Random thoughts

OK, since no one uses the blog to post game results AND because I am in a Stratomatic holding pattern (as seemingly everyone is), I thought I would pass along some random thoughts:

Last weekend, I made my first trip to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Wow. Almost religious like. Not quite like the first time I stepped into Wrigley, but close.

• For some reason, I found the coolest thing to be THE glove worn by Willie Mays when he made THE catch. It really struck me.

• Lots of Iowa references at the Hall. First, at the beginning you can visit a theater for an impressive multimedia/movie experience. In one part the narrator talks about where baseball can be found and to paraphrase he says something like "From the streets of New York to Fenway Park to a warm autumn night in Iowa...." Then, they have a small exhibit displaying baseball movies and the clip playing was from Field of Dreams. And, there were lots of Bob Feller items, each of them mentioning his Iowa upbringing.

• They have Barry Bond's home run ball on display, but certainly not proudly. You have to search for it. It is found in a room devoted to the current game and is in a display that faces the back wall with several other items in it. They have a card that explains the asterick and mentions that the museum does not condone such action. I didn't realize the asterick was atually carved in the leather.

• Some other cool items: Curt Schilling's bloody socks, and an exhibit on baseball board games from America's history. I was dissapointed that Strat was not among the displayed BUT it was mentioned on a item that listed 10 or so important dates in baseball gaming history.

The visit also gabe me another of my wild ideas. Wouldn't it be the ultimate trip for all of us to meet in Cooperstown, visit the hall and then draft. The whole town is baseball. Memorabilia shops galore, baseball taverns, you name it. AND, in a weird way it would be the ultimate experience to stay in what appears to be a complete dive motel that sits next to the museum. It is an old memorabilia shop, complete with old wood plank floors, on the first floor with a small desk in a middle with a sign that says "Hotel check in." Anyway, put it on your calendar for somewhere in the future. And bring your glove so we can throw around on Doubleday Field...

To Greg's point, I have thought about the idea that HAL is in control of the games but in my naive and optimistic mind, I don't think it is. Very true that odd things happen and in improbable ways, but the Cubs can score four runs off the Brewers' closer with two outs in the ninth to tie a game in real life. I think if you seriously tracked the rolls, it would all even out. However, I have certainly felt that way at times and have been on both sides of the "luck." But, in the end Chad always wins and HAL don't know Chad from Harry Carry so I can't see that he decides the games to any degree.

I now have 49 different batting helmets in my strat room, two catchers masks, 13 wood bats (my Hank Aaron model is my favorite), 15 baseball gloves (tie betweent the Mickey Mantle and Ron Santo model for my favorite), many soft hats and miniature helmets as well as various other memorabilia. My wife calls in clutter. I call it amazing and keep looking for more.

I have bored you enough - someone play me in strat please.......