Tuesday, September 14, 2004

The San Jose Giants took an early lead tonight, though the last two innings were nail biters. But San Jose won 7-6 and evened the series at 2-2 and we are going back to Modesto tomorrow for game five. Midway through the game, I realized that we had a Modesto fan sitting sitting behind me. Unlike the folks we experienced in Modesto, he was positive in rooting on the team. It was a little tiresome when he applauded the umpires when they made bad calls, but bad calls are an interpretation. Anyway after the final out, I turned, shook his hand, and said "We will see you in Modesto." I hope that we do. Because anyone who travels over 100 miles to see a minor league game cares about the team and the game, unlike the boors who come to the game to yell at people. So we are going to Modesto tomorrow evening. I am looking for the the Giants to win so we can extend the season and get into the California League Championship Series. 11:42:38 PM     Comment []

Texas Pitcher Arrested After Throwing Chair Into Stands. Relief pitcher Frank Francisco was arrested Tuesday on a charge of aggravated battery after he threw a chair that hit two fans during Monday's Rangers-Athletics game. By By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. [The New York Times > Sports] It is fitting that the player who through a chair into the stands be arrested. But his crime was not unprovoked. The fans who goaded the melee are equally responsible. I have seen fan's bad behavior directed at players and managers at my last two minor league playoff games, one in Modesto and one in San Jose. It is a game folks, players make errors, managers make mistakes, and umpires blow calls. It is all part of the game. And while I will scream on a blown call, I won't yell at a player or manager. A blown call is the only right/wrong decision that you can argue in baseball. The umpires are interpreting the rules and you can argue with their interpretation. A player who makes an error is trying the best he can. There is no guarantee that if he had played it differently the result would be different. Similarly, there is no guarantee that the outcome would be different after a manager keeps a pitcher in, pulls a pitcher, calls a play or shifts a defense. Baseball is a game with everyone, players, coaches and umpires, trying their best not to screw up. The fans should do the same. The events in Oakland last night show what happens when the fans screw up. 1:25:52 PM     Comment []

At War Against Dam, Tribe Turns to Old Ways. The Winnemem Wintu Indian tribe is protesting a plan to raise the Shasta Dam, which flooded their ancestral homelands after it was first built in the 1930's. By By DEAN E. MURPHY. [The New York Times > Home Page] California wants to increase the capacity of Lake Shasta to sate the demand for water in the state. Another, more enlightened, approach would be to recognize that water is a limited resource, along with air and land. Perhaps we should be looking at limiting demand, rather than continuing to grow and try to find an ever greater supply of limited resources. We can't build dams high enough to provide water for people when all of the farmland in the central valley is converted to housing. We have already flooded too much land, converted too much farm-land for housing and commerce, and made too many compromises to support our growing population. California is becoming increasingly unlivable with ever-increasing population growth. The things that make California a paradise will be gone in 100 years, unless we stop growth now. Strangely the song playing while I write this is "No Self Control" by Peter Gabriel. It is a fitting description of our society. 11:16:28 AM     Comment []