man" we get a couple of Coor's light and the game begins. In case you are keeping score at home that's five beers before the start of the game. The game is fun and we are meeting some good people around us, by the fifth inning I am into about my ninth beer when I start to yell at the Blue Jay left fielder, Adam Lind. (Ed. Note I. Adam Lind is a 23 year old rookie first baseman who is playing in his 25 major league game and has to put up with me. I felt bad Monday when I looked him up on the Blue Jays web page but then I thought,Hey he makes more money than I will in my entire life time, then I didn't feel bad for him anymore.)
"HEY LIND, I am from Canada too. You better listen to me Ah"
"This guy gonna hit the ball right down the line Lind, you better move over here"
Adam Lind is a professional baseball player, I am a drunk in the stands, what do I know. Crack!!! line drive right down the left field line for a double. As young Mr. Lind fetches the ball out of the corner I let him have it again.
"I told you he gonna hit it down the line Ah, I from Canada I would not lie to you"
And this is how it went on and on and on. The woman sitting next to me said you could see him cringe every time I called out his name. The highlight came in the seventh inning. When the batter struck out for the second out of the inning, left fielder Adam Lind took two steps towards the dugout.
"HEY LIND! Where you going, that's only two outs ah. You got to get three outs in America ah"
"We help you out ah" and the crowd in left field chanted One, Two ,Three for Adam.
I was sorry to see the game over I was having so much fun. I'm sure Adam Lind didn't feel the same way.
We made our way back to the bar across the street and went back to Red Stripe, yea beer, the tables were filling up so I went over and asked a couple of guys if we could join them. It turns out they are Yankee fans from Jersey. A few of their friends joined in and we had the start of a party going. I went and got a few women to pose for the group photo. I bought a round of beers for the table but somehow when I returned to the table i had neglected to get a beer for the Red Sox fan, oh well.
In my tradition of getting my picture taken with women I approached a nice looking girl with a wife beater t-shirt and a butch friend. When I asked if she would pose for a photo she asked me." Wouldn't you rather have your picture taken with a woman that likes men?"
"Where's the challenge in that" She put her leg up on my hip and kissed me for the pic. She told me I was the first man she had ever kissed. I asked if she was still a lesbian, she said yes and I said, "I used to be a better kisser than that."
They joined the table and we all had a great time. She was from Jersey, The Yankee fans were from Jersey, Sara is from Jersey, the other two guys Tony and Paulie are from Jersey. OH, I didn't tell you about Tony and Paulie. They were alright but Paulie was telling story after story and I think Tony was getting upset with him. (Ed. note II. I think that Tony and Paulie were from the Sopranos episode we watched when we got back to the apartment but I was pretty drunk and that is the last thing I remember)
Monday morning Sara drove me to the airport and I flew home. All in all it was a fantastic weekend. I want to thank Sara for having me down for the weekend. Sean has no choice. I want to thank all the cousins that came together for a wonderful evening.
http://picasaweb.google.com/saratogairish/Baltimore

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Ellicott City Part II
We awoke to a beautiful mid morning on Saturday. We were up and going by noon. First stop was the inner harbor. Baltimore's inner harbor is a fantastic place to visit. The city around the harbor is clean, safe and tourist friendly. With souvenirs to buy we started to look around at the shops. the grumblings of our stomachs made shopping difficult so we decided to eat, but where? The ESPN Zone, The Hard Rock, Tir Na Nog Bar & Grill and seafood after seafood restaurants. Of course we went to Hooters. When my eyes couldn't take it any longer and we had eaten our fill it was back to shopping and sight seeing. They have a place in the middle of all these shops for street performers. As we were walking by a clown was performing. He was standing on a board that was across a ball trying to keep his balance. He was going to attempt to juggle a knife, a flaming stick and a bowling ball. We stayed to watch and after a few bad jokes he started to juggle. When he finished, we left, not wanting to see the rest of his act. He seemed a lot like NASCAR, the idea seemed dumb but the accident would have been great. After hitting the shops and the small shopping mall we walked over the few blocks to the Babe Ruth Museum. The house was owned by Ruth's grandfather and is the place where little George Herman Ruth was born. The fee is only $6 and the old fellow at the door tried to get Sean to be a volunteer. We toured the place and it was fun but it was hot out and we needed refreshments. We walked a couple of blocks to Camden Yards and they were getting ready for Saturday nights game. Behind the ballpark are a few bars that set up tables outside, you will hear more about these bars tomorrow but for today we sat and had a couple.
Now it was time to head to my cousin Eileen's place in Canton. Eileen and her husband Lyle have a condo overlooking the harbor. They throw the best Fourth of July party at there home in Niskayuna, so I knew that this dinner would be fun. Eileen invited all my family in the Baltimore area. My cousins Ann and her husband Larry who live in Ellicott City, Mary and her Husband Joe and son Will who live in Fredrick, Sean and his wife and two daughters from Laural and a young woman and her husband, Katie and Shane who none of us knew. Apparently Katie's grandfather was a cousin to my mother. They were very nice and brave to come to a party not knowing anyone. The evening turned out fantastic, Sean and Sara found out that Ann shops at the same market that they do. I wanted them to meet the family so they would not feel that they were alone in Maryland.
Two nights in Maryland and two good drunks, hey, I like this place.
http://picasaweb.google.com/saratogairish/Baltimore

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

Ellicott City Weekend part 1
Is the computer blurry or is it me? I can still feel the effects of this past weekend. I made my first trip to Ellicott City MD to visit Sean and Sara. When he told me they were moving to Ellicott City I told him he had family there. My cousin Ann and her husband Larry and their three sons plus my cousin Brian and his family also. My cousin Eileen has been living part time in Baltimore and a few others are spread around the area. Eileen told me that when I came to town she would gather the troops. We set the date and the weekend was on.
I flew out of Albany, Friday night. I think it was the last flight out of town because the airport was almost deserted. I was told that my flight was delayed about thirty minutes so I headed somewhere I could see the game. The airport bar was quiet but the game was on. There were three of us at the bar watching and talking baseball over a couple of tall beers. When the bartender asked if I would like another the only thought in my mind was of the TV show Airline, they always have drunks trying to get on the plane and they never let them on. The show always features Southwest and I was flying Southwest. "No, I'm alright" I told the bartender."Hey. you're not flying the plane." I make it a rule to always listen to the other people at the bar. "Allright, give me another one." The bar closed about a half hour before the flight and I made my way to the gate. When we boarded, I did my best to look and act sober. My bar buddy was sitting in the front row alone so I joined him. After we took off it was time for the drinks. I guess because the flight was delayed they didn't charge us for the beers. So I had two. Now this is a 50 minute flight and tonight the pilot was in a hurry, we were there in 45. As everyone else ( all forty passengers) headed to the baggage claim I headed for the men's room. After a quick pit stop I went for my bag. I met up with Sara and Sean grabbed my bag and we were off. It is about a twenty minute ride to Ellicott City and their apartment is very nice. We dropped my bag off and walked down to Kelsey's Pub. Kelsey's is a true authentic Irish pub (sarcasm). The only Irish music I heard was when Van Morrison came on. It did have Irish beer so we had a round of Smithwicks and shots of Jameson. Do you know that the bars in Maryland close at 2am? Dumb rule. So we made our way back to Sean's and were ready for the rest of the weekends happenings.
I think that this post will be done in two or three parts due to time restraints, I'm writing before work. I will post the photos of the whole weekend, you can look at them now or wait till the end it is up to you. Next: Eileen's Party and The Baseball game.
http://picasaweb.google.com/saratogairish/Baltimore

Thursday, April 19, 2007

For the past 10 years spring means outdoor track at the Curran house. This year is no different. Yesterday was the first meet of the year and the first meet of Jack's career. The meet was at Mohonason High School in Rotterdam. I left work at 3:30 to be there in time. The meet was between Mohon, Saratoga and Shaker High. Mike was entered in the High Jump, Pole Vault and in the 4X400M relay. Jack was long jumping, The 100M and the 200M. Just so everyone would remember Sean I was wearing my Colgate Cross Country hat. It was fun to see how many parents are still around. Kevin Tully whose son Nolan ran with Sean still has a son running. Pete Farley's son John is now a senior. The guys on the team still call him "spaulding", the name given him on his second day of cross country when he was a 7th grader.
Mike had a good meet with PR's (personal records) in both jumping events. He finished second in both. Jack set the standards for himself with his first races.
The team split the meet beating Mohonason but losing to Shaker by 6 points. As the weather warms I'm sure the times will improve. Here are the photos from the meet.http://picasaweb.google.com/saratogairish/TrackMeet

Yankee News: in case you turned the game off before it was over today, the Yanks were down 6-2 with two outs in the bottom of the ninth. The bombers came through, Phelps hit a homer an other couple of hits, a run here a run there and then A-Rod. MLB home run leader did it again, a three run walk off dinger. Final Yanks 8, Indians 6. Now off to Boston. How serious do the Yanks take this weekend? Sunday night on a national broadcast game, The Red Sox are pitching there new multi-million dollar Japanese pitcher, Dice-K. Who are the Yankee's pitching? Chase Wright, with all of his 5 innings of big league experience. If Wright goes into the 7th inning it will be his longest game of his career(little league rules prohibit a pitcher from pitching more than 6 innings a week)

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

I hate April, the month not the girl. It's the middle of April and it's snowing out. Actually it's more like slushing out , but it's the same thing. They thought about cancelling the Boston Marathon yesterday due to the weather but the powers that be thought that a nor'easter was the only way to beat the Kenyans, but of course they were wrong. Robert K. Cheruiyot captured his second straight marathon and third overall, Cheruiyot was followed by fellow countrymen James Kwambai and Stephen Kiogora . Peter Gilmore's eighth place finish was the top spot for an American. Where was Luke Merkel? The Red Sox game was delayed and the start of the race was moved up so the usual crowd of baseball fans that let out just as the top finishers are running by was not part of the festivities. Speaking of the Red Sox. Whose sitting atop the Eastern Division of the American League? Go ahead Mr. Murphy, you know the answer. As a die hard Yankee fan I see no problem with the Sox in front in April. They don't usually fade until the summer. This morning I went to the Yankee web site and broke into a sweat. The probable pitchers for today are, for Cleveland, Westbrook and for the Yankees, Wright. OH MY GOD NO!!! NOT JARED WRIGHT!! THEY GOT RID OF HIM. Jared Wright is now Baltimore's problem, what happened ? Did George make a dumb trade and get him back? I started checking all over the Yankee site until I finally came up with the answer and my heart stopped racing. Chase Wright, who will join the team Tuesday in New York to make his first big-league start, an effort under the lights at Yankee Stadium against the Cleveland Indians. Wright was last season's Florida State League Pitcher of the Year after going 12-3 with a 1.88 ERA in 37 games (14 starts), and impressed the Yankees during a solid Spring Training following his addition to the club's 40-man roster.
So how is your April going?

Sunday, April 15, 2007




April 15th, it's tax day. This is one of the busiest times of the year at the Post Office. Tonight there will be a line of cars dropping off their tax returns until midnight. The USPS has people standing outside for a makeshift drive through to get to as many people as possible. Knowing all this and after spending over twenty years at the USPS you would think that I would have done my taxes months ago. So guess what I am doing today, besides writing this blog. Yeah, my taxes. although this blog is just to keep me from doing the tax thing.



Last night the Yankees played their second extra inning game in a row out in Oakland. this time Giambi came through with a home run in the 13th inning to put the Bombers ahead for good. When I was working all night I loved a west coast extra inning game, the more innings the better. Now that I work days, I think all west coast games should start no later than 7pm EST. Who cares what the people in California want, we live in New York, we want the game to be played around our schedule. Nobody cares about LA, just look at TV, sure the OC was good, LA Law lasted a few years, Beverly Hills 90210 and Melrose Place had a following but the bottom line of all the California shows was one thing, Hot Babes. New York on the other hand has had many many shows that are set in the Big Apple. Comedy's, Seinfeld, King of Queens, Barney Miller, The Odd Couple, Everyone Loves Raymond. Dramas, NYPD Blue, Hill Street Blues, Kojak. These are just a few of the shows and I'm sure you can name a lot more but the point of this discussion is the cancellation of the new show set in New York, The Black Donnelly's.
The Donnelly's is the new show by Academy award wining writer and producer Paul Haggis ( Crash, Flags of Our Fathers, Million Dollar Baby). the story is set around the four Donnelly brothers and the tag line is, family above all else. The cast may seem new to many viewers but they are seasoned veterans. Tommy Donnelly, (Jonathan Tucker) has been on many TV shows including CSI, Law & Order, both SVU and Criminal Intent, The Practice. His film credits include, Sleepers and Pulse. He is also Sara Thomas' favorite. It's Tommy who has to keep the brothers in line as best he can but more ofter he just has to clean up the messes they make. Jimmy Donnelly, (Tom Guiry) is the drug addict wanna be mobster that seems to cause the most problem's for Tommy. Guiry can be best remembered for playing Scotty Smalls in the movie Sandlot. To make this NYC drama more west coast, enter Jenny Reilly, (Olivia Wilde) she has been know to rev the engines of more than one of the Curran men. Jenny is the love of Tommy's life, all of his life, but something always seems to get in their way. You might remember this sexy brunette when she was a sexy blond in The OC.





This is a show worth watching, but you can't. NBC in all it's wisdom has cancelled the program. You see, shows that have great writing have no chance of making it because people have to think about what they are watching. the majority of television viewers are happy with Deal Or No Deal. Pick a case and you win, you don't even have to answer a question, as if they could. They are the same toothless dolts you see shopping at Walmart. If you are a thinking person, and I know you are because you are reading this blog, go to http://petitionspot.com/petitions/Donnellys sign the petition and hopefully we can get this show back on the air were it belongs.



Now, what's a W2?

Monday, April 09, 2007

A-Rod went deep, again. Five home runs in six games. The first Yankee to start a season with five dingers in six games. That may not be impressive for the Florida Marlins or the Arizona Diamondbacks but we are talking about the Holy God Dam New York Yankees. Babe Ruth, 714 home runs. Reggie Jackson, 563 home runs. Mickey Mantle, 536 home runs. Lou Gehrig, 493 home runs and a disease named after him. None of these great home run hitters ever started the season the way A-Rod has, not even Roger Maris in 1961 when be broke the Babe's single season record of 60 home runs. Can the fans cut him some slack now? If you want someone to boo, why not Suzyn Waldman. Who is this creature with the most irritating voice in baseball. I remember going to sleep listening to a transistor radio and the voices of Phil Rizzuto and Bill White and Frank Messer. People used to say terrible things about the Scooter, because he rooted for the Yankees during the game. So what. At least he was entertaining. When the Yanks were down all they need was for Phil to wish a couple of people Happy Birthday and a rally would start. Holy Cow, maybe that's what they should do when ever A-Rod gets up in a clutch situation, call Phil on the phone, let him wish a few Happy Birthdays and for a little extra, talk about cannolis. For forty years Rizzuto was behind the mike for Yankee games and he is beloved by the fans. Waldman has been there for two seasons and I can't find a person who enjoys her. Let's start a remove Suzyn (who spells Susan that way, even that's irritating) Waldman movement. Maybe the Yankees will make listening to a game on the radio fun again.
"Uh-oh, deep to left-center, nobody's gonna get that one! Holy cow, somebody got it!"

Saturday, April 07, 2007

I encourage everyone who reads this blog to comment on it. I love to know that I am not just writing for my own amusement. Baseball season started the other day and I received two comments, both anonymous. All I'm asking is that if you want to say something, go ahead, just leave your name so that we all know who you are. If you disagree with my blog, fine, let's debate but let me know who I am debating with. One comment the other day said "Baseball sucks!!", if you have to use two exclamation points to show how emotional a statement it is at least back it up with some facts or at least some opinions. Baseball sucks because...get the idea? I don't think baseball sucks, I love the game, I like football, I enjoy hockey, I'll stop everything to see a soccer game, NASCAR.....I don't get it. I know a lot of people do, God knows I have spent a lot of time watching people run laps around a track and I enjoy that but NASCAR...don't get it. As far as baseball, does it suck or doesn't it. I have Hollywood on my side. According to the Internet movie database there are 1203 titles that use baseball as a keyword. Just a few, Major League, A League of Their Own, Mr. Baseball, Pride of the Yankees, Bang The Drum Slowly, Babe Ruth, The Bad News Bears, Field Of Dreams, Bull Durham, 61*, Eight Men Out, The Monty Stratton Story, The Winning Team, and that is just some of the good ones. The actors that have been in baseball movies include Academy Award wining actors such as Tom Hanks, James Stewart, Kevin Costner,Robert DiNiro. Even former President Ronald Regan was in a baseball movie. On Broadway they had Damm Yankee's and No No Nanette. If that's not enough for you here are few quotes to show the greatness of our national pastime.

"People will come Ray. The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game: it's a part of our past, Ray. It reminds of us of all that once was good and it could be again. Oh... people will come Ray. People will most definitely come."Terence Mann ( James Earl Jones) Field of Dreams

"I've tried 'em all, I really have, and the only church that truly feeds the soul, day in, day out, is the Church of Baseball. " Annie Savoy (Susan Sarandon) Bull Durham

" JUST a bit outside" Harry Doyle ( Bob Uker) Major League

Now for some real baseball, two outs in the bottom of the ninth in New York today, the Yankee's showed just what they are made of. Cano singles up the middle, Jeter walks, Abreu is hit by a pith to load the bases. up steps A-Rod. Bang! into the black seats in dead center field, a walk off grand slam. You would think that he would get a little credit from Yankee fans, pretty good game, two run dinger in the first inning, double off the wall in the fourth and the walk off job to end it. I hear guys at work grumbling, " let's see him do it in October". What do these people want? The guy is a MVP for crying out loud. I want A-Rod on my team. You don't get to October without guys like him.

Monday, April 02, 2007

Happy Opening Day!! Yes today is opening day of the 2007 Major League Baseball season. As the dust is settling in ballparks across this great nation, everything is right in the universe. The Yankees are in first place and the Red Sox are in last.
A-Rod lasted a whole 15 minutes before the boos rang out in the big ballpark in the Bronx. A misplayed pop up in foul territory in the first inning was all that some fans were willing to let go from A-Rod. He made up for it as the game went on with a base hit, a stolen base and then in the 8th inning a little icing on the cake with a two run dinger. Sloppy fielding by the Yankee infield with errors by A-Rod, Jeter and Phelps. Johnny Damon left the game with cramps, It may be menstrual.
For a fun look at the game check out Sean's website at www.curranstat.com
Andy Pettette makes his return Yankee stadium with his first start of the year Wednesday at 1:05. The Red Sox meanwhile will try to rebound Wednesday night as Josh Beckett takes the mound against mighty Kansas City.