MLB - ABS

The Major League baseball season is barely underway.  For those of you who are not ardent fans, I want you to be aware of a new system being used to help insure the correctness in the calling of balls and strikes.  It is called the ABS Challenge System.  ABS stands for Automatic Ball Strike system.  No kidding, that's the best they could come up with.  

Here's how it works.  Before the season ever started, every player and potential player was measured for standing height.  This figure is input into a computer program that will determine if a pith is high or low.  The league has determined that the strike zone should be, of course, between the inside and outside of the plate but, moreover, between 27% and 53% of a batters height.  In the old days it was between the top of the knee caps and the bottom of the arm pits.  Some players took advantage of this by crouching when the stand at the plate.  You won't see that so much any more.

In any case, each team has a chance to challenge the umpire's call twice in a game.  If they challenge and win, they don't lose that challenge.  Be wrong twice and you're done.  Batters and pitchers or catchers are allowed to challenge - they do it by touching the top of their head. The computer system kicks in and everyone can watch a video on the scoreboard of the ball going through the strike zone. The computer determines if the umpire was right or wrong and the call is upheld or changed.  

Here's the deal.  I love it.  More excitement!  More drama!  More accuracy?!? 

Take me out to the ballgame! 

INITIAL PROBLEMS

Just for fun, I copied down all the initials I found on my church bulletin this past week.  It is from a Catholic church and school.  I'm guessing other religions sport an equally large number of abbreviations and acronyms.  Test yourself!  How many can you come up with.  If you need help, there is a website:  abbreviations.com.  Amazing!  It offers over 50 possible answers for the first one below but it doesn't have all these.  Maybe it will take a special class to be a church member.   Here goes.

PTO

RCIC

F3

SSMG

Kdg

SVdP

PB&J

VBS

YAH

OCIA

RSVP

AoC

OLPH

CRHP

YTD

QR

B&B

VOA

CCB

VOA

FON

No, I don't know what they all stand for but I'll find out. 

PALM SUNDAY

Yes, this is Palm Sunday - the traditional beginning of the Passion of the Christ. It is called Palm Sunday because the people of Jerusalem waved palm branches or fronds. honoring him, as he rode into the city for the coming Passover feast.  

Let's think of something in addition to that.  Think of extending your fingers and pressing your palms together.  This is how we were taught to pray.  Try it.!  When no one is looking, if you must.  Press those palms together and talk to the Father.  Never doubt that He will hear you.  He WILL answer your prayers.  Not in your time but His.  Not in your way but His.  

Have a blessed day!  I love you.  

NINETEEN

 When I was a kid, there were just three TV channels available.  I think that was the case in most markets.  These three used the channels 2 through 12 - these were the VHF channels.  Channel 13 and above were UHF channels.  V for "very" and U for "ultra" high frequency.  The local channels were separated so as not to interfere with each others.  Cincinnati had 5, 9 and 12.   Dayton had 2 and 7.  

In those channels above 12, Cincinnati eventually had channel 48, WCET, the "educational channel" (now PBS).  Dayton had one of the three major channels on 45 and had educational channels on 14 or 16.

When FOX decided to get into the TV business, Cincinnati got channel 19.  Located in northern Kentucky, it went on the air in 1968.  It almost went off the air in 1971 due to lack of viewership.  Some ownership changes saved it.  It has made it through the years.  It introduced 10pm news to the city in 1993 and it went over big.  They brought in a guy named Jack Atherton to be their first anchor.  I found out today that he was dating Madonna.  He stayed with the station for 15 years.

In case you were in the goup of modern readers of mine who never had the gift of learning the use of Roman numerals,  XIX is 19. 

Recently, FOX 19 has made a splash locally by nabbing important sports programming.  Today, they presented the Cincinanti Reds opening day parade and game.    

DID YOU KNOW?

Did you know:  There were 282,000,000 cases of malaria recorded in 2024.  That's 282 million.  Egad!  They resulted in about 610,000 deaths.  That's 610 thousand.  Yikes!  The disease is spread by mosquitoes and is especially deadly for children.  That's terrible!

Of course, if you immediately thought that most of those cases were in Africa.  You were right.  Only 10 cases of malaria were recorded in the U.S. in 2023.  Never the less, it's out there.

Why did I bring this up?  This is just a service I like to provide.  Some people I know would think something was wrong with the world if they didn't have enough to worry about.  

Now they have one more worry.  

MIDWEEK PRAYER

I found this on the internet.  It was from father to son - I have adjusted it.

Dear Lord, 

Thank you for the gift of my children - their lives, their laughter, and the strength they carry even on the days they say they are "fine".  Lord, I ask that you watch over their health - body, mind and spirit.  Protect their bodies, calm their minds, and give them the energy they need for the road ahead.  Guard them from stress, pressure and the quiet worries they may carry but never talk about.  When they wake each morning, let them feel renewed and ready for the day you've prepared for them.  Give them clear thinking, steady strength and the courage to keep moving forward when life feels heavy.  Cover them with your protection wherever they go.  Surround them with your peace and keep them grounded in the strength that comes from you alone.  Remind them that they are never walking through life by themselves - they are deeply loved by me and even more, by you.  In Jesus name, Amen.  

SPORTS

There's not a much better time of year than March when the Madness is in full swing; for sports fans that is. I'm sure I don't have to explain it to you. 

BUT, I have come upon one big thing I don't like about it.  We've had some of the very best weather of the Spring this past weekend and I spent most of it in front of my TV.  Thats's sad.  I wish there was a way to avoid this in the future.  I'm afraid I've turned into a slug.  

SUNRISE, SUNSET

Last Thursday, I wrote about Sunrise, Sunset.  Well, there is a technical side of my brain which gets hung up on minutia and I just can't let it go.  So, I'll put it down in print and then I'll be able to forget it.  Sorry!

The Sun does not rise and the Sun does not set.  I hope you realize that.  This thought must date back to when humans thought the Earth was the center of the universe. The Sun just sits out there about 93 million miles away and it moves along in it's steady pace.  The whole "sunrise, sunset" thing has to do with the Earth rotating.  Don't forget that.  Don't thank the Sun for returning each day; thank our planet for rotating.  It rotates completely in about 24 hours, you know.  Convenient time, isn't it.  

Now, the language part of my brain asks this:  If we call the morning Sunrise, why don't we call the evening Sunfall?   It is obvious that the Sun rising is not quicker that it's departure.  Who makes up these words?  

All silliness aside, each can be equally as beautiful.  If you are a persistant late sleeper, you're missing a real treat each day.  If you have not seen the Sun melt into the Seas, you have not witnessed one of the most breathtaking sights on Earth.  

SPRINGTIME

Spring has sprung!  God has given the Earth a new birth - new life everywhere.  

I've attached an entry I made in 2020 because I love the pictures on the attachment.  It looks like a place I'd like to visit.

5/19/2020

SPRINGTIME

Have you heard of the Garden of Europe?  It is one of the world's largest flower gardens and is called Keukenhof.  It is located in the City of Lisse, Netherlands.  Netherlands is what we used to call Holland.  I was introduced to dozens of pictures just the other day and it blew me away.

Most of the flowers are spring bulbs so the ideal time to visit the Keukenhof is in the March-April-May period.  The park covers 79 acres and includes about 7 million bulbs. A million and a half visitor walked through last Spring. This year, no visitors were allowed so it presented a good opportunity for a professional photographer to ply his trade.  You'll find many of them on Instagram #keukenhof.

I suggest you use a large format screen if you can but, in any case, give yourself a treat.  Such a beautiful place.  The website is  www.keukenhof.nl/en/

Here's a sample  https://www.albertdros.com/post/the-most-beautiful-flower-garden-in-the-world-without-people    

🌷

SATURDAY

I haven't been posting very often on Saturdays for some time.  Laziness, I suppose. Most years, this is the first day of Spring - a truly wonderful time of year.  The day is special to me.  

I hope you have a terrific day today;  full of smiles, maybe some great adventures and surely some awesome memories.  It shouldn't be any other way.

80

 I had a note on my phone that I had written some time ago and I couldn't remember if I had used it as an entry on this blog.  So, I opened the blog and typed 80 in that little block up top with the magnifying glass in it.  Voila!  I got over 90 results.  As I always do, I sat and read them for a long time - more than an hour and a half.  Such great information.  Of course, I'm so witty.  (try it some time)

I couldn't find it, so here goes.

I'm 80.  Imagine you are 80.  Think about it.  How do you picture yourself?  How is your health?  Where are you and what are you doing to keep busy?  

I've always thought that one of the great attributes of successful people is the ability to see, or have a good vision of, the future.  I think anyone can get better at it.  Like everything else, it takes practice.  Don't be afraid.

Now for the main question.  What is it that the 80 year-old you would wish that the present-day you would change?  What changes would the 80 year-old you wish you had stopped postponing?  Okay, do it! ... for the sake of that 80 year-old.

SUNRISE, SUNSET

 There is a beautiful song from the play "Fiddler on the Roof" that is called "Sunrise, Sunset". It is sung by and for the father and mother at their children's wedding.  Here are the lyrics.  I've writen them as prose.  They touch me.  It is one of my daughters' birthday today but the sentiment goes for all four of my children and their spouses and their children, especially those about to marry.

Is this the little girl I carried?  Is this the little boy at play?  I don't remember growing older.  When did they?  

When did she get to be a beauty?  When did he grow to be so tall?  Wasn't it yesterday when they were small?  

Sunrise, Sunset.  Sunrise, Sunset.  Swiftly flow the days.  Seedlings turn overnight to sunflowers; blossoming even as we gaze.  

Sunrise, Sunset.  Sunrise, Sunset.  Swiftly fly the years.  One season following another, laiden with happiness and tears.  What words of wisdom can I give them?  How can I help to ease their way?  

Now they must learn from one another day by day.  They look so natural together.  Just like two newlyweds should be.  Is there a canopy* in store for me?  

Sunrise, Sunset.  Sunrise, Sunset.  Swiftly fly the years.  One season following another, laiden with happiness and tears.

 * "canopy" refers to the traditional Jewish chuppah used during a wedding ceremony.  

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY, STACEY!

MIDWEEK PRAYER

Don't get hung up on the peripheral do's and don'ts.  Jesus told us specifically, that we must, most importantly, love God with all our hearts, all our souls and all our minds ... AND ... that we must love our neighbor as oursleves.  All the laws that really matter are contained in these two things.  

Lord, 

teach me to love, 

help me to love, 

and forgive me 

when I don't act with love,

when I don't speak with love,

when I fail to act when I should have.

Amen

SAINT PATRICK'S DAY

 You know you can look up any blog entry I've ever made.  It's not hard.  Well, I plugged Ireland into the search box and came up with a whole bunch - here are a few good ones.  Enjoy the day - be safe.

    6/10/2011

IRELAND

Did you know that County Clare in Ireland is three times larger than Butler      County, Ohio but has less than half the population?
  :o)

3/17/2018

WEEKEND LITURGY

Typically, on Saturdays, I write about Bible verses to be read at Catholic mass on the weekend.  Today, I'm diverging to my patron:  Saint Patrick.  Today is his day and it marks the end of Winter for me.  It was the end of "winter" for the Irish when Patrick brought the story of Christ to them. 

We celebrate this day. That's not a bad thing.  Celebration is good.  Many get drunker than snot.  That's okay too.  Just don't run into me on the roadway. 

You know there are no snakes in Ireland . . . unless you drink too much.  Then you might start seeing all kinds of strange and evil things.  Patrick brought Christian religion to Ireland and told them of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  The Irish have been concentrating on the 'spirits' end of the message for a long time. 

Patrick baptized the Irish with water.  The English word 'whiskey' is an Anglicisation of the first word of the Gaelic phrase 'uisce beatha' which translates to 'water of life'.   Do you see where I'm going with this?  Have a Jameson and it will all come clear.  I wish you a great celebration today . . . be safe.
🍹

7/02/2020

THIS N THAT

Reportedly, the people of the Republic of Ireland have sent (so far) $1.8 million (collected via a "go fund me" account) to a Native American Indian tribe (the Choctaws) to help defray their expenses through the COVID-19 pandemic.  They say it is in repayment for money that tribe sent to Ireland in 1847 during the Potato Famine in which over a million Irish died.  The tribe sent $170 back then.  

1/21/2024

IRELAND OH IRELAND

 Sign in the window of an Irish pub.

Today's special

7-course Irish meal

Six pints and one potato

6/11/2011

IRELAND

Did you know that the whole country of Ireland is smaller than the US State of Ohio?
:o)