Blog Archives
Recap of the Baltimore Orioles vs. Washington Nationals Game
On Friday evening, I had the opportunity to attend the Baltimore Orioles vs. Washington Nationals game at Nationals Park. It was a beautiful evening, and it was awesome taking in the game from the first base line with my good friend, Nikhil. The O’s handed a 4-2 defeat in 12 innings to the Nats.
Here are the tweets from the game from Twitter.
# Nats are up bottom of the 12th, Adam Dunn up to bat. Struck ouuut! J. Willingham. Out. R. Belliard up. O’s win! O’s win!!
# Baez safe at 1st, Brian Roberts up at bat and doubled, Adam Jones up and hits a double. 4-2 O’s way to represent the 410.
# R. Zimmerman out at first. Top of the 12th, tied at 2-2, Wigginton up at bat for the O’s, popfly caught in right field. Izturis out at 1st
# Top of 11th inning. O’s have 3 outs, now the Nats are up to bat in the bottom. Guzman up at bat, singles out, N. Johnson up and pop flyout
# Nats up bottom of 10th. Josh Bard up. Out at 1st. Justin Maxwell up and he’s walked. Austin Kearns is pitch hitting. Out at 1st.
# 10th inning: O’s have runners on 1st and 2nd, Adam Jones up to bat and was walked. Nick Markakis up to bat, struck out.
# Melvin Mora hits a single, Reimold fouled out, and Ty Wigginton pop flys out. Now, onto the Nats, R. Zimmerman up to bat, out at first.
# 8th inning. O’s have dropped three, now the Nats are up to bat. Willie Harris is pinch hitting. Out. Guzman is up now. Out at first.
# 7th Inning Stretch. Take me out to ballgame! C’mon O’s! C’mon O’s!
# Adam Dunn now up to bat for the Nats. Walked. Josh Willingham up to bat, struck out.
# Bottom of the 6th, Guzman up to bat and singles, Ryan Zimmerman up to bat, singles. Safe at first, not at second though.
# Justin Maxwell out, Zimmermann strikes out. Top of 6th, Markakis up to bat and out he goes. Aubrey Huff out, Mora out, Reimold singles.
# O’s now up to bat. 1 out. Rich Hill up to bat, now out. Brian Roberts hits a single. Not enough, as Adam Jones hit a fly. Out
# Adam Dunn up to bat for the Nats. Game is 2-2! Josh Willingham up to bat. Single. Willingham tried to steal 2nd, got picked off.
# For the Nats, Nick Johnson up to bat, hits line drive into right field. Single. Ryan Zimmermann hits a homerun!
# 4th inning: Melvin Mora up to bat for the O’s. He’s out! Chad Moeller out. Nats up to bat!
# Nick Markakis up to bat, pop fly, 3rd out!
# In the 3rd Inning, one out for the O’s, Rich Hill up to bat…now, two outs, Brian Roberts hit a double, Adam Jones hit a single.
# O’s get a homerun by a rookie Nolan Reimold. Go #O’s!
# Markakis is up to bat with O’s. 2 strikes, out on a fly. Caught by Maryland grad, Justin Maxwell, alma mater of @nikhil28. Yeah #terps!
# Roberts up to bat! Strike one, Adam Dunn caught ball, 1st out O’s.
Good game O’s…Way to represent the AL East
Thoughts on the A-Rod Scandal
Today, I had the opportunity to watch Alex Rodriguez’s news conference on CNN, as he was admitting his prior use of anabolic steroids. I have remained silent on this issue until now. As a die-hard New York Yankees fan and baseball lover, I do not feel that there is justification in attacking a man for his usage of a drug, as this is a private matter that should be dealt with the team and Major League Baseball. Instead of airing the dirty laundry to the public, this should have been dealt internally.
Truthfully, I have given great thought about the recent investigations into drug usage in professional sports. When Congress decided to open an investigation into the drug usage of Major League Baseball, I thought it was frankly a waste of time for their intervention, as they are supposed to draft legislation that would benefit the American people. Major League Baseball (and this would also apply to the NFL, NHL, NBA, and MLS) should crack down on their players, as well as the team owners, to address this issue. Congress has no right intervening in a private matter or entity that could enact their own disciplinary and rehabilitation procedures. These disciplinary procedures include: suspending a player and docking player pay. Also, it is the League’s responsibility to provide counseling for drug abuse, as it is standard with most jobs to have Employee Assistance Programs that would assist the player.
This does not mean that I am condoning drug usage or being too easy on the players involved with this scandal. In fact, I believe in holding each player responsible for their own actions. If the League and each individual team enforced the “no excuses” policy with each player, this would create an environment where a player would be held accountable for their behavior. If a player chooses to abuse drugs or use steroids, then this player should leave the League with no questions asked.
As for A-Rod, I am disappointed in his actions. Many of our youth look up to him as a role model, and his actions no doubt lost him some fanfare. Right now, the New York Yankees and A-Rod should handle his admittance and move on with any disciplinary action. I respect A-Rod for coming clean, as it was the right thing to do.
Decided to Stop Tweeting During Sporting Events
I am making the wise decision to lay off tweeting (i.e. Twitter-ing) during the Redskins, Yankees, and Capitals games from now on.
Why? I am invoking the curse of Crystal Clear Conservative on all of these teams causing loss after loss. It just seems like a phenomenon lately…something that I am starting to notice (must be the former social worker in me).
Oh yeah, tidings of great joy…MARYLAND WALLOPED WAKE FOREST!!! LET’S GO TERPS!
CCC Honors Her Baseball Bet
Okay, I know you must be thinking today is a slow news day. It’s not!
As a baseball and die-hard New York Yankees fan, I made a promise to my fellow readers that I, Crystal Clear Conservative, would don a Boston Red Sox hat, if the Yankees did not make it to the World Series. Well, the wait is over and I have honored this promise (even if it made me feel icky).
There it’s done! Go Rays!
Yankees to miss playoffs for 1st time since 1995
The New York Yankees will miss the postseason for the first time since starting their run in 1995. Mike Mussina pitched five shutout innings to earn his 19th win, Jason Giambi homered and the Yankees beat the Toronto Blue Jays 3-1 on Tuesday night.
I am now in a state of Yankee Depression, and since I will not cheer on a National League team, I guess I will be cheering for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
The American League Wins All Star Game
In a nail biting game, the American League pulled out a win in the All Star Game last night. I have a feeling that this year’s World Series will belong to an American League team.
Now, this has turned into an open thread. Who do you think will make it to the AL or NL Pennant this year? I will say the Yankees (for the AL) out of partisanship.
The What-If Challenge Has Been Issued to Crystal Clear Conservative
My readers are probably curious to know about the What-If Challenge (because it seriously is a “What-If”). There has been a challenge issued by a few of my friends and some family members stating that if the New York Yankees do not make the AL Championship game this year, then I would have to don Boston Red Sox gear for a photo opportunity which would be posted on this blog for all to see. You see, I have a lot of Red Sox friends and family members who cheer on the O’s.
Well, you have heard it here first! I would gladly take them up on this challenge, so the Yankees better start winning (because I do not want to think about putting a Red Sox jersey near or on my body)! 
If the Yankees make it to the AL title game, then my friends and certain family members should be prepared to sing a rousing (and slightly embarrassing) version of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” wearing Yankees hats!
Game’s On!!
2008 Major League Baseball All-Star Game Lineups Announced
This is the list I have been waiting for, and it includes three New York Yankees players: A-Rod, Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera. Go American League!!
