Tag: baseball

Late October

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"Unicorn" Cedar Park, 2016
Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 23mm, f/3.2, 1/40 sec, ISO3200
 “Unicorn” Cedar Park, 2016

こんばんは！Hello, how’s it going?

It’s already nearing the end of October, can you believe it? This month has flown past. Seems like just yesterday the month started, but now Halloween is almost here. 👻 As you can see from the photo, Koa is already prepared with his unicorn costume. Not sure what made him want this particular outfit this year, but I think it’s pretty cool and unique.

As for myself, I wasn’t planning on dressing up, but a couple of friends will be coming over for Halloween 🎃 to hang out, and they are planning on wearing costumes, so I need to figure something out. But my mind is a blank, once again. Hmmm… I need to brainstorm a bit, don’t I?

Tonight we watched game 1 of the World Series ⚾️ between the Cubs and Indians. I am rooting for Cleveland this year, mainly because a good friend of mine is a big fan. And they had a big win this evening! I’m sure the Cubs will battle back, though. It’s got the makings of a great series.

I hope you had a nice Tuesday!

おやすみなさい！

– B Barron Fujimoto

Baseball Day

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"Dodgers Gear" Cedar Park, 2016
Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 23mm, f/5.6, 1/35 sec, ISO6400
 “Dodgers Gear” Cedar Park, 2016

こんばんは！How’s it going?

Today Bay and I watched the Dodgers begin their playoff run with a win against the Nationals. I get so stressed-out watching the games, but tonight I was ok. Even though it was a close game, it wasn’t as bad as before…

A couple of years ago I was so disappointed in how the Dodgers did, that I swore off watching or following any baseball. I just couldn’t deal with the stress! I know it’s so irrational… getting upset about a team losing when you don’t actually have any connection with them at all. I still don’t understand it.

But I thought, the heck with it! I’m not sure why I have that stress, but I don’t need it. So I did the one thing I knew to remove that stress which was to quit following baseball.

I think my baseball blackout lasted for a season, but this year I started watching again. What helped me change my outlook on the games was watching my son Koa play little league. I learned to let go of the final result of the games.. you win some and you lose some, right? And even when the team lost, they still had smiles after the game. Sure, they wanted to win, but they focused on the fun they had on the field and in the dugout, and not on the final score. It seemed like the adults and coaches were more disappointed than the kids were! I’m not sure exactly what that means, but I think there is some absurdity in that situation.

So now when I watch an MLB game, I try not to put so much value on the winning or losing, but rather appreciate the great plays and the athleticism.

Tonight I enjoyed the game a lot, but I still had a little stress. I had to watch the 9th inning from a distance, while washing dishes. Funny, huh… But now there is an emotional distance as well, and it makes watching my favorite team enjoyable again, win or lose.

I hope you had a nice Friday, and let’s have a great weekend!

おやすみなさい！

– B Barron Fujimoto

Vin’s Last Call 🎙⚾️

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"Vin" Cedar Park, 2016
Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 23mm, f/4, 1/100 sec, ISO640
 “Vin” Cedar Park, 2016

こんばんは！Hi, how’s it going?

Well, the weekend is almost over, and so is the career of the legendary Vin Scully. If you aren’t familiar with Vin, here’s a nice story from NPR:


Today was his final game broadcasting for the Dodgers. ⚾️ I posted the other day about him, so I don’t have a whole lot more to add but maybe just a few of the memories I had of growing up a Dodgers fan:

  • Enjoying a Carnation chocolate malt and using those little wooden spoons to try to carve a piece of that frozen treat
  • Grilled Dodger Dogs with spicy brown mustard and raw onions
  • Sitting in the bleachers under the hot sun, watching Dusty Baker and Lee Lacy in the outfield
  • Top-deck seats were $4, Reserved seats were $6
  • Taking the Stadium Way exit from the Harbor Freeway
  • The stadium organ, played by Helen Dell, and later Nancy Bea Hefley as we found our seats

I’ll end this post with some of the music of old Dodger Stadium, and the final sentence of his last broadcast:

“I have said enough for a lifetime, and for the last time, I wish you all a very pleasant good afternoon.” 🎙⚾️🎹🎵

おやすみなさい！

– B Barron Fujimoto

Thanks Vin

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"Thanks Vin" Cedar Park, 2016
Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 23mm, f/4, 1/30 sec, ISO800
 “Thanks Vin” Cedar Park, 2016

こんばんは！Hello, how’s it going?

The highlight of today was watching the Dodgers clinch the NL West title in Vin Scully’s last game at Dodger Stadium, with a walk-off homerun in extra innings. It was pretty amazing, and yet another storybook ending.

Like most people who grew up in Los Angeles, Vin Scully was a constant fixture in the summertime, his voice broadcast over the airwaves whenever the Dodgers played. I remember listening to him call games along with Jerry Doggett and Ross Porter, and then Don Drysdale. You could always count on Vin.

It’s hard to believe that he won’t be calling games next year. It is sad, but this graphic sums it up nicely:

dr-seuss

It’s funny that my kids love the Dodgers as much as I do, being that they were born here in Texas. Here’s a photo of us celebrating the Dodger win today:

"Dodger Fans" Cedar Park, 2016
Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 23mm, f/4, 1/13 sec, ISO800
 “Dodger Fans” Cedar Park, 2016

I know next year will be strange since we won’t hear Vin any more, and the Dodgers won’t seem the same because of that. But I’m happy that he enriched our lives over all these years.

Thanks, Vin!

Changing Season

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"Swirling Clouds" Cedar Park, 2016
Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 23mm, f/10, 1/750 sec, ISO200
 “Swirling Clouds” Cedar Park, 2016

こんばんは！How’s it going?

Did you know that it’s already Autumn? It’s been so hot lately that I thought it was still Summer! How time flies.

Today’s photo was taken this afternoon, looking straight up. There was a swirling cloud right above our house, and it was changing so rapidly that for a moment I wondered if it was the beginning of a tornado. 🌀 But no, thankfully it was not.

Today my sons and I watched the ceremony the Dodgers had to honor Vin Scully. It was great, and I had a tear in my eye a couple times. Scully has been announcing Dodger games for 67 years now, but this will be his final year. For so many people who grew up in Los Angeles, Vin’s voice was the soundtrack of Summer. He will be missed!

"Vin's Ceremony" Cedar Park, 2016
Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 23mm, f/10, 1/4 sec, ISO800
 “Vin’s Ceremony” Cedar Park, 2016

Have a great weekend!

おやすみなさい！

– B Barron Fujimoto